PPW June News & Events

Compiled by Debi Archibald 

We are fast closing in on the halfway mark for 2015. Are you taking advantage of all the programming and events Pikes Peak Writers has to offer to keep you on track for your writing goals this year? Here's what's coming up in June.

Open Critique

Because Open Critique falls on the first Wednesday of each month, it's frequently come and gone by the time News & Events hits the blog. So make sure to put July's O.C. on your calendar:

Wednesday, July 1, 2015 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Meet up at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 East Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO. 

Get the first 8 pages of your manuscript critiqued by a guest critiquer (J. T. Evans in July) as well as the other participants. Donnell Bell will schedule the first 8 that RSVP to pikespeakopencritique@hotmail.com.

June Write Brain 

Tuesday, June 16, 2015 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Meet at the Carnegie room of Penrose Library, 20 N Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903. Donnell Bell, Ron Cree, Shannon Lawrence, Chris Mandeville and Damon Smithwick will present a Critique Group Panel guiding us on the way to create independent, long-term and useful critique experiences. The panel wants you to bring your questions.

Facebook Event: Want to see who else is coming? Check here.


PPW Writer's Night at the Ritz

Monday, June 22, 2015 6:30-8:30 p.m.Meet up with your fellow writers at the Elbo Room at the Ritz, 15 South Tejon, Colorado Springs, Colorado. On the agenda: Writerly discussions, laughter, socializing.

You can always find more detail on these and all Pikes Peak Writers events on the blog "Events" tab or on the main Events tab on the PPW website. 

Other News
Donnell Bell will assume editorship of Writing from the Peak sometime next month. Watch the blog for further details and her first post as editor.

Resources
Check out this handy website loaded with resources and events for Colorado writers.
http://www.writebynight.net/colorado/

Look to the Pikes Peak Library District for writing-related groups and events during the summer:

http://ppld.org/writers-corner-events

Quote of the Week and Week to Come

“There are chapters in every life which are seldom read, and certainly not aloud.”

www.quillandquire.com

Carol Shields (June 2, 1935 - July 16, 2003)

Unless

The Stone Diaries (Pulitzer Prize Winner)

This week on Writing from the Peak:

* June Letter from the Editor with some news about the blog

* Deb McLeod's First Wednesday post

* Pikes Peak Writers June News and Events 

May News and Events from Pikes Peak Writers

Compiled by Debi Archibald 

Don't lose the momentum you gathered at Conference; stay plugged in with the ongoing PPW monthly events. Keep your writing and your writerly relationships engaged with the following options:

PPW EVENTS

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 6:00 to 8:30 PM
Open Critique at Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 East Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, CO. This month's guest critiquer is Robert Spiller. If you want the first 8 pages of your manuscript critiqued,  RSVP to pikespeakopencritique@hotmail.com.



Tuesday, May 19, 2015 6:30 to 8:30 PM
May Write Brain at the Penrose Library, Carnegie Room, 20 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs (parking on street and in parking lot at meters is free after 6:00 PM). 

Pam McCutcheon will present Writing the Fiction Synopsis. After you've agonized over several hundred pages to make your prose absolutely perfect, how could you possibly distill that down to a measly ten or twenty pages? Or, worse yet, one or two? By the time you've written the book, everything seems important, and it's difficult to know what to put in and what to leave out. To help with that problem, Pam came up with a method that she details in her book, Writing the Fiction Synopsis, A Step by Step Approach. She’ll share her process to help you put together a selling synopsis and write a back cover blurb.


Monday, May 25, 2015 6:30-8:30 PM
Writer's Night at the Elbo Room at the Ritz, 15 South Tejon, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
 Join fellow writers on the 4th Monday of each month for writerly discussion, laughter, and socializing. The direction of the discussion is decided by the participants.

WRITING CONTEST 

(NOTE: This is not a PPW endorsed contest but is presented for informational purposes only.)

The Colorado Independent Publishers Association announces its 21st annual CIPA EVVY book competition is open for submissions. The CIPA EVVYs are one of the longest-running book awards on the Indie publishing scene, and it’s become an international competition with entrants from as far away as Russia and Dubai.  

