Get my App
Link to Me
Save the badge above and link to www://kennamckinnonauthor.com/
Most Popular Posts
-
Memorable Characters Writer's Workshop I went to my first writer's workshop last Saturday, put on by the Canadian Authors'... -
It is my pleasure to welcome author Mari Collier to my blog today. We’ll start out with a few questions. If you choose not to a...
-
Today is my son Steve Wild's 45 birthday. He died last year, September 21, 2012, of aggressive esophageal/stomach cancer which went undi...
-
A vote: SpaceHive, Space Hive, SPACEHIVE? You'll note there's a new title for my book, and I've chosen SpaceHive. Consultation w...
-
We all have to grow up, and Justin Bieber is growing up, I notice. The teen crowd is soon going to be the New Adult group, and I've been... -
Where do I go from here? Where I've been Came from the depths of obscurity and mental illness to that place called author. Ki...
-
.jpg)
Comment of the day by Eileen Schuh : Photo of Eileen FROM Memories of Mother Missing our loved ones I'm missing my Mom today... -
Though it’s a standalone sequel, Penniless Souls is the second half of a two-part journey called the Lost Compass Love Series. Follow Pen... -
Our "Name the Book" Contest ends soon. Thanks to Val, Bob, Moo, and Judi for entering and each winning a $5.00 Amazon.com gift ca...
-
This book is called The Insanity Machine because in 1978 Kenna McKinnon chatted with another inmate in the old 5C forensic psychiatr...
Featured on Buck Books
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Writers' Conference Wrap-up
Words in 3 Dimensions Weekend
Saturday, May 25, 2013
The conference started at Grant MacEwan University's downtown campus, Robbins Centre on 109 Street and 104 Avenue, with breakfast and a keynote speaker, then went on to sessions throughout the day. What a wonderful weekend!
Rain poured and wind howled, the morning was cold, and I took a cab there and back on Friday and on Saturday morning, seven dollars each way, as I live close to GMU. Saturday evening and Sunday were warmer so I walked and took a bus.
 | |
| Old boogie van by the seashore |
I got over my shyness and approached publishers, agents, editors, and other authors, but not boldly. I think I had an enthusiasm and openness that was engaging because I got good responses.
I was able to pitch my family's storybook to an interesting senior editor at Athabasca University Press (AU Press), which was a surprise to me, as I'd never thought of doing so. When I noticed she was interested in memoirs and diaries I approached her and she expressed interest.
When I got home Saturday night I sent follow-up emails to an agent and two or three publishers.
 | |
| Author busy at work |
I saw my old friend and mentor Rick Lauber there, too, pitching his book Caregivers' Guide for Canadians, and looking spiffy in a striped shirt and sandwich, lol.
I met up with a couple of friends from the Canadian Authors Association and met my publisher, Cheryl Tardif, for the first time in person. She was presenting on a panel and looks very much like her glamor portrait. I recognized her right away from her picture.
Aydan Dunnigan was there with a friend, and Jana from the CAA came over and said hello.
I floated about the Marketplace on the second floor, had fun, bought some books from On Spec, a Sci-fi/fantasy magazine, and chatted with several vendors.
I sold one copy of the Insanity Machine at the WGA table.
Sunday
What a great weekend! I didn't win the silent auction bid for CKUA promo materials including a hat and t-shirt and other great stuff, but it's all for a good cause and I think I upped the ante a bit with my bid of $20 up from the previous $14.
I was late for the Sunday sessions but slithered late into Nancy Flight's panel discussion and was able to present her with a copy of The Insanity Machine, already self-published, but she indicated to me on Saturday that Greystone Books might be interested.
 | |
| The Insanity Machine book cover |
I had lunch with three interesting authors and an editor, gave them bookmarks and business cards at their request, and discussed the Insanity Machine with an author who is also a counselor and did her Master's thesis on schizophrenia. It's a small world.
After lunch I listened to a storyteller, Corin Raymond, who also performs at The Fringe in the summertime here.
I decided not to go to the grant workshop at 2:00 o'clock. It might have been interesting but I'd had enough for the day, walked a few blocks to the buses on Jasper Avenue, and took a bus home.
This conference was probably the most worthwhile event of my literary life, wonderfully organized by The Writers' Guild of Alberta, the Editors' Association of Canada, and Get Publishing Communications Society.
The coffee, snacks, and meals were good, too. Thank you, 3 Dimensions
The conference got me out of my shell.
Thanks, Words in 3 Dimensions, for a memorable weekend.
Looking forward to the next author's conference, wherever that may be, and if it's in Edmonton, I'll be there with bells on my toes.
The next event
I'm looking forward to the
next gala affair, the Canadian Authors' Association AGM on Friday, May 31
coming up, business casual dress, they said, and I'll try to dress
accordingly.
An interview on Rogers with a CAA author
"It's a dream come true"
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)
What a profitable weekend! It sounds like you made a lot of good contacts, sold a book, found a potential publisher for one book AND one to publish BIGFOOT BOY, and enjoyed yourself besides! Good work, Kenna!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Judi, your comments are sweet and supportive, as always. Wish me luck on the books, nothing's in stone yet but life is getting better for this author.
ReplyDelete