Elaine Faber

Author

Writing craft Do and Don’ts and examples of how NOT to write a short story.

Attendees will learn about:

• Three elements of the perfect scene.
• Hands on opportunity to write a good scene.
• A list of do’s and don’ts on writing craft.
• A fun exercise identifying how NOT to write a short story.
• Exploring good dialogue techniques

Elaine has published ten mystery novels and an anthology of ‘cat’ stories. Her short stories appear in 22 anthologies. A member of Sisters in Crime, Northern CA Publishers and Authors, and Elk Grove Writer’s Guild, Elaine has led critique groups and enjoys mentoring new writers. She lives in Elk Grove with her husband and two cats.

Eileen Hook

Author

Why write a biography of an ordinary person? How do Eliza’s experiences resonate with modern readers?

Attendees will learn about:

• Who was Eliza Gregson?
• Key sources for writing a biography
• Verify the facts, memories can be fuzzy
• Writing in first person vs third person makes the story real

Eileen Hook has a BS degree in Interpretation from CSU, Sacramento. She has been actively researching and portraying California pioneer women since 1980 at Sutter’s Fort and Marshall Gold Discovery Park. Her 40-year study of Eliza Gregson’s life has taken her from England to pre gold rush California.

Eileen Hook – Friend of Sutter Fort

Judith Starkston

Author

Pulling Your Reader in Close, Mastering Deep Point of View

Attendees will learn about:

• How to recognize what deep point of view is and why you want it
• How to fix common ways we distance our readers
• How to add details that close the distance
• How to get physical without clichés
• How to put deep point of view into your setting

Judith Starkston has spent too much time exploring the remains of the ancient worlds of the Greeks and Hittites. Early on she went so far as to get degrees in Classics from the University of California, Santa Cruz and Cornell. She loves myths and telling stories. This has gotten more and more out of hand. Her solution is her brand: Fantasy and Magic in a Bronze Age World. Hand of Fire was a semi-finalist for the M.M. Bennett’s Award for Historical Fiction. Priestess of Ishana won the San Diego State University Conference Choice Award. Judith is represented by Richard Curtis.

For more information, visit www.judithstarkston.com/

Claire Booth

Crime Fiction Author and Journalist

Take the elements of a good mystery—like pacing, dialogue, and character development—and transfer them to any genre of fiction.

Attendees will learn about:

• How to use the three-act structure to monitor your novel’s pacing
• How to avoid the dreaded “info dump”
• How to use clues in the right places
• How to write dialogue that doesn’t give things away
• How to keep the suspense going

Claire Booth, speaking on “Making a Good Mystery: Pacing, Clues & Character.”

Claire Booth is a former journalist who has reported on high-profile stories all over the country, including that of a California cult leader who became the subject of her nonfiction book The False Prophet. She now writes the Sheriff Hank Worth mystery series. Her latest is Dangerous Consequences. Find out more at www.clairebooth.com.