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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20180930T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20180930T153000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20180805T122525Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180811T171804Z
UID:10601-1538317800-1538321400@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Author and Musician Arthur Crummer
DESCRIPTION:  \nArthur Crummer will entertain the audience when he discusses his new book\, Floating Island\, on Sunday September 30\, 2018\, at 2:30 p.m.\, at the Alachua County Library headquarters\, meeting room A. He will read passages and poetry and perform songs written by characters in the new novel\, a metafictional mystery set in an area similar to Paynes Prairie. \nIn Floating Island\, Paul Bradley’s life is adrift. Disturbing rumors compel him to canoe onto his beloved Lake Lacuna. He capsizes near a floating island and sleeps free of mosquitoes under a layer of sand beside a misty Florida swamp. At dawn the island is gone. \nTwo weeks later his wife disappears. Blood-soaked parts of her shredded clothes float in Lacuna’s tannic\, gator-infested waters. But things aren’t as they seem: strange encounters . . . under surveillance . . .  disappearing journals . . . and then the phone rings. \nCrummer\, who holds a Ph.D. in mathematics and a BS in Mechanical Engineering\, has won numerous blue ribbons from music competitions. He performs with his band at folk festivals\, has authored instructional music booklets\, and since 1995\, has led music workshops in Dobro\, slide guitar\, Flat-pick and Finger-style guitar\, and gospel singing. He writes songs and poetry chapbooks\, and he won the Edward Lee Flemming\, Jr. Florida Old Time Music Championship Award in 2008\, presented by the Friends of Florida Folk. \nHe served as the second president of the Writers Alliance of Gainesville\, was published in the first edition of Bacopa Literary Review\, and was twice selected in the Hippodrome Theater’s monologue competitions. His first novel\, Wrestling God\, was published in 2013.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/author-musician-arthur-crummer/
LOCATION:Alachua County Library Headquarters\, Meeting Room A\, 4th Floor\, Rm. A\, 401 E Univ. Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32601
CATEGORIES:Book Signing,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ArtCrummer-e1533466987208.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20180923T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20180923T153000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20180729T220557Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180811T145045Z
UID:10587-1537713000-1537716600@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Karen Porter\, Local Author Series
DESCRIPTION:WAG’s 2018-2019 Local Author Series\, in partnership with the Alachua County District Library\, kicks off its new season on Sunday September 23\, 2018\, at 2:30 PM in the Story Woods room in the Children’s Department of the Alachua County Library Headquarters. \nChildren’s book author Karen Porter will read from the latest book in her Emotatude series\, designed to help children understand and deal with their emotions. So\, bring your children and grandchildren. \nAnne and Amy’s Anger is an imaginative tale that shows how two children honor their feelings and decide what to do with the anger they feel. You will see Anne and Amy allow their emotions to guide their actions\, while they give themselves time to decide what to do. Dr. Kich\, an imaginary doctor\, helps these children do this. \nKaren White Porter M.Ed. NBCT is a Director of Loga Springs Academy Homeschool Cooperative and a Nationally Board Certified Teacher. After graduating from Rutgers University with a Masters Degree in language education\, she started teaching children. It was then that she realized the importance of emotional intelligence among her students. From teaching around the world\, she gained insight into the importance of  emotional underpinnings of how people learn. She taught at East China Normal University in Shanghai\, P.R. China\, Hofstra University in Hempstead N.Y.\, Hillside Public Schools in New Jersey\, Saint Andrews University in Saint Andrews Scotland\, Belcher Elementary in Clearwater Florida\, The University of South Florida\, and The State University of Florida. She started her own school Loga Springs Academy Homeschool Cooperative in Gainesville\, Florida\, because she wanted to establish her own curriculum aimed at building children’s emotional intelligence.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/karen-porter-local-author-series/
LOCATION:Alachua County Library Headquarters\, Meeting Room A\, 4th Floor\, Rm. A\, 401 E Univ. Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32601
CATEGORIES:Book Signing,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/KarenPorterPhoto-e1532900880235.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20180901T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20180901T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20180813T111226Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180813T111226Z
UID:10693-1535814000-1535817600@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Author Debra Segal to Speak in Melrose
DESCRIPTION:Author Debra Segal and the authentic Idylwild Cowgirls will give an entertaining book presentation at the Melrose Bay Art Gallery on Saturday\, September 1\, at 3:00 p.m. \nRefreshments and a book signing will follow.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/author-debra-segal-to-speak-in-melrose/
LOCATION:FL
CATEGORIES:Book Signing,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Debra-Segal.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20180512T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20180512T153000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20180501T150837Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180501T150837Z
UID:8960-1526135400-1526139000@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Author K. E. Mullins to speak
DESCRIPTION:K. E. Mullins will discuss her book\, In the Company of Strangers in the ongoing Local Author Series at the Alachua County headquarters library in downtown Gainesville. \nIn the book\, Detective Anita Johnson along with her partner Chloe and boss\, Tseudo\, are close to capturing suspect\, Gabrielle\, the alleged mastermind of a criminal operation\, and her team of ruthless prospects. They will take you on the ride of your life as they weave in and out of scenarios in their attempt to avoid the DEA\, FBI\, and the local police. \n \nMullins began writing during her 20-year career in the Navy. She has published a book of poetry\, Thinking Aloud: Dimensions of Free-Verse\, and two novels: The Friends and Family Connection: Get Unplugged\, and In the Company of Strangers. She is a graduate of National University with a MBA from the University of Central Florida\, and currently works as a Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) Instructor in Gainesville\, Florida. \n 
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/author-k-e-mullins-to-speak/
LOCATION:Alachua County Library Headquarters\, Meeting Room A\, 4th Floor\, Rm. A\, 401 E Univ. Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32601
CATEGORIES:Book Signing
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/KE_Mullins-photo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20180421T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20180421T153000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20180322T202851Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180322T211409Z
UID:8958-1524321000-1524324600@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Author Daniel Blumberg to speak at Alachua County library headquarters
DESCRIPTION:Daniel Blumberg\, the author of The Rise & Fall of MechaniKalle will discuss and read from the book at the library on Saturday\, April 21\, at 2:30 p.m.\n \nKalle Talbot has always wanted to be a superhero. When her sixteenth birthday passes without her developing any powers\, she decides to create her own power armor suit. Follow Kalle as she grows as a hero\, all while attempting to keep things from blowing up around her. \n \n“Daniel Blumberg is incredibly imaginative and original\,” writes one reviewer. “Great premise. Refreshing to see a self-made superhero.” \nBlumberg has lived in the Gainesville\, Florida\, area since 1980 and enjoys fantasy and sci-fi. This is his second published book. Two to three times a month\, he works to save the world in weekly pen and paper superhero games. \nHis talk is part of the ongoing Local Author Series\, sponsored by the Alachua County Library and Writers Alliance. Join Blumberg at the downtown library in Meeting Room A\, fourth floor. \n 
