2023 Speakers and Meeting Information
Disclaimer: We thrive to provide a variety of speakers to engage and encourage our members no matter where they are in their writing journey. In accordance with the mission and purpose of Oklahoma City Writers, Inc., all our events are uncensored. Neither Oklahoma City Writers, Inc. nor the host venue is responsible for any of the words that spill from the pages or mouths of the artists who share their talent and thoughts with us.
December 2023
Speaker: TBD
Speaker: TBD
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November 2023
Contest Chair Susan Kite presents: The winners of our 2023 contest! Congratulations to everyone! For a list of the winners, go to our CONTEST WINNERS page |
October 2023
Jeff Provine: Haunted Oklahoma
Jeff Provine will share his background with folklore, research techniques, and of course a few ghost stories. He serves as a Professor of English at Oklahoma City Community College. In addition to his teaching, he leads ghost tours in Oklahoma City and Norman, creates comics with Okie Comics, and does plenty of writing. His works include nonfiction such as Haunted Oklahoma City and Secret Oklahoma City, and the speculative fiction series, the Celestial Voyages
Jeff Provine: Haunted Oklahoma
Jeff Provine will share his background with folklore, research techniques, and of course a few ghost stories. He serves as a Professor of English at Oklahoma City Community College. In addition to his teaching, he leads ghost tours in Oklahoma City and Norman, creates comics with Okie Comics, and does plenty of writing. His works include nonfiction such as Haunted Oklahoma City and Secret Oklahoma City, and the speculative fiction series, the Celestial Voyages
September 2023
Marla Jones: Publishing
As the Senior Editor at Doodle and Peck Publishing Marla Jones pairs great writers with awesome illustrators in order to create fun, family-friendly books. She’s a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the Oklahoma Writers Federation Incorporated, and the Independent Book Publishers Association. Marla Jones entered the art world at a mature age.
She combined past experiences teaching first grade with current experience illustrating and writing picture books to create a publishing company that brings together the work of talented authors and illustrators.
Marla Jones: Publishing
As the Senior Editor at Doodle and Peck Publishing Marla Jones pairs great writers with awesome illustrators in order to create fun, family-friendly books. She’s a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the Oklahoma Writers Federation Incorporated, and the Independent Book Publishers Association. Marla Jones entered the art world at a mature age.
She combined past experiences teaching first grade with current experience illustrating and writing picture books to create a publishing company that brings together the work of talented authors and illustrators.
August 2023
Alicia Dean: Increase your productivity and form a daily writing habit
Ally Robertson has been an editor with The Wild Rose Press since they opened in 2006. She is also a writing coach, freelance editor, and author, under the name Alicia Dean, with more than twenty-five published titles. She loves meeting authors, discovering fabulous new stories and helping authors realize their dreams. This workshop will provide tools and tips on writing faster and writing daily, even if it’s only for five minutes, in order to produce words and stay connected to your story. During the workshop, attendees will do a five-minute writing sprint and gauge how many words they can produce
Alicia Dean: Increase your productivity and form a daily writing habit
Ally Robertson has been an editor with The Wild Rose Press since they opened in 2006. She is also a writing coach, freelance editor, and author, under the name Alicia Dean, with more than twenty-five published titles. She loves meeting authors, discovering fabulous new stories and helping authors realize their dreams. This workshop will provide tools and tips on writing faster and writing daily, even if it’s only for five minutes, in order to produce words and stay connected to your story. During the workshop, attendees will do a five-minute writing sprint and gauge how many words they can produce
July 2023
Stacey Mauney: Building Blocks of Writing
Stacy is a professional freelance editor, the author of a series of devotionals, and she has published the first in her series of cozy mysteries, Death by Dice, which is soon to be followed by Stalked by Dice. She is a frequent guest speaker and teacher for local writing groups. She is a member of local writing groups that include OCWI, Oklahoma Romance Writers Guild, and Tornado Alley Sisters in Crime; and is a past president of the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation Inc. She described the basic building blocks of genre, plot conflict, character, setting and theme, and provided exercises in creating these.
Stacey Mauney: Building Blocks of Writing
Stacy is a professional freelance editor, the author of a series of devotionals, and she has published the first in her series of cozy mysteries, Death by Dice, which is soon to be followed by Stalked by Dice. She is a frequent guest speaker and teacher for local writing groups. She is a member of local writing groups that include OCWI, Oklahoma Romance Writers Guild, and Tornado Alley Sisters in Crime; and is a past president of the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation Inc. She described the basic building blocks of genre, plot conflict, character, setting and theme, and provided exercises in creating these.
