“The Yosemite Writers Conference is the best I’ve seen. You’ll find a terrific selection of publishers, agents and writers from which to learn. The conference participants are bright, serious and ambitious. All this, taking place in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, makes the Yosemite Writers Conference a dazzling boost to writers of all levels.”
--T. Jefferson Parker

The Yosemite Writer’s Conference last year was by far the most rewarding experience I’ve had as a writer. I was inspired. I learned so much about the publishing industry and about writing. I met and connected with so many wonderful writers and publishers including: Bonnie Hearn Hill, Cindy Wathen, Carole Sargent and Malcolm Margolin and so many more.

Noveltown’s own N.L. Belardes will be speaking at this year’s Yosemite Writer’s Conference. I managed to get him to sit still long enough to answer a few questions about the upcoming conference.

Here’s the interview:

Noveltown: N.L. I hear that you are going to be speaking at the Yosemite Writer’s Conference in August. Are you planning on teaching everyone the ins and outs of maintaining a controversial media blog?

N.L.: For those of you who don’t know. I’m getting interviewed by Matildakay. My hands are sweaty. Gulp. Oh, the conference? Blogging? Actually I will talk more about blogging in general, though media blogging will be included. I want to let people know how to get started, and how they can utilize their writing talents as a kind of community service rather than just an online journal. It will be a discussion rather than a lecture. We’ll talk about some of the leading blogs, what they do, and about myspace too.

I’m hoping by the time the conference comes that Noveltown will have 10,000 friends on myspace, and that people I speak to will be able to build some of their own networks with Noveltown already having paved the way a bit.

In a way, myspace is where more of the writers, publishers, bookstores, poets and organizations seem to be congregating. They like blogs, but they love myspace. Though blogs are a cool tool that authors can use to gain web traffic and a potential loyal following.

We hope to literally be hands-on and help writers sign up from the conference.

Noveltown: What topics will you be sharing with the conference attendees?

N.L.: I just asked one of the organizers, Bonnie Hearn Hill about that very question. I offered some panel topics. The conference organizers haven’t released all the titles of the panels… I’ll keep you posted. With that said you can expect industry tips from professionals, writing discussions by authors, and a lunchtime pirate table for any rebel writer wanting to talk shop with me and you, Matildakay. We might even have a flag this year.

Noveltown: Will you have a workshop on drawing bug cartoons?

N.L.: No, but I will be peddling The Noveltown Review at the conference and there’s a bug cartoon in there. When I listen to speakers I do tend to doodle lots of scavenger bugs. It’s a weird habit. If anyone asks at the pirate table, I will teach some bug drawing skills free of charge. I don’t do tattoos.

Noveltown: Will you be talking about Noveltown and Indie publishing companies versus commercial publishing companies?

N.L.: Away from the panels, most likely those conversations will constantly take place. People do need to know Noveltown is searching for authors, about our magazine, and about Indie presses. We’re not setting out to bash commercial publishing. We believe in it. Our magazine captures the spirit of both worlds. But we also believe in the DIY universe. It’s all very much as if Luke Skywalker and a hip Yoda could chill with stormtroopers in a smoky cantina.

Noveltown: Are you taking your pirate gear and will you be attending any swashbuckling pirate meetings again this year?

N.L.: Like I said, a pirate table is a necessity: somewhere you can speak your mind away from all the formalities of the event. Though I hope to sneak into some of the formal tables just to hear Bonnie Hearn Hill talk shop.

Noveltown: What products will you be taking with you and talking about at the conference?

N.L.: Wow, I could answer this so many ways using my lame attempt at comedy. In all seriousness, I will take a computer to show people the media blog and to help people sign up, the Noveltown Review magazine to show the print community side of what we’re building, and my book to promote how we do books and to talk about the fact that we’re looking for an author or two to publish… oh and to promote my own writing some… I’m going to enter their book contest! Sounds fun!

Noveltown: How exciting! Thanks N.L. for a peek at what we have to look forward to at the Yosemite Writer’s Conference in August.

If you want to meet literary agents, publishers, editors, and authors, the Yosemite Writer’s Conference is the place to be.

If you want to learn about the many facets of writing in today’s literary world, the Yosemite Writer’s Conference is the place to be.

Whether you’re a published author or just realized that you want to be a writer, the Yosemite Writer’s Conference is for you.

Noveltown is going. Are you? Register now online at www.yosemitewriters.com

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2007 Partial List of Presenters

Keynote Speakers: Steve Yarbrough and David Morrell
Literary Agents: Katharine Sands, June Clark, Irene Webb, and Jeffrey McGraw
Magazine Editors From: Sacramento Magazine and Visalia Lifestyle
Editors: Meg Bertini of Dream Time Publishing, Kate Gale of Red Hen Press, Susan Chang of Tar Books, Farrin Jacobs of HarperCollins, Brenda Knight of Weiser Books, Steve Mettee of Quill Driver Books and Word Dancer Press, Melissa Manloe of Chronicle Books
Authors: N.L. Belardes, Hallie Ephron, BJ Taylor and Ginny Rorby
Yosemite Faculty: Rik Bollman, Hazel Dixon-cooper, Bonnie Hearn Hill, John Koontz, Sheree Petree and Cindy Wathen

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Conference details

$370 Early Bird until April 15th
$380 April 16 to May 31
$390 after June 1

Registration fee includes: all workshop sessions Friday and Saturday, continental breakfast, two keynote luncheons and evening reception Friday and Saturday.

The registration fee must be paid in full by check or credit card in order to secure a space for the conference.

Registration fee does not include lodging.

The beautiful Tenaya Lodge is the official conference hotel. When booking your room, be sure to ask for the Yosemite Writers Conference rate of $189 per night. Call (559) 683-6555, 800-635-5807 or log on to tenayalodge.com to reserve your room.

Consultation: Confer with any of the agents or editors at the conference for only $30 per session.

Visit Yosemite Writers online for more details.
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www.noveltown.net