Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Florida Literature Series by Paul Holmes

Florida Literature: Stories of Setting and Place at the Mid-County Regional Library this February and March-2050 Forest Nelson, Port Charlotte Fl 33952
 

 
Florida Literature: Stories of setting and place
This four-part series will examine how Florida’s unique landscape, geography and culture influences the way writers tell their stories.   Free and open to the public
                                Florida Literature, A Natural Paradox. Presented by Laura Runge
                        Wednesday, February 5 at 6:00 p.m.
  The tropical and subtropical landscapes of Florida have inspired writers for centuries, but the literature of Florida articulates a complicated relationship to nature.  .  This lecture provides an overview of literary history in Florida and calls particularly on the poets to name the experiences and render legible the beauty of this paradoxical state.  Dr. Laura Runge, Professor of English and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of South Florida, examines this topic.
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings: Notes from Cross Creek Performed by Betty Jean Steinshouer
            Monday, February 10, at 6:00 p.m.
Actress and scholar Betty Jean Steinshouer portrays the famous hard-drinking novelist.  A Pulitzer winner, Rawlings lived in rural Cross Creek, Florida, and wrote novels and stories focusing on rural themes and settings, including the Yearling and Cross Creek.  Reservations are required: please call the Mid-County Reference Desk at 941.613.3166 starting on Monday, February 3.
            Tim Dorsey: Mystery thriller writer of Florida’s outrageous and bizarre.
            Tuesday, February 18 at 4:00 p.m.
The outrageously funny bestselling author of the Serge A. Storm novels—mystery novels whose protagonist is not only a serial killer but a self-appointed Florida historian.—Dorsey explains how Florida’s bizarre people, culture and history illuminate his novels.  From dumpster diving prostitutes to toothless real estate developers, Dorsey captures both the outrageous and trashy sides of the sunshine state.
            James W. Hall: King of Florida-gothic noir
            Wednesday, March 5, at 6:00 p.m.
New York Times best-selling author and college professor at Florida International University, James W. Hall is the master of literate Florida crime novels.  Hall’s books feature unique Florida landscapes that collide with human frailty and depravity.  Hall explains how living in Florida shapes his writing.  Reservations are required: please call the Mid-County Reference Desk at 941.613.3166 starting on Wednesday, February 26th.
Funding for this program was provided by through a grant from the Florida Humanities Council with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.  Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent hose of the Florida Humanities Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Writer's Activities for Charlotte County - by Paul Holmes

It's allHappening in Charlotte County.
 
We now have a Writers Breakfast, A writers read and then have lunch, then finally a writers tea.

 
The Writer's Breakfast will be held at 9:00 am on Saturday, February
1st, at the Wyvern Hotel, 101 E. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda, in the
Lulu Dining Room on the 1st floor.   IAN DARLING, A PUBLISHED AUTHOR
FROM CANADA will be joining us, along with Douglas Houck. Come to
discuss the fun, fact, and fiction of writing and publishing.  Perhaps
read something you have written.   There is no charge, just the cost of
your breakfast.
 
Kid's Stuff will meet on Saturday, February 8th, from 10:00 A.M. to
12:00 P.M. in Room O-116.   This is  a critique group for aspiring and
established writer's of children's books.  No charge for PRCW members.
( Next month, March the college will be closed so Kids stuff will be held in another location, we will let you where.)
 
The Prose Writing Workshop will be held on Saturday, February 8th and
22nd, from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. in Room E-120.  The workshop will
focus on writing the memoir, short story, novel, or work of non-fiction
and preparing it for publication.  The cost is $20 per session for PRCW
members and $40 for non-members.  Please contact Doug Houck at
 
The SPECIAL OPEN MIC CELEBRATING VALENTINE'S DAY will be held on Monday,
February 10th, from 6:30-8:30 P.M. at Center Stage in Fisherman's
Village.   A few invited poets and prose readers will read about love.
Come and read or recite your poems, essays, short stories, skits, radio
plays, or anything else you've written. Singer-songwriters are invited
to perform their original works. Listeners are welcome, too!  Copies of
Carol Mahler's "How Do I Follow?" and Carl Parrott's "Florida Cracker
Tales: Poetry and Prose by a Florida Native," both published by Press
River Press, will be on sale at special prices.
 