June 2013
William Bernhardt: Writing a Series
William Bernhardt is the author of over sixty books, including the bestselling Ben Kincaid series, two other legal thriller series, three historical novels and three books of poetry. He is also the president/owner of Bernhardt Books, which publishes fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Mr. Bernhardt discussed why a series character is a good way to break into the writing business. Having a series provides a better chance for have an audience that will follow you which makes it easier for publishing houses to promote your book. He provided details and examples on his 10 Simple Steps for a series character.
June 2013
William Bernhardt: Writing a Series
William Bernhardt is the author of over sixty books, including the bestselling Ben Kincaid series, two other legal thriller series, three historical novels and three books of poetry. He is also the president/owner of Bernhardt Books, which publishes fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Mr. Bernhardt discussed why a series character is a good way to break into the writing business. Having a series provides a better chance for have an audience that will follow you which makes it easier for publishing houses to promote your book. He provided details and examples on his 10 Simple Steps for a series character.
May 2023
Kathryn White (Fogleman): How Do Your Characters Deal With Trauma?
Kathryn White, who writes under Kathryn Fogleman has published two fantasy books about dragons. She described how character portray defense mechanisms to protect themselves from trauma while they are not even aware of it. Although others might think the character is not well, the character is oblivious of their behavior. “When you write a character with trauma do your homework which can include speaking to people who have experienced the same trauma as your character. Trauma does not have to be a major occurrence for the character. Small or continuous traumas can have the same outcome as a single horrible event.”
Kathryn White (Fogleman): How Do Your Characters Deal With Trauma?
Kathryn White, who writes under Kathryn Fogleman has published two fantasy books about dragons. She described how character portray defense mechanisms to protect themselves from trauma while they are not even aware of it. Although others might think the character is not well, the character is oblivious of their behavior. “When you write a character with trauma do your homework which can include speaking to people who have experienced the same trauma as your character. Trauma does not have to be a major occurrence for the character. Small or continuous traumas can have the same outcome as a single horrible event.”
April 2023
Rene Gutteridge: Interviewing Your Character
Ms. Gutteridge has an impressive resume that includes 24 multi-genre novels, one that was turned into a Hallmark movie,
Love’s Complicated. She also has written 15 screen plays and has a movie out on Amazon Prime called Family Camp she
co-wrote with Brian Cates. Ms. Gutteridge is the head writer of the Skit Guys Studios.
Novelists are missing out on the “inner journey” of their characters. They are “directing” their character to move from this place
or that, but there is no substance why they are going there. Write more how they see the world and less about what they’re
doing and what they look like. Use immersive writing – deep point of view.
Rene Gutteridge: Interviewing Your Character
Ms. Gutteridge has an impressive resume that includes 24 multi-genre novels, one that was turned into a Hallmark movie,
Love’s Complicated. She also has written 15 screen plays and has a movie out on Amazon Prime called Family Camp she
co-wrote with Brian Cates. Ms. Gutteridge is the head writer of the Skit Guys Studios.
Novelists are missing out on the “inner journey” of their characters. They are “directing” their character to move from this place
or that, but there is no substance why they are going there. Write more how they see the world and less about what they’re
doing and what they look like. Use immersive writing – deep point of view.
March 2023
Lisbeth L. McCarty: Let's Talk Poetry
Lisbeth L. McCarty has a B.A. in Journalism and a J.D. in Law, from the University of Oklahoma. She has been the editor of various newsletters throughout the years, including Daycare Darlings, Sooner Toastmasters, and “Mensokie” (the newsletter of Central Oklahoma Mensa). Lisbeth is featured, along with four other Oklahoma authors, in an article titled “Cozy Up With a Good Book” in Caregiver magazine. Her feature “Legal History: The Insanity Defense” is published in the March issue of Q&A, the newsletter of the Criminal Law Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association. In February 2023, Lisbeth was the featured poet in the Poets Roundtable of Arkansas newsletter News ‘N’ Notes.
