We’re back! You can now sign up for the 2023 Conference at this link.

SCHEDULE

9:00: Check in

9:30: MICHAEL A. VENTRELLA: Introductions

9:45: HILDY SILVERMAN: “What Editors Look For”: With so many submissions to sift through, what can a writer do to elevate their work above the rest? Surprisingly, including a few simple things can leapfrog your tale ahead of half your competition immediately. Hildy will share what these are, and provide additional tips to help improve the likelihood of your story making the cut.

11:00: MARIE LAMBA: “How to Revise Your Novel for Submission: Self-Editing Techniques that Work”: Finishing the first draft of a novel is a major accomplishment, but that’s just the beginning of a writer’s work. The next step is to do a thorough revision, shaping that novel into its very best form. Top-notch revision skills are an important part of a writer’s toolkit, especially now that agents and editors expect manuscripts to be well-polished. But revising a long work of fiction can be daunting. Where do you begin? How do you decide what’s working and what isn’t? And how, exactly, should you go about fixing things?

12:00: Lunch (not provided, but there are lots of places nearby or you can bring your own)

1:00: LAQUETTE: “GMC 360º”: Fiction writers are often trained to use goal, motivation, and conflict to build three-dimensional characters. While this is a great use of GMC that should be encouraged, it’s not the only way to use it. We’ll explore how understanding your characters’ GMC, and strategically using it at key points within the manuscript, can help you create profound emotional arcs full of compelling full-circle moments that heighten tension and increase chemistry between your characters.

2:15: TEEL JAMES GLENN: “Character and Conflict, or How to build a better beating”: Since the first storyteller sat around a campfire spinning tales of gods and heroes, it has been a given that a little action makes a mildly interesting story into a real grabber. Since the fight has to serve the purpose of the story you have to use the same criteria as any journalistic or dramatic story. Ask yourself, ‘is this fight necessary?’ Who, why, how and when to add action to your story. This session will offer insight into when it is the right choice to have a violent scene and what and how the participants would fight. And more importantly—how those choices reveal character to the reader.

3:30: 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.

9:45: Laquette

11:00: Teel James Glenn

1:00: Hildy Silverman

2:15: Marie Lamba

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ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

Teel James Glenn has traveled the world as a stuntman, fight choreographer, swordmaster, illustrator, storyteller, bodyguard, and actor and puts all of that life experience in his fiction writing. He’s taught writing, acting, art and stage combat for several decades in the states and abroad in Canada and Germany. He has also presented seminars on writing action, weapons and historical combat at Deadly Ink, C3 Conference, Liberty State Fiction Writers, Stoker Con, and dozens of writer and media conventions. His writing has been in over two hundred magazines including Weird Tales, Mad, Space & Time, Black Belt, Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Silver Blade Quarterly, Mystery Weekly and Cirsova. His novel “Cowboy in Carapathia: a Bob Howard Adventure was the winner of the 2021 Pulp Ark Award for Best Novel, and its sequel “The Cowboy and the Conqueror,” is a finalist for the 2023 award. He is also the recipient of the 2013 Pulp Ark Award for Best Author and a Derringer mystery finalist. Website: TheUrbanSwashbuckler.com

Marie Lamba is author of the young adult novels What I Meant… (Random House), Over My Head and Drawn, and of the picture books Green, Green (Farrar Straus Giroux) and A Day So Gray (Clarion). Her articles appear in more than 100 publications and is a frequent contributor to Writer’s Digest. She has worked as an editor, an award-winning public relations writer, and a book publicist, and has taught classes on novel writing and on author promotion. As an agent with The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency in New York, Marie is currently looking for young adult and middle grade fiction, along with general and women’s fiction and some memoir. She is also open to submissions from picture book authors or illustrators who are already established, or whose work she has requested through conferences. Marie is also open to non-fiction submissions for all age categories. For more details and her submission guidelines, please visit: https://www.jdlit.com/marie-lamba

LaQuette writes sexy, stylish, and sensational romance. That means she writes sentimental and steamy stories (like Hallmark movies, but with lots of sex) featuring at least one main character who always keeps it cute. This Brooklyn native writes unapologetically bold, character-driven stories. Her novels feature diverse ensemble casts who are confident in their right to appear on the page. If she’s not writing, she’s probably trying on or looking for her next great makeup find. Contact her at https://dot.cards/laquette.

Hildy Silverman  writes in multiple genres, including science fiction, fantasy, horror and blends thereof. In 2020, she joined the Crazy 8 Press authors collective (https://www.crazy8press.com/), which publishes novels and anthologies by its membership. In 2013, her short story, The Six Million Dollar Mermaid, which appeared in the anthology “Mermaids 13: Tales from the Sea” (French, ed.), was a finalist for the WSFA Small Press Award. In 2005, she became the publisher and editor-in-chief of Space and Time Magazine (www.spaceandtimemagazine.com), one of the oldest small press genre magazines still in production, and ran it until 2018. She is a past president of the Garden State Speculative Fiction Writers and a frequent panelist on the science fiction convention circuit. For more information about Hildy, including a complete list of her published work, please visit www.hildysilverman.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.

“The Eye of Argon,” by all rights, should have languished, a forgotten or ignored piece of amateur fantasy fiction published in a fanzine half a century ago. But it didn’t. Somehow, it was detached from those ignoble beginnings, and gained an underground cult following at science fiction conventions, where people would attempt to read it without breaking out in laughter at its clumsy prose, misspelled words, and overall awfulness.

Its reputation grew. And the rituals involved in sharing the story grew. And now it has attained near-legendary status among those who can appreciate the awful things in life.

Among those fans is Pocono Liars founder Michael A. Ventrella, who over the years has organized readings, improv theater and even a live performance of the story at various conventions.

He then invited some of his writer friends who had participated to write sequel stories of the character, with the only qualification that the stories had to be funny.

This book contains the original story by Jim Theis, and then adds new, hilarious contributions to the mythos from noted authors Keith R.A. DeCandido, Genevieve Iseult Eldredge, Daniel M. Kimmel, Peter Prellwitz, Hildy Silverman, Ian Randal Strock, Jean Marie Ward, and Michael! Jody Lynn Nye wrote the introduction, and Monica Marier did the cover and inside art.

It’s available in paperback from Fantastic Books. You can order a copy from Amazon here.

Lindsey Cameron, a gifted young soprano, believes herself called to a life in music and single-mindedly focuses on pursuing a career in opera. But a life-shattering tragedy involving her two college housemates changes everything. Overwhelmed by shock and grief, Lindsey struggles to say goodbye to one friend while helping her surviving friend on his long road to recovery.

Just as her life seems back on track, Lindsey falls head over heels in love with Nate Cohen, a charming and talented baritone on his way to opera stardom. The young lovers appear destined for a fairy-tale ending, but cracks have begun to appear in Lindsey’s resolve for a career in Opera World. Her profound experiences with suffering and pain have opened her mind to other possibilities in a life lived for music.

Love, loss, conviction, and passion merge in this heartfelt story that unravels how, even in life’s darkest, most difficult hours, music gives us healing, hope—and joy.

AND THIS SHALL BE FOR MUSIC is the latest from Pocono Liar Susan Moore Jordan, and is available now in paperback or kindle.

Two empty-nesters. Two bruised hearts. One chance to make things right.

Oliver expected to miss his daughter when she left for college, but he’s surprised by the size of the hole she leaves. Or maybe he hadn’t expected to spend his days watching grass grow and making sad cookies. Or to lose his job. Meeting Nick—the uncle of his daughter’s roommate—is a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy forecast. Nick is focused, talented, and as beautiful as the dollhouses he builds. Being near him might bring light and purpose to Oliver’s life.

Nick expected to miss his niece when she left for college, but he’s still figuring out how to cope with her absence, when his brother reappears after twelve years, complicating the emotional puzzle. Then there’s Oliver, the sweet, calm, and competent man who looks at Nick like no one ever has. Spending Sundays in Oliver’s company is the balm he needs, though Nick is waiting for Oliver to decide their relationship is too much work.

But just as Nick begins to get comfortable, Oliver’s need to provide for all of the people he loves threatens to pull them apart. If their relationship is to survive, they will have to learn to let go. For Oliver, this means asking himself what he really wants, this time around. For Nick, it means letting himself grieve the people who can’t come back and love the people who always will.

Pocono Liar Kelly Jensen‘s latest novel is now available in paperback and ebook formats!

UNIVERSAL BUY LINK | RIPTIDE PUBLISHING

“Kelly Jensen has written a beautiful book about two men struggling to find their place in the world. It was romantic, heartbreaking but ultimately joyful.” — Felice Stevens, Lambda Literary Award-winning author

“Sundays with Oliver perfectly blends romance with family responsibilities and everyday commitments, making it the sweetest of reads. Kelly’s writing is fresh and addicting and reminded me of why I love to read romance novels that feature a slow, gentle slide into love.” — Amy Aislin, author of the Lighthouse Bay series

“From peeved epic heroes coping with zombies and dwarves who dye their beards, to a pirate captain who refuses to learn the names of his new crew (they won’t be with him long), to a desperate time-traveling Jesus impersonator, to Groucho and Chico Marx gumming up the machinery of Hell — Michael Ventrella’s stories provide laugh-out-loud entertainment.” – Gregory Frost, award-winning author of Shadowbridge

Pocono Liars Club founder Michael A. Ventrella‘s latest book is a collection of 14 short stories that have previously been published in various anthologies and magazines, as well as 2 brand new ones written just for this collection. The first 6 continue the adventures of Terin Ostler from his fantasy trilogy.

The stories include:

The Further Adventures of Terin Ostler: The Zombie King’s Plan; The Mystery of the Black-Bearded Dwarf; Honor Battle; Remembering the Future; The Hidden Treasure of Pirate Percy; Confronting the Duke

The Adventures of Captain Irad and Greenie: X Spots the Mark; Get Kraken!

Other stories: Impersonating Jesus; Knowledge; More Hallways!; The Jesus Secret; 99 Pounds; The Mummy of Barnsley; Hell, I Must be Going

Nonfiction: Eating Authors

A short description of each story and details on how you can order the book can be found on his web page.

Adding humor to your work is important — funny things can happen even in a serious novel, and people can make witty comments even in the most desperate of times.

But writing a story whose point is to be funny? A lot harder than it sounds. “Funny” is subjective, and not everyone finds the same things humorous.

And there are decisions to be made. Are you writing satire? Are you attempting for Wodehouse wit or Mel Brooks slapstick? And, more importantly, can you carry it off?

Our experts will discuss writing humor — what works, what doesn’t, what to avoid. Questions are welcome!

EDIT: This was recorded and is now available in our “expert advice” section.

Jody Lynn Nye is the author of more than fifty books and 165 short stories. She has collaborated with many SF/fantasy greats including Anne McCaffrey, Piers Anthony, and Robert Asprin, with whom she wrote eight books, and took over the Myth-Adventures and Dragons series after his passing. Her own books are mostly of a humorous bent, such as the Imperium series (Baen). Her website is JodyLynNye.com.

Alex Shvartsman is a writer and editor known primarily for humorous short stories, such as the award-winning Explaining Cthulhu to Grandma. His latest novel is The Middling Affliction, which joins previous novels like H. G. Wells, Secret Agent and Eridani’s Crown. He has been editing the Unidentified Funny Objects anthologies, with the 9th edition coming later this year. His web page is www.alexshvartsman.com/

Pocono Liar Michael A. Ventrella is hosting. He has five humorous adventure novels published so far, including Terin Ostler and the Axes of Evil and Big Stick. He’s edited a dozen or so anthologies, including Release the Virgins!, Baker Street Irregulars, and the recent Three Time Travelers Walk Into … His web page is www.MichaelAVentrella.com.