EVENTS & SESSIONSTHURSDAY, JULY 30th

2:00 - 3:30 P.M. GENERAL INTEREST TRACKHow to Choose the Sessions That are Right For YouSpeakers: Royce Buckingham, Sandy McCormack, Pam Binder, Jeff Ayers, and Jennifer McCordLocation: Mercer A & B

NONFICTION TRACKBuilding a Platform from Nothing Speaker: Karen Burns Location: Orcas A & B

Everyone tells aspiring authors that they need a “platform.” But if you don’t have one, how do you get one? In this workshop, Burns will describe how she built an author platform from scratch, eventually earning an agent and book contract with a nice-sized publisher. The workshop will cover the all-important author website, blogs, social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter), e-zines, HARO, podcasts, Internet radio, magazine articles, database-building through networking, public speaking, and the creating and marketing of book-related products.

GENERAL INTEREST TRACKOrganizing a Writing GroupSpeaker: Leslie J. AdkinsLocation: San Juan

Writing can be a solitary profession, but you don’t have to suffer in isolation. Whether you just need encouragement or some detailed critiquing from other committed writers, a writers group can provide the support network you need to succeed. This class will cover the basics of creating and organizing a writing group. Participants will learn different critique styles and how to create a safe environment for sharing the highs and lows of writing. All types of writers are encouraged to attend. This class is a great meeting place to start networking for a group!

3:30 - 4:00 P.M. AFTERNOON BREAKLocation: Emerald Foyer & Writers Café

4:00 - 5:30 P.M. CALL THE DOCTOR, BOOK DOCTOR Book Doctors: Emmanuelle Alspaugh, Kate Austin, Jason Black, Erin Brown, and Jeff MooresLocation: Emerald Ballroom A

What is a book doctor and when is the right time to seek their advise and expertise?

GENERAL INTEREST TRACKPitching to Agents and Editors Without Being Pushy.Speaker: Janna Cawrse Esarey Location: Mercer A & B

“So, what’s your book about?” It’s the simplest question, but

so tough to answer, especially without feeling boring, clichéd, longwinded, or confusing. Pitching is the art of talking clearly and confidentlyaboutyourbook—whetheritisfictionornonfiction—so that you’re better able to sell it. This hands-on workshop will cover the elevator pitch, the extended pitch, pitching etiquette, andusefultipsspecifictothePNWAConference.Attendeeswillwrite, deliver, and get feedback on their pitches in class. If you’re planning on pitching at the conference, this is the workshop for you.

GENERAL INTEREST TRACKWhere Has The Time Gone? Time Management for the Hurried, the Harried, and the Hopeless! Speaker: Kimberly Ann FreelLocation: Orcas A & B

Oneofthegreatestchallengesofbeingawriterisfindingthetime to actually sit down and put the words to paper. Time management can be essential to the craft of writing. After all, that novel will never be penned or that children’s story illustrated, if a busy life prevents you from doing so. Attendees will learn to recognizetimethatistrulyfreeandfindwaystocarveoutmoretimefromaharriedschedule.Theywilllearntofindinspirationduring the times when they don’t seem to be free and how to capitalize on the thoughts and revelations that occur during those times. Finally, they will learn how to maximize the time spent writing and editing so they can be most productive.

SCREENWRITING TRACKThe DNA of Screenwriting: Avoiding Common and Fatal Screenwriting Mistakes Speaker: Ted Russell NeffLocation: San Juan

When starting the writing process remember that the screenwritingDNAyouchooseeventuallygrows,evolvesandturnsintoascreenplay–soselecttheDNAsnippetsthatmakeitgreatandavoidtheDNAthatdoomsthescreenplaytofailnomatter how good the writing or characters or dialogue is. Bad screenwritingDNAleadstomorebadscriptsthanbadwritingdoes.RemembertogetthebasicDNArightthefirsttimebecauseonce it’s conceived into a living, breathing thing (a screenplay) changing it after the fact it is much harder - so choose great DNA,andavoidbadDNAinordertomakethescreenplaygreat.

