🌷 Happy Spring to our Northern Hemisphere Chanticleerians! 🌷
🍂Happy Fall to our Southern Hemisphere Chanticleerians! 🍁
This time of year is the time for the
Annual Chanticleer Authors Conference
CAC24!
and the highly anticipated
Chanticleer International Book Awards Banquet and Ceremony!
When we start seeing tulips and daffodils coming up with snow geese and Trumpeter swans flying across the sky, we know that it is time for the annual Chanticleer Authors Conference here in Bellingham, Wash. Did I tell you how much I love this time of year in the Pacific Northwest? These photos were taken about a 15 minute drive south from here.
But I digress.
We are here to discuss Working with Ingram, Selling on Amazon, Pitching, the Art of Subtext, Podcasting, and more for #seriousAuthors!
These are just a few of the sessions that CAC 24 is offering in just a few short weeks!
Please check back often as we continuously update the CAC pages.
Susan V. Meyers – Creative Writing Program Director at Seattle University and Pushcart Prize and Best American Series Nominee. Her novel Failing the Trapeze won the Nilsen Award.
Nicole J. Persun is an award-winning and internationally bestselling author with a master’s degree in Creative Writing & Instruction. Nicole has written and published in multiple genres, most recently book club fiction under the pen name Jennifer Gold.
Kim Hornsby is a USA Today and Amazon Bestselling Author along with being a sold, multi-optioned, and produced screenwriter. Her Chanticleer Paranormal Book Awards winning novel,The Dream Jumper’s Promise, is in development with plans to film in late 2024. We are excited for her Romcom Christmas movie,Christmas in Crystal Creek,that is slated for filming in 24/25.
D.D. Black’s Thomas Austin Crime Thrillers series has garnered more than 30,000 Amazon reviews and have earned the #1 Best Seller in Mystery Series. Ranked #1 in Traditional Detective Mysteries in Books and Kindle Store. Previously, he wrote thrillers under the name A.C. Fuller, including The Alex Vane Media Thrillers, The Ameritocracy Series, and The Crime Beat. Altogether, he’s written and published over thirty books.
Reenita Malhotra Hora is the CEO of Chapter by Episode Productions. She has years of experience growing organizations from startups to medium-sized businesses through storytelling, creative marketing and business strategy. Hora has also written seven books.
She has contributed to Reuters, the South China Morning Post family section, the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN, Asian Investor, Times of India, Business Line, Bloomberg on-air news reporter, writer, and producer, Rolling Stone, and the Economic Times.
We are thrilled to announce that D.D. Black, Amazon international bestselling mystery and crime author, to keynote and present at the 2024 Chanticleer Authors Conference. He also writes media thrillers under the name A.C. Fuller.
D.D. Black / A.C. Fuller – Amazon International Bestselling Author
Adam is a full-time author with more than 30 published books under two different names — A.C. Fuller and D.D. Black. Previously, he was an adjunct professor of journalism at New York University and has taught writing and book marketing at conferences and libraries all over the country and internationally. He lives with his wife, son, and three dogs in Kitsap County.
Fans of Robert Dugoni, Michael Connelly, Lisa Regan, and David Balducci are going to love this series and writers will appreciate what D.D. Black will bring to their Writer’s Toolbox!
“D.D. Black evokes comparisons to John Grisham’s finest — The Firm and The Pelican Brief — with a touch of Woodward and Bernstein’s All the President’s Men.” ROBERT DUGONI – #1 Amazon and New York Times Bestselling Author of My Sister’s Grave
Incorporating Mystery and Suspense Techniques Into Any Genre—Fiction or Memoir
D.D. Black will cover both structure and scene-level craft elements.
Topics in this Master Writing Craft Class will include:
Using examples from best-selling literary fiction, mysteries, fantasy, and even memoirs, you’ll learn professional techniques for weaving compelling mystery and suspense into your book, regardless of genre.In the class we will:
Discuss how to incorporate the mystery novel structure into non-mystery genres, such as literary fiction, memoir, sci-fi, and fantasy
Study the use of the elements of mystery in wildly different award-winning and best-selling books, such as: “The Round House” by Louise Erdrich, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling, and “Dreams from My Father” by Barack Obama
Learn to ask questions both big and small to keep readers intrigued
Talk about how to craft clues, red herrings, plot twists, and cliffhangers for maximum intrigue
“Mystery is a whisper, not a shout.” – Kate Atkinson
CAC24 will be held at the Sheraton Four Points Lakeway, Bellingham, Wash. Discounted room rates for conference attendees are available.
Free Parking is available.
Additional Sessions by D.D. Black
Additionally, D.D. Black (aka Adam (A.C.) Fuller) will present sessions, participate on panels, and hold a kaffeeklatsch during the CAC24 (Friday, April 19th and Saturday, April 20th). Topics will include: Marketing for Indie Authors, Creating and Sustaining a Series Tik Tok for Authors, Going Wide – Selling Books Internationally, Selling on Amazon.
D.D. Black will also present a CAC24 Keynote Address along with participating in the 2023 Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday evening, April 20th.
We want to share advice on how to care for arguably the most important tool in a writer’s toolbox.
Our computers!
It stores your intellectual property, aids in getting words from your brain into little alphabet letters that add up to a story. And for most of us, enables us to create what we love most—books and stories!
Your hardworking computer – whether it is a desktop, laptop, pad, or your own Mad Maxx creation of technologies (like Argus’s), deserves a little bit of attention.
We often forget how important it is to maintain a clean computer on the inside and outside, even if our desk and the surrounding area is spotless. Here are a few tips to get you started. And, yes, this is your annual reminder!
1. Clean your keyboard, mice, screens, smart phones, laptops, and electronic devices.
Cleaning Keyboards
Wipe it down with a slightly damp microfiber cloth, dry it with a different cloth, and then use a disinfectant wipe or a cloth just damp with rubbing alcohol to finish it out (do not use bleach!). Probably best to do this when your computer and keyboard are unplugged because keyboards are actually quite delicate inside.
Gross stuff under the keycaps. Maintenance will prevent your computer keyboard from getting to this state.
Also, you can turn your keyboard or laptop upside down and give it a gentle shake or two about once a week. Gentle being the operative word. You may be surprised to see what falls out of it.
If you want more detailed information, visit this wikiHow site page: How to Clean a Keyboard
The operative word is GENTLY and then just for a few seconds. Do this every week or so.
I received one of these OXO Good Grips Sweep and Swipe in my Christmas stocking last year. I adore it! And use it–especially when I am at my computer on a phone call. Gives me something to fidget with. The brush works well on the keyboard and small places on devices. The red “screen cleaner” not so much, but it does remove smudges from touch screens. Available at most hyper-markets and, of course, on Amazon.
We’ve even seen Argus vacuum his keyboards. But, that is up to you.
Really consider giving this a try. Your keyboard will feel cleaner. All the bits of dust and crumbs of food you’ve learned to ignore will be gone, and it will be such a pleasant experience for your hands.
A compressed air canister for electronics can also be really useful to blow dust and debris out from the keys. (wikiHow) Be sure to keep the nozzle about a half an inch above the keyboard.
Not convinced. Here are some statistics:
Researchers found that the keyboards contained more 7,000 microorganisms, while headphones had more than 2,000.
A British consumer group, conducted a study on workspace hygiene. They swabbed hundreds of their own keyboards and pieces of office equipment. They found that the average keyboard contains more bacteria than the average toilet seat.
Don’t get QWERTY Tummy – named for the stomach bug caught from keyboards and cell phones.
Cleaning Screens
We’ve all had that experience of editing and suddenly an errant apostrophe or period appears where there ought not to be one. We click on it to edit it, but something about the way it appears doesn’t quite make sense, and then we can’t delete it from the page. That’s when it clicks. The screen is just dirty.
To clean it, a microfiber cloth is always the recommendation. Always dab any cleaning solution (Windex and/or a little bit of mild soap and water are recommended but check before trying anything else!) onto the cloth not directly on the screen itself.
I just spotted these electronic wipes (images below). Now I’m going to get some for the office. They are anti-static cleaning wipes for LCD screens, computers, tablets, smart phones, laptops, touchscreens, and TVs and gaming consoles. Available at most hyper-markets and, of course, on Amazon. Miracle Wipes for Electronics, Individual Pre-Moistened Lens Wipes ALIBEISS (great for coffee shop writing and while traveling), and Weiman Electronic Wipes, along with reusable personal electronics microfiber cleaning cloths.
And while you are in cleaning mode, clean your personal mobile phone device, your Kindle, your tablets, your gaming device, the remote controls for TV, and etc.
We will be back with some more “browser” and digital hygiene to keep your writing progressing!
Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas – One Day at a Time
And the Seventh Day of Christmas brings us a New Year!
“But Jiminy Crickets, it’s after December 25th! Is it not too late for the 12 Days of Christmas?” you say.
Not to fear, Chanticleerians! The 12 Days of Christmas begins on December 26th! And it continues to the 6th of January – Three Kings Day. The four weeks leading up to Christmas is known as the Advent.
So if you haven’t finished wrapping presents, sending out those cards, and baking cookies—don’t worry—you’ve got an extra six days!
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Seven Swans-a-Swimming
Six Geese-a-Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens (Chanticleer’s favorite #justsaying)
Two Turtle Doves
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree
The 7th Day of Christmas is January 1st! A new year means new beginnings, new habits, new routines, and new hopes and dreams for the future.
The Seven Swans symbolize Seven Graces: Service, Teaching, Encouraging, Giving and Sharing, Planning, Leadership, and Reaching Out to Others
What are your favorite ways to mark the new year? Resolutions? Thorough cleaning? A polar plunge?
On the 7th Day of Christmas, Chanticleer brings to me….
The 7 Tiers of Achievement!
The Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards (CIBAs) has 25 Divisions, including, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Short Stories, Collections, and Series! You can learn more about these here and submit your work for 2024! While winning a Chanticleer International Book Award (or CIBA) feels great! The best part for authors is the digital marketing that comes with it.
But what is this digital marketing we’re talking about?
Every time a book you enter advances in our Awards, we post about it on our website, social media, and in our newsletter. This makes sure that your name and book are in front of the eyes of thousands of people and it tells search engines that you are doing something right. Being discoverable and searchable is more critical than ever as more and more books are published each year. If you want the benefits of being an award winner and touted on the internet, be sure to submit to the CIBAs today!
