Writers' Conference
Break-out Session Descriptions and Presenter Biographies
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Alice B. Acheson
Alice B. Acheson is a Marketing Specialist and Publishing Consultant with decades of experience. Working with authors, illustrators, and photographers as well as large and small publishers, she has negotiated book contracts, sold subsidiary rights, and edited and publicized books. She is the recipient of the Literary Market Place Outside Services Award for Advertising, Promotion, and Publicity. Her nationwide teaching schedule includes workshops on marketing tools, pitching manuscripts, and publishing choices. Acheson has seen the industry morph from paper galleys five feet high to current ARCS submitted electronically. She lives in Friday Harbor.
“Writing Outside the Lines: State of the Industry” (Professional Panel)
Alice B. Acheson offers her expertise as a marketing and publishing consultant. She can answer your questions about the book industry in 2010 and the changing role of the author, honoring traditional methods while embracing the new.
"A Dozen Steps to Find a Literary Agent or Publisher" (All Genres Breakout Session)
This class is a checklist. It begins with writing the last word and ends with signing a book contract, but after your manuscript has been edited (most likely professionally) to rid it of all spelling and grammatical errors and developmental stumbling blocks. Now what? Guided by copious handouts, Alice B. Acheson discusses elements of the all-important cover letter and synopsis, the pros/cons of approaching an agent vs. going to the publisher directly, and how to research likely candidates.
Alma Alexander
Educated in the United Kingdom and South Africa, Alma Alexander quickly left behind her MSc in Molecular Biology and the research lab in order to write. After several years working in both freelance and in-house editorial positions, she published her first two books in 1995: Houses in Africa (memoir) and The Dolphin’s Daughter and Other Stories (fable/fantasy). Since then she has focused on fantasy novels including The Secrets of Jin-She (2005) and most recently Worldweavers: Cybermage (2009). Her books have been published in over 12 languages. www.almaalexander.com
“It’s Not Just Harry’s World” (Young Adult Writing Breakout Session)
Harry Potter’s school of fantasy isn’t the only one in town. Why merely follow when you can forge your own path? Many Americans are currently writing inventive stories of magic and enchantment. As we explore their differences in style, tone, and setting, and their common traits of excellence, we’ll gain insights to help make our own fantasy worlds take flight.
Kit Bakke
Kit Bakke is a native Seattleite. After graduating from Bryn Mawr College in Political Science, she worked for Students for a Democratic Society before moving on to its more radical splinter, the Weather Underground. Later she earned masters degrees in nursing and public health from the University of Washington and worked as a pediatric oncology nurse. The history writing bug got the best of her in the late 1990s. Miss Alcott’s E-mail (2006) is her first book: “A whirlwind exchange of ideas about reform and revolution….” said the Boston Globe. Bakke has delivered numerous presentations and taught at several writing conferences in the Seattle area. She is currently working on a middle grade and a young adult novel. www.kitbakke.com
“Capturing an Oral History” (Nonfiction Breakout Session)
Oral histories gather information and stories available from no other source. They have depth, breadth, and personality. Oral histories are not about facts already present in newspaper archives or historical texts, but document what the subjects remember, with all their human color and idiosyncrasy. This workshop will cover techniques and tips for preparing and conducting interviews and writing an oral history. Bakke highlights problems and solutions and includes handouts and resources.
Anjali Banerjee
Anjali Banerjee was born in India, raised in Canada and California, and received degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. She has written five novels for young readers and two novels for adults. Currently she is at work on her next women’s fiction novel to be published by the Penguin Group. Her middle grade novel, Looking for Bapu (paperback 2008), is on several Global Reading Challenge Lists and was nominated for two state reading awards. Her next children's book, Seaglass Summer, will be released in May 2010. Her women’s fiction novel, Invisible Lives (2006), was chosen as one of 10 books on the Washington State Library's Fall 2009 "Washington Reads" list. Banerjee lives in the Pacific Northwest. www.anjalibanerjee.com
“Knowing When to Stop Revising” (All Genres Breakout Session)
We’ve all heard the adage, writing is all about rewriting, but how much is too much? You’ve analyzed your plot, characters, story arc, and theme; you’ve shared the manuscript with critique partners; you rewrote the book once, twice, maybe seven or eight times. How do you know when your changes are helping or hurting the manuscript? Although she can’t offer easy answers, Banerjee will share tips from her personal experience as the author of seven novels.
