The 2010 Silken Sands Writers Conference just finished in Pensacola Beach Florida.
I'm exhausted, but I had an absolute blast!
We had major houses represented by agents and editors, and the wonderful Barbara Vey (right), as well!
It's amazing to know opportunities are created that give local writers the chance to speak one-on-one with acquiring editors and agents in an effort to get their work published.
Even though I heard over and over the laughing chant "If we don't find new authors for our readers, we're out of a job!", I know it has to be difficult to pack up and leave family and familiar friends. All with no guarantee of finding that new writer your readers will fall in love with. So I send kudos to the following agents/editors who offered pitch appointments:
Laura Bradford (Bradford Literary Agency), Elaine Spencer (The Knight Agency), Joyce Holland (The D4EO Agency), Lindsey Faber (Samhain Publishing), Megan Records (Kensington Publishing), and Patience Smith (Harlequin/Silhouette).
Three days of workshops provided ways to hone our craft. There was literally something for everyone. "Critique Shop", "Muse Therapy", "The Unpubbed's Guide to Finding the Right Agent", "Promotions", "Grogging" (group blogging), "Ruffians, Rakes, & Rulers: Bringing History to Life", "Creating Memorable Characters", "Search Like a Pro" (using the net for information), "Shining in a Shrinking Market", "How to Write a Good Book Based on the Good Book", "Paranormal Plot: What's Hot & What's Not", "Designed to Sell", "Corraling the Clutter", "You Can Find Time to Write", "The Pros & Cons of Writing for the e-Market", "The Subliminal Writer", "Targeting Contests", "Web 1.0", Keynote Speaker Karen Rose's "Doing It With Dialog", "Beyond the Cookie Cutter Cowboy" by the Sizzlers own newly published Sayde Grace, "Bringing the Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Paranormal Character to Life", "Lure Your Readers Into Living Your Story" and "Self-Editing Your Manuscript".
Our RWA chapter boasts some talent of its own in the form of published authors. Cynthia Eden, Fran McNabb, Allison Knight, Sayde Grace and Kelly L. Stone. If I missed anyone, I plead a numb brain from information overload and exhaustion--and extend the promise to fix it!
There was even some fun built in besides the lure of white sand and water of the beaches. Friday evening's dessert get-together followed by an open agent/editor panel was lively and informative; and the semi-formal awards banquet shared by our sister chapter Southern Magic saturday night was followed by karaoke. Nothing like a bunch of writers letting their hair down!
The Southern Sizzlers were well represented and are sure to have plenty of information with Pics and Presences! Be sure to check out the blog http://southernsizzleromance.wordpress.com
The work involved to make this a success literally entailed two years effort, with many hands doing the work. But two main things stand out in my mind that just scream this particular conference:
Cynthia Eden's mega-watt smile that never dimmed no matter how late it got or how demanding the situation, and Joan Turner standing over yet another pile of boxes saying, "Mike, you're so pretty!"
'Til the next time!
Runere McLain
I have another more interactive blog--(www.mclainparanormal.wordpress.com) that just launched, so be sure and send me some feedback! It would be nice to hear what you'd be interested in having presented.
Being a paranormal writer I thought it would be fun and enlightening to start by announcing an upcoming interview with a professional paranormal investigator.
This lady is one interesting person, with an assortment of equipment nothing short of amazing. I hope she can enlighten us on its use.
Runere