Spotlight on: Chris Humphreys, Best Selling Author and CAC17 speaker

2017-02-09T14:14:58-08:00By |

If you want to know what professional success looks like for an author, look no further that Chris (C.C.) Humphreys - Author, Actor, Swordsman. And try not to look with too much green in your eyes! Chris exudes confidence after having published over ten books, enjoyed best seller status, and won multiple awards. He continues to enjoy high demand for his stories. Yet, amidst all this success he remains very genuine and down to earth. His writing craft presentations are the eye-opening kind that will inspire you to great feats of writing, and we were very excited that he agreed to be a presenter at the conference this year. Don't miss out, register now for the Chanticleer Author Conference—CAC17—March 31st to April 2nd where he will be teaching: Write the Good Fight, and The Sex Scene: how much is too much? A Male novelist’s perspective. As part of our spotlight series, we asked Chris our five questions to get her perspective on professional success. 1. When did you know what you really wanted to be? Still trying to decide. Is it too late to become a spy? (It's the second family trade, aside from acting). I have two more answers with my two careers. I decided I wanted to be an actor when I was about 17. I’d been steered away from that path by my concerned mother who’d been the daughter of one and the wife of another. Was all set to read law at uni but then got cast as the lead in [...]

Read More

Spotlight on: Diane Garland, Continuity Editor and CAC17 Speaker

2017-01-19T18:56:40-08:00By |

Have you even written a story and halfway through your protagonists eye change from green to brown? Unless you are writing a fantasy with metamorphic characters, that is generally not supposed to happen. But how do you keep track of all those niggly details, especially in a multiple book series? Meet Diane Garland, continuity editor. She has mastered the art of keeping track of every single changeable detail in a book series through her keen eye and her crackerjack proficiency with spreadsheets. And you can find her at the upcoming Chanticleer Author Conference—CAC17—March 31st to April 2nd where she will be teaching A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World: Building a Foundation for your Characters & Plot. As part of our spotlight series, we asked Diane our five questions to get her perspective on professional success. 1. When did you know what you really wanted to be? I think I discovered myself and what I wanted to be back in 2012 when an off comment by Ann Charles had me delving into the uncharted waters of continuity in books and series.  With much refinement and encouragement I turned my ideas into a business, Your WorldKeeper.  Right now I am very happy with how my business has progressed, but it is constantly evolving which keeps things interesting. 2. What was the biggest challenge you faced? Probably my biggest challenge I faced was building my author base.  Determining who would most benefit from my work and how to advertise and reach those authors was daunting at [...]

Read More

Spotlight on: Nicole Evelina, CAC17 Speaker, Author & 2015 Overall Grand Prize Winner

2017-01-12T17:08:49-08:00By |

Meet Nicole Evelina, author and historian. At last year's conference she was awarded the 2015 Overall Grand Prize at last years authors conference. And you can find her at the upcoming Chanticleer Author Conference—CAC17—March 31st to April 2nd where she will be teaching How to Use Pinterest to Develop Your Story and Career. As part of our spotlight series, we asked Nicole our five questions to get her perspective on professional success. 1. When did you know what you really wanted to be? I finally started taking my writing seriously in 2008, so when I was 29. Before then, it was just a hobby, something I did to entertain myself when I was bored. I always had a drive to tell stories, but I didn’t think that being a writer was something real people actually did. That is until I read Twilight. (Go ahead and laugh if you want.) Stephanie Meyer was the first average person I’d ever seen “make it” as a writer. I thought to myself “well, if she can do it, there is a chance for me.” At the time, I was about ¾ of the way into the first draft of what would become Daughter of Destiny, my debut novel, so I decided it was time to act like a professional writer. It took another eight years for the book to be published, but I did it!  2. What was the biggest challenge you faced? My biggest challenge was getting my book into the hands of readers. It [...]

Read More

Spotlight on: Eileen Cook, Special Guest at the 2017 Chanticleer Authors Conference

2016-12-17T12:15:13-08:00By |

Two-year-olds begin to learn to resolve and reduce conflict when their mothers teach them that biting isn't nice. But it's an authors job to create and escalate conflict to uncomfortable degrees. Not quite biting level--maybe a notch below. Or there could be biting. The story will out. So how do authors overcome a lifetime of social training to avoid conflict? Eileen Cook to the rescue! Eileen is an author with a background as a therapist--specifically in conflict resolution. One of the sessions she will teach at the upcoming Chanticleer Author Conference--CAC17 is March 31st to April 2nd--will be her class The Perfect Storm:  Character, Conflict and Motivation, which is a unique experience falling somewhere between marriage counseling and writing class. If you have a slightly rocky relationship you'd like to improve, or some characters whose relationships need to be smashed on the rocks to get your plot moving, either way, you will benefit from attending this class with Eileen Cook. Also, not to be missed, is her class: Why Would You Say That?  How to Improve Your Dialogue. We asked our CAC17 special guest speakers a few questions to break the ice and introduce them to all of you who've already registered or are planning to register for CAC17. And Eileen was the first to jump in with her answers, below. 1. When did you know what you really wanted to be? I always wanted to be a writer. My parents kept a homework assignment I did in second grade where [...]

Read More
Go to Top