SWW Storyteller

Meetings

Join us for our free monthly programs on the first Saturday from 10 a.m – noon and the third Tuesday from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. at New Life Presbyterian Church, 5540 Eubank NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico. We also offer classes, workshops, and conferences.

Saturday, September 4
10:00 a.m. to noon

Sherri Burr

Mastering the Art of Interviewing for Writers

Writers interview. It's one of our most important research techniques. We interview to acquire background information about our characters and locations. We interview for quotes to enhance our stories. We interview for profiles.

In this session, Sherri Burr, the author of 12 books, 4 columns, and hundreds of articles, will explain the mechanics of setting up interviews as well as the art of obtaining the heartiest quotes from subjects. For her books, articles, and television shows, Bur has interviewed academy award winning actress Shirley MacLaine, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, director Stephen Frears (The Queen and The Hi-Lo Country), and authors David Baldacci and Max Evans among hundreds of others. This session will be packed with humor and information.

Tuesday, September 21
7 to 9 p.m.

Ray Collins

Characters that Can Stand the Test

Ray Collins discusses characters from both an internal and external development prespective. He is currently writing a book on Character Development for Fiction. “Characters have to be real because it is their job to carry the plot. They carry the plot to the reader and to carry the reader through to the last page (and then back to the bookstore for your next novel).”

Ray is an award winning writer and noted editor. He is a published author of mystery, Western, and Sci-fi novels along with a collection of short fiction in those same genres. He and his wife, Darlene, are educators and coaches in many areas including writing. They have recently started a new publishing house, RayDar Books, to help new writers find their voice and enhance their talents.

Publishers say Ray is an engaging storyteller. Editors say Ray’s writing is so clear “I can hear him talking.” Readers consistently say that Rays’ books are easy to read and hard to put down. Other readers have said they get so drawn into the story that the characters become like friends and people they know. As a versatile and eclectic writer, Ray says he writes to escape and experience extraordinary adventures, as a cowboy, a pirate, an alien life form and once as a quite sensuous and appealing Lady Godiva. Ray says everything in fiction hinges on the characters and as a publisher, he is looking for new talent, but character counts above everything.

Saturday, October 2
10:00 a.m. to noon

Sandra Toro

Writing Historical Fiction That Sells

Sandra Toro has written two published historical novels and a third, Princes, Popes and Pirates, will be published in 2011. Using her experiences in researching, re-immagining and writing these novels, as well as her work as a literary agent and teacher of creative writing, she will discuss the early decisions a novelist must make before embarking on a historical novel. In addition, she will talk about the use of primary and secondary sources, determining the emotional highs and lows, and the author's enthusiasm for the person or the historical period. Her new novel, By Fire Possessed, will be available for purchasing and autographing.

Sandra K. Toro is a published novelist with three novels to her credit, and a fourth scheduled for publication in the fall of 2011. She has also completed a book length memoir which won first place in the 2009 SWW contest. Sandra has taught creative writing, literature, composition, and business writing at the University of Nebraska, community colleges in Nebraska, and fiction and non-fiction at the University of New Mexico Continuing Education. She is the recipient of a Ford Foundation Grant, and her work has appeared in Red book, McCalls, the Platt Valley Review, and Environment. Her book reviews have appeared in numerous newspapers throughout the nation. In addition, Sandra is the president of The Toro Literary Agency.

Tuesday, October 19
7 to 9 p.m.

Loretta Hall

AN AUTHOR’S PLATFORM: WHAT IT IS, AND HOW TO BUILD ONE

When you approach an agent or a publisher about your book project, they want to know about your "platform.” It’s one of those terms you’re expected to understand. Christina Katz wrote in Writer’s Digest that “Platform is a simple word to describe a complicated process — a process that’s been shrouded in mystery until recently.” In this session, you will find out what it is, what kinds of authors need one, and how to build yours.

Loretta Hall has four nonfiction books in print. She also writes magazine articles and teaches classes about writing and self-promotion. Loretta has built a strong platform for her book Underground Buildings: More than Meets the Eye, and is currently hammering planks together to create a platform for her forthcoming book, tentatively titled Out of this World in 80 Years: New Mexico’s Role in the Development of Space Travel.

