News And Announcements

In a starred review Publishers Weekly proclaimed, “Rick Cahill’s extreme physical and emotional vulnerability is on full display in Shamus Award-winner Coyle’s superior eighth outing [Last Redemption] . . . Contemporary hard-boiled PI novels don’t get any better than this.” Number ten in the series is now out, again brutally putting its protagonist, with his brain disease worsening and family in disarray, through almost impossibly dire circumstances—and a case—to overcome. Best-seller Joe Ide (the I.Q. series) calls Odyssey’s End, “[A]nother smart, tightly-written, faster-than-a-speeding bullet tale of lust, danger and greed.” The author himself, Matt Coyle, returns to the SCWC Saturday evening to tell us all about it, 10 years in and nine novels out since his debut effort.

The working Schedule has been posted and the Staff page updated. While we’re still battling profound technical challenges behind the scenes, February’s in-person event is shaping up swell and promises to be another one to remember. If you’ve subscribed to our monthly updates to keep apprised of all the latest SCWC news and have not received any over the past many months, that’s because our third-party mailing list sender is pretty much broken. We’re striving to resolve the situation, but do re-subscribe if you do not receive a conference update via email by tomorrow (Tuesday).

Discounted registration remains open. Till next time, best of writerly success in 2024. We look forward to seeing you in San Diego!

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC

Rod Stewart’s lyric licked it best, “Every picture tells a story, don’t it?” Me likes to think, at least in the writing world, “Every person IS a story, idn’t it, if not a volume?” But where and how to publish that story is the challenge. There’s been big changes in the traditional publishing world over the recent past, with more coming. In fact, we’ve reached an interesting crossroad, with so many paths to publication available: TradPub, Indie, Boutique, or the inevitable Hybrid alternative. A startling number of writers we’ve spoken to are contemplating eschewing TradPub altogether, electing instead self- or hybrid; so many so that we need to be clear: If you pay to be published, 1) You’re not traditionally published, regardless what they tell you (trad-pubs pay you to publish your books); 2) You’re likely not going to recoup the money you spend to have them print your book, let alone make a profit. They will, because you paid them in advance.

So figure, what’s your story worth? Your legacy? We’ll address this hardcore in February because your work is an investment. You need to be sufficiently compensated for it. As we like to say: There is no single right way to publish a book; only an infinite number of wrong ways. This February, allow us to help find your best way.

Where We’re At

Book marketing expert and online book publicity pioneer Fauzia Burk will be joining us as Sunday afternoon’s Special Guest Speaker. The founder and president of FSB Associates, she has spent more than 25 years publicizing books by bestselling authors such as Alan Alda, Arianna Huffington, Deepak Chopra, Sonya Renee Taylor, Ken Blanchard, Charles Spencer, as well as many first-time authors. In 2019, she co-founded Pub Site, a platform for building author websites and used by authors such as Tom Clancy, Robin Cook, and hundreds more. Fauzia now leverages her rich background at the intersection of publishing and technology to innovate book marketing through AI.

Also, while we introduced many new sessions this past September in Irvine, even more will debut in San Diego. Necessarily so. Check out the Workshops & Events page to keep up to speed as we continue updating the program.

Novel Boot Camp

Bestselling novelist Janis Thomas returns to San Diego with her exclusive eight-part Novel Boot Camp. It’s been infinitely beneficial to a slew of SCWCers who’ve done the deep dive with her. There are a limited number of seats available, so be sure to email me directly to get in before too late. (There will be a waiting list.)

Good “Muse”

SCWCers with books recently out: Indy Quillen’s latest Fox Walker novel, Conflicted … Writing as M.G. Wetherholt, Gayle Carline introduces readers to a new cozy animal mystery, Paws on the Pier … Thomas M. Wing’s Against All Enemies, recent winner of the Firebird Award for Best Military Fiction.

David Putnam’s A Lonesome Blood-Red Sun, the second in his new Bone Detective series … Anthony and Shamus Award-winning Matt Coyle’s tenth in his celebrated Rick Cahill P.I. series, Odyssey’s End … And from bestseller Gene Desrochers, the third in his hardboiled noir Boise Montague mysteries, Crime Paradise, along with The West Indian Manner, featuring two short stories focused on his sun-soaked sleuth.

Best of success to all.

Extended Discount Deadline

Because of myriad technical issues as of late, we’re running about three weeks behind on staff, workshops and schedule updates. Consequently, we’ve extended the Full Conference participation discount to January 1. Perfect for Christmastime. Advance Submission Readers are now open. More will be added. Register today and save!

