James River Writers

2024 FEBRUARY ONLINE WRITING SHOW | Writing for Younger Audiences

What’s it like writing for younger readers? When it’s more important than ever to empower young readers, how do you make sure you’re writing the most authentic and engaging work possible? What faux pas are most common when writing about the ever-evolving social scene for young people? Three superstar authors will share their ideas for connecting with audiences.

Speakers: Dr. Kelly Ann Jacobson, Rhonda Roumani, and Julian Winters

Moderator:  Alethea McCollin

Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern Time

Location: ONLINE, via Zoom

Cost: $12 Members | $17 Non-members

Registration is required.

The Writing Show includes a social time from 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm. This portion of the evening is optional. If you choose to only attend the panel discussion, please sign in to Zoom by 6:25 pm to keep from interrupting the panel discussion once it begins at 6:30pm.

This program is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

 

SPEAKERS

Dr. Kelly Ann Jacobson is the author of the queer young adult retelling Tink and Wendy, which won the Foreword Reviews Gold Medal for YA, as well many other books. Her short pieces have been published in Boulevard, Southern Humanities Review, Daily Science Fiction, and many other literary magazines. She is an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Lynchburg, and she also teaches “Completing the Novel” for Johns Hopkins University’s online MA program.

WEBSITE  | FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM

 

 


Rhonda Roumani is a Syrian American journalist who has covered the Arab world and Muslim issues for more than two decades. She is the author of the Middle Grade novel Tagging Freedom (Union Square); the picture book Insha’Allah, No, Maybe So (Holiday House; May 14, 2024) and a non-fiction picture book, Umm Kulthum: Star of the East (Interlink, Fall 2024.) She lives in New Haven, Connecticut with her family.

WEBSITE  FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER  |  INSTAGRAM

 

 


Julian Winters is the author of the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold Award-winning Running With Lions; the Georgia Peach Award nominated Right Where I Left You; Junior Library Guild Selections How to Be Remy Cameron, The Summer of Everything, and As You Walk On By; and the upcoming Prince of the Palisades. A self-proclaimed comic book geek, Julian currently lives outside of Atlanta where he can be found watching the only two sports he can follow—volleyball and soccer.

TWITTER  |  INSTAGRAM

 

 

 


MODERATOR

Alethea McCollin is a playwright, director, actor, producer, and founder of Orange Stilettos Productions. She has written over twenty plays, including three musicals, as well as other works of fiction, and the children’s book The Cloud Catcher. Her plays include The Stilettos Monologues, Styx and Gunz, Re-naming Shaim and Pastor Willie. She is currently producing and starring in her original play – The Stilettos Monologues. Alethea serves on the board of James River Writers, is a member of the Dramatists Guild and the Virginia Screenwriters Forum, and is an unabashed shoe addict. She enjoys gardening and baking.

WEBSITE  | FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM

 

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