Next NETWO meeting
will be
5:00 p.m., February
14, 2008
at Old Bank Building, Winfield
Volume 21, Issue 2
February 2008
2008 Writers’ Roundup Conference,
April 25 &
26, Camp Shiloh
(From the website)
The Northeast Texas writers’ conference will return to Camp Shiloh, between Pittsburg, Mt. Pleasant and Mt. Vernon, Texas. Located on the shores of Lake Bob Sandlin, on Highway 21, Camp Shiloh offers excellent facilities, and a beautiful setting.
The organizing committee believes this site will provide improved facilities, a beautiful setting, a separate dining facility adjacent to the conference hall (no distraction around lunch time), excellent space for private interviews with agent, editor, or publisher, a wider variety of accommodations, and good rest room facilities. The grounds offer activities for family members not directly involved in the conference, as well as conference participants – when they are not in meetings.
Fees for the conference have been set at $55 for members and $65 for non-members. Late fees after April 2, 2008 are $75 for members and $85 for non-members.
This year, NETWO will also present a dynamic workshop on Friday afternoon,
April 25. This is an absolute must for today’s writers. The presenter is not only dynamic, but she also gives specific examples of how to accomplish the steps she advocates. And at $20, this workshop is a big bargain.
The Writers’ Roundup will close with a dinner. This is optional, but the cost is only
$12. The winners of the NETWO Short Story Contest will be announced at the dinner, as well as some NETWO and conference awards. <
Nancy
Robinson Masters’ Workshop
The Ace
Factor: 5 Top-Gun Tactics for Writing
What Sells, and Selling What You Write
Registered attendees for the 2008 Writers’ Roundup may register to take an intensive, two and a half hour, workshop on Friday, beginning at 2:30 and ending at 5:15 p.m. Masters will keep you on the edge of your seat. And she knows what she’s talking about.
At $20, this workshop is a big bargain. There is a limited number of places available, which will be allocated on a “first come, first served” basis, as time slots are available. Date of your paid registration will determine your spot in the queue.
You must be signed up
for the conference first in order to add on this workshop. t
For the latest info, go to www.netwo.org.
Bios
for 2008 Faculty
Agents & Editor Faculty
Barbara Poelle (agent), is originally
from the west coast. She worked for a
Bay Area publisher before accepting an offer to join the Irene Goodman Literary
Agency in New York City, a member of the Associa- tion of Authors’ Representatives, a highly respected
certification for literary agents. Her
clients include both 
fiction and non-fiction writers.
She is a voracious reader and award-winning debater, which allows her to devour manuscripts, and then fight for her favorites. She has a strong background in editing and has no qualms about helping writers. She loves mysteries, memoirs, romances, and non-fiction relating to social issues and family relationships. But any writer with a strong, unique voice will get her attention.
Chuck
Sambuchino (editor) is the author of Guide to Literary Agents, and the
assistant editor of Writer’s Market. He has worked at several newspapers and
magazines, most notably Writer’s Digest. He has just been named editor of Screenwriter’s and Playwright’s Market.
He is a produced playwright, with original and commissioned works produced. His own writings have appeared in a number of magazines and newspapers. He is a frequent speaker at writer’s conferences. His NETWO April appearance will be his sixth in 2008.
Alethea Spiridon (agent), was an editor at Harlequin Publishing. While there, she was the editor for a book that became a finalist for the coveted RITA Award for Best Romantic Novels in 2007. Early in 2007, she left Harlequin to open her own literary agency, The Spiridon Literary Agency.
She is actively seeking romance, women’s fiction, young adult, middle grade, mysteries, literary fiction, commercial fiction, and some non-fiction.
Author Faculty
Britta Coleman is
an award-winning author, essayist, and inspirational speaker. Her debut novel, Potter Springs, from Time Warner Books garnered national media
attention. It also won the Lone Star
Scribe Award from
Barnes & Noble Booksellers. The
success of the hard copy edition prompted the publication of a paperback
edition. Her second novel is with the
publisher now.
Britta’s essays have appeared in anthologies from Guidepost Books and Simon & Schuster. She has written for FYI Television Features, Heroes for Humanity, and various newspapers.