Lisbeth L. McCarty: Let's Talk Poetry
Lisbeth L. McCarty has a B.A. in Journalism and a J.D. in Law, from the University of Oklahoma. She has been the editor of various newsletters throughout the years, including Daycare Darlings, Sooner Toastmasters, and “Mensokie” (the newsletter of Central Oklahoma Mensa). Lisbeth is featured, along with four other Oklahoma authors, in an article titled “Cozy Up With a Good Book” in Caregiver magazine. Her feature “Legal History: The Insanity Defense” is published in the March issue of Q&A, the newsletter of the Criminal Law Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association. In February 2023, Lisbeth was the featured poet in the Poets Roundtable of Arkansas newsletter News ‘N’ Notes.
February 2023
Nicholas Lyon: Out of the Box--What to Expect at the 2023 Conference
Nicholas Lyon is the author of the historical novel The Baptist Bootlegger and the current president of the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. For his day job, he teaches English to high school students who would rather be on TikTok. He is also a woodturner and musician. He lives with his wife and two kids in Guthrie, OK.
Nicholas Lyon: Out of the Box--What to Expect at the 2023 Conference
Nicholas Lyon is the author of the historical novel The Baptist Bootlegger and the current president of the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. For his day job, he teaches English to high school students who would rather be on TikTok. He is also a woodturner and musician. He lives with his wife and two kids in Guthrie, OK.
January 2023
Betsey Kulakowki: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Author Betsey Kulakowski has been writing and telling stories since she was a young child. Perhaps it was inevitable that grappling with words and language became a calling—and she is loving every moment. Betsey's first writing gig was with KEBC Radio in Oklahoma City where she conducted interviews and wrote reviews for Country Music's rising stars. She went on to write in professional safety and health journals and trade magazines. All the while, she was honing her craft, writing several genres of fiction and eventually going on to pen numerous manuscripts. The Veritas Codex Series is currently taking the paranormal thriller genre by storm. Betsey feels privileged to share her work with a large and welcoming audience.
Betsey Kulakowki: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Author Betsey Kulakowski has been writing and telling stories since she was a young child. Perhaps it was inevitable that grappling with words and language became a calling—and she is loving every moment. Betsey's first writing gig was with KEBC Radio in Oklahoma City where she conducted interviews and wrote reviews for Country Music's rising stars. She went on to write in professional safety and health journals and trade magazines. All the while, she was honing her craft, writing several genres of fiction and eventually going on to pen numerous manuscripts. The Veritas Codex Series is currently taking the paranormal thriller genre by storm. Betsey feels privileged to share her work with a large and welcoming audience.
2022 Speakers and Meeting Information
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December 2022
William Bernhardt: Audio Book Bootcamp Bernhardt will discuss, first, why you need an audiobook and, second, the best way to get one. He will cover various means for creating an audiobook, distributing an audiobook, tips on narrating audiobooks, and related audio productions (like podcasts and vlogs) to expand the reach of your book. William Bernhardt is the author of over sixty books, including the Daniel Pike legal thriller series His previous works include the bestselling Ben Kincaid series, the historical novels Challengers of the Dust and Nemesis, three books of poetry, and the Red Sneaker books on fiction writing. In addition, Bernhardt founded the Red Sneaker Writers Center to mentor aspiring writers. The Center hosts an annual writers conference (WriterCon), An annual cruise (WriterCon at Sea), small-group writing retreats, plus a bi-weekly e-newsletter and podcast. November 2022 Contest Chair Dee Dee Chumley presents: The winners of our 2022 contest! Congratulations to everyone! For a list of the winners, go to our CONTEST WINNERS page October 2022 Terry Godfrey: Selling Books at Events From indoor to outdoor events, presentation is everything. Are you friendly or a grouch? Does your display invite or turn away buyers? Come learn about how to have successful sales at an event. Bring your thinking hats! We will break into groups to solve common situational scenarios. Terry Godfrey was born west of Binger, Oklahoma, on a peanut farm. He graduated from Binger High School, attended OSU and SWOSU before working for Caddo Electric Cooperative, and worked at Caddo Electric for over forty-two years till retirement. Godfrey is a self-published author on Amazon and Kindle eBooks. Titles include: A Tough Row to Hoe, Bitsy’s First Deer Season, The Day the Earth Stopped, To Run with the Big Dogs, Murder at Medicine Creek, Legend of Indian Head Rock, and Skyfish. September 2022 Shelley Pagach: Critic Groups Past president of OKC Writers and OWFI, Shelley Pagach has been a part of the critique group, Gypsy Writers, for 10 years. This group has produced several award winners and published authors, both indie and traditional. Shelley Pagach is the current past president of OWFI, and also the former past president (2016-2017) of our Oklahoma City