If you’re a published writer in the Poconos and surrounding areas, you should be at the 2025 Author Expo on June 21, sponsored by the Pocono Liars Club and the Eastern Monroe Public Library. Also in attendance will be numerous small publishers who are anxious to scout out possible new authors for their imprints.
Fill out the form below and send it in before June 1. We expect and hope to fit everyone, but space is limited. Confirmations of acceptance will be emailed to you after June 1.
We had a great conference today other than the zoom link not working for Jonathan Maberry’s presentation (But it worked in dress rehearsal!)… we will reschedule that for an online session only. Check back here for details. (EDIT: Scheduled for Monday, April 28th, at 8 pm. Link is on our Facebook page)
Click on a picture to see the whole thing!
Our annual Writers Conference is coming soon! Mark your calendars! Sign up here!
SCHEDULE
9:00: MICHAEL A. VENTRELLA: Registration, check-in, and introductions
9:15: KELLY JENSEN: “Get Covered: Appealing and Professional Book Covers”: How to work with your publisher or a graphic designer to produce eye-catching and market-appropriate covers. This presentation is for people working with traditional publishers (large and small press) and those publishing independently. Topics will range from how and when to provide input to a designer to how to approach doing it on your own.
10:30: JON McGORAN: “Exposition & Economy”: Info dumps and other expository writing can bog down your prose and turn your fast-paced thriller into a slog. This session will help you identify clunky exposition in your writing, and show you techniques and strategies to minimize expository writing while still getting across the information your readers need to get the most from your story.
11:30: Lunch (not provided, but there are lots of places nearby or you can bring your own)
12:30: JONATHAN MABERRY: “Emotional Complexity for Heroes and Villains”: Heroes and villains are, and should always be, emotionally and psychologically complex. There are some fun and useful ways to build compelling lead characters that turn characters into ‘people’, and that invites readers to bond with them, thereby enriching the entire reading experience. NY Times bestseller Jonathan Maberry will share some tips, tricks, and insights for crafting the characters that will make your novel come alive!
1:34: CAITLIN ROZAKIS: “Past the First Draft: Revising Your Work”: You’ve typed the last sentence—does that mean you’re done? Unfortunately, most work is not ready to go after the first draft. But how can you identify which darlings need killing? We’ll talk about some of the different kinds of editing your book may need, revision strategies, and how to get the final version of your work closer to your goals.
3:00: MICHAEL A. VENTRELLA: Panel Discussion and Question and Answer session with all panelists
Admission is free but seating is limited. Please only sign up if you are sure you will be attending. If you later discover you cannot attend, please delete your reservation so there will be enough room for everyone. Do not reserve space for anyone other than yourself — if there is more than one reservation under your name, the extra ones will be deleted.
….
CRITIQUES
Each of the participants are holding smaller sessions during the presentations where you can get individual critiques and comments. (Alternatively, the presenters may instead do this entirely by zoom or through email, depending on schedules.)
These sessions are $20 each. You can sign up for as many as you want but you must pre-register because space is limited. Please note that by signing up for these personal sessions, you will miss some of the other presentations.
The panelists will contact you by email prior to the session to discuss writing samples and other requirements.
Note that the deadline for signing up for these sessions is APRIL 1 (no fooling).
9:15: Caitlin Rozakis
12:30: Jon McGoran
1:45: Kelly Jensen
….
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
If aliens ever land on Earth, KELLY JENSEN will not be prepared, despite having read over a hundred stories of the apocalypse. Still, she will pack her precious books into a box and carry them as she strives to survive. It’s what bibliophiles do. Kelly is the award-winning author of seventeen novels, including the critically acclaimed Chaos Station series, co-written with Jenn Burke. Some of what she writes is speculative, but mostly it’s just about a guy losing his socks or burning dinner. Because life isn’t all conquering aliens and mountain peaks. Sometimes finding a happy ever after is all the adventure we need. Her web page is https://kellyjensenwrites.com/
JONATHAN MABERRY is a NYTimes bestseller, 5-time Bram Stoker Award-winner, 4-time Scribe Award winner, Inkpot Award winner, and author of over fifty novels. He is also a comic book writer, poet, executive producer, and writing teacher. His vampire apocalypse book series, V-WARS, was a Netflix original series; his novel, Rot & Ruin, is in development for film with Alcon Entertainment; and his Joe Ledger thrillers are being developed for TV by Chad Stahelski, director of the JOHN WICK movies. He writes horror, sci-fi, fantasy, adventure, thrillers, and more. He’s president of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers, and the editor of Weird Tales Magazine. His web page is https://www.jonathanmaberry.com/ (NOTE that Jonathan will be appearing virtually by zoom)
JON McGORAN is the author of eleven novels for adults and young adults, including his latest science fiction thriller, The Price of Everything, coming April 2025 from Solaris Books. His other books include the YA science fiction thrillers Spliced,Splintered, and Spiked and the science thrillers Drift, Deadout, and Dust Up. He has also written numerous short stories. Spliced was named to the American Library Association’s inaugural LITA Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable List and shortlisted for the 2019/2020 South Carolina Young Adult Book Award. Both Spliced andSplintered were named Best Books for Young Readers by the American Bookseller’s Association. McGoran is a developmental editor and ghostwriter, and he teaches in Drexel University’s Creative Writing MFA program. He lives outside Philadelphia with his wife Elizabeth, a librarian. For more, visit www.jonmcgoran.com or @JonMcGoran on social media.
CAITLIN ROZAKIS is the New York Times bestselling author of Dreadful. Her contemporary romance novella Leah’s Perfect Christmas, written as Catherine Beck, was adapted as the Hallmark Channel Original Movie Leah’s Perfect Gift. After graduating from Princeton, she has had too many career changes, including mechanical engineering (cut short after the murderous robot incident), finance (amortizing tequila receivables is not as fun as drinking tequila), and the American Museum of Natural History (who knew emus had birth certificates?), and a number of marketing positions, some at companies you may have even heard of. Her next book, The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association, is coming from Titan Books in May 2025. Her web page is https://www.caitlinrozakis.com/
MICHAEL A. VENTRELLA is a Stroudsburg writer with six novels so far, including Big Stick and Bloodsuckers: A Vampire Runs for President. He’s edited a dozen anthologies, including the Baker Street Irregulars anthologies (co-edited with Jonathan Maberry); Three Time Travelers Walk Into…, and Release the Virgins. His short stories have appeared in other anthologies and magazines. He’s also written nonfiction books about the US Constitution, The Beatles, and the Monkees. At his web page (MichaelAVentrella.com), he interviews authors and editors and gives advice for the starting writer. In his spare time, he is a lawyer.
————————
The members of The Pocono Liars are committed to making this conference one where every person in attendance feels supported and respected for their endeavors, and a place where all writers feel welcome and are treated with courtesy, patience and respect. While we as individuals might not share the same world views, we in The Pocono Liars believe it is imperative to develop a safe environment for creatives from all backgrounds and beliefs to gather in support of one another. It is our collective wish to provide such a venue in support of the intellectual integrity of all those who attend and wish to participate.
Additionally, as writers, we feel it is especially important that we respect the boundaries of each individual. Therefore, while proactive critiques are most certainly welcome and appreciated, we especially request that those in attendance refrain from putting fellow writers in a position of validating their choice of genre, lifestyle or story. Thank you.
In the City Without End, level means everything.
The overcity is bright and glittering, the realm of the First Families. As a dutiful son and heir, Cato spends his days crafting the contracts that bind citizens together—but by night, he works to undermine the corrupt system. When his activities come under question, he scrambles to cover his tracks. Then his family arranges a new marriage for him, and Cato must look deeper than he ever has into the society into which he was born.
Price, the hidden son of a First Family, took refuge in the dark undercity twenty years ago after leaving his family under a shroud of mystery. The only thing that could draw him back is the disappearance of his sister, and the fact that his family has betrothed him to the Prince of Contracts in her place. This so-called prince represents everything that’s wrong with the city. But if he wants to keep his place and find his sister, he has to go along with his family’s plans.
What begins as duty becomes more as Cato and Price realize they’re not so different—and that someone wants them dead. Between dodging attempts on their lives and trying to find Price’s sister, they must work together if they want a chance at humanizing the City Without End.
THE CITY WITHOUT END is the latest novel from Pocono Liar Kelly Jensen and is available now! Order your paperback or kindle version.
The Pocono Liars are excited to announce the launch of our very own anthology titled The Lies We Tell Others! As members of the Pocono Liars, we all know that lies are at the heart of our stories, so naturally, the theme of this collection is Lies. Whether big or small, the truth may be bent, but it must be at the core of your submission.
We invite writers residing in the Poconos to submit engaging, well-written stories in any genre.
Submission Guidelines
Word Count: Stories under 5,000 words.
Theme: Lies or lying must feature prominently in the piece.
Formatting: Manuscripts should be typed, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins. Use a standard 12-point font (e.g., Times New Roman). Include your name, email, mailing address, and story title in the header on the first page.
File Format: Please submit your story in RTF format.
Rights: The author retains all rights to the story. Reprints are acceptable. Note that publishing an original story in this anthology may prevent you from submitting that story elsewhere. By submitting, you grant the Pocono Liars permission to publish your work in the anthology. No payment is involved, but contributors will receive publishing credits and a sincere thank-you.
Submission Details
Submit by: August 1, 2025
To Be Published: November or December 2025.
Why We’re Doing This: This anthology will raise funds for the Pocono Liars so we can continue offering amazing workshops and guest speakers at no cost to you. This is a volunteer project, and contributors will receive heartfelt thanks and publishing credits—no payments are involved!
Who Can Submit: Writers currently residing in the Poconos, with a preference given to members of the Pocono Liars Club. Please note that all submissions, whether from the Liars Club or not, will be subject to review and editing, and there is no guarantee of acceptance.
Get your creative juices flowing! If you’re interested, start brainstorming your story. This is your chance to share your unique voice and be part of an exciting new chapter in the Pocono Liars community.
Email submissions to: michael.ventrella@gmail.com. Please place “Liars Club Story Submission” in the subject line.
The internet, a cornucopia of informational videos, alternative news sources, and real-time footage of fantastic encounters too outrageous to believe. Or are they? Three friends for the video channel Skeptic Soup are out to debunk sensational claims, but when a first-hand account involving a missing boy takes them to the wilds of Canada, what they find may not align with their personal beliefs. Will they survive their foray into the field? Or worse, will they have to eat their words?
Pocono Liar founder Michael A. Ventrella‘s latest book is a novella featuring lots of humor, scary parts, and the plot twists he loves to incorporate into all his works. It’s available wherever you can find good books, and even in places where you can find bad books.
Click here to order a copy (or the kindle version) on Amazon.
Editor Neil Clarke (winner of numerous Hugo Awards and editor of the yearly “Best of Science Fiction” anthologies) explains why you should not use artificial intelligence to write your story.
October 26, 2024 at the Hughes Library. Admission is FREE but you must reserve your spot because of limited space. Here’s the link to sign up!
In this day-long event, small, interactive group workshops will be offered, providing participants with information and personal attention. Attendees will be able to choose three workshops from the six offered. [See Below]
Remember: This is a workshop. Bring your laptop or pen and paper and be ready to do some writing exercises!
A1: Plotting Your Story
There are two kinds of stories: ones where things happen, and ones that have a plot. You want yours to be the second kind. Join Kelly Jensen in Plotting 101, a workshop designed to take your ideas and turn them into a plot that will make your characters and readers happy.
Pocono Liar Author and Presenter Kelly Jensen is the author of fifteen novels and over a dozen novellas and short stories. Some of what she writes is speculative in nature, but mostly it’s about a guy losing his socks or burning dinner. Because life isn’t all conquering aliens and mountain peaks. Sometimes finding a happy ever after is all the adventure we need. Connect with Kelly: Website: https://www.kellyjensenwrites.com
OR
A2: Adding Tension into Dialogue
Who wants to read, no less write, flat dialogue? It’s boring. It takes up space and keeps a story from moving along. But how to spice it up? Join Sahar Abdulaziz in Adding Tension into Dialogue, a workshop designed to make character interactions jump off the page into your readers’ hearts.
Presenter and Pocono Liar Author Sahar Abdulaziz specializes in writing psychological thrillers, suspenseful narratives, thought-provoking social commentary, and clever satire. However, there’s nothing that Sahar enjoys more than exercising her demonic proclivity for crafting intricate, multifaceted protagonists confronting formidable challenges. The more dysfunctional, the better. https://www.saharraziz.com
—–
B1: Honing your story
Getting an editor to buy your short story is not an easy task. This workshop will help you hone your plot to its necessary parts and will help you narrow down your idea to be as original and unique as possible.
M ichael A. Ventrella writes witty adventures about reluctant heroes. He’s edited over a dozen anthologies featuring award-winning NY Times bestselling authors. His own short stories have appeared in various anthologies and magazines, and he’s also written nonfiction books about music and the U.S. Constitution. His web page is www.michaelaventrella.com
OR
B2: Backstory
Why is backstory important to your plot? Do you want to deepen your stories? Find the “why” behind your character’s actions? Join Victoria Marie Lees to learn how to add interiority to your story.
Pocono Liar Author Victoria Marie Lees has published a variety of literary works, including short stories, fiction, essays, memoirs, and poetry. For more information: https://www.victoriamarielees.com
—–
C1: The Magic of the Short Story
Unlock the magic of short stories. Enter the realms of sci-fi and fantasy to wrestle with world-building, character creation, and concise plots in a word-limited manner. Hands-on writing challenges and engaging discussions will offer a chance to practice and implement ideas. Kevin T. Morley’s workshop is your gateway to crafting unforgettable short stories.
