Newsletter of the Society of Southwestern Authors           Vol. 39, No. 4 August/Sept. '10

 



Upcoming Events

   August 15
SSA Forum @11:30-2PM
Four Points Sheraton
Laurie Schnebly Campbell - "Turning Rejection into Gold"
(see article this page)

   August 28
Saguaro Romance Writers @9-1:30PM
El Parador Tropical Restaurant, 2744 E. Broadway Blvd, Tucson
Speaker: Diana Gabaldon, "Character and Viewpoint."
$20 members, $25 non-members. To make a reservation, email Crystal Marshall (membership@tucsonrwa.org)

   August 28
Arizona Mystery Writers @10-2PM
Hometown Buffet, 5101 N. Oracle Rd.
Morning: "Arson Fires"—Captain Adam Goldberg, will explain the seven reasons of an arson fire.
Afternoon: "Cover and Query Letter"— Mary Bellin, will explain and cover the dilemmas between writing a cover letter and a query letter.
Home Town Buffet, 5101 N. Oracle Rd.
$17.50 for non-members.
RSVP Molly at 624-0792 for your reservation or email amw2010mm@gmail.com.

   September 24-26
Wrangling With Writing Conference
Radisson Suites on Speedway
We have a fabulous faculty lined up with many award winning authors, publicists, eleven agents and seven editors!
(see article this page)

   September 25
Saguaro Romance Writers @9-1:30PM
El Parador Tropical Restaurant, 2744 E. Broadway Blvd, Tucson
In the morning, Michael Charton will speak to us on "Selling Yourself When the Book Comes Out."
In the afternoon, Jennifer Ashley will discuss "Description and Setting."
$20 members, $25 non-members. To make a reservation, email Crystal Marshall (membership@tucsonrwa.org)

   October 17
SSA Forum @11:30-2PM
Four Points Sheraton
Writing Contest winners will be announced.


To R.S.V.P. Forum
Leave Phone Message
at 546-9382
or e-mail: forums@ssa-az.org WEDNESDAY before the Forum
$25 paid at the door


Turning Rejection into Gold

   Do you have enough rejection notices to wall paper your bathroom? Whether it's the first slump or the fiftieth, for a beginner or a New York Times best-seller, rejection is part of every author's life.

   Laurie Schnebly Campbell offers both practical and psychological techniques for dealing with the "No, Nope and No Way" messages that writers face regularly. Discover what works for you when it's time to deal with rejection . . . and how planning your response to ANY setback leaves you more in control of not only your writing life, but also your personal life.

   Laurie draws her material from her experience as a counselor and an author who won "Best Special Edition of the Year" over Nora Roberts. Along with six novels and a "how-to" for fiction writers, she also writes ad-agency scripts and online workshops. Laurie enjoys working with other writers and recording for the blind at Talking Books.

   Join us at the Sheraton Four Points Conference Center on August 15 for an enlightening luncheon with Laurie. As always, you can either call in your reservations to 546-9382 OR email forums@ssa-az.org by the Wednesday prior (in this case, August 11).



38th Annual Wrangling With Writing:
"Full Circle—Writing, Editing, Publishing"

   Fall is just around the corner, and so is "Wrangling with Writing." Top publishers, authors, agents, editors, and keynote speakers will be descending on Tucson Sept 24-26. We have planned workshops in many genres and topics. With 48 of them, we have something for everyone! We also have 3 agent/editor panels. Our keynote speakers this year are all best-selling authors: Dr. Allan Hamilton, Stephanie Elizondo Griest, and Bob Mayer (read more about them on our website).

   We also have a book room where attendees and faculty can sell their books and network. It's a wonderful place to hang out, meet people, and get some excellent, up-to-the-minute advice and reading pleasure. If you are attending the conference, or are on the faculty, and you wish to reserve space to sell your books, please contact Ken Graun at Ken@KenPress.com or call 520-743-3200. Book room space is limited to 44 authors, so make sure you get your reservation in soon.

   Conference registration for SSA members is $300, which includes 5 meals—all buffet style. Non-member price is $360. Teachers receive the same rate as SSA members. Also available are one-on-one pitch sessions with agents and editors, for $20 each—we will also have two "book doctors," a website marketing consultant, and a video book trailer consultant. SSA members can also attend the Friday night faculty dinner for an additional $50. It is another great opportunity to network and to meet the "Wrangling with Writing" faculty. We will also offer 3 scholarships to deserving attendees. One scholarship is a full one and other two are partials. An essay on "Why I Love to Write" is required to receive a scholarship. You can use the registration included with the newsletter or go to our website www.ssa-az.org/wrangllingwithwriting, click on the registration tab, download the form, print it out, and mail it in with a check or use PayPal for credit cards.