Writers Inc. affiliate. She has won several awards in both organizations and is currently working on her first children's book, while still learning the how-to's of writing romance. Working in the legal field for more than 30 years, Shelley has always appreciated the three simple rules passed down from one of her first mentors: Proofread, proofread, proofread! Spell check, spell check, spell check! Save, save, save! Coupled with directions received at the end of countless dictation tapes–just make it sound good– she has built a solid foundation to fulfill her dream of writing novels. August 2022 Metro Library LitFest 5th annual LitFest for Writers of all ages, skill levels, mediums and genres were welcomed. Enjoyed the opportunity to learn from industry professionals on a variety of topics ranging from editing, pitching, and publishing. All designed to help you take writing to the next level. July 2022 Dee Chumley: What Your English Teacher Was Saying When You Weren't Listening Having trouble whittling down that 150,000-word manuscript? Fitting all the information you want into one sentence? Saying what you want to say without rambling? Maybe this review of some grammar basics will help you create precise, concise, and compelling writing. In 2008, Dee Dee Chumley retired from teaching high school English and “re-fired” to pursue her passion for creative writing. Since then, she has won numerous awards for her short stories, essays, poems, and novels. In 2012, Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. named her YA novel Beyond the Farthest Star Best Juvenile Fiction, and in 2017, she was a Finalist in Southern Writers Magazine short story competition. In 2021, OCWI awarded her the Creme de la Creme Award for her essay My Life in Shoes. Her inspirational women’s fiction novel Some Form of Grace was published in November 2017. In her latest writing effort, she collaborated with her grandson to write Ron Finds His Courage, a children’s chapter book inspired by his pet bearded dragon. www.deedeechumley.com June 2022 Kat Lewis: How to Write Diverse Characters Kat Lewis is an up-and-coming thriller author and recently launched her career with her electrifying debut novel, Rogue Defender. She is a passionate advocate for those escaping the horrors of human trafficking and uses her writing an avenue to spread awareness. Kat Lewis has always had a penchant for pulse-pounding adventures and sassy characters, all of the things she fulfills in her debut thriller novel Rogue Defender. Born and raised in Oklahoma with her six siblings, Kat has worked in a variety of interesting industries, from politics to wedding planning. She believes that people level up the fastest when in community with movers and shakers which is why she's a member of Oklahoma Christian Fiction Writers (OCFW) and served as the 2020 President. https://www.katlewisauthor.com May 2022 Maurice Johnson: Staying Motivated as You Write Maurice Johnson started his career as a professional jazz guitarist in 1985, shortly after forming the Oklahoma City-based, “After Five” band. Between 1996 and 2003 Maurice authored three nationally published music business books with Mel Bay Publishing, Mix Books and Artist Pro Press. He later self-published over 10 more books and wrote articles for Realtor Magazine and Musician Magazine. During this time, he developed and marketed Gigorama, a booking software for musicians. Today, Maurice owns and operates “Self Publish Me,” pre-publishing services for independent authors. April 2022 Mary Nhin: How to Create Life Changing Success Using the 4 P's is the best way to succeed at anything in life - marriage, health, parenting, and business endeavors including publishing. Mary Nhin loves being the guinea pig for all her husband's kitchen creations. She is a mom of 3 boys, serial entrepreneur, and author. Her books have sold over 2 million copies worldwide. She co-founded and developed several multimillion dollar companies in three different industries with the goal of helping families. She has been awarded the Forty under 40 and Inc 5000. Growgritpress@gmail.com and follow @marynhin on IG/FB/TT March 2022 Marty Ludlum: Legal Landmines for Writers Writing is fraught with potential legal problems: copyright, libel, incorporating, being sued, and many others. A seasoned lawyer (that means old) will present these topics in easy to understand terms (no Latin). Marty Ludlum is a law professor at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. He is a frequent guest speaker and legal writer on several topics. Marty is a former criminal defense lawyer and most of his friends are criminals. Professor Ludlum has been married to Kara, his college sweetheart, for thirty five years. They have three children and one grandchild, Tommy, who is the center of the universe. Professor Ludlum is also an award winning magician who performs under the stage name “The Magic Dad.” February 2022 Dr. J Hall: Use Your Words: Podcast Interviewing from Pitch to Promotion In this talk, J Hall covered strategies for authors interested in promoting their work through guest interviewing on podcasts, including pitching to podcasts, prepping for the interview, being interviewed, and promoting the appearance. Dr. J Hall is host of The Okie Bookcast - a podcast celebrating books and writing in and about Oklahoma. Each episode includes an interview with a contributor to the reading life of Oklahoma and a review from an Oklahoma author about a book they love. J is a life-long Oklahoman (even when he lived in Texas) and a