Authors and Writing Programs

Recent Author Visits (2020)

• Monday, November 23, 2020 – Stephen J. O’Shea, From the Land of Genesis (adult short story collection, published 11/17/20) and exclusive trailer of Hell or High Seas (documentary); Virtual author visit using Zoom webinar
• Friday, November 13, 2020 – TEENS Publish Virtual Author Party to release the 2020 anthology The Isolated Generation – multiple authors, virtual, over Zoom
  • Virginia Adams, Debkonya “Koli” Banerjee, Devkumar Banerjee, Nathaniel Cowles, Yaneth K. Dharmasena, George Ignatius, Claire Jade, Sashi Kulatilaka, Olivia MacArthur, Logan Meadows, Julie Morgan, Faith Ocon, and Gloria Tao
• Saturday, May 30, 2020 – Martha Wells – best-selling, award-winning science fiction and fantasy author (Network Effect, Murderbot Diaries novel), Virtual visit using Zoom, details at www.bcslibrary.org/virtual-author-visit-martha-wells
• Future Visits: Please contact Kendra Perkins at kperkins@bryantx.gov or (979) 764-3416 if you are interested in discussing a possible author visit. At this point, we are only doing virtual visits that patrons can access from home (Zoom, etc.).

Library Programs for Authors and Aspiring Authors

• Intro to NaNoWriMo in BCS, Saturday, October 17, 2020, local NaNoWriMo regional group BCS Wrimos explained the program in a Zoom webinar (free registration was handled through Zoom).
• TEENS Publish, summer creative writing program for teens, led by author Molly Blaisdell, Ringer Library, summer 2020 program was virtual; 2020 author party was virtual (2020 anthologies can be put on hold and can be checked out soon); contact Kendra for details

Links

• Brazos Valley SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) – currently meeting via Zoom
  
• Brazos Writers
• Clara B. Mounce Public Library Facebook page
• Events Calendar, Bryan+College Station Public Library System
• Larry J. Ringer Public Library Facebook page
• Mystery Writers of America
• NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) – 2020 program is virtual (details at facebook.com/bcswrimos), final event 11/30/20
• Romance Writers of America
• Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America

Recent Writing Contests

• Fall Writing Contest for Adults (Sept. 1 – Oct. 31, 2020)
  • Ringer Library is hosting a fall writing contest for our BCS adult community!
  • The topic is writer’s choice, so send us a story about whatever interests you!
  • Your submissions may be between 1500-2000 words and must be an original work of the entrant.
  • Please email submissions by October 31st to areed@bryantx.gov.  We look forward to reading your stories!
  • We will be using this rubric (view pdf or MS word) to judge the entries
  • Contest has ended. Winners will be announced soon.
  • WINNERS (click links to read their stories):
    1. “My Momma’s Curse” by Tam Jackson
    2. “Stacks” by Mike Downey
    3. “Windblown” by Josh Shelton
    4. “Backwater Planet Blues” by Lauren Huff
• Spooky Writing Contest for Kids and Teens (Sept. 23 – Oct. 16, 2020)
  • Read the stories and find out which ones won (one winner per age group, 4 age groups)
  • Mounce Library is having a spooky writing contest for kids ages 7 to 18.
  • Follow the guidelines and submit your story to Mounce Library.
  • Age categories (7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-18); one winner per age group
  • Length: 250 words or less
  • Topic: choose a spooky topic that is for children. Be mindful of how you write; we can be spooky without being profane or violent. Keep it G rated, please.
  • Deadline: Friday, October 16, 2020
  • Format: handwritten, typed, or electronically submitted as a Microsoft Word Document
  • How to submit: Bring the story in person to Mounce Library 2nd floor Youth Services or email it as a Microsoft Word document to Elaine at eplatt@bryantx.gov.
  • If submitting in person (on paper), write the entrant’s first and last name, age, and contact information (email preferred) on the back of the last page. If submitting electronically, please include the same information in your email.
  • Judging will be done the week of Oct. 19-23. Entries will be displayed the week after Halloween. What you submit should be your own work!
  • Judging criteria: originality, theme related, spookiness, story quality
  • Important Note: In order for Mounce Library to display your story or make it available for others to read, you need to submit an Original Work Copyright Release. Fill out the form when you drop off the story or fill it out electronically. Please have a parent or guardian sign.
  • Stories may be read at www.bcslibrary.org/spooky-writing-contest-entries. Winners are noted.
• The summer 2020 reading program offered two writing contests for adults (ages 18+). For more information, call (979) 764-3416 or email Ashley. Entry into the contests is free. See instructions at https://www.bcslibrary.org/summer-reading-program/#writing-contest. Winners will be contacted by the library and will receive a gift card.
• Round One: Ghost Stories
  • June 3 to June 24
  • WINNERS (click links to read their stories):
    1. Rebecca Waronoff – “Ghost Story”
    2. Dawn Husted – Girl Gone Ghost, Chapter 1
    3. William Wright – “Inventory Adjustment”
• Round Two: Memoirs
  • July 1 to July 22
  • WINNERS (click links to read their stories):
    1. Kristin Bryant – “Let Freedom Sing”
    2. William Wright – “Miracle”
    3. Rachel Brown – “My Messy Poem of Life” (story not included at author request)