Tony Hillerman Writers Conference: Focus on Mystery

Hyatt Regency, Albuquerque, NM November 5-9, 2008

With Michael McGarrity
Louis Bayard, Craig Johnson
Pari Noskin Taichert
Sandi Ault, Judith Van Gieson
Paula Paul, Steve Havill, Joe Badal
Peter Joseph, editor, St. Martin's Press
Christine Barber, winner 2007 Hillerman Prize for mystery novel
Literary agents Betsy Amster, Tony Outhwaite and Liz Trupin Pulli
and more

Pre-conference workshops and Optional Tours:

WEDNESDAY WORKSHOP 11/5/08--  RE-VISION: GETTING FROM GOOD TO GREAT

With mystery author and Mary Higgins Clark Award winner Sandi Ault
Learn to be your own best editor and teacher. Ault guides participants through the essentials of what to watch out for, take out, remove, throw away, and avoid. Based on her onw experience, Ault designed to improve a writer's skills from the ground up, and to help a more experienced writer take the first or second draft to a new level of refinement.  It will help you polish a manuscript, making improvements that could be the difference between a rejection slip and a request to see more. This hands-on, interactive class is fun and informative!
               ·   Participants will receive a list of "weasel words"  and learn how removing these words from almost any piece of writing will improve the work. 
                     ·    The class will examine “ferrets,” tenacious habits of expression that work against potency in our work, and set them on the road to extinction.       
          ·   The litany of “Seven Deadly Sins” is take-home guide to use in editing that will offer participants a quick way to polish their work to a professional level.

             · The day will also include a lively discussion of verbs, Is That Thing Alive? Ault will show the power of Active Voice, Animation, and Illustration to resurrect dull prose, keep the reader engaged and enhance your storytelling.  
Wednesday, Nov. 5,  9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Hyatt Regency, Albuquerque $160 includes lunch and handouts

THURSDAY WORKSHOP 11/6/08-- MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR AUTHORS

With mystery author and public relations consultant and Antrhony Award nominee Pari Noskin Taichert
In today’s publishing world authors who take the initiative to do their own marketing and public relations are better prepared and more successful than those who don’t. But, where to begin? Each of us has different comfort levels when it comes to promotion. The workshop will help participants find those activities that they enjoy to make marketing efforts fun rather than a burden.  In Marketing & PR for Authors, a hands-on workshop geared specifically for writers, participants will:

* Clarify and define fundamental Marketing/PR terms
* Outline a preliminary Marketing/PR plan
* Explore and determine the most useful public relations tools for your goals
* Develop and hone oral pitches
* Write brief bios – experiment with different lengths for different publications
* Create brief summaries of your work
* Identify specific media outlets for your work
* Write email pitches and/or press releases
* Identify and polish talking points
Thursday, Nov. 6,  9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Hyatt Regency, Albuquerque $160 includes lunch and handouts

Optional tours for spouses and friends

For those not attending the conference sessions, we are offering a menu of diversions.
Thursday, Nov. 6, Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway, 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., $65
Friday, Nov. 7, Acoma Pueblo Tour 9 A.M.- 2 P.M. , $79 includes lunch
Saturday, Nov. 8 Santa Fe 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. , $75 includes city walking tour

For detailed information and registration for the tours

 For conference schedule, sponsorship opportunites, hotel information and registration, agent appointments, our presenters and contests, please see the menu to the left

We look forward to seeing you at the conference.