January 12, 2008

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Jim Huang-owner of The Mystery Company Book Store and publisher of The Crum Creek Press.

The Bookseller's Inside Information:
How bookselling and publishing are changing, and some of the steps that
booksellers and publishers go through leading up to the moment that a
reader buys a book.
 

Jim Huang has sold mystery books for 20 years, including stints in
Boston, Kalamazoo, Michigan, and now Carmel, Indiana, where he and
his wife own The Mystery Company, a bookstore devoted to the genre.
He served as director of the Independent Mystery Booksellers
Association for four years (1996-2000). For over 20 years
(1982-2005), Huang edited and published The Drood Review, a mystery
book review newsletter. He has edited reference books for mystery
lovers, including 100 FAVORITE MYSTERIES OF THE CENTURY (winner of
the Anthony and Agatha Awards for best nonfiction of 2000), THEY DIED
IN VAIN: OVERLOOKED, UNDERAPPRECIATED AND FORGOTTEN MYSTERY NOVELS
(winner of the Agatha, Anthony and Macavity Awards for best
nonfiction of 2002) and MYSTERY MUSES: 100 CLASSICS THAT INSPIRE
TODAY'S MYSTERY WRITERS (winner of the Anthony and Macavity Awards
best nonfiction of 2006), the latter co-edited with Austin Lugar. He
is currently the mystery expert for WHAT DO I READ NEXT?, a semi-
annual reference book and online database published by Gale/Cengage.
Since 2000, he has volunteered as the Program Director for Magna Cum
Murder, a festival for mystery lovers that takes place each October
in Muncie, Indiana. He is the co-chair of the 2009 Bouchercon, the
World Mystery Convention scheduled for Indianapolis in October 2009.
In 2006, Huang was elected to the board of Sisters in Crime, an
international organization devoted to combating discrimination
against women in the mystery genre; he is the first "brother" to
serve on the board in this organization's 20 year history. Huang
lives with his wife, Jennie Jacobson, and their two daughters in
Carmel, where he recently completed a term as president of the
Friends of the Library board. Jim's website is located at http://www.statelyhuangmanor.com/

February 10, 2008

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Kit Erhman – mystery writer and author of Triple Cross, winner of best Indiana book.

After discovering the works of Dick Francis, Kit Ehrman quit her government job and went to work in the horse industry. Twenty-five years later, Ehrman combined her love of horses and mysteries by penning the award-winning, equine-oriented mystery series featuring barn manager and amateur sleuth Steve Cline. Published by Poisoned Pen Press, the series has received outstanding reviews in The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, The Denver Post, and the Chicago Tribune among others.  Visit her website at:  www.kitehrman.com

March 8, 2008

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Sandy James- Psychology for characters.  

Sandy James ~ Freud Knows Romance: Using Psychology to Empower Characters

 We have all read books in which the hero or heroine did something so totally out of character we wanted to hurl the book across the room in frustration.  Often, the author’s problem was not perceiving the true motivation of her character because she was lacking a basic understanding of human psychology.

Psychology is the study of behavior to help predict, explain and understand that behavior.  What skills could be more valuable to a writer than being able to anticipate what a character will do in any situation, to give cause to that behavior, and to know why the hero did what he did?  This knowledge would definitely bring added depth to characters and stories.

             Authors are budding psychologists, oftentimes without realizing it.  We people watch, gleaning bits and pieces of information to store for future work.  We create characters who act and react in a universe of our design, and we try to engender them with real feelings.  But without an understanding of the basic psychology of human motivation and emotion, sometimes our characters lack depth or proceed in ways that are improbable and unrealistic.

Speaker Biography

Sandy James is a graduate of Indiana State University (B.A. Criminology/Sociology) and Indiana University-Purdue University (Teaching Certificate – Social Studies Education, M.S. English Education.) Currently teaching at Greenwood High School, she has been employed as a social studies instructor for thirteen years.  She is an adjunct professor of psychology to Indiana University and has also served in the same capacity for Ivy Tech State College.  Her current teaching schedule includes Advanced Placement/Advance College Project Psychology, General Psychology, and United States History.  She is a multiple year nominee to “Who’s Who Among American Teachers?” and has been named on the “National Honor Roll of Outstanding American Teachers.”  She belongs to the American Psychological Association, Association of Psychological Science, and Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools.

As a romance author, James is a PRO member of Romance Writers of America, Indiana Romance Writers of America, FF&P, and Elements of RWA.

April 12, 2008

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Tara Taylor Quinn- multi published author who recently signed a six-book deal.

 Suspense and Story

You have your mystery, your plot, your romance, your unanswered questions.  How do you write a story that is three dimensional, with characters that are believable, and still keep the pages hot with suspense?  Bestselling suspense authors tell you how they write stories that keep readers up at night.

The author of over 45 original novels, published in more than twenty languages, Tara Taylor Quinn is a USA Today bestselling author with over six million copies sold.  She is a three time finalist for the RWA RITA award, a multiple finalist for the National Reader’s Choice Award, the Reviewers Choice Award, the Bookseller’s Best Award, the Holt Medallion and appears on the Waldenbooks bestsellers list.   

