Northland Fall Writers Conference

Northland Fall Writers Conference

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Solon Springs, WI

Where:

The St. Croix Writers and Wisconsin Writers Association are pleased to announce the Northland Fall Writers Conference, September 28, 2019. Registration begins at 8:30 AM, at the Solon Springs Community Center, 11523 S. Business Highway 53, Solon Springs, WI.  

What:

The conference is designed for you, writers and readers. During this exciting and eclectic day, we will explore and learn about several genres of writing, plus examine the benefits of professional editing for your manuscripts. This full-day conference includes opportunities for you to purchase books by regional authors in a vendor area. 

Keynote:

Brian Freeman, international best-selling thriller author, will present "Thrill Seeker: A Writer's Life in the Northland." Freeman is well known for his strong, complex characters including Jonathan Stride, Frost Easton, and Cab Bolton, with the Stride detective series set in Duluth, MN. Brian's books are sold in 46 countries and translated into 22 languages. He lives and writes in St. Paul, MN.

During his fifteen years as a Midwestern writer, Brian Freeman has seen the publishing world turn upside down and reinvent itself. But one thing hasn't changed: the love that readers have for a great story.

Brian will take you through the evolution of his career, from writing award-winning Northland thrillers to recently taking over Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne franchise, with the next book in the series, The Bourne Conspiracy, planned for a 2020 release.

Brian will also speak about how he develops characters and stories for different settings, platforms, and audiences. He will answer your questions about thriving in today's publishing industry. Visit his website. www.bfreemanbooks.com

In addition:

• Additional guest presenters throughout the day will include Karla Huston, WI Poet Laureate 2-17-2018; Abby Frucht, novelist; and Barry Wightman, author, editor, and president of WWA.
• Regional authors featured will include Gary Banker, Thomas Wayne King, Naomi Musch, and Marty Russo.
• Book tables and sales by authors and vendors will be available all day until 4 p.m. 

Fees:

Conference fee of $49.00 (WWA members $39.00 ) includes program, catered lunch, snacks, and artisanal coffees. Authors and other literary vendors can reserve a vendor table for an additional $15.

Check back for updated information, and find more on the Conference Schedule & Registration page as it is added. Complete details, more on conference speakers, and early registration is also available at WiWrite.org.

If you love to read and write, this day is for you, so save the date! Don't miss it!

Cabin Fever Writers' Rendezvous! A free writers event in northern Wisconsin

CABIN FEVER WRITERS RENDEZVOUS!

March 16, 2019.  8:45 am - 12 noon.  Solon Springs, WI

FREE!

St. Croix Writers and Wisconsin Writers Association invite you to explore the joy of writing. Join author and writing coach, Kim Suhr, Director of Red Oak Writing, Genesse Depot, WI, as she presents The Writer's Path, sharing her writing journey, and wisdom gained in mentoring other writers. Kim will read from her newly-released story collection, Nothing to Lose, and discuss the writing life. 

You are encouraged to read a 5 minute original work in the open reading portion from 10:45 am to noon. You are also welcome to just listen as others read.  Light refreshments, plus sampling of excellent coffees will be courtesy of U-Roast-Em.com, Solon Springs, WI. 

This FREE event will take place, Saturday, March 16, 2019,  8:45 am - Noon at the Solon Springs Community Center,  11523 S. Business Hwy 53,  Solon Springs, WI.  North classroom. 

If you enjoy listening, reading, and writing, this morning of recreation with words is for you! 

For more information:  715-378-2776

Gifts From Bridget

by Sandy Nelson

Even though it can be so tedious to hear people talk about their grandchildren, especially for people who don't have them -- and I apologize for that now -- I do want to tell you about fourteen gifts my young Bridget, who is four, gave me for Mother's Day. She is an only child, not a coddled child, but encouraged and well-loved. We spend most Fridays together.

She absolutely adores presents. She loves getting them and she really loves giving them. Last week she popped out of the car and reached back in to grab a geranium in each hand. Pink of course -- she's all about pink. Walking towards me she was shining. "Are those for me?" I said. She nodded her head yes, too emotional to speak words. We found a good place for the flowers, and she ran back to the car to get her backpack. It looked so heavy; she dragged it.

