Romance Writer Brenda Hiatt

Brenda Hiatt began writing in 1988, an Army wife at home with two preschool children. She promised herself that if nothing sold before her youngest began school she’d get a “real job,” so she was thrilled to sell a Regency romance novel to Harlequin six months ahead of that deadline. Originally from Virginia, Brenda received degrees in Biology and Psychology from the College of William and Mary, in Williamsburg, before attending graduate school at Texas A&M University. She has since lived in Hawaii, South Carolina, Texas, and now Indiana.

Brenda now writes full time and lives in Indianapolis with her husband and two daughters. To date, she has published six Harlequin Regency Romances, one Harlequin Superromance, two single title historical romances with HarperCollins and six historical romances with Avon Books. Brenda’s first single title historical romance, SCANDALOUS VIRTUE, received rave reviews in Publisher’s Weekly and other media and was named Best Romance Novel of 1999 by the American Book Readers Association. She prides herself on her thorough historical research, and when she takes a break from the past, Brenda embraces the future by teaching writing classes on the Internet.

An active member of Romance Writers of America since 1990, Brenda participates every year in RWA’s Readers for Life Literacy Autographing, which since 1990 has raised over $300,000 for adult literacy. Brenda has also served as President of Novelists, Inc, an international organization of over 600 multi-published novelists.

Welcome to the First Annual Indy BookTalk Conference

The Education Department of Indiana estimates that 700,000 Indiana adults are functionally illiterate. Another 850,000 Hoosiers over the age of 25 do not have a high school diploma.

The City of Lawrence and Community Health Network have joined forces with WriteStuff Writers to create the first-of-its-kind celebration of reading in central Indiana: Indy BookTalk.

October 11th, 2008

National best-selling authors Susan Crandall, Margo Hammond, Ellen Heltzel, and Norbert Krapf headline this inaugural event to benefit the Lawrence Township Continuing Education program. Designed to appeal to readers, writers, and book clubs, Indy BookTalk will make a positive step towards helping students and adults overcome literacy problems.

Saturday Morning Program

Join WIBC-FM morning talk show personality Terri Stacy as she hosts special guests, celebrity authors and Indiana artistic talent in the entertaining and informative morning program of the popular “WriteStuff Studio!”

Author To Author Morning Presentations Include:

• J. Andy Murphy, in conversation with authors Margo Hammond and Ellen Heltzel, prize-winning journalists, contributing columnists and book critics (USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Atlanta Monthly, Seattle Times and Wall Street Journal) with their new book, “Between The Covers: The Book Babes’ Guide to a Woman’s Reading Pleasures.”
• Brenda Hiatt Barber in conversation with national best-selling, award-winning, fiction author Susan Crandall as she shares her thoughts on her newest, book, Pitch Black (Published by Warner). Additional Warner books include: Back Roads, The Road Home, Promises to Keep, Magnolia Sky, On Blue Falls Pond and A Kiss in Winter.
• Reid Dufffy, in conversation with historical fiction author, James Alexander Thom (St. Patrick’s Brigade/revised).
• Ray Boomhower, in conversation with Pulitzer prize nominated author/poet and Indiana’s new Poet Laureate, Norbert Krapf (The Ripest Moments: A Southern Indiana Childhood).
• Jean Deeds, in conversation with Ray Boomhower (Robert F. Kennedy and 1968 Indiana Primary).

Closing the morning program, CBS WISH-TV personality Dick Wolfsie will host a super fun WriteStuff Game Show: “Wait! I Know The Answer!” Celebrity contestants will match wits to win special door prizes for guests in the audience.

Register Now for the General Admission Pass >

Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso

One of the bestselling authors in the world of spiritual books for children that are nonsectarian, written for people of all faiths, Rabbi Sasso has also just published her first book for adults, God’s Echo: Exploring Scripture with Midrash. She is an outspoken advocate for discovering new ways to talk meaningfully about spiritual things.

Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso (RRC ’74) was the first woman ordained by the Reconstructionist movement. She shares the pulpit of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck with her husband, Rabbi Dennis Sasso (RRC ’74). She is the author of several highly successful children’s books, including What Is God’s Name? and A Prayer for the Earth: The Story of Naamah, Noah’s Wife. She co-authored Siddur Kol HaNo’ar: The Voice of Children, a children’s siddur (2005).

