Kathy Ruff - Carbon County Magazine

The Changing Publishing Landscape

Kathy Ruff is a freelance journalist

Ann Boyle, author and former literary agent, will share her wisdom about today's changing publishing landscape as keynote speaker at the third annual Write it Right writers' conference in Pottsville.

Getting published is not like it was even five or ten years ago. Today's publishing landscape has undergone massive transitions from its historical roots. Learn about those changes and what to expect in the new arena.

Boyle will present her keynote speech as part of the Black Diamond Writers' Network's third annual Write it Right writers' conference on Sat., April 21, 2012. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Schuylkill County Council for the Arts, 1440 Mahantongo St., Pottsville.

Boyle will provide a breakout session on the writer-agent relationship.

After retiring from a 17-year career as a trial attorney to pursue her love of writing, Boyle worked as a literary agent for the Wylie Merrick Literary Agency and later on her own in addition to writing numerous freelance articles and stories.

She has had several of her own short stories published, including "Shutterbug," in The Black Whole Anthology by DIC Press in 2009, and "Thanksgiving Feast," in the Holiday Of The Dead Anthology by Wild Wolf Publishing, UK, 2011). Her debut novel, "Turn Of The Sentry" (a science fiction fantasy/thriller) was published by Wild Wolf Publishing, UK, in 2009, and is slated to be re-released as part of a trilogy in early 2012.

The conference events will also include ten workshops on writing-related topics such as Breathing Life into Your Novel with Emotion, Writing Romantic Suspense, Offbeat Marketing for Your Writing, Writing From Real Life and Tapping into Digital Publishing/Kindle. The day closes with an authors' book fair.

Early Bird registration ends Feb. 29 and the fee is $50 for adults and $45 for students and seniors. From March 1 to 31, registration fees will be $55 for adults and $50 for students and seniors.

For more information about the conference or authors' book fair, call Kathy Ruff at 570-645-3059, or email, or visit the Tamaqua Public Library web site or Black Diamond Writers' Network blog.

Download a 2012 Conference Registration Form here.

Alzheimer's Support Group Meets In Jim Thorpe

A free Alzheimer's Support Group meets 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at St. John's Lutheran Church, 319 South Ave., Jim Thorpe. The next meeting will be Feb. 1.

The group will share ideas and tips to help caregivers cope with the day-to-day stresses of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia.

Please join us. For more information on the support group, call Pat at 610-392-2380 or drop her an email at dipper38@ptd.net.

Library Talks on Publishing

Have you ever thought you wanted to learn about being a writer? Or, do you want to learn more about getting your writing published?

If so, why not join us at one of our "Write it Right - Get Published" lectures and discussions?

Choose from the following dates and local locations:

· Tues., Feb. 21, from 7:00 to 7:45 p.m. at the Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W. Market St., Pottsville (570-622-8880).

· Thurs., Feb. 23, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Lehighton Area Memorial Library, 124 North St., Lehighton (610-377-2750).

· Mon., Feb. 27, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Tamaqua Public Library, 30 S. Railroad St., Tamaqua (570-668-4660).
Whether you'd like to write a letter to the editor, an article in a national magazine or a book, find out how you can achieve your writing and publishing dreams.

Members of the Black Diamond Writers' Network who have published articles and/or books will give pointers on how to write for and find the markets that will publish your works.

For those who would like to learn more, the Black Diamond Writers' Network will host its second annual "Write it Right" writers' conference on Sat., Apr. 21, 2012, at the Schuylkill County Council for the Arts, Pottsville. The event offers 10 workshops, a lunch, keynote speaker and author book fair.

For more information about the conference or authors' book fair, call Kathy Ruff at 570-645-3059, or email, or visit the Tamaqua Public Library web site or Black Diamond Writers' Network blog.

Last page

Home page