The Darth Writer

Otterocity! - Bring a Joyful Spirit to Your Life!

2011-05-14T07:34:00.001-06:00

Otterocity!

T.A. Northburg believes big lessons come in small packages. Nearly a year ago he was inpired to write a story about self discovery dring the economic down-turn and one man's journy to San Juan Island where he meets and Otter, he names Lizzie, and learns the lesson of bringing a joyfyl spirit to his life. This idea evolved into the book and theme called, Otterocity!

What exactly is Otterocity?

OTTEROCITY (Otter + ocity)

Otter: A small aquatic creatures that, despite their harsh living conditions or being hunted by predators, works hard and enjoys life to the fullest. They are big-hearted and energetic little animals that bring joy and happiness to their lives.

Ocity: Quality of.

Therefore, Otterocity is showing or possessing the qualities of Otters, to bring a joyful spirit to your life.

To learn more about the forthcoming book visit: http://www.otterocity.com/

You Know You're Getting Old When

2011-05-05T07:43:00.002-06:00

You know you are getting old when . . .

I was driving in the car the other day with my twelve-year-old daughter. We were flipping back and forth between the channels. She likes her hip-hoppy music and of course I like almost anything. However, my favorite cannel is 93.3 KTCL out of Denver. They used to be a local chanel that played Alternative / Progressive music and I have listened to the channel since the 1980's. They moved to Denver but kept their same format.

I grew up listening to Nirvana, U2, Depece Mode, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, New Order, Nine Inch Nails, Green Day, and The Beasite Boys on this station.

Today, they play these groups but they also have current artists like The Fray, Young The Giant, Cage The Elephant, One Republic, and the Flowbots. Yes, they do play some songs from the 80's, 90's and 00's but they play current hits as well.

So, we were driving ad I turned to this station. Not a minute later my daughter commented;

"Why do you like this 'Oldies' station?"

Oldies station? I thought to myself. Flobots? Oldies?

I looked at her and smiled. I reaced over and turned it back to her Hip-Hop / Top 40 Teeniebopper station and proceeded to listen to some female artists singing about "If you like it you shoulda put a ring on it!"

I think I'll stay with my "Oldies" station and listen to The Foo Fighters!

I MUST BE GETTIN OLD!

My Life Is A Password

2011-04-02T07:33:00.000-06:00

What have our lives become?

It seems like every time I turn around I a creating a new log in and password for something. Either that, or I am trying to think up a new password because my current one has expired. With the advent ot the internet I fell at time all my life has become is one giant password.

Here are some clips I asked my friends and co-workers to contribute on the subject:
I forgot the password to my password keeper, to retrieve the password I forgot. I guess they are safe!
I put in my password to see who my date is going to be tonight.
I put in my password to see how much money I have -- wait, I put in my password to see how much money I don't have.
Some password security is getting rediculous; my new password has to be twenty three characters long, I can not use the letter e, it must have two caps, three numbers that don't repeat, and I can't have used any of the digits or letters in the last twelve months!

HOW HAS YOUR LIFE BECOME A PASSWORD?

Valentine's Poem For My Wife

2011-02-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

It is Valentine's Day today. I felt inspired to write a poem for my wife and give it to her. I decided to post it here for all to read too!

I Love You, I do!

I Love You, I do.

From the very first day,

To the eve of yesterday,

To the night of today,

And the morn of tomorrow.

I Love You, I do.

With all of my heart,

All of my soul,

All of my body,

And my essence and being.

I Love You, I do.

You are so special,

You are so caring,

You are so giving,

You make me feel alive.

I Love You, I do.

And always will!

A Lesson From Moving

2011-02-02T20:07:00.000-07:00

I moved our family to a new home last week. We sold our house and moved to a smaller home. Even thought I hate the moving process it was a good time to go through a lot of our stuff and de-clutter. I made several trips to Good Will and donated some nice things, that we have not used in a long time. It felt good to give those things knowing that someone might buy them and put them to good use. I also filled our giant garbage can with stuff that was broken or of no use to anyone. It was nice to get rid of the junk!

It is amazing how much stuff you can build up over six years of living in one place. It felt good to get rid of the stuff that was just lingering there. It was a "forced" cleansing, as the place we moved to couldn't fit everything we had, but the late nights were worth it.

It was also good to get into the new place and organize everything again. It is like putting your whole life back into order. It feels good to start the new year in a new place.

Writing, to me, is a lot like the moving process. It allows me to get my thoughts, feelings, and emotions out. It allows me to get rid of the old and move into the new. When I write a blog post, an article, a page, or chapter in a novel feels like a fresh start for that moment, or day. My mind is more clear and I feel better.

Writing allows me to get rid of the junk in my head, and hopefully my words will be put to good use by someone who reads them and takes something out of what I said. If nothing else, I got everything out of my head and am starting fresh. Just like moving.

What is something you do to start fresh?

Pearl Jam - Bugs!

2010-08-08T07:25:00.001-06:00

Here is a song from many years ago. When I need a laugh I play it and really listen to the words. They always get a chuckle, especially at the end of the song.

"Bugs"
by Pearl Jam
Album: Vitalogy

Here is a link to the song on the album, you can hear the lyrics best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86PvgGy4LeQ

. . . AND WITH THEM I'LL BECOME ONE!

Why Are You A Writer?

2010-06-26T07:42:00.001-06:00

Think about these words:

WHY . . . ARE . . . YOU . . . A . . . WRITER?

This question was asked in my writing group recently. I have been thinking about it for several months now and have a few answers.

RELEASE

For me writing is a release of my thoughts. When I blog, write something short on a Social Media post, or writing a chapter of a novel I can feel the stress, emotion, energy, and relaxation happening. It is a release of thoughts built up during the day that just come out on the screen and in the pages.

INSIGHT

Many time what I decide to write that day or moment gives me insight as to what I am thinking, feeling, or going through. Sometimes answers to my questions come to me and many times I formulate new ones.

ESCAPE

When I am writing my fiction novels it i a way for me to escape my everyday life. I can travel to new worlds, encounter situations, that I would normally not encounter in my 'real' life. Writing for an hour is my personal time that I can just 'get away' from everything happening around me and not have any problems at all.

THERAPY

Writing my feelings, thoughts or problems down on paper is very therapeutic. Like I said above, it gets those emotions, feelings, or energy flowing out. I always feel better after a few minutes or an hour of writing.

SUPPORT

There are many writers out there who are published, trying to get published, blog, journal, or just write for writing sake. There are online communities and local writing groups. I belong to both, and it is fun to have coffee time or to connect to other writers online and talk about what it is we are writing. Writing can be a secluded thing, and it is fun to connect to other writers, and support one another.

FUN

I really enjoy writing. It is fun to organize your thoughts and put them down on paper. It is great to see someone light up when you write something funny or to feel emotion when you write a sad piece. It is great to see someone get inspired by your words of struggle and triumph.

IT'S FREE

It is free to write. You can scribble on a napkin, or jump on a computer at the library. You can write in a journal or on your laptop. You can do it anywhere, at any time.

WHY DO YOU WRITE?

Surfing The Internet Increases Brain Function

2010-05-08T07:53:00.001-06:00

TOO COOL!