5:30 - 8:00 P.M.EVENING BREAK

8:00 P.M.TERRY BROOKS: KEYNOTE SPEAKERDessert Reception with Agents & EditorsLocation: Emerald Ballroom(Admission by ticket only - no host bar)

Awritersincehighschool,TerryBrookspublishedhisfirstnovel,The Sword of Shannarain1977.ItbecamethefirstworkoffictionevertoappearontheNew York Times Trade Paperback Bestsellerlist,whereitremainedforfivemonths.Terryhas22New York Times bestsellers. He is one of the biggest-selling living fantasy writers. He has also written two movie novelizations.

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FRIDAY, JULY 31st

7:30 - 9:00 A.M.CONTINENTAL BREAKFASTLocation: Emerald Foyer & Writers Café

8:00 - 8:30 A.M.PNWA ANNUAL MEETINGLocation: Emerald Ballroom

8:30 - 9:30 A.M.GENERAL INTEREST TRACKAgent Dos and Don’tsAgents: Rita Rosenkranz, Meg Ruley, Paul Fedorko, Matthew Mahoney. Authors: Robert Dugoni and Bob Mayer. Location: Emerald Ballroom

How should I approach an agent? What is the best way to pitch to an agent? Once I have an agent, what should I expect? How closely will I work with my agent on things like editing the manuscript? Speakers will address all those and other questions you’ve always wanted to ask.

9:30 - 9:45 A.M.MORNING BREAKLocation: Emerald Foyer and Writers Café

9:45 - 11:15 A.M.GENERAL INTEREST TRACKAgents ForumLocation: Emerald Ballroom

The agents will give an overview of the kind of projects they are acquiring and the best way to submit your project. A question and answer period will be included.

11:15 - 11:45 A.M.MID-MORNING BREAKLocation: Emerald Foyer and Writers Café

11:45 - 12:45 P.M.GENERAL INTEREST TRACKEditors ForumLocation: Emerald Ballroom

The editors will give an overview of the kind of projects they are acquiring and the best way to submit your project. A question and answer period will be included.

1:00 - 2:00 P.M.LUNCH SALES BEGINLunch available for purchase in the hall outside the Writers Café & near the Registration Desk.

1:15 - 2:15 P.M.LUNCH WITH AUTHOR JAMES ROLLINS(followed by book signing)

Location: Mercer A

“A case could be made that this guy doesn’t write novels - he builds roller coasters. Rollins, author of a string of high-intensity action thrillers (and, let’s not forget, his excellent adaptation of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), puts his characters at the top of the ride, gives them a push, and lets them go racing off into adventure. In this, the latest Sigma Force novel, aseriesofbafflingincidentsaroundtheworldare linked by a mysterious symbol, a cross inside a circle, which may connect the incidents to the ancienct Druids and, of all things, the Domesday Book. You are so engrossed in the story that you turn the pages without realizing it, and soon you’re finished,perhapsalittlebitoutofbreath,butusually exhilarated. A must for pure action fans.” – David Pitt - Booklist

2:30 - 4:00 P.M.SPOTLIGHT ON EDITORSEditors: Brooke Warner and Maria GaglianoLocation: Emerald Ballroom D

How do editors make their decisions? What factors do they consider when accepting or rejecting a project? What is an author’s platform and does it matter? Book tours – a thing of the past, or alive and well? Editors will give an overview of the kind of projects they are acquiring, market trends, industry news and how they work with agents and authors.

MYSTERY/THRILLER TRACKFrom Gardner to Grisham: The Evolution of the Contemporary Legal Thriller.Speaker: Sheldon Siegel Location: Emerald Ballroom E

Contrary to popular belief, the contemporary legal thriller or courtroom drama did not begin with Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent, or John Grisham’s The Firm. Erle Stanley Gardner began writing the Perry Mason books eight decades ago. Robert Traver wrote Anatomy of a Murder in 1958. Sheldon Siegel will explore the evolution of the “lawyer novel” from its earliest beginnings to its most recent iterations. He will also discuss the changes in the genre over the decades and

comment upon the major themes in contemporary legal thrillers. Siegel will comment upon why this genre remains vibrant eighty years after Gardner pennedthefirstPerryMasonstory.

