Bloomington Art Center's Literary Council announces the

5th Annual Bloomington Writers' Festival and Book Fair

Saturday, April 5, 2008
9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Bloomington Center for the Arts
1800 W Old Shakopee Rd

Co-sponsor: Midwest Independent Publishers Assn.
Join us for a Day with Writers, Publishers, Editors and Readers!

The Writers' Festival connects budding and established writers with published authors and other experts in the field to share information, techniques, skills and resources. The Festival also connects published authors with readers. Take some classes, meet writers and writers' resource organizations and businesses and learn about the art of writing. Buy signed copies of new books directly from the authors. Learn about local book clubs and writers groups.

9:30 am - Keynote Speaker: Faith Sullivan (pictured at left), author of 7 books of fiction, most recent, Gardenias: A Novel.

11:00am-3:00pm - Book Fair featuring Midwest authors FEATURED AUTHORS

11:00am-3:00pm - Workshops (pre-registration required)

3:00-4:00pm - Panel Discussion "How Dick and Jane Became Authors"

Keynote: Faith Sullivan 9:30
Life challenges, frustrations and publishers rejections did not keep Faith Sullivan from realizing her dream of becoming a successful published writer. Faith grew up in small towns in Minnesota and graduated from Mankato State College. She has lived in many major cities around the country but currently lives in Minneapolis. Faith began writing novels in 1975 with her first novel published in 1981. The series of The Cape Ann (Penguin) The Empress of One, and What a Woman Must Do take place in the fictional town of Harvester, Minnesota which also plays a role in her most recent book, Gardenias (Milkweed Press). Her books are peopled with the details and inhabitants of small town life in southern Minnesota. Faith has high energy, sense of humor and joy for life, which is expressed in her writing and in her presentation.

Workshops: $10 each  ONLINE REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED

Editing 101: How to Edit Yourself-and Please Your Editor
with Joel Hoekstra. 11:00 - 12:00 (FULL), 12:30 - 1:30
A quick overview of the editing process, followed by a review of 10 easy things you can do to improve your copy. What do editors look for? How can you establish a relationship that's lasting and lucrative? And when should you ask for more money or quibble with contract details? Hoekstra will present a frank discussion on dealing with professional editors and the publishing world.

Joel Hoekstra is managing editor of Minnesota Monthly. He has worked as an editor at several Twin Cities-based publications and spent seven years freelancing for such publications as This Old House, Metropolis, Architecture Minnesota, Twin Cities Business Monthly, and Northwest World Traveler. He has interviewed such notable personalities as fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger, actor Morgan Freeman, and chimpanzee researcher Jane Goodall.

Getting Published: What are My Options?
with members of the Midwest Indepenedent Publishers Assocaition.11:00 - 12:00 (FULL), 2:00 - 3:00
Traditional publishing, vanity publishing, subsidy publishing, self-publishing, independent publishing, co-publishing, publish-on-demand (POD), what are they? What's best for you? The publishing world has changed over the last couple of decades and technological advances portend even more changes. The more you know about the business of publishing, the better decisions you can make for you and your book.

The Midwest Independent Publishers Association Sheyna Galyan, Yaldah Publishing; Sybil Smith, Fins Publications and Smith House Press; Corrine and Seal Dwyer, North Star Press, and Pat Morris, President. The Midwest Independent Publishers Association (MIPA) serves the upper-Midwest publishing community in a collaborative sharing of publishing, production, promotion, and marketing information. The association provides encouragement, support, and information to first-time authors who are seeking a publisher, who have been unable to get their work published, who get their work published or who choose to self-publish their work. The association provides networking opportunities for publishers and self-publishers. Through educational programming and other cooperative efforts, the association assists members in their publishing initiatives. To advance the understanding and appreciation of related professions and trades, the association includes as associate members printers, distributors, editors, indexers, artists, and designers.

Travel Writing: It's About the Journey
with Kelly Westhoff. 12:30 - 1:30, 2:00 - 3:00
Travelers cover great distances. Their journeys carry them over oceans, mountains and plains to exotic lands where words sound different and spices catch in the throat. Good travel writing documents these sensual details in a vivid way. Yet ask a serious traveler why he or she keeps going back on the road, and the answer has little to do with foreign elements. Travelers are often in search of an emotion resolution or an elusive spiritual high. The very best travel writing, therefore, is writing that combines the inner journey with the outer. We'll view examples and share journaling tricks that can help you document your next voyage.

Kelly Westhoff is a writer, traveler and teacher whose work has appeared in the Star Tribune, Midwest Home, Minnesota Bride and more. She is also the creator and editor of Global Roam ink., an educational, online travel magazine. Kelly is on a perpetual quest to fill every page in her passport. Her journeys have taken her to over 20 countries, including Cuba, Guatemala, Argentina, Vietnam and Myanmar. View her work at www.kellywesthoff.com.

The Process: Writing, Publishing and Marketing Your Book
with Patrick Mader.11:00 - 12:00, 2:00 - 3:00
Discover how to write, publish, and market a book. Many people are skilled communicators who write effectively and may harbor a desire to try writing and publishing a book of fiction or share a subject of personal interest. Learn how one person who never thought he would write a book gained professional and personal growth by sharing a story dear to his heart. Listen and ask questions about how the story "seed" started until the "harvest" of a bound hard covered children's picture book was available to the public. A storyboard, pictures, marketing materials, and pieces of the book at various stages will be on display.

Patrick "Packy" Mader is an elementary teacher who lives in Northfield, Minnesota, with his wife and two children. With a background in education, business, and agriculture, and inspired by his daughter, he has written two books, Oma & Opa Together and Oma Finds a Miracle. The primary objective of his books is to have intergenerational stories with positive messages in a rural setting. Packy's unique presentations at state library conferences, bookstores, schools, and community groups are acclaimed for their mixture of humor and emotion.

Rosanne Bane, M.A. is a Creativity Coach and the author of Dancing in the Dragon's Den: Rekindling the Creative Fire in Your Shadow. She is a renowned speaker on creativity and change. For over 17 years, Rosanne has been teaching creativity at the Loft Literary Center, The University of Minnesota's Complete Scholar and independently. She is the owner of Imagination Ink, a small business dedicated to releasing human potential to transform the world, one creative person at a time. Rosanne has over 17 years experience as a trainer, coach and speaker. Her interactive workshops are always informative, engaging and encouraging.

Panel Discussion: $10

How Dick and Jane Became Authors 3:15 - 4:15
Four authors, each tell their story of how they became a published author.
Nancy Carlson is an accomplished chidren's book author and illustrator whoa has had over 40 books published.
Marianne Herrmann holds a BA from Georgetown University and an MA in English/creative writing from the University of Minnesota. She studied art history at the Florence, Italy, and campus of the University of Michigan. Signaling for Rescue (short stories) is her first published book.
Mary O'Keefe, Thin Places (Nonfiction), Mary currently provides spiritual direction and healing touch at Well Within, a nonprofit holistic wellness resource center West St. Paul, where she is co-founder and Executive Director. Well Within integrates spirituality and creativity into the healing journey, especially for people dealing with chronic and/or life threatening illnesses.
Peter Rennenbohm, French Creek, Blue Springs (Mystery) Peter is a new voice in Minnesota's mystery writer's scene. His books are entertaining, full of surprise, with ordinary characters drawn from everyday life that find themselves drawn into serious conflict. He lives in Maple Plain.

Boxed Lunches: Sandwich, salad, cookie and beverage for $10. Sandwich selections: chicken salad, ham, turkey or vegetarian. Reservations for boxed lunches must be made in advance.