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Thursday, April 28, 2011

Allegheny Echoes Concert at Tamarack this Sunday

(This information courtesy of the Charleston Gazette)

Allegheny Echoes will present a concert at Tamarack this Sunday at 2 p.m. at Tamarack, in the Hulett C. Smith Theatre. Performers will include The Bing Brothers Band, with fiddler Jake Krack; poet Sherrell Wigal; master fiddler Bobby Taylor; national flatpick guitar champions Robert Shafer and Robin Kessinger; singer/songwriter Pete Kosky; fiddlers Jim Mullins and John Blisard; banjo players Paul Gartner and Chad Ashworth; and guitarist Andrew Dunlap. Ariana Kincaid will emcee.

Full details at...
http://wvgazette.com/News/201104271023

Young Writer's Community Poetry/Prose Reading

(This news courtesy of Devin Preston)

There will be a Young Writers Community Poetry Reading, featuring the work of Megan Moriarty, at the Wild Bean Coffee Shop in downtown Lewisburg, April 29 at 7 p.m.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Leslie Hager book signing at Taylor Books (REMINDER)


WVW member Leslie Hager will be signing copies of her novel Coincidence at Taylor Books tomorrow, April 23 from 1-3 p.m.

Coincidence is described as:
American woman, Samantha “Sam” Montgomery had no idea what the stranger meant when he asked: “So, what’s the craic?” Little did she know on that hot, humid South Carolina summer night, that it would be the question that would change her life forever.

Sam is stuck in a boring job and with a string of bad relationships under her belt, isn’t where she imagined she would be at this point in her life. Additionally, she has to cope with the sudden death of her beloved grandfather who passed away just weeks after beginning to investigate a letter belonging to his mother—a letter which only fuels questions about his mother’s mysterious past and why she suddenly fled her homeland of Ireland in the middle of the night nearly eighty years ago.

Sam, desperate for some much needed relaxation after the past several months of grieving her grandfather’s death and her unlucky in love past, heads away on her annual girl’s beach trip with her best friend, Kate Mason, only to discover what awaits her at the beach is far from relaxing. When she, a charming Irishman named Sean and an angry red-headed woman cross paths, Sam finds her sanity slowly spinning out of control as she stumbles her way through a mission which takes her across the Atlantic Ocean to Lifford and Derry, Ireland in search of love and answers to her family’s puzzling history.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

WVW 2011 Summer Conference Pitch Session Information

On the morning of Saturday, June 11th, West Virginia Writers, Inc., will kick off a day of extreme opportunity with an open discussion forum titled "Agents and Publishers: what you need to know NOW." The Cedar Lakes assembly hall will still be buzzing with Saturday Registrations, but center stage will take precedence as we proudly bring you:

Katharine Sands: A literary agent with the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency, Katharine has worked with a varied list of authors who publish a diverse array of books. Highlights include XTC: SongStories; Chasing Zebras: THE Unofficial Guide to House, MD; Make Up, Don't Break Up with Oprah guest Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil; Playwright Robert Patrick's novel, Temple Slave; The Complete Book on International Adoption: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Your Child; Hands Off My Belly: The Pregnant Woman's Survival Guide to Myths, Mothers, and Moods; Under the Hula Moon; Whipped: A Professional Dominatrix's Secrets for Wrapping Men Around Your Little Finger; The Gay Vacation Guide; CityTripping: a Guide for Foodies, Fashionistas and the Generally Style-Obsessed; Writers on Directors; Ford model Helen Lee's The Tao of Beauty; Elvis and You: Your Guide to the Pleasures of Being an Elvis Fan; New York: Songs of the City; Taxpertise: Dirty Little Secrets the IRS Doesn't Want You to Know; The SAT Word Slam; Divorce After 50; The Complete Book of Bone Health; The Safe and Sane Guide to Teenage Plastic Surgery, to name a few.

She is the agent provocateur of Making the Perfect Pitch: How to Catch a Literary Agent's Eye, a collection of pitching wisdom from leading literary agents. Actively building her client list, she likes books that have a clear benefit for readers' lives in categories of food, travel, lifestyle, home arts, beauty, wisdom, relationships, parenting, and fresh looks, life challenges or popular culture. When reading fiction she wants to be compelled and propelled by urgent storytelling, and hooked by characters. For memoir and femoir, she likes to be transported to a world rarely or newly observed.


