Cheryl Stapp

Award winning nonfiction author, California history

The pros & cons of using a pen name
…plus, the advantages of creative specialization

Attendees will learn about:

• Why use a pen name instead of using your own
• Copyright rules & legal regulations re pen names
• Best-selling authors who do/do not have pen names /specialize
• Having a specialization (niche) is a good thing
• How to find your own niche

Cheryl Stapp is an award-winning writer-historian who has published six nonfiction books on California’s vibrant past; two published by the prestigious History Press. She served as 1st VP-Programs, CWC-Sacramento, for two presidents; and facilitated the Writer’s Network breakfast meetings for three years. Website & weekly blog devoted to California history at www.cherylannestapp.com/  “California’s Olden Golden Days.”

Chris Hennessy

Independent Filmmaker, TV Producer, Author, Speaker

Attendees will learn how to:

• incorporate inexpensive, quality filmmaking/video as a way to improve your writing projects
• convert your book into a feature film
• use film/video to get a book deal with a traditional publisher
• employ unique, simple social-media marketing tips to get known
• pre-promote your book during writing to create buzz (e.g., get published in newspaper, misc. publications, TV news appearances)
• motivate yourself to create/write/ perform at your best!

Chris Hennessy is currently writing a memoir book, Touched by Hannah –  A man with cancer (Hennessy). His 1 lb. newborn Hannah.  And their fight for life.

Since 2019 Chris has had 6 articles published in the Davis Enterprise and Daily Democrat newspapers. He has had 4 award winning films since Oct 2021. His 2000 word memoir, ‘This is What I just Went Through’ will be published early in 2023. And he is currently writing a Yolo YoYo’s feature film for the likes of Netflix/Amazon. 

Scott and Tish Davidson

Authors

We’ve heard over and over that you must catch the attention of busy agents or editors in the first few pages of your work. Whether you are sending your writing to a publisher, agent, editor, or contest, the first five pages are critical to keeping your audience reading. Tish and Scott Davidson experienced the importance and power of the first five pages when they judged over 160 books in a contest for small press and independently published books. The entries ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. In this talk the Davidsons will focus on the ridiculous. And the mistakes writers made to get their books rejected early. There will be examples, lots of examples. Some are obvious. Others are subtle. All are fatal. By looking critically at the work of others, you will get a good idea of  how to write to get your book rejected in the first five pages. And then you can go out and do the opposite!

Attendees will learn common problems that get a writer rejected. Areas covered will include:

• information dumps/too much background too soon
• introducing too many characters (and confusing character names)
• solitary character thinking/dreaming openings/common tropes
• action that continues too long without adequate supporting details of character, place time (like a prolonged battle)
• excessive long, overly descriptive writing or excessive use of dialect
• failure to set a genre expectation for the reader.

The Davidsons are voracious readers and writers. Tish Davidson just signed a contract for her 17^th  traditionally published book. She writes on medical issues and history for audiences ranging from elementary school to adult. Her new book for teens, Hormones: Your Questions Answered, (ABC-CLIO, an imprint of Bloomsbury) will be released this July. For the past eight years, she has judged book contests in categories ranging from health and wellness to action-adventure to historical fiction.

Scott Davidson writes, reads, and collects science fiction. He has had a column, “The Last Byte,” in IEEE Design & Test for over 25 years, been on the editorial board of two journals, and has judged science fiction books for an independent book contest.

Look for your invitation containing the Zoom link via email.

Susy Flory

New York Times bestselling author and co-author

Beginnings and endings are crucial for any book, and especially for newer writers, as most of us don’t have an established audience with a first book. Learn 7 ways to write an unforgettable beginning or a satisfying ending for your fiction or nonfiction book.

• Understand the vital importance of beginnings and endings
• Discover the secret to crafting an engaging vs a ho-hum beginning
• Learn 7 creative ways to write an unforgettable beginning
• Learn 7 creative ways to write a satisfying ending
• Dozens of examples for both beginnings and endings in the handout

Susy Flory is the New York Times bestselling author or co-author of sixteen books. She directs West Coast Christian Writers, is founder of Everything Memoir, and is graduating with an MA in New Testament from Northern Seminary this June. Her book, The Unbreakable Boy, has been adapted for the screen and will release in 2022, starring Patricia Heaton and Zachary Levi. Her most recent book. Sanctuary (Tyndale), co-authored with Patrick Barrett, is the true story of an Irish village, a man who lost his way, and the rescue donkeys that led him home, and launched March 15, 2022. More info here (plus a free excerpt of both the book and the audiobook): https://www.tyndale.com/p/sanctuary/9781496445018

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