Writing program success stories

Colleen Rowan Kosinski signs with AKA Literary Agency
Colleen Rowan Kosinski of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, has signed for representation of her middle grade/YA novel, A Promise Stitched In Time, with Terrie Wolf of the AKA Literary Agency. Colleen used our UW-Madison Continuing Studies Critique Services and worked with Christine DeSmet.

Helen Townsend, of Fort Scott, Kansas, publishes six poems in anthology
Poet Helen Townsend, of Fort Scott, Kansas, had six poems selected for inclusion in Chatter House Press's 2012 Reckless Writing Anthology: The Modernization of Poetry by Emerging Writers of the 21st Century.  The anthology focuses on the evolution of poetry in the 21st century and showcases over 125 poems from new and previous published authors.  Helen is a recent graduate of the online class "Taking the Poetic Leap," taught by Angela Rydell. Congratulations, Helen!

Diego Pérez Giménez of Reus, Spain, publishes short story in anthology

Reus, Spain, writer Diego Pérez Giménez recently published his story “Encuentro afortunado” ("Lucky encounter") in the Spanish anthology Cuentamínate, coming out this autumn. Diego wrote his story while enrolled in our online course “How to Write Compelling Fiction,” and emailed instructor Angela Rydell when his story was accepted: “I'm glad and proud to say that a short story that I wrote has been selected to be published in an anthology here in Spain (in old style paper). I would like to thank you because you're responsible in part for this success. Your workshop has been very helpful.” Congratulations to Diego and Angela!

Screenplay by Jon Duff, Gainseville, Florida, advances in contest

Gainseville, Florida writer Jon Duff’s screenplay, “Paramedhicks,” about a big-city paramedic who’s sent to help those in a small, rural town, has reached the top 100 out of 850 entered in the annual Blue Cat Screenplay Competition.  Jon wrote the script in our online screenwriting course taught by Christine DeSmet. We wish Jon well in the next judging round!

Rose Garcia’s first YA book earns high praise

Houston, Texas, author Rose Garcia is garnering some nifty reviews for her first YA novel, Final Life, the first book in a new series. It’s a paranormal romance about a girl you moves from Michigan to Houston, and on top of that major change in her life she discovers she’s lived eight past lives and there’s now a Transhuman hunter who wants to make sure her current and ninth life is her last. You can find out more on the internet, including at www.RoseGarciaBooks.com. Rose used our Critique Services and worked with Christine DeSmet. Congratulations, Rose!

Houston, Texas, writer Steve Childress publishes via UW online course

Steve Childress of Houston, TX, recently published a flash fiction story, "Returning Children," in NANO Fiction (forthcoming in Volume 6, Number 1). Steve wrote the story while taking "How to Write Compelling Fiction," taught by Angela Rydell.  Between units 2 and 3, he sent Angela a note sharing the good news and said, "Looks like your critique of the story and suggestions were spot on." Congratulations, Steve!

Angela teaches two online fiction courses for UW-Madison Continuing Studies, "How to Write Compelling Fiction" and "Take Your Characters to Dinner," and is writing new online course entitled, "Fiction in a Flash: The Art of the Very Short Story." She also teaches at our annual June writer’s retreat in Madison.

Lloyd Christensen’s new Caribbean mystery series debuts

Congratulations to Lloyd Christensen, a past participant in School of the Arts and our Critique Services,onthepublication of his mystery book, Murder in the Caribbean, from Outskirts Press.The plot features a resortowner, George Schroeder, who becomes a sleuth when one of his guests turns up dead during Christmas week on the island of Sunrise Caye, just off Belize. A nice subplot features a secret in George’s past that keeps him and his wife wrestling with emotional trauma. Lloyd lives currently in Santa Clara, CA but considers Texas to be home.

Teri Woods, Madison, Wis., is this week's Kirkus Reviews "Indie Pick" for her new suspense book The Fixer.

Teri Woods, Madison, Wis., a past participant in our Write-by-the-Lake Retreat and Writers’ Institute conference, is this week’s Kirkus Reviews “Indie Pick” for her new suspense book, The Fixer (available at Amazon). Check it out at tewoodswrites.com. Congratulations to Teri!
 
And if honing your work toward publication and glory is in your plans, there are still spaces available at Write-by-the-Lake Retreat in Sections 1, 3, 5, 6, 7. (Sections designed for writers of novels, nonfiction books, scripts, rhyming books for kids, and flash fiction.)

