Book Signings and Events
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January 27th, 2024
10:00-4:00 Tempe Library 3500 S. Rural Rd. Tempe Tempe Fancon Artists, authors, games, activities, and a costume contest. Join me at this annual event that embraces pop culture fun. I will have a table with all of my newest books. May 24th-26th, 2024 10:00-6:00 Phoenix Convention Center 100 N. 3rd St. Phoenix Phoenix Fan Fusion Once again, Randy will have a booth at the annual comic convention. There will be lots of new products and a new interactive poster. The "What Element Are You" poster will still be there, but the new one will entertain kids and deal as they create their own stories. September (dates not determined) All Day Venue Not Yet Determined American Night Writers Association Annual Writing Conference Details yet to be determined, but I am hoping to offer Pitch Critiques this year. This is a great writing conference and usually sells out. Get your tickets early. |
May 11th, 2024
1:00-2:00 Mesa Red Mountain Library 635 N. Power Rd. Mesa Memoir Writing Basics Have you been thinking about writing a memoir, or family history story, but don't know where to start? Then join Randy for this class. He will walk you through the first steps in creating a story that you can share with the world, or one meant for just you and your family. Best of all, it's easy. June 24th, 2023, 2024 1:00-3:00 Tempe Library 3500 S. Rural Rd. Tempe Group Critique Session Randy will lead an open critique group. These sessions provide an amazing opportunity to receive feedback on what you have written, network with other writers, and ask Randy specific questions about your story. Those attending should bring 10 copies of a sample of their work, to be handed out to the other members of the group. The sample should be no more than 5 pages. Also bring something to write with. October 17th-19th, 2024 All Day Venue Not Yet Determined LDSPMA CONFERENCE Details have not been determined, but I am hoping to teach a class on memoir writing, or something. I will be attending even if I am not selected as a presenter. This is a great conference and one of the best places to network, if you have a project you would like to have published, turned into a movie, or have similar ambitions. |
Classes and Workshops
Randy offers the following classes and workshops for writers. These are available to schools, libraries, and writing groups. Requests can be made through the Contact Me page.
JUMPSTART YOUR CREATIVE JUICES – A WRITING WORKSHOP
Story ideas are everywhere. Participate in a writing workshop that is designed to show you how to generate ideas for interesting and unique stories from the common everyday sources. Participants will form into groups to practice what they have learned. Randy will stick around afterwards to answer questions.
HEROES, KNOW THYSELF – A WRITING WORKSHOP
Vivid and believable characters are at the heart of every successful story. The workshop will cover a variety of ways of breathing life into the people who populate your story. Participants will have the chance to apply what
they have learned while Randy is on hand to help them out with any problems they encounter.
PLOTTING ALONG - A WRITING WORKSHOP
You have a great idea for a story. What are you going to do with it? Randy will discuss important elements in plotting a story and explain several methods for achieving that end. Participants are encouraged to bring a story idea to the workshop and develop it.
HEROIC JOURNEYS – A WRITING WORKSHOP
The workshop is based on the book The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Volger. Randy will explain the time-honored structure of storytelling that has been around since cavemen told stories around their campfires at night. Participants will have a chance to apply what they have learned to their own stories.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS - A WRITING CLASS
Agents, editors at publishing houses, and many individuals in the reading public will give a critical eye to the first chapter of a novel. In many cases the decision to continue reading is made in the first few pages. Based on the judging criteria Randy has followed as a judge for several First Chapter contests, this class will focus on the essential elements each novel needs in the first chapter.
KEEP 'EM READING – A WRITING WORKSHOP
Read-on prompts are essential if you want to turn your story into a page-turner. With the right kind of chapter breaks you can keep your readers up way past their bedtimes. Participants are encouraged to bring a few of their troublesome chapter endings to work on during the class.
STARTING ON THE PUBLISHING TRAIL - A WRITING CLASS
Now that you have a book written, what's next? Randy will discuss matters that authors who are ready for publication will need to address in order to succeed and covers the basics on this topic.
AND HERE'S THE PITCH
A story pitch may be the single most important tool in an author's arsenal. Learn how to describe the essential elements of your story in a sentence or two and in a way that will hook potential customers. Participants will form into small groups and practice what they learn.
MAKE YOUR STORY STAND OUT
Learn tips on how to make your stories stand out from the rest of the competition by the proper use of setting, character, goals, mixing genres, and genre elements. Participants will be encouraged to practice the techniques during the class.
BALANCING THEME
Learn how to use theme to populate your genre stories, create conflict, and develop a basic story arc. Participants will be asked to practice what they learn and share their efforts with the rest of the group.