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/author-daniel-blumberg-speak-alachua-county-library-headquarters/
LOCATION:Alachua County Library Headquarters\, Meeting Room A\, 4th Floor\, Rm. A\, 401 E Univ. Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32601
CATEGORIES:Book Discussion,Book Signing
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Daniel_Blumberg-photo-e1518532171507.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20180408T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20180408T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20170724T173737Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180410T164809Z
UID:7455-1523197800-1523203200@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Florida Book Awards Program by Drs. Noll and Gallman
DESCRIPTION:Summary of the April 8 program by Mallory M. O’Connor \nThe Florida Book Awards is an annual awards program that honors\, recognizes\, and celebrates literature by Florida authors and books about Florida that were published in the previous year. Established in 2006\, the program now gives awards in eleven categories with bronze\, silver and gold medals. According to Dr. Steven Noll\, one of two presenters on April 8\, it is the nation’s most comprehensive state book awards program. \nThe awards program is coordinated by the Florida State University Libraries and has a number of co-sponsors including the Florida Center for the Book\, the State Library and Archives\, the Florida Humanities Council\, and the Florida Writers Association. Submissions are read by juries of three members for each of eleven categories: Younger Children’s Literature\, Older Children’s Literature\, Cooking\, Florida Nonfiction\, General Fiction\, General Nonfiction\, Popular Fiction\, Spanish Language\, Visual Arts\, Young Adult\, and Poetry. \nThe jurors are nominated by the co-sponsoring organizations from across the state. Jurors are authorized to select up to three medalists in each category (one gold\, one silver\, and one bronze). The jurors are also authorized to make no selections in any given year. Winning authors from across the state are honored at an annual awards banquet in Tallahassee. Previous winners include such well-known authors as Cynthia Barnett whose book Rain: A Natural and Cultural History was a 2015 gold medal winner. \nAnother 2015 winner was J. Matthew Gallman. His book\, Defining Duty in the Civil War\, was a silver-medal winner for nonfictiion. Dr. Gallman spoke about how his book progressed from intended satire to a more nuanced account of the concept of “duty” among Northerners during the Civil War period. \nHe pointed out the problems faced by men and women as they grappled with the unprecedented decision associated with taking sides in a divided nation. He also discussed the issues of gender and ethnicity as women and African-Americans struggled to understand their role in the conflict. Dr. Gallman used a number of visual images in the form of political cartoons to support and augment his discussion. \nA juror in the non-fiction category\, Steven Noll\, PhD\, University of Florida\, is a master lecturer and author of three books including co-author of Ditch of Dreams\, a history of the ill-fated cross-Florida barge canal project. Dr. Noll was named one of the 300 best professors in the US by the Princeton Review in 2012. His writing interests include many topics of Florida history including sports history and the environment. \nJ. Matthew Gallman earned his PhD in American History from Brandeis University and taught at Loyola College\, Gettysburg College\, and Occidental College before joining the Department of History at the University of Florida in 2003\, where he teaches\, reads\, and writes about the American Civil War. \n  \n 
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/nollgallman-florida-book-awards/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, Meeting Room A\, 3145 NW 43rd St\,\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Discussion,Book Signing
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Doc1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20180317T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20180317T153000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20180218T152525Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180318T113223Z
UID:8956-1521297000-1521300600@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Wendy Thornton Discussed Her Latest Book: Sounding the Depths
DESCRIPTION:Author Wendy Thornton discussed her latest book\, Sounding The Depths\, as part of the ongoing Local Author Series at the Alachua County Library headquarters on Saturday\, March 17. \n“Music creates memories\,” Thornton said\, “even for those who are on the verge of losing theirs forever. You hear an old song and it transports you back into the past.” \nThrough humorous essays and remembrances in Sounding the Depths\, Thornton has explored the past fifty years of music\, the way it has changed\, and the many ways it has remained the same. \n  Thornton\, signing a book for Mallory O’Connor\nNear the end of her talk\, Thornton said her all-time favorite musician is Gainesville’s beloved Tom Petty\, who died on October 2\, 2017\, at age 66. She mentioned the city’s plan to honor Petty and the possible options: rename a city street\, park\, or facility; add a statue to a city park or facility; host an annual concert or music festival; proclaim his birthday\, Oct. 20\, as Tom Petty Day; dedicate the month of October to his legacy. Want to vote? Go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/TomPettyMemorial. The survey ends April 16. \nA book signing followed Thornton’s talk and included her other books: Dear Oprah Or How I Beat Cancer and Learned to Love Daytime TV (2013) and a  mystery\, Bear-Trapped: In a Trashy Hollywood Novel (2015). She also had a number of journals on exhibit to show the opportunities that exist for writers. \nThornton’s stories and essays have been published in a variety of journals and books including Riverteeth\, Epiphany\, and MacGuffin. She was nominated for a Pushcart Prize\, has been Editor’s Pick on Salon.com multiple times\, and has received numerous awards. Her works have been published in England\, Ireland\, Scotland\, Australia and India. \n 
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/wendy-thornton-speak-alachua-county-library-headquarters/
LOCATION:Alachua County Library Headquarters\, Meeting Room A\, 4th Floor\, Rm. A\, 401 E Univ. Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32601
CATEGORIES:Book Discussion,Book Signing
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/WendyThornton-e1518533204443.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20180218T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20180218T153000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20180121T150248Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180218T151915Z
UID:8954-1518964200-1518967800@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Book Talk by Robert Crow: Nudge and Boost for Better Living
DESCRIPTION:Robert Crow will discuss and read from his book\, Nudge & Boost for Better Living\, A Semi-Autobiographical Novel on Using the ABCs of Human Behavior.  \nIn the book\, Frasier and friends explore uses of principles of human behavior to improve people’s lives. Their discussions of successes for better living and tools called nudge and boost are described in engaging stories. \n \nCrow has a PhD in behavioral science and 35 years’ experience in systems of education\, community development and higher education where he applied principles of science and life-lessons to promote the development of human potential.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/book-talk-robert-crow-nudge-boost-better-living/
LOCATION:Alachua County Library Headquarters\, Meeting Room A\, 4th Floor\, Rm. A\, 401 E Univ. Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32601
CATEGORIES:Book Signing
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Bob-Crow-e1503836134786.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20180121T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20180121T153000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20171214T011645Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180201T000025Z
UID:8952-1516545000-1516548600@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Award-Winning Author Darlene Marshall: The Bride and the Buccaneer
DESCRIPTION:Darlene Marshall writes award winning historical romance\, mostly about pirates\, privateers\, smugglers\, and the occasional possum. \nOn Sunday\, January 21\, she discussed her book\, The Bride and the Buccaneer\, winner of the First Coast Romance Writers Award for historical romance. Two adversaries squabble their way across Florida Territory following the clues on their pirate treasure map. They know that before they’re through they’re either going to kiss each other\, kill each other\, or both. \nMarshall lives in North Central Florida\, perfect for hopping into the convertible\, driving to the beach\, drinking mojitos and calling it research. \nThis program was part of the ongoing Local Author Series. \n 