Nevertheless, though, are all the bells and whistles. OR should we say RIBBONS and BADGES? And cash prizes! And awards from sponsors!
And even more promotion opportunities!
And book stickers!
Grand Prize Ribbons!CIBA Grand Prize Division Winners
An invitation to join our curated online communityThe Roost!
We are so proud the community we have on The Roost! It is great perch to hang out on for writers and publishers to hang out in and connect.
We host weekly write-ins, discussions of writing craft books, and advice on the author’s journey. With authors in all stages of the writing process joining us, there is always something to learn on this independent PRIVATE social media site.
Writing may seem like a solitary activity, but stories are told in community. Whether you find that on The Roost or elsewhere, we’re happy that you are a part of our community here at Chanticleer.
Limited Time Only! Join The Roost during the 12 Days at a discounted holiday price.
Our favorite part about having the 12 Days of Christmas is that we can have the time we need to celebrate with our loved ones. We have time for wrapping presents, meeting with friends for hot cocoa, and continuing to prepare the Chanticleer Authors Conference and the 2023 CIBA Banquet and Ceremony.
Wishing you Happy New Year from Chanticleer! from Kiffer, Sharon, David, Dena, Vilina, Scott, Anya, and Argus!
Ellen Jordan, who served in the WACs during World War II, was born on October 25, 1922.
Beloved Aunt Ellen Jordan
Ellen Jordan was my aunt. She never had children of her own, but looked after her nieces and nephews as if they were her own. I still have a doll that was handmade by her for a Christmas gift. As a little girl and then later as a teen-age girl, she helped me, many a time, to sew dresses, along with showing me how to crochet and knit.
She was also instrumental in helping to raise her nephew, Billie Wayne Flynn, who graduated from West Point Academy and was killed in Viet Nam January 23, 1967.
Ellen took care of four of her younger siblings until she enlisted at the age of 22. My mother and her twin sister were fourteen-years-old (the youngest of the siblings) when Ellen enlisted.
Ellen Jordan enlisted in the Army in 1944 at the local U.S. Post Office where the local Army recruiting office was located. She attended basic training at Fort Oglethorpe and served in the Medical Corp while stationed at Camp Wolter, Texas in the Hospital Unit. She had on-the-job training on how to run the ICU unit, assist with operations and take care of the wounded soldiers. Since there was a shortage of medical supplies, the staff had to improvise on how to care for the patients, including constructing oxygen tents and setting up a patient ward on enclosed porches. After the war, she remained in Texas and continued to take care of the wounded at the clinic.
She eventually moved back to Greensboro, NC, to take care of her parents.
To listen to this oral history segment, please click on the link above. Hearing her voice in the interview opened a floodgate of memories about her. Ellen was truly an adventuresome soul.
Ellen Jordan (1st row, 3rd from left) and other WACs pose beside a structure at Camp Wolters, Texas, circa 1944. In front of the women are five puppies. The women were allowed to keep pets at this base.More than 150,000 WACs (Women’s Army Corp) served during WWII. The WAC was founded due to Representative Edith Nourse Rogers (MA). Rogers had witnessed first-hand the contributions women made in WWI. The WACs was formed in 1943 transitioning from an auxiliary branch of the Army (no life insurance, overseas pay, or death benefits) the WAACs to the WACs. WACs now receive equal rank, pay, and benefits equal to their male counterparts.
Ellen passed away in Greensboro, North Carolina at the age of 95. Two days before her “little sister,” my mother, Antha Mae Pace, who was 87-years-old when she passed away on May 26, 2017 in Bellingham, Wash.
My first cousin, Billy Wayne Flynn, at West Point Academy. He was killed in Vietnam January 23, 1967.
Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good, and to protect our democracy.
As an annual tradition here at Chanticleer Reviews on Veterans Day, we are suggesting these titles from among our reviews of authors who are Veterans.
But before we recognize these outstanding works, let us take a minute to review these statistics about those who have served our country.
Writing is known to be a “transformative therapy’ for veterans haunted by their experiences. “The Red Badge Project encourages Wounded Warriors to rediscover their personal voice and realize the value of their experiences and emotions.”
“RBP partners with Vet Centers and allows Veterans of all ages to take advantage of the Red Badge Project’s program while providing a link between veterans of multiple generations.” Here is a link to a Seattle Times article by Nicole Brodeur that was published on November 11, 2019, that is about the Red Badge Project.
Using the creative process of storytelling, Wounded Warriors begin to rebuild their individual sense of purpose and unique individuality.
For Wounded Warriors struggling to heal the invisible wounds of PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression, believing in the value of their story and finding the means to communicate it to family, friends, and community is a struggle of heroic proportions. Tom Skerritt is a founder and is part of the Red Badge Project faculty.
We here at Chanticleer Reviews have had the honor of reviewing top novels and narrative non-fiction written by outstanding authors whose stories enlighten, remind, empathize, and creates a better understanding with those who have served in the armed forces.
Read on to see excerpts from our reviews:
NO TOUGHER DUTY, NO GREATER HONOR
By GySgt L. Christian Bussler
First Place in Journey Awards
From a family with a long history of military service dating back to the civil war, GySgt L. Christian Bussler brings to life his experience as a Mortuary Affairs marine and sheds light on a duty that few ever talk about. He is called to duty for his first of three tours in Iraq in February of 2003 after spending many years training as a reservist.
This fear becomes reality when he narrowly escapes an IED blast with his life. Afterward, Bussler wrestles with the guilt of going back home injured, leaving his team behind to fight without him. The final and longest section ofNo Tougher Duty, No Greater Honormirrors the length of the final and longest tour from 2005-2006. This tour especially proves to be the most challenging for not just Bussler, but his whole team, and it leaves them all forever changed.
HILLBILLIES to HEROES
The Memoir of James Quinton Kelley
By S.L. Kelley
World War II veteran Quinton Kelley recounted his life story to an avid biographer – his daughter, S. L. Kelley, a documentarian and award-winning video producer.
Kelley’s tale begins in Coker Creek, Tennessee, where he was raised on an 80-acre farm, in a log cabin that he described as rough, but “brightened” with flowers. Taught to be honest and hardworking by his parents, he grew up with kerosene lamps for light, a fireplace for warmth and a wood stove for cooking. His recollections are colorful, with language that recalls his roots.
The critical issues surrounding post-traumatic stress among America’s wounded warriors is expanded here to include the challenges and concerns of military wives and families.
Barbara McNally was working as a physical therapist when she watched helplessly as a man jumped off a bridge to his death. Feeling involved in his tragedy, she learned he was a wounded veteran. The experience spurred her to find out more about PTS and its effects on those who have participated in war.
A CROWDED HEART
By Andrea McKenzie Raine Note: This is a work of Fiction
Willis Hancocks survives fighting in Western Europe during World War II but faces continuing battles of the mind at war’s end in Andrea McKenzie Raine’s poignant study of the plight of the former soldier in her historical novel,A Crowded Heart.
Willis decides to remain in London rather than return to his native Canada where his parents and sister live near Vancouver. Eager to put the war behind him, he marries Ellie, an intelligent young woman who has studied art at Cambridge University. Her affluent parents approve of Willis, and her father offers to finance his new son-in-law’s study of law at Cambridge. The newlyweds’ future could not look rosier.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY PTSD
By Christopher Oelerich
“I went away to war one person and came back another, and in my wildest dreams would never have chosen to be the one who came back.” – Christopher Oelerich
Thus begins this heartfelt discussion of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by a military veteran who has spent his life helping others deal with the debilitating symptoms associated with the disorder. Christopher Oelerich relates his own personal history, beginning from when he was drafted into the military during the Vietnam War, and continuing through his return to civilian life and his own rocky road to recovery.
Oelerich eschews political correctness in favor of blunt talk mixed with detailed, empowering strategies that have worked for him, as well as for the military veterans and homeless he has helped over the years.
Village Books is announcing the debut of the annual Literary Citizenship Award with the first recipients being recognized on Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 at Village Books, Fairhaven Village, Bellingham, Wash.
Recipients of this award are of diverse backgrounds and professions, but each have demonstrated a commitment to engage with the literary community with the intent of giving as much, if not more so, than they receive. This can take many different forms such as giving back to the literary community in a meaningful way, making yourself available to other writers as time allows to provide your knowledge and expertise, championing other people’s successes, and involving yourself in the local literary landscape of independent bookstores, libraries, and writing organizations.
Village Books, our local independent bookstore (and Chanticleer Authors Conference Book Room Manager) was founded in June 1980 and is a pillar of the pacific northwest writing community.
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 at six o’clock in the evening
at Village Books, Bellingham
All are Invited
“Our literary world is a social ecosystem that relies on others: readers, writers, editors, reviewers, publishers, booksellers, and so on. The writing and publishing world is one made of relationships. Writing itself may be a somewhat solitary activity, but once the story or poem is ‘done’ we rely on others to read, share, and publish our work. Yet there are so many levels of participation from others in this community.” ~ Lori May, author of The Write Crowd: Literary Citizenship & The Writing Life
We invite you to join us to honor this year’s Literary Citizenship Award Ceremony recognizing the following three recipients.
Joan Airoldi (1946-2022)
Joan served as Executive Director of the Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) from 2002-2013.
In 2004, she took on the FBI by refusing to provide information to an agent regarding a Deming Library patron’s use of a book on Osama bin Laden. A grand jury subpoena was issued to get the records, but when it became clear Airoldi and the WCLS board were prepared to challenge the subpoena in court, it was withdrawn. She will be remembered as a Library Champion on a multitude of counts: establishing the Whatcom READS program in collaboration with partners at Whatcom Community College, advocating for new libraries in Ferndale, North Fork, South Whatcom, Island and Point Roberts and encouraging all of us to “Be Curious” and to “Listen, Learn & Lead.” Joan’s courage in defending patrons’ rights to privacy earned her national recognition with a PEN/Newman Award. She generously donated the prize money to start the Whatcom County Library Foundation.
“Be Curious” “Listen, Learn & Lead”
“Libraries are a haven where people should be able to seek whatever information they want to pursue without any threat of government intervention.” ~ Joan Airoldi
Laurel Leigh Erdoiza (1963-2023)
Professionally, Laurel was known as a writer, teacher, and editor whose 20 years of freelancing extends internationally. She was a script doctor, structural editor, and managed many publishing projects for Chronicle Books.