Book Babes, Hammond and Heltzel

With tongues firmly planted in cheeks, “The Book Babes” are the prizewinning journalists and book critics Margo Hammond and Ellen Heltzel. BookTalk attendees will be the first to have a chance to buy their new book, Book Babes: Between the Covers (Da Capo, a division of Perseus Group) as the book’s official release date is in November! Book Babes–Between the Covers is based on women’s interests and recommendations to suit every mood and stage of a woman’s life!

Who are The Book Babes?

Who are The Book Babes?

 They’re the bibliophile’s Ebert & Roeper. They’re prizewinning journalists and book critics. And they’re the authors of Between the Covers: The Book Babes’ Guide to a Woman’s Reading Pleasures (Da Capo Press; November 2008). Seeking to nurture fellowship around the love of books, the Margo Hammond and Ellen Heltzel first teamed up as The Book Babes in 2002 to write a weekly column for Poynter Online. They have also written a weekly column for the Book Standard, the sister online publication of Kirkus Reviews, a monthly column for the Good Housekeeping Magazine online, and articles for the San Jose Mercury and the Minneapolis Star Tribune.   

In 2007, they launched a monthly radio show with WMNF-FM in Tampa , FL. As solo acts or together, they have appeared on NBC’s “Today Show” and C-SPAN’s “Book TV,” and their work has appeared in magazines and newspapers across the country.   

Margo Hammond, former book editor for the St. Petersburg Times, has served as a National Book Critics Circle board member and as president of the Southern Book Critics Circle. She wrote a weekly travel column for the The York Times Syndicate and worked at The Atlantic Monthly, the Washington Star, and the Baltimore Sun. She lives in St. Petersburg , Florida .

 Ellen Heltzel was features and book editor at The Oregonian. She serves on the National Book Critics board and writes for a host of publications, including The Washington Post, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, and The Seattle Times. She lives in Portland , Oregon .  

www.thebookbabes.com

Best-Selling Author Susan Crandall

Meet award-winning women’s fiction author Susan Crandall as she shares her thoughts on her newest, book, Pitch Black (Published by Warner). Additional Warner books include: Back Roads, The Road Home, Promises to Keep, Magnolia Sky, On Blue Falls Pond and A Kiss in Winter.

Dick Wolfsie

For the past 15 years on WISH-TV’s Daybreak, Dick Wolfsie has lent his unique brand of wit and humor to the screen. His video essays and personal stories are unique to Indiana television. Many are syndicated nationally.

After 25 years in Indianapolis, this former high school and college English teacher has netted over 10,000 hours of television. Wolfsie’s work in the media has netted him over a dozen awards including a regional Emmy for best host, a national ACE award and a Casper Award for five years as host and producer of AM Indiana. He was recently nominated for his second Emmy Award.

Norbert Krapf

Norbert Krapf, author of Invisible Presence and the forthcoming Bloodroot, was recently named Indiana Poet Laureate by the Indiana Arts Commision.

The Poet Laureate represents the State of Indiana and the art of poetry through the development and implementation of programming to the education community and general public. The Poet Laureate makes formal presentations at various educational facilities and offers advice to the Commission concerning ways to further the art of poetry in Indiana.

Patron’s Wine & Cheese Reception

Meet celebrity authors, view art exhibits, watch a short documentary film created by Indiana filmaker Dan Hall, and rub elbows with sponsors and supporters of literacy programs in the Lawrence Township community. The very popular blues & jazz band, Nexus, will be on hand as well. Event will be held in Ft. Harrison’s Sterrett Center. Reception is free to registered WriteStuff Writers’ Full Access Pass participants.

Friday, October 10th 6:00-9:00 pm
Location TBD

Short Story Competition

Showcase your writing talent and WIN! Announcing the new Indy BookTalk Short Story Competition! Enter your fiction short story in the Indy BookTalk Writer’s Competition! Compose 500 words in Word format (2 page limit) of an original work of fiction/never published before story. Competition open to adults and youths (12-17 years of age). Contest will open July 30, 2008 closing entry submissions on August 30, 2008. Entry fee: $20 per entry for adults and $10 per entry for youths. Registration for downloading entry forms will open soon! Winning entries will be announced during the NOON BookMark luncheon!

Short Story Submission Form

1. Your Name(required)
2. Address
3. City, State, Zip
4. Phone(required)
5. E-mail(valid email required)
6. Age Category 12-17 years old 18+ years old
7. I have read and agree to the rules posted Yes No
8. Short Story
9. (optional) Upload Story in MS Word or Adobe PDF

 

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Note: After submission, you will be directed to our online store through which you must pay your registration fees.

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