Author Appearance March 26 Angela Sorby, anthology of children's poetry

A notice of an author appearance:

Angela Sorby, will be at Boswell's Book Company, 2559 N. Downer, 7:00pm Wednesday March 26
She has co-edited "Over the River and Through the Woods: An Anthology of Nineteenth-Century American Children's Poetry" and will be talking about that book.  

Sorby is an associate professor of English at Marquette University. Her newest book "The Sleeve Waves" (University of Wisconsin Press) is this year's winner of the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry  and contains many Wisconsin locales and musical references. 


Karin Schmidt
WWA SE Region Coordinator
sereg@wiwrite.org

Novel in Progress Bookcamp - Looking For You! - limited registration

Novel in Progress Book Camp

WHEN: May 18 to 24, 2014.

WHERE: the Cedar Valley Center & Spa is 35 miles northwest of Milwaukee, near West Bend, Wisconsin.

It's about 2 hours from Chicago.

WHO: We expect the 2014 camp to accept 15–25 participants.

WHAT: One registration fee covers all Bookcamp expenses, including room & board, classes, handouts, group critique and one-on-one mentoring sessions, guest speakers, and special activities.

HOW: It costs nothing to apply. Simply submit the requested information about your work-in-progress and your writing goals (we screen applicants to ensure that each is a good fit for the program).

Then, a refundable $100 deposit will reserve your spot as a 2014 Bookcamp writer.

WHY: This is a remarkable chance to work closely with the Bookcamp's staff of experienced professionals with broad experience in the publishing world – as authors, editors, publishers, screenwriters. and literary coaches – to discuss what your novel needs to succeed and to help you plan its best path to publication.

The Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp is an intense, 6-day, 6-night, full-immersion workshop-retreat for writers in all genres working on a novel or creative nonfiction book. Whether you are working on your first novel, an Indie author, or an established writer looking for someone to bounce ideas off of, the Bookcamp will help you advance your manuscript and provide timely advice to get your work published.

Space is limited, and there is a discount to register early. Only the first 13 registrants are guaranteed a single room. Additional, double rooms are available.

The Bookcamp’s schedule offers instruction, critique sessions, discussions on the current publishing industry, one-on-one meetings about your project, and pitch sessions with literary agents.

The Bookcamp will be held May 18 to 24, 2014, at the Cedar Valley Center & Spa (www.cedarvalleycenter.org), which is 35 miles northwest of Milwaukee and near West Bend, Wisconsin, and about 2 hours from Chicago. It can easily be reached from State Highway 41.

The single registration fee covers all expenses: room, board, instructional classes and materials, one-on-one sessions, and all the customized advice from published professionals you can handle on your project. However, all spa services are optional on your own dime and time.

The Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp is sponsored by the Wisconsin Writers Association (WWA), co-sponsored by the Chicago Writers Association (CWA), and receives additional support from our Creative Co-Sponsors.

This Bookcamp is open to anyone seriously interested in advancing their writing skills and producing a quality book, both WWA members and nonmembers. WWA members have first-choice privileges and receive a registration fee discount, as do members of CWA.

We can accommodate about 30 registrants at Cedar Valley. Because of the space limit and to ensure all participants will benefit from the Bookcamp’s information-packed schedule, we have established an application screening process. There is no cost to apply. Once an applicant is accepted into the Bookcamp, a fee payment schedule comfortable for the registrant will be worked out, starting with a $100 deposit to reserve a room.

