Cursed With A Desire To Read This Halloween?

Halloween is in the air. In the mood for a spooky read? Check out The Curse of the Moonless Knight, the second in the mis-adventures of Alyson Bell series.

A veil weaves thinly between the world of the living and the land of the dead. Spirits are amiss in the town of Hollow Creek when a portal that should’ve stayed closed is accidentally opened.
Alyson learns that sometimes in this magical world, you have to close your eyes… to see.

The Curse of the Moonless Knight is written in chick lit style and targeted for girls aged 13-18.

Learn more at author Kristin Groulx’s website. There, you can find information about her, and the entire Alyson Bell series.

http://www.kristingroulx.com

Still Time to See Elmore Leonard

The 13th annual F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference is a rare opportunity for writers of all levels to learn from successful writers—including Elmore “Dutch” Leonard, Susan Cheever, George Pelcanos and Laura Lippman.

The literary conference takes place on Saturday, October 25 at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland. There’s still time to register, but writers and fans of the featured authors will want to do so right away.

Writers will appreciate the workshops; readers and lovers of literature will enjoy the rare opportunity to listen to and meet renowned authors.

Elmore “Dutch” Leonard, the prolific author of 42 novels and countless short stories, is this year’s honoree. Leonard’s work includes Freaky Deaky, Killshot, Maximum Bob, Get Shorty, 3:10 to Yuma, 52-Pick Up, Rum Punch, and Ten Rules of Writing. Conference Attendees will get to listen to Leonard talk about writing and read from his work.

Leonard joins a diverse and prestigious list of honorees, including Norman Mailer, John Updike, E.L. Doctorow, Joyce Carol Oates, Ernest J. Gaines, Edward Albee, William Styron, John Barth, Grace Paley, Pat Conroy, Jane Smiley, and William J. Kennedy.

Susan Cheever, author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction including American Bloomsbury, My Name is Bill, Note Found in a Bottle, As Good as I Could Be,Home Before Dark, and Treetops, will deliver the keynote address.

Laura Lippman and George Pelcanos will participate in a panel discussion on successful mystery writing. Lippman was a reporter for The Baltimore Sun before writing novels full time — including seven “Tess Monaghan” mysteries. George Pelcanos published his first novel in 1992 and is the author of fifteen novels set in and around Washington DC. Their conversation will be monitored by Michael Dirda of The Washington Post Book World and Dirda on Books.

In addition to talks from these masters, writers attending the conference will participate in writing workshops lead by top-notch professionals, including editors of literary journals, authors of books, writing instructors, publishers, and others involved with the art and industry of writing.

Workshop topics include short story, novel, memoir, and story writing, from the page to the stage adaptation, author-publisher relationships, and more.

A limited number of registrants will have the opportunity to submit their work to a literary consultant or journal editor for a one-on-one consultation. This will be first-come, first served—an incentive to register sooner rather than later.

The conference will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 6:15 p.m. with events for everyone. The presentation of the annual F. Scott Fitzgerald Award to Mr. Leonard will take place at 2:15. Visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/potomacreview/fscott/ for a complete schedule.

Learn more about Leonard “Dutch” Leonard in The Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/26/AR2008052602219.html


Conference sponsors include the City of Rockville, Montgomery College, Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, Gazette newspapers, Chase Suite Hotel, Round House Theater, Peerless Rockville Historic Preservation, Ltd., and the F. Scott Fitzgerald Society.

Learn more about the conference—and register now—at the conference website.
www.montgomerycollege.edu/potomacreview/fscott/

Three Literary Events in Baltimore

The Maryland Writers’s Association (MWA) and Maryland Writers Association Baltimore Chapter (MWAB) along with the Lit and Art at the Watermark Reading Series are proud to announce three events that are sure to be of interest to area writers and lovers of literature.


Baltimore Sun Editor Dave Rosenthal and Blogger Heather Johnson
Monday, October 27

The Maryland Writers’ Association Baltimore Chapter presents Baltimore Sun assistant managing editor and Sunday editor Dave Rosenthal, co-editor of the Sun's popular "Read Street" book blog, and blogger and book club coordinator Heather Johnson of Storie delle Sorelle, talking about how the Web is changing the way the media covers the literary arts.

