May Writing Show: What I Wish I Knew Before My First Book

What I wish I knew before my first book imaage There’s so much more to producing a book than the planning of the launch party. This panel of experienced and debut authors will share what they learned through their own publishing experiences, what they wished someone had told them earlier, what they wish they’d been prepared for, and specific strategies they used to help introduce their books (and themselves) to the world. Led by NYT-bestselling author Kristen Green as the moderator, this panel, including authors Sharon Harrigan, Gwen Cole, Josh Cane, and Tracey Livesay, will cover subjects from writing and editing to marketing and publicity. The take-aways will be endless, no matter what you write.

Date: Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Time: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm (Meet & Greet at 6:00; program starts at 6:45)

Location: Firehouse Theatre 1609 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA, 23220

Price: $12 – Members; $15 Non-members ($5 for students)

SPEAKERS

Joshua Paul Cane

J. P. Cane is a long-time reader and first-time writer of vampire stories. His debut novel, Shadows Within, begins The Shadowless series, largely set in his hometown of Philadelphia. He hosts a podcast on writing and, as a member of James River Writers, enjoys supporting fellow writers. He and his wife live in Virginia. Learn more and subscribe to his monthly newsletter at www.jpcane.com.

Gwen Cole

Gwen Cole‘s newest young adult novel, Ride On, will be released on May 22, and features a teen outlaw in a near-future western. Her first YA novel, Cold Summer, came out in May 2017. Gwen grew up in upstate New York and then moved to Virginia where she did not graduate college. Instead she played bass guitar in a hardcore band and later married the lead guitarist. She enjoys large jigsaw puzzles, playing Xbox, and softball, and watching movies. Gwen now lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband, daughter, and very large dog, where she longs to live in the country again. Website gwencole.com and on Twitter @GwenCole_.

Sharon Harrigan

Sharon Harrigan is the author of Playing with Dynamite: A Memoir, published by Truman State University Press in October 2017. She has published over 50 essays, stories, and reviews in The New York Times (Modern Love), Virginia Quarterly Review, Real Simple, and elsewhere. She teaches creative writing at WriterHouse in Charlottesville. Website: www.sharonharrigan.net and on Twitter @harrigan_sharon.

Tracey Livesay

Tracey Livesay is the author of the bestselling Shades of Love series with Avon/HarperCollins and the In Love With A Tycoon series with Entangled Publishing. A former criminal defense attorney, she finds crafting believable happily ever afters slightly more challenging than protecting our constitutional rights, but she’s never regretted following her heart instead of her law degree. She lives in Virginia with her husband-who she met on the very first day of law school-and their three children. Website: www.traceylivesay.com. Twitter: @tlivesay.

MODERATOR

Kristen Green

Kristen Green is the author of Something Must Be Done about Prince Edward County, a New York Times bestseller and the winner of the Library of Virginia Literary Award for Nonfiction and the People’s Choice Award in 2016. A longtime newspaper reporter, Kristen is currently a fellow with the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.

What is your favorite James River Writers event?

James River Writers Annual Writing Conference

JRW’s signature event connects Central Virginia’s growing literary community with nationally recognized authors, editors, agents, bloggers, and other players in the publishing world.

This casual meet and greet, held the second Wednesday of every month at Ardent Craft Ales in Scott’s Addition, brings together writers of every genre in a casual atmosphere to connect, laugh, and revel in a well-deserved break from keyboards and screens.

Master Classes, where skilled publishing professionals share their knowledge and experience with a small group of writers, are offered at different times and on various topics throughout the year.

In partnership with the Poe Museum, we recreate the grand tradition of the literary salon, an intimate setting to meet and fraternize with local authors and artists, as they in turn guide you in your own writing practice. Literary Salons are held at the Patrick Henry Pub in historic Church Hill, in February, April, June, August, and November, and are free and open to the public.

Educational and interactive, The Writing Show brings you the art and business of writing from the professionals. It’s inspiring. It’s fun. And it’s only happening live in Richmond.

Writers Farmhouse welcomes members of JRW and other writing enthusiasts to the Midlothian Urban Farmhouse Market & Café every Thursday evening. Bring your laptop or other writing paraphernalia, hang out, get a cup of coffee, get some words written, set your writing goals for the week, and, when needed, find a sympathetic ear.

What is James River Writers all about?

James River Writers builds community by connecting and inspiring writers and readers in central Virginia. We invite you to join our mission by becoming a member or a donor today.