CIPA EVVYs are open to books published from 2012 onwards. The deadline for submissions is May 30, 2015. The awards banquet is August 22, 2015.

Visit http://www.cipacatalog.com/pages/CIPA-EVVY-Awards. There are 42 regular categories and 8 technical categories to choose from. Join in one of the best book competition in the Rocky Mountains!

COLORADO COLLEGE VISITING WRITERS SERIES 

Thursday, May 7th, 7:00 pm
Gates Common Room, Palmer Hall

Visiting assistant professor Bryan Hurt at Colorado College and prose magician whose work has appeared in Tin House, TriQuarterly, and the Kenyon Review, editor of the acclaimed collection, “The Loudest Voice” reading from his fiction and discussing his approach to his craft.

PPW April News and Events

By Debi Archibald 

April is Conference month but don't think that is all PPW has to offer. Make the most of your conference experience by taking advantage of the other events. Some are tied in with Conference and all offer the opportunity to talk to your fellow writers.

April Open Critique was on April 1 this month but mark your calendar for next month:

May 6, 2015 (Wednesday)

6:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 East Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, CO  

Get the first 8 pages of your manuscript critiqued. First 8 to RSVP to pikespeakopencritique@hotmail.com.

Guest critiquer TBA.


2015 Mountain of Authors

April 4, 2015 (Saturday)
12:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Dr., Colorado Springs, Colorado.

This free event is an annual community program that provides an opportunity for the public and local authors to meet and listen to notable Colorado authors, and for aspiring writers to learn more about the craft of writing. No registration is required.
http://more.ppld.org:8080/mountainofauthors/schedule.html


April Write Brain
April 14, 2015 (Tuesday)  NOTE: This is the second Tuesday. 

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Marriott Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado       NOTE the location change.

Conference Prep 101: How to Talk About Your Writing to ANYONE!
Presenters:  MB Partlow and Jason Henry



2015 PPW Conference

 Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26, 2015 (With a Thursday Prequel)

 Colorado Springs Marriott, 5580 Tech Center Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919. 

 Phone: (719) 260-1800.
http://www.pikespeakwriters.com/ppwc/



PPW Writer's Night at the Ritz
April 27, 2015 (Monday)
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Elbo Room at the Ritz, 15 South Tejon, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Join fellow writers on the 4th Monday of each month for writerly discussion, laughter, and socializing. The direction of the discussion is decided by the participants.

PPW March News and Events

Compiled by Debi Archibald

47 days and counting until PPWC15. Are you registered? In this case, all things do NOT come to he who waits. Pricing goes up March 15th so do your budget a favor and get registered before then.

Between now and then, PPW has several events and workshops to whet your appetite for Conference. If you always make it to Write Brain but haven't yet ventured out to Open Critique or Writer's Night, this is a good time to shake things up a little.

March 17, 2015 6:-30 to 8:30 p.m. (Tuesday)
March Write Brain at the Carnegie Room, Penrose Library, 20 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs. Come see Stuart Horwitz present The Book Architecture Method: Reaching the Finish Line. This method can help you transform a messy manuscript into a polished book whether you are a meticulous plotter or a free-spirited pantser. Clients using this method have seen their fiction and non-fiction books hit the best-seller list.  

March 23, 2015 6:30-8:30 p.m (Monday)

PPW Writer's Night in the Elbo Room at the Ritz, 15 South Tejon, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Hang out with your fellow authors enjoying writerly discussion, laughter and socializing. Participants set the direction of this event. 

April 1, 2015 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. (Wednesday)
Open Critique at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 East Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, Colorado. Guest critiquer is Karin Human. If you would like the first 8 pages of your manuscript critiqued, RSVP to pikespeakopencritique@hotmail.com.

Be sure to watch April News and Events for a one-time-only change in time and venue for Write Brain, which will focus on the dos and don'ts of PPWC. 

February PPW News and Events

Compiled by Debi Archibald

Welcome to February, Writers.

Valentine's Day looms and depending on your current relationship status, that may stir up butterflies, anticipation, dread or out and out depression. But Pikes Peak Writers has an event perfect for writers who find themselves anywhere in the romance spectrum.

