Three author/teachers in one fabulous workshop!

Dana Haynes, Bill Cameron, and April Henry, February 8th

9 - 11 Dana Haynes

This isn't Rocket Surgery

Psst. Don't let it get out, but writing is as much a craft as it is an art. With a few simple techniques, you can make your writing more productive and -- equally important -- more fun. If you ever get to a point that writing is a chore, like emptying the cat box, your novel is in trouble. These tricks will keep the process fresh and fun, give you momentum, and help you get to those all-important words, "The End."

11:15 - 1:15 Bill Cameron

Not Who They Think They Are: Building Character Through Contradiction

At its core, character development is not about likeability, or relatability, or sympathy. It's about empathy. As writers we must understand not only a character's traits, interests, needs and desires, but what they value and how they see themselves-as well as how others see them. Internal conflict and contradiction is often foundational in who people are. This workshop will explore ways to build characters who may be fooling themselves, but are richer and more compelling as a result.

1:15 - 2:15 lunch (on your own)

2:15 - 4:15 April Henry

Plot

Plot is much more than a sequence of events. It's the engine that drives all stories - especially mysteries. But how can you come up with a good twisty plot that will turn your book into a page turner? Learn practical ways to create twists, cliffhangers, characters, conflict and more.

WW members - $95

Non-members - 131

You can register for this class by mailing a check to Willamette Writers, calling 503-305-6729 and registering over the phone, or by paying with a credit card at http://www.willamettewriters.com/1/Willamette_Writers_Workshops.php. The Willamette Writers' Cynthia Whitcomb House is at 2108 Buck St, West Linn, OR 97068.

Bios

Dana Haynes spent 20 years in Oregon newspaper newsrooms, split evenly between weeklies and dailies. He won awards as a reporter, columnist, and editor. A native of the Pacific Northwest, he now serves as spokesman for Mayor Charlie Hales of Portland, Oregon.

http://danahaynes.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/picnic-house.jpg

Haynes' first thriller, CRASHERS was released in 2010 by Minotaur Books, a division of St. Martin's Press. It won the Spotted Owl Award from Friends of Mystery as 2010's best mystery or thriller written by a Northwest writer. His first screenplay, an adaptation of CRASHERS, made it to the semifinals of the prestigious Nicholl Fellowship in 2005. BREAKING POINT, the sequel to CRASHERS, made its debut in 2011.

Now comes ICE COLD KILL, the breakout thriller for Daria Gibron, the ex-Israeli soldier and spy who first appeared in CRASHERS. Daria's adventures continue this winter in GUN METAL HEART.

Bill Cameron's first novel, Lost Dog (2007), was a Left Coast Crime Rocky Award nominee and a finalist for the 2008 Spotted Owl Award for best mystery in the Pacific Northwest. His second novel, Chasing Smoke (2008), received a starred review from Library Journal and was a finalist for the 2009 Spotted Owl Award. It was also an IndieBound Notable Next for January 2009. Cameron's third novel, Day One, was published by Tyrus Books in 2010, and features the return of his series character, Skin Kadash. Day One was a finalist for the 2011 Spotted Owl Award and was included in the Best of 2010 list by the Portland Mercury. His fourth novel, County Line was published by Tyrus Books/F+W Crime in June 2011. In March 2012, County Line was named the winner of the 2012 Spotted Owl Award for Best Northwest Mystery.

April Henry knows how to kill you in two-dozen different ways. She makes up for a peaceful childhood in an intact home by killing off fictional characters. There was one detour on April's path to destruction: when she was 12 she sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to noted children's author Roald Dahl. He liked it so much he arranged to have it published in an international children's magazine.

Willamette Writers Hosts Workshop by Eric Witchey January 10-12, PDX

Power Writing:

Write Emotionally Powerful Short Stories

Eric M. Witchey

Whether writing scenes, flash, or short fiction to teach yourself techniques for use in larger works, to develop your portfolio, to have fun, or to get some extra money so you can attend conferences to sell your novels, this seminar will demonstrate several story forms and how to use emotion-driven characters to hook your readers and leave an indelible mark on their hearts.

