Upcoming Workshops

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What do Editors Look for in a Manuscript?
with Marty Gerber
October 19, 2023 AT 3:00 PM MDT

​What does a publisher look for when deciding if a manuscript will have a sufficient readership to make a book profitable in the marketplace? Is it unique, or does it duplicate other titles in the marketplace? Is it of professional quality, or can good editing raise it to that level?
The right editor can help your book, from reader-friendly organization to a discerning eye on plot structure to polishing your words. Hence, they can convey your ideas most effectively—and the countless steps in between. 

Join Marty Gerber, editor and publishing consultant, as he discusses how to position your manuscript best in an NMBA workshop on Thursday, October 19th, at 3:00 p.m. on Zoom

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Marty Gerber had a long career with newspapers large and small as a writer, editor, manager, and owner before founding Terra Nova Books with a partner in 2011. He also has been a realtor, legal assistant, and instructor in journalism at New York University and the University of Arizona. As a volunteer, activities have included being a Big Brother, Little League coach, skiing instructor for the developmentally disabled, tutor at the Santa Fe Youth Shelter, and guide/naturalist at a state nature reserve. He has served on the boards of the New Mexico Book Association and the Santa Fe ACLU, and is currently a CASA volunteer and New Mexico state coordinator for Braver Angels, the leader in the national movement to build a common ground across our country’s partisan divide.

Past Workshops - Purchase to watch on Demand

Digital Downloads Include Workshop Video and Slides

The Changing Landscape of the Publishing World
with Jared Kuritz
September 21, 2023 AT 3:00 PM MDT

The Changing Landscape of the Publishing World. 
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Jared Kuritz, the Managing Director of Mimbres Press at Western New Mexico University, will talk about the changing landscape of the publishing industry for writers. For over twenty years, Kurtz has worked with domestic and international authors and publishers on literary and publishing development, business modeling, and public relations and marketing. With a publishing industry that is more accessible than ever, the lines between author, publisher, editor, agent, and publicist have blurred.

​Join industry expert Jared Kurtz as he offers his insights on the publishing industry today in an NMBA workshop on Thursday, September 21st, at 3:00 p.m. on Zoom. ​

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Jared Kuritz is the Managing Director of Mimbres Press and also oversees book marketing efforts. For more than 20 years as a Managing Partner with STRATEGIES Public Relations, he has worked with domestic and international authors and publishers on literary and publishing development, business modeling, and public relations and marketing. Jared is also the Director of the La Jolla Writers Conference—an annual, three-day immersion that educates attendees about the art, craft, and business of writing and publishing. Jared is also the Founder and Director of the Kops-Fetherling Books Awards. A regular contributor to IBPA, BEA, Tucson Festival of Books, and more, Jared enjoys sharing his expertise with members of the writing and publishing community.

The Shortest Way to a Short Story
with Sonja Dewing
April 20, 2023 AT 3:00 PM MDT

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The Shortest Way to a Short Story
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Are you a seasoned writer looking to hone your skills or a beginner eager to explore the world of short fiction? The Shortest Way to a Short Story workshop provides the essential tools and techniques to write compelling and effective stories.

In April's New Mexico Book Association workshop, you'll learn the following:

• How to come up with creative ideas for stories
• How to write short stories that are engaging and well-crafted
• How to get to know and develop compelling characters
• How to create a powerful opening and craft a satisfying ending
• Where to publish or utilize their short stories for new readers or more income

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Sonja Dewing is an award-winning and best-selling author and CEO of the Women's Thriller Writers Association. Her short story, The Glass Mountain, won 2nd place in the NM Press Women's Communications Contest, and her flash fiction, Pigs Pageant, won 3rd place in the Titlewave Flash Fiction Contest. She's also the facilitator of the Short Storyathon - a weekend of hard work and dedication where writers create, edit, review, and publish a short story in a weekend.