Jennifer DiCamillo has won over 100 awards for her writing. She has written thirty-five full-length novels in the last five years, all but three published or under contract—and those three are under consideration. The Amazon Shorts program has accepted
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DiCamillo’s collection of poetry, the first poetry accepted by the program. She has also written six award-winning plays that were performed in Las Vegas, Nevada.
She has been a motivational speaker for twenty years. So, she can motivate you, and with her writing success, she can direct you in the “write” direction.
Nancy Robinson Masters is an author of dozens of books, including award winning books published by Scholastic and Capstone press. She has written more than 3,000 feature articles. Her writing has taken her to Antarctica with the National Science Foundation, at the personal request of the President of the United States, who chose her because he liked her books. She was invited to the Navy’s Top Gun school to write about it from a civilian’s per-spective.
She is a strong speaker who motivates her audience to write. Her workshop, The Ace Factor: 5 Top-Gun Tactics for Writing What Sells, and Selling What You Write, is a fast paced session with a top-gun writer that will give beginners as well as advanced writers the five most important tactics they MUST apply to survive and succeed as a writer. If you’re interested in making money writing, don’t miss this workshop.
Ben
Rehder writes comic crime novels. His very first
novel, Buck Fever, was nominated for
the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. His novels are people with wacky characters
(like the Vermont prep-schooler masquerading as a
gun-toting country music superstar) and, of course, have zany plots.
Now, after five successful novels, Ben is in demand as a speaker, not only for his insight into what it takes to succeed in the publishing world, but also for his humor in approaching a serious topic. !
If you would like to learn more, links to the websites of some of these speakers can be found on the NETWO website.
& & &
DUES NOW DUE
If you haven’t already sent in your 2008 dues, please mail them to NETWO, P. O. Box 411, Winfield, TX 75495. Even better, bring them to the February meeting on the 14th. (More on the February meeting elsewhere in this newsletter.)
Remember, NETWO dues are now on a calendar year basis. So, dues are due – now.
For the $20 annual dues, (or $25 for couples), you get many benefits. There are the discounts on the spring conference, and often on other workshops during the year. You receive this newsletter twelve times a year, with information on the club, interviews of members, news of contests and other activities of interest to writers, tips on writing and selling what you write, and often a short story, poem, or book review.
Membership in NETWO also gives you the opportunity to have your writing critiqued by other writers. This can help you improve your craft. Plus, members often can help with where to submit a piece, or how to improve the materials to be submitted. And when you need information on something that appears in your story, the widespread backgrounds of the membership can often supply that knowledge, or at least point you in the right direction.
All for $20. What a bargain! Send it today, or bring it to the February meeting. See you there.
Minutes of January Meeting
President Ted Rankin asked Skip Hughes to preside in opening the monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m.
There were no minutes for the December Christmas party meeting.
Skip reminded all of the poetry workshop starting at the Pittsburg Pizza Inn on January 12, and each consecutive Saturday until January 26.
It begins at 9:00 and runs until 11:30 a.m.
Dues are now payable for the 2008 NETWO membership:
Individuals - $20.00
Couples - $25.00
The short story contest deadline is February 15. David and Nita Allen are chairing this year.
Motion was made for the February 14 meeting to be based on a theme. The theme suggested by Jean Pamplin was Sherlock Holmes. Readings of Sherlock would replace the critique reading done each month for this event. The meeting will be held at Winfield in the old bank building at 5:00 p.m. for High Tea.
Motion was made and seconded that we accept this as our monthly meeting in February. All were in favor. Jean will let us know what she will need in the way of food. Think English!
President Ted Rankin brought up the 2008 Writers’ Roundup and discussion was held on raising the fees:
Members $55 Non-members $65
Late fees after April 2, 2008:
Members $75 Non-members $85
The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
If anyone is interested in the dorms at Camp Shiloh, they need to let NETWO know as soon as they can. They will not open the dorms without a minimum of 20 people.
There was no new information for the Treasurer’s report.
Respectfully submitted,
Nickie Carlile
@ @ @ @ @
FEBRUARY 15, THE
DEADLINE FOR THE SHORT STORY CONTEST, IS FAST APPROACHING. RULES CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEBSITE: WWW.NETWO.ORG OR
IN LAST MONTH’S NEWSLETTER.
HOLMES
FOR THE HOLIDAY
By Jean Pamplin
NETWO usually has a Literary Tea of some
sort during the month of February. This
year, our meeting date falls on February 14, 2008, VALENTINE’S DAY.
We are going
to have HOLMES for the holiday. Skip
Hughes will give a short presentation about the author, A. Conan Doyle. Other members will consider writing and
reading a short short mystery they have written in
honor of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
High Tea starts at 5 p.m. at the old Bank Building in Winfield,
Texas on Front Street, not Baker, but it will be fun. Bring a friend or significant other. Look up recipes associated with Holmes on the
internet or call Jean. This is an
English POT LUCK A.K.A. HIGH TEA.
In 1891, Dr. A. Conan Doyle (Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle) set up consulting rooms as an eye specialist in an office at 2
Devonshire Place, near Harley Street. A
lack of patients prompted his creation of detective Sherlock Holmes, one of the
world’s most famous and well-known fictional characters. Who does not know of the timeless adventures
of Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick, Dr. Watson, even today, more than a
century advanced? Doyle was a doctor,
novelist, dramatist, historian, whaler, athlete, war correspondent, and
spiritualist…a vigorous and ardent lover of life wrote four full-length novels
and fifty-six short stories…actually nine whole Sherlock Holmes books.
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For your
information:
Info from Sherlock Holmes Cookbook by Sean Wright
and John Farrell
Trim figures assisted undoubtedly by the occasional
steam bath, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were typical men of their era only
insofar as they ate, as was the custom of the time. Their genius in the matter of solving crimes
and their deductive reasoning powers were beyond the normal. Glimpse the gaslight, smell the foul
oppressive fog. Recapture Mrs. Hudson’s
labor in the kitchen and sit to high tea in front of a roaring coal fire
listening to the wind rock the chimney pots of Baker Street, waiting with bent
ear to hear Holmes and Watson pronounce a mystery solved.
Rise to the bleak, dark drear of damp
humanity and drive the chill from your bones with a satisfying English
breakfast. Even colder than London was
Mrs. Hudson’s homeland of Scotland. She,
as dutifully as was her wont,
rose two hours before her lodgers to light the coal stove, boil
water and begin the meal. Watson
habitually rose late, eating an hour or more later than Holmes. Perhaps Holmes’ “princely sums” enhanced the
woman’s patience with two such unusual gentlemen boarders.
Ham and eggs were favorites. Scotch scones and lemon biscuits covered in
butter and marmalade with a bit of cream and hot tea were just as
welcome. Marmalade, invented just prior
to the end of the eighteenth century by a Scotswoman, became an English
tradition and undoubtedly one of Mrs. Hudson’s staples. Fruit, when fresh, got special treatment and
was often flavored with brandy or sherry.
Dinner usually preceded the dangerous
business of criminal investigation and Holmes seldom described the food
consumed, finding it more appropriate to get on to the coffee, port, cigars,
and conversation. Many dinners set
beneath gaslight or whale oil light were affairs
conducted in the sitting room of Mrs. Hudson’s
boarding house. These were likely simple
affairs as Holmes remarked on his landlady’s rather limited cuisine.
As Holmes’ fame increased, Mrs. Hudson’s
meals became more extravagant. A hearty
soup, probably followed by a meat course (often consisting of some leftover
products), potatoes, vegetables, bread, and a dessert, maybe apple pie, pudding
or cake, were accompanied by a brisk ale or beer. In the beginning, neither Holmes nor Watson
could afford the good wines they would later come to savor By the way, “savouries,”
or what today we call hors d’oeuvres, followed the final course and were
intended as a pleasant ending to the meal.
Cornish pastries were extremely adaptable
and the English love flavoring their green peas with mint. A celery and chestnut salad or an
apple-beetroot salad would have been colorful additions to the table. Buttered barley bannocks were bettered only
by the pear and chocolate trifle dessert.
And always there was tea. The
English favored tea from China but tea from India was also appreciated.
The far-reaching travels of Watson and
Holmes and their varied opportunities must have introduced them to the best, as
well as the most questionable, good in the world. This is your introduction into some of the
fare most likely served at 221B Baker Street and in other London establishments
during the late
1800’s. <
BITS AND PIECES
Get news of book signings to Jim Callan
(jimcallan@winnsboro.com) early enough, and
he will add them to the website – home page (the one that comes up when you access www.netwo.org.) If he gets a “good” picture of the book signing, he will put that up, if possible, and leave it up for a couple of weeks.
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Marsha Edney, Marshall High School librarian is looking for authors to participate in “an evening with authors and books” on March 11 at Marshall High School, Harrison County, for the students of MISD and the Marshall area community. Any author, illustrator or writer appropriate for a school or young adult audience is welcome to contact her. No fees will be paid or charged in this event. Authors will be able to sell their books and encouraged to autograph them. Contact her at
Readinglady01@aol.com or mledney@cablelynx.com, or 903/812-9278.
The January Poetry Workshop came off very well. Skip says a big thank you to all involved, especially the participants. Also appreciated are Bob and Sharon, owners of the Pizza Inn, and the workshop sponsor, NETWO. One question that came up several times concerned when such an event might be repeated. Skip’s answer was,
“Let’s look toward a one-day version this coming summer. That’s a worthwhile approach if the support is there.” !
ALLAN R. SMITH
A Profile
By Jackie Brown
Allan Smith was born on the 20th of April, so is a Taurus, the sign which immediately follows the zodiacal sign of Aries. Since Aries is the sign of the Ram, and Taurus is the sign of the Bull, one should probably not argue with a person born on the “cusp” between the two! Yet his writing, mostly short stories of the South, is thoughtful and nostalgic, and one of them I read recently made me think of To Kill a Mockingbird.
Allan attended Texas A&M and earned a B.S. degree in Agricultural Economics in 1949. He has lived in Kaufman, Dallas, and DeKalb for most of his life, except for the years in the U. S. Navy when he was a Naval Aviator, stationed in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets. He misses flying, and most enjoys (to use his words), “Soaring all day in a sailplane under summer cumulus clouds with my hawk, buzzard and wild geese friends.” He also likes to watch his favorite pro baseball team (the Cubs) play, and read.
In addition to serving as an aviator on the smaller, older WW II carriers, (the ones with teakwood decks), Allan worked as an insurance salesman, and enjoyed being a Republican Party “ward heeler persecuting yellow-dog Democrats.”
When I asked Allan what person has had the strongest influence in his life, he said, “My Wife.” I can’t wait to find out what Floy’s zodiac sign is, but I think she’s had a benign influence. He also says that he’s been influenced most in his writing by his wife, his Thesaurus, and a sharp No. 2 pencil, along with other Southern fiction. He has little use for computers and the newer electronic devices and gadgets.
Allan’s favorite book is Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand. Also, Moby Dick, by H. Melville, and A Bowl of Red, by Frank Tolbert, (about Texas chili heads). His idols in the writing world include Faulkner, Gore Vidal, Joseph Conrad, and Kurt Vonnegut. Other favorites are Buckley, Steinbeck, Villiers, and Hugo. He recently enjoyed the Patrick O’Brian series, about the British Navy in the 19th century. His favorite historical period is the Depression Era, the sociological events then and characters he remembers.
Allan says his writing has mainly been concentrated on short stories, sketches, a fictionalized biography, and some one- and two-act plays. He’s made some starts on novels, and may yet do one. His writing ambition is to write quality fiction depicting East Texas culture, primarily human interest with simple plots. The Faulknerian south and other post-war cultures (in the 1950’s) stimulate his thoughts, and memories of characters he’s known.
His favorite magazine is The Writer’s Journal, his favorite television is C-Span, and C-Span 2 Book TV on weekends. He says he
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has no particular favorite among movies and rarely watches them. He feels the modern movies are too shallow and immoral, have no substantive value, and are redundant.
His advice to those who wish to become writers is, “Associate with other writers, avoid use of sterile electronic devices (laptops) that penalize creativity and are annoying (personally). Develop your own style and do not copy others. Write about other than redundant formula fiction, experiment, and throw away first drafts.”
Asked if he would enjoy a weekend at a writing retreat, Allan said, “Maybe—if offered good coffee.” What is it about writers and coffee?
The one word to sum him up, he says, is: “Curious.” &
The Lowdown on Publishers
In a recent newsletter (which I highly recommend for anyone wanting to sell their writing), C. Hope Clark of Funds for Writers explained the bewildering array of choices for those seeking publication. I’ve excerpted a portion of her article below.
“VANITY/SUBSIDY PUBLISHERS
Author pays to publish. The publisher sells the book under its imprint/name. The books belong to the publisher until sold. The author receives royalties.
COOPERATIVE PUBLISHER
Publisher requires no fee or a partial fee with the author often selecting what services to purchase in an a la carte manner. These contracts can retain some rights for periods of time or apply conditions upon sales and pub-lishing. These are give-and-take arrangements most conducive to the author who knows exactly what he wants and understands the industry. Author receives royalties.
SELF-PUBLISHERS
The author pays for design, print and distri-bution. The author owns the book and retains possession of the books printed. Author owns all rights and receives all income from sales.
PRINTER/BOOK PRODUCER
The entity that works with the self-publishers, producing the books as requested. They are not publishers although they will often call them-selves such. They have no rights to the book and do not pay royalties. They provide work-for-hire.
TRADITIONAL/CONVENTIONAL PUBLISHER
These are publishers that produce the books you affiliate with bookstores and famous authors. Publishers like St. Martin’s Press, Random House, Tor, Harlequin, Harper Collins and Putnam. They buy the manuscript, covering all cost of producing the book. The author pays nothing. The books belong to the publisher. Author receives royalties.
PUBLISH AMERICA
This entity falls into its own category. It doesn’t charge up front and holds your rights for at least seven years. There is no editing involved as with a traditional publisher. What you write is what gets printed, mistakes and all, just like a subsidy, vanity or self-published book. This publisher has lovers and haters. Read the contract carefully to see if you agree with this method.”
Website: http://www.fundsforwriters.com
Submitted by Gay Ingram
MARKETS
Galand Nuchols advises that according to an article in Children’s Writer Marketplace, Eldridge Publishing is interested in plays and musicals for schools, community theaters, and churches. One-act plays, full-length plays, melodramas, musicals, and children’s theater are also of interest to them. Plays for junior and senior high schools as well as Christmas plays are on their want list. Interested authors can check out their website at www.95church.com.
New THE FIRST LINE contest entries due by May 1, 2008. The story must begin with the first line: “Nick had considered himself a lucky guy, until now.” Story should be between 300 and 3,000 words. They pay $20.00 for fiction that is accepted, or $10.00 for nonfiction, as well as a copy of the journal. Winners will be published in the summer issue (approximately 9 or 10 stories, with brief editorial comment). Send stories to: submission@thefirstline.com or mail to THE FIRST LINE, P. O. Box 250382,
Plano, TX 75025-0382.
MOCKINGBIRD BOOKS of Boerne, Texas invites accomplished authors to submit queries regarding original book-length works of Texas non-fiction. They seek books that appeal to adult Texas residents and visitors. They consider books about history, nature, the
environment, gardening, cooking, regional attractions, current topics and other creative
non-fiction. They do not publish fiction,
historical fiction, poetry, children’s books or romance.
Query by e-mail only to contact@mockingbirdbooks.com. Include your entire query in the body of your e-mail—no attachments, or graphics. Your e-mail query should consist of a query letter, a brief bio and the first 2500 words of your manuscript. Your query letter should explain your book’s topic, why you wrote the book, how you researched your book and the audience for your book.
Mockingbird Books is a micro-publisher of adult non-fiction about Texas. They are the publishing imprint of The Texana Foundation, a Texas non-profit corporation. In addition to publishing, the foundation hosts innovative book events that explore the rich heritage and culture of Texas. See their website: www.mockingbirdbook.com. <