BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//San Diego Writers Festival - ECPv6.16.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:San Diego Writers Festival X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://sandiegowritersfestival.com X-WR-CALDESC:Events for San Diego Writers Festival REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Los_Angeles BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20200308T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20201101T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20210314T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20211107T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20220313T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20221106T090000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210717T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210717T172000 DTSTAMP:20260606T002640 CREATED:20210426T152539Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210601T190404Z UID:263775-1626539400-1626542400@sandiegowritersfestival.com SUMMARY:How to Land Your Dream Agent DESCRIPTION:Tired of hearing that your manuscript isn’t the right fit for an agent? Or worse\, radio silence to your query? \nFind out what it takes to move from the slush pile to the client list. \nIn this workshop\, author Jennifer Coburn will share how she recently changed her approach to agent hunting and found her dream representative\, who went on to sell her upcoming historical novel CRADLES OF THE REICH for six figures at auction—in ten days. \nYou’ll learn how to finetune your target list\, develop a standout query\, and choose which agent to work with when the offers start coming in. She’ll also discuss common mistakes authors make and how to avoid them. You’ll come out of this workshop with actionable steps to bring you closer to landing your dream agent. \n \n \n \n \n \n Event Sponsor: San Diego Memoir Writers Association\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Do you have a story to tell?\nSan Diego Memoir Writers Association is a community of local writers committed to the craft and business of memoir writing.  Our purpose is to create a community of inspired\, nurtured\, and educated memoirists. One of the ways in which we do this is by hosting monthly member meetings with speakers who educate our writers on both the craft and business of memoir writing. Writers of all levels are welcome and encouraged to join us to help build their own writing tribe. \nJoin Us \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Meet the Speaker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Jennifer Coburn is the author of Cradles of the Reich\, a historical novel about three very different women living at a Nazi Lebensborn breeding home at the start of World War ll. \nShe has also published a mother-daughter travel memoir\, We’ll Always Have Paris\, as well as six contemporary women’s novels. Additionally\, Jennifer has contributed to five literary anthologies\, including A Paris All Your Own. \nJennifer lives in San Diego with her husband\, William. Their daughter\, Katie is currently in graduate school. When Jennifer is not going down historical research rabbit holes\, she volunteers with So Say We All\, a live storytelling organization\, where she is a performer\, producer\, and performance coach. She is also an active volunteer with Reality Changers\, a nonprofit that supports low-income high school students in becoming the first in their families to attend college. She specializes in college essay development\, interview prep\, and all-around tiger mothering. \nLearn More at https://jennifercoburn.com/ URL:https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/event/how-to-land-your-dream-agent/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:2022 Writers Festival,On Publishing ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Coburn_jen_new.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210717T151500 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210717T161500 DTSTAMP:20260606T002640 CREATED:20210426T152221Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210630T202218Z UID:263773-1626534900-1626538500@sandiegowritersfestival.com SUMMARY:The Power of Nonfiction: How Books Can Help Us Through Life Crises DESCRIPTION:Facing a pandemic or life-threatening illness\, tackling coming-of-age issues in rapidly changing times\, getting a divorce\, losing a loved one—though life crises are universal\, people often sweep the pain under the rug and refrain from discussing its impact on our lives. For many of us\, however\, a book can be a lifeline; reading an account of another’s journey or professional advice in written form can be a saving grace.  \nJoin moderators Marni Freedman and Anastasia Hipkins for a discussion with four bold\, powerful writers who are tackling myths\, misconceptions\, and falsehoods; bravely sharing their own truths; and providing paths to acceptance\, understanding\, and healing. \nFeaturing:\n\nNancy Johnson – Things My Mama Never Told Me\nGina Simmons\, Ph.D. – Frazzlebrain\nMadonna Treadway – Eric Hoffer Award winner – author of Six Healing Questions\nSue William Silverman – Multi-award-winning author of four memoirs – author of How to Survive Death and Other Inconveniences\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Event Sponsor: Sally W. Buffington\, author of A Place Like This\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Meet Our Sponsor\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Meet the Speakers\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Marni Freedman is a screenwriter\, playwright\, award-winning author\, writing coach\, and co-founder of the San Diego Writers Festival. After graduating from USC film school\, Marni began her career bringing her play\, “Two Goldsteins on Acid\,” to the stage\, after which it was made into the film\, “Playing Mona Lisa\,” produced by Disney. She co-authored the play\, A Jewish Joke\, about a 1950s comedy writer facing the Hollywood Blacklist\, which won the NY Solo Show for best drama\, critics’ choice for the San Diego Union-Tribune\, and was recently produced Off-Broadway. Marni leads the Memoir Certificate Program for San Diego Writers\, Ink\, produces the San Diego Memoir Writers Association’s theatrical Memoir Showcase\, and is an editor of Shaking the Tree: short. brazen. memoir. She is also a writing coach and a therapist for artists and writers. Her first book\, 7 Essential Writing Tools: That Will Absolutely Make Your Writing Better (And Enliven Your Soul)\, is an Amazon Bestseller. Her second award-winning book is Permission to Roar: For Female Thought Leaders Ready to Write their Book. You can find Marni at www.marnifreedman.com\, a writing hub to help writers find their authentic voice. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Anastasia Zadeik Hipkins is a freelance writer\, editor\, and writing coach. She regularly performs in narrative non-fiction showcases\, including So Say We All’s VAMP and the San Diego Memoir Showcase\, and her work has appeared in The Literary Vine Review and Shaking the Tree. \nHaving received a BA in psychology from Smith College\, Anastasia worked for an international neuropsychological research firm before and while raising her children\, living overseas from 1991-2000. After returning stateside\, she and her family settled in the San Diego area where\, over the last nineteen years\, she has volunteered and served as a board member for a variety of nonprofit organizations dedicated to health\, education\, and the arts. She currently lives in Mission Hills with her husband and empty-nest rescue dog\, Charlie. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Nancy Johnson is a retired high school English teacher\, writer\, wife\, mother\, and grandmother. She published articles in La Mesa Courier Newspaper\, Discovering My City La Mesa Magazine\, and English Literature Journal. Her short stories appear in Sunshine Noir II (Working and Walking the Boulevard)\, Shaking the Tree II (Glass Shards)\, and Shaking the Tree III (The Sky is Falling). Her blog is Slightly Squinting. She had a blast writing and performing “The Armpit Years” for So Say We All. She volunteers for San Diego Writers Festival and San Diego Writer’s Ink. Her book\, Things My Mama Never Told Me\, will be launched in 2020. She is a student of Marni Freedman\, V.A.M.P.\, Writer’s Elements\, all the writers who have gone before her\, and the amazing teenagers who have shared their lives with her and who will remain part of her forever. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Sue William Silverman is an award-winner author of “How to Survive Death and Other Inconveniences”; “Love Sick: One Woman’s Journey through Sexual Addiction”; “Because I Remember Terror\, Father\, I Remember You”; “The Pat Boone Fan Club: My Life as a White Anglo-Saxon Jew”; and “Fearless Confessions: A Writer’s Guide to Memoir.” She teaches at Vermont College of Fine Arts. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr. Gina Simmons Schneider is a licensed psychotherapist\, certified coach\, corporate trainer\, and codirector of Schneider Counseling and Corporate Solutions. She has more than 25 years’ experience helping individuals\, couples\, and organizations manage difficult emotions and conflicts. Her book Frazzlebrain: Break Free from Anxiety\, Anger\, and Stress Using Advanced Discoveries in Neuropsychology\, published by Central Recovery Press\, launches February\, 2022. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Madonna Treadway was born in rural North Dakota\, the youngest of four children. Being the only girl with three older brothers and loving parents\, life seemed perfect.  Little did she know that her life would soon change drastically when both her parents died before she turned eight years old. \nStill\, life went on. Her family did not dwell on the past. In fact\, it was not really talked about at all. The feeling was that nothing could be done about the past\, so why bring it up? Best to move on and do what you can today. And so\, as a child\, Madonna learned to ignore her emotions and do what was needed without much drama. \nThis was her way of life until she reached her forties. It was at this point that she decided to explore what happened to her and how it had impacted her life. As she explored she remembered that as a child\, after the death of her parents\, she had often felt different from her peers\, like she was on the outside looking in. She didn’t tell anyone about how she felt\, because on some level\, she felt a sense of shame about feeling so different. No matter what she might have shared with anyone\, her truth was that her parents had died\, that still she had “been left.” URL:https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/event/the-power-of-nonfiction-how-books-can-help-us-through-life-crises/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:2022 Writers Festival,On Writing ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/THE_POWER_OF_NONFICTION.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210717T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210717T150000 DTSTAMP:20260606T002640 CREATED:20210426T151555Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210716T001856Z UID:263768-1626530400-1626534000@sandiegowritersfestival.com SUMMARY:James Patterson and Matt Eversmann w/ Dean Nelson DESCRIPTION:Acclaimed journalist and author\, Dean Nelson\, interviews the world’s number one bestselling author\, James Patterson\, and First Sergeant US Army (Ret.) Matt Eversmann\, part of the Ranger unit portrayed in the movie Black Hawk Down\, about their new book\, Walk in my Combat Boots: True Stories from America’s Bravest Warriors.  \n“These are the stories America needs to hear about the remarkable young men and women who serve.” – Admiral William H. McRaven\, US Navy (Ret.). The most moving and powerful war stories ever told\, by the men and women who lived them. \nJoin us as we learn about the creation of this powerful collection of “brutally honest stories usually only shared amongst comrades in arms. Here\, in the voices of the men and women who’ve fought overseas from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan\, is a rare eye-opening look into what wearing the uniform\, fighting in combat\, losing friends and coming home is really like. Readers who next thank a military member for their service will finally have a true understanding of what that thanks is for.”\n \n \n \n \n \n Sponsored by CORONADO PUBLIC LIBRARY with support from THE HOTEL DEL CORONADO\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Meet The Speakers\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author and most trusted storyteller. He has created many enduring fictional characters and series\, including Alex Cross\, the Women’s Murder Club\, Michael Bennett\, Maximum Ride\, Middle School\, and I Funny. Among his notable literary collaborations are The President Is Missing\, with President Bill Clinton\, and the Max Einstein series\, produced in partnership with the Albert Einstein Estate. Patterson’s writing career is characterized by a single mission: to prove that there is no such thing as a person who “doesn’t like to read\,” only people who haven’t found the right book. He’s given over three million books to schoolkids and the military\, donated more than seventy million dollars to support education\, and endowed over five thousand college scholarships for teachers. The National Book Foundation recently presented Patterson with the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community\, and he is also the recipient of an Edgar Award and six Emmy Awards. He lives in Florida with his family. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n First Sergeant (ret) Matt Eversmann personifies the importance of duty\, courage and selfless service to succeed when ordinary circumstances become extraordinary challenges. On October 3\, 1993\, Matt was placed in charge of a group of Army Rangers to lead a daytime raid against an eager enemy militia. His inspiring story of survival was immortalized in the epic film\, Black Hawk Down\, which recounts the harrowing experience. For his actions on the battlefield he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device. During his remaining time in uniform\, he worked at the Army War College\, taught at The Johns Hopkins University and finally deployed to Iraq where he lived with the Iraqi Army for 15 months during The Surge. He remained on active duty until May of 2008\, when he retired after 20 years of service. His frustration with the typical hiring process for veterans fueled his desire to help others avoid the “veteran’s predicament” – great servicemen and women overlooked because of the status quo. He and his wife Tori founded Eversmann Advisory in early 2018. Their mission is to connect great veterans with exceptional employers who realize their value. Represented by Keppler Speakers\, he is also a published author\, The Battle of Mogadishu\, and documentarian. His film “Send Me” will air on PBS in October 2018. He and Tori live in West Palm Beach\, Florida with their daughter and two black labs. Matt is a big fan of his Big Green Egg\, travel and is an aspiring surfer. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dean Nelson is the founder and director of the journalism program at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. He writes occasionally for the New York Times\, the Boston Globe\, San Diego Magazine\, Westways\, Sojourners\, and several other national publications. He has won several awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for his reporting\, and has written or co-written 14 books. Nelson is a frequent speaker at writing workshops and retreats. \nHe has traveled throughout the world covering stories of human interest — India\, where he wrote about the slums of Bombay; Kosovo\, where he interviewed and wrote about victims of terrorism; Tanzania\, where he wrote about members of the Black Panther Party who live in exile; Tibet\, where he wrote about religious persecution; Central America\, where he wrote about poverty and contaminated water; New Orleans\, where he wrote about the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; Haiti\, where he wrote about the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake; Iceland\, where he wrote about the literary scene there; Croatia\, where he wrote about a part of Europe that is trying to reinvent itself after the breakup of the Soviet Union; Rome\, where he wrote about the Canonization of Mother Teresa\, and elsewhere. URL:https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/event/conversation-with-james-patterson-and-matt-eversmann/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:2022 Writers Festival,Keynote Author ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-05-17-2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210717T123000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210717T133000 DTSTAMP:20260606T002640 CREATED:20210426T151131Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210629T005057Z UID:263765-1626525000-1626528600@sandiegowritersfestival.com SUMMARY:Interview with Dr. Edith Eva Eger\, author of The Gift DESCRIPTION:Dr. Edith Eva Eger\, international bestselling author of The Choice\, about her newest New York Times bestselling book\, The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life joins the San Diego Writers Festival\, in conversation with Phyllis Olins\, award-winning conflict resolution counselor\, and author of How Not to Be a Jerk (or a Victim): Journaling from Conflict to Healthy Relationships in Eight Easy Steps. \nDr. Eger’s powerful first book The Choice told the story of her survival in the concentration camps\, her escape\, her healing\, and her journey to freedom. Oprah Winfrey says\, “I will be forever changed by Dr. Eger’s story.” Thousands of people worldwide wrote Dr. Eger to share how The Choice inspired them to confront the past and try to heal their pain—and many readers asked her to write another\, more “how-to” book. The Gift is just such a book. In it\, Dr. Eger expands on her message of healing and provides a hands-on guide that gently encourages us to change the thoughts and behaviors that may be keeping us imprisoned in the past. \nDr. Eger explains the worst prison she experienced was not the one the Nazis put her in\, but the one she created for herself—the prison within her own mind. She describes the twelve most pervasive imprisoning beliefs she has known—including fear\, grief\, anger\, secrets\, stress\, guilt\, shame\, and avoidance—and the tools she has discovered to deal with these universal challenges. Accompanied by stories from Dr. Eger’s own life and the lives of her patients\, each chapter includes thought-provoking questions and takeaways. Filled with empathy\, insight\, and