Colorado Gold Conference September 5 -8, 2019 - Renaissance Denver Stapleton Hotel 3801 Quebec Street, Denver CO 80207 - Rocky Mountain ...
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Colorado Gold Conference
September 5 –8, 2019
Renaissance Denver Stapleton Hotel
3801 Quebec Street, Denver CO 80207
Keynote Speakers
ANNE HILLERMAN JOH N GIL ST RAP
Anne Hillerman continues the
mystery series her father, the best
-selling author Tony Hillerman,
created beginning in 1970. After
spending many years as a journal-
ist and nonfiction author, Anne
published her first novel, Spider
Woman's Daughter, in 2013. The
book received the Spur Award
from Western Writers of America
for Best First Novel.
Her second mystery, Rock with
Wings, quickly became a New
York Times best-seller and re-
ceived the New Mexico Book
Awards Founders’ Award. The
third novel in the reinvigorated
Marie Force is the New York series, Song of the Lion, arrived in John Gilstrap is the New
Times bestselling author of con- April 2017 and was a New York York Times bestselling author
temporary romance, including the Times top-ten best seller. of Total Mayhem, Scorpion
indie-published Gansett Island Se- The fourth in her re-envisioning Strike, Final Target, Friendly
ries and the Fatal Series from Har- of the mysteries, Cave of Bones, Fire, Nick of Time, Against All
lequin Books. She is the author of uses the rugged lava landscape of Enemies, End Game, Soft Tar-
the Butler, Vermont Series, the New Mexico’s Malpais as a set- gets, High Treason, Damage
Green Mountain Series and the ting where crime solver Berna- Control, Threat Warning, Hos-
erotic romance Quantum Series. In dette Manuelito discovers that a tage Zero, No Mercy, Nathan’s
missing person has a complicated Run, At All Costs, Even Steven,
2019, her new historical Gilded
past. The book debuted in April, Scott Free and Six Minutes to
series from Kensington Books will Freedom. Four of his books
debut with Duchess By Deception. 2018, as number eight on the New
York Times best seller list for have been purchased or op-
All together, her books have sold tioned for the Big Screen. In
7 million copies worldwide, have combined hard cover and e-book
sales. In addition to enthusiastic addition, John has written four
been translated into more than a screenplays for Hollywood,
reviews from Kirkus, Booklist
dozen languages and have ap- and Library Journal, the New adapting the works of Nelson
peared on the New York York Journal of Books wrote, DeMille, Norman McLean and
Times bestseller list 29 times. She “...this fictional universe now be- Thomas Harris. He will co-
is also a USA Today and Wall longs firmly in the hands of Anne produce the film adaptation of
Street Journal bestseller, Hillerman.” his book, Six Minutes to Free-
a Speigel bestseller in Germany, a The fifth book in the series, The dom, which should begin film-
frequent speaker and publishing Tale Teller, is set for release in ing in 2018.
workshop presenter as well as a April 2019. Anne also has pub- A frequent speaker at literary
publisher through her Jack’s House lished several non-fiction books events, John also teaches semi-
Publishing romance imprint. She is including Tony Hillerman's Land- nars on suspense writing tech-
a two-time nominee for the Ro- scape: On the Road with Chee niques at a wide variety of ven-
mance Writers of America’s RI- and Leaphorn created with hus- ues, from local libraries to The
TA® award for romance fiction. band/photographer Don Strel. Smithsonian Institution. Out-
side of his writing life, John is a
Join Marie's mailing list for news renowned safety expert with
about new books and upcoming extensive knowledge of explo-
appearances in your area. Follow sives, weapons systems, hazard-
her on Facebook, Twitter ous materials, and fire behavior.
@marieforce and John lives in Fairfax, VA.
Agents and Editors
Sandra Bond | Agent | Bond Literary Agency | Acquiring: adult crime fiction, YA fiction in all
categories.
Bond Literary Agency is a small, full-service literary agency with a select list of clients. Sandra
works with the large houses in New York and mid-size and small book publishers all over the
country. She was the program administrator at the University of Denver's Publishing Institute for
4 years (2005-2009), and she now guest lectures there annually. She is a Denver native and has a
degree in microbiology from the University of Colorado. Submission guidelines can be found
on www.bondliteraryagency.com. She does not blog—who has time?!—but she does occasionally
tweet @bondingnow.
Michael Carr | Agent | Veritas Literary Agency | Acquiring: science fiction, fantasy, wom-
en's fiction, historical fiction, non-fiction
Michael Carr is a literary agent with a background in editing and writing, working from a
home base in San Francisco. He represents writers in a variety of genres, with a special em-
phasis on historical fiction, mystery and suspense, and science fiction and fantasy. Michael
works carefully with clients to produce the cleanest, most professional manuscripts and en-
joys teaching at workshops and conferences to help develop emerging writers. He speaks
Spanish and conversational French and before joining Veritas had professions as diverse as
programming simulators for nuclear submarines and owning an inn in Vermont.
Sylvan Creekmore | Editor | St. Martin's Press | Acquiring: YA, LGBT characters and characters
of color, adult fantasy, alternate history, horror
Sylvan Creekmore has been an editor at St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for just over five
years. There, she launched nerdy YA rom-com author Lily Anderson’s career, and is working on
provocative sex educator Gigi Engle’s forthcoming book, as well as megastar DJ Steve Aoki’s
memoir. She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and the Columbia Publishing Course at the
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
Jessica Felleman | Agent | Foundry Literary | Acquiring: Fantasy of a magical or mythological
nature, commercial literary fiction, and fiction based on complicated family relationships
Jessica represents a range of fiction and non-fiction, from fun pop culture and psychology, to con-
temporary literary memoirs and graphic novels. She is always looking for work from compelling
and underserved voices that focuses on strong characters and interesting worlds, including com-
mercial and literary fiction, historical fiction, and fiction that balances on the edge of genre. She
loves fresh stories about magic, family, everyday people doing extraordinary things, and unfor-
gettable places.
Shannon Hassan | Agent | Marsal Lyon Literary | Acquiring: Book club fiction, historical fiction,
upmarket/literary suspense, young adult, and middle grade. @ShannonHassan.
