Thursday, April 14, 2011

Workshop: Many Genres One Craft Pennwriters All-day Intensive

Workshops
PENNWRITERS ONE DAY INTENSIVE WORKSHOP
Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction


Who: Writers at any level interested in furthering their writing skills and business prowess

What: Contributors to the new, comprehensive writing guide Many Genres, One Craft, based on the Seton Hill University Writing Popular Fiction Graduate Program, will offer six workshops for craft and career. The three morning sessions focus on plotting with Victoria Thompson, character with Timons Esaias, and setting with Heidi Ruby Miller and Jason Jack Miller. In the afternoon, sessions focus on pursuing publication with Natalie Duvall and Matt Duvall, building a brand with Mary SanGiovanni, and investing in your writing with Michael A. Arnzen.

When: Thursday, May 12, 2011 – 9 AM to 4 PM

Instructors: Michael A. Arnzen is Chair of the Humanities Department at Seton Hill University, as well as a Bram Stoker Award winning author. His first novel Grave Markings also won the International Horror Critics Guild Award for Best First Novel. Other projects include a spoken word CD called Audiovile and the novel Play Dead. Selections from his 100 Jolts: Shockingly Short Stories have been made into the film Exquisite Corpse, produced by Jim Minton. Mike’s latest release is the collection Proverbs for Monsters. He haunts the Internet at http://www.gorelets.com.

Matt Duvall was a professional wrestler who appeared on national TV shows and was included in Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine’s Top 500 wrestlers for 1996. He completed his MFA at Seton Hill University, which is also where he met his wife, Natalie. His short fiction has been published in a number of venues, including Chizine, The Ultimate Unknown, and Eye Contact. When he’s not teaching high school students, Matt practices Krav Maga, runs half marathons, and tries to avoid mowing the yard.

Natalie Duvall lives in a big old house in a little town in Central Pennsylvania. She enjoys walking as much as possible. Unless it's cold out. She is married to Matt Duvall and has cats (three of them -- Albert, Chun Lee and Eliot). During the day she's an 11th grade English teacher. At night, she writes Regency-set historical romances. In what free time is left, she trains in Krav Maga and is a lackadaisical triathlete. She blogs at http://dirtythirtytridea.blogspot.com.

Timons Esaias is a satirist, poet and short fiction writer, living in Pittsburgh. His fiction has appeared in fourteen languages, and his poetry has been translated into Spanish, Swedish and Chinese. His poetry chapbook The Influence of Pigeons on Architecture is in its second edition. He has also been a finalist for the British Science Fiction Award, and won the Asimov's Readers Award. He is Adjunct Faculty at Seton Hill University. His website is www.timonsesaias.com.

Heidi Ruby Miller is adjunct faculty at Seton Hill University, where she graduated from their Writing Popular Fiction graduate program the same month she appeared on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Her novels include Atomic Zion and Ambasadora. She is a member of The Authors Guild, Pennwriters, Science Fiction Poetry Association, and Broad Universe. Visit her at http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com.

Jason Jack Miller is a writer, photographer and musician. An outdoor travel guide he co-authored with his wife in 2006 jumpstarted his freelancing career; his work has since appeared in newspapers, magazines, literary journals, online, and as part of a travel guide app for mobile phones. He received a Master’s in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill where he is adjunct creative writing faculty and he is an Authors Guild member. When he isn't writing, he's on his mountain bike or looking for his next favorite guitar. He is currently writing and recording the soundtrack to his novel, The Devil and Preston Black. Find him at http://jasonjackmiller.blogspot.

Mary SanGiovanni is the author of the Bram Stoker nominated novel The Hollower and its sequel Found You, both from Leisure Books, and Thrall from Thunderstorm Books. Over the last decade, various periodicals and anthologies have published her short fiction, some of which was collected in Under Cover of Night. She co-edited the GSHW anthology Dark Territories. Mary received a Master’s in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Find Mary at http://marysangi.wordpress.com.

Victoria Thompson writes the Edgar-nominated Gaslight Mystery Series, set in turn-of-the-century New York City and featuring midwife Sarah Brandt and detective Frank Malloy. Her latest book in the series is Murder on Lexington Avenue. She is also the author of 20 historical romances. A popular speaker, Victoria has taught at Penn State University and currently teaches in the Seton Hill University master’s program in Writing Popular Fiction. She is online at http://victoriathompson.com.


Tuition: $125 PW members (includes a copy of Many Genres, One Craft)
$165 non-members (includes a copy of Many Genres, One Craft)

Registration: Online at Pennwriters

Endorsements:
“Finally! A book on writing category fiction, presented by those who do it every day. Choose a genre and jump right in.”
--Mike Resnick, Nebula and Hugo Award-winning author

"Many Genres, One Craft is a brilliant and insightful must-have book for any writer, from newbie to working pro. Highly recommended!"
--Jonathan Maberry, NY Times bestselling author of The King of Plagues and Patient Zero

Many Genres has everything you need to write and sell the book of your dreams. It is jam-packed with practical information, clear examples and brilliant insights, all delivered with clarity and wit. Skip the writers’ conference and read this gem from the masters of genre fiction!
--Suzanne Forster, New York Times bestselling author

"Speaking from experience, I can tell you there isn't a muse and if there is, she's already dating someone else." If there isn't a muse, as you'll read in this invaluable book for writers, MANY GENRES ONE CRAFT is surely the next best thing. No matter what you want to learn--from choosing the point of view for a scene, from getting the most out of a critique group to fine-tuning your final draft, from approaching a literary agent to promoting your published book in print or electronically or both--it's all there. The contributors know their stuff, and what they're teaching applies to writing at any age. MANY GENRES ONE CRAFT covers all the bases superbly, including issues I haven't seen addressed anywhere else in today's rapidly shifting publishing landscape.
--Renni Browne, co-author of SELF-EDITING FOR FICTION WRITERS

Check out our site at http://manygenres.blogspot.com!

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Seton Hill Writers News - January 2011

Nicole Peeler's Tempest's Legacy received 4.5 stars in the Urban Fantasy category in the January 2011 issue of RT Book Reviews. It was also a January Top Pick.

Tempest's Legacy_Peeler
Tempest's Legacy by Nicole Peeler

Dark Matter, a poem by Timons Esaias, is up at Strange Horizons.

Chris Stout's novel Days of Reckoning is now available in the Kindle store. This was Chris's thesis novel for Seton Hill University's Writing Popular Fiction Graduate Program.

Photobucket
Days of Reckoning by Chris Stout

Laurie Alice Eakes's novel Lady in the Mist was chosen as a book club book by Crossings Book Club, as well as picked up by Thorndike Press for large print editions, along with another of Laurie's 2010 books.

Lady in the Mist_Eakes
Lady in the Mist by Laurie Alice Eakes

Dead Set: A Zombie Anthology (edited by Michelle McCrary and Joe McKinney for 23 House), which contains Calie Voorhis's short story "Biting the Hand that Feeds You", has been nominated for a Black Quill for Best Dark Genre Anthology.

Dead Set_Calie Voorhis
Dead Set edited by Michelle McCrary and Joe McKinney

Meg Mims is a new staff writer now for Re/Max Platinum Online, in Brighton, Michigan. She has also book reviews and articles on the Lake Effect Living website. And, to round out her new year, she sold an article to Chronicle, the Historical Society of Michigan's member magazine.

Meg also placed fourth in the Silicon Valley's RWA Gotcha Contest in the Inspirational category for her novel Double Crossing. Placing third in that same category was Lee McClain for The Missionary's Bride.

Mike Mehalek has a new blog at http://mikemehalek.blogspot.com called Writing is Tricky.

Mary SanGiovanni's new novel Thrall is available for pre-order through Thunderstorm Books.

Thrall_Mary SanGiovanni
Thrall by Mary SanGiovanni

Mary also wrote an essay about James Patterson's Along Came a Spider for Thrillers: 100 Must Reads (edited by David Morrell and Hank Wagner for Oceanview Publishing), which was nominated for an Edgar Award.

Thrillers:100 Must Reads
Thrillers: 100 Must Reads edited by David Morrell and Hank Wagner

Susan Mallery is a RT Award nominee for Career Achievement in the Mainstream category. Tess Gerritsen is nominated in the Mystery, Suspense and Thriller category.

Gaelen Foley's novel My Dangerous Duke is nominated in the RT Awards Best Historical Novels 2010.

Photobucket
My Dangerous Duke by Gaelen Foley

Michael A. Arnzen's story "Endless Shrimp"is in the Magazine of Bizarro Fiction Issue #4 (edited by John Skipp).

Photobucket
Magazine of Bizarro Fiction Issue #4 edited by John Skipp

Mike also has a new Gorelets page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-Arnzen-Goreletscom/192534454091457.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Seton Hill Writers Deals and Publication News for November 2010

The subject of Patrick Picciarelli's true crime book, Takedown: The True Story of the Undercover Cop Who Brought Down the Real-Life Sopranos, has optioned his life rights to Steven Spielberg and Steve Zaillian for a feature-length movie based on Patrick's proposal.

Patrice Luneski sold her paranormal YA novel, Lethally Blonde to Leap Books. It will be out in Fall 2011.

The second book in Pearl North's Libyrinth Trilogy, The Boy From Ilysies, is out and available in bookstores everywhere.
Photobucket
The Boy from Lysies by Pearl North
The Book Beat has signed copies available. Calico Reaction has a review up here.

Two holiday novels by Seton Hill Writers are on the shelves now:
The Spy Who Saved Christmas_Dana Marton
Dana Marton's The Spy Who Saved Christmas
The Spy Who Saved Christmas by Dana Marton
and
A Montana Mavericks Christmas_Susan Mallery
A Montana Maverick's Christmas by Susan Mallery and Karen Rose Smith
Susan Mallery's A Montana Mavericks Christmas with Karen Rose Smith.

Also, Susan's Finding Perfect is an editors' pick for Top Ten Romance Novels of 2010 at Amazon.com.

Heidi Ruby Miller has an article in Nov.-Dec. 2010 issue of The PennWriter titled "Almost There", which she talks about on her blog.

The Winter 2010 issue of Eye Contact includes the poem "Origami Moon" by Penny Dawn, photographs by Jason Jack Miller ("Wave Swinger") and Meg Mims ("Clockwork") and short stories by Matt Duvall ("The Shorts Have Eyes") and Heidi Ruby Miller ("Sounds in the Jungle").

Jennifer Brisendine's creative non-fiction essay titled "Oh Hell! What Have We Here?" was accepted last week for publication in The Pedestrian, a quarterly literary journal of non-fiction.

Mary SanGiovanni's novel Thrall will be out Spring 2011.

Michael A. Arnzen and Heidi Ruby Miller's Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction from Headline Books, Inc., will hit shelves in April 2011.

Timons Esaias sold a poem to Strange Horizons.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Seton Hill Writers Updates for November 2010

November news for Seton Hill Writers:

Meg Mims is a new staff writer for Lake Effect Living, an online magazine about life along the shore of Lake Michigan. Meg's column is Lighting the Lake.

W. D. Prescott talks about Literary Horror on Goodreads and interviews Andrew Wolter at The Non-Horror Reader Survey.

Jessica Freely's Rust Belt is a finalist for the Mystery, Suspense, and Adventure Erotic Romance Category of the 2011 EPIC eBook Awards Competition™.

Mary SanGiovanni's Funky Werepig Interview is available for streaming or download.

Michael A. Arnzen's Halloween poetry readings are on video at The Morgantown Poets Society.

Damsels in Regress are running The Little Blog on the Prairie Contest until Friday, November 26, 2010.

Heidi Ruby Miller interviewed Pearl North for her PATHS TO PUBLICATION series.

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Seton Hill Writers Update - October 2010

Mary SanGiovanni has a short story at Literary Mayhem starting October 24. She also has a non-fiction essay about James Patterson's Along Came a Spider in Thrillers: 100 Must Reads, edited by Hank Wagner and David Morrell and published through Oceanview Publishing.
Photobucket
Thrillers: 100 Must Reads
To chat with Mary on internet radio, tune into The Funky Werepig on November 5.

Maria V. Snyder's article "The Weather: Part Art, Part Science, and Part...Magic?" is up at Black Gate. Her short story "Cursing the Weather" will be in the December issue of Black Gate Magazine. She is now blogging at the Official Maria V. Snyder Blog. Meet Maria on October 23, 2010 at Celebrate the Book Festival located in the Carlisle Expo Center

Meg Mims won the Utah RWA's 2010 Heart of the West Contest in the Mystery/Suspense category for her thesis novel Murder at Fire Point.

Michael A. Arnzen will be reading poetry from his many collections on October 21, 2010 at Morgantown Poets Night located in the Monongalia Arts Center.

Kaye Dacus will be signing books at Heaven Help Us Christian Bookstore in New Albany, IN, on Saturday, October 23, 2010 from 1 to 3 PM.

Monica Spence just completed her first year of her PhD at Lancaster University in England. Her thesis novel is The Illustrious Woman, the story of the first internationally recognized woman painter of the Renaissance, Sofonisba Anguissola. Monica blogs at A Writer's Heart.

W. D. Prescott opened up The Non-Horror Reader Survey, a stepping stone into changing the public face of Horror literature. Along with the survey, he will have author interviews and spotlight books.

Matthew D. Donahue has posted the first four chapters of his thesis novel Progeny online at his website.

Nicole Taft is having an October Book Giveaway on her blog A Bookseller Recommends.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Seton Hill Writers Online and Out in the World - September 2010

Lynn Salsi was the guest speaker at the Mecklenburg Historical Association. You can read an article about her and her award-winning The Jack Tales in the Charlotte Observer.

Cynthia Ravinski is part of a new blog group The Greater Portland Scribists.

Nicole Taft is giving away a free book at A Bookseller Recommends.

Thomas F. Monteleone and Mary SanGiovanni were guests and readers at Horrorfind Weekend.

Dana Marton is giving a free seminar at Coffee Time Romance on Project Management for Writers. Here are the first two lessons:
Lesson #1: Writing is an Art -- Publishing is a Business
Lesson #2: A Goal is a Dream with a Deadline

Michael A. Arnzen will be featured in the Snark Infested Waters radio program in October to discuss tracks from his audio CD, Audiovile. Look for it after October 5th online.

He will also read at the Morgantown Poets night on Thursday, Oct 21st, 7pm-8pm at the Monongalia Arts Center in Morgantown, WV. Directions available on booktour.com.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Monday, March 08, 2010

Seton Hill Writers Updates - March 2010

Seton Hill mentors Michael A. Arnzen, Gary A. Braunbeck, and Lucy A. Snyder are just a few of the authors participating in Bizarro Day at Backlist Books in Massillon, OH, on Saturday, March 10.

Alum Mary SanGiovanni is now a Pennwriter.

Alum and mentor Maria V. Snyder celebrates the release of her YA SF novel Inside Out with a virtual party at Bitten by Books on April 6.

Labels: , , , , , ,

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Seton Hill Writers Update

The Seton Hill University Writing Popular Fiction alum, students, and mentors have been busy. Here's an update:

Jenny Andersen's thesis novel Loving Luke will be released from The Wild Rose Press on December 18, 2009. She will be signing books at Borders.

Michael A. Arnzen is giving away copies of his e-book Sportuary when you sign up for his newsletter at his Gorelets site. He's also hosting a contest for rare Arnzen collector's items for customer reviews of any of his books/stories/cds/films at amazon.com, horror-mall.com, itunes.com, or cdbaby.com. For details on how to enter, visit www.gorelets.com.

Gary Braunbeck sold the final book in his Cedar Hill Cycle, A Cracked and Broken Path, as well as a non-fiction book about writing horror to Jason Sizemore at Apex Books.

Tobias S. Buckell's novella "Dirt" is part of the new Halo anthology Evolutions: Essential Tales of the Halo Universe.

Christopher Paul Carey has a short story titled "Caesar's Children—A Tale of Pluritopia" in the upcoming Tales of the Shadowmen Grand Guignol anthology.

Kaye Dacus sold three novels in her new series The Matchmakers to Barbour Publishing: Love Remains,The Art of Romance, and Turnabout is Fair Play. Kaye has done several interviews with Victor Gentile of The Kingdom Highlights Show, an internet radio program, about some of her previous books: Stand-In Groom, Menu for Romance, and Ransome's Honor.

Laurie Alice Eakes' novel The Glassblower will be released in December from Barbour Publishing. Laurie also sold three more books to Barbour this year, plus four to Baker/Revell, and four to Avalon Books.

Timons Esaias is presenting a full-day intensive workshop about fiction writing at the 2010 Pennwriters Conference on May 13, 2010, from 9 AM - 4 PM.

W.H. Horner co-edited The Stories in Between, a Between Books Anthology, featuring "Dr. Time" by Maria V. Snyder and "Beneath Between" by Lawrence C. Connolly.

Heidi Ruby Miller's article about Uniontown, PA, will be part of the 'A Tale of Two Towns' feature in the Spring 2010 issue of Pursuits Magazine. She also has a large lay out about the Pennsylvania Wilds in the 2009 PA Insiders Guide.

Patrick Picciarelli's short story "The Prince of Arthur Avenue" from Bronx Noir (Akashic Books) has been optioned for a movie and will begin filming in January. Terry Knight, Knight Vision Pictures, is producing.

W. D. Prescott's short story "January" was accepted for the Dead Bells anthology, edited by Jodi Lee and published by Library of Horror Press.

Mary SanGiovanni was one of ten authors interviewed for Michael Knost’s article, “The Aha! Moment” up at Cemetery Dance’s Writers’ Corner.

Maria V. Snyder's latest novel Sea Glass, part of The Glass series, is available this month. Maria will be signing books December 12, 2009, at Borders Express at the Park City Mall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Ellen Spain was named the Pennsylvania State Coordinator for EPIC, the Electronically Published Internet Connection, a professional organization for published and contracted e-book and print authors.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Seton Hill Writers Update

I haven't done one of these in a while because I've been busy on a novel (of course), but here are a few updates I've recently heard about:

#1: The Other in the Mirror, a collection of writings by Phillip Jose Farmer and edited by Christopher Paul Carey, is now available for pre-order.

#2: Mary SanGiovanni was interviewed at Famous Monsters of Filmland about her latest novel Found You.

#3: Kaye Dacus' Stand-In Groom received a four star review in Romantic Times BOOKreviews. This was her thesis novel for the WPF program.

#4: Renae Johnson has a new trailer for her upcoming release Blessed Be.

#5: The first two chapters of Anne Harris' second novel Accidental Creatures is up at Book View Cafe.

#6: HALO: The Cole Protocol by Tobias S. Buckell hit the New York Times Bestseller list.


, , , , , , , ,

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Friday, November 21, 2008

Mary SanGiovanni Signing

My Seton Hill critique partner and dear friend Mary SanGiovanni will be in my area (Uniontown, PA, Greensburg, PA, and Morgantown, WV) this weekend to sign her latest novel Found You. It is a sequel to her Bram Stoker-nominated debut novel The Hollower.



, , , , ,

Labels: , , , ,

Monday, November 03, 2008

Seton Hill Writers Updates

#1: Mary SanGiovanni's sequel to her Bram Stoker-nominated first novel The Hollwer is on shelves now. The follow up is called Found You.

#2: The short story "Iron and Bronze" by Christopher Paul Carey and Win Scott Eckert is part of Tales of the Shadowmen: Volume 5 due out soon.

#3: You can hear Michael A. Arnzen as part of the Writer's Talk series on WCBE Ohio's NPR through this link. Other Seton Hill Writers in the series include Gary Braunbeck and Lawrence Connolly.

#4: Lynn Salsi's debut YA novel Firefight on Vietnam Brown Water" is now available. This was Lynn's thesis novel for Seton Hill University's Writing Popular Fiction Program.


, , , , , , , , ,

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Mary SanGiovanni Interview

Derek Clendening interviews Seton Hill alum and my wonderful critique partner Mary SanGiovanni at Dark Scribe about Found You, her follow up to Bram Stoker Award-nominated debut novel, The Hollower.

, , , , , , , ,

Labels: , , , , ,

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Some Seton Hill Writer News

#1: The "In Your Write Mind" Conference sponsored by the Seton Hill WPF Alumni has its two Keynote Speakers - Ginjer Buchanan, Editor in Chief at Penguin Group USA and best-selling mystery and speculative fiction author J. A. Konrath. (Here's last year's PICK SIX with J. A. Konrath.) The conference will be June 27 - 29, 2008. More details as they come in.

#2: Horror Mall is streaming the "Psycho Hunter" track from Michael A. Arnzen's cd AUDIOVILE.

#3: Tammy Swoish's YA Novel Hot Scots, Castles, and Kilts was just released from Random House.

#4: The following Seton Hill horror writers made it on the 2007 Stoker Preliminary Ballot:
Michael A. Arnzen, Gary Braunbeck, and Mary SanGiovanni


, , , , , , , , , ,

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

HEIDI'S PICK SIX - Mary SanGiovanni

HEIDI'S PICK SIX with Seton Hill WPF Alum Mary SanGiovanni is up today at ambasadora.

Labels: , ,

Sunday, September 09, 2007

HEIDI'S PICK SIX - WEEK 30

Here is the line up for this week on HEIDI'S PICK SIX:

Monday - Alma Alexander / Fantasy, Memoir, and Poetry

Wednesday - Mary SanGiovanni / Horror and Science Fiction

Friday - Rae Dawn Carson / Fantasy


, , , , , , ,

Labels: , , , ,

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Seton Hill Writers Newest Releases

#1: Mary SanGiovanni's debut novel The Hollower, which was also her Master's thesis for Seton Hill University's Writing Popular Fiction Program, comes out this week.
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketThe Hollower

You can read an interview with Mary on Maria V. Snyder's blog.

#2: The Naked Truth, a Harlequin Blaze by alum Shannon Hollis is released this Saturday.

#3: Alum Maria V. Snyder's second novel of the popular Study series Magic Study was just released in trade paperback with a new cover.

#4: Seton Hill mentor Timons Esaias' short story "Norbert and the System" is part of the new textbook Philosophy Through Science Fiction.


, , , , , , , ,

Labels: , , , , , ,

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Speculative News

#1: The Science Fiction Poetry Association (SFPA) has a small write up about the Green Hills of Earth Poetry Reading.

#2: Mary SanGiovanni has some tour dates up here and here for her upcoming debut novel The Hollower.
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketThe Hollower


, , , , , , , ,

Labels: , , ,

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Seton Hill Writers News

#1: Mary SanGiovanni's short story "The Eleventh Hour Syndrome" is in Issue #100 of Space and Time, the double-sized 40th anniversary issue.

#2: The poetry contest from Michael A. Arnzen's goreletter is about to close. Check it out here to win a copy of Mike's movie Exquisite Corpse.

#3: Secret Contract by Dana Marton comes out this month. Her interview will be up tomorrow on HEIDI'S PICK SIX.

#4: Chapter three of Assassin Study is up at eHarlequin. Tell Maria V. Snyder where to go from here by voting on the ending. You can also read the first two chapters and see what choices the voters made.

#5: Gary Braunbeck is on the Stocker Final Ballot for his novel Prodigal Blues and his fiction collection Destination Unknown.


, , , , , , ,

Labels: , , , , ,

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Horror News

#1: Scott A. Johnson's latest book The Journal of Edwin Gray is now available at Shocklines.

#2: Michael A. Arnzen and Lawrence C. Connolly have articles up at Dissections: The Journal of Contemporary Horror.

#3: "Kins", a story by Mary SanGiovanni in Postscripts #9 received a great review from Tangent Online.

X-posted to ambasadora


, , , , , , , ,

Labels: , , ,