humor\, The Gift captures the vulnerability and common challenges we all face and provides encouragement and advice for breaking out of our personal prisons to find healing and enjoy life. \n \n \n \n \n \n Event Sponsor: Will Cooper\, Playwright of The Book of Leaves\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Meet Our Sponsor\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Meet the Speakers\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A native of Hungary\, Dr. Edith Eva Eger was just a teenager in 1944 when she experienced one of the worst evils the human race has ever known. As a Jew living in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe\, she and her family were sent to Auschwitz\, the heinous death camp. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Phyllis Olins holds a master’s degree in counseling and has trained extensively in conflict mediation. She was appointed to the California State Advisory Commission for at-risk intervention and was awarded by the San Diego County of Education in May of 2009 for work in community relations. She has had over 20 years of experience in applying counseling and conflict-mediation strategies to dilemmas in all walks of life. URL:https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/event/interview-with-edith-eger-author-of-the-gift/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:2022 Writers Festival,Keynote Author ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-05-17-3.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210717T111500 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210717T121500 DTSTAMP:20260606T002640 CREATED:20210426T150742Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210630T201707Z UID:263763-1626520500-1626524100@sandiegowritersfestival.com SUMMARY:Discovering New Voices - Writing About Culture  DESCRIPTION:Join Laura Cathcart Robbins\, host of the popular podcast\, The Only One in the Room\, as she moderates an unflinching discussion about the challenges and rewards inherent in writing about culture. \n\nGabriel Bump\, author of Everywhere You Don’t Belong\nAnisha Bhatia\, author of The Rules of Arrangement\nCarlos De Los Rios\, author of Kids in Cages\nLindsey Salatka\, author of Fish Heads and Duck Skin\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Event Sponsor: The SDWF LOCAL AUTHOR PROGRAM\nAt the San Diego Writers Festival\, we are passionate about supporting writers and lifting up voices. Check out our local author spotlight for a peek at what’s happening with San Diego’s local writing talent and support local!! \nSupport our Local Authors  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Meet The Speakers\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Laura Cathcart Robbins is an author\, freelance culture writer\, and host of the popular podcast\, The Only One In The Room\, living in Studio City\, California.  She has been active for many years as a speaker and school trustee and is credited for creating The Buckley School’s nationally recognized committee on Diversity\, Equity\, and Inclusion. Her recent articles in Huffpo and The Temper on the subjects of race\, recovery\, and divorce have garnered her worldwide acclaim. She is a 2018 LA Moth StorySlam winner and currently sits on the advisory board for the San Diego Writer’s Festival and the Outliers HQ podcast Festival.  Laura is also a monthly contributor for The Tempest and a founding member of Moving Forewords\, the first national memoirist collective of its kind. Find out more about her on her website\, or you can look for her on Facebook\, on Instagram\, and follow her on Twitter. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gabriel Bump grew up in South Shore\, Chicago. He received his MFA in fiction from the University of Massachusetts\, Amherst. His debut novel\, Everywhere You Don’t Belong\, was a New York Times Notable Book of 2020 and has won the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence\, the Great Lakes Colleges Association New Writers Award for Fiction\, the Heartland Booksellers Award for Fiction\, and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association’s First Novelist Award. Bump teaches at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Born and brought up in Mumbai\, India\, Anisha Bhatia now lives in San Diego\, California with her husband and their two children. She loves tea\, biryani\, books and beaches\, not necessarily in that order. THE RULES OF ARRANGEMENT is her first book. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Carlos de los Rios has written and published six books of prose and poetry. He is also a working filmmaker who has written/produced seven acclaimed films for Academy Award-winners Lauren Bacall and Harvey Fierstein\, Academy Award-nominee Elliot Gould\, Emmy Award-winners Johnny Galecki\, Golden Globe-nominee Hayden Panettiere as well as movie stars such as Scott Eastwood (“Texas Chainsaw 3-D”) and Josh Hutcherson (Peeta from the blockbuster hit\, “The Hunger Games”). Carlos has worked on more than 20 books\, 30 films and has written and or produced seven films. Carlos lectures throughout California and is a sought-after script doctor\, writing coach and story consultant. Carlos’ clients include top Hollywood screenwriters and New York Times best-selling writers. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lindsey Salatka is a mother\, author\, ghost-writer\, and editor. Her writing has been featured on blogher.com\, ewriterscoach.com\, In The Loop\, Shanghai Family Magazine\, Urbanatomy: Shanghai\, and thefeistywriter.com\, where she also served as managing editor for two years. A non-fiction essay she wrote was recently chosen to be in the Shaking the Tree Anthology\, volume 3. She is on the Advisory Board of the San Diego Writers Festival and served as a judge for the KidsWrite Children’s Writing Contest in 2020. Her debut novel\, Fish Heads and Duck Skin\, will be available in the summer of 2021. She is currently in-process on several projects including a sequel to her novel and a non-fiction collection. Most nights (both pre- and during Covid) find Lindsey curled up with her family or musing about life\, love\, and culture on her blog\, fishheadology or on Instagram\, @mywhatlovelygillsyouhave. URL:https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/event/discovering-new-voices-writing-about-culture/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:2022 Writers Festival,On Writing ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Writing_About_Culture.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210717T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210717T110000 DTSTAMP:20260606T002640 CREATED:20210426T150426Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210629T014856Z UID:263760-1626516000-1626519600@sandiegowritersfestival.com SUMMARY:Laraine Newman - May You Live In Interesting Times DESCRIPTION:Laraine Newman\, original cast member of SNL discusses her life in comedy and her experiences on SNL in her new audiobook/memoir – May You Live In Interesting Times \nListen in as festival co-founder\, Marni Freedman talks with Laraine Newman\, one of the original cast members of SNL\, about her sometimes wild\, often groundbreaking life in comedy\, her experiences on SNL\, and her new audiobook/memoir – May You Live In  Interesting Times.  \nMay You Live in Interesting Times is a warm\, funny\, heartfelt snapshot of 1970s New York City and SNL’s unexpected rocket to success\, with all the giddy headiness it entailed. Along with famous cast members John Belushi\, Dan Aykroyd\, Chevy Chase\, Jane Curtain\, Garret Morris\, and Gilda Radner\, Laraine was part of the show that changed TV—and comedy—forever. But it wasn’t all yuks and glamour. Laraine struggled with demons; she arrived in New York City with an attraction to drugs that started as a vice\, but grew to be an all-consuming addiction even as she skyrocketed to fame via her memorable characters on SNL.  \n \n \n \n \n \n Event Sponsor: Valerie Sussman\, author of Diary of an Ex-Mad Ex-Desperate Ex-Housewife\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Meet Our Sponsor\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Meet The Speakers\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Laraine Newman \nFrom growing up in Los Angeles with movie star neighbors\, bearing witness to the music scene in the 1960s and seeing the rise of comedy in the early 70s\, to studying mime in Paris under the tutelage of Marcel Marceau to becoming a founding member of the seminal comedy troupe The Groundlings\, it’s no wonder that Lorne Michaels offered Laraine Newman a spot in the original cast of Saturday Night Live.  \nThere\, along with famous cast members John Belushi\, Dan Aykroyd\, Chevy Chase\, Jane Curtin\, Garret Morris\, and Gilda Radner—Bill Murray was passed over at first and joined in a later season—Laraine was part of the show that changed TV—and comedy—forever.  \nBut it isn’t all yuks and glamor. Laraine struggled with demons. \nArriving in New York City with an attraction to drugs that started as a vice and grew to be an all-consuming addiction even as she sky-rocketed to fame via her memorable characters on SNL. \nMay You Live in Interesting Times is a warm\, funny\, heartfelt snapshot of 1970s New York City and SNL‘s unexpected rocket to success\, with all the giddy headiness that that entailed. \nAfter 5 seasons\, Laraine left SNL\, worked in movies and television\, while having adventures and relationships in Hollywood that\, in her words\, “should have gotten me killed.”  \nNow with long term sobriety\, she became a parent and reinvented herself as a voice-over actor and has a thriving career working on such animated favorites including Finding Nemo\, Monsters\, Inc.\, Despicable Me\, Inside Out\, Shrek\, and Minions. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Marni Freedman (BFA\, LMFT) is a screenwriter\, playwright\, award-winning author\, writing coach\, and co-founder of the San Diego Writers Festival. After graduating from USC film school\, Marni began her career bringing her play\, “Two Goldsteins on Acid” to the stage\, after which it was made into the film\, “Playing Mona Lisa\,” produced by Disney. She co-authored the play\, A Jewish Joke\, about a 1950s comedy writer facing the Hollywood Blacklist\, which won the NY Solo Show for best drama\, critics’ choice for the San Diego Union-Tribune\, and was recently produced Off-Broadway. Marni leads the Memoir Certificate Program for San Diego Writers\, Ink\, produces the San Diego Memoir Writers Association’s theatrical Memoir Showcase\, and is an editor of Shaking the Tree: short. brazen. memoir. She is also a writing coach and a therapist for artists and writers. Her first book\, 7 Essential Writing Tools: That Will Absolutely Make Your Writing Better (And Enliven Your Soul) is an Amazon Bestseller. Her second award-winning book is Permission to Roar: For Female Thought Leaders Ready to Write their Book. You can find Marni at www.marnifreedman.com\, a writing hub to help writers find their authentic voice. URL:https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/event/laraine-newman-may-you-live-in-interesting-times/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:2022 Writers Festival,Comedy Writing ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Newman_Laraine_July17.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210717T093000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210717T100000 DTSTAMP:20260606T002640 CREATED:20210423T183739Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210702T005518Z UID:263748-1626514200-1626516000@sandiegowritersfestival.com SUMMARY:2021 San Diego Writers Festival Kicks Off with Spoken Word from Gill Sotu DESCRIPTION:Join us as we officially launch the 2021 San Diego Writers Festival with a celebration of words—spoken\, written\, and performed! After a brief welcome from festival cofounders\, Marni Freedman and Jeniffer Thompson\, we will start things off with beloved spoken word artist\, Gill Sotu\, who\, along with teen poet laureates\, Marissa Michel and Sasa Aakil\, and award-winning poet and author\, Tania Pryputniewicz will speak to our 2021 Theme: What the World Needs Now. We will also announce a series of book giveaways from some of our notable 2021 speakers. Come soak up the excitement\, get inspired\, discover what we have in store\, and enter to win a book! \nSpoken word poet and artist in residence with the Jacobs Center\, Gill Sotu\, along with teen poet laureates speak to our 2021 Theme: What the World Needs Now. \n \n \n \n \n \n Event Sponsor: Kathy Pease\, author of Don’t Let the Kids Bite the Dog and a generous sponsor of our KidsWrite! program\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Meet Our Sponsor\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Meet the Speakers\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gill Sotu is a multi-faceted artist weaving poetry\, music\, soul\, humor\, and thought provoking passion into captivating and memorable performances. He is a two time Grand Slam Poetry Champion\, two time Raw Performing artist of the year\, and a three time TEDx San Diego presenter. He has opened for rap legend Talib Kweli at the San Diego Symphony. Currently he is a teaching artist and a commissioned playwright with The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego as well as the Artist In Residence at Makers Church. He has been commissioned to produce original pieces for leading arts and community organizations such as: The San Diego Symphony\, San Diego Fashion Week\, The Unity Way of San Diego County\, Feeding America\, SD Fringe Fest\, and the San Diego Museum of Man to name a few. A magnetic performer\, Sotu uses his words and energy to bring stories to life on stage and screen and leaves audiences of all sizes entertained and inspired. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Jeniffer Thompson is an author branding expert\, publishing consultant\, and founder of Monkey C Media. MCM specializes in author websites\, award-winning book cover design\, book trailers\, and digital marketing tools to help authors sell more books. She is a co-founder of the San Diego Writers Festival\, serves on the board of the San Diego Memoir Writers Association\, and is the host of the Premise Podcast. Visit MonkeyCMedia.com and listen to The Premise podcast and learn more about Jeniffer’s personal branding at her website\, JenifferThompson.com. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Marni Freedman (BFA\, LMFT) is a screenwriter\, playwright\, award-winning author\, writing coach\, and co-founder of the San Diego Writers Festival. After graduating from USC film school\, Marni began her career bringing her play\, “Two Goldsteins on Acid” to the stage\, after which it was made into the film\, “Playing Mona Lisa\,” produced by Disney. She co-authored the play\, A Jewish Joke\, about a 1950s comedy writer facing the Hollywood Blacklist\, which won the NY Solo Show for best drama\, critics’ choice for the San Diego Union-Tribune\, and was recently produced Off-Broadway. Marni leads the Memoir Certificate Program for San Diego Writers\, Ink\, produces the San Diego Memoir Writers Association’s theatrical Memoir Showcase\, and is an editor of Shaking the Tree: short. brazen. memoir. She is also a writing coach and a therapist for artists and writers. Her first book\, 7 Essential Writing Tools: That Will Absolutely Make Your Writing Better (And Enliven Your Soul) is an Amazon Bestseller. Her second award-winning book is Permission to Roar: For Female Thought Leaders Ready to Write their Book. You can find Marni at www.marnifreedman.com\, a writing hub to help writers find their authentic voice. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Sasa Aakil is an 18 year old multi-media artist\, writer\, and the 2021 Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate. She is a co-author of I Am The Night Sky and Other Reflections by Muslim American Youth and the artist behind the A Man Was Lynched Yesterday Project. Sasa is also a brown belt in Tung Su Do and a frequent maker of mistakes. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Marissa Michel served as the 2020 Prince George’s County Youth Poet Laureate. She is the recipient of multiple national gold medals for poetry in the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards. Marissa was also a 2020 American Voice Nominee\, and the 2020 Diaz-Mattison Poetry Prize recipient. Her newest works can be found in The Rising Phoenix Review\, the Bridgewater International Poetry Festival\, Love Letters To the Mothers and Fathers of the African Diaspora\, and elsewhere. More information about her can be found on www.marissamichel.com. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop\, Tania Pryputniewicz is the author of the poetry collection November Butterfly (Saddle Road Press\, 2014) and Heart’s Compass Tarot (Two Fine Crows Books\, 2021). Recent poems appeared in America\, We Call Your Name: Poems of Resistance and Resilience\, Borderless / Bilingual\, NILVX: A Book of Magic (Tarot Series)\, Climbing Lightly Through Forests: A Poetry Anthology Honoring Ursula K. Le Guin and are forthcoming at Juked. She teaches poetry and tarot-inspired writing classes at San Diego Writers\, Ink and Antioch University’s Continuing Education program. Tania lives in Coronado\, California with her husband\, three children\, one blue-eyed Husky\, and a formerly feral cat named Luna. Her online home is: www.taniapryputniewicz.com \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Marjha Paulino originates from Tuxtepec\, Oaxaca México and currently resides in the city of Leon\, Guanajuato\, Mexico. Her first poetry collection\, Adopté un sol en la tierra\, ( I Adopted a Sun in the Land)\, was published by the editorial press El Principio del Caos\, located in Leon\, Gto. Her work also appears in a collection titled Las Avenidas del Cielo (2018)\, a collaborative publication between the University of Aguascalientes and the University of Guanajuato; and one of her poems is part of the San Diego Poetry Annual Fractal (2020-2021). Paulino’s forthcoming book\, CUENCA\, will be published this year by the Instituto Cultural de Leon. In 2020 she won the Programa de Estímulos a la Creación y Desarrollo Artístico (Program for Artistic Creation and Development) of Guanajuato in the poetry category in 2020. Marjha is co-founder of Bilingual/Borderless with poet and translator Corinne Stanley\, where she translates poetry from English to Spanish. URL:https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/event/2021-san-diego-writers-festival-kicks-off-with-spoken-word-from-gill-sotu/ LOCATION:Virtual CATEGORIES:2022 Writers Festival,Poetry ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/SOTU_GILL_JULY17.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR