AGEND A
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9:00-9:30 AM / CHECK-IN\, LIGHT BREAKFAST\, COFFEE &\; TEA
Writers' Center
For anyone interested in having their work read anonymously at the First Page Critique Panel at 1:45 PM: Drop off FOUR COPIES of the first page of your work-in-progress ( prose only\, fiction or nonfiction) at the check-in table before noon. You r work must be double-spaced\, in 12-point Times New Roman font\, with Tit le and Genre written at the top of the page. Do NOT include your name anywhere on the page. We'll randomly select first pages and read them aloud starting at 1:45 p.m. Each panelist will raise a hand at the point where they would stop reading and then comment on what stopped them. First Page Critique writers will remain anonymous.
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9:30 AM / WELCOME &\; CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
<
em>Meeting Room A/B/C
Deanna R. Adams\, Conf
erence Coordinator
Laurie Kincer\, William N. Skirba
ll Writers' Center \;
9:40-10:20 AM / KEYNOTE
SPEAKER
Meeting Room A/B/C
How to Write by Yourself: From One Author to Another / Brad Ricca\, 2026 Writer i n Residence \;
\nAward-winning author Brad Ricca will s hare practical points about writing that he has found to be 100% true. Alt hough writing is personal\, and singularly individual\, we can all learn f rom others and \;grow our own communities. Writing \;is always a j ourney of the self\, he says\, not my self\, but yours. And \;that is where its best power lies.
\n\n
Note: Sessions wi th an asterisk (*) include a writing exercise.
\n1. Liftoff
to a Finished Book / Robin Yocum
Meeting Room A/B/C
Ohio author Robin Yocum will take writers from ground zero to seeing
their work in bookstores. This is book writing and publishing\, A-Z. How
to start with an idea and a blank sheet of paper and follow through on dra
fting a book to completion. The session will cover idea generation\, the w
riting process\, and overcoming \;the pitfalls\, distractions and nega
tivity that keep writers from finishing a book.
*2. Writin
g Character and Dialogue in Fiction and Nonfiction / Deanna Adams
Writers&rsquo\; Center Meeting Room
When it comes down
to it\, with most books -- fiction or nonfiction -- it really is all abou
t the characters. Characters\, real or imagined\, get us involved in a sto
ry. We not only want to see them\, feel their emotions\, and &ldquo\;hear&
rdquo\; them talk\, we want to feel invested in their plight. \;As a w
riter of fiction\, nonfiction\, and personal essays\, Deanna will guide yo
u through the beginning of developing a good character\, so come prepared
to write.
3. Murder &\; Mayhem: Writing True Crime with
a Narrative Twist / Brad Ricca\, 2026 Writer in Residence
<
em>Student Success Center
True crime is one of the most popular
genres to write. But what is the best way to approach it? In this session\
, we will look at the various roles a writer might embody while writing in
this genre: detective\, prosecutor\, and storyteller. How do we learn to
identify \;what cases might make good stories\, and what ones may not?
Writers will learn some basic approaches to writing true crime and how to
do it in a way that is both entertaining and true&mdash\;and what that me
ans.
11:30-11:45 AM / BREAK &\; PREARRANGED ED ITING SESSIONS
\nIndividual\, prearranged editing sessions with editors Mae McGraw or Eryka Parker. \;(These sessions will be scheduled before the day of the conference. If you register before March 1\, you can enter your name in the drawing f or a free 15-minute editing session.) \;
\n\n11:4 5 AM-12:45 PM / BREAKOUT SESSIONS
\n1. The 12-Month
Author: A Year-Round Marketing Plan for Writers / Eryka ParkerMeeting Room A/B/C
Many authors pour all their energy in
to a book launch&mdash\;but what about afterwards? In this workshop\, you&
rsquo\;ll map out a marketing plan that keeps your books visible and your
readership engaged long after launch day. Dig into content ideas\, promoti
onal cycles\, seasonal hooks\, newsletter strategy\, social media reuse\,
and how to harness Amazon Ads to drive sales and build brand presence thro
ughout the year. Whether you&rsquo\;re self-published or traditionally pub
lished\, you&rsquo\;ll leave with clear tools and a fresh mindset for life
long marketing success.
*2. Picture Books: Simple but Not
Simplistic / Tricia Springstubb
Writers&rsquo\; Center M
eeting Room
Picture books are as varied as any form of literatur
e. They can be funny\, poignant\, whimsical\, provocative. The very best h
onor the intensity of young readers' feelings while \;offering a fresh
\, engaging look at their world--all in a few words. If you're thinking th
is sounds like a challenge\, you're right! In this workshop\, we'll explor
e classic and contemporary picture books to discover how they work their&n
bsp\;magic\, then do brief exercises to spark your own writing.
*3. Assembling a Short Story: A Metaphorical Approach / Mary Grimm
Student Success Center
A story ideally will op
en a door to the strangeness of another life or another world. When it beg
ins to take shape\, you have edged the door open a crack. How to open it e
ntirely\, and (metaphorically) step through\, and how to bring the reader
along with you? In this workshop\, you&rsquo\;ll experiment with some hand
s-on approaches with the aim of learning the short story from the inside o
ut. \;
12:45-1:45 PM / LUNCH BREAK\, BOOK SAL
E &\; AUTHOR SIGNINGS
You may bring lunch and \;eat i
t in the Writers' Center. You may also picnic outdoors or in your car. Loc
al restaurant map available at check-in table.
1: 30-1:45 PM / PREARRANGED EDITING SESSIONS
\nIndividual\, pr
earranged editing sessions with editors Mae McGraw or
1:45-2:45 PM / FIRST
PAGE CRITIQUE PANEL \;
Meeting Room A/B/C
Panelists \;Brad Ricca\, Deanna Adams\, and Robin Yocum.
We'll randomly select anonym ous first pages of work-in-progress and read them aloud. Each panelist wil l raise a hand at the point where they would stop reading and then comment on what stopped them. First Page Critique writers will remain anonymous.< /p>\n
For anyone interested in having their work read anonymously at the First Page Critique Panel at 1:45 PM: Drop off FOUR COPIES of the first p age of your work-in-progress (prose only\, fiction or nonfiction) at the c heck-in table before noon. Your work must be double-spaced\, in 12-point T imes New Roman font\, with Title and Genre written at the top of the page. Do NOT include your name anywhere on the page. \;
\n\n2:45-3:00 PM / BREAK &\; PREARRANGED EDITING SESSIONS &n
bsp\;
Individual\, prearranged editing sessions with editors
3:00-4:00 PM / BREAKOUT SESSIONS
\n*1
. Energize Your Stories with Micro Memoir / Annmarie Kelly
<
em>Meeting Room A/B/C
Are you writing a memoir? Have you been dr
afting childhood memories for years? How&rsquo\;s that family history proj
ect you wanted to start? We all have noble goals\, but it&rsquo\;s easy to
lose focus and momentum throughout a big project. Enter micros. These ext
remely short stories of only a few hundred words can help us hone the skil
ls we need for longer endeavors&mdash\;strong openings\, sensory imagery\,
narrative arcs. You will leave this session with micro memoir drafts\, al
ong with a list of places to send your finished stories!
2
. The Art of Editing Your Work / Tara Pringle Jefferson
Writers' Center Meeting Room
Having someone else put eyes on you
r work\, whether a beta reader or editor\, is beneficial to most writers.
But before you pass along that first draft\, a thorough revision ensures y
ou're sending your strongest material. This session will review keys to a
strong self-edit\, from the first pass to the last. \;
*3. The Play&rsquo\;s the Thing! 15 Tips for Writing a Script / Kelly Boy
er Sagert
Student Success Center
Discover the
art of crafting stories for the stage (or the screen) in this engaging scr
iptwriting presentation. This session will share how to effectively narrow
the idea down through orienting the characters in time and place\, identi
fying and answering a burning question\, welcoming surprises\, and much mo
re. \;You&rsquo\;ll receive practical tools for a solid start for furt
her development or performance. (Fun fact: Kelly&rsquo\;s first play arose
from a random idea she came up with via a creative exercise at one of Dea
nna Adams&rsquo\; writing retreats!)
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Individu al\, prearranged editing sessions with editors Mae McGraw or Eryka Parker.