She unzipped it onto the living room floor, many packages with bright blue Christmas paper and lots of tape. She is squinching her face up and jump, jump, jumping all around the room. After a while, she is able to take a blue package in her hand and bring it over. It is so round and kind of heavy. "Is it a rock?" I ask. More nodding, more jumping, more funny little faces. Hand-painted orange rock. Next, an unpainted rock. They do wrap up nicely. Then the pine cone series, all painted, seven of them. Color book pages circled into empty toilet paper rolls. Princesses. I am o happy with this blue extravaganza. I remember being really young and making gifts for the family, and because I loved gifts, I loved giving gifts too. I don't remember when that feeling went away. It's a great memory though, and I want it back.

My friend KC gave Bridget a bottle of Elmer's glue for her birthday last year. Seemed odd to me, but you know what? It has given her an interesting confidence. If something breaks she casually says, "Oh, we'll just glue that."

She's in Michigan on a trip right now. I made her a gift. She wants to play Barbies, but those stupid clothes are too hard for her to put on. So, Grandma helps with that. Instead of reading thirteen chapters of The Invisible Man for school last week, because my brain was weary, I spent the night sewing Barbie clothes that she can put on, sort of like Barbie mumus. And watching Hogan's Heroes. She'll be so excited, and I kind of am too.

Sandy Nelson is a long-time member of the St. Croix Writers group. She writes lovely slice-of-life memories that always encourage readers and listeners to think of the small beauties, cherishable moments, and funny happenstances that surround us.

Writer's Wrap by Thomas Wayne King

~~ Writer's Wrap ~~

So I lift my pen when I have a thought,

Gotta quickly get that insight caught.

So many words come flyin' by.

Can't catch 'em all, but I need to try.

I write.  I write.

I'm an active soul who needs to move.

So when I get in my writer's groove,

I gotta focus, gotta keep my goal,

Or this distracting world will take its toll.

I write.  I write.

Ideas come and ideas go.

Which words to trap, it's hard to know.

Sometimes profound and sometimes stupid,

Words can be Satan and they can be Cupid.

I write.  I write.

Words can hurt and words can heal.

I try to keep all of my words real.

They may be simple or create a plot,

But fake or phony my words are not.

I write.  I write.

From early days when words were pictures

And memories got put into scriptures,

The writer's role was to mark it down

In ways that'll last, and might bring renown.

I write.  I write.

The spoken word flies by so fast,

But our written words can last and last.

We writers live such a real short time,

But our words go on, whether prose or rhyme.

We write.  We write.

(Slowly, thoughtfully)  The spoken word flies by so fast...

But our written words will last and last!

We writers live such a real short time,

But our words go on, whether prose or rhyme.

We write.  We write.  

We write.  We rite.  We right.  

* * *

Copyright 2008 – 2017 Thomas Wayne King.  All Rights Reserved.

* * *

                        

      "Writer's Wrap" leads of sixty raps, poems, and lyrics in Sailor of the Sun, Thomas Wayne King's second volume in his Tales from the Red Pump series. Sailor of the Sun (ISBN 978-1-365-47774-4) is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Lulu, and other suppliers. Tom is always glad to talk about, read, and sign his books. Please contact him at RunHikeSkiNow@gmail.com              

It's Tick Season! Learn the Tick Tuck Rap with Thomas Wayne King

It's tick season here in northern Wisconsin, where we have to take extra precautions against those sneaky little critters in order to prevent getting Lyme or other tick borne illnesses. Join Tom today and learn all about a great way to do that!

Tick Tuck Rap

Tom is a long time member of the St. Croix Writers group. He is reading today from his book Sailor of the Sun - Tales from the Red Pump, Volume 2. Its a book of raps, rhymes, verses, lyrics, and songs inspired by the pristine, wild Lake Superior region -- what Tom calls "Authentic Northland".

Don't forget to tuck!~