Saturday, February 14
Write Your Heart Out
1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
The Marriott Hotel: 5580 Tech Center Drive, Colorado Springs

This is a FREE event. Becky Clark will be emceeing the event and featured speakers will be Julie (J.A.) Kazimer, Fleur (F.T.) Bradley, Mike Befeler, Jennie Marts, Kevin Ikenberry and Cara Lopez Lee. Stay tuned to the PPW Facebook page for a little surprise the organizers are working on.

Space is limited so you must RSVP to rsvp@pikespeakwriters.com in order to attend.


Tuesday, February 17
February Write Brain
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Penrose Library: Carnegie Room, 20 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs

Debbie Maxwell presents this workshop. Scrivener software is an increasingly popular tool for writers, yet there's a steep learning curve. Many writers own the program, but don't maximize the use of the best features. Others shy away from having to learn 'another thing.' This workshop will familiarize you with Scrivener, and get you writing on your manuscript the same day. Learn to navigate the software, import your manuscript and very last scrap of research, plus how to take advantage of Scrivener's most helpful features. Bring your computer with Scrivener already downloaded (you can download it and try it free for 30 days).


Monday, February 23
Writer's Night at the Ritz
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
The Ritz: Elbo Room, 15 South Tejon, Colorado Springs

Join fellow writers on the 4th Monday of each month for writerly discussion, laughter, and socializing. The direction of the discussion is decided by the participants.


Wednesday, March 4
Open Critique
6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Cottonwood Center for the Arts: 427 E. Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs

February Open Critique has come and gone but mark your calendar for next month and check the Events Tab for details.

Other News

Shannon Lawrence has been a familiar face at Pikes Peak Writers events. She is now moving into the position of Treasurer and Jennifer LaPointe will assume the role of Non-Conference Events Director. Welcome to your new role, Jennifer!

Writing Events in the Community

Colorado College Visiting Writer Series

Tuesday, February 10th, 7:00 pm
Gates Common Room, Palmer Hall
Nate Marshall: An important new voice emerging from Chicago’s Southside, the author of “Blood Percussion,” co-editor of “The BreakBeat Poets: New American Poetry in the Age of Hip Hop,” and the star of the award-winning poetry documentary “Louder Than A Bomb.”

Thursday, February 19th, 7:00 pm
Gates Common Room, Palmer Hall
Jim Moore: Beloved CC faculty member and poet, the author of six collections of poetry, including “Invisible Strings,” “Lightning at Dinner,” “The Long Experience of Love,” and “The Free-dom of History” reading from his latest book, “Underground: New and Selected Poems.”

Coming Up

In April: Mountain of Authors and PPWC15: Choose Your Writing Adventure. Watch for details next month and as always, check the EVENTS tab for complete detail on any of the PPW events.

January 2015 PPW News and Events

Compiled by Debi Archibald

Welcome to 2015, Writers! Is this your writing year? Resolve to take advantage of all the resources Pikes Peak Writers has to offer. This is how the year starts out:

January 7, 6:00 to 8:30 PM (Wednesday)
Open Critique

Join us at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts at 427 East Colorado Avenue in Colorado Springs. The first 8 to RSVP to pikespeakopencritique@hotmail.com will have the first eight pages of their manuscripts critiqued.

This month's guest critiquer is R.T. Lawton, a retired federal agent and well-published author. 

January 20, 6:30 to 8:30 PM (Tuesday)
January Write Brain

Meet in the Carnegie Room of Penrose Library downtown at 20 North Cascade Avenue in Colorado Springs. This month's topic is Write on Fire! with presenter Anne Randolph. Anne will tap into her Kitchen Table Writing program to help muzzle your inner critic and inspire you to get words on paper. This is an interactive event so bring your writing materials and your imagination. 

January 26, 2015 6:30-8:30 PM (Monday)

PPW Writer's Night at the Ritz

Find us in the Elbo Room at the Ritz at 15 South Tejon in downtown Colorado Springs. This gathering is on the fourth Monday of every month with the direction being driven by the attendees. It's a good opportunity to laugh, socialize and commiserate with other writers. 

February 14, 2015 1:00 - 5:00 PM (Saturday)

Write Your Heart Out  

This is a FREE half-day event at the Marriott at 5580 Tech Center Drive in Colorado Springs. If you haven't yet attended PPWC, this is the perfect opportunity to get a peek at the venue before conference. And if you are a past attendee, you know the value of this preview to Conference. Becky Clark will be emceeing so laughter is guaranteed. Featured speakers will be Julie (J.A.) Kazimer, Fleur (F.T.) Bradley, Mike Befeler and Jennie Marts. Stay tuned to the PPW Facebook page for news on the final two speakers and a little surprise the organizers are working on.
Space is limited so you must RSVP to rsvp@pikespeakwriters.com in order to attend.

PPW CONFERENCE
Remember that registration for PPWC2015 is open. Don't let April sneak up on you without signing up for this three-day gold mine and for the Thursday prequel.

See the EVENTS tab on the pikespeakwriters.com website for full detail on all these events as well as specifics on registration. 

In the Community....

January 28th, 2015  7:00 pm (Wednesday)

Richard F. Celeste Theatre, Cornerstone Arts Center

The Colorado College Visiting Writer series continues with Robert Pinsky, former poet laureate of the United States, Pulitzer Prize nominee, winner of the Lenore Marshall Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Award, as well as the Howard Morton Landon Translation Prize for his best-selling translation of “The Inferno of Dante,” author of “Democracy, Culture, and the Voice of Poetry,” as well as “The Figured Wheel: New And Collected Poems, 1966-1996,” lecturing as part of the Cornerstone Arts exploration of lineation on “The Mighty Line.”

December News and Events

Compiled by Debi Archibald

In addition to shopping, wrapping, baking, mailing and generally making merry this month, you will want to keep your writerly ways sharp. Following are the Pikes Peak Writers and community events:

Open Critique
This monthly event is at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 East Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. 

RSVP to pikespeakopencritique@hotmail.com to have the first 8 pages of your manuscript critiqued. (The first 8 responders only.)

This event is on the first Monday so as of this posting, the December Open Critique has come and gone. Don't miss Monday, January 7, 2015 with guest critquer R.T. Lawton, a retired Federal Agent and board member of Mystery Writers of America. 

 Tuesday, December 16, 6:30 to 8:30 PM

December Write Brain
Join us at the Penrose Library (20 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs) in the Carnegie Room. This month Kevin Ikenberry will present Finding the Perfect Outline using the Seven-Point Story Structure. 

Monday, December 22, 6:30-8:30 PM

PPW Writer's Night at the Ritz

Note our new venue at the Elbo Room at the Ritz, 15 South Tejon, Colorado Springs, Colorado. This is a forum for writerly discussion, laughter and socializing with the content driven by the attendees. 

For more detail on any of these events, or to mark your calendar for 2015 events, visit the EVENTS tab on the PPW website: 

http://www.pikespeakwriters.com/events/

Colorado College Visiting Writer Series

CC continues their free series of author lectures. in December:

Tuesday, December 9th, 7:00 pm

Gates Common Room, Palmer Hall
ASPEN MATIS, CC alumna and New York Times correspondent reads and discusses her memoir, “Girl in the Woods,” an agonizing but also hopeful story of survival in the wake of a horrific trauma and her quest to find acceptance and healing in nature.

Thursday, December 11th, 7:00 pm

Armstrong Theater
COLUM MCCANN author of the National Book Award-winning novel “Let The Great World Spin,” as well as “Zoli,” “Dancer,” and, most recently, “Transatlantic.” One of the most unforgettable and necessary voices of our time.

For other community events, including book signings, bookmark the Peak Radar website:
http://www.peakradar.com/categories/index/5/0/FILM_AND_WORDS

See you in January!

PPW November News and Events

Compiled by Debi Archibald

You don't need me to tell you that we are coming into the busiest time of the year both on personal and writerly levels. Here is a snapshot of what is happening in the world of Pikes Peak Writers this month:

The Zebulon is closed.

The contest closed on November 2nd and judges will now be reading submissions and choosing winners in all the various categories to be announced at the 2015 PPW Conference.

And Speaking of Conference....

Registration opens this month. Watch the Writing from the Peak blog and the website "Conference" page to stay fully informed on dates, pricing, faculty, etc. Please note that the window for submitting workshop proposals closed on October 31, 2014.

NaNoWriMo

If you are attempting NaNo this year, you should have written 11,669 words by the end of the day today to be on track. There are still quite a few write-ins left to help you meet your word count; or at least to write in an environment where others share your pain.

Saturday, November 8, 9 AM-12 PM, Library 21c, Room B6
Monday, November 10, 6-9 PM, Pikes Perk, 5965 N. Academy Blvd.
Wednesday, November 12, 11 AM-2 PM, Cucuru Gallery Cafe
Monday, November 17, 6-9 PM, Hump Day Celebration & Goal Check-in, Pikes Perk
Wednesday, November 19, 11 AM-2 PM, Cucuru Gallery Cafe
Saturday, November 22, 9 AM-12 PM, Library 21c, Room B6
Wednesday, November 26, 11 AM-2 PM, Cucuru Gallery Cafe
Friday, November 28, 12-4 PM, Black Friday Write-In, Library 21c, Room B6
Sunday, November 30, 9 PM-1 AM, Closing out NaNo, Goal Progress & Celebration! IHOP

Event Addresses:

IHOP (International House of Pancakes), 8065 N. Academy Blvd.
Pikes Perk, 5965 N. Academy Blvd.
Cucuru Gallery Cafe, 2332 W. Colorado Ave.
PPLD Library 21c, Room B6, 1175 Chapel Hills Dr.

PPW Events

Tuesday, November 18, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. is November Write Brain at the Penrose Library (Carnegie Room) at 20 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs.

This month's topic is Marketing Panel: What You Need to Know About Marketing, Book Launches, and Platform Building. This workshop with be primarily Q&A.

The panelists are Sue Mitchell, Deb Courtney, Jessica McDonald, Jennie Marts, and Ashley Bazer.

Monday, November 24, 6:30-8:30 PM is Writer's Night at the Principal's Office in Ivywild School, 1604 South Cascade, Colorado Springs. Join fellow writers on the 4th Monday of each month for writerly discussion, laughter, and socializing. The direction of the discussion is decided by the participants.

As always, more detail is available on the Events tab of the blog or the main Pikes Peak Writers website. http://www.pikespeakwriters.com/events/

September News and Events

Compiled by Debi Archibald 

PPW Events                 

www.photos-public-domain.com

Open Critique has already come and gone this month, having moved from the third Wednesday of the month to the first.  The first Monday of next month happens to fall on October 1, so mark your calendars now.

Where:  Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 East Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, CO from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. with guest critquer Allegra Gray.

Monday, September 15:  The Zebulon Opens
The Zebulon is the Pikes Peak Writers Fiction Writing Contest, open to published and unpublished authors alike. Consisting of three parts (query letter, synopsis, first 2500 words of manuscript), the Zebulon is formatted to simulate the process of acquiring a literary agent. Previously unpublished manuscripts only, please. Find details here: pikespeakwriters.com/contest

Tuesday, September 16:  September Write Brain  

Self-publishing is becoming more commonplace and has shown itself to be a feasible alternative to traditional publishing. But what are the pros and cons? The details? The real nitty gritty? Steve Burt ("The Sinister Minister"), an award winning self-published author, will address, among other topics, writing, editing, self promotion, and publishing options (print, e-book, and audio).
Where:  Carnegie Room, Penrose Library, 20 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs (parking on street and in parking lot at meters is free after 6:00 PM) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Monday, September 22:  PPW Writer's Night at Ivywild
Join fellow writers on the 4th Monday of each month for writerly discussion, laughter, and socializing. The direction of the discussion is decided by the participants.

Where:  The Principal's Office in the Ivywild School, 1604 South Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80905 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. 