\n\n4:00-4:30 \;PM / DOOR PRIZES\, BOOK SALE &\; AUTHOR SIGNINGS
\n&nb sp\;
\nTODAY&rsquo\;S PRESENTER S
\nDeanna R. Adams is an award-winning wr iter\, speaker\, and instructor. She is far too interested in books of all genres to stick to just one and so she writes both fiction and nonfiction . Her nonfiction books include several rock history books\, a memoir colle ction\, and a book for aspiring writers\, The Writer&rsquo\;s GPS: Gui de to Writing &\; Selling Your Book. Her young adult crossover nov el\, The Truth about Justyce\, debuted #1 on Amazon&rsquo\;s New Releases in 2020. Her latest novel is A Place We Belong\, a histo rical novel. She has been the coordinator of this conference since 2001.\n
Mary Grimm has had three books published\, Lef t to Themselves\, Transubstantiation\, and Stealing Time . Her stories have appeared in The New Yorker\, Antioch Review\, and the Mississippi Review\, as well as in a number of journals that publish flash fiction\, including Helen\, T he Citron Review\, and Tiferet. Currently\, she is working o n a series of climate change novellas set in past and future Cleveland.&nb sp\;
\nTara Pringle Jefferson is author of Bloo m How You Must: A Black Woman&rsquo\;s Guide to Self-Care and Generational Healing (Amistad/HarperCollins). \;Her voice has been featured o n New York magazine&rsquo\;s The Cut\, Black Enterprise\, and Essence. When she&rsquo\;s not writing\, she finds peace among her h ouseplants and flowers. A Cleveland native\, she lives in northeast Ohio w ith her husband and two children.
\nAnnmarie Kelly is the author of \;Here Be Dragons\, a memoir about the wonde rful misery of raising children. She also hosts Wild Precious Life\, a lit erary podcast about making the most of the time we have. Annmarie teaches at Stanford\, Tri-C\, and Ashland University where she works with incarcer ated students trying to obtain their degree. She&rsquo\;s been named both an Erma Bombeck and Ernest Hemingway Writer-in-Residence. Annmarie lives i n Cleveland where she&rsquo\;s currently writing a book with the ghost of her father.
\nMae McGraw is the pen name for
Eryka Parker\, an award-winning contemporary romance author writing as Zariah L. Banks\, is a book coach and publishing professional with nearly two decades of industry experience. As the founder of Legacy Book Coaching &\; Consulting\, she helps authors transform their ideas into market-r eady books that impact and inspire. Drawing from years of experience guidi ng authors to award-winning success\, Eryka specializes in helping writers develop sustainable marketing strategies that build visibility\, grow rea dership\, and keep their books selling long after launch day.
\nKelly Boyer Sagert is an experienced freelance writer who has crafted numerous scripts for stage plays\, inclu ding one nominated for the Ohio&rsquo\;s Governor&rsquo\;s Award for the A rts. She is working on her third documentary script. Previous ones include the Emmy Award-nominated Trail Magic: The Grandma Gatewood Story\, \;and Victoria Woodhull: Shattering Glass Ceilings\, which appeared at the Cleveland International Film Festival in 2025. \;
\nTricia Springstubb&rsquo\;s most recent picture book \, Khalil and Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures\, is an Amer ican Library Association Notable and one of Reader's Digest's 100 Best Chi ldren's Books of All time. She's also the author of a chapter book series and many middle grade novels\, including The Most Perfect Thing in the Universe\, Looking for True\, and How to Tell a True St ory. Her work has received numerous \;starred reviews\, appeared on lots of "Best Of" lists\, and been the recipient of two Ohioana Awards for Juvenile Literature. She is a huge fan of this conference! \;
\ nRobin Yocum is known for his fiction set in the Ohio River Valley. His latest novel\, The Last Hitman\, was released i n December 2025 from Crooked Lane Books. He is the author of six additiona l works of fiction. His novel\, The Sacrifice of Lester Yates\, w as a finalist for the 2021 Dashiell Hammett Award for outstanding crime wr iting. Favorite Sons was named the 2011 Book of the Year for Myst ery/Suspense by USA Book News. A Brilliant Death was a Barnes &am p\; Noble No. 1 bestseller and a finalist for both the 2017 Edgar Award an d the Silver Falchion Award for best adult mystery.
\nhttps://cuyahoga. libnet.info/event/15269621 URL;VALUE=URI:https://cuyahoga.libnet.info/event/15269621 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR