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Author Fest of the Rockies opens October 3rd

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Contributed by: Margaret Brettschneider on 9/26/2008

You won't want to miss the third annual Author Fest of the Rockies in Manitou. The Business of Art Center on Manitou Avenue will host this event October 3 and 4. It benefits the restoration and expansion needs of the historic public library.

Two full days of seminars,discussion groups and classes plus keynote speakers AVI, (whose children's story is currently serialized in the Gazette), Margaret Coel, Katherine Eastburn, and Kate Keeley will keep you busily informed and having fun.
This event is open to all, and if you like to read books, write books, or think you might like to dabble a bit in the craft and would just like to know more about writing and publishing, you will enjoy your time at the Fest.

Several local authors are volunteering their time to lead groups. You can pick and choose which sessions you wish to attend.

Some sessions sound intriguing, like "Vampires, Elves, and Witches, Oh, My!" which explores reading and writing in the paranormal vein. "Don't be a Copycat" which helps teachers and parents teach their children how to avoid plagiarism. There is a session on learning "History through Regional Literature." "Drabble" is a fast, fun way to improve writing, while "Truth and Consequences" focuses on creative non-fiction. Coel will lead a workshop on storytelling "Tell Me a Story" for all those who have people wanting to hear your stories, or for you to entertain your children or grandchildren."Setting the Stage" will help with the vagaries of place and time in a story.

"Hooking Your Reader" and "Liposuction for Your Overweight Manuscript" will help even the student or the letter writer edit out excess verbiage. "Add Life to Your Writing Through Effective Interviewing," "Talking to Unusual Things, Odes and Addresses," "The Joy of Writing Memoir (whether for your own story or to get grandma's story down before it is too late)," "The Proof is in the Pudding," and "The Role of Accuracy in Fiction," are just a few more of many seminars and craft discussion groups meeting on those two days.

There will be several "Meet the Author" sessions, as well. These are all open to interested participants.

This year, some of the keynote speakers and local authors will be fanning out into the schools on Friday to teach some of these writing skills to students, while others will remain at the Business of Art Center all day to lead participants there.
Saturday afternoon, there is an Author's Showcase when both keynote speakers and local authors will be on hand to sign their books and talk to you about writing. This is open even to those who couldn't come for the whole Author Fest. It is possible to come only one day or the other, or both. Sign up at The Business of Art Center on Manitou, or at www.authorfestoftherockies.org or janpr57@yahoo.com
The library will benefit from both your attendance and from book sales, managed by Natalie of Black Cat Bookstore.

The Library is over 100 years old, and modern codes limit its use to only a few patrons and/or children at a time. They have many wonderful programs for youth and adults, but they need more space to allow room for more patrons, and they would like the new additions to keep the historic structural details and themes to blend in with the old.

Each year this event gets bigger and better. We hope people from all the areas in town will come enjoy the seminars and help out the library at the same time.

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Margaret Brettschneider

Colorado Springs , CO

Margaret Brettschneider has posted 1 story and 0 comments since joining on 3/21/2007. Margaret Brettschneider 's average story rating is 0.

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