We had fun at our monthly meeting of the Writers Rendezvous, with several new members coming to check us out. If you’re reading this and you’re too far away from Westport, CT, to attend, you can also join us via Zoom – also true of our monthly WritersMic. Contact me if you’d like more information. Today’s post includes info on a memoir workshop, a mystery-writing conference, a couple of poetry contests, and an upcoming book fair where you can sell your books.
The Magic of Memoir is offering the following course: they will use Maggie Smith’s memoir You Could Make This Place Beautiful as the basis for a 4-week series starting next Tuesday, April 22, 29, May 6, and 13 from 7-8pm ET. $99. Check here for details and registration.
Ridgefield Pride and Poetry in the Garden at the Keeler Tavern Museum in Ridgefield, CT, are co-sponsoring a poetry contest for students and adults on the theme What Does ‘The Pursuit Of Happiness’ Mean To You? The contest is open to all LGBTQ+ individuals and allies who live in Connecticut. The winners in three categories (grades 4-8, grades 9-12, and adult) will be awarded a prize package plus the opportunity to read with National Book Award-winning poet Mark Doty in Ridgefield this summer. Entries should be emailed as an attached Word document (no PDFs, please) to barbjennes@gmail.com with the subject line: Poetry Contest. Full rules in the image (right). Deadline May 1.
Winning Writers a website that organises a number of writing contests throughout the year, is asking people to submit an original poem that makes creative use of the words that the Trump administration is flagging on government websites and research papers. See the rules of the contest here. There is no fee to enter. Deadline 6am, May 1. Final judge: Jendi Reiter. Entries will be published in an online anthology planned by the organization. They prefer unpublished work that was written for this anthology rather than older poems that happen to include some of the keywords. Please submit only one poem.
The one-day CrimeCONN conference takes place on May 17, from 8:30-5pm ET, in-person at The Ferguson Library in Stamford, CT, or via Zoom. This year’s theme is Crime and Punishment, so crime writers and experts will look at the law from every angle. You’ll hear from lawyers turned crime writers and a formerly incarcerated writer. You’ll also learn how a murder trial really works from a judge, a prosecutor, a defense attorney, and a homicide cop. They’ll discuss the blurred lines between crime writing, non-fiction, and general fiction, the guilty pleasures of the revenge novel, and navigating the lives of private, professional, real, and imagined detectives. Highlights include keynote speaker and NYT bestselling author Lauren Willig, in conversation with John Valeri, and a writing workshop led by NYT bestselling author Hallie Ephron. MWA members, $60 per person. Friends, members, seniors, and students, $45 per person. (Lunch and all-day coffee included at in-person event.) Zoom webinar (from 9-5 p.m.) $25 per person. More information and tickets here.
If you’re looking for places in Connecticut where you can sell your books in person, Nutmeg Lit Fest, who organize several book fairs and events, has one coming up on July 19 from 10-3, in historic Old Wethersfield. It will be held on Main Street. If you’re an author and think you’d like a spot, or need more information, contact Jack Matthews at jackmatthewsauthor@gmail.com with “WETHERSFIELD” in the subject line. Find out more about them via their Facebook group.
More to come on Monday!
