Write to Publish

Meet Whirlabout New Media

admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:00:07 +0000

Tell us a little about yourselves. What is your background with publishing?

Both Eliza and I studied publishing at Portland State University, so you can imagine how excited we are to have a place at Write to Publish this year.

What originally drew you to young adult literature?

For me, it all began a few years ago in Michelle McCann’s Publishing for Young Adults class. Before that, I’d read and loved Harry Potter and some other books, but I never really made the connection. I think I was even a little ashamed. But I quickly learned that I was missing out on a bunch of really amazingly well-written, exciting, intelligent literature. Like any genre, including Literary Fiction, YA has its duds and its copy-cats; but it also has some of the best writers I’ve had the pleasure to fall in love with. And I was a English major.

How did you get started in social media?

It kind of just naturally evolved while I was studying publishing at PSU. I had a marketing internship with Bowler Hat Comics, and that got me into the whole blog scene. And then I worked for RainTown Press (were I still manage the web department), and that forced me to expand into other forms of social media. I’d always been a bit of an internet junky, so it seemed to fit.

What made you want to work with young adult authors on social media?

Really the stuff we do for clients can work for any author, but we’re most well-versed in the YA market, so that’s where were tend to look for clients. When you’re audience is teenagers, it makes sense to connect with them on the websites they’re already using. And not in a creepy, heavy-handed way. We focus on getting the authors where the teens want to find them, and helping them have fun with it.

How do you see social media and young adult books working together in the future?

I see a lot of room for future growth there. You already see a lot of books launching campaigns on social media. Any one else get letters from President Snow in the lead-up to the release of The Hunger Games movie? Anyone else on Pottermore? There are even some books trying to use apps to make their stories interactive, and really social media is just a step away from that. It’s something authors can do without a big budget or a big marketing team.

What most excites you about the current young adult market?

Really, I love the fact that so many amazing books are being written for young adults right now, and that those books are able to resinate with so many adult readers as well. I wasn’t a teen all that long ago, but even I can see the difference between books now and books ten years ago. I’m curious to see what will happen in the next ten years.

And the winners are…

admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:41:45 +0000

Congratulations to this year’s flash fiction winners!

First Place: Lucy Mihajlich with “Divine Intervention”
Second Place: Max Dufrechou with “Tiger-Wolf”
Third Place: Darcie Riedner with “Moving Forward, Standing Still”

Come see Lucy read her piece this Saturday at 11:50 on the author stage.

Thank you so much to our Ooligan team: Brit Gray, Jason Davis, Kylie Byrd, Adam Collins, and Kait Heacock.

And of course a big round of applause for our guest judges: Jay Lake and Ken Scholes (who both judged these on their vacation time–so extra thanks).

You can read the pieces on our website via the links above, or check them out in online journal form here.

Where to Park…

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:00:19 +0000

Parking on Portland State campus is $5 for all day on Saturday. Here’s a map that shows all the parking options on campus:

Where to go for lunch…

admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:11:16 +0000

Portland State Farmer’s Market (just outside Smith Memorial Student Union)

BINGO! Sandwich

Portland’s best farmers market sandwiches!

Verde Cocina

Fresh Mexican flair meets Northwest bounty: fresh, unique dishes with Mexican roots that emphasize local, seasonal produce and meats, and the best ingredients.

Love Joy Food

We make delicious and healthy food from scratch, with love, emphasizing organic, local and seasonal ingredients. Our sandwiches, soups, salads and treats are inspired by the incredible Northwest bounty available at the farmers market.

Lauretta Jean’s

Lauretta Jean’s is a Pie Bakery providing sweet and savory pies to enjoy.

Spunky Money Coffee Roasters

Spunky Monkey Coffee Roasters is committed to using local and organic products in its drinks, and is constantly searching for better ways of creating healthy and tasty treats.

Salvador Molly’s Restaurant
C’est Si Bon

We specialize in French style organic crepes. We source our ingredients from local producers and offer a wide variety of sweet and savory crepes. Each season provides a bounty of fruits and vegetables that we incorporate into our special offerings. We create 2 batters from scratch, naturel and buckwheat.

