Our extended Presidents’ Day Weekend conference takes place February 17-20, 2017. With over five-dozen workshops–including “Rogue” read & critique sessions that often go way, way late into the early morning hours–for the writer devoted to being the best storyteller s/he can be, this one’s for you. And though we’re still nearly five months out to SD31, there’s plenty to report …
Joining the SCWC for the first time as a Special Guest Speaker, Jeff Johnson will discuss his writer’s journey. Making quite a run of it in quick order, Jeff recently delivered feature screenplays to Sternman Productions and Cineville, respectively, and has another in pre-production slated for release next year; his debut horror noir novel, Everything Under the Moon (Soft Skull Press), dropped last month, while Knottspeed: A Love Story (Turner) is out February, 2017, followed by Lucky Supreme: A Novel of Many Crimes, from Arcade Publishing, in April. Jeff will also be conducting a couple cool, new workshops.
Former SCWCer James A. Misko returns with a particularly relevant author’s journey to share as a Special Guest Speaker. In somewhat of a coup, Square One Publishers, the excellent house known for its nonfiction titles, has acquired Jim’s first four previously published novels, and will release his latest just in time for the conference. The Path of the Wind tells the story of an idealistic young teacher cast to a remote lumber mill town in Central Oregon, where an intolerant school board and jealous superintendent conspire to break his spirit and destroy his career.
As evidenced yet again at our recent LA14(Irvine) event, a lot of terrific writers come through the SCWC. The improvement and overall level of quality many of us on staff see in those who attend the conference, then go on to apply empirical feedback or lessons learned and return to the next with often superior manuscripts, is inspiring. Writers who truly aim for excellence and settle only for exceptional is what we’re about–and every agent at LA14 noticed.
Speaking of staff, as usual, friends both familiar and new will be joining us in San Diego. While we’ll start rolling out exactly which authors, agents, editors and other publishing professional are aboard starting next update, I do want to confirm that, yes, Ara Grigorian and Janis Thomas are returning to conduct their enormously popular 5-part Novel Intensive. Though it will remain open for all conferees to attend, given it’s popularity this past Irvine, we will be tracking pre-registration attendance to ensure sufficient space.
Good “Muse”
SCWCers with new releases or books soon to be: the second in Megan Haskell’s Sanyare Chronicles, Sanyare: The Heir Apparent. If you enjoy thrilling adventures across unique realms filled with wise-cracking carnivorous pixies, check it out … Indy Quillen’s debut murder mystery, Tracker: A Fox Walker Novel. Of it, author Laura Taylor lauds, “Rich characterization, brisk pacing, graceful writing, and an in-depth knowledge of Native American spirituality and survival skills hallmark this novel.”
The eighth installment in Teresa Burrell’s compelling Advocate Series, The Advocate’s Homicides, has just been released … As has the ever-prolific Bethany Lopez’s latest women’s fiction, More than Exist … Also, from David Putnam, the fourth in his bad boy Bruno Johnson thrillers, The Vanquished, will be published in February, 2017 … And Jenny D. Williams’ literary thriller, The Atlas of Forgotten Places, will make its debut next July from Thomas Dunne Books. There’s plenty more to be announced, but for now let’s also give a shout out to a couple of titles that have recently earned special recognition … 
For Shelly Malone, her nonfiction Inflamed has been chosen by SELF Magazine as one of “7 Fascinating And Illuminating Books That Will Totally Open Your Eyes About Your Health” … And, finally, Aline Ohanesian’s exquisite Ohran’s Inheritance has been named one of six fiction finalists for the prestigious Dayton Peace Prize.
Congratulations and best of success to all!
That’s it for now. Be sure and subscribe to SCWC .COMmunity news updates for periodic email updates and announcements. Discounted pre-registration is now open for San Diego 31. Our winter event is limited to 175 writers. Shouldn’t you be one of them?
–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC
