Upcoming Author Book Signing/Museum Fundraiser

Special Exhibit, Local Authors, and Yummy Treats!

There will be a Christmas bake sale, coffee shop, and author event at the Nodaway County Historical Society museum on Saturday, December 5th from 9am-3pm. Come enjoy visiting with your friends while you enjoy coffee and cinnamon rolls. Visitors can purchase homemade baked goods like cookies, candy, pies, and other goodies and take a stroll around the museum to see exhibits on many topics, such as women in Nodaway County, a Presidential campaign button collection, and cameras, mule and horse-raising families in the region, and new displays in the music room.

Several local authors will be there to sell their books. A portion of proceeds go to the historical society. These local authors will visit with readers during the following hours, and other authors may be added at a later time. Larry Anderson will be there for the whole event, Amy Houts from 9 to 10, Susan Cronk, Sue Nothstine, and Irene Alexander from 10 to 12, Jason Offutt from 1 to 3, and Bob Bohlken from 1 to 2.

You also can enjoy a new special exhibit titled "Dark Happenings in Nodaway County," created by Catherine Gast, a senior Public History student at Northwest Missouri State University. Under the direction of Dr. Elyssa Ford, the Public History program director, Gast has put together an exhibit showcasing some of Nodaway County's famous crimes. More than just highlighting these events and their gruesome nature, this exhibit explains what led to the killings, how the community reacted to them, and the way in which these crimes have impacted the area. Gast will be at the museum from 10 to 1 to talk about her exhibit and answer any visitor questions.

All proceeds from this event will benefit the museum, and donations are always welcome, as the museum receives no tax support and relies on volunteers and donations. The museum will close for the winter to save on utility costs following this event. If you are unable to attend this event, please visit when the museum reopens March 1, 2016. Regular hours are 1 to 4, Tuesdays through Fridays and other times by appointment. The museum is located at the corner of Walnut and West First Streets in Maryville, MO. Call 660-582-8176 or 660-582-8687 with any questions.

Visiting Author Anna Loan-Wilsey

On Saturday, November 14, 2015 author Anna Loan-Wilsey gave an excellent presentation on the subject of researching and writing the historical mystery. She is the author of the Hattie Davish historical mystery series published through Kensington Publishing Corporation.

A more detailed perspective of the event may be found in the Maryville Daily Forum article by reporter Jennifer Ditlevson-Haglund.

A Deceptive Homecoming is the author's latest release. It is set in the town of St. Joseph, Missouri. Readers familiar with the cityscape will likely recognize the locations referenced. The author is currently working on the fifth book in the series, which will take place in Washington, D.C.

The Maryville Chapter of the Missouri Writer's Guild is grateful to Anna for taking time to give this presentation and we wish her the very best success in her continuing series of mysteries.

Maryville Authors Sign Copies at Hy-Vee Store

Maryville area authors were graciously hosted at the Maryville Hy-Vee store on Saturday, April 25, 2015. Everyone had a great time. Here are just a few pictures from the store's Facebook page.

Author Nancy Lantz signing a book. 

Author Carol Coffelt

Author/Publisher Lee Jackson

Author Bob Bohlken and wife, Mary.

MWG 2015 Conference

From beginning to end, the conference that purported to get the Missouri Writers Guild back on track was a success.

The first day, the members spent the time with intros and the next day’s agenda. 

We all agreed that new blood and a fresh outlook is needed in the organization.

The members decided on nine subjects:

• Contests

• Conference Planning

• Membership Qualifications

• Resources

• What can the Guild do for the Chapters

• What the Chapters can do for the Guild

• Obligations

• Communications

• Leadership Development

The attendees were instructed to pick two topics to attend on Saturday. This member chose Contests and Membership Qualifications.

Contests. Our discussion about contests covered several different topics, from establishing qualifications to entering the state contests and opening contests to those living outside Missouri.

Qualifying entries was discussed as well as how judges are determined and vetted. It was determined that judges need to enjoy the genre they are judging for a contest.

Many chapters hold contests involving the local youths. The St. Louis chapter is especially focused in this endeavor. Anthology contests were encouraged to bring in revolving funds for prize money.

Membership Qualification. This subject was a hot topic in this member’s view, the differences between Full and Associates. 

One very outspoken young lady told of her self-published books. She became a full-time writer on her sales and expressed her dissatisfaction with the term “associate”. Her book sales were substantial. But because she wasn't a traditional author—Agented or Small Press—she didn’t qualify for the “full” designation. Although the difference in benefits were small, she felt ostracized by the title Associate.

This member brought up the recent change in membership qualifications for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, SFWA. This organization now allows self-published authors who are making a certain amount of revenue with their books to join. 

In addition, the conference included: 

• Discussion about how and when yearly dues should be collected.
• Traditions, locations and dates for future conferences
• Grants and how to advertise them
• Support for the individual chapters.
• Surveys
• Website improvement.

Clearly, this member is working hard

Historian Paul Bass was superb. He gave the members a thorough talk about MWG’s hundred years and encouraged chapters to write their own history as well.

Overall, it was a fine event for this fledgling author to attend. I thank the members and the Guild for the opportunity.

An Amazing Meeting by the Amazing Things Press

On February 24^th, the Maryville chapter of MWG held an informative session conducted by Julie L. Casey of Amazing Things Press. As president of the St. Joseph Chapter of the Missouri Writers Guild, Julie brought all her expertise to bear concerning traditional publishing.

Julie actively began writing about five years ago, starting a journey from which she’d never recover. Learning the ropes—from query letters to agents, requests for manuscripts, walking the path of Rejection and beginning again—led her to submit to small presses instead. Her manuscript was quickly accepted and the roller coaster ride began. How I Began a Teenage Survivalist was her ticket to published author.  But she soon decided self-publishing was the way to go.

She released her next book in the series, Time Lost, under her own small press name, Amazing Things Press. Due to a change in her original publisher’s business practices, her rights of the first book in the series are reverting to her.

But a strange thing happened. Friends were interested in selling their books also. They told other friends and soon Julie had a new career, as publisher and creator of a small press.

At the meeting, Julie explained the differences between traditional publishing, self-pub, and vanity press and the merits and pitfalls of each. Her analysis of Amazon gave the members an idea of publishing venues and the seller's return on investment. Discussion turned to the importance of marketing and—no matter how distasteful—its necessity.

The meeting ended with refreshments and many happy writers. 

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