Writer's Institute April 3-6 Madison WI

UW- Madison continuing education Writer's Institute

April 3-6, 2014

Madison, WI

http://continuingstudies.wisc.edu/conferences/writers-institute/agenda.html

Times, lunch, and break information
On Friday, April 4th, and Saturday, April 5th, registration starts at 8:00am. Refreshments are available at 8:00am both days, included in the fee. Please pre-register for Friday lunch, agent/editor Q & A sessions, contest entries, advanced manuscript critiques, critique groups, written critiques, agent and editor pitches, practice pitch sessions, fireside chats, and one-on-one meetings with instructors.
All instructor sessions are open and you do not have to pre-register for them.
Rooms will be posted on the 2nd floor of the Madison Concourse Hotel and listed on the schedule in your packet.
The fee for the special Friday April 4th Networking Lunch and Success Panel is $15.00. You may attend the lunch without partaking in the buffet. Please note however that no outside food is allowed at the Madison Concourse Hotel.
Lunch on Saturday, April 5th, is on your own.

In the center of town, lots of things to do. Want to bring the family? www.visitmadison.com»
This year's event is at the Madison Concourse Hotel, concoursehotel.com. It's at One West Dayton, 1 block from the State Capital and our downtown square, just steps away from the UW-Madison campus, and a block away from colorful State Street with many restaurants and stores, the Overture Center for the Arts, and much more along the way. You can even rent bikes on Capital Square. For the family, the free Henry Vilas Park Zoo has perennially been named a "Best Free Place For Families."

Your fee includes goodies
Registration is $180 for Friday or Saturday/Sunday, or a $280 combo fee.
Fee includes instruction, handout materials, morning continental breakfast Friday and Saturday, afternoon refreshments, and Sunday coffee/tea. Pitches, practice pitch sessions, all critiques, the contest, Friday luncheon, fireside chats, and one-on-one meetings are extra; please see the registration form. (You must be enrolled for Friday or Saturday/Sunday in order to pitch or enter the contest.)

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Participants earn 0.6 CEU Friday and/or Saturday, 0.3 on Sunday (potential total 1.5). A CEU is a nationally recognized way of recording your participation in noncredit professional development. If you are a teacher and interested in earning credits, please contact conference director Laurie Scheer.

Teachers
The University of Wisconsin–Madison programs are approved toward re-licensure by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

What to wear
“Dressy casual” clothes and good walking shoes are the norm. Outside, early April in Wisconsin can be anything from winter to spring, the 30s to the 70s, with sun, rain, or late-season snow, so please check weather forecasts before packing.

Parking
You receive parking information with your enrollment confirmation. The Madison Concourse hotel offers an indoor parking garage. The rate is $10 per night if you are an overnight guest. If attending the conference on a daily basis, the rate is $1.50 per hour up to a maximum of $17 per day. Additional parking is available across the street at the State Street Capitol ramp» (214 N. Carroll Street).
Or call (608) 262-1122 for advice and maps. UW parking permits cost $13 per day. Some hotels offer free parking; some offer free shuttles to campus.

Childcare
Call the Office of Campus Child Care, (608) 262-9715.

Overnight accommodations—make your reservation NOW!
Lodging is on your own. We have reserved a block of rooms in 2 hotels:
Concourse Hotel» One West Dayton Street, (608) 257-6000, (parking-see above), $134.00 for Concourse Level or $179.00 for Governor’s Club until March 6, 2014.
Guest room rates are subject to applicable state and local taxes in effect at the time of check-in. Current tax rate is 14.5%. Please call the hotel directly at the number above or (800) 356-8293 to make reservations. Please identify yourself as part of the UW 2014 Writers’ Institute to receive special rates.
Lowell Center» 610 Langdon St., (608) 256-2621, (free parking, breakfast, pool), $89.00-105.00.
Group Code is WRITER. Please make your reservation before March 5, 2014. The Lowell Center’s reservation page can be found at http://bit.ly/writer03apr»

For more information
Contact director Laurie Scheer, (608) 265-3972 / lscheer@dcs.wisc.edu or Laura Kahl, (608) 262-3982 / lkahl@dcs.wisc.edu.

Dessert First with Gail Sweet

My newest book, Dessert First is published! As with all my books, sales benefit the charity I founded in 1982, HOPE Network for Single Mothers.

Dessert First is a book full of short pieces - a perfect companion for "la toilette."