The Writers Tea will meet on Tuesday, February 18th, from 1:00-3:00 P.M.
at the Port Charlotte Library, 2nd floor, near the Cultural Center.  You
are invited to attend and share some of your poems, stories or personal
memoirs.  Please bring a  snack to share.  Tea will be provided.  You
can call Arlene Kincaid at 625-7312 or Mary Grace Patterson at 575-0739
for further information.

Sell Your Book Conference

Hi, fellow writer! I'm spreading the word about a conference we're presenting next month, and found your contact information on the Gulf Coast Writers Assoc. website. (I belong to GCWA as well as the SW Fla. Romance Writers).

Our conference is entitled SELL YOUR BOOK! The focus is on post-publication marketing, and our speakers will cover facets of the process from initial marketing plan, to building your website and social media platform, to book trailers -- our headliner is Sheila Clover English, an international expert on book marketing who INVENTED the book trailer!

I hope you will pass this information on to your members at the earliest opportunity. Though our group is composed primarily of romance writers, the material being presented will be applicable to all types of fiction, and possibly non-fiction as well. 

If you, or anyone in your group, has questions about the event, they may email me at the above address. Thank you for your time!

Karen Auriti
Vice President, Southwest Florida Romance Writers
2014 Hearts in the Sand Conference Coordinator

Karen Auriti
Learning to Waltz
     Historical romance
Wherever fine e-books are sold!
 
Text Box: Defining your “brand”

Your initial marketing plan

Designing your website & using it effectively

All about blogs

Getting reviews

Using social media sites for best effect

…AND MORE!
WHEN:  Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
 
WHERE:  Elks Lodge, Estero, Florida
(same great venue as last year)
 
FEE of $85 includes:
Breakfast & lunch
All workshops and Q&A with our guests
One editor pitch or marketing/web consultation
(extras at additional charge)
“Speed dating”
Book sales & signing
Extras: Critique raffle
Basket raffle to benefit local literacy organizations

Monday, January 13, 2014

Florida Tech's School of Arts and Communications Events

Hi, Ed,

Thanks for getting back to me about posting our event. Here's a short blurb that you can cut and paste:

Join Florida Tech's School of Arts and Communications March 16-20 for the Creative Writing Institute, now in it's sixth year. We are pleased to announce the following authors for this year's event: John Dufresne, Ira Sukrungruang, Terri Witek, and Audrey Colombe. The cost of a 4 day lecture series is $250, with a 25% discount for seniors and students. We also have free lunch/evening coffee talk lectures, with plenty of other activities for the evenings. For more information, please consult our webpage at http://411.fit.edu/cwi, or email us at cwi.fit.edu. You can also find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Crativewritinginstitute<http://www.facebook.com/Crativewritinginstitute> to learn more about our authors and planned activities.

Best,

Melissa A. Crofton, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of English

Florida Institute of Technology

516 Crawford Tower

150 W. University Blvd.

Melbourne, FL 32901

321-674-8281

Sunday, January 5, 2014

New Venue for Writer's Group

To my fellow local writers.
 
We have today received permission to hold a 'Writers Meeting' in the Punta Gorda Library, on Henry Street in Punta Gorda..
 
The meeting will be on the first Tuesday of each month and will run from 11:00 to 1:00.PM.  The first one is on this coming Tuesday the 01/07/2014
 
After the meeting those who want to can then adjoin to a local restaurant for a 'Writers Lunch.'
 
The format of the meetings will be the same as the Writers Tea, we just read our own writings to each other.  It is not a critique, it is just a chance for local writers to meet  and share their work.
 
The meeting is open to anyone and guests are welcome.
 
I hope to see you there.
 
Paul Holmes.

Saturday, January 4, 2014

2nd Annual Rio de La Paz Festival

Thank You - Kate Nixon for the information
 
2nd Annual Rio de La Paz Festival, Feb. 8th with a reception on Feb 7 in Arcadia has put out a call for authors. This event takes place inside!!!!!!!.

More info and vendor application are available at





Kate Nixon, author of The Heirloom Pearls
 
"The light from the chandelier caught the gold and crystals, and against her skin, the pearls took on a glow."