She taught creative writing and memoir classes through the Chuckanut Writers Program, helped found the Chuckanut Writers Conference in 2004, and received the Bellingham Mayors Arts Award, and was published widely including the Pushcart-nominated essay “Nursey” (published in Clover, A Literary Rag in 2015). Those who knew Laurel personally have experienced firsthand both her talent and generosity of spirit. She walked hand-in-hand with collaboration and mentorship, helping countless writers hone their skills, find their voice, and bring their works out into the world. This included her hosting Village Books’ Open Mic for more than a decade, establishing and fostering the spirit of welcoming support that continues to this day. “It’s a good day to write.” ~ Laurel Leigh Erdoiza
“It’s a good day to write.” ~ Laurel Leigh Erdoiza
Rena Priest – Washington State Poet Laureate
Rena is an enrolled member of the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) Nation. She served as the 6th Washington State Poet Laureate (2021-2023) and was named the 2022 Maxine Cushing Gray Distinguished Writing Fellow.
Priest is also the recipient of an Allied Arts Foundation Professional Poets Award and fellowships from the Academy of American Poets, Indigenous Nations Poets, Nia Tero, and the Vadon Foundation, and has taught at the Chuckanut Writers Conference. The thread that runs through all of Rena’s accomplishments and accolades is how she builds and connects community. “I think that there’s a way that poetry connects people. It’s very special– it’s like a soul connection, but it’s not invasive in any way,” she says. “The way that it works is subtle. It’s gentle, but it’s deep and profound.” For the book, I Sing the Salmon Home, Rena gathered poems from over 150 Washington poets ranging from first graders to tribal elders, all inspired by the Northwest’s beloved, iconic salmon. A diverse chorus of voices, they join together in poems that praise salmon’s heroic journey, beauty, courage, and generosity and witness the threats salmon face from pollution, dams and warming oceans.
“I think that there’s a way that poetry connects people. It’s very special– it’s like a soul connection, but it’s not invasive in any way,” she says. “The way that it works is subtle. It’s gentle, but it’s deep and profound.” ~ Rena Priest
Village Books’ Literary Citizenship Award celebrates and thanks these three talented and dedicated community builders, community mentors, and community defenders.
They have each demonstrated, in their own unique way, the virtues that embody a Good Literary Citizen. For this, Village Books is awarding $1000 to each of them and hereby induct them into the Village Books Literary Citizen Hall of Fame which will be on permanent display in Village Books, Fairhaven.
Cami Ostman messaged me today asked me if I could help her get the word out about the ceremony and to join us to celebrate the life of a beautiful, creative, talented, warm, funny, smart, interesting human being, Laurel Leigh. Join us as we remember the joy Laurel brought to our lives by hearing the reading of her story that was accepted for publication in the Santa Monica Review, upcoming November 2023 issue. I am told by Cami that it will make you laugh and cry. Always the writer, Laurel Leigh asked Cami if she would help get the word out about her latest publication. Cami told her she would. Cami messaged me to help her get the word out for Laurel Leigh. That is how Writers work – together. Laurel showed us how to build community. — Kiffer
I learned a very long time ago in business school that “nothing happens until someone sells something.” [Henry Ford]
Selling is meant to create a chain reaction.
Pitching is the act of trying to sell something.
Selling (pitching) your book(s) is part of being a professional writer.
Pitching your book should put another spin on your book’s marketing flywheel to gain momentum for your book sales. The flywheel strategy creates a cyclical business pattern of success.
The idea is that a flywheel takes a lot of effort at the start, but once it gets spinning, it continues to quickly gain momentum and spin faster. This is similar to the snowball effect, where a snowball gets pushed down a hill as it progressively gets bigger and bigger until it is nearly impossible to stop before it reaches the bottom of the hill. The difference is that a flywheel never has to stop.
Amazon has a very intentional flywheel strategy. And, yes, it was written by Jeff Bezos on a paper napkin in 2001.
ATTRACT. ENGAGE. DELIGHT/ENTERTAIN
Elegantly simple.
The FLYWHEEL SUMMARY
The flywheel effect occurs when small wins (acquiring readers one at a time) accumulate over time, creating momentum that keeps your business growing (increasing your readership).
The concept is based on mechanical flywheels that power rowing machines and other devices.
Achieving the flywheel effect requires removing friction and applying force. In business terms, that means creating a self-serve purchase flow and applying “forces” to make the wheel spin faster, e.g., SEO, Meta-Data, and nurture campaigns.
A flywheel go-to-market model is well suited for selling books — easily replicated products such as books, e-pubs, audio-books, games, etc.
Flywheels attract and engage customers 24 hours a day – they’re literally working while you sleep. See SEO above.
Stay tuned for future posts on FLYWHEELS and how to create yours.
A Tiny Bit of Publishing History
We will circle back around to pitching. Please bear with me.
Amazon shifted the book-selling business by selling print books on July 16, 1995 and is now considered having the world’s largest collection of books. The first books were sold out of Jeff Bezos rented home’s garage. Remember that Bezos drew Amazon’s flywheel on a napkin in 2001. The rest is history.
E-books have been around since late 1990s, but it wasn’t until Amazon released the Kindle book reader in 2007 that e-books (digital books) caught the general public’s attention and dollars.
Selling books online – digital books requires a very different approach – one that sells directly to the reader and works to make the work discoverable by potential readers/purchasers.
The Pew Research Center states that as of April 4, 2012 that only one-fifth (21%) of Americans have read an e-book.
As of now, 30% of Americans have read an e-book. This number has remained consistent since 2019 according to PEW Research.
The typical American reads five books a year (median – symmetric distribution) while the average (mean – includes outliers) is about 14 books per year per person.
Most Americans only have eight hours of free time per week. This is the window when reading a book (e-book or print book) for pleasure/leisure would take place. People could watch TV, play video games, play pickleball, golf, swim, etc. instead of reading during these rare free hours. Hence, this is why audio-books sales are increasing! Busy people can listen to books while they commute, knit, wash laundry, load the dishwasher, or rake the autumn leaves.
The point is “what is in your bag to sell?” If you are self-published, are your works available on a wide variety of platforms to reach your readers?
Audiobooks Hands-Free Reading
Now to circle back to PITCHING!
Whether or not you are pitching your work to a literary agent, a publishing acquisitions editor, bookstore staff, or, most importantly, a potential reader, you will need to know how to pitch your works.
Your literary agent will need to know how to pitch your book to publishers. They do not get paid until your book is under contract (and purchased).
The publishing house (you or a traditional publishing house) will pitch your books to “the trade” – booksellers, libraries, online selling platforms, and other brick & mortar outlets.
Most writers first exposure to pitching to agents is at writing conferences that offer “Pitch Blocks” or “Pitch Slams” where the conference host is paid (again, not the literary agent) a fee for hosting a session with a roster of agents who will listen to pitches. PNWA and Writer’s Digest offer these for a fee per block (WD $179 PNWA $100 per block). Pitch time is anywhere from five minutes to eight minutes per attendee and are on a strict time schedule with one pitch being delivered after another. There are different schools of thought of whether pitch sessions are helpful or not in obtaining a literary agent, but that is another topic.
How to Pitch at Conference Pitch Sessions
While it is normal to feel nervous when you are pitching your works, it behooves you to remember that:
You paid for this pitch session.
The clock is ticking.
There are many others pitching to the same agent.
Agents only want pitches on completed manuscripts or polished non-fiction book proposals.
Do your homework ahead of –make sure that you are pitching to an agent who is representing your genre. Visit their websites to see other books that they are representing.
First, most agents are forgiving of nervousness. It happens a lot and all that anxiousness will not help your pitch to stand out. Don’t spend your time apologizing for being nervous or explaining why you are not prepared. Doing so is wasting precious time. Rambling does not make a good impression. You want them to have your pitch echoing in their brains.
Come prepared. Over prepare. Have a prepared, polished pitch. Write it on a note card. Carry the card with you. Memorize your pitch. Read off from it if you need to. Believe me, the agent will appreciate this more than you hearing you hemming and hawing and umming.
“Or is your name Sir ‘Um’?” Knight’s Tale
They also do NOT want to hear about your ‘dreams and passions’ about writing. Everyone that is pitching to them is passionate about their writing. Agents are about salability. They have mortgages to pay, food to by, and their own dreams of vacations and income from discovering that next break-out Hunger Games. See “nothing happens until someone sells something” above.
Keep your pitch short. Have questions to ask the agent-your conduit to the world of publishing-about if there was something that appealed to them. What did not appeal to them or what was missing. Try to let the agent guide the feedback. This is your chance to get professional feedback, to listen and learn.
Also, keep in mind that agents are also seeking to represent writers who are open to feedback and pleasant to work with along with understanding the process of the publishing industry (that it takes time and effort).
Remember to bring your business card with your website and contact information. Say hello. Introduce yourself. Give your pitch early on so that the agent will have time to give you feedback on it. Ask questions instead of “explaining” your manuscript to the agent so that she will give you feedback.
When your session is over (Some are as short as three minutes. Eight minutes is considered to be a long session.). Thank them for their time and leave. The next person to pitch is waiting to take your spot.
If the agent does have interest, be sure to have your synopsis ready (printed) with your contact information in case she asks for it.
Less than 1 percent of writers at a pitch session will gain representation. It is about the same as cold querying (another post is coming on that — stay tuned). So, keep on writing, editing, refining. The main objective is for the agent at the pitch sessions to think that you are open and understand the business and marketing side of being a writer.
Most agents also understand that it’s a busy world and will allow simultaneous submissions. If they don’t, they might not be a good general fit for most writers.
Chanticleer Authors Conferences do not offer “pitch sessions.” However, we do offer sessions on developing pitches. We do have opportunities to make excellent connections with film agents, directors, publishing house acquisitions, literary agencies, and other professional connections in the content industry such as Maggie Marr, Legal (Film and Book Representation) and Scott Steindorff, President of Stone Village Film Productions
Mariners pitching prospect Bryce Miller gets his first start of spring — against team he grew up watching | The Seattle Times
What is a PITCH and/or LOGLINE?
Your story reduced to less than 33 descriptive words. EACH. WORD. COUNTS.
