Candie Moonshower, Children's Author and Freelance Writer

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website: http://www.CandieMoonshower.com

Publications

·         The Legend of Zoey (middle grade novel), Delacorte Press, July 2006

·         Monthly articles in Business Tennessee magazine, The Tennessean, and other publications

Program Topics

Candie Moonshower enjoys school visits to elementary, middle and high schools, and is happy to speak to teachers, librarians and media specialists. She also conducts workshops for adults at conferences and retreats. For elementary and middle schools, she can tailor her author talks to age-appropriate material geared toward historical research/writing and journaling, for example. Candie also has worked with small groups of high school students interested in writing fiction. For students, workshops or author's visits are interactive and fun. For adults, workshops are interactive and fun, as well! Topics include but aren't limited to:

·        The Harried Housewife's Guide to Writing Your Novel in Seven Free Minutes a Day (complete with slide show!)—a humorous look at the writer's life geared toward adults.

·        Ten (Giant but Essential) Steps to Writing and Publishing Your First Novel—After years of "working the biz," I've compiled what I think are ten of the essential things you must do on your journey toward publication.

·        Plotting with Panache!—I offer five different workshops on plotting, for the newbie to the experienced writer, that can be taught separately or as part of a day-long or weekend-long session.

·        Successful Critique Groups—As a member for over five years of both a successful online critique group and a "face-to-face" critique group, with multi-published members, I can speak to how to organize, manage and maintain a critique group that benefits all its members.

·        Journaling: From Recapping to Scene-Writing (both adults or students)—Having written a novel completely in alternating journal entries (The Legend of Zoey), I can teach the tenets of how to take a recap (telling) and turn it into active and engaging showing in your novel. This workshop applies to novels written in first person point-of-view as well. 

Testimonials from folks who've attended my workshops!

Steve Lyon, Golden Kite Winner and author of The Gift Moves, said:

"I had a wonderful time at Editor’s Day and particularly enjoyed your novel writing presentation. I think plenty of people at the LA conference would rather listen to you than to a Big Name Famous Author because your experience is closer to theirs and more valuable because of it. Big Name Famous Authors might say things that would inspire, but probably not things as concrete and helpful as how to fold laundry at one's writing desk. Which is funny and serious at the same time." 

Patsi Trollinger, author of Perfect Timing: How Isaac Murphy Became One of the World's Greatest Jockeys, said:

"I thoroughly enjoyed the day in Nashville and the chance to talk. You always give folks a jolt of energy plus plenty of laughs. The presentation was super."

Genetta Adair, Children's Writer and freelancer, said:

"Candie, your presentation was fabulous! You've got a future in presentations! We all need to be reminded of how to accomplish our goals of finishing our manuscripts, and your humor tickled us while you pointedly reprimanded us. LOL!"

SCBWI-Midsouth Editor's Day, April 8, 2006

Hosted by Linda Ragsdale, Shirley Amitrano & Kathy Witt

We had a wonderful day with Summer Laurie, editor at Tricycle Press, Kathy Knight, editor with Dalmation Press, Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, author and freelance writer, and me, Candie Moonshower. Summer spoke about how editors work as "project managers," what she does at Tricycle, how Tricycle differs from other publishers, and shared some enlightening information on how books actually get into stores. Kathy and Kristen gave a wonderful talk on "both sides" of the publishing business, as they've worked together on projects for Dalmation Press. I did my presentation entitled "The Harried Housewife's Guide to Writing Your Novel in Seven Free Minutes a Day." I tried to debunk a few myths for attendees regarding your muse, writer's block, and the fantasy of the writing life compared to the reality of most writers' lives! In between it all, we had fun stuff orchestrated by Linda and Shirley, a nice lunch and time to visit with old and new friends. All in all, a fabulous day!

With regard to my first-time showing of my slide show and talk on "The Harried Housewife," attendees were complimentary! I was thrilled, and I appreciate the feedback!

Steve Lyon, Golden Kite Winner and author of The Gift Moves, said:

"I had a wonderful time at Editor’s Day and particularly enjoyed your novel writing presentation. I think plenty of people at the LA conference would rather listen to you than to a Big Name Famous Author because your experience is closer to theirs and more valuable because of it. Big Name Famous Authors might say things that would inspire, but probably not things as concrete and helpful as how to fold laundry at one's writing desk. Which is funny and serious at the same time." 

Patsi Trollinger, author of Perfect Timing: How Isaac Murphy Became One of the World's Greatest Jockeys, said:

"I thoroughly enjoyed the day in Nashville and the chance to talk. You always give folks a jolt of energy plus plenty of laughs. The presentation was super."

Genetta Adair, Children's Writer and freelancer, said:

"Candie, your presentation was fabulous! You've got a future in presentations! We all need to be reminded of how to accomplish our goals of finishing our manuscripts, and your humor tickled us while you pointedly reprimanded us. LOL!"