August 25, 2008

Hello to all my good friends. Hope you’re having a super summer. Oh, I know it’s officially almost over,
but I like to hang on to the lazy, crazy days as long as I can. How’s your writing going? Have you finished
that book or article or short story? Or did you get caught up in reading by the pool, or sitting under the air
conditioner with a good book? Did you forget all about creating your own words? It’s about time to get
back into the swing of it. We expect our kids to return to school, so we ought to take up our writing
chores once more.

DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR MY NEXT WORKSHOP Time is running out. This one is for all
those writers out there who want to self - publish a book, whether it be fiction, or family stories, or maybe
a fund - raising cook book.

We’ll gather September 27, at Ozark Folkways four miles south of Winslow on Highway 71. You may
register by calling Connie at 479 - 634 - 3791. The cost is $50 this time around, and you need to bring a
laptop. If two or three wish to share a laptop, that’s okay, but using one is part of the learning process of
self - publishing. We’ll begin at 9:30 and finish by 4:30. When you leave you’ll know precisely how to get
the book published that you’ve always wanted to see in print. I look forward to seeing you there.

As usual you may bring your lunch or eat with a group at Grandma’s House, which perches on the rim of
the ridge with a fantastic view of the Boston Mountains.


OZARKS WRITER’S LIVE! September 13 at the Fayetteville Public Library located 2 blocks south of the
Fayetteville Square on Mountain Street. Authors galore to speak and sign books all day long. At 3 p.m. I
will speak in the Ann Henry Room. My subject is Wandering In The Shadows of The Past. Preserving
our Ozark history is especially important. I will talk about how each of us can search out true stories and
recreate them in both fiction and nonfiction form. I will discuss some of my adventures in digging up
hidden tales that often lurk deep in the shadows of the past. I look forward to seeing you there.


NORTHWEST ARKANSAS WRITERS WORKSHOP FREE CONFERENCE
In the previous newsletter I announced the date (March 14, 2009) of the Northwest Arkansas Writers
Workshop Free Conference at the Harvey & Bernice Jones Educational Building on Emma and Berry
Streets in Springdale. A schedule of events will follow in a few months. This time we are adding a super
opportunity for all of you. Here’s information:

ANTHOLOGY
All members of the Northwest Arkansas Writers Workshop and anyone attending the March 14, 2009
one - day free seminar sponsored by the NWAWW are invited to submit a short story for consideration for
publication in an anthology of short stories.

Guidelines:

 Unpublished short stories only, up to 3,000 words, no essays or poetry.

 Standard manuscript format, Times New Roman, 12 point font. No fee. Mail one copy to Dusty
Richards, P.O. Box 6460, Springdale, AR 72766. No SASE required.

Manuscripts will be destroyed after contest. First North American Rights. Rights revert back to author
thirty days after publication.

 Include a cover letter with all contact information, including e - mail address, and a fifty word bio.

 All genres, except erotica. No gratuitous foul language, violence, or gore.

 By submitting to this contest, you are giving permission for your work to be edited and published
in this anthology. No other contract will be required, and you will not be paid for your submission.

 Deadline for entries: Postmarked no later than March 21, 2009. Chosen authors will be notified
thirty days after submissions close.

 Publication date: March, 2010. Available at the March, 2010 NWAWW seminar.

 Prior to publication, authors will be able to order copies at a discounted price of 40% – 50%.

Often times anthologies make their way into the hands of agents and editors, so having your words
published in this way is an important step in your writing career.


My favorite recent reads: Bone Yard by Michelle Gagnon; No One Heard Her Scream by Jordan Dane;
Swan Peak by James Lee Burke; Nothing to Lose by Lee Child; Broken Window by Jeffrey Deaver; Or
how about Images In Scarlet by Samantha Lee; Fly With The Mourning Dove by Velda Brotherton. I sort
of enjoyed those, too. Check out these author’s websites. Jordan has some good writing tips.

Also try http://www.OzarkWritersLeague.org for Jordan’s tips on writing. Take a look at
http://www.OzarkCreativeWriters.org for information on its 40th Annual Conference in Eureka Springs,
Arkansas. I’ll see you there.

Check out my blog http://vbrotherton.blogspot.com for some good writer’s tips and other info

See you all in Searcy, Arkansas, at Hastings on Friday, August 29 from 5 - 7 p.m. and Saturday August
30 at the White County Creative Writers Conference at Harding University in Searcy. For more
information see http://www.whitecountycreativewriters.org

Don’t forget, networking is a great way to advance your writing career and meet some super people.