WHAT'S YOUR STORY - A WRITING WORKSHOP
What better way to start a writing career than with a fictional story about - You! Randy will discuss ways to generate story ideas and focus primarily on using elements from the participants lives to create a fictional story that will really resonate with the youth writing them.
THIS IS HOW IT STARTS - A WRITING WORKSHOP
Randy will discuss how to start a story and then work with the participants on developing their story ideas.
PICK ME, PICK ME - A WRITING WORKSHOP
Stories are filled with interesting characters and most have quite a few who help and hinder the hero. Randy will discuss the concept of team-building to develop a story. He will help participants decide who needs to be in their story and why.
WHAT I WANT. WHAT I REALLY, REALLY WANT - A WRITING WORKSHOP
Goals are an important part of any good story. There are story goals, there are chapter goals, and there are even secondary goals. Randy will work with the participants to identify and develop the goals in their stories.
Randy offers the following classes and workshops for writers. These are available to schools, libraries, and writing groups. Requests can be made through the Contact Me page.
JUMPSTART YOUR CREATIVE JUICES – A WRITING WORKSHOP
Story ideas are everywhere. Participate in a writing workshop that is designed to show you how to generate ideas for interesting and unique stories from the common everyday sources. Participants will form into groups to practice what they have learned. Randy will stick around afterwards to answer questions.
HEROES, KNOW THYSELF – A WRITING WORKSHOP
Vivid and believable characters are at the heart of every successful story. The workshop will cover a variety of ways of breathing life into the people who populate your story. Participants will have the chance to apply what
they have learned while Randy is on hand to help them out with any problems they encounter.
PLOTTING ALONG - A WRITING WORKSHOP
You have a great idea for a story. What are you going to do with it? Randy will discuss important elements in plotting a story and explain several methods for achieving that end. Participants are encouraged to bring a story idea to the workshop and develop it.
HEROIC JOURNEYS – A WRITING WORKSHOP
The workshop is based on the book The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Volger. Randy will explain the time-honored structure of storytelling that has been around since cavemen told stories around their campfires at night. Participants will have a chance to apply what they have learned to their own stories.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS - A WRITING CLASS
Agents, editors at publishing houses, and many individuals in the reading public will give a critical eye to the first chapter of a novel. In many cases the decision to continue reading is made in the first few pages. Based on the judging criteria Randy has followed as a judge for several First Chapter contests, this class will focus on the essential elements each novel needs in the first chapter.
KEEP 'EM READING – A WRITING WORKSHOP
Read-on prompts are essential if you want to turn your story into a page-turner. With the right kind of chapter breaks you can keep your readers up way past their bedtimes. Participants are encouraged to bring a few of their troublesome chapter endings to work on during the class.
STARTING ON THE PUBLISHING TRAIL - A WRITING CLASS
Now that you have a book written, what's next? Randy will discuss matters that authors who are ready for publication will need to address in order to succeed and covers the basics on this topic.
AND HERE'S THE PITCH
A story pitch may be the single most important tool in an author's arsenal. Learn how to describe the essential elements of your story in a sentence or two and in a way that will hook potential customers. Participants will form into small groups and practice what they learn.
MAKE YOUR STORY STAND OUT
Learn tips on how to make your stories stand out from the rest of the competition by the proper use of setting, character, goals, mixing genres, and genre elements. Participants will be encouraged to practice the techniques during the class.
BALANCING THEME
Learn how to use theme to populate your genre stories, create conflict, and develop a basic story arc. Participants will be asked to practice what they learn and share their efforts with the rest of the group.
WHAT'S YOUR STORY - A WRITING WORKSHOP
What better way to start a writing career than with a fictional story about - You! Randy will discuss ways to generate story ideas and focus primarily on using elements from the participants lives to create a fictional story that will really resonate with the youth writing them.
THIS IS HOW IT STARTS - A WRITING WORKSHOP
Randy will discuss how to start a story and then work with the participants on developing their story ideas.
PICK ME, PICK ME - A WRITING WORKSHOP
Stories are filled with interesting characters and most have quite a few who help and hinder the hero. Randy will discuss the concept of team-building to develop a story. He will help participants decide who needs to be in their story and why.
WHAT I WANT. WHAT I REALLY, REALLY WANT - A WRITING WORKSHOP
Goals are an important part of any good story. There are story goals, there are chapter goals, and there are even secondary goals. Randy will work with the participants to identify and develop the goals in their stories.
Book Clubs
If you live in the greater Phoenix area and would like Randy to attend one of your book club meetings use the Contact Me page to send a request. He would be happy to discuss any of his fiction and writing in general.
If you live in the greater Phoenix area and would like Randy to attend one of your book club meetings use the Contact Me page to send a request. He would be happy to discuss any of his fiction and writing in general.