I just found this link, that shows a study by UCLA scientists, that have found surfing the internet does increase brain finction.

Tell your FRIENDS, your BOSS, and EVERYONE!

http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/internet_brain.php

This is your brain! This is your brain on the Net!

ANY QUESTIONS?

Patti Struble - Northern Colorado Writer Feature

2010-04-22T07:55:00.003-06:00

SPECIAL AUTHOR FEATURE:

Patti Struble
Northern Colorado Writer's Group

The Blurb....

"I am a writer who in her spare time practices walking on water, curing the sick, and preaching the good news. I am also on the look out for some followers to carry the message; oh wait, that’s someone else’s resume. Seriously though, I am someone in search of the funny out of the mundane whose life experiences make for some pretty interesting stories – most of the time. Everyone always said I should write a book and thus you have it."

Patti Struble

Patti Struble is a 40-year-old wife, mother, and lifetime student currently residing in Loveland, CO. After many years of studying the world around her, she has put pen to paper; well, really type to screen, in order to share her insights, crazy thoughts, and to flex her sarcastic muscles. Happy reading!

From Here to Survival:
A Survivor's Guide to the Apocalyspe

http://www.publishamerica.com/

We all hear the talk about 2012, Armageddon, and the end of the world as we know it. That last one’s a song, but I think you get the point. With all this talk, haven’t you ever wondered what you would do in the event of your imminent survival? Well, I sure have. I am a survivor at heart, so I am definitely concerned. But, hey, there’s always room for a few more; besides, I would enjoy the company.
So grab your gear and let’s get going…our survival depends on it!

Visit: http://www.pattistruble.com/

A Message From Agent Ken Sherman

2010-04-02T23:25:00.002-06:00

One week ago I had the pleasure of attending the Northern Colorado Writer's Conference in Fort Collins, CO. It was action packed from beginning to end starting with Stephen J. Cannell giving the opening Keynote speech, to Author Todd Mitchell giving a brilliant talk during lunch Sat. and finishing up with the humor of the, On The Spot, Improv group.

There were many things I learned through the seminars, talking with other writers, and getting to know the agents. One agent, I had the pleasure of getting to know as agent Ken Sherman, from L.A. He shared a lot of great information about the business and some neat stories about his life and career.

Many of the things, he shared with me, have been floating around my subconscious, and popping into awareness at different times through the week. The main thing, that had been festering inside my brain for the last seven days, was the message that Ken shared with me and repeated several times at the conference. He said, "Just write the book that is inside you, and make it the best you can."

To me, that is the best advice I have heard from an agent. I know there are times that I am so focused on writing to please others that I need to remember why I started writing in the first part. There was this story that was inside me that just wanted to get out. I was so enthusiastic about writing it just flowed out like an unrestricted brook flowing from the side of the mountain. I really enjoyed it. Then I got wrapped up in the technical side, editing, cutting, re-writing, submitting, and more editing and re-writing. That is all necessary stuff but I started over-thinking things and being too critical about what I wrote.

Now I see what Ken meant.

Don't worry about the other stuff. It doesn't mean you don't have to edit, re-write or any of that other stuff. Just write the best book, screenplay, article, or blog you can.

It is that simple. Enjoy it.

THANKS KEN!

What is Your Platform?

2010-03-05T09:51:00.002-07:00

PLATFORM

As a writer, your platform is very important to you. It will help you in pitching to an agent, securing a publisher, and ultimately selling books.

What is a platform?

Think of a platform as if you are standing up on stage, and you are reaching your book out to those who are listening to you. The larger the platform, the more people you have listening to you. The smaller the platform, lesser amount of people will be listening to you.

The first question to ask yourself is, “Why would people listen to you?”

Are you famous? Are you a popular athlete? Do you have a high profile job? Do you have a TV show? Are you a politician? Are you a popular blogger and have a huge following? Are you a Social Media giant?

Now your stage may not be as big as other people’s platforms. However, your platform may be larger than most. It all depends on how you have build up your platform. If you are the average person, you will have more work to do than someone who is famous. Some people try to get famous, to sell a book. Let’s use Balloon Boy’s parents as an example of platform. Because of their hoax, and the worldwide media attention, they have a huge platform. Unfortunately, their platform was built from an illegal activity, but nonetheless they have a huge, worldwide platform.

The next question is, “How do I build a platform?”

Start small and then gradually build it up. It takes times and there are many facets to a platform. It is like a giant spider web, or multiple spider webs stacked on top of each other.

FIRST, START IN THE CENTER:

Contacts: Who do you know? Start with a list of everyone you know. Write down their name, address and phone number of all your contacts. Think of friends, family, co-workers, relatives, neighbors, doctors, lawyers, insurance agents, and dentist. Anyone you come into contact with, on a daily basis. This is the nucleus of your platform.

NEXT, BRANCH OUTWARD:

Build a Website: Have a place where your contacts can go to get information about you, and your book. Even if you don’t have it published yet, you can still build your site and get the people you know to visit it. As you progress you can update your contacts.

Use Local Media: Use local media to be a springboard for one of the arms of your web. Write articles for your local paper or magazine. Also, you might be able to get them do an article on you.

Start Speaking: May authors give talks to certain groups to sell books. Regular speaking engagements are a way to build a platform and reach people who may buy your book. If are someone who can get up in front of people, then you may want to consider arranging talks with local groups. Think of those markets you can talk to, and who would be a good potential client base.

Volunteer: Find an organization, school, civic group, or business that you can volunteer your time. Once you get into the organization it may lead to speaking engagements. You may also be able to approach them once you have a book for sale. They might let you have an open house or hold a book signing there.

Social Media: Start with your list of contatcts. Join a social media group of your choice and then connect with as many contacts on your list as possible. The good thing about Social Media is that you now have the availability to connect exponentially with all of your contacts, contacts. Some of the most popular, right now are Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, MySpace and Linked-in.

LASTLY, BUILD ON TOP OF EACH OTHER:

Keep building. Add more layers by increasing your efforts in each of these areas. Find new areas to branch out into. Start a blog, join different forums, or join the Chamber of Commerce. Whatever you do, keep spinning the web.

YOU CAN DO IT!

If you don’t have a platform, you can start to build one. It does take time and effort, but you can build up a good size platform for your book. You just have to find your niche and figure out the different angles you need to build up as many contacts as you can.

START SMALL – GROW IT BIG!

Critique Groups: What Works For You?

2010-02-10T08:02:00.001-07:00

Many writers belong to a critique group that allows them to share the fruits of a creative, personal, and many times lonely process.

Each critique group is different. There are groups of a particular genre (fantasy, mystery, non-fiction) or groups with multiple genres. There may be three, eight, twelve, twenty or thousands of members (online writers groups.) They might meet in person or online, one day a quarter or more frequently. One thing is for certain, there are things that work well, that keep the groups working properly, and things that don’t work well.

The last Tuesday morning Northern Colorado Writer’s coffee time a question came up about Critique groups. A writer wanted to know, “What works for you and what do you like?” There were many interesting points, so I thought I would write them down and compile them here in this post for everyone to read.