life-long lover of books. He lives in Oklahoma City with his wife, Kenda, daughter, Rebekah, and a revolving cast of adult children who come through for holidays, meals, and occasional dog-sitting. His love of learning and education led him to earn a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Oklahoma where he curr The idea for the Okie Bookcast woke him up early one Saturday morning and he's been chasing it since. You can find the show at okeibookcast.com and follow us on social media - @okiebookcast. January 2022 Shel Harrington: Promoting Your Book Shel Harrington is a humorist who writes for a (chronologically!) mature audience at FatBottomFiftiesGetFierce.com and has over 475,000 followers on her smile-inducing Fat-Bottom-Fifties Get Fierce Facebook page. In her alternative life, Shel is a seasoned Family Law attorney who writes and speaks about how to put her out of business by doing marriage better. Shel and her husband, Steve, live in Oklahoma on a little plot of earth called Dragonroost with their two cats, Moxie and Homer. |
2021 Speakers and Meeting Information
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December 2021 John J. Dwyer: Building Your Street Army
John J. Dwyer grew up in Duncan and taught History and Ethics at Southern Nazarene University from 2006-2021. Dr. Bob Blackburn, longtime Executive Director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, called John’s historical narrative The Oklahomans: The Story of Oklahoma and Its People, Vol. 1, “The best book on Oklahoma History ever.” Vol. 2, covering Statehood to 2021, releases in April. Both The Oklahomans and Shortgrass, John’s Dust Bowl/World War II novel, won the national, Fort Worth-based Will Rogers Medallion Award literary contest for Western literature. The Oklahoman newspaper ranked his latest book, the World War II epic Mustang, sequel to Shortgrass, the best-selling fiction book in the state last summer. Oklahoma hall of fame journalist Patrick McGuigan and the City Sentinel newspaper called it, “The greatest American war novel since The Red Badge of Courage.” John’s 700-page Civil War saga The War Between the States: America’s Uncivil War newspaper, is now in its fifth printing. November 2021 Contest Chair Dee Britt presents: The winners of our 2022 contest! Congratulations to everyone! For a list of the winners, go to our CONTEST WINNERS page October 2021 Sabrina A. Fish: Writing Fantasy-Essential Elements, Exposition & Tips Award-Winning Fantasy Romance Author, Sabrina A. Fish discussed the 5 elements essential to every fantasy story, how to write exposition that doesn't bore you reader, and other fantasy writing tips she's picked up along the way. Sabrina A. Fish lives in Oklahoma with her husband, son, and two cats. She & her hubbie own a trophy company, where she collects names for her novels from lists of award recipients. September 2021 Chrissy L. Whitten: Walking Around the Chair Have you ever found your thinking one-sided? Are you stuck in your writing and/or life? Chrissy L. Whitten shared a part of her story and gave some wisdom from walking around a chair.The Fight: Journals from a Warrior's Mother is the first in a series about a family's faith journey through extraordinary circumstances. Chrissy benefited from the education, inspirations, and connections through joining OCWI and OWFI. Chrissy L. Whitten holds a Bachelor of Science in leisure service management and a Master of Interdisciplinary Studies in Educational Psychology, REMS, and leisure service management from Oklahoma State University (OSU). She has over thirty years’ experience working in youth programming and teaching fitness. She grew up in the Cushing and Stillwater, Oklahoma communities before marrying her husband, Michael, in December 2003. August 2021 Lea Tran: I Did Not Miss the Boat In her memoir I Did Not Miss the Boat: Memoir of a Vietnam Hoa Refugee, Lea Tran shared the story of the coming of age of an adolescent girl who struggled to help her family’s assimilation into a new country while searching for her own identity. From surviving the vast South China Seas, pirate raids, and uninhabited Indonesian islands to surviving high school and family life, Lea Tran did not experience a typical American upbringing. Despite this, Lea graduated from Villanova University and pursued a career as an organic chemist. She then went on to build a successful business of custom window treatments for ten years. As a speaker and a coach, Lea's mission is to inspire others to reconnect with their roots, to overcome the fear of uncertain times, look for opportunities in the midst of adversity so they will not be missing out in life. |
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July 2021 Dee Britt: Lessons Learned as a Debut Indie Author - Find your passion; Find your way
Dee Britt grew up in the small town of Anadarko, Oklahoma. When she wasn't playing basketball and running track, she was active in the United Methodist Church, where her parents were youth group leaders. As a young adult, Dee fronted various bands. Her songwriting revealed a passion for story writing and eventually led to her first book, Fireside: The James Johnson Story. The setting for Fireside, and the flavor of its characters, rose out of Dee's experiences with her “day job” as a physical therapist to countless assisted living center patients. While this book is not reflective of any one person or setting, it is an effort to give back—and give a voice—to those whose history is often overlooked simply because they are older or infirm. To her patients who have taught her about the important things in life, Dee sends a big thank you. |
