Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp and Writing Retreat, Inc.
Newsletter 5; May 2024
Greetings Campers and Future Campers! This is the May issue of our bi-monthly newsletter. This month we’re featuring campers’ news, author spotlights, grant opportunities, and much much more! Please share this newsletter with your writer friends. Don’t worry, we won’t spam them either. The next newsletter issue comes out in July. To feature your news and updates and tell us what you’re working on, please click here to fill out the form.
Sign up for your June 16th—22nd 2024 Bookcamp experience today!
2024 bookcamp will take place at Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin, June 16th—22nd. The comfortable dormitory style facility features cozy rooms with private baths, Wi-Fi, lakefront access, paths for walking and biking, plenty of nooks to curl up and write, and 24-hour beverage and continental breakfast.
From the Director
What makes the Novel Bookcamp different from other writing events is the flexibility we offer writers. Our three programs--the Workshops, the Writing Retreat, and the Book Coach--give writers the opportunity to pick a week-long track that best suits their needs. Writers choose the Writing Retreat for the week-long personal time it allows them to focus on their work-in-progress. Our Workshops provide classroom instruction and one-on-one attention to help them improve their book-length manuscripts. Book Coach Lisa Lickel offers personal attention to each enrolled writer to iron out wrinkles in first drafts before they query agents and publishers.
We take pride in the variety of opportunities each Novel Bookcamp offers and feel that the selection of programs sets us apart from other workshops or retreats.
Record-setting Enrollment
June's Novel Bookcamp has already set a new attendance record with 37 writers enrolled in the two Workshops, Writing Retreat, or Book Coach program. The Retreat is especially popular this year with 21 writers planning to work on their works-in-progress and listen to the wisdom of Retreat Mentor SJ Rozan. Both the All-Genre and Speculative Fiction Workshops have 7 writers signed up, while Book Coach Lisa Lickel will work one-on-one with 2 writers and their completed manuscripts. And yet we have room for a few more, although the registration deadlines are quickly approaching. It will be an exciting week June 16-22 at the Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin.
Scholarships Awarded
The Siena Retreat Center has graciously awarded the Novel Bookcamp a discount that allows us to award two partial scholarships to writers who need assistance to attend June 16-22. Selected to receive the partial scholarships are:
Tracey Luvik from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, a poet and short story writer now enrolled in our Writing Retreat.
Moe Shalabi from the District of Columbia, a Palestinian-American author of literary and speculative fiction working on a fantasy novel.
We thank the staff of the Siena Retreat Center for this most appreciated assistance.
– Dave Rank, director
Get Ready for Camp!
PACKING TIPS FROM JENNIFER FOR NOVEL BOOKCAMP
There’s about six weeks until Novel Bookcamp and even though this is my 8th time, I’m as excited as the first. This is my favorite writing week of the year. Dave Rank will be sending out a comprehensive sheet listing advice and information. It’s jam-packed with tips and gives a first-timer good insights as to what to expect. Meanwhile, I’m sharing a few of my thoughts and tips.
First-timers sometimes wonder about what to pack. The general guidelines are:
Pack comfortable casual clothes and shoes. No need to dress up.
Pack layers as it can get cool indoors with the air conditioning.
If you plan to spend time outdoors, be forewarned: the weather is “weather-y” in Wisconsin and it’s cooler by the lake.
Definitely bring shampoo (and conditioner if you use it).
Bug spray and sunblock if you plan to do some walking.
Pack a hair dryer if you need one but no one will be judge-y about wet hair.
Bedding is provided but I bring my own pillow and comforter because I’m a delicate flower.
There are many healthy snacks on offer, but feel free to bring your own personal favorites.
Thumbs up on bringing your own adult beverages—beer, wine, margaritas, etc. If you’re flying in, we’ll do a liquor run.
A multi-plug adapter can be handy for charging your electronics in your room. There are never enough outlets.
Display Your Work
If you have promotional items you’d like me to include in the welcome bags, let me know (jrupp25@gmail.com). Bring business cards, book marks and any other marketing materials you’d like to share. If you have published books you’d like to sell or display, bring them along.
Each author handles payment individually. Dave will provide more details.
Upon Arrival
The large parking lot is pretty far from the main building, so when you arrive at Sienna, pull your car up to the front doors. There are carts and luggage trollies for your convenience. Once you’ve unloaded, you can park in the lot to make room for others.
Email me if you have more questions. See you all very soon!
Jennifer Rupp — Novel Bookcamp Alumni
Sign up for your June 16th—22nd 2024 Bookcamp experience today!
What are You Working on?
Deborah L. King: I'm sitting here thinking about this summer's bookcamp... and making plans for how productive I’ll be while I'm there. Mind you, I'm not being particularly productive right now. I'm procrastinating. Ok, yes, thinking about bookcamp is writing adjacent, but it’s not actual writing.
My characters aren't speaking to me. Well... that's not exactly correct. There's this cacophony of character voices and they're all speaking over each other and I can't distinguish one from another.
Lois is not going softly into that good night, and Barbara doesn't know how she wound up running an underground railroad. Megan just wants to get back home, Gail can't believe she's on a gospel tour bus, and Lingyun doesn't know his life is about to flash before his eyes. They all want me to write their parts but they're not giving me the deets. Oh yeah, there's also this teenaged couple who don't want an abortion and are dealing with parent and peer pressure. Their voices are just as loud as the others... but they're not being very forthcoming either.
