News And Announcements

Engage. Inspire. Impact. Pretty much the mantra of every writer mindful of their duty to the reader, regardless of genre. Trick is, how to do so. There are so many words. So many ways. The only thing that’s certain is finding your way. Your voice. That which makes your work singularly unique and leap from the page into a reader’s mind or heart, or both. That reader who may become your one passionate advocate who can make the difference between success and obscurity. In September we’ll again devote our time to affording writers the tools and attention necessary in getting their work where they want it be. A good place to start is in this Give the Reader a Reason post.

Pre-registration Now Open

Discounted Early “Bard” Pre-registration is now open for our 17th annual fall event. Do so by April 15, 2019 and save a whopping $125 on Full Conference participation. Being fresh off San Diego 33, we’re developing several new workshops for September. We’ll begin rolling out regular updates starting next month. In the meanwhile, here’s what you need to know now…

SCWC*LA17 (IRVINE) LOCATION: The conference will again be held at the Wyndham Irvine Hotel, located at 17941 Von Karman Avenue, Irvine, CA 92614. Dates are September 20-22, 2019. Lodging discounts are available to SCWC conferees. Phone (949) 863-1999 to book your reservation, or click here to do so online. Deadline for discounted hotel registration is August 29, 2019.

SCWC*LA17 (IRVINE) SCHEDULE: Rest assured that plenty of craft- and business-centric sessions, read & critique workshops, one-on-one consultations and more will fill up 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*LA17 (IRVINE) STAFF: In addition to the many familiar workshop leaders, agents actively looking to build their lists, editors and other publishing professionals returning in 2019, many others will be join us for the first time.

If you haven’t, do subscribe to our periodic .COMmunity updates and never miss an important notification. Join the well-moderated conversation on our Facebook Group for publishing news, support, announcements, and more. Also take a moment–especially those shopping a debut novel–to watch literary agent and career editor Kelli Martin address something few do, in the video below…

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC/SWS

Just when you think you can’t possibly have a better conference experience, then comes another SCWC that tops it. Irvine was that. Such a blast. Such great writers. Such terrific workshop leaders. And what about them guest speakers–Amy Meyerson (The Bookshop of Yesterdays), Henry Lien (Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword), Sara Gran (The Infinite Blacktop) and Demetra Brodsky (Dive Smack)? Wes, Chrissie and I thank all for making such a memorable weekend.

Now, on to the awards . . .

SCWC*LA/IRVINE Award Recipients

OUTSTANDING FICTION (Mainstream)
Hula
By Jasmin Hakes

OUTSTANDING FICTION (Historical)
They Call Her Billy the Kid
By Justin Treece

OUTSTANDING NONFICTION (Memoir)
What Became of Her
By Karen Hill Anton

Of course, 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 LA16 was any iteration of “X.”

Funny thing about the winning entry, written by last year’s LA15 winner, is that he actually unintentionally won twice. Story is, what the judges had selected as the winning entry was actually page 15 from his work in progress, accidentally submitted for the contest. The “topic” entry was submitted after the mistake was discovered. Regardless, here are both because both are eXellent…

UNOFFICIAL OUTSTANDING TOPIC STORY
Page 15 from Work in Progress
by
Terry Black
of Mission Viejo, CA

From the Personal Journals of Philbert Einstein
March 4, 2030: Seven Years Ago

I love pet stores.

Not because I love animals, Good Lord no. They’re filthy, verminous, disease-ridden creatures, placed upon this Earth so that we can exploit them–for food, for clothing, for laboratory experimentation. Synthetic fur annoys me, because someone was too squeamish to kill the fox or mink or rabbit it should have come from. Get a clue, vegans! Fur coats are comfy and warm because the original fur-animal was well-insulated. Fake fur is like fake anything, it’s always second-best.

And don’t get me started on fake food. Like vegetarian hamburgers, made with shaped tofu because no one objects to killing soybeans. Give me genuine farm-raised beef, any time. So some cows get slaughtered, boo hoo. Have you seen cows? They’re dumber than my cousin Joey, they graze and fart and watch traffic. No big loss if those fat, juicy tenderloins are served up with some mushroom and grilled onions. Tell me they’re not begging for it.

