Friday, July 2, 2010

Wendy's Summer 2010 Newsletter

Hello Everyone,

Hope you're having a great summer so far. The June gloom here in Half Moon Bay, CA hasn't made me feel very summery, (thought we've been getting some sun lately!) but at the very least it's been keeping me indoors and writing. I'm excited to be putting the finishing touches on the draft of my third novel, which—surprise!—has nothing to do with Japan. It's about a congressman's sex scandal and the impact it continues to have on his wife and daughters some twenty years later.

Along with writerly pursuits, I'm excited to be doing a lot of teaching this summer and fall. Here's the scoop:

Writers Workshops
~ 6-Week Writers Workshop for Novel and Memoir Writers - July 14 - Aug 18 - Wed evenings - 6:30 - 9:30 pm
Whether you're just starting your novel or memoir, are ready to revise or have gotten nothing but rejections on your manuscript from literary agents, this inspiring and practical workshop held at my home in Half Moon Bay will be just right for you.

~ Your Novel: The Road to Publication: A One-Day Workshop in Half Moon Bay - Saturday, Aug 7 at the Beautiful Seal Cove Inn
This workshop for novelists will teach you how to hook readers with the first five pages of your novel, avoid common manuscript errors, write a query letter that will get the attention of an agent and more.

For info on both of these workshops click HERE

~ So Not Chick Lit: Writing Novels about Women’s Lives - Online course through Stanford University's Online Writer's Studio - Sept 27 - Dec 10
Info on this course should be available soon in Stanford's Continuing Studies Catalog and online HERE

~ Strong Beginnings: A Workshop for Novelists - Saturday, Sept 11 - 10:30am - 4:30pm - Book Passage Corte Madera
Had a great time teaching this workshop in May and am happy to return. We do "close readings" of the beginnings of successful published novels and then analyze students' first five pages in class. You can get more info at the Book Passage site later on this summer.

Love in Translation: Foreign Wife, Japanese Husband
I haven't had the chance to post any new interviews on cross-cultural marriage on my Chirashi Blog lately, but the good news is that these interviews (and more) will soon become an e-book! More details on this will be forthcoming. If you're married to a Japanese man and want to be part of this exciting project, drop me a line.

Twitter and Facebook
Yes, it's true: I'm addicted to social media. If you're a fellow junkie, please follow or "like" me or whatever they're calling it this week. And for business types, you can also connect to me on LinkedIn if you so desire.
Twitter
Facebook Fan Page
Facebook Profile Page
LinkedIn Profile Page

Odds and Ends
~ Are you a writer looking for some inspiration? In How to Write a Great Novel top authors share their methods for getting the story on the page.
~ Ever wonder why we are sold books the same way we are sold cell phones, as if the latest models deserve the most attention?
~ That great magazine Poets & Writers has just launched a Database of Literary Agents.
~ Seg-Book-Ation: Black Writers are in a Ghetto of the Publishing Industry's Making.
~ Want to work in Japan, have the skills, but not sure how to make the move? Get some tips HERE.
~ Finally got a chance to see Kiyoshi Kurosawa's powerful and poignant 2008 film, "Tokyo Sonata." Highly recommended.

Sayonara for now!

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