FANTASY/SCI-FI TRACKRoadmap to Fantasy and Science Fiction SubgenresAgent/Editors: Jim McCarthy, Sally Harding, and Ginger ClarkLocation: Emerald Ballroom F

Agents and editors explain the popular niches in thefantasyandsciencefictionmarketsandwhoisbuying what.

ROMANCE TRACKRomance 101Speaker: Deborah Schneider and Kate AustinLocation: Mercer A

Do you know the subgenres of romance and how yourmanuscriptfitsintoone?Whatarethebasicstory pieces necessary to construct a romance novel and how is a romance different from other types of books? Learn how to heat up the pages, tortureyourheroandfindyournicheinoneofthebest–selling genres in publishing. This fast-paced multi-media workshop will also include suggestions for marketing your manuscripts to agents and editors.

NONFICTION TRACKGoing from Good Idea to Sold Idea: Seven-Step Process for Banking By-Lines Speaker: Roy Stevenson Location: Mercer B

Conference-goers attending this presentation will learn how to create an action plan for article submissions,howdiversificationcancreateopportunities for freelance writers, how the freelancer does not have to be an expert to write for a specialty magazine, how to pitch your story, how to use the Writer’s Guidelines to hit the target deadcenter,andhowandwherefindmagazines,newspapers, and e-zines to pitch to.

BUSINESS SIDE OF WRITING Book Publicity on a BudgetSpeaker: Paula MarguliesLocation: Orcas A

This workshop teaches authors how to successfully promote their books. The course covers how to talk to the media and bookstore owners: who to contact, what to say, and how to get that all-important “yes” response. The workshop also covers seven simple but crucial steps to promoting an author’s work.

EVENTS & SESSIONSFRIDAY, JULY 31st

CRAFT OF WRITINGBreaking In, Breaking Out, Breaking Up – No Limits WritingPanel: Mary Buckham, Megan Chance, and Pat White Location: Orcas B

Strategies from three multi-genre, award–winning authors on what ittakestobreakintofiction,strategicallychangepublishersorimprints, expand and shift genres, and move beyond “The Call” to a career in writing.

POETRY TRACKBreaking Down the Boundaries Speaker: Terry Persun Location: San Juan

With fewer rules and more options than novel writing, poetry should be considered the ultimate in creativity, exploration, and experimentation. With the belief that everyone should write poetry, author Terry Persun will touch on everything from the sounds of poetry to its shapes, meanings, and metaphors, the effects of standard punctuation, changing point of views, line lengths and stanza breaks.

4:00 - 4:15 P.M.AFTERNOON BREAKLocation: Emerald Foyer and Writers Café

4:15 - 5:45 P.M.GENERAL INTEREST TRACKThe Query Letter. Panel: Verna Dreisbach, Laurie McLean, Rebecca Oliver, and J.L. Stermer Location: Emerald Ballroom D

First impressions do matter and the query letter is no different. Writers struggle with form, content and style in this one page letter that determines whether or not an agent will request to see more. Learn how to avoid the most common mistakes and gain the edge when submitting your work to an agent. Bring your one page query letter to the workshop.

GENERAL INTEREST TRACKThe Dream Team: How an Author, Agent, and Editor Work Together Speakers: Agent Paige Wheeler, Editor Rose Hilliard and Author Sheila Roberts Location: Emerald Ballroom E

Most authors would agree that achieving a successful writing career is a group effort. The writer, the agent, and the editor all bring something important to the table. When a writer has the perfect match in both agent and editor, the writer has found a dream team. Agent Paige Wheeler will explain the important role an agent plays in helping a writer sell books and map out a career. Editor Rose Hilliard will explain the role an editor plays in both the development of a writer’s book and the development of a writer’s career. Writer Sheila Roberts will discuss a writer’s responsibility to self, editor, and agent.

FANTASY TRACKUrban Fantasy 101Panel: Richelle Mead, Caitlin Kittredge, Mark Henry, and Cherie PriestLocation: Emerald Ballroom F

Vampires, werewolves, and ghosts: urban fantasy is one of the hottest genres out there, but what exactly is it? A panel of published authors answer questions and share their own experiences about the pros and cons of working in urban fantasy, howit’sdefined,what’shot,andwherethisgenreisgoing.

