Schedule for May 2011

Fasten your seat-belts and get ready for adventure, suspense, mystery and history. Our May Conference is sure to tantalize and inspire you on your own writing journey. If you have been wondering about how to make your writing a true success story, you will really get a lot out of this conference. We are proud to present a very interesting mix of inspiring experts from a variety of backgrounds and geographies. From "thriller" novelists to writers of enchanting poetry and award-winning juvenile fiction writers, this conference has it all!

 

Day 1: THURSDAY, MAY 12th

Sign-in 5:00 pm Solarium Lobby

Time Activity
6:00 - 7:00 pm Opening Ceremonies Banquet (included in price of conference)
6:00 - 7:45 pm Bookstore Open

Day 2: FRIDAY, MAY 13th

Time Activity
7:00 - 9:00 am  Complimentary Coffee Service in meeting room
9:00 - 10:00 am Author Denise Tompkins - "Effective Query Letter Writing" Denise will explain how an effective query letter earned her an unagented request for the full manuscript from one of the "big six" New York publishing houses.  CHALLENGE PRIZE!  Airplane Ride over the islands
10:00 - 11:00 am Author Ricki Schultz - "Online Presence Building-Made Easy" Ricki is a freelance writer/editor and a recovering high school English Teacher who contributes to Writer's Digest Books and interviews literary agents for the Guide to Literary Agents blog.
11:00 - 2:00 pm Break for Lunch, Book Signings, Tour the island, etc.
2:00 - 3:00 pm Author Chuck Barrett - "Who's Point of View is it Anyway? How Not to Confuse Your Reader"  The Savannah Project, Barrett's first novel interweaves his aviation expertise, a long-time passion for writing and a keen sense of suspense.
3:00 - 4:00 pm Author Pat Bertram - "Creating Incredible, but Credible, Characters"  Daughter Am I, More Deaths Than One, and A Spark of Heavenly Fire.  Her fourth novel, Light Bringer, is scheduled for release March 2011.
4:00 - 5:00 pm Author June Hall McCash - "Writing Historical Fiction" Jekyll Island's Early Years: From Pre-History, The Cultural Patronage of Medieval Women, The Jekyll Island Cottage Colony, Almost to Eden

Day 3: SATURDAY, MAY 14th

Time Activity
7:00 - 9:00 am  Complimentary Coffee Service in the meeting room.
9:00 - 10:00 am Author Jane Wood - "Schools, A Niche Market"  Award winning author of four juvenile fiction books, Voices in St. Augustine, Adventures on Amelia Island: A Pirate, A Princess and Buried Treasure and Trouble on the St. John's River.  All four books received Mom's Choice Awards®.  Wood's newest book is Ghosts on the Coast: A Visit to Savannah and the Low Country.
10:00 - 11:00 am Author/Poet Dr. Anya Silver "Writing Poetry: The Enchanted Craft"  Anna has published a book of poetry, The Ninety-Third Name of God and has had her poetry published in numerous journals:  Image, New Ohio Review, Witness, Prairie Schooner, Christianity and Literature, The Christian Century among others.  CHALLENGE PRIZE!  Kayak Tour
11:00 - 2:00 pm Break for Lunch, Book Signings, Tour the Island, etc.
2:00 - 3:00 pm Author Victor DiGenti "Revving Up Your Narrative Drive"  Former broadcaster, producer and reporter, Victor will help you put your writing into high gear by revealing authors' methods to "pull their readers along" by using secrets from novels like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Silence of the Lambs, etc.. Vic's tips will add high-octane fuel to your narrative engine. Vic's Windrusher series has won numerous awards and his latest mystery Mantanzas Bay was named Book of the Year '09 Royal Palm Literary Awards Competition.
3:00 - 4:00 pm Author NY Times bestseller: Phillip Margolin "How to Write a Novel in Your Spare Time"  Phil will show how to go from your idea to beginning your book and how to work out the ending. He teaches the value of outlines in a simple and intelligent way that will help you in the writing process.  His methods are certain to get you going with confidence and vigor!
4:00 - 5:00 pm "KEYNOTE ADDRESS" Phillip Margolin - All fifteen of Margolin's novels have appeared on the New York Times Best-seller list:  The Undertaker's Widow, Heartstone, The Burning Man, Lost Lake, Fugitive, Executive Privilege, Supreme Justice, Gone But Not Forgotten, Proof Positive, The Associate, After Dark, The Last Innocent Man, Ties That Bind, Sleeping Beauty and Wild Justice.  Margolin is currently working on the final installment of his Washington trilogy: Capital Murder
5:00 - 6:00 pm

Evening With the Author reception with wine and hors d'oeuvres and entertainment.

"Challenge" Prize Winners announced!