Book Signings and Events
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February 25th, 2017
1:00-3:00 Red Mountain Library 635 N. Power Rd. Mesa, AZ 85202 (480) 644-3253 Local Author Fair March 25th, 2017 10:00-12:00 Tempe Library 3500 S. Rural Rd. Tempe, AZ 85282 (480) 350-5500 Plotting Along - writing workshop May 13th, 2017 10:00-12:00 Tempe Library 3500 S. Rural Rd. Tempe, AZ 85282 (480) 350-5500 Heroes, Know Thyself - writing workshop June 17th, 2017 1:00-3:00 Red Mountain Library 635 N. Power Rd. Mesa, AZ 85202 (480) 644-3253 Keep 'Em Reading - writing workshop August 5th, 2017 1:00-3:00 Red Mountain Library 635 N. Power Rd. Mesa, AZ 85202 (480) 644-3253 The 10 Dos and Don'ts of Writing - writing workshop September 14-16th, 2017 ANWA Conference This is a great writing conference. This year they will be holding it at the Doubletree Hilton in Gilbert. I'm not sure if I will be presenting any classes this time around, but I will be attending. October 14th, 2017 10:00-5:00 Tempe Library 3500 S. Rural Rd. Tempe, AZ 85282 (480) 350-5500 Ready-Set-Write mini-conference. Makes some friends, have some fun, and get ready for NaNoWriMo. This will be the first year for the event at the Tempe library. November 4, 2017 10:00-3:00 Tempe Library 3500 S. Rural Rd. Tempe, AZ 85282 (480) 350-5500 Tempe Book Festival Adrienne Quintana and I will have a table at the event. The Ready-Set-Write gang will be recording several sessions of their podcast live. And I will be doing a panel on writing. Don't miss out on all the fun at this free event. March 10-11, 2018 Tucson Festival of Books If you happen to be in Tucson, come on down and visit me and my artist friend Steve Crompton as we support this book friendly venue. |
March 11th-12th, 2017
9:30-5:30 (both days) Tucson Festival of Books U of A Campus in Tucson If you happen to be in the area be sure to stop by and visit T. M. Williams, Steve Crompton, and myself as we enjoy the fine spring weather in Southern Arizona. April 22nd, 2017 1:00-3:00 Red Mountain Library 635 N. Power Rd. Mesa, AZ 85202 (480) 644-3253 Plotting Along - writing workshop May 20th, 2017 1:00-3:00 Red Mountain Library 635 N. Power Rd. Mesa, AZ 85202 (480) 644-3253 First Impressions - writing workshop July 22nd, 2017 10:00-12:00 Tempe Library 3500 S. Rural Rd. Tempe, AZ 85282 (480) 350-5500 First Impressions - writing class September 9th, 2017 10:-00-12:00 Tempe Library 3500 S. Rural Rd. Tempe, AZ 85282 (480) 350-5500 Keep 'Em Reading - writing class October 21st, 2017 10:00-4:00 Red Mountain Library 635 N. Power Rd. Mesa, AZ 85202 (480) 644-3253 Ready-Set-Write mini-conference. Makes some friends, have some fun, and get ready for NaNoWriMo. This will be the third year for the event. December 2, 2017 10:00-12:00 Tempe Library 3500 S. Rural Rd. Tempe, AZ 85282 (480) 350-5500 Starting On the Publishing Trail - writing class March 23-24, 2018 Sci Par Con (More details as they become available.) |
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 that 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.
WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES FOR YOUTH
(These events are geared towards younger writers. )
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.
WHY, WHY, WHY, DID THE BAD GUYS DO THAT? - A WRITING WORKSHOP
Good stories have bad people. Really bad people. Randy will discuss the importance of antagonists (villains) in a story and work with the participants to develop the bad people in their fictional lives.
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 that 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.
WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES FOR YOUTH
(These events are geared towards younger writers. )
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.
WHY, WHY, WHY, DID THE BAD GUYS DO THAT? - A WRITING WORKSHOP
Good stories have bad people. Really bad people. Randy will discuss the importance of antagonists (villains) in a story and work with the participants to develop the bad people in their fictional lives.
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.
