News And Announcements

Along with the rollout of our WritersConference.com redesign, pre-registration and the first news of confirmed authors, editors and agents joining us for LA8 (in Newport Beach!) will go live April 2nd. To tied you over, be sure to check out the remarkable MasterWriter software for creative writers. While we got to see it in action both last year and at SD24, only recently did we crack open the package and put it to work. Our verdict: next to a word processor, this comprehensive suite of writing tools is a must-have for wordsmiths of every ilk. Watch the demo and see for yourself. And we hope to see you back here April 2nd to find out what all things writerly are in store for Newport Beach.

While we’re a long way off from our 8th Annual SoCal Writers’ Conference *LA(ish), just wanted everybody to know that we’re moving to a new location this time around, one that exudes the wonderful island getaway resort vibe of our San Diego event: Hyatt Regency Newport Beach. Dates are September 24-28, 2010. Updates and pre-registration will begin on the site in a few months. Meanwhile, we hope to see you at SD24.

So many terrific memories of LA7. What with such an unprecedented turnout of SCWC first-timers pumped up and rarin’ to go, it’s tough to know where to begin. For starters, how ’bout… what a crowd! What a wonderfully spirited, talented bunch of writers who chose to join us in Irvine. Genre writers, nonfictionalists, poets (Haiku, even) and screenwriters — all were there kicking it with the authors, editors, agents and other publishing professionals on staff and nary a one who didn’t bring material to bare that didn’t warrant the effort. Congratulations all.

SCWC*LA 7 Award Recipients:

OUTSTANDING FICTION
Lori Hartman Gervasi for Untitled
from Rancho Cucamonga, CA

OUTSTANDING FICTION
G.M. Lawrence for The Q Awakening
from Dallas, TX

OUTSTANDING FICTION
Alwyn Martin Pinnow for Untitled
from York, PA

OUTSTANDING SCREENPLAY
Jeff Michaels & Jill Q. Weiss for A Father’s Love
from Huntington Beach, CA

TOPIC
Paul Durant for Shoe: A Memoir (read here)
from Long Beach, CA

TOPIC
Walter Golden for Untitled (read here)
from Placentia, CA