Only registered participants of AUSB’s Summer Writing Institute (SWI) will have the envious opportunity to study the craft of writing in a chosen genre with an award-winning author for one entire week, and attend two industry panels on “How to Get Published” and “Breaking Into New Genres.” Writers of all experience and education levels are encouraged to apply.
Other special activities at SWI, which will take place from July 28 to August 3, 2013, on AUSB’s beautiful downtown campus, include an opening dinner reception, closing luncheon, and evening readings with both faculty and guest authors, representing a cross-section of the Institute’s four genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Screenwriting, and Writing for Young People. Scheduled readings include the following authors:
Sunday, July 28 Reading:
Gail Tsukiyama, the lyrical, award-winning author of seven novels, including Women of the Silk, The Samurai’s Garden, and A Hundred Flowers, will present the first reading on Sunday, July 28. Recognized by the Academy of American Poets Award, the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award for Literary Excellence, and the Asia Pacific Leadership Award from the Center of the Pacific Rim and Ricci Institute, she has taught writing at San Francisco State University, Mills College, and University of California, Berkeley.
Tuesday, July 30 Reading:
Tuesday’s featured author on July 30 is Robin “R.L.” LaFevers, who has penned 14 books for young readers, including the Theodosia and Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series. Her latest book, Dark Triumph, is the second in a trilogy that started with Grave Mercy, which have both received five-starred reviews. In 2012, Grave Mercy was a Booklist Editor’s Choice and Amazon Best Book of the Year, and was recognized by Kirkus Review, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly. She also writes a monthly column for WriterUnboxed.com.
Wednesday, July 31 Reading:
Prepare for an uproarious Night of Improv especially for writers, with producer/screenwriting couple Cheri & Bill Steinkellner on Wednesday, July 31. Together, they are best known as the renowned Emmy® Award-winning team behind the television series Cheers, and also wrote the Tony-nominated book for the musical Sister Act. Separately, they are each highly accomplished in their fields.
Thursday, August 1 Reading:
The next night, Thursday, August 1, will feature a reading by PEN award-winning investigative journalist Ann Louise Bardach, who started the International Journalism class at University of California, Santa Barbara, and has written extensively for numerous publications. She is the author of Without Fidel: A Death Foretold in Miami, Havana and Washington and Cuba Confidential: Love and Vengeance in Miami and Havana, and editor of The Prison Letters of Fidel Castro and Cuba: A Travelers Literary Companion.
Friday, August 2 Reading:
The final evening, Friday, August 2, will feature a guest reading by Ron Carlson – prize-winning novelist, short story writer, poet, and Director of the Graduate Program in Fiction at the University of California, Irvine. Ron Carlson Writes a Story, his book on writing, is taught widely, his most recent novel is The Signal from Viking, and his book of poems, Room Service, was published by Red Hen in 2012.
SWI participants will study their craft with the same leading author in daily intensive 3-hour workshops, with intimate groups of no more than 10 students. At the end of the week, students will come away with the ability to assess their own writing within that specific genre and the specific skills and techniques necessary to bring it to publishable level.
A first night dinner reception, continental breakfast each morning and a closing luncheon are included in the $975 program cost. Space is limited. Potential participants should apply by the priority application date this Saturday, June 15 to ensure the chance to study with their preferred author and genre.