Shannon Hassan brings a depth of business and editorial experience to her role as agent, having
worked in publishing and law for more than a decade. She represents authors of literary and com-
mercial fiction, young adult and middle grade fiction, and select nonfiction. With respect to fic-
tion, she is drawn to fresh voices, compelling characters, and crisp prose, and enjoys both contem-
porary and historical settings. For nonfiction, she is interested in exceptional narratives from au-
thors with strong platforms. Based in Boulder, Colorado, she is also eager to hear from authors
Agents and Editors
Rhea Lyons | Agent | Hannigan, Salky, Getzler | Acquiring: science fiction, fantasy, romance, young
adult
Rhea Lyons is thrilled to join Hannigan, Salky, Getzler as an agent. She began her publishing career
while studying at the University of Rochester and interning at Open Letter, a press which exclusively
publishes literature in translation. She then joined the Random House Publishing Group, working in
Subrights, and in 2011, she became a scout at Franklin and Siegal Associates. Most recently, Rhea
was the Subsidiary Rights Director at Rodale, where she also acquired books for their adult list as
well as for their newly launched children's imprint, Rodale Kids. Rhea is looking to represent writ-
ers from a range of disciplines, from adult fiction, to popular nonfiction, to children's and young
adult -- anything that encourages readers to look at the world around them with fresh eyes.
Jill Marr | Agent | Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency | Acquiring: mystery, thriller, horror, women's
fiction, historical fiction
Jill Marr is a senior agent at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. She graduated from SDSU with a
BA in English with an emphasis in creative writing and a minor in history. In a former life Jill
worked in the creative services department at a local television station. She began her publishing
career as Sandra Dijkstra's assistant the week after 9/11. Jill also wrote features and ads for Pages,
the literary magazine for people who love books and continues to write book ads for publishing
houses. Building her own list now for the past 10 years, Jill is interested in adult commercial fic-
tion, with an emphasis on mysteries, thrillers, and horror, women's commercial fiction and histori-
cal fiction. She is also looking for non-fiction projects in the areas of science, history, narrative non
-fiction, sports, politics, current events, health & nutrition, pop culture, humor and music.
For Jill's full bio: https://dijkstraagency.com/agent-page.php?agent_id=Marr
Tia Mele | Agent | Talcott Notch Literary | Acquiring: YA and MG, LGBT+, adult women's fic-
tion and romance.
Tia Mele is a Junior Agent at Talcott Notch Literary and is excited to build her list in Middle
Grade and Young Adult Fiction. She lives in northern Connecticut with her pet rabbit and three
dogs. Some of her earliest memories involve reading and writing books, so it was only natural
that she pursue a career that allows her to read every day. When she isn't exploring new worlds
through books, she's travelling, watching baseball, and spending time with her family. Tia is
looking for middle grade and young adult fiction that makes her feel a wide array of emotions.
She loves characters that are well rounded and diverse, and she loves a
good romance, as long as it doesn't detract from the overall story. She has a
soft spot for sports, especially baseball, in both fiction and non-fiction. In
adult fiction, she's primarily looking for emotional women's fiction with
realistic characters and strong stories. She's also looking for genre romance, and she loves new
takes on old tropes.
April Osborn | Editor | MIRA Books | Acquiring: psychological suspense and thrillers, contempo-
rary book club fiction, complex family stories
April joined MIRA in 2018, after a decade in the publishing industry during which she’s had the opportunity to work
with bestselling and award-winning authors in many genres. She loves books that feature strong protagonists from un-
derrepresented backgrounds, propulsive plots balanced with compelling characters, and books that have something inter-
esting to say about the world we live in. She also appreciates any book that can make her spine tingle or have her laugh-
ing out loud. When she’s not editing or reading, she spends her time riding her bike along the Brooklyn waterfront or
binge-watching television, depending on the weather.
Agents and Editors
Veronica Park | Agent | Fuse Literary | Acquiring: women's fiction, romance
Veronica Park is an associate agent at Fuse Literary. She is also an author, journalist, and mar-
keting consultant with more than 10 years of experience writing and editing for publication. Be-
fore joining Fuse, V worked as an acquisitions editor and PR director at REUTS Publications
before joining a New York literary agency in 2014, where she represented nonfiction and fiction
authors with projects from middle grade to adult.
Born in Alaska and raised in Oregon, V is naturally fond of unique stories about niche communi-
ties and experiences (e.g. roller derby, competitive robotics, study abroad programs, immigra-
tion, etc.) especially if those stories are told from personal experience (#ownvoices) and written
in a powerful way. Currently, V specializes in commercial fiction, nonfiction (the more creative-
ly structured your narrative, the better,) women’s fiction, and romance for all ages. MSWL: http://
www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/veronica-park/
Liz Pelletier | Publisher | Entangled Publishing | Acquiring: (for Sideways imprint) mainstream
thriller and women's fiction
Coming out of the dot com era, serial entrepreneur Liz Pelletier has more than thirty years of expe-
rience in software engineering, systems analysis, and business management. In 2011, Liz chan-
neled her love of romantic fiction and co-founded Entangled Publishing. Her mission statement
was simple: offer authors the highest royalties in the industry, combined with an agile publishing
program, intense focus on quality, and market-driven analysis, in an effort to bridge the gap be-
tween traditional and self-publishing opportunities. Over the past five years, Entangled has gone
from a small start-up to a powerhouse romance publisher, with more than 1200 titles released to date. Liz lives in Colo-
rado, is supporting her twins through college, and has an unwavering love of Game of Thrones.
David Pomerico | Editor | Harper Voyager | Acquiring: science fiction, fantasy, military SF, space
opera, epic fantansy, contemporary (magic based) fantasy, and horror.
David Pomerico is just a steel-town boy on a Saturday night…no, that’s not quite right. He’s actu-
ally a fish-town boy from Long Island who grew up on science fiction, fantasy, and all the 80s and
90s pop culture he could get his hands on. As such, he’s fairly good at trivia, video games that on-
ly require two buttons, and loading up programs off of floppy disks. He desperately wanted to find
out that his name was really Beldavid, is on Team Raistlin when it comes to the War of the Twins,
wishes he could play laser tag in space, thinks he would have been a good stand-in for Xander,
and actually likes the movies of LoTR more than the books (for other gasp-worthy moments, ask
him about Doctor Who, Big Bang Theory, and most DC characters). As Editorial Director of Har-
per Voyager, he’s looking for all sorts of science fiction and fantasy, but really enjoys military SF,
space opera, epic fantasy, contemporary (magic-based) fantasy, and some horror. He loves stories
with good pace, novels that stand-alone even in the midst of a series, and edges more towards heroes vs. villains, rather
than anti-hero and shades of gray. As with all the Voyager authors, David is excited about finding new voices that are
telling under-represented stories, and is actively guiding the list to be as inclusive as possible. If you’re bored, you can
follow him on Twitter: @PomericoD.