HERE IS WHAT THEY SAID:

Be as Blunt as Possible: Tell me straight up what is not working. The less vague you are the better chance I have of understanding what did not work for you. (However, don’t bash-for bashing sake.)

Brainstorming: Help with ideas to change the part that isn’t working for you. What do you recommend, give ideas and examples.

Be Honest & Specific: This goes with the first two. Why did it now work for you and how would you change it?

Reader Interest: The writing piece may not be in your genre, but did it connect on some level? If it was in your genre, did it grab your attention?

Use the Sandwich Technique: Sandwich any negative comment with good, on both sides. When giving a critique this method works really well. Start off with the positive aspect of the piece, give the not so positive, and then end on a positive again.

Character Likeability: Did you like my character? Were you empathetic to his/her situation? Did you hate the character? Sometimes the critique group reactions are exactly what the writer was intending. However, it is good to know what you think about the character, to see if the right response was created.

Word Choice: Some writers want help with word choice. When it comes to word choice, sometimes there is that one word or phrase that is just out of place and does not fit—bring it up. Other times there is that word that is repeated and repeated, over and over, again and again.

Reader Reactions: The opposite of word choice is the reader’s reaction to the piece. Don’t critique on the mechanics, but the story. (Example: the plot, theme, character development, action etc.)

A Confused Reader: Don’t just say that you are confused, explain what is not clear. Was the description fuzzy? Was the character facing West and two lines from now facing East without moving? What exactly are you confused about.

Give Clear, Objective Specifics: With your specifics be respectful. Just because the other member may have made a harsh, but truthful comment does not mean you have to get even. Be specific, without being revengeful.

Say Something Nice: If all you give is negative, say something nice for a change. (See the sandwich technique above.) Remember writers deal with enough rejection and critique. Sometimes we need to hear something positive.

Focus on the Work/Piece Submitted: If a piece is a part of a larger project, remember there might be other explanations that happen prior to the piece submitted. Don’t focus too much on the before and after, concentrate your comments on the work in hand. Or, don’t focus your comments on a prior piece submitted.

Point out “Show” vs. “Telling”: This is an important piece to the critique group. Tell me when I am showing vs. telling in my writing. Give me examples so I can fix it.

Too Technical: This is not just for the non-fiction critique groups. Sometimes the writing is too technical, or is clinical. Point out the areas where it is too sterile, boring, or is talking down to the reader.

LAST OF ALL BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY:

Keep in mind that a critique is just a person’s opinion of your writing. Take the best of what is said, and forget the rest. It is your work, use your judgment on what you think should be changed. However, if many people say the same thing, then you might want to listen.

SET SOME EXPECTATIONS AND GUIDELINES:

Your critique group may be set up with some rules and guidelines. If not, you may want to put some of these above into practice. When you start a group or join a group make sure that you state clearly what you want the group to focus on, and what you need from the critique so you can make the best out of your time. Give quality back to the others in the group.

HAPPY WRITING - HAPPY CRITIQUING!

Gary Raham - Northern Colorado Writer Feature

2010-01-31T23:31:00.003-07:00

SPECIAL AUTOR FEATURE:

Gary Raham

Northern Colorado Writer's Group

I love to help connect kids to science through story. I’ve written 13 books, several video scripts, and numerous natural history articles for Highlight for Children, Cricket, and other magazines, as well as some short SF stories. I use The Deep Time Diaries and Teaching Science Fact with Science Fiction, to create middle school enrichment material in English and science with the help of master teacher, Vicky Jordan. I illustrate much of my own work and also create natural history and biomedical illustrations for a variety of clients. I enjoy writing nature columns for The North Forty News and for Colorado Gardener magazine. I’ve been NCW for a couple of years now. I’ve been a member of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of SCBWI for many years and am a former Co-RA. I also belong to the Colorado Authors League.

My most recent books are Bugs That Kill (Marshall-Cavendish, 2009) and The Restless Earth: Fossils (Chelsea House, 2009). I am currently writing Escape From Deep Time, a sequel to The Deep Time Diaries (Fulcrum, 2000).

I enjoy designing books and book covers for other writers. I have over 35 years experience as a graphic designer. See samples at http://www.biostration.com/ under “Design.” Visit his profile on LinkedIn for testimonials.

(http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=24218156&trk=tab_pro#recommendations)

Neesha, a character in The Deep Time Diaries and Escape From Deep Time, writes my blog for me. See it at: http://www.amazon.com/Gary-Raham/e/B001JSE30K/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

You can follow Gary Raham on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/rgary.raham?ref=profile

Northern Colorado Writer's Conference Sessions

2010-01-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

If you are thinking of attending the 2010 Northern Colorado Writer's Conference, you should decide to go! It is going to be ACTION PACKED!

2010 Conference Session Descriptions

Here is a list of the conference workshops and descriptions:
(Session topics subject to change)

From Proposal to Publication
Presenter: Rachelle Gardner

The world of publishing can be confusing, and the fact that you receive that long-awaited book contract doesn’t seem to clear up any mysteries! This workshop will explain what happens at the publishing house between the time you submit your proposal and the time your book is finally published. You’ll learn what the editorial, marketing, sales and art departments are doing about your book along the way—and most importantly, what will be expected of you. We’ll cover author/editor protocol plus the basics about contracts, deadlines, book covers, and marketing expectations. This workshop will shed light on the vast shadowy halls of the publishing house and help you navigate your way through your first experience as a published author.

Establishing a Marketing Plan
Presenter: Mike Befeler

How to promote yourself and your book with examples from my “Geezer-lit Mysteries.” A survey of the means to establish yourself including press kits, web site, blogs, social networking, conferences, book signings, events, speaking to service organizations, presentations to organizations interested in topics in your book, finding specific audiences (in my case older readers), radio, television. Becoming an expert on subject matter that indirectly promotes your books, e.g., my involvement in volunteer activities associated with topics of aging.

Selling your Book to Film and Television Stage Producers
Presenter: Ken Sherman

Once you've written your book, and whether you sell it to a publisher or not, there's always a chance it might make a fine film, tv movie or tv series. We'll discuss what producers, studios and networks think they're looking for on any given day, and how you can best prepare your material and yourself to access them.

Breaking into Non-Fiction: Learning the Facts and Dealing with Reality
Presenter: Stan Wakefield

This session will be an exploration of the ways and means to build an author’s non-fiction writing career – from the kernel of an idea through all the stages in between. Attendees will learn what publishers are looking for in the latest non-fiction sub-genres, what topics and formats are currently ‘hot,’ and how to launch their plans either with agents or directly with publishers’ acquisition editors. This is an in-depth look at the world of non-fiction and will be appropriate for both first-time-authors and experienced professionals.

How to Give Good Readings
Presenter: Paula Reed

How is it that writers who put so much passion and feeling into their stories end up struggling to convey those emotions when they give readings? Writers are often introverts, which is not always conducive to public speaking. Besides, there is still all that residual trauma from giving speeches before critical peers in school. Drawing on her two decades of experience coaching high school competitive public speaking, multi-published author Paula Reed will give you the tools you need to captivate readers with your voice as well as your words.