Zuppa

Zuppa (Italian for Soup) is a Portland based catering company with a commitment to using fresh local and organic ingredients. We are currently delivering soup to Portland Cafés and Restaurants and also directly to your neighborhood. All of our soups and stocks are made from scratch and dairy-free vegetarian soups are always on the menu.

Via Chicago

Chicago Style Pizza for real! We make the real thing with the freshest local ingredients around. We even do a vegan pie. Weekly specials, Italian sodas, Cannoli that are made to order and seasonal Salads.

PineState Buscuit

Southern style biscuit kitchen serving made from scratch meals using high quality ingredients. Rated the top five biscuits n gravy in Portland and one of the best sandwiches in the nation. Come meet Reggie Deluxe.

Cafe Velo

Each cup of coffee is individually brewed to order in porcelain filter holders from a constantly changing selection of seasonal Stumptown & other fine roasters single origin coffees. We also feature a French press for those who prefer fuller body press coffee.

Enchanted Sun Breakfast Burritos

We serve traditional New Mexico style breakfast burritos with scrambled eggs, seasoned potatoes, NM green chile and Tillamook cheddar cheese in a warm flour tortilla. Delicious as is or you can add bacon or sausage.

Queen of Hearts Baking Company

Queen of Hearts is a gluten-free artisan bakery. We craft savory and sweet hand pies in our community kitchen in NW Portland.

Petunia’s Pies and Pastries

Petunia’s bakes an assortment of high-end yet down-home gluten free & vegan pastries that are always handmade with love and sure to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth.

New Cascadia Traditional

New Cascadia Traditional is a dedicated gluten free bakery. We specialize in hand crafted artisan breads and baked goods that are safe for those with Celiac Disease or who are gluten intolerant. By combining traditional baking techniques with gluten free whole grains we offer a new and refreshing perspective on what it means to eat gluten free.

Gabriel’s Bakery

Whole grain bread, bagels, muffins, scones, cinnamon rolls, cookies, french and Peruvian pastries.

Fressen Artisan Bakery

We are a German Bakery producing handcrafted artisan breads made using traditional methods.Our breads are made with sourdough and we are using organic flour and/or flour from sustainable agriculture.

Delphina’s Bakery

Delphina’s Bakery is Portland’s oldest artisan bakery. We have been producing hand-made artisan breads and rustic breakfast pastries here for over 25 years. Ingredients are local whenever possible and we add nothing artificial.

Around Portland State University

Subway (inside SMSU on basement floor, and on SW Park and Montgomery next to Starbucks)
Starbucks (SW Park and Montgomery)
Cafe Yumm (SW 6th and Montgomery)
Pita Pit (SW 5th and Montgomery)
McDonald’s (SW 6th and Harrison)
Hot Lips Pizza (SW6th and Hall)
Chipotle (SW Broadway and College)
Blue Fin Sushi (SW Broadway and Jackson)
McMenamin’s Market Street Pub (SW 10th and Market)

Write to Publish on Facebook

admin — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:29:32 +0000

Find us on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/writetopublish

You can also RSVP to the event here, or RSVP for each individual panel!

Share-a-thon!

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:00:44 +0000

Starting now until Friday at 6 pm, one person that shares our post on Facebook, or posts back on our hashtag on Twitter will win a full day pass to Write to Publish!

Share about our conference with your friends and colleagues and you could be coming on us.

We have a truly great line-up of authors, speakers, and vendors coming to the conference this year, and now that there are less than two weeks until April 28th, we are all getting very excited here at Ooligan.

Share the post for your chance to win, and check out both our . . . → Read More: Share-a-thon!

Two New Vendors: Dark Discoveries and Willamette Writers

admin — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 21:11:50 +0000

Our vendor slots for the conference are officially full! We have a great line up of companies and groups attending, with our newest including Dark Discoveries Publications and the Willamette Writers group.

Here is the full list (you can see descriptions and websites on the Vendors page):

Digital Bindery
Whirl About New Media
Relium Media
Shut Up, Crow. Printers
RainTown Press
Eraserhead Press
Rose City Romance Writers
IPRC (Independent Publishing Resource Center)
Dark Discoveries Publications
Willamette Writers

Vendors and updated Schedule

admin — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 21:32:14 +0000

Hello all!

The conference is now just a few weeks away and we are getting very excited here at Ooligan. We’re still finalizing details, but we wanted to let you all know that we have a final schedule for all the panels and the author stage now posted on the website, as well as a list of the vendors that will be coming to the event and their information. Check it out!

Flash Fiction Contest Special Judges and Extended Deadline

admin — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:13:12 +0000

Announcing the “celebrity judges” for this year’s flash fiction contest: Jay Lake and Ken Scholes. They will be choosing the three winners for this year’s contest, and those winners will have a chance to meet Jay and Ken in person at the conference!

We’ve also extended the Flash Fiction contest for two more weeks. Take advantage of this to submit your 500-words-or-less piece for a chance to win free tickets to Write to Publish. If you’re a winner you’ll also have your piece designed as a poster by our design department, and it will be featured around the conference on the day-of. Check out these posters of last year’s winners:

Meet Terri Reed

admin — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:00:12 +0000

Who is your favorite author?

That’s a hard question. There are so many authors that I go to when I need a good read. And I can’t say there’s one particular genre either. But I’ll share some of my favorites with you.

Susan Elizabeth Philips

Tess Gerritsen

Lisa Gardner

Justine Davis

Mariah Stewart

Lenora Worth

Oh, my, the list could go on and on.

What inspired you to write? What inspired you to get published?

I’ve wanted to be an author since I was in junior high. I had a wonderful English teacher who introduced me to creative writing and literature. Another English professor in college encouraged my creative writing efforts and gave me the confidence to believe that I could write something worth being published.

What is your favorite moment from working with an editor? An agent?

Since I don’t have an agent I can’t speak to that. My favorite moment of working with an editor came when I was stalling on sending in my second book after my editor had bought my first one. I was so afraid that the next book wouldn’t be as good or any good at all. The editor I had at the time gave me a pep talk that bolstered my flagging confidence and has stuck with me since.

What is your favorite cover designed for one of your books?

I’ve had really great covers. I can’t think of one I haven’t liked. My favorite would have to be the one for Her Last Chance, June 2009 release. The art department captured my vision perfectly. I had sent them separate pictures—one of a fountain and one of a bird– I asked if they could put the bird on the fountain and have an old mansion in the background. They did. It’s just like I described it in the book.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers wanting to get published?

Join a writer’s organization such as Romance Writers of America, learn your craft, study writers you like to read, submit and keep submitting. Believe in yourself and never give up.

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on two books right now. The first book I’m working on, as yet untitled, will be out in March 2013. This is the fourth book in my Protection Specialists series. Set in Wyoming, rancher Wyatt Monroe is framed for a murder he didn’t commit. Ex-deputy sheriff turned bodyguard, Jackie Blain is brought in to help prove Wyatt’s innocence. As they work together to solve a murder they uncover a bigger threat that has them fighting for their lives and their hearts.

The second book I’m working on, Scent of Danger—the fifth book in the Texas K-9 Unit continuity series, will be a May 2013 release. Narcotics Officer Parker Adams and his K-9 partner Sherlock work with Cold Case Detective Melody Zachary to unravel a mystery surrounding the death of her nephew and her sister and in the process they find themselves facing danger at every turn. Both from the bad guys who want the past to stay hidden and from the attraction—and love—that tugs at their hearts.

Would you consider writing to be a career or a lifestyle? Or something else entirely?

Hmmm, good question. I think it’s become a bit of both. I started writing with the intent of publishing but now I don’t think I could NOT write. I find when I am writing I’m so much happier. Mostly to get the voices out of my head and onto paper. LOL

What would you change about the process of writing and publishing your most recent work if you could?

I would make it easier. HA!

What challenges did you face before and during publishing your first work?

My biggest challenge was learning the craft of fiction writing. I didn’t understand point of view, past vs. present tense, fragmented sentences opposed to compound sentences. I just told the story in my head and then had to have lots of help from my critique partners to make it into something publishable. Though I have since come to understand point of view, I still don’t get the grammar stuff. I just tell the story and hope it makes sense.

How do you deal with negative reviews?

I take what I can from them, hopefully learning how to improve and then let them go. No sense in hanging on to something negative.