author of The Mermaid’s Tale, and other works
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSFz0Phbi44
New Youtube video – Axis of Andes – an alternate history of a World War II in South America.
In 1937 a delegation from a small South American nation travels to Berlin to see Hitler, looking for assistance to defend themselves from a larger neighbor. Four years later, an entire continent is in flames.
Back from the 2024 TORONTO WRITING WORKSHOP it was a bit of a whirlwind. Flyout Friday evening, do the workshop, and fly back literally immediately.
Literally immediately: The workshop ended at 5:00, took the cab to the airport, went through security and back home a few hours later.
So … the experience?
This was a bit different from other Conventions I’ve attended. There were two tracks of programming, a couple of morning sessions, a couple of afternoon sessions, but that was peripheral. What really drove this Convention was the opportunity to make pitches to Agents and Editors.
I did attend a couple of programming sessions. Marketing yourself and Ten Keys to Writing Succes – they were okay, mostly inspirational. There were some practical sessions I didn’t make because I was doing pitches that would have been useful. I’m sorry I missed those.
There programming sessions I couldn’t care less about. Twelve ways to start a story, crafting satisfying endings, that kind of thing. I’ve been writing thirty years; I’ve got multiple short story and book credits. Don’t teach grandma how to suck eggs.
The Pitches: It was like speed dating. Or what I’ve read speed dating is like.