WLT Members Monthly August 2023

August 9, 2023

Hello, Writers' League,

This Members Monthly, I will keep my introductory letter short as we at WLT wanted to share a special message from our Program Director, Sam Babiak.

Before I pass the mic, I did want to announce that WLT will a part of the Boerne Book Festival this October, and we would love to see as many of you there. If you'd like to claim a spot to sign and sell your books or volunteer, read on to learn more.

Also, we have just launched our new Fall 2023 Classes & Special Events catalog, and I wanted to remind you that as a Member you receive steep discounts on paid programming, as well as access to Members only programs. Start planning your writerly Fall now.

Keep on keeping on.

J Evan Parks

Member Services Manager

Dear WLT Members,

I’m writing to you today because next Thursday, August 17^th will be my last day with WLT. I’ll be joining the Operations team at Aevitas Creative Management and while I’m excited for what’s to come, I wanted to personally share the news with you and say a proper goodbye.

I started working with WLT as an intern in 2018. As dramatic as it might sound, I remember getting the acceptance email and thinking “this internship could change my life.” I had no idea where the path I was setting out on would lead me. Since my time as an intern (that started with a Google search!), I’ve worked as the WLT’s Administrative Assistant, Member Services Manager, and I’ve spent the last three years as the Program Director. I started out wanting to understand more about the literary world and publishing, but I’ve been gifted so much more than what I thought would come out of a summer internship.

While all my time here has meant a lot to me, being WLT’s Program Director has been particularly special. The last three years haven’t always been easy (I started as PD in March 2020!), but it’s because of the people who take part in our programming – from the members, instructors, and panelists to the class assistants and volunteers – that my job has been such a joy to do. Even during difficult times, we’ve continued to grow and flourish, and I have walked away from every interaction inspired and excited for more. It’s truly because of you – this amazing community of writers – that this goodbye is so difficult.

There aren’t words for how grateful I am to have worked with this community, the phenomenal WLT staff (who I will miss dearly) and the wonderful board of directors, and everyone else who I have gotten the chance to know in my time here. We’ve come together and carved out these spaces for learning and encouragement and comradery and I will never forget it or be able to repay all it’s meant to me.

I hope I’ll get to see as many of you as possible at my last Third Thursday next week. There’s so much love and joy and inspiration here and while I’m moving in a new direction with my career, I’ll always be a part of this community in whatever way I can.

With love,

Sam

The WLT staff is looking forward to participating in this year's Boerne Book Festival (Saturday, October 7, 2023), and we're especially excited to feature our members at our booth!

One of our favorite WLT member benefits is giving recently published authors the opportunity to promote their books at festivals across the state. We're so excited to participate in the Boerne Book Festival where we'll have 45-minute slots available for members interested in promoting, signing, and selling copies of their books.

The link to submit an application to join us at our booth can be found below. Please read through the provided guidelines before submitting your application.

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer at our booth, please email us at member@writersleague.org.

Guidelines for Consideration:

1) Due to space and signing slot limitations, we're inviting members who have books that were published after January 1, 2023 to have first priority for signing slots. This doesn't mean that you won't be considered for a slot if your book published prior to January 1, 2023, but please know that first priority will be given to books published since that date.

2) Signings at the WLT booth will be scheduled for Saturday October 7, 2023, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We will have 45-minute slots available. Any members wanting to be considered for a signing slot must be flexible regarding the time assigned to them.

3) Finally, you must be a member in good standing (with a membership expiration past the date of the festival, October 7, 2023) to be considered for a signing slot. If you're unsure of your membership expiration date, log-in to the website or email us at member@writersleague.org.

If you have read and understand the above guidelines and would like to be considered for one of the signing slots at this year's booth, please fill out this form. The deadline to submit this form is Friday, September 15 at 5:00 PM CDT. A schedule of signers will be sent out by 5:00 PM CDT Thursday, September 21.

No book to promote? Come to Boerne Book Fest anyway! Visit their website for this year's lineup. You can also come see our very own Executive Director, Becka Oliver, moderating the panel "Obsessed with Texas" at 8:30 AM with authors Kimberly Garza, Stacey Swann, and James Wade. It'll be a fantastic time!

August Third Thursday: “The Family Saga: Writing the Multigenerational Novel”

Each month WLT hosts Third Thursday, bringing together the WLT membership and our wider community for discussions focusing on specific topics of interest to writers and readers, with distinguished panelists moderated by a WLT staff member.

See you there!

JT Craft (Dallas) is pleased to announce the release of his first novel, The Jesus Chronicle, from Olympia Publishers. A high-concept combination historical drama and sci-fi novel that challenges a reader’s perceptions of contemporary social, political, and economic issues. Available now on Amazon and at your local bookstore.

Lila Guzman (Round Rock) has a story coming out in “Chicken Soup for the Soul” on July 25, 2023. “Reaching New Heights in the Navy” is based on an incident from her Navy days. She is currently writing a memoir about her experiences.

Jennifer Marchman (Austin) Calling all Austin Indie Authors! Looking for in-person, peer-to-peer support? Join us every third Thursday, 7pm-9pm, at Black Star Co-op on N. Lamar in Austin. August's meeting will be on the 17th! See you there!

J Evan Parks (Austin) has sold for publication a mystery for the Public Access Table Top Role-Playing Game. It is entitled "The Last Phone Booth." In it, players will investigate the the threat of an impending calamity centered around a supernatural phone booth and the mysterious and threatening man who can be seen following those who use it.

To submit your news please fill out our Google Form (link below). Announcements should adhere to the following guidelines: third-person, starting with your first and last name, followed by your city of residence, maximum 50 words. We may edit your announcement for style and clarity.

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