WRITING WORKSHOP — THE FIRST TWENTY PAGES
Lighthouse Writers Workshop’s Lit Fest

The first twenty pages of your novel are the most essential. These pages orient readers and convince them to have confidence in your storytelling. You’re also establishing your novel’s narrative strategy (point of view, narrative distance, and other craft choices) and introducing the distinctive emotional register of your work. In this seminar, we’ll marvel at the many ways to begin a novel and learn how to create a contract with our readers to keep them reading. Appropriate for all levels, from writers drafting their first twenty pages to those further along, looking to land agents with a watertight writing sample.

BOOK CLUB SERIES
Furman University

Join me to discuss my debut novel, The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt, and what it means to me to be a Southern writer. Thanks to the Furman Alumni Association for hosting this virtual event, part of a new online book club series.

WRITING WORKSHOP — A WHOLE VIBE: MOOD, TONE, AND ATMOSPHERE IN FICTION
Lighthouse Writers Workshop’s Lit Fest

It can be hard to pin down this hallmark of great prose. Writing that delivers a distinctive emotional timbre is one of the most challenging—and sought-after—skills. And it is a skill, even though it can seem like sorcery when a writer successfully conjures a unique tone, a quality of expression that sweeps readers inside the story. In this seminar, we’ll demystify mood, tone, and atmosphere by viewing these devices as matters of pacing, diction, character development, narrative structure, and more. Open to prose writers of all levels.

WRITING WORKSHOP — HOW TO BE LESS AFRAID OF OMNISCIENT POV
Lighthouse Writers Workshop

An omniscient narrator—that godlike knowing, the bird’s eye view—holds the potential to zoom deeply into characters’ minds while also panning out to take in the wider sweep of place, time, and history. For an author, that’s a lot to juggle! In practice, omniscient narration exists in degrees, and it’s up to us to decide how all-seeing our narrators are, a task that demands not only a slew of narrative choices, but also a certain finesse to pull off. In this seminar, we’ll tackle the scope of omniscience by learning to shape it to the specific needs of our fiction. Through a mixture of lecture, discussion, and writing exercises, you’ll leave with greater confidence in wielding this challenging (and beautifully capacious) point of view.

YOUTH WRITING WORKSHOP (AGES 11-13) — MYTHS AND MYTHICAL CREATURES
Lighthouse Writers Workshop

From dragons to Gorgons, we use myths to express wonder and fear about the world around us. In this workshop, we’ll examine classic and contemporary myths—alongside an array of mythical creatures—before diving into our own mythmaking. You’ll revise old myths and give life to new ones, tapping into your own unique voice and experience. You’ll leave with several pieces of original work, as well as a stronger understanding of the foundations of storytelling.

WRITING WORKSHOP — THE BAD IDEA FACTORY
Lighthouse Writers Workshop’s Lit Fest

Do you have a good idea for a story? Fantastic! This is not the class for you. In this seminar, we’ll bring to the table all our bad ideas: the terrible, frowned-upon ones, or at least those we perceive to be so. What if that second-person story about a space cat isn’t actually a bad idea? While we’re cheering on your space cat trilogy, we’ll also be examining the crossroads of writing and fear, the value and limits of experimentation, and how to judge when to let go of an idea and when to lean in. Open to storytellers of all forms.

WRITING WORKSHOP — THE MAGIC OF METAPHOR IN PROSE
Lighthouse Writers Workshop’s Lit Fest

Many of us aspire to elevate our prose to the level of poetry. But how do we achieve that while also honoring that figurative language in many ways operates differently in prose? In this seminar, we’ll tackle that question by taking a deep dive into metaphor. Through examples and practice, we’ll learn to craft metaphors that not only are striking, but also serve our narratives, furthering character, setting, and plot. But even as we recast metaphor as workhorse rather than ornament, we’ll still swoon over these well-wrought constructions, things of beauty in themselves.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN LITERARY FESTIVAL
Festival Author

Join me at this annual gathering of authors and readers, all in support of college scholarships for local high school students. I’ll be a featured author alongside Pam Houston, David Treuer, and Carter Wilson.

THE LIVING OBJECT IN PROSE
Lighthouse Writers Workshop Lit Fest

Objects are hardly mute. In prose, they are no less alive than characters, as ready to confess as conceal. It’s often through objects that characters discern or ignore truths about their own existence (think Proust’s madeleine; Beattie’s bowl in “Janus”). As we write about objects, we’ll give our sensory language muscles a workout and learn the skillful balance of the concrete and abstract in our work. Above all, we’ll listen to what objects have to say, anticipating the moment in which they resist our imposed meanings to surprise us with different stories altogether. All levels fiction and nonfiction writers welcome.

THE HIDDEN POWERS OF SETTING
Lighthouse Writers Workshop Lit Fest

Right away we can dispense with the idea of setting as a frame. Writers know it’s more immersive and alive than that. But how comfortable do we really feel when managing the dynamics of setting? Are we tapping into the full potential of place in our writing? We’ll develop a working skillset, including how setting can further plot and how to convey historical context without sounding like we’re reporting on it, but we’ll pay equal attention to the conceptual work of place, such as the power of marginalized spaces reclaimed and reimagined. Fiction and nonfiction writers of all levels welcome.

