Why Come Back to the PPWC?

By MB Partlow

In the month of December, we held a New Year/New Books promotion, open to everyone who registered for the 2015 PPWC between Dec. 15 and 31. We threw all the names into a hat (or, you know, a random number generator), and now we’d like to congratulate our winner, Georgie Nelson.

Since it turned out that Georgie is a regular conference attendee, we thought we’d find out what keeps her coming back.

PPW: How many Pikes Peak Writers Conferences have you attended?

Georgie: 8-10 -- off and on since 1996

PPW: What keeps you coming back?

Georgie: There are many reasons for returning. A huge reason is because of the inspiration and camaraderie -- it is fantastic to be around other writers who share my passion. Also, no matter how many times I've been to PPWC, I am always learning VALUABLE information. The topics are always timely, in-depth, and address my needs as an evolving writer.

PPW: What's your favorite part of conference?

Georgie: That's a hard one. I want to say "everything," but I know that isn't helpful to you. The programs, of course; they are the heart of the conference. However, the lunches and dinners allow attendees to meet favorite writers and ask questions of editors and others, and that is very valuable, and enjoyable! I've also had many enriching conversations over my breakfast bagel and coffee -- building a sense of community and connection is vital -- we're often very isolated as writers.

PPW: Which keynote speaker are you looking forward to the most this year, and why?

Georgie: I signed up for the programs and for the soul-feeding mixing with other writers, but I'm also very excited about our guests. Mystery and suspense by Kathy Hogan Trochek and Andrew Gross are spot on to my interests, and I've always loved SF/Fantasy, so being introduced to Seanan McGuire is a treat. And who doesn't admire the Goosebumps series? -- bring on the creepfest!

PPW: And would you mind sharing with us one of your personal goals for this year's conference?

Georgie: My personal goal is to garner the inspiration, and re-hone the skills necessary, to cut and put a final polish on my novel (over 500 pages now, and needing a firm hand). I won 3rd place in the writing contest 3 years ago, but lost steam (well...after losing my mother, my beloved aunt and mother-in-law, and my twin sister all in the same year, it's been very hard to write). I'm hoping to recover my mojo and to re-embrace the passion for writing I've had since I was a child.

If you’d like to learn more about the 23rd annual Pikes Peak Writers Conference, please visit http://www.pikespeakwriters.com/ppwc/. We’ve got spectacular keynote speakers, insightful agents and editors, and a host of faculty who will help you further your writing adventure. And don’t forget to say hi to Georgie while you’re there!

MB Partlow's first paid writing gig was for the A&E department of The Independent. She wrote a parenting column for Pikes Peak Parent for several years, and freelanced for The Gazette. She’s a longtime volunteer for PPW, working her way up from chair stacker at Write Brains to Moderator Coordinator, Contest Coordinator, Director of Programming, and now Conference Director for 2015. A voracious reader across genres, she primarily write urban fantasy, although she ventures into space opera, mystery and magical realism. MB is physically unable to restrain her sense of humor, and her mouth occasionally moves faster than her brain. She blogs at PartlowsPool@wordpress.com, and can be reached at Conference@PikesPeakWriters.com.

Congratulations Are In Order

By MB Partlow

October was Arts Month in the Pikes Peak Region, and Pikes Peak Writers jumped on board with great enthusiasm. In additional to our regular Write Brain, we had an improv night, an open mic night and a Saturday writing workshop for teens.

As a special incentive for Arts Month, we took the names of everyone who attended all of the events (except the teen workshop), threw them into a hat and pulled one lucky winner to receive a FREE Thursday Prequel at the April Writers Conference.

We’d like to congratulate our winner, Damon Smithwick. And here’s what he had to say about PPW and winning the free Prequel.

PPW: It's no surprise you won the free Thursday Prequel in our Arts Month promotion. You seem to be at all of our events. What keeps you coming back?

Damon: It was certainly a pleasant surprise to me that I won a free Prequel. I'm very grateful. What keeps me coming back to PPW events is self-interest. I want to be a successful author. I feel I am getting fantastic information from PPW and from those who host, run, and attend PPW events. I feel very fortunate to have an asset like PPW available in the community I live in. Not only that, but the authors attending these events are amazing. These people are my influences, and I feel good about that.

