2019 Pennwriters newsletter - The Penn Writer March/April 2019

the

the newsletter of pennwriters inc.

March/april 2019 • Vol. XXVii no. 2

Friday Evening Keynote

Jessica Strawser

Saturday Luncheon Keynote

Jason Jack Miller

Your three-day conference registration includes...

• 40+ hours of workshops, panels and sessions to choose from • Saturday Keynote Lunch with Pennwriter Jason Jack Miller - “What Writers Make” • Agent/Editor Pitch Appointments are offered on a first-registered, first-assigned basis.

• Read & Critiques with agents, editors & published authors. Spots are offered on a first-registered, first-assigned basis.

• Saturday Pennwriters Breakfast & Annual Meeting: Enjoy camaraderie and up-to-date news.

You may purchase passes to the following special add-on events: • Friday Evening Keynote Dinner with Jessica Strawser “The All-Time Best Writing Lessons Learned From a Decade of Interviewing the All-Time Best Writers” Cost: $50 for Pennwriters / $65 for nonmembers • Friday Published Penns Luncheon with Siobhan Vivian “Your Next Big Idea: Developing and Heightening the Book You Have Yet to Write” Cost: $28 for members with Pennwriters with Published Pennwriter status.

• Friday Networking Luncheon with JD Dunbar - “Listen for the Lyrics” Cost: $35 for Pennwriters / $38 for nonmembers • Saturday After-Hours Social: A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party You mustn’t be late! You have a very important date! Saturday, 18th of May, about the time of eight, Be sure to wear your “maddest” hat, and you may catch a glimpse of the Cheshire Cat! An open bar for hour one, for the outlandish cost of 19, plus 1!

Cost: $20, includes open bar for first hour; cash bar thereafter details:

https://pennwriters.org/32nd-annual-conference/ registration:

http://bit.ly/pennwriters2019

President’s Column As my favorite time of year approaches—Conference time—I want to talk about something I’ve already mentioned before. It’s something I believe in so fervently, it’s worth repeating and expanding upon: connecting with others.

Why connect, when writing is a solitary activity? In a nutshell, because writing is so hard, and because it’s been done many times before. These two reasons might appear to contradict, because if something’s been done many times before, surely it’s old hat. Lessons have been learned. Absolutely true.

But the first point also remains true—writing is hard. There’s no doubt that you learn by doing, but in order to learn everything by doing, you’d have to make all the mistakes yourself, and nobody has time for that, so we need to learn from others. hilary hauck, area 4 president

As the craft and business of writing are vast in scope, not to mention continually changing, sharing experiences with others can be as informative as reading a textbook. Better still, it can be as informative as reading a shelf full of textbooks.

Who should you connect with? You should certainly find your kind. In our circle, that probably means people who write in your genre. Find your fellows and pool information. You are by no means competitors. People who buy your book will also buy your fellows’ books.

You should also search beyond your kind. As a multi-genre organization, Pennwriters enables you to connect with all kinds of writers, opening up a vast knowledge base, covering aspects like industry trends, business, cover art, getting an agent, and the list goes on. You never know what information somebody will share with you that’ll make a difference. I launch a challenge: every time you meet a writer for the first time, try to find out one thing from them you didn’t previously know. Are you in?

notice: publication herein of articles, interviews, and news concerning markets, contests, seminars, classes, etc., does not imply an endorsement, recommendation or any warranty given by pennwriters, inc. readers are urged to determine for themselves the reliability, integrity, and financial responsibility of those with whom they deal.

The contents of this newsletter are copyrighted ©2019 by Pennwriters, Inc. All rights are reserved. Permission to photocopy is expressly denied. All rights revert to individual authors immediately upon publication. any time you change your mailing address or email address, please notify Jackie shaffmaster at treasurer@pennwriters.org. we thank you in advance for helping to keep our member roster current.

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Of course, connecting isn’t only worthwhile in terms of knowledge. A network of writers is a network of support and understanding in a tough industry.

People who understand what a rejection feels like, and who’ll pick you up, dust you off, and send you in search of the next market. Lifelong friends.

Social media makes it easier than ever. Comment on, like or share a post.

Start or join in conversations on the Pennwriters Facebook page. If you’re at an event with other writers, the best advice I was given at a Pennwriters event—advice I love to pass forward—is to simply walk up to someone, introduce yourself, then ask about the one thing you have in common: writing. Don’t forget to exchange contact information and connect online after the event.

Pennwriters is offering two excellent opportunities not only to learn, but to connect with others. Writers Project Runway V will be hosted at the Ida Lee Recreation Center in Leesburg, Virginia, on March 30. Pennwriters Vice President Bobbi Carducci always has an outstanding lineup of presenters for next page the penn writer • March/april 2019 • www.pennwriters.org

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Board of Directors President Hilary Hauck, 814-659-6191 President@Pennwriters.org

this one-day event. Then join us in May for the 32nd Annual Pennwriters Conference—the perfect time to learn, grow, soar and meet others. Come early for pre-conference intensive sessions on May 16, then stay for our annual three-day conference, May 17-19, held at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott. We’re very excited about our 2019 keynotes. Jessica Strawser is not only an author and energetic supporter of writers, she has served as editorial director at Writer’s Digest magazine for a decade, interviewing luminaries such as David Sedaris and Alice Walker. Jason Jack Miller is a familiar face at Pennwriters, as is his wife, Heidi Ruby Miller. He is author of the awardwinning novel HeLLBenDeR and is a mentor and adjunct instructor at Seton Hill University’s prestigious Writing Popular Fiction program. Registration for the 32nd Annual Pennwriters Conference will open March 15. See the Pennwriters website for details. We look forward to your questions and comments during the upcoming Pennwriters Presents sessions on Facebook, featuring Bobbi Carducci on March 4 and yours truly on April 22.

Vice President Bobbi Carducci 540-338-5064 & 540-903-6831 VicePresident@Pennwriters.org Secretary Susan Gourley Secretary@Pennwriters.org Treasurer Jackie Shaffmaster, 570-878-7056 Treasurer@Pennwriters.org Author Advocate Ayleen Gontz, 717-359-9279 AuthorAdvocate@Pennwriters.org Webmaster Mark Boerma, 570-578-1473 Webmaster@Pennwriters.org Newsletter Editor Heather Desuta, 412-337-6966 Newsletter@Pennwriters.org 2019 Conference Coordinators Pauline Drozeski and Hilary Hauck ConferenceCoordinator@Pennwriters.org

I wish you long friendships and solid support systems and leave you with a quote from John Lennon: “A dream you dream alone is only a dream.

A dream you dream together is reality.”

Public Relations Chair Leslie Tobin Smeltz PublicRelations@Pennwriters.org

Pennwrite on, and dream on together!

Bylaws Chair Jean Jenkins, 814-774-0557 BylawsChair@Pennwriters.org

-Hilary

Internet Activities Coordinator Pauline Drozeski Interim Online Courses Coordinator Donna Royston OnlineCoordinator@Pennwriters.org

Pennwriters Online website: www.pennwriters.org Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pennwriters/join facebook groups: pennwriters; pennwriters annual conference You can also join the pennwriters linkedin group and follow us on twitter.

Pennwriters Presents Coordinator Denise Weaver, 814-442-4876 PennwritersPresents@Pennwriters.org Election Chair Dave Freas ElectionChair@Pennwriters.org Annual Writing Contest Coordinator D.J. Stevenson WritingContestCoordinator@Pennwriters.org Coordinator of Area Reps (CAR) Annette Dashofy CAR@Pennwriters.org AREA 1 Rep: Todd Main, 814-459-8752 Area1Rep@Pennwriters.org AREA 2 Rep: Mark Boerma Area2Rep@Pennwriters.org AREA 3 Rep: Stephanie Claypool Area3Rep@Pennwriters.org AREA 4 Rep: Denise Weaver Area4Rep@Pennwriters.org AREA 5 Rep: Sandra Bush 717-891-6412 Area5Rep@Pennwriters.org

PW Areas Map

All areas outside of Pennsylvania are Area 7

the penn writer • March/april 2019 • www.pennwriters.org

AREA 6 Rep: Suzanne Mattaboni Area6Rep@Pennwriters.org AREA 7 Rep: Terry Friedman 610-331-2558 & 843-236-8189 Area7Rep@Pennwriters.org 3

Pennwriters Member News & Happenings to share Your news, email newsletter@pennwriters.org with “pennwriter submission” in the subject line. please include your pennwriters area # in the message.

Area 1 Aimee Gross (writing as Aimee Eddy) has been published in CHAnGe YOUR LIFe by Alexander Kovarovic, an advice book for teens, young adults, parents and teachers on the subjects many teens and young adults face on a daily basis. Aimee’s piece, “It’s Up To You To Stand Up,” is about bullying and depression.

Area 5 Sherry Knowlton’s DeAD OF WInTeR, the fourth book in her Alexa Williams suspense series, was published by the Milford House Press imprint of Sunbury Press.

A lighthearted trip to test a new drone turns deadly for attorney Alexa Williams and two close friends when they find a stranger’s bullet-riddled body in a remote field in rural Pennsylvania. Next to the dead man is a note that declares: “Allahu Akbar.” After a second man is executed near Harpers Ferry, Alexa’s old flame, Reese, becomes a suspect, leading her to question just how much he changed while working in Africa. Fear of Islamic terrorism spreads like wildfire through Alexa’s small town following a third murder. When police arrest the oldest son of her Syrian refugee clients, the family becomes the focus of mounting anti-Muslim rage, and a dangerous militia group turns its sights on Alexa. One dark night in the dead of winter, Alexa discovers who is behind the murders and must race to stop an attack that could kill hundreds. If she fails, she could lose everyone she loves.

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Gayle Lynds, New York Times best-selling author of THe ASSASSInS, writes: “With riveting suspense and vivid details, DeAD OF WInTeR by Sherry Knowlton brings the towns and forests of Southcentral PA to vivid life as cultures and beliefs clash in a searing tale of murder, love, and communal fear. From flying drones to police investigations and legal wrangling, DeAD OF WInTeR will keep you guessing and glued raptly to your reading chair.”

DeAD OF WInTeR is available at Amazon, Barnes and noble, and other major online retailers and bookstores.

Visit www.sherryknowlton.com.

Jim Lee, Area 4, has sold or published another seven review articles on prominent zombie novels since the previous Penn WRITeR issue.

Anyone interested in checking out the full set can visit the dmdraper.com website, click on the blog icon, and read each for free.

Area 3 Shaina Stacy (writing as S.L. Stacy) recently released ReCTIFY, a new novella in her paranormal romance Reborn series. Greek mythology meets Greek life at fictional Thurston University, where characters must balance schoolwork with protecting their city from the god of war and his minions. ReCTIFY follows Apate, the goddess of trickery, on a mission to salvage her reputation.

Love 'em and leave 'em. That's always been Apate's motto. The Olympian goddess of trickery doesn't have time for entanglements, romantic or otherwise.

And she sure as heck doesn't have time for regret. But when Thurston University student Siobhan Elliot goes missing and the human cops start sniffing around, Apate's dubious past catches up with her. Now it's only a matter of time until Jimmy, her latest conquest—who also happens to be Siobhan's ex—finds out it’s her fault. To cover her tracks, Apate pays a visit to the Elliots, using her powers of illusion to pose as their daughter and convince them everything’s fine. Lying is easy. Confronting the consequences of her actions, however, will prove to be much harder than Apate expected. To find her redemption, Apate knows it’s time to come clean. But the truth could cost her the only love she’s ever known.

The Reborn series is available at Amazon. Visit slstacy.wordpress.com.

We thank you in advance for helping to keep our member roster current. please take a moment to verify that you’ve supplied pennwriters with a current, valid email address. log in to your account info at www.pennwriters.org.

OPEN BOARD POSITION: Webmaster needed If you have website development skills and want to get more involved with Pennwriters year-round, we would love to hear from you. We are looking for an enthusiastic Webmaster to join the Pennwriters Board. Initially you will shadow our current Webmaster, taking over the duties in spring 2019. Knowledge of the Wordpress development environment is a must, experience with PHP programming is preferred.

Please email Hilary at President@Pennwriters.org.

the penn writer • March/april 2019 • www.pennwriters.org

FiFTH ANNuAL PENNWRiTERS AREA 7 EVENT

Registration 8-9 a.m. • Workshops 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Book signing and meet the authors: 4-5 p.m.

Registration: $80 for Pennwriters / $110 for nonmembers Lunch is included in the registration fee open to all writers, this conference is also designed to introduce pennwriters to aspiring and published authors in the northern Virginia, Maryland, west Virginia and washington, d.c. areas. workshops include, but at not limited to, the following: Passport to Panic with Don Helin Who Said That? with Terry Korth Fischer It’s Your Voice – Use it! with Terry Korth Fischer From Aspiring Writer to Incredible Author: Powerful Habits and Tools You Can Use to Enhance Your Writing Success and Rock Your Life with Larry Schardt Article Writing – Give It a Try! with Diane Hellentjaris Researching with Jesse Russell Put Your Feelings on the Page! with Bobbi Carducci Writing the Wrights: Reflections on the Biographers with Art Tom Crouch

Register online at: https://pennwriters.org/area-7-mini-conference-2019 For more information, visit www.pennwriters.org or ontact Bobbi Carducci at VicePresident@Pennwriters.org. the penn writer • March/april 2019 • www.pennwriters.org

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Thursday Pre-Conference Intensives Full Day with with Timons Esaias The Crafts of Fiction: The Nuts, the Bolts, and Hoisting the Girders into Place Half Day (Morning) with Deb Riley-Magnus

Author Marketing Masterclass Half Day (Afternoon) with Lyell P. Cook

Coroners: Their history, What they do, What they see

Friday Evening Keynote

Saturday keynote

JESSICA STRAWSER

JASON JACK MILLER

Kaitlyn Johnson, agent, corvisiero literary agency amy Bishop, agent, dystel, goderich & Bourret llc Bibi lewis, agent, ethan ellenberg literary agency danielle dieterich, editor, g. p. putnam’s sons, a division of penguin random house rhonda penders, the wild rose press Friday Evening Keynote JESSICA STRAWSER is the editor-at-large at Writer’s Digest, where she served as editorial director for nearly a decade and became known for her in-depth cover interviews with such luminaries as David Sedaris and Alice Walker. She’s the author of the book club favorites ALMOST MISSeD YOU, now new in paperback, and nOT THAT I COULD TeLL, a Book of the Month selection and Barnes & noble Best new Fiction pick for March 2018 (both from St. Martin’s Press). Her third novel, FORGeT YOU KnOW Me, is forthcoming in 2019. She has written for The New York Times Modern Love, Publishers Weekly and other venues, and is a popular presenter at writing conferences and book festivals. She lives with her husband and two children in Cincinnati.

Website: www.jessicastrawser.com Twitter: @jessicastrawser Facebook @jessicastrawserauthor

Saturday Luncheon Keynote JASON JACK MILLER knows it’s silly to hold onto the Bohemian ideals of literature, music, and love above all else. But he doesn’t care. His own adventures paddling wild mountain rivers and playing Pearl Jam covers for less-than-enthusiastic crowds inspired his Murder Ballads and Whiskey Series.

He wrote HeLLBenDeR as a student in Seton Hill University’s prestigious Writing Popular Fiction program, where he is now a mentor and adjunct instructor. The novel won the Arthur J. Rooney Award for Fiction, the MacLaughlin Scholarship, and was a finalist for the Appalachian Writers Association Book of the Year Award. When Jason isn’t writing, he and Heidi are in Paris, perusing the bouquinistes, or in the Cinque Terre trying to taste all of the focaccia. And for the rest of the year he plays the role of Mr. Miller, mild-mannered science teacher at Uniontown Area High School.

Twitter and Instagram @jasonjackmiller email: jasonjackmiller@gmail.com

register online at http://bit.ly/pennwriters2019.

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the penn writer • March/april 2019 • www.pennwriters.org

The 32nd Annual Pennwriters Conference features three days of workshops, panels, networking and learning.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday feature an openattendance slate of one-hour workshops on all things writing. The schedule is structured with open attendance, so you can take whichever classes appeal to you. Attendees will have 40+ hours of sessions to choose from. Our faculty is comprised of published authors, literary agents and editors, and other writing industry professionals. Pitch appointments are available at no additional fee.

PRICING:

2019 Pennwriters Conference Schedule thursdaY, MaY 16 8 a.m.

9 a.m.-4 p.m.

9 a.m.-noon 1-4 p.m.

fridaY, MaY 17 7:30 a.m.

8:30-8:45 a.m.

9-10 a.m.

10:15-11:15 a.m.

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

1:15-2:15 p.m.

2:30-3:30 p.m.

3:45-4:45 p.m.

5:30-7:30 p.m.

8 p.m.-

pre-conference intensiVes thursdaY, MaY 16:

• full-day with timons esaias: $175 • half-day Morning with deborah riley-Magnus: $85 • half-day afternoon with lyell cook: $85

pennwriters conference three daYs: fridaY through sundaY $329 for pennwriters / $384 for nonmembers

one-daY, fridaY onlY or saturdaY onlY $165 for pennwriters / $185 for nonmembers

sundaY onlY $60 for pennwriters / $75 for nonmembers

registration opens the crafts of fiction with timons esaias author Marketing Master class with deb riley-Magnus coroners: their history, what they do, what they see with coroner lyell cook

registration opens opening remarks workshops workshops networking luncheon and published penns luncheon workshops workshops workshops Keynote dinner with Jessica strawser (5:30 p.m. drinks, 6-7:30 p.m. dinner) read & critique sessions

saturdaY, MaY 18 7:45-9:15 a.m.

9 a.m.

9:30-10:30 a.m.

10:45-11:45 a.m. noon-1:30 p.m.

1:45-2:45 p.m.

3-4 p.m.

4:15-5:15 p.m.

8-10 p.m.

Breakfast and pennwriters annual Meeting registration opens workshops workshops Keynote luncheon with Jason Jack Miller workshops workshops Book signing saturday night social: a Mad hatter’s tea party

sundaY, MaY 19 9-10 a.m.

10:15-11:15 a.m.

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

12:40 p.m.

workshops workshops workshops closing ceremonies and Basket drawings

(Schedule is subject to change.)

OPTIONAL ADD-ONS: fridaY networKing luncheon $35 for pennwriters / $38 for nonmembers

fridaY puBlished penns luncheon $28 for pennwriters w/published penns status

fridaY KeYnote dinner $50 for pennwriters / $65 for nonmembers

Conference Location and Lodging pittsBurgh airport Marriott, 777 aten road, coraopolis, pa 15108 for reservations, call the hotel at 800-228-9290 or 412-788-8800 or online via the reservation link. Mention pennwriters to receive the block rate of $115 per night. please note: the block rate expires on april 26, so make your reservations asap. conference pricing does not include lodging. https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pitmc-pittsburgh-airport-marriott/

saturdaY night social $20

add-ons for non-writer guests Meals-only options for companions •friday: $85 (includes lunch & keynote dinner) •saturday: $70 (includes breakfast & lunch) •the saturday after-hours social: $20

Conference Registration register online at http://bit.ly/pennwriters2019. registration is slated to open by March 15. You’ll be able to make your conference selection; pre-register for pitch appointments and friday night read and critiques; add admission to the saturday night social; and choose your meal options, etc. for assistance with registration, contact cathy seckman at conferenceregistration@pennwriters.org.

register online at http://bit.ly/pennwriters2019. the penn writer • March/april 2019 • www.pennwriters.org

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Pre-Conference Intensives

THURSDAY, MAY 16

Full Day with with Timons Esaias / Half Day with Deb Riley-Magnus / Half Day with Coroner Lyell P. Cook Author Marketing Masterclass with Deb Riley-Magnus 9 a.m. - Noon / COST: $85 Time to learn real marketing. This new, intense, informative Author Marketing Masterclass tops anything you’ve tried before. It not only teaches proven Author Marketing techniques, but makes sure you master those techniques BeFORe you leave.

