Without question, the programming at the North Carolina Writers’ Network 2018 Fall Conference is going to be stupendous. Top-notch faculty; sessions in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and writing for the stage and screen; faculty readings; open mics; and more.
But no Fall Conference experience would be complete without setting aside plenty of time to meander through the exhibit hall. This year, you’ll find some of the leading literary organizations in North Carolina selling books; offering quality programming; and hoping to talk to authors just like you.
This week, we’ll be highlighting our exhibitors, four at a time.
Without further ado…
Blair (www.blairpub.com)
On January 1, 2018, Carolina Wren Press and John F. Blair, Publisher, became Blair: a nonprofit, independent press that publishes diverse books, including literary fiction, poetry, and nonfiction about the American South and beyond. With a firm foundation of new and backlist books about culture, history, travel, and food in the Southeastern US and beyond, Blair also publishes literary fiction titles of both national and regional interest, with a focus on new and diverse voices. New titles include Freedom Fighters and Hell Raisers by Hal Crowther, a collection of profiles of Southern “trouble-makers”; Useful Phrases for Immigrants by May-Lee Chai, a luminous and sharp-eyed story collection for an increasingly globalized world; and All We Know of Pleasure: Poetic Erotica by Women, edited by Enid Shomer. Follow Blair on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and visit them on the web. Blair accepts nonfiction book proposals year-round; they accept fiction and memoir through their three annual contests.
Blue Crow Publishing (www.bluecrowpublishing.com)
Blue Crow Publishing, based in Chapel Hill, is an independent publisher of fiction and nonfiction founded in 2016. They publish fiction of a variety of genres under their Blue Crow Books imprint, and nonfiction, including memoir and social commentary, under their Raven Books imprint. Their Young Adult imprint, Goldenjay Books, will publish its first titles in the fall of 2018. They are a socially conscious press that prioritizes original voices and traditionally marginalized authors. They operate according to five guiding principles. These five beliefs inform their decisions every day.
• They believe that authors should be treated with honesty and respect.
• They believe books should be beautiful and of high quality.
• They believe that the best books are sometimes overlooked by publishers.
• They believe that great writing is not limited by genre.
• They believe that all authors deserve a voice, especially those whose writing the publishing world has so often turned its back on.
The co-founders of Blue Crow Publishing are Lauren Faulkenberry and Katie Rose Guest Pryal. Follow Blue Crow Publishing on Facebook, Twitter, or visit them on the web.
Charlotte Readers Podcast (www.charlottereaderspodcast.com)
This brand-new podcast lets listeners meet Charlotte-area authors and those who visit the Queen City, and hear writers read their work. Author and host Landis Wade encourages authors to read and talk about their award-winning, published, and emerging works, the kind of stories and poems that touch the emotions, followed by the kind of questions and answers that offer depth and insight into the readings. Wade is a recovering trial lawyer who starts each day walking Gus and Lori, two rescue dogs named after characters from Larry McMurtry’s classic western, Lonesome Dove. When he doesn’t have a dog leash or a keyboard in his hands, he’s probably holding a fly-rod, a golf club, or a cold beverage at a Carolina Panthers or Charlotte Knights game. Add to that a digital podcast recorder and the recovery from trial work is almost complete. Episode 1 just dropped. It features corporate lawyer by day, author by night Paul Kurzejais, whose “Beach Subsidy” won the James McGavran Award from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where Paul is getting his MA. The Charlotte Readers Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and on the World Wide Web.
Charlotte Writers’ Club (www.charlottewritersclub.org)
Established in 1922, The Charlotte Writers’ Club (or CWC, as their members affectionately call it) provides a great opportunity for writers of all forms—and there are so many—to meet and discuss the latest trends, commiserate on projects, find critique groups, and participate in contests and workshops. The Charlotte Writers’ Club officially meets the third Tuesday of every month at Providence United Methodist Church, Rm. 214. They host an Open Mic every third Friday at 7:00 pm at Mug’s Coffee. They also host writing workshops year-round, led by guest faculty. Critique groups meet regularly. The Charlotte Writers’ Club also sponsors four annual contests: the Ruth Moose Flash Fiction contest; a Nonfiction and a Poetry competition; and the Elizabeth Simpson Smith Short Story Contest. Charlotte Writers’ Club members receive discounts on classes; the opportunity to read their work; a host of networking opportunities; and a regular newsletter. To subscribe to their newsletter, click here. Follow CWC on Facebook or visit them on the web.
Registration for the North Carolina Writers’ Network 2018 Fall Conference is open through October 26.