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Today I’m excited to spend some time with George Weinstein,
author, program director of the bi-annual Atlanta Writers Conference and Officer
Emeritus of the Atlanta Writers Club. It’s a cool, rainy Saturday in Georgia, and our summer is quickly fading
into fall. George and I are sitting near
the building entrance, playing hooky from a lecture. Today is the monthly meeting of the Atlanta
Writers Club at Perimeter College, and we’re both really looking forward to the ninth Atlanta Writer's Conference, held November 8 & 9 at the Westin Atlanta
Airport.
I have to admit, I’m really excited about the conference, as
I’m taking part in several of the events.
My Evil Little Manuscript is close to finding a home, but I’m not going
to stop querying until that happens, and plan on seizing every opportunity & chance to further develop my skills as a writer.
As we talk about the conference, George smiles, and has a
glint in his eyes. To me, it’s pretty
darn obvious this guy loves to write.
Me: It’s written all over your face-writing is a
huge part of your life. And for what
it’s worth, my friends say the same thing about me-that my eyes light up when I
talk about books or my latest project. So how long have you been writing?
George: Since I was six years old. I wrote plays for our stuffed animals to amuse
my sister and brother.
Me: By the way, thanks so much for doing this
interview. I really hope some of my
readers will attend this amazing conference.
George: You truly
can’t beat the quality of events you get for the price.
Me: And I agree with you. So tell me, what events do you feel sets
apart the Atlanta Writers Conference from other writing conferences?
George: I’d have to say it’s the diverse offerings we
have for up- and- coming writers. For
one, we have a query letter critique, where the writer obtains valuable
objective feedback of their query letter with nothing on the line. The agents
and editors who do your query letter critique are not the ones you’ll pitch the
next day, so you can relax, take in their comments, and then make your query
letter better before it counts.
Me: That is incredible! So it’s a chance to pre-query, if you will,
with either an agent or editor and see what they think about your query before
you actually hit “send”.
George: Exactly,
but there’s also The Pitch, where you get that rare chance to actually pitch
your manuscript in front of agents or editors, that you wouldn’t get
otherwise. And the deadline is close,
but there are also opportunities to have a portion of your manuscript and
synopsis critiqued as well.
Me: And there is still a chance to sign up for these
events, right?
George: Yes!
But just a few open spots are left.
Me: Where is the conference held?
George: At the Westin Atlanta Airport, and we’ve
secured a special rate of only $99 per a night for those attending.
Me: So I hear that your second book is coming out
soon. Care to give our readers a sneak
peek?
George: Sure.
My second novel, also from Deeds Publishing, is THE FIVE DESTINIES OF CARLOS MORENO, and
it’s a historical suspense. I guess you
could say it’s like THE GRAPES OF WRATH meets THE FUGITIVE. Deeds is accepting
pre-orders on their site at http://deedspublishing.com/the-five-destinies-of-carlos-moreno/
Me: I’m intrigued. Tell me more.
George: It’s basically the tale of a poor, innocent guy
trying to outwit a relentless lawman during the Depression Era. Many people don’t know this, but at the
beginning of the Great Depression, President Hoover “repatriated”, or should I instead
say deported, over one million Mexican-American citizens so that white Americans
could receive governmental assistance and find scarce jobs because times were
so tough.
And back then, most people didn’t carry around any sort of
license or legal document with them, so if you had brownish skin and were found
by authorities to be without documentation, you were picked up and
deported. And my main character, Carlos,
is a true American citizen, but because of his skin color he’s hunted down for
deportation.
Me: I’m sure I studied this in college history,
but I’m really glad you’re bringing this dark part of our country’s past to
life.
George: Thank you.
And many of the people expatriated were American citizens, just like
Carlos. But the really sad part was
quite a large percentage of those rounded up and deported were children.
Me: I can’t believe that happened in my America-this
is a book I have to read. And it’s
coming out soon?
George: In October.
Me: Great!
Now I know HARDSCRABBLE ROAD was your first novel, but couldn’t help
wondering if the plot was based on the life of anyone you knew?
George: Yes it was-it was based on my father–in-law’s
childhood and the gritty journey he endured as a boy.
Me: So let me ask…can we do a cover reveal for
THE FIVE DESTINIES OF CARLOS MORENO on my blog?
George: Sure thing!
Deeds is now accepting pre-orders on their site! Go to http://deedspublishing.com/the-five-destinies-of-carlos-moreno/ and reserve your copy!
Me: Awesome!
I know our readers love being the first to get a look, and that is one incredible cover! Thanks for
sitting down with me George, and for all of your hard work and dedication to our craft. I really look forward to attending the conference in November.
Want to attend the
Atlanta Writers Conference?
Visit this site a.s.a.p.!
www.AtlantaWritersConference.com
Visit this site a.s.a.p.!
www.AtlantaWritersConference.com
*It's easy to catch a flight in & out of Atlanta, and the hotel
provides free transportation to & from Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.
- Cost for events: - Manuscript/Synopsis Critique on Saturday, November 9: $150
- Pitch on Saturday, November 9: $50
- Editor & Agent Q&A Panel on Saturday, November 9: $30
- Workshop on Friday, November 8: $50
- Query Letter Critique on Friday, November 8: $50
- Best money-saving option? Choose the Atlanta Writers Conference package deal (all five activities): $300
*Note: If you are not a
current member of the Atlanta Writers Club, $40 in dues will be added to your
total, with 365 days of club benefits, including access to writing contests
with cash prizes, free and discounted workshops, and access to the May 2014
Atlanta Writers Conference.