KT Morley spent twenty years teaching America’s youth about Algebra and the plight of a hopelessly lost X. Then he began writing SF and F to share with his bride and their children. He’s published several short stories, the most recent with Konsensus’ print 21 Futures, Tales from the Timechain. Find him at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKTMorley. (where he has readings titled Storytime with an Algebra Teacher)
OR
C2: Crafting the Elevator Pitch
It took you two years to write your book. You find yourself in front of an editor who’s about to disappear. How do you sell that book in ten seconds? Well, you don’t. But you can grab the editor’s interest enough to get more time for a longer pitch, and that’s your goal.
Ian Randal Strock is the owner and publisher of Gray Rabbit Publications / Fantastic Books. He previously worked for Baen Books, freelance edited manuscripts that were later published by Alyson, Doubleday, and Padwolf, and has extensive magazine publishing and editing experience (including stints at Artemis, Analog, Asimov’s, Absolute Magnitude, Science Fiction Chronicle, KISS, The Daily Free Press, and more). As a writer, his books have been published by Random House and Carrel Books, while his short fiction has appeared in Analog and Nature. Full details on Ian can be found on www.IanRandalStrock.com.
9:00: Registration, Meet & Greet, Introductions
9:30: Workshop: A1 (Plotting Your Story) OR A2 (Adding Tension to Dialog)
10:30: Break
10:45: Workshop B1 (Honing Your Story) OR B2 (Backstory)
11:45: Lunch [Please bring a bag lunch and drink; there is a grocery store next door, a coffee shop with snacks in the library, and other fast food places nearby]
12:45: Workshop C1 (The Magic of the Short Story) OR C2 (The Elevator Pitch)
1:45: Break
2:00: Question & Answer Panel
3:00 (or earlier depending on the Q&A panel): Closing remarks/cleanup
NOTE: When you sign up, be careful not to reserve two panels at the same time. Choose A1 or A2, B1 or B2, and C1 or C2.
Since we have limited space, PLEASE do not reserve a spot unless you are absolutely planning on attending.
A Dynasty is ending and a new hero will rise…
After being caught stealing from the King, hapless Goodwin’s world is turned upside down when he is told of his true destiny. Goodwin is the prophesized hero who will rid the world of Anudala, an evil wizard corrupting the land.
Thrust into battle, Goodwin discovers his power, but his eyes are opened to the ways of the world. His enemy Anudala claims to be leading a revolution against the King and Goodwin finds it difficult to argue with her message. However, with the Lady Damast, his gruff mentor, whispering in his ear, he doesn’t know who to trust.
As they travel across the land to find Anudala, Goodwin faces new foes and loses friends along the way. Struggling to figure out the truth, Goodwin wonders who is the true enemy?
With his biggest battle yet on the horizon, Goodwin must choose a side, knowing it will change his life forever.
Pocono Liar Derek Beebe’s new fantasy trilogy is now available in paperback and ebook! Click here to order your copies!
“A fun and often humorous adventure with a likeable hero. Moral dilemmas, twists and turns, and a fast, exciting read!” — Michael A. Ventrella, Author of “Big Stick” and “Terin Ostler and the Axes of Evil”
“A wild romp in the best traditions of fantasy fiction. Action, adventure, and plenty of exciting surprises – I’ve read it twice before it was even published! Derek is a welcome new voice in fantasy fiction, and I genuinely look forward to seeing more of his output in the future.” — Randal Graham, Author of the “Beforelife” Trilogy
Cincinnati, November 1968 A natural death…or something else?
After a performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah, voice teacher and former opera singer Augusta McKee and her husband, Chief Detective Malcolm Mitchell, make a harrowing discovery: multi-millionaire/philanthropist Tobias Dietrich has died unexpectedly in his private box at Cincinnati’s Music Hall. Although all indications seem to point to natural causes, not everyone is convinced. The conditions of Tobias’s death require an investigation by CPD detectives, including Malcolm, to determine if there was foul play.
Augusta and Tobias had been friends for many years, and startling discoveries from his past cause her to view the circumstances of his death differently from the professionals assigned to the case. She is on a mission to uncover the truth, but the deeper Augusta digs, the more complicated the situation becomes. Now she finds herself at a crossroads, facing one of her life’s toughest, most heart-wrenching decisions.
Pocono Liar Susan Moore Jordan‘s latest mystery is now available! Check it out!
poconoliars.com 