Everything You Need to Know about (Book) Publicity
with Kim Weiss
March 23, 2023 AT 3:00 PM MDT

Everything You Need to Know about (Book) Publicity
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Congratulations! You've got your book written and published; truly a massive accomplishment. Now what? Although you feel like you've done your part, the question remains, how and where do I find my readers? Do I undertake the task alone? Do I hire someone to help get the word out? What works, and what is a waste of time (and $$)? ​

From twenty-five years as publicity director for a publisher and ongoing work in the "trenches" of book publicity, Kim Weiss is here to answer your questions and help guide you towards the most efficient and effective steps in promoting your book. The landscape never stops changing. In addition to new promotion tools, there are some tried and true channels for pursuing exposure for your book. Kim invites you to jot down any questions about the process. ​

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For more than three decades, Kim Weiss ​ has served companies, products, organizations, and authors. Since 1994 she has headed up the public relations department of the major book publisher, HCI (Health Communications, Inc.), best known for launching health, wellness, inspirational, women's, nonfiction, and self-help, including the bestselling  Chicken Soup for the Soul series and  A Child Called "It." While at HCI, Weiss worked with legendary actor Kirk Douglas on one of his final books; Life Could Be Verse: Reflections on Love, Loss, and What Really Matters. She also helped put books on the NY Times bestseller list, including I Want! by former CNN/HLN reporter Jane Velez-Mitchell and Getting It Through My Thick Skull by an internationally-recognized survivor and motivational speaker Mary Jo Buttafuoco. 

Self-Publishing Journey
​By Connie L. Nelson
February 21, 2023 AT 3:00 PM MDT

“My Self-Publishing Journey”

Attention all aspiring authors! Attention all aspiring authors! Have you ever wanted to publish your own book? It’s now easier than ever for independent authors to self-publish. But you might wonder how to actually get started. How to find an editor, a cover artist or even to get the word out about your book?

In this workshop Connie L. Nelson will guide you to answer these questions and walk through the series of decisions she had to make to publish her Amazon best-selling true-crime memoir, “Cavalier – The Story of an Unsolved Murder in a Small Town”.It is the story of her friend Jack’s murder in 1986.
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From writing and editing to cover design and formatting, marketing, social media and distribution. You'll leave the workshop with the tools and knowledge you need to publish and promote your book, and reach your target audience.
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Register today and take the first step on your self-publishing journey!

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Connie L. Nelson has always been a writer, but she had never been an author. She worked in advertising, healthcare marketing and communications, and finally as a grant writer. When she retired in 2018 and moved to Santa Fe, she met Sandy Wright and Jared Gann who encouraged her to join NMBA. The rest is history. 

​In the seven months since her book was self-published, Connie says she’s learned that publishing a book is not the last step. She’s been busy doing interviews, sending books to reviewers, and promoting her book through in-person events. During her self-publishing journey, Connie says she’s learned that you can’t be afraid to ask questions and that your contacts are usually willing to help you in some way.

BOOK PROPOSALS
By Loretta Hall
November 2, 2022 AT 3:00 PM MDT

Nonfiction Book Proposal Workshop

Unlike novels, nonfiction books are offered to publishers in the form of a book proposal before the manuscript is completed. (Memoirs are also offered with a book proposal, but after the manuscript is completed.) Agents and publishers use the book proposal to decide whether to take on the project. Writing the proposal is at least as valuable to the author, as it facilitates planning a well-conceived, marketable book. 

​This is especially important for authors who plan to publish their own books, since they will not have the guidance of an agent or professional publisher. In this workshop, you will learn what should be included in a book proposal and how to make that information useful and compelling.

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​Loretta Hall has worked with four different publishers to produce her first seven nonfiction books. She self-published her latest two books. The lessons she has learned from these experiences will give you a head start with your quest to publish a successful nonfiction book. Loretta served on the SouthWest Writers board for four years and received the 2007 Parris Award. She was named Communicator of Achievement by the National Federation of Press Women in 2016.

