Mountain of Authors

           About:

          Date: Saturday, April 8, 2017

          Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

          Location: Library 21C

          The 11th annual Mountain of Authors (MOA) is a free annual community program that provides an opportunity for the public and local authors to meet and listen to notable authors and writers, and for aspiring writers to learn more about the craft of writing. The PPLD is excited to announce that its 2017 keynote speaker is area author, historian, and musician Mark Lee Gardner.


To see the showcase of authors and to check the schedule http://ppld.org/moa

Hope to see you there!



         

Sweet Success Celebrates Pam McCutcheon

Colorado author, and Pikes Peak Writers member, Parker Blue was recently invited by Pikes Peak Library District to talk about her Demon Underground Series, an urban fantasy for young adults featuring eighteen-year-old Val Shapiro and her telepathic hellhound, Fang. She is featured as part of the Teen Booktalk series. SWEET!

https://vimeo.com/album/3711738/video/177613938

The 10th Annual PPLD Mountain of Authors – Mountain of Magic

By: Darby Karchut

On Saturday, April 23, Library 21C opened its door to aspiring writers, authors, and patrons for the 10^th Annual Mountain of Authors. The event featured more than 30 showcase authors, two panels, and one amazing keynote speaker. It ran all day, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the conference room was packed the entire time.

Library 21C

Library 21C is the star of the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD). This massive building, located in the northeast part of Colorado Springs, is a state-of-the-art facility and is the first of its kind in the country. Just recently, it welcomed John Spears as its new executive director of PPLD. He welcomed everyone to the event with an enthusiast speech, and then the fun began.

The Panels

Panel 1 – Mystery Author Panel. The panel included Nancy Atherton, author of the Aunt Dimity cozy mysteries, Robert Greer, author of The Devil’s Hatband and many other noir mysteries featuring characters of color, and Manual Ramos, author of The Ballad of Rocky Ruiz among his other books.

Nancy, Robert and Manual talked about the inspirations for their plots, how they motivated themselves, the use of setting in their stories, and encouraged aspiring writers to write, write, write.

Panel 2 – 10^th Anniversary Retrospective. This panel welcomed three previous panelists from earlier Mountain of Authors: Mario Acevedo, author of the bestselling Felix Gomes detective-vampire series, Kristen Heitzmann, author of The Breath of Dawn and other novels, and Sandra Bond, owner of Bond Literary Agency.

Mario, Kristen, and Sandra offered some insiders’ hints and truths about landing agents and/or editors, and discussed the rise of small and mid-size publishing. They all agreed this was an exciting time in the book world, for there are more options for authors than ever before, and many different roads to success.

Keynote Speaker

Anne Hillerman, author of Spider Woman’s Daughter and Rock with Wings, gave the keynote speech. She expounded upon the recent scientific studies showing the emotional and physical benefits of reading. Anne also talked about the power of place in stories, and shared heartfelt yarns about her dad, the late Tony Hillerman.

Showcase Authors

In between the panel presentation, there were plenty of opportunities for the audience to visit with the showcase authors, and talk one-on-one about writing and the publishing world. Even better, it was a great gift to catch up with old friends and fellow writers. Book folks are the best folks!

Darby showcasing her work

Included in the day’s schedule was the ceremony honoring the finalists and winner of the All Pikes Peak Writers. This was PPLD’s first annual adult fiction writing contest.

Truly a Mountain of Authors Photo by Bruce Stetler

The Staff and Volunteers

I have to give a Rocky Mountain-size shout out to Bryan Matthews, Shannon Miller, and Karin Huxman. Bryan Matthews kept us authors organized and informed during the months leading up to the event, and his enthusiasm for books and writers was contagious. Shannon Miller and Karin Huxman were the moderators. They not only had a slew of thoughtful, intelligent questions ready to go, they fielded questions from the audience as well.

The rest of the staff and volunteers, many who I didn’t get a chance to thank, were the heroes of the day. They kept everything running smoothly and made us authors feel like rock stars. And, man, oh, man, those gourmet cupcakes at the end!