Creating a Sense of Place
Presenter: Page Lambert

More than setting. More than landscape. More than location. No matter what genre, Place is the world your characters inhabit and where your Story comes alive. This workshop explores how to create Place through the use of atmosphere, symbolism, imagery, and metaphor.

What is Inspirational Fiction?
Presenter: Tina Ann Forkner

Signs that readers are hungry for inspirational stories of faith can be seen all around us as evidenced by the sensation of crossover books from the CBA (Christian Booksellers Association), such as The Shack, The Left Behind series, The Chronicles of Narnia and the success of novelists including Debbie Macomber, Jan Karon, Francine Rivers, Angela Hunt, and Anne Lamott. Author Tina Ann Forkner who is published by Waterbrook Press, the CBA arm of Random House, will give an overview of the Inspirational genres and information on how to get published in the Inspirational market.

How to Write for the Web
Presenter: Tim Beyers

With each publishing door that closes in the print world, a window opens in the Web world. Writers looking to make the transition to replace or even boost income will benefit from this session. Taught by veteran freelancer Tim Beyers, whose work appears daily at finance news website The Motley Fool, you'll learn about the impact of search engines on your work, why links are currency, and why, on the Web, agreeing to incentive pay isn't always a bad idea.

Agent Panel
Presenters: Rachelle Gardner, Joe Monti, Ken Sherman

Attending Literary Agents answer your questions.

Scenework: Writing the Robust Scene
Presenter: Trai Cartwright

You’ve got your concept, your plotline is tight and your characters are living, breathing creatures – now what? How do you write scenes that show them to their best advantage? This workshop is about deep scenework: learning the five narrative aspects of a scene and how to balance them, strong scene construction, and enhancing your natural strengths while eliminating any weaknesses on this macro level. Developing every scene to its full potential is the key to a transformative story -- be a dynamic scenewriter!

The Art of Personal Essay
Presenter: Laura Pritchett

Want to write and submit a personal essay to a magazines or journals? This workshop is designed to focus on the essentials of turning personal experience into compelling narrative - and readying it for submission. We'll be concentrating on how to 1) tell through the use of story and 2) make that story have "universality" (as in, how to make it matter to others). We will also be discussing nonfiction fundamentals: the central dramatic questions and themes, how to craft scenes, ways to build tension, etc

Mixing Humor, Mysteries and Older Characters
Presenter: Mike Befeler

The art of combining humor and dead bodies in a way that keeps the reader reading by pointing out the foibles of the human condition, using quirky characters, employing unexpected twists, showing people acting in unique ways, uncovering flaws in the protagonist and honorable traits in the antagonist. Given the explosion in the older population, there is increasing interest in older characters, who are vital, humorous and can solve a mystery in spite of any deterioration of mind or body.

Dialogue and Setting: Tips on Letting Your Characters Speak and Live
Presenter: Todd Mitchell

This would be a nuts and bolts workshop on developing effective dialogue and descriptive writing. In addition to discussing common problems with dialogue, I'd do a few brief exercises to hone dialogue and descriptive writing skills. A tip sheet would be given to help writers identify problems, and discover new ways to let their characters speak and live.

Hopping onto Your Time Machine: Writing Memoir that Matters
Presenter: John Calderazzo

"Stories are for joining the past to the future. Stories are for those late hours in the night when you can't remember how you got from where you were to where you are." So writes Tim O'Brien in The Things They Carried, a novel of stories that sometimes relies heavily on memoir, or seems to. When you "research" a personal memoir you often research yourself, the arc of your psyche (your soul?) over time. And to do that you often have to hop onto a time machine to cruise around in the distant or near past. But if your memoir is to truly connect the past to the future---to rise above the level of anecdote or well-written nostalgia---you need to ride that time machine not just backwards, but forwards and sideways and who knows where else. Driving instructions included in this presentation.

Tragedy To Triumph
Presenter: Paula Reed

The hero’s journey teaches us that all art is created in the abyss. Whether it is used as a way of escaping our darker side or plumbing its depths, writing can help us deal with even the toughest challenges life throws our way. This motivational session is a reflection on the role that writing fiction has played in recovery from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome for Paula Reed, multi-published author and teacher at Columbine High School.

From Book-to-Screen: The Basics of the Film and Television Industries (and how an author and his/her book fit in)
Presenter: Stan Wakefield

Unlike book publishing, writing for film and TV differs in the very definition of what an author’s traditional role is in the process, and how s/he fits into the team-approach that contrasts so dramatically from the ‘lone-wolf-approach’ of solo-authorship. Authors and attendees will learn the basic rules-of-the-road in script preparation, expectations among producers, studios and agencies that represent writers on this side of the entertainment aisle, and everyone will receive a good initial introduction to the business of film.

Using Twitter to Boost Your Writing Income
Presenter: Tim Beyers

Thanks to Twitter, it has never been easier for an enterprising writer to build a career. Editors, publishers, peers, sources -- they're all flocking to the microblogging service. For some, the shift has led to more assignments and higher income. Veteran freelancer Tim Beyers is one of those writers. In this session, he'll walk you through his rules for earning a return on your Twitter time, including strategies for querying editors, building your contact list, and the in-and-outs of using Twitter to find quotable sources.

Writing Sex Well
Presenter: Laura Prichett

Sex is not always good, but it's always revealing! Whether it's fantastic, boring, strange, or predictable, sex is one of the most powerful unions and sensations we experience, and it shouldn't be skipped or avoided in writing. On the other hand, a sex scene shouldn't be included unless it serves a purpose, which is to illustrate the characters and the larger themes of the work. This workshop will introduce and explore some ideas about writing sex well - how to direct an honest gaze at this most fascinating activity.

How to Successfully Weave Faith Into Your Stories
Presenter: Tina Forkner

Do you have trouble deciding how to let your characters be fully developed in their spiritual walks without scaring away editors? What if your character happens to be a Christian? Learn how to deepen your story and give characters a rich inner life by using elements of faith without sounding preachy. Author Tina Ann Forkner who is published by Waterbrook Press, the CBA arm of Random House, will use examples from her own experience, as well as the experiences of others in the industry, to show that characters can successfully lead a life of faith in novels.

Editor Panel
Presenters: Mira P

Attending Editor answers your questions.

Just Because It’s Nonfiction Doesn’t Mean It Has to Be Long
Presenter: John Calderazzo

Who says that compelling and rich nonfiction has to be long---say, the length of a slowly-unfolding essay, or even a "BoB", a Back of the Book magazine think piece? Like flash fiction or a poem, nonfiction can sometimes displays its best self by zinging along at warp speed, or by leaping to the heart of the matter in a fraction of normal essay length. But how does it do this, and with what effect? And how do you get started? We’ll look at some great examples of nonfiction short shorts, including prose poems and the lyric essay, and then we’ll try a few different writing approaches ourselves.

Intimate Emotions, Universal Themes and Syncronicity
Presenter: Page Lambert

power to fuel our writing. They provide a pathway to lead us from our own intimate lives into the larger human experience, to think without boundaries and let the heart lead the dialogue our inner-selves want to have with the outer world. Emotions provide a key to understanding the synchronistic moments that give structure to our lives and our stories. They are the well that never goes dry. This session will explore the realm of emotion—yours, and your characters’, and will ask two vital questions that will help you uncover theme and meaning in your

Writing Fantasy & Sci-Fi —Challenges and Techniques
Presenter: Todd Mitchell

Join Todd Mitchell, author of The Traitor King (Scholastic Press) and The Secret to Lying (Candlewick Press) as we discuss the techniques writers use to make the strange believable. Practical tips will be given for avoiding some of the common pitfalls of fantasy/sci-fi writing, developing effective fictional worlds, and creating engaging stories. Possible fantasy/sci-fi story ideas will also be generated and discussed.

15 Elements of a Great Movie
Presenter: Trai Cartwright

15 Elements of All Great Movies and how to use them to make all your stories better! Building a truly satisfying story in any medium requires complex storytelling. This class breaks down all the ingredients that make up the tales that become classics. We’ll talk about the power of the secondary character, creating strong tension with tones, how to make concept, setting and theme work together, and so much more. Using familiar movie examples brings these concepts alive, and you’ll see how to deploy them in everything you write.

Agents & Editors Read the Slush Pile
Presenters: Ken Sherman, Rachelle Gardner

Attending Agents and Editors read the slush pile and give their quick comments and critiques.

Northern Colorado Writer's Conference
March 26-27 2010

Fort Collins Hilton

REGISTER NOW
Northern Colorado Writers

$260 NCW Members
$310 Nonmembers
$335 Conference & NCW Membership
$225 Friday or Saturday Only

2010 Northern Colorado Writer's Conference

2010-01-12T14:46:00.206-07:00

You just have to attend the 5th Annual, Northern Colorado Writer's Conference!

Two and a half years ago I joined Nothern Colorado Writer's group to find a place where I could gain more insight on the writing business, socialize, and hang out with other writers. In that time, I have learned a lot about writing, submitting, networking, and promotion from a group of dedicated writers. Also, I attended the past two Northern Colorado Writer's Conferences.

2008 was my first conference experience, and I did not know what to expect. It was a welcoming experience with professional agents and great presenters sharing a wealth of knowledge and experience to a great group of writers. I was amazed by the professionalism of the staff and the ability to pitch to well known, experienced, and successful literary agents.

The next year, 2009, I was excited to attend. I now had an idea what to expect and was ready for my pitch session. I had some great feedback from the agents and the conference presenters were top notch. I was especially blown away by by the key note speakers. I met a lot of new people and socialized with many of my writing friends.

I can't wait to go this year!

March 26-27 2010 Fort Collins Hilton

NOW IN ITS FIFTH YEAR!

With over 29 great workshops to pick from, Agent/Editor Pitch Sessions, Friday Evening Red Carpet Gala and a chance to meet with other writers and professionals in the industry, what are you waiting for? If you are aspiring to get published, want to further your knowledge about writing, self-published and want to network, or committing yourself to become a professional writer, then this conference is for you.

This action packed two days also includes all meals, agent pitch session (must have a completed manuscript), a pre-conference workshop (March 6 at NCW studio), and access to the conference bookstore. This year, all conference attendees get a copy of Stephen Cannell's new book The Pallbearers.

Here is a list of the 2010 conference workshops:

From Proposal to Publication
Establishing a Marketing Plan
Selling your Book to Film and Television Stage Producers
Breaking into Non-Fiction: Learning the Facts and Dealing with Reality
How to Give Good Readings
Creating a Sense of Place
What is Inspirational Fiction?
How to Write for the Web
Agent Panel
Scenework: Writing the Robust Scene
The Art of Personal Essay
Mixing Humor, Mysteries and Older Characters
Dialogue and Setting: Tips on Letting Your Characters Speak and Live
Hopping onto Your Time Machine: Writing Memoir that Matters
Tragedy To Triumph
From Book-to-Screen: The Basics of the Film and Television Industries (and how an author and his/her book fit in)
Using Twitter to Boost Your Writing Income
Writing Sex Well
How to Successfully Weave Faith Into Your Stories
Editor Panel
Just Because It’s Nonfiction Doesn’t Mean It Has to Be Long
Intimate Emotions, Universal Themes and Syncronicity
Writing Fantasy & Sci-Fi —Challenges and Techniques
15 Elements of a Great Movie
Agents & Editors Read the Slush Pile

MEET THE DIRECTOR:

Kerrie Flanagan

Kerrie Flanagan is the Director of Northern Colorado Writers and a freelance writer. Over the past decade she has published 120+ articles in national and regional publications, enjoyed two years as a contributing editor for Journey magazine, worked in PR for the Fort Collins CVB and for various authors and started The Writing Bug blog. Five of her stories have been published in various Chicken Soup For The Soul books and she is the author of the children's book, Cornelius Comma Saves the Day.

Prior to her writing career, Kerrie was a teacher for 10 years. Four years ago she combined her love for writing and teaching with her passion for helping other writers and started Northern Colorado Writers. Through classes, workshops, meetings and an annual conference, NCW is able to provide its 190 members and other writers, the tools, encouragement and information needed to find success.

FEATURING AWARD WINNING WRITER AND PRODUCER:

Stephen Cannell

Author of the critically acclaimed Shane Scully series including On The Grind and At First Sight and writer/producer of more than 40 shows including Rockford Files, A-Team, 21 Jump Street and Greatest American Hero.
Click to visit: Stephen Cannell

SPECIAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Todd Mitchell

Fort Collins resident and creative writing and literature professor at Colorado State University, Todd Mitchell had his first book, "The Traitor King" published with Scholastic and is working on other various projects.

Click here to visit Todd Mitchell

ATTENDING LITERARY AGENTS:

Rachelle Gardner

WordServe Literary

Rachelle Gardner is with WordServe Literary and is looking for series writers who have studied their craft and polished their work. She is concentrating on books that can be placed in the Christian marketplace (i.e. CBA publishers), and is moving into more general market fiction. In nonfiction, she is representing books that would fit in the general market or the Christian market (or both).

Click here to visit Rachelle Gardner

Ken Sherman

Ken Sherman & Associates

Ken Sherman, founder of Ken Sherman & Associates in Beverly Hills handles screenplays, books and life rights. Ken, a Los Angeles native and University of California-Berkeley psychology graduate, started his career in film and television as a reader for Columbia Pictures. Sherman’s agency opened in 1989, and currently handles approximately 35 clients; he makes contact with most of his new writers through referrals, and he handles just about every topic you can think of in nonfiction, fiction and scripts.

Click here to visit Ken Sherman

Joe Monti

Barry Goldblat Literary

Joe Monti is with Barry Goldblat Literary. Being the children's fiction buyer for both B. Dalton and Barnes and Noble, Inc. Joe was excited to see the possibilities in children's literature and went to work with Houghton Mifflin and later Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Joe joined Barry Goldblatt Literary where he can further pursue his passion of publishing, discovering and supporting writers and artists, and remain a "bookseller" at the heart of it all. Joe focuses on childrens, young adult, teen literature, as well as some adult genre fiction.

