Break out those Jammies! OCC/RWA Birthday Bash

We all know that writers stay home in their pajamas all day long, right? And, if you happen to write erotic romance, those nighties turn silky and sexy! Well, break out your cute & comfys because the OCC/RWA Birthday Bash on Saturday, Oct. 13 is bringing back the pajama parties.

Here’s the line-up:

Track One (starting at 7 p.m.):

Jane Porter & Megan Crane: Writing Category Romance in Pajamas

Lou Nelson:  Hooking in Pajamas: Writing Dynamic Opening Lines and First Paragraphs

Jenn Wyatt: Music in Pajamas: Using Music for Inspiration

Beth Yarnall:  The Blackest Black in Pajamas: What’s THE WORST That Could Happen? Is your black moment black enough?

Track Two (starting at 8:30 p.m.):

Debra Mullins: Conflict and Incorrect Core Beliefs in Pajamas

Louisa Bacio: Passion in Pajamas

Debra Holland: Self-Publishing in Pajamas

Erin Pryor: Plotting in Pajamas

** Parties are included with registration with for the Birthday Bash. You must make a reservation for this meeting, a “do not miss” event. The price is $35 for all attendees, includes lunch, and the deadline for the event reservations is Oct. 5, 2012

http://www.occrwa.org/birthday-bash.html

Highlights of the Day

10:30 a.m.            Special Guest Speakers:  Jane Porter & Megan Crane

              “Writing Bestselling Fiction: Using Emotion to Power Up the Story”

An award-winning novelist with more than 5 million books in print, Jane Porter is still a small town girl at heart, never feeling too far away from her roots in central California's golden foothills, oak trees, and miles of farmland.             

After sixteen years in Greater Seattle, Jane has returned to California, and is now making her home in a historic Ole Hanson home in San Clemente, with her surfer husband and three active sons. When she's not on the beach or speaking to writers, she's at her desk working on her next novel. In September 2012, Berkley Trade released her new book, The Good Woman.

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USA Today bestselling author Megan Crane writes women’s fiction, chick lit, work-for-hire YA, and a lot of Harlequin Presents as Caitlin Crews.  She also teaches creative writing classes both online at mediabistro.com and at UCLA Extension's prestigious Writers' Program, where she finally utilizes the MA and PhD in English Literature she received from the University of York in York, England. She currently lives in California, with her animator/comic-book artist husband and their menagerie of ridiculous animals.  For more info visit her at　www.megancrane.com or www.caitlincrews.com.   

2:00 p.m. Afternoon Speaker: Courtney Miller-Callihan 
Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, Inc., Literary Agent

 “The Author/Agent Relationship in Today’s Changing Literary World”

Courtney began her career in publishing at Random House, where she spent a number of years in subsidiary rights sales and in contracts before joining Sanford J. Greenburger Associates in 2005. A member of the Romance Writers of America, she is seeking new voices in women’s fiction, romance, historical novels, and literary fiction. Courtney also looks for non-fiction projects on unusual topics, science, personal finance, business, pop culture, lifestyle books, and craft books.

Just added: Heather Bennett, Executive Editor, Decadent Publishing

OPPORTUNITY RAFFLE: $500 gift card to Apple, Toshiba Excite 10 Tablet, SoCal RWA Conference registration, view the various baskets, critiques, lunches and other prizes. Buy your tickets and enter for the items that you want to win.

3 Pitch Appointments with Courtney Miller-Callihan & Heather Bennett

For more information, visit http://www.occrwa.org/birthday-bash.html

Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012
Embassy Suites

900 East Birch Street

Brea, CA  92821

Doors open 9 a.m.

Hope to see you there!

Pajama Parties at the OCC/RWA 30th Birthday Bash

Got your pajamas ready? Are you going comfortable or sexy? I know what I’m wearing! Coming Saturday, Oct. 8, is OCC/RWA’s 30^th Birthday Bash. During the day, we’ll be gaining creative inspiration from New York Times best-selling author Susan Mallery and Harlequin Executive Editor Mary-Theresa Hussey. But at night, the party truly heats up!

A variety of OCC author “hosts,” including me, are throwing Pajama Parties. That’s right! Change into something comfortable, and join others for some specialized mini-workshops.

Here’s the line-up, and a few brief descriptions:

•                Bedtime Storytelling in Pajamas (Not Just for Bedtimes) with Shannon Donnelly

Come and talk about the art of story telling -- it's not just craft and writing that sells a story, it's the story itself. We'll share ideas, problems, and stories, along with wine and chocolate. Free ebook to everyone who attends.

•                Brainstorming in Pajamas with Kara Lennox

             Think outside the box! A sure cure for the boring story is to get some brainstorming brawn behind it. Bring your skimpy plot, a character, or even the seed of an idea and see how fast the ideas fly when you get the group dynamic into the action. There will be chocolate and surprises!

•                High Concept in Pajamas with Kathleen Harrington

We'll be exploring the concept of high-concept, what it means in different genres and venues (books, movies).  Then we’ll brainstorm some high-concept ideas for romantic fiction, most especially fantasy and futuristic romances.  We’ll have drinks and a few treats, and I’ll have a prize for the most “high-concept idea” in the brainstorming session.

•                Passion in Pajamas with Louisa Bacio

Writing exercises include a naughty-toy grab bag, where guests will be invited to blindly choose one item (printed!), and then free write a scene using it. Wine, snackies and a few prizes will be awarded.

•                Pitching in Pajamas with Mary-Theresa Hussey

            Information on how to secure a “chance” for a spot to pitch to the Harlequin executive editor to come!

•                Plotting in Pajamas with Louella Nelson

             Story bogged down?  New storyline stumping you?  Get comfy and bring your notepad for this dynamic workshop that gets your story roughed out in one session. Handouts and munchies too!

•                Self-Publishing in Pajamas with Debra Holland

             Some goodies will be available and a handout with self-publishing resources.

Have you bought your tickets for the Bash yet? If not, what’s keeping you? Officially, there’s about one week left to make your reservation. The cost of the 30^th Birthday Bash, including lunch & dessert, is $40 for all RWA members and $50 for all guests (non RWA members). Pajama Parties are included in that price. The cutoff to reserve discounted rooms is Saturday, September 24. (Unofficially, you may be able to plead with our lovely president to buy a ticket for a few more days after that, but final numbers need to be turned into the hotel).

It’s all happening at the Embassy Suites in Brea

For more information, and to reserve your spot, visit http://www.occrwa.org/30thBdayBash.html

** Pajamas really are not required to attend, but I’ll be wearing mine!