Happy Autumn everyone,

Hope you’re writing or traveling or doing whatever you want to do during this beautiful weather. While I’m preparing for a few conferences, others are now behind me. Check out Eureka Springs during the fall season by attending Ozark Creative Writers. Here’s their url: Out west in San Antonio Women Writing the West is holding its annual conference.

I’m pleased to say that my book Fly With The Mourning Dove is a finalist in the creative nonfiction category of the annual WILLA awards. I will be there to receive the honors connected to this literary award. Needless to say, I’m ecstatic over the win in this very prestigious award. Each category has three winners, one top and two finalists. It’s quite an honor.

I’ll also speak on two panels while out there. Another first for me with this organization. We had a wonderful time at the Ozarks Writers Live at the Fayetteville Public Library last month. Writers, writers everywhere. It was a wonderful day.

Keep up with what I’m doing at my three blogs: for writers; about lawmen and outlaws of Arkansas; A journal of my thoughts and deeds. Hope it doesn’t get naughty. Check out my updated website
and of course my other site at

I hope you’ve already marked your calendars for our group’s free conference. Here’s the schedule and complete information. Download it and make sure to register if you’re coming. We’d hate you to have to sit on the floor.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS WRITERS WORKSHOP FREE CONFERENCE
March 14, 2009 at Ozarks Electric, 3641 W. Wedington Drive, Exit # 64, off I - 540. This is also highway 16 west. Go ½ mile West, building is on the left. Sign - In 8:30 a.m.
We ask that you pre - register so we can be prepared. Email Velda at or Dusty at

Scheduled Workshops:
9:00 a.m. Storyteller Molly Lemmons will demonstrate how to turn family memories into entertaining and informative stories.
10:00 a.m. A PowerPoint presentation. A critique panel of workshop members will demonstrate how the group critiques the work of novice writers.
10:45 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. Instruction on manuscript formatting from published authors in short story, fiction and nonfiction genres.
11:30 a.m. Pam Thompson will present the Top Ten Grammar Errors and how to clean them from your manuscript.
NOON Lunch Break. $6.00 will buy your lunch on the premises. It will consist of meat and cheese platters for sandwiches, chips, cookies and a cold drink. During lunch break published authors will read from and discuss their work. Plan on remaining in the building.
1:00 p.m. Velda Brotherton will speak on the literary, the mainstream and the genre in today’s market.
2:15 to 2:30 p.m. Break
2:30 to 3:45 p.m. Dusty Richards will speak on Writing 101. The basics of writing a good book.
Published authors are invited to bring their books to sell during the conference. We’ll have plenty of tables.


NEW THIS YEAR ANTHOLOGY INVITATION

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

· 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 name, address, telephone number and email address upper left, Title and length upper right, and a fifty word bio halfway down the page.

· 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 to publish your work in this anthology. No other contract will be required. There will be no payment to authors for work published. Prior to publication, authors will be able to order copies at a discounted price of 40% – 50%.

· 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 NAWW seminar.

Hope to see you there.

Best wishes with your writing, Velda

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