Edmond authors head to annual writing conference

Courtney Bryce
Special to The Sun

EDMOND May 01, 2008 12:08 pm

— Several Edmond authors will keep busy this weekend at the annual Oklahoma Writer’s Federation Incorporate Conference.
“Fantastic Forty-Writers Glory” will be today through Saturday and will feature different writing sessions, a Famous Authors Banquet and an autograph party. The conference also marks OWFI’s 40th anniversary.
Marcia Preston, Edmond author, will have a pre-conference workshop, “How to Pitch Your Novel” from 6-8 p.m. Thursday. Other sessions include Writing the Dreaded Synopsis and All About Horror and Paranormal Fiction.
Vivian Zabel, Edmond author and publisher, said she will be one of 30 authors recognized during the banquet. She has been an author for four years, helped establish 4RV Publishing LLC and will release her first mystery and suspense novel, “Midnight Hours” in late summer. Zabel also is a OWFI Conference board member.
“It has all kinds of sessions that help people be better writers,” she said. “It gives all authors an opportunity to network and make important connections.”
Zabel said the conference is a great opportunity for new authors.
“It helps them know what editors are looking for in writing,” she said.
Mike Hinkle, Edmond resident, said he retired from being a civil trial lawyer three years ago and has been working on a book ever since. He said it wasn’t until he attended the OWFI conference last year that he made great progress.
Hinkle said 80 percent of people in the United States want to write a book. The OWFI conferences teach people how to market their writing, how to market themselves and the mechanics of their craft, he said.
Hinkle used what he learned last year to help him finish his book and is focused this year on meeting with an editor and getting feedback.
“I can see my weaknesses but I’m not sure how to solve them,” he said.
The retired lawyer pulled on his previous experiences as a soldier, preacher, truck driver, vagabond, grape picker and bar bouncer to write his book.
“The book is about a semi illiterate truck driver,” Hinkle said.
The truck driver has an accident and goes into a coma for a month. During that time, he has a vision that it is his mission to identify the other two men who were crucified with Jesus. Hinkle said he does not address the religious context of the Bible, but focuses more on its historical context.
Zabel said the conference costs $150 for the weekend, which includes all meals and banquets, or $60 for a day. Single banquet-only tickets may be purchased for $30.
The community is invited to attend the autograph party and get books signed from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Saturday.
The conference will be at the Sheraton and Reed Center, 5800 Will Rogers Road, Midwest City.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about the conference visit, www.owfi.org.

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