This three-day seminar includes hands-on experience with powerful tools you will be able to use in all your creative writing. Some writers may even walk away with a short story they can put in the mail.

January 10th, 6:00 - 8:00

January 11th, 6:00 - 8:00

January 12th, 9:30 - 3:30 (one hour lunch, on your own)

WW members - $165

Non members - $201 (includes membership in WW)

Workshop held at the Willamette Writers Cynthia Whitcomb House, 2108 Buck St, West Linn, Oregon, 97068.

You can register for this class by mailing a check to Willamette Writers, calling 503-305-6729 and registering over the phone, or by paying with a credit card.

Authors Road Interviews George R.R. Martin

As we’ve traveled the country talking with writers and experts on authors, we’ve come to understand that this remarkable group is first and foremost storytellers. Since earliest times, these are the people in our cave-clans, tribes, castes and social circles who have that special gift to enrapture, instruct and inspire us with tales of myth, truth, daring and insight.

George R.R. Martin is one of the world’s modern storytellers who has for years spun his legends and kept us watching, listening, and reading. He has been telling fantastical tales since he was a child, and his genres are most often fantasy, horror, and science fiction. His mediums have included comic books, short stories, bestselling novels, and episodic as well as epic television programs and series starting with Twilight Zone and continuing to the current HBO blockbuster series, Game of Thrones. And his art has been acknowledged with bestselling worldwide sales, and numerous awards, including his selection in the 2011 Time 100, those people the magazine named as the most influential people in the world.

This last summer we had the great fortune to visit Martin at his writing studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico. We filmed our interview with him in an elegant room with two walls filled with dioramas of miniatures engaged in medieval war, science fiction disasters, and flights of fancy – a fitting backdrop for our talk.

We are so very pleased and proud to share with you our interview with our 38th writer, George R.R. Martin.

And more:

Recently the tables were turned on us as we were the subject of two media interviews. If you’re interested in hearing us, or reading more about us, please check out the following:

On Oregon Public Radio’s, Think Out Loud: https://soundcloud.com/thinkoutloudopb/the-authors-road-chronicling

And in a Portland Tribune newspaper, Boom: http://portlandtribune.com/bnw/21-news/202348-george-and-sallis-excellent-adventure

And last, to one and all: Thanks for your continued support and encouragement, and our fondest wishes to all for a Most Happy New Year.

George, Salli & Ella

Next Up: Bestselling author and writing professor,

Pam Houston

Thanks for . . .

. . . joining us . . .

. . . on the road!

Authors Road

Authors Road, Tony Hillerman, as told by his daughter, Anne Hillerman

Once again we traveled to Santa Fe, New Mexico to meet and interview several authors about their work and insights.

This time we lucked out with a two-for-one special: We had arranged to speak with Anne Hillerman, daughter of bestselling Southwest mystery writer, Tony Hillerman (1925 - 2008), and we discovered that she too was an accomplished writer. Like her father, she worked as a journalist in New Mexico and published several books, including two photo books working with her husband, noted photographer Don Strel. One of these books, Tony Hillerman's Landscapes, was their effort to capture the beauty and magic of the same Southwest landscapes depicted in her father's books.

Anne recently published her first fiction novel, Spider Woman's Daughter. The book picks up where her father left off in his 19 mysteries. Anne's novel features Bernadette Manuelito, one of the Navajo police officers working with her father's legendary characters, Jim Chee (Bernadette's husband) and Joe Leaphorn. Published by HarperCollins earlier this month, the book immediately reached the New York Times Bestseller List.

In this interview, Anne talks about her father's start as a journalist, his transition into becoming one of the most famous writers in the Southwest, and his continued impact on writers through an annual conference and writing prizes dedicated to him and his legacy. Stay Tuned: Our next interview is with fantasy, horror, sci-fi and screenwriter George R.R. Martin.

Thanks for . . .

. . . joining us . . .

. . . on the road!

Jean Auel Interviewed by The Author's Road

More than a century ago, H.G. Wells wrote a classic tale about a time machine and a time traveler who rides it into the distant future to meet the fate of humans, and farther still to witness the end of earth and all living things.

We are pleased to present our interview with another time traveler, Jean Auel. She is a writer who, like Wells, researched history and wrote a series of books that have become our time machine into the distant past where we get to meet the roots of our human species and culture.

She is a tireless reader, a problem solver, a lover of physics and math and dozens of other subjects that catch her fancy. She was also a young mother who had to help meet the financial needs of a growing family. So she went off to work as an upstart woman in the rapidly growing world of technology. It was there she wrote her first book, a training manual for circuit board engineers.

Years later, Jean became obsessed with the idea of trying to write a short story based on a young woman living among others who were different. Very different. But her efforts to spin a story were thwarted with questions. And so she plunged into the labyrinth of research, emerging much later without a short story, but rather a lengthy book about a female character who has now lived with Jean for more than thirty years, and appeared in six volumes read by an estimated 60 million people worldwide.

The Clan of the Cave Bear is the first of her Earth’s Children series, and in 1986 was made into a movie with Daryl Hannah in the lead. Jean’s historical fiction has not only developed a loyal following of readers, but some of her ideas and plot elements have preceded scientific discoveries in strange and wonderful ways.

We’re certain you’ll enjoy this fascinating interview as much as we enjoyed meeting and talking with this prescient and engaging writer, Jean M. Auel.

George & Salli

Our next interview: San Francisco's Poet Laureate,
Alejandro Murguia

Thanks for . . .

. . . joining us . . .

. . . on the road!

Fresh Brewed Willamette Writers Conference percolates in Portland August 1-4

By Cornelia Becker Seigneur

The WILLAMETTE WRITERS CONFERENCE percolates at Portland's Sheraton Hotel at the Airport Friday August 2 through Sunday August 4, with prep events starting Thursday August 1. With this year's theme "Fresh Brewed," you know the creative adrenaline juices will be flowing. As always, there is a fantastic lineup of speakers offering workshops, and literary and film agents are on tap to hear about your book project.

Ken Sherman, who represents David Guterson, the author of Snow Falling on Cedars, is a featured literary agent.

And, Saturday's key note banquet speaker, Kelly Williams Brown , who shared her book idea Adulting with a literary agent at the 2011 Willamette Writers Conference, and it quickly went to auction. The book was released this year and Williams Brown has been featured in the New York Times, among other publications.

The 2013 Willamette Writers Conference is for writers of all genres and levels. There is truly something for everyone. Come for a day, or two or all three. For more information on the agents attending, visit the website at WILLAMETTE LITERARY AGENTS 2013 OR email the conference director Stefan Feuerherdt at: chair@willamettewriters.com or the Willamette Writers Office manager Bill Johnson at: wilwrite@willamettewriters.com.

Kelly Williams Brown to be Keynote at Willamette Writers Conference

“From Here to There: Write Like It’s Your Job”

Kelly Williams Brown started with a blog (now with 140,000 followers), a dream and a manuscript. In 2011 she attended the Willamette Writers Conference, landed an agent, and then watched her book, Adulting: How to Become a Grown-Up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps, sell at auction. It was published in May 2013. In the fall of 2012, Adulting was also sold to Hollywood for a TV comedy (JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions/ Warner Bros TV with a put-pilot at Fox).

Brown will be the Keynote speaker at the Willamette Writers Award Banquet on August 3 at 7 p.m. sharing her experiences and tips. The banquet will be in the Mt. Hood Ballroom at the Airport Sheraton Hotel in Portland. Doors open with a no-host bar at 6:30. Tickets must be purchased in advance through Willamette Writers for $45 per person.

Brown graduated from Loyola University, New Orleans in 2006. An author, journalist, and copywriter, she lives in Portland Oregon.


About Willamette Writers: Willamette Writers is the largest writers’ organization in Oregon and one of the largest in the United States. Founded in Portland in 1965, it has grown to over 1,800 members with branches in Southern Oregon, Mid-Valley, Salem and the Oregon Coast, and the Cynthia Whitcomb Writing House in West Linn. More detailed information is available at www.willamettewriters.com or by calling 503-305-6729.