Benjamin LeRoy is the Publisher of Tyrus Books, an independent press known for its crime and dark literary fiction. Before starting Tyrus Books in the summer of 2009, he was a founder and Publisher of Bleak House Books. In 2008, Publishers Weekly selected LeRoy as part of their "Fifty Under Forty" series. Novels published by Bleak House and Tyrus have been nominated for and/or won most of the major awards in crime fiction including the Edgar, the Shamus, the Anthony, and the Barry. Other accolades include Lambda Award nominations, a Florida Book Award, and a Southern California Independent Booksellers Association nomination. He is at work on a novel and a variety of media projects using words, audio, and video as part of The Bagmen Collective. He is particularly interested in crime and literary fiction as well as novels set in non-metropolitan pockets of America that deal with regular people having to make sense of the world, usually after a crime.

These two industry pros will be fielding pitches in the afternoon of Saturday, June 11th.

Each individual pitch session will cost $10 and will be timed to precisely five minutes and we will have an intern on the clock. So if you must script and rehearse your pitch to hit this five minute window, by all means do so (usually 2.5 double spaced pages equals 5 minutes, if you're memorizing).

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:

When you arrive for your appointment in the Assembly Hall, you must check in with the Appointment Coordinator designated for the agent or publisher that you're scheduled to pitch to. If your appointments are made with both the agent and publisher, please check in with each coordinator so that they can mark that you've arrived. This will help keep us on track. If you miss your scheduled appointment time, the appointment cannot be rescheduled if there are no available time slots. No refunds will be issued.

Pitch sessions are limited for our agent and publisher, so early reservation is recommended.

  • To sign up for your PITCH SESSION(S) with: Katharine Sands or Ben LeRoy send an email to Susanna Holstein. You may reach Susanna at: wvwpitches@gmail.com
  • The cost of each session is $10 per FIVE MINUTE PITCH. No allowances will be made for anything longer than five minutes so please rehearse. The cost of these pitches will help offset the agent/publisher expenses for WVW.
  • In order to participate in these Pitch Sessions, you must register and pay for at least the day of Saturday, June 11, of the Conference.
  • Registered attendees may schedule an appointment with both the agent and the publisher; however, separate appointments must be made for each pitch and the $10 fee is required for each one.
  • Please pay for the pitch session(s) at the conference. Do not send money prior to the conference day. You will receive a reservation card with your time slot on it on June 11.
  • You will sign up for your time slot when you make payment at the conference. It’s first come, first served.
  • A HOW TO session on giving pitches by Christine Witthohn can be found via the WV Writers Podcast Episode #34. There will also be a Saturday morning workshop on the topic of pitching at our conference.
  • If necessary, we will offer a wait list in the event the slots are filled and there is a cancellation. Please check back at the registration table to see if a slot has opened.
  • Reservations will be taken until noon Saturday.
  • Only those attendees who have an appointment are allowed in the pitching area. This is to help ease noise levels and crowding issues. We thank everyone for their cooperation and understanding.

PLEASE don’t pass up this incredible opportunity; these folks are aggressively seeking new authors. If you would like to verify what they publish, take a look at their websites.

Katharine Sands: http://sarahjanefreymann.com

Ben LeRoy: http://www.tyrusbooks.com



And just so you know…… The appearance of Katharine Sands and Ben LeRoy is due to the incredible efforts of Christine Witthohn of Book Cents Literary Agency. Books Cents has become an outstanding advocate to the writing community in West Virginia and Kentucky. Much thanks to our good friend, Christine!

For conference registration information: http://www.wvwriters.org/conference.html

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

StoFest 2011 Play Festival Submissions Sought

The Independent Theatre Collective in Wheeling is currently accepting play submissions for StoFest 2011: A New, One-Act Play Festival. This season marks ITC's third year producing the event that features new plays by emerging writers and scripts from Wheeling's own, Tom Stobart. Information available on itcgreenroom.org

2011 Submission Guidelines:

- Submissions open on January 24, 2011 and close on August 1, 2011.

- Plays must be received by 8:00pm EST on August 1, 2011.

- Only electronic submissions will be accepted: plays@itcgreenroom.org

- At this time, only writers from WV and its surrounding states (OH, PA, KY, MD & VA) are eligible to submit.

- ITC has no restrictions on content or casting, but asks that you take into consideration their performance space (25ft wide x 14ft deep) w/ very little wing space and no rigging capabilities

- The following props/furniture pieces will be available: two (2) door units, six (6) chairs, two (2) tables and one (1) bench.

- Only two (2) scripts per playwright will be accepted for consideration

- Please include a cover page with all contact information (email preferred) with your submission

- Selected scripts will be notified by September 1, 2011.