Cheryl Yeko, Waukesha, Wis., is the recipient of the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence for her romantic suspense novel, Protecting Rose.

The award is given annually by the Romance Writers of America and its Southern Magic chapter to honor Gayle Wilson, an author of multiple awards in the romance industry. Cheryl sharpened her dialogue through our online course taught by Christine DeSmet, “The Dialogue Shop.”

Wes Crenshaw, Lawrence, Kansas, gets big endorsements for his new books featuring teens and teen advice!

Wes Crenshaw, writer and psychologist who has attended the Writers’ Institute in the past, is one of our first 2012 success stories. He sent us this news: 

I wanted to share with you two new books we have out based on our weekly “Double Take” newspaper column in the Lawrence Journal World. We've received amazing endorsements from authors Foster Cline (Parenting with Love and Logic) Michael Bradley (When Things Get Crazy with Your Teen), and Rosalind Wiseman (Queen Bees and Wannabes). You can read what they and others have to say at http://www.dr-wes.com/. Titles of the new books are Dear Dr. Wes: Real Life Advice for Parents of Teens, and Dear Dr. Wes: Real Life Advice for Teens.

I'm really proud of these books. They're unique in the field of advice for parents and teens because they combine my nineteen years of professional experience with the wisdom of young people, all of whom were teens when they wrote these columns. As I was reading back over them and editing these books, I was impressed once again with just how smart teens are, and just how smart they have to be to get through this big, complex world we've left for them.  I hope these two books help teens and their parents navigate that world a little better! —Wes Crenshaw, PhD ABPP, Kansas Licensed Psychologist

Participant from 2011 Write-by-the-Lake Retreat gets two-book deal

We’re pleased to announce that Melissa Olson, Madison, Wis., a participant in Lori Devoti’s section in our “Write-by-the-Lake Workshop & Retreat” in 2011 has sold a sci fi/fantasy murder mystery, Dead Spots, to editor Alex Carr at 47 North in a two-book deal done by agent Jacqueline Flynn at Joelle Delbourgo Associates. By coincidence, Joelle Delbourgo will be taking pitches at our upcoming April 13-15, 2012 Writers’ Institute in Madison. Lori Devoti will be leading a new full-manuscript critique Master Class during the upcoming June 18-22 Write-by-the-Lake Retreat.

Instructor Angela Rydell nominated for a Pushcart Prize

Angela Rydell's poem "The Stepmother and the Mosquito Bird," published in The Cleveland Review, was recently nominated for a Pushcart Prize. You can read the poem here: http://clevelandreview.org/the-stepmother-and-the-mosquito-bird-by-angela-rydell . Angela teaches “Poetry Writing: Getting to Good” and “How to Write Compelling Fiction” for UW-Madison Continuing Studies. Angela also teaches in person for us and will be teaching flash fiction next June in the annual writers’ retreat in Madison.

Instructor Christine DeSmet has a Christmas story published and is featured writer at www.JewelsoftheQuill.com

Christine DeSmet, teacher of many writing courses at UW-Madison Continuing Studies and director of our June retreat, is the author of a new holiday story called “The Christmas Magi of Birch Bay” in the book Christmas Gems, a collection of holiday stories published by Whiskey Creek Press. Christine is also this month’s featured author at the Jewels of the Quill website, where you can read excerpts of her writing. Check out www.JewelsoftheQuill.com

Screenwriting course in Delta Sky magazine
We're high in the sky! The Delta Sky magazine (October issue) took a look at the "Cool Online Courses" being taught across the country and included our very own "Screenwriting: Write Your First Draft Fast," taught by Christine DeSmet. The article said:  "That great movie idea you've been noodling? Give it shape with help from a professional screenwriter." Download the article (pdf).

Check out more writer success stories

Instructor Christine DeSmet has new short story in Christmas collection
Christine DeSmet’s holiday short story set in northern Wisconsin called, “The Christmas Magi of Birch Bay,” appears in the new Christmas Gems: A Jewels of the Quill Christmas Anthology,” available now from Whiskey Creek Press in paperback or electronic formats.

Christine’s story leads the collection. Her story is a sweet romance involving a young war widow who finds the loneliness of the holiday lifted by an ordinary Joe venturing into her antique shop to look for an elusive baseball card for his collection.