SCREENWRITING TRACKFrom Novel to Script. Speaker: Alia YunisLocation Mercer A

What makes a novel and what makes a screenplay? Which one is your idea, really? Alia Yunis, debut novelist of Night Counter, screenwriter and reader in Hollywood for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science, will discuss character, dialogue, structure, and pacing.

BUSINESS SIDE OF WRITINGThe Pros and Cons of Working with Small PressesSpeaker: Terry Persun Location: Mercer B

There are only a few major publishers left today, but there are literally thousands of small, independent, and university publishers. Small publishers cover all the genres and almost any subject you can imagine -- and they’re open to new authors. We’ll discuss what you can expect from your liaison, once your work is accepted by a small press.

BUSINESS SIDE OF WRITINGPromotion in the Libraries with the Librarian of the Year, Deborah SchneiderSpeaker: Deborah Schneider Location: Orcas A

CRAFT OF WRITING:How to Start Your Novel: The BeginningSpeaker: Megan ChanceLocation: Orcas B

Editors and judges make a decision about a manuscript in the firstfewpages.Makesuretheydon’tdismissyours.Thisworkshopwilldiscusscommonmistakes,aswellashowtouseconflict,characterization and tension to create the most compelling beginning possible.

MEMOIR TRACK Turn Your Life into a NovelSpeaker: Val DumondLocation: San Juan

You lived it, now write about it. Turn life experiences into journals, stories, books, or therapy. Learn the many ways to tap memory, use diaries and interviews, take advantage of the Internet, and organize your life into chapters.

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5:45 - 7:00 P.M.EVENING BREAK

7:00 - 8:30 P.M.JOSEPH FINDER:FEATURED SPEAKERDINNER PROGRAMLocation: Emerald Ballroom(Admission by ticket only - no host bar)

Joseph Finder is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Paranoia, Power Play, Killer Instinct, and Company Man, as well as High Crimes (the basis of the Morgan Freeman/Ashley Judd movie). A member of the Association ofIntelligenceOfficers,hehaswrittenaboutespionage and international affairs for the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and the New Republic.

8:30 - 10:00 P.M.AUTOGRAPH PARTYLocation: Emerald Ballroom A, B, and C

Over sixty authors, many of them award-winners and New York Times bestsellers, will attend the autograph party that follows the keynote address.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1st

7:30 - 9:00 A.M.CONTINENTAL BREAKFASTLocation: Emerald Foyer and Writers Café

8:30 - 10:00 A.M.GENERAL INTEREST TRACK Agent SpotlightSpeaker: Elizabeth Wales Location: Emerald Ballroom D

How is a writer to know when he or she is ready to seek publication? Five good tests to know for certain!

GENERAL INTEREST TRACKSpeed Pitching Agents: Laurie McClean, Jim McCarthy, Ginger Clark, Sally Harding, Meg Ruley, J.L. Stermer, Rita Rosenkranz, Michelle Brower, Matthew Mahoney, and Rebecca OliverLocation: Emerald Ballroom E

Each signed-up participant will be given two minutes to Speed Pitch to an agent. This will giveyoutheopportunitytopitchtofivedifferentagents. You will discover what grabs agents’ attention and what leaves them cold.

FANTASY, SCI-FI, AND YA TRACKTailoring Fantasy and Science Fiction to Young Adult Novels Speakers: Richelle Mead, Lisa Mantchev, Cherie Priest, and Caitlin Kittredge Location: Emerald Ballroom F

HISTORICAL FICTION TRACK Effective and Efficient Research: The Foundation of Historical Novels. Speaker: Larry KarpLocation: Mercer A & B

Historical novelists may not be aware of the current range of research possibilities. Many writers tend to see research as a daunting preliminary phase of the project, and sometimes get so bogged down in detail they become discouraged, and never get to write their books. Author Larry Karp will present his approach, “Research As You Go” to demonstrate and discuss the way simultaneous research and writing can be used to set vivid scenes and produce interesting, fully-fleshedcharacters.Hewillshowhowtheintegration of research and writing produces a continuous productive tension, adding layers of depth to a story by driving both characters and plot.