So why do I love pet stores?

Because the pets are captive, in cages or tanks or enclosures. They’re not going anywhere. It’s the man-dumb-animal hierarchy, right there for all to see, our genetic superiority proudly on display. It fills me with exhilaration.

Especially if I can use them.

###

OFFICIAL OUTSTANDING TOPIC STORY
Excalibur’s Hilt
by
Terry Black
of Mission Viejo, CA

No one believes me.

We’re having a holiday fund-raiser at Medieval Times, this Arthurian-themed dinner club, where horsemen dressed as knights joust in a big, festival arena. And there’s a photo op where you can pose with a sword embedded in a stone, just like the original Excalibur.

So we’re laying out a feast for our holiday donors, there’s a dozen six-foot Italian cold cut sandwiches, laid out on trestle tables. But my friend R.T. isn’t doing his job, he’s obsessed with Excalibur.

“That sword was amazing,” he says. “You know how ammunition can be .38 or .45 caliber? That sword was so powerful it’s an unknown caliber–an X-caliber! Only the true king could pull it free.” I just ignore him, he’s an old guy with a gray beard, half-senile.

But there’s a problem.

The donors are due to arrive and we don’t have a knife to cut the sandwiches. The kitchen’s locked, the chef’s gone, we have no knives, not a bread knife, not a stake knife, nothing. We’re in trouble.

Then I hear this sound, CHOP! CHOP! And I rush back and those sandwiches have been perfectly sliced, and R.T.’s like, “Hey, problem solved, it’s fine.”

How’d he do that? Well, it got me thinking.

What if King Arthur–called Artie, or “R.T.”–has been wandering the Earth since antiquity, following that sword, keeping it secret, until the night he needed to cut up some sandwiches?

That would explain why I found Caesar dressing on Excalibur’s hilt!

###

Congratulations to all the award winners!

We’ll return to the O.C. next year with our 17th annual LA(ish) event. Dates will be September 20-22. Discounted pre-registration opens March 1, 2019. In the meantime, our 33rd annual San Diego conference take place Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 15-17, 2019. Limited to 175 writers, all the details can be found here.

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC/SWS

In Demetra Brodsky’s arresting Dive Smack, Theo Mackey only remembers one thing for certain about the fire that destroyed his home: he lit the match. Gretchen McNeil (Ten) calls the debut novel, “A tense psychological drama with a voice that pulls you in and a twist you won’t see coming.” “Strong characters and a compelling mystery make this a real page-turner,” effuses Publishers Weekly. And Booklist raves, “Brodsky’s debut combines an engaging school story, filled with best friend shenanigans, first love, and a fascinating look at competitive diving, with a tense psychological mystery.” Demetra will join us in September to discuss her path to publication, and the bumpy journey that’s followed.

The working schedule has been posted on our Weekend-at-Glance page. As usual, the times of some workshops will likely change over the next several weeks. Until we update the final interactive schedule page, you can view all of the sessions currently slated on the Workshops & Events page.

Another agent aggressively looking to expand her client list has been added. Caroline George, of Cyle Young Literary Elite, will be accepting advance submissions in nearly every genre. Check out her bio on the Staff page. Also, it’s likely we’ll be announcing the addition of one more agent shortly.

Be aware that these deadlines are coming up fast…

• Advance Submissions: Aug. 31
• Discounted Hotel Lodging: Aug. 30
• “Best Foot Forward” Workshop Participation (still a few spots left to get in): Sept. 1

 
And for those planning far ahead, discounted pre-registration for our 33rd annual San Diego event, taking place Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 15-17, 2019, is now open. Limited to 175 writers, get all the vitals here.

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC/SWS

Sue Grafton declared her, “[T]he first fresh literary voice I’ve heard in years. Sara Gran recombines all the elements of good, solid story-telling and lifts something original from a well-loved form.” Salon calls the series “delicious and addictive.” CNN says she “Reads … as if David Lynch directed a Raymond Chandler novel.” And just in time for Irvine, author Sara Gran’s self-proclaimed “world’s greatest detective” returns in The Infinite Blacktop, the third noir thriller featuring her inimitable PI Claire DeWitt.” Both a novelist and screenwriter (Southland, Chance), Sara will join us to share the circuitous journey that’s shaped her career, how Claire came to be, and a whole lot more. We couldn’t be more thrilled. Welcome, Sara!

