Simply writing a good story isn’t enough. You need to sell it to agents, editors, and readers. You’ll be expected to participate in discussions online and at workshops and conventions. 
You’ll want an “elevator pitch” and a way to show that you know how to use words, both in your writing and in your speaking. And that’s not easy. Studies show that “public speaking” is a fear many people have.
Join us on Wednesday, September 16th at 8pm EST for a discussion about “Facing the Public” with three people who have never experienced that fear. Writer/actors Keith Strunk and Teel James Glenn will answer your questions, hosted by Pocono Liars Club founder Michael A. Ventrella.
Teel James Glenn has killed hundreds and been killed more times — on stage and screen as he has traveled the world for forty plus years as a stuntman, fight choreographer, swordmaster, jouster, illustrator, storyteller, bodyguard, actor and haunted house barker. He appeared on all the New York Soap operas, Spenser for Hire and in more movies that show up on Showtime and Cinemax then he wants to admit. His stories have been printed in over a hundred magazines from Weird Tales, Mystery Weekly, Pulp Adventures, Spinetingler, SciFan, Mad, Black Belt, Fantasy Tales, Pulp Empire, Cirvosa, Sherlock Holmes Mystery, SciFan, Crimson Streets, AfterburnSF, and Blazing Adventures. He is also the winner of the 2012 Pulp Ark Award for Best Author. His website is TheUrbanSwashbuckler.com
Keith Strunk is an actor, author, teacher, producer, and a co-founder of River Union Stage, a professional Equity theater based in New Jersey. He holds an MFA in Theater and has worked in commercials, independent film, stage, and industrial/corporate. An award-winning scriptwriter, Keith has written a variety of film and stage scripts including a stage adaptation of A Christmas Carol. He is the author of PRALLSVILLE MILLS AND STOCKTON, and THE DELAWARE RIVER SCENIC BYWAY, both from Arcadia Publishing, and “What Lies Between” in the LIAR LIAR Short Story Anthology. He has directed and produced Shakespeare Theater with 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders for more than a dozen years, is co-host of The Liars Club Oddcast and a founding member of the Liars Club.
But when he downloads the dating app “Let’s Connect” and starts dating, his success/fail ratio isn’t encouraging until he gets a connection request from Robin.
Should you use a pen name when you change genres? Is it more important to specialize? Bring your questions!
It’s no secret that Irwin and most of the town dislike the irritating antique dealer, but Irwin can’t imagine what nasty deed the vile little man did to deserve being murdered!
Walter H. Hunt is a science fiction and historical fiction writer. He has been a professional since 2001, and has had eleven novels and ten short stories published. His Dark Wing universe series (The Dark Wing, The Dark Path, The Dark Ascent, and The Dark Crusade) were released by Tor Books between 2001 and 2005, and are now part of the Baen e-library. His historical novels A Song In Stone, Elements of Mind, Harmony In Light and, most recently, City By the Bay, were a departure from the science fiction genre and were critically praised. He has two novels and two short stories in the Ring of Fire / 1632 universe, most recently 1636: The Atlantic Encounter, which has just been published.
Spliced was named to the American Library Association’s Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable List and the American Bookseller’s Association’s 2017 ABC Best Books for Young Readers. Spliced is also on the shortlist for South Carolina’s Young Adult Book of the Year. McGoran’s other books include the D. H. Dublin forensic thrillers Body Trace, Blood Poison, and Freezer Burn (Berkley/Penguin) and The Dead Ring (Titan Books), based on the TV show, The Blacklist. He has published numerous short stories, including “Bad Debt,” which won an honorable mention in Best American Mystery Stories 2014, and “Drive Time,” which was published in the X-files anthology The Truth Is Out There and was nominated for a Scribe Award. He also works as a freelance writer, developmental editor and writing coach, and is cohost of The Liars Club Oddcast, a podcast about writing and creativity.
Our guest John G. Hartness is an author, publisher, and podcaster from Charlotte, NC. He is the author of multiple novel series, including the award-winning Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter series. In 2016, John teamed up with several other publishing industry professionals to create Falstaff Books, a small press dedicated to publishing the best of genre fiction’s “misfit toys.” Falstaff Books has since published over 200 titles with authors ranging from first-timers to NY Times bestsellers, with no signs of slowing down any time soon. 2019 saw the launch of Book Babble, a YouTube show where John and Falstaff Books Associate Publisher Melissa McArthur interview professional writers about the books they love.
Over the past 33 years, Mark Waid has written a wider variety of well-known characters than any other American author, from Superman to the Justice League to Spider-Man to Archie and hundreds of others. His award-winning graphic novel with artist Alex Ross, KINGDOM COME, is one of the best-selling comics of all time.
Peter David’s notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Supergirl, Spider-Man and X-Factor. His Star Trek work includes comic books, novels such as IMZADI, and co-creation of the New Frontier series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon’s Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy. David has earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.
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