Timons Esaias

Deb Riley-Magnus

Coroner Lyell P. Cook

The Crafts of Fiction: the Nuts, the Bolts, and Hoisting the Girders into Place with Timons esaias 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. / COST: $175 (includes lunch) This instructor thinks vague writing advice doesn't help you put words on the page, and he knows that what folks really need are Tools That They Can Use. This workshop will emphasize a wide variety of specific procedures to get the story on the page, and then rewrite it into a publishable product. There will be exercises, examples, tricks, and warnings. The plan is to touch on ALL the major crafts that go into fiction, and to take actual steps toward mastery.

Subjects to include: • A variety of approaches to the First Draft, because there is no single path • Finding a Plot [using Orson Scott Card's MICe Quotient, and elements of my "Muddle in the Middle" workshop] • Characterization [with very specific devices] • Description [again, with specific devices] • Point of View [which is the whole shooting match, for crying out loud] & Tim's POV Voice Chart • non-neutrality [which includes injecting Conflict, because the life of a fictional character must be hard] • Diction [Using the right word doesn't mean using a word from the Thesaurus that you don't actually understand] & Dialogue • Those pesky final edits • exercises on most or all of the above Workshop benefits include an esaias critique of 10 manuscript pages for each registered participant (submitted either before or after the workshop), and access to a number of esaias’s written lecturelets. Also malt balls, for participation.

It is suggested that participants bring some of their own text to work on.

Instructor Timons Esaias is a satirist, poet, essayist and short fictionabulator. His works have appeared in twenty languages.

A finalist for the BSFA, and winner of the Asimov’s Readers Award for poetry, his story “Norbert and the System” has appeared in a textbook, and in college curricula. He teaches in the Seton Hill University MFA in Writing Popular Fiction.

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Standing Apart and Above • What makes your book different?

• Unique Hook guidance (©SuperGenres) and powerful ©StimulusPosts • Who to market to, and why • The difference between Selling, and Allowing People to Buy Platforms World Tour & Best Practices • Unique Hook social media marketing • Interlock the RIGHT social networks for best results • Simple Author Social network Marketing Time Management Living it up with Live Events • It’s more than a launch. Why author events work and which work best.

• Unique locations for live and online events • Locating the decision maker and crafting the perfect query/proposal Instructor Deborah Riley-Magnus is an author and an author success coach with 30+ years of marketing and publicity experience. Her book, WRITE BRAIN/LEFT BRAIN, bridges the gap between creative writer and marketing author. Her approach to author marketing is creative, unique, and teaches the difference between selling, and allowing readers to buy.

Coroners: Their history, What they do, What they see with erie County Coroner Lyell P. Cook 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. / COST: $85 Topics include: • The History of Coroners – where it all began and why • Difference between a coroner and a medical examiner • Determining the circumstances, manner, and cause of death • Unusual ways some people died • Slide presentation of different causes of deaths, (entry/exit bullet wounds, knife wounds, etc.) and statistics on causes of death • When/how an autopsy is performed and how to estimate time of death • Procedures for collecting evidence at the scene Mr. Cook encourages attendees to ask lots of questions, general and specific, related to whatever book he/she might be working on. His presentation is packed with his extensive knowledge of the duties of a coroner, interesting cases he has worked on, and his good sense of humor.

Instructor Lyell P. Cook is the Coroner for Erie County, PA. He has overseen 6,000+ death investigations and autopsies for Erie and 13 other counties in northwestern Pennsylvania. His office investigates all sudden and suspicious deaths and all deaths due to violence, which includes suicide. Past president of Pennsylvania State Coroner’s Association, Lyell has given more than 100 interviews, including Primetime with Diane Sawyer, BBC, Japanese National Media, and the New York Times.

register online at http://bit.ly/pennwriters2019.

the penn writer • March/april 2019 • www.pennwriters.org

Friday Evening Keynote

Jessica Strawser three-daY conference, fridaY through sundaY $329 for pennwriters / $384 for nonmembers •40+ hours of workshops and sessions to choose from •Buffet breakfast (saturday) •Keynote lunch with Jason Jack Miller (saturday) •agent pitch sessions (first come, first scheduled) •friday evening read-&-critiques (first come, first scheduled) •Book signing (saturday)

fridaY onlY (no meals included) $165 for pennwriters / $185 for nonmembers •agent pitch sessions (first come, first scheduled) •friday evening read-&-critiques (first come, first scheduled)

saturdaY onlY (includes breakfast & keynote lunch) $165 for pennwriters / $185 for nonmembers •Buffet breakfast •Keynote lunch with Jason Jack Miller •agent pitch sessions (first come, first scheduled) •Book signing

sundaY onlY (no meals) $60 for pennwriters / $75 for nonmembers

Optional Add-Ons non-writer guests: Meals-only options for companions •friday meals only: $85 (includes lunch and keynote dinner) •saturday meals only: $70 (includes breakfast and lunch) •the saturday after-hours social: $20

fridaY networKing luncheon “listen for the lyrics” with Jd dunbar JD is a wordsmith by profession and a speaker/educator by trade. A Penn state employee for three-decades, she is the director of the transformative state leadership program, the Pennsylvania Rural-Urban Leadership Program (RULE). She is an international public speaker on leadership & communication topics. A member of the National Speakers Association, she has been featured in keynotes in five countries and 20 states.