Financial pressures have forced U. S. newspapers to shrink, and that has meant big changes in covering books. At some newspapers, full-time book editors have left and were not replaced. The Los Angeles Times eliminated its book review section and moved reviews into the lifestyle pages. Other papers, including The Baltimore Sun, have trimmed book coverage. As these changes unfold, the Sun and some other newspapers have started book blogs to supplement print coverage, and dozens (if not hundreds) of independent blogs have sprung up. Can the two co-exist? Do they have distinct roles? And how does that affect writers who are trying to get their works noticed?

The event takes place Monday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m., at Baltimore Chop Bookstore and Espresso Bar, 625 Washington Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21230, across from Camden Yards. For directions, visit Baltimore Chop's MySpace page or call (410) 752-4487. The event is free for MWA members, free for first time visitors, and $5 for returning guests.


Lit and Art in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor
Sunday, October 26

Need cheap entertainment to distract you from the plummeting stock market? On Sunday, October 26 at 2 p.m., the Watermark Gallery in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor will celebrate the first anniversary of its “Lit and Art at the Watermark” reading series.

Newcomers Angela Render, Sally Whitney, and Sherri Woosley will read their contributions to the recently published anthology, New Lines from the Old Line State: An Anthology of Maryland Writers. Also reading their contributions will be Lit and Art regulars Lauren Beth Eisenberg and Eric D. Goodman. A sampling of Iranian poetry and live music, played by Erik Kestler and Robert Waldeck, will round out the celebration. The surreal artwork of Manzar will be on display.

This celebration is free and open to the public. Complimentary wine and refreshments will be served, and audience members will have a chance to share their own work.

The Watermark Gallery is located in the Bank of America Center Skywalk Level, right across from the Inner Harbor, at 100 S. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland. The phone number is (410) 547-0452.

Learn more about the Watermark at their online gallery.

http://www.manzar.net/


Bea Scott on Gathering Stories and Family Heritage
Wednesday, November 12

Finally, Bea Scott will be speaking on gathering stories and family heritage -- a good topic for the pre-Thanksgiving days! This event is the Maryland Writers’ Association’s November Monthly Meeting and is free to all MWA members, free to first-time guests and visitors, and $5 for returning guests and visitors. It takes place from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the annex building of the Chesapeake Arts Center, 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, Maryland 21225, 410-636-6597.

For more information about these events, visit the following websites.

Maryland Writers’ Association Baltimore chapter
http://www.mwabaltimore.org/

Maryland Writers’ Association
www.marylandwriters.org/meetings.html

Learn more about these and other events at Writeful.
http://www.writeful.blogspot.com/

Dialogue with Elmore Leonard

Elmore Leonard is known for his great dialogue. Now, you have the opportunity to share a dialogue with him. You can meet Elmore Leonard, Susan Cheever, George Pelcanos, Laura Lippman and More at the Fitzgerald Literary Conference this month.

The 13th annual F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference is a rare opportunity for writers of all levels to learn from successful writers.

The literary conference takes place in Rockville, Maryland on Saturday, October 25.

In addition to meeting these accomplished authors, the Fitzgerald conference offers the unique opportunity for writers to hone their craft in top-notch workshops.

Elmore “Dutch” Leonard, the prolific author of 42 novels and countless short stories, is this year’s honoree. Leonard’s work includes Freaky Deaky, Killshot, Maximum Bob, Get Shorty, 3:10 to Yuma, 52-Pick Up, Rum Punch, Tishomingo Blues, When the Women Come Out to Dance, Mr. Paradise, Pagan Babies, and Ten Rules of Writing. Conference Attendees will get to listen to Leonard talk about writing and read from his work.

Leonard joins a diverse and prestigious list of honorees, including Norman Mailer, John Updike, E.L. Doctorow, Joyce Carol Oates, Ernest J. Gaines, Edward Albee, William Styron, John Barth, Grace Paley, Pat Conroy, Jane Smiley, and William J. Kennedy.

Susan Cheever, author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction including American Bloomsbury, My Name is Bill, Note Found in a Bottle, As Good as I Could Be,Home Before Dark, and Treetops, will deliver the keynote address.

Laura Lippman and George Pelcanos will participate in a panel discussion on successful mystery writing. Lippman was a reporter for The Baltimore Sun before writing novels full time — including seven “Tess Monaghan” mysteries. George Pelcanos published his first novel in 1992 and is the author of fifteen novels set in and around Washington DC. Their conversation will be monitored by Michael Dirda of The Washington Post Book World and Dirda on Books.

