Literary BookPost welcomes Brian Beam, author of “The Dragon Gem” and “The Forgotten King” fantasy novels, on Saturday, Feb. 22, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., to sign his latest novelette, “Alinor’s Shard.”
“Alinor’s” is the third in the trilogy and continues with the peaceful world of Yalis. It is a fantasy story with a battle between good and evil forces. All three novels will be available at the signing.
Beam was born and raised in Bardstown, Ky., but he now calls Salisbury home.
The North Carolina Writers’ Network 2014 Spring Conference will be held Saturday, April 12, in the MHRA Building at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. This year, instead of a traditional keynote address, attendees can choose between two special sessions at the end of the day — for no additional charge.
Nancy Peacock, author of the novel “The Life & Times of Persimmon Wilson,” will lead a two-part fiction workshop. Jonathan Farmer, editor-in-chief and poetry editor of At Length magazine and the poetry critic for Slate, will lead a two-part creative nonfiction workshop. Registration is now open.
Other offerings include poetry workshops with Mark Smith-Soto and John Thomas York; fiction workshops with Kim Church and Drew Perry; and a workshop titled “Writing from Experience” led by Steve Mitchell and Carol Roan, appropriate for writers of all genres. Carrie Knowles and Peggy Payne will teach writers to “Market Your Book — with Imagination.”
The day’s program includes a panel discussion, “Writing about War” with Robin Greene, Paul Stroebel and Sharon Raynor. Award-winning children’s author Kelly Starling Lyons will introduce would-be authors to the field with, “So You Want to Write a Children’s Book.” And bestselling author Linda Rohrbough will lead “How to Make an Elevator Pitch,” a class that is encouraged for those wanting to take advantage of the Speed Pitch special session.
Attendees can pre-register for one of two special sessions.
The first, “Speed Pitch,” will allow participants to get feedback from professional editors on their manuscript pitches. Each person who signs up will sit down with each of the four book pros and have exactly one minute to pitch their book.
The second special session is “One City, One Prompt.” In this session, Greensboro poet and facilitator Jacinta V. White will provide an overview of the One City, One Prompt program, and begin an opening dialogue on this year’s theme: “Begin Again.” Jacinta will then provide a prompt and attendees will write.
The nonprofit NCWN is devoted to writers at all stages of development. Visit www.ncwriters.org.