My friend, Sascha Rice (writer, filmmaker, and teacher extraordinaire), has been running some awesome writing workshops for the last several years, and she’s gearing up for the summer workshops.

If you’re interested in honing your own writing skills, she’s offering a 20% discount to readers of my blog (good through May 31st)! Just enter code: EARLYBIRD at checkout. 😀

Here’s some information from Sascha about the workshops:

WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS & TEENS
JUNE 15- 18 ~ BEAT JUNE GLOOM POETRY & SONGWRITING
JUNE 22 – 25 ~ POV: JOURNALISM & JOURNALING
JUNE 29 – JULY 2 ~ TEEN-TOPIA: WORLDS COLLIDE
JULY 27 – 30 ~ JOURNEY THROUGH JULY

WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS
* JULY 16 ~ W.O.W. MOON VISIONING (FOR WOMEN)
* JULY 12:~ LAUNCH & LUNCH: REBOOT YOUR CREATIVE PRACTICE

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

SUMMER CAMP FOR KIDS & TEENS-
Swimming, movies, bare-footing…get random, go crazy, chill out. And, of course, write about it. With on-your-feet theater games and fun writing exercises we build language skills, develop point of view, and uncover writing fluidity. We encourage taking risks, being messy, day dreaming, and being playful. Dive into creativity with swimming, movies, and popsicles! Whether you love writing or hate writing, in our workshops, you’ll catch the writing bug.

ADULT MINI-WORKSHOPS
Whether you have a project in full swing, a seedling of an idea, or true terror of the blank page, we’ll find the keys to unlock the next door in your process. Workshops are designed to inspire clarity, strength, and optimism. Workshops are open to adults of all skill levels

For friends and fans, receive a 20% discount good through May 31st. At check out, enter code: EARLYBIRD.

Sascha Rice is an Emmy nominated filmmaker, public speaker, teacher, consultant, and granddaughter of former California Governor Pat Brown. Sascha’s documentary California State of Mind was broadcast on public television, screened internationally, and garnered a Grand Jury Prize for Cinematic Vision. Her celebrated feature romantic comedy Mango Kiss enjoyed national and international broadcast, screened internationally at over 80 venues, and received numerous honors. Ms. Rice is the founder of W.O.W. Writing International, which offers writing workshops, consulting, and mentoring for writers of all ages. Sascha volunteers as the program director and a mentor for the Young Writers Workshop at Ivanhoe Elementary, a Los Angeles public school. Additionally Ms. Rice is President of Fire of Life Films and she serves on the Board of Advisors of the Pat Brown Institute (a non-partisan public policy Institute based at Cal State LA.) Sascha has appeared on television, radio programs, and has been published online. She studied at the American Film Institute and received a Bachelor of Arts from Hampshire College.

Endorsements:

“My son had a great experience at writing camp. Marnie and Sascha exceeded my expectations, stretched his imagination, and the final presentation was amazing.” –Stephanie, mother (Ivanhoe Elementary)

‘”My girls (ages 10 and 13) have participated in four different Writer’s Workshops. At the end of each session, they have come home with books filled with original stories, skits, drawings and songs. Sascha and Marnie create a safe and fun environment for the children while coaxing out the wild and wonderful creativity that every child has.” –Michelle, mother (Immaculate Heart)

The workshop is spectacular, encouraging, and full of positive energy. It helped me to be a better author because they teach you different techniques every class, and they help you find your strengths and weaknesses. When you find your weakness, they help you improve. When you find your strength, they help you get even better! This is a fun filled place, and I would highly recommend it!” -Oona, Age 12 | Larchmont Charter

“One of the best camps I’ve ever been to. The teachers and students were friendly. I had a blast. They let me roam free with the power of writing!” —Rafa, Age 8 | Mt. Washington Elementary

So, this seems to be happening more and more often these days–I sit down to write a post only to discover the lovely and talented Kam Miller has beaten me to the punch AND done a bang up job to boot.

Quick & dirty version: Geek & Sundry is hosting a 48-hour interactive video game marathon to raise money for lupus research today and tomorrow! I’ll be joining the fray for a few hours starting at 11 AM tomorrow, but there are all sorts of amazing folks involved. Check it out, have some fun, and support a great cause!

I will let Kam take it away from here…

Once again the amazing Kam Miller has put together a list of gifts for writers. I have to echo two things here (and admit that I’m pretty excited about some of the other finds on her list!):

Vellum. THIS IS THE PROGRAM I HAVE BEEN WAITING 3 YEARS FOR!!! If you are an indie author taking on your own formatting, this program will save you many hours of hard work and oodles and oodles of frustration. Where were you when I published “Thrall,” Vellum? Well, you’re here now, so all is forgiven.

The Passion Planner. I know everyone approaches creativity differently, but if you’re like me (maybe a little OCD, obsessed with lists, in love with planning each stage of your projects, etc.) then you should check this baby out. Our mutual friend Pang-Ni Landrum found this little gem on Kickstarter. I’m a proud backer now, and eagerly – if not patiently – awaiting my very first passion planner when it ships in January. Eeeeee!

So – to the writers (and those who love them) out there – check out this list. You may very well find that perfect something you didn’t even realize you were searching for.

Thanks, Kam! Great list as always!

Hello amazing readers,

As previously mentioned, October is RETT Awareness Month, and author Rae Z. Ryans and AimeeKay from AimeeKay’s Reviews  are co-hosting an event called Readers for Retts Awareness to raise awareness about Rett’s Syndrome and give people a chance to meet some of the girls suffering from this disease.

I’m pleased to help spread the word, and urge you guys to check out the event to learn more about Rett’s Syndrome and for a chance to win some great prizes.

I’ll let AimeeKay take it from here…

Thanks for reading,
Jenn Q

Kam Miller’s got a great post up on an awesome indie movie “Kelly & Cal” that – whether or not you know it yet – you really want to see.

The writer of this gem is a good friend of mine, and I’ve had the privilege of reading a variety of drafts on this project. I can honestly say, from the first draft I read on, I knew this would make an amazing movie.

Congratulations to Amy, Jen, and the rest of the amazing cast and crew.

Hello all!

One of the wonderful book bloggers I’ve had the fortune of meeting over the last few years, Aimee from AimeeKay’s Reviews and Randomness, recently contacted me about a great cause, “Readers for Rett Awareness.”  I will let Aimee take it from here, but if you don’t know anything about Rett’s – which I didn’t before hearing from Aimee – I encourage you to read on.  

Thanks for reading,

Jenn Q

Aimee from AimeeKay’s Reviews and Randomness and (Rae Z. Ryans) are co-hosting an event together. Readers for Rett Awareness’s goal is to help spread the word about Rett’s Syndrome and introduce the families and girls suffering from this awful disease.

(If you want to find out more about Rett’s itself, please feel free to follow this link, and see what it’s about. To actually meet a sufferer of Rett’s Syndrome click here.)

Details of the event:

Readers for Rett is currently seeking authors, bloggers, Rett families, and small businesses to help us spread the word about Rett Syndrome. We are looking for people interested in opportunities to host families on their blogs and allow them to tell their stories to your readers, hold interviews on their blogs, and spread the word about this disease affecting families and their daughters. We would also like to pair up Rett’s families/girls with sponsors who will offer giveaways to event attendees on their behalf. Bookish related items are best, but anything from gift cards to trinkets is appreciated*.

What is Rett Syndrome?

QUICK FACTS:

• Debilitating neurological (movement) disorder that predominantly affects females. (Boys generally die from it because of the genetics involved)
• Baby girls are born “normal” but begin to lose acquired skills between the ages of 1-3 years old.
• Caused by a single gene mutation that leads to underproduction of an important brain protein.
• The leading genetic cause of severe impairment in girls – most cannot speak, walk or use their hands.
• Despite their physical disabilities, girls with Rett Syndrome are believed to be functioning mentally at a much higher level than previously thought.
• As prevalent as Cystic Fibrosis, ALS and Huntington’s.
• Another little girl is born with Rett Syndrome every 90 minutes.
• Rett Syndrome is a potentially REVERSIBLE disorder. Research has proven once protein levels are back to normal levels, symptoms subside.

The awareness party will be held on Facebook, so yes, you will need a Facebook account to participate as a sponsor for the event. However, if you don’t have one, but still wish to help spread the word, we can work with that too.

Time and date: We plan to start the event October 3rd @ 10 a.m. CDT. However the length is still up in the air until we find out exactly how many sponsors and families we have to work with. We are planning it for October as that is National Rett Awareness Month. *Sponsors donating prizes will be responsible for shipping costs.

If you are interested in learning more, participating, or helping Readers for Rett spread the word please fill out the Readers For Rett’s Event Form.

We also have buttons to share if you want to set up your own post to help promote this event or show your support for the Rett Awareness cause. Please email us a link to your post once it is live, if you do so; we can give thanks at the event to all who have helped in any way. If you do have a Facebook account/page, please consider changing your profile and header (free images below) in October to help spread the word. Right-Click and save as for Facebook use or feel free to swipe the code for web based use.

Buttons

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Amazing SDCC recap by the uber-talented Kam Miller (who’s got a new novel “Myth Of Crime” out this week!)

Hello awesome readers,

We’ve got some exciting news coming up, and we don’t want you to miss it.  If you haven’t already done so, please consider signing up for our newsletter to get the latest delivered directly to your inbox.

Newsletters only come out when there’s something to report, so you should only be getting emails every few months.

Happy July, all!

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