Brand your story with a compact package of words that will astonish and entertain. It’s a craft of its own! Continue to refine and refine your pitch to a concise sound bite.
A PITCH is NOT
A meandering description about the story
The opening scene
Side stories
Character names
Flash forwards
Psychological thinking
Don’t confuse platitudes for story – avoid them!
Get your ‘self’ (looking at you Writer) out of the way of your story
Never give away the ending
A PITCH consists of the following:
Identifying the main character (protagonist) using descriptive words — tonality – leverage your language/voice
Describe the world that character lives in (Fantasy? Dystopian? Barbie Land? Future? Stone Age? Future in a galaxy far away?
What sets the story in motion — the inciting event
The goal of the protagonist — central conflict — choice — action
What stands in the protagonist way – what is the conflict or who is antagonist?
The best loglines have a sense of irony. (There’s the conflict again!)
Answer all of the above in 33 words or less. Perfect words. Use active and visual language. This is where you should show off your word craft abilities.
How are loglines/pitches different than taglines? Pitches are descriptive. Taglines are provocative and are used for marketing. Don’t confuse the two.
Here is a classic example of a logline/pitch and tagline:
Back to the Future:
Logline: “A young man is transported to the past, where he must reunite his parents before he and his future cease to exist.”
Tagline: 17-year-old Marty McFly got home early last night—30 years early. (Notice that this tagline gives the tonality and targets the market for the work/film.)
In closing: The whole idea of pitching is to entice an extremely busy person to making time to read your work!
Next step: write a 50 word summary of your story. Bring it on your stationary along with your pitch on a notecard to your pitch session. Just in case! I’d even work on a tagline to give a visual!
An effective, evocative, compelling logline/pitch can propel your writing career forward and open doors and lead to conversations with industry professionals.
On August 18, 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States of America Constitution was ratified and signed into law on the 26th that same month.
Celebrating the 103rd Anniversary of the 19th Amendment: A Triumph of Perseverance and Equality
In the tapestry of history, some threads are woven with courage, resilience, and indomitable will. This year, as we commemorate the 103rd anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, we honor the relentless dedication of those who paved the path to gender equality and universal suffrage.
Join us in celebrating this significant milestone, reflecting on the arduous journey that spanned over seven decades. The suffrage movement wasn’t a mere campaign; it was a movement that transformed society and opened doors to empowerment.
This commemoration takes us back to the historic victory that marked the amendment’s ratification on August 18, 1920, forever engraving the right for women to vote into the framework of American democracy. The amendment stood as a testament to unity, courage, and the conviction that change is attainable.
The Nineteenth Amendment was the capstone of that fight, but it took over seventy years to achieve it.
We are celebrating the 103rd anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment’s adoption into the U.S. Constitution: the amendment that guarantees citizens the right to vote regardless of their gender, and the victory of the American Suffrage Movement. It took more than seventy years of protesting, picketing, and struggles for women to gain the civil right to vote in US elections. And many more decades passed before other disenfranchised groups were systematically denied the right to vote.
And still, the vote was not granted to Black women and men. That right came about much later than most people realize, June 6, 1965, whenPresident Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, which outlawed the discriminatory voting practices that some Southern states adopted after the Civil War.
Women’s suffrage was not just a long fight, but one taken on by many pivotal figures. But the story of the suffrage movement is best told by remembering many of its impactful suffragists, such as Alice Stone Blackwell, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Matilda Joslyn Gage, Ida B. Wells, Mary Church Terrel, Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, and Harriet Tubman whose unwavering dedication rallied people to challenge oppressive norms. Their legacy echoes through the ages, inspiring us to continue championing justice and equality.
Suffragists were physically attacked by mobs of angry men and boys while police looked the other way. They’d been roughly arrested; been held in fetid, cold, vermin-infested cells; been shackled to the wall; and endured abuse and even torture in jail. When they went on hunger strikes, they were force-fed, tubes rammed up their noses. The Christian Science Monitor.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, c. 1880
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was one of the women who first crystallized the Suffrage Movement, having helped organize the Seneca Falls Convention. Her unique background was pivotal in formulating the first demand for women’s suffrage in 1848.
As the movement grew and drew public attention, Stanton proved herself to be a skilled orator and writer, working closely with Susan B. Anthony throughout the years; Stanton actually wrote some of the speeches that Anthony delivered, and– along with Anthony– was one of the founders of the National Woman Suffrage Association. Stanton wrote for a more equitable future in more than voting; in addition to the question of suffrage, she championed a broader view of women’s freedoms, supporting labor rights, property rights, and the right to divorce. She saw that women should have the chance to lead their own lives, taking part in all aspects of society equally to men.
Movements don’t just happen, they come alive when a group of people decides to take action against injustice, and even small beginnings can lead to sweeping change.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton came from a privileged background and used her position and means to propel her views. Her father was a prominent attorney, Congressman, and a judge. He also was a slave owner. Elizabeth was exposed to the study of law and the government mechanisms that govern by her father. She was particularly against how religion was used to justify the oppression of women. She pennedThe Woman’s Bible to tackle misogynistic traditions rooted in religious dogma after being sent to a seminary at the age of sixteen.
She became an adamant abolitionist to end the practice of slavery in the United States in 1839 at the age of 24. Many historians believe that the Abolitionist Movement to End Slavery experiences and lessons were essential to pave the way for the Women’s Suffrage Movement.
Stanton wasn’t the only suffragist who saw the reality of sexist injustice throughout her society, and one of her contemporaries joined her in drawing attention to these wrongs. Matilda Joslyn Gage was considered a radical in her time, having fought against traditionalist views as Stanton had. Matilda was on the revising and editing committee for Elizabeth’s highly controversialThe Woman’s Bible.
Matilda Electa Joslyn March 24, 1826
This right to vote was a battle, fought and won 103 years ago by women we will never know, but by what they have written, what others have written about them, and what they have done for all of us.
Alice Stone Blackwell
One of the women who played a significant role in uniting these two groups was Alice Stone Blackwell.
She was in a position to do so because of her connection to the AWSA: her mother was Lucy Stone. Along with Alice’s father, Henry Browne Blackwell, they were some of the primary organizers of the group. As Alice Stone Blackwell grew up, she worked with her parents on their paper, theWoman’s Journal, and eventually ran the paper. Once the AWSA and NWSA had merged, Blackwell served as the NAWSA’s recording secretary.
Publisher and founder of the Woman’s Era Club (which laid the foundation for NAACP), Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, an activist at heart, a community leader, and a national organizer, grew up surrounded by the abolitionist ideals of justice, equality, and political representation. Her earliest public service dates to the Civil War, during which Ruffin recruited African American men for the 54th and 55th Massachusetts infantry regiments. After the war, Ruffin served on several charities that helped Southern Blacks. Ruffin dedicated her life to bettering the lives of women and Black Americans both locally and nationally. NPS.Gov/People/Josephine-St-Pierre-Ruffin.
Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin
While the centennial celebrates the federal adoption of women’s suffrage, we shouldn’t forget the smaller victories and works that punctuated the movement’s length, those who spoke out against injustice in many forms, while seeking the vote. One such woman was Ida B. Wells, who played an active role in the suffrage movement of Chicago. The city had given partial suffrage to women. Wells, along with a fellow suffragist Belle Squire, started the Alpha Suffrage Club to advance women’s suffrage further and educate women on civic involvement.
Ida Wells & Belle Squire marching in 1913
The club especially supported African American candidates for the city’s elections, working to break down multiple unjust barriers in politics. Wells participated in one of the NAWSA’s best-remembered marches, set in Washington D.C. the day before the inauguration of President Woodrow Wilson. At the beginning of the rally, she was told to walk at the back, but she refused. Ida B. Wells marched with her sister suffragists from Illinois at the front. The power of social change comes from unified work between many people, and Wells refused the idea that she, as a suffragist, could be divided from anyone else.
Along with women like Wells and Ruffin, Mary Church Terrel was an advocate for racial equality. She was entwined with gender equality, which shows throughout her work with the NAWSA, where she frequently met with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. She insisted that the movement fight for the rights of black women alongside those of white women, and spoke highly of the suffragists who fought for everyone oppressed by the political and social systems of the time. She spoke at NAWSA meetings, delivered speeches, and called for the suffragists to remember all of the women whose vote they worked so hard to gain.
Ida Wells
Let’s not allow their work to be forgotten – and let us never give up our full Rights as U.S. Citizens to carry out this all-too-important privilege.
Despite the NAWSA’s issues with racism, some black women did act within that organization, such as Mary Church Terrel, who was an advocate for racial equality entwined with gender equality, which shows throughout her work with the NAWSA, where she frequently met with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Mary insisted that the movement fight for the rights of black women alongside those of white women, and spoke highly of the suffragists who fought for everyone oppressed by the political and social systems of the time. She spoke at NAWSA meetings, delivered speeches, and called for the suffragists to remember all of the women whose vote they worked so hard to gain.
Mary Church Terrel Sept 23, 1863
Women’s suffrage had a complex relationship with black civil rights in large part thanks to the period of history in which the suffrage movement began: the Seneca Falls Convention took place in 1848, seventeen years prior to the abolition of slavery. This meant that the women’s rights movement was progressing and focusing at the same time that black people across were achieving freedom and directing themselves in a country that, while changing dramatically, still marginalized them.
Harriet Tubman’s work is an example of how black women fought on both fronts; she’s a figure best remembered for her work as a liberator, freeing slaves prior to and during the civil war, but she took part in the suffrage movement as well. During the time of the NAWSA, she traveled to meetings and demonstrations to give speeches, telling of her experiences fighting for freedom and facing down oppressive and dangerous power structures during the time of slavery, and how important the struggle for freedom is. She bridged her advocacy for equality into the fight for the vote, and during this time, Ruffin’sThe Woman’s Erawrote a profile on Tubman, as the country’s attention was once again drawn to her fight.
Harriet Tubman after the Civil War
All of these histories show that the suffrage movement’s victory– the adoption of the nineteenth amendment– was the result of disparate people, dedicated and idealistic people coming together and fighting hard for their rights. They gave time, energy, and passion to a movement that would, eventually, provide them with the right to participate in the democracy of their country. The fact that the suffrage movement stayed strong for 70 years united its two significant organizations, tackled legislation at both the national and local levels, is a testament to the people who refused to give up, and whose worked– together– to win the fight.
It’s been a century since women won the right to vote, and more than 170 years since the American suffrage movement started in earnest. This movement has a lot it can teach us: the value of working together, across the country, to bring about change; the importance of remembering that there is always more than one fight for progress and rights, that we should listen to the voices of everybody who’s been pushed down and denied their rights and opportunities; and, of course, that even in the face of a power structure that calls rebellion and the fight for equal freedoms’ radical’, that fight is a good one, and worth taking on.
At the Seneca Falls Convention, the call for women’s suffrage rang out in America, whereas before it had been considered a fringe idea, or even impossible. The fight was long, but after seventy-two years, the suffragists made what was ‘radical’ a reality.
So, in the spirit that the right to vote is something that all people deserve, and should never have been restricted to any one group over another, let’s celebrate the centennial of a victory that brought America one step closer to the ideals of equality, freedom, and the rights of all. The power of the vote has shaped America’s history. We must all understand the importance of voting, and today we recognize those who fought for our rights. We are thankful for those brave suffragettes, for it is their struggle that has given us the right to participate in our democracy regardless of gender.
It required three generations of fearless activists over a span of more than seven decades working in more than 900 state, local, and national campaigns to finally win the vote for American women. And that active verb – win – is important: Women were not given the vote; they were not granted the vote. As one commentator so aptly describes it: “They took it.” Christian Science Monitor
This year holds a special place in our hearts as we also celebrate the exceptional work of Nicole Evelina, whose groundbreaking book, ‘America’s Forgotten Suffragists: Virginia and Francis Minor,’ sheds light on the indelible contributions of lesser-known suffragists. Evelina’s meticulously researched biography illuminates the lives of Virginia and Francis Minor, who, alongside their better-known contemporaries, shaped the course of women’s rights and equality. Their story, like many others, exemplifies the unyielding spirit that fueled the suffrage movement.
As we honor the remarkable journey that brought us to this juncture, we are reminded that progress is a collective endeavor. The road to universal suffrage was marked by sacrifices, courage, and a shared vision of a more just world. The fight for equality continues to resonate, urging us to safeguard the rights that were hard-fought and won.
Join us in commemorating the 103rd anniversary of the 19th Amendment, a testament to the power of determination, unity, and the enduring spirit of change. Let us remember the past, honor those who blazed the trail, and carry forward their legacy as we champion equality and justice for all.
The Gertrude Warner Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in Middle Grade Fiction. The Gertrude Warner Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).
Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring Contemporary Middle Grade, SFF & Paranormal Middle Grade, Mystery Middle Grade, Historical Middle Grade, Adventure Middle Grade, and Graphic Novels. We will put them to the test and choose the best among them. For Young Adult Fiction see ourDante Rossetti Awards hereand for Children’s Literature see ourLittle Peeps Awards here.
These titles have moved forward in the judging rounds from all 2022 Gertrude Warner Middle Grade Fiction Long List to the 2022 Gertrude Warner Book Awards SHORT LIST. The Short Listers will compete for the Semi-Finalist positions. Finalists will be selected from the Semi-Finalists. All FINALISTS will be announced and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (CAC23).
The First Place Category Winners, along with the CIBA Division Grand Prize winners, will be selected from the 25 CIBA divisions’ Finalists.
We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 29th, 2023 at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham, Wash. sponsored by the 2023Chanticleer Authors Conference.
These titles are in the running for the SEMI-FINALISTS of the 2022 Gertrude Warner Book Awards novel competition for Middle Grade Fiction!
Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works in the 2022 CIBAs.
The 2022 Gertrude Warner Book Awards Short List
Joy A. Burke – Surviving Christmas
Cicek Bricault – KyRose Takes A Leap
Ketevan Alexander – Two Days with Zio
Sam Hooker & Lindy Ryan – Hemlock N Glitter
S.P. O’Farrell – Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London
J.K.Pinsel – KAZI
L.K. Keenan – Seb Artigas Gone Wrong
Barbara Hills – The Sun and the Starlings
Alex Paul – The King’s Armada: Arken Freeth and the Adventure of the Neanderthals, Book 6
Alan Frost – Time Travelers of the Caribbean
Bo Gannon – Rabbit Tracks – The Trail to Gettysburg
Ana Cortes – Marco, Pablo, & Olivia: Fútbol Tryouts
Anthony Feinman – I’M FAT! A Critters Adventure
Ben Gartner – People of the Sun
PJ McIlvaine – Violet Yorke, Gilded Girl: Ghosts in the Closet
Jon & Di Nelson – Spooky Stuff – Back Pocket Summer Camp Tales
Didem Saracel – Story of Universe
Christian A. Shane – Salmon Survivor
Andres Leopoldo Faza – Pomme’s Wondrous Journey
Jason Colpitts – Corrine and the Underground Province
Ted Neill & Suzi Spooner – Mystery Force Volume 1: Books 1-3 of the Mystery Force Series
Ellen Dee Davidson – WIND
Tamra Andrews – Mirror Child: Book One: The Woolgatherer
U.W. Leo – ARKO: The Dark Union (A Sci-fi Adventure Series)
Marc Remus – The Chocolate clouds
JK Noble – HALE: The Rise of the Griffins
Wilson Whitlow – Mystery of the Khar Chuluu
J. B. Spector – The Amethyst Tower, Book 2 of The Mer-Prince Adventures
Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.
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Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.
The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2021GERTRUDE WARNER Awards was:
Fishing for Luck
by Murray Richter
The 2023 GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards winners will be announced at CAC23 on April 29, 2023. Save the date for CAC23, scheduled April 27-30, 2023, our 11-year Conference Anniversary!
Submissions for the 2023GERTRUDE WARNER Book Awards are open until the end of August.Enter here!
Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.
We have a spectacular line-up of experts in marketing, book publicity, and publishing for the 2018 Chanticleer Authors Conference!
Hashtag: #CAC18 #BeyondStory
Special Guests:
Robert Scott Steindorff: Beyond the Book — Entertainment, Film, and TV
Robert Scott Steindorff is an American film and television producer who is known for adapting literary works into film works. He works with some of the top people in the entertainment industry such as Natalie Portman, Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, Ewan McGregor, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Jon Favreau, John Leguizamo, Will Farrell, Jack Black, and others.
Scott has produced Chef, Jane Got A Gun, Las Vegas and Empire Falls (TV Series), The Human Stain, Love in the Time of Cholera, and other works.
Michele Miron, Editor for Press Publications wrote that “When producer Scott Steindorff buys rights to a book, there’s a good chance that story will show up on the big screen.” She continues to report that “he makes two to three movies each year.”
Known as Hollywood’s bookman – Scott has chosen the books from these authors to adapt into movies include Philip Roth, Richard Russo,Gabriel Garcia Marquez,T.C. Boyle, Nicholas Sparks, as well as Michael Connelly’sThe Lincoln Lawyer and Mikhail Bulgakov’sMaster and Margarita.
Special Topics – Scott Steindorff with Daine Sillan – Beyond the Book
The Art of Developing Books to Film
Deconstructing a Novel into Three Acts
The Dangerous Task of Turning Beloved Bestsellers into Film or TV
The Hook in a Book
Special Event
On Word, a Chanticleer Reviews video series installment with Scott Steindorff.
Join Scott in an Actor’s Studio-style Interview with Daine Sillan for the Chanticleer Reviews video series, On Word. Friday, April 20th at 1:oo in the afternoon immediately after lunch.
KaffeeKlatsch: Q & A, Friday, immediately following the On Word session.
Jessica Page Morrell: Writing Craft Sessions that Will Take Your Work to the Next Level
Jessica Page Morrell
Each year we offer writing craft sessions from the best editors and authors in the publishing industry. This year we are excited to announce that we have Jessica Page Morrell as the teacher of the Master Writing Class Sessions.
Jessica understands both sides of the editorial desk–as a highly-sought after developmental editor and an author. Her work also appears in multiple anthologies and The Writer and Writer’s Digest magazines. She is known for explaining the hows and whys of what makes for excellent writing and for sharing very clear examples that examines the technical aspects of writing that emphases layering and subtext. Her books on writing craft are considered “a must have” for any serious writer’s toolkit.
CAC18 Writing Craft Sessions and Workshops presented by Jessica Page Morrell
Learning from the Greats(SED),Sunday, 9:30 am-12:30 pm,Admiral: 3-hour Morning Master Writing Class:
Although writers can feel inundated by all the writing advice available in our current times; dissecting, reflecting, and even emulating great writers can be a powerful tool. It’s especially helpful to study the best in the genre you write in. This workshop teaches writers how to deconstruct and analyze elements of craft. It will demonstrate how to study the balance of narrative and dialogue; how POV shifts in an ensemble cast; how figurative and descriptive language are used in varying kinds of scenes; how pace and action are entwined; the benefits of first and third-person viewpoint, and the subtle variations of each. In this workshop, we’ll discuss the techniques used by a variety of authors including Alice Munro, Raymond Carver, Ernest Hemingway, Elmore Leonard, Marilyn Robinson, Ray Bradbury, Anne Patchett, and others. We’ll also cover work habits, language, and sentence potency, and we’ll synthesize the best commandments on writing from the best and brightest.
The Anchor Scenes of Fiction (SED),Sunday, 1:30-4:30 pm,Admiral: 3-hour Afternoon Master Writing Class
The task of a novelist or screenwriter is to tell a story so riveting that it will hold a reader’s attention for hundreds of pages or a viewer’s attention for several hours in a theater. This requires an intimate knowledge of your characters and thorough understanding of plot, the sequence of events that take readers from beginning to end. Your structure will reveal the protagonist’s struggles to solve problems and achieve goals. This, in turn, brings emotions to life and explains the importance of what a character is trying to achieve and what stands in his way.These events won’t hang together without a compelling structure that underlies the whole—the essential scenes that every story needs to create drive, tension, conflict, climax, and resolution. We’ll illustrate and come to understand the anchor scenes needed in fiction and film: Inciting Incident, First Plot Point, and Mid-point Reversal, Point of No Return, Darknight of the Soul, Climax, and Resolution. We’ll discuss how the protagonist stars in these scenes, how they’re emotionally-charged, build the plot, and illustrate character growth.
Subtext: The Quiet River Beneath the Story(SED), Saturday, 2:00-3:50 pm, Compass: 1.5 hours hands-on session. For most writers subtext is the most elusive of all writing techniques. However, life is often lived between the lines, and scenes often simmer with the unspoken beneath dialogue and action. In this workshop, subtext will be explained with examples from various genres. We’ll also discuss nonverbal communication and how to render it onto the page and how to hint at lies and secrets in scenes so that dialogue scenes are enhanced. We’ll cover how metaphor and visual clues create subtext. Mostly we’ll investigate all the ways to insert subtext—the unspoken, innuendo, gestures, pauses, misdirection, colors, clothing, setting details—in other words, the nuanced moments that are not directly represented.
KaffeeKlatsch (SED): Informal Q & A – Simple Steps to Solve Story Problems, Saturday, 9:00-9:50 am, Ballroom.
Ann Charles: Creating Die-Hard Fans with Relationship Marketing and Growing Your Fan Base
Ann Charles, USA Bestselling Author
We are super excited to have Ann Charles, the award-winning author of the USA Today Best-Selling Deadwood Mystery Series to present at CAC18 and to keynote. Ann writes multiple award-winning mystery series that are splashed with humor, spice, suspense, action-adventure, and whatever else sounds fun. Her books garner thousands of Amazon reviews and are the Top-Rated #1 Kindle Bestseller Women Sleuth Mysteries.
Ann will share her proven and tried marketing secrets to creating, building, maintaining, and growing an enthusiastic fanbase. www.AnnCharles.com
CAC18 Workshops and Presentation Topics by Ann Charles:
Ann Charles is the CAC18 KEYNOTE PRESENTER for SATURDAY’S LUNCHEON
How to Create Die-hard Fans through Relationship Marketing (MPP), Saturday, 2:00-3:50 pm, workshop, Admiral: There are many ways to find and entice readers, but keeping them as part of your long-term readership base is tricky. Years ago, Ann made the choice to focus much of her non-writing energy on Relationship Marketing, fostering reader loyalty rather than taking the one-time-sale mentality. In this workshop, she’ll explain 5 W’s of Relationship Marketing: WHAT it is, WHY it’s important, WHERE you can develop career-beneficial contacts, WHO benefits from this style of marketing, and WHY this marketing method can be effective. Join Ann and learn the effective techniques of reaching your audience.
Growing Your Audience (MPP), Sunday, 10:30-12:30 pm, workshop, Ballroom:For Published or Unpublished Authors The publishing industry is morphing every day, and the internet brings a new dimension to the concept of audience. Together, these changes merge into a vastly different and exciting concept of marketing. The shotgun approach to finding your audience worked for decades, but this technique becomes more expensive and less viable with each passing month. The bad news: no one will find your readers for you. The good news: you have more options than ever in history to build your own fan base. In this interactive class, we’ll explore these options and send you on your way to building your own tribe of diehard fans. This class will help you pinpoint your audience—find the readers who want to buy your book—so you can tailor your marketing and promotion techniques to them and stop wasting time and money.The publishing industry is morphing every day, and the internet brings a new dimension to the concept of audience. Together, these changes merge into a vastly different and exciting concept of marketing. Find your readers! Ann Charles and Jacquie Rogers
Building a World One Book at a Time (MPP), Saturday, 9:00-9:50 am, Admiral:Many readers love crossover books and characters. Creating one world that encompasses multiple series offers a familiarity even though the setting, style, and series are different. For authors, it not only helps to sell backlist books but can also create die-hard fans for life. In this presentation, Ann will explain some of the ways she has used to create crossover elements within her three on-going series. Diane Garland will join Ann and discuss the various ways her role as a World Keeper plays with Ann’s series building. One world that encompasses multiple series offers a familiarity even though the setting, style, and series are different. Diane Garland and Ann Charles
Working with a World Building Editor(MPP), Sunday, 1:30-2:30 pm, Ballroom:Building a world takes a lot of planning. Readers are smart, so you need all the help you can get making sure your world follows the rules you create along the way. For authors, previous threads and rules can become hazy by book 3 or 4 in a series. In this workshop, Ann and Diane will talk about ways they work as a team to make sure each book in an ongoing series stays true to the world the readers know and love. Ann Charles and Diane Garland
Writer’s Life (WL), Friday, 4:10-5:00 pm, Admiral:Living Vicariously through Fiction:Have you ever wondered where authors find the information needed to write stories about historical setting, character careers, or true events from the past, and how they incorporate it all into a single story or series? In this presentation, Ann and Jacquie will discuss how difficult it can be to live vicariously through fiction, and how important it is to be as accurate as possible. Jacquie Rogers and Ann Charles
Lake Perriguey: Copyrights, Trademarks, and Intellectual Property
We want to extend a special welcome to Lake Perriguey, attorney, to the 2018 Chanticleer Authors Conference. Lake’s company, Law Works, LLC, handles all aspects of copyright and trademark law, with experience before the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board and the US Copyright Office and multiple cases in the United States District Court. These matters include the initial registration of copyrights and trademarks and claims and defenses of copyright infringement and trademark infringement.
Lake Perriguey owns Law Works LLC, a full-service law firm in downtown Portland which focuses on civil rights, employment, injury, and copyright litigation. Lake brought the lawsuit to the courts that established marriage equality for gay and lesbian Oregonians as well as the first successful action for non-binary legal recognition in the United States. Lake has represented authors and publishers in contract negotiations and in federal court litigation regarding copyrights. Law Works, LLC is based out of Portland, Oregon.
CAC18 Workshops and Presentation Topics by Lake Perriguey, Attorney:
Copyright 101 and the Publishing Contract in our Digital Age: An Intellectual Property Primer (CTIP), Friday, 9:10-10:00 am, Compass and Saturday, 9:00-9:50 am, Boardroom: A primer coupled with some tips on common terms in publishing contracts that should be considered given the worldwide market and the ease of digital distribution.
Reversion Rights Consideration (CTIP) will be discussed in the above sessions.
KaffeeKlatsch – Quick Coffee with Lake (CTIP): 10-minute session with Lake. *Sign-up at the Chanticleer Desk in the Ballroom* **Session Times are Strickly Enforced** ***Spaces are limited***
Dawn Groves: Online Presence, Content Development, and Communications Consultant
Dawn Groves
Dawn Groves is a professional consultant who specializes in Online Platform Analysis and Email Marketing. She critiques and advises clients regarding online presence, usability, and analytics. She is a pro at WordPress development and designs Social Media strategies for specialized entities. She also manages email/newsletter campaigns and on-going content development. Dawn is also a consultant with Einblau & Associates where she trains and consults on workflow productivity, workplace communications, energy and time management, team building and stress management.
CAC18 Workshops and Presentations by Dawn Groves:
How to Create a Book Trailer on a Budget (MPP), Saturday, 1:00-1:50 pm, Admiral:
The reason why book trailers are important in today’s market.
The five characteristics that make a great book trailer.
A tutorial you can use build your own book trailer.
A clickable list of the reference tools you’ll need including several free online resources.
How to Write Online Content that People Will Actually Read (MPP), Saturday, 9:00-9:50 am, Compass:
Enjoy an hour of solid, practical advice based on the most current online behavior research and industry trends
How to get past “content fatigue”
The most important difference between online content and hard copy. (It’s not what you think.)
Eight rules essential to the production of content that’s appealing as well as engaging
A clickable list of fantastic online resources and tools for developing content.
Beth Bacon: Effective and Proven Techniques to Increase Your Book Sales
Beth Bacon
Beth Bacon is an award-winning author of books for young readers includingThe Book No One Wants To Read,I Hate Reading, Blank Space, andThe Worst Book Ever.Her awards include the Library Media Connection Editor’s Choice Award, the Candlewick Award for Picture Book Writing, and the Marion Dane Bauer Award for Middle-Grade Writing. She has an MFA in Writing For Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is available for school readings, contact her at www.bethbaconauthor.com.
CAC18 Workshops and Presentations by Beth Bacon:
6 No-Cost Things To Do Today to Increase Your Sales on Amazon Tomorrow (STS), Friday, 10:10-11:00 am, Compass, and Saturday, 10:00-10:50 am, Admiral: Is your bookselling as well as it could on Amazon? Do you want to increase your sales without paying a penny in advertising? All you’ve got to do is think about the Amazon search engine. In this session, author Beth Bacon shares six specific steps you can take to optimize your selling experience on Amazon.
Discover The Keywords For Selling Your Book: A Hands-On Workshop (STS), Saturday, 1:00-1:50 pm, Compass: Learn the technique professionals use to produce a list of words that connect bestselling books with actual readers. The right keywords lead your ideal audience directly to your book. But the most effective keywords often aren’t the first ones you think of. In this workshop, author Beth Bacon will guide you through a clear, methodical process for discovering the search terms that real readers actually use to discover books like yours.
KaffeeKlatch (STS), Saturday, 2:00-2:50 pm, Ballroom: Beth shares her experience in digital marketing to help you understand the way Amazon thinks so you can take advantage of the processes that are built into the world’s largest bookstore. An informal Q & A session.
Daine Sillan Isaacs: Film/TV Producer and Executive Creative Director, Luna Design, and founding partner of SillanPaceBrown Publishing + Production + Agency
Daine Sillan
Daine Sillan Isaacs brings more than two decades of experience in film and television industries as an executive film producer, president of production for Don Johnson Productions at Universal and Paramount pictures, president of development and production for Green Moon Productions where she produced films for Antonio Banderas and Emma Thompson.
Diane is also the executive creative director of Luna Design: Design & Branding, Content Strategy, Experimental Marketing, Web & App Development, Photo & Video Production. Clients include Bunker Media, Microsoft China, BLUEPRINT NYC, Prime Pictures, and others. She and Kiffer Brown co-founded SillanPaceBrown Publishing + Production, LLC.
CAC18 Workshops and Presentations by Daine Sillan:
Special Sessions with Scott Steindorff (H&E):Friday Luncheon, 12:00-2:00 pm in the Ballroom: An insightful conversation with Scott Steindorff, an A-list Hollywood producer who fearlessly adapts many of our favorite books to the big and home screen. Think The Actor’s Studio with James Lipton, we will walk through the process of book to film – how to discover the property, negotiate the rights, recruit financiers, attach talent, develop the script, on set produce and edit the film, and, the most important step- how to ultimately market the project. It’s a long and arduous journey and it takes a person with a lot of passion and multi-talents, like Scott, to pull it off.