Abby Saul | Agent | The Lark Group | Acquiring: Adult Fiction (except fantasy, horror, science
fiction), mystery, thriller, women's fiction, historical fiction
Abby Saul founded The Lark Group after a decade in publishing at John Wiley & Sons, Source-
books, and Browne & Miller Literary Associates. She's worked with and edited bestselling and
award-winning authors as well as major brands. At each publishing group she's been a part of, Ab-
by also has helped to establish ebook standards, led company-wide forums to explore new digital
possibilities for books, and created and managed numerous digital initiatives. A zealous reader
who loves her iPad and the ebooks on it, she still can’t resist the lure of a print book. Abby’s per-
sonal library of beloved titles runs the gamut from literary newbies and classics, to cozy mysteries,
to sappy women’s fiction, to dark and twisted thrillers. She’s looking for great and engrossing
adult commercial and literary fiction. A magna cum laude graduate of Wellesley College, Abby spends her weekends—
when she’s not reading—cooking and hiking with her husband and son. Find her @BookySaul on Twitter.
Special Guests
Sara Dahmen’s historical fiction series, Flats Junction (Promontory Press, Inc), is optioned for
multiple feature films and is in production. She is also in development of an unscripted televi-
sion series with Dawn’s Light Media highlighting her career as a woman coppersmith. Sara is a
metalsmith of vintage and modern cookware and manufactures pure metal kitchenware in her
garage in Port Washington, WI for her company, House Copper & Cookware. She has pub-
lished over 100 articles as a contributing editor, has written for Edible and Root + Bone, among
others, and spoke at TEDx Rapid City. Her non-fiction book on cookware, FLAME, is due out in
Spring 2020 (William Morrow/Harper Collins). When not sewing authentic clothing for 1830’s
reenactments, she can be found hitting tin and copper at her apprenticeship with a master
smith, reading the Economist, and spending time with her husband and three children.
Debra Dixon is the President and Publisher of BelleBooks and its imprints—Bell Bridge Books
and ImaJinn Books, which tackle a broad spectrum of genres. Their titles have been picked up
in translation and by major publishers in subrights deals for mass market paperback, book
club, audio and large print.
Early in her career, Debra Dixon published with major publishers, wrote ten books, contributed
to twelve anthologies, and served as Vice President of RWA. Her popular GMC:Goal, Motiva-
tion, and Conflict workshop spawned a book that has become a how-to bible for writers.
Diane Lasek | Senior Vice President | ListenUp Audiobooks
Diane promotes the audiobook production and distribution services that ListenUp offers to the
indie arena-through ListenUpindie.pub.
She enjoys providing information and guidance to indie authors and small publishers and im-
plementing strategies that help authors gain more listenership and success with their audio-
books.
Diane has had a long career in content creation, marketing and distribution and for the last
four years she’s been busy building the author-audiobook platform for ListenUp. Visit the
website at www.listenupindie.pub
Jeff Seymour | Author | Editor
Jeff Seymour has been writing and editing speculative fiction for over a decade. As an editor, he
has helped New York Times, USA Today, and Kindle bestselling indie authors get ready for pub-
lication, and he once acquired titles for Carina Press's science fiction and fantasy list. As an au-
thor, he has published short fiction in a variety of venues, and he self-published two epic fantasy
novels before making his middle-grade (and traditional publishing) debut with Nadya Skylung and
the Cloudship Rescue, a finalist for the 2019 Colorado Book Award. His latest book is Nadya
Skylung and the Masked Kidnapper, its sequel.
Special Add-On Programming
Thursday Intensive — Advanced Registration Required
A Book in a Day | Debra Dixon | Ballroom A | 9:00 – 12:00PM and 1:00 – 4:30PM
This intensive workshop covers the three most important elements of popular fiction--goal, motivation and
conflict (GMC), and how those elements work with the mythic structure of Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey
to help writers conceive and create strong plots and compelling characters.
Agent and Editor Critique Round Tables — Advanced Registration
Required
Critique Morning Sessions | 8:00 – 11:50 AM | Peak Rooms | Friday | Advance Registration is Required
These four-hour critique round tables allow authors to each submit their pages and give and receive feedback
on their works in progress. Pages are due by July 15th.
Critique Afternoon Sessions |1:00 –4:50 PM| Peak Rooms | Various | Advance Registration is Required
These four-hour critique round tables allow authors to each submit their pages and give and receive feedback
on their works in progress. Pages are due by July 15th.
Friday Morning Intensives — Advanced Registration Required
A Marketing class highlighting tips, tricks, and proven techniques to market your work | Dacia Arnold |
Boulder Creek | 8:00 – 11:50AM
Receive details on how what and where to market your book from someone who has tried nearly everything.
With the widest variety of techniques the presenter can fit into the allotted time.
Adrenaline Rush: Writing Suspense Fiction | John Gilstrap | Ballroom B | 8:00 – 11:50AM
Award-winning thriller author John Gilstrap presents a day-long seminar on the construction of intelli-
gent suspense fiction. What makes for a strong plot? How do you take cardboard characters and give them life
on the page? Through lively lectures and writing exercises, students get a peek at the skeleton that gives struc-
ture to the stories that keep us reading long into the night.
All The Secrets: An In-Depth Guide on Book to Film | Sara Dahmen | Steamboat | 8:00 – 11:50AM
Do you have a thousand questions about how to get your novel into the movie theaters? Do you believe your
idea would be amazing on the screen? There is an incredibly intricate dance to get your book to film, with
each piece logistically coordinated with others, many “chicken before the egg” scenarios, and some hard facts
rarely discussed outside of the film industry. From meeting and networking with the right people in the right
places, the best way to inch your book in front of producers, loglines, in-depth looks at the financing, budget-
ing, and working with screenwriters on adaptations and managing your intellectual property, you need to go in
with all the tools you can so you know what to say at the right time and be able to back it up. The Master Class
will focus on every detail of book to screen processes, with time for writers to work on their film treatments
with feedback.