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/author-darlene-marshall-speak-about-romance-novel/
LOCATION:Alachua County Library Headquarters\, Meeting Room A\, 4th Floor\, Rm. A\, 401 E Univ. Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32601
CATEGORIES:Book Signing,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/DarleneMarshall-photo-e1513212695489.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20171209T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20171209T153000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20171129T182214Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220306T164352Z
UID:8787-1512829800-1512833400@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Children Books . . . Readings at Local Author Series
DESCRIPTION:On Saturday\, December 9\, authors Bonnie T. Ogle and Judith A. Barrett discussed their new children’s books in the Story Woods room of the Alachua County Library Headquarters. \n \nBonnie Ogle reading from Arthur the Arthropod\nArthur the Arthropod by Ogle. Feeling quite vulnerable when his shell comes off\, the young centipede Arthur tries to overcome his feelings of inferiority by bragging. Along the way\, he discovers he is part of a very large family that includes his neighbors\, a mosquito\, a dragonfly\, and even a crawfish. He receives delightfully repetitive advice from his wise Mama\, and ultimately realizes that he has everything he needs! \nThe Sounds and Smells of Christmas by Ogle. Would a king be born in a dark\, moldy cave\, surrounded by smelly animals? Would shabby\, dirty people be allowed near a king? Only a king who loves His people\, young or old\, pretty or ugly\, rich or poor. Enter the stable and experience the real sounds and smells of the Nativity and discover that Jesus didn’t come to sit on a fancy throne. He came to be with ordinary people like me. \nOgle is a retired first grade teacher\, now teaching children at a natural history museum. She is a huge fan of lepidoptera (butterflies) and herptiles\, especially frogs. \nJudith Barrett reads from Pink Baby Alligator\nJudith Barrett’s first book\, Pink Baby Alligator\, is a story she told her young granddaughter\, who then requested the story be written down so she could read it for herself. Soon\, the story passed through many grandchildren\, proving particularly meaningful for her autistic grandchild. \nPink Baby Alligator by Barrett. Pink in a world of green. From the very beginning\, it’s obvious that Rose is different. As a lone pink alligator in a family of green ones\, she stands out when all she wants to do is blend in. With the support of Mama Alligator and her friends\, Rose sets off on an adventure to discover how to use her special gift to create a place where everyone is included! \n  \n 
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/book-talks-new-books-children/
LOCATION:Story Woods Room\, Children’s Department\, Alachua County Library Headquarters\, 401 East University Avenue\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32601
CATEGORIES:Book Sale,Book Signing,Readings,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/IMG_1876-e1512855392377.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20171203T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20171203T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20171129T161002Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220306T164352Z
UID:8774-1512311400-1512316800@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Book talk: Lancelot's Disciple
DESCRIPTION:On Sunday\, December 3\, as part of the Local Author Series\, Richard Gartee discussed his latest book\, Lancelot’s Disciple. \nFrith\, a student of Sir Lancelot\, leaves the Christian abbey he has always called home\, to join a caravan on the ancient Silk Road. While staying with a Sultan in Central Asia\, he is tutored by a Taoist\, a Buddhist\, and a Hindu Swami. Confounded by their strange philosophies\, he becomes catatonic during the journey home. Once back in Britain\, he must sort out his confusion\, attain the Holy Grail\, and find the sister he left waiting at the abbey. \nGartee is a novelist\, poet\, and author of seven college textbooks. In addition to his novels\, he has had five collections of his poetry published as well as numerous chap books. His third novel\, Ragtime Dudes In a Thin Place won the first place 2016 Royal Palm Literary Award for unpublished book-length fiction.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/book-talk-lancelots-disciple/
LOCATION:Alachua County Library Headquarters\, Meeting Room A\, 4th Floor\, Rm. A\, 401 E Univ. Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32601
CATEGORIES:Book Sale,Book Signing,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Richard_Gartee-photo-e1518734308294.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20171119T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20171119T153000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20171024T140813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20171209T211530Z
UID:8563-1511101800-1511105400@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Susie H. Baxter\, Local Author Series
DESCRIPTION:On Sunday\, November 19\, Susie H. Baxter was the featured speaker in the Alachua County Library’s Local Author Series. She discussed her recently published book\, Pumping Sunshine. Believing that everyone has a story to tell\, Baxter also encouraged those in the audience to write about their own lives. \nAn Alachua County resident\, Baxter has deep roots in Suwannee County where she grew up on a farm near the Suwannee River\, and where she was known as Susanette Howell. \nAfter a career in health-science publishing as an acquisitions editor\, she now serves as creative nonfiction editor for Bacopa Literary Review and teaches memoir writing in the community education program at Santa Fe College. She is also the author of Write Your Memoir\, One Story at a Time and C.G. & Ethel\, A Family History. \nThe November 19 program was held at the Headquarters Library. Refreshments (homemade cookies made from a family recipe in the book) and a book signing followed the program.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/susie-h-baxter-local-author-series/
LOCATION:Alachua County Library Headquarters\, Meeting Room A\, 4th Floor\, Rm. A\, 401 E Univ. Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32601
CATEGORIES:Book Signing,Readings,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Susie-at-ACL-book-talk.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20171022T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20171022T153000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20170922T231431Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20171208T205641Z
UID:8275-1508682600-1508686200@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Gene Cowell\, Local Author Series
DESCRIPTION:On Sunday\, October 22\, Gene Cowell was the featured speaker in the Alachua County Library’s Local Author Series. \nCowell discussed the evolution of popular crime fiction from its Nineteenth-Century roots through classic British “cozy” mysteries of the early Twentieth-Century\, and the enduring noir novels of famous American authors from Raymond Chandler and James M. Cain to Elmore Leonard and Dennis Lehane. \nHe also read from his second recently-published novel\, Bring Me the Gypsy\, inspired by true events; it follows American Gypsy Dix Arcos as he struggles to escape the lethal wrath of his gangster boss. \nAn Alachua resident\, Cowell touched on lessons learned over a 45-year career as an advertising copywriter\, ad agency owner and subscription newsletter publisher that he claims helped him in his fiction writing. He paid homage to Elmore Leonard’s immortal “Ten Rules for Good Writing\,” including the one rule he broke. \nThe program was held at the Headquarters Library\, 401 E. University Ave.\, Gainesville FL. \nThe Local Author Series features a new author each month. \n 
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/gene-cowell-local-author-series/
LOCATION:Alachua County Library Headquarters\, Meeting Room A\, 4th Floor\, Rm. A\, 401 E Univ. Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32601
CATEGORIES:Book Signing,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/GeneCowell-photo-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20171008T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20171008T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20170724T184824Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20171208T210330Z
UID:7541-1507473000-1507478400@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:M. W. Gordon - Ask Not for Whom the Pen Writes . . .