CHILDREN’S BOOK TRACKState of the Art – State of the BizPanel: Deb Caletti, George Shannon, Kevan Atteberry, Suzanne Williams, and agent Minju ChangLocation: Orcas A & B

BUSINESS SIDE OF WRITINGThe Legal and Business Aspects of Writing Fiction and Nonfiction.Speaker: Paul LevineLocation: San Juan

The nuts and bolts of the business of writing are as essential to a writer’s success as the writer’s work itself. How does a writer get an agent and an attorney? This workshop will cover: the principles of copyright law as the underpinnings of all writing; what agents do and what lawyers do, how their functions sometimes overlap and how they differ; the process of obtaining an agent and a lawyer, when and why an agent is necessary and when and why an agent may not be necessary; how agents and lawyers are compensated by their clients; how authors are compensated, the content of a typical collaboration agreement and three reasons why they are an absolute necessity; a review, in detail, of a typical publishing agreement--royalties, advances, rights granted and rights withheld, etc.; the editing process: what happens if the publisher rejects the manuscript, the publisher’s ultimate acceptance of the manuscript, actual publication after acceptance, and promotion

and publicity.

10:00 - 10:30 A.M.MORNING BREAKLocation: Emerald Foyer & Writers Café

10:30 A.M. - NOONBUSINESS SIDE OF WRITING How’s Your Pitch: Selling in the First 3 PagesSpeakers: Meg Ruley and Rita Rosenkranz Location: Emerald Ballroom D

BringintheFIRST2-3pagesofyourmanuscripttothispanelofagentsandfindoutwhattheexpertsreally think when they see your work. Selections are read anonymously. This workshop is designed to help writers understand how fast a project will be evaluated and either accepted or rejected at an agency. The moderator randomly chooses from the samples provided by the attendees.

NONFICTION TRACKBook Proposal Boot CampSpeaker: Ted Weinstein Location: Emerald Ballroom E Learn the secrets of writing a compelling, effective proposalforyournonfictionbook.Thiscoursegives an overview of the state of the publishing industry and the entire publishing process, followed by a detailed discussion of all the elements – style and substance – that go into writing a great book proposal. In this class you can expect to learn: the majortrendsinnonfiction;keydevelopmentsinthe book business; the changing roles of editors, agents and authors; how to build your personal brand; how to make you and your project stand out when editors are buried in good proposals; and how to craft and polish each of the key sections of a successful proposal.

GRAPHIC NOVEL TRACKComics and Superheroes: Scripting and Adapting to the Graphic Form. Speaker: Caitlin Kittredge Location: Emerald Ballroom F

Participants should bring a short outline of a work in progress that they would like to convert to a comic book script. Also discussed will be the superhero market and the hallmarks of superheros.

WRITERS CAFE(NorthoftheEmeraldBallroom)

Take a break with a friend or a book, or network with authors in your genre.

EVENTS & SESSIONSSATURDAY, AUGUST 1st

10:30 A.M. - NOONCRAFT OF WRITING TRACK Muscle-up the Gut of Your Story: Building the Middle of Your Novel with Critical MomentsSpeaker: Susan Wingate Location: Mercer A & B

This workshop will enlighten each participant about how to create a strong midsection of a novel. What keeps readers reading? The answerisriskandever-increasingconflict.Thisworkshopwillconcentrateonthenecessarystepstocreateconflictandkeepitbuildingtowardthefinalmajoreventinthenovel.Thestudentwillalso learn how to identify where and when to incorporate subplot into their story.

CRAFT OF WRITING TRACK Writing Sex Scenes Speaker: C.C. Humphreys and Deborah SchneiderLocation: Orcas A & B

BUSINESS SIDE OF WRITING TRACK Alliance Marketing: A New Trend in Book Promotion Speaker: Joni SenselLocation: San Juan

Promotion is crucial for a successful book launch and longev-ity in print, yet many authors shy away from the spotlight and the idea of promoting their books and, by extension, themselves. Authors have recently begun solving this dilemma by teaming up to promote one another, and publishers are catching on too. We’ll discussthebenefits,difficulties,andopportunitiesofthisuncom-mon new approach and offer tips and ideas that authors (both published and soon-to-be published) can use to take advantage of similar strategies.

