News And Announcements

We’re in store for another wild weekend of all things writerly come February. What with the recent news about Amazon’s reviews purge, the ramifications of Penguin and Random House merging, eBook sales dominating the table talk, and 2012 book sales in general possibly reaching north of $8 billion–despite slippage in some rather surprising genres–storytelling about storytellers seems as popular as storytellers telling stories. That said, the challenge for most writers remains the same: beyond writing a great book that rewards readers with a rich read, how do you raise awareness of your book and get readers to buy it?

Along with our formidable slate of craft, execution and troubleshooting workshops, as with our fall conference, at SD27 we’ll be dealing head-on with many of the latest and most vexing challenges writers face today. Whether to wait out legacy publishing odds, go with a boutique house, trust one of the predatory pay-as-you-print outfits that claim to have “standards” and are selective about who they’ll publish, or just assume full control of your book and do it all yourself–no matter which way you go at the end of the day your book’s success will ultimately come down to one individual. You.

To that end, as always, the SCWC community is here to inform and assist you in accomplishing your publishing goals. Extending on our LA10 “Do Yourself Independence” sessions, we’ll again be dealing extensively with issues of ePublishing too soon, social media self-sabotage, marketing myths and a whole lot more. It will be work. It will be fun.

Good Muse

While we still have plenty more staffers yet to announce, several already aboard for San Diego have new books in time for the holidays. From Janis Thomas, her debut novel Something New is out today. Next week, Matthew J. Pallamary’s latest, The Infinity Zone: A Transcendent Approach to Peak Performance, will be released. And come December, the latest Peri Minneopa Mystery from Gayle Carline, The Hot Mess, and a long-awaited new one from none other than Alan Russell, Burning Man. Congratulations to all.

Glitch Fixed

It’s been brought to our attention that well over a dozen online registrations were never actually processed (nor their credit cards charged) since late-October. The glitch is now fixed. If you registered online for the conference over the past three weeks and are unsure of whether or not your registration was processed successfully, please contact either Michael or Chrissie for confirmation.

We apologize for the inconvenience and have extended the $75 Early “Bard” Discount to until Nov. 15th.

More to Come

Advance Submission Readers selection will open up in the next week or so. As there’s plenty more to announce while we begin working on the schedule, lining up the Special Guest Speakers, and adding more workshop leaders, be sure to check back often or join us on the SCWC Community Facebook Wall to keep up to speed.

In the meantime, enjoy the trailer we just finished for another friend of the conference’s new book.

While regular updates for SD27 begin October, we couldn’t wait to announce the return of one of science fiction’s major talents to the SCWC: New York Times bestselling, multiple Hugo, Nebula and countless other awards-winning author David Brin. With what many longtime fans could perceive as a prequel to his extraordinary Startide Rising, David’s first novel in ten years, Existence, is now out. Stephen Baxter (Ark and The Time Ships) calls it, “[U]rgent and as relevant as anything by Stross or Doctorow, but with the cosmic vision of Bear or Benford.” Vernor Vinge (Fire Upon the Deep and The Children of the Sky) hails, “Brin takes on one of the fundamental themes in science fiction—and what is also one of the fundamental questions humanity faces in this century… Existence is not to be missed.” And Temple Grandin (Thinking in Pictures) proclaims it, “[A] book that makes you think deeply about both the future and life’s most important issues… I could not put it down.” Now let’s see who else will be joining us.

Another multiple award-winning author and SCWC workshop leader, Alan Russell, is back for our winter conference, as is historical fictionalist Laurel Corona, multi-genre dynamo Michele Scott, Andrew E. Kaufman, author of such psychological thrillers as The Lion, The Lamb, The Hunted and While the Savage Sleeps, Linda Thomas-Sundstrom, Drusilla Campbell and many other friends both familiar and new.

Early “Bard” Registration is now open. Do so by Sept. 15 and save a whopping $100 on Full Conference or NovelCram immersion track participation.

What a wonderfully rowdy, writerly weekend! So many stories told, so many stories yet to tell. And the level of writing, even from the two youngest conferees (ages 13 and 14), impressed far beyond words. Truly, SD26 will go down as one of our most memorable events, if not only for the terrific spirit of all the writers in the room, but for the disclosure of Sunday afternoon’s special guest speaker–none other than SCWC Director Wes Albers. While his debut novel, Black & White, isn’t out ’til March 20th, the good folks at ZOVA Books arrived with a couple big boxes of pre-publication editions and sold out almost immediately. New York Times bestselling author Gayle Lynds (The Book of Spies) hails Wes’ work, “Gritty and rewarding… A top-notch cop novel. Watch out, Joseph Wambaugh!” And hardcore noirist Gary Phillips (Underbelly) calls it, “Gripping, rugged, authentic.”

Another pre-book launch from ZOVA, Jessica Therrien’s Oppression arrived one year after they discovered her at our SD25 event. How cool is that? Now onto the awards…

SCWC*SD 26 Award Recipients:

OUTSTANDING FICTION
(title to be announced)
by Annoushka Lyvers of Yorba Linda, CA

OUTSTANDING LIFE STORY
Into The Night (read here)
by Joanne Wright Schulte of Santa Ana, CA

OUTSTANDING TOPIC
The Sanctuary (read here)
by Lacey Impellizeri of San Diego, CA

Congratulations to the honorees and to all the staff who helped make SD26 such a great ride. Dates for SD27 are Presidents’ Day Weekend, Feb. 15-18, 2013. Between now and then, join us in Newport Beach for LA10, Sept. 21-23, 2012, as well as anytime on our SCWC Facebook Page where you can share your good “muse” with like-minded members of our ever-growing writing community.