DESCRIPTION:Summary of M. W. Gordon’s talk by Penny Church-Pupke. \nRetired UF law professor turned mystery writer Michael Gordon (pen name M.W. Gordon) presented a program entitled “Ask not for whom the pen writes\, it writes for me.” A published author of nonfiction and fiction\, Gordon’s debut novel Deadly Drifts\, the first of nine in his  McDuff Brooks mystery series\, won the 2014 Royal Palm Literary Award for Published Book of the Year. \nThroughout his talk\, Gordon used anecdotes from his life and gave writing advice gained through publishing his book series. Gordon said his writing grew out of his examination of his life’s interests including law\, sports\, boating and fly fishing. After his retirement at age 73\, he sifted through his work experiences of teaching\, lecturing\, consulting\, and writing in international law as well as civil law. At the same time\, he assessed his other interests—he was a boat builder\, a certified fly-fishing guide\, an oboe and English horn player\, and an owner of Shetland Sheepdogs. At leisure\, with no thought of writing\, he began reading fiction. Eventually\, he wondered whether he could write dialogue and if he knew enough to write a book\, using the knowledge he had gained during his life. \nTwo years later\, Deadly Drifts was complete. Now\, he wondered what he should do with his 300-page manuscript. He tried traditional publishing\, but the publishing agent he contacted wanted a contract of five years to search for a publisher. Gordon didn’t want to wait that long. On his own\, he tried the Big Five Publishing Houses—Penguin Random House\, HarperCollins\, Simon & Schuster\, Hachette Book Group\, and MacMillan—but they weren’t interested. Going to a subsidiary of the Big Five\, what Gordon called a “sub of a sub of a sub” wasn’t satisfactory. His alternative was DIY publishing (Do-It-Yourself). He suggested authors use the term Do-It-Yourself rather than self-published. Gordon confessed he had made lots of mistakes as he learned the ins and outs of publishing. In addition\, he said DIY publishing took lots of his time\, and required him to make lots of choices. \nHere are some of his recommendations. \nGordon suggested that authors not edit their works themselves; he added that it is important to know what kind of editing is being contracted (grammar\, punctuation\, content). Referring to DIY books\, he said writers should make use of templates—5.5 x 8.5 is a good size. Once a template it used\, it can be reused through copy and paste. Use 1.5 line spacing for your final submission since double-spacing makes it look like a draft. He advised forming your own publishing entity LLC (Limited Liability Company) or create a fictitious name so you can say you are “published by a small publishing firm in (location).” Also purchase your own ISBN (International Standard Book Number) so the number belongs to the writer not the publisher—it is\, he emphasized\, a matter of control. \nGordon discussed the differences between print-on-demand (POD) publishers like IngramSpark and Amazon’s CreateSpace. CreateSpace publishes only softcover (paperbound) books sold by Amazon or by the author.  One positive is that a Kindle e-book can be made with just a click of a mouse. However\, some bookstores do not like to work with Amazon since they take a 25% cut\, and books are not generally returnable. Gordon recommends not using Amazon Kindle’s special programs—Kindle Select/Kindle Unlimited—because this may require an exclusive agreement with Amazon and may lower royalties by 20%. In contrast\, IngramSpark will publish a softcover or hardcover and the company distributes to bookstores and makes the books available to libraries. For ease of use\, Gordon suggested going to IngramSpark first\, then CreateSpace. \nWhen writing a series\, Gordon said\, it is essential to have a timeline; the timeline he created for his series is about 25-pages long. Equally important is to have a list of characters. He found that characters are easier to write if they come from a dysfunctional family. In a similar vein\, he said children grow up fast—in other words\, how long can a child be credibly enrolled in high school or college? He said adults age much better. Gordon suggested it is a good idea for the main character to have a pet; that pet can be a minor figure\, or it can be another character\, but it should have some quirks. He added that his dog character\, Wuff\, has appeared in all his books and was even shot. In a series\, if the main characters are married or are a couple\, one spouse/partner can be killed. Likewise\, if a character isn’t working out\, or if the author is worried that the readers are getting bored\, characters can be killed. However\, he added\, don’t bring back a character who was killed. Gordon said\, it is good to have a sinister character appear throughout the series\, much as Professor Moriarty served as a nemesis to Sherlock Holmes. \nGordon’s book display at October 8 WAG program\nAs for marketing suggestions\, Gordon said book tours and lectures are usually not arranged by publishers. He found book tours did not give him a reasonable return; he sold only 2 copies the first time\, 12 the second\, and 25 the next month. The most he sold was 62\, this past year. In contrast\, he has sold 2\,000 e-book copies. He said\, book sales come after radio and TV interviews. Another marketing tip (good for bookstores) is to create a one-page handout\, with a photo of the book cover on one side and a description and contact information on the other. \nGordon provided a handout\, which said “Enjoy what you are doing.” If you don’t enjoy writing\, do something else. His final recommendation\, written in bold letters was Write for yourself. \nWhen not writing\, Gordon has been involved in Project Healing Waters in Montana\, where fly-fishing is taught to former military personnel who were combat wounded. Next summer\, he hopes to become involved in Casting for Recovery in Vermont\, where fly-fishing is taught to women cancer survivors. According to his handout\, he sailed in the America’s Cup on America’s contender “American Eagle” in 1967. \nGordon has degrees from the U.S.\, France\, and Mexico\, and except for a case of malaria\, he would have had another degree from the Netherlands. He consulted and lectured at U.S. Embassies in a dozen or more foreign nations and was consulted on cross border issues by the Departments of State\, Commerce\, and Justice. He primarily fishes in the U.S. and Canada and is on pro-boards in fly-fishing in Simms  in Montana and Orvis in Vermont. He has never kept a fish he caught; his first trout was caught in 1944 and was immediately released because he said\, he was struck by its beauty. And fittingly\, he uses barbless hooks whenever he fishes.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/m-w-gordon-writer-mysteries/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, Meeting Room A\, 3145 NW 43rd St\,\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Discussion,Book Signing,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Gordon2.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20170916T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20170916T153000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20170826T210237Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220306T164426Z
UID:7728-1505572200-1505575800@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Mallory M. O'Connor\, first author to present in new "Local Author Series"
DESCRIPTION:Mallory M. O’Connor is first on the program for the Alachua County Library’s new Local Author Series. \nOn September 16\, O’Connor will discuss her debut novel\, American River: Tributaries\, which follows the entwined lives of three immigrant families as they settle along this river in Northern California during the turbulent 1960s. \nO’Connor\, who grew up in Northern California\, has degrees in art\, art history\, and American history and taught art history at the University of Florida and Santa Fe College. \nShe is also the author of the non-fiction book\, Lost Cities of the Ancient Southeast\, and she and Gary Monroe coauthored Florida’s American Heritage River: Images from the St. Johns Region.  \nO’Connor resides in Micanopy and currently serves as vice president of the Writers Alliance of Gainesville. \nThis program will be held in Meeting Room A\, Fourth Floor\, of the Headquarters library\, 401 E. Univ. Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL. \nThe Local Author Series will feature a new author each month. \n  \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/alachua-county-librarys-local-author-series-feature-mallory-m-oconnor/
LOCATION:Alachua County Library Headquarters\, Meeting Room A\, 4th Floor\, Rm. A\, 401 E Univ. Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32601
CATEGORIES:Book Discussion,Book Sale,Book Signing,Readings,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Headshot-5.2-e1503839035552.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20170813T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20170813T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20170703T190321Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170819T023404Z
UID:7258-1502634600-1502640000@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Use Your Family Stories to Write a Historical Novel
DESCRIPTION:Nick West’s presentation\n\n– Summarized by Bonnie Ogle –  \nOn August 13\, novelist and local businessman Nick West spoke to the general meeting of the Writers Alliance of Gainesville about using family stories to create a historical novel. A fifth generation Floridian\, West has a plethora of family stories\, which he has used as the basis for his four novels. Raised by grandparents with no television\, West was entertained by his grandmother’s recounting stories about a family that traveled with the circus and weathered the American Civil War. \nAudience members chat with author Nick West.\nWith that kernel of information\, and inspiration from circus posters\, West sought out other descendants of circus members to hear their stories. Learning of his great grandfather’s circus friend Master Duffy\, he sought and found Duffy’s family. Duffy was a former slave who ran away when his sister was sold and their mother died of a broken heart. He became the “African Prince\,” riding a horse in the show\, using the job as a cover to search for his sister. \nPithy incidents retold to successive generations show up in West’s books. He had heard from his grandfather that the circus people split between north and south when war broke out. The circus owner’s parting words to the troops landed in one of West’s novels: “I hope the next time we meet\, it’s not at the end of a barrel.” \nAs a child living in Archer\, West frequently found arrowheads in the yard\, amassing a large collection. He wondered\, Who was the last human to touch this? Taking several pieces to the Florida Museum of Natural History for carbon dating\, he was surprised to learn they were 6\,000 years old. At the museum\, he met anthropologists who were familiar with the first people\, the Potanos\, who lived in the area. \nThis sparked enough interest that he created a Potano couple for his main characters. Studying ancient peoples of Florida gave West many ideas. He incorporated the people’s customs such as marrying outside their tribe and trading with coastal tribes. When his hero traveled to the coast he saw a “great ship.” This event evolved from historical accounts West found while studying first encounters with Europeans. \nNick West speaks to a packed house at the Millhopper Library.\nThe author advised fellow writers\, “The internet is a wonderful resource for you to get information about the locale\, daily life\, and current events of the time in which you set your story.” He cautioned writers\, however\, to use two or three sources to verify information. He reported spending half his time on research and twenty-five percent on editing. He recommended getting everyone you know to beta read your material\, particularly if you are self-publishing. \nWest’s presentation\, laden with anecdotal adventures and self-deprecating humor (“I am a non-profit organization – a self-published author”) piqued the audience’s interest in his four books\, all available on Amazon. They include The Great Southern Circus\, The Long Ride Home\, The Sandspur Special\, and To Light a New Fire. \n The Great Southern Circus (2010) entertains with stories of Orton and Older’s Great Southern Circus\, which performed in eighteen states from Wisconsin to Florida\, just before the Civil War. The author weaves together the tales passed down from his great-great-great-grandmother\, Miranda Madderra\, one of the circus performers. \n  \nHis most recent book\, To Light a New Fire\, chronicles the lives of a young Timucua native Floridian during the period of first European contact in the mid 1500’s. The book is based on the Potano village that existed for over 12\,000 years on the edge of Paynes Prairie. \n  \n 
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/nick-west-writing-historical-novels/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, Meeting Room A\, 3145 NW 43rd St\,\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Signing,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_3037-e1503109148129.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20170625T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20170625T170000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20170508T170932Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220306T164426Z
UID:6678-1498399200-1498410000@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Fun on Sunday at Sal's Place!
DESCRIPTION:In a private room at Sal’s Place\, a sports bar and restaurant in Northwest Gainesville\, thirty-seven audience members enjoyed music performed by Janet Barrett Suggs and Ken Booth and readings by Writers Alliance of Gainesville (WAG) authors\, along with food and drink. \nJanet Barrett Suggs\nThe program was open to the public\, with no admission or cover charge. Sal’s Place\, 5109 NW 39th Avenue in Gainesville\, was pleased with the turnout and has offered their private room for future WAG events. \nA big thanks to Wendy Thornton who coordinated this program and who promises to plan another! Here’s her post on facebook: \nKen Booth\n“Thank you to all the writers who came out for our Writers Alliance reading at Sal’s. It was wonderful! Mary Bast\, J. W. Fishhawke\, David B. Maas\, Timothy Shamrock McShane\, Eddie Suggs\, Ann~Marie Magné\, Susie Baxter\, Jessica Lyn Elkins\, Richard Gartee\, you all were fantastic. We got great feedback from everyone. And thank you to Janet Barrett Suggs for providing musical entertainment and especially to Ken Booth for music and set up for our readings! And to the fantastic audience. Big success and we will plan another in the near future!” \n 
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/readings-sals-place/
LOCATION:Sal’s Place\, 5109 NW 39th Ave\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Sale,Book Signing,Readings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Sals-Place-e1513698542917.jpeg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20170507T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20170507T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20170407T192419Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170509T160204Z
UID:6558-1494167400-1494172800@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Ronald W. Haase: The Good\, the Bad\, and the Surprising of Self-Publishing
DESCRIPTION:Professor Emeritus Ronald W. Haase\, who taught architecture for twenty years at the University of Florida\, shared his experience of transitioning from the college teaching environment to creating fiction\, while incorporating his respect for and knowledge of architecture. In his presentation\, Haase explored with good humor the good\, the bad\, and the surprising of self-publishing. \nIn retirement\, Haase is writing fiction with the same sense of structure and design. His hybrid first novel\, The Last House\, incorporates the journey of a husband and wife and their love of building houses\, examining four different regional architectures of Florida. The decades’ long journey introduces the reader to the ghosts of several notable Floridians who come along in support of the ride. Readers appreciating fine pen-and-ink drawings will enjoy viewing and studying Haase’s architectural designs illustrating the book. Haase is a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects. \n\nHaase discussed his first book\, Classic Cracker\, published by Pineapple Press. The press did the editing\, designed the book\, provided the cover\, and did the marketing. The book won an award and sold twenty thousand copies. Haase was very pleased with the job the press did and hoped to work with them again.\nHaase’s second book\, The Last House\, started as a non-fiction essay on four iconic Florida architectural styles: North Florida Cracker\, Sarasota School Mid-century Modern\, Art deco\, and Spanish Colonial. But Haase felt it would be more interesting if he fictionalized the story about a couple who built a house in each style over the course of their marriage. He illustrated the story with sixty-five drawings of the various architectural styles. He pitched the book first to Pineapple Press and then to a number of publishers\, but all said they didn’t know “how to market it” since it wasn’t a conventional genre and he was a first-time fiction author. So Haase decided to look into self-publishing.\nHe explored Create Space and found that publishing costs would be $1\,185. He felt the costs included several things that he could do himself\, such as the book cover. Ongoing disagreements and problems getting refunds eventually caused him to withdraw from the relationship.\nHe then tried Book Baby. Despite having to pay for editing and designing\, and agreeing to do most of the marketing\, he moved ahead with the project. There were some frustrations such as having to change the illustrations from color to black and white due to production costs.\nMarketing was a big challenge but Haase used a network of friends to organize events such as book signings. He also engaged members at his church\, friends at GFAA and the Melrose Bay Gallery\, local libraries\, and other professional contacts to assist with the marketing effort\, including getting endorsements from his architectural friends. Although his son has urged him to use social media to promote his book\, Haase isn’t yet comfortable with that strategy.\nThe book costs $8.00 to publish and sells for $19.95. Through the Book Baby agreement\, Haase gets 50% of net sales. It was an expensive investment and might not be a financial success\, he said\, but he has been generally pleased with his experience with Book Baby. And it was an adventure he preferred over a trip to Sweden.\nA book signing followed the informative program.\n  \n  \n \n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n\nWAG thanks Mallory M. O’Connor for summarizing this talk. \n 
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/good-bad-surprising-self-publishing/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, Meeting Room A\, 3145 NW 43rd St\,\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Signing,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/photo.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20170409T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20170409T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20170306T155514Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220306T164426Z
UID:6347-1491748200-1491753600@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:"Show\, Don’t Tell" About Social Issues in Your Fiction
DESCRIPTION:Kassandra Lamb\, retired psychotherapist turned mystery writer\, presented seven lessons she has learned about including social issues in fiction: show\, don’t tell; do your research; make readers care about the character; don’t stereotype; keep it balanced; expect some push back; and be open to learning from your characters. \n“Authors must show readers how a social issue affects people’s lives\,” she said\, “rather than tell the author’s opinion on that social issue.” She noted that telling may annoy a reader who has a different viewpoint. She said no author wants his or her book to be put down in disgust—not over the development of the fictional situations and characters but—by the author’s offering personal opinions. \nKassandra Lamb signs books following her talk.\nLamb urged the careful development of a character who espouses an opinion on a contentious social issue. If the issue is one of contemporary importance and significant polarization (e.g.\, future of Obamacare\, Trump\, immigration\, or who bears the burden of a tax reform)\, this is especially important. \nIf the reader agrees with the viewpoint in the book\, he/she may not care whether the opinion comes from a character in the book or the author. But the reader is more likely to accept an opposing viewpoint if the character in the book has the standing and credibility to speak to the social issue—such as a farmer who needs immigrant workers discussing immigration or the head of a hospital discussing health care. \nLamb is the author of the Kate Huntington mysteries and the Marcia Banks and Buddy cozy mysteries. She has also published a guidebook for novice writers\, Someday Is Here! A Beginner’s Guide to Writing and Publishing Your First Book. You can find out more about Lamb and her books at http://kassandralamb.com. She blogs about psychology and writing at http://misteriopress.com. \nThanks to M. W. Gordon for summarizing this talk.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/show-dont-tell-social-issues-fiction/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, Meeting Room A\, 3145 NW 43rd St\,\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Sale,Book Signing,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/lamb-closeup-photo.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20170408T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20170408T173000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20170224T214350Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220306T164426Z
UID:6261-1491667200-1491672600@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Book Discussion at Matheson Museum
DESCRIPTION:WAG member Mallory M. O’Connor and her co-author\, Gary Monroe\, discussed their book\, Florida’s American Heritage River: Images from the St. Johns Region at the Matheson History Museum in downtown Gainesville at 4:00 p.m. on April 8. This event was held in conjunction with the museum’s  exhibit\, River of Dreams: The St. Johns and Its Springs. \nThe mighty St. Johns River flows from its headwaters near Lake Okeechobee north through central Florida to Jacksonville. The river and its tributaries have been part of the cultural landscape of the peninsula for thousands of years. From the Native Americans who first settled along its banks to the French\, Spanish\, British and American settlers who followed\, it has been a source of food\, water\, transportation\, industry\, agriculture\, and recreation. In 1998 the St. Johns was declared an American Heritage River\, the only one in Florida and one of only fourteen in the country to be so designated. \nO’Connor is professor emerita of art history at Santa Fe College. Monroe is professor of fine arts and photography at Daytona State College. The lecture was free and open to the public. \nThe MATHESON HISTORY MUSEUM
’s hours are 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.\, Tuesday–Saturday. \n 
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/book-discussion-matheson-museum/
LOCATION:Matheson History Museum\, 513 E University Avenue\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Discussion,Book Sale,Book Signing
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/51YULgWX53L.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20170312T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20170312T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20170204T222717Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220306T164426Z
UID:6166-1489329000-1489334400@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Writing a Romance Novel for Fun and Profit
DESCRIPTION:Rebecca Heflin\, Gainesville author of contemporary romance\, revealed many secrets of writing for fun and profit in her March 12 PowerPoint presentation. Too bad we cannot include all of them here. \nShe stressed the importance of voice\, saying that “a bad editor can take away the author’s voice; don’t let that happen to you.” \nHeflin dreamed of writing romantic fiction from the time she was fifteen\, after reading Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss\, but she didn’t begin writing until she was in her late forties\, after she’d gone to law school and practiced law for fifteen years. She is now the author of six romance novels that are racking up awards — eleven to date. \n“Hook the reader with your opening line\,” she said\, and provided examples like this one: “What a waste of smooth\, shaven legs.” (Boss Man\, by Vi Keeland) \nThe opening scene should: \n\nconvey the time period\nintroduce the setting (small town\, big city\, another world)\nintroduce one or both of the main characters\ninclude the inciting incident\ngenerate empathy for the character(s)\nreveal the external conflict\nreveal the internal conflict\nset the tone (comedy\, thriller\, etc.)\npropel the story forward\n\n“Avoid ‘sense’ words like felt\, smelled\, thought\, wonder\, etc.\,” Heflin said. “Instead of saying ‘Becky felt the snake slither up her leg\,’ say ‘Becky’s skin crawled as the snake slithered up her leg.'” \nFor audience members\, the author provided copies of her entire PowerPoint slide presentation as well as a Vocabulary sheet. Two words that jumped out: BLACK MOMENT\, the scene toward the end of the book when the romance seems hopelessly doomed. PURPLE PROSE\, text that is extravagant\, flowery\, or ornate and detracts from the story; typically characterized by extensive use of adjectives\, adverbs\, and metaphors — something to avoid. \nAssistant Director of Research at UF by day\, Heflin said\, “I must set deadlines and goals for my writing.” She cannot follow instructions that tell you to sit down at the computer every day and write any damn thing that comes to mind. Instead\, Heflin said she arranges her schedule to write in a focused way\, one day a week. \nHeflin’s readers look forward to her new book\, Winning Dr. Wentworth\, available in June 2017\, and Educating Dr. Mayfield\, available in September 2017. \nShe is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA)\, Florida Romance Writers\, RWA Contemporary Romance\, Savvy Authors\, and Florida Writers Association. Follow her at http://www.rebeccaheflin.com/ \n  \nSummary by Susie H Baxter.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/writing-romance-novel-fun-profit/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, Meeting Room A\, 3145 NW 43rd St\,\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Sale,Book Signing,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Heflin.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20170212T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20170212T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20170106T025008Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220306T164426Z
UID:5890-1486909800-1486915200@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Work Experience As Writing Resource
DESCRIPTION:“Write what you know\,” Fiordalisi said. Accurate details of the business or industry in which your book is set will increase your book’s credibility. You may think your work experience unworthy of a story\, but others will disagree. Secretaries\, for example\, have a wealth of knowledge they can base a story on. All professions have inside experiences—“seed nuggets” for stories. \nStart your story after the phone rings\, after a knock on the door. After that is when the action happens. A death notification might make a good starting point. \nFiordalisi\, who had a career in law enforcement\, told of police officers going to notify a man about the death of his wife. Normally\, the officers would say they had come to deliver some bad news. But when this man answered the door and began yelling at them—“Why are you here again! You’re always coming ’round!”—the officers dispensed with their normal courtesies and said\, “Your wife’s dead.” \nFiordalisi went on to provide a host of pointers for writers: \n\nUse inside knowledge gained from your profession in your writing; rules govern most professions.\nKeep a journal of the things you see and hear; your notes can provide a wealth of resource material.\nTake writing classes and attend workshops.\nParticipate in a critique pod.\nDo your research.\nWhen writing fiction\, stick to the facts; with factual information\, you can write a believable story.\nDon’t introduce errors that will make your reader say\, “This doesn’t ring true.”\nCreate situations with emotions that will bring your reader into the story.\nPay attention to voice—mood and delivery.\nKnow and use work vocabulary and jargon. “Cops don’t say ‘handcuffs\,’” Fiordalisi said. “They say cuffs.” Use the jargon of the industry you are writing about.\nUnderstand that jargon may be different in California than it is in Florida; learn the jargon of the region you’re writing about.\nAdd small actions to a story to show how people feel. Fiordalisi mentioned what John Gardner\, author of On Becoming a Novelist and other books on writing\, tells writers\, “You can tell a reader anything but you have to show feelings”— white knuckles\, red faces\, clenched hands.\n\nFiordalisi mentioned again the importance of critique and said\, “If you have difficulty writing about a character of the opposite sex as I do\, get a good beta reader of the same sex as the character to read your material and provide feedback.” \nFiordalisi’s talk was summarized by Roz Miller. If you would like to summarize a future program\, email Roz at programs@writersalliance.org.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/work-experience-writing-resource/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, Meeting Room A\, 3145 NW 43rd St\,\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Sale,Book Signing,Speaker