JD is a leadership grower. She views her job as an opportunity to help others find their voice. $35 for pennwriters / $38 for nonmembers

Saturday Luncheon Keynote

Jason Jack Miller

fridaY puBlished penns luncheon “Your next Big idea: developing and heightening the Book You have Yet to write” with siobhan Vivian Is your next “big” idea worthy of exploration, or should it find its way to the paper shredder? Join Pittsburgh author Siobhan Vivian for her presentation on developing and heightening your next book idea. Siobhan will be focusing on her latest book of STAY SWEET, a young adult novel published by Simon & Shuster, and sharing her experience as a former editor at Alloy Entertainment, one of the most successful commercial book packagers in the United States (SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS, GOSSIP GIRL, etc.). While there, she evaluated and then pitched new, high-concept ideas for teen and adult fiction each week.

Learn more about Siobhan and her books at SiobhanVivian.com. $28 for published pennwriters Please note: This luncheon is open to Pennwriters who have received Published Pennwriter status from Pennwriters. For more information on becoming a Published Penn, please visit Pennwriters.org/pubbed-penns or contact Author Advocate Ayleen Gontz at ayleengontz@gmail.com.

fridaY KeYnote dinner with Jessica strawser “the all-time Best writing lessons learned from a decade of interviewing the all-time Best writers” Jessica Strawser is the editor-at-large at Writer’s Digest, where she served as editorial director for nearly a decade and became known for her in-depth cover interviews with such luminaries as David Sedaris and Alice Walker. She’s the author of the book club favorites ALMOST MISSED YOU, NOT THAT I COULD TELL (a Book of the Month selection and Barnes & Noble Best New Fiction pick for March 2018); and FORGET YOU KNOW ME. She has written for The New York Times Modern Love, Publishers Weekly and other fine venues, and is a popular presenter at writing conferences and book festivals. $50 for pennwriters / $65 for nonmembers

saturdaY social: “a Mad hatter’s tea party” You mustn’t be late! You have a very important date!

Saturday, 18th of May, about the time of eight, Be sure to wear your “maddest” hat, and you may catch a glimpse of the Cheshire Cat! An open bar for hour one, for the outlandish cost of 19, plus 1!

Cost: $20, includes open bar for first hour; cash bar thereafter

register online at http://bit.ly/pennwriters2019.

the penn writer • March/april 2019 • www.pennwriters.org

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GUEST AGENTS, EDITOR, PUBLISHER Kaitlyn Johnson, agent, corvisiero literary agency kaitlyn@corvisieroagency.com - www.corvisieroagency.com

After receiving a BA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from emerson College, Kaitlyn refused to leave the concept of nightly homework behind. As well as being a junior agent for Corvisiero Literary Agency, she is also a freelance editor at her own company, K. Johnson editorial, and has worked as a copyeditor for academic publisher codeMantra, a YA editor for Accent Press, and a Conference Assistant for GrubStreet, Boston. She has written various articles for Writer's Digest and has had a flash fiction story published in the anthology A BOx OF STARS BeneATH THe BeD. Interested in upper MG, YA, and Adult Accepting: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Contemporary, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+ narratives, and select Romance and Paranormal Not Accepting: Thriller, Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Novellas/poetry/ short story collections, Heavily Religious Themes, Chapter/Picture Books, Erotica ——————————————————————————

amy Bishop, agent, dystel, goderich & Bourret llc abishop@dystel.com - www.dystel.com

Amy elizabeth Bishop joined Dystel, Goderich & Bourret in 2015 after interning for them in 2014. After a short stint as the financial & subrights assistant, she started assisting Jane Dystel, and in addition to managing her own list, now also oversees the office and the interns. Her list is wide-ranging, encompassing both adult fiction and nonfiction, as well as YA. She’s always on the lookout for fiction from diverse authors, stories with a darker edge, and smart narrative nonfiction that’s historical in bent or addresses issues of politics and feminism. You can find her on Twitter at @amylizbishop.

Accepting: Fiction: family saga, general fiction, historical fiction, literary fiction, multicultural, mystery/crime, women’s fiction, offbeat/quirky, young adult, thriller/suspense, speculative Accepting: Nonfiction: Biography, business/finance, current affairs/politics, general nonfiction, history, how-to/self help, multicultural, pop culture, science & technology, social issues, sports, women’s issues Not Accepting: Fiction: action/adventure, children’s/picture book, commercial fiction, erotica, fantasy, new adult, romance, science fiction Not Accepting: Nonfiction: adventure/true stories, arts/photography, cooking/food/drinks, humor/gift, memoir, true crime, travel ——————————————————————————

Bibi lewis, agent, ethan ellenberg literary agency bibi@ethanellenberg.com - ethanellenberg.com

Bibi Lewis is an associate agent and subsidiary rights manager at the ethan ellenberg Literary Agency. She is actively building her list in Children’s Fiction and nonfiction and Adult Fiction.

When she isn’t working, she is probably knitting.

Accepting: Children’s books (PB through YA) both fiction and non.

Especially interested in mysteries, contemporary MG or YA, magical realism, select SFF. Adult: Women’s fiction, Mystery, Thrillers and Suspense, Contemporary Romance.

Not accepting: Talking animal books.

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PITCH SESSIONS: One-on-one agent/editor appointments are available at no additional fee. When you register for the conference, you will be able to select up to two 10-minute pitch sessions. (Additional appointments may be added during the event, if time permits.) Please note that pitches are for authors with f inished manuscripts.

danielle dieterich, editor, g. p. putnam’s sons, a division of penguin random house ddieterich@penguinrandomhouse.com - www.penguin.com

Danielle Dieterich is an associate editor at G.P. Putnam’s Sons, a division of Penguin Random House. After graduating from Wesleyan University with a degree in english, she began her career in publishing in the publicity department of Dutton Books, and joined Putnam in 2015. She is interested in suspense and psychological thrillers, as well as book club fiction and smart women’s fiction, both contemporary and historical. She is drawn to stories with distinct voices, dark themes, and a strong sense of place, and enjoys high-concept or speculative twists. She has worked with bestselling and award-winning authors such as Clive Cussler, Jan Karon, Lisa Gardner, Lisa Scottoline, C.J. Box, Chloe Benjamin, and Jeffery Deaver. She lives in Manhattan with her husband.

Accepting: Psychological Suspense, Thrillers, Literary and book club fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary novels with a speculative or magical twist, Pop Culture, Narrative Nonfiction, Smart, unique memoir Not accepting: Romance, Genre Fiction (SciFi/Fantasy), Serious nonfiction & biography, YA/Children’s, Self-Help/Prescriptive, Cookbooks ——————————————————————————

rhonda penders, the wild rose press rpenders@thewildrosepress.com

Rhonda is President and editor-in-Chief of The Wild Rose Press.

