Conference Program

Final  Program  

www.SCWG.org   The   Space   Coast   Writers’   Guild   is   a   network   of   writers   dedicated   to   the   same   goal:   helping   you   realize   your   writing   ambitions.   Whether   you   are   writing   the   Great   American   Novel   or   for   an   audience  of  one,  you  will  find  support  and  encouragement  here.     There   are   many   opportunities   for   involvement:   programs,   events,   first-­‐class   writers’   conference,   workshops,  monthly  meetings,  classes  and  critique  groups.  There’s  something  for  everyone!     We   are   an   organization   of   volunteers,   and   we   can   use   your   help.   You’ll   have   the   chance   to   work   alongside   other   writers   in   a   variety   of   ways   at   the   conference,   at   workshops,   and   in   meetings.   Take   advantage  of  the  wealth  of  knowledge  and  networking  opportunities  in  SCWG.     Space   Coast   Writers’   Guild,   Inc.,   is   a   nonprofit   organization   of   writers   representing   most   genres.   Located  in  Brevard  Country,  Florida,  since  1982,  SCWG  has  provided  activities  to  educate,  develop,   and  promote  writers  and  their  writing.  Dues  are  $40  every  January.  

   

Board  of  Directors  

  President:   Scott  Tilley  ([email protected])   Vice-­‐President:   Kit  Adams  ([email protected])   Secretary:   Treasurer:   Director-­‐at-­‐Large:   Director-­‐at-­‐Large:  

Lisa  De  Anda  ([email protected])   David  Polhill  ([email protected])   Bill  Allen  ([email protected])   Anne  Bonner  ([email protected])  

Director-­‐at-­‐Large:   Christine  Edwards  ([email protected])   Director-­‐at-­‐Large:   Dianna  Narciso  ([email protected])   Director-­‐at-­‐Large:   Andy  Vazquez  ([email protected])  

Welcome   It  is  our  great  pleasure  to  welcome  you  to  the  32nd  Annual  Cocoa  Beach  Writers’  Conference.   We   have   a   wonderful   program   ready   for   you.   There   are   agent   pitch   sessions,   manuscript   critiques,  keynote  presentations,  panel  sessions,  and  16  workshop  presentations.  There  is   also   a   book   fair   and   a   Friday   evening   social   featuring   a   fun   “Worst   Query   Letter   Ever”   contest  and  an  open  mic  opportunity  for  budding  poets  and  entertainers.       The  conference  would  not  be  possible  without  the  work  of  our  numerous  volunteers.  Many   people   have   put   in   very   long   hours   to   get   everything   ready   for   the   event.   There   are   too   many  to  mention  here  individually,  but  rest  assured  that  you  all  have  our  sincere  thanks.       The   Guild   is   thankful   for   everyone   who   has   agreed   to   talk   at   this   year’s   conference.   Agents,   editors,   publishers,   writers,   and   speakers   have   traveled   from   near   and   far   to   share   their   knowledge  and  experience  with  us.  Without  their  participation  our  program  would  be  very   slim  indeed.     Lastly,   we   want   to   thank   you,   the   conference   participant,   for   attending   this   year.   This   is   your  event,  and  we’re  confident  you’ll  find  the  experience  both  interesting  and  valuable.     We’re   all   here   in   Florida   this   weekend   because   we   love   the   art   and   the   business   of   writing.   Please  take  full  advantage  of  everything  the  conference  has  to  offer.  Mingle  with  people  you   don’t   know.   Grow   your   social   network.   Go   home   motivated   and   energized   to   take   your   writing  to  the  next  level.     Have  a  great  conference!             Scott  Tilley   Lisa  De  Anda   President  

2014  Conference  Chair  

SCWG  

SCWG  

Sponsors   The  Space  Coast  Writers’  Guild  gratefully  acknowledges  the  support  of  our  sponsors.            

Platinum      

                       

                 

Silver      

Speakers’  Bios   Kit   (Christopher   Robin)   Adams   has   been   writing   stories,   essays,   and   poems   since   1958.   His   writings   have   been   published   in   journals   from   England   to   Hawaii,  California  to  Florida.  His  poetry  readings  in  Missouri  and  Florida  have   been   well   received.   He   retired   from   teaching   English   in   Brevard   County   and   Florida  Virtual  School  after  being  Nationally  Board  Certified  and  a  mentor  with   the   National   Writing   Project.   He   is   Vice   President   of   the   Space   Coast   Writers’   Guild  and  President  of  Brevard  Scribblers.  His  first  collection  of  poetry,  Spanish   Cedar:  Preserving  the  ART  of  the  Cigar  Experience,  was  released  in  January  2014.  

 

Valerie   Allen   is   an   author,   psychologist,   and   speaker.   She   has   written   fiction,   non-­‐fiction,   and   children's   books.   Her   articles   on   parenting   and   mental   health   issues   have   been   published   nationally.   She   has   two   published   novels,  Sins   of   the   Father   and   Suffer   the   Little   Children.   A   third   novel,   Amazing   Grace,   is   forthcoming.   Valerie   is   a   long   time   member   of   the   Space   Coast   Writers’   Guild,   the   National   League   of   American   PEN   Women,   Authors   for   Authors,   and   is   currently  on  the  Board  of  Directors  for  the  Creative  Arts  Foundation  of  Brevard.   Dr.   Allen   is   in   private   practice   in   Melbourne   and   specializes   in   working   with   children  with  learning  and/or  behavioral  difficulties.     Bill  Allen  writes  humorous  fiction  for  kids  age  9  to  90.  His  self-­‐published  Greg   Hart  trilogy  was  picked  up  by  Bell  Bridge  Books  and  released  as  the  Journals  of   Myrth   between   2011   and   2012.   His   most   recent   release   is   Orson   Buggy's   Big   Fang   Theory,   the   third   volume   in   his   newest   series,   The   Bumpy   Daze   of   Orson   Buggy.   Mary  Dall  is  a  freelance  writer,  illustrator  and  artist.  A  former  kindergarten  and   elementary   school   teacher,   she   now   substitutes   in   Seminole   County.   Mary's   newest   creations   include   Happy   Birthday,   Florida!   (1513-­‐2013),   a   book   of   poetry  celebrating  Florida's  500th  anniversary,  and  When  Magic  Helps  Us  Steer,  a   zany,   fun   poetry   book   intended   for   the   3rd   grade   to   middle-­‐school   market.   Mary   is  a  member  of  National  League  of  American  Pen  Women,  Space  Coast  Writers’   Guild,   Central   Florida   Watercolor   Society,   Society   of   Children’s   Book   Writers   and  Illustrators  (Writer/Illustrator),  Central  Florida  Watercolor  Society,  and  the   Florida  Reading  Association.   Jaimie  Engle  is  an  award-­‐winning  young  adult  author  from  Melbourne.  Before   releasing  her  debut  middle  grade  novel  Clifton  Chase  and  the  Arrow  of  Light,  she   ran   a   body   shop,   modeled   bikinis,   danced   in   the   Aloha   Bowl   halftime   show,   and   managed  a  hip-­‐hop  band.  Her  young  adult  novella  placed  honorable  mentions  in   the  2013  L.  Ron  Hubbard’s  Writer’s  of  the  Future  contest  and  she  placed  second   in   the   2012   Space   Coast   Writers’   Guild   short   story   competition.   She   offers   a   manuscript   critique   service   to   aspiring   writers,   volunteers   at   various   elementary   schools   writing   programs,   and   teaches   writing   skills   to   several   homeschool  groups  in  the  county.  Learn  more  at  www.jaimiengle.com.  

 

 

 

 

Holly  Fox  Vellekoop  is  a  poet  and  the  published  author  of  books  in  the  genres   of   murder   mysteries,   science   fiction,   and   nonfiction.   Her   column   “Dear   Gramma”   is   published   in   the   Senior   Life   Newspaper   (FL)   and   the   Senior   Life   section   of   the   Daily   Item   (PA).   Holly   is   a   retired   Penn   State   University   Clinical   Instructor  in  Psychiatric  and  Mental  Health  Nursing.  Visit  Holly  at  her  website:   www.hollyfoxvellekoop.com  

 

Marshall  Frank  is  a  retired  police  captain  from  Miami-­‐Dade,  Florida  where  he   served  sixteen  of  his  thirty  years  in  law  enforcement  investigating  murders  or   commanding   those   who   did.   In   1980,   he   was   called   to   the   U.S.   Congress   to   present  testimony  regarding  violent  crime  in  America.  Since  retiring,  Frank  has   authored   five   novels   and   three   books   of   non-­‐fiction,   plus   over   300   editorial   articles  published  in  various  newspapers  and  magazines.   Pamela  Harty  joined  The  Knight  Agency  in  the  summer  of  2000,  and  has  placed   hundreds   of   titles   in   a   broad   range   of   categories,   including   health,   parenting,   southern   history,   African-­‐American   interest,   business,   motivation,   romance,   young   adult,   children’s,   middle   grade,   and   Christian   living.   She   brings   to   the   agency   a   successful   sales   background   combined   with   a   genuine   love   of   books.   Pamela   serves   as   The   Knight   Agency’s   Vice   President   of   Sales,   and   belongs   to   the  Association  of  Authors’  Representatives  and  Romance  Writers  of  America.    

 

 

Saritza   Hernandez   has   always   had   a   passion   for   the   written   word.   She   represents   the   Corvisiero   Literary   Agency   in   NYC.   She   is   an   ePub   Agent   dedicated   to   helping   authors   obtain   publishing   contracts   in   both   digital   and   print   models   and   help   wade   through   the   waters   of   the   changing   publishing   landscape.  Her  agency  is  currently  looking  for  fiction  and  non-­‐fiction  titles  with   strong  characters  and  established  platforms.    

 

Linda  Jump  is  a  retired  reporter-­‐photographer.  She  has  published  four  books,   dozens  of  magazine  and  thousands  of  newspaper  articles  and  photographs.  She   facilitates   “Writing   Your   Life”   classes   for   the   Shepherd's   Center   of   South   Brevard,  in  residential  facilities,  churches  and  libraries.  Her  career  spans  three   decades  writing  for  newspapers  and  television  stations  in  two  states,  including   print   and   online   stories   for   USA   Today   and   Florida   Today.   She   has   an   M.A.   degree  in  Culture  and  Policy  Studies  from  Empire  State  College.     Steve   Kelley   is   a   political   cartoonist   and   humorist.   He   joined   The   Times-­‐ Picayune  in  2002  after  spending  the  first  two  decades  of  his  career  in  San  Diego.   Steve   produces   three   political   cartoons   a   week   for   Creators   Syndicate,   which   distributes  them  to  more  than  100  newspapers  and  Internet  news  sites.  Kelley   joined   commentator   Juan   Williams   and   cartoonist   Roz   Chast   as   a   2008   Montgomery   Fellow   in   residence   at   Dartmouth   College.   With   cartoonist   Jeff   Parker,   Kelley   launched   the   comic   strip   “Dustin”   in   2010.   Syndicated   by   King   Features   to   325   newspapers,   the   strip   won   The   National   Cartoonist   Society’s   “Best  Newspaper  Comic  Strip”  award  in  2011.  Kelley  also  writes  and  performs   comedy,  a  pastime  that  led  him  to  seven  appearances  on  The  Tonight  Show,  both   with  Johnny  Carson  and  Jay  Leno.  

 

 

Mary  Leonard  is  a  poet,  humorist,  teacher,  and  journalist.  A  longtime  Associate   of   the   Institute   for   Writing   and   Thinking   at   Bard   College,   she   has   published   widely  and  has  taught  in  diverse  settings  ranging  from  high  school  classrooms   to  faculty  seminars  to  intimate  writing-­‐as  meditation  workshops.  

  Paul   Maluccio   was   born   and   raised   in   New   York   State.   He   is   a   graduate   of   Villanova   University.   He   has   taught   Junior   High   School,   served   as   a   marketing   VP  for  Time/Life,  worked  in  advertising  for  a  daily  newspaper  in  New  York,  and   has  a  broad  range  of  experience  in  the  printing  industry.  In  1988  he  established   a  small  independent  publishing  company  and  published  a  series  of  music  books.   Currently  he  is  President  and  CEO  of  Blue  Note  Publications,  Inc.  and  its  imprint   Blue  Note  Books  (www.bluenotebooks.com).  The  company  has  been  producing   an  eclectic  variety  of  books  for  over  25  years.     Patricia  McDonough  is  an  in-­‐depth  copyeditor  who  custom  polishes  customer   manuscripts   to   become   publisher-­‐ready   works.   Seven   of   the   titles   she   edited   on   have   been   contenders   for   the   Pulitzer   Prize.   Her   book   Without   Keys,   a   treatise   on   homelessness,   was   a   semi-­‐finalist   for   a   Pulitzer   in   the   biography-­‐ autobiography   category.   It   received   five   other   awards.     In   1996,   she   created   Terra  Sancta  Press,  which  has  published  a  variety  of  books  and  e-­‐books,  ranging   from   novels,   memoirs,   a   children's   book   on   egrets,   creative   non-­‐fiction,   biographies,  and  writing  guides.  Visit  her  at  www.terrasanctapress.com.  

 

 

Stephen   Blake   Mettee   is   the   founder   of   Quill   Driver   Books   and   The   Write   Thought.   During   his   fifteen   years   at   the   helm   of   Quill   Driver   Books,   Mettee   shepherded  two  titles  into  Book-­‐of-­‐the-­‐Month  Club  selections  and  one  onto  the   New  York  Times  bestseller  list.  Foreign  rights  to  QDB  titles  have  been  sold  in  a   score   of   countries.   One   title   was   cited   in   a   Supreme   Court   decision.   Mettee   served   as   chair   of   the   board   of   directors   of   The   Independent   Book   Publisher’s   Association   the   nation’s   largest   book   publishing   association   and   the   leading   advocate   for   independent   presses   for   two   years.   He   regularly   presents   on   writing   and   publishing   nationally   and   internationally.   He   is   currently   working   on  two  diet  books  as  well  as  a  novel  set  in  the  first  century.   Dean  Naegel  uses  G.  Clinton  Styles  as  a  pseudonym  and  business  name.  He  is  a   graduate   of   Full   Sail   University   with   a   Bachelor’s   Degree   in   Creative   Writing   for   the   Entertainment   Industry.   He   has   written   a   science   fiction   novel,   a   Sword   &   Sorcery  trilogy,  two  historical  fiction  novels,  and  a  YA  Adventure  novel.  In  2009,   he  published  a  collection  of  short  stories  called  Nautical  Nights  &  Still  Breezes;   Tales  from  the  Deck  of  the  Crystal  Anne.  He  is  a  Life  Member  of  The  Space  Coast   Writers’   Guild,   having   served   on   their   Board   of   Directors   for   9   years.   He   is   on   the  Board  of  Directors  and  is  a  founding  member  of  Screenwriters  of  Brevard.  

 

 

Tauhida   Parveen   is   an   independent   consultant   and   trainer   working   in   software   testing   and   cloud   computing.   She’s   also   the   Program   Director   for   Software  Engineering  at  Keiser  University,  a  personal  fitness  and  group  exercise   trainer,   a   Realtor®   with   Keller   Williams   Realty   Brevard,   and   a   published   author.   She   wrote   the   “Exercise   for   Busy   People”   column   for   Florida   Today.   Her   most   recent   book   is   Software   Testing   in   the   Cloud:   Perspectives   on   an   Emerging   Discipline  (IGI  Global,  2012).   Beth   Phelan   joined   the   Bent   Agency   in   September   2013   after   holding   positions   at   the   Howard   Morhaim   Literary   Agency   and   Waxman   Leavell   Literary.   She   is   actively  building  her  client  list  and  is  looking  for  complex  fiction  that  pulls  you   in  immediately,  characters  that  you  wish  were  your  real  friends,  and  plot  lines   that  drag  you  away  from  reality  to  a  world  you  never  want  to  leave.  Her  favorite   stories  are  told  with  humor  and  sprinkled  with  surprises.  

 

 

Bob   Stover   is   the   Editor-­‐in-­‐Chief   at   Florida   Today.   During   his   tenure   the   organization   has   expanded   beyond   its   daily   newspaper   roots   to   become   a   multimedia   organization   that   is   an   industry   leader   in   delivering   news   on   digital   platforms   and   in   video   production.   Florida   Today   has   won   numerous   journalism   awards   for   its   enterprise   work   on   space,   the   environment   and   education   and   for   its   video   and   digital   work.   Stover   serves   on   the   EFSC   Entrepreneur   Lecture   Committee   and   the   Reaching   Out   Holiday   Board.   He   has   previously   served   on   Associated   Press   innovation   committee   and   was   a   guest   lecturer   at   Syracuse   University.   He   has   a   Masters   degree   in   journalism   and   urban  studies  from  the  University  of  Maryland.   Scott   Tilley   is   President   of   the   Space   Coast   Writers’   Guild.   His   day   job   is   Professor   of   Software   Engineering   in   the   Department   of   Computer   Sciences   at   the  Florida  Institute  of  Technology,  where  he  is  also  a  Professor  of  Information   Systems   in   the   College   of   Business,   and   an   Associate   Member   of   the   Harris   Institute   for   Assured   Information.   He   is   a   Visiting   Scientist   at   Carnegie   Mellon   University’s   Software   Engineering   Institute.   He   is   an   ACM   Distinguished   Lecturer.   He   writes   the   weekly   “Technology   Today”   column   for   the   Florida   Today   newspaper.   His   most   recent   book   is   Software   Testing   in   the   Cloud:   Migration  and  Execution  (Springer,  2012).   Lois   Winston   is   an   award-­‐winning   author   of   romance,   romantic   suspense,   humorous  women’s  fiction,  and  mystery.  She’s  also  an  award-­‐winning  designer   of   needlework   and   crafts   projects.   The   Ashley   Grayson   Literary   Agency   (San   Pedro,   CA)   is   a   full-­‐service   agency   for   authors   of   both   fiction   and   non-­‐fiction,   more   interested   in   growing   authors’   careers   than   just   selling   books.   Lois   handles   women’s   fiction,   chick   lit,   mystery,   and   romance.   Recent   sales   have   been   to   Ace,   St.   Martin’s,   Pocket,   Viking   Children’s   Books,   Knopf,   MacMillan,   Harper  Collins,  and  Simon  &  Schuster.  

 

 

 

2014  Conference  Program     Saturday,  January  25   Time  

Activity  

7:30am -

8:30am

Registration  [Dolphin  Annex]  

8:30am –

9:00am

Welcome  (Chairs:  Scott  Tilley  &  Lisa  De  Anda)  [Dolphin]  

9:00am - 11:15am

Four  parallel  sessions  [Coffee  Break:  10:00am  –  10:15am,  Manatee  Annex]   Session  1:  Poetry  (Chair:  Kit  Adams)  [Egret]   • “Experimental  Poetry  Workshop,”  Mary  Leonard   Session  2:  Fiction  (Chair:  Dianna  Narciso)  [Manatee  D]   • “Hero’s  Journey,”  Stephen  Mettee   Session  3:  Digital  &  Self  Publishing  (Chair:  Bill  Allen)  [Flamingo]   • “Digital  Publishing,”  Saritza  Hernandez  (9:00am  –  10:00am)   • “Mega  Marketing  with  Mini  Money,”  Valerie  Allen  (10:15am  –  11:15am)   Session  4:  Working  with  Agents  (Chair:  Christine  Edwards)  [Heron]   • “Agents  in  the  Modern  Publishing  World,”  Pamela  Harty  (9:00am  –  10:00am)   • Lois  Winston  (10:15am  –  11:15am)  

11:15am – 12:15pm

Lunch  [Dolphin]  

12:15pm –

Keynote  1  (Chair:  Scott  Tilley)  [Dolphin]   Bob  Stover,  Editor-­‐in-­‐Chief,  Florida  Today:  “Digital  Strategies  for  Modern  Publishing”  

1:15pm

Argo  Award  (Chair:  Kit  Adams)   1:15pm –

2:00pm

Book  Fair  [Manatee  A]  

2:00pm -

3:00pm

Four  parallel  sessions     Session  5:  Memoirs  (Chair:  Anne  Bonner)  [Egret]   • Stephen  Mettee     Session  6:  Interviewing  Techniques  (Chair:  Andy  Vazquez)  [Flamingo]   • Holly  Fox  Vellekoop   Session  7:  Crime  (Chair:  David  Polhill)  [Heron]   • “Writing  Cops  and  Crime,”  Marshall  Frank   Session  8:  Working  with  Editors  (Chair:  Lisa  De  Anda)  [Manatee  D]   • “Editing  Rules  and  Tools  to  Polish  Your  Manuscript,”  Pat  McDonough  

3:00pm –

3:15pm

Coffee  Break  [Manatee  Annex]  

3:15pm –

4:15pm

Panel  1:  “So  You  Think  You  Can  Write?”  (Chair:  Lisa  De  Anda)  [Dolphin]  

4:15pm –

5:00pm

Panel  2:  Agent  Q&A  (Chair:  Scott  Tilley)  [Dolphin]  

2014  Conference  Program    

Sunday,  January  26  

Time  

Activity  

7:30am -

8:30am

Registration  [Dolphin  Annex]  

8:30am –

9:00am

Writers’  Calisthenics,  Tauhida  Parveen  [Manatee  D]  

9:00am - 11:15am

Four  parallel  sessions  [Coffee  Break:  10:00am  –  10:15am,  Manatee  Annex]   Session  9:  Digital  &  Self  Publishing  (Chair:  Scott  Tilley)  [Egret]   • “Self-­‐Publishing  Spanish  Cedar:  Lessons  Learned,”   Kit  Adams  &  Paul  Maluccio  (9:00am  –  10:00am)   • “Publishing  Your  E-­‐Book  on  the  Kindle,”  Scott  Tilley  (10:15am  –  11:15am)   Session  10:  Fiction  (Chair:  Bill  Allen)  [Manatee  D]   • “Hero’s  Journey,”  Stephen  Mettee   Session  11:  Query  Letters  (Chair:  Dianna  Narciso)  [Heron]   • “It's  All  in  the  Hook,”  Saritza  Hernandez  (9:00am  –  10:00am)   • Beth  Phelan  (10:15am  –  11:15am)   Session  12:  Children’s  Stories  (Chair:  Christine  Edwards)  [Flamingo]   • “Writing  for  Children,”  Jaimie  Engle  (9:00am  –  10:00am)   • “Your  Niche  and  Fill  It!”  Mary  Dall  (10:15am  –  11:15am)  

11:15am – 12:15pm

Lunch  [Dolphin]  

12:15pm –

1:15pm

Keynote  2  (Chair:  Scott  Tilley)  [Dolphin]   Steve  Kelley,  Columnist,  syndicated  political  cartoonist,  and  humorist:   “Thoughts  on  Politics  and  Stuff  People  Actually  Care  About”  

1:15pm –

2:00pm

Book  Fair  [Manatee  A]  

2:00pm -

3:00pm

Four  parallel  sessions     Session  13:  Humor  (Chair:  David  Polhill)  [Egret]   • “Taking  Humor  Seriously,”  Bill  Allen   Session  14:  Memoirs  (Chair:  Tauhida  Parveen)  [Flamingo]   • “Writing  Your  Life,”  Linda  Jump   Session  15:  Screenwriting  (Chair:  Andy  Vazquez)  [Heron]   • “Screenwriting:  The  Common  Goals,”  Dean  Naegel   Session  16:  Erotica  (Chair:  Lisa  De  Anda)  [Manatee  D]   • Saritza  Hernandez  

3:00pm –

3:15pm

Coffee  Break  [Manatee  Annex]  

3:15pm –

4:15pm

Panel  3:  Community  Involvement  (Chair:  Scott  Tilley)  [Dolphin]   Kit  Adams  (Brevard  Scribblers),  John  Lavelle,  Melissa  Crofton,  Natilie  Dorfeld,  and   Debbie  Lelekis  (FIT  Creative  Writing  Institute),  Dean  Naegel  (Screenwriters  of   Brevard),  Mia  Crews  and  Karlene  Conroy  (Florida  Writers’  Association  -­‐  Melbourne)  

4:15pm –

5:00pm

Closing  (Chairs:  Scott  Tilley  &  Lisa  De  Anda)  [Dolphin]