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Fiordalisi-e1537365421624.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20170108T144000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20170108T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20161019T175050Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220306T164426Z
UID:5573-1483886400-1483891200@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Five Common Mistakes Writers Make
DESCRIPTION:From looking at thousands of manuscripts over the last decade\, Belea Keeney has identified the five most common mistakes writers make. \n1. Problems with point of view (POV). The writer must establish with the reader which character’s head the writer is in. The omniscient narrator is out of fashion with publishers. Gone with the Wind would not get published today; publishers want only one point of view per scene. \nKeeney provided handouts with examples. She explained that if Alice is describing the scene in a restaurant (we’re in Alice’s head)\, then Alice can’t say “a guy at the table became furious” because Alice does not know what is in that guy’s head. Instead\, Alice can say\, “The guy’s face turned red as fire.” Alice can see the red face\, and when she tells the reader this\, the reader can make the assumption that the guy is furious. \nAnother example illustrated how the writer can show different points of view for the same scene through well-chosen words and emphasis. Keeney’s two examples described Patty who was watching movies on a Valentine’s weekend. Members of the WAG audience gave their opinions of Patty\, saying that in the first version she was a “hopeless romantic\,” whereas in the second version of the same scene\, she had a “real attitude!” Words that may have made the difference? First scene: “sighing\, fabulous costumes\, envying\,  happy\, dance\, romantic\, perfect.” Second scene: “binge watching\, rolling her eyes\, damn people\, constantly\, a six-pack\, headache.”\n \nBooks Kenney recommends for learning POV: \nWorld War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War\, by Max Brooks; the main character interviews a large number of diverse people (doctor\, Buddhist monk\, etc.) \nHarmony: A Novel\, by Carolyn Parkhurst—has shifting points of view. The story is told from three perspectives. \nHorse Heaven\, by Jane Smiley. The horses become characters with human qualities\, so they have their own points of view. \n“Allison Lurie is also good writer\,” Keeney said. “She has complete mastery of POV\, pacing\, and a good voice. Others are Thomas Harris\, Stephen King . . . ” \n2. Too much narrative. “We live in our heads a lot\,” Keeney said\, “but there needs to be interaction going on. Give your character a friend and have them interact.” Keeney’s handout illustrated the difference: The TV news anchor in the studio tells you the news\, but the reporter on the scene shows you. \n3. Too much backstory. Be careful with information\, facts\, and flashbacks. Ask yourself if a particular fact is needed. Is the flashback relevant? Is it important the aunt died in a certain year? Avoid flashbacks within the first 25% of your book\, and if you use them later in the book\, be sure to transition clearly. \n4. Not understanding types of editing. Developmental editing looks at the big picture—at the structure\, the forest—to see how scenes fit together. Copy editing looks at grammar\, punctuation\, spelling—the leaves on the trees; some publishers call it line editing. Proofreading comes last\, technically\, in galleys. \nBefore sending your work to an editor\, make sure it’s as good as you can make it—work with it to improve it until you’re sick of it. And understand that voice-to-text systems such as Dragon don’t always get homonyms right (petal/peddle\, bridal/bridle). \nTrust your editor\, and don’t argue about whether the spelling should be tee-shirt or T-shirt. That’s just a house-style thing. Sometimes\, style questions come up that are not easy to answer. For example\, if Merge refers to an important concept and is capitalized\, should unmerge be capitalized? Each manuscript should have a style sheet showing the style preferred throughout. \nIf you feel strongly about some element on which you and the editor disagree\, discuss it.  For example\, the editor might wish to take out your comma splices\, but if they are important to the story\, discuss it. If you have problems with an editor you can’t resolve\, though\, find another editor. \nBooks recommended to answer editing questions: \nThe Chicago Manual of Style—the one used by most publishers \nThe Elements of Style\, by Strunk & White \nWoe Is I\, by Patricia T. O’Conner \n5. Not knowing if you want to be a writer. Ask yourself if you really want to be a writer or just tell one story (e.g.\, write your memoir). If you want to be a vet\, you go to school before you stick your arm up a cow’s butt. To be a good writer\, you’re going to have to read\, study\, and write\, write\, write. \nQ & A\nQ:  “How do you find a good editor?” \nA:  “Check the website of Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA).  It shows specialties—medical\, for example. I’m a member of EFA.” \nQ:  What do editors charge? \nA:  Some charge by the job\, some by the page\, some by the word. I charge 2 to 3 cents a word—or 4 to 5 cents a word if I’m working with a writer whose manuscript takes a lot more work. Most editors will edit a 3- to 5-page sample for you. I can tell in a page and a half if the person can write. By the way\, you need to know how to use Microsoft Word’s “Track Changes.” \nEditor’s Secret Bits of Advice \n \nTip 1: Start out by writing short. Don’t jump into a 400-page novel. Get rejections. Get published. “I wrote 35 short stories before writing a novel\,” Keeney said. “Don’t start with a dream sequence. And don’t start with the character waking up in the morning. Don’t have the character look in a mirror to analyze appearance.” (Upon hearing these don’ts\, an audience member commented that she’d have to toss out her entire manuscript and start over!) \nTip 2: Write what you know. Don’t get bogged down with research. While research is a good way to learn about a topic you’re interested in\, it can bog down your writing. If you must look something up\, make a note of it and keep writing. \n“If you want to write for magazines or journals\, study them before you submit. And try contests. This gives you a deadline for completing the manuscript. Look in Poets and Writers magazine—it lists contests in the back.” \nBooks on writing that Keeney recommends: \nSelf-editing for Fiction Writers\, by Renni Browne \nFiction First Aid\, by Raymond Obstfeld \nThe Weekend Novelist\, by Robert J. Ray \nManuscript Makeover\, by Elizabeth Lyon \nBookLife\, by Jeff VanderMeer \n\nBelea T. Keeney’s novel\, The Tiger Whisperer\, won the 2014 Cat Writers Association Best Book Award\, and she has sold three short story collections. Her stories have placed in the Writers in Paradise Short Story competition\, the 2010 Florida Review Editor’s Choice Award\, the 2007 Left Coast Writing Contest\, and the 2011 Saints & Sinners Literary Festival Short Story contest. \nKeeney works as an editor for Samhain Publishing\, JMS Books\, and for a variety of private freelance clients. She especially enjoys working on paranormal\, horror\, romances\, memoirs\, and most anything written about animals. Find out more about her editing services and books at www.beleatkeeney.com. \n\nKeeney’s talk was summarized by Susie Baxter and copy edited by Joan Carter. If you would like to summarize a future program\, email roz57@cox.net.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/five-common-editing-mistakes/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, Meeting Room A\, 3145 NW 43rd St\,\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Sale,Book Signing,Speaker
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20161113T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20161113T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213731
CREATED:20160904T145039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220306T164426Z
UID:5361-1479047400-1479052800@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:How Do You Prepare for a Successful “Grit Lit Book Launch”?