THE RELIABLE UNRELIABLE NARRATOR
Lighthouse Writers Workshop’s Lit Fest

What constitutes an unreliable first-person narrator? Being untrustworthy? Deliberately deceitful? Emotionally distant? If our unreliable narrators are too slippery, we risk alienating readers. We’ll examine the gamut of ways unreliable narrators show up in texts, while also discussing our authorial responsibilities toward them. Through examples and exercises, we’ll learn how to balance our unreliable narrators’ flaws with their roles as the primary voice of the text. Open to fiction writers of all levels.

THE LIMIT’S THE SKY: PURSUING FORMAL CONSTRAINTS IN PROSE
Lighthouse Writers Workshop’s Lit Fest

As prose writers, we necessarily limit ourselves with formal choices: point of view, setting, etc. But what about further constraints? What if you want to write your novel as a series of text messages? Or use an unconventional structure for your otherwise conventional story? We’ll discuss the rewards of formal restrictions, including the way our creativity strengthens when it has something to push against, but we’ll also talk through the risks, such as a device becoming gimmicky. We’ll be interested in both the experimental (think Cortázar’s Hopscotch or the Oulipo writers) and subtler formal constraints. Fiction and nonfiction writers welcome.

THE GRIPE SESSION
Lighthouse Writers Workshop Lit Fest

Speakers: Andrea Bobotis, Michelle Dotter (Dzanc Books), Erika Krouse, BK Loren, Eric Smith (P.S. Literary)

Agents, editors, writers: We all come at writing from different angles. Rarely do we have a forum in which we can all talk with one another, share our grievances and joys (about writing, selling, editing, teaching), and, with any luck, come to understand one another. Leave this panel with a deeper understanding of the role of each player in writing and publishing in various forums.

HOW TO WRITE GORGEOUS PROSE (AND PUT IT TO WORK)
Lighthouse Writers Workshop’s Lit Fest

Our fear of purple prose is holding us back. Lush writing, often judged as indulgent and old fashioned, can actually be resourceful and cutting edge. We’ll discuss and practice the rigor of writing beautifully, such as how a delicate touch with syntax can create tension, how fertile images can advance plot, and how figurative language is capable of deepening what we know of character and setting. Through it all, we’ll never lose sight of the profound pleasures of writing gorgeous prose. Audible gasps welcomed. Open to fiction and memoir writers of all levels.

VIRGINIA FESTIVAL OF THE BOOK
Family and Fate in Historical Fiction (10am-11:30am)
Family Secrets in Fiction (4pm-5:30pm)

Join me for two panels at the Virginia Festival of the Book. Book signing to follow each panel.

BOOKBAR
In Conversation Event

I’ll be in conversation with Crissy Van Meter about her debut novel, Creatures.

SOUTHERN LIT NIGHT AT HEARTHFIRE BOOKS

Author Tiffany Quay Tyson (The Past is Never, Three Rivers) and I will be talking about Southern literature and what it’s like to be Southerners living in the West.

FRIDAY 500: THE STORY OF A BOOK
Lighthouse Writers Workshop

Join me for this short talk and Q&A. I’ll give the lowdown on my journey of writing and getting my debut novel published before answering your questions. Tattered Cover will be on site to sell my books, and I’m happy to sign books as well.

LOUISIANA BOOK FESTIVAL
The Importance of Story and the Power of Words

I’ll be on this panel with author Susan Cushman. Panel from 2:15pm to 3:00pm in Senate Committee Room A. Book signing afterwards in the Barnes & Noble Bookselling Tent from 3:15pm to 4pm.

FURMAN UNIVERSITY’S BARNES & NOBLE
Book Signing

I’ll be signing books alongside other Furman alumni authors at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore on campus (Trone Student Center). Note: this is during Furman’s Homecoming weekend. Click here for a full list of Homecoming events, including my signing.

HUB CITY BOOKSHOP
”Reading Between the Wines” series

Come sip a glass of complimentary wine as I talk about my debut novel, The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt.

SOUTHERN FESTIVAL OF BOOKS
Southern Divides and Familial Bonds: Two Novels

I’ll be presenting on this panel with the novelist Kim Michele Richardson. Location: Nashville Public Library Special Collections Room. I’ll talk about my debut novel, The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt, and afterwards I’ll sign books in the Signing Colonnade (different site) from 2:00-2:30pm.

BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION AT BOOKBAR

Join me for a fun evening as I read from my debut novel, The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt, followed by Q&A and a discussion. This event is free and open to the public.

BOOK TALK AT OLD FIREHOUSE BOOKS

Join me for a book talk, reading, and Q&A! I’ll sign books afterwards.

AN EVENING WITH AUTHOR ANDREA BOBOTIS
Douglas County Libraries

Join me for a book talk, reading, and Q&A! Tattered Cover will be on site to sell books, and I’ll do a signing afterwards. This event is free and open to the public, but registering beforehand is appreciated.

GENERAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN’S CLUBS-SC
Private Event

BOOK TALK AT FICTION ADDICTION

Join me for a book talk and signing in my hometown!

BOOK TALK AT FOXTALE BOOK SHOPPE

BOOK TALK AT LITCHFIELD BOOKS

Join me for a book talk and signing. The luncheon (with book talk) will be held at Pastaria 811 from 11am-1pm. The book signing will be at 2pm at Litchfield Books.