So, here’s to next year’s Mountain of Authors! I can’t wait to see what the Pikes Peak Library District has planned for number eleven!

The Library: A Great Writer's Resource

By Stacy S. Jensen

I hope you have a library card. Every writer should have one.

I wanted to share several ways I use my local library as a writer. Some are obvious, but some may be new to you.

This is a video I made last year for a contest 

the Pikes Peak Library District held called #PPLDRocks. 

In Colorado Springs, I use my local system Pikes Peak Library District. Here are the ways I use the library.

• Meeting room — Most libraries offer free meeting space for groups. One critique group used to book a room for monthly critique groups. We just had to be sure to close the door to our little room in order not to disturb other patrons. Our new high tech branch Library 21c  even has meeting rooms with a MonoPad, a giant touch tablet. My critique group has used it to Skype in members who moved out of state. Some Pikes Peak Writers events are held at library meeting spaces, too.
• Software — The library system recently began allowing card holders access to Lynda.com. The company offers thousands of instruction videos on software, business and creative skills. You can watch videos on how to build a website with WordPress, how to design a logo, how to create a book cover or how to design a book. I recently found an online course for $147, but watched a similar course on the same topic for free from my library's Lynda.com subscription. You can either log in through the library on your home device or use a library computer to watch Lynda.com videos. You may have to wait for a turn to use Lynda.com through the library's system, but the cost savings can be significant.
• Digital books — If the library system doesn't have a book I want, I'm open to checking out a digital or audio version. If it's available the Cybershelf, I can download an ebook to my Kindle or download a PDF.
• Audio Books — I added an OverDrive app to my phone and tablet. I check out audio books via my library card onto my iPad. This allows me to "read" while I'm doing hands-on craft projects.
• Videos — Need to study story structure via a video or just take a break? The library offers this too via OverDrive and Hoopla. (http://ppld.org/cybershelf-evideos) I also have the option to borrow videos through OverDrive and videos and music through Hoopla. I also put DVDs on hold. Some of those are to entertain the kiddo.
• Books — Here's my obvious use, but I'll tell you the library saves me a lot of time and money each week as I research books. At $16 more or less for a picture book, I rely on the library A LOT for my writing research and family entertainment.

For books I:

• Put them on hold — I search the library catalog from my house and put dozens of titles on hold. I don't have to drive all over the city to pick up books at various branches. The library elves collect them and deliver them to my library. It's a time saver on several levels.
• Request books — If the library doesn't have a copy of a title I want to read, I can request the book through an interlibrary loan. I haven't had much success with this. So, I typically ask the library to consider purchasing a book. I use Amazon to find the ISBN number and provide a few lines on why I think it would be a good fit for our system.
•  Find display books — The library staff kindly puts several books on display in every section, so you can judge a book by its full cover. They don't mind that you grab these selections. I check out one on almost every library visit.

The library IS the original app store. You can find anything. 

How do you use your library? Any resources at your library that really help you as a writer?

About the Author: Stacy S.Jensen worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for two decades. Today, she writes picture books and revises a memoir manuscript. She lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and son.

A Conversation With Andrew McCarthy

Pikes Peak Library District is hosting Andrew McCarthy--actor, journalist, and author--for a reception and book signing this evening. It's not too late to plan on attending! Tickets will be sold at the door for the reception, or you can choose to attend the presentation and book signing for free if you'd rather skip the reception.

Andrew McCarthy will be discussing his book, The Longest Way Home, a travel memoir.

The reception is from 4-6 PM, and includes heavy hors d'oevres, wine and beer. Tickets are $40 to attend the reception.

From 7-8 PM, there is a free presentation, followed by a free book signing from 8-9 PM.

All programming will occur at Stargazers Theater, 10 South Parkside Dr., Colorado Springs, CO.

For more information, see PPLD's website.

See You at Mountain of Authors!

Friends of Pikes Peak Library District will be hosting their free annual event, Mountain of Authors, this Saturday, April 13, 12:30 to 6:00 PM. It will be located at East Library at 5550 N. Union Blvd.

Mountain of Authors is intended for readers and writers alike. They feature one keynote speaker and two panels throughout the day, as well as an Author Showcase and signing with local authors.

The keynote speaker this weekend will be New York Times bestselling author, Stephen Coonts. He writes military thrillers, filling them with personal knowledge gained from having been a Navy pilot. His first novel was Flight of the Intruder, which was later made into a film. He's a personable and charismatic speaker, and definitely worth hearing.

The first panel will be Love and War, featuring Nick Arvin, Kirsten Lieff, and Kathleen Morgan. Panel two will be Publishing Advice From the Pros, featuring Judith Briles, of Author U; Marilyn Largent, of David C. Cook; and Anita Mumm, of Nelson Literary Agency.

Books will be available for sale on the premises, and the authors will gladly sign them.

Pikes Peak Writers will be there with a table, so please stop by and say hi! We'd love to see you.

About the Author:  Shannon Lawrence is a mom of two, a freelance writer and aspiring novelist.  She lives in Colorado Springs and is inspired by the beauty of Pikes Peak and the Rockies.  After years of letting her writing fall by the wayside, she has recently thrown herself back into it.  Her main focus is fantasy and horror and she has just finished a Young Adult Fantasy novel.  She has a flash fiction piece featured in the anthology Sunday Snaps: The Stories, due out in 2013.  She has also discovered a love of photography and enjoys photographing the breathtaking Colorado scenery and wildlife, as well as her children.  She blogs about reading, writing and photography at www.thewarriormuse.com.

Letter From the Editor - Time to Get Writing!

It's hard to believe October is over already, but November has crept in, possibly hidden among the costumed minions who filled the streets just days ago.  With it, November brings election day, Thanksgiving, Native American Heritage Month and NaNoWriMo.  In addition, it's Peanut Butter Lovers' Month.  Bet you didn't know that one!  For more interesting November holidays and observances, click here.

Here at Pikes Peak Writers, we fully support NaNoWriMo.  It's a great way to get yourself writing and establish the boundaries necessary to make others understand you need time to write, and that you're serious about it.  It's also a fantastic way to get most of a rough draft completed. 

If you absolutely don't think you can write 50,000 words this month, consider Pikes Peak Writers' NaNoTryMo, which allows you to set your own writing goal for the month.  It can be anything you like; it doesn't even have to be a specific word count.  For instance, you can set a goal of sitting down to write for 20 minutes a day.  Or to write 20,000 words this month.  Or to edit a piece you've already written.  How about a goal of writing a short story this month?  Or one per week during the month?  Think about what you'd like to accomplish, what you think you'd be able to accomplish and what it would take to push that a little bit to make it a challenge, but one you can meet.  Set that goal and stick to it!

If you live in or near the Colorado Springs area, we're featuring four write-ins this month, to be located at East Library, 5550 N. Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80918.  We will have space in conference rooms 1 & 2.  The dates are as follows:

Saturday, November 10, 9-12 A.M.

Thursday, November 15, 8:30-11:30 A.M.

Saturday, November 24, 9-12 A.M.

Wednesday, November 28, 8:30-11:30 A.M.

Come hang out and get some quiet time to write, whether on paper or keyboard.

In addition, we are delighted to announce a partnership between Pikes Peak Writers and Pikes Peak Library District.  Our monthly Write Brains will take place at our new venue: Penrose Library, 20 North Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903.  The meetings will be in the back, in the historic and alluring Carnegie Room.  Write Brains are the third Tuesday of each month, from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M., and are free to attend.

Whether you plan to participate in NaNoWriMo, here's to a wonderful month, full of creativity, high word counts and the quest for publication.

Shannon Lawrence,

Managing Editor, Writing From the Peak