Saturday, November 6
10:00 a.m. to noon

Judith Van Gieson

WEAVING FACT INTO FICTION

Facts are an important element in crime novels particularly when it comes to forensics, crime solving and the sleuth’s professional expertise. Mystery readers tend to be knowledgeable about these elements and quick to notice errors. It pays to do your research and get your facts straight, and I’ll talk about how to do this. Many of my books have been inspired by real crimes. I like to write about current issues such as the environment, forest fires and the homeless. I’ve also woven New Mexico history into my books as in Land of Burning Heat, which tells the story of New Mexico’s crypto Jews. For me one of the joys of writing is doing research that will get me out of the house, seeing new places and meeting new people. A problem many writers face is how much to say about real people. I will discuss ways of weaving real places and people into your stories without revealing too much.

Judith Van Gieson is the author of thirteen mystery novels set in New Mexico. Her first series (published by HarperCollins) featured Albuquerque lawyer/sleuth Neil Hamel. The protagonist of the second series, Claire Reynier, is an archivist and librarian at the University of New Mexico. The Reynier series was published in paperback by Signet and in hardcover by the University of New Mexico Press. Books in both series have been regional and IMBA (Independent Mystery Booksellers Association) bestsellers. The Shadow of Venus, the fifth book in the Reynier series, was given the Zia Award from New Mexico Press Women for the best work of fiction by a New Mexico woman. Van Gieson was born in New York City and started writing as an English major at Northwestern University. After graduation she worked in publishing in New York. Later she studied writing in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. She has lived in Albuquerque’s North Valley for twenty years.

Tuesday, November 16
7 to 9 p.m.

Bart Cleveland

Successful Writers are Brands

Bart Cleveland will talk about how writers can determine their marketing target, define it as a person and formulate a brand story that resonates with that person. He’ll use some examples from his work in advertising and give some simple exercises anyone can do to do target research, formulate a marketing strategy and implement a branding campaign.

Bart Cleveland is partner and Creative Director at McKee Wallwork Cleveland in Albuquerque. His agency experience includes renowned firms including Saatchi and Saatchi. Bart’s work for clients such Coca-Cola, CNN, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, and Dow has appeared in markets across the globe. His work has received dozens of awards from the ad industry’s most prestigious shows, including: The One Show, Communication Arts, L’Archive, D&AD, Clios and Addys.

Bart has written about the advertising industry for many years and has been published in some of the industry’s most regarded publications and websites, including: Communication Arts, Creativity, and One, A Magazine and TalentZoo.com. In 2005, Rance Crain, president and editorial director of Crain Publications asked Bart to co-develop and write a blog for the Advertising Age website. Small Agency Diary is the most successful blog ever launched by Ad Age, boasting thousands of readers.

Saturday, December 4
Meeting and Annual Holiday Brunch
10:00 a.m. to noon

Susan Slater

Amazon and Hollywood: A Writer’s Boon or Bane?

Times have changed—have you as a writer changed with them? Or do you still have unreal expectations of what “being published” means?

You can be successful today—reach more people and make more money—if you understand your options. Book tours are fast becoming an expensive thing of the past—unless you’re a name (athlete, politician, movie star). But “virtual” selling and exposure is coming into its own. What are the secrets of becoming a best-seller on Amazon? Or how can that cute You Tube clip get Hollywood’s attention?

This is 2010 . . . get with it or get left behind!

Susan Slater is the author of six published mysteries—four in the Ben Pecos Indian series, Pumpkin Seed Massacre, Yellow Lies, Thunderbird, a novella, A Way to the Manger and two stand-alones, Flash Flood and Five O'clock Shadow. Her novel, 0 to 60 (July, 2009), is women’s fiction and has been optioned for a feature film. "Eye for an Eye", a paranormal short story is included in the Rod Serling Twilight Zone Anthology II (July, 2010). Rollover, the second Dan Mahoney mystery will be out 2011. Susan lives in Taos and writes fulltime.

Saturday, January 1, 2011
10:00 a.m. to noon

Slim Randles

Writing a great query letter – your foot in the door

Queries letters: What to include. What not to include. The thinking of an editor. The problems of an editor. And the overwhelming universal truth: make life easy for an editor and you'll get checks in the mail.

In describing himself, Slim Randles says: I taught magazine writing at UNM for eight years, and am former editor of Petersen's Hunting Magazine. At the moment, I write a syndicated newspaper column called "Home Country," which runs in 156 papers in 36 states. We just went over 1.3 million readers.

I'm 68, my dog loves me, and I must wear corrective lenses.