What a Week to Be a Writer on the South Shore!

Yes, yes—rejection is the low point of being a writer but, to offset that, there were two high points this week:

Tuesday night, Buttonwood Books and Toys in Cohasset hosted its monthly Grub Street South seminar. Despite short notice, the Writers Workshop was well represented: Dave, Donna, Kristine, Mariette, and Robine all turned out for “Query This,” with author Kathy Crowley, who’s also a physician and mother (and the wife of Chris Abouzheid, who presented last month’s Grub Street South class on “Plot Sprints”—see January archives). Kathy covered the topic of querying agents exhaustively, offering useful tips and advice to help us navigate what can be a somewhat challenging process. She even gave us a copy of her own query letter that ultimately landed her in the middle of an agent “frenzy.” Thanks so much, Kathy!

Just a “well-in-advance” heads-up: the March Grub Street South class will take place on the 30th, with Nichole Bernier. I will forward the notice with further details when I receive it. (Or you can visit www.buttonwoodbooks.com and click on Writer’s Group.)

Then, on Saturday, we had our much-anticipated inaugural Author Series, with debut novelist Randy Susan Meyers. Thanks to everyone who attended and especially to Randy, who was incredibly engaging, witty, and enlightening, and generously shared her knowledge and expertise with candor and good humor. It seemed like the whole event passed in a flash, and I was sorry when the lively discussion ended. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, and I welcome any comments or feedback you may have. Please feel free to either post a comment below or e-mail me.

Another “well-in-advance” heads-up: our next Author Series will be on June 4, with author Susan Kushner Resnick. She will discuss her nonfiction book, Goodbye Wifes and Daughters, which recounts the Smith Coal Mine disaster in Bearcreek, Montana, in 1943. One of the largest mining tragedies in history, it claimed the lives of 74 men, but is often overlooked because it occurred during World War II. More details to come…

Dave was quick to quip: “Is it a requirement that every author in the Author Series has Susan in her name and Daughters in her title?” Actually, no. Our fall author is Michelle Hoover, and her novel is called The Quickening.

’Looking forward to seeing you at the Writers Workshop meeting on March 16!