Two months out and there’s plenty to report. For starters, following last month’s irksome online registration glitch, our main administrative computer got hit with multiple trojans that pretty much knocked out all SCWC hard drives, the office phone system and fax. It’s taken nearly two weeks to get everything sorted out, but now we’re back up and running so let’s see where we’re at!
Among the many staff additions to SD27, best-selling non-fictionalist Charmaine Hammond returns to the SCWC. Her latest, GPS Your Best Life: Charting Your Destination and Getting There in Style, written with Debra Kasowski, is just out. Mary Vensel White is back with a new session and some good “muse.” You’ll remember, of course, that her The Qualities of Wood was the first ebook published by HarperCollins Publishers digital imprint, Authonomy. The debut novel has done so well in digital form that HarperCollins will be publishing the hardcopy next year.
Amazon’s #1 best-selling children’s author Sheri Fink, whose precious The Little Rose and The Little Gnome are still going gangbusters, is back with yet another overwhelmingly informative workshop on successfully navigating the digital/hardcopy divide. And in her debut appearance at the SCWC as a workshop leader, Valerie Wicks, an LA10 conferee and debut YA fantasy indie author who recently organized a very successful book signing event for both her and Sheri at L.A.’s biggest Barnes & Noble, will be conducting “Up Close and Visual: Breaking Down Author/Reader Barriers.” The first in a 7-part series, be sure to check out the trailer for Seven Spectral: Into the Red World at the bottom of this update.
Do Yourself Independence
Speaking of the LA10 event, given the success of our “Do Yourself Independence” track this past September we’ll be devoting a tier of sessions to the SD27 schedule that can further allow those pursuing such to dig in deeper. As we introduced it back in August:
“Do Yourself Independence” (DYI) is a practice, or attitude, that most emerging authors must possess in order to rise above the hype and distinguish their work. It speaks to the need that, regardless of how you choose to be published, you, the author, are ultimately responsible for the success or failure of your career.
With particular emphasis on those electing to go it alone, whether via e-books, micro-press, POD, service-assisted self-publishing, or some combination, we’re introducing a number of DYI sessions that explore the options, strategies and tools writers can utilize to bolster the ability of their books to thrive.
What we’ll not be advocating is spamming every Twitter feed, Facebook wall or other social media outlet with, “Hey, my e-book is available!” For those who haven’t figured it out, if you want people to buy your book, you don’t sell your book!
We’re putting together some very cool, new DYI workshops for you and look forward to rolling them out over the next few weeks.
Good Muse
Longtime and lauded SCWCer Claudia Whitsitt’s Identity Issues is just out from Blue Jay Media, who’ve contracted the first two of five proposed titles in her Samantha Series mysteries. Pretty cool jacket, don’t you think?… And check out the jacket for LA10 Outstanding Non-Fiction award-winner Sharon L. Hicks’ How Do You Grab a Naked Lady?: A Memoir.
Advance Submission Readers
Many more Advance Submission Readers have been added to the schedule are now available for selection, including agents, editors and authors, with still a few more yet to come. If you’ve already registered and selected readers “to be announced,” email Michael or Chrissie directly the name of the reader(s) you’d like to go with, and also include a backup reader. Should you need guidance selecting the appropriate reader for your material, please let us know.
Another update coming soon. Don’t forget to join the WritersConference.COMmunity confab on our SCWC Facebook page.