In addition to talks from these masters, writers attending the conference will participate in writing workshops lead by top-notch professionals, including editors of literary journals, authors of books, writing instructors, publishers, and others involved with the art and industry of writing.

Workshop topics include short story, novel, memoir, and story writing, from the page to the stage adaptation, author-publisher relationships, and more.

A limited number of registrants will have the opportunity to submit their work to a literary consultant or journal editor for a one-on-one consultation. This will be first-come, first served—an incentive to register sooner rather than later.

The conference will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 6:15 p.m. with events for everyone. Visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/potomacreview/fscott/ for a complete schedule.

Learn more about Leonard “Dutch” Leonard in The Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/26/AR2008052602219.html

Learn more about the conference—and register now—at the conference website.
www.montgomerycollege.edu/potomacreview/fscott/

Get Your Goose Now!

On November 1, Writers’ Lair Books will officially release Flightless Goose as a full-color hardcover. The book is available now at http://www.rungoose.com/.

I wrote Flightless Goose, and my wife, Nataliya, illustrated it with beautiful watercolors.

In the book, the flightless goose must learn to tolerate teasing and the challenges of being different. He is even left behind as the geese fly south for the winter. In the end, the flightless goose develops a talent no other goose has, and that helps him save the day.

The publisher has announced that all pre-orders placed before November 1 will receive a 10 percent discount, and the copies will be autographed by me and Nataliya.

For every book purchased, one dollar will be donated to The Pajama Project to help provide warm pajamas and nurturing books to underprivileged children.

Flightless Goose will be available in book stores and at Amazon.com, but to get the discount and help the Pajama Project, order now at http://www.writerslairbooks.com/goodman1.html.

Visit http://www.rungoose.com/ to learn more about Flightless Goose.

Weather Only Whets Appetite for Literature

Did last weekend’s rain put a damper on the festivities? Not really.

The National Book Festival, which usually boasts about 100,000 visitors, actually topped 120,000 despite the puddle-pocked walkways along the National Mall and the overcast skies that drizzled on readers and writers. Readers flocked to meet such authors as Salman Rushdie, Neil Gaiman, Bob Schieffer, David Shannon, Dionne Warwick, Andrea Davis Pickney, Charles S. Smith Jr., Geraldine Brooks, Peter Robinson, Warren Brown, Cokie Roberts, Kimberly Dozier, Arthur & Pauline Frommer, Dan Chiasson and Jill Allyn Rosser.

Children enjoyed new books by authors like Laura and Jenna Bush, Tiki Barber, and R.L. Stein. Children also noticed special decorations along the walkways on all the lamp posts: free magnets announcing Flightless Goose and the book’s website, www.RunGoose.com. Flightless Goose was also represented with fliers, magnets, and gift bags, at the big event in Baltimore.

And how about the Mid Atlantic region's most important celebration of the literary arts—the Baltimore Book Festival? The “typhoon” may have kept some of the fainter souls away, but it only whet the appetites of die-hard literary buffs. Thousands of people gathered around the original Washington Monument to celebrate books and all things literary.

Headliners included such authors as Walter Mosley, T.D. Jakes, Madison Smartt Bell, Rafael Alvarez, Michael Kimball, Jen Michalski, and even Mark Twain. (That last one may have been an imposter). Tim Wendell read from his novel Red Rain and conducted a writing workshop.

As in past years, the CityLit tent was a hot spot. That’s where there was a reading of the Freshly Squeezed anthology on Saturday (which features my story “One Last Hit” from Tracks, a novel in stories) and a reading from New Lines from the Old Line State: An Anthology of Maryland Writers on Sunday (which features my story “Cicadas.”)

Speaking of Maryland writers, the Maryland Writers’ Association tent always had a crowd collected around it, garnering much interest with the commune story (passer-bys could add a line) and information for and about Maryland writers.

As Paul Lagasse (President of MWA’s Baltimore Chapter) coined, the Book Fest is the “Literary New Year’s” celebration for writers.

Visit The Baltimore Sun’s book blog, Read Street, for another recap.

And visit the Library of Congress’s Book Fest page for podcasts from featured authors.

http://www.loc.gov/podcasts/


Happy Literary New Year, readers!