Then & Now
By Judy Salamacha
While traveling to workshops, author and education consultant, Sandra Mittelsteadt, meets people who are impressed that she has published three books. Publishing is their “dream” they tell her. To which she answers, “The only difference between me and you is I wrote the first word.”
Tolosa Press columnist, Teri Bayus, is the newest director for the 31st production of the Central Coast Writers Conference at Cuesta College, set for Sept. 18-20. She advises, “If you are even thinking of picking up a pen to start to write or want to jumpstart your current project, you need to come to the conference.”
Offered through Cuesta College Community Programs, registration and youth scholarship applications can be found at: www.cuesta.edu/communityprograms.
Thursday, July 23, from 6-8 p.m. Bayus will preview the 2015 keynote, presentation team and special events in conjunction with a book signing by the 2014 keynote speaker, Anne Perry, one of the Top 100 authors of suspense with over 80 novels published.
Perry and author and playwright, Victoria Zackheim, will discuss their works and writing processes at a free public event at Cuesta College Associated Student Center (Hwy 1 Campus).
Fourteen writers’ conferences ago, Bayus realized every career had a school. She could take classes but if she didn’t gel with the teacher, she’d wasted time and money. The Writers Conference, then directed by Dave Congalton and Charlotte Alexander, offered a variety of genre-specific workshops for her to test out over a weekend.
Her goal was to develop the basic tools and learn current industry trends to become a published author. Besides her restaurant and movie reviews for Tolosa Press, Bayus has written several optioned screenplays, is a Hollywood script doctor, writes for travel journals, and this fall will publish her erotic tale, Consumed.
“Directing the Central Coast Writers Conference is my dream job,” said Bayus, who considers herself a marketing specialist and events planner who loves the writing process. “I like the adrenaline rush of producing events — seeing them come together from concept to completion.”
She has booked over 50 workshops covering screenwriting, fantasy, poetry, comedy, horror, mystery, LGBT, travel, publishing and more. “Friday boot camps will focus on structure for beginning writers,” Bayus said, “and marketing for advanced writers. Something new is a Literary Dinner on Friday evening followed by a panel of 8 professionals discussing various stages of the creation process. Expect some surprises.”
The keynote speaker in September is Chuck Wendig. “He is one of the most passionate teachers of writing I’ve ever met,” said Bayus, “and my mentor — the voice that rings most in my head when I write.”
Keynote speaker in September is Chuck Wendig. “He is one of the most passionate teachers of writing I’ve ever met,” said Bayus, “and my mentor – the voice that rings most in my head when I write.” He is a novelist who wrote “Blackbirds,” “Atlanta Burns,” “Zer0es,” and the YA Heartland series. He is also well known for his “profane-yet-practical advice” to writers, which he dispenses at his daily blog, terribleminds.com, and the author of popular e-books like “The Kick-Ass Writer,” published by Writers Digest.
Saturday registrants will choose five workshops tracked for novice authors or more advanced. “If the goal is a career track to make money in writing,” Bayus said, “we have five classes that will show you how.”
A brief sampling of presenters includes: The Plot Whisper, Martha Alderson, and travel writers Thomas C. Wilmer and Laurie McAndish King. Poetry writers will be pleased, as Charles Harper Webb will return to present. Also returning is past keynote speaker, Jonathan Maberry, who is a New York Times bestselling author, four-time Bram Stoker Award winner, and comic book writer. His books, “Extinction Machine” and “V-Wars,” are in development for television and his young adult dystopian, “Rot & Ruin,” is in development as a series of feature films. Gene Perret, who wrote for Carol Burnett and Bob Hope, will present the art of writing comedy.
Writers who want feedback on a manuscript can spend 15 minutes with their pick of several presenters. For example, Doug Richardson has Die Hard movie credits and writes suspense. Jordan Rosenfeld is a novelist and has two books on writing published by Writers Digest.
Cuesta College educator Lillian Dean was the brains behind the first several writers’ conferences. Each year a local author is honored for their contributions to the industry. Bayus is thrilled that Wendelin Van Draanen will be honored and also present two workshops.
She has written more than 30 novels for young readers and teens, including Flipped, which was named a Top 100 Children’s Novel for the 21st Century by SLJ, and became a Warner Brothers feature film directed by Rob Reiner.
Sunday the public is invited to meet 70 or more authors at a Book and Author Fair at the Seacrest Oceanfront Hotel in Pismo.
Registration for the conference is $199 and includes Friday’s dinner and a DVD of all the workshops. Bayus noted, “It is still the least expensive writers’ conference you will find in the West especially for the value offered.“
Judy Salamacha is a past director of the Central Coast Writers Conference, Bay News publisher, and author of “Colonel Baker’s Field: An American Pioneer Story.” Reach her at: or call 801-1422. Then & Now is special to the Tolosa Press.