She and her business partner, RJ Morris, opened the company back in 2006 and continue to be the sole owners today. TWRP, as it is affectionately known, is home to authors worldwide and currently has over 3000 active titles. Although started as a romance only publisher, they opened their garden gate to adult mainstream fiction (including historical fiction, science fiction, erotica, thrillers, etc.) in 2013. They also publish YA but do not work with children’s books, cookbooks, memoirs, or poetry. They publish in ebook format as well as print and audio. In January 2018 TWRP was named Best Publisher of the Year by an independent study for the 9th year. Rhonda lives in Upstate new York in a picturesque hamlet nestled along the erie Canal. She and her husband, Scott, have been married 33 years and have three adult sons, a cat and an annoying spoiled Siberian Husky. She enjoys writing, boating, cooking and baking and is never happier then when all her sons are home and around her table.

Accepting: All genres of adult fiction and YA. Not accepting: Children’s books, poetry, memoir, nonfiction.

register online at http://bit.ly/pennwriters2019.

the penn writer • March/april 2019 • www.pennwriters.org

HELP WANTED Pennwriters Conference Volunteers Needed if you plan to attend the 2019 pennwriters conference, please consider volunteering. we have a number of opportunities. Many jobs take only a few minutes, while others may take more. positions are available prior to and during the conference. in addition to getting to see what happens behind the scenes, you can interact and network with many accomplished authors and speakers. some jobs even pair you with agents or editors. Moderators introduce a session speaker by reading a short bio (already written and provided to you) and distribute handouts if necessary. tiMeKeepers for agent/editor pitch appointments keep the 10-minute sessions running smoothly. penn pals greet agents, editors and speakers, pass out materials and answer questions that arise throughout the event. we will also need a few people to work the registration desK on friday and/or saturday morning. to volunteer for any of these positions or offer help with other tasks, contact pauline and hilary at conferencecoordinator@pennwriters.org.

Donations Needed for Conference Basket Raffle it's the most wonderful time of the year: pennwriters conference time! the closing ceremony of our event won’t feature olympics-style fireworks... instead, we have (drum roll, please!) the annual Basket raffle! i'm reaching out for your support. please consider donating a basket on behalf of your area, your critique group, or even in memory of your great aunt edna, who loved reading. in the past, members have donated baskets containing books written by pennwriters, books about the craft of writing, coffee, writing tools, wine, and a plethora of other items. Baskets representing the donor’s region are a favorite, and donations of services are always appreciated. please email me if you are considering this last option. the money raised by the basket raffle helps offset conference costs. so, please consider a donation. Baskets can be brought to the conference or delivered to me by the Monday before the conference. (email me to make arrangements.) if you plan on donating or have questions, please email me at susan.sofayov@gmail.com. i'm looking forward to seeing you all!

OPEN BOARD POSITION: Webmaster needed if you have website development skills and want to get more involved with pennwriters year-round, we would love to hear from you. we are looking for an enthusiastic webmaster to join the pennwriters Board. initially you will shadow our current webmaster, taking over the duties in spring 2019. Knowledge of the wordpress development environment is a must, experience with php programming is preferred. please email hilary at president@pennwriters.org. (note froM hilarY: if you have already emailed me but received no reply, please resend your message. we’ve had some technical issues. thank you!)

the penn writer • March/april 2019 • www.pennwriters.org

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Area 1

Area 4

todd Main • area 1 representative 814-459-8752 • area1rep@pennwriters.org

denise weaver • area 4 representative area4rep@pennwriters.org

Meadville Vicinity pennwriters (MVp) Meets 1st saturday, 1-4 p.m. at tarot Bean roasting co. at 252 chestnut st. contact Janet wells at wellswoodjanet@gmail.com.

the inkwell (altoona area) Meets 1st thursdays from 6-8:30 p.m. in the altoona area. contact denise weaver at area4rep@pennwriters.org.

presque isle group Meets 2nd saturday, 1-4 p.m. at tom ridge environmental center on presque isle. contact todd Main at todd_main@steris.com. shenango Valley pennwriters (sVp) Meets 3rd saturday, 1-4 p.m. at the shenango Valley library in sharon. contact catherine Mclean at catherinemclean00@gmail.com. erie group Meets 4th saturday, 1-4 p.m. at Barnes & noble near the Millcreek Mall in erie. contact dave szymanowski at daveszy@adelphia.net. fellowship of the Quill (fotQ) Meets every thursday, 7-10 p.m. at eat ‘n park in erie. contact todd Main at todd_main@steris.com. corry writers group Meets 1st Mondays, 6:30-9 p.m. at tim horton’s, 7 e. columbus ave., corry. contact Kathy otten at jersey.vt.1774@hotmail.com.

Area 2 Mark Boerma • area 2 representative area2rep@pennwriters.org danville group Meets 1st and 3rd wednesdays, 7 p.m. at the episcopal church on Market street. contact dave freas at quillracer@pa.metrocast.net.

Area 6 suzanne Mattaboni • area 6 representative area6rep@pennwriters.org there are currently no pennwriters groups meeting in area 6, but if you are interested in forming a group, contact suzanne.

Area 7 terry friedman • area 7 representative 610-331-2558 • area7rep@pennwriters.org Blue ridge group (Virginia) Meetings include critique on request, sharing resources, writing exercises and discussion. Beginning to multi-published writers welcome. Meets 2nd & 4th wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. at the purcellville library in purcellville, Virginia. contact Bobbi carducci at Vicepresident@pennwriters.org. northern delaware group Meetings will be held monthly. all levels of experience are welcome. for details, email cindy callaghan at callaghancindy@gmail.com.

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the southern alleghenies writers guild (Johnstown, pa) Meets 3rd saturdays from noon-3 p.m. contact Jim lee at 814-442-1241 or jimlee.author@gmail.com.

Additional groups meeting in State College: olli writer's group meets monthly at the schlow library (211 s. allen st.). contact rita lumpkins at ritalouise@gmail.com. nittany Valley writers network meets 2nd tuesdays from 6-7:30 p.m. at schlow library (211 s. allen st.). nittany Valley writers network: the early risers meets 3rd wednesday from 7-8 a.m. at the waffle shop on w. college avenue. nittany Valley writers network: social meets 4th tuesdays from 5:30-7 p.m. at Mad Mex restaurant (240 s. pugh st.).

Area 5 sandra Bush • area 5 representative area5rep@pennwriters.org York area group starting in January 2019 the group will meet at the west York panera on carlisle road, on the 2nd thursday of each month, at 6 p.m. format: share up to 5 pages via email with members one week prior to meeting. Members should come to the meeting prepared to share their critique with fellow writers in person. for additional information, contact group facilitator cynthia hospador at chospador@gmail.com. harrisburg area group critique structure: Bring 10 copies of up to 5 pages, double-spaced. all genres welcome.