Bruce Barcott
2009 Guggenheim nonfiction fellow Bruce Barcott is the author of The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw, named one of the best books of 2008 by Library Journal. It was also a finalist for the Washington State Book Awards and won the inaugural, biannual Gene E. & Adele R. Malott Prize for Recording Community Activism. His previous book, The Measure of a Mountain: Beauty and Terror on Mount Rainier (1997/2007), received the Washington State Governor's Award and was reissued in a 10th anniversary edition. Barcott is an environmental journalist whose articles on humans and wildlife appear in Outside Magazine, National Geographic, The New York Times Magazine, and other publications. After graduating from the University of Washington, he worked for the Seattle Weekly for ten years as a writer and editor. He lives on Bainbridge Island. www.brucebarcott.com
“Perseverance Isn’t Pretty” (Keynote Address)
What does it take to see a book through from inspiration to publication? Bruce Barcott shares work strategies, snacking tips, horror stories, and breakthrough moments that have helped him and others survive the marathon of book writing. Included: How to steal time; how to borrow phrases; how to write 1,000 words a day and still remain married; ways to avoid arrest in a Third World nation; how to conduct research in a country without copy machines; why long pants and long sleeves are always a good idea in the bush; and why “Always” is the answer to the question of when to pack tweezers and duct tape. Bonus: News of promising medical research on Hating My Book syndrome.
Sheila Bender
After earning an MAT in Education and an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Washington, Sheila Bender has taught writing at universities, public school classrooms, writers’ workshops, teacher training events, and private seminars across the country. She is a poet whose work appears in literary magazines and in several anthologies. She has published collections of poetry, books on writing including Writing and Publishing Personal Essays (2005), and a recent memoir, A New Theology: Turning to Poetry in a Time of Grief (2009). Bender has contributed to Writer’s Digest, The Writer, and Writer’s Chronicle. She also publishes weekly articles in Writing It Real, an online magazine for those who write from personal experience, and directs the Writing It Real Conference in Port Townsend, where she lives. www.writingitreal.com
“Writing Through Grief” (Nonfiction Breakout Session)
Many of us have suffered severe losses. Writing cannot change the pain or sorrow we suffer, but it can help us figure out how to come to terms with it and find a way to hold it in our lives and go on. Writing allows us to reconstruct and retrieve people, places, and times, so we know we will never lose them. Class exercises and discussion based on Sheila Bender’s memoir, A New Theology: Turning to Poetry in a Time of Grief (2009), will facilitate participants in creating powerful writing that helps the writer and others.
Carmen T. Bernier-Grand
Carmen T. Bernier-Grand is the author of seven books for children and young adults. Her César: Yes, We Can! ¡Sí, se puede! (2006) and Frida: ¡Viva la vida! Long Live Life (2007) received the Pura Belpré Honor Award. Diego: Bigger Than Life (2009) was an Oregon Book Award finalist. In 2008, the Oregon Library Association’s Children’s Division gave her the Evelyn Sibley Lampman Award for her significant contributions to the children of Oregon in the field of children’s literature. Bernier-Grand teaches writing in the Whidbey Island Writers MFA Program and for Writers in the Schools.
"Writing Vivid Biographies for Children" (Children's Writing Breakout Session)
We’ve all read biographies we can’t put down and others that put us to sleep. This session will focus on ways writers can use language, concept, and illustrations to create biographies readers (especially children) will be eager to read. We’ll also explore new opportunities. As diverse American leaders like President Obama and Judge Sotomayor come to the fore in American culture, publishers are looking for quality biographies of leaders of color.
