PRIMER FOR WVW CONFERENCE FIRST TIMERS

As a service to first time attendees or potential attendees of WV Writers Summer Conference, this document is being provided as a guide to planning your conference experience. There are answers to frequently asked questions below...

• We recommend that you register in advance by completing the forms on our web site at www.wvwriters.org/conference.html.
• If you plan to stay overnight, be sure to fill out the separate Cedar Lakes form, as well. You'll also need to fill it out if you plan to eat meals there, which I recommend, because it's hard to get out and back without missing a workshop or two.
• You don't have to register for the individual workshops in advance. Just pick them as you go. Some people find that it's easier to print out the schedule (or use the one given to you at registration, which will be the most accurate) and then highlight two classes each session that you're interested in. Then, when the time arrives, you can pick between the two. Some people like to have a "back up class" in case one is overcrowded, or in case you find yourself enjoying a particular track so much that you want to stick with it (poetry vs. non-fiction, for example). We would recommend that you take at least one class outside of your chosen genre; not just for the broadened experience, but because you might find inspiration or a particular nugget of writing wisdom that you can apply to what you're working on. For example, if you write fiction, take a poetry workshop or a nonfiction editing workshop, which can help with your craft.
• Be sure to dress light because the classrooms can get warm. However, bring a sweater, cause it can get chilly, particularly at night.
• Bring an umbrella. One of our annual traditions at the WVWriters Conference is to host a vertical torrential downpour, usually on Saturday. Last year, it knocked out the air-conditioning in the cafeteria.
• Bring shoes that are comfortable for walking, not only for walking to and from the dining hall but for taking strolls around the grounds of Cedar Lakes. However, don’t bring shoes you’re not willing to have soiled by Goose Poo, as there’s a lot of it around.
• We also hope you're planning to attend the banquet and stick around for entertainment, as Pops Walker and Keith & Joan Pitzer are going to be amazing.

Cat Pleska in Mother's Day Concert

WV Writers own Cathy Pleska will be appearing in The Mother's Day Centennial Concert on WV Public Broadcasting. She appears as Anna Jarvis, founder of Mother's Day.

It will run on the following WV channels at the following times

WTRF & WVNS on Saturday 5/10 from 7-8p

WOWK & WBOY on Saturday 5/10 from 8-9p

WTRF, WVNS, & WOWK Sunday 5/11 from 2-3p

WBOY Sunday 5/11 from 1-2p

Poetry & Politics: Protest in Verse

Charleston , WV - Poetry & Politics: The liveliest open mic in Charleston featuring some of the highest caliber Kanawha Valley emerging poets, singers, musicians, and spoken word artists.

First up, we’ll hear from six gifted, young Spoken Word poets who speak from the heart about love, dreams, self-respect, politics and everything that makes today's world a fascinating, complex place. “True artists, writers and performers,” describes Covenant House Director, Amy Weintraub. “They are the voices of the next generation: If Langston Hughes or Virginia Woolf was alive today... this is what they'd sound like.” Already slated to perform: Tuesday Taylor, Holly Cross, Elliott Roseberry, Patience Deweese, and MiC Group members John James and Dave Roberts.

A local celebrity Political Haiku Slam is also in the works. Hear some of your favorite Charleston personalities compete for top honors in this haiku poetry contest.

Hosting the event will be Covenant House Assistant Director, Crystal Good, a well-known poetry organizer, and Randy Elsea, Drop In Center Coordinator and notorious comic. They are the go-to folks if you want an event that is not only hype, but conscious and spirited. Mixing hip hop and spoken word, with soulful rhythms, they will keep the audience stimulated and entertained. Come join Good, Elsea, and other poets and artists, for a night of the best Spoken Word around the state.

Experience a casual atmosphere with refreshments.

Grace the mic yourself (sign in 30 minutes before event or by email to cgood@wvcovenanthouse. org) or simply enjoy the poetry, deejaying, and fun-loving atmosphere.

This is definitely a food-for-your- soul event of the year, so get your fill now!
Sponsored by Covenant House, the West Virginia Poetry Society, the Keep Your Faith Corporation, the West Virginia Mental Health Consumers Association, and the MiC Group.

Thursday, May 8
6:30-8:30 PM | Laundry soap powder collected to benefit the Covenant House Drop In Center.

Covenant House, 600 Shrewsbury Street (parking in rear of building)

For more information, contact Covenant House Assistant Director and Event Host Crystal
Good at cgood@wvcovenanthouse. org

Warning to all writers

WV Writers has been alerted by William Haydon of Mountain State Press that there is a so-called literary agent out of Michigan named Michelle Glance Rooney who has corresponded with at least one prospective client in our state and misrepresented herself as an agent of Mountain State Press. Having no agents in their employ, Mountain State Press wanted to alert writers to Ms. Rooney's false claims so that no one else is deceived.

Thinking perhaps there was a misunderstanding, I've done some digging and have located an article about Ms. Rooney and some of her other less than ethical practices, straight from the Writer Beware blog. You can see for yourself at the link below.

http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2007/06/victoria-strauss-queen-for-day.html

And just a further note, Writer Beware's home site is an excellent source for scam avoidance techniques.

2008 DOGWOOD WRITING CONFERENCE

The 2008 Dogwood Writing Conference takes place this weekend at Greenbo Lake State Resort Park, APRIL 25-26, 2008

Join KYOWA members and fellow writers at the Third Annual Dogwood Writing Conference
at beautiful Greenbo Lake State Resort Park in eastern Kentucky.

