If you are a writer (professional, amateur, or hobbyist), I highly recommend attending writers’ conferences, joining writers’ groups, and/or developing your craft at a college or university. Find ways to explore and deepen the passion for writing and celebrate it with those who share your enthusiasm.
I am a storyteller. I am an artist who loves creating characters whose internal conflict is more pronounced than the external. I am but a vessel for the dialogue-rich stories that bring the characters to life. I am a visual writer – seeing the scene develop with every word placed on the page. I am a writer and a connoisseur of film, television, and theatre. My passion for writing and the life-long pull towards entertainment collided this weekend, in a way that was both inspiring and motivating.
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This past Saturday I attended the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, held at the USC Campus. The massive event featured panels, book signings, and exhibitors representing a wide variety of writing genres.
Given that I am immersed in editing my Young Adult Fantasy for the pursuit of publication, I booked it directly to the YA stage. The engaging conversation between the five authors elicited laughter and a diverse perspective on romance in the world of Young Adult literature. Sharing of their time and insights were novelists Rachel Hawkins, Lucy Keating, Rebecca Serle, Adam Shankman, and Cindy Pon (moderator).
As I listened to the panelists speak, I felt the inspiration shine through despite the rain that sought to drench us. I absorbed the information like paint to a brush, and could see my own story filling the canvas. I write short and long fiction, poetry, blog entries, and newspaper articles, but my love of written communication blossomed over 25 years ago due to a love of cinematic storytelling.
So, it was quite fitting that two of the panelists on the YA panel wrote novels set in the world of Hollywood, film/television, and celebrity.
It was recently announced that “Famous in Love” is heading to television. Read the full Variety article to learn more about this exciting new project.
“Girl About Town” is available now for pre-order, with an April 19th release date. Click here to learn more and to order your copy!
After purchasing the above-mentioned novels, I took the opportunity to have each signed by their respective authors. While getting signatures is exciting, that wasn’t why I waited in line. I did so to thank them. I wanted them to know that their presence on the stage mattered as did what they had to say. (This is also the reason I rush to the stage door after a Broadway show – not only to get autographs and selfies but to say “Thank you.”) I walked away with two new books I can’t wait to start reading and with a renewed focus on my own writing.
Kelly Deeny 