Past and Upcoming Events

WE ARE UKRAINIAN Book Club Appearance

Delighted to be Zooming with this international book club from Canada, the US, UK, and Australia. We will be discussing MY REAL NAME IS HANNA just before the Easter holiday. HANNA features the art of pysanka making.

VOICES OF DIVERSITY WITH MULTICULTURAL WRITERS PANEL

I've been invited by the Amelia Island Writers Group to join this panel with editor Dr. Beverly Davis and educator and author Dr. Ardain Isma. Books will be available, hosted by the wonderful Story & Song Bookstore.  Story & Song Center for Arts and Culture, Amelia Island, 1430 Park Avenue, Fernandina Beach, FL. More info here. 3-5 PM

LIBRARIES FOR KIDS, INTERNATIONAL: AUTHOR APPEARANCE

Appearing at the nonprofit's monthly author talk in Blufton, SC. This wonderful organization sends children's books to African schools and libraries. Books will be available. More info on LFK here 10:30-11:30 AM

AUTHOR BOOK CLUB MEETING

Appearance with a local St. Augustine Book Club reading MY REAL NAME IS HANNA at 6 PM

FLORIDA WRITERS ASSOC. CLAY COUNTY SPEAKERS PANEL ON HISTORICAL RESEARCH

How does one approach doing great research and surfacing facts as foundational pieces to the writing, whether real history or fictional history? The same holds for assessing developing history (aka current news). Ukraine is the backdrop that Ukrainian poet Nicky Yurcaba and I will use to share how we find truth in research. Hosted by writer Lou Pugliese. Will include other speakers during the Q&A who specialize in WWII history. Open to the public. Fleming Island Library, 1895 Town Center Blvd., Fleming Island, FL. 10-12 AM

GUEST SPEAKER FOR WRITEABILITY'S BOOK CLUB & WRITING SEMINAR ONLINE: I'm happy to announce that I've been selected as a Featured Author for WRITEABILITY’s Book Club and Craft Seminar for Writers, an inspiring new program that will examine work from celebrated authors through the lens of a writer, considering the authors’ creative lives and writing processes.

TENESSEE WILLIAMS & NEW ORLEANS LITERARY FESTIVAL:

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Literary Discussion: Otherworldly Fiction |  11:30-12:45 PM | Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Ballroom | $25 or Literary Discussion Pass or VIP Pass.

The skill of world building is essential to fine fiction, inviting the reader to enter the author’s fully created world. Ariadne Blayde enters into the world of French Quarter ghost tours to give us a New Orleans we’ve only glimpsed before. Tara Lynn Masih takes us to the boundaries of nature and place, known for her skill in flash fiction, and Nick Medina explores the intersection of indigenous crime fiction/horror and the tensions between the life of reservation community and the burgeoning casino culture. David Slayton writes the sorts of books he always hoped to read, fantasies of warlocks and druids. All of these writers are skilled in the uses of imagination and atmosphere.

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Festival Closing Event: A Celebration of Writers |  2:30-3:45 PM | Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Ballroom | Free and open to the public.

Our 2024 closing event celebrates writers who are award-winning and accomplished, alongside some up-and-coming writers to watch. We’ll begin with a poetry reading by our new Louisiana Poet Laureate, Alison Pelegrin. Also included are readings by our writing contest winners and judges, including our Very Short Fiction Judge, Tara Lynn Masih, and a staged reading of the winning one-act play, directed by David Hoover. We’ll also feature readings from local community writing groups who support and promote emerging writers by hosting writing marathons, readings, submission happy hours, and free writing workshops.

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FLORIDA WRITER'S CON 2023: SHORT STORY HOW TO: CREATING, COMPILING, & MARKETING SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS

Appearing with fellow St. Augustine short story writer Kim Bradley at this conference hosted by the Florida Writers Association. Book signing to follow. Hilton Altamonte, FL. 2:15-3:15 ET

FIRST ANNUAL BOOK FESTIVAL: MAKE YOUR OWN STORY

I'm honored to be the Keynote Speaker at this inaugural event hosted by the African American Cultural Society, Inc. I'll be signing books after the address but will also be at the book fair from 9:30 AM on the 19th. African American Cultural Society Cultural Center and Museum, 4422 US HWY 1 North, Palm Coast, FL, 32110

RIVER CITY WRITERS

Will be discussing the short story with the Jacksonville chapter of the Florida Writers Association. FREE and open to the public.Southeast Regional Public Library, 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 3225

WORD OF SOUTH MUSIC & LITERARY FESTIVAL, TALLAHASSEE, FL

Part of an award-winning fiction panel for the Florida Book Awards (including winner David Sanchez) located at the Midtown Reader Stage 12:30-1:30 PM

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FLORIDA BOOK AWARDS BANQUET April 20 honoring the award winners