Speaking

If any of the below workshops, courses and presentations match your organization or group needs, contact me to discuss event objectives and timeline.

For over ten years, I have met with creative writing groups across the country and internationally,  teaching, keynoting and delivering intensive small-group, weekend and one-day master classes.

My motivational curriculum is suitable for both large groups and more hands-on, personal instruction. I present to genre, cross-genre, non-fiction and college-level audiences and students. Courses can be customized to your individual instructional needs, focusing primarily on the areas of writing craft, career, publishing industry and writer’s life. All of my editing, coaching and speaking materials can all be modified or expanded to meet your beginner, intermediate or experienced needs.

Some Quick Info

I am a full-time, #1 best-selling, award-winning author of 28 romance, women’s fiction, paranormal and sci-fi/fantasy novels, and I am currently working on spec to produce my first general/literary fiction title. I have published with some of the top traditional publishing houses and editors in the business (Harlequin, Silhouette, Harper Collins, Montlake (aPub) and Dorchester). I have also independently published my own titles, offering me insight into the world and work of both indie and today’s hybrid authors.

Prior to shifting my focus to creative fiction, and in addition to my 10+ years of hands-on experience as a freelance fiction editor,  I worked as a Senior Technical Writer and Technical Trainer in Corporate IT. I was editorially responsible for the a team of writers, as well as the creation of 500 to 800+ page technical manuals. I am an honors graduate from Georgia Tech, a member of Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Honor Roll and have an active social media presence where I interact daily with community of published and unpublished authors eager to support one another as we improve our craft.

Curriculum

Instructional and motivational material can be presented as 60 minute workshops, as well as expanded and combined with other material to offer 90 minute, two-hour, half-day, full-day, and weekend master class curriculum.

Click a workshop or presentation for a high-level overview (in PDF format).
More detailed outlines and handouts are available. For additional information, please contact me directly.

Craft Workshops

Planning Through Character: Meet Your Characters First
Draft Writing: Improvisation
Revision: Learn to Rewrite
Editing for the Self-Published (Indie) Author
Do You Sculpt or Do You Carve? The Drafting Paradigm that Works for EVERYONE
Become Intimate with Your Story: Create in honest, exciting and successful ways

Motivational Keynotes

Become Intimate with Your Story: Create in honest, exciting and successful ways
Gaming the System: Success in publishing means playing the game in front of you
OHIO: Conquer the anxiety and chaos of your publishing business
So Much of Life is Waiting

Industry Presentations

Speak Up! Communication Skills That Can Make or Break Your Career
Talk to Yourself: Recognizing and Maintaining Career-Making Boundaries
OHIO: Conquer the anxiety and chaos of your publishing business
Turn Your Proposal into an I Do
Promotion Zen
Mass Market Goes Digital

Writer’s Life Materials

OHIO: Conquer the anxiety and chaos of your publishing business
Gaming the System: Success in publishing means playing the game in front of you
The Secret to Stumbling Across Your Plot and Character
Do You Sculp or Do You Carve? The Drafting Paradigm that Works for EVERYONE

Master Class Programs
(intensive, hands-on half-day, full-day, and multi-day courses; combinations of available curriculum)

Character Planning & Drafting (Planning & Improvising story)
Drafting & Revision (Improvising& Rewriting story)
Character Planning & Revision
Build Your Book in a Weekend (Planning, Improvising & Rewriting story)
Communication Skills ( communication skills & boundary instruction)

NOTE: Other workshop combinations available for master class programming, upon request.

Experience

Below is a partial summary of organizations and events for which I’ve been invited  to speak, present and teach.

Non-Genre Events (Presentations and Keynotes)

University of Georgia
Surrey International Writer’s Conference (Canada)
Pacific Northwest Writer’s Conference (Seattle)
Clemson University (South Carolina)
Atlanta Writer’s Club
Decatur Book Festival (Atlanta)
Liberty State’s Writers Conference (New Jersey)
DFW Writers Conference (Texas)
Scribblers’ Retreat Writer’s Conference (South Carolina)
Great American Bargain Book Show (Atlanta)

Half-Day, One-Day and Weekend Master Class Courses

Greater Seattle Romance Writers (Seattle)
Georgia Romance Writers
Low Country Romance Writers (South Caroline)
Liberty States Writer’s Group (New Jersey)
Valley Forge Romance Writer’s (Pennsylvania)
Ancient City Romance Writes (Florida)
Carolina Romance Writers (North Carolina)
Virginia Romance Writes
Space Coast Authors of Romance (Florida)
Central Ohio Fiction Writers
Music City Romance Writers (Tennessee)
Central Florida Romance Writers
Heart of Carolina Romance Writers (North Carolina)
Washington Romance Writers (DC)
American Christian Fiction Writers (Atlanta)
Wisconsin Romance Writers

Genre Conferences (Workshops)

Romance Writers of America National Conference
Emerald City Writer’s Conference (Seattle)
Romantic Times Conference
Thrillerfest  (International Thriller Writers)
Dragon Con (Sci-fi/Fantasy)
Moonlight and Magnolia’s Conference (Georgia)
New Jersey Writer’s Conference
Right Touch Conference (Wisconsin)
New England Romance Writer’s Conference
Central Florida Romance Writers Conference
Maryland Romance Writers
STAR Conference (Florida)

Fees

Speaking and training fees are negotiated on a per-group basis and confirmed by contract.

I work closely with event and group coordinators to design presentation or master class material that best fit audience skill level, as well as the event budget.

For half-day, full-day, and weekend master class instruction, lodging and travel expenses must be covered in addition to speaker compensation.

I book events 12 to 18 months out. Please contact me as soon as possible about your speaking needs.