Program

Workshop Sessions

A-1  Covers Tell the Story

Looking for a new author?  In a hurry and need to pick a book you’ll enjoy on a long flight?  The guy is gorgeous but what era is the story set in?  Is this book part of a series, and do you need to know the characters in the earlier books? Can you trust the author blurbs?  This session discusses if you can tell a book by its cover-or-buyer beware!

A-2  Deals and Steals

Where do you buy your books? Do you trade with friends? How do you find out of date copies of authors you’ve come to love? Share favorite places; learn professional secrets of finding the books you love to read and keep.

A-3  Books and Authors You May Have Missed

What better place than a readers’ conference to find new books and authors! Have your pen and paper ready. Bring your list of favorite books and authors, old and new. This section is an exchange of favorite books and authors. What fun!

A-4 Books and Their Movies

Read the book; saw the movie. How do they compare?  This session discusses books and movies, focusing on the best book to movie conversions. Bring your recommendations; leave with new recommendations.

A-5  Book Clubs—How to Start, Keep, and Find One

  A Practical session on starting, keeping and finding a book club. What is your reason for joining a book club: socializing, intellectual stimulation, book recommendations. Your main reason for joining a book club will determine the kind of book club you will be happy to join: a food and social group which talks about a book, a serious discussion group where everyone comes prepared for discussion, a book review club with a reviewer to discuss a book with the group.

A-6  My Hero, My Heroine

What makes a hero or a heroine in 2008? How are these characteristics different from those of the hero or heroine of 10, 20 or 30 years ago?  What characteristics in a “hero” or “heroine” cause you to reject a book you have started to read?

B-1  Care and Handling of Your Book Collection

Do your books live on bookshelves, piles in the corder, or shut up in a drawer?  Find out how to care for your books whether they are priceless first editions or the latest mass market paperback.  Join in on the discussion of how to save your books from the ravages of time.

B-2  Do you miss the Euphemisms?

Have you ever been ripped out of a titillating scene in your latest romance novel by the use of scandalous words instead of a more romantic term?  Terms that may best be used in erotica?  Have you ever been too disgusted to continue reading your mystery novel after a murder has been a little too descriptive?  Join us as we discuss what happened to the euphemisms, and why is today’s language so harsh.

B-3   So you want to be a reviewer?

You have seen reviews for books and thought to yourself, I could have done better than that.  Or, you bought a book based on a review, only to be extremely disappointed in what you read.  Now’s your chance to get your opinion heard!  Join us as we discuss the perks, skills, and the do’s and don’ts of book reviewing.

B-4  Reissues… How to Deal with Buying the Same Book Twice…

Or three or four times!  How many times have you picked up a brand new book at the bookstore, settled in for a wonderful read, and realized only one chapter in that you read this book 10 years ago?!  How could they have done this to you?  You just spent your hard-earned money on a book you still have sitting on your bookshelf!  Join us as we discuss what to do and how to avoid the pitfalls of buying a reissued book.

B-5  If you like… you should try…

You are standing in the middle of the bookstore staring at the shelves.  Your favorite authors don’t have anything due out for months.  What to read, what to read?  In this session, we discuss who your favorite authors are, and what new authors you can discover at the bookstore so you can expand that To Be Read pile, even when you have read all your favorites. 

Coffee Klatch Topics

You know readers have to talk about all kinds of stuff in regards to their books and authors. You better bring your reading journal or a note pad to jot down a few pointers because ... here are a few of the table topics for the Coffee Klatch (and will definitely roll over into 'rita Therapy!):

Table Topics

Preferred stores?

Overnight Sensation

What makes a hero, and are you married to one?

The villain you love to hate

Can a villain become a hero?

The need to write…

Reading as an Olympic sport

How do you make time to read?

Author evolution

What makes you automatically buy a book?

Location, location, location… setting the scene

Where do you like to read?

Backlists… do you need to read it all? Does it have to be in order?

Series continuities… love ‘em? Hate ‘em?

Category Romances

Your To Be Read pile, shelf, room? How big is it? How do you stock it?

More program details coming soon.

Programs: Tracy Benninger Platz
Andrea Rutledge