DENTON WRITERS LEAGUE

FIRST EDITION

SEPTEMBER 2002 VOL. 13 NUMBER 9

DWL Home Page:  http://byjoni.com/dwl/

If you would like the copy of the newsletter-mailed to you instead of sent by US Post, please contact George Avera or Joni Latham



WHERE WE MEET, AND WHEN

The second Saturday of every month, at the:

CITY HALL IN THE MALL
Next to the Old Country Buffet at the Golden Triangle Mall.

Business meeting 10:00 a.m.,
General meeting at 10:30 a.m.
Lunch at the Old Country Buffet at noon.

NEXT MEETING -- SATURDAY September 14, 2002


 There is no speaker scheduled for the September 14 meeting. 


JULY'S MEETING RECAP

 The guest speaker was Mitchel Whitington.

Mitchel Whitington is the author of five books, a contributor to three short story anthologies, and his work has appeared in several national magazines and technical publications.  While promoting his work, Mitchel developed a formula for author press kits that he has taught to writers’ groups and conferences from California to Texas.  His latest book, Ghosts of North Texas, is scheduled for release in September of 2002.  A list of his available titles can be found on his website:  http://www.whitington.com/write/index.htm

He spoke on the Press Kit.  His website list eight books, including two non-fictions on book marketing, two non-fictions on ghosts, and three works of fiction.  He used his Uncle Bubba's Chicken Wing Fling as a working example of a press kit.

His website (http://www.whitington.com/write/presskit.htm) contains an article on the press kit, marketing techniques, and how to his book The Art of the Press Kit.  The Art of Press Kit, which available on CD ROM only, contains several examples of press kits.

He recommends keeping the press kit short, unique and inviting to read.  The handouts that he distributed at the meeting and his website go into detail on creating a press kit.  Some of the points he emphasized were:

The press kit is an important tool in the selling of your book.  It should immediately grab the reader's attention.  Entertain the editors and make them want to pick up and read your kit out of the huge pile they receive every week.  The author can accomplish this by creating a theme based on what the book is really about.

Provide enough information for a book review or news story to be written without the reader having to read the book.  Many editors have a tight deadline and do not have time to read your book and do a thoughtful review, so write the review for them. Say what you want them to say about you and your book.  Make it easy for them.

Attached to the newsletter are copies of his handouts for members who could not attend.

Also discussed at the meeting was the idea for an anthology of stories and poems from the DWL members.   It was mentioned that Tattersall Publishing might be interested in the venture.  There will be further discussion at the September meeting.  Joni Latham will gather information on the feasibility of such an undertaking.


Miriam Hees a member of the Writer's League of Texas announced that  Blooming Tree Press has an open call for submission for a new inspirational non-fiction book called Love Texas Style. The book will be comprised of stories 200-2,000 word long from Texas women about their most romantic moments. If you'd like to look at the detailed guidelines please go to www.bloomingtreepress.com and click on submissions. It would really be a pleasure to get all the women of Texas involved in this project.


Texas Conferences and Events

September 17-21, Texas/Oklahoma State Fair (Wichita Falls). Contact:  L.C. Hayden   lchayden@lycos.com

September 28, West Texas Book & Author (Abilene). Contact: Glenn Dromgoole,    glenndromgoole@cox.net

September 28, Writers Roundup (Salado). Contact: James V. Lee,   saladopress@airmail.net

October 12, Writers Roundup (Wimberley). Contact: Linda@flamewriter.com

October 17-20, BoucherCon World Mystery Conference, Renaissance Hotel  (Austin). Contact: Karen Meschke   meschke@io.com

October 19,  Book Fair (McAllen) Contact: Maria Luisa Salcines  mlsalcines@aol.com

November 2, Writers Roundup (Elgin). Contact: Judy Sears jlbcats@yahoo.com

November 2, George West Storyfest. Contact: Paul Perry PERRY10900@aol.com

November 9, Writers Roundup (Somerville). Contact: Elizabeth Reid buenobooks@yahoo.com

November 15-17,  Book Festival (Austin). Visit:   www.texasbookfestival.org  .

From the Texas Author’s Coalition, Inc website.  URL in listing below.



On-Line Writers resources

Texas Coalition of Authors, Inc.  http://www.texasauthors.org/
Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators
http://www.scbwi.org/
Writer's Market http://www.writersmarket.com/index_ns.asp
New Writer's Market http://hge.members.atlantic.net/
eBook Writer's Market Directory http://www.ebookwritersmarket.com/
Ebook Connections http://www.ebookconnections.com/
Preditors and Editors-a resources to check out agents and publishers http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/
The Novelist Workshop http://www.monash.com/writers.html
Writer's Exchange http://www.writers-exchange.com/
WritersNet http://www.writers.net/
There are multitudes of writing resources available on the Internet. Go to any search engine and ask for writer's resources, writer's markets, writer's contests, writer's conferences, etc


DWL OFFICERS:

President - Joni Latham (joni@verizon.net)- 940/243-5200
1st VP - June Powell - 940/565-1013
2nd VP and Program Chairman - Oleta North - 940/458-3960
Treasurer – Joseph Marino
Secretary - Rae Nell Causseaux - 940/321-2739
Newsletter - George Avera (gavera@chatter.com)- 940/382-8161