Click here to visit Joe Monti

ATTENDING EDITORS AND PUBLISHERS:

Mira Perrizo

Johnson Books

Johnson Books was established in 1978 and for 30 years Johnson Books has been exploring and celebrating both the facts and fantasies of the West through its varied list of nonfiction. Located in Boulder, Colorado, Johnson Books are regional in nature and include environmental subjects, history, geology, archaeology, guidebooks, outdoor recreation, cookbooks, general nonfiction, and fly-fishing.

Click here to visit Johnson Books

Ben Barnhart

Milkweed Press

Founded in Minnesota in 1979 by Emilie Buchwald and R.W. Scholes, Milkweed Editions is one of the nation's leading independent, nonprofit literary publishers, releasing twelve to twenty new books each year in the genres of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. In addition, we are one of two nonprofit presses that publish children’s literature.

Click here to visit Milkweed Press

NORTHERN COLORADO WRITER'S CONFERENCE

REGISTER NOW!

Northern Colorado Writers

March 26-27 2010

Fort Collins Hilton

$260 NCW Members
$310 Nonmembers
$335 Conference & NCW Membership
$225 Friday or Saturday Only

What is Your Favorite Song to Write to?

2010-01-10T22:22:00.003-07:00

What is your favorite writing song that you listen to over and over for inspriation? Is there a particular lyric to that song that makes it your favorite to listen to? Does your song have a particular meaning or memory associated to it?

My favorite song:
Bittersweet Symphony
by The Verve

I love the mixture of sounds, the beat and the lyrics.

Favorite lyrics: "It's a bittersweet symphony, that's life. You try to make ends meet, you're a slave tomoney, then you die," and "I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now."

I like the lyrics because they are brutally true.

I think the main reason why I like this song is because it reminds me of the year I lived in Chester, England. It was 1998, just after this song came out and swept the charts. It was the year that my oldest daughter was born, and I remember listening to it in the car on the way to the hospital to check on my wife. (23 hour labor, and the nurses made me leave for a while. My children are a big inspriation for my writing. So I guess that is why I like to listen to this song when I am writing.

To listen to the song and watch the video click on the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx3m4e45bTo

Pat Walker - Northern Colorado Writer Feature

2010-01-04T23:28:00.006-07:00

SPECIAL AUTHOR FEATURE:

Patricia WalkerNorthern Colorado Writer's Group

I'm Patricia Walker and I've been writing for as long as I can remember. However, it didn't occur to me until six years ago—when my definition of reality turned me inside out—that writing was what I was meant to do with my life. I've since gained the courage to submit my work to public forums and now have several poems and articles published both online and in print. I've also completed my first book, which is based on my life-changing experience. I've been a member of Northern Colorado Writer's since 2008 and because of this fantastic organization, I've joined a writer's critique group and networked with many talented people. All of these have proved invaluable in helping me become a better writer.

The working title of my book is DANCE OF THE ELECTRIC HUMMINGBIRD. It's a funny, deep, and complex coming-of-age memoir that began with an out-of-body experience I had during a rock concert. This unexpected event precipitated a series of supernatural episodes which thrust me into mystical realms, that prior to this experience, I wasn't sure I believed in. It also led me to interact with rock star Sammy Hagar (formerly of Van Halen), who repeatedly encouraged me to tell this incredible story and has given me a written endorsement for my book. DANCE OF THE ELECTRIC HUMMINGBIRD is "Eat, Pray, Love" meets "The Alchemist," meets "Almost Famous" and "The Van Halen Saga." I've recently begun the search for an agent.

http://www.bajarockpat.com/
www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?ref=name&id=726363961
www.myspace.com/bajarockpat

Thanks for the bio Pat.

The Darth Writer wishes you the best in finding an agent!

Hello 2010!

2010-01-01T23:50:00.005-07:00

2009 did bring a few good things with it. I learned a lot about the writing business, maintained some great relationships in the industry and improved my manuscript. I started this blog, developed a new website, created some new book trailer videos and expanded my horizons in social media, making new friends and re-gaining contact with many old friends. It is great to re-kindle those relationships that had fallen off for one reason or another.

However, I sure am glad to see 2009 fly out the window. It was a tough year in many ways for me. By day, I am a Sales Manager at a Saturn store. By any other time, I am a writer. The stress of the ups and downs in the car business was magnified by the financial woes of the 2009 automotive industry. It was compounded by the loss of my General Manager, mentor, and friend, Doug Axtell. And finally, the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back, was the news in October that General Motors was shutting down Saturn. My job at the Saturn Dealership came to an end December 31st, 2009.

Whew, what a year!

(Not all hope was lost in 2009) I was given the opportunity to move over to our parent company and work in management in the Internet department at the Honda store.

January 2010 brings a new year of opportunity to make whatever you can out of the new year. My mother-in-law and father-in-law told me to keep working hard and that change is good. Although sometimes change is a little hard to swallow, they are right. Change brings about many different things in life and when one door closes another door opens. It is just a matter of making the choice to step through the threshold and make something of the opportunities that come your way.

Just because you stumble, skin your knees, and fall flat on your face, it doesn't mean you have to lie there and give up. You are still alive and you still have the opportunity to do the things you want to do. There are a lot of successful people out there that had they given up in the face of adversity, they would have never made that last step towards the opportunity that made them successful.

Remember, you can't win the lottery if you don't play the game! Life is a game, you have to get up, get out there and play in it!

SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY!

Kathleen Harrell - Northern Colorado Writer Feature

2009-12-30T08:58:00.001-07:00

SPECIAL AUTHOR FEATURE:

Kathleen Harrell
Northern Colorado Writer's Group

A member since March, 2009, I began writing in the back seat of the family station wagon while being carted from one military post to another. By seventh grade I had attended thirteen schools, and writing, knitting and music had replaced people as my permanent friends. Today my husband and I have retired to Carter Lake, a thousand feet over Loveland, Colorado, where I indulge those passions plus cooking, baking, travel and watching wildlife. These are the happiest days of my life.

My first novel, A quirky good vs. evil fantasy, was much easier to write than edit. It seemed to tumble out, consuming my life.

http://retiredintherockies.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/kathleenharrell

Author Spotlight #16 - Anna L. Walls

2009-12-30T08:47:00.000-07:00

King by Right of Blood and Might

By Anna L. Walls

Synopsis:

King by Right of Blood and Might is about a young prince who must learn how to become a king from someone other than his father. While on this journey of learning, he discovers that his life of isolation was not the norm and that his father's reclusiveness has allowed the country to fragment nearly to the point of extinction. He also comes to realize that if he simply returns home, he has no hope of changing anything. During his efforts to find out how this could have been allowed to happen, Prince Harris stumbles into a legend that allows him to acquire an army, and when legends begin to walk the Earth, it is to be expected that fairytales join forces with him - they all have a bone to pick with the evil that grips Pennland, and it behooves

everyone that it be defeated before it can spread its cancer any further.

Please check out my website for a complete synopsis and you can read a few sample pages as well. http://annalwalls.weebly.com/

Autor Spotlight #15 - Michael Poeltl

2009-12-24T11:40:00.002-07:00

The Judas Syndrome
By Michael Poeltl

Synopsis:

The Judas Syndrome is an unforgettable portrait of survival against the odds. Joel, the protagonist, is a teen whose dreams of entering college in the fall have disintegrated with the rest of the civilized world. Experiencing a barrage of sinister premonitions prior to a camping trip, Joel struggles to shrug them off as nothing more than anxiety over the newest cyber-terror, the Grimm Reaper. For months the Reaper has been inundating the airwaves with threats of mass destruction if world governments do not adhere to his plethora of ridiculous demands. Finally, he does more than just threaten.