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June 2021 Alicia Dean: Knowing the Difference Between Synopsis, Blurb, Log Line, and Pitch
Alicia Dean hails from Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plain. She is originally from Moore, but now lives in Edmond. Alicia writes in a wide variety of romance genres, including paranormal, fantasy, and suspense. Some of her titles are Ruined and Precarious (Martini Club 4), Nothing To Fear, Once Upon a Gothic (A World of Gothic Book 1), Blood and Breakfast (A Friday the 13th Story), Cupid's Beau, Heart of the Witch, Soul Seducer (Reapers of Boone Book 1), Dying to Love You, and Without Mercy. |
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May 2021 Mary Coley: Taking Your Draft from Mess to Mystery
Curious about how to edit a manuscript with mystery in mind? Mary Coley provided some tips to reconstruct a so-so manuscript into a thrilling mystery using cliff-hangers, red herrings and clues only the sharp-minded will detect. A native Oklahoman, Coley worked as a journalist, a park planner, a communications officer and an adjunct professor focusing on environmental education before pursuing her life-long passion for writing as a mystery/suspense author. Her writing reflects a devotion to mystery, regional history and her love of nature, animals and the study of relationships. She has traveled widely in the United States, as well as Ireland and Scotland. Coley and her husband have five children, five grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and their dog, Trixie. She lives part-time in northern New Mexico, but has been a resident of the Tulsa area for 25 years. Currently, she is working on her eighth mystery and a book of short stories, roughly based on personal experiences. April 2021 Vickey Malone Kennedy: The ABCs of Story Structure Vickey’s presentation described story structure and creating an outline in 15 easy steps, or less. It dealt with a similar topic as her OWFI seminar, but it was updated with new information. Vickey Malone Kennedy writes Short Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and Erotica. She has won numerous awards including OWFI's Crème de la Crème Award, Writer's Digest Short Story Award, and the Darrell Award for best Mid-South Short Story. Her fiction has been published online and in print. She is a full-time author, full-time Granny, and a part-time movie extra. |
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March 2021 Publication: From Idea to Liftoff - Oklahoma City Writers workshop
Jennifer McMurrain has won numerous awards for her short stories and novels, including hitting #1 on the Amazon Best Seller list with, Quail Crossings. She has 22 novels and collaborations published. She lives in Bartlesville, O.K. with her family. You can find more information at www.jennifermcmurrain.com. Staci Mauney is a freelance writer and editor and indie author from Oklahoma. She is the co-owner of Prestige Prose, a freelance writing and editing company. She is a member of several local writing groups and the past president of the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. (OWFI). As an author, she has written four devotionals in the Echoes of Joy series, based on her blog. http://stacimauney.com/ Amy M. Le’s debut novel Snow in Vietnam was written as a tribute to her mother's heroic decision to flee Vietnam after the fall of Saigon. Since that time, she has published two more books. She calls both the Pacific Northwest and Oklahoma her home and is the current president of OCWI. https://www.facebook.com/authoramymle |
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February 2021 Nikki Davis Gragg aka Martha Henley presents: Creating the Horror Novel Thriller and horror author, Martha Henley is one who can't stay away from not-so-happily ever after endings. Life isn't perfect, so the stories we tell don't have to be either. The good guys in her Death and Donuts Thriller novel series prevail over the serial killers, but the horror series, Live Your Life, Die Your Death are creepy, twisted tales of fate. If you like odd characters, eerie situations, and a touch of humor, you'll enjoy at least one of Martha Henley's series. Martha wants to hear from you. Sign up for her newsletter and receive exclusive content, available only to subscribers. MarthaHenley.com |
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January 2021 Marty Ludlum presents: Learning from a Reviewer's Rejection
Marty Ludlum is an active writer with over 60 publications. Marty is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, an attorney and a Professor of Business Law at University of Central Oklahoma. He has often given presentations on legal issues for writers at OWFI. UCO Professor Ludlum is the editor for several journals and reviewer for many more. The same principles work in prose and fiction. Good writing is good writing. Marty has seen rejection from both sides. Marty will explode the three myths of reviewer's rejections and explain three positive steps you can take to improve your writing. No fancy talk, just plain language for real improvement. |
2020 Speakers and Meeting Information
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December 19, 2020 Laci Liter presents: On Writing and Worldbuilding. An analytical protocol for crafting a well-organized and cohesive novel based on Timothy Hickson's novel, On Writing and Worldbuilding: Volume I.