DESCRIPTION:Hartley Stevens\, author of the Tales of the Cable Counties Thriller series\, presented the nuts and bolts of launching his first two books\, Buck Wild and Absolute Bull. His April 2016 launch party\, attended by more than 300 people\, resulted in the sale of over 200 books. \nHis book-launch event was designed to introduce attendees to his Cable series and to engage them with the series’ themes—a fictional cohort of thirteen actual north central Florida counties where down-home residents “pool their resources to protect themselves from Florida’s panhandle Yankee tourists and the liberal sinners to the south.” \nStevens’ launch party goal was to help build his author platform and generate media interest beyond the event itself. After selecting a local brewery for the location\, he solicited local and regional businesses and groups to participate\, such as restaurants and musicians\, in exchange for offering exposure to their products and services. \nStevens discussed the ingredients for his large-scale launch—including advance publicity and invitations as well as the value of book cover visuals\, original music and games\, and book-related food and drink. He also offered concrete ideas for small-scale\, inexpensive book launch parties with suggestions such as book-related free or low cost locations—parks\, churches\, libraries\, and retail sites. \nHe uses and highly recommends the website www.fiverr.com  for a myriad of low-cost\, customized promotional materials. He also suggested three books—Story Grid by Shawn Coyne\, You Are A Writer by Jeff Goins\, and The War of Art by Steven Pressfield—as motivating resources for writers to approach their craft as they would any other job: show up\, work hard\, don’t give up. And prepare to launch! \nStevens’  talk was summarized by Jani N. Sherrard. \n 
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/plan-hold-book-launch-party/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, Meeting Room A\, 3145 NW 43rd St\,\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Sale,Book Signing,Speaker
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160910T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160910T163000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213732
CREATED:20160831T174320Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220306T164426Z
UID:5320-1473501600-1473525000@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Local Author Showcase
DESCRIPTION:The Alachua County Library invited WAG authors to participate in their “Local Author Showcase” held at the Headquarters Library in downtown Gainesville. WAG members Stephen Smitherman and Sandra Gail Lambert were among the five authors who spoke about their books during in the morning session\, 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM. WAG members Hugh E. (Eddie) Suggs\, Susie Baxter\, Terri Depue\, Sandra “Lee” Phillips\, and Richard Gartee made up most of the roster in the afternoon session\, 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. A book signing followed each session.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/local-author-showcase/
LOCATION:FL
CATEGORIES:Book Sale,Book Signing,Panel Discussion
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160519T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160519T200000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213732
CREATED:20160426T033115Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160627T030812Z
UID:4213-1463680800-1463688000@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Scribes of the Sunshine State
DESCRIPTION:The Matheson History Museum and the Writers Alliance of Gainesville (WAG) teamed up to present the second “Scribes of the Sunshine State” program. Four distinguished authors — Mary Wood Bridgman\, Jack E. Davis\, Kate Dupes Hawk\, and Darlene Marshall — shared how Florida inspired their writing. See their bios below. \nThis program was held in conjunction with the museum’s April – June\, 2016\, exhibition: “Liquid Gold: The Rise and Fall of Florida Citrus.” \nWAG furnished refreshments\, and a book signing followed the program. \nMary Wood Bridgman\, a lawyer and former corporate executive\, resides on the shores of Kingsley Lake in Clay County. Her professional writing has appeared in national\, regional\, and local publications\, from Chicken Soup for the Soul to The Bradford County Telegraph. Mary has won honors from Writer’s Digest\, the Florida Writers’ Association\, and the Sandhills Writers’ Conference. She has taught writing courses at the University of North Florida and has frequently contributed to public radio (WJCT 89.9 FM in Jacksonville). She currently contributes to Our Town magazine and serves as Managing Editor for Bacopa Literary Review\, published annually by WAG. \nJack E. Davis has taught history at the university level for nearly two decades. In 2002-2003\, he taught on a Fulbright award at the University of Jordan in Amman. He is now a professor of history at the University of Florida\, where his work focuses on U.S. environmental history. Davis prefers to write for an intellectually curious reader rather than an academic audience. His Race Against Time: Culture and Separation in Natchez Since 1930 won the Charles S. Sydnor Prize for the outstanding book in southern history for 2001. An Everglades Providence: Marjory Stoneman Douglas and the American Environmental Century\, Davis’s latest book\, received the gold medal for best nonfiction in the Florida Book Awards. Two Charlie Awards — first place for best feature writing and for best in-depth reporting — from the Florida Magazine Association recognized his 2011 article on the Gulf of Mexico\, the subject of his next book. \nKate Dupes Hawk wrote Florida and the Mariel Boatlift of 1980\, which won the 2015 Stetson Kennedy Award from the Florida Historical Society. The 1980 Mariel Boatlift was a profound episode in twentieth-century American history\, impacting not just Florida\, but the entire country. During the first twenty days of the boatlift\, with little support from the federal government\, the state of Florida coordinated and responded to the sudden arrival in Key West of more than thirty thousand Cuban refugees\, the first wave of immigrants who became known as “Marielitos.” Hawk has also developed three museums for the Florida National Guard Historical Foundation and was awarded the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service medal for her work on the Camp Blanding\, Florida\, Museum of World War II. \nDarlene Marshall writes award-winning stories of romance and adventure\, featuring pirates\, privateers\, smugglers and the occasional possum. She lives in North Florida and loves being a writer because her work wardrobe is shorts\, sandals and tropical shirts with flamingos. The best days are when she puts the convertible top down and cruises over to the beach to do research.The Pirate’s Secret Baby won the Award of Excellence from Colorado Romance Writers and the Readers’ Choice Award from New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA). Castaway Dreams won the Aspen Gold Reader’s Choice Award\, and Florida-set The Bride and The Buccaneer received the First Coast Romance Writers Beacon Award for best historical. Her books are available in print\, ebook format\, Kindle editions\, and also in German and Estonian editions.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/scribes-of-the-sunshine-state/
LOCATION:Matheson History Museum\, 513 E University Avenue\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Signing,Panel Discussion
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160515T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160515T160000
DTSTAMP:20260514T213732
CREATED:20160426T041320Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160627T110108Z
UID:4217-1463322600-1463328000@writersalliance.org
SUMMARY:Outlining the Book or Novel You Want to Write
DESCRIPTION:Three published authors\, Darlene Marshall\, Wendy Thornton\, and Larry Brasington\, discussed their outlining and writing styles. A book signing followed the program and Q&A. \n\nDarlene Marshall writes award-winning stories of romance and adventure\, featuring pirates\, privateers\, smugglers and the occasional possum. She lives in North Florida and loves being a writer because her work wardrobe is shorts\, sandals and tropical shirts with flamingos. The best days are when she puts the convertible top down and cruises over to the beach to do research. The Pirate’s Secret Baby won the Award of Excellence from Colorado Romance Writers and the Readers’ Choice Award from New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA). Castaway Dreams won the Aspen Gold Reader’s Choice Award\, and Florida-set The Bride and The Buccaneer received the First Coast Romance Writers Beacon Award for best historical. Her books are available in print\, ebook format\, Kindle editions\, and in German and Estonian editions. \n\nWendy Thornton is a freelance writer and editor who has been published inRiverteeth\, Epiphany\, MacGuffin and many other literary journals and books. Her memoir\, Dear Oprah Or How I Beat Cancer and Learned to Love Daytime TV\, was published in July 2013 and is available on Amazon and Kindle. Her mystery\,Bear-Trapped: In a Trashy Hollywood Novel\, was published in February 2015 and is available on Amazon and Kindle. She has won many awards for her work including most recently\, second prize in New York’s Literal Latte essay contest. She was nominated for a Pushcart Prize\, and has been Editor’s Pick on Salon.com multiple times. Her work is published in England\, Scotland\, Australia\, and India. \n\nLarry Brasington likes to write stories with lots of action and strong story line. He most enjoys his Shane Ireland\, Elf Detective series set in a world in which a quarter of the human race has mutated. He first published stories in 1972: “Temple in the Swamp” and “The Valley\,” an H. P. Lovecraft-like tale. Many of his short stories have been featured in www.powdermonkey.biz\, an online magazine for gamers. His latest book is Saving Sonya\, a fantasy novel. Among his other novels are Alien Madness\, Brandenburgers: Invasion of Russia (alternative history of World War 2)\, Nell’s Tavern (an alien invasion on a backwater planet)\, and Beyond the Wall (historical novel 169 AD); all are available on Amazon\, Barnes and Noble online\, or Smashwords.
URL:https://writersalliance.org/event/outlining-the-book-or-novel-you-want-to-write/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, Meeting Room A\, 3145 NW 43rd St\,\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Signing,Panel Discussion
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