12:00 - 1:00 P.M.LUNCH SALES BEGINLunch available for purchase in the hall outside the Writers Café & near the Regis-tration Desk.

12:15 - 1:15 P.M.LUNCH WITH AUTHOR JOSEPH FINDER(followed by book signing) Location: Emerald Ballroom A

Joseph Finder is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Paranoia, Power Play, Killer Instinct, and Company Man, as well as High Crimes (the basis of the Morgan Freeman/Ashley Judd movie).AmemberoftheAssociationofIntelligenceOfficers,hehas written about espionage and international affairs for the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and the New Republic.

1:30 - 3:00 P.M.CRAFT OF WRITING TRACK How Do I Get Out of This Thing? Speaker: Wayne UdeLocation: Emerald Ballroom D

Pull together your novel’s character changes and subplots in the novel’sfinalchapters.Mostnovelbeginningsandconclusionsprobably take no more than 50-100 pages each, while the middle of a novel can run from 150 to 600 pages or more. Endings often leavereadersdissatisfied;E.M.Forstersaidthatmostnovelshaveweak conclusions because the real action has ended sometime earlier, yet things still require to be wound down. We’ll explore what’s involved in wrapping up a novel – which will mean some discussion of what might have happened back in the big middle.

MYSTERY/THRILLER TRACK Key Elements of the Modern Crime NovelSpeaker: Sheldon Siegel Location: Emerald Ballroom E

Character,voice,andsettingexpectationsofreadersofcrimefic-tionhaveneverbeenhigher.Readersarenolongersatisfiedwithplot-driven puzzles and one-dimensional protagonists. Sheldon Siegel will explore three of the key elements of contemporary crimefiction:character,voiceandsetting.Siegelwillpresentanuts-and-bolts discussion of how modern crime writers develop compelling, three-dimensional characters. He will also talk about developing a character’s voice and point of view. Finally, he will describe methods to turn a setting into more than just a backdrop.

BUSINESS SIDE OF WRITING Rejection, Rejection: Why It’s Happening to You and How to Avoid It Speaker: Elizabeth Fairbank, Fairbank Literary Agency Location: Emerald Ballroom F It’s common knowledge that rejection rates in this industry are up around ninety-eight percent, and you have likely felt this bitter sting on more than one occasion, but do you really know why? Sit in on an eye-opening session with agent Sorche Fairbank and dig into the murky world of rejection. Learn what some standard rejection phrasing means (i.e., agent-speak); why so many rejections are simplyaformletter;findoutifyouareguiltyofoneormoreofthetop twenty reasons for rejection; participate in a frank discussion about second chances with agents and publishers; learn when to listen to advice and when to chalk things up to subjective differ-ence; and how best to turn a ‘no’ into ‘yes’ or at least ‘maybe’.

BUSINESS SIDE OF WRITING Habits of Successful Professional Writers Speaker: Royce Buckingham, Kevin O’Brian, Will North, Mike Lawson, and Robert DugoniLocation: Mercer A & B

FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION TRACK The Nitty Gritty: Writing Sex and Romance for Fantasy and Science FictionSpeakers: Richelle Mead and Mark Henry Location: Orcas A & B

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GENERAL INTEREST TRACKAuthor Magazine and Barnes & NoblePanel: William Kenower, Jeff Ayers, and Brenda GurungLocation: San JuanAn author’s guide to promotion on the web and to building relationships with local bookstores.

3:00 - 3:30 P.M.AFTERNOON BREAKLocation: Emerald Foyer and Writers Café

3:30 - 5:00 P.M.GENERAL INTEREST TRACK Agent and Editor Spotlight: How Agents Pitch to EditorsAgents: Meg Ruley, Verna Dreisbach, Michelle BrowerEditors: Celia Johnson and Rose HilliardLocation: Emerald Ballroom D

What are editors looking for? What are the cur-rent market trends?

MYSTERY/THRILLER TRACK Speaking in Voices: Writing Compelling Dialogue in Contemporary Crime FictionSpeaker: Sheldon Siegel Location: Emerald Ballroom E

Readers love dialogue. They may skip long stretches of exposition, but they rarely skip a line of dialogue. Sheldon Siegel will provide practical tipsaboutmakingfictionaldialoguecomealive.He will discuss the differences between real and fictionaldialogue,howtodevelopdistinctivevoices,and how to use dialogue to keep your story moving.

