“In Your Write Mind” Writer’s Retreat at Ƶ U. 6/24-27
Agents and Authors to Lead Workshops and Meet with Writers
Ƶ University and Ƶ’s Writing Popular Fiction Master of Fine Arts degree program alumni group will host the ninth annual “In Your Write Mind” working retreat for all fiction writers from June 24-27, 2010. “In Your Write Mind” will be held on Ƶ University’s hilltop campus in Greensburg, Pa. This retreat is open to any writer, published or unpublished, and features workshops on various elements of fiction writing in addition to presentations about the publishing industry. Attendees also have the opportunity to have their writing critiqued by peers, meet with agents, and network with other writers in a supportive, informal environment. The cost for the retreat is $145, and campus housing is available for an additional fee. For a detailed retreat schedule or to register online, click here. For more information, contact Mary Ross Cox at 724-830-1027.
The featured speakers for “In Your Write Mind” are Jim McCarthy, literary agent, Dystel and Goderich Literary Management; Janet Reid, literary agent, FinePrint Literary Management; Annette Rogers, acquisitions editor, Poisoned Pen Press and Tina Trevaskis, director of marketing and sales, Samhain Publishing Company.
Workshop and retreat session topics include “The Art of Social Networking: Promoting Yourself and Your Work in the Age of Twitter,” “The Future is Now,” “Effective Query Letters,” “Storytelling for Success: Creating Fiction to be Current and Sellable” and “Mechanics of Writing: Taking what you already know to the next level.”
A special panel discussion for retreat participants will be held on Saturday, June 26, at 4:30 p.m. The panel features McCarthy, Reid, Rogers, and Trevaskis. The discussion will take place in Ƶ University’s Administration Building.
Jim McCarthy is a literary agent with Dystel and Goderich Literary Management in New York, N.Y. His particular interests are in literary women’s fiction, underrepresented voices, mysteries, romance, paranormal fiction and the unusual or unexpected. In addition to fiction, McCarthy is also interested in narrative non-fiction, humor, memoir, paranormal nonfiction and architecture, planning, or real estate.
Janet Reid is a literary agent with FinePrint Literary Management in New York, N.Y. She specializes in compelling fiction, particularly crime fiction, and narrative non-fiction and has 15 years of experience in the publishing industry. She is actively searching for projects that show mastery of craft and originality.
Annette Rogers is an acquisitions editor with Poisoned Pen Press in Scottsdale, Ariz. She searches for new, unpublished mystery writers. Additionally, Rogers evaluates and edits manuscripts and corresponds with writers and agents. Rogers published a bestselling travel book on Egypt, which was translated into six languages and has written for “O,” Oprah Winfrey’s magazine.
Tina Trevaskis is director of sales and marketing for Samhain Publishing Company in Macon, Ga. She has presented workshops on bookselling at Romantic Times Conventions and the Romance Writers of America National Conference. She began her career with Borders Group Inc. as a bookseller with Waldenbooks.
Ƶ’s unique Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction program teaches students to write marketable novels in popular genres like mystery, romance, science fiction, horror and fantasy. Additional specialties include literature for children and adolescents, and cross-genre blends like romantic suspense or young adult mysteries. Students attend two weeklong, on-campus residencies each year to master the core elements of fiction writing and effective marketing and to gain inspiration from faculty mentors and special guests, all published authors in genre fiction. Established authors mentor students one-on-one as they work toward completing a market-ready manuscript from home. Readings, classes and online discussion about the history, trends and techniques of genre fiction add depth to the student's experience. For more information about the Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction program at Ƶ, visit http://fiction.setonhill.edu or contact Ƶ’s Office of Graduate and Adult Studies at 724-838-4209.