Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp and Writing Retreat, Inc.
Newsletter 2; November 2023
Greetings Campers and Future Campers! This is the November issue of our bi-monthly newsletter. This month we’re featuring campers’ news, author spotlights, 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 January. To feature your news and updates, please click here to fill out the form.
A Word from Our Director
As registrations come in for our 2024 programs, June 16-22, at the Siena Retreat Center I ask writers newly enrolling how they learned about Novel Bookcamp. Often, they tell me a friend, writing group member or Bookcamp alumna mentioned how much they learned during a Novel Bookcamp week. I love to hear that both as an affirmation that our programs help writers advance their craft and WIPs and also because word-of-mouth is the best advertising we can ask for. Thank you all who mention us to your fellow writers and at writing events you attend.
I encourage all of you who are following our news and developments to continue spreading the word about the value of attending a Novel Bookcamp week. Feel free to tell others about our website, http://www.novelbookcamp.org, tell them to join our newsletter mailing list through the website, and even encourage the curious to contact me directly at director@novelbookcamp.org. Every mention helps.
Good writing to you!
Dave R.
Early Bird Prices Deadline December 31st
We're offering our lowest registration prices through December 31, 2023. Take advantage of these Early Bird prices for either our of Bookcamp Workshops or our Writing Retreat at the June 16-22, 2024 Novel Bookcamp!
We offer two workshops for writers looking for instruction on how to construct a novel or creative nonfiction project: Our All-Genre Workshop is for writers working in reality-based genres; our Speculative Fiction Workshop is for writers of Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and related genres. Both Workshop tracks keep you busy for the week with classes, presentations, critiques, and one-on-one consultations tailored to improve your craft and the manuscript you are working on during the Novel Bookcamp week. We also will provide information on the publishing business.
Our Writing Retreat is designed for writers who want to spend the week at the Siena Retreat Center focused on their writing, editing, or developing their next creative project, no matter the genre or format. Besides six days of writing time, our Retreat is Mentored by award-winning mystery novelist SJ Rozan, who will provide daily encouragement and be a resource for you to discuss your project, work out plot problems, or brainstorm ideas. Retreat Writers also have access to many of our scheduled presentations and all social activities.
Check out our website, http://www.novelbookcamp.org, for details and prices. See you in June.
Sign up for your 2024 Bookcamp experience today!
2024 bookcamp will take place at Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin. 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, 24-hour beverage and continental breakfast.
Meet a Camper
While at camp this year, did you get a chance to meet Steve Wilton?
Steve Wilton is a retired former non-commissioned officer in the United States Army. His developmental years and his time in the service exposed him to many cultures and life experiences that help shape his writing style. He has taken two writing courses from the University of Wisconsin’s continuing education program and has completed four sessions at Novel in Progress Book Camp and Writing Retreat. He has also attended the Lakefly writing conference. Steve is a member of both the Chicago Writers Association and the Wisconsin Writers Association. His debut novel, Queen of Crows, was released in 2021. Keep up with Steve at SLWilton.com
If you attended the 2023 season, please click here to share your stories and pics with us. They might appear in the next newsletter.
Camper News
In October, camper Deborah L. King launched her third novel MARY NOT BROKEN at a reception hosted by Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell. At the sold-out event, guests were treated to a light lunch, readings, an interview, and a book discussion with Q&A. MARY NOT BROKEN, the story of a young woman’s journey through the Great Migration, an arranged marriage, and life in mid-century Chicago, is the prequel to Deborah’s GLORY BISHOP series.
From Renee James: The screenplay version of BeatNikki's Cafe won the Chicago Script Awards. It's not likely the story will ever be produced as a movie, but the book it's based on is available from Amazon and on-line retailers, and can be ordered from Indie bookstore. BeatNikki's Cafe features a transgender heroine.
Tricia Penske Quinnies, writing as Audrey Lyndon, has released her novel, The Artful Bargain, contemporary women’s fiction, “a romantic adventure with a caper twist, an anti-heist, and a nod to the modern art world. It explores the challenges and rewards of trust, passion, and creative integrity.”
Dave Rank’s flash fiction story, "Sanctuary," is in the newly released special paperback edition of the Shallow Waters Horror Flash Fiction Anthology, page 95. The anthology is a collection of pieces published by Crystal Lake Publishing and edited by Joe Mynhardt; stories published online over the years through Crystal Lake's Flash Fiction writing contest.
Do You Have Any Camper News or Success 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!
Guess What… A New NIP Website!
Hey! Check out our new and improved Novel Bookcamp website!
Dates, prices, programming, and registration information are operational. Hopefully, the site will be easy to navigate and easy to read. Check in often for new blog posts and updates on staffing. Take advantage of our Early Bird Registration Prices opening on September 1st. Tell your writer friends to check us out, too!]
Announcing NIP 2024
Sign up for your 2024 Bookcamp experience today.
Early-bird discount pricing ends December 31st!
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
Meet the Instructors
S J Rozan, Retreat Mentor
Novel Bookcamp’s Center Player
One of the very best things about Novel Bookcamp is SJ Rozan. Every year she imparts some great craft insights that I can use and keep in my writer’s toolbox. Her style of teaching is what I would call Socratic. Those who attend have conversations with SJ. She reads your work, gives insightful criticism, actionable criticism, but most importantly, she listens carefully, gives serious consideration to your questions, and engenders conversation among the group. She is widely published, has won many awards, speaks at events all over the US, and yet year after year, she returns to Novel Bookcamp because she enjoys the intimacy of our small group sessions. Spend one hour at a lunch table with SJ and you will feel as though you have made a real friend. SJ loves basketball and even though she only comes up to my armpit, if Novel Bookcamp was a basketball team, SJ Rozan would be its center.
Check out SJ’s website: http://sjrozan.net/ Friend her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sj.rozan. And read her Lydia Chin/Bill Smith series. The first four books are currently on Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XM3TVNY
All-Genre Instructor, Christina Marrocco
One of our new All-Genre camp instructors, looks forward to meeting everyone at Bookcamp in June. She is an author and poet as well as writer of literary fiction, short story, and creative nonfiction. She often sets her work in Illinois and the Driftless Region of Wisconsin, having a foot in each state all of her life. Her debut novel, Addio, Love Monster, won Best New Indie Fiction, 2022, Chicago Writers Association. She has a second novel forthcoming with a UK press, and is working on two book length pieces of Creative Nonfiction. Her poetry has appeared in Silverbirch Press, Red Fern Review, House Mountain Review, and the Laurel Review. Christina teaches Creative Writing, Literature, and Composition at Elgin Community College, Elgin, Illinois and is the new Prose Editor for Ovunque Siamo.
Sign up for your 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 2024 Bookcamp experience today!
Look for the next issue of the Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp and Writing Retreat Newsletter in early January 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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