Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Writing Workshop Set

The Artesian Arts League's second writer's workshop will be held March 18 in the Prescott City Hall auditorium. Thirty aspiring writers registered last year and turnout is expected to exceed that this year.

This year's workshop was preceded by a 'first chapter contest.' Entrants submitted no more than 25 pages, and each entry is currently being judged by three published writers. There were 22 entries from around the state and Texas. The top five manuscripts will be read by literary agent Jean Price and the top three winners will receive cash prizes the day of the workshop.

Speakers include Sandra Canfield, best-selling romance and mainstream author of 31 books for Harlequin, Silhouette, Second Chance at Love and Bantam. She is the winner of several industry awards, including Romance Writer's of America's coveted RITA, the equivalent to the movie industry's OSCAR.

William Johnstone is the prolific author of 170 books for Kensington, Pinnacle and Zebra. He has written for almost every genre, including westerns, action adventure, horror, suspense historical and a survival series set in the future.

Lenora Nazworth is considered a rising star of inspirational romance, penning emotion- packet books for Steeple Hill. She has also written contemporary novels for Avalon Books and time travel for leisure. She writes a weekly opinion column for The Shreveport Times as well as the occasional freelance feature article.

Jean Price is the president of the Kirkland Literary Agency Inc., in Amarillo, Texas. She is a member of the Association of Author's Representatives, Sisters in Crime and RWA. The agency represents book-length fiction, currently specializing in romance, mainstream and mystery-thriller- suspense.

Historical writer Jodi Thomas is a former teacher with a degree in family studies. She sold her first novel in 1988 and has written 12 books and four short story collections since them. Her critically acclaimed books have made both the USA Today best seller list and The New York Times list. She is a two-time RITA winner as well as winning the Holt Medallion Award and a Career Achievement award. Two Texas Hearts was Doubleday Book Club selection.