Character Building: An In-Depth Study | Aimie Runyan | Platte River | 8:00 – 11:50AM A detailed class where we will examine the nuances and challenges of establishing a compelling protagonist and a strong supporting cast. We will look at various tools from classical personality archetypes to more mod- ern approaches like Myers-Briggs and the Enneagram to get to the very core of our characters' essence. We will also discuss genre-specific challenges and conventions in order to make this personally applicable to all in attendance. Hands-On Honing | Susan Mackay Smith | Durango | 8:00 – 11:50AM A class for beginners who have completed a draft or intermediates who are ready to submit to agents and edi- tors. Open to no more than 12 attendees, who must submit the first 8 pages of their work with a 1 page synop- sis at least 10 days before conference to me and all registrants of the class. The manuscripts must be in stand- ard format; the synopses must include genre/subgenre and target audience (middle grade, young adult, adult, as applicable), as well as a complete story through to The End. How to Growth Hack a Bestseller | Liz Pelletier | Big Thompson | 8:00 – 11:50AM Growth what? Growth hacking is one of the hottest buzzwords in marketing today, responsible for start-up viral sensations like Dropbox, Instagram, Facebook, and the original Hotmail. Few people realize that to guarantee success, the principles of growth hacking must be implemented long before a product is released. But how can an author apply these techniques when writing/self-editing/marketing their novel to better ensure a hit? Join publisher and editor Liz Pelletier as she walks you through the most common elements of best sellers, how to self-edit your novel for maximum viral success, and seven psychology and advertising tricks that will help anyone maximize every promotional opportunity. This is an advanced workshop that even new writers will find useful. Self-Publishing: Soup to Nuts | Lisa Manifold & Corinne O’Flynn | Ballroom A | 8:00 – 11:50AM So you've finished the book and plan to go indie. Or - you're traditionally published, and looking to take the indie plunge. Join Lisa Manifold and Corinne O'Flynn, USA Today Bestselling authors and dedicated indie publishers, as we share with you in clear, concise terms the things you need to create a road map to indie pub- lishing awesomeness. Attendees will leave with check lists and information in hand that will help them move forward and make their own plan with confidence. Writing the Ensemble Cast | Angie Hodapp | Telluride | 8:00 – 11:50AM Whether you want to create a dynamite supporting cast for your central character or write a story or series with multiple protagonists, this class is for you. Using a unique, comprehensive grid of archetypes, dramatic roles, and personality types, we’ll analyze more than 20 blockbusters that feature unforgettable ensemble casts. Come learn how to master multiple character’s arcs, webs, timelines, and points-of-view.
Regular Open Programming 100% Fresh: Keeping Your Series Fresh | Robin Owens | 8:00 – 8:50AM | Sunday Robin D. Owens has made a career of writing series, everything from a five book contempo- rary paranormal series with Old West ghosts, to a fantasy romance series (Celta HeartMates) that includes 15 books, a novella collection, a novella, and a story collection from cats’ point of view. She works hard to bring new elements of character, worldbuilding, and plot twists to each of her projects. She will share techniques that work for her as well as comments from readers and published authors. A Character’s Big Why That Propels Plot | Sharon Mignerey | Beginner Level | Steamboat | 3:00 – 4:50PM | Friday What if emotion, not events, drives plot forward? If so, then knowing WHY characters want something becomes key to plot development. This core WHY is revealed in HOW a story pro- gresses, whether a mystery, an adventure, a romance, or a grand fantasy quest. The HOW inev- itably results in WHAT a character does and thinks in any situation. Plot and character are so closely linked they cannot be separated. A Marketing Primer | Marie Force| Telluride | 3:00 – 4:50PM | Friday You’ve written the books, now what? New York Times bestselling author Marie Force will dis- cuss some of the basics of marketing your books to expose them to readers. This workshop will include an introductory look at Facebook ads, Amazon Marketing ads and BookBub ads as well as other promotion and marketing strategies used by authors to grow their readership. Agent and Editors Panels | 1:30 through 5:20 PM | Big Thompson | Saturday Agents and Editors answer your questions. Each Panel is one hour long. See the schedule for specific panelists. Are You the Next Great Teenage Novelist? | Johanna Parkhurst | Beginner Level | Teen Work- shop | Vail | 3:00 – 4:50PM | Friday Gordan Korman. S.E. Hinton. Hannah Moskowitz. Christopher Paolini. What do they all have in common? They all published their first novels when they were in middle or high school. Are you a teenager looking to form your great writing idea into a published novel? In this work- shop, teen writers will learn strategies for tackling large writing projects and discover how to start down the various paths of publication available to them. This workshop is of interest to teens.
The Art of Email Promotions: Getting Accepted and Supporting Your Feature for Sales and Ranking | Jana S. Brown | Intermediate Level | Platte River | 3:00 – 3:50PM | Friday Drawing on her experience as an acceptance editor for Book Cave marketing, Jana S. Brown will walk authors through the types of marketing options available through discount advertis- ing resources like Book Bub, and other similar sites. She'll address ways to increase your chances of acceptance and to get the most mileage out of your sale. Not to mention talk about why you should put your books on sale in the first place. Art of the Longsword | Katie Day | Ballroom B | 11:00 – 11:50 AM | Sunday Does your character wield a sword? Have you ever wanted to hold a longsword and feel its weight in your hands? Do you want to learn combat moves that knights used in battle? Come dabble and learn the art of the longsword adapted from Sigmund Ringeck's manuscript and the Harleian manuscript. Apply them to your writing (or real life defensive skills). As You Know, Bob: How to Incorporate Exposition in Your Novel | Shannon Baker and Janet Fogg | Beginner Level | Ballroom B | 10:00 – 10:50AM | Saturday Every story needs exposition, but loading your story with heavy backstory or detailed infor- mation is a sure way to lose readers. So how do you impart the vital bits to readers and keep them turning pages? Using examples and some hands-on exercises, we’ll show you tips, tricks, and sleights of hand to help maintain your novel’s pace while giving readers what they need to know. Ask Me Anything | Marie Force| Ballroom B | 8:00 – 9:50AM | Saturday As an author, you wear many hats. In one day, you may review copyedits for a manuscript, do a cover reveal across your social media accounts, calculate sales from ebook retailers and start thinking about that new series you’ve always wanted to write but can’t seem to find the time. In this session we talk shop! What's on your mind? What would you like to know more about? You ask, I answer. Ready, set, GO! Author Professionalism 101 | Veronica Parks | Durango | 8:00 – 8:50AM | Saturday This workshop is based on five lessons about professionalism. BANGS & BOOMS 101: TECHNICAL STUFF THAT WRITERS GET WRONG | John Gil- strap | Ballroom B | 1:00 – 1:50PM | Friday Fiction readers are getting more sophisticated all the time, and it’s a writer’s job to get the de- tails correct. New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap brings his thirty years of experi- ence as a firefighter, EMT, safety engineer and hazardous materials specialist to the classroom in a lively, interactive session to teach the basics of projectile ballistics, fire behavior, how ex- plosives work, and how the human body functions. What actually happens when a person gets shot or stabbed? Do silencers really work? What’s the difference between a fire, a deflagration and a detonation? Was there really another shooter on the grassy knoll when JFK was shot? These and many other questions will be answered. Note: This presentation contains graphic imagery.
Blockbusters: Top 8 Essential Elements to Grand State Stories | Dan Grant| Big Thompson | 1:00 – 1:50PM | Friday Every big idea, grand-stage story contains common elements that make the drama and plight of the character stand out. What are those key concepts? There's 4 Cs: concept, character, conflict, and crucibles; along with necessities of goals and motivation for the characters. Brave Writing: Find your Voice and Use it to Develop Characters and Story | Karen Lin | Big Thompson | 8:00 – 9:50AM | Sunday Voice is who you are and how you deliver it. Characters all see the world differently, but the writer’s sensibilities still leak through. How do you find your voice and develop it into one readers can’t resist? Building Your Social Media Platform | Stephanie Reisner | Durango | 3:30 – 4:20PM | Saturday Did you know that most writers use social media incorrectly? In this workshop learn ideas and techniques that you can implement today, to strengthen your current social media platform, en- gage your fan base, help create super fans, and build an audience that will support your work. Build Your World with Concrete Materials | Sue Duff | Vail | 2:00 – 2:50PM | Friday Writers imagine their characters, worlds, cultures and societies, but it's often a struggle to translate those ideas into rich storytelling. This workshop introduces sensory storyboards and/ or treasure boxes, something we can see, touch, feel and smell, by using a variety of materials that inspire ideas and spur vivid descriptions. This workshop is of interest to teens and begin- ning writers. Combining Craft and Research in Historical Fiction | Randi Samuelson-Brown | Intermediate level | Telluride | 2:30 – 3:20PM | Saturday An over-all discussion about different sources and their uses in writing historical fiction - along with solid craft tips to make participants writing stronger and stand apart. The purpose is to provide inspiration and direction. Cop Shop 101 | Laura Manuel | Beginner Level | Boulder Creek | 3:00 – 3:50PM | Friday Elementary, dear writers: this workshop will describe the basics of police procedures. If you want to write credible cops of either sex or have one as a romance character in a non-mystery, this is for you. We'll dress cops, give them weapons (lethal and non-lethal), clarify the differ- ence between detectives and patrol, and describe their day. You will also be exposed to some opinionated (but accurate!) reasons why your protagonist should be a cop and not in the FBI. Handcuff play may occur.
Cover Copy: Getting Your Hooks in Deep | Jeff Seymour | Telluride | 8:00 – 8:50AM | Satur- day Author and editor Jeff Seymour has written cover copy for dozens of books, including his own, over the course of his career. He’ll discuss how to break down a synopsis to find its sharpest hooks and fit them into a short, sweet package that will give readers everything they need to open a book. Topics will include basic structures, hook identification, working under a strict character count, and making judicious use of your hard-earned writing skills. Bring your syn- opsis! We’ll work together to create cover copy for someone’s book over the course of the workshop. Critique 101: Using Peer Feedback to Level Up Your Writing | Kate Jonuska | Beginner Level | Vail | 9:00 – 9:50AM | Saturday Critique groups made up of other writers can be the fastest and surest way to improve your writing and turn your work-in-progress into a novel on a store shelf. Geared toward critique novices and doubters, this workshop will explain why critique is valuable, what healthy cri- tique looks like, and how to read and discuss story like a writer. We'll cover common pitfalls and walk through various levels of feedback, from big-picture plot issues down to nitty-gritty word choice. Don’t Bungle the Beginning: How to Avoid Common Mistakes | Susan Mackay Smith | Hon- ored Guiding Member | Telluride | 9:00 – 9:50 AM | Sunday A novel’s first pages are vital. No matter how cool the story and how amazing the climax, if readers can’t get past the first chapter, the book is sunk. This workshop examines common flaws and mistakes that kill beginnings. We delve into the crucial elements of effective beginnings, from character introductions to setting scenes, mood, and genre elements to fore- shadowing what’s at stake to getting the plot moving forward– all of which must be done sim- ultaneously to grab readers and keep them reading. Expedition Exposition: Your Guide to the Exciting World of Info Dumps | Warren Hammond | Beginner Level | Platte River | 4:00 – 4:50PM | Friday You fell in love with your research or story bible, but do they belong in your book? Will info dumps grind your plot to a halt? Hear how the pros cull wheat from chaff. Learn strategies for delivering information to readers without making their eyes blur. First Steps: The Basics on Book to Film | Sara Dahmen | Telluride | 10:00 – 10:50AM | Sunday If you want to dip your toe into the film industry and pitch your book, learn all about the bare basics in a broad overview of the process to take your book from written novel to silver screen.
Five Sure-Fire Steps to a Winning Novel | Gwen Florio| Ballroom B | 2:30 – 3:20PM | Satur- day Your first sentence counts. Be wary of tropes. You need a kick-ass ending. We all know these things, but nothing drives them home by scanning nearly 250 books for a contest. This work- shop takes five key qualities that make a manuscript or book stand out from the masses, gives examples of books that do those things well, analyzes what makes them so good, and includes a couple of exercises so participants can flex their muscles. From Concept To Premise | Peggy Waide | Intermediate Level | Ballroom A | 10:00 – 11:50AM | Saturday Concept isn’t premise. You need more details to transform a great idea to a solid foundation before you write. We’ll fire the ‘what if’ continuum, break down key story elements such as theme and story question then build a two-line character brief, all to keep you on track from page one to the end. From the Ballroom to the Battlefield: Writing Multiple Character Scenes | Cindy Skaggs | In- termediate Level | Vail | 1:30 – 3:20PM | Saturday Writing a multi-character scene such as Jane Austen’s ballroom scene in Pride & Prejudice is like a 3-ring circus with 3 simultaneous performances in 3 separate rings, and without a ring- leader, the story lacks focus. The writer is the ringleader and responsible for successfully navi- gating the populated scene. In this presentation, we will delve into the crowded scene to deter- mine why these scenes increase tension, build suspense, create conflict, and change the direc- tion of the story. From the Pitch | Veronica Parks| Durango | 9:00 – 9:50AM | Saturday This workshop is a hands-on approach where attendees bring their synopses and fill out 3x5 cards with all the basic info needed to craft the perfect elevator pitch and/or Twitter pitch Getting the Most out of Conference | Terri Benson| Vail | 1:00 – 1:50PM | Friday This workshop is designed to give new writers information that will allow you to enjoy con- ference and other author events more, prevent you from making some faux pas, improve the quality of your writing, and leave you with some resources that will help you as you move for- ward with your writing career. This workshop also assumes you wish to make money from writing (although that is not a requirement). Giving Voice to the People in Your Head | Sarah Baker | Beginner Level | Ballroom B | 3:30 – 5:20PM | Saturday How do you make your dialog special? How do you give each character a unique voice? And how do you develop the characters, define time and setting, and advance the plot through dia- log? In this workshop, we'll find the answers together.
He Says/She Says | Bernadette Marie | Platte River | 9:00 – 9:50 AM | Sunday When writing characters of the opposite sex, are you getting their mentality right? This panel, of men and women, will discuss how they feel on certain subjects to give you a better perspec- tive on what they are thinking. Hitchhiker’s Guide to Stellar Characters | Warren Hammond | Telluride | 4:30 – 5:20PM | Sat- urday What’s the difference between a good character and a great character? How do bestselling au- thors create characters that are completely unforgettable? Take your work to the next level by learning how to create, and more importantly deliver, great characters to your readers. How (and Why) to Audit Your Royalty Statements | Angie Hodapp | Professional Level | Tellu- ride | 10:00 – 10:50AM | Saturday Understanding book accounting is one of the most important things pro writers can do to ad- vocate for themselves. Come learn how to read your royalty statements and, more importantly, how to spot common errors that could mean more money in your pocket! With samples from publishers big and small, we’ll dive into escalators; reserves and returns; retail versus net in- come; high discounts; subrights and bonus income; and more. How to Approach a Pro – Pitch sessions, queries, and networking opportunities | Michael Carr | Ballroom A | 2:00 – 3:50PM | Friday Pitch sessions and conference workshops are a great opportunity to meet industry profession- als like editors and agents, but they can also be intimidating, overwhelming experiences where one might struggle to emerge from anonymity. How can you shake the nerves and make a gen- uine connection if you’re an introvert? For extroverts, how can you avoid coming on too strong? How to Investigate a Crime: Real Tips from Reality | Laura Manuel | Intermediate Level Ball- room A | 3:30 – 5:20PM | Saturday This workshop will provide some advice on how actual investigations proceed. Although we will look at very basic forensics for confirmation of the story told by the scene (e.g. basic blood spatter), this workshop will not provide much forensic information but rather will be fo- cused on authentic cognitive lead following. Identifying the victim, Victim/suspect linkage, Last Seen With, signs of overkill and undoing, and other typical patterns will be discussed. How to Keep Readers Up All Night by Writing the Unputdownable Novel | Joan Johnston | In- termediate Level | Ballroom B |10:00 – 10:50AM | Saturday Eight Ways to open or close a chapter to keep readers engaged by employing the narrative hook.
How to Write Authentic African-American Characters | Jason Evans| Big Thompson | 3:00 – 4:50PM | Friday Diversity is all the buzz right now in fiction. But how do we write authentic characters that our outside of our cultural reference point? How do we avoid tired but not so obvious tropes in our writing? How do we make our African-American characters authentic? Join writer Jason Evans as we discuss the many ways you can tweak your Black characters, so they avoid tired clichés and tropes. Identifying and Pursuing Revenue Streams beyond Royalties | Randi Samuelson-Brown | Pro- fessional Level | Telluride | 11:00 – 11:50AM | Saturday For Published Authors - Traditionally or Independently Published - but leaning toward the tra- ditional. This workshop identifies subsequent revenue streams AFTER a book has reached publication. Examples include utilizing research done for the fictional work for use in non- fiction book proposals, speakers fees and teaching. It also discusses what NOT to do on social media - such as peppering Facebook and twitter with your own book time after time. If the Genre Fits | Peggy Waide and Kay Bergstron| Beginner Level | Ballroom B | 8:00 – 8:50AM | Sunday Not sure what you’re writing? This workshop is for you. Readers have expectations based on genre. Understanding these expectations before you begin to write gives you a starting plat- form. You can then take the traditional form and add your own style and creativity. We will break out expectations and guidelines for crime, romance, speculative and historical genre's and sub-genres. This will also help you make sound commercial decisions about where your fiction might end up in a bookstore. In Bed With Friends: Keeping the Co-Writing Magic Alive | Corinne O’Flynn and Lisa Mani- fold | Professional Level | Durango | 3:00 – 4:50PM | Friday Considering taking on a co-writing project? Fools rush in! A little planning and forethought can go a long way toward making your author marriage work. The author-sphere is rife with tales of woe from broken co-writing relationships. How can you set yourself up for success be- fore you become just another statistic? With co-writing on the rise, happily-married co-writers Corinne O'Flynn and Lisa Manifold share their tips and wisdom on what makes their relation- ship work. In the Eye of the Beholder: Demystifying Points of View | Heather Webb and Kerry Schafer | Intermediate Level | Ballroom A | 8:00 – 9:50AM | Saturday Even for the professional writer, POV can be a slippery concept. In this interactive session, we’ll help you crack the code of how to choose and employ the best POV for your novel, take a close look at narrator vs. POV, and also examine how to use POV to heighten emotional depth in your manuscript by studying expert examples, as well as engaging in hands-on writing exercises.
IPAL First Sale Panel | 10:00 – 10:50 AM | Big Thompson | Saturday The Independent Published Author’s League (PAL) authors who have made their first sale dis- cuss their experiences. IPAL MEETING | 11:00 – 11:50 | Ballroom B | Sunday This meeting is for IPAL members only Keep the Pages Turning: The Art of Pacing | Heather Webb | Intermediate Level | Platte River | 1:30 – 2:20PM | Saturday Writers must beware of putting our readers to sleep--or giving them whiplash--and this is all about pacing. Yet pacing is one of the most overlooked topics in craft books. Heather will ex- amine and discuss passages of expert writers, as well as share specific techniques to manage pacing both at the scene level as well as in the manuscript as a whole. Killer Queries: I Dare You to Sell That Book! | Sandi Ault| Durango | 1:00 – 2:50PM | Friday Stories (and careers) live or die in the query letter. If you can't make a concise and compelling case for your manuscript, you're doomed to self-publish and self-promote and you may have just proven you lack the skills to do the latter.Sandi Ault's query letter for her 1st book went out to thirty-one agents, and thirty of them asked to see the manuscript. The book went on to be auctioned among twelve publishers bidding for the rights. Why? A good query letter in- trigued them all. Learn to Think Small and Write Big | Thea Hutcheson | Durango | 8:00 – 8:50AM | Sunday Short stories present challenges longer works do not. The ideas are small and compact, and the words have to work extra hard to express the idea in usually less than ten thousand words. But those little jewels are a marvel of brevity and offer a reader a fully realized adventure in a quick read compared to a novel, perfect when you just want a snack or don't have time for a full sit down adventure. And there are markets for them when you master the structure. Learning to Love Synopses (2 hrs, projector required) | Jeff Seymour | Ballroom B | 2:00 – 3:50PM | Friday Synopses are a little like a personal ad for your novel: an undignified, frustrating rendering of glorious complexity into attractive cartoon simplicity. Unlike personal ads, they are mandatory throughout a traditionally published author’s career. Luckily, their nature encourages deep en- gagement with your book, and if you lean into them as craft exercises rather than writing them off as obnoxious obligations, you can learn to love them. In this workshop, author and editor Jeff Seymour will show you how, alternating instruction and practice while covering topics like identifying your core story, when and how to include settings and minor characters, use of theme, and how to expand or contract your basic synopsis to meet agent, publisher, or contest guidelines.
Level Up: Making the Good Better Through Revisions | Heather Webb | Big Thompson | 10:00 – 11:50AM | Sunday Do you ever feel stuck in a rut with your revisions? Maybe you want to deepen your manu- script and take it to the next level-- be the best, most professional writer you can be but you can’t see the forest for the trees. Learn how to dig deeper, examine methodologies of the pros, and dissect the emotional, organizational, and mechanical components to self-editing, and be- come the best writer you can be. Looking for Love in All the Right Places: How to Get Book Reviews that Count | Patti Thorn | Intermediate Level | Steamboat | 2:00 – 2:50PM | Friday Ready to market your book? In this age of consumers consulting reviews for everything from restaurants to refrigerators, one of your first steps should be soliciting book reviews. In this seminar, we will address topics such as: why reviews are important; how to approach editors and bloggers for reviews; and how to make the most of reviews once you have them. Making a Living Writing | Stephanie Reisner | Durango | 9:00 – 9:50AM | Sunday In this career management workshop, learn how diversifying your writing and stepping outside your genre can help you earn a comfortable living from all things writing, while growing your readership and increasing your income. Making Minority Characters Seem Real Rather Than Stereotypic Caricatures | Brenda Hard- wick | Beginner Level | Platte River | 3:30 – 5:20PM | Saturday This workshop will be a discussion on how to research and write your minority characters when you are not a member of that minority. Subjects for discussion will be: Targeting how to stay away from the stereotypes that can creep into your writing. The Do's and Don'ts for when the use of a stereotype might be acceptable. Why slurs, racial or otherwise, are hard to defend, even if they fit the story. We will also review some unlikely resources that may help capture the right characteristics. Making Social Media Manageable for the Professional Author | Aimie Runyan | Professional Level | Ballroom A | 1:30 – 3:20PM | Saturday Social media is no longer optional for authors today. If Stephen King and J.K. Rowling have Twitter accounts, we need them to. This workshop will show the professional (and those on the point of becoming professional) how to manage social media commitments in an hour or so a day. We will discuss strategies for each platform, which platforms you need, and the best ways to get the most out of your precious time spent. Marketing: Thinking Outside the Industry | Bernadette Marie | Durango | 11:00 – 11:50AM | Sunday Are you looking for new and fresh marketing strategies? Consider thinking outside the literary industry to gather ideas that will make your marketing stand out.
Marketing Your Audiobooks | Diane Lasek | Intermediate | Big Thompson | 2:00 – 2:50PM | Friday We will take a deep dive into building a successful marketing plan – with First Steps, Affiliate Links, Promoting on your Social Media, Podcasts and getting Reviews. Middle Grade and Young Adult Basics | Jeff Seymour | Platte River | 10:00 – 10:50AM | Satur- day Publishers slice up the markets for children’s and teen publishing in a bewildering number of ways, but they draw the biggest line between two genres: middle-grade (MG) and young adult (YA). In this workshop, middle-grade author Jeff Seymour will go over the basic elements of each genre, covering age range, acceptable content, who reads it vs. who buys it, considera- tions for indies, and more, all in the service of helping you figure out whether your story is MG, YA, or something else entirely. Moonstruck and Minor Characters: Creating stellar Minor Characters | Cindy Skaggs | Vail | 8:00 – 8:50AM | Saturday The movie Moonstruck includes a talented ensemble cast, and every character who walks across the screen--including the nun walking down the city sidewalk--serves a story purpose and a "real" purpose. Using examples from the movie as examples, we'll learn that minor char- acters should not exist in a vacuum, but rather they should behave as if they have a full, rich life outside the pages of the scene/book. Motivation: YOU, Not your Characters, Get and Keep your Butt in the Chair| Robin Owens | Durango | 4:30 – 5:20PM | Saturday Keeping motivated to put your butt in the chair and write can be difficult. In one year and a half I had 5 books due in the 80K word - 100k word range. Giving into panic and hiding under the covers was not a (long-term) option. We will explore techniques to get you to sit down dai- ly, as well as to keep you going on a long haul. Narrate Your Audiobook: Tips to Produce Quality | Janet Lane | Professional Level | Steamboat | 1:00 – 1:50PM | Friday Janet Lane, #1 Amazon bestselling historical romance author, wanted to narrate her own audi- obook, but how could she afford to set up a studio? The audio editing software alone cost $1,000. She didn't know sound production or editing. Still, she forged ahead on a learning curve that led to an audiobook with 5-star reviews on Amazon and Kobo. Learn home studio shortcuts, audio fitness, noise control and editing, all info that will help you decide if you, Organized Chaos: How to Structure Your Plot and Still Maintain Creativity | Kay Bergstrom | Intermediate Level | Ballroom A | 4:00 – 4:50PM | Friday Plotters need structure. Pantsers rely more on inspiration to develop their stories organically. Organized Chaos uses both. Starting with structure. Pre-writing plans arise from 5 decisions: genre, theme, story question, character arc and conflict. 6 structural elements make up the plot. Creativity comes with several techniques which are internal, external, driven by language, un- usual twists and what if...
PAL First Sale Panel | 9:00AM -9:50 AM |Big Thompson | Saturday The Published Author’s League (PAL) authors who have made their first sale discuss their ex- periences. PAL Meeting | 10:00 – 10:50| Ballroom B | Sunday This meeting is for PAL members only Publishing 101 | Sandra Bond | Ballroom A | 10:00 – 11:50AM | Sunday Learn about the traditional publishing process from start to finish from acclaimed agent, San- dra Bond. Print and eBook Formatting | Melissa Koons | Beginner Level | Ballroom A | 8:00 – 9:50AM | Sunday Making your book look professional goes beyond just the cover. Interior formatting is crucial for your sales. You want your book to look clean, professional, and readable. Learn how to easily format your book for print and eBook using affordable platforms and simple techniques. Publishing-Authors and Audiobooks | Diane Lasek | Intermediate | Telluride | 3:30 – 4:20PM | Saturday Audiobooks are one of the fastest growing segments in publishing, and authors who retain their audio rights and self-publish their audiobooks have myriad options to design a production and distribution strategy that best suits their individual needs. We will offer insights into each step—from identifying your narrator's voice, providing important notes about your characters, building a production timeline to be ready for launch with your ebook/print or wait and pro- duce afterwards, and we’ll evaluate your distribution options. Query Hacks | Jill Marr | Platte River | 11:00 – 11:50AM | Saturday Tips and tricks, and advice about how to write a query letter that will get your project noticed. Ready to Soar: Tips, advice and hands-on practice | Anne Hillerman | Telluride | 1:00 – 2:50PM | Friday This workshop will help you create an aerodynamic beginning and streamline your opening chapter with gentle but effective self-editing. Come ready to start or shape your novel for an irresistible first impression on agents, editors and readers. Revising and Working in Scrivener | Michelle Kellogg | Vail | 3:30 – 5:20PM | Saturday How many times have you lamented the fact that you write your first draft in Scrivener and then export to Word to work with your editor, never to return to Scrivener again? How often have you heard about all of the advanced features of Scrivener, but never used them because you feel stuck in Word after the first draft? This workshop will give you a straight-forward work flow for continuing to use Scrivener including its advanced features even if your editor only uses Word.
Revision: How I learned to Love a Root Canal | Stephanie Kane | Intermediate Level | Ball- room B | 1:30 – 2:20PM | Saturday You've honed your plot and humanized your characters and ratcheted up the micro-tension to the nth degree. But it's the subtleties--transitions, syntax, word choice, flow--that make your work polished and professional. This workshop provides a simple roadmap to stylistic revision down to the sentence level. The Secret Formula for Suspense | Charles Kowalski | Intermediate Level | Boulder Creek | 4:00 – 4:50PM | Friday “This book will keep you up turning pages all night.” Every writer would be happy to see these words in a review, but what gives a book that magical power to make the reader keep saying “just one more page”? This workshop will present a simple but effective formula for creating suspense and keeping readers desperate to know what happens next. The main focus is on sus- pense/thrillers, but the principles can be applied to any genre. Scene Outlines: You Don’t need a 600-Pound Gorilla | Stephanie Kane | Intermediate Level | Telluride | 11:00 – 11:50AM | Sunday Scenes are a story's dramatic building blocks. Outlining scenes maximizes their dramatic po- tential.This workshop offers two approaches to outlining scenes. One covers goal, setting, vis- ual images, conflict, beats, action, turning point and denouement. The other focuses on begin- ning, middle and end. Self-Editing for Fiction Writers | Sharon Mignerey | Intermediate Level | Platte River | 2:30 – 3:20PM | Saturday You’ve finished the novel, revised it so it hangs together, and you know editing is the next step. But how? This final step before publishing may be the difference between a reader or edi- tor wanting more or being left to find another, better book. This workshop covers the how in detail from story-level concerns to that final spell check. Included at no extra charge: eliminat- ing unintended modifiers, such as: I saw a dead deer driving to town yesterday. Self-Publishing Checklist: Every Step from Start to Finish | Melissa Koons and Thomas Fowler | Beginner Level | Platte River | 10:00 – 11:50AM | Sunday Getting started either as a beginner in the industry or a veteran trying something new, it can be hard to know what the first steps to take are. This panel will go over your beginner’s checklist to self-publishing. Learn about the self-publishing industry: why should you choose to self- publish, what are the platforms to feature your novel on, how much will you need to invest, ways to get your name out there, and what are the tasks you need to look into before making your book available for sale. Short Fiction: It’s not Just for Magazines | Thea Hutcheson | 10:00 – 10:50 AM | Sunday Short stories are more than just a source of income. They can be used to reward newsletter sub- scribers, add value to Patreon supporters, tide readers over between series installments, and in- troduce new fans to your work. Write short, don't sell yourself short.
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