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC

First off, we’re moving! Just minutes from the airport, a venue we’ve had our eyes on since returning to in-person events, one much better suited to the SCWC’s needs and long-term objectives, DoubleTree by Hilton San Diego – Hotel Circle will be our new home. Much like the pre-COVID property we remained at for 16 or so years (since closed), this one is similar to our Irvine hotel in that it’s not so large other events interfere with our writers’ weekend immersion. Took a little time to pull together so late in the game, but lodging is open now and discounted pre-registration has been extended. Regular updates begin shortly.

Along with a slew of new workshops, SD38 will feature revered SCWC workshop leaders Jennifer Sylva Redmond and Judy Reeves in a roundtable discussion with bestselling author/SCWC co-director Janis Thomas Friday evening. Both have lauded, long-awaited memoirs recently out, Honeymoon at Sea: How I Found Myself Living on a Small Boat and When Your Heart Says Go: My Year of Traveling Beyond Loss and Loneliness, respectively. Beyond being infinitely informative, with that trio you can trust that the discussion will be fun.

Speaking of Janis Thomas, her newly expanded 8-workshop stand-alone Novel Boot Camp returns February. Limited to only 10 participants, pre-registration is required. At the SCWC, craft is king. Exceptional craft is what distinguishes a writer. And as Janis has long demonstrated, she is queen. >>Details

Following the staff’s post-mortem of our recent September event, in effort to assess what pressing issues most need to be addressed come February, we’re making a tweak to the workshop tiers format that’s served us consistently over the past 62 SCWC events. Many issues we’ve observed factored in: publishing modalities, corporate houses cutting back & re-aligning to celebrity/notoriety anxieties, premature publication, A.I. angst, hybrid press schemes, etc. – essentially, what too many writers don’t know what they don’t know when it comes to this business. Irvine was only two months ago, yet things have evolved since then on a few fronts. Even if for only legacy affirmation, the fact remains that writing commercially viable work is a business. Whether traditional, boutique, university or self-published, it’s a business that requires an agile skillset to succeed. So, here’s the SCWC daytime workshops tier structure newly defined…

1. Read & Critique: Troubleshooting problematic aspects of craft that undermine authorial authority, derail or confuse the reader. Fixing what’s not working as presumed.
2. Story: Big picture. Broadstrokes. Spitballing. Structure. Solutions & prospects.
3. Craft: Nitty gritty. Voice. Execution. Plot. Purpose.
4. Business & Alternative: Pretty much everything we prioritize as needing to be addressed now. This minute. This very moment.

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This is what you’re in store for at the SCWC. If you’re not up to it, we get it. Drift. If you’re serious, however, we’re here for you. Writing’s tough. It’s personal. But at the end of the day it is a business. One you can succeed in, if only you aspire and are prepared to put in the hard labor required to do so.

The SCWC is about the writers in the room and words on the page, not the people behind the podium. Any conference that thinks otherwise is a sham. And there’s a lot of them out there.

Good “Muse”

Next update, I’ll delve into all the latest SCWC success releases. Given the lag with the hotel issue, however, this time I want to focus on one SCWCer. Her name is Candace Buford. She sent us an email:

• I went to this conference a few years ago and learned so much–particularly from Marla Miller and Pitch Witches. The pitch I crafted with Marla and the opening pages we revised helped me get my agent! I am now a full time author, writing primarily YA and MG for HarperCollins, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, and Disney Books. My newest book (SUSIE KING TAYLOR, Aladdin/Simon & Schuster) comes out on September 26. I also had a release earlier this summer (GOOD AS GOLD, Disney 6/6/23)…

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Not the first time, of course, for the conference. But every individual time that a writer succeeds in part because of the conference is the best time.

I hope you’ll trust and allow us to be your best time, come February. Register now.

–Michael Steven GregoryExecutive Director, SCWC

Dates for our 38th annual winter event in San Diego are Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 16-18, 2024. Steeply discounted pre-registration is now open. Even this far out, it’s already shaping up to be another great gathering. While regular updates will begin in October, here’s all you need to know now:

(UPDATED 11/8/2023) SCWC*SD38 LOCATION: We WILL NOT be returning to the Marriott Mission Valley, but instead moving over to DoubleTree by Hilton San Diego – Hotel Circle, near our old haunt.

SCWC*SD38 SCHEDULE: As usual, there’ll be plenty of craft- and business-centric sessions, read & critique workshops, one-on-one consultations and more that will round out our writers’ weekend.