BOOK EDITING 101
By Carolyn Roark
October 25, 2022 AT 11.30 AM MDT

Learn everything you need to know about editing and the different types of editing available to you when writing a book.
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It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an author in possession of a good manuscript, must be in want of an editor. And it's hard to deny that a good editorial relationship can take a book from good to great, from hot mess to hot property. (Perkins and Wolfe, anyone?)​

So, why is it so damned hard for authors to pull the trigger on hiring one? For many, the hesitation is ground in confusion. How do you know what kind of editing you need? How can you tell when your manuscript is ready for proofreading, or if it needs a thorough line edit, or if developmental work would benefit you?  Then of course, there is fear. What if some stranger changes your precious words so much that you no longer recognize the book as yours. What if they don't understand your vision or your goals? Then of course, there is the matter of money.  Professional help comes at a cost, and we've all heard the horror stories from writers who did NOT get the return on their investment.

​​This workshop breaks down the types editing that can benefit a manuscript, explains who you should hire when (as well as when you should not spend the money), and provides guidance on getting the most out of your editorial relationships. It also provides alternative options for those whose finances won't stretch to professional help.

​You will have the opportunity to perform a self-assessment for your current projects, and leave with tools you can use to better any manuscript's chances of success.

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​Carolyn Roark finished her Ph.D. at 29 and headed straight into the Ivory Tower. There, she developed a taste for style and good syntax (without becoming a grammar bully). She met incredible people.  She started an academic journal. But five years later she stole out a window and never looked back. Those committee meetings were hell.

Now she ghostwrites, coaches, edits to help aspiring authors amplify their impact through books. Her clients have included everyone from venture capitalists to restaurateurs to cancer survivors.

AWARD WINNING BOOK COVER DESIGN
By Felicia Cedillos
April 13, 2022 AT 3:30 PM MDT

Award Wining Cover Design
Felicia Cedillos, senior book designer at University of New Mexico Press, will present on the cover design process and how important it is to the overall success of the book. This workshop will go over font and color choices, image type, audience relatability, and how the cover design should relate to the interior design.

Felicia Cedillos has been working in academic publishing for fifteen years in a variety of roles, with the past eight years spent in design and production. She has won awards for her book designs from several organizations, including PubWest and the New Mexico Book Association. She has lived in New Mexico for the majority of her life and is a graduate of UNM.

HOW TO SNARE AND CARE FOR A LITERARY AGENT
By Liz Trupin-Pulli, Co-Director of JET Literary Associates, Inc.
March 23, 2022 AT 3:30 PM MDT

Workshop Description
​You have finally finished writing a book and are ready to get it in front of publishers. So now it’s time to join the hunt for an agent who will guide you through the submission process and into the negotiation arena that will hopefully result in a contract and publication. Liz will the discuss the specific steps to snaring not just any agent, but the right agent for you and your work. She will also provide tips on staying connected with your agent and making sure the relationship continues to work for both of you. By delving into the realities of the submission process and removing the mystique of it, she will basically reveal what to expect, when you’re expecting to get published. 

About Liz
This past November, Liz Trupin-Pulli happily celebrated her 50th year in publishing, having begun her career in the contracts department of New American Library (NAL) in 1971. After a brief stint as an editor at Fawcett’s Premier Books, she and then-husband Jim Trupin founded JET Literary Associates, Inc. in New York in 1975. As of 2002, their offices relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico and Vienna, Austria. JET has had great success in the mystery/suspense market, including award-winning writers: Robert Campbell, Harry Whittington, Charles Willeford, Beverly Bird, John Fortunato and Anne Hillerman. In addition to suspense, Liz is looking primarily for commercial and literary adult fiction. She does not handle sci-fi/fantasy, poetry, how-to books, memoir or material for the children’s or YA markets. 

AN AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO PUBLIC RECORDS
By David Cuillier, PhD
JANUARY 27, 2022 AT 3:30 PM MDT

An Author's Guide to Public Records
​Learn strategies and techniques for acquiring government records to assist you in your book research. This workshop will provide tips in how to find records, learn public records law, craft effective request letters, and overcome denials, including suing for records pro se.

