Category: Wilwrite26 Online Track

  • 11:30AM – 1PM Sunday Belmont A/B/C: Brunch Keynote and Goodbye

    Join us for a special brunch conversation with New York Times Bestselling Author, Rosanne Parry, and Top Literary Agent Fiona Kenshole. They’ll discuss Rosanne’s road to New York Times Bestseller, with over 40 weeks on the NYT List. Listen in as they discuss the joys, heartaches, and revisions that paved her path. We’ll end with a special wrap-up just for you, focusing on your next steps in your writing career.

    About Rosanne Parry

    Rosanne Parry grew up in Oregon loving its rainy days, wild places, and many libraries.  She is the author of eight novels for young readers, including the NY Times best sellers A Wolf Called Wander and A Whale of the Wild which have been translated into more than 14 languages. Her next novel will be A Horse Named Sky–another Voice of the Wilderness book. Look for it August 29th, 2023. Rosanne is a bookseller at legendary independent bookstore, Annie Blooms. She lives with her family in an old farmhouse in Portland and writes in a treehouse in her backyard. 

    Find out more at rosanneparry.com

    About Fiona Kenshole


    Fiona Kenshole is a specialist children’s book literary agent based in Portland. She has been with the Transatlantic Agency for over 13 years, representing local authors such as NYT bestseller Rosanne Parry (A Wolf Called Wander), award-winner Elizabeth Rusch (The Twenty One) and critically acclaimed Leslie Barnard Booth (I Am We). Previously she was VP at Laika Studios, developing Academy award-winning movies such as CORALINE and THE BOXTROLLS. She spent 20 years as a senior publisher in London where she was proud to be the UK editor for Ramona Quimby, The Giver and Paddington Bear amongst others. She is looking for picture books – fiction and nonfiction, chapter books and contemporary middle grade.

    Learn more here: https://transatlanticagency.com/portfolio/kenshole-fiona/

    Find out more at rosanneparry.com

  • 10 – 11AM Sunday Zoom 2: Genre Mash-ups: How to make them work for you

    Great fiction has a long history of blending elements from different genres — horror, science fiction, fantasy, historical, westerns, romance, poetry, and more — to create lasting, powerful work. This generative workshop will help you blend different genres in new ways. You’ll leave with several new story seeds, as well as a pocket full of tools for your creative toolbox.

    Faculty

    • Fran Wilde
      Two-time Nebula Award-winner Fran Wilde has (so far) published nine novels, a poetry collection, and over 70 short stories for adults, teens, and kids. Her stories have been finalists for six Nebula Awards, a World Fantasy Award, four Hugo Awards, four Locus Awards, and a Lodestar. They include her Nebula- and Compton Crook-winning debut novel… Read more: Fran Wilde

  • 10 – 11AM Sunday Zoom 1: Poetically, short.

    What happens when a poem steps off the page and onto the screen? In this workshop, you’ll learn the techniques and mechanics of screenwriting by turning a favorite poem into a short script. Bring three poems you love (no advance submission required) and choose one to transform into a screenplay for a short film. You’ll learn how to shape material that originated elsewhere, developing the collaborative skills essential to film and television, as you build an outline and begin drafting your short in proper screenplay format.

    Faculty

    • Rose McAleese
      Rose McAleese (Mac a Lease) was born on Halloween night in Seattle, delivered by a doctor in a giant spider costume—which has pretty much set the tone for the rest of her life. She studied at the prestigious women’s writing collective Hedgebrook, where she focused on screenwriting, television writing, non-fiction writing, and memoir development with… Read more: Rose McAleese

  • 10 – 11AM Sunday Belmont B: First Impressions

    Want to make readers eager to turn the page? Join literary agent T.S. Ferguson as he explores what makes a compelling first sentence, first paragraph, and first page. You will learn what captures an agent’s attention, what elements belong in a strong opening, and how to create a memorable first impression that keeps readers, agents, and editors reading.

    Faculty

    • T.S. Ferguson
      Before joining Azantian Literary Agency, T.S. Ferguson worked for 16 years as an editor for some of the top children’s and teen book publishers in the business, including Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Harlequin Teen/Inkyard Press, and JIMMY Patterson Books. He has worked with New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors such as Sherman… Read more: T.S. Ferguson

  • 9:30 – 10AM Sunday Belmont A/B & Zoom: Break

    Coffee break! Fill up your cup and make plans fo that final session!

  • 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Zoom 1: Quiet Writing

    We’re quietly writing on Zoom this morning. Come join us to get your words on the page.

  • 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Zoom 2: Voice, Wonder, and Whimsy: The Craft of KIDLIT

    Join published authors and industry professionals as they discuss how to craft engaging stories that spark imagination and delight young readers. Gain insights into creative techniques that you can use to make your kidlit more memorable and enchanting.

    Faculty

    • Sonja Thomas
      Sonja Thomas writes stories for kids of all ages. Her debut novel, Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence, is an Oregon Book Award finalist, an Oregon Spirit Book Award Honor recipient, and a Washington State Book Award finalist. She’s also a contributing author for Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales… Read more: Sonja Thomas

  • 8:30 – 9:30AM Sunday Belmont B: Beyond the Book: Marketing that Moves Copies

    What does it really take to sell a book? Listen in as published authors and marketing pros share their firsthand experiences, revealing the strategies that actually got their work noticed. Bring your questions! You’ll hear real-world stories, lessons learned, and creative approaches you can adapt to help your own book find its audience.

    Faculty

    • Brian W. Parker
      Brian grew up in Alaska, then Mississippi, and has always been in love with storytelling in every medium. He earned a BFA in graphic design & illustration and an MA in writing & publishing. He’s an adjunct professor of children’s publishing at Portland State University. He is the co-owner and creative director of Believe In… Read more: Brian W. Parker
    • Fitz Cyr
      Fitz Cyr is a queer romantasy author putting fictional darlings in occasionally funny, always heartfelt, and intermittently perilous situations for your enjoyment. They tell stories of adventure, hope, and the kind of love that makes you want to throw yourself into the sun for a cooldown. With over a decade of marketing experience, Fitz has… Read more: Fitz Cyr

  • 7 – 8AM Sunday Windsor A: Yoga

    Stretch your way into our final day! Comfortably designed for all levels (you can even practice in your chair!), Joy Lotus will help you stretch your muscles and spark your imagination, both in-person or on Zoom.

  • 7 – 9PM Saturday Zoom: Online Open Mic

    It’s time: we’re passing the mic over to YOU! You’ve got five minutes max to share your excerpt with a supportive crowd of writers. It’s first come, first served, so fire up that Zoom link and get your name on the list. We can’t wait to hear your work!