News And Announcements

Viewed as a young adult novel that’ll be all the rage with fans of J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, Ryan Steck (author of Fields of Fire & Editor-in-Chief of The Real Book Spy) calls it, “A blistering, high-stakes, fast-paced supernatural thriller that’s impossible to put down.” Kirkus lauds, “Fast-paced action and a rich setting boost the beginning of a promising paranormal saga.” Deftly tackling such themes as addiction, revenge, faith, and friendship, the book is Hunt For Eden’s Star, the first in a planned “Beacon Hill” series, and the debut effort of author Derek “D.J.” Williams. He’ll be joining us in September as our Friday evening Special Guest Speaker to share how it came to be, and what media skill sets he brought to the table to make it so widely anticipated.

On the SCWC Facebook Group, we recently had a hearty discussion about “writing joy.” How do you do that? I’m not talking about adjectives and what not. What I meant, as with fear, grief, or any other some such, is not just telling readers, but forcing strangers across the page to feel an emotion with mere words. It’s one thing to state s/he’s happy or elated, another to convey that sense of inflated being to the bone, if not its marrow. As a result, author/workshop leader Judy Reeves has jumped in to develop a new workshop that will address the subject, and what tools to apply to do so effectively. The whole thing arose from this post on our blog a couple of days before: The Why of Writing.

Good Muse Galore

Been a while since we caught up with all the SCWCers with books recently released, or soon to be. It’s a lot to track, but here’s some of the latest:

There’s Books 5, 6 and 7 in Russ Thompson’s popular teen & young adult Finding Forward Series, Overspray, Knocked Down, and Torn.

From Jennifer Herrera, literary agent and longtime friend of the conference, The Hunter, her debut psychological thriller … Book 10 in David Putnam’s Bruno Johnson thriller series, The Scorned … Laura Perkins (writing as Mercy Hollow) has a new story in the anthology Wicked Ever After from Grim House Publishing.

Bipolar, A Gift of Thorns, a memoir, is now out from Dale Zurawski … Dennis K. Crosby’s third installment in Reaper of Souls Kassidy Simmons’ paranormal adventure, Death’s Despair drops in June … and Carl Vonderau’s latest, Saving Myles, a financial thriller, will be published in August. So much reading to catch up on from our ever-expanding writer’s community.

Best of success to all!

Discounted pre-registration is now open and we’ll begin announcing workshop staff, additional speakers, agents and editors next month. We’re pretty much fully back to successful, regular in-person status for the fourth time since the pandemic. And speaking of success, if you haven’t already binged it on Netflix, The Night Agent is based on a thriller written by novelist Matthew Quirk. He just informed me the show’s been picked up for a second season. Here’s some of Matt’s stellar advice presented to the SCWC in Irvine…

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC

Following the roller coaster of February’s San Diego conference, discounted Early “Bard” Pre-registration is now open for our 20th annual autumn event. We have so much more to explore, including the emerging clash of emerging Artificial Intelligence tools vs. Emotional Intelligence acumen rocking our community – and how best to apply the combo to our work successfully. Across all flanks of the publishing world, many new workshop ideas erupted at SD37 that we can’t wait to further explore and put in order for Irvine sessions. In fact, while we don’t usually do complete tracks in September, there seems to be one topic that many conferees urged us to do so. Think we’ve cracked that nut and will announce soon how we’ll serve it.

Meanwhile, the SCWC remains focused on the writers in the room, the words on the page. We believe it’s safe to say that we’ll be fully back to in-person normal and now have the tools to compensate for any unexpected challenges. While regular updates will begin in April, here’s what you need to know now…

SCWC*LA20/IRVINE LOCATION: The conference will return to Sonesta Irvine Hotel, located at 17941 Von Karman Avenue, Irvine, CA 92614. Dates are September 15-17, 2023. Lodging discounts will be available to SCWC conferees. Phone (949) 863-1999 to book your reservation, or do so online (when available).

SCWC*LA/IRVINE 20 SCHEDULE: Rest assured that plenty of craft- and business-centric sessions, read & critique workshops, one-on-one consultations and more will round out the weekend. Though we won’t begin plugging things in until later, you can get an idea of the overall shape of the conference on the schedule page.

SCWC*LA/IRVINE 20 STAFF: In addition to our select roster of returning workshop leaders, agents, editors and other publishing professionals, several more will be joining us for the first time. Be sure to subscribe to our periodic .COMmunity updates to find out who, along with all timely SCWC news.

Until next time, write on, and remember that AI ain’t got nothing on EI. AI is a tool to be utilized. Without EI, it won’t undermine your potential as a storyteller at all. Just the opposite. (Despite what dire predictions.)

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC

What a weekend it was for our 19th annual fall event. So many terrific writers in the house. So many great stories shared, both on the page and in person. Friends were made, drinks were had, and work got done. Thank you to our dutiful workshop leaders and advance submission readers, special guest speakers Ash Bishop (Intergalactic Exterminators, Inc.), Ramona Emerison (Shutter) and Janis Thomas (Finding Grace), and particularly Linda & Rick Ochocki for keeping things running smooth. Wes and I could not be more grateful. Biggest thanks, as always, to all the conferees who place their trust in the SCWC.

