Skip to main content

Mesquite Festival of Books

I'll be presenting two workshops, visiting one of the elementary schools and signing books at the Mesquite Festival of Books. I'm really looking forward to speaking with children and adults not only about my books but why I love to write.

I'm not sure which elementary school I'll be visiting during the day on Friday December 14th. But I can't wait to meet the teachers and kids.

Here is a bit more information, however note updates keep coming in.



4 pm    Opening of Festival
                        “The Song of Dr. Seuss” by the Virgin Valley Honor Choir
                                                                          Directed by Jenny Bennett

4:30     Introduction of Authors

5 pm    Keynote Speaker “Changing Lives, Oe Story at a Times” David Farland
David Farland is the New York Times best selling author of 50 books and this year’s winner of the Hollywood Book Festival for “Best Book of the Year,: along with International Book Award for “Best Young Adult Novel of the Year.”
He is a past writing Professor at BYU where he mentored such international bestsellers as Stephanie Meyer (Twilight series), Brandon Sanderson (Wheel of Time) and Dan Wells ( I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER). He is currently the lead judge for the L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future contest, the world’s largest science fiction and fantasy writing contest.
                                Dave has also worked a s a videogame deisnge and scripter and a as a screenwriter.

6 pm    Workshops
            Library             Lisa Mangum               Building Better Characters/ Killer Openings
            Art Room         VS Grenier                   Creating Characters--4 to 6 graders
            Music Room    Julie Wright                 Writing Romance—young adults
            Classroom        Betty Haines                Getting started to write—1 to 4 graders
            Backstage                                            Reading time for pre-school children

6:30     Workshops
            Art Room         Roo Arledge                Kanga reads--children             
            Music Room    Charles Loomis                        Writing adventures--teenagers

7 pm    Workshops     
            Library             JoAnn Arnold              Using Your Imagination—all ages
Music room     Karen Hoover              How to Become an Idea Factory--pre-teen and teens
Art room          David W. Smith                       Writing about Disney--children                       

7:30     Workshops
            Library             Michael McGreer         Getting You Work Published--adults
            Music Room    Terry Donnelly                        Writing with Details—age 8 through teens
            Art Room         Shane Williams                        Writing Funny Poems—ages 5 to 7
            Backstage                                            Reading time for preschool children

 8 pm   Festival adjourns until morning


Saturday, December 15, 2012

10 am Introduction of Authors
11 am  Elmo Dance—Mesquite Toes Tap Team directed by Vickie Eckman

11:15   Speaker—Lisa Magnum
            Best-selling author and associate editor of Deseret Book Company

12:15   Annie Dance by Mesquite Toes

12:20   Speaker—Russell Estlack
            Best-selling author, Pulitzer Prize nominee for SHATTERED Lives SHATTERED Dreams
1:30     Workshops
            Library             JoAnn Arnold              Imagination--anf age
            Music Room    Judy Leinberger                       Writing Fiction Based on Real Experiences—any age
            Art Room         Traci McDonald           Plotting a Story--teens
            Classroom        Betty Haines                Getting Started to Write—1 to 4 grades
            Backstage                                            Reading time for young children

2 pm    Workshops
            Art Room         Roo Arledge                Kanga reads--young children
            Library             Shane Williams                        7 Rs of Writing Funny Poems—Ages 8-11
            Music Room    Michelle Jeffries          The Power of Persistence--teens

2:30     Workshops
            Library             Marsha Ward               Encouraging Family Literacy--adults
            Music Room    Amy Jarecki                How I Wrote a Native American Novel—any age
            Art Room         Donald Hendon                       Writing Non-fiction—older teens to adults
            Classroom        Julie Wright                 Reaching Your Potential--any age
            Backstage                                            Reading time for young children

3:30     Speaker—David W. Smith
Top-selling author of Disney mystery series—Hidden Mickey, owner of Synergy Publishing, Speaker of the Year for USPA, Senior Editor of TennisOne.com

4:30     Workshops
Library              Karen Hoover                        An Author’s  Life                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             --any age
            Music Room    Mercedes Yardley        Writing for a Magazine—any age
            Art Room         VS Grenier                   Using Your Five Senses—teenagers
            Classroom        Betty Haines                Getting Started to Write—5th -8th grades
            Backstage                                            Reading time for children

5:15     Closing Remarks          David Farland will lead final comments by authors


Hope to see you there!

Popular posts from this blog

World of Ink Interview with author Judy Snider and Illustrator Cady B. Driver

Judy Snider , Joan’s sister lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia with her husband, Gil, and two silly cats. She is the author of the CWA award-winning children’s picture book, Goldy’s Baby Socks , and on a team of authors of The Scared Purse . The Writing Mama Interview with author Judy Snider     VS: What do you do to help balance your writing life with your family life? Judy: It is easier now that my kids are in their 20’s and out of the home. I get up very early, and some of the best writing I do is in a sunny place with a glass of water or coffee and my silly cats nearby. When my oldest was a baby, I took a write-away-course, and would write when he took his naps. Some of my best writing was at a table while I waited in those days for them at parties, video arcades, etc.  I work out of my home on projects, so working with my sister on our latest book, and the phone usually did Cady Driver, our illustrator. VS: How long have you been writing? Judy: I wrote my...

Article Wed: Breaking Through The Barriers Of Writer's Block

Writer's block occurs when we lose our train of thought or have seemingly run out of ideas. When this occurs it is only natural to increase your determination to get the writing process back on track. Actually this can make the situation worse since it introduces more pressure which further constricts your ability to develop new writing ideas. What to do? Here are 3 tips to use for idea generation or to recapture your train of thought when the writing process for you comes to a grinding halt. Review What You Wrote This often can help to get your thinking back on track. When you lose your focus the best thing to do is 'retract' your previous steps to pick back up on your trail of thought. By reviewing your most recently documented content you can determine what your point is and the direction you were taking it. This can be a very effective way of snapping out of the writers block that has stalled your efforts. Leave Your Work Station Changing environments often ...

World of Ink Network show: Stories for Children –June 6, 2011

Blog Talk Radio’s World of Ink Network Show: Stories for Children with hosts VS Grenier, Kris Quinn Christopherson and Irene Roth will be chatting about Grenier’s recent children’s book “Babysitting SugarPaw” a picture book about friendship and telling the truth. VS Grenier is an award-winning children’s author, founder & owner of Stories for Children Publishing, LLC ., award-winning editor-in-chief of Stories for Children Magazine  and chief editor for Halo Publishing, Int .; in addition, to running her own editorial and critique services.   In 2007 & 2008, VS Grenier was voted one of the Top Ten Editors in the Preditors and Editors Reader’s Poll, won 2nd place for her article on, “Yes, Virginia, There IS a Santa Claus” in the Preditors and Editors Reader’s Poll for Best Nonfiction of 2007, and won 7 th place for her article, “Dinosaur Tracks in My Backyard” in the Preditors and Editors Reader’s Poll for Best Nonfiction of 2008.   VS ...