Tara's 2008 releases include: The Valentine Gift, Harlequin Superromance Everlasting, Ryan’s Story, Harlequin Superromance, At Close Range, MIRA books, and an untitled Christmas Superromance.   

Tara, Past President of RWA, served for eight years on the Board of Directors.   When she’s not writing or fulfilling speaking engagements, Ms. Quinn enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, who is her real life happily ever after.

May 10, 2008

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Susan Crandall—RITA award-winning author of women's fiction, discussing women's fiction as a genre.

WOMEN’S FICTION – WILD STALLION, OR DEAD HORSE?

In this ever-changing world of book publishing, a writer has to keep abreast of more than just craft and technique.  Susan Crandall will present a workshop highlighting women’s fiction. She’s put her head together with both writers and editors to answer these questions: What is this ambiguous genre?  What separates it from contemporary romance?  Is there any truth to the rumor that women’s fiction is dead?  What houses are publishing this genre?  How do I make my work stand out in a difficult market

 Susan Crandall’s novels have garnered numerous awards.  She is a three time finalist and RITA winner (BACK ROADS, Best First Book 2004). She has published six women’s fiction novels with Warner Books (now Grand Central Publishing). PITCH BLACK, her seventh novel, will be released in June ‘08. 

Visit her on the Web:  www.susancrandall.net 

June 14, 2008

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Theresa Stevens – editor in chief at Red Sage Publishing. Former chapter member.
 
After earning degrees in creative writing and law,
Theresa Stevens worked as a literary attorney agent
for a boutique firm based in Indianapolis where she
represented a range of fiction and nonfiction
authors.

 The lure of the courtroom led to a nine-year hiatus
 from the publishing industry, but now Theresa is
 back  as Managing Editor for Red Sage Publishing, a highly
acclaimed small press. 

Tips for Powerful Proposals: How Narrative Structure
Gives Your Submission that Extra Edge  

It seems obvious: word choice and sentence structure
are powerful signals to an editor about a writer’s
skills. And yet, writers are often horrified to learn
how little of a submission an editor or an agent needs
to read before deciding to reject—or accept—a
manuscript. Ever wonder how they can do that? Learn to
see proposals the way an industry professional does,
and then learn how to leverage the secrets of
narrative structure to give your proposal more power.

July 12, 2008

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Interactive Craft Workshop Day!

August 9, 2008

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Melissa  Lopez, speaking on making use of websites for all authors.

A website can launch a thousand books.

There’s more to an effective website than great looking graphics. In fact there are crucial elements every site needs to maximize for profits. 

To grow a larger readership base from your website it’s important to get your website noticed. Understanding what your visitors do on your site is crucial information, Why is it important for an internet marketer to know how spiders crawl your website? A website with a professional look and feel is a must. Clear and consistent navigation will keep readers coming back. Learn the basics of strategic planning and website development…and so much more!  

Melissa Lopez writes for herself. She creates her worlds for her characters. She is an author of ancient fantasy, contemporary, dark urban fantasy, futuristic, historical, paranormal, suspense, and erotic romance.

Melissa Lopez
http://melissa-lopez.com/ 

JOURNEYS OF LOVE every woman needs to take

September 13, 2008

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Jade Lee/Kathy Grill, Character Shortcuts

 

 Character Shortcuts!  Making creation of character quicker, faster, and
more effective.  How many character worksheets do you have?  How many do
you fill out?  And once they're done, how much of it do you remember
while writing?  Join Jade Lee as she gives you some quick, easy steps to
deepening out your characters without overloading your brain.  In the
end, your characters will have more life and the writing will go so much
easier!
 
     Children of mixed races have their own set of rules.  As the
daughter of a Shanghai native and a staunch Indiana Hoosier, Jade Lee
struggled to find her own identity somewhere between America and China.
Her search has taken her throughout Asian and the United States.  In the
end, the answer was found not only at home, but in her own head.  Her
imagination allows her to explore pre-Communist China in her Tigress
series, paranormal energy and werewolf fun in her Crimson City books,
and of course, the amazing power of love in all of them.
        A USA Today bestseller, Jade "Lee has made her mark with
sizzling romances whose unique settings, intriguing backdrops and exotic
characters lure you into worlds where heaven is reached through the
highest meeting of mind and body.  It's a world at once mysterious and
erotic, secret and mind-expanding."  (Romantic Times BOOKreviews on
Cornered Tigress)

October 11, 2008

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Les Edgerton, Hooking the Reader.  Nothing is more important than your opening scene. Here's how to lure readers to Chapter 2.

Les Edgerton is the author of eight books, including the story collection, Monday’s Meal and the writer’s how-to, Finding Your Voice. Forthcoming in February is his latest writer’s how-to, Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One and Never Lets Them Go, from Writer’s Digest Books. His short story Felon recently appeared in the inaugural issue of the national crime magazine, Murdaland. 

November 7-9, 2008

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Bradford Woods Retreat!
"Where Have All the Good Men Gone:
Crafting the Unforgettable Hero"

Guest Speakers Elizabeth Sinclair and Vicki Hinze

December 2008
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Holiday Party!!

 

Details pending...
 

Questions???  Please don't hesitate to email us!