Past Writers’ Institute speaker Marnie Mamminga’s historic memoir coming in Spring 2012
The Wisconsin Historical Society Press is publishing in spring 2012 Marnie Mamminga’s story of her grandmother’s Wisconsin cabin, called Return to Wake Robin: One Cabin in the Heyday of North Woods Resorts. Mamminga, of Batavia, Ill., has been an instructor at the annual Writers’ Institute conference. Marnie explains about the book’s title, “Wake Robin is the common name for the spring flower trillium that blooms abundantly in Wisconsin and is also the name my grandmother gave our cabin when she had it built in 1929.” The book is a series of essays that focus on the 1920-1960s glory era of camps and cabins.

Jon Duff makes top 25% at Page International Screenwriting Award Contest
A screenplay by Jon Duff, Gainesville, Florida, made it into the top 25 percent of the Page International Screenwriting Awards Contest. Jon's script, "Paramedhicks," tells the story of a paramedic challenged with saving a troubled rural area's emergency response team while also dealing with his own personal problems. Jon is currently enrolled in our online course "Screenplay: Write Your First Draft Fast" with instructor/writer Christine DeSmet.

Cynthia Mehta finals at the Mexico International Film Festival
Congratulations to Cynthia Mehta, Sun Prairie, Wis., whose script, “No More Tears” is an official finalist at the Mexico International Film Festival, May 20-21, 2011, in Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico. Cynthia was a student in our online course, “Screenwriting: Write Your First Draft Fast,” taught by Christine DeSmet.

Christopher Mohar earns prestigious award
Staff member Christopher Mohar, Madison, will be honored at an awards luncheon May 14 by the Council for Wisconsin Writers. He will receive the Larry and Eleanor Sternig Short Fiction Award and $500 for his short story, “The Five Points of Performance,” which appeared in The Southwest Review, where it also won the journal’s McGinnis-Ritchie Award for Fiction.

Bill Bibo and Brooke Miller Hall make finals
Bill Bibo, Madison, finished in 8th place out of 450 international entries in the flash fiction contest sponsored by NYC Midnight (nycmidnight.com). Published authors and editors in New York City were final judges. Bill is a past participant in our screenwriting lab.

Brooke Miller Hall, Racine, and her father, Mark Miller, are among 11 finalists in the seventh annual Snowdance Theater competition. Snowdance is an annual competition of 10-minute comedic plays, with audiences voting to determine the winners. Brooke’s play, “Dr. Jellyfish O.B.,” will be performed during Jan. 28 through Feb. 27, 2011, at Racine’s Sixth Street Theater, 318 Sixth St. Brooke is a past participant of our Continuing Studies programs including the online screenwriting course.

New Authors with great book covers!
Den Adler, a long-time attendee of our Writers’ Institute conference and a Critique Service client, has a new book out in time for holiday giving called Janesville, published by Arcadia Publishing, a well-known publisher of postcard books. Den’s book features 228 postcards giving a pictorial history of Janesville, Wis., where Den resides. He and his wife Judy used their own collection of cards in addition to those found at the Rock County Historical Society and local collectors.

Critique Service client Carl Miller, Palm Beach, Florida, is a new first-time author with a suspense, The Fires of Remorse, from Whiskey Creek Press. Check out his hot cover, pun intended. Carl said he’s really a hometown Wisconsin guy because he attended grade school in Milwaukee, Wis.

Sheri Matheson, Portage, Wis., is the author of Night of the Wolf, with a distinctive wolf cover, a historical suspense novel that includes details of the famous Peshtigo fire that occurred the same day as the even more famous Chicago fire. Sheri’s book is found at www.buybooksontheweb.com.

Congratulations, Den, Carl, and Sheri!

Online participant has three poems published
Dennis Trujillo, Dongducheon, Korea, recently published three poems in the Fall 2010 issue of Wild Goose Poetry Review, an on-line journal. His poems are: "Why I Run in the Rain," "Precious Moments" and "Dragonflies and Algebra." Dennis registered for "Getting to Good" taught by Angela Rydell. Angela is now teaching a new online UW-Madison Continuing Studies poetry course called "Taking the Poetic Leap." Congratulations, Dennis!

Several writers from our programs announce good news
Amy Gangl (online screenwriting course), Middleton, Wis., and her writing partner, Brooke Miller Hall (attended various UW writing programs), placed 8th in the 2010 Writer’s Digest script category with their screenplay “Babymoon Blues.”

W. Lionel Williams (critique services), Hempstead, NY, has published A Lamb to the Slaughter/Hope and Defeat in the High School Classroom through IUniverse.

Cathy Douglas (“Take Your Characters to Dinner” online course with Angela Rydell), Madison, Wis., had her poem “Mother’s Maiden Name” published in the online version of Verse Wisconsin. And her story, “The Video Game,” was published in a recent issue of Lorelei Signal as well as the Mystic Signals Anthology.

Dr. Phillip Dibble (online dialogue course), Mission Hills, Kansas, is the author of The Fundamental Things, a book from Authorhouse.

Online course writers get poetry and essays published
Peter Schaller, of Managua, Nicaragua, a graduate of our online course, "Creative Nonfiction," recently published two essays. "Gray Baby, Purple Shoes," can be read in Alligator Juniper, issue #15, and "Rules of Temporary Marriage" appears in Jelly Bucket, a literary journal published by Eastern Kentucky University, due out in October 2010. "I recently took the Creative Nonfiction class with Angela Rydell, and it was a great catalyst for my writing. The exercises were very practical, and helped me to focus on the craft of writing, rather than just flowing with the passion of words. The course helped me to develop new skills and perspective that will enable me to more fully develop my potential as a writer."

Jeff Jenkins, of Forest City, North Carolina, a recent graduate of the poetry course "Getting to Good," will have his poem, "Ruminations of a Butterfly Collector," published in the fall 2010 issue of Willows Wept Review. He wrote and revised the poem during the course. "I appreciate that Angela kept urging me to stay true to the meaning of the poem, employ concrete imagery, and avoid conflicting metaphors. I definitely feel that my writing has improved as a result of taking this course—and the price is a bargain." Also, his prose poem "April Again," published under his pen name (Jeff Alan), is in issue 59 of The Pedestal.

Past Writers' Institute speaker collects national award
Congratulations to Simone Elkeles, a 2009 UW-Madison Writers' Institute conference speaker and New York Times bestselling author who just earned the national Rita Award from Romance Writers of America for Best Young Adult Romance 2010 for her novel, Perfect Chemistry. Simone is from the Chicago area. Awards were given out Saturday night, July 31, at the national RWA conference in Orlando.

Elizabeth Lee, Washington, D.C. , makes Nicholl Contest quarterfinals
Elizabeth Lee, a graduate of our online screenwriting course taught by Christine DeSmet, has advanced to the quarterfinal round of the prestigious Nicholl Fellowship Contest that is sponsored by the same people that bring you the Oscars—The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Liz’s screenplay is one of 326 to survive the first round of 6,304 entries this year. Up to five $30,000 fellowships will be awarded to new screenwriters in the final round. Congratulations, Liz, on this huge milestone, and good luck in the semi-final and final rounds!

Cathy Scibelli, East Norwich, New York, publishes in NY Newsday
Cathy Scibelli’s essay, “Super Match at the Market,” was published June 13, 2010 in New York Newsday, a major New York metro region newspaper. Cathy recently completed our online course “Creative Nonfiction” with instructor Angela Rydell.

Cathy said about the course, "The two things from the ‘Creative Nonfiction’ course that helped me so much with my writing were learning to FOCUS on my theme and to include those important details! My first version of my essay was so long and wordy, until I edited it with the idea of finding the focus and realized what made the story good was focusing on my mother's central role as a checker in the supermarket. And when the editor from Newsday was going over my story, she kept laughing at certain points where I had included dialogue or little details and saying ‘This is truly adorable!’ I was thinking of your extensive editing comments on my course essays, always telling me to put more of myself into the story, and more of those specific details that readers love. As I listened to the editor yesterday I was thinking, ‘Thank you, Angela!’”

Charles Fiore, North Carolina, sells his novel.
Congratulations go to Charles Fiore, Durham, NC, and formerly of Chicago, for the sale of his novel, Green Gospel, to Livingston Press for publication in Spring 2011. Charles workshopped his novel at the UW-Madison Writers’ Institute conference in 2006, met with agents at the event in 2007, then worked with Laurel Yourke of our staff for some polishing.

