NEWS & EVENTS

Chuck thurston is the Regional Rep for the North Carolina Writer's Network. For more info on the NCWN, contact Executive Director, Ed Southern: ed@ncwriters.org, or Comminications Director Charles Fiore, charles@ncwriters.org.

What About Reviews?

It's often said that review writing on Amazon entries is a kind of incestuous exercise among authors. I write a five star review for your book, and you return the compliment for mine. This practice probably makes for a lot of reviews that are disengenuous at best -- and blatant puffery at worst. Since do-it-yourself publishing has made it possible for almost anyone to publish anything, the end result of all this may be a tsunami of very bad books; consequently, good writers with something to say, are caught in the flotsam. What are your thoughts? I'd like to hear them. Contact me at cthurston@ctc.net if you have ideas to share.

Join us at the Dilworth Coffee House on George Liles Blvd. in Concord, NC, on the 4th Wednesday of every month for the Rowan/Cabarrus Writer's Night Out. Every meeting will feature a local writer, poet or other artist who will present and lead a discussion on a topic of interest to writers generally.

The Discussion session will start at 7:00 p.m., but get there early to sign up and grab a cup of that good Dilworth coffee to before we start.

We'll end with an open mike. Bring your poetry or short prose and share it with us, or just chat with other writers about projects, experiences, ideas, etc.

Of course -- writers like readers, so if you just want to drop by and listen, welcome!

Here's what's coming up in the next few months:

Wednesday, February 26th: Discussion leader is Lisa Glisson, CEO of Cosmic Casserole Press, who will talk about the mission statement and business model she used to launch Joanna Chapman’s Divine Secrets of the Ta-Ta Sisterhood: Pledging the Pink Sorority. Lisa will share her thoughts on printing and distribution options as well as how to assemble a team of editors, cover artists, book interior designers, proofreaders, etc. She will also discuss the importance of advance reader copies, how to get professional reviews and steps needed to make your books library friendly. Finally, she’ll share what types of narrative nonfiction manuscripts her team is looking to acquire. Since the book’s summer release date, Divine Secrets of the Ta-Ta Sisterhood, reviewed by Library Journal, Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, has been ordered by 100+ libraries. Heidi Thurston says this book ought to be in the waiting room of every oncologist in the country.

Wednesday, March 26th: Discussion leader Chuck Thurston. His two books of collected columns, Senior Scribbles Unearthed, and Senior Scribbles Second Dose have been published by Second Wind Publishers. He and his wife Heidi Thurston are collaborating on a mystery series – the first of which should be out by the end of this year.It’s possible to spend thousands of dollars getting your work edited. In edition to his own work, Chuck has written and /or edited literally 10’s of thousands of web pages and college and corporate course work on business, management and technical issues. Believe him when he says he never paid a dime for any of it. He will discuss self-editing your work.

Wednesday, April 23rd: Discussion leader Melinda Metz. If you’re in interested in writing for television, you’ll want to hear Melinda describe her experiences. This very prolific writer has written – and scripted for television – several of her young adult stories.And when we say prolific, we mean it. Just for fun, go to Amazon and put Melinda Metz in the search window. We are very fortunate to have a discussion leader with her experience - and who, in my own opinion - is beyond generous in sharing it.

Chuck Thurston podcast with The Less Desireables

If you get an invitation to join these guys at the mikes for one of their weekly podcasts, don't turn it down -- but bring your A interview game with you! This is undoubtedly one of the hippest, edgiest, ribald and most irreverant bunch of dudes on the net! Tim, Brian, Matt and Eugene host an eclectic collection of characters to sit in the hot seat with them and bare their souls. My turn was Wednesday evening, July 31, 2013. Link below to hear the badinage.

http://thelessdesirables.com/podcasts/073113.mp3

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Old Courthouse Theatre

The Old Courthouse Theater, in Concord, NC produces some of the best little theater experiences in the Charlotte, NC region. Check out their website for information on coming productions.