The deed done, the Reaper’s threats now realized, Joel and his small band of friends find themselves alone in a dying world. Their families are all dead and gone, and Joel’s family home is now their stronghold. Faith and faithlessness are investigated as his ongoing visions prepare Joel for the realization that the worst is far from over. Prisoners to a darkened sky and toxic earth, the group fights to survive.

http://www.the-judas-syndrome.com

Author Spotlight #14 - Bill DeSmedt

2009-12-24T11:23:00.002-07:00

Singularity
By Bill DeSmedt

Synopsis:

7:14 a.m. June 30th, 1908 -- The most devastating cosmic collision in recorded history rocks Central Siberia, decimating thousands of square kilometers of ancient forest, yet leaving behind not a shred of hard evidence as to what caused it.

What if, as some astrophysicists have theorized, the culprit was a submicroscopic black hole, smaller than an atom, heavier than a mountain, older than the stars? What if that fantastic object is still down there, burrowing through the Earth's mantle, locked into a decaying orbit that could one day consume the entire planet? What if you could capture it, and harness its awesome power to transform the world -- or end it?

http://www.billdesmedt.com

Author Spotlight #13 - Patrick McQuade

2009-12-23T00:24:00.000-07:00

Magical Tales of Enchanted Mysteriousness - Vol. One

By Daria and Patrick J. McQuade

An illustrated collection of fantasy, horror, humor and the absurd. This book is a combination of these genres, ranging from the silly and humorous to the dark and macabre, and all roads in-between.

Magical Tales of Enchanted Mysteriousness - Vol One is an homage to the wonderful world that is FANTASY, in all its varying forms. - NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART -

An anthology of 29 documents, short fiction, poems, songs, advertisements and folklore provides a close look at the fringe culture of a far away land. Features such notables as "The Old Man on the Hill", "Holiday Poems for the Brave", "Beets McGee", "The Greatest Eater in All of Coppington", and "The Fantastic Vision of Gad Felori". Written by Daria & Patrick J. McQuade. Features 60 illustration by Patrick J. McQuade.

"A subtle and scintillating duet, lush with color, meticulous detail, and a wondrous, magic-land hysteria." - John Reed, author of "All the World's A Grave: A New Play by William Shakespeare".

http://www.mtoem.com/

http://www.patrickjmcquade.com/

http://www.pjmcquade.blogspot.com/

Author Spotlight #12 - Frank Fiore

2009-12-23T00:15:00.000-07:00

Cyber Kill

By Frank Fiore

How Far Will an Artificial Intelligence Go for Revenge?

A brilliant programmer, Travis Cole, inadvertently creates "Dorian," an artificial intelligence that lives on the Internet. After Cole attempts to terminate his creation, Dorian stalks his young daughter through cyberspace in an attempt to reach Cole to seek revenge.
When cyber-terrorism events threaten the United States, they turn out to stem from the forsaken and bitter Dorian.

In the final conflict, Dorian seeks to kill his creator - even if it has to destroy all of humanity to do it.

Author Spotlight #11 - Trina James

2009-12-18T00:01:00.004-07:00

SciFi/Speculative fiction trilogy
By Trina James

TheMPire: In Search of the Lost
The MPire: In Search of the Lost-An enchanted story of Mallory Haulm uniting the four horsemen while accepting his charge as Death; struggling to balance his earthly paradise with his diabolical calling.

The MPire: Death Cometh
The MPire: Death Comethdivulges life shattering secrets fated to move Heaven and Earth. Tranforming him and requiring him to take his rightful place as Death the fourth horsemen. The battle lines have been drawn and the most consecrated ritual will allow only one to be Death. Who will survive?

Check out author:
Trinia James, PHE Ink
At: www.PHEink.com

Author Spolight #10 - Mark Chapman

2009-12-11T22:01:00.002-07:00

Sunrise Destiny
2010 EPIC Award-nominated sci-fi novel
By Mark Chapman

Synopsis:

When private detective Donatello Sunrise is coerced into finding a Mob boss’s daughter, he stumbles onto a much bigger case. Dozens of women, all young, all petite, have disappeared in recent weeks. Mysterious and conflicting clues seem to point to a government conspiracy, a mad scientist bent on global domination, or perhaps abduction by bloodthirsty alien vampires. Nothing makes any sense. Before he knows it, Sunrise and his hooker sidekick Lola find themselves in a life-or-death struggle. The Mob wants them dead, the cops want them for serial murders—even the kidnappers are after them. With the fate of two worlds intertwined, Sunrise and Lola must somehow help the good guys defeat the evil ones. The trick is telling one from the other.

Author Spotlight #9 - David Lee Summers

2009-12-11T21:55:00.004-07:00

The Solar Sea
By David Lee Summers

Synopsis:

Humans settled the Moon and satellites orbiting the Earth were a common sight, but with the abolition of NASA, humans had no desire to go further and space exploration died. Then, a technician from the Very Large Array, a radio telescope in New Mexico, discovers powerful particles orbiting Saturn’s moon, Titan, which could be a new energy source. Strangely enough, following the discovery’s announcement, whales around the Earth changed their songs overnight. As scion of the powerful Quinn Corporation, Thomas Quinn builds a solar sail—a vessel pushed by sunlight itself—to find the source of these particles in Titan’s orbit. He gathers the best and brightest team to pilot his craft: Jonathan Jefferson, an aging astronaut known as the last man on Mars; Natalie Freeman, a distinguished Navy captain; Myra Lee, a biologist, specializing in whale communication; and John O’Connell, the technician who first discovered the particles. All together they make a grand tour of the solar system and discover not only wonders but dangers beyond their imagination. Drawing on his experience as an astronomer, David Lee Summers has created a story that is both exciting and plausible, one that can be enjoyed by both the young and young-at-heart who enjoy looking at the planets on a clear night and dreaming of what could be.

Author Spotlight #8 - Paul Genesse

2009-12-11T21:49:00.002-07:00

The Golden Cord

By Paul Genesse, Author and Editor

Author of The Golden Cord and The Dragon Hunters
Books One and Two of the Iron Dragon Series
(Five Star Books)
Website: http://www.paulgenesse.com/
Blog: http://paulgenesse.blogspot.com/

Synopsis:
Some bonds can never be broken.

A hunter must leave behind the woman he loves, give up all hope of survival, as he is forced to guide his most hated enemies on a suicidal journey to the lair of the dragon king.

Author Spotlight #7 - Kim Mc Dougall

2009-12-11T21:43:00.002-07:00

Caul Shroud and Veil
Book I of the FireRaisers Trilogy
By Kim McDougall

Genre: Fantasy
Length: 369 pages
Publisher: Double Dragon Publishing

Synopsis:

How do you extinguish a sentient forest fire? And should you?