LOCATION: Greenbo Lake State Resort Park
965 Lodge Road (off KY Route 1)
Greenup, KY 41101-9517
606-474-7324, 800-325-0083

HOST CHAPTER: KYOWA (KY-OHIO-WV) 180
ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA
kyowaromance.tripod.com

ALL WRITERS AND WOULD-BE WRITERS WELCOME
We welcome fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children and young adult,
inspirational, family journals and genealogy, and others

FEE: $45.00 FOR NON-KYOWA MEMBERS:
Includes Friday night Ice Cream Social/Mixer, Saturday Continental Breakfast, and all Workshops. $10.00 for Friday night only. Discounted rate for students.

Accommodations at the Park at special rates.
Phone the park directly for reservations.

PRESENTERS:

PAMELA KING CABLE, Motivational Speaker, Author (and former WV Writers workshop presenter)
Born in West Virginia, Pam claims a tribe of wild Pentecostals and storytellers raised her. She attended The University of Akron and Kent State University. Her award-winning stories, articles, and essays have appeared in magazines, anthologies, and newspapers in several states. The most recent award—her book, SOUTHERN FRIED WOMEN, was a finalist in ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year and USABookNews.com Fiction and Literature-Short Story, Best Books of 2006 Book Awards. www.pamelacable.com

RICK MCMAHAN, Author, Special Agent with the Bureau of ATF
Rick McMahan worked for the federal government as a civilian criminal investigator for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, for six years and as Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) investigating federal violations of gun and explosives laws for the last nine. As an ATF agent, Rick has investigated extremist militias, violent street gangs as well as outlaw motorcycle gangs. In addition, he’s a firearms instructor and has served as an on-the-job trainer for new agents. In his free time, Rick enjoys writing, and in the past year he’s had short stories appear in the anthologies such as---TECHNO NOIRE, LOW DOWN & DERBY and the Mystery Writer’s of America DEATH DO US PART edited by Harlan Coben.

RAELELNE GORLINSKY, Publisher
Ellora's Cave
Cerridwen Press

MADDIE JAMES, Author, Speaker
Maddie James is published by Resplendence Publishing, Thorndike Press and Kensington Books. She has dozens of published non-fiction titles to her credit. Her romance fiction stories fall predominately in the suspense, paranormal and contemporary realms, tagging herself as an “edgy suspense and thrilling romance” author. Current Releases: The Curse, Blue, Ladies of Legend: Finding Home (with Janet Eaves, Magdalena Scott, Jan Scarborough)
www.maddiejames.com

AMI RUSSELL, Editor
Wild Rose Press

CHRISTINE WITTHOHN, Agent Book Cents Literacy Agency, LLC (and current WV Writers workshop presenter)

For more information, contact Mary Shortridge at meshortridge@gmail.com or call (606)-326-2148.

Mother's Day Celebration Short Story Contest

Mother‘s Day Celebration Short Story Contest
(short stories about mothers)
(sponsored by the United Black Writers Association (UBWA) in support of CONCEIT MAGAZINE)

DEADLINE:
April 26, 2008

Judging by the UBWA Board

Winners announced at the 2008 Afrocentric Book Expo -- Mother’s Day Celebration
Saturday, May 10, 2008

READING FEE: $3.00 per short story entered

Unpublished, simultaneous and previously published entries accepted.

One time publication rights to CONCEIT MAGAZINE.
$50.00 - First Prize
$30.00 - Second Prize
$20.00 - Third Prize

E-mail entries to:
Conceitmagazine2007@yahoo.com

PayPal users go to the CONCEIT MAGAZINE Website
http://www.myspace.com/conceitmagazine

or
Snail Mail entries and reading fees to:
Perry Terrell, Editor
Mother‘s Day Celebration Short Story Contest
c/o Conceit Magazine
P. O. Box 8544
Emeryville, CA 94662

(NOTE: Entries can be e-mailed or snail mailed)
(Cash, check or money order - Make payable to Perry Terrell)

Pianfetti Poetry Sunday

(This news courtesy Holly Cross)

UUC Sunday Service - 11pm - April 27: Pianfetti Poetry Sunday

In honor of long-time UUC member and poetry-lover Lucille Pianfetti, we close out National Poetry Month by sharing poems and the importance of poetry in expressing what is going on in our lives. We have Haiku Poetry written by Lucille. We are looking for poems you have written or ones that are especially meaningful to you that you would like to share. In keeping with the theme of concern for our earth, we encourage you to share poems with a nature or earth-centered theme. If you would like to share a poem (yours or someone else’s), please get in touch with us (http://www.uucharlestonwv.org)

Stay after the service for our annual May Day dancing of the Maypole and picnic.

Paul Epstein concert and songwriting talk at Putnam County Library

WV Writers' own Paul Epstein will be singing and talking about songwriting at the Putnam County Library, Tuesday, April 22 from 6:00-7:00 pm.

For more info: http://putnam.lib.wv.us

http://www.myspace.com/paulepstein
http://pages.suddenlink.net/paulepstein

WV Writers' own Karin Fuller wins Writers' Digest Award

(This news courtesy T.W. McNemar, the once and future king of WV Writers)

Karin Fuller, lifestyle columnist for The Charleston Gazette, WVW Regional Rep, WV Press Association award winner, and of course, Celeste’s mom, has a new trophy for her mantle. The judges at Writer’s Digest have notified her that she won first place in their genre short story contest. That’s right folks, it’s bonafide.

Along with her columns, Karin's stories have appeared in such publications as Woman's World, Appalachian Heritage, Front Porch, and Atlanta Baby and in a few weeks one of her stories will be featured in Family Circle Magazine.

Irene McKinney Interview in Wonderful West Virginia

(This news courtesy WV Writers 2nd VP T.M. McNemar)

In a few days, the May issue of Wonderful, West Virginia Magazine will hit the newsstands and will feature an interview with the State's poet laureate, Irene McKinney, written by the WV Writers, very own Cat Pleska.