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Posts Tagged ‘Writers’

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Pitch, Publish, and Perfect: Join Award-Winning Authors and Industry Experts at the Appalachian Writers Conference 2025

In Books, Business, Education, Entertainment, Local News, Uncategorized on August 15, 2025 at 8:42 am

Berea, KY – Writers from across the country will converge in Kentucky this fall for the 2025 Appalachian Writer’s Conference 2025 (AWC), an immersive, genre-inclusive gathering designed to sharpen craft and demystify the business of publishing. From agent pitch sessions to expert-led workshops on branding, contracts, and publicity, AWC equips aspiring and established authors alike with the tools to thrive. Founded by Martin Sisters Publishing President and CEO Melissa Newman, Ed.D., the conference has evolved into a nationally respected event featuring award-winning faculty dedicated to helping writers succeed, regardless of their path or project.

“I strongly believe that everyone has a story, and most people have more than one,” Newman explained. “What we offer at our conference is the opportunity for writers to learn from professionals and develop the skills they need for a successful career as an author.”

Returning to this year’s faculty are fantasy/romance author Summer Hanford, fiction novelist Sherry Robinson, crime thriller novelist Susan Furlong, and screenwriter Mark Daniels. Frank K. Newman, J.D., President and CEO of the law firm Cole, Cole, Anderson & Newman, PSC, will be back to share insights into publishing and media contracts. Gery Deer, GLD Communications‘s creative director and author of the Pulitzer-nominated op-ed series “Deer In Headlines,” also returns with a session on making a living writing professionally in between book projects.













Deer first attended in 2023 as a participant but transitioned into a faculty role and took on a support position last year. “This is a unique experience for writers, and the intimate setting is ideal, in my opinion, for a better learning experience,” he said. “Melissa has created an environment of support and education, and the faculty is part of the group, interacting and spending time with the participants as fellow artists.” Deer also noted that they continue efforts to improve the event based on participant feedback.





For example, a literary agent joins the faculty for the first time at AWC. Jackie Kruzie, author, literacy advocate, and associate literary agent at Focused Artists, will lead sessions on “Perfecting Your Pitch,” “The Dreaded Synopsis,” and a Lunch-and-Learn Session called “Should I Get an Agent?” She will also meet with authors for eight-minute pitch sessions. Another new addition is award-winning crime, thriller, and suspense novelist Trace Conger. In addition to class presentations, faculty will participate in the “Ask Me Anything” lunch panel to answer questions and discuss writing and publishing topics in a conversational setting.





Martin Sisters Publishing and the Appalachian Writers Conference present the Appy Inkwell Awards for the second year. “We want to give writers a chance to have their work recognized,” said Appy Inkwell Awards Coordinator, writer, and English Literature instructor Mary Ryan Wineberg. “We may even discover some new literary talent.”





This award celebrates outstanding achievement in fiction writing and offers talented writers the opportunity to showcase their creativity and skill before a supportive community of peers. Participants can submit up to 2,500 words of unpublished fiction, in progress or complete, that demonstrates originality, craft, and storytelling prowess. Eligible submissions include: a complete short story, a short story collection, or a piece of flash fiction.





The Dr. Pam Parry Lifetime Learning Award also debuts this year. It was created in memory of Dr. Parry, an integral presence within the AWC faculty and a trusted conference advisor whose remarkable life touched many. This award will celebrate someone whose passion for lifelong learning and generosity in the writing community make a lasting impact.





For registration and event details, visit: www.appalachianwritersconference.com. (Click to watch a highlight reel from the 2024 event.)





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Photos from the 2024 Event:































































































														

			


			

					

				
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Deer In Headlines Podcast welcomes Melissa Newman and Mary Ryan Wineberg of the Appalachian Writers Conference

				In Local News on May 18, 2024 at 4:31 pm

				

					




In this episode, Deer In Headlines Podcast host, Gery Deer, speaks with organizers of the Appalachian Writers Conference, slated for September 3rd through the 5th, 2024, in Berea, Kentucky. Set at the historic Boone Tavern, this year’s conference explores genre writing with programs by award-winning authors of mystery, crime, romance, dystopian, and fantasy novels.





To listen, CLICK HERE or search “Deer In Headlines” on your favorite podcast streaming channel





Founded by Melissa Newman, Ed.D., President and CEO of Martin Sisters Publishing, the Appalachian Writers Conference (AWC) offers beginning and intermediate writers the opportunity to sharpen their skills and learn new techniques from a skill-diverse, experienced faculty. The conference also features professional business presentations on topics such as building the author brand, public relations, dissecting contracts, and libel protection.












“I strongly believe that everyone has a story, and most people have more than one,” Newman explained. “The tools and skills are waiting in the gap between these stories and becoming a published author. That’s what we offer at the AWC annual conference, getting writers what they need to step into building a successful career as an author.”





Many of last year’s award-winning faculty will return for the 2024 conference, including epic fantasy/romance author Summer Hanford, fiction novelist Sherry Robinson, and political history editor and journalist Dr. Pam Parry. Cannes Film Festival Finalist screenwriter Mark Daniels returns as well. Frank K. Newman, J.D., President and CEO of the law firm Cole, Cole, Anderson & Newman, PSC, will be back to share insights into publishing and media contracts.





New faces on the faculty team include Susan Furlong, who will present sessions on character development and choosing a crime genre. Among her many accomplishments is, “Shattered Justice,” the New York Times Best Crime Novel of the Year. Her new love-inspired thriller, “Lethal Wilderness Trap,” is set for a 2025 release is now available for pre-order from Harlequin.





Gery Deer, founder of the public relations media agency GLD Communications, is another new addition. Author of the Pulitzer-nominated op-ed series “Deer In Headlines,” Deer will lead sessions on author brand building, PR, and marketing.





In addition to class presentations, faculty will be on hand at lunch for the “Ask Me Anything” panels. The AWC experts will answer questions and discuss writing and publishing topics in a conversational setting.





New this year, Martin Sisters Publishing and the Appalachian Writers Conference present the Appy Inkwell Awards 2024. From now until July 1st, writers can submit the first 2,500 words of a full-length book manuscript in fiction, non-fiction, or memoir categories.





To listen, search “Deer In Headlines” on your favorite podcast streaming channel, or click this link. 





“We want to give writers a chance to have their work recognized,” said Appy Inkwell Awards Coordinator, writer, and English Literature instructor Mary Ryan Wineberg. “We may even discover some new literary talent.” The entry fee is $25, and prizes include:





First Prize: Publishing contract with Martin Sisters Publishing and free 2024 Appalachian Writers Conference registration.





Second Prize: Free Registration to the 2024 Appalachian Writers Conference and a $50 gift certificate to the Taleless Dog Bookstore in Berea.





Third Prize: Free Registration to the to the 2024 Appalachian Writers Conference





Visit www.appalachianwritersconference.com for more information and to register for the conference. To listen to this podcast episode, search your favorite podcast streaming channel, or click this link. 

														

			


			

					

				
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Extends Deadline, 2018 WOWA anthology now open for submissions

				In Books, Dayton Ohio News, Entertainment, Literature, Print Media, Uncategorized on July 7, 2018 at 10:59 am

				

					
Dayton, Ohio, June 1, 2018 –The Western Ohio Writers Association (WOWA) is now accepting short story fiction submissions for their 2018 anthology themed, “Redemption, Reinvention, Revenge” (final title TBA), targeted for publication in Q4 2018.


The Western Ohio Writers Association was founded in 2008 as a resource for writers of all genre in the southwestern Ohio, southeastern Indiana, and northwestern Kentucky region. The organization provides monthly critique sessions, networking opportunities, workshops and education, and creative support.


This will be WOWA’s second anthology, having published its first, “Flights of Fiction,” in 2013. This time, however, rather than only member authors, submissions are open to writers outside the group.


“We are looking for innovative short fiction between 2,500 and 7,500 words. Stories should have diverse appeal and must incorporate one or more of the anthology theme’s concepts,” explained WOWA Executive Director, Gery L. Deer.  “All submissions must be original works that have not been previously published. We will choose approximately 15 stories for this anthology.”


Submissions are open to fiction writers 18 and up who are permanent residents of the following Ohio counties: Brown, Butler, Champaign, Clarke, Clermont, Clinton, Darke, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hamilton, Highland, Madison, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Warren. Authors do not need to be members of WOWA in order to submit.


Submissions will be accepted between May 1, 2018 and now extended to August 31, 2018. Please either upload your manuscript document through our Submission Form page or send it as an email attachment to submissions@westernohiowriters.com. No more than two submissions per author, please. We will reject stories that include explicit sex, brutality, or pervasive profanity. We do not accept simultaneous submissions.


Full details and submission guidelines are available online at www.westernohiowriters.com, click on “WOWA Publications.”