Canaan, a broken god, and Maia, a young FireRaiser, face the horrors behind a sentient forest fire razing the continent of Gnoss. Gnoss' divine king, Alred, is too wrapped up in his own fears to believe that his kingdom is truly threatened by a power greater than his own. These three characters collide in a battle of wills. Each is dependent on the other. Each believes he is alone to battle the demons that come from inside as well as those hiding in the darkest forests.

Maia was raised a devout Gnossin but when she meets Alred, she learns that he is a man like any other. Still, she reveres him as a god until he steals her son. In her most desperate hour, she turns to Canaan and the old gods. With their help, she must find the inner power to become a true FireRaiser.

Author Spotlight #6 - Andrew S. Leiter

2009-12-11T21:24:00.003-07:00

Marooned on MOGO
By Andrew S. Leiter

http://www.maroonedonmogo.com/

Synopsis:

Light-years from Earth exists a planet like no other. A spiraled world which humans have colonized , mining precious fuels, and erecting powerful force fields which hold the most deadliest creatures of the wild at bay. Four space traveling kids (Clark, Chelsea, Caleb and Cali) embark on the adventure of their lifetime when space pirates attack, separating them from their parents. Stranded on this alien world alone, their only hope is to find their uncle, who holds the key to deciphering an ancient treasure map and unveiling the treasure of MOGO.

Author Spotlight #5 - Amber Polo

2009-12-11T21:18:00.005-07:00

Here's something on the light side:

Romancing Rebecca
by Amber Polo

Synopsis:

1 Woman + 2 Men in 1 Body = 1 Romance Just like real life.

Unromantic Rebecca finds romance with a man who refuses to reveal his face AND a shy trance channeler.

The least romantic woman in the world uses her legal skills to battle for romance writers. This high-powered attorney, confused by feelings she keeps hidden, arrives in Sedona where she's caught up in a mysterious romance with a man who sends roses, romance novels, and chocolate, but refuses to reveal his face. To make matters worse, Rebecca thinks she's falling for a shy trance channeler who discovers someone is using his body for romance and his credit card for internet purchases.

Author Spotlight #4 - Rowena Cherry

2009-12-11T21:06:00.003-07:00

Rowena Cherry
SPACE SNARK™
http://www.rowenacherry.com/

Insuficient Mating Material
(Science fiction romance/fantasy/ action adventure)
By Rowena Cherry

Just because the high handed hero of FORCED MATE decreed that his sharp-tongued, scandalous, fashionista sister (who made a film of herself having sex with an unsuitable stranger) must become the liability wife of his most annoying political rival did not mean that the Royal shotgun wedding would go off without a hitch. Indeed, when the bride saw the condition that her groom was in as he was frogmarched up the aisle, she threw a hissy fit and telekinetically hurled him onto his rump without touching him. So, the unhappy couple are marooned on a sub-tropical island so she can learn to appreciate a male who knows his way around the sharp end of a hunting knife....

Winner of its category in the Hollywood Book Festival Awards, the Fantasm Awards, the Night Owl Romance Awards, the Cupid and Psyche Award... and more

Author Spotlight #3 - Diane Tegarden

2009-12-11T20:57:00.001-07:00

Anti-Vigilante and The Rips in Time
By Diane Tegarden

Summary:

Terrax, the Crystal Planet, is an exacting world. A place where human physical contact is impossible and stepping outside is virtual suicide. The atmosphere is a hurricane of Coriolis winds and deadly scattershowers, composed of toxic metals formed into whip-like threads kilometers long. Immense Ocean Domes cover over the toxic sludge where the oceans used to be, and the surface of Terrax is covered in crystalline structures, called the Hives, where only the upper crust lives. No one can survive the raw elements; all must reside inside buildings, vicariously living through virtual reality programming.

Author Spotlight #2 - Mark Stephen Levy

2009-12-11T20:45:00.002-07:00

Here is a historical, travel/adventure that takes places in the first days of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan on Dec.27, 1979...coming up on 30 years.

Overland
By Mark Stepehn Levy

Summary:

It's the story of Danny Benson, who just graduates from medical school and time to settle down and wants to marry his girlfriend Heather.

Instead of Heather accepting his proposal she writes him a Dear John letter, and heads off to London with her friends and takes the Magic Bus from London, then overland all the way to Kathmandu, Nepal. What happens next is their moment of truth when Danny and Heather collide with history.

Author Spotlight #1 - Karina Fabian

2009-12-11T20:10:00.013-07:00

Karina L. Fabian
Fiction, Faith and Fun!
http://www.fabianspace.com/
http://www.dragoneyepi.net/

Infinite Space, Infinite God:

Summary:

Infinite Space, Infinite God features fifteen stories about the future Catholic Church: its struggles evangelize aliens and lost human colonies and to determine the soul-status of genetically modified humans, genetically-designed chimeras, and clones made from the Martian sand; the adventures of religious orders devoted to protecting interstellar travelers or inner-city priests; and how technical advances allow monks to live in solitude on the Moon and help one criminal learn the true meaning of Confession. But it's more than just a great read. With introductions exploring the issues at hand and current Church thinking, Infinite Space, Infinite God is bound to spark discussion and make people think--just as good science fiction should.

http://www.youtube.com/v/pD1lxTBtqyQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0">

Leaps of Faith
By Karina Fabian

Summary:

Leaps Of Faith An Anthology of Christian Science FictionTired of science fiction that ignores our spirituality, or religious fiction that's weak on science? Leaps of Faith is an answer to a prayer! Each of its stories examines the interrelationship of faith and science in the development of human kind:
· Can androids have souls--what is sentience?
· How can we evangelize on alien worlds?
· What role will the true Creator play when humans try to "play God" with time travel?
· Can we reach the stars without that leap of faith?

http://www.youtube.com/v/WOoxbgTP-jU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0">

Firestorm of Dragons
By Karina Fabian

Summary:

So, you want to know all about dragons? Run the gamut of stories about the mythological beasts in "Firestorm of Dragons." Humorous tales of extreme sports with genetically-engineered animals and pesky door-to-door salesmen with scales, exist beside conventional stories of treasure and deceit, hunter and hunted, hatred and sacrifice. See how dragons exist today without most humans noticing, or abandon all preconceived notions and imagine a dragon as a 1940s-style detective. Let your experience with dragons end with a trio of stories depicting the possible end of dragons--one uplifting, one poignant, and one heart-wrenching in its melancholy.

http://www.youtube.com/v/LWgszslAEtM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0">

Magic, Mensa and Mayhem
By Karina Fabian

Summary:

Vern is a cynical dragon living on the wrong side of the Interdimensional Gap and working off a geas by St. George as a professional problem solver and agent of the Faerie Catholic Church. In this case, he and his partner, Sister Grace, a High Mage of the Faerie Catholic Church, have been asked by the Church to chaperone a few dozen Faerie citizens at a Mensa convention. Should be a cushy job, right? Not when pixies start pranking, Valkyries start vamping and a dwarf goes to the equivalent of Disneyworld hoping to be "discovered." Environmentalists protest Vern's "disrupting the ecosystem," while clueless tourists think he's animatronic. When the elves get high on artificial flavorings and declare war on Florida, it turns into the toughest case they'd not get paid for.

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