Speakers 2010
| Jan | Feb | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
October Speakers: Wayne and Susan Barcomb, Author/Editor
Bio: I have written six novels, most recently The Hunted, published in 2009 with St. Martin’s Press and have just finished the sequel to The Hunted, entitled Pressure Point. My other novels are: All Are Naked, Blood Tide, and Undercurrent. The third book in the Sarasota series tentatively titled Dark Waters is now complete.
My short story, Good Night Mrs. Chisholm appears in the anthology, Mystery in the Sunshine State, edited by Stuart Kaminsky. I write theater reviews for the Pelican Press, and free lance articles on a variety of topics for several local publications.
Before becoming a full time writer I was president of a college textbook publishing company in Boston for many years. While living in Boston I wrote free lance book reviews for the Boston Herald and theatre reviews for the Boston Globe and the Quincy Patriot Ledger. I also acted in some 40 productions at both the professional and community theatre level.
My wife, Susan, and I live on Siesta Key in Sarasota, FL. We function as a writing-editing team. Susan’s experience as a senior editor with several prominent publishers has played a major role in the success of my novels. She currently teaches a course called Discovering Florida Authors, critiques manuscripts, and is building a website with developmental editing tips for beginning writers.
Visit: www.waynebarcomb.com
Discussion topic for Gulf Coast Writers
My presentation will cover some of the hands on research Susan and I have done for my books over the years, and some of the interesting asides that happened along the way.
I have developed close ties with FBI agents and homicide detectives; have visited with prison inmates convicted of murder; spent a week at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA where as a guest of FBI agent Charles Walsh I participated in crime scene re-enactments and attended seminars on crime scene investigation.
I once worked one night a week for 3 months as a bartender in one of Boston’s most notorious strip joints for research on an article which later developed into my novel, all Are Naked. (the title is taken from a poem by Marian Means in which she says, “All Are Naked”, meaning we are all vulnerable.
For my latest novel dealing with a series of murders committed within a New York ballet company, Susan and I attended several of the rehearsals and interviewed a number of the dancers and the ballet master before attending all five of the productions. These experiences enabled me to breathe life into my many ballet scenes.
Throughout the discussion I will make reference to specific books and how my hands-on research has contributed to the books.
September Speaker: Dr. Brad Busbee
Dr. Busbee joined the Florida Gulf Coast University English faculty in 2006, after holding a post-doctoral position at the University of California, Davis (2005-06), a visiting lectureship at Johannes Gutenberg Universität in Mainz, Germany (2004-05), and a Fulbright Fellowship to Denmark (2003-04), where he conducted research on medieval Scandinavian manuscripts. At FGCU, he teaches the history of the English language and early medieval languages and literatures, particularly Old and Middle English and Old Norse literature. His publications and presentations cover a variety of topics, ranging from studies of Old English travel literature, modern translations of medieval European literature and Native American ritual, and modern uses of medieval literature and its themes in nationalist rhetoric.
Topic: The beginnings of English Poetry
In this presentation I will discuss two poems from the earliest period of medieval English literature—the very first poem written in the English language, known as “Caedmon’s Hymn,” and a portion of the most influential Old English poem, Beowulf—and I will discuss selections of poetry from later medieval England—namely, the opening lines of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” and the “Prologue” to The Canterbury Tales. My main purpose is to demonstrate how English poetry changed from what was primarily an oral form to what became “literature,” in the form of printed texts. Along the way, I hope to introduce the themes and contexts and rules that the first English poets followed and to demonstrate the changing sounds of poetry between the eighth and fourteenth centuries.
August Speaker: Felice Gerwitz
Felice Gerwitz redefined her life many times and currently is an Author Consultant as well as a publisher and owner of Media Angels, Inc. Beginning in the educational field gave her the credentials to write award winning curriculum for the homeschool world. In 2007 she penned a book that would soon re-brand her work and take her squarely into the role of consultant for aspiring authors. Felice enjoys her weekly broadcast on Monday 3:30 EST http://www.WritingandPublishingRadio.com where she interviews top authors in their field. Always an educator Felice shares her expertise as well as asking her guests to share their knowledge of the writing and publishing world in this informational show for aspiring authors. Felice is continuing her quest for authors for the Information in a Nutshell series and will re-launch her flagship book alongside the newest book in the series, written by a CPA on Taxes and Accounting for authors. You can find information about Felice on her website http://www.InformationInANutshell.com
Topic: Book Marketing for the New-Internet Crazed Age
The old rules of book marketing are out and the new are in, or so the Internet Marketing gurus would lead you to believe. After joining several costly webinars, joining monthly membership group and testing the market Felice found they are correct to a degree. In this educational seminar you will learn how all the pieces must be available for internet marketing to work. Felice is currently ghost writing a book for an author with a vast internet following and marketing know-how. She will share her fast-track education with you and explain why our hit-and-miss marketing techniques don't work, and what will give positive results.
July Speaker: Robert Macomber
Robert N. Macomber is an internationally recognized award-winning novelist, lecturer, and television commentator. Guest author at many regional and international book festivals, Mr. Macomber is the creator of the acclaimed Honor Series of naval novels, with readers around the world. Each year Mr. Macomber travels approximately 15,000 miles by sea around the globe giving maritime lectures and researching his novels. On March 1st, 2010, the eagerly awaited eighth novel in the Honor Series—The Darkest Shade of Honor—was released to bookstores. When not on lecture, research, or book tour journeys, Mr. Macomber lives in Matlacha, FL. More bio [word doc]
For more information about Mr. Macomber’s life and work, visit www.robertmacomber.com. Email him at macomber@robertmacomber.com.
