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Show The Ogden Valley news Page 10 Volume XIV Issue XVIII December 1, 2007 Writers Inspired by Eden’s Winter Wonder Land By Drienie Hattingh The first annual Eden Writers’ Fall Conference was an amazing sell-out event! On Friday, October 19, the Eden Writers welcomed 70 writers from all over America— from Utah, California, New York, Arizona, Minnesota, North Carolina (and the list goes on)—to our very first conference. On Friday at dusk, Roosters’ staff arrived at The Red Moose Lodge and set the tables and carried in the aromatic food into the conference room. The tables were beautifully decorated. A huge orange pumpkin was the center piece, surrounded by autumn leaves and ribbons. The rest of the lodge was beautifully decorated for the season by Red Moose staff. The interior of the lodge, with all its pinewood, glowed in orange and gold as we gathered for dinner. Later, David Sheffield, our keynote speaker from Los Angeles, had the audience laughing continuously with his stories about tinsel town and how he became a movie screenwriter (Coming to America, Nutty Professor, Boomerang and Saturday Night Live). At the end of his speech, he had us all on our feet yelling, “I will write every day!” “I will get published!” Friday night festivities ended with the announcement of our spooky, scary, short story competition winners. Local Eden writer Angie Bulloch won first prize. We had a remarkable response to this competition with a lot of great stories. Our final judges, Kera Erickson and Shanna Francis, had a difficult time deciding on the winners. Then the Eden Writers delivered dramatized readings of their own, mostly, scary stories around the fireplace. Huge eyes looked back at us, and once I heard a yelp and another time saw a person shrug his shoulders and rub his arms to get rid of the goose bumps! The following day, Saturday, was a stormy day in the Valley, but it was warm and cozy in the lodge for the breakfast panel discussion. Agents, editors, workshop presenters, and reps from bookstores Wisebird Bookery and Hastings were peppered with questions. Does one really have to send a query letter? “Yes!” Christina Hogrebe (Agent: Jane Rotrosen Agency, NY) answered. “That is the very first step,” said Kate Schafer (Agent: Janklow & Nesbit Associates). Is an agent really necessary? Another writer wanted to know from Katherine Nintzel (Associate Editor: Morrow/Avon/Eos) from New York. “Yes – publishers will not look at a writer’s manuscript unless represented by an agent.” Saturday was filled with inspiring, informational classes and workshops. Kay Lockner with her Snap Planning class was one of the favorites, and so was David Sheffield’s “From Story to Screen” class. Christina and Katherine had the audience mesmerized with the agent and editor’s roles in the publishing world. Wendy Toliver inspired 20 beginner writers to write the book they always wanted to write, and Louise Knot Ahern did a very enlightening “20 Questions to a Killer PR plan.” At lunch time Jim Halay (Alpine Pizza) and his helpers delivered armloads of his award winning pizzas. In-between classes, Eden’s Rebecca Fox showed us how to unwind with yoga stretches. We also had coffee and hot apple cider breaks between classes. Jennifer Zeemer from Grounds for Coffee (Wisebird) not only supplied great coffee and apple cider but also supplied treats throughout the day. Drew Johnson of Eden Coffee and Cocoa made coffee runs to the lodge with his specialty coffees. Sometime during the morning, rain turned to snow. Guests from Los Angeles and Phoenix were enthralled as our surroundings turned into a winter wonderland At one point during the conference, I stood in the lobby and observed how the writers, agents, and editors from across the nation were sitting on the comfy couches interacting while, upstairs in the billiards room, Eden Writing group member Wendy Toliver presented her class. In the conference room, eager writers listened to the inspiring Louise Knot Ahern as she presented her “20 Questions to a Killer PR Plan.” That’s when I knew that our dream for the conference had really come true. At the conference wrap up, David Sheffield drew a lucky number for the Susan Squires (New York best seller) free critique, which local writer Sharon Holmstrom won. Susan Squires also contributed free books to the conference and Debbie Macomber, another New York Best Seller—gave away autographed copies of her books. Now, after the conference, I remember when Johan and I arrived in the Valley six years ago and how I thought that Eden would be the perfect place for a writers’ conference. But, first, I knew the Eden Writers had to gain some “clout.” We worked hard and when Wendy Toliver sold her book, The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren to a major New York publishing house and Barbara (Passaris) Emanuelson sold her book, Through Tempest Forged to a publisher in Virginia, and I became a columnist for, not only our Valley newspaper but also a feature writer for Valley Views Magazine and columnist for Juluka, a South African magazine, I knew we were ready. And our conference could not have been such a success without the support we had from amazing sponsors in our Valley and beyond. We are so grateful – thank you! The Eden Writers Group is a non- profit organization. We are already excitedly planning our next conference! Our goal is to grow as the years pass, eventually raising enough money to sponsor young aspiring writers on that bumpy road to publication. Celebrate the Holidays at the Family History Library and the Museum of Church History and Art On Saturday, December 1, 2007, there will be a special holiday event at the LDS Family History Library and the Museum of Church History and Art located immediately to the west of Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City. The event features activities for families and includes crafts, games, caroling, old-time dancing with the Firewood Pioneer Band, and presentations on holiday traditions in various countries. The crafts, presentations, and games will take place in the library and museum, and the dancing and caroling will take place on the plaza between the buildings. The activities take place from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. Free refreshments will be available on the plaza until dark. To see the schedule of activities, go to www.familysearch.org and click on the link under the Family History Library heading. Parking is available for a fee at the northwest corner of West Temple and North Temple streets. Bring your family downtown and enjoy the activities at the west plaza, then stay to see the beautiful lights on Temple Square. The Ogden Valley News is looking for Ogden Valley and Ogden Canyon historical biographies, stories, and photos to use in its publication. Please mail, email, or call Shanna at 745-2688 or Jeannie at 745-2879 if you have material you would like to share. ed! ce Pri Log Cabin with great potential! Sits on 2.37 acres. 2511 sq. ft., open kitchen, GR w/vaulted ceiling. 1 BD, 1 BA, lg loft, unfin. base., lg gar.w/workshop. $415,000 Call Cindy 644-6607 Equestrian Estate-Seclusion and tranquility Beautiful remodeled rambler. Updated on 52 acres. Incredible views! 6 BD, kitchen. Brand new inside & out. 3 BD 2 5 BA, 6-car gar., pool, barn. Close to all BA, w/decks to enjoy eastern and western recreation in the area. $2,500,000 skies in Ogden Valley tranquility. $409,000 Call Gage 621-0505 or Deborah 745-1538 w/lease option. Call Cindy 644-6607 uc Red MOUNTAIN living at its best in Evergreen Park. Snowmobile, ATV, & hunt in your own backyard. 4 BD Reduced $200,000 for quick sale! $399,900 Call Deborah 745-1538 Pation Springs house. Olympic Ski Team slept HERE! 4 BD, 2.5 BA home w/unobstructed views. 2 lg. covered decks and beautifully landscaped. $525,000 Joan @ 801-675-0444 Large Deluxe Model 3 BD, GR w/fireplace. All furnishings included-professionally decorated. End unit w/ magnificent views. REDUCED for quick sale. Make offer! $360,000 Call Deborah 745-1538 Nordic House tucked away in the trees. Min. to Wolf Mtn. ski resort. 3 BD, 1.75 BA, 2 FR w/FP and huge deck to take in the beautiful views of the Valley. $375,000 Call Joan @ 801-675-0444 Snowbasin Lot Located just west of Eagle Peak w/beautiful views of the Valley and lake. 5.88 acre bldg lot with well already drilled. $849,000 Call Joan @ 801-675-0444 Ski home from Wolf Mtn and cozy up to the fireplace in this 2 BD cabin. Watch the skiers from the living room. $415,000 or partnerships starting at $110k. Joan @ 801-675-0444 4.71 acre Liberty lot w/seasonal North Fork River as your property line. All utilities available/stubbed to property. Barn. 2 property ID’s included. $520,000 Call Joan @ 801-675-0444 Seller flinancing available on this half acre corner lot with views of Snowbasin and Pineview. Not roof tops! Seller says, “Sell it. Help me!” $299,000 Call Deborah 745-1538 Very special home at the base of the N. Ogden Divide w/ views from every window. Pastures and barn for horses - efficient single level brick home on 2.34 acres. $630,000 Call Deborah 745-1538 Gage Froerer & Assoc. (801)745-4221 JoanWoodruff (801) 675-0444 Eden Office 2405 Highway 158 Joan4c21@aol.com Peg Turner (801)389-4514 Cindy Browne (801)644-6607 peg@classyutahhomes.com cindyb@c21utah.com BRANCH BROKER Deborah Hegg (801)745-1538 d.hegg@relia.net |