From now on, SOLA’s meetings will begin at 11:00 am due to a prior writing event called “Saturday Writers’ Clinic,” which is scheduled for 9:15 am every third Saturday at the East Bank Regional Library. SOLA members are encouraged to attend.
October 19th Speaker: Traci Andrighetti
From Brainstorm to Book
Traci Andrighetti will teach you how to create a book project template to organize and track your manuscripts from inception to publication—and beyond.
Bio:
Traci Andrighetti is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Franki Amato Mysteries and the Danger Cove Hair Salon Mysteries. In her previous life, she was an award-winning literary translator and a Lecturer of Italian at the University of Texas in Austin, where she earned a PhD in Applied Linguistics. But then she got wise and ditched that academic stuff for a life of crime—writing, that is. Her latest capers are teaching mystery for Savvy Authors and taking authors on writing retreats to Italy with LemonLit.
September 21st Program
Traditional Publishing: It’s Alive and Well: Is It for You?
Panel presented by Pamela Ahearn, C.S. Harris, and Farrah Rochon
Pamela Ahearn
Literary Agent Pamela Ahearn worked at Bantam Books, Dell Books and Richard Curtis Agency before moving to New Orleans, where she was with Southern Writers Agency for eight years. In l992, she founded The Ahearn Agency, Inc., which currently represents between 30-35 authors working in romance and suspense. She has represented several New York Times, USA-Today and Walden’s Bestselling authors as well as RITA, Anthony and Agatha Award winners/nominees.
C. S. Harris
C.S. Harris is the USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author of more than two dozen novels including the Sebastian St. Cyr historical mystery series, the C.S. Graham thriller series co-written with retired intelligence officer Steve Harris, and seven historical romances written under her own name, Candice Proctor. A two-time RITA® Award finalist, her books have been translated into over twenty languages.
A former academic with a PhD in European history, Candice loves to travel and has spent much of her life abroad, living in Spain, Greece, England, France, Jordan, and Australia. She now makes her home in New Orleans.
Farrah Rochon
USA Today Bestselling author Farrah Rochon hails from a small town just west of New Orleans. She has garnered much acclaim for her Holmes Brothers, New York Sabers, Bayou Dreams and Moments in Maplesville series. The two-time RITA® Award finalist has also been nominated for an RT BOOKReviews Reviewers Choice Award, and in 2015 received the Emma Award for Author of the Year.
When she is not writing in her favorite coffee shop, Farrah spends most of her time reading, cooking, traveling the world, visiting Walt Disney World, and catching her favorite Broadway shows.
Membership Participation Needed for September Meeting
At the next meeting, SOLA will be hosting a Q & A panel on traditional publishing. In order for the panel to prepare and deliver the most benefit, SOLA is requesting that members submit their questions about traditional publishing ahead of time. Any and all questions are encouraged!
Please send your questions to Vicky McHenry at vicky.mchenry@gmail.com.
August 17th Speaker: R. J. Lee
Navigating Today’s New York Publishing Market
R. J. Lee will discuss the current publishing market, what agents and editors are looking for, how to attract an agent, and how to work with editors.
Bio:
R. J. Lee follows in the mystery writing footsteps of his father, R. Keene Lee, who wrote fighter pilot and detective stories for Fiction House, New York publishers of WINGS and other pulp fiction periodicals in the late ’40’s and early ’50’s. Lee was born and grew up in the Mississippi River port of Natchez but also spent thirty years living in the Crescent City of New Orleans. A graduate of the University of the South (Sewanee), where he studied creative writing under ‘Sewanee Review’ editor, Andrew Lytle, Lee now resides in Oxford, Mississippi. He is also currently under contract to Kensington Books in New York for a the four-novel cozy ‘Bridge To Death Mystery’ series. The debut novel–‘Grand Slam Murders’–was released in January 2019 and is already in its second printing after receiving rave reviews from KIRKUS, BOOKLIST, PUBLISHERS’ WEEKLY, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEWS, MYSTERY SCENE MAGAZINE and SUSPENSE MAGAZINE. The second novel in the series–‘Playing The Devil’–will be released in January, 2020.
June 15th Speaker: Alexandrea Weis
Pitfalls and Perks to Hybrid Publishing
*Meeting will begin at 10:00 AM, and
the speaker presentation will commence at 11:00 AM.
From New Orleans and raised in the motion picture industry, Alexandrea Weis began writing at the age of eight. After finishing her Ph.D., she penned her first novel. With twenty-nine published novels to her credit, and over a dozen national writing awards, Weis continues to work tirelessly to hone her craft. The rich tapestry of her hometown ends up in many of her bestselling books where she creates vivid characters and memorable stories. Alexandrea Weis is a permitted wildlife rehabber and rescues orphaned and injured animals. She is married and lives in New Orleans.
May Meeting for Members Only
Writing Prompts & Brainstorming Activities
*Meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m.
Come join fellow SOLA members for refreshments, conversation, and fun writing exercises to get our creative juices flowing! This meeting will focus on writing prompts. Last month, we passed out Easter eggs containing a prompt. Those of you who attended, please bring your Easter egg writing prompt. For those who didn’t, we’ll pass out more this Saturday. Let’s have a little fun flexing our writers’ wings!
Cup and Chaucer will also be available for those who want to group together to do writing sprints, brainstorming, and plotting.
ALERT: SPEAKER TIME CHANGE!
The speaker event will now take place at 10:00 a.m., and the business meeting will begin afterwards at 11:00. Please arrive on time to hear our wonderful speaker!
April 20th Speaker: Marie Breaux
What You Don’t Clear Might Bite You:
The Author’s Warranty of Right to Publish
Every publication agreement requires the author to warrant that their work does not violate the rights of any third parties. This talk will touch briefly on what rights are protected by copyrights, trademarks, and the rights of publicity/privacy (including limitations such as fair use) and then focus on clearances for book publication and marketing activities. Many, if not most, publication agreements now require the author to do the clearance work for their books and, of course, the author is responsible for any errors. All authors should understand what they are warranting in their publication agreement and what they need to do for proper clearance of their work.
Biography:
Marie practices exclusively in the area of intellectual property law – copyrights, trademarks, IP-related contracts, and select litigation. She helps businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals protect their valuable rights. She represents both authors and publishers in the highly specialized area of publication agreements.
Membership Dues Information
Dear SOLA members:
SOLA has extended the membership dues deadline until the April meeting, which is on April 20th. Due to confusion with the still non-active “pay online” option through RWA’s website, no late fee will be incurred.
The dues are $40. We ask that you pay directly to SOLA in one of the following ways:
1. By check, mailed to 9012 Camille Ct., New Orleans, LA 70123
–OR–
2. By check or cash handed to Ann Cantrell at the next SOLA meeting (March 16th)
Thanks for your patience!
