Cape Cod Writers Center

FEBRUARY’S WRITERS’ WORK

by web editor on February 22, 2012

Monday, February 27th, beginning at 6 is Writers’ Work at The Hearth ‘n Kettle on Route 18 in Weymouth. Our guest speaker this month is The Sinister Minister herself: Rev. Judy Campbell. She writes, “Why does a Minister write Mysteries…the short answer is because I can…the more interesting answer is what I’ll be talking about on the evening of Feb. 27. Come and find out why I do what I do, how I do what I do, and pick up some ‘professional tricks of the trade’ along the way.” Rev. Judy Campbell is an engaging and entertaining speaker. She is the author of the popular and successful Olympia Brown, Mission mysteries–with four finished and a fifth in progress. Cost for the evening is $20 and includes salad, dinner, non-alcoholic beverages, the speaker, a q&a session, a brag period, time to socialize and connect with others, and concludes around 9. Reservations are required via email at RiverhavenBooks@verizon.net or phone: 781-447-0167. Please pay by cash or check at check-in. All authors are welcome to bring and sell their books at this event on our table; there is no fee for this service.

Best wishes,
Stephanie Blackman,
Riverhaven Books
781-447-0167

Announcing Our Digital Books and E-Publishing Workshop on March 3, 2012

by Artistic Director on February 22, 2012

The hottest, quickest and most profitable way to bring your work to thousands of readers today is through e-publishing.

If you’d like to learn how to get your book, short story, or memoir published on today’s electronic bookstores – Amazon’s Kindle, The Nook, the SONY Reader, Apple , Kobo and other e-readers – be sure to sign up for the CCWC’s first Digital Workshop on E-Publishing.

Scheduled for Saturday, March 3 from 9:30-3:00 p.m. at the Cape Codder Resort on Route 132 in Hyannis, the workshop features experts who will overview of the field, explain how books and manuscripts are converted into digital form for e-readers, and provide practical information about how you can become a successful e-publisher of your own work.

The day begins with a complimentary Continental breakfast from 9-9:30 a.m. followed by a presentation by Digital Scanning Inc., established in Scituate in 1993. Company representatives, Brian Shillue, Chip Musson and Russell Shepherd will walk workshop participants through the background of e-publishing and the steps you’ll need to take to convert your manuscripts into digital files ready for e-publications. Following their presentations, and a question and answer period, we’ll break for lunch at 12:30 p.m.

The afternoon session of the workshop begins at 1:30 with a presentation by Hillary Rettig, an author, indie publisher and teacher at Boston’s Grub Street writing school. She will discuss the latest trends in the indie publishing field-– a dynamic “wild west” landscape where technologies and business models are constantly changing-– and outline the most common strategies for self-publishing ebooks and paper books. During her presentation, Hillary will delve into the specifics of e- and paper publishing, as well as providing strategies and information for marketing and selling your book. (Hillary’s latest book, The 7 Secret of the Prolific:The Definitive Guide to Overcoming Procrastination, Perfectionism and Writers Block will also be on sale that day.)

The fee for the CCWC’s day-long workshop is $60.00 for member, $70.00 for non-members. Please register by Monday, February 27 by emailing at writers@capecodwriterscenter.org with the heading “ E-Publishing” or by calling the office at (508) 420-0200.

Looking forward to seeing you on March 3^rd – and soon afterwards seeing your work on electronic bookstores!

Nancy Rubin Stuart’s Column ” Booked on Cape Cod”

by Artistic Director on February 22, 2012

Is i the salt air? The bucolic scenery? The tranquility of our pennisula? Why does the Cape attract so many writers and authors?

Find out by reading CCWC’s Executive Director and Barnstable Patriot columnist, Nancy Rubin Stuart’s ” Booked on Cape Cod.”

Here’s the link: http://www.barnstablepatriot.com/home2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27922&Itemid=112

Success is no mystery — Sheila Connolly’s Message to CCWC Writers Night Out, February 15, 2012

by Artistic Director on February 17, 2012

“Write what you know” may sound like a platitude to aspiring authors but its good advice as mystery writer Sheila Connolly explained to CCWC members at Uno’s Chicago Grill in Hyannis on Wednesday night, February 15.

After drinks and dinner, Sheila spoke about how her earlier careers — among them banking and a curatorship of a historical archive — provided inspiration for her novels. Writing under the name Sarah Atwell, Sheila published her first book Through a Glass Deadly in 2008 with Berkley Prime Crime for which she received an Agatha Award for Best First Novel.

Under her own name, Sheila then published five novels in Berkeley Prime Crime’s Orchard Mystery series. A sixth will appear in August 2012 entitled Sour Apples. In 2013 she plans to publish a new series with Berkley Prime Crime this time set in Ireland.

Her message to CCWC members?

“Never give up. Just keep writing for the longer you work at it, the better a writer you’ll become.”

Landscape Designer/Writer Thomas Mickey Receives Book Contract

by web editor on February 10, 2012

Thomas Mickey, from Quincy, just received a book contract from SUNY Press in Albany for his book, “Landscape Design according to James Vick: A Nineteenth Century Seedsman Appeals to Middle Class America.”

Vick (1818-1882) from Rochester, NY published yearly catalogs but also his magazine “Vick’s Illustrated Monthly”. It was especially in the magazine that he discussed the landscape style he loved, based on Andrew Jackson Downing and the English garden style. Vick bought Downing’s magazine “The Horticulturist” after Downing’s tragic death in 1852.

The book is based on Mickey’s research of Vick’s catalogs and monthly magazine at the University of Delaware Special Collections and the Five College Library Depository at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Also, the following institutions in Rochester were helpful in accessing other important primary and secondary materials on Vick: the Rochester Public Library, the Strong Museum, the Rochester Museum and Science Center, the Rochester Historical Society, and the University of Rochester Rare Book Collection.

SUNY plans to publish the book in September of next year.

Mickey’s blog traces his ongoing research on the topic of the seed and nursery catalogs and the English garden in nineteenth century America. Check out his blog at www.americangardening.net.

Cape Cod Children’s Writers Retreat on Saturday, March 31

by web editor on January 31, 2012

Cape Cod Children’s Writers Retreat is set for Saturday, March 31, 2012, at Riverview School, 551 route 6A, East Sandwich, MA 02537. Interested writers may contact Joan Walsh at irishseaside2@aol.com for more information.

Monday, January 30th Writer’s Works to feature Arlene Kay

by web editor on January 26, 2012

What: Writer’s Works - Meeting January 30th

Who: Writers’ Works Sponsored by Riverhaven Press

When: Monday, January 30, 2012, 6:00 PM

Where: The Hearth N’ Kettle on Rte. 18 in Weymouth

Please join us on January 30th as we welcome Arlene Kay, author of Intrusion, as she presents Selling Your Soul: How I Learned to Hawk My Wares and Like It. Kay states, “I’m not a salesperson–few of us are. The reality of modern publishing is that most newly published (or soon to be published) authors bear the burden for driving up their sales. It’s uncomfortable, time consuming and absolutely vital. I’ll share the trials, tribulations and tidbits I’ve gleaned while trying to navigate the system. (successes as well as dismal failures). The audience will also be urged to contribute any relevant concepts or victories they have experienced. I anticipate a lively, collaborative session.” Intrusion is now available through Mainly Murder Press, Mainlymurderpress.com. You can also learn more at www.arlenekay.com.

The Chanta Rand Show Hosts Kevin Symmons

by web editor on January 25, 2012

Listen to CCWC President Kevin Symmons’ live interview on Chanta Rand’s Blogtalk at 8:00 P.M. EST on Tuesday, January 31st. Chanta Rand will be talking with Kevin about Rite of Passage, his paranormal romance. For more details, visit the following connection with the Chanta Rand Show.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/chantarand/the-chanta-rand-show-where-love-meets-romance.

The show spotlights all topics related to love and romance, romance authors, and the romance industry in general. Listeners will have the chance to find out what’s new in romance, and to hear interviews with romance writers from across the country.

Chanta archives all her blogtalk interviews so within minutes of the show’s completion anyone interested can hear it by going to the above link.

The Cape Cod Writers Center Announces Keynote Speakers and Faculty for the 50th Conference, August 5-10, 2012

by Artistic Director on January 20, 2012

The Cape Cod Writers Center proudly announces the keynote speakers and faculty members who will appear at our Fiftieth Conference on

August 5-10, 2012 at the Resort and Conference Center of Hyannis.

Keynote Speaker, Monday, August 6, 7:00 p.m.

Joseph Finder, Thriller Author and NY Times Best-Selling Author.

Keynote Speaker, Tuesday, August 7, 7:00 p.m.

Amy Caldwell, Executive Editor, Beacon Press

Keynote Speaker: Wednesday, August 8, 7:00 p.m.

Andre Dubus, New York Times, Best-Selling Novelist

OUR DISTINGUISHED FACULTY INCLUDE :

Matthew Pearl - New York Times Best-Selling Author, The Dante Club, The Poe Shadow, The Last Dickens and The Technologists.

Jule Selbo –Hollywood screenwriter and head of the MFA in Screenwriting Program at California State University, Fullerton

Lee Harrington - best-selling memoirist of Rex and the City

Michelle Hoover - novelist and recipient for 2010 Massachusetts Book Award “Must Read Pick, Forward magazine’s Best Literary book of 2010.

Pitchpalooza — the nationally acclaimed program by Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry

Brian Schwartz -president KindleExpert.com and president-elect, Colorado Independent Publishers Association

Vivian Shipley — Award-Winning Poet, Distinguished Professor and Editor of Connecticut Review, nominated for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize

Benjamin Leroy: award-wining publisher of Tyrus Books, F & W Media

Karen Day, award-winning novelist for middle-school students

Sam Cornish, Boston Poet Laureate

Jamie Cat Callan — best-selling author and Massachusetts Cultural Council Awardee

Randall Peffer — acclaimed author of six crime novels, nonfiction books and national magazines

Gina Barreca — best selling author and syndicated humorist, professor of English at University of Connecticut

C.E. Lawrence –award-winning playwright and thriller writer

Peter Drummey — Stephen T. Riley Librarian (director) Massachusetts Historical Society

Sara Beccia — intellectual properties lawyer

Hillary Rettig –internationally recognized writing coach

Robin Brancato — award-winning novelist

Our Agents Include:

Marilyn Allen, Anne Hawkins, Stephany Evans, Gina Panettieri, Katharine Sands, and Sorche Elizabeth Fairbank

Adam Gamble Wows CCWC Members at Writers’ Night Out, January 18, 2012

by Artistic Director on January 20, 2012

January may be considered the most dreary month of the year, but not for the forty four members of the Cape Cod Writers Center who attended Writers Night Out at Riverway Lobster House on Wednesday evening, January 18th.

The highlight of the evening was author-publisher Adam Gamble’s presentation on the evolution of his company, On Cape Publications, with his partner, Mark Jasper, and the inspiration that led to their best-selling children’s series, the Good Night World books.