David Cuillier, Ph.D., is an associate professor of journalism at the University of Arizona, and president of the National Freedom of Information Coalition. He has testified three times before Congress regarding the Freedom of Information Act, conducts public records training for authors and journalists nationwide, and is co-author of “The Art of Access: Strategies for Acquiring Public Records.” He was a newspaper reporter and editor in the Pacific Northwest before moving to the Southwest to teach.

WRITING YOUR MEMOIR: TRUTH, MYTH, AND INSPIRATION
By Award Winning Memoirist Shirley Melis
SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 AT 11:30 AM MDT

Writing your Memoir: Truth, Myth, and Inspiration
Shirley will talk about the essence of memoir writing – what it is and what it is not. How it’s different from autobiography and fiction; why it can be therapeutic but not therapy; how a wiggly memory can trip you up; and why voice matters. She will discuss the Show-Don't-Tell edict, the importance of scene-setting and how rewriting can make a good memoir great. 
Shirley will provide a must-read list of resources and a few of her favorite memoirs.

Shirley Melis is a longtime business writer, travel writer and newspaper columnist who traveled the world interviewing everyone from busboys to heads of international organizations before launching a career in public relations in Washington, D.C.

With her memoir, Banged-Up Heart, she took her writing in a new direction, delving deeply into her own personal story of finding love late, losing it early and discovering the strength to choose to love again. It is a fascinating odyssey, a journey both creative and erotic. 

A graduate of Vassar, Shirley Melis created an intimate memoir bearing eloquent witness to the kind of wild trust that can grow in the heart of an ordinary woman thrust into circumstances that few others must face. Banged-Up Heart is the winner of several awards, including a silver medal from Independent Publisher Book Awards, an international competition.
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Now retired, she lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is a full-time writer and pre-Covid, traveled extensively.  She is an officer of the New Mexico Press Women’s Northern Chapter.

3 Legal Issues Every Writer Should Know
JUNE 16, 2021 AT 3:00PM MDT

3 Legal Issues Every Writer Should Know
Writing a book is an investment of time, money and emotion. Don’t lose your copyright by signing the wrong contract or lose sleep by getting sued for defamation. Attorney and author Helen Sedwick explains legal basics every writer should know.

• What is a copyright and how do you protect it.
• How to avoid infringing on the rights of others.
• How to write about real people without ending up in court.

There will be time for Q&A as well, so bring your questions.

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Helen Sedwick, author and attorney, represented small businesses and entrepreneurs for more than 30 years. Her historical novel Coyote Winds has earned five-star reviews from ForeWord Reviews and is an IndieBRAG Medallion Honoree. Publisher’s Weekly lists her Self-Publisher’s Legal Handbook as one of the top resource books for independent authors. Helen’s blog coaches writers on everything from saving on taxes to avoiding scams. For more information about Helen, check out her website at http://helensedwick.com.

IngramSpark Self-Publishing 101: Insights & Best Practices

​Whether you’ve got a finished manuscript—or merely an inkling for a best seller—navigating the path of self-publishing can seem like a daunting task. However, with the right tools, content, marketing, and distribution strategies in place, being successful is a lot easier than it sounds. IngramSpark’s Josh Floyd will offer insights on using the IngramSpark platform for Print-on-Demand and Distribution through Ingram Book Company, ​​considerations for preparing your book for market and advice for pricing your books for specific markets, and finally, best practices for success with Bookstore and Library sales. To learn more visit www.ingramspark.com

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Josh Floyd promotes the growth, sales, and brand of the IngramSpark platform to independent authors and publishers along with providing education to the industry on how best to utilize Ingram’s Publish-On-Demand services for bringing a new book to market or for breathing life into an out-of-print title. Josh received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering Technology and Industrial Studies and a minor in Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University. To learn more about IngramSpark, please go to www.ingramspark.com.​

Introduction to Audiobooks... and more!
Find out how to turn your book into an audiobook, and learn vocal techniques to improve your public speaking/readings.  For authors at any level, this workshop is an opportunity to learn more about audiobooks and to also explore your own potential and abilities for vocal recordings and presentations.  While the act of writing requires a number of skills and abilities, the act of reading for an audience requires a whole different set of techniques.  Enhancing your own vocal abilities will help you to present yourself and your work more effectively, while also enhancing your self confidence and overall public image.