Topic: Self-editing and critical reading of your manuscript:
Making it Perfect, or at least Better
Join award-winning novelist Robert N. Macomber for an informal
discussion of one of the most difficult tasks a writer faces---how to edit
one's own work. He'll explain his methods to better
the product prior to an editor seeing it, most of which he learned
the hard way while writing well over a million published words in
nine novels and numerous magazine pieces. Some of them may surprise
you.
June Speaker: Edward Livingston
See Lessons Learned for notes on the meeting and handouts.
Ed Livingston is the founder of the Livingston Firm and is a Registered U.S. Patent Attorney with more than 30 years of experience in patent law and other areas of intellectual property law, including trademarks/servicemarks, trade dress, trade secrets, copyrights, franchising and litigation. Ed is also Board Certified by the Florida Bar in intellectual property law.Topic: Intellectual Property (the contract)
Mr. Livingston, along with Erica Loeffler, will speak about copyright law and copyright protection as it relates to authors, publishing contracts and agreements, publishing yourself through so-called vanity or subsidy houses, writing for screenplays, and copyright and trademark issues related to books and characters, as well as entertaining legal questions from the members. See handout.
May Speakers: Gwyn Ramsey and Ginny Crane
GWYN RAMSEY was born and raised in Jennings, Missouri. The library became her favorite haunt and reading her most cherished passion. She attended the Florissant Valley Community College, pursuing a career in computer applications.
A former executive secretary for the Army, Gwyn resides in Florida with her husband. When not writing and time allows, she enjoys researching genealogy and tap dancing. Gwyn is the author of the series, Journey to Tracer’s Point (2008) and Winds of Change (2009). She would love to receive your email at gwynramsey@yahoo.com or visit her blog at www.gwynramsey.blogspot.com .
Books by Gwyn Ramsey
BOUND FOR TEXAS - To be released 2010
WINDS OF CHANGE - Released - April 2009
JOURNEY TO TRACER'S POINT - Released July 2008 @ http://www.trebleheartbooks.com/SDGwynRamsey.html
VIRGINIA CZAJA, writing as VIRGINIA CRANE, grew up in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. She and her husband moved to the Southwest Coast of Florida to experience a slower-paced lifestyle and pursue her love of reading which evolved into writing.
Virginia is a member of Romance Writers of America, T.A.R.A. (Tampa Area Romance Authors) and Women Writing the West. Her book, Emeralds on Wednesday was published by Treble Heart Books. Her next novel, Gently Generous is due out this summer. She and has participated in writer’s workshops, seminars and classes. She has served as a judge in their First Impressions Contest for several years.
Because of the difficulty in pronouncing her eastern European name, Czaja (chi-ya), she has opted to use the pseudonym, Virginia Crane.
Topic: Pounding the Pavement
Gwyn Ramsey and Ginny Crane, two Western writers, will walk us through the process of selling a book, from editing to marketing.
April Speaker: Doug MacGregor
See Lessons Learned for notes on the meeting and handouts.
Our April 17 speaker was the News-Press editorial cartoonist Doug MacGregor. His topic was creative thinking. Doug has been a cartoonist for 30 years. He got his professional start drawing editorial cartoons for The Norwich Bulletin in eastern Connecticut in 1980. He moved to Florida in 1988 and has been with the News-Press ever since. His most recent endeavor is a book called Get Creative…Turn on the Bright Side of Your Brain.
Doug is also a children's book author and illustrator. He has self-published five children's books. When Doug is not at his drawing board he is out playing music. He sings and plays harmonica in the popular local blues band, Cracker Blues. Doug does freelance cartoon work and also likes to make small iMovies to share his thoughts with the world.
Topic: Creative Thinking
You can learn more by visiting his Web site www.dougcreates.com.
You can contact Doug at mactoons@comcast.net.
February Speaker: Charles Sobachek
Charles Sobczak is a Writer Self Publisher. Their new book out this year is Chain of Fools. They have sold over 50,000
Topic: How to Market Yourself and Your Product in the Mediasphere
A multitude of ways for mall press authors to increase visibility for both themselves and their books. This can be done through a combination of press releases, Web sites, printed media and personal contacts. For authors who may be considering self-publishing as opposed to the traditional agent/publisher arrangement. We will follow up with a question and answer session. Charles finds there to be the most interesting parts of presentations, especially when it involves fellow writers.Contact 239 472 8162 or email writerealtor1@earthlink.net
January Speaker: Dianna Collier
Dianna Collier is a Literary Agent at Collier Associates, which was founded January 1, 1976. She has been involved with the agency since the 1980’s, and she became the primary agent and manager. Collier Associates is headquartered in Palm Beach. Collier Associates is a small, long established agency with many clients acquired over a period of years. They are still interested in seeing material presented in a new and exciting way.
Topic: Query Letters and Publishing
Ms. Collier will discuss query letters in particular and publishing in general. This is one of her favorite topics. Ms. Collier suggests members submit query letters in advance, which can be discussed during her talk. She will continue with tales of publishing and those that got away. Send query letter sample to Dianna Collier at cabooks@att.net with subject GCWA – meeting January 16.