Friday and Saturday Writers' Event
[image error]Benton United Methodist Church is excited about our first ever Christian Writers Conference which we are doing as an outreach for our community. On Friday April 1st, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, we have Meet the Authors featuring Dave and Neta Jackson. Together, Dave and Neta have written two childrens' book series, The Trailblazers and Hero Tales. Dave Jackson is the author of the Yada Yada Brothers series and Neta Jackson writes the Yada Yada Prayer Group series and Yada Yada House of Hope series. Neta Jackson is a Christy Award winner. Together, they have sold millions of books. They will give an inspirational program that will include a fun and enlightening message of hope, audience participation and readings from their newest works. Afterward, attendees may chat with the authors and have their books autographed. Attendees may bring their own books or may purchase them onsite.
On Saturday, April 2nd, from 8:30 to 3:30 pm, we will have a Writers Conference over a dozen workshops, each 30 minutes to 45 minutes long. We will have two tracks simultaneously, fiction and nonfiction.
Our speakers include Dave and Neta Jackson (www.daveneta.com), Connie Cox (www.conniecox.com), Judy Burford, Betsy St. Amant (www.betsystamant.com), Winnie Griggs (www.winniegriggs.com) , Lenora Worth (www.lenoraworth.com), Shelia Goss, (www.sheliagoss.com), Laura Flett, Charles Sutherland, Jerry Paylor, Barbara Rollins editors of publishing house Silver Boomers Books (www.silverboomers.com) , Rev. Ken Norton, Shelia Jackson, Sarah Hudson Pierce, editor of Ritz Publications, and Kathy Patrick (www.beautyandthebook.com).
Topics will range from "How to Get Published and How to Find or Form a Writers' Group to 'How to Write a Memoir or Biography' Journaling for Personal Growth, Journaling for Publication, Song Writing (lyrics and music), How to Structure a Nonfiction Book, and the basics of fiction writing, including plot, setting, characterization and point of view. In addition, lectures will include inspirational topics such as blending Christian elements into your Fiction Writing, tuning into God and allowing Him to work through you in your writing, how to let God prioritize your (writing) life and how to reach those in need through writing.
The conference is both inspirational and nondenominational.
Some facts that might interest you: Lenora Worth is a New York Times Bestseller. All but Dave and Neta Jackson are local writers. Kathy Patrick's 'Pulpwood Queens' is the biggest book club in the world with branches across the US and some internationally, too. Shelia Goss is on the Essence Magazine's Bestsellers List and has won many other awards. She writes both adult and young adult fiction. Connie Cox is a Golden Heart finalist and a RT Book Reviewer's Choice Awards finalist. Jerry Paylor has worked with Kenny Wayne Shepherd and other notables in the music industry.
All published authors will be signing their books throughout Saturday's event. Books are available onsite for purchase or attendees may bring their own. A follow-up book signing will be held at Barnes and Noble in Shreveport on Saturday at 6:30 pm.
We are so proud of our lineup! This conference is for anyone who has ever thought about writing and would like to explore it, for anyone who has dabbled in writing and would like more information and for anyone who is ready to publish and wants to interact with other published authors.
Childcare for children under the age of 5 is available for both Friday night and Saturday by calling the Benton United Methodist Church (318-965-2377) and pre-registering. The Friday event is free and open to the public. The Saturday event is also open to the public and costs $25 which includes lunch for the attendees. Parents must bring lunch for children in childcare.
Preregistration for the Saturday event is strongly encouraged. Pre-registration also available online www.bentonunited.org/cwc-registration
Both Friday evening and Saturday are sponsored by Benton United Methodist Church, Bossier Parish Libraries and Barnes and Noble.
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