Schedule for August 2011

Our August Conference line-up concentrates on the "business and news" styles of writing. Non-fiction genres span everything from travel writing, dining editorials, cookbooks, hard-core journalism, newspaper and magazine journalism and editing, freelancing advice, finding an agent, methods of branding yourself and even documenting in "novel form" home-town musings. Come join us for an incredible symposium of experts in their chosen fields to learn, listen, network and even participate in Challenges for first-rate prizes. We promise you will be fascinated with this wealth of talent.

 

Day 1: THURSDAY, AUGUST 11TH

Sign-in from 4:30 - 5:30 pm "Trophy Room"

Time Activity
5:00 pm Meet & Greet Reception Trophy Room wine and hors d' oeurves
   

Day 2: FRIDAY, AUGUST 12TH

Time Activity
8:30 - am   Complimentary coffee service in "The Terrace" meeting room.
9:00 - 10:00 am Author - Kristi Sanders - "Traveling the Road Less Taken: Making a Living as a Travel Writer".  When you're a travel writer, the whole world is your canvas; but if you want to earn your keep, you'll be required to produce more than first-person travelogues.  this session explores the etiquette, perks, pitfalls, money-making oportunities and responsibilities, that come with the job. CHALLENGE PRIZE  Kayak Tour! 
10:00 - 11:00 am Author - Rick Maier - "Three novel, ten-year journey of a Macon Author"  Rick grew up in Delaware and moved to Macon, Georgia in 1984.  Affections for his adopted hometown are evident in Orange Terrace as well as his earlier novels, Bone Dust and Exit South.  In addition to raising three teenagers and managing finances at Wesleyan College, Rick is active in the local community.
11:00 - 2:00 pm Break for Lunch, Booksignings, Networking, Tour the Island, etc.
2:00 - 3:00 pm Author - Sherry Paprocki "Branding Yourself as a Writer: What Editors and Agents Want in Today's Digital World" Co-Author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Branding Yourself, Paprocki's bylines have been published in Preservation, Hemispheres, InStyle, and Time magazines. Other publications include: The Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, Los Angeles Times among others.
3:00 - 4:00 pm Author - Sandra Gurvis - "Surviving as a Freelancer in a Rocky Economy"  Gurvis' books include: Country Club Wives, The Well-Traveled Dog, The Pipe Dreamers, Where Have All the Flower Children Gone?, Managing the Telecommuting Employee, America's Strangest Museums and Day Trips from Columbus.
4:00 - 5:00 pm Journalist/Editor - Susan Percy - Editor of Georgia Trend magazine "Journalism - You Bet Your Sweet Life It Still Matters"  Susan joined this award-winning regional magazine covering business, politics and economic development, in August 2001.  She was on staff at Atlanta Magazine for eight years and has worked for newspapers in Louisiana and California.  She has written for national publications including: USA Today, Reader's Digest, Arthritis Today, Harvard Health Newsletter, Redbook and Cosmopolitan.

Day 3: SATURDAY, AUGUST 13TH

Time Activity
 8:30 am   Complimentary coffee service in the "The Terrace" meeting room.
9:00 - 10:00 am Author - Barbara Casey - "Everything You Need to Know to Find the Right Agent"  Barbara is president of her own literary agency, representing adult fiction and non-fiction as well as children's books.  She is the author of numerous articles, poems and short stories.  Her seven award-winning novels have received national recognition, including the "Independent Publishers Book Award".  Novels include:  The Coach's Wife, The House of Kane.  The Cadence of Gypsies is currently being reviewed by the Smithsonian for Best Books 2011.
10:00 - 11:00 am Author - John DeDakis - "From Journalist to Novelist: or, How I Learned to Start Making it Up"  John is an editor and writer for CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer".  During his award-winning, 40-year career in journalism (23 at CNN), John has been a White House Correspondent, interviewed such luminaries as Alfred Hitchcock and has taught journalism.  Author of Fast Track and Bluff, John is currently at work on the third book of his Lark Chadwick series.   CHALLENGE PRIZE!  Airplane Ride
11:00 - 2:00 pm Break for Lunch, Booksignings, Networking, Tour the Island, etc.
2:00 - 3:00 pm Author - Krista Reese - "Everybody's a Critic: How to Eat and Write Like a Professional"  Krista, an Atlanta-based freelance writer, has covered the city's dining scene for two decades for Atlanta Magazine and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is now the dining editor for Georgia Trend magazine.  She has also written about a wide variety of topics for the Washington Post, Southern Living, U.S. News & World Report, People and Bon Appetit.  Her two cookbooks, Atlanta Classic Desserts and Atlanta Kitchens, collect her favorite recipes from beloved hometown restaurants.
3:00 - 4:00 pm Editor/Journalist - Bert Roughton -  "A Research Driven Life: The Painful Truth about Listening to Readers"  Managing Editor for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 2007.  An award-winning reporter and journalist, Roughton has written about everything from plane crashes to covering the Olympic Games for more than three decades.  As European correspondent for Cox Newspapers, Roughton covered the war in Kosovo and won a national "Headliner" award for covering the plight of African children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic.
4:00 - 5:00 pm Author/Broadcaster - David W. Berner - "The Radio Narrative: Telling Your Stories in Sound".  Berner is an award-winning jounalist, broadcaster, author and teacher.  His first book Accidental Lessons  was awarded the 2011  Royal Dragonfly Grand Prize for Literature.  His broadcast reporting and audio documentaries have been aired on the CBS Radio Network and  NPR's Weekend Edition.
5:00 - 6:00 pm

Evening With the Author Cocktail Reception with entertainment

"Challenge" Prize Winners announced!