Next NETWO meeting is Volume 23, Issue 3
Thursday, Mar. 12, 5:30 p.m. March 2009
Western Sizzlin, Mt.
Pleasant
23rd ANNUAL NETWO SPRING
WRITERS’ CONFERENCE
The following is excerpted from the NETWO website in connection with the one-on-one interviews at the Spring Conference, and is also referred to in the conference registration brochure.
ADVANCE WRITING SAMPLES
Those whose paid registration is received by April 2 may ALSO submit a writing sample to be read by the editor Melissa Frain or agents Joanna Stampfel or Terry Burns before the conference. This can be a basis for the personal interview. However, please note, only a limited number of samples will be accepted by each. And these will be accepted on a “first come, first served” basis. Date of paid registration will be used in determining order of requests.
Please check the type of books each is interested in – and NOT interested in – seeing. Check it carefully. If your work is something the agent or editor does not want to represent, it will not be sent to her or him. (This is not being difficult. But if you take a slot with something that the editor or agent has said they are not interested in, you may be keeping a person with a piece perfectly suited to the reader from getting it to the right person.) Please read the specific guidelines for each agent or editor BEFORE submitting a writing sample. Thanks. It will help us all.
Joanna Stamfel represents everything from children’s books (chapter books to YA, both non-fiction and fiction). On the adult side, she is interested in speculative, romance, historical, paranormal, unique fantasy, literary, dark comedy, dark drama, and horror. She will occasionally take on a strong narrative non-fiction work with environmental or food (or both!) elements.
Currently, she is NOT looking for picture books, cookbooks, mysteries, screenplays, poetry, short story collections, epic fantasy, hi-science fiction, academic non-fiction, thrillers, or westerns.
She will accept the first three chapters, or 30 pages, whichever is smaller.
Melissa Frain is actively seeking urban fantasy (with some overlap into paranormal romance), women’s fiction, and young adult fiction (especially the older side of young adult). She is NOT particularly interested in non-fiction, military fiction, or books for very young children. Send the first three chapters, or 30 pages, whichever is smaller.
Terry Burns specializes in “Christian Fiction.” However, if he gets a book he likes, even if it is not “Christian Fiction,” he will take it on and market it to publishers other than those in the CBA.
He will take a writing sample of three chapters or 30 pages, whichever is smaller. But he prefers a book proposal. Your fiction proposal should include the following items:
· Cover letter
· Proposal cover page
· One-page “sell sheet”
· Biographical sketch
· Story synopsis
· Market analysis
· Competitive analysis
· Marketing strategies (if any)
· History of the manuscript (if any)
· The first three chapters.
Do NOT send samples directly to any of these three. The samples should come to NETWO, who will forward them to the proper person, thus guaranteeing them a reading before the conference.
Samples should be mailed in order to arrive at NETWO no later than April 2. On April 2, they will be bundled up and sent to the appropriate person, so if your entry does not arrive by
April 2, it cannot be included in those sent to agent or editor. Allow ample time for the U. S. Postal Service to deliver your package by
April 2. NETWO cannot be responsible if your sample does not arrive on time.
Mail the sample to NETWO, P. O. Box 411, Winfield, TX 75493.
Of course, the samples should be formatted appropriately for submission to an agent or an editor. t
For complete information on all aspects of the Spring Conference, see www.netwo.org
February
2009 Minutes
Twenty members of the Northeast Texas Writers’ Organization met at the Western Sizzlin’ in Mt. Pleasant on February 12th at 5:30 p.m. (new starting time). President Ted Rankin presided.
The treasurer, Pat Hamilton, reported $8000 in the bank.
New Business:
Old Business:
Jim Callan wanted to be sure that the line would be no longer than 30 to 40 feet to keep the sound distortion at a minimum. Motion was voted on and carried to purchase the sound system.
The NETWO members celebrated Georgia Henson’s and other February birthdays with the traditional Tea Time. Paul Paris brought the delicious cake for all to enjoy.
Business Meeting
Adjourned.
Reading Critique
Session:
Meeting Adjourned.
Minutes submitted by Michele Chitsey &
BITS AND PIECES
NETWO member Georgia Henson graced the cover of East Texas Journal last month and was the subject of a very special article by Galand Nuchols. If you missed it, try to borrow a copy.
Kennith Swinford relates some interesting and amusing incidents from his childhood in the February issue of East Texas Journal just out.
Gay Ingram has added a new article, “Five Ways to Being a Better Writer,” to www.authorsden.com/na.asp?id+46068.
Galand is undergoing therapy in Rehab after suffering a broken kneecap and right arm from a fall. She’s cheerful and says she is doing fine, but keep her in your prayers. We wish her a speedy recovery. t
NEW MEMBERS
Patricia Snodgrass
New Boston, TX
Denise Weeks
Richardson, TX
GAY INGRAM
A Profile
By Jackie Brown
Gay Ingram has spent most of her life in
Big Sandy, Texas, where she lives with her husband of 49 years. Their two sons chose different lives, the
eldest teaching classical piano at a university, the younger one working at Charity
Steel, where his father worked for years.
Gay began her writing due to a desire to share her interest and expertise with herbs. She wrote and distributed several informational booklets and a bi-monthly newsletter on the subject.
A creative writing course launched her interest in writing fiction. Her first novel called Till Death Do Us Part, was released in 2001. She self-published Tracks on the Sand, a history of Big Sandy, in 2003. Another novel, Troubled Times, came out in November 2005. She then published The Stirred Pot, an anthology of short stories. Later came Living With a Depressed Spouse, based on her own experiences. Lately she has kept busy publishing articles in the Writer’s Journal, and writing devotionals and other short pieces. She also has completed two other novels, and is working on another one. She prefers working on women’s fiction, and especially likes working on historical novels of different periods. Her short story, Beginning of Tomorrow, appears in the recent anthology, A Treasure Box, published by NETWO. She took the story from one of her current novels in progress, The Red Feather, after changing the character’s name.
Gay’s favorite book is The Good Earth by Pearl Buck. She credits her interest in writing to several books, the main ones being motivational books by Julie Cameron, and The Creative Call by Janice Elsheimer. She likes contests, believing they give one validation as a writer. She believes it would be fun to spend a weekend at a writing retreat as long as she had a project to work on. One of her current projects is taking the poems of a family friend and writing them down and putting them in a book for him, as the man himself is self-taught and unable to write them down for a book.
Her favorite subject at school was English. Her favorite magazine is Writer’s Journal. She’s not a big fan of movies, but enjoys the Hallmark Specials on television.
Gay says in her writing she is inspired by a deadline! Also, she has found that keeping a journal and writing in it every day helps her.
Her advice to those who want to become writers is to “Get Started!” She says they should make writing a part of their daily lives, like eating or drinking. She is self-motivated, and calls herself “A Finisher.”
In her spare time, Gay takes part in making baby blankets for needy children, for Project “LINUS.”
She says one word to sum her up is “Persistent.”
She says it came to her recently, as if from God, that success in writing is “being a channel of love.” &
CHRISTIAN BOOK EXPO
The Dallas Morning News had a notice that the Christian Book Expo is set for
March 19-21 at the Dallas Convention Center. Among the authors taking part are Christopher Hitchens, Max Lucado and Sheila Walsh. Adult admission is $29/day or $59 for all three days. Details are at
BUTTERFLY PASSING BY
By Joy M. Chitsey
Butterfly, butterfly
I see you passing by.
Your splash of color bright
Announces God’s delight.
Fluttering for all to see,
Small creature of beauty,
Symbol of God’s own Son,
Birth-Death-Resurrection,
Butterfly, butterfly
Thank you for passing by.
? ? ? ? ? ? ?
MY FIRST YEAR IN CATHOLIC
SCHOOL SECOND GRADE
By Bryan Freeman
I was eight or nine years old when I was transferred from the public school system in Port Washington, Long Island, New York to the Corpus Christi Catholic School in Mineola, twenty miles away.
I was in the second grade then. I had been living with my grandmother, aunt and uncle on and off for the past eight years while my mother and father were on the road all the time doing their vaudeville act. They were a dance team with a vaudeville troupe. It was a big thing back in those days. And now they decided to settle down for a while.
