News And Announcements

One of the most highly anticipated young adult releases of 2020, of All the Stars and Teeth Entertainment Weekly declares, “This epic fantasy, which subverts gender stereotypes and expectations, has the potential to break out in the mold of [Tomi] Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone, with its fresh take on themes on vengeance and coming-of-age.” #1 New York Times bestselling author Adeyemi herself hails it, “Fierce and unrelenting … Do yourself a favor and get lost in this beautiful book!” Macmillan acquired the two-book high seas adventure series in an aggressive pre-empt. Its debut author, Adalyn Grace, will join us as a Special Guest Speaker in February to discuss how it came to be. Welcome Adalyn!

Advance Submission Readers

With only a couple-three more likely to be added, the bulk of our Advance Submission Readers have been confirmed and are now open for selection. Along with the many authors and editors, literary agents accepting submissions:

• Lisa Abellera, with Kimberley Cameron and Associates
• Tara Gilbert, with Corvisiero Literary Agency (added 11/11/19)
• Amanda Jain, with Bookends Literary Agency
• Jill Marr, with Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency (bumped to Irvine, 2020)
• Sarah Phair, with Sanford J. Greenburger Associates
• Dr. Uwe Stender, with Triada US Literary Agency
• Jennifer Chen Tran, with Bradford Literary Agency

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For those signing up for a reader, or multiple readers, be aware that the deadline to submit material is January 20th, 2020. Many readers will sell out before then (and be noted as such on the Staff page). It is advisable to sign up for readers early, then submit your pages only when you’re absolutely certain they’re ready for review. Do not submit multiple versions of the same submission as we near the deadline. Here’s where to Learn All About Advance Submissions.

Much Good “Muse” to Report

So many SCWCers working in so many genres. Those with new releases include Dennis Bowen’s seventh installment of his International Thriller Series, The Jasmine Negative … Ashlynn Cubbison’s Chasing Beverly, in which an “Olympic hopeful sacrifices her own aspirations in order to breathe life into her mother’s dreams” … Mike Murphey’s The Conman, a novel based on the life of former pro-ball pitcher Keith Comstock … And from Melissa Fischer, The Advocacy, a novel set in 1992 Ghana, drawn from her own experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer there.

On the creepy jeepers side of things, the second book in Pamela G. McCord’s Pekin Dewlap Mystery series, The Ghost on Firefly Lane, find the trio of best friends hired to help a sad spirit step into the light … And in audio book, Evan Ramspott’s (writing as Better Hero Army) Book 2 of his Plagued States of America series, Plagued: The Rock Island Zombie Counteractant Experiment, is now out. It’s narrated by our own Melanie Hooks, who is beginning to amass an impressive catalogue of audio work.

Coming up in 2020: Nikki Katz’s The King’s Questioner, “an epic YA fantasy featuring royal drama, dark magic, and a secret that could topple a kingdom” (January) … Suzanne Redfearn’s “thoughtful exploration of life, death, and the world in between,” In an Instant (March) … Robert Mitchell Evans’ space opera, Vulcan’s Forge (March). Best of success to all!

And speaking of working in genre fiction, be sure to watch this new doculogue from our recent Irvine event. Featuring Kali Wallace, August Norman, and Jonathan & Jynafer Yanez, it drills into the challenges and business of doing so.

Early “Bard” Discount

Discounted pre-registration for our 34th annual winter event is open. Do so by December 1st and save $100 on Full Conference participation. The workshop slate will be posted shortly. Subscribe to our mailing list or join our Facebook community to stay up to date.

Happy NaNoWriMo!

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC/SWS

International bestselling author Kristin Harmel (The Room on Rue Amelie) declares, “I was utterly moved and transfixed by The Light After the War, a beautiful novel that spans a decade across four continents in the wake of World War II. You’ll be swept away by this fast-paced, heartbreaking, and hopeful tale of friendship, family, second chances, and the enduring power of love, based on the true story of [its author’s] mother and her fascinating journey away from war-torn Europe in the 1940s. A must-read for anyone interested in the emotional toll of the Second World War.” Out February from Simon & Schuster–marking a departure from her 14 popular romance and women’s fiction titles–that author, Anita Hughes Abriel, is our third Special Guest Speaker confirmed for San Diego 34. And does she have stories to tell.