SCWC*LA/Irvine19 Award Recipients

We’re awaiting consensus from the staff on this year’s awards and hope to announce soon. Meanwhile, each SCWC holds a contest in which all writers are invited to participate. The rules are simple: Write a piece in any form you wish of no more than 250 words based on the one-word topic announced Friday night. The topic for LA19 was “Crickets.” Here’s the winning entry…

OUTSTANDING TOPIC STORY
The Dissenter
By
Lara Henerson
Of Mckinleyville, CA

In the dead of night when the fog is thickest, the crickets hold their sabbath.
Out from the crags they creep and crawl and multiply like rabbits
A croaking din arises then, vibrating in the grass
While from above their Monarch gazes, eyes like beads of glass.
She rises on her brittle legs, inviting them to listen,
Before reciting verse by verse this pressing cricket mission.

“I thank you all for gathering for this monthly communion,
For tis high time we formalized our cricket constitution.
My faithful friends, the worst has come, the enemy grows stronger,
I fear without a call to arms we can’t hold out much longer
The flies have risen up the ranks, our supremacy to shatter
Reaching even the highest rungs of the entomological ladder.”

“But Queen,” one lowly cricket cried, “Why must we go to war?
Can we not share the sprawling grass upon the forest floor?”
The Queen squinted her compound eyes, her mandible agape
She was unused to insolence in any form or shape.
“I pray, who let this pacifist invade our mighty pack?”
Then thorax rearing in the air she shouted, “Pack attack!”

The panicked cricket tried in vain to bound away from the danger
But what’s one microscopic voice amongst two dozen strangers?
They fell upon him like one being, plucking limb from limb
And by the time they’d finished up there was naught left of him.
“That is what happens to dissenters. No, it isn’t pretty.
But let that be a lesson served. Now, crickets, who is with me?”

Next up, our 37th annual winter event takes place in San Diego Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 17-19, 2023. Discounted Full Conference registration is now open. Check out all the latest here.

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC/SWS

Oprah Daily declares of Shutter, “This paranormal police procedural is unusual and multilayered, but what stands out is the gorgeously expressive and propulsive first-person storytelling, which is split between Rita’s present and her past. A former forensic photographer herself, the pictures Emerson paints with words are as vivid as they are brutal.” “Emerson’s striking debut follows a Navajo police photographer almost literally to hell and back … A whodunit upstaged at every point by the unforgettably febrile intensity of the heroine’s first-person narrative,” lauds Kirkus Reviews. Its author, Diné writer and filmmaker Ramona Emerson, will be joining us next month as our third Special Guest Speaker to share her publication journey.

Upcoming Deadlines

The deadline for discounted hotel lodging is fast approaching. Phone the Sonesta Irvine directly (be sure to mention the conference) or book online here to stay up until the wee hours and not have to rise too early. The deadline to book your room has been extended to Monday, August 29th.

A majority of the advance submission readers remain open at this time. For those still seeking one-on-one consultation, the deadline to submit material has been extended to no later than September 1st. September 1st is also the last day to save $75 off Full Conference participation.

Finally, for those planning ahead, our 37th annual San Diego event will take place Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 17-19, 2023. Save a whopping $175 off Full Conference participation and register by September 1st here.

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC/SWS

Versitile bestselling author and SCWCer Janis Thomas is the second Special Guest Speaker to be announced. Ever the genre switcher, her spellbinding new novel, Finding Grace, is hailed by Wendy Walker (All Is Not Forgotten) as, [A] compelling psychological suspense drama about the ties that bind and the forgiveness that lives within us all. A truly unique and captivating read!” Publishers Weekly proclaims, “[An] engrossing paranormal thriller.” Kirkus Reviews declares it, “An authentically creepy tale.” A long, strange trip for this particular book. Janis will tell us all about it in September.

While there’s one more speaker still to be announced, the working weekend schedule has been posted and Advance Submission Readers are open for selection. As usual, this far out from the conference, there’ll likely be some last-minute finessing but at least you can start planning your weekend.

The Why of Writing

It’s been a popular topic among many of us these past months following February’s San Diego event, the Why of Writing. There’s plenty of reasons we write, of course; plenty of justification to write adequately enough. Big question is: How good is good enough? Further: What’s the ultimate point of your writing this story? What’s the reader supposed to take away upon reaching The End?

I mention this because so much material we’re reading, both published and in manuscript form, seem to exist without any effort to impact the reader beyond entertaining distraction. That is to say, so many stories seem to not strive for leaving a lasting emotional impact with readers. Not to imply there’s anything wrong with that – “adequate” is often “good enough” for publication, especially in these days of premature e-publication and binge streaming. Thing is, is that all you wish of your work? Your personal legacy?

A couple of workshops debuting September delve into the guts of this issue. As with so much else in life, but particularly with a book, you only get one shot at making a first and lasting impression. So the deeper into the woods we go to address it, the more likely better your book will be. At least that’s how the SCWC has historically played it. The results, as many know, are significant.

Which brings me to this account: A longtime SCWCer known by all regulars was set to self-publish his debut novel this summer. The book launch party and location were set, invites sent out, anticipation whelming. Basically, a big deal for this particular author long in the making.

Mere weeks before the launch he pulled the plug, for every right reason there is, he wrote in part to his mailing list:

“Unfortunately, I don’t believe [TITLE] in its current form achieves the level of excellence I aspire to. As a result, I’m postponing the publication of my novel and canceling the planned book launch party.”

In a world of just because you can doesn’t mean you should, I couldn’t be more proud of this writer. He epitomizes everything the SCWC stands for by making this excruciating decision.

Discounted registration remains open at this time. The hotel just completed a cool re-model. Aim for excellence, settle only for exceptional and join us. Your work is worth it.

(Note that if you’re planning way ahead, severely discounted pre-registration for our 37th annual winter conference, in San Diego, opens August 1st here.)

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC/SWS