In its pages you’ll travel from city streets to haylofts. You’ll encounter mice wearing clothes, a bad guy stopped by a smile, a St. Francis in need of recapitation, and two old ladies whose racy conversation leads them to calamity. You’ll find leaves to kick, spring peepers, chickens, fruit flies, deer, drought, and frost. There are earthly delights like a blue Fiestaware dish – and bummers like walking to the gym shower wearing socks.

Inside you’ll find seventy-seven glimpses of Wisconsin life, to be read in any order. This book has your name on it if you like short true stories – if you laugh at everyday comedy – if you’ve lived through highs and lows – and if you believe good trumps evil.

From more than three decades of writing for the public, a message comes through: Life is short and often hard – but it’s full of desserts. In this book, I share those desserts – tastier than Wisconsin frozen custard.

You may order Dessert First from me directly or as an e-book or paperback from Amazon.com.

Through March 31, I have a book give-away contest on my blog (drawing will be done from names of people who leave comments).


Gail Grenier Sweet
Calling All Horses
Dog Woman
Don't Worry Baby 
Dessert First - all available from Amazon.com under author name Gail Grenier

Celebrity Saturday at AllWriters with Kelly Moran

From the desk of Kathie Giorgio, Director, AllWriters' Workplace & Workshop LLC:

CELEBRITY SATURDAY: KELLY MORAN

WAUKESHA – Do you love to write, or write of love? We have the celebrity lecturer for you! AllWriters’ Workplace & Workshop welcomes special guest lecturer Kelly Moran with her workshop, FALLING FOR FICTION: A ROMANTIC VIEW.

This comprehensive workshop will traverse the different levels of writing from an in depth look at the elements of a good story, through avoiding pitfalls in your work, and on to the realms of pitches, editors and agents. The focus will primarily be on the romance genre, but writers of all styles and abilities will benefit. As an added bonus, Kelly will critique the beginning of your current work, up to five pages.

KELLY MORAN began her writing career in the Indie market, becoming the recipient of an Editor's Choice Award, a Finalist in the 2008 Best Book Awards, and a Finalist in the 2009 Indie Excellence Awards before moving into traditional publishing. She is the winner of the 2013 Catherine Award through RWA and just signed a two-book deal with Berkley (Penguin Group USA). Her books not only have honors from the top review sites, but from NY Times bestsellers as well. She is a respected reviewer and a Romance Writers of America member.

Celebrity Saturdays are a great chance to broaden your knowledge of what it takes to be successful and to learn from writers who are already knee deep in an author’s life. Kelly Moran’s workshop will be held on Saturday, February 1^st, 2014. This event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and costs $85, which includes a lunch catered by Waukesha’s own Café de Art.

AllWriters’ Workplace and Workshop offers on-site and online writing courses in all genres and abilities of creative writing, as well as coaching, editing, and marketing services. A schedule of classes and registration is available online at www.AllWritersWorkshop.com or you can call 262-446-0284. AllWriters’ is located at 234 Brook Street, Unit 2, in historic downtown Waukesha.

Summer Hanford

AllWriters' Assistant

www.summerhanford.com 

Summer Hanford on Facebook 

234 Brook St., Unit 2
Waukesha WI 53188
Phone: 262-446-0284
www.allwritersworkshop.com
Please "like" Author Kathie Giorgio on Facebook, and follow KathieGiorgio on Twitter!

Wisconsin Author AJ Knauss supports OATH

AJ Knauss returns with a special request to support

Operation All the Way Home.

We first met AJ earlier this year when she came to share about her book Room Four. Read the post.

 Recently she sent this request:

Hi Lisa,

I have partnered with Operation All the Way Home to donate all my book proceeds until the end of my current army tour to their organization.  OATH is a group of high school students who are building an accessible home for SPC Jerral Hancock. On his birthday, he became paralyzed, burned and lost his left arm in Iraq.  He has two young kids and an indomitable spirit.