- Production dates: October 13 - 16, 2011

- Selected playwrights are invited to attend and participate throughout the production process as much as possible. A small royalty is being arranged for the selected plays; further details will be posted as we obtain funding

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Recent Activity:
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Eric Fritzius
http://www.misterherman.com
http://www.facebook.com/efritzius
http://twitter.com/ThingsYouForgot
http://www.youtube.com/user/efritzius

West Virginia Writers, Inc.

http://www.wvwriters.org
http://blog.wvwriters.org
http://podcast.wvwriters.org
http://twitter.com/wvwriters

Monday, April 18, 2011

Open Thread Tri-State Chapbook Contest

(News courtesy of Tammi Whisman)

Announcing the TRI-STATE CHAPBOOK CONTEST 2011 & REGIONAL REVIEW, VOL. 2.5

NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS!


The Open Thread Tri-State Chapbook Contest is back in 2011! If you're a native or current resident of Ohio, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia, then you're eligible to submit a manuscript of poetry or prose (10 to 30 pages) by May 13th, 2011!

You may enter multiple manuscripts for consideration, but a $15 reading fee must accompany each individual submission. Judges for each stateâ€"and other detailsâ€"will be announced shortly. Winners receive publication of at least one printing of 200-300 chapbooks and 20 complimentary chapbooks.

The 2009 winners, printed by Encyclopedia Destructica, were Cloud Shaped Room by Matt Anserello of Morgantown, WV (selected by Isaac Pressnell), Life as a Crossword Puzzle by Noah Falck of Dayton, OH (selected by Tyler Meier), and Aleph in the Cellar by Colin C. Post of Pittsburgh, PA (judged by Claire Donato).

Artists:

The 2011 Tri-State Chapbooks will be accompanied by the Open Thread Regional Review, Vol. 2.5, a full-color chapbook of art. 2D (including documentation of works by 3D and installation) artists who are natives or current residents of Ohio, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia are encouraged to register at http://www.openthread.org and upload files of their work. Of the selected artists, one will be invited to design the covers of the winning chapbooks!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Leslie Hager book signing at Taylor Books


WVW member Leslie Hager will be signing copies of her novel Coincidence at Taylor Books on April 23 from 1-3 p.m.

Coincidence is described as:
American woman, Samantha “Sam” Montgomery had no idea what the stranger meant when he asked: “So, what’s the craic?” Little did she know on that hot, humid South Carolina summer night, that it would be the question that would change her life forever.

Sam is stuck in a boring job and with a string of bad relationships under her belt, isn’t where she imagined she would be at this point in her life. Additionally, she has to cope with the sudden death of her beloved grandfather who passed away just weeks after beginning to investigate a letter belonging to his mother—a letter which only fuels questions about his mother’s mysterious past and why she suddenly fled her homeland of Ireland in the middle of the night nearly eighty years ago.

Sam, desperate for some much needed relaxation after the past several months of grieving her grandfather’s death and her unlucky in love past, heads away on her annual girl’s beach trip with her best friend, Kate Mason, only to discover what awaits her at the beach is far from relaxing. When she, a charming Irishman named Sean and an angry red-headed woman cross paths, Sam finds her sanity slowly spinning out of control as she stumbles her way through a mission which takes her across the Atlantic Ocean to Lifford and Derry, Ireland in search of love and answers to her family’s puzzling history.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Daniel McTaggart featured by Morgantown Poets

Local author Daniel McTaggart will be featured with Morgantown Poets at 7pm Thursday April 21 at Monongalia Arts Center (MAC). An Open Mic follows immediately thereafter.

Daniel McTaggart is a Morgantown native who has been writing poetry for more than 30 years. In 1989, he was selected to participate in the WVU English Department's Sturm Visiting Writers Workshop with Wayne Dodd. His work has appeared in Laurels, Screaming Zebra, and NACS Magazine. His poem "Monarch Sunning on Cooper's Rock" was selected by busride.org's 2010 Poetry on the Move program. He has published several books of poetry, most recently "Diner Poems" and "Morgantown Madrigals."

Daniel's poetry focuses on the nostalgic, the familiar, and the unnoticed quiet moments occurring all around us. Through his pen, he stops for a burger at the diner, dodges cow patties on his grandfather's pasture, or listens to the sounds of a coffee shop.

