Sunday, June 17, 2012

MGOC Signing on Friday 6.22 7pm at SHU

The annual Writing Popular Fiction MFA summer residency at Seton Hill begins this week, and we'll be joined by the annual summer reunion/workshop of alumni. The alums are hosting a feature rich workshop with many interesting guests and workshops -- see http://inyourwritemind.setonhill.edu/ -- and our campus at Seton Hill U in Greensburg, PA will be hosting their large public booksigning in the McKenna Center this Friday, June 22nd, 7-9pm.

Over thirty writers will be selling and signing their books, including: Kate Martin, Shelley Bates, Victoria Thompson, Meg Mims, Jason Jack Miller, Heidi Ruby Miller, Lawrence C. Connolly, William Horner, Rachael Pruitt, Scott A. Johnson, Sheldon Higdon, Gary Frank, Maria V Snyder, Patrice Lyle, Michael Knost, Geoffrey Fuller, Sally Bosco, Jessica Warman, J.L. Benet, Lynn Salsi, Lee Allen Howard, Lee McClain, Lana Ayers, Nicole Peeler, Ron Gavalik, Barbara Miller, Kristin Dearborn, Anne Harris, Rachell Nichole, and Mike Arnzen. The indie publisher, Raw Dog Screaming Press, will be there with copies of Arnzen's latest book (The Gorelets Omnibus) and launching alum Jason Jack Miller's new novel (Hellbender), among other things. Headline Books will also be there with a table and have copies of Many Genres for sale.

Obviously, this is a rare opportunity to get our anthology signed, as plenty of contributors from Many Genres, One Craft will be on hand to chat and sign copies of the book. To get a sense of what we expect the signing to be like, check out our array of photos from the launch of Many Genres at last summer's campus event.

Monday, June 11, 2012

MGOC Contributor: Teffanie Thompson White



TEFFANIE THOMPSON WHITE


EXCERPT from "And the Award Goes To..." by Teffanie Thompson White in Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction

Frederic Melcher saw the need in 1921 to encourage children’s authors for their gifts to the literary community. He proposed an accolade and named it after eighteenth century bookseller, John Newbery.

Once a year, since 1922, the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Librarian Association (ALA - www.ala.org), presents an American children’s book with the Newbery Medal and names the runner-ups as honor recipients. The book must have been published in English in the previous year. Original published work should have appropriate style, quality presentation and exceptional development of the elements of literature.

--

Teffanie Thompson White played with pen in hand. When pen was absent, she scratched words on ashen legs. Teffanie has worked as a tutor, teacher and administrator to high school students. She completed the Institute of Children's Literature and received a Master's degree in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Through these programs Teffanie created several writings for children to include her thesis, middle grade novel, Dirt. Her picture book manuscripts, Bug Talk and For Tents and Ribbons, have been adapted into onstage ballet performances. Teffanie co-authors and co-publishes pictureless books. She lives in Texas with her children, Imhotep and Halima.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Many Genres, Many Awards -- An Update

Last June, we had a phenomenal book event at the Seton Hill University writer's workshop, celebrating the launch of our collection, Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction. As we come up on our one year anniversary, we're honored to note that the book has been doing so well, receiving so many accolades from readers, teachers, students and reviewers... and even awards from the publishing industry.

Here are the awards we've been fortunate to receive:


We're proud of our contributors and owe it all to them. Every testimony we've heard has been positive about the book and the lessons it has to teach.


In other news:


Our publisher, Headline Books, is looking into releasing an ebook edition in the near future. Considering how hefty and voluminous this title is, that is sure to be a treat.

We'll have copies of Many Genres for sale and signing once again at the In Your Write Mind alumni workshop at Seton Hill U in Greensburg, PA, on Friday, June 22nd, 2012. 7-10pm.

The editors have new books out, so if you don't hear from us here as often as you'd expect, come on by our individual websites to learn more about what we're up to. Heidi's latest book is Greenshift and you can learn more about it at http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com. Michael's latest is The Gorelets Omnibus, and you can visit him at http://gorelets.com. Chances are very good that if either of us are at a convention or publishing event, we will be talking about Many Genres somewhere on the program, or will have copies of the book with us to show you or sell if you'd like one. Of course, the book remains in print and is available to order online from amazon or your favorite bookseller -- see our "Ordering" page for more information.

Thank you to everyone for sharing their reactions online and in person... it means a lot to us to know that the book is helping you write. There are many genres, one craft to study...but you also have many stories to write...especially the one you're working on right now. So go -- get to it... and persist!

Cheers!
-- Michael Arnzen & Heidi Ruby Miller