As a physician I know too well that the acute trauma care we provide is only a small part, the long road after is everything.  kids and Mr. Hancock are truly inspiring.

They are over halfway there in fundraising and I think they could get there so quickly if word spread.

Thank you again for your support of Wisconsin authors!

MAJ Anne Johnson MD

Camp Arifjan, Kuwait

author of ROOM FOUR, AJ Knauss

 

 

 

Mission Statement

    OATH is a grass-roots, community effort created and organized by the Pride of the Nation students of Lancaster High School.  
    The mission of Operation All The Way Home (OATH) is to assist veterans of the United States Armed Forces with the acquisition of housing, both permanent and transitional. OATH also assists veterans with other needs as they relate to assimilating into civilian life after completion of their service.
    OATH's current mission is to raise funds and break ground for construction of a new home for wounded warrior, Jerral Hancock, within one year. Committed to working from June 1, 2013 to June 1, 2014, the students have enlisted for a one-year "tour of duty" to make this happen.  


About the book:

It's just after Christmas and Alan Fries, hapless accountant, wonders why nurses with antler hats are hovering over him. He endures a three day coma stuck with only Jerry for company, an 87-year-old crank who died in the same room earlier but is waiting for someone to sign the death certificate. Jerry and Alan becomes dead flies on the wall of an aging Chicago hospital and observe the staff...the doctor who leaves his sperm sample in the work fridge, the veteran nurse putting the kibosh on an intern's crush, the holiday hamfork injuries and the various nutcases who file through the ER doors. When they uncover a billing scandal and the truth about the corrupt CEO who is bankrupting the hospital they get to work. But can they put the proof in front of the eyes of the living in time? Can they save the hospital before driving each other crazy? Will Alan get resuscitated and start the bucket list he never had? A grouchy, laugh-out-loud, heartwarming tale of how tough love shines through the crustiest exterior.

ISBN: 978-1477572436
$11.95 Print
$3.79 E-book

Connect with AJ:

Amazon Author Page
Website

 

Greg Peck with updated book Death Beyond the Willows

Death Beyond the Willows by Greg Peck

 

 “Greg Peck’s work is a breath of fresh air,” says Ben Logan, author of the popular Wisconsin book The Land Remembers.

 

Death Beyond the Willows is a true story of rural history surrounding the shocking 1927 tragedy in Portage, Wisconsin that befell a couple from Dane County on their wedding day. It’s a story about the family farm and how we’re losing that part of our heritage. It’s a story about an old Chevy in the days when highways still offered primitive transportation. It’s a story about spirituality and a clash of religions that divided the two families—with dramatic and surprising twists. And it’s a story that emphasizes how every person, every life, holds a library of stories.

 

This newly released edition includes fresh graphics designed to enhance readership.

The Pirkl family tree will help readers follow who’s who among the many relatives.

Maps pinpoint clusters of key locations.

A new cover is tastefully designed.

An Afterword tells how the book inspired bus tours of key sites and of stunning coincidental stories that emerged and brought this rich history full circle.

 

Peck spent years researching this tragedy, which inspired the late Zona Gale, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and native of Portage, to write a fictional short story, “Bridal Pond.” The book weaves the true, full story, and the writers spent months working on and publishing this update.

 

To purchase: Greg will ship a signed copy for $20. It would make a good Christmas gift. Please pass the word! Send checks to him.

 

Greg Peck

1421 Eastwood Ave.

Janesville, WI 53545

 

Also available as a paperback on Amazon

Rattlesnake Valley Publishing

ISBN-13: 978-0983060147

$15.26

 

About the author:

 

Greg Peck is Opinion page editor of The Gazette in Janesville, Wis. He graduated from Marshall High School in Marshall, Wis., in 1975. A 1979 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, he has worked and written for Wisconsin newspapers the past 34 years. He has won a variety of journalism and nonfiction awards from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, the Inland Press Association and the Wisconsin Writers Association. He serves on the board of directors of the WWA.