Public parking is available near the MAC in the parking garage at the corner of Pleasant and Chestnut Streets and at the city lot behind 142 High Street (enter off Spruce). The MAC is accessible to individuals with special mobility requirements; schedule ahead at least two days prior to the event by calling 304-292-3325, or write to info@monartscenter.com.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

The Crow’s Quill Writers Group workshop this Saturday

The Crow’s Quill Writers Group is sponsoring a workshop this Saturday, April 16th in Clarksburg, WV and they are featuring Sandy Tritt. Sandy is owner and lead editor of Inspiration for Writers, a premier Editing and Ghostwriting service with clients on all corners of the globe.

Sandy will be leading a class on one of the toughest aspects of writing to grasp – ‘Point of View.’ If you take your writing seriously, please make time to attend this workshop. Sandy has a knack for showing folks how to structure their writing to more professional levels and if you think you may be interested in hiring a professional editing firm, this might be the opportunity you’re looking for.

The workshop will be held at the Waldomore Mansion, adjacent to the Harrison-Clarksburg Public Library in Clarksburg, Saturday April 16 at 10:AM. The Crow’s Quill is only requesting a $5.00 donation to defray costs and refreshments will be served.

Don’t miss this! It might be just what you need right now.

For more info contact: Debbie Crim
Ph. # 304-842-6889
Crowsquill.deb@live.com

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Punkin House "Novice Novelist Contest"

Punkin House would like introduce, our first semi-annual "Novice Novelist Contest". We are searching for an unknown author who has a great story to tell. We will publish the best manuscript in 2011.

The contest is open to all authors ages 18 and up.

Deadline

The contest starts January 15, 2011.
Entries must be postmarked no later than May 1, 2011.

Entries:

Query for Fiction Novel-

50,000 + words

Excluded Genres:

Non-Fiction

Sci-Fi

Poetry

Childrens Picture Books

Chapbooks

Send Entries To:

NoviceNovelist@punkinhouse.com

Awards & Prizes

Grand Prize- $1000 plus Publishing Contract with Punkin House.

2nd Place - $500 plus critique of the first 3 chapters of their novel.

3rd Place - $100 plus critique of the first chapter of their novel.

Honorable Mention (5): A 30% discount coupon for Punkin Books and your name and piece title will be published on www.punkinhouse.com

Entry Fees

Non-Refundable Entry Fee of $35 USD

Winner Notification

Winners' certificates/awards will be mailed no later than May 31, 2011.

Winners List will be posted on www.PunkinHouse.com — around May 31, 2011.

General Guidelines

Entries must be unpublished.

Please send a query letter and the first 1,000 words of your manuscript.

Only 1,000 words per entry, do NOT submit the complete book.

Enter as many manuscripts as you would like. Entry fee and a separate Official Entry Form must accompany each entry.

Entries that do not meet contest guidelines will be disqualified; entry fees will not be returned.

We will only accept digital copies of the manuscript. Please do not ask to send a paper copy.

Please send as an attachment in an email to NoviceNovelist@punkinhouse.com.

Use a readable font such as Times Roman.

The entire manuscript must be completed. We will not accept an incomplete manuscript if you win.

Other Information

Grand Prize Winner: Will receive a book deal and $1,000. The winner has the right to deny publication and the Book Deal. Punkin House does not charge the author for publication, or any other hidden fees.

Judging Criteria

Presentation (format, follows rules, neatness, spelling, punctuation, grammar).

Strength (Lead/End) tightness, clarity, structure, transitions, impact, satisfactory close.

The first 1,000 words need to stand alone with elements of good writing included. Either the first or the last chapter will usually represent the whole book the best.

Fiction: Characterization, conflict, dialogue, plotting, beginning, ending, figures of speech.

Please copy and paste the entry form and send as an attachment to NoviceNovelist@PunkinHouse.com

------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM - 2011 Punkin’s Novice Novelist Contest

Postmark deadline 5/1/2011

A separate form must accompany each entry (and each poem);

1. Author's name ________________________________________________

Note how you want your name on Winners List/Certificate if different from above:

_____________________________________________________________

2. Author's mailing address ________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

3. Author's phone number (______) ________________

4. Author's E-mail: _______________________________________

5. TITLE of entry _________________________________________________

6. FIRST LINE of entry ____________________________________________

7. GENRE of entry______________________________________________

8. ENTRY FEE :

You can submit your entry fees via

(a verified PayPal user since 2009) - Be sure to note with your payment the title(s) and/or first line of your entry or entries. Then email your entry or entries along with entry form(s) – to NoviceNovelist@PunkinHouse.com

We will e-mail you confirmation when we have received and matched up your entry fees and entries.