SATURDAY BREAKOUT SESSION 1
A: THE CHEMISTRY OF READING
Nikki Logan
For: Intermediate/Advanced writers
The brain is like Google. It ranks things by referrals. The most engaging books trigger a response in multiple parts of the brain and thereby get ranked more highly by it. And books that get highly ranked become ‘must buys’. The Chemistry of Reading explores how the body reacts during the reading experience and how writers can harness that knowledge to create stories that arouse multiple parts of the readers’ brain.
This 90-minute workshop in four parts examines:
1. How the chemistry works (in digestible plain-english)
2. Why you should exploit that as a writer of commercial fiction
3. The toolkit you’ll need to do that
4. Some practical examples of the toolkit (and the theory) in action
Nikki Logan lives on the edge of a string of wetlands south of Perth with her partner and a menagerie of animals. She writes captivating, nature-based stories full of romance in descriptive natural environments for Harlequin’s Romance/Sweet imprint. She believes the danger and richness of wild places perfectly mirror the passion and risk of falling in love. Nikki has a BA (Dbl Major – Theatre Arts; Film & Television) and has worked in the advertising, film distribution, theatre and wildlife conservation industries. She’s an accomplished vocalist and public speaker and she’s ecstatic to add ‘multi-published author’ to her list of achievements.
For Nikki's Conference Spotlight on the blog, follow the link (19th March).
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B: PUTTING THE THUMBSCREWS ON YOUR THRILLER
JJ Cooper
For: All writers
Don’t miss this opportunity to enrich your thriller writing. Want to hook your readers from the first line? Need to develop more credible plotlines? JJ will show you how! He will twist the thumbscrews on participants to deliver an explosive workshop that also includes secrets behind successfully transferring body language and interviewing techniques into your writing.
All this and more from an experienced thriller writer – and ex-interrogator!
JJ Cooper has two thrillers published by Random House Australia - The Interrigator and Deadly Trust.
He has conducted book signings alongside some of the greatest thriller writers in the world at ThrillerFest in New York and has delivered masterclasses at the Bundaberg Writers Festival, for the Queensland Writers Centre; and, appeared alongside Val McDermid, Michael Robotham and Garry Disher at the Brisbane Writers Festival.
JJ spent seventeen years in the Australian Army and his expert knowledge and experiences of interrogation techniques add value to the idiosyncrasies and depth of the characters within his novels.
For JJ's Conference Spotlight on the blog, follow this link (29th February).
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THIS SESSION HAS SOLD OUT!
C: RELENTLESS CONFLICT - YOU OWE IT TO YOUR CHARACTERS
Helene Young
For: All writers
Why do some books and movies keep you perched on the edge of your seat, glued to the action? The answer is relentless conflict.
Using practical examples you’ll learn the art of layering conflict and ramping up the stakes to keep your readers holding their breath as they turn the pages desperate to see what happens next.
Bring your pens and be ready to write!
Helene Young started reading mysteries and adventure stories as a child. Her favourites were Enid Blyton novels. She has moved on from the Five Find-Outers and Dog, but hasn’t lost her love of suspense and intrigue. Twenty-two years later she’s a Captain with Australia’s largest regional airline and writes action-packed Australian romantic suspense stories.
Her first book, Wings of Fear, won the prestigious 2011 R*BY award, and Favourite Romantic Suspense Novel, 2010. 'Shattered Sky', the second book in her Border Watch Series, won Favourite Romantic Suspense Novel, 2011.
Her third book, Burning Lies, will be released in July, 2012.
For Helene's Conference Spotlight on the blog, please follow the link (16th April).
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D: PENGUIN PANEL: DIAMONDS IN THE DUST: RURAL ROMANCE
featuring Rachel Treasure, Belinda Byrne (Penguin Editor), Cathrine Hein, Fiona Palmer, and Barbara Hannay
For: All writers
A lively discussion on the popularity of rural romance with a panel of Penguin’s finest.
Author Rachael Treasure currently lives in southern rural Tasmania with her two young children, Rosie and Charlie.
Rachael is passionate about encouraging non-readers to read, inspiring farmers to consider regenerative agricultural practices and animal handlers to better understand their dogs and livestock.
She is a Rural Business Administration graduate of Orange Agricultural College and has a Bachelor of Arts (Communication) degree from Charles Sturt University, Bathurst NSW.In between studying she has worked as a jillaroo, rural journalist, ABC radio broadcaster, professional woolclasser, part-time vet nurse, family farm manager, drover and stock camp cook.
(photo by Helen Quinn)
Her first novel Jillaroo, published in 2002, has grown to become one of Australia's iconic works of fiction inspiring other country women to contribute to the genre of contemporary rural literature. Her other best selling works include, The Stockman, based on her experience with working dog education, The Rouseabout, inspired by her wild times at Australia's Bachelor and Spinster (B&S) Balls and The Cattleman's Daughter, which grew from her experience in the Victorian High Country riding horses and droving cattle.
Her screenplay Albert's Chook Tractor, was made into a half hour drama for SBS Independent Television and was filmed in Tasmania's Fingal Valley and starred John Jarrett.
Belinda Byrne has worked in book publishing all her life - she can’t imagine another job as rewarding as helping talented authors to build their writing careers and find the widest possible audience for their work. Belinda has worked at Penguin Australia for ten years, specialising in editing commercial fiction. She now has the privilege and the pleasure of publishing a strong and growing list of terrific Australian authors – including Cathryn Hein, Wendy James, June Loves, Mandy Magro, Anne McCullagh Rennie, Jennifer Scoullar, Kathryn Ledson and Barbara Hannay - for Penguin’s Michael Joseph imprint.
Cathryn Hein was born in South Australia’s rural south-east. With three generations of jockeysin the family it was little wonder she grew up horse mad, finally obtaining her first horse at age 10. So began years of pony club, eventing, dressage and showjumping until university beckoned.
Armed with a shiny Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) from Roseworthy College she moved to Melbourne and later Newcastle, working in the agricultural and turf seeds industry. Her partner’s posting to France took Cathryn overseas for three years in Provence where she finally gave in to her life-long desire to write. Her short fiction has been recognised in numerous contests, and published in Woman’s Day.
Now living in Melbourne, Cathryn writes full-time. She is the author ofPromises and Heart of the Valley.
Fiona Palmer lives in the tiny rural town of Pingaring in south-east Western Australia.
She discovered Danielle Steele at the age of eleven, and now writes her own brand of bestselling rural romance. She received an Australian Society of Authors mentorship for her first novel, The Family Farm. Fiona is the author of Heart of Gold and The Road Home. She has extensive farming experience, does the local mail run, and was a speedway-racing driver for seven years.
She currently works at the local shop in between writing her next book and looking after her two small children.
Barbara Hannay is a mother, wife, blogger, country girl and award-winning romance writer published in over twenty five languages worldwide by Mills & Boon. Her first book with Penguin is Zoe’s Muster - a rollicking contemporary rural romance set against the backdrop of evocative Far North Queensland.
Barbara wrote her first short story at the age of eight and since then, a love of both city and country lifestyles has been a continuing theme in Barbara's books - and in her life. Barbara and her husband live on a misty hillside in Far North Queensland's Atherton Tableland and when she is not lost in her writing, she's enjoying farmers' markets, gardening clubs and writing groups, or preparing for visits from family and friends. Barbara records her country life in her blog Barbwired. Zoe’s Muster is her 40th book, but her first single title novel.
For the Conference Spotlight on this session, please follow the link (14th March).
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