Meets 4th wednesdays from 6-9 p.m. at the new cumberland library’s back annex (1 Benjamin plaza, new cumberland). contact carrie Jacobs at carrieinpa@gmail.com or facebook.com/4thwednesday.

Additional writers groups meeting in Area 5: the gettysburg writers Brigade meets every wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at o’rorke’s eatery (44 steinwehr ave.) to talk about writing topics. readings are every 3rd wednesday. contact Jim rada at jimrada@yahoo.com.

the penn writer • March/april 20198 • www.pennwriters.org

Area 3

Pennwriters Election News

stephanie claypool • area 3 representative area3rep@pennwriters.org

BY daVe freas, election chair

area 3 Meetings: Please note: If you are a Pennwriter outside of Area 3, but would like to come to Area 3 meetings, you are most welcome. Prospective new Pennwriters members are welcome to check us out. second tuesday of the Month Meet-to-chat 7-9 pm at panera in ross town center, 7217 McKnight road. enjoy the company and conversation of other local writers. come meet other writers and talk about writerly things in a relaxed environment. we’ve been having a great time. Make some new friends. learn. find out about stuff. area 3 critiQue groups: the pittsburgh east writer's group small, friendly critique group focusing on fiction. all genres welcome.

Meets on the third saturday of each month, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the upstairs conference room at the Monroeville public library. contact chuck rakiecz crakiecz@verizon.net critique group north eight members writing shorts, flashes, novels. Meets on the second thursday of the month at perkins restaurant on route 19 in cranberry township from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., including time for lunch. the group is now at full capacity of eight and is accepting candidates for a wait list. contact Maryalice Meli at maryalicemeli@yahoo.com. the Bridgeville critique group Meets the fourth wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at panera Bread in the chartiers Valley shopping center, 1025 washington pike, Bridgeville, pa. fiction or nonfiction wip are accepted and any level of writer is welcome. we review one person's work each month. work to be critiqued is sent to all group members at least a week in advance so everyone has ample time to review it before the meeting. the group is currently full but is keeping a wait list. we welcome anyone, published or not. anyone who would like to join the group, get additional information, or come to a session to try us out and see how we work, please contact Barb d'souza at barbrett@verizon.net. cranberry township critique group a small group focused on fiction, mainly novels, meeting at the cranberry library every three weeks on saturdays at 9:30 am. this group is now at capacity. to get on a wait list or for more information contact amy wagner at amywagner00@gmail.com. south hills critique group a small group meeting one saturday per month at 10 am in the galleria of Mt. lebanon. work to be critiqued is emailed one week ahead of the meeting. there is space available. rosemary ray: southside27@outlook.com.

Join the area 3 Yahoo group pennwriters who wish to stay informed of area 3 news and last-minute updates, may join the area 3 Yahoo group. Joining allows you to post news of sales and new markets, ask questions, suggest discussion topics, or announce area events of interest to pennwriters. to join, email pennsarea3-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

it’s election time again—time to vote for pennwriters’ Board positions and the Meritorious service award that recognizes someone who has gone above-and-beyond for the organization. You should have received an e-mail ballot around March 4— once again keyed to your area. if your address—mailing and/or email—has changed, please be sure to notify Jackie shaffmaster (treasurer@pennwriters.org) and me (quillracer@pa.metrocast.net). if the email address you gave us is invalid, you won’t receive a ballot. if your area is not listed or is incorrect, you will not be able to vote for your own area representative. the voting website will close on March 29, so be sure to complete your ballot and get your votes submitted asap. contact me with any questions at 570-759-3482 or quillracer@pa.metrocast.net. thank you.

WRITER’S TOOLBOX DOMINATORS BUYER TYPE Continuing discussion from last issue on DISC buyer types, dominators are resultsdriven, power-oriented people. As such, they typically hold positions of power. executive summary-style approaches work best on them, helping them make fast decisions. Put your best benefit forward immediately. When we talked about elevator pitches, this is where it’s crucial to be to-the-point and quick on what’s in it for the customer. How to spot them: They usually don’t let you, because they’re too busy to waste time on idle chatter with no benefit.

-from Strategic Marketing Made Easy For Writers: Optimize Your Promotions for Bestseller Results by nate hardy, area 6. www.plussignproductions.org

the penn writer • March/april 2019 • www.pennwriters.org

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Market News

coluMn #130

BY JiM lee, area 4, associate editor, MarKet reports

chicken soup for the soul pays a flat fee of $200 (+10 contributor copies) for each story or poem in any of their numerous themed anthologies. the deadline to submit to their “forgiveness” book, for instance, is May 30, 2019. Visit www.chickensoup.com/storysubmissions/possible-book-topics for general guides and from there click on buttons for the specific guides and deadlines for each book they’re reading for currently and the submit button to send in your work. one of the longest lived of small press sf/f/h magazines, space and time is back after a brief hiatus and under new management. at this writing, they’re open for fiction subs (10,000 wds max, while 5,000-7,000 wds is considered ideal), but not as yet for poetry. pay is modest (1 cent/wd).

Mary is an online lit mag from st. Mary’s college in california. they like daring, strange fiction, nonfiction and poetry, as well as hybrid forms of these. they put out 2 issues per year and pay a flat fee of $30 per accepted piece. for poems, send a max of 5 at one time. fiction and nonfiction needs to be 15 pages max. they also want a brief (50 wds max) author bio. submission window is open till april 15. www.stmarys-ca.edu/Marysubmissionform literary aMwa is the publication of the american Medical women’s association. they use fiction, nonfiction and poetry by female medical professionals as well as those in training. no mention of payment amounts, but if you qualify, check out www.amwa-doc.org/literary-amwa. there’s a sub form to click on at the bottom of the guideline page. another market for medical-related writing, literature and Medicine is associated with Johns hopkins university press. it’s an annual magazine and seeks medical-focused essays (5,000-9,000 wds) on the relationship between the medical profession and fiction. they also use reviews of medical fiction and (much more rarely) fiction. again, they don’t mention payment. www.press.jhu.edu/journals/literature-and-medicine sport rocketry wants nonfiction articles on all aspects of the hobby of small sport rockets. accompanying photos and/or illustrative artwork is also expected. this highly specialized publication pays $350/article. www.nar.org/sport-rocketry-magazine/magazine-submissions

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a feature section at BBc.com, BBc travel pays up to 56 cents/wd for high quality content about travel destinations all around the globe. articles range from 800 to 2,000 wds. they want queries/pitches, and the guideline page includes a sample of the sort of pitch they favor. www.bbc.com/travel/story/20160106-bbc-travel-author-brief as the name indicates, chowhound is a blog site centered on enjoying food. they want articles on new recipes, food-related hobbies, etc. pay is reported as up to 29 cents/wd. www.chowhound.com/guidelines gifts for card players is an internet-based shopping page specializing in helping people find links to outlets for stationery, playing cards, card novelties and card accessories. Yes, another very specialized market. they want chatty, human interest nonfiction (500-1,000 wds) and pay $50-100/article. www.giftsforcardplayers.com/write-for-us/ Vice is an online news site headquartered in Brooklyn, nY. they use nonfiction on politics, culture, fashion, food, travel, drugs, sex, music, sports and technology. pay rates average around 22 cents/wd, i’m told. for some info (but alas, not full guidelines), go to www.vice.com/en_us/page/vice-about. prometheus Books, an imprint of penguin/random house, is an established market for nonfiction books on popular science, philosophy, atheism, humanism and critical thinking. they only accept query letters by regular mail. download their guidelines at www.prometheusbooks.com/#about. an opinion magazine focused on today’s critical issues, the new republic accepts unsolicited email subs. they only respond if interested, but freelance pay reportedly averages 26 cents/wd. they also accept issue-oriented poetry. poems should be 1 page each, with a max of 5 poems per submission. articles should be 15 pgs max. some info (but no formal guides) at www.newrepublicv.com/pages/contact. pacific standard wants journalism on any of four major categories: the environment, education, economics and social justice. they use news reports, in-depth feature articles, interviews, photo essays and solution-oriented cultural criticism. You need to query, and they only reply if interested. pay is said to average 53 cents/wd. guides: www.psmag.com/page/write-for-us.

the penn writer • March/april 2019 • www.pennwriters.org

shock totem wants original/unpublished horror and dark fantasy, but elements of mystery, suspense, the supernatural, morbid humor, and fantasy are all okay. length: 5,000 wds. maximum. will consider reprints, but new stuff gets top priority. pay for new stories is 5 cents/wd; 3 cents/wd for reprints. subs are via an online manager site, access to which is at the bottom of their guidelines: www.shocktotem.com/guidelines/. the avery review is from the columbia university graduate school of architecture. it’s a digital journal “dedicated to books, buildings and architectural media.” they use reviews and critical essays, 2,000-4,000 wds long. pay is $400 for essays. if there’s payment for reviews, i didn’t see it mentioned. www.averyreview.com/submissions rebellious Magazine for women is a feminist publication based in chicago. Much of their content is focused on the chicago area, but they use a good amount of more general interest material. they use nonfiction articles and essays, all sorts of reviews (books, tV and films, music, etc.), as long as it fits their publication’s style and outlook. essays (500 wds max) earn $50; reviews get $25. www.spark.adobe.com/page/Y14mopwmBJorv/ alternate apocalypses is a horror anthology being assembled by B cubed press. they want stories of all manner horrific outcomes, as large as world-ending and as small as a single person’s ultimate disasters. 500-5,000 wds. Base pay is 2 cents/wd, but very short items (poems, flash fiction, etc) will get a minimum of $15. the guidelines’ email address is an insanely long thing (is this some trend i’m unaware of—and if so, what’s up with that?): www.bcubed.press.com/alt-apocal-open-call/bclid=lwar1hfwfsMJw52gcnaXwd5_pmugptrpnlgYwt82xbl7u5JQiocwdsdXod7u. i just hope i didn’t confuse a zero (0) for a o, or a small l (l) or a number 1!. (Just google it.)

Much like the nostalgia for vinyl records, there’s recently been a mini-revival of chapbooks produced on old-fashioned letterpresses. Many of the little outfits doing that are vanity-style companies, where authors pay to have these small books made.

But not all! Here are a couple that function as standard publishers and offer modest money royalties: glass poetry press puts out 4-6 chapbooks/year. press runs are in the 100-200 copy range. pay is 10 copies and 15% royalties. they also do a free lit journal (which doesn’t pay anything), but taking a look will help you know what sort of poetry they tend to like. note: their submission window for 2019 is the month of March, so don’t waste time if interested. www.glass-poetry/journal/submit.html red Bird press has been around since 2010 and has released some 90 chaps in that time. they do chapbooks of poetry, fiction, nonfiction and multi-genre titles (typically 3 of each type/yr). they also have a month-long annual sub window, but theirs is July 1-31. pay here is 5 copies and royalties, amount negotiated by individual contract. www.redbirdchapbooks.com/chapbookguidelines

Info this time came from FreedomWithWriting.com, Facebook’s Open Calls pages, AuthorsPublish.com, and my personal inquiries.

As always, tips and leads are more than welcome.

the seventh hektoen grand prix essay competition has a deadline of april 15, 2019. this year’s topic is medical-related essays (1,600 wds max) about art, history, literature and/or education. the winning essay gets $3,000; a runner-up earns $800. this contest is sponsored by something called hektoen international. (an organization? publication? i’m frankly unsure.) www.hekint.org/2017/09/05/grand-prix-submission-guidelines/

the penn writer • March/april 2019 • www.pennwriters.org

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About Pennwriters

Submissions

The Mission of Pennwriters Inc. is to help writers of all levels, from the novice to the award-winning and multipublished, improve and succeed in their craft. Pennwriters, a not-for-profit organization of more than 400 members from Pennsylvania and beyond, was established in 1988 as a networking organization for published and aspiring writers of all genres. The group offers an annual three-day writers conference and area events and has a strong internet presence, with email groups, online classes and social networks. Authors who meet set criteria are granted Published Author status. For more information about Pennwriters and its members, visit www.pennwriters.org or contact Hilary Hauck at President@pennwriters.org.

neXt deadline: april 1 The Penn Writer is published bimonthly. Contact Heather Desuta, newsletter editor, at newsletter@pennwriters.org.

Please share your news, accomplishments, tips, great quotes, book recommendations, etc. Include relevant artwork, photos and book cover images. Word counts—articles: 800 words (1-pg), 1,600 (2-pg). For articles exceeding 1,600 words, contact the editor in advance. Blurb submissions of any length are welcome.

Type “Penn WRITeR SUBMISSIOn” in the subject line of your email message, and please include your Area number.

(See the map on page 3.)