I knew I was Catholic because I was told that I was, and we went to church every Sunday and on Wednesday nights. My grandmother said prayers every day at twelve noon and at three p.m. Prayers were also said before each meal and at bedtime. So, as you can see, I had a good religious base when I entered Catholic school.
I entered Catholic school in January, right after the New Year. It was a bit of a culture shock to me, as I wasn’t prepared for the strictness and the constant religious teaching every day. But I tolerated it.
The Lenten season started in February and, like a good student, I listened to the event that was about to start. Ash Wednesday came and we all went to church to get the ashes on our brows. Then we were led to the pews to sit through a devotional. I was the first one to go into the pew. That put me in the middle of the main pew of the church with no way to get out but the way I came in. We all said a prayer or two, stood and sat and knelt to the click of the sister’s little hand-held clicker. Then we were told to pick up the prayer book that was in the rack in front of us and turn to page so-and-so. I did like everyone else. We were all kneeling…When I read the top of the page of my book I started to panic and cry. I headed for the aisle, climbing and clawing and crying over everyone that was in my way. The nun was the last one I climbed over. When my feet hit the floor, I was doing sixty up the aisle and headed for the front door. A couple of nuns tried to stop me but I was going too fast.
I made it to the front door and the top step going down to the street and freedom, but one of the nuns at the door was able to grab me. Holding on to me as hard as she could, she asked what was wrong and why was I crying. Tearfully, I told her that I read what the prayer book said on the top page, “Forty Hours of Devotion,” and I wasn’t about to stay there for no forty hours, I’m going home.
She assured me that I wouldn’t stay there for that long and got me to go back inside the church. The good nun, understanding my fears, sat me in the last pew by the aisle, and said I could leave any time I wanted if I became uncomfortable.
I bet I was the object of conversation that night, both in the convent and the rectory.
WHEN I CAN, I STILL SIT IN THE LAST PEW WHEN I GO TO CHURCH.
* * * * *
BOOK FESTIVAL
Dawn Trammell, a self-published author, is in the process of setting up several book festivals in East and Central Texas to create an affordable venue for local authors and illustrators to present their work. She is planning a festival once a month in a different area.
She has provided the following information:
March Festival
Date: Saturday, March 21st, 11 am – 3 pm
Where: Trail Country Center for the Arts
200 E. Market St.
Winnsboro, Texas
Particulars:
1. Bring your own table and setups. Tables will not be provided. Anything that you can do to attract attention to your table will get you more buyers. An attractive table does just that, it attracts. Also feel free to bring any kind of give-away item that will promote your work as well.
2. You are encouraged to promote your work at the festival, but please feel free to sell your work as well. We do not ask for a commission or percentage. Whatever you sell, you keep. Just please keep your sales to writing and illustrations. Bring plenty of copies of your work if you plan to sell.
3. Each author may rent a space for his table for $25.00 payable at least two weeks prior to the event, which in this case will be March 7. (I realize that this will get to most of you too late, but if you are interested, check with Ms. Trammell—maybe she will allow you the leeway. –ED.) If there are spaces left, you may book them after this date for $35.00. Make the check out to Texas Book Festivals. You may mail your payment to the following address:
Texas Book Festivals
Attn: Dawn Trammell
1286 FM 288
Quitman, TX 75783
You will then receive a confirmation and assignment by e-mail. If you have sent a check and have not received a confirmation one week prior to the event, please e-mail me so I can be sure to get that to you. We will be using 100% of your space rental to promote the event by advertising both in print and on radio.
4. Please be at the venue at least one hour in advance to set up. We would like for all tables to be set up and manned by 10:45 a.m. It would be a good idea to have two people at your table if possible. This will be a great networking opportunity and you may like to have time to walk around. You may leave your table at any time, but we cannot be responsible for any theft that may occur at that time. We would also like for you to pick up your table immediately after the venue to help speed up the clean-up process. Thank you for your help with this.
Dawn Trammell
Texas Book Festivals
903-689-4904 home
903-497-6758 cell