SPRINGFIELD, MO – Whether aspiring or multi-published, authors will gather in southwest Missouri to learn from industry professionals Saturday, September 20, 2014, in Springfield. ORAcon2014, which is open to authors and readers of all genres, is sponsored by Ozarks Romance Authors, and will be held from 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center. In addition, Barnes & Noble in Springfield is hosting a Meet The Authors event from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Friday, September 19, 2014.
Workshops and presentations scheduled for Saturday include traditional and self-publishing, how to capture the attention of editors and readers, plotting, what makes a manuscript appealing to an acquiring agent or editor, and manuscript editing. Speakers include:
- Leigh Michaels, Award-winning Author of Nearly 100 Books; Editor; Teacher
- Mia Marlowe, Award-winning Author
- Angie Fox, New York Times Bestselling Author
- Liz Pelletier, Publisher and co-founder of Entangled Publishing and Savvy Media Services
- Nicole Resciniti, Literary Agent with The Seymour Agency
- Tish Beaty, Literary Agent with the L. Perkins Agency
- Holly Atkinson, Author and Editor with Samhain Publishing
“ORAcon 2014 will be my third year in attendance,” said Lisa Medley, multi-published author with Harlequin. “ORAcon provided me with networking contacts, motivation and great workshops that not only educated me but inspired me. The atmosphere of this workshop is nurturing and friendly. No one, author, editor or agent, is unapproachable."
Published and aspiring authors will have the opportunity to pitch their manuscripts to industry professionals who have traveled to our area to discover new talent. The agents and editors who are accepting pitches are:
- Liz Pelletier (Entangled Publishing)
- Nicole Resciniti (Seymour Agency)
- Tish Beaty (L. Perkins Agency)
- Holly Atkinson (Samhain Publishing)
“ORAcon offers a fantastic opportunity to learn about the craft and business of fiction writing from bestselling authors, editors and agents,” said Sharon Davis, President of Ozarks Romance Authors. “With a variety of programs and opportunities to pitch your finished novel, we have something for writers of all genres, from beginner to pro.”
Attendees will receive goody bags and have the chance to win prizes. Authors, local and nonlocal alike, will be signing and selling books. In attendance will be authors Mary Caelsto Lenker, Dawna Kreis, Elizabeth Obrey, Barbara Bettis, Lynda Frazier, Ellen Harger, Terri Lee, Heather Snow, Cecily White, Kathleen Garnsey, Sharon Kizziah-Holmes, T. Sue VerSteeg, Lisa Medley, V. J. Schultz, Judy Nickles, William A. Spradley, Willy Robbins, Shirley McCann, Brandy Nacole, Tierney James, Beth Carter, Susan Keene, and Rosalie Stanton.
The conference agenda is available online here: http://ozarks-romance-authors.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/2014-ORAcon-Agenda.pdf
To register for ORAcon 2014, visit http://ozarks-romance-authors.com/conference-2014/oracon-2014.
REGISTER PRIOR TO SEPT. 20, 2014: Members of Ozarks Romance Authors - $60.00 Non-members of Ozarks Romance Authors - $75.00 Join ORA now + conference registration - $85.00
PAY AT THE DOOR THE MORNING OF THE CONFERENCE: $80.00
For more information about the event, contact 417-827-7800 or email ozarksromanceauthors@gmail.com.
Ozarks Romance Authors, founded in 1987, is a registered nonprofit group in the state of Missouri, and a member of Springfield Regional Arts Council.