Here’s the summary of his novel:  Fleeing the FBI, eco-terrorist Edie Aberdeen escapes to the small, rural town of Arcadia, Florida. She hopes to reinvent herself and forget her criminal past. But when she falls in with a mega-church whose pastor preaches a fiery brand of environmental fundamentalism, she must choose between abdication and one final, radical act to save the church from financial ruin.

Pat Fitzgerald finals in script contest
Kudos go to Pat Fitzgerald for her fine showing in the contest sponsored by the Table Read My Screenplay Contest, www.tablereadmyscreenplay.com. Formerly of Racine, Wisconsin, Pat now lives in rural Capitan, New Mexico. Finalists are chosen based on their loglines. Here’s the logline for her script, “Millard Does the Martian Mash”: A bumbling Earth man must travel into outer space to rescue an abducted hometown gal, a feat he can’t accomplish without the aid of an alien—who arrived on Earth to assassinate him. …Good logline! Pat’s a graduate of Christine DeSmet’s online screenwriting course, and Pat’s attended many of our Writers’ Institute conferences and other programs.

Kyle Fleishman’s screenplay to be honored at upcoming 2010 Canada Film Festival
Calgary writer Kyle Fleishman’s screenplay, “Chasing Thunderbirds,” was selected as an Honorable Mention in the screenplay competition sponsored by the Canada Film Festival, March 19-21, 2010. Congratulations, Kyle!

Kyle wrote his screenplay in the UW-Madison Continuing Studies online course called, “Screenwriting: Write Your First Draft Fast,” taught by Christine DeSmet.

Kyle said, “Christine DeSmet's course helped me improve my screenwriting immensely. Christine is at turns encouraging and a tough critic, just what I needed to stop writing mediocre screenplays that I would abandon after 30 pages and finish a screenplay I can be proud of. I am sure that my screenplay would not have received any of the accolades it has were it not for this course and Christine's fantastic help. It would probably not even be finished.”

Writers' Institute attendee Sherry Croyle published
Congratulations to Sherry Croyle, Medine, Ohio, and a past (2008) attendee of the Writers' Institute conference. Her novel, The Caretaker, was published in print by the Wild Rose Press on October 2, 2009 under the penname Gabriella Lucas. Sherry is proud to report that the reviews have been great—one by a romance review site and one by the Akron Beacon Journal.

JoAnne Mills, Oshkosh, WI, finals in screenwriting contest
Congratulations! JoAnne Mills is among five finalists in the Wisconsin Screenwriters Forum annual contest with a screenplay she worked on in the UW-Madison Continuing Studies online screenwriting course taught by Christine DeSmet. Christine earned an Honorable Mention in the same contest. JoAnne’s script is “Papa’s Hand.” Logline: When a white drifter poses as black to legally marry a mixed-raced woman in segregated 1920s Virginia, he experiences bigotry from whites and blacks for the first time. He fights back by using the town’s superstitious fears against them, but it all unravels when his past crime of murdering a white man is uncovered and the Klan seeks revenge.

Retreat attendee Maureen Holtz, Monticello, IL, published
Write-by-the-Lake Writer’s Workshop & Retreat alumna Maureen Holtz of Monticello, Illinois, has co-authored a biography called Robert Allerton: The Private Man and the Public Gifts, available September 2009 from The News-Gazette. The book covers the life of the heir to a Chicago stockyard and banking fortune, and “Chicago’s Richest Bachelor” of 1906. He never married but at the age of 87 became the first Illinoisian to adopt another adult, his sixty-year-old "protege." His legacy to the public: acres of formal gardens and nature trails, vast art collections, and an aura of mystery surrounding his private life. Congratulations, Maureen, on your first book!

Retreat attendee Maureen Holtz, Monticello, IL, published
Write-by-the-Lake Writer’s Workshop & Retreat alumna Maureen Holtz of Monticello, Illinois, has co-authored a biography called Robert Allerton: The Private Man and the Public Gifts, available September 2009 from The News-Gazette. The book covers the life of the heir to a Chicago stockyard and banking fortune, and “Chicago’s Richest Bachelor” of 1906. He never married but at the age of 87 became the first Illinoisian to adopt another adult, his sixty-year-old "protege." His legacy to the public: acres of formal gardens and nature trails, vast art collections, and an aura of mystery surrounding his private life. Congratulations, Maureen, on your first book!

New author talks about our retreat as a “game changer.”
“I will forever be grateful for Laurel Yourke’s encouragement and critical eye. I can honestly say that taking her novel revision class two years ago during Write-by-the-Lake was a game changer for me. Her approach to evaluating prose was eye-opening and the tools she taught for assessing narrative perspective were incredibly useful. I’m also glad that after rewriting my YA novel, I used the critique service to have her look at the first 50 pages. Again, her global comments were insightful and constructive, while her line edits blew me away. I realized how much over-writing I was doing at sentence level. Following her rigorous approach, I polished the rest of my manuscript. I know that last revision made all the difference. In January this year, a great agent offered me representation and within two weeks he sold my novel to Scholastic in a two-book deal. I’m thrilled to say that Dark Life is due in bookstores in May, 2010. Thanks for all the help and guidance!!” Kat Falls, Evanston, Il.

Several new publications for Matthew Cole, Riverview, Florida
Matthew Cole, a graduate of our online screenwriting course, is the author or several new publications. Look for three new short stories on www.associatedcontent.com. They are: "Seeing Double," crime; "Forever Mine," horror; and "Indian Summer," romance. A new novel, The Marshal: a Novel of Bill Tilghman, will be published by Whiskey Creek Press in September 2009.

First sale for Kirsten Johnson, Madison, WI
Kirsten Johnson’s first novel, Footsteps (Plain View Press), presents the intriguing and richly-detailed life of a girl growing up in Kenya and going through the passage to womanhood. Check out the beautiful cover at her publisher’s website, where you can also buy a copy of the book. Kirsten is a past attendee of our programs featuring critique workshops and she also worked with Christine DeSmet through our Critique Services. Congratulations, Kirsten, on your first sale!

"Weekend with Your Novel" is published
Richard Davidson, a 2008 participant in “A Weekend with Your Novel” held every fall in Madison, is the author of Lead Us Not Into Temptation. This is the first book of a mystery series starring former NASA engineer, Arthur Blake, who is a minister in the fictional Chicago suburb of Parkville. The book is available from Virtualbookworm.com, Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com, and the author’s website, www.davidsonbooks.com. Richard is vice president of the Chicago-area Off Campus Writers’ Workshop group.

Write-by-the-Lake Retreat participant sells book
Ann Garvin, Stoughton, Wis., a professor at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, has sold her novel, On Maggie’s Watch, to Berkley (Penguin), to be published in November 2010. The book was formerly called A Congregation of Crocodiles when Ann workshopped her pages in Christine DeSmet’s June retreat section for first-time novelists. Ann’s agent is Eve Bridburg from Zachary, Shuster, Harmsworth Literary Agency. Ann’s humorous and poignant novel is about a pregnant Maggie Finley, who learns a lot about herself and the judgments she makes about others when she sets about ridding her neighborhood of a sexual predator.

Success for William Dollear
William Dollear's short story, "Tequila," that was workshopped at Angela Rydell's and Laurel Yourke's class, "Tricks Poets Can Teach Every Writer," was published in the online journal, Stockyard Magazine. William also attended the Write-By-The-Lake Workshop & Retreat this summer. He participated in the class, "Writing for Children," led by Kathleen Ernst. Keep on writing!

New author Joan Maze, from Minnesota, has two books out and more!
Joan Maze, from Minnesota, a past attendee of our Writers' Institute conference in Madison, just signed with Red Rose Publishing with her first mystery, Murder by Mistake, available as an e-book. (Paperback coming later on.) Red Rose will also publish her single title romantic suspense book, Framed In Fear, this spring. Murder by Mistake is the first book in the Mollie Fenwick Mystery Series, a "cozy" series. Joan is polishing her second cozy, Murder For Kicks. Congratulations, Joan!

Karen Bryson in screenwriting finals
Karen Mueller Bryson, of Gold Canyon, Arizona, has placed in the top 20 of this spring's Phoenix Film Festival screenwriting contest with her romantic comedy script, "Zak Goes Back to School," the story of a famous boy band member who can't shake his past when he returns to college. Winners will be announced March 18, 2009. Karen is a graduate of the UW-Madison online screenwriting course, "Write Your First Draft Fast," in which Christine DeSmet mentors writers on their scripts from the idea stage through the finished script's FADE OUT. Congratulations, Karen, and good luck in the finals!

Malta screenwriter and UW online student is semi-finalist
Philip Spiteri, of St. Julian's, Malta, is a semi-finalist in the Screenplay Festival contest in the action-adventure category with his feature film script, "The Cost of Redemption." Philip wrote his script in the UW–Madison online course taught by Christine DeSmet, "Screenplay: Write Your First Draft Fast." Philip's script is about a reclusive medical doctor who discovers his new neighbor and her young son must go on the run because of what they know about a murder plot implicating the White House. Congratulations, Philip!

Christine DeSmet in the EPIC finals
One of our very own learned today (Dec. 2) that her characters in little Moonstone, Wisconsin, are up for a national/international award.

Christine DeSmet's anthology of related humorous romantic mysteries, Mischief in Moonstone, published by Whiskey Creek Press, is a finalist for a 2009 Eppie Award from the Electronically Published Internet Connection (EPIC), the association for e-book authors and electronic presses.

The book is also available in trade paperback.

This is Christine's first anthology collection. Winners are announced at the spring EPIC conference.

Excerpts of the stories are available at the Jewels of the Quill website, www.JewelsoftheQuill.com.

Christine teaches fiction and screenwriting, and critiques manuscripts at UW–Madison Liberal Studies & the Arts. She can be reached at cdesmet@dcs.wisc.edu.

Mary Hughes - new published author!
Congratulations go to Mary Hughes, West Bend, WI whose first novel, Biting Nixie, a paperback vampire tale, came out in time for Halloween from Samhain Publishing. The e-book version will be issued in January 2009. Mary has attended the UW-Madison "Weekend with Your Novel" and "Writers' Institute" conference.

Tina Russ a winner in Faulkner novel writing contest
Tina Russ, of Riverwoods, IL, past attendee of the Writers' Institute conference in Madison, has won the novel-in-progress category of the Pirate's Alley William Faulkner Society creative writing competition with her first novel, After Paradise. Tina's judge was Deborah Grosvenor, a literary agent from the Washington D.C. area.

Congratulations, Tina!

Published in fiction the first time! Kris Babe, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Congratulations, Kris! Trillium Literary Journal will be publishing Kris’s fiction for the first time (a short story), as well as a piece of creative nonfiction. This follows major successes for Kris in nonfiction: a profile of author Benjamin Percy, Nov/Dec 2007 Poets & Writers magazine; an interview with author Shauna Singh Baldwin, December 2007 issue of The Writer’s Chronicle; and an essay in the “My Wisconsin” column, Nov/Dec 2007 issue of Wisconsin Trail’s magazine. Kris has attended Writers’ Institute, A Weekend with Your Novel (offered again this fall), and School of the Arts in Rhinelander. She’s currently in Laurel Yourke’s weekly fiction critique workshop and credits Laurel’s fine teaching for getting her to a publishable level.

Bruce Noble poem accepted
Bruce Noble has just had the poem "Returning To My Hometown" accepted by the prestigious "Fox Cry Review," now in its 33rd year of continuous publication.

Tennessee's Moberg signs with agent
Kurt Moberg, Nashville, Tennessee has signed with agent Kristopher O'Higgins of The Scribe Agency, Madison, WI to represent his science fiction book, We Are Stardust. Interesting backstory: The agent told us he'd originally rejected the manuscript, but the author decided to go ahead with his private pitch meeting at the 2007 "Writers' Institute" conference and use the meeting to brainstorm the revisions. Kris said, "The new beginning is awesome and the rest kicks butt, too."

Teri Woods signs with agent
Teri Woods, Madison, winner of the fiction category of the "Poem or Page Contest" at the recent Writers' Institute, has signed for representation with Victoria Skurnick, Levine/Greenberg Literary Agency. Teri pitched her mainstream novel during a meeting with Victoria at the event. Teri used our critique services and workshops with Christine DeSmet and Laurel Yourke. Congratulations! -May 7, 2008.

"What Kindergarten Teachers Know"
A book by Lisa Holewa , Milwaukee,  and Joan Rice,  Cudahy, Wis., came out May 7, 2008, from Perigree (Penguin Group). Lisa had a pitch meeting with agent Marilyn Allen (Allen O'Shea Literary Agency) at the 2006 Writers' Institute. Congratulations, Lisa and Joan!