Laci Liter is a fiction and nonfiction writer who studied English Literature at Eastern Washington University, and is a current Cell and Molecular Biology student at Oklahoma City University. She primarily writes apocalyptic science fiction, short stories, and biological nonfiction and has served as the Oklahoma City Writers, Inc. President from 2019 to the present. She is a Washington state native but has lived in Oklahoma for 11 years with her husband and three children. |
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November 21, 2020 OKCW President, Laci Liter presents: The winners of our 2020 contest!
Congratulations to everyone! For a list of the winners, go to our CONTEST WINNERS page. |
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October 17, 2020 Maria Polson Veres presents: Writing in Tough Times
Maria Polson Veres will talk about why it can be hard to do creative work right now, how to take good care of ourselves as artists, and how technology can help us stay afloat in these uncharted waters. The author of three books of poetry, her most recent collection, Church People, was an Oklahoma Book Award finalist and received the OWFI Best Book of Poetry award in 2018. Her poetry, fiction, and nonfiction have appeared in many publications. She writes monthly business profiles for Edmond Outlook magazine and owns a content writing business. Maria teaches adult creative writing classes at Francis Tuttle Technology Center in Oklahoma City, as well as leading private workshops and retreats. She holds an M.A. in English from Texas State University. mariapolsonveres.com. |
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September 19, 2020 Susan Kite presents: Book Trailers - Do it yourself with PowerPoint
Susan Kite has always enjoyed writing but began seriously crafting stories over twenty-five years ago. Fan-fiction was the main focus at first, but a visit to the Mission San Luis triggered her first YA novel, My House of Dreams. Speculative fiction novels including The Mendel Experiment (and winner of Royal Palm Literary Award), Blue Fire, Power Stone of Alogol, and fantasy novel Realms of the Cat followed. Her latest book is a Young Adult speculative fiction adventure called Moon Crusher. The author has English and Instructional Media degrees from Utah State University. She worked in public school libraries, mostly in Tennessee, for 35 years. Now retired, Ms. Kite lives in Yukon, Oklahoma. She has an award-winning children's tall-tale in pre-publication with Doodle and Peck. |
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August 15, 2020 Lara Bernhardt presents: Where Women Meet Fiction
Lara Bernhardt is a Pushcart-nominated writer, editor, and audiobook narrator. She is Editor-in-Chief of Balkan Press and also publishes a literary magazine, Conclave. Her debut novel, The Wantland Files, was a finalist for the 2017 Oklahoma Book Award for Best Fiction. The sequel, The Haunting of Crescent Hotel, was a 2019 semi-finalist for KBR awards Horror/Suspense category. Shadow of the Taj, her first women’s fiction, was a 2020 Oklahoma Book Award finalist. She lives in Oklahoma with her family. You can follow her on all the socials: @larawells1 on Twitter and @larabern10 on Facebook, BookBub, and Instragram. This meeting will be held at St. Luke’s UMC on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. The room will be arranged to allow for safe distance between chairs and masks will be provided. The meeting will also be broadcast on Facebook Live and Zoom. Check the OKC Writer's Facebook page for details. |
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July 18, 2020 Desiree Webber Presents: Buffalo Tales--the true story of how people worked together to save the buffalo from extinction.
Desiree Webber will present how she researched and crafted a tale of this remarkable story of forward-thinking individuals who placed fifteen buffalo into train cars to start the nation’s first bison refuge. Webber is author of two nonfiction middle-grade books for children, The Buffalo Train Ride (Doodle and Peck - 2019, 1999), and Bone Head: Story of the Longhorn (Eakin Press - 2003). Both were named Oklahoma Book Award Finalists by the Oklahoma Center for the Book. In addition, she received the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Author’s Award for The Buffalo Train Ride, and a “Storytelling World Honor Title” award for Travel the Globe: Multicultural Story Times. www.desireewebber.com |
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June 20, 2020 Staci Mauney present: The Editing Process: Revising Your Work for Publication
Do you know how to edit your own work? Do you know when it’s time to bring in a professional? In this workshop, Staci Mauney will discuss the differences among developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, and proofreading. We’ll dive into the self-editing process and discover tips and tricks for revising and editing your own work. Staci Mauney is a freelance writer and editor and indie author from Oklahoma. She is the co-owner of Prestige Prose, a freelance writing and editing company found at prestigeprose.com. As an author, she has written four devotionals in the Echoes of Joy series, where her Yorkshire terrier, Lilly, is the main character. She volunteers for a variety of organizations in her local community. She is a member of Oklahoma City Writers, Inc., and a member and past president of the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. (OWFI). |
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May 16, 2020 Lisbeth McCarty Presents: Crime and Publishing
Lisbeth L. McCarty, a graduate from the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in Journalism and a J.D. in Law, is an award-winning writer. She writes because she is compelled to do. She has been published in local, state and national journals, newsletters, and magazines, as well as online. She has also written numerous books. Including: I Cooked; Therefore, They Ran, Ours Was the House and Mental States of Murderesses: Women Who Kill. Lisbeth will be speaking about various lessons she had learned from being a writer. |
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April 21, 2020, Julia Kolchinsky: Poetry Reaching into the Future While Reflecting on the Past
Julia Kolchinsky will read poems inter-generational motherhood, reaching towards the future even as they reflect on the past. Her poetry hovers around history, trauma, and absence--from ancestral histories of anti-Semitic discrimination in the former Soviet Union to the poet's travels, while pregnant with her son, to death camp sites in Poland. She will discuss how form informs her composition and lead you in a creative writing exercise. Julia holds an MFA from the University of Oregon and is completing her PH.D. at the University of Pennsylvania. She is the author of 3 poetry collections. Her poetry has been published in numerous magazines and she won the 2019 Idaho Poetry Prize. She lives in Philly with her two kids, two cats, one dog, and one husband. |
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March 21, 2020 Meeting Cancelled
As much as we wish circumstances could be different, we have decided to cancel the March 2020 meeting. We do not wish to put anyone at risk, especially our members who are immuno-compromised, by gathering at our monthly meeting. We wish you all a surplus of toilet paper and a healthy month ahead! |
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February 15, 2020 Marcia Preston: Fifty Shades of Crime Fiction
The world of mystery/suspense/thriller fiction includes many sub-genres that an aspiring author needs to understand. Marcia Preston will define these categories, along with examples, and offer a modus operandi for the actual writing. Marcia has edited two national magazines, served as PR and publications director for the National Cowboy & Western Heritage museum, and freelanced for a long list of publications. Her six previous novels were traditionally published and earned a Mary Higgins Clark Award, an Oklahoma Book Award for Fiction, and four Best Fiction Book awards from OWFI. She’s a past president and honorary life member of both Oklahoma City Writers and OWFI. Her newest novel, The Spiderling, deals with the struggle of 11-year-old Kiwi Seager and her mother to build a new life after Kiwi’s father is killed in the Iraq War. The story grew from Marcia’s concern from her grand-daughters as her son served three tours in the Middle East. Official release date for the book is June 2. |
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January 18, 2020 Ken Hada: The River White: An Ekphrastic Poetry Reading & Workshop. Ken Hada will introduce us to The River White: A Confluence of Brush & Quill, demonstrating the accompanying watercolors that make the ekphrastic narratives of the book. Ken Hada has published seven volumes of poetry, including his two latest, Not Quite Pilgrims and Bring an Extry Mule (Chicago: VACPoetry, 2019 & 2017). His work has been featured and/or awarded by the National Western Heritage Museum, SCMLA, Western Writers of America, Oklahoma Center for the Book and the NPR program, The Writer’s Almanac. Ken teaches at East Central University where he has directed the annual Scissortail Creative Writing Festival for 15 years. (kenhada.org) |