COMMUNITY EVENTS

There are two presentations in September as part of the Colorado College Visiting Writer Series:

Thursday, September 11, 7:00 pm:  Hampton Sides

Where:  Gates Common Room, Palmer Hall

Bestselling author of “Ghost Soldiers” and “Blood and Thunder,” Colorado College’s newly appointed journalist-in-residence reads from his magisterial new work “In the Kingdom of Ice.” Sides is editor-at-large for Outside magazine and a regular contributor to The New Yorker, National Geographic, and Esquire.

Monday, September 15, 7:00 pm:  Michael Nava 
Where:  Slocum CommonsCC alumnus, author of the acclaimed series of Henry Rios mysteries, including “Rag and Bone” and “The Hidden Law,” reading from his superb new historical novel“The City of Palaces.”
Call (719) 389-6853 for details.

July News and Events

Compiled by Debi Archibald

(Wishing a very Happy Fourth of July to you all!)

PPW Events

July Write Brain: Building the Robust Scene

Tuesday, July 15
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Carnegie Room, Penrose Library

20 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs (parking on street and in parking lot at meters is free after 6:00 PM).

Trai Cartwright will present this workshop on developing every scene to its full potential. It's the key to a transformative story, but how do you write scenes that show off your plot, world and characters to their best advantage? Scene-work is about breaking down the five narrative aspects of a scene, plus looking at what makes for strong scene structure, and enhancing your natural strengths while eliminating any weaknesses.

About the Presenter: Trai Cartwright is a 25-year entertainment industry veteran who grew up in Colorado. During her tenure in Los Angeles, Trai was a studio development executive, spent eight years consulting for HBO, was assistant director of Leonardo DiCaprio’s online ventures, worked at a massively multi-player online role-playing game company, and made ringtones for 20th Century Fox. Four of her screenplays were optioned, she has produced three independent films, and consulted on thousands of scripts. She currently teaches creative writing and screenwriting across the Front Range for the Colorado Film School, University of Northern Colorado, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, conferences, and one-on-one. www.craftwrite.com

FREE Open Critique

Wednesday, July 16
6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Cottonwood Center for the Arts
427 East Colorado Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO

This FREE program provides a critique experience for a small number of writers who seek feedback on manuscript pages and who want to learn how to have positive critique group experiences.

PPW’s Open Critique program is a facilitated event; an experienced criticizer will provide comments, criticism and suggestions on participants’ manuscript pages, as well as model positive behaviors, techniques and procedures for critiquing.

It is our hope that participants will not only receive valuable feedback on their writing, but will also learn how to create great critique groups of their own, or learn how to improve existing critique groups.

Each month Open Critique will accommodate up to eight participants with a maximum of eight manuscript pages (double spaced, one side) per person. Bring at least 8 copies. To request a slot to participate, email your request to critique@pikespeakwriters.com. Slots are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, and are only considered for the month in which they are received. Participants will receive confirmation and instructions via email.

Writers Night

Monday, July 28
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
The Principal’s Office in The Ivywild School
1604 South Cascade Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80905

PPW Night is two full hours of discussion, laughter, and fun with other local members of Pikes Peak Writers.

The direction of the meeting is decided by the participants and can include discussions about query letters, obtaining and working with an agent, writing conferences, or other specific points of the craft. If nothing else, we talk about books! These are drop-in meetings, so feel free to attend all or just part of them.

WRITING COMMUNITY NEWS:

Congratulations to the 2014 Colorado Book Award Winners (Awarded June 21 in Aspen):


Biography
Ernest L. Blumenschein: The Life of an American Artist by Robert W. Larson & Carole B. Larson (University of Oklahoma Press)

Children’s Literature
The Tumbleweed Came Back by Carmela LaVigna-Coyle & Kevin Rechin (Rio Chico)

Creative Nonfiction
Animal, Mineral, Radical: Essays on Wildlife, Family, and Food by BK Loren (Counterpoint Press)

General Nonfiction
Tasting Colorado: Favorite Recipes from the Centennial State by Michele Morris (Farcountry Press)

Genre Fiction
Changes by Pamela Nowak (Five Star)

Historical Fiction
The Drowning Guard: A Novel of the Ottoman Empire by Linda Lafferty (Lake Union Publishing)

History
Denver Mountain Parks: 100 Years of the Magnificent Dream by Erika D. Walker, Wendy Rex-Atzet, Sally L. White, W. Bart Berger, Thomas J. Noel, & John Fielder (John Fielder Publishing)

Juvenile Literature
Grave Images by Jenny Goebel (Scholastic)

Literary Fiction
Little Raw Souls by Steven Schwartz (Autumn House Press)

Memoir
I Promise Not to Suffer: A Fool for Love Hikes the Pacific Crest Trail by Gail D. Storey (Mountaineers Books)

Mystery
Desperado: A Mile High Noir by Manuel Ramos (Arte Publico Press)

Pictorial
Firmament: A Meditation on Place in Three Parts by Andrew Beckham (George F. Thompson Publishing)

Poetry
Natural Takeover of Small Things by Tim Z. Hernandez (The University of Arizona Press)

Poetry/Chapbook
Ndewo, Colorado by Uche Ogbuji (Aldrich Press)

Thriller/Suspense
Double Dare by Michael Madigan (Adventure Publications)

Young Adult Literature
Ascendant by Rebecca Taylor (Crescent Moon Press)

June News and Events

Pikes Peak Writers Events

On Saturday, June 7, from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Writing a Fiction Synopsis That Sells: An Interactive Workshop will take place at the Space Foundation, 4425 Arrowswest Drive, 80907. Pam McCutcheon, author of Writing the Fiction Synopsis, is the presenter. Pam will show you how to write a synopsis that will position your piece to rise above rejection and get in front of the right eyes. This is a hands-on workshop and space is limited to allow for one-on-one feedback. 

 Click here to register now!!

The June Write Brain takes place Tuesday, June 17, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. This is an online only class so an RSVP is required to receive the link. This month's workshop is Parlay Your Writing: Your Career as a Story With Subplots presented by Karen Albright Lin. Karen explores learning to reinvent yourself by writing in new genres, writing-for-hire, freelance editing, even teaching on cruises. Send your RSVP to rsvp@pikespeakwriters.com.


June Open Critique is Wednesday, June 18, from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 East Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, CO. The first eight to RSVP to pikespeakopencritique@hotmail.com can have the first eight pages of a manuscript critiqued.


PPW Writer's Night at Ivywild is Monday, June 23 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at The Principal's Office in the Ivywild School, 1604 South Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80905. This is a chance to have writerly discussions along with some fun and fraternization on the fourth Monday of each month. Discussion topics are driven by the participants. 

Further detail on all of these activities is posted on the EVENTS tab.


Other PPW Information (From the NCE Editor)

June marks the mid-point of the year so it's a good time to revisit some other PPW activities:

Quarterly Event Newsletter - We send out a single email once every three months to let you know of upcoming PPW events in the next quarter. We will not use this for any purpose other than this single email. Want the dates in advance so you plan what you'll attend? This is an easy way to do so! Sign up by sending an email to events@pikespeakwriters.com with the heading Quarterly Event Email.

Proposal Portal - Do you have a workshop you'd be interested in presenting for PPW? Whether it's for a Write Brain, Conference, or a Half-Day to Full-Day Workshop, we'd like to hear from you! Simply go to http://proposals.pikespeakwriters.com/ (or go to the "Events" tab on our website and select "Submit a Proposal.") This is open at any time, and your proposal will remain in our files for future use.

Request a Workshop - Have a workshop or speaker you'd like to see? We're interested! The best way for us to know what topics our members are interested in is to hear from you. To send this information in, go to http://www.pikespeakwriters.com/events/request-a-workshop/ (or go to "Events" tab on our website and select "Request a Workshop.") We're always looking for great new speakers, and your feedback is appreciated.


In the Community:

You can't be a great writer without being a great reader. The grand opening for the state-of-the-art Library 21c is June 21 from 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. at 1175 Chapel Hills Drive. The dedication ceremony is at 9:30 a.m. and all-day events include live performances in the 400-seat theater as well as appearances by the Lt. Governor, Joe Garcia, and other local celebrities.