Conference weekend is a day away. Walk-in registration opens Noon on Friday, 7 AM Saturday and 7:30 AM Sunday. There’s plenty of room for writers of every realm, so be there or be…ware? Crowne Plaza San Diego, 2270 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, CA 92108. Last-minute addition to the staff is none other than Charmaine Hammond, best-selling author of On Toby’s Term’s, which has just been optioned for film. She’ll conduct “Your Book as a Business” Saturday morning. The prolific and ever so effervescent Michele Scott is bringing her game to the table with a couple of needed sessions on Sunday, so peep the posted schedule when you get a chance. We’re finally dialed in. See you in San Diego!

And for you listening pleasure, check out the music video we just finished–totally rife with no less than two stories told.

“If you want to promote your book don’t sell it.” That’s fast becoming an axiom on the Internet, as many authors are discovering. Endeavor to spam walls and blogs with repetitive pitches for your book(s) instead of genuinely interacting with the community and you can find yourself easily ignored, your email address blocked and, you even entirely “un-friended!”

The writer-reader relationship–particularly the potential book buying reader relationship–is a tricky thing. Community is not an “I,” it is a “we.” Being mindful of the distinction is key to raising awareness of your platform and fostering positive, popular support for your work. Author, tribal writer and social media provocateur Justine Musk, an early proponent of the potential power of social media for indie creatives of all ilk, returns to the SCWC to discuss how she does it so well and how might you.

In fact, we’ve got a number of SD26 workshops devoted to understanding and managing the varying online tools available to authors who, as addressed in our Jan. 3rd “Latest News” update, should really be focused on writing.

Though the advance submission deadline has passed, several readers are caught up and remain open for at least another week. This includes ZOVA Books Editor-in-Chief Daniel J. Silva–just added to the schedule–Maralys Wills, Andrew Wetzel, Marla Miller and Mike Sirota. For all others, please email Michael to ensure availability.

Another staff addition, joining us for the first time, attorney Martin S. Rudoy, who’s handling the estate of the woman found hanged, naked, bound and gagged in the famed Spreckels Mansion in Coronado last year. Marty is also a screenwriter and will address working with lawyers and using the law to bolster the believability of legal-based scenes and stories.

Good “Muse”

On the good “muse” front, a couple of things to report. Author/workshop leader Mike Sirota, who’ll be conducting the “To Outline Your Story or Not?” workshop, has his latest coming out this month. The Burning Ground (jacket above), “a chilling novel of vengeful spirits,” launches from ZOVA Books with a party starting 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16th at Mysterious Galaxy bookstore in San Diego . . . And NovelCram track leader Drusilla Campbell’s latest, Little Girl Lost (Grand Central Publishing) is now out to stellar reviews. Among them, today’s San Diego Union-Tribune. Good job, Mike and Dru.

The online schedule has been updated as of today. There’ll continue to be tweaks, as usual, but be assured it’s getting close.

More soon.

Celebrated New York Times bestseller T. Jefferson Parker, one of crime fiction’s most critically acclaimed and award-winning writers continues “the most ground-breaking crime series in decades,” (St. Louis Post- Dispatch) with today’s release of his latest, The Jaguar (Dutton), another gripping tale of the Mexican border. Jeff will tell us all about it as our Saturday evening Special Guest Speaker. Sunday afternoon’s Special Guest Speaker has also been confirmed, only in this case we’re going to keep it close to the vest as to who it is. Rest assured, however, that this author’s personal journey will inspire & entertain, and through special arrangement, pre-release editions of the author’s new book will be available exclusively to SD26 conferees… Another confirmation just in, author and excessively popular SCWC workshop leader/reader Marayls Wills returns–possibly even with a new book.

From Martin Literary Management, agent Andrew Wetzel will be joining us. Looking to expand his list, he’s seeking quality male-centric fiction and non-fiction in a variety of genres… Agent Babette Sparr’s bio page is now up-to-date. She’s interested in a pretty broad swath of genres as well, spanning literary and upmarket commercial fiction to women’s fiction, mystery and narrative non-fiction.

Good “muse” from two more veteran SCWC conferees. SD21 Best Fiction Award winner Laurence O’Bryan’s The Istanbul Puzzle (Harper Collins UK) launches with a big release party in Dublin on Jan. 18th, coinciding with worldwide participation on Twitter. And SCWCer Marci Nault reports that she has signed with Simon & Schuster. Her novel, retitled “The Lake House,” will be out Spring of 2013. Congratulations to you both!

Deadlines Looming

Fast approaching crunch time, writers. Deadlines to keep in mind are as follows:

• $50 Early “Bard” Discount on Full Conference registration expires Sunday, Jan. 15.
• Discounted lodging at the Crowne Plaza Hanalei San Diego (the site of the conference) cut off date is Thursday, Jan. 26.
• Advance submission manuscripts must be received by the SCWC by no later than Thursday, Jan. 26. (Remember, those submitting to more than reader can include all submissions in a single envelope to save on postage costs.)
• The SCWC “Life Story” contest deadline has been extended to 4 p.m. Sunday. Feb. 19, 2012. If you have submitted your story to the conference and have not received confirmation of receipt, please re-submit.

The schedule currently posted on the site is only a working draft. As usual a month out from the conference, much tweaking will take place over the next few weeks. The nearer we get to SD26, the closer to the final schedule it will resemble.

Much more soon.