I know, I know... I'm the writer... I should be controlling and organizing the voices... not letting them push me around and all that...
... but yeah... I'm procrastinating and making grand plans... while I have about six weeks to have something tangible to show an agent.
Ok... yeah, I'm gonna write tomorrow... for real...
Check out the Speculative Literature Foundation for great grant opportunities for speculative fiction writers!
Sign up for your June 16th—22nd 2024 Bookcamp experience today!
Meet a Camper
While at camp last year, did you get to meet Deborah L. King?
Though Deborah L. King has been a writer and storyteller her whole life, publishing her first short story at seven years old, she took 32 years to complete her first novel. All three of her award winning books were worked on at bookcamp. Most recently, Mary Not Broken won second place in the BooksShelf Writing Contest in the new release category. As a fiction writer, Deborah loves the work of Octavia Butler, classic Stephen King, Peter David, and the illustrations of Dan DeCarlo. She loves storms, champagne, Old Time Radio, and 70s Blues and Soul. Thanks to an interesting childhood, she’s afraid of escalators, bill collectors, and sometimes fresh produce.
Along with being a Vulcan and a bread-bender, Deborah enjoys cartoons, baking, photography, and old Star Trek. Born and raised in Chicago, she has managed to achieve all of her childhood dreams—artist, teacher, baker, photographer, model, writer— and still lives in the area with her husband and youngest son. According to her daughter, she has “literally aced her life!”
If you attended the 2023 season, please click here to share your stories and pics and what you’re working on with us. They might appear in the next newsletter.
2023 Camper News
Maggie Smith’s latest novel and first psychological suspense releases May 21. It's called Blindspot and centers around an ambitious district attorney and single mother who hunts down the person stalking her only to wind up arrested for murder when he turns up dead. She worked on this one during the retreat last summer 2023 and S.J. was kind enough to blurb it for her.
Do You Have Any Camper News or Success or WIP Stories?
All camp alumni are invited to share their news and success stories. Please click here to fill out the form and let us know how you’re doing!
Sign up for your June 16th—22nd 2024 Bookcamp experience today!
Meet the Visiting Agents
Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong is senior agent at The Purcell Agency, based in Deerfield, Illinois. She represents Contemporary and Historical Romance, Upmarket Women’s Fiction, Mysteries, Thrillers, and Young Adult Fiction. https://www.thepurcellagency.com/
Claire Harris is a literary agent at PS Literary with a passion for a wide range of fiction and non-fiction for adults. In fiction, she’s looking for adult rom-coms, horror, psychological thrillers, contemporary fiction, women’s fiction, and cozy mysteries—all for millennial audiences, specifically.
Laura Zats, is co-founder and agent of Headwater Literary Management, Minneapolis, Minnesota, working with both adult and YA Science fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Literary fiction with speculative elements, and select Contemporary and Historical Fiction. https://www.headwaterliterary.com/
Kelly Van Sant is KT Literary’s contracts manager and a literary agent seeking Middle Grade, Young Adult, and limited women’s fiction across all genres, including fantasy, science fiction, adventure, historical, and contemporary. https://ktliterary.com/
Coming Soon at NIP 2024
Beginner Yoga to start the day, an "Avoiding Stereotypes in your Writing" workshop for Thursday afternoon, and dessert and wine browsing the vendor fair time scheduled in between dinner and the evening presentations—time to browse and meet the authors or crafters and get your merch signed.
Sign up for your June 16th—22nd, 2024 Bookcamp experience today.
All Genre Bookcamp sessions with Christina Marrocco and Jason Tanamor
Spec Fic Bookcamp sessions with Hank Schwaeble and Mary Anne Mohanraj
Book Coach led by Lisa Lickel, WWA Press manager
Writer’s Retreat with mentor SJ Rozan, NYT best-selling author
Applications are still being accepted for both All-Genre and Spec Fiction tracks, which are edging closer to being filled, so get your applications in. The Book Coach has room for one or two more writers with completed manuscripts, while the Retreat is at capacity with a waiting list.
A Day at Bookcamp
Wednesday, June 19th
Breakfast open 24/7
7:30 Optional Daily light Yoga for writers – bring your mat
8:30-9:50 Scene and Setting workshop
9:50-10:10 Break
10:10-11:30 part 2 Scene and Setting
Noon Lunch
1-2:20 Writing Clinic
1-5:30 Individual assigned mentor sessions
2-4:30 All-Genre and Spec Critique Sessions
4:30-5:30 Query Letter Clinic with Dave
5:30 Dinner
6:30 Dessert & Wine gathering in the Vendor area of the Cedar Room
7:30 Evening Presentation: Kelly Van Sant – Contracts
9:00 Optional Evening Chat
Sign up for your June 16th—22nd, 2024 Bookcamp experience today!
Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp and Writing Retreat, Inc. Supportive Friends
Members of each Supportive Friend organization can enroll in a Novel Bookcamp Workshop or Writing Retreat at a discounted rate. Discount not available for the Novel Bookcamp Book Coach program.
Chicago Writers Association (CWA) Website: https://www.chicagowrites.org
Off Campus Writers’ Workshop (OCWW) Website: https://ocww.info
Wisconsin Writers Association (WWA) Website: https://wiwrite.org
Sign up for your June 16th—22nd, 2024 Bookcamp experience today!
Look for the next issue of the Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp and Writing Retreat Newsletter in early July 2024.
Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp and Writing Retreat, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization based in Wisconsin.
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