														

			


			

					

				
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Old Haunts Beatnik Cafe celebrates original Halloween stories by local authors

				In Books, Children and Family, Dayton Ohio News, Entertainment, Holiday, Local News, Theatre, Uncategorized on September 11, 2015 at 8:37 am

				

					
Artwork by Michael Martin, WOWA Editorial Committee 
Artwork by Michael Martin, WOWA Editorial Committee


Beavercreek, OH – Beginning at 7pm on Friday, October 16, author members of the Western Ohio Writers Association (WOWA) will take the microphone at Books & Co. to present the 2015 Halloween addition of their popular, “Beatnik Café” event. Writers from all genres will regale visitors with original works of poetry and prose to the theme, “Old Haunts.” The event is free and open to the public.


The live reading pays homage to the hole-in-the-wall poetry clubs of the 1960’s, but with a more modern style. Reading aloud from original work, each writer will take the stage for 10 to 12 minutes, dazzling audiences with short stories, poetry or who knows what. This is the 6th year for the quarterly event.


Barbara Deer is the co-founder of the organization. “WOWA was intended to provide a regular resource for peer critique, educational programs and networking opportunities to local writers of all genres, both amateur and professional,” she says.


Barbara Deer, WOWA co-founder.
Click to watch the video!


“Annual workshops are held all around the country, with two of the most well-known right here in the Miami Valley. But for most writers to thrive that type of support needs to come on a more regular basis,” Deer says. “Our group consists of professional writers and editors, college professors and everyone is ready and willing to offer help, a fresh eye and, sometimes more importantly, an honest opinion about the quality of the work – good or bad.”


 


Writers come from all around the region – southwest central Ohio, eastern Indiana and northern Kentucky – to attend monthly critique sessions, educational lectures and write-in events. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month at the Event Connections, 4140 Linden Ave. in Dayton, near the intersection of US 35 and Woodman Drive.


WOWA Logo 2Now in its seventh year, this talented group of scribes definitely have plenty to celebrate. In addition to the many individual members who have been published on their own, in May of this year eleven of them were featured in an anthology titled, “Flights of Fiction,” produced by GLD Enterprises Commercial Writing and published by Handcar Press (ISBN: 978-0-9885289-4-9). The book features stories set in and around the southwest Ohio region and is available in print and electronic formats from the WOWA website as well as Amazon and BN.com.


The Beatnik Café is a family-friendly, free, public presentation of WOWA and GLD Enterprises Communications. Books & Co. is located at 4453 Walnut St. at The Greene in Beavercreek. For more information, go online to www.westernohiowriters.org or call (937) 902-4857.

														

			


			

					

				
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Well-Fed Writer Packs Fairborn Community Center

				In Business, Economy, Entertainment, Local News, Media, National News, State News, Uncategorized on December 30, 2011 at 1:13 pm

				

					
Award-winning author Peter Bowerman speaking to members of the Western Ohio Writers Association at the Fairborn Community Center.


FAIRBORN, OH – On December 29th, aspiring freelance writers packed the Fairborn Community Center for the opportunity to meet veteran commercial writer Peter Bowerman, author of the award-winning book, The Well-Fed Writer. The Atlanta-based author and business coach spoke Thursday evening about the perils and promise of breaking into the lucrative field of commercial freelance writing.


A commercial freelance writer is someone who his hired to write material such as marketing literature, human resources documentation, and ghost writing projects.  “In today’s downsized business world, companies of all sizes outsource many writing tasks to well-paid freelancers,” Bowerman says.

Bowerman’s appearance was sponsored by the Western Ohio Writers Association (WOWA), a creative arm of GLD Enterprises Commercial Writing in Jamestown. The group provides networking and educational opportunities to writers of all genres, living and working in southwest-central Ohio.  Writers attend monthly critique sessions to hone their writing skills through peer feedback, networking opportunities and educational presentations.


For nearly two hours, and to a full house, Bowerman shared his experiences about commercial writing; what it is, why it makes sense to embark on a career in this industry now, how to build a portfolio, how to find work, what to charge, and much more.


“The work is out there and a talented writer could earn anywhere from $50 to $125 per hour,” he says, with his passion for the job clearly visible in his presentation style. He cautions aspiring freelancers, however.


“Freelancing is not a get rich quick scheme or a multilevel marketing scam; this is hard work that you have to do yourself.” After the presentation, Bowerman spent the remainder of his time signing books and talking with the audience.


Western Ohio Writers Association meetings are held from 7PM until 10PM on the first Thursday of each month at the Fairborn Community Center. Meetings are $2 per person to attend and open to the public, but RSVP’s are requested.


The next session is scheduled for Thursday, January 5th. For more information, visit www.westernohiowriters.org or call (937) 902-4857. The Fairborn Community Center is not responsible for the management or content of events hosted by the Western Ohio Writers Association.

														

			


			

		
		
	
	


		

	

	

	





					

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