• Getting Your Voice out of the Shower:  Vocal warm-up techniques and Improv exercises to improve our ability to project and connectwith others.
• Audiobooks 101:  Information on why and how to produce and market an audiobook, and
• All the World is a Stage:  Tips on successful public and audioreadings.

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Laurie Bower's talent and passion for all things voice-related comes from years working as a  professional voiceover specialist, narrator, actress, singer, radio ad and musical image producer and DJ.  Her numerous character voices and vocal styles come from a lifetime of observing and listening to the many characters she has seen and met, along with training and performance in theatre and film. She has performedprofessionally as an actress, storyteller, singer, musician, poet and comedian. 

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Grant Writing "Secret Formula" 
In 1986, I was working for a healthcare organization in northern North Dakota.  The organization included an acute care hospital, a skilled nursing home and a new assisted living complex.  A new administrator had just been hired and he asked me if I would be interested in his “secret formula” for grant writing.  Of course, I responded “of course!”  And, that’s how it began. Since then, I have understood the concept of the secret formula and utilized the framework to write different types of proposals to varying organizations. My one highest one year record is $800,000. The “Secret Formula” is really nothing more than a framework to help you organize your thoughts.  I’m here to help you get started!

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Connie Nelson wrote grants through her entire career. She holds degrees in Business Administration and Organizational Communication. Her experience includes advertising for a chain of clothing stores; marketing/communications manager in several different health care organizations; and, grant writer for a large school district.  She has been an avid community volunteer and also taught marketing in post-secondary schools. Upon retiring, she moved to Santa Fe and joined the New Mexico Book Association (NMBA) with a goal of participating in workshops and training events, meeting people who are writers and authors in New Mexico, and learning about independent publishing. 

Online Marketing Essentials for Authors
Now that authors and readers alike are spending time social distancing, it’s become more important than ever to have an effective online presence. In this workshop, Mari shares tips and tricks to help authors stay relevant and connected during this time.

• Brief overview of Goodreads and Amazon author profiles.
• How to use social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, each in their own specific way, to connect with different audiences. 
• CASE STUDY: Participants will have the opportunity to submit their online profiles for review. As time permits, we will review a selection of these and analyze what changes and tools can be used to enhance their presence online. ​

This workshop will benefit those who are considering using new online tools to promote their books as well as those who have started using these tools and want to learn more about how to increase their benefits.

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Mari Angulo is a marketing and brand messaging professional. She works regularly with authors to help deliver their books and message through online platforms, websites, blogs, editorial reviews, and other book-related social media tools. Her experience includes strategic arts and nonprofit management, community leadership, event logistics, and executive consulting. Currently, Mari is completing a Marketing Masters degree in Madrid, Spain.

The Art of the Pitch 
​When it comes to pitching an article for publication, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. You must be clear on your idea, yet flexible on how you present it, all while keeping in mind the publication’s specific submission guidelines. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to develop ideas for a pitch based on knowledge you already have or research you intend to carry out, clarify your pitch for yourself and others, find a publication that “fits,” and personalize your pitch based on the publication you have in mind. 

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Alicia Inez Guzmán is an arts and culture writer and editor based in Santa Fe. As the former senior editor of New Mexico Magazine, she has read a lot of pitches and worked with writers to develop those pitches into longer prose. Alicia has also published over 100 articles in local, national, and international publications on topics ranging from contemporary art and histories of land use, to seed saving and food sovereignty. Her book, Georgia O’Keeffe at Home, was released in 2017 through Francis Lincoln Limited. She holds a PhD in visual and cultural studies from the University of Rochester, New York.