HEIDI RUBY MILLER

Jason and I had the honor of being interviewed by Marx Pyle and Julie Seaton at GenreTainment . Here's the information and link: "On this episode we’re chatting with two very special guests, authors and professors Heidi Ruby Miller and Jason Jack Miller. It’s an edutainment packed episode as we talk about the value of an MFA, what a Popular Fiction MFA program is like compared to the more common creative writing graduate programs, Heidi’s Ambasadora books, Jason’s Hellbender book and his possible “Snot Otter” book, Appalachian culture, writing about other cultures, writing in someone else’s fictional setting, the charity anthology and online event, tips on co-writing, staying productive, and more! GenreTainment is where Marx and Julie talk about what is happening in the world of film, TV and web series. We give you interviews with writers, directors, producers and actors in both independent and not-so-independent creations." LINK: https://www.scifipulse.net/genreta

I moderated a panel of contributors from Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction for Zoom Into Books . MGOC (Headline Books, Inc.) is the writing guide I co-edited with Michael A. Arnzen and is based on Seton Hill University's MFA in Writing Popular Fiction program , where I teach. Aside from Mike and me, there was Jason Jack Miller , Timons Esaias , Lee Tobin McClain , Albert Wendland , and Tim Waggoner . We discuss the craft, genres, and business of writing.

The turnout for the Like Sunshine After Rain launch was incredible. It was two whole days of author readings and panels, raffles every half hour, and special appearances. Thanks to John Edward Lawson of AllAccessCon for months of hard work putting this event together. So far, we’ve raised $3100 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society with more orders coming in. Though the special edition lettered hardcovers sold out quickly, you can still purchase a numbered edition of the trade paperback: http://rawdogscreaming.com/books/like-sunshine-after-rain/ . You can also donate directly to LLS: https://givenow.lls.org/give/342076/#!/donation/checkout

Virtual residencies for the Seton Hill MFA in Wiritng Popular Fiction program aren’t quite the same, but this one was loaded with lots of guest speakers who otherwise might not have been able to join us like Michelle Addo, Shana Asaro, Shelley Bates, Danielle Choitti, John Edward Lawson, Jayne Ann Krentz (Jayne Castle), Jonathan Maberry, Lauren Panepinto, Jason Ridler, Kristen Simmons, and Susan Swinwood. Congratulations, as always, are in order for the graduates this summer. Happy writing to you all! And happy retiremen to Dr. Albert Wendland, who gave a tear-jerking speech. At least he'll still be around for some light duty in the program.

So many wonderful presentations and panels at the 34th Annual Pennwriters Conference , which was held virtually this year. There are a sampling in the photo above: Stacey Rubin taught “Medicine in Your Manuscript." Hilary Hauck taught “All is Lost." Jason Jack Miller taught “Magical Realism: I Know It When I See It” and “Dan Harmon’s Story Circle.” I taught “Write the Book They Can’t Put Down” and “The In-Betweeners.”

FROM THE PENNWRITERS WEBSITE:   The 34th Annual Pennwriters Conference is coming your way virtually. Registration is now open for the three-day conference and for two intensives held the day before the conference. Except for sitting with friends in the lounge and at meals, the conference will still have all the parts you love! Keynote Speakers are Susan Meier and Eileen Enwright Hodgetts . The conference begins at 9:00 am on Friday, May 14 and runs through Sunday, May 16.   I will be teaching: "Write the Book They Can't Put Down" Heidi will guide you through tips based on her article "The Shifting Grail: A Quest for a Good Read" from the international award-winning writing guide Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction . Using examples from well-known movies and literature, she'll show how character motivation can dictate pacing and suspense, making your book one readers can't put down. There will be lots of opportunities to apply