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March 29, 2016

Give the Reader a Reason

Give the Reader a Reason

Give the Reader a Reason

Give the Reader a Reason

Why? It’s the most important question in writing; the one I hear most during the run-up to a conference. Usually it’s about material going to advance submission readers. “Why can I only submit the first 10 or 15 pages of my manuscript?” I’m asked. “Why not more?” Fair questions. Warra[Click For The Rest...]
March 25, 2016

6 Months Out, 1st Guest Speaker In, Many Aboard

6 Months Out, 1st Guest Speaker In, Many Aboard

6 Months Out, 1st Guest Speaker In, Many Aboard

6 Months Out, 1st Guest Speaker In, Many Aboard

Gwendolyn Womack is the author of The Memory Painter, a dazzling debut novel that skips through time and blends romance, intrigue, mystery and science with masterful flair. Of it, in a starred review Library Journal declares, “It’s best not to try to analyze the ambitious plot o[Click For The Rest...]
March 02, 2016

Pre-registration Open; New Contest Announced

Pre-registration Open; New Contest Announced

Pre-registration Open; New Contest Announced

Pre-registration Open; New Contest Announced

In the jubilant afterglow of our San Diego celebration we now turn attention to September’s event in Irvine, which will be our 48th conference in 30 years. And regardless of whether you’re a writer pursuing the traditional route or one opting instead for a more personal path to public[Click For The Rest...]
February 18, 2016

SD30 Awards, Wrap And Celebration

SD30 Awards, Wrap And Celebration

SD30 Awards, Wrap And Celebration

SD30 Awards, Wrap And Celebration

There are gifts assigned to notable anniversaries. For a 30th it’s “pearl,” traditionally. Being mildly superstitious, having always heard that “pearls bring tears,” we elected to eschew any pearl motif at this past weekend’s celebration as there are often too many tears in one’s life[Click For The Rest...]
January 25, 2016

Premature E-Publication And Beyond; Where Good Books End

Premature E-Publication And Beyond; Where Good Books End

Premature E-Publication And Beyond; Where Good Books End

Premature E-Publication And Beyond; Where Good Books End

Just in time for SD30, David Putnam’s third Bruno Johnson novel, The Squandered, is out Feb. 2nd from Oceanview. “[A] shocking and intense tale of brotherly love and redemption realized in the midst of moral decay. It’s a raw and gritty story I couldn’t put down,R[Click For The Rest...]
November 25, 2015

Back To Craft; More Workshop Leaders And Speakers Confirmed

Back To Craft; More Workshop Leaders And Speakers Confirmed

Back To Craft; More Workshop Leaders And Speakers Confirmed

Back To Craft; More Workshop Leaders And Speakers Confirmed

Of her latest Booklist attests, “The collection spans time and geography and encompasses politics, the arts, and finance to offer a fascinating look at the sisterhood of the women behind famous men.” Daily Press effuses, “[She] does more than profile 40 members of th[Click For The Rest...]
October 28, 2015

Two New Guest Speakers Aboard, New Workshops, Books Abound

Two New Guest Speakers Aboard, New Workshops, Books Abound

Two New Guest Speakers Aboard, New Workshops, Books Abound

Two New Guest Speakers Aboard, New Workshops, Books Abound

New York Times best-selling author of The Prince of Risk, Rules of Deception, Rules of Vengeance, Rules of Betrayal, Numbered Account, The Runner, among other thrillers, Christopher Reich will be joining us as a Special Guest Speaker for SD30. His latest, the standalone Invasion of Pr[Click For The Rest...]
October 13, 2015

Our 30th Anniversary And Good “Muse” Galore, Plus Principles of Publication

Our 30th Anniversary And Good “Muse” Galore, Plus Principles of Publication

Our 30th Anniversary And Good “Muse” Galore, Plus Principles of Publication

Our 30th Anniversary And Good “Muse” Galore, Plus Principles of Publication

Merely two weeks after a sensational LA13 (Irvine) and we’re full-on into prepping February’s San Diego event, which will make for our 48th conference in 30 years. Wes and I and many long-term staffers reflected on that fact recently. “Whoa,” is about all we could collectively muster.[Click For The Rest...]
September 30, 2015

LA13 Awards, Wrap, And Principles of Publication

LA13 Awards, Wrap, And Principles of Publication

LA13 Awards, Wrap, And Principles of Publication

LA13 Awards, Wrap, And Principles of Publication

Our return to Irvine was more than worth it. Great weather. Great hotel. Great staff. And, most important, exceptionally great writers. So much so that we even introduced a new award just to lend proper recognition of the talent in our midst. A couple other new things debuted at LA13.[Click For The Rest...]
September 02, 2015

Special Guest Speaker 5 And SCWCers Honored

Special Guest Speaker 5 And SCWCers Honored

Special Guest Speaker 5 And SCWCers Honored

Special Guest Speaker 5 And SCWCers Honored

Fresh off the just-announced news of his winning the Gold in Sports Fiction at the 2015 Readers Favorite International Book Awards for his breakout success Game of Love (Curiosity Quills Press), Ara Grigorian rounds out our LA13 Special Guest Speaker slate. It’s been one helluva journ[Click For The Rest...]