With our fifth annual banquet coming up on October 10, we decided
to reminisce about past IWC banquets.
But first, a gentle reminder. Do you have your tickets yet?
You will hear a great guest speaker—Indiana Poet Laureate Karen Kovacik—as well
as networking with other writers and having the opportunity to sell or purchase
books. Tickets are $27 for members and $30 for non-members through September 30th
and $30 for members and $35 for non-members as of October 1st. Book
table sales space is available for $10.
RSVP to indianawritersconsortium@gmail.com
and send your check to Jackie Huppenthal, Treasurer IWC, 13374 W. 101st
Ave., Dyer, Indiana 46311.
The banquet is well worth your time and money. If you have
any doubts, just read these comments from people who attended in the past.
2009
Reminiscence by Janine Harrison, who was Vice President of IWC in 2009
As the first to arrive at our Strongbow Inn banquet room, not
knowing what to expect and very much wanting our first annual networking dinner
for writers to go well, I became a whirling dervish completing setup. After
enthusiastic socializing and a succulent dinner, we heard from two preliminary
speakers followed by the keynote speaker, Kate Collins, author of the
commercially successful Flower Shop Mystery Series. Collins discussed promoting
oneself as a writer, including through the use of a professional website and
social media, which, in 2009, was not a well-tread topic as it is today. Shortly
after she began speaking, a hush befell the room except for the opening and
shutting of purses and rustling of jackets as writers frantically searched for
pens and flipped over programs. Collins proceeded to give enumerable specific
suggestions for self-promotion and the reasoning behind them, which was helpful
information that extended beyond creative genre and fulfilled the needs of all writers in the room. No one left the
event without having gained knowledge and, hopefully, a sense of fellowship. I
drove all the way home smiling—thrilled that the IWC had begun to realize its
mission of building and inspiring Indiana’s community of creative writers.
2010
The 2010 banquet produced two reminiscences with different
emphases. The first concentrates on the content of the panel presentation,
while the second is an update on the success of our wonderful panelists.
Reminiscence by Gordon
Stamper, Jr.
My favorite IWC Fall Banquet was in 2010, and not just
because I was in the open mic that concluded the evening. The theme was “The
Road to Publication,” and the author panel had a wide range of experiences to
share that were valuable and encouraging for the writer audience.
Kate Collins shared her roundabout career path to the
continuing Flower Shop mystery series. The enterprising Katherine Flotz
described her promotional experiences, from independent bookstores to academic
readings, for A Pebble in My Shoe. Peggy
Archer had useful advice for children’s book authors. Michael Poore’s path to
publication was told with his usual humor and insight. Cynthia Echterling
shared e-publisher and self-publication anecdotes and promotional practices for
her work. And Kathryn Page Camp was an exceedingly capable moderator.
All of this was combined with delicious Strongbow Inn food
and fellowship (it went beyond just networking) with talented and like-minded
writers from Northwest Indiana. And my wife read an eerie short story that
freaked people out in the best way at the open mic. Now that’s a great evening.
Reminiscence by
Cynthia Echterling, www.welikehumans.com
At the 2010 banquet, the program featured a panel discussion
on “The Road to Publication” with published authors Peggy Archer, Kate Collins,
Cynthia Echterling, Katherine Flotz, and Mike Poore with Kathryn Page Camp
moderating. Since then, our NY time best-selling authors have been busy. Kate
has published an impressive six additional books including romance and her Flower
Shop Mystery Series. Peggy Archer’s fourth children’s book, Name That Dog, came out that year. She
has moved out of the state but is still active in IWC as well as the Society of
Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and the Author’s Guild. While living
in Indiana, Peggy was Assistant Regional Advisor for Indiana SCBWI.
Michael Poore’s Up
Jumps the Devil came out and is doing Hellishly Well. He is currently
writing a second delightfully twisted book involving reincarnation. Cynthia
Echterling has had two additional books in the Help Wanted Human series
published and has self-published two more books. Katherine Flotz continues to
have success marketing her memoir. Kathryn Page Camp has added to her
publishing credits by self-publishing her very beneficial legal guide for
authors, Writers in Wonderland.
During the panel, there was much interest in those new
e-books, and we have seen tremendous growth in the sale of e-book readers,
tablets and books themselves, presenting new challenges and opportunities for
our authors.
2011
Reminiscence by Kathryn Page Camp
As someone who has attended every IWC banquet, I can’t pick
a favorite. But 2011 is memorable as the first one held at Avalon Manor in
Merrillville. It was also my first banquet while president of IWC. I spent the
majority of my time greeting attendees and making sure everyone felt welcome,
which left my book table unattended most of the evening. Still, I don’t regret that.
It isn’t about book sales (although they don’t hurt), and every IWC banquet has
proven profitable in less tangible ways. For me, networking and learning new
information are the best part of the annual banquet. Of course, I’m always
ready for good food, too. In 2011, the speakers from Dogwood Publishing and the
open mic rounded out a rewarding evening.
2012
As a newcomer at last year’s IWC Annual Banquet, I was
expecting formalities, and possibly some awkwardness, but was pleased by the
camaraderie among members. I had not yet grasped my own role in the larger
community of writers throughout Indiana. Witnessing interactions between
members made me think I was missing out on a support system, an essential for a
writer’s sanity. Guest speaker Michael Martone also tapped into the role of
community by making his address interactive and relying on the audience for
that which he could not accomplish on his own: keeping time. Working together
to establish connections (Martone gave his phone number), share information (we
texted questions and answers), and involve the community through teaching and
support is what IWC offers to our growing community of writers.
So come join us on October 10 for the fifth annual banquet.
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