Gloria Burgess
Gloria Burgess brings a rich background of study and experience to her writing and lectures. Early in Burgess’s career, she worked in computer software engineering. She earned graduate degrees in speech and theater, organizational behavior, and leadership as well as a PhD in performance studies. Her books include the nonfiction titles Legacy Living (2006) and Dare to Wear Your Soul on the Outside (2008), and poetry, Journey of the Rose (1998) and The Open Door (2001). She has taught at the University of Washington, University of Southern California, Bastyr, Gonzaga, and Antioch, and currently serves as Mentor of UW Women in the Engineering Program. Burgess is the founder of Jazz, Inc., a coaching and consulting firm that believes in the energy of improvisation and the synergy of group dynamics. She lives in Edmonds and works locally and internationally. www.gloriaburgess.com
“Creative Perseverance: For Such a Time As This” (Opening Address)
In times of change and uncertainty, artists of all media are typically at their best, with tremendous gifts to bestow upon others around them. Indeed, this is our legacy as writers: to make sense of the world and to share what we know of it, using our unique tools and voices, with family, friends, coworkers, and even perfect strangers we meet by chance on the street. Creative expression is a rich dialog that can be exchanged between people no matter their station in life; it’s the writer’s luck to be able to share in that exchange in a way that’s accessible, artful, and inspirational.
Oliver de la Paz
Oliver de la Paz is the author of three books of poetry: Names Above House (2001), Furious Lullaby (2007), and most recently Requiem for the Orchard, winner of the 2009 Akron Poetry Prize. His poems have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies such as The Southern Review, Tin House, Virginia Quarterly Review, and Asian American Poetry: The Next Generation. A recipient of a 2009 GAP Award from the Artist Trust, he is the co-chair of the Kundiman.org advisory board and teaches creative writing at Western Washington University in Bellingham. www.oliverdelapaz.com
"The Prose Poem" (Poetry Breakout Session)
What is a prose poem? People suggest that writing in these shorter prose forms is liberating, but what exactly does that mean? Does the lack of line breaks serve a purpose in prose poems? What is gained or lost with the addition of line breaks? Can a subject be fully explored in such short bursts? Does the shortness put a strain on the possibility of a narrative? We’ll explore these questions as we read prose poems by current writers and write in this form ourselves.
Suzanne Vadnais Droppert
Suzanne Vadnais Droppert has owned the independent Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo, WA, since 1996. She is passionate about books, reading, and buying local, whether for books or food. Liberty Bay Books is a proud member of IndieBound, which brings together independent booksellers, readers, indie retailers, and local business alliances. It also links thousands of independent bookstores through www.indiebound.org. Droppert regularly attends Book Expo America (BEA) and actively participates in the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA). www.libertybaybooks.com
“Writing Outside the Lines: State of the Industry” (Professional Panel)
Suzanne Vadnais Droppert brings her perspective as an independent bookseller, promoter of author events, and community liaison to the discussion about the state of the book industry. She can answer your questions about the relationship of the author to the bookseller, the role of independent bookstores, and the future of the book.
Peter H. Fogtdal
A native of Denmark, Peter H. Fogtdal is the author of The Tsar’s Dwarf (2008), a tragicomical historical novel set in early 18th-century Copenhagen and St. Petersburg. He studied in the U.S from 1977-82 at the University of Florida and Cal State Fullerton, then returned to Denmark where he worked for that country’s national radio as a satirical writer. The author of 12 novels in Danish, Fogtdal won The Francophonian Literature Prize in 2005. He shares his time between Copenhagen and Portland, OR, where he teaches at Portland State University. www.fogtdal.blogspot.com
“Tragically Funny? A Workshop about Humor in Fiction” (Fiction Breakout Session)
There's nothing more difficult than writing comedy. In this workshop we'll explore what's funny and what isn't (which of course is more subjective than anything else in this world). We will look at your texts and laugh in all the wrong places. And we might reach the conclusion that if you want to be funny, it's probably best that you're writing about something you're extremely serious about.
