Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance: Blog

MWPA is thrilled to have David R. Godine of Godine Press, Boston, here in Maine on Thursday night, May 22.

Godine, publisher of beautiful books, will speak on he "usiness of poetry. He will guide poets, aspiring poets (of all ages!) through the submission, publication, marketing and distribution process.

There is no admission charge though a $5.00 donation is suggested, and proceeds will be shared by MWPA and Curtis Memorial Library

The evening begins at 6:30 and light refreshments will of course be served

Please join us for this very special event!

I just spoke to Wayne Sheridan, former Board member and Event Chair for the 2008 Books and Blooms event at the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden on Saturday, July 12. He tells me that we are AT CAPACITY! This is good news, as it means that we have 50 regional authors prepared to meet the public, autograph, and sell their books in the gardens this summer!

In the coming weeks you will see more promotion with specific authors planning to attend, but for now, I'm thrilled to note the interest in this program! Thrilled!

Many thanks to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens for their partnership in this event!

Seventy-two participants and a day of seminars that ranged from Sarah Thomson's "Secrets of an Acquisitions Meeting: former editor tells all" to a Q&A with editors at Port City Life and Bangor Metro magazines to a presentation from Maine's favorite literary agent, Edite Kroll! Add in a gorgeous locale and a delicious lunch (Thank you, Harraseeket Inn!), and it was an excellent and instructive conference!

Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance thanks all participants and extends a hearty invitation to return again next year!

As MWPA works its way into an active online presence, I want to explain some things.

First, the email sign-up prompt at the top of the site. MWPA is asking all members, as well as non-members who want to receive some weekly inspiration, to register an email address here at the website. This is our way of sending out FREE inspiration and writing love to our aspiring, emerging, and accomplished writers.

Now, if you want to receive the Weekly Member E-News with calendar listings from throughout the state, classified ads, trivia contests, and cool links to secret MWPA stuff, you have to be an active, paid-up member.

FREE weekly inspiration for all...just sign up above. SECRET, super-good stuff for Active Members of Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance.

(If you have questions about your membership status, please give us a call. 207.228.8263.)

Please continue to watch this website for updates and advances!

Welcome to the new internet home of Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance! Please bear with us as we tweak and fine-tune the site throughout the next few days.

We are confident that very soon, the MWPA website will offer instructive and useful information for writers, aspiring writers, publishers, and readers throughout the state of Maine.

You can click around this early version, but please be aware that the format and design will change throughout the next few days.

For now, if you would like registration materials for The Business of Writing conference on April 15, or for the Spring Writing Retreat in May, please email the office at info@mainewriters.org. We'll send you a copy right away. Our goal is to have this information available for download directly from the website by the end of this week.

When the finished site is up and running, you can expect an instructive FAQ section, direct links to useful writing sites, and (eventually) a method of renewing your membership online! Our plan is also to create a dynamic statewide calendar of events for easy access to the state's literary offerings.

But again, these advances take time, and this week is all about the Maine Literary Awards! I hope to see you all at the Award ceremony on Thursday, April 3 at 7 pm!