Welcome to Florida Book News
Florida Book News is now using Twitter.com
Follow Florida Book News on Twitter. If you're on Twitter, too, just go to www.twitter.com/FloridaBookNews, sign in and click the follow button. You'll be able to follow the latest notices and tips on interesting events happening around the state and country. Also, I'm going to use it to send people to your websites from time to time.
If you aren't on Twitter and you aren't even sure what it is, here's a quick rundown. Twitter is a social media network. It's free and nothing terrible will happen to you if you join. In order to join, you only need to type in a name and password (you make up both). Once you sign up and click the follow button under the Florida Book News icon (the flowers at the left), you'll begin receiving short announcements on your Twitter page when Florida Book News sends them out. It could be an announcement of an event in the area or an opportunity for writers or just a friendly reply to another tweeter. In addition, I'm following some of the best publishing sites around the world. You can get to their Twitter pages from the Florida Book News page. So, go to www.twitter.com/FloridaBookNews and enjoy the tweets. Florida Book News ... it's the place to announce your new book, to tell about a book you continue to promote, a book signing, a meeting or presentation, your organization's meetings, conference or convention. It's the place for anything of interest to others about writing and books. Send your news to Lou@LouBelcher.com This is a free service. If you would like to help support this endeavor, there is a button for donations to the right or if you prefer to use snail mail, send donations to Lou Belcher; P.O. Box 61228; Palm Bay, Florida, 32905. Thanks
Inside this issue
- News
- Featured Books
- Workshops/Conferences
- Organizations/Meetings
- This and That (services and misc. announcements)
News
Florida Tech Introduces Creative Writing Institute. The Florida Institute of Technology Department of Humanities and Communication presents the 2009 Creative Writing Institute. Classes will be held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, May 18, 20, and 22, starting at 9:00 a.m. and continuing throughout the day until 10:30 p.m.
In its first year at Florida Tech, the program offers many classes in different genres of creative writing. Classes will include fiction (beginning and advanced) and science fiction writing, mystery, poetry, and script- and screen-writing, as well as writing for the mass media. There will also be class-time, or one time lectures on writing historical fiction, writing for independent film, fantasy and horror writing, and writing for adolescents and comic books. All classes are taught by college professors and published writers and are offered at a variety of times in order to accommodate the schedules of all those in the community who wish to participate.
A number of special events are scheduled, including lunch hour and coffee hour for authors' presentations, lectures, an evening showing of an original film, a poetry slam, and a publishing panel.
This year's keynote speaker is Phillip Deaver, writer-in-residence at Rollins College. His address is free and open to the public. He will launch the week's activities on Saturday, May 17, at 2:15 p.m. in the Gleason Performing Arts Center on campus. Deaver is the 13th winner of the Flannery O'Connor Award for short fiction for his book "Silent Retreats." His work has been recognized in Prize Stories: The O. Henry Awards and by the Pushcart Prize. Deaver also writes poetry and his new book, How Men Pray, has earned critical acclaim. He has recently edited a book of creative nonfiction essays on baseball titled Scoring form Ssecond: Writers on Baseball.
The fee will be $99 for one three-day class; $49 for a second class; and $29 for a third class. The fees include all speakers, panels and events. Individual lectures are $49 each; bonus events are free to all participants. Early registration is encouraged. For information, visit http://411.fit.edu/cwi or e-mail dcaballe@fit.edu or call 321-674-7248.
Annette Clifford let me know that she will be on a publishng panel on May 18, 2009 at 3:30 during the institute. Others participating are Judy Mammay and Valerie Allen. If you are presenting at the institute, let me know at Lou@LouBelcher.com and I'll add you to the list.
News from Bob Brown. Robert Brown, author of, Bermuda Suicide Challenge in a Flats Boat, has just signed off on his second book, Running For Fun, High School Athlete, Jonathan Brown. Congratulations to Deborah and Joel Shlian. Their latest novel just won the Gold Medal for Genre Fiction for the Florida Book Award. Rabbit in the Moon is an international thriller that takes place primarily in China during the short-lived student democracy movement of 1989 that ended with the Tiananmen massacre. The book is also a finalist for Book of the Year from ForeWord Magazine.
Deboarah and Joel will be honored on May 7th at a banquet and book signing sponsored by the Florida Library Association for all the winners in all categories of the book award. For more information about their book, the website is http://www.shlian.com/.
Rita Milios recently released Dream Share from Rose Heart Publishers. It's a paranormal novel for middle graders (8 - 12) with a non-fiction section at the end.
It's the story of a twelve-year-old who accidentally enters the comatose state of his older brother and the two begin exploring the mystical realms between life and death. Fun soon turns to fear as the boys find themselves fighting for their lives. Each is forced to confront their own demons in order to survive. In addition to being a psychotherapist with a spiritual bent, Rita Milios has been an educational writer for more than 20 years with more than two dozen non-fiction/curriculum children's books published. Flor more information, visit the upcoming website (May 09) at http://dreamsharebook.com/.
Congratulations to Annette Clifford on Her New Book
Book launching of World's Toughest Job by Florida Today writer Annette Clifford. Satellite Beach resident Annette Clifford announces the birth of World's Toughest Job, a collection of her best columns about motherhood and family life published in Florida Today since 1998.Clifford will sign books on Saturday, May 2, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Patrick Paperbacks at 1680 Highway A1A in Satellite Beach.
Clifford's columns have appeared in newspapers nationwide and capture the joys, trials and endless absurdities of parenthood today. Her hilarious yet thoughtful writings draw laughter from readers and smiles of recognition from moms and dads glad to know they're not alone in the chaos of raising young kids.The Florida Society of Newspaper Editors and the Florida Press Club have both honored Clifford's work.
World's Toughest Job, according to Clifford, will renew your energy to meet the challenges of parenthood and running a house full of children and makes a great Mother's Day present for the mom in your life.Clifford is also an editorial writer and author of travel guides. Her fiction has appeared in magazines and journals. Her award-winning story "We eat our peas for the souls in purgatory" was included in Microfiction:An Anthology of Really Short Stories, from W.W. Norton, Inc.She is available to speak for club and group meetings.For more information or to order a copy of World's Toughest Job, go to http://www.worldstoughestjob.com/.
Clifford can also be contacted at acliff123@aol.com or at 321-779-0664. JoAnna O'Keefe. In celebration of National Poetry Month, poet JoAnna O'Keefe spoke about Embraced, her new collection of poems, at the National League of American Pen Women's meeting on April 25 at 1:30 p.m. at the Satellite Beach Public Library. 
O'Keefe's poetry reaches a wide and diverse audience. Senator Bill Nelson's wife, Grace, read "Come to the Garden" at the 51st National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C.
In 2007, for the commissioning of the USS Mesa Verde in Panama City, Florida, O'Keefe's poem "courage" was emblazoned on parchment along with a quote by Andrew Carnegie and a statement by President George Washington to represent the ship's motto "Courage, Teamwork, Tradition." The parchment was presented to the ship's captain, officers, and dignitaries as a memento of the occasion.
O'Keefe has been a member of Pen Women since the early eighties. Pen Women is an organization of professional writers, artists, and musicians who support the arts and charitable works around the Space Coast.
Contest: Pulse Magazine and Writers One Flight Up are sponsoring a writing contest. The winner's story will be published in the July issue of Pulse Magazine. It's a flash fiction contest. Submit fiction prose of no longer than 650 words written to the prompt "Firecrackers..." All submissions must be submitted electronically to infow1fu@writersoneflightup.com. The deadline is May 31st, 2009. http://www.writersoneflightup.com/
May Book Xchg Event. The next Book Xchg event is scheduled for Saturday, May 2nd at 1:00 p.m. The presenter for that event is Manish Chary, a new member of the Space Coast Writer's Guild. Manish is the author of India: Nation on the Move. It's a fascinating, comprehensive look at India, the Indian culture , and it's impact on the United States and the rest of the world.
Manish Chary was born in India. He arrived in the United States to pursue a master's degree in engineering. He worked for Ford Motor Company for 7 years, then went on to pursue his MBA. He has been working at General Electric Company and currently lives in the Suntree area of Melbourne, Florida, with his wife and two children.Since arriving in the United States, Manish has watched with interest the developments in India as it embarked on its new journey as a market economy. Two years ago, he decided to organize his thoughts and research into a book.His debut book, India: Nation on the Move, presents insights into India, which is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. This book is an all-in-one reference manual with facts, figures, and a practical introduction to India's people, culture, history, economy, foreign relations, and myriad of other topics like India's unique arranged marriage system and it's emergence as an IT powerhouse. Come on May 1st to the Book Xchg and hear more about his fascinating book. The Book Xchg is located at 604 Brevard Avenue in Cocoa Village, Florida. (321) 639-5624.
Nicholas Hopkins author of The Sunshine Dream Resort spoke at the last meeting at the Book Xchg. His book is about Odin Hobbs who has a heart attack and dies for a few minutes. As a result, Odin has vivid dreams for the rest of his life. When Oden and his wife visit the Sunshine Dream Resort in an effort to patch up their marriage, he learns the truth about his dreams.Hopkins entertained the audience at the Book Xchg with the story of writing The Sunshine Dream Resort. He is currently writing a second novel. To read more about Hopkins and his books, go to http://www.nicholashopkins.com/.
Orlando Writer's Workshops announces a "Fast Track to Getting Published" series.Each one-day writing intensive has a unique focus, so choose the ones that interest you -- and receive a discount when you register for multiple workshops. Sharpen your craft and learn the secrets of what it takes to get published in today's competitive market. Enrollment is limited and pre-registration is required. Reserve your seat today.Workshops take place at either Swoope Studios in Maitland or the Maitland Garden Club at Lake Lily Park. There is breakfast/coffee and a meet and mingle beginning at 9:15 a.m. Classes begin at 10 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. A delicious, chef-prepared lunch with vegetarian options will be served as well as late afternoon refreshments. Go to http://www.orlandowriters.com/ and click on Weekend Intensives for complete information.Topics include:April 26th - Literary Magazines and Contests Publishing PanelMay 17th - Imagery I: Sensory Detail as the Writer's Building BlockMay 31st - Imagery II: the Magic of Misfit DetailsJune 7th - Revision Strategies: Point-of-ViewJune 14th - Writing about Place: The Spatial GazeTo submit news to Florida Book News send it to me at
Lou@LouBelcher.comLabels: events