Latest Good “Muse”

SCWCers with new titles now out, or soon will be, include Margo Judge. White Out, the first in a planned trilogy, is a young adult mystery blended with magical realism that unveils its heroine’s secrets to her departed father in the form of a journal … Cam Daly’s Horseplay: Labworld Earth Book One, which was awarded an SCWC Outstanding Science Fiction Award. A most apt review concludes, “This is what you would get if HBO had James Cameron make a Men In Black series” … And the fourth book in Nancy Churchill’s Pennington Sisters mystery series, Catalina Carnage, once again challenges the siblings to stop a sinister plot to murder one of their own.

Lacey Impellizeri, an SCWCer since the age of 14, just made her debut splash. Your Words Count: A Writing and Editing Planner to Help You Finish Your Book. A large-format intensive 6-Month writing and editing workbook, it’s designed to be picked up any time of the year, or in any phase of the process, and serve as a daily accountability journal. With sections on weekly reflection, character creation, story outlining, and marketing and publishing advice, Your Words Count strives to be the ultimate guide for a nascent writing career.

Greta Boris’ The Origin of Sin, a prequel novella to her Seven Deadly Sins series of psychological thrillers, will be released at the end of October … And in January, Holly Kammier’s Lost Girl infuses her journalism background into a taught new thriller set in the world of television news. Congratulations and the best of success to all!

Discounted pre-registration is now open. Do so by November 1st and save $125 on Full Conference participation. Plenty more to report soon. Subscribe to our mailing list or join our Facebook community to stay up on all the latest.

Until next time, keep up the good fight. Write.

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC/SWS

So excited to share this quick heads-up: Game of Thrones co-executive producer and writer Bryan Cogman calls Nathan Makaryk’s epic debut novel, Nottingham, “The most pleasurable reading experience I’ve had since first discovering George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire.” In this bold re-imagining of the Robin Hood legend, with King Richard half a world away fighting for God and personal ambition, his country languishes on the brink of anarchy and six intertwined lives are given voice that history has failed to mention, challenging who really were the true heroes and villains in one of England’s largest shires. A strange and extraordinary tale, Nathan will join us in February as a Special Guest Speaker to tell us all about it and more.

Discounted pre-registration is now open for our 34th annual winter event. Register for Full Conference participation by September 15, 2019 and save a whopping $150. Regular updates will begin in October, following this month’s Irvine conference. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list for any important updates.

Now go forth and write well!

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC/SWS

“[A] remarkably fresh, intense thriller, and Lily Wong is one hell of a new hero,” enthuses New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison (Tear Me Apart) of Tori Eldridge’s The Ninja Daughter (Agora Books). Murder, She Wrote Series author Jon Land calls it “a riveting, rollicking, roller-coaster ride … Eldridge’s stunningly ambitious debut juggles sub-plots as deftly as it does cultures. As beautifully realized as it is emotionally wrought, The Ninja Daughter is both striking in its originality and shattering in its ultimate impact.” Available for pre-order now, the book drops in November and Tori herself will join us in February as a Special Guest Speaker to discuss how it came to be.

Pre-registration Open

Discounted Early “Bard” Pre-registration is now open. Do so by September 15, 2019 and save a whopping $150 on Full Conference attendance. Regular updates will begin following our Irvine event, September 20-22, 2019. (Check out all the latest on it here.) In the meanwhile, here’s what you need to know now…

SCWC*SD34 LOCATION: The conference will again be held at the Crowne Plaza Hanalei resort, located mere moments away from Lindbergh Field International Airport, Sea World, Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, historic Old Town, downtown and its famous Gaslamp District, along with beaches galore. Discounted lodging is available to SCWC conferees. Phone 800-972-2802 to book your reservation, or click here to do so online. Deadline for discounted hotel registration is January 13, 2020.

SCWC*SD34 SCHEDULE: Rest assured that plenty of craft- and business-centric sessions, read & critique workshops, one-on-one consultations and more will fill out the weekend. Though we’ll not start plugging things in until later, you can get an idea of the overall shape of the conference on the Schedule page.

SCWC*SD34 STAFF: Along with the many authors, editors and other professionals joining us, agents from Bookends, Liza Dawson, Sandra Dijkstra, and TriadaUS literary agencies have been confirmed with more to be announced. Check ’em out on the staff page beginning in October.

Be sure to subscribe to our periodic .COMmunity updates to receive all the latest news in a timely fashion. And engage with our greater writing community by joining the well-moderated conversation in our Facebook Group.

Until next time, aim for excellence and settle only for exceptional.

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC/SWS

What an exceptional gathering our 33rd annual San Diego conference turned out to be. The rain abated, wind blew down, sky lit up, and the writers—as they inevitably will when given a chance—the writers shined. And while each Special Guest Speaker spoke truthfully about their individual journey, sharing quality insight on the publishing business we are navigating today, Joe Ide, perhaps more than any other, reminded us all on Saturday evening of the most important thing that sometimes gets lost in the din; he reminded us of recapturing the joy of writing.

