Events for Writers to Meet with Authors and Publishing Agents

Oct. 7 “Writers on Writing” event and Nov. 15 Publishing Institute offer writers tips on getting published, face-to-face interaction with authors and agents

MILWAUKEE (September 11, 2014) – Mount Mary University’s English Department will present two events for area writers and those seeking to publish their work. Both events will take place on campus and are open to the public. 

On Tuesday, October 7, food writer and blogger Mary-Liz Shaw will speak at 6:30 p.m. as the featured presenter for the fall “Writers on Writing” event. Currently a copy editor for Readers’ Digest, Shaw has over 15 years of experience as a writer and editor specializing in features on food and nutrition, children's literature and entertainment, literary fiction and nonfiction, film, pop culture and lifestyle topics (crafts, fashion and interior design). Her column, “A Literal Feast” appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for over a decade and her short stories have appeared in Alimentum, a literary food journal, Cicada, a bi-monthly journal for young adults, and in the collection, Anthology: Realistic Fiction from Cicada. She is currently at work on two novels.

Shaw has a BA in English Literature from the University of Toronto and an MFA in children’s writing from Hollins University in Roanoke, VA. 

The Oct. 7 “Writers on Writing” event will take place in Helfaer Hall which is located on the first floor of Caroline Hall. Space is limited and reservations are recommended.

On Saturday, November 15, Mount Mary’s Master of Arts in English program will sponsor its Publishing Institute, a day-long gathering for writers to learn about getting published. Bret Anthony Johnston, award-winning author of Corpus Christi: Stories and Director of Creative Writing at Harvard University will keynote the event. A panel of three visiting authors will discuss first book deals, and breakout sessions on query letters, custom and e-publishing, writing communities, and post-publication marketing will also be offered. The event will conclude with author readings and book signings. 

The Publishing Institute will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in North Dining Hall which is located on the second floor of Bergstrom Hall. The cost to attend the event is $45 ($35 for students with a valid ID).  Limited one-on-one sessions to pitch a writing project with a publishing agent are available for an additional $20 on a first come, first served basis. Space is limited and pre-registration is recommended.

For more information on both events, or to register for the Publishing Institute, contact Karen Murray in Mount Mary’s English Department at murrayk@mtmary.edu or (414) 258-4810, ext. 395.