Critique Service grad Mary Lindsey signs with literary agent
Congratulations to Mary Lindsey, Houston, Texas, who on May 2, 2008, signed with  agent Elizabeth Jote of Objective Entertainment. Mary used our Critique Services to polish her writing. On her website, Mary calls Christine DeSmet of our staff her “critique goddess.” Mary’s written a fine YA book involving time travel, romance, and a true historical event. It’s the start of a series. See Mary’s interview at www.querytracker.net/maryL.php, and more about her writing at her website, www.marylindsey.com.

Judith Jones' memoir published
Congratulations go to a past keynote speaker at our annual conference, Judith Jones, on her new memoir, The Tenth Muse/My Life in Food, from Alfred A. Knopf. Judith was the editor of Julia Child, James Beard, and many other powerhouses in the food world, as well as fine fiction writers including Anne Tyler and John Updike. Judith was the keynote speaker for our 1999 (10th edition) Writers' Institute in Madison.

Screenwriting student wins award from BBC
Martin McSweeney, Cork, Ireland, a graduate of our UW online course in screenwriting, won a writing award from the BBC on Oct. 31, 2007, for a TV script based on his novel, Two Weeks In June. Martin now gets into BBC workshops and gets a chance at a commissioned script. Congratulations!

Writer Lisa Holewa finds agent and a sale at Writers' Institute
Lisa Holewa had a pitch meeting with agent Marilyn Allen (Allen O'Shea Literary Agency) at the 2006 Writers' Institute. That turned into a sale for Lisa's and Joan Rice's book, Elephant Ears and Marshmallow Feet, a guide for parents that takes tricks and activities developed by teachers and translates them into techniques parents can use at home to get their children organized, listening, and cooperating. The book sold to Maria Gagliano at Perigee (Penguin Group). Congratulations, Lisa!

Critique Service Writer gets published
Prayas Abhinav's short story, "The Secret Life of Superheroes," has been published in the literary magazine, Muse India. Prayas polished the story through our UW critique services and with Christine DeSmet as his writing mentor. Prayas retains the rights to the story and is re-submitting it to other magazines. The story takes on the theme of whether each of us could be a superhero and might actually have the strength to fly to save others when caught in the middle of horrific events. Prayas lives in Bagalore, India, and grew up in Ahmedabad. Congratulations, Prayas!

Screenwriting and short story news from Christine DeSmet
Christine DeSmet has learned that a romantic comedy she wrote with writing partner, Peggy Williams, made the top ten percent semi-finals in the annual Austin Film Festival contest. Called "Anyone Can," the story is about four slacker guys who think they can get rich quick by writing a romance novel but instead end up in the crosshairs of a real romance writer out to destroy them. Christine teaches the UW's online screenwriting course, and welcomes new writers anytime.

Christine DeSmet has two new short stories published this fall, including her first ghost story, "When the Dead People Brought a Dish-to-Pass," in the book, Shadows in the Heart/A Jewels of the Quill Halloween Anthology, published by Whiskey Creek Press. The light-hearted romantic mystery is about what happens for a troubled young woman when her dead relatives from centuries before decide to cheer her up by giving her a Halloween party and bringing food from each of their eras, as well as a possible suitor. The story takes place in fictional Moonstone, Wisconsin, on the south shore of Lake Superior.

Christine's other story takes place in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. "Stolen Pleasures," is in The Object of Romance Anthology, from new publisher, Beacon Books Publishing. In that romantic mystery, an art shop owner's bad luck with dating gets worse when the most recent guy turns up dead after eating her maraschino cherry cake.

Excerpts of Christine's stories are at www.JewelsoftheQuill.com

Online screenwriting course grad tops in two contests, options script
Mike Mason, Norwich, England, has finished in the top ten in the 2007 Scriptapalooza contest with his script, "LA Coincidental," a comedy send-up of film noir detective movies. He optioned the script to Hero Pictures. Mike wrote the script in our UW online course, "Write Your First Draft Fast," with Christine DeSmet, http://continuingstudies.wisc.edu/lsa/online. An interview with Mike is online at the Scriptapalooza website. Mike also won first place in the Wisconsin Screenwriters Forum contest, where second place went to another of Christine's students, Pat Fitzgerald. Her script is "Kid," the true story of Billy the Kid.