PPW: What's the best advice you've gotten from a PPW Write Brain?

Damon: I think the best advice from a Write Brain so far is a conglomeration of information given by the ladies who did the Social Media panel: Jennie Marts, Deb Courtney, Sue Mitchell, Ashley Bazer and Jessica McDonald. They were great at educating the attendees on how to market themselves. Particularly for self-publishers. I'd attend that one again if I could, and probably take better notes. Strangely, I'm terrible at notes. These ladies made a topic I'm not fond of at all, marketing, understandable. Most days I just want to write the book. Thanks in part to these ladies I realize that there is so much more to it than that.

PPW: If you could pick any topic, what kind of Write Brain presentation would you like to see?

Damon: I just recently dove into the world of self-publishing, and I'd like to see a Write Brain on that, in depth. Not about marketing, or anybody's individual experience, but about the self-publication process. The nuts and bolts. Particularly about Amazon Kindle and Createspace, because let's face it, that is the 800-pound gorilla in the business. Information on the various options, iTunes and Lulu.com for example, would also be welcome.

PPW: What are you most looking forward to at the PPW Prequel this year?

Damon: As I mentioned, I've embraced self-publishing, so I'm deeply interested in Bree Ervin's class, Edit Your Novel Like a Pro. I think readers of self-published material tend to understand that there will be a few errors, but I think we, as authors, owe it to our readers to provide the best story and most error-free book we can for them. That drive is what makes us professionals, whether we're submitting our material to agents or directly to the public. Any tool that enhances that professionalism is going to be on my learning agenda.

PPW: And finally, what are you looking forward to the most at the 2015 Pikes Peak Writers Conference?

Damon: I'm looking forward to so many things! Seeing the people I met last year. The classes, and conversations in the bar. What I think I'm looking forward to most, however, is the uplift the conference gives me. Last year I was so motivated afterward. I couldn't wait to put all this new knowledge into practice. Sometimes everyday life steals a bit of that drive away from us. Family issues, kids, life in general can be a huge distraction. PPWC worked wonders on restoring my focus last year. The conference reminded me that we're not telling campfire stories. Well, maybe we are, but if so those campfire stories are wrapped in an insatiable desire to share them with the greatest effect on the most people. I have no doubt I will leave PPWC this year tired, maybe dazed, but certainly ready to attack my keyboard with renewed gusto.

For more information about the 23rd annual Pikes Peak Writers Conference and the Thursday Prequel, please visit http://www.pikespeakwriters.com/ppwc/. We’ve got spectacular keynote speakers, insightful agents and editors, and a host of faculty who will help you choose your writing adventure.

MB Partlow's first paid writing gig was for the A&E department of The Independent. She wrote a parenting column for Pikes Peak Parent for several years, and freelanced for The Gazette. She’s a longtime volunteer for PPW, working her way up from chair stacker at Write Brains to Moderator Coordinator, Contest Coordinator, Director of Programming, and now Conference Director for 2015. A voracious reader across genres, she primarily write urban fantasy, although she ventures into space opera, mystery and magical realism. MB is physically unable to restrain her sense of humor, and her mouth occasionally moves faster than her brain. She blogs at PartlowsPool@wordpress.com, and can be reached at Conference@PikesPeakWriters.com.

What is Your Sweet Success Story?

By K.J. Scrim (aka: Kathie Scrimgeour)

After months of blood, sweat, tears, and a few tiny bald spots, your masterpiece is complete. You are ready to make a mark on the literary world. Your best friend bought the first copy. Uncle Bill heard about it, and had to give it as a gift to his boss’s daughter for her birthday. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are buzzing with the news and a couple of people have even written reviews on their blog and given you a five-star rating on Goodreads.

Pikes Peak Writers (PPW) wants to help you make some noise. Sweet Success is a free online marketing tool exclusively for PPW members (another perk for PPW members). What do you get? A free blog post dedicated to you and your success story. Remember that in online marketing every ping, blip, click, and mention of your name boosts your presence. Create enough of these and your name can grow into quite a rumble. Add more rumbles and you will have a veritable earthquake on your hands. This is the sound of your sweet success making itself known to the world.

Tell us about your poem, book signing, flash fiction, or your epic novel. Did you get a mention in the New York Times? Are you being honored at your local VFW or did you recently win a writing contest? Tell us about it! Let PPW add a ping or three toward the making of your success story. Don’t forget to join PPW then drop an email to: ppwsweetsuccess@gmail.com.

Please include the following information:

• Your name
• The name of the work
• Release date
• Your byline or pseudonym (and how you want me to handle it)
• Type of work (short story, novel, article, etc.)
• Genre
• Age level
• Publisher
• ISBN
• Format (hardcover, softcover)
• Page count (or word count)
• Brief description of the book (100 words max)
• Brief bio (100 words max)
• E-mail
• Website (author promo, blog, etc.)
• Where to buy/read website
• Cover image, if available.

See you there!

About the Author: Kathie writes under the name K.J. Scrim (it is so much shorter and easier to say than her full name). She started writing in the previous century, and continued through college.  She received her BFA in Fine Art from the University of Colorado, Boulder. While living in Conifer, CO she had her own column in the Mountain Connection and produced a weekly segment for local television programming. Today she keeps up on a blog, is working on a YA multi-dimensional novel, is the Coordinator for Sweet Success, and an active member of PPW, RMFW, and AWP. She lives in SE Metro Denver with her husband, two grown kids, along with a couple of dogs and a cat.    

May Letter From the Editor - Transitions

Ah, May, a turning point for several reasons. The weather begins switching from winter to summer, flowers bloom, and trees blossom. For parents, May means end of school year craziness, and a transition to summer vacation.

For Pikes Peak Writers, May is when we review the conference that has just occurred, and begin preparations for the following year's conference. It's important to us that we outdo ourselves each passing year, and that takes a full year's work.

We've had many transitions in Pikes Peak Writers this year, with changes within the organization and positions changing hands. We've got one more transition occurring. The Pikes Peak Writers Conference is passing out of the hands of the accomplished Bonnie Hagan, and into the capable hands of Mary Karen Meredith. This was announced on the final day of PPWC 2013, and we look forward to seeing what Mary Karen brings us with PPWC 2014.

Also announced at PPWC 2013 were the Volunteers of the Year for PPW. Two wonderful ladies shared the honor of PPW Conference Volunteer of the Year: MB Partlow and Jen LaPointe, both of whom deserved it for all of their hard work on conference. MB brought in fantastic faculty, and has already landed two exciting keynotes for next year (watch for announcements soon--if you attended Sunday lunch at conference, you already know!). Jen worked hard behind the scenes, keeping everything straight and making sure no detail, no matter how small, was missed. PPW Volunteer of the Year went to yours truly, for my work on the blog and the non-conference events directorship. I was delighted to win (and horrified, because it meant going up on stage), and hope to justify the honor over the course of the coming year.

We had another winner at conference. Mardra Sikora won our on-site flash fiction contest with her piece "Malleable," which we're honored to post here.

Malleable

Truth changes like clay in the hands of its master. In childhood, I witnessed my grandfather’s truth about skin color, faith and fear. I waded through my mother’s denial and each truth it bore. Pluto was a planet and the brontosaurus my favorite dinosaur.

I guarded my own truths; held them secretly beneath shallow breaths, until even I no longer recognized them. What was once moldable now burned as lava deep within me. I tried to quench the fires with cold hands and cold eyes, but the smoldering under my skin continued.

The day the eruption came, truth streamed from me. With only a backpack, I stole away from you. I am bruised by your love. In my…escape, I hold the mirror to look for the self I have hidden.

I cautiously recognize adversity finally led me to my own truth. And I will mold a new future from it.

About Mardra: Mardra traveled through ice, snow, and adversity to reach the Pikes Peak Writers Conference, and is a better, stronger writer for having made the trip. She resides in Omaha, NE, and can be found musing both fiction and non-fiction on www.mardrasikora.com.

Congratulations, Mardra!

And to our readers, we wish you a fabulous May!

~Shannon Lawrence

Managing Editor, Writing From the Peak

PPW Director of Non-Conference Events