Returning for her second appearance as Special Guest Speaker is author and SCWC workshop leader Janis Thomas. In yet another departure from the humorous women’s fiction that she first won over readers and critics alike with, her long-anticipated latest, the hypnotic domestic drama What Remains True, is the first release in a two-book deal with Amazon imprint Lake Union. Chronicling multiple perspectives of a family shattered by the loss of a child, the novel brings Janis full circle on her circuitous path to publication—from traditional to indie, between and back. Many major lessons to be learned from it, and Janis will be certain to walk us through them.
Should be noted that, on this NaNoWriMo 2017 eve, Janis is about to dig in with some 40,000-plus other writers worldwide to commit at least 50,000 words to a manuscript over the next 30 days. The spine of many of her novels was forged this way. If you’re one such writer trying the same, just remember to give yourself permission to write bad words; write every single day; and finish what will likely be a crappy first draft. You’ll have plenty of time to polish that turd and fish out the pearls after. (And if you need a little guidance on where to keep your sights, “Who Are You Writing For and Why?” may help.)
More Staff Confirmed
As usual, we’re debuting several new sessions come February. We’ll begin rolling them out officially in the next couple of weeks, when we open Advance Submission Reader selection. Along with many of the excellent regular workshop leaders you’ve come to expect in San Diego, we’re introducing Jennifer Caloyeras to the fold. The author of two acclaimed young adult novels and widely published short story writer, she has a newly released collection out from Vandalia Press, Unruly Creatures.
Still more yet to come!
Good “Muse” Today
Among SCWCers with new books out or will be soon: Dot Caffrey’s Conquest of Power: Book Three in the Trilogy of Power (World of Drejon) … Greta Boris’ The Scent of Wrath, the second in her 7 Sins series … Kathryn Atkins’ Giving My Self to the Wind: Stories, Essays, and More. Best of success to all!
Next SD32 update is mid-November. Our winter event is limited to 175 writers. Discounted pre-registration is now open. And for those looking forward to spring and something entirely different, our exclusive Sunriver Writers’ Summit will take place May 26-27, 2018, on Central Oregon’s high plateau. Complete details here.
–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC
