(Subject to change. For a description of all the sessions, click here.)
Wednesday, April 4 (special pre-workshop event, free and open to the public)
7 p.m.
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition Awards Ceremony, featuring keynote speaker Tracy Beckerman
Centerville Library
111 W. Spring Valley Rd.
Centerville, OH 45458
(free and open to the public, but advance registration required.)
Thursday, April 5
2 to 5:30 p.m.
Attendee sign-in
Marriott at the University of Dayton Lobby
3 to 5 p.m.
Get Your Book Published! (advance registration required)
Stewart Boardroom (room #270)
Marriott at the University of Dayton
4 to 6 p.m.
Networking reception
Marriott at the University of Dayton, Tradewinds
(cash bar)
4 to 9 p.m.
EBWW bookstore open
Marriott at the University of Dayton Foyer
6 p.m. — Welcome dinner with keynote Liza Donnelly
Marriott at the University of Dayton Ballroom
(Dinner program includes a special tribute to the late Bill Bombeck and recognition of the two winners of the inaugural A Hotel Room of One’s Own: Erma Bombeck | Anna Lefler Humorist-in-Residence Program.)
8 p.m. — Book signing with Liza Donnelly
Marriott at the University of Dayton Foyer
Dessert reception
Marriott at the University of Dayton, Tradewinds
(cash bar)
9 p.m. — Erma Bombeck Writing Competition essay readings
Moderated by Debe Dockins
Marriott at the University of Dayton Ballroom
Friday, April 6
7 to 8:30 a.m. (loop)
Shuttle bus from Marriott at the University of Dayton to 1700 South Patterson Building on River Campus
7:30 to 9 a.m.
Attendee sign-in (lobby of 1700 South Patterson Building)
Continental breakfast (Riverview Café)
7:45 to 8:45 a.m.
Speed Dating for Writers (advance registration required)
Executive Dining Room
Get Your Book Published! (advance registration required)
Deeds Conference Room, Alumni Center
9 to 10:15 a.m. — Six concurrent sessions (choose one)
Secrets to Getting Published in Magazines That Editors Won’t Tell You (But I Will!) — Zachary Petit
Auditorium — This session also offered Saturday at 2 p.m.
Wit, Wisdom and a Good Naked Workshop — Joni Cole
Alumni Center North — This session also offered Saturday at 9 a.m.
Maximize Your Funny: Strategies for Busting the Humor Block — Dr. Mark Shatz
Marshall Room — This session also offered Friday at 3:30 p.m.
10 Top Lessons Learned From 10 Years Interviewing Bestselling Authors — Jessica Strawser (one time only)
Meyer Room
Developing the Writer’s Eye — Katrina Kittle
M2265 — This session also offered Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Create Vivid, Believable People, Places and Scenes in Fiction or NonFiction — Sharon Short (one time only)
S2060
Break
10:30 to 11:45 a.m. — Six concurrent sessions (choose one)
Write Without the Fight: Free Your Writing From Doubt and Delay — Julia Roberts
Auditorium — This session also offered Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Memoir Boot Camp — Marion Winik
Alumni Center North — This session also offered Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
It’s Okay to Laugh: How to Use Humor in the Dark Places — Lauretta Hannon
Marshall Room — This session also offered Saturday at 9 a.m.
What’s the Real Deal? Uncovering the Best Publishing Options for Your Book — Panel moderated by Dr. Nancy Berk, featuring David Braughler, Donna Cavanagh and Cindy Ratzlaff (one time only)
Meyer Room
So, What’s Your Website Done for You Lately? — Tracy Beckerman and Anne Parris (one time only)
M2265
Developing Voice and Style — Susan Pohlman
S2060 — This session also offered Saturday at 9 a.m.
Break
Noon to 1:30 p.m. — Lunch with keynote Karen Walrond
Riverview Café
1:30 to 2 p.m. — Break and book signing with Karen Walrond
2 to 3:15 p.m. — Six concurrent sessions (choose one)
Stand-Up Comedy Boot Camp — Wendy Liebman (one time only)
Auditorium
How to Uncover Your Own Voice and Get it Down on Paper — Kathy Kinney and Cindy Ratzlaff (one time only)
Alumni Center North
The Comfortable Chair: Bringing Humor to the Personal Essay — Dinty W. Moore
Marshall Room — This session also offered Saturday at 2 p.m.
Ask the Agents — Panel moderated by Jessica Strawser, featuring Lauren Abramo, Kate McKean and Saba Sulaiman
Meyer Room — This session also offered Saturday at 9 a.m.
Write a Query Letter That Gets Manuscript and Proposal Requests — Jane Friedman (one time only)
M2265
The F Word: Feminist Comic Writers Who Inspire Us — Peter Marino
S2060 — This session also offered Saturday at 2 p.m.
Break
3:30 to 4:45 p.m. — Six concurrent sessions (choose one)
Sit-Down Comedy: Tweet Like a Stand Up and Kill It on Social Media — Joel Madison
Alumni Center North — This session also offered Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Their, There, They’re: A Guide to Improving Communication and Using Words Goodly — Leighann Lord (one time only)
Auditorium
Maximize Your Funny: Strategies for Busting the Humor Block — Dr. Mark Shatz
Marshall Room — This session also offered Friday at 9 a.m.
Landing a Book Deal: Creative Ways to Grow Your Brand — Jessica Murnane
M2265 — This session also offered Saturday at 2 p.m.
Inspired: The Art of Writing with Humor and Heart — T. Faye Griffin
Meyer Room — This session also offered Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Developing the Writer’s Eye — Katrina Kittle
S2060 — This session also offered Friday at 9 a.m.
3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Shuttle buses to Marriott at the University of Dayton (loop)
5 to 5:45 p.m.
Get Your Book Published! (advance registration required)
Stewart Boardroom (room #270)
Marriott at the University of Dayton
5 to 11 p.m.
EBWW bookstore open
Marriott at the University of Dayton Foyer
6 p.m. — Dinner with keynote Rita Davenport
Marriott at the University of Dayton Ballroom
(Dinner program includes recognition of the winners of the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition.)
8:30 to 10 p.m. — Book signing with Rita Davenport and all workshop presenters
Marriott at the University of Dayton, Tradewinds
(cash bar)
Saturday, April 7
7 to 8:30 a.m. (loop)
Shuttle bus from Marriott at the University of Dayton to 1700 South Patterson Building on River Campus
7:30 to 9 a.m.
Continental breakfast (Riverview Café)
7:45 to 8:45 a.m.
Speed Dating for Writers (advance registration required)
Executive Dining Room
Get Your Book Published! (advance registration required)
Deeds Conference Room, Alumni Center
9 to 10:15 a.m. — Six concurrent sessions (choose one)
How to Build an Effective Author Website — Jane Friedman (one time only)
Auditorium
Wit, Wisdom and a Good Naked Workshop — Joni Cole
Alumni Center North — This session also offered Friday at 9 a.m.
It’s Okay to Laugh: How to Use Humor in the Dark Places — Lauretta Hannon
Marshall Room — This session also offered Friday at 10:30 a.m.
How to Get Published Successfully — Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry (one time only)
Meyer Room
Developing Voice and Style — Susan Pohlman
S2060 — This session also offered Friday at 10:30 a.m.
Ask the Agents — Panel moderated by Sharon Short, featuring Lauren Abramo, Kate McKean and Saba Sulaiman
M2265 — This session also offered Friday at 2 p.m.
Break
10:30 to 11:45 a.m. — Six concurrent sessions (choose one)
Write Without the Fight: Free Your Writing From Doubt and Delay — Julia Roberts
Auditorium — This session also offered Friday at 10:30 a.m.
Memoir Boot Camp — Marion Winik
Alumni Center North — This session also offered Friday at 10:30 a.m.
Inspired: The Art of Writing with Humor and Heart — T. Faye Griffin
Marshall Room — This session also offered Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Drag Races, Detours and Destinations: Finding the Power in Your Creative Journey — Panel moderated by Dr. Nancy Berk, featuring Kathy Kinney, Katrina Kittle, Leighann Lord and Jessica Murnane (one time only)
Meyer Room
Sit-Down Comedy: Tweet Like a Stand Up and Kill it on Social Media — Joel Madison
M2265 — This session also offered Friday at 3:30 p.m.
How to Grow Your Facebook Fan Page — Anne Parris (one time only)
S2060
11:45 a.m. to noon
Break
Noon to 1:30 p.m. — Lunch with keynote John Grogan
Riverview Café
1:30 to 2 p.m. — Break and book signing with John Grogan
2 to 3:15 p.m. — Six concurrent sessions (choose one)
It’s a Brand New Brand YOU World: Why Authors MUST Treat Themselves and Their Books as Brands — Even Before Publication — Cindy Ratzlaff (one time only)
Auditorium
Secrets to Getting Published in Magazines That Editors Won’t Tell You (But I Will!) — Zachary Petit
Alumni Center North — This session also offered Friday at 9 a.m.
The Comfortable Chair: Bringing Humor to the Personal Essay — Dinty W. Moore
Marshall Room — This session also offered Friday at 2 p.m.
Stand-Up Comedy Performance — Wendy Liebman (one time only)
Meyer Room
The F Word: Feminist Comics Who Inspire Us — Peter Marino
M2265 — This session also offered Friday at 2 p.m.
Landing a Book Deal: Creative Ways to Grow Your Brand — Jessica Murnane
S2060 — This session also offered Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Break
3:30 to 5 p.m.
Pitchapalooza — American Idol for Books: Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry
(open to all attendees)
Riverview Cafe
3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Speed Dating for Writers (advance registration required)
Executive Dining Room
3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Shuttle buses to Marriott at the University of Dayton (loop)
After 4 p.m., shuttle buses will pick up at north entrance outside the Meyer and Marshall Rooms at 1700 South Patterson Building
5:15 to 6:15 p.m.
Get Your Book Published! (advance registration required)
Stewart Boardroom (room #270)
Marriott at the University of Dayton
5:15 p.m.
Shuttle bus to University of Dayton main campus, photo opportunity at Erma Bombeck historical marker and memorial tree (pick up at front entrance of 1700 South Patterson Building)
5 to 9:30 p.m.
EBWW bookstore open
Marriott at the University of Dayton Foyer
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Dinner with keynote Monica Piper
Marriott at the University of Dayton Ballroom
(Dinner program includes conversation with Jennifer Joplin, actress portraying “Erma” in upcoming Human Race Theatre production of Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End.)
8:30 to 9:30 p.m. — Photo Booth
Marriott at the University of Dayton Foyer
(cash bar)
9:30 to 11 p.m. — Attendee Stand-Up Comedy Night, with emcee Wendy Liebman
Marriott at the University of Dayton Ballroom
