-Rapid City, SD
As anyone who has ever dreamed of becoming an author can attest, the world of publishing can be quite intimidating. First, there’s the task of crafting a manuscript. Then there’s the oft-told tale of trying to find an agent and publisher. Then, once the book is ready for production, there’s the chore of promotion. All in all, the prospect can be as exciting as it is unnerving. The Great American Book Festival, now in its second year, is bringing the GABfest Writers’ Conference to downtown Rapid City once again. Free and open to the public, local authors, aspiring authors, and those who are just curious to learn more about the world of publishing are invited to attend a full day of conferences in May.
The GABfest Writers’ Conference will be held on Friday, May 10th at the Dahl Arts Center, in the John T. Vucurevich Center. There are a variety of sessions to appeal to those in all stages of their writing career. There will be an authors’ round table session in which attendees are invited to participate in a Q&A with seasoned authors, all of whom are recognized in their field. Other sessions include topics on self-publishing, book marketing, writing tips and strategies, and how to find an agent and get published. There will even be a session by local author, Dorothy Rosby, on writing and revising for humor.
One exciting new addition to this year’s conference will be the opportunity for authors and aspiring authors to attend live agent pitch sessions. Pitch sessions allow individuals to meet one-on-one with agents to propose a completed manuscript. This is a rare opportunity and not to be missed by those seeking representation. Quressa Robinson of Nelson Literary Agency from New York, and Jennifer Flannery of Flannery Literary in Chicago will offer private sessions throughout the day of the conference on Friday, May 10th. Because space is limited, these sessions are by reservation only and include a small participation fee.
Quressa Robinson, Nelson Literary Agency
Jennifer Flannery, Flannery Literary
In addition to the writers’ conference, other events include the 2nd Annual GABfest Lit Walk, a literary-themed pub crawl which begins at Firehouse Wine Cellars and ends with live music and literary readings at Hay Camp Brewery the evening of May 10th. The main event is, of course, the Great American Book Festival which takes place on Saturday, May 11th at downtown Rapid City’s Main Street Square. Featuring nearly forty authors (local and from around the world), Great American Book Festival events include readings, book signings, performances, kids activities, and food vendors.
As a 501c3 nonprofit organization, the Great American Book Festival is funded in part by the generous support of the following organizations: i2i Technologies, Literary Classics Book Awards & Reviews, Author.Pub, Firehouse Brewing Company, Denny Menholt Rushmore Honda, Denny Menholt Toyota, Firehouse Wine Cellars, Hay Camp Brewery, Who’s Toy House and Wobbly Bobby British Pub. To learn more visit GABfest.info.
