March 18, 2023 presented by Tim Chizmar & Mark Savage Tim is an award-winning speaker, headlining Comedian, actor, producer, screenwriter, and bestseller whose books include Soul Traitor , Modern Madness, and others that shall not be named, as they were written while working as a ghostwriter for some of today’s hottest authors and celebrities. His work has been included in short story collections, notably Chicken Soup for the Soul , and has appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, and on websites including Fangoria and First Comics News . Tim’s collaboration with writing legend Clive Barker was featured in the Bram Stoker-award-winning book, It’s Alive: bringing your nightmares to life published by Crystal Lake Press. Tim also co-founded the Las Vegas Chapter of the prestigious Horror Writers Association and has held membership in various writers’ organizations including the Writers Guild of America. Tim's experience working with networks, like Comedy Central and Showtime, as well as Hollywood production companies, including Full Moon and Asylum, has allowed him to bring his unique vision to the big screen. Mark is an Australian-born director/producer/writer who sold his first feature, Marauders , to the international market at the age of 24. Since then, he’s worked on numerous diverse projects ranging from action/comedies, such as Sensitive New Age Killer, todocumentaries including one about Jackie Chan titled Beyond Mr. Nice Guy . Other film credits include Narrow Gauge , Trail of Passion , The Sentimental Assassin, Defenceless , Fertisle , Pond Scum , Stressed to Kill , Purgatory Road , and Painkiller . Recently he completed principal photography on three more films: Bring Him Back Dead , Hell's Coming for You , and Kill Craft . Mark also has extensive distribution experience having worked for Orion Pictures, Absurda (David Lynch’s company), and Village-Roadshow.

April 14, 2023 presented by Clay Stafford In any literary work, it’s important for a writer to incorporate mystery, thriller, and suspense into their project to add intrigue, whether it be in those specific genres or another. With that in mind, Clay will talk about the following themes: Defining mystery, thriller, and suspense Exploring the subtleties of mystery, thriller, and suspense Why these three themes apply to all genres of literature How to weave mystery, thriller, and suspense into your own work Clay Stafford is an American bestselling and award-winning author, poet, screenwriter, and playwright; film and television producer, director, showrunner, actor; book, film, and stage reviewer as well as public speaker. He has sold nearly four million copies of his books and has had his work distributed in sixteen languages. He is founder and CEO of the annual Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference and a contributor to Writer’s Digest magazine with his online column, “Killer Writer”. For more information about Clay visit www.claystafford.com & www.killernashville.com

May 20, 2023 presented by Lisa Diane Kastner Love to write a great story, but sometimes find finishing it a bit challenging? No worries! This chat is for you! We'll cover the classic structures of some of your favorite genres (horror, thriller, mystery, romance) and how you can approach your next writing endeavor. Lisa Diane Kastner is the Founder and Executive Editor of Running Wild & RIZE Presses. She holds both an MFA and an MBA and has been a writer and editor for more than twenty years. Featured in FORBES and several other publications, she’s been named to multiple “Best of” lists. Lisa began Running Wild & RIZE with the belief that we can change the world through story.

June 17, 2023 presented by Stephanie Barbé Hammer What is magical realism? How do I write it and why should I care? Stephanie is a lively speaker and makes learning fun! Come join us and add a bit of magic to your writing. Stephanie Barbé Hammer is a 7-time Pushcart Prize nominee in fiction, nonfiction and poetry. She is the author of two poetry collections, two novels, a novelette, and a how to write magical realism craft book. Originally from Manhattan, Stephanie moved to Southern California in 1986. She has lived on the West Coast ever since, teaching at the University of California, Riverside campus, where she worked for 30 years and now currently residing on Whidbey Island, Washington State. A professor emerita of Comparative Literature at the UCR, she is managing editor at SHARK REEF literary magazine and is culture editor at large and writer at the Journal of Radical Wonder. She sits on the advisory board of Writers Bloc Presents. Her poetry chapbook CITY SLICKER appeared in July 2022 with Bamboo Dart Press and her new novel Journey To Merveilleux City is expected out in November 2023.

July 15, 2023 presented by Jan Herrman Jan will discuss the characters, places, and events of what we think of as the Old West by using examples from landmark movies and TV shows along with reading a few excerpts from The Last Cowboy . He’ll explain the research that led to the plot development and historical settings of the American frontier. Jan Herrman is a retired physician and author of The Last Cowboy . He has a keen interest in the myths of the Old West. In fact, he has been moving steadily west throughout his life, having been born and raised in New Jersey. Jan admits to developing an extraordinary affection for the main characters of his novel, especially Hank and Beth, and had many conversations with them as he wrote the book. And, no, he does not believe this is a form of schizophrenia.

Ghost stories from America's most infamous prison have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery! Welcome to the spooky island of Alcatraz! Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms. Did you know a ghost nurse wanders the halls in search of prisoners to heal? Or that nobody has ever escaped from Alcatraz…and lived to tell the tale? Can you believe Cell 14D is haunted by a mysterious, red-eyed monster? Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Alcatraz and have you sleeping with the light on!

Enjoy humor and adventure? Hold on to your hat. Last Voyage takes you to exotic, faraway places in West Africa on a safari loaded with mystery, thrills and tons of laughs. Know-it-all millionairess Rhonda Schmidt booked a dream trip to Africa, and she wants to share it with her closest friends. Trusting Rhonda’s advice, Helen Slider sets off on an adventure of a lifetime to West Africa dragging her skeptical husband Jerry. Readers of Font’s - Wrath of Rhonda and Road to Machu Picchu - will remember Rhonda as Jerry’s longtime nemesis and bête noire. What disasters will Helen’s too-trusting heart lure them into? Upon embarkation the cruise line announces the company will fold due to financial woes. It will be the Sea Witch’s last sail from Dakar to Cape Town. Did anyone say, Ebola? Titus Attah is fleeing Monrovia for his life as he is pursued by Liberian authorities for being a carrier of the deadly virus. He’s headed directly into the path of our unsuspecting travelers onboard the aging cruise ship, Sea Witch. It’s the perfect storm as sparks fly in this final sequel to the Jerry Slider adventure trilogy.

This collection of shorter pieces may surprise or shock, depending on your view of life. The mind restructures and interprets the way we see and experience all that surrounds us...but is it reality? Delusions often seem just as real. By acting, we have made our choice—but can we ever be certain that we have chosen correctly? Short Stabs and Silent Screams treads through areas of mystery, evil and confusion. The unexpected becomes grist for the mill. In these stories, common people are caught in strange and uncommon situations that unravel depending on their choices. Enjoy the tales and remember... they are only stories.

Do you ever wonder why things happen to us? Max Anderson is a retired army ranger who's been a sober, single parent for the past eighteen years. Throughout his sobriety, he made a solemn promise that he would pay for his only son's college education. But his military pension alone doesn't come close to meeting this obligation. After many rejections for a job that could use his executive skills, Max must accept a sales job he otherwise would never have considered. The competitive world of recreational vehicle sales is foreign to Max as he becomes mired in a pit of vipers who are threatened by his presence. And then Lauren McGill walks into his life. But things get complicated when the wealthy ex-wife shows up after eighteen years wanting to reconnect with her son—and Max. This is a story about individuals whose lives are interlaced with Max's by the unforeseen.

When Bailey finds herself in big trouble, it seems there is no way out. How much is she willing to risk? Her life, her friendship with Brady, or punishment for disobedience? She learns a hard lesson when she breaks the rules and goes swimming alone. Not only alone but in a neighbor's pool without permission. The sun is sizzling hot, the water looks so refreshing, and Bailey doesn't want to listen to the voice in her head saying, "Never Swim Alone." What could possibly happen? Vivid 3-D illustrations will captivate your children and test their imagination. Questions following the conclusion will give parents a springboard for conversations with their children about the value of rules and the importance of obedience. Don't we all hear that still small voice at times?

Feb 27, 2021 presented by Fauzia Burke Creating an online platform is vitally important for long-term success. In this session you’ll learn where to focus your efforts and how to avoid distractions while connecting all the elements of online marketing (website, mailing list, blogging, social media, advertising and publicity) into a cohesive, successful and sustainable author platform. Fauzia Burke, author of Online Marketing for Busy Authors, is the founder and president of FSB Associates an online book publicity firm, co-founder of Pub Site a platform for building author websites, and a consultant and coach for authors who need help navigating the book marketing and publicity landscape. Before starting FSB, she worked for Henry Holt and John Wiley. Fauzia has promoted books by authors such as Alan Alda, Arianna Huffington, Deepak Chopra, Melissa Francis, S. C. Gwynne, Mika Brzezinski, Charles Spencer and many more. She is based in San Diego, CA. FauziaBurke.com

Jan 29, 2022 presented by Les Edgerton Kickstart your writing with a boost from someone who’ll give you the nuts and bolts for success. Les Edgerton is the author twenty-three books including Hooked: Write Fiction that Grabs Readers at Page One and Never Lets Go (Writers Digest Books). Hooked consistently appears in popular top-ten lists for books about the craft of writing. His ratings on Goodreads.com sit at a stellar 4.83 / 5 stars. His personal story is one of inspiration and redemption: from a career on the wrong side of the law to that of a widely-read author and college writing instructor. You’ll find his matter-of-fact view of life and sense of humor are refreshing.