I’ve signed up for the Matera Women’s Fiction Festival
Last September, I went to my first-ever writer’s conference and I enjoyed it so much that I’ve signed up for this year’s event. The Ninth Annual International Women’s Fiction Festival will take place in Matera, Italy, 27-30 September 2012.
The Fiction Festival is a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, filled with writing workshops, brainstorming sessions, pitching sessions with agents and editors, author talks, and lots of panel discussions addressing the myriad of changes to the publishing industry. And it was such a pleasure to meet so many avid readers and writers at last year’s conference and to chat about books and writing over a glass of wine or coffee with the backdrop of the beautiful cave town of Matera.
Yes, this is Italy, so the location itself is enough reason to get to this festival. I have written about the beautiful southern Italian cave city of Matera in my post on last year’s festival (and even in a short story, Caves).
The event also includes guided walking tours of this town and plenty of social and cultural events in Matera’s palazzi and piazze.
So, writers, be sure to sign up for this year’s event. Look forward to seeing you in Matera!
Enjoy it and share more about your experience there. I enjoy your blog!
Thanks, Julia! I’ll be certain to share what I learn when I’m back. There are also a lot of great ‘technical’ seminars about e-publishing, contracts, social media, etc. Lots to learn!
Oh my, this sounds really tempting, my first novel is actually set in Italy and this could be just the thing I need, to be surrounded by people who can relate to that – I’ve never felt the inclination to want to attend something like this as strongly as this 🙂 I have to figure out how I might be able to extricate myself from my busy life laden with responsibilities!
Hi Claire. Well, I certainly hope you can be tempted … and able to – temporarily – escape from responsibilities back home (I understand you!