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Meeting Schedule

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  January | February | March | April  | May | June | July | August  | September | October | November | December
 

Meetings are held the 2nd Saturday of every month.  You might want to check your time zone on the links above to make sure you're in sync with Indianapolis time.

 

 


11:30 - 12:00 pm
Social and Networking Time

12:00 - 1:00 pm

Welcome and Business Meeting.  Members only at business meeting-- visitors welcome for program. 

Bring a sack lunch or stop for a fast food sandwich on your way.


1:00 - 1:15 pm
Break
 

1:15 - 3:15 pm
Program:

We have a presentation by one of our members or an invited guest speaker. Recent presentations have included Self-editing, Publicity - Getting Your Name Out, First Sale/First Contract - Two Recent New Authors Tell All, Making Mysteries, Confessions of a Contest Queen, and our annual workshop for contest judging


3:15 - 3:30 pm
.Meeting Wrap-up

 

 

Critique groups-- Members only.  Contact Tonya VanDeventer for guidelines and sign-up information.

 

 

 

 

 


January 10, 2009

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Melissa Lopez
Having an Internet Presence as an author

 

 


February 14, 2009

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Sgt. Patrick Cicero
Detective and Crime Scene Investigator, LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office
Real Crime Scene Investigating—Start to finish— and the CSI Effect

In his presentation, Sgt. Patrick Cicero, CSI and a Body Farm instructor, will cover the multiple facets of a crime scene investigation works as a. He understands the importance of writers getting their crime scenes correct, but he will also stress the importance of write rs and the media understanding how their influences on their readers can have an effect on how a case is presented in court. He calls it the CSI effect.

 

 


March 2009

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No meeting due to the conference

 

 


April 11, 2009

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Kelley St. John’s
Self Promotion: It Isn’t Rocket Science

 

 


May 2009

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Jenna Petersen
The Anatomy of a Love Scene

Hot is well, hot, right now. But not every author is comfortable with the intricacies of sensual love scenes. In this three part presentation, award-winning sensual and erotic romance writer Jenna Petersen (Jess Michaels) breaks down the key elements a powerful love scene should contain.

 

 



June 2009

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Louise Knott Ahern
20 QUESTIONS TO A KILLER PR PLAN

Does the thought of promoting your book make you twitch and shake with dread? Do you get overwhelmed? Wonder where to start? Worry that you don’t have enough money? No fear! You’re just 20 Questions away from a Killer PR Plan. In this fun, fast-paced workshop, award-winning journalist and PR coach Louise Knott Ahern will walk you through the 20 most important questions to ask yourself to craft an effective, easy PR plan for your book.
 

 

 


July 2009

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To be announced

 


August 2009

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Donna MacMeans
Analyzing Your Way to a Bestseller
 

By day, Donna MacMeans is a CPA.  While most believe those initials stand for Certified Public Accountant, more likely in Donna’s case it stands for Certifiable Pathetic Analyzer of Everything.  In the ten years before she FINAL LY sold her first romance, she analyzed bestsellers and debuts to see what was lacking in her work that prevented it from joining those ranks. What percentage of dialogue do the bestsellers have in their stories?  How do you determine if your tone is sufficient for romance?  How do bestsellers make us emotionally attach to their characters? How many debut authors were discovered through contests?  She's tackled these questions and more and will discuss the results in an informative, fun, and sometimes relevant (sometimes not) presentation.  Come learn how to analyze your own manuscript and others in the genre.

 


 


September 2009

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Hank Phillippi Ryan

 THE SCOOP! USING TELEVISION'S TECHNIQUES TO WRITE A KILLER NOVEL

With her top-ten list of questions, journalism techniques, solid practical applications and even in-class exercises, Emmy- (and Agatha-) winning reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan will teach you the secrets of television news. And then: she'll show you exactly how those skills can work for you to develop the novel you always wanted to write. Or to make your next book better.

 It's a unique and one-of-a kind workshop...and your chance to learn the inside scoop!

 

  

 


October 10, 2009

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Sandy James

 

I got The Call!  Now what?

 

Haven’t writers always thought the finish line came when their books are published?  Authors – especially those who publish with small presses – often don’t realize how much work is involved after “The Call.”  This presentation will introduce you to what the editing process is like, how to handle cover art, the joy of writing blurbs, and the review process from the perspective of a small press and epublishers.

 

Speaker Bio – 

Sandy James is a graduate of Indiana State University (B.A. Criminology/Sociology 1983) and Indiana University-Purdue University (Teaching Certificate – Social Studies Education 1994, M.S. English Education 1996.) 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.”  

 

As a romance author, James is a member of Romance Writers of America, Indiana Romance Writers of America, FF&P, From the Heart RWA, and Elements of RWA.  Her books include Turning Thirty-Twelve, Murphy’s Law, Free Falling, All the Right Reasons, and Faith of the Heart.  Her agent is Maureen Walters of Curtis Brown, Ltd.  

 

 
 


November 2009

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Bradford Woods Retreat!

“The Language of Love: Let’s give ‘em something to talk about!”

The Essential Elements of Dialogue

 


December 12, 2008
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Holiday Party!!

 

Details pending...
 

 

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

 

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