Kathryn O. Galbraith
Kathryn O. Galbraith is the author of over a dozen books for children including the forthcoming Arbor Day Square (2010) and Planting the Wild Garden (2011). A frequent speaker at writing conferences, she has given presentations in Alaska, California, Oklahoma, Oregon, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota, and Washington. Galbraith has also taught “Introduction to Writing for Children” for the past eight years at the University of Washington Education Outreach Program where she was awarded the 2006-2007 Teaching Excellence Award in Arts, Writing, Humanities, and Law. www.kathrynogalbraith.com
Writing Aerobics (All Genres Breakout Session)
Need to refill the well? Prime the pump? Have some fun while exploring new ideas? Writing Aerobics is a hands-on workshop that will jump-start your writing by using all of your senses. Bring pen and paper and let your writing reveal yourself…to yourself.
Jenifer Browne Lawrence
Jenifer Browne Lawrence is the author of the poetry collection, One Hundred Steps from Shore (2006). She is a Washington State Artist Trust GAP grant recipient and a Pushcart nominee. Her work has been published in various journals, including Court Green, North American Review, The Potomac Review, and Seattle Woman. In Spring 2009, Crab Creek Review featured Lawrence in "The Writer's Notebook."
Host for Open-Mic
Dickey Nesenger
Dickey Nesenger worked in the film business for 17 years as editor and script supervisor before turning her attention to her own writing and teaching. She received her MFA in Creative Writing through Goddard College, and teaches writing and dramatic literature at Richard Hugo House, Freehold Theatre, Antioch University, Indiana's Ivy Tech, and at the Women's Correctional Facility in Washington. Also a playwright, Nesenger’s works have been performed nationwide, including Ashland, Seattle, Boston, and New Jersey Repertory.
"Dramatic Moments in Fiction" (Fiction Breakout Session)
Dramatic storytelling starts with a character’s emotional struggle, but in order to move the plot forward, that struggle must result in specific actions innate to that character’s behavior. We will examine a paradigm for thought to action, and how it gives rise to drama in story, piquing reader interest. In-class writing prompts will deepen our understanding into the craft of creating drama in fiction.
Nancy Pagh
Nancy Pagh is the author of the poetry collections No Sweeter Fat (2007) and After (2008), and her poems appear in many publications including Crab Creek Review, Prairie Schooner, CuiZine, Rattle, Fourth River, The Bellingham Review, O (The Oprah Magazine), and When She Named Fire: An Anthology of Contemporary Poetry by American Women (2008). Pagh was the 2008 D. H. Lawrence Fellow at the Taos Summer Writers Conference and was recently featured at the Skagit River Poetry Festival. She teaches at Western Washington University in Bellingham.
"Eating Poetry” (Poetry Breakout Session)
There is no happiness like mine.
I have been eating poetry. Mark Strand
Perhaps it’s no coincidence that we are said to “devour” literature that totally engages us. Food can represent what we will take into our selves, what forms and sustains us—and sometimes what we despise, fear, and reject. Participants in this session will look at poems about eating and food with an eye toward discovering what makes some poems so visceral, so pleasurable and strong.
David Patneaude
David Patneaude finally heeded the advice, “It’s never too late to have a happy childhood,” and began writing seriously in the mid-1980s. His first novel, Someone Was Watching, was published in 1993. Since then his ten books, including Thin Wood Walls (2004), set in a Japanese internment camp, have been placed on young readers' lists in more than thirty states and honored by the New York Public Library, the Society of School Librarians International, and the Washington State Library. His newest novel, Epitaph Road, has just been published by Egmont USA. He lives, writes, and runs in Woodinville. www.patneaude.com
"What if? What Then?" (All Genres Breakout Session)
You’ve “finished” a writing project. The What if? process is over (for now). What then? Reward yourself with downtime as you fantasize great success? Plow ahead? Brainstorm new projects? Dive into your well of long-simmering, incomplete thoughts and characters? Focus on your audience of agents, editors, critics, booksellers, librarians, teachers, and readers? We'll explore approaches to these questions and their connections that keep us writing.
Joni Sensel
Joni Sensel is the author of books for young readers and others with a taste for the fantastic. Her novels include The Farwalker’s Quest (2009) and The Timekeeper’s Moon (2010) as well as Reality Leak (2007) and The Humming of Numbers (2008). The latter was a Junior Library Guild Selection. Sensel is also the author of two picture books, one of which won a 2001 Henry Bergh Honor, and a variety of nonfiction for adults. She lives in the woods near Mt. Rainier with two dogs and sundry wild critters. www.jonisensel.com
“Green and Growing: Ecology Topics for Children’s Fiction” (Children’s Writing Breakout Session)
There’s a need — and demand — for books with ecological and environmental awareness themes for young readers. The solutions to today’s environmental issues will rely mostly on the young, yet research indicates many kids may be losing their sense of connection to nature. Writers can help. We’ll explore ways to incorporate ecological themes, from the didactic to the subtle and from nonfiction to novels. We’ll talk about what works and what works better; share resources and tips; and try our hands at a little green writing.
Martha Silano
Martha Silano is the author of two volumes of poetry: What the Truth Tastes Like (1999) and Blue Positive (2006). Her poems have appeared in Paris Review, AGNI, and American Poetry Review, among others, and in over a dozen anthologies, including American Poetry: The Next Generation (2000) and Not for Mothers Only: Contemporary Poems on Child-Rearing and Child-Getting (2007). Silano teaches at Bellevue College in Bellevue.
"Ekphrasis Workshop" (Poetry Breakout Session)
The word ekphrasis derives from the Greek word meaning description. Such describing of art dates back to Homer. We’ll take a close look at some well-known and lesser-known ekphrasis poems, aiming to decipher what makes them fly. Following their lead, and with the help of writing prompts and provided images, we’ll then turn our pens to interpreting, inhabiting, and addressing works of fine art.
Bill Thorness
Bill Thorness is a Seattle writer and editor who has been working in the profession for 25 years, the last seven as a full-time freelancer for both media and corporate clients. His bylined articles have appeared in many regional publications. He has edited more than a dozen nonfiction books on business and history topics, including In Defense of Our Neighbors: The Walt and Millie Woodward Story (2008), for Bainbridge Island’s Fenwick Publishing. Thorness is the author of Edible Heirlooms: Heritage Vegetables for the Maritime Garden (2009) and Biking Puget Sound (2007). He teaches Advanced Editing for the University of Washington Extension Certificate in Editing Program. www.billthorness.com
"Writing Outside the Lines: State of the Industry" (Professional Panel)
Bill Thorness brings his 25 years of writing and editing experience to the discussion of the publishing industry in 2010. In his position as an independent editor, he will talk about the changing role of the editor.
Wayne Ude
Since receiving his MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Massachusetts, Wayne Ude has been writing and teaching for nearly 20 years. His publications include the books Becoming Coyote, Buffalo and Other Stories, and Maybe I Will Do Something as well as stories in Ploughshares, North American Review, and The Last Good Place. He has lived on Whidbey Island since 1993, and is currently Director of the Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA Program.
"The Many Endings of a Novel" (Fiction Breakout Session)
When we think about novel endings, we usually focus on the last few chapters. But a novel ends many times before its final pages. Subplots may begin and end in the first third, two more in the middle third, and yet another in the final third all while supporting the central plot. We’ll look at plot structure through Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey as well as the wealth of subplots in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice to explore the many interwoven endings found in novels.
