PRESS . . . |
| . FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| October 22, 2004 |
| "Sailing" marks fifth book by a SCWC conferee to be published in the past 14 months |
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SAN DIEGO—With the release this month of Pamela Sisman Bitterman's maritime memoir, Sailing to the Far Horizon (Terrace Books), and Frederick Ramsay's caper novel, Artscape (Poisoned Pen Press), five new authors have seen their first books published in the past 14 months as a direct result of their participation in the Southern California Writers' Conference.
Now held annually in San Diego, Palm Springs and Los Angeles, in its 19-year history the SCWC has facilitated nearly $3 million worth of book and screen deals for first-time authors of fiction, nonfiction and screen. This past run of releases marks an unprecedented year of success.
In August, SCWC conferee Raelynn Hillhouse's international thriller, Rift Zone, was published by Forge; in February, conferee Paul De Lancey's humor collection, We're French and You're Not, was published by Authorhouse; and in August of 2003, conferee Marie Etienne's Storkbites: A Memoir was published by Creative Arts Books. And all have cited the efforts of the SCWC as vital to their getting published.
The five authors join the illustrious ranks of many past conferees whose books went on to publication success as a result of their work with the SCWC staff and the invaluable contacts made at the conference, including Peggy Vincent (Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife), Edward Fitzgerald (Bank's Bandits), Tom Youngholm (The Celestial Bar), Nancy Taylor Rosenberg (Mitigating Circumstances), and others.
SCWC executive director Michael Steven Gregory is quick to point out, however, that a writer's success should not be measured solely by book publication. "Not every writer wants to write a book. Many of our conferees find great satisfaction in the short story form, or in breaking into and writing pieces for newspapers and magazines. We lost track long ago of how many have gotten their first professional by-line as a result of what they learned, and the relationships forged at the conference."
Among the 30-plus agents, editors, panelists and workshop leaders on staff for the next San Diego event, breakout novelist Wendy French (sMothering), memoirist Debra Ginsberg (About My Sisters), horror writer Glen Hirshberg (The Two Sams), humorist and Viva Voce Press senior editor Gordon Kirkland ( Justice Is Blind - And Her Dog Just Peed In My Cornflakes), novelist Sara Lewis (The Best of Good), prolific action-adventure novelist Bob Mayer (Area 51: Legend), writing provocateur Judy Reeves (A Writer's Book of Days: A Spirited Companion & Lively Muse for the Writing Life), FBI thriller author Gene Riehl (Quantico Rules), award-winning mystery writer Alan Russell (Political Suicide), nonfiction guru Eva Shaw, Ph.D. (Ghost-writing for Fun and Profit), writer and media consultant Brad Shreiber (What Are You Laughing At?), mystery writer Carolyn Wheat (Tales Out of School), and poet Anne Wilson (Solea).
Geared to writers of all levels and widely emulated, the 19th Annual SCWC*San Diego features three dozen workshops, extensive read & critique sessions, evening speakers, an agents panel, one-on-one consultation for those who submit material in advance, and much more. The event is held over Presidents' Day Weekend, beginning Friday, Feb. 18 and runs until the early morning hours of Monday, Feb. 21 at the Shelterpointe Hotel and Marina, located on Shelter Island, across the bay from downtown San Diego, mere minutes from the Lindbergh Field Airport. The hotel is offering discounted lodging rates for registered conferees. Reservations are available at (800) 566-2524.
WHAT: 19th Annual Southern California Writers' Conference *San Diego |