The Pitch & Loglines (H&E), Saturday, 3:00-3:50 pm, Boardroom. Also Sunday, 9:30-10:30 am and 2:30-3:30 pm, Ballroom: Pitching your book begins with the elevator test where you only have 30 seconds (or 33 words) to express your story, tone, genre, character, setting, and twist. If you successfully generate a spark of interest before the doors open, you have to be ready for the next step. Authors, who have freedom of words in space, often struggle to distill their storyline, present a clear snapshot of their protagonist/antagonist, set up the main challenge and build to a climax in a concise and potent way. It literally takes a new mindset and, well, practice. Pitches that seem to just roll out in conversation and completely draw you in are usually the ones the author has diligently refined and practiced. Let’s look at the best practices for pitching your book!
Author vs. Screenwriter: A Producers POV (H&E), Saturday, 1:00-1:50 pm, Boardroom: Story is story! Writing is writing!…right? Not entirely true. Book writing is actually a completely different approach to storytelling than screenwriting. It may be the same story but it is executed in two unique disciplines, requires distinct skill sets, and will be experienced in different ways. Many authors feel they could simply write a script version of their novel, and while a great adaptation may happen, it is never simple.
Nuts and Bolts, Q & A Wrap-Up Sunday, 3:30-4:30 pm, BallroomDaine Sillan andKiffer Brown
Presenters & Panelists
Craig Anderson: Thriller Author, and Editor & Reviewer for Chanticleer Reviews
Craig Anderson
Craig Anderson served for twenty-six years in the US Air Force, completed an MFA in Creative Writing for Fiction, and a Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Writing. He is a professional book reviewer, manuscript evaluator, mentor, and book editor for nonfiction and multiple fiction genres with Chanticleer Reviews and Editorial Services.An avid writer, he’s authored the forthcoming thrillerGrabbed and Gone.He, his wife, and five large dogs dwell in Eastern Washington State.
Special Topics:
Using Sight and Sound to Revise Your Work (SED), Saturday, 11:00-11:50 am, Boardroom: Fresh off the Chanticleer Blog, Craig will go into depth and walk us through some tried and true editing hacks that will have you sailing through your stack of dreaded W.I.P.
Panel: MOV/ Editorial Panel (SED) (WL), Saturday, 4:00-4:50 pm, Compass: This panel will walk you through the MOV process from the point of view of the author and the editor. Grab onto your seats – this will be fun! Craig Anderson, Editor, will moderate Sara Dahmen, Lawrence Verigin, John Yarrow, and Vijay Lakshman
Pamela Beason: Award-Winning Mystery, YA Author, and Private investigator
Pamela Beason
Pamela Beason is a private investigator by day and a YA and Mystery author by night. She slays in both her chosen professions.
She’s also pretty good at marketing her books online. Don’t miss her joined class with James Wells on how to get your books promoted on the elusive and exclusive BookBub.
Special Topics:
Successful E-Book Marketing 102: BookBub Declassified, Saturday, 4-4:50 pm, Admiral: How to get your books promoted on the elusive and exclusive BookBub, Pam Beason and James Wells
Using Non-fiction to Sell Fiction and Fiction to Sell Non-fiction: Saturday, 11:00-11:50 am,Admiral, Pam Beason,Kiffer Brown and Sara Dahmen
Kaffeeklatsch — Creating a Series, Friday, 3:10-4:00 pm, Ballroom.
Sara Dahmen: Author & Entrepreneur
Sara Dahmen
Sara Dahmenis a metalsmith of vintage and modern kitchenware in tin, copper, and iron. Her debut novel, Doctor Kinney’s Housekeeper, won the Laramie Award Grand Prize for Western Historical Fiction and inspired House Copper & Housekeeper Crockery – American-made cookware. She has published over 100 articles as a contributing editor for multiple magazines, book blogs, review blogs, spoke at TEDx Rapid City at the Historical Writers of America inaugural conference in Williamsburg VA, and has co-chaired the Port Washington Literary Festival since its inception. Prior to her writing gigs, Sara was a print, radio and TV producer in Milwaukee and owns and has operated a nationally award-winning event planning company since 2006. When not writing or sewing authentic clothing for reenactments, she can be found hitting tin and copper at her apprenticeship with a master smith, reading The Economist and reference books, or playing with her three young children.
Special Topics
Panel (MPP) (STS), Tips for Commanding Attention in a Crowded Room, Saturday, 10:00-10:50 am, Compass: Special appearances require special preparation! Janet Shawgo, Joan Acklin, and Janet Oakley and Sara Dahmen
Using Non-fiction to Sell Fiction and Fiction to Sell Non-fiction: Saturday, 11:00-11:50 am,Admiral, Sarah Dahmen, Kiffer Brown, Pam Beason
Panel: MOV/ Editorial Panel (SED) (WL), Saturday, 4:00-4:50 pm, Compass: This panel will walk you through the MOV process from the point of view of the author and the editor. Grab onto your seats – this will be fun! Craig Anderson, Editor, will moderate Sara Dahmen, Lawrence Verigin, John Yarrow, and Vijay Lakshman
Diane Garland: Continuity Specialist for Fiction Series
Diane Garland
Diane specializes in the world of continuity editing, a systematic way of cataloging all the little-known facts in a book series. USA Today bestselling author, Ann Charles, amongst others, count on her attention to detail and her organizational skills to keep their series on track and their fans coming back. Visit her website at www.YourWorldKeeper.com
Special Topics
Building a World One Book at a Time (SED):Saturday, 9:00-9:50 am, Admiral: Many readers love crossover books and characters. Creating one world that encompasses multiple series offers a familiarity even though the setting, style, and series are different. For authors, it not only helps to sell backlist books but can also create die-hard fans for life. In this presentation, Ann will explain some of the ways she has used to create crossover elements within her three on-going series. Diane Garland will join Ann and discuss the various ways her role as a World Keeper plays with Ann’s series building. One world that encompasses multiple series offers a familiarity even though the setting, style, and series are different. Diane Garland and Ann Charles
Working with a World Building Editor (SED), Sunday, 1:30-2:30 pm, Ballroom: Building a world takes a lot of planning. Readers are smart, so you need all the help you can get making sure your world follows the rules you create along the way. For authors, previous threads and rules can become hazy by book 3 or 4 in a series. In this workshop, Ann and Diane will talk about ways they work as a team to make sure each book in an ongoing series stays true to the world the readers know and love. Diane Garland and Ann Charles
Kim Hornsby: Amazon #1 Bestselling Paranormal/Suspense Novelist
Kim Hornsby
Kim Hornsby is a Bestselling Suspense Author, having shared space on the top five bestseller list with J.D. Robb, Stephen King, and Nicolas Sparks. Also, a screenwriter and movie producer, her DREAM JUMPER series is optioned for film with the first movie, The Dream Jumper’s Promise now in development with 5 x 5 Media. Where she once juggled teaching scuba diving with singing at Maui convention shows, she now juggles writing suspense novels and scripts that will transfer to the screen with contacting actors to read her script.
Special Topics
Page to Screen: Adapting your Novel to a Script (SED), Saturday, 4:00-4:50 pm, Boardroom:
Hollywood LOVES book adaptations.
Have you thought about adapting your book to a screenplay but didn’t know where to start?
Learn how to boil down a story to the key scenes to transfer to a script format. Guaranteed pain-free, you’ll learn a method of finding the essence of the story and building on that. Learn the 3-Act structure, script formatting, dialogue, slug lines, and lean narrative. As a sales tool, you are that much closer to your dream of seeing your book on the screen with a script in hand. Find out enough to get you started.
Ever wondered what Kindle Worlds is and how it might help you? Kindle Scout? Matchbook? Kindle Unlimited? The Lending Library? Kim and Janet will outline the many offerings Amazon has for authors and publishers so you can make an intelligent choice on what works for your books. Janet Oakley and Kim Hornsby
KaffeeKlatsch (H&E) (STS) (MPP), Friday, 4:10-5:00 pm, Ballroom:How My Work Got Optioned for a Film.
Wendy Kendall: Podcaster, Mystery Author, Social Media Maven & Chanticleer Review & Editing Team
Wendy Kendall is Podcaster, Mystery Author, Editor, Book Reviewer and highly sought after Social Media Educator. She specializes in her love of Mystery and all things related to a crime scene.
Wendy Kendall
Special Topics:
Smart Social Media (STS) (MPP), Friday, 4:10-5:00 pm, Compass, and Saturday, 10:00-10:50 am, Boardroom: Learn the advantages of different modes of social media, and the ways to select a mix that effectively establishes a productive social media presence. Then apply what you’ve learned to design your personalized social media plan. The presentation will be filled with specific how-to’s, resources and examples.
Targeting Mystery Readers and Industry Professionals (STS) (MPP), Saturday, 2:00-2:50 pm, Boardroom: The book-selling industry has parsed mystery into so many variations it’s hard to keep track of them: hard-boiled or soft-boiled PI, cozy or traditional, paranormal, suspense, legal, historical, police procedural . . . and some mysteries are a conglomeration of these. This presentation teaches you what you need to know about what you’re writing so that you can write effectively, pitch successfully, and sell it to the right agent or target market. We’ll also cover how reader expectations differ among the variations of mystery, suspense and thriller fiction, something every writer needs to know.
Vijay Lakshman: Co-Creator of the revolutionary video game Elder Scrolls and author of the award-winning Mythborn Fantasy series.
Vijay Lakshman
VJ joined Bethesda Softworks as an Executive Producer and Lead Designer, with a vision to create a new and exciting digital role-playing game system. This resulted in the creation of, The Elder Scrolls franchise, re-envisioning the fantasy role-playing genre and redefining its reach and popularity. The Elder Scrolls and its subsequent iterations like Skyrim quickly became and remains the world’s definitive role-playing games, enjoyed by hundreds of millions of fans. VJ’s is responsible for more than eighty-five well known digital entertainment properties, which have garnered over $1B in lifetime sales.
While completing the Mythborn saga, a rich and exciting new fantasy series where dreams become reality, he is also working diligently on the design for a ground-breaking new interactive video game, a television pilot, and a graphic novel, all to complement the world of Mythborn and the characters within.