Our workshop leaders, of course, were their usual notable, generous selves. They are the spine of the SCWC, providing the essential tools, information and feedback to those conferees who entrust us with their work, distinguishing us from all the curious babble so many events distract and disappoint with. Special shout out to the Rogue Read & Critiquers. Once again, Melanie Hooks and Laura Perkins vivaciously shouldered the heavy load, leading their scribes into the naughty wee hours. I believe that picture there to the left was taken at 3:34 a.m. one morning. Could’ve been any morning, since that’s about the time they tend to mass-selfie. Kids today. Braggarts. Thank you for your efforts, all!

Awarded a few more than usual in San Diego. Totally warranted:

SCWC*SD33 Award Recipients

OUTSTANDING PROGRESS
David Reed of San Diego, CA

OUTSTANDING VOICE
David Hwa of Dillon, CO

OUTSTANDING FICTION (Cozy Mystery)
Murder Most Foul
By Wanda McLaughlin of Vista, CA

OUTSTANDING FICTION (Horror/Supernatural)
The Hurt Book
By Greg Mollin of Huntington Beach, CA

OUTSTANDING FICTION (Historical Fiction)
The Other Round Table
By Randolph Quiroz of Colton, CA

Each SCWC we also hold a contest in which all conferees 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 topic announced Friday night. The topic for SD33 was “Suck Less,” or alternatively “Suckless.” Here’s the winning entry…

OUTSTANDING TOPIC
Suck Less
By John Mullen of Poway, CA

An old gray bronc might buck less

His barnyard stall might be muckless

A DUI’d teamster might be truckless

A benevolent employer, struck less

A hoarse hen might be cluckless

A frozen pond duckless

A dead-broke gambler might be luckless

An exhausted hooker might F*ck less

And GMO corn might be shuckless

But for certain, SCWC alumni will suck less

Congratulations, everybody.

Dates for our 34th annual San Diego conference will be Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 14-16, 2020. Limited to 175 writers, discounted pre-registration opens August 1. Between now and then, be sure to join us for our 17th annual fall event in Irvine. Dates are September 20-22, 2019. Discounted pre-registration opens March 1st. Limited to 150 writers, full details can be found here.

And remember that our Facebook Group  is a great place to continue the conversation, luxuriate in and celebrate fellow SCWCer successes, and all around keep fully up to speed on what’s up in today’s publishing world, as well as seek needed support on how to cope with it. Till next time… Be your best. Write even better.

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC/SWS

Between First Reads, Kindle Unlimited, e-book subscription services, and all the many other exclusive tools at its disposal, it is estimated that Amazon.com reaches 10 million or more readers with any given book’s release. Instantly. “The Seattle-based giant houses 15 imprints in the U.S. under the Amazon Publishing banner, turning out everything from thrillers to romance novels to books translated from other languages … [publishing] 1,231 titles in the U.S. in 2017, up from 373 in 2009, the year it entered the $16 billion-a-year consumer book publishing business,” reports The Wall Street Journal. Featured prominently in the piece is imprint Lake Union, publisher of such blazingly hot releases as Mark Sullivan’s Beneath a Scarlett Sky, Helen Bryan’s War Brides, and Janis Thomas’ All That’s Left of Me.

Alicia Clancy is an acquisitions editor at Lake Union Publishing, shepherding book club, historical, commercial and upmarket women’s fiction, psychological suspense, family drama, and the occasional literary project, to completion. Also the author of Be My Galentine: Celebrating Badass Female Friendship (St. Martin’s Press), an illustrated humor book celebrating the more positive nature of friendship between women, Alicia will join the SCWC as our fourth Special Guest Speaker for SD33, parting the digital divide to provide a needed fresh peek at yet another new publishing reality.

The Schedule is nearly complete. As usual, minor adjustments will no doubt be made over the next few weeks. If you haven’t yet done so, now is the time to Register to ensure your shot at getting the work you’ve written the attention it deserves. There will be at least one more update before Writersweekendtime. Between now and then, be sure to reach out via email, phone or our SCWC Facebook Community with any questions.

Also, many Advance Readers, as found on the Staff page, remain open at this time and will be accepting a limited number of submissions over the next couple of weeks. Be sure to email or call me directly to ensure availability before registering for any reader(s).

By all accounts, we’re looking at yet another fantastic conference. It’s winter in San Diego. Be there or be … ware!

–Michael Steven Gregory
Executive Director, SCWC/SWS