Fresh off our Sunriver Writers’ Summit, attention turns full-bore to our LA(ish)16 event. The bulk of workshops lined up will be posted shortly. Advance Submission Readers are now open, however, but keep in mind that there are many more to be announced—including agents. We plan to have the majority listed by month’s end. (You can select “To Be Determined” and finalize your reader at a later date.) To be alerted when all the readers are listed, be sure to subscribe to our monthly .COMmunity update, follow our Facebook group, or both.

We’re starting to fill up earlier than usual. Take advantage of discounted pre-registration and do so by no later than July 1st to save $75 off Full Conference participation. Also, several recent Special Guest Speaker excerpts have been posted to SCWC*TV. Kick back, have a watch, and learn!

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC/SWS

Amy Meyerson, author of The Bookshop of Yesterdays, will join us September as a Special Guest Speaker. Of the book Publishers Weekly effuses, “In her heartfelt debut, Meyerson brings readers on a scavenger hunt full of literary clues and family secrets…. Filled with quotes from and allusions to The Tempest, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Jane Eyre, Meyerson’s evocative novel is a fun homage to book lovers and the eclectic spirit of L.A.” And Kirkus lauds, “A lovely look at loss, family, and the comfort found in a good bookstore.” Welcome aboard, Amy!

We’ll start updating the staff page shortly, which will include the regular raft of familiar SCWC workshop leaders, as well as new friends we’re welcoming into the fold. Among the agents already confirmed, Jenny Herrera (David Black Agency), Jill Marr (Dijkstra Literary), and Ewe Stender (Triada US). Freelance editors Michael Mohr, Laura Taylor, and Jean Jenkin are back–Jean again conducting her popular “Best Foot Forward: Polishing to Impress” workshop. All, of course, will be accepting advance submissions.

Quality craft is the name of the game and, as always, it remains our primary focus.

A Slew of Good “Muse”

Lots of SCWCers with books recently released or soon to be. Out now…

Marlene Wagman-Geller’a Women Who Launch: The Women Who Shattered Glass Ceilings … Bestselling crime writer Dallas Barnes’ A Man in Heat is his latest after taking a long break … Bethany Lopez’s Cupcake Explosion, the fourth in her Cupcakes Book series … The second mystery in the Chalkboard Outline Series by Kelley Bowles Gusich (as Kelley Kaye), Poison by Punctuation, along with a young adult novel, Down in the Belly of the Whale (writing as Kelley Kay Bowles).

Dropping in June: From the prolific Janis Thomas, her latest domestic suspense, All That’s Left of Me … Dark Paradise by Gene Desrochers, a Caribbean noir murder mystery set on the island of St. Thomas, “where murder is as common as sunshine” … Fantasy writer Dot Caffrey’s re-release of Awakened (formerly known as Awakening Powers) will be out August through Acorn Publishing … Speaking of which, SCWC conferee Teresa Harrison has just signed with the hybrid house for her debut title, Maiden.

August McLaughlin’s Girl Boner: The Good Girl’s Guide to Sexual Empowerment is also out August, fittingly, from Amberjack Publishing … Also Greta Boris’ third entry in her Seven Deadly Sins series, Sanctity of Sloth (Fawkes Press).

On the awards & recognition front: Cherie Kephart’s A Few Minor Adjustments just won Silver in the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards for best Autobiography/Memoir: Personal Struggle / Health Issues … And Matt Coyle’s “The #2 Pencil” has been nominated a Derringer Award for Best Long Story. It’s in the Coast to Coast: Private Eyes from Sea to Shining Sea anthology.

Discounted Early “Bard” Pre-registration is now open. Subscribe to our .COMmunity and never miss an important update. You can also follow the SCWC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. More soon.

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC/SWS