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You can now sign up for the 2024 FREE Writers Conference.
Please share this link with all your writer friends!
SCHEDULE
9:00: MICHAEL A. VENTRELLA: Registration, check-in, and Introductions (The library has a coffee shop where you can get freshly-brewed java and snacks!)
9:15: RANDEE DAWN: “Meet and Greet 101: How to Promote Yourself and Your Work”: You’ve finished your art and want to share it with the world! Congratulations – now comes the next hard part: How? Randee Dawn is a veteran journalist and author with books, short stories and hundreds of interviews under her belt, and she’s here to help you figure how to get everybody on the side of your project! We’ll discuss how to create your image online and how to work with fans and the curious in public at appearances, plus how to make the most of an interview if the press comes calling. You’ll walk away with some key tips to promote without being annoying, and get the most out of every interaction you have to get the word out.
10:30: LESLYE PENELOPE: “World-Building for any Genre”: Creating unique, fully realized environments that readers will want to get lost in is not just a skill for fantasy or science fiction writers. No matter what time period or location your stories are set in, mastering fictional worldbuilding is key to transporting readers into your story. In this workshop you’ll learn techniques and strategies to engage your audience and bring your fictional world to life.
11:30: Lunch (not provided, but there are lots of places nearby or you can bring your own)
12:30: JOSHUA PALMATIER: “Zombies Need Brains!”: Submitting a story to a magazine or anthology isn’t easy. Joshua Palmatier will provide some insights/advice on how to increase your chances of submitting a story and having it accepted, not just at his own publishing house Zombies Need Brains, but at any open call for a magazine or anthology.
1:45: LORI PERKINS: “Do You Need an Agent in Today’s Publishing Marketplace?”: Getting an agent has changed so radically in publishing that authors really need to examine why they need an agent and what an agent can do for them. Lori will discuss her 35 years of experience as an agent to discuss what you can and cannot do or expect.
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.
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WORKSHOPS
Each of the participants are holding smaller sessions during the presentations where you can get individual critiques and comments.
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: Joshua Palmatier
10:45: Lori Perkins
12:30: Randee Dawn
1:45: Leslye Penelope
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ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
RANDEE DAWN: Brooklyn-based journalist and author Randee Dawn has written for many years about film, TV, music, internet trends, books, food and other lifestyle areas for outlets including The L.A. Times, Variety, Today.com and Mental Floss. She’s the co-author of The Law & Order: SVU Unofficial Companion, and contributed to Mental Floss’ The Curious Viewer and been an on-air contributing expert for NPR. Her first novel, the humorous pop culture fantasy Tune in Tomorrow, was finalist in the 2023 Next Generation Indie Awards, and her short stories have been published in numerous anthologies. She’s also the co-editor of Across the Universe: Stories of Alternative Beatles. You can find out more at RandeeDawn.com.
JOSHUA PALMATIER is a fantasy author with a PhD in mathematics. He currently teaches at SUNY Oneonta in upstate New York while writing in his “spare” time, editing anthologies, and running the anthology-producing small press Zombies Need Brains LLC. His most recent fantasy novel, Reaping the Aurora, concludes the fantasy series begun in Shattering the Ley and Threading the Needle, although you can also find his “Throne of Amenkor” series and the “Well of Sorrows” series still on the shelves. He is currently hard at work writing his next trilogy called the “Crystal Cities” (to be released in Summer 2024) and designing the Kickstarter for the next Zombies Need Brains anthology projects. You can find out more at http://www.joshuapalmatier.com.
LESLYE PENELOPE: Leslye Penelope is the award-winning author of the Earthsinger Chronicles. The first book in the series, Song of Blood & Stone, was chosen as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time. Equally left and right-brained, she studied filmmaking and computer science at Howard University and sometimes dreams in HTML. She hosts the My Imaginary Friends podcast, co-hosts the Ink & Magic podcast, and lives in Maryland with her feline dependents. Visit her online at: http://www.lpenelope.com and join her newsletter for writers at https://myimaginaryfriends.net.
LORI PERKINS is an award-winning feminist and erotica expert who has spent three decades working and teaching in the publishing industry, with over 35 years as a literary agent. She is currently the Publisher of Riverdale Avenue Books, and was a founding partner and Editorial Director of Ravenous Romance. She is also a published author of both fiction and nonfiction, and has been an adjunct professor at NYU’s Center for Publishing and NYU’s undergraduate journalism program. Perkins’ anthology, MeToo: Essays About How and Why This Happened and How It Will Never Happen Again received the 2018 Bronze Independent Publisher’s Award (IPPY) in Women’s’ Issues and has been course adopted.She has edited 25 erotica anthologies, including Hungry For Your Love, the first Zombie Romance anthology, which was published by St. Martin’s Press. She is also the publisher and founder of RomanceDailyNews.com, a daily online romance magazine started in 2018 to replace Romantic Times. Her web page is https://lperkinsagency.com/
MICHAEL A. VENTRELLA is a Stroudsburg writer with five 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 New York Times Bestselling author 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.
