PASCO/NPR WRITERS CONFERENCE

A) Linnea Sinclair - Making Strengths and Weaknesses Work for You -

2:10 - 3:00 p.m.

A former private investigator for ten years, Linnea garnered the prestigious RITA award and was a double RITA finalist, She is also a frequent instructor of online workshop venues: RWA Kiss of Death COFFIN workshops, RWA From the Heart Online workshops, Clues N News Sisters in Crime. www.linneasinclair.com

B) Julie Ann Howell - Publisher/editor The Peppertree Press and Pepper Tree Literary Magazine - "From Manuscripts to Masterpiece, 2:10 - 3:00 p.m.

"professional publishing with a personal touch." www.peppertreepublishing.com.

(C) Roberta Brown, Literary Agent and Sue Ellen Welfonder will present An Agent and an Author - A marriage made in Heaven or Hell. 2:10 - 3:00 p.m.

Roberta is a member of A.A.R., RWA and Authors Guild - The agency specializes in Women's Fiction, Erotica, Single Title and Category Romance. We have eclectic tastes and enjoy romantic comedies to sizzling erotica. Historicals to category romances. We look for unique voices and page-turning plots.A sassy or sweet heroine. A hero who will defy gravity to win his lady love. www.brownliteraryagency.com.

Sue Ellen Welfonder, aka Allie MacKay, USA Today best-selling author, received the Reviwers Choice Awards for Best Single Titles, Cata-Romance Network Best Long Historical Romance. – Sue Ellen, is a former flight attendant who writes Scottish medieval romances for Grand Central Publishing, formerly known as Warner Books. Under her pseudonym, Allie Mackay, she pens Scottish-set paranormals for Penguin NAL. www.welfonder.com.

(D) Rik Feeney - Blogging and Podcasting for Book Promotion - Secrets to Sales on Amazon & Book Reviews on the web - 3:40 - 4:30 p.m.

Rik is the author of several books on the sport of gymnastics, the most current is “Gymnastics Journal & Meet Survival Guide” – available online at: www.GymnasticsTrainingTips.com . Rik is also a Self-Publishing Coach, consulting with authors to write, publish and promote books, and develop web sites. He has done several talks at writing events throughout Florida and is finishing his new book, “Writing is Easy,” which will be available at the conference.

(E) Linn Random - Driving Book Sales - 9:40 - 10:30 a.m. & 10:50 - 11:00 a.m.

Linn is a prominent national speaker and has been featured in interviews both in print and radio, including the U.S. Department of Commerce. Her memberships include: Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Romance Writers of America, KOD, the American College of Forensic Examiners, Central Florida Search and Rescue. Five of her novels have been acquired by Arte Films & Sanibel Entertainment. www.linnrandom.com.

(F) Sylvia Hemmerly - Selling to the lucrative library market - 3:40 - 4:30 p.m.

Sylvia is the author of Unlocking the Secrets of Publishing: A Simplified Guide to Independent Publishing, a former regional director of FWA and past-president, vice president and Newsletter Editor of Florida Publishers Assoc. Sylvia is a publishing consultant and book shepherd. She has spoken at many local and national publishing related conferences and on cruise ships. Her new book, Independent Publishing: A concise guide to the essential information for self and small publishers, will be released in the spring of 2008 by Wexford Press. www.pubprof.com.

(G) Michele Bardsley - Editing Boot Camp - 3:40 - 4:30 p.m.

Michele currently writes paranormal and erotic fiction for the Penguin Group (USA) imprints New American Library and Signet Eclipse. She also pens erotic romance for Changeling Press, Ellora’s Cave, and Loose Id. www.michelebardsley.com.

(H) Susan Haley - The Four Principles of Networking - 9:40 - 10:30 a.m.

Susan is an author, a poet and a frequent presenter at conferences. She is a regular contributor to The Fox and Quill, is presently the Contributing Poetry Coordinator for The Infinite Writer, and leader of the Sarasota Chapter Writers Group under the umbrella of Florida Writers Association. www.sucarha.com

(I) John Taylor Writing Thrillers 9:40 - 10:30 a.m. & 10:50 - 11:40 a.m.

Taylor served with the 101^st Airborne Division as a platoon leader and battalion commander. Airborne and air assault qualified, a scuba diver and trained as a system engineer, he designed military command and control systems in civilian life before he turned to writing military thrillers. Using his background in nuclear weapons and extensive travel in the Far and Middle East, Europe and across the States, he packs a ton of adventure into an action-filled page-turner. His first novel, Flash of Emerald, was released in March 2004 and won the prestigious 2004 EPPIE award for Best Thriller. A second Suncoast action/adventure thriller titled Gulf Winds, won the Florida Writers Association 2007 Royal Palm Literary Award First Place for Mystery/Thriller (Unpublished). http://johnmtaylor.com/

(J) Molli Nickell - How to Get Your Foot in the Door How to write killer queries

10:50 - 11:40 a.m.

Molli Nickell, publishing coach and creator of www.getpublishednow.biz, has spent 25 years in the publishing biz as a Time-Life editor, publisher and published author. She’s reviewed thousands of query letters and book proposals and taught marketing for writers at UCLA, and through the Learning Annex in Southern California. She has written five published books and hundreds of magazine articles. Mollis is a former designer and writer for Better Homes and Gardens, a syndicated columnist and motivational speaker.

Lucienne Diver - Literary Agent - Lucienne has been an agent with Spectrum Literary Agency for nearly fourteen years and represents over forty authors of commercial fiction, primarily in the areas of romance, fantasy, mystery, suspense and erotica. She is a member of the Association of Authors Representatives, RWA, MWA and SFWA. Lucienne has agreed to a limited number of private interviews. First come, first served. http://www.spectrumliteraryagency.com/lucienne_diver.htm.

Prepare your pitch ahead of time. You're invited to attend Molli Nickel's workshop on Saturday, March 22, at the New Port Richey Library. Molli will prepare you to perfect your pitch. For information call Dahris: 727.847.2023.

A 50-minute PANEL will be comprised of two authors, one agent, one publisher. You are urged to send your one (1) most pressing question about writing/publishing to PascoFWA@verizon.net. A moderator will pose the questions. The last fifteen (15) minutes of the PANEL will be devoted to hand-raising Q & A from the audience. We are restricted to fifty (50) minutes.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Registration                    8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Orientation                      9:00 a.m. -   9:10 a.m.

President's Address         9:15 a.m. -   9:30 a.m.

Morning Break               10:35 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Keynote:                        11:55 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.

Lunch                            12:30 p.m. -    1:00 p.m.

Panel                              1:10 p.m. -    2:00 p.m.

Everyone will be able to attend the Keynote's Address and to hear the Panel. There are no workshops scheduled during those times.

Author signing in the bookstore coincides with the afternoon break:

                                      3:10 p.m. -   3:30 p.m.

And again                      4:40 p.m. -   5:00 p.m.

All signing will be in the bookstore.

Only FWA members and/or presenters may sell their books in the bookstore. Individual posters may be no larger than 8.5 x 11 as we have space restrictions and no space for easels. A large poster listing the authors' books in the bookstore will be at the entrance to the library. Authors are limited to two titles only.

LUNCH/BEVERAGES/SNACKS FURNISHED ALL DAY.

Lunch again catered by Panera Bread

Questions? Contact Conference Registrar