Special Topics
Story Development and Gaming: The Conversion of Mythborn to a Video Game (H&E) (MPP), Friday, 10:10-11 am, Admiral: Vijay will walk us through what it takes to move from A to Z along the gaming trail, what the Industry is looking for, and the platform necessary to develop a successful game and a large fan base. Vijay Lakshman
SciFi and Fantasy Panel Friday 3:10-4:00 pm,Admiral: Vijay Lakshman, Pamela LePage, Alex Paul, and John Yarrow. Moderated by James Wells.
Panel: MOV/ Editorial Panel (SED) (WL), Saturday, 4:00-4:50 pm, Compass: This panel will walk you through the MOV process from the point of view of the author and the editor. Grab onto your seats – this will be fun! Craig Anderson, Editor, will moderate Sara Dahmen, Lawrence Verigin, John Yarrow, and Vijay Lakshman
Janet Oakley: Award-Winning Author and Historian
J.L. Oakley
J. L. Oakley writes historical fiction that spans the mid-19th century to WW II with characters standing up for something in their own time and place. She is an award-winning author and a recipient of the 2013 Bellingham Mayor’s Arts Award; the 2013 Chanticleer Grand Prize; the 2014 First Place Chaucer Award; an Everybody Reads and Bellingham. When not writing, she demonstrates 19th-century folkways in the schools and at San Juan Island National Park. She also has a cat who thinks she’s editing.Read pick and the 2015 WILLA Silver Award,Pulpwood Queen Book Club 2016 backlist pick for February 2016.
Special Topics: Amazon and Historical Fiction Promotions
Amazon Demystified (PPD), Friday, 2:00-3:00 pm, Admiral: Ever wondered what Kindle Worlds is and how it might help you? Kindle Scout? Matchbook? Kindle Unlimited? The Lending Library? Kim and Janet will outline the many offerings Amazon has for authors and publishers so you can make an intelligent choice on what works for your books. Janet Oakley and Kim Hornsby
Panel (MPP) (STS): Tips for Commanding Attention in a Crowded Room, Saturday, 10:00-10:50 am, Compass: Special appearances require special preparation! Janet Shawgo, Joan Acklin, and Sara Dahmen
Jacquie Rogers: Award-Winning Author
Jacquie Rogers
Award-winning writer Jacquie Rogers is the author of eleven novels, including five books in the Hearts of Owyhee series, two books in the Honey Beaulieu – Man Hunter series, and others. She’s published over a dozen short stories and novellas in three genres. Under the house name Ford Fargo, she writes for the Western Fictioneers Wolf Creek series. She co-wrote Nail It! The Secret to Building a Fiction Writer’s Platform, and Growing Your Audience: Workbook for Published, Unpublished, and Under-published Writers.
Special Topics
Writer’s Life (WL), Friday, 4:10-5:00 pm Admiral: A lively discussion with Ann Charles: Living Vicariously through Fiction. Have you ever wondered where authors find the information needed to write stories about historical setting, character careers, or true events from the past, and how they incorporate it all into a single story or series? In this presentation, Ann and Jacquie will discuss how difficult it can be to live vicariously through fiction, and how important it is to be as accurate as possible. Jacquie Rogers and Ann Charles
Growing Your Audience (MPP), Sunday, 10:30-12:30 pm, Workshop, Ballroom:For Published or Unpublished Authors The publishing industry is morphing every day, and the internet brings a new dimension to the concept of audience. Together, these changes merge into a vastly different and exciting concept of marketing. The shotgun approach to finding your audience worked for decades, but this technique becomes more expensive and less viable with each passing month. The bad news: no one will find your readers for you. The good news: you have more options than ever in history to build your own fan base. In this interactive class, we’ll explore these options and send you on your way to building your own tribe of diehard fans. This class will help you pinpoint your audience—find the readers who want to buy your book—so you can tailor your marketing and promotion techniques to them and stop wasting time and money.The publishing industry is morphing every day, and the internet brings a new dimension to the concept of audience. Together, these changes merge into a vastly different and exciting concept of marketing. Find your readers! Ann Charles and Jacquie Rogers
Janet K. Shawgo: Award-Winning Author, Travel Nurse
Janet K. Shawgo
Janet Shawgo lives in Galveston Texas but over her twenty plus years as a travel nurse, her life has crossed the United States. Being a nurse for over thirty-three years most of those in Labor and Delivery has assisted in her writing. She starting writing in 2009 and has five books published to date.
Her Look for Me series has some thirty awards and acknowledgments. Janet has added some interest to her stories from her own travels. Research and actually putting feet on the ground brings her stories so vividly to life.
Special Topics
What Do Books, Grocery Stores, Vineyards, & Bars Have in Common with Your Book? (STS) (MPP), Saturday, 11:00-11:50 am, Compass: Find out how to sell more outside the bookstore.
Everyone Loves a Winner (STS), Friday, 3:10-4:00 pm, Compass: How Book Contests help sell and promote your books.
Tips for Commanding Attention in a Crowded Selling Space, Saturday, 10:00-10:50 am, Compass: Special appearances require special preparation! Janet Oakley, Joan Acklin, Sara Dahmen and Janet Shawgo
Allison Vrbova: Building Your Author Brand Through Effective Content Marketing
Allison Vrbova
As marketing communication professional with a Master’s Degree in creative writing, Allison is a storyteller at heart. That’s why she spent the past decade helping tech startups, innovative small businesses and social profit companies create brand loyalty through compelling content. She has written about everything from drones and IoT applications, to mission-centered food products.
In 2016, Allison’s goal is to rid the world of poor-quality content, one blog post at a time.
CAC18 Workshops and Presentations by Allison Vrbova:
Build Your Brand Through Effective Marketing Content (MPP), Friday, 9:10-10am, Admiral’s Room: She will also discuss identifying your target audience and gearing content for your specific goals.
KaffeeKlatsch (MPP), Friday, 10:10-11:00 am, Ballroom: Tips on developing and identifying your audience – today!
Build Your Brand Through Effective Marketing Content (MPP), Friday, 2:00-3:00 pm, Compass: Allison will focus on ways that authors can connect with potential readers and build personal brand awareness through blogs, videos, social media, email marketing, and other content strategies.
James R. Wells: Contributor to the Daily Kos Page and Whatcom Watch, and Scifi Award-Winning Novelist
James R. Wells
James writes about climate and environmental topics. In his day job, he designs information systems that http://www.thegreatsymmetry.com/support energy efficiency programs for utilities and others who work to save gigawatt-hours every year, reducing costs and emissions. The Great Symmetry, his Cygnus Grand Prize award-winning novel, is set is set three hundred years in the future, it casts a sharp eye on issues of the 21stcentury. What is the boundary between a genuine info-terrorist – who releases a secret in order to cause harm – with someone who simply reveals an inconvenient fact about a government or a company? What are the acceptable lines defining the relationships between corporations, government, and individuals? When someone appears to agree to a loss of freedom, is that consent in fact given freely?
Special Topics
Successful E-book Marketing 101 (STS), Friday, 11:10-12 pm, Admiral: This is always a popular session on strategies, search engine, BookBub and more. Learn how to build a successful campaign, ride the wave to greater sales, and reach wider audiences.
Panel: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Moderator (SED), Friday, 3:10-4:00 pm, Admiral: Alex Paul, Vijay Lakshman, John Yarrow, and Pamela Le Page with James Wells, moderator.
Successful E-Book Marketing 102: BookBub DeclassifiedSaturday 4-4:50 pm, Admiral: How to get your books promoted on the elusive and exclusive BookBub. Pam Beason and James Wells
John Yarrow: He’s published magazine articles and a script adaption that was produced and aired on National Public Radio
John Yarrow
John Yarrow is an award-winning author with two books up for book awards this year at the Chanticleer conference: The Future’s Dark Past in the Cygnus Sci-Fi contest and The Recombinant Theory has been ShortListed in the highly competitive Global Thriller contest. His latest book, The Future’s Dark Past, launched this winter to rave reviews and can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and iBooks.
John infuses his storytelling with insightful observations and humorous wit from his experiences as a technology expert in the corporate world, graduate school professor, secondary educator/sports coach, and dedicated family man. He is fascinated with the struggles of an enduring humanity and futuristic world-building which compels him to create inconceivable, yet believable scenarios. A life-long Texan, he dreams as big as he writes.
SPECIAL TOPICS:
Death by a Thousand Edits (SED) (WL), Friday, 11:10-12:00 pm, Compass: An encompassing look at the editing process for serious writers and some basic editing tips to help streamline and improve your writing craft. This is a session on the editing process and how to survive it.
Panel: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Friday, 3:10-4:oo pm,Admiral. Vijay Lakshman, Pamela LePage, Alex Paul, and John Yarrow. Moderated by James Wells
Panel: MOV/ Editorial Panel (SED) (WL), Saturday, 4:00-4:50 pm, Compass: This panel will walk you through the MOV process from the point of view of the author and the editor. Grab onto your seats – this will be fun! Craig Anderson, Editor, will moderate, Sara Dahmen, Lawrence Verigin, John Yarrow, and Vijay Lakshman
… Kiffer Brown
Kiffer is the founder of Chanticleer Book Reviews and International Writing Competitions, LLC. She is also a partner in SillanPaceBrown Publishing + Production LLC, which specializes in curating books with the potential to become fully actualized intellectual properties.
Her addiction is finding sparkling gems that will become tomorrow’s bestsellers. She is known for her instinct in picking winners. She also acts as an independent acquisitions editor for publishers and entertainment companies. Kiffer is known for her marketing talent and networking skills. She truly loves what she does and her passion shows!
Special Topics
Booksellers Confidential (MPP),Saturday, 3:00-3:50 pm, Ballroom: Are you brave enough to have your book cover critiqued?
Panels 1 & 2 Moderator:
Using Non-fiction to Sell Fiction and Fiction to Sell Non-fiction, Saturday, 11:00-11:50 am, Admiral. Kiffer Brown, Pam Beason and Sara Dahmen
Nuts and Bolts, Q & A Wrap-Up Sunday, 3:30-4:30 pm, Ballroom. Kiffer Brown andDaine Sillan
Kiffer is the founder of Chanticleer Book Reviews and International Writing Competitions, LLC. She is also a partner in SillanPaceBrown Publishing + Production LLC, which specializes in curating books with the potential to become fully actualized intellectual properties.