News And Announcements

Just confirmed for LA8, Alexandra Sokoloff is back after a couple-year hiatus. Her latest spine-tingly creep-fest, Book of Shadows, is out June.

On the agent front, joining us for the first time is Bree Ogden, from Martin Literary Management. In addition to specializing in children’s books, Bree has a rabid and passionate interest in graphic novels. And yet another stalwart SCWC favorite, author/freelance editor Mike Sirota, will be with us offering his extensive industry expertise… The preliminary schedule is now starting to fill out and should be online in the next couple of weeks or so. Got lots of new workshops to announce. As many of you know, the rollover to the new site design has backed us up a smidge, but it’s feeling like we’re about caught up. Just be patient. What’s important is that you let us know what you do or don’t like about the new site, or give us suggestions for improvement. If you can’t find the information you need here, do let us know… For all the new folk registering ahead to take advance of the $75 Early “Bard” Discount expiring at month’s end, just a quick reminder that we do not open Advance Submission Reader selection upon registration until the majority of Readers have been confirmed (still about two weeks out). You can, however, register prior to picking your individual Reader(s), then select or add Readers at a later time. If you’d like guidance in selecting a Reader best suited to your material, please feel free to contact Michael or Wes. Back with more soon!

From the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency, Taylor Martindale will join us for LA8 in effort to expand her list.

With a particular interest in young adult fiction, “specifically contemporary, paranormal, urban fantasy, and any story with a captivating voice,” she’s also on the lookout for and accepting advance submissions of commercial, women’s, and multi-cultural fiction.  Welcome, Taylor! … Still more to announce, so check back often.  And don’t forget the register by June 1 to take advantage of the $75 Early “Bard” Discount special.

This fall author, workshop leader and overall zesty writing provocateur Judy Reeves will celebrate the special 10th year anniversary edition of her seminal debut title, A Writer’s Book of Days: A Spirited Companion & Lively Muse for the Writing Life.

New World Library has given us a sneak peek at the new jacket (you’re seeing it here for the first time) and all we can say is, “Anniversary party in Newport Beach — Woo-hoo!” … Speaking of provocateurs, author and Hummingbird Review managing editor Robert Yehling (The Write Time: 366 Exercises to Fulfill Your Daily Writing Life) joins the SCWC for a second time to conduct read & critique, advance submission review and other muchly needed sessions.  Also, joining us for the first time as a late-night Rogue read & critique leader, none other than This Side of Jordan author Monte Schulz.  The second book in his darkly rich, Southern epic trilogy, The Last Rose of Summer, isn’t due out ’til December but we’re going see if we finagle some advance copies anyhow . . . Still plenty more to announce as we continue to iron out bumps with the new site design, including more author and agents additions, workshops, the preliminary schedule and more.  Don’t forget that the $75 Early “Bard” Discount expires at the end of the month, so save today and register now.

Conferee Jenny Hilborne’s debut novel, Madness and Murder, available July 1.

After meeting with publisher Karen Syed for advance submission one-on-one consultation at our San Diego event, conferee Jenny Hilborne’s debut mystery will be released by Echelon Press first as an ebook — a distribution model that the indie house has been quite successful with.  Follow the progress at blog or  Facebook page.  Good job, Jen! . . . The latest staffers confirmed for Newport Beach include Lynn Price, editorial director of Behler Publications (who recently signed conferee Jane Howatt’s The Cop, The Killer, and Me), authors and freelance editors Marla Miller and Laura Taylor, and controversial City Beat columnist and poet Edwin Decker, who’ll be tag-teaming a special workshop with L.A. Writing Pad provocateur Marilyn Friedman.  Her stand-alone “Writing the Erotic” at SD24 warranted and encore due to popularity.  What the duo have up their collective sleeve for LA8 we can only imagine … Much more to announce, including our remaining special guest speaker, additional staffers, advance submission readers, the working schedule and more, so check back soon.  In the meantime, take advantage of the $75 Early “Bard” Discount and register today.

Following Saturday evening’s banquet our guest speaker will be Gregg Hurwitz.

Internationally bestselling author of The Tower, Minutes to Burn, Do No Harm, The Kill Clause, The Program, Troubleshooter, Last Shot, The Crime Writer, and Trust No One, Gregg is also the writer of such comic book favs as The Punisher, Wolverine and Moon Night, as well as an accomplished screenwriter and consulting producer on ABC’s current hit sci-fi series V.  It’s his first time with us and we’re happy to have him . . .

Back again with her ever-popular stand-alone writing track, New York Times bestselling author Drusilla Campbell will conduct her exclusive NovelCram: Building the Better Book. Geared not for the faint-hearted, this hands-on, one-of-a-kind weekend intensive is for writers just starting out — or just plain stuck — on their novels.  The Good Sister, Dru’s latest, is out October from Grand Central … Much more soon.