Of particular note, Janis Thomas will return with her newly  expanded 8-workshop stand-alone Novel Boot Camp. Limited to only 10 participants, the track sold out fast at SD37 and requires pre-registration. >>Details

SCWC*SD38 STAFF: As always, authors, editors, agents, and other publishing professionals will be joining us. Be sure to subscribe to our periodic .COMmunity updates to find out who, along with all timely SCWC news.

Until next time, remember that there is no single right way to publication success – only an infinite number of wrong ways. The SCWC is devoted to finding your best way. You can join us in Irvine this September to discover how here.

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC/RWS

There’s nothing quite like sharing a few days – and nights – with a plot of writers immersed in the work, aspiring for excellence and determined to settle only for exceptional. And what a weekend it was. So many fascinating stories came through; so many new friends made. Wes, Rick, Linda and I applaud all the conferees who placed their trust in the SCWC, and especially the terrific workshop leaders who so generously threw their all in getting them where they strive to be.

Big shout out to our terrific guest speakers, Claudia Whitsitt (Lingering Clouds), Scott McGaugh (Brotherhood of the Flying Coffin: The Glider Pilots of World War II), and Gayle Carline (New Dragon Soaring). Knocked it out the park, folks. Thank you.

With yet another rapturously exhausting conference now behind us, let’s get on to which conferees were recognized for pages put forth in read & critique workshops and advance submission consultation.

SCWC*San Diego 37 Award Recipients

OUTSTANDING FICTION (Epic Fantasy)
Far Corelay
by Greg Uke of Escondido, CA

OUTSTANDING MEMOIR
Mother Matter
by Pamela Garvey of Saint Louis, MO

OUTSTANDING SHORT STORY
If You Stay, You Will Die
by Greg Laskaris of San Diego, CA

Also, 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 SD37 was “Flight.” Here’s the winning entry…

OUTSTANDING TOPIC STORY
San Diego Word Bar
by
Diana Fulton
of Irine, CA

Welcome. We pride ourselves on our vast selection of words, offering carefully curated flights to satisfy the most discerning patron.

Perhaps you’d like to begin with our Classic Flight. This includes a rich collection from aged words. You’ll start with the Dante, a blend of hot and cold, fire on the tongue, ice in the belly. From there, move to the French original, Voltaire, with its philosophical jewels. The Austin selection is full and robust, pure of spirit, rich with humor and acidic undertones. Dickens completes the flight with an extraordinary energetic pigment, not bleak at all. We also carry our savory Shakespeare flight with the Romeo Reserve, Multilayered Macbeth, Caesar Cellar and Hamlet Heritage.

Our latest collection includes contemporary words for the adventurous palate. The SDWC Flight provides a multidimensional sensory experience. Begin with the Whitsitt, a mysterious and complex bouquet with a hint of sweetness that will leave you wanting more. Next, taste the deep and smooth McGaugh with a bouquet that lingers on the palate long after digestion of the words. The Carline, with its opulent textures, is easy to imbibe late into the night. And finally, if you dare, take a walk on the wild side with the Reeves’ exotic elegance.

If any of these samples tantalize your tongue, complete works are available for purchase to enjoy in your favorite reading corner.

Congratulations, all!

Dates for our 38th annual San Diego conference will be Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 16-18, 2024. Limited to 175 writers, discounted pre-registration opens August 1. Between now and next year, our 20th annual Fall event will again take place in Irvine, September 15-17, 2023. Discounted pre-registration opens March 1st. Limited to 150 participants, full details can be found here.

Until next time, write more, suck less, and be the writer you aspire to be.

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC

Longtime SCWC workshop leader and all around especially good egg Gayle Carline will be our Sunday afternoon Special Guest Speaker, replacing the previously announced. Having successfully transitioned from traditional press to full-on indie, Gayle is the author of the popular Peri Minneopa Mysteries, including Freezer Burn, Hit or Missus, The Hot Mess, Clean Sweep, Murder Bytes and A More Deadly Union, featuring a housecleaner-turned-detective living in the OC. Other titles include the stand-alone From the Horse’s Mouth: One Lucky Memoir, and the first of a equine-themed mystery series, Murder on the Hoof. Writing as G.S. Carline, her latest is the epic genre-jump into historical fantasy. The Dragon Shadows trilogy is comprised of Blood Dragon Rising, Moon Dragon Falling and upcoming finale, New Dragon Soaring, to be published next week.

The deadline for discounted Full Conference pre-registration is fast approaching, so take advantage of the savings. Until our SD37 post-conference wrap update, write more, suck less, and join us in San Diego. Your words are worth it.

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC/SWS