YOUNG ADULT TRACK Puberty is Not Enough: What You Need to Write Middle-Grade and Young Adult Fiction Speaker: Joni SenselLocation: Emerald Ballroom F

We’re living in what has been called a golden age of teen and tween literature, but those interested in writing for young readers have their work cut out for them. All the usual writing challenges apply, but with particular twists regarding reader age groups, subject matter, themes, language, pace, point of view, marketing, and more. We’ll talk about how to write for this market, review market-ing considerations, and share plenty of suggested reading and resources that can help you develop tween and YA manuscripts that sizzle.

FANTASY/SCI-FI TRACK World BuildingSpeakers: Cherie Priest, Mark Henry, Caitlin Kittredge, Richelle Mead and Lisa MantchevLocation: Mercer A and B

How to build, populate with believable characters, and dramatize a credible world that readers will want to share with you. Learn how to develop therules of your world and how to work out the history, language, geography, and customs of your invented world.

GENERAL INTEREST TRACK Co-Authoring: The Art of CollaborationSpeakers: James Rapson and Craig English Location: Orcas A and B

Co-authors can create a team that is incredibly effective and self-sustaining. They must agree about core ideas, be able to engage in creative conflict,andlearntoleavetheiregosatthedoor.This workshop weighs advantages and disadvan-tages, discusses various methods, and explores the intricacies of the co-author relationship.

GENERAL INTEREST TRACKHow to Become A WriterSpeakers: Tony English and Wayne UdeLocation: San Juan

The speakers will discuss how a writer learns and develops. They will grapple with such questions as how much a writer needs to know about writing, and whether that makes a difference in getting published.

6:30 - 8:30 P.M.LITERARY CONTEST AWARDS CEREMONY ANDDINNER PROGRAMLocation: Emerald Ballroom(Admission by ticket only - no host bar)

Reception with agents and editors for the literary contest winners follows the Awards Celebration. Invitation will be included in the winners’ packets.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2nd

8:00 - 10:00 A.M.CONTINENTAL BREAKFASTLocation: Emerald Foyer and Writers Café

8:30 - 9:30 A.M.LITERARY CONTEST READINGLocation: Emerald Ballroom

First place winners will read from their literary contest entry.

10:00 A.M. - NOONC.C. HUMPHREYS FEATURED SPEAKERLocation: Emerald Ballroom(Admission by ticket only)

Chrishaswrittensixhistoricalfictionnovels.The French Executioner was runner up for theCWASteelDaggerforThrillers2002anditssequel, Blood Ties, was a bestseller in Canada. Jack Absolute, The Blooding of Jack Absolute and Absolute Honour - were short listed for the2007EvergreenPrizebytheOntarioLibraryAssociation. His latest novel is Vlad: the Last Confession - the true history of Dracula. He has also written a trilogy for Young Adults, The Runestone Saga, published by Knopf. His work has been translated into nine languages. Chris is also known for his acting roles in The Bill, where he played PC Richard Turnham from 1989 to 1990. He has also been in Zorro, Coronation Street, Hawkeye, Dangerfield, Highlander: The Series, Goodnight Sweetheart, Wycliffe, Silent Witness, and The Core.

MAINSTREAM Barry Brennessel1. David Huebner2. Jane Lotter 3. Melanie Sherman Clark4. George Jarecke5. Benjamin Barrett6. Laurel Krill 7. Steve Jaquith 8.

ROMANCEJudy Wiebe 1. Marriah Nissen2. Mary Delahanty3. Rebecca Rock 4. Pamela Bazemore5. Shannon Kennedy6. Monica Britt7. Jean Therkelsen8.

MYSTERY/THRILLER Barry Brennessel1. Rod Lindsey2. David Holmes3. Michael Jacobs4. Jack Riley5. Steven Houchin6. Lawson Reinsch 7. Judith Petersen8. Vaughn Entwistle9.

Morecategoryfinalistslistedonpages16and25.

LITERARY CONTEST FINALISTS(Finalits are listed in random order.)