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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.
We all know about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Death, War, Famine, and Pestilence riding on pale horses and all that Book-of-Revelation stuff. But why does it have to be four guys on horses? Why not the Four Cheerleaders of the Apocalypse? The Four Cats of the Apocalypse? The Four PTA Moms of the Apocalypse? The Four Lawyers, Librarians, or Lunch Ladies of the Apocalypse? The Four Drummers, Rock Stars, or Opera Singers of the Apocalypse? Or even the Four Squirrels of the Apocalypse or the Four Emojis of the Apocalypse?
Local attorney and Pocono Liars Club founder Michael A. Ventrella has a story in this new anthology: “Horseman, Horseman, Horseman & Horseman, Attorneys at Law.”
The anthology features many best-selling and award-winning authors, including David Gerrold, Jonathan Maberry, Peter David, Michael Jan Friedman, Jody Lynn Nye, David Mack, and Keith DeCandido.
Here’s a link to the interview Michael did with some of the other authors discussing the book and their stories.
It’s available in paperback or ebook.
After Tobias Brandt dies suddenly, his eldest son, with the support of his siblings, writes an obituary and has it published in the local newspaper. But instead of celebrating their father’s accomplishments and honoring his memory, it’s a scathing, contemptuous, and revealing account of the legacy of damage he caused.
Absent of closure, Tobias’s death ignites an unforeseeable sequence of events that his surviving children are forced to unravel, one perilous upset after the next.
ASHES is Book 1 in Sahar Abdulaziz’s series Evil Never Dies—a suspenseful page-turner about a dysfunctional collection of people navigating the complexities of grief, hypocrisy, and power.
DUST (Book 2) finds Sydney Hanes with her past problem (literally) dead and buried, a “new” family she could only dream of having, and an exciting life-affirming career change. She finally feels like she belongs. That was until a State Senator is found dead under suspicious circumstances. The widow reaches out to a mutual friend, imploring him to convince Sydney to help in the way that only Sydney can. However, unbeknownst to Sydney, a not-bargained-for, underhanded change of plan is in the work.
But before she can put two and two together, she is arrested and charged with extortion—unaware that someone dangerously powerful is behind the scenes, plotting to turn the blackmail charge into murder.
Both are available at all your favorite bookstores and through Amazon.
Pocono Liar and suspense writer Sahar Abdulaziz specializes in writing psychological thrillers, suspenseful narratives, thought-provoking social commentary, and clever satire. https://www.saharraziz.com
We had a great time at the Liars Club annual workshop, back after a few years gone (due to COVID). Special thanks goes to all the presenters: Sahar Abdulaziz, Kelly Jensen, Victoria Marie Lees, Susan Moore Jordan, Mary Ann Moore, and Michael A. Ventrella. It was well attended and we’ve received nice compliments and reviews.
Thank you to all participants and to members of the Liars Club for helping to make it happen. (Click on a picture to enlarge)
The annual Liars Club Writers Workshop is back and it’s still free.
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: The Key to Outlining Your Novel or Story!
Using an outline can mean writing faster and creating more usable words. Not everyone has all day to write. Outlining a project will help you use your time more effectively while keeping your book on track. This workshop will show you how to create a basic outline based on your plot, story structure, and character development.
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
A2: Writing Villains You Love to Hate and Hate to Love
Antagonists in literature are often the most memorable characters. For example, Professor Moriarty (Sherlock Holmes), Napoleon (Animal Farm), and Count Dracula lend conflict and drama to the story while captivating readers with their intense and compelling nature. Despite their actions, a well-crafted villain can make a narrative thrilling and suspenseful. This workshop will unpack the writing elements that create a compelling villain.
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: Hooking Your Reader
We’re not all Stephen King, who can slowly lead us into the plot since we know it’s going to get good. We’re unknown — we have to grab them early! The opening paragraphs are tremendously important in getting your reader to turn the page, and this workshop will allow you to learn and practice the elements needed to hook your reader.
Michael 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
B2: Research: Half the Fun of Writing!
Yes, indeed, we make up stories when we write. But unless you’re writing fantasy, you want details about any topic to be accurate. Conducting research can assist writers in comprehending their characters’ motivations, desires, fears, and quirks, ultimately resulting in more genuine and captivating characters. This workshop will guide writers in finding those facts and making their stories even more interesting!
Susan Moore Jordan’s “music-centric” novels include works drawn from her life as a performer, teacher, and stage director; two books based on the impact on a family by sons who served in the Vietnam War; and more recently, a cozy mystery series. For more information: www.susanmoorejordan.com
C1: The Five Elements of a Short Story
In this workshop, participants will learn the five elements of a short story and how to use them with tight word counts. This workshop is an interactive presentation. Participants will brainstorm these five elements, and we will discuss how to fine-tune them in a 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
C2: Get the “WAS” OUTTA HERE!
When crafting your writing, it’s beneficial to steer clear of the word “was” to create more robust and engaging verbs. Powerful verbs can capture your audience’s attention, immersing them in your narrative and enhancing their level of involvement. By avoiding weaker verbs like “was,” you can elevate the impact of your writing and truly captivate your readers.
M.A. Moore retired from teaching physics and dove immediately into the joys of writing. Even nine books later, one of her greatest challenges remains minimizing passive (i.e., ho-hum) voice. Join her as she shares hands-on strategies that have worked for her to turn tell into show.
9:00: Registration
9:30: Meet Greet Introduction
10:00: Workshop: A1 (Key to Outlining) OR A2 (Writing Villians)
11:00: Break
11:15: Workshop B1 (Hooking Your Reader) OR B2 (Research)
12:15: 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]
1:15: Workshop C1 (5 Elements) OR C2 (Get the “was”)
2:15: Break
2:30: Question & Answer Panel
4:00 (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.
CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATION
The members of The Pocono Liars are committed to making this workshop 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.
David Gerrold is an award-winning author whose best-selling novels have been made into movies (“The Martian Child”) and who has written for many TV shows, including Star Trek (he wrote the famous “The Trouble With Tribbles” episode), Babylon 5, Twilight Zone, Land of the Lost, and Sliders.
And he can tell us what it’s like to write for TV shows and why the Writers’ Guild is currently on strike.
EDIT: This was recorded and is now available in our “expert advice” section.
Ten-time Hugo and Nebula award nominee DAVID GERROLD is also a recipient of the Skylark Award for Excellence in Imaginative Fiction, the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Horror, and the Forrest J. Ackerman lifetime achievement award. He was the Guest of Honor at the 2015 World Science Fiction Convention. Gerrold’s prolific output includes teleplays, film scripts, stage plays, comic books, more than 50 novels and anthologies, and hundreds of articles, columns, and short stories. He has worked on a dozen different TV series, including Star Trek, Land of the Lost, Twilight Zone, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Babylon 5, and Sliders. He is the author of Star Trek’s most popular episode “The Trouble With Tribbles.” His most famous novel is The Man Who Folded Himself. His semi-autobiographical tale of his son’s adoption, The Martian Child, won both the Hugo and the Nebula awards, and was the basis for the 2007 movie starring John Cusack and Amanda Peet. His web page is www.gerrold.com
Cincinnati, October 1967 —
Eugene Geller, the handsome and popular Cantor of Rockdale Temple—located in the racially tense Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati—disappears without a trace during a night of rioting in the “long, hot summer” of 1967. Was Gene a casualty of the riot? Has he run away with one of his paramours? Or has he been the victim of foul play by his long-suffering wife or an angry ex-lover or a jealous husband?
Augusta McKee, Chair of the Opera Department at the Conservatory and amateur sleuth, is helping her husband, Chief of Detectives Malcolm Mitchell, unravel this mystery. Augusta is also in the midst of planning the Conservatory’s spring opera, Mozart’s The Magic Flute, a fairy tale of good and evil. Her wish is the opera’s positive message and its multi-ethnic cast will help return hope and calm to her tense city. But her first-time ethnic casting of lead roles causes her to receive anonymous threatening notes—and worse.
Malcolm and the police are close to solving the Geller case—but now Augusta’s life is in imminent danger. How will they find and stop the person targeting her?
THE CASE OF THE CASANOVA CANTOR is Pocono Liar Susan Moore Jordan‘s latest Augusta McKee mystery and the 9th book in the series. It is available now in paperback or kindle!
We had a great conference! Thanks so much to the presenters and the people who came! We learned a lot and had a great time. Click on a picture to enlarge it!
There are The Karens, The Kevins, and now, The Garys.
Gary Meseler made it his business to be in everyone else’s business. Not a day went by when Gary didn’t find something or someone to complain about, which made him exceedingly unpopular with his fellow Grandville Luxury Apartment, Building Nine residents.
However, little did Gary realize, his fate had already been sealed, and his reign of never-ending fault-finding would meet an untimely end. After all, karma’s a bitch.
WHO KILLED GARY is the latest novel from Pocono Liar Sahar Abdulaziz and is available now! Order your copy here!
poconoliars.com 