   The conference this year is being held at the gorgeous Radisson Suites on Speedway just East of Wilmot. The hotel rooms are two room suites with a living room and kitchen. Rates are $79 a night plus tax, if you state you are attending the conference. The Radisson does have free wi-fi throughout the hotel, a business center, a gym, pool, and many more amenities. You can make your reservation at http://www.radisson.com/tucsonaz_suites or call (520) 721-7100

   This is Wrangling with Writing's 38th annual Conference, and it has a reputation for being one of the nation's most affordable conferences. This year we have concentrated on bringing you the best bang for the buck. We have on our faculty many award winning best selling authors, agents, and editors with the best reputations. The agents and editors who are coming are accepting new material, and all of the faculty is going to give you the best marketing, writing, editing advice, and the best possible opportunities to sell your work. At past conferences we have had many attendees who have signed up with an agent or publisher. What makes "Wrangling with Writing" so special? We offer advice for all different types of writing and publishing, and we give you the latest tips and information about the changing publishing world. For more information, go to ssa-az.org/wranglingwithwriting or email Donna Young at DonnaJYoungAuthor@gmail.com. We will see you there!




Successes

Steven Adelson has just been informed that an article he wrote a year and a half ago for Irish Times Magazine has been accepted for publication. The article is about James Buchanan Brady, a.k.a. "Diamond Jim" Brady, the turn-of-the-century bon vivant and gourmand who started out in life as a near penniless runaway and eventually became a multimillionaire through devising modern salesmanship techniques and shrewd business dealings. He was, in many ways, a real life Horatio Alger story.

David Bellomy is an advocate for the habitat and indigenous species of the Mojave Desert. He is pleased to announce the publication of his new book, Tude (To-day)—a familiar variation of the Hispanic name Arturo and the name of the principal character. In the guise of a desert tortoise, Tude contends the Mojave is the cradle of an ancient, ordered society much older than man's; a society governed by the laws of natural selection and adaptation. Until recently, it had few threats. Now, man and his machines are destroying it. Tude and his young protege, Uta (You-tah), begin a quest to answer the universal questions regarding man's role and responsibilities. Their story begins south of Death Valley near the Armargosa River and ends at Lavic Dry Lake, east of Pisgah. Or, does it? That is the question each reader must answer. The book is available at www.PublishAmerica.com

Frederick J. Masterman is pleased to announce the June release of Death by Dolphin, third novel in his adventure/thriller series, The PlanetCare Discoveries. Each volume of the series centers on a scientific expedition, where volunteers join professional scientists for a week of research. In the course of each expedition, a discovery is made which leads the protagonists of the series, Sam and Karen Casper, into mystery and danger. Death by Dolphin is set on the island of Kaua'i, where subsea studies uncover a macabre gambling ring using an underwater death arena. There, ocean animals are drugged with aggression hormones and set upon each other in battles to the death, while spectators place bets in a glass-walled stadium. The protagonists are targeted as victims in the deadly arena. The book is published by Orchard House Press, located in Seattle, Washington, and is available on line at www.orchardhousepress.com, from Amazon, or directly from the author, who is a member of the SSA.

David Seals has two new books out: The Real AIM of Ward Churchill: and the Murder of Anna Mae Aquash (www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-real-aim-of-ward-churchill-and-the-murder-of-anna-mae-aquash/11019394) and The Creation Myth (www.scribd.com/doc/33794532/The-Creation-Myth-David-Seals).




The Write Word
published bi-monthly by the Board of Directors
of The Society of Southwestern Authors
P.O. Box 30355, Tucson, AZ 85751

President
Bob Hunton: rlh10@cox.net

Vice-President
Donna Young: DonnaJYoungAuthor@gmail.com

Treasurer
Jay McCall: jmccall415@msn.com

Recording Secretary
Sally Lanyon: slanyon@comcast.net

Writing Contest
Mike Rom: info@ssa-az.org

Member Chair
Penny Porter: wporter202@aol.com

Corresponding Secretary
Jane Eppinga: Eppinga8@aol.com

Forum Program & Conference Chair
Donna Young: DonnaJYoungAuthor@gmail.com

Members at Large
Mark Jepperson: mjepperson@comcast.net
Mike Nicksic: mencol@gmail.com
Concy Richardson: concy@comcast.net
Carroll Rinehart: crine24@msn.com

Writing Group Coordinator
Barry Webb: Barrywebb3@yahoo.com

Write Word Editor
Mike Rom: (520) 410-1294 (beep)
e-mail: writeword@ssa-az.org


SSA Home Page:

http://www.ssa-az.org

Webmaster
Mike Rom: (520) 410-1294 (beep)
writeword@ssa-az.org

NOTE: Deadline for next issue is the 15th day of September