by Suzanne Stengl | Oct 17, 2016 | Books
On Saturday, October 15th, I attended a workshop put on by my local RWA chapter. We had two presenters: Megan Long, an associate editor at Harlequin, and Adam Dreece, a local author and public speaker.
Here I am with some of my writer friends, Shaa Dickson, Win Day and Janice Harvie.
For more pictures of the workshop, go here.
In the morning, Megan gave her talk on “How to be a Hybrid Super Author”. Hybrid means you publish both independently and with a traditional publisher. She followed that presentation with “Love in the Mix: Genre Blending in Romance”. Megan took pitches in the afternoon.
For once, I did not pitch. I’m too busy with my indie publishing right now, but I’m thinking, maybe down the road, I’ll send something to Megan. I would love to publish with Harlequin for two reasons: I know they have fantastic editors, and I would love to attend the Harlequin Party at Nationals!
For now, I’m taking care of the final details for my next book—The Thurston Heirloom—which will be released on Thursday, November 24th.
For the afternoon session, Adam Dreece presented his popular workshop, “The Author’s Final Frontier” and he talked to us about brand, social media and everything you need to know about having a successful book signing.
I haven’t had a book signing. Not yet, anyway. Maybe I will host one, once I get my first six books published.
The workshop was held at CARWA’s usual meeting spot, the Highland Park Community Centre. It’s a large, bright room. There’s a kitchen and the parking is free. It’s also easy to find and easily accessed off the main roads. The event was catered by An Affair to Remember with a selection of sandwiches, and we also had fruit and veggies.
In an effort to reduce, reuse, recycle, we asked everyone to LUG A MUG.
And they did. Here are some of the mugs that showed up at the event.
Thank you to all the mugs that attended!
by Suzanne Stengl | Sep 26, 2016 | Books
In 2011, my local RWA chapter began its first group project, Bandit Creek. I published my first book in that series, THE GHOST AND CHRISTIE MCFEE, and Brenda Sinclair published A BANDIT CREEK MIRACLE.
Last January, Brenda decided to do it again. She came up with a Bible for the Thurston Hotel series and invited local chapter authors to participate. She wanted published authors, but also some unpublished ones who wanted to be mentored.
There are eleven authors involved in the project. Published authors include Brenda Sinclair, Sheila Seabrook, Shelley Kassian, M.K. Stelmack, Alyssa Linn Palmer, Katie O’Connor and Suzanne Stengl (me 🙂 )
Debut authors in the series are Maeve Buchanan, Win Day, Ellen Jorgy and Jan O’Hara.
Brenda came up with the idea of twelve books, one for each month in 2016, to be released WEEKLY, on Thurston Thursday beginning THIS THURSDAY September 29. Brenda bookended the series, writing both the January book and the December book.
The books are standalone contemporary romances that are
connected by common settings, characters and events. There is a thread woven through all the stories about a bride who books the 100-year-old Thurston Hotel in January—for her December wedding. No one is quite sure if the wedding will actually happen . . .
Brenda Sinclair is also the author of the very successful Western Contemporary Romance series, SPIRIT CREEK so she knows a lot about doing a series. We have all thoroughly enjoyed working on the project: at our keyboards, in our “secret” Facebook group, and sitting around long tables in restaurants. Together we discussed ideas, debated covers, ironed out details and generally had a good time.
Brenda put us on a deadline for first drafts and found continuity editors who would read all the books. She also set us up with one line editor (so we all spelled Trans-Canada the same way) and one cover artist who took our rough ideas and turned them into beautiful art. You can see all the covers here. You may notice that each cover has that hotel logo on the banner—with a different room lit for each book.
I’ll tell you more about the hotel tomorrow . . .
by Suzanne Stengl | Oct 28, 2014 | Books
Last Saturday, the Calgary Association of the RWA held its annual Fall Industry Workshop at beautiful Redwood Meadows, Alberta. CARWA President Moira Stelmack introduced our speakers: Victoria Curran from Harlequin Heartwarming and Jane Porter from Tule Publishing.
Brenda Sinclair, Ellen Jorgensen, Marlene Renee
Sherile Reilly and Jessica L. Jackson
Win Day and Alyssa Linn Palmer
With the fireplace blazing, President Moira Stelmack interviewed Jane and Victoria, and fielded questions from attendees. We learned about what’s new in the publishing world and talked about publishing challenges and opportunities.
A.M. Westerling and Jade Buchanan
Kymber Morgan and Lawna Mackie
Roxy Boroughs and CJ Carmichael
After a potluck lunch, Jane Porter presented her “Writing Well, Selling Well” workshop with additional insights from Victoria Curran and CJ Carmichael.
Shelley Kassian and Jane Porter
B.C. Deeks, Moira Stelmack, Victoria Curran
Next on the schedule, we had Manuscript Critiques. Members Jade Buchanan and Victoria Chatham read two-page manuscript samples to the audience, and then Victoria Curran and Jane Porter did their impromptu critiques. Victoria Curran assured us that this type of critique was more for entertainment value, and is not the usual process for critiquing a submission. Still, I think we all learned a lot, and we enjoyed each piece. Thank you to everyone who contributed a sample for discussion.
Alyssa Linn Palmer and Jennifer Howard
Suzanne Stengl and Victoria Chatham
With CARWA’s usual efficiency, the tables and chairs were soon put away and leftovers were packed up. Afterwards, a group of Carwackians (and one brave editor) headed over to the PowderHorn Saloon in Bragg Creek for debriefing and drinks.
B. C. Deeks, Victoria Curran, Alyssa Linn Palmer, Shelley Kassian, Kymber Morgan, Dara-Lee Snow, Jill Flanagan, Sherile Reilly, Roxy Boroughs
Victoria Curran and Cowboy at the PowderHorn Saloon
And a good time was had by all!
by Suzanne Stengl | Aug 12, 2014 | Books
My cozy mystery is free today through Friday.
“A ghost, a bucket list, challenges and hope. For those who like a bit of mystery, a touch of history and a light brush of romance.”
— Goodreads Reviewer
Her first adventure might be her last.
When Christie McFee reads about the gold hidden at the bottom of Lost Lake, she decides to put some adventure in her life by diving for treasure. But when she meets Gaven St. Michel, the Divemaster on La Bonne Aventure, she starts to think that treasure can be whatever you want it to be.
If only Christie could figure out how to deal with the two ghosts who are haunting her—one of them wants her help, and the other wants her dead.
A 34,000 word novella – Cozy Mystery, Light Paranormal
Find it here.
by Suzanne Stengl | May 27, 2014 | Books
Last Saturday, the Calgary Association of the RWA (CARWA) held its annual Spring Craft Workshop. Our featured speaker was James Scott Bell. More than fifty writers attended from Calgary and beyond.
Jim is the author of thrillers such as: Final Witness, Don’t Leave Me, and One More Lie. Writing as K. Bennett, he is the author of the Zombie Legal Thrillers: Pay Me in Flesh, Eating Dangerously, and I Ate the Sheriff.
He has also written several books on the craft of writing including Plot & Structure, Conflict & Suspense, The Art of War for Writers, and his latest, Write Your Novel From the Middle.
On the Friday evening before the workshop, the Board took Mr. Bell up the Calgary Tower to the “Sky 360” revolving restaurant. Since I am CARWA’s Membership Chair, the Board invited me to dinner as well. (Yay!)
The sun does not set until about 9:30 and the evening was clear, so we had an excellent view of the city and the Rocky Mountains. Here are some of the board members on the observation deck of the Calgary Tower.
And here is the whole board with JSB in the “Sky 360” restaurant.
Back: James Scott Bell, Alyssa Linn Palmer, Roxy Boroughs, Shelley Kassian
Front: Moira Stelmack, A.M. Westerling, Brenda Sinclair
Jim is from Los Angeles and has lived there all his life. He was interested in trying something Canadian, so he ordered the elk. I mean, how often do you get to eat elk? He also asked the waitress to suggest a wine that was “conversational without being verbose” and she brought this. 
A Canadian wine from the South Okanagan, near Oliver, British Columbia. Apparently, it pairs well with the elk!
On Saturday, Jim presented his workshop called WRITING THE KNOCKOUT NOVEL. Some of the topics he covered were:
- What Plot is really all about
- Creating characters that “jump off the page”
- The fastest way to improve your manuscript
- The essentials of great dialogue
And he gave us the best interpretation of Casablanca I have ever heard. He also talked about his new craft book, Write Your Novel From the Middle. Click on the image at the beginning of this post and it will take you to Amazon where you can make the best “under $3 craft book” purchase of your life. Seriously.
After the workshop, we debriefed at the Toad ‘n’ Turtle. Jim chose the Big Rock Grasshopper Ale.
And, ever adventurous, he also tried that Canadian delicacy, poutine. 
Poutine is originally from Quebec, made with french fries, topped with a light brown gravy and cheese curds. 
He asked if it came with a cardiologist.
James Scott Bell with Suzanne Stengl
You can find Jim on his website and, on Sundays, at The Kill Zone—where he blogs about writing and writing related topics.
Have you been to a James Scott Bell workshop? Have you read one of his craft books? What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from JSB?
by Suzanne Stengl | Feb 18, 2014 | Books
My friend Mahrie has launched her first title. And, this also happens to be the first title in the SEARCHING FOR SERIES, a series created by the Alberta Romance Writers’ Association.
Sheldon Harris
Came Home Dead
by Mahrie G. Reid
Be careful what you do in life for your past may come back to haunt you.
When it happens to Devon Ritcey, she returns home hoping to do damage control. Coming face-to-face with an ex-lover-ex-cop turned recluse compromises her plans and confuses her emotions. Will her past get in the way of her future?
After a near-death encounter on the job, Greg Cunningham is recovering in the only real home he’s ever had—his aunt’s house in Caleb Cove. A year of self-imposed solitude gave him time to think, and now he doubts the validity of his career in law enforcement. He is done with corpses, crimes and lies. Devon’s presence ignites desires that have Greg questioning more than his career.
When the hurricane passes, Greg is once again drawn into an investigation against his will. Devon is his only helper, and as they work together memories connect them even as old secrets and lies threaten to drive them apart. As they race to uncover the truth, can they learn to trust each other and overcome the past?
Here is one of the reviews:
Ms. Reid has spun a wonderful tale with believable characters in a beautiful setting. If you have something you definitely need to do, don’t start reading this book! I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one afternoon. Excellent job. I can’t wait for the next book in the Caleb Cove Series.
By Brenda Sinclair, author of LOVE TO THE RESCUE
One more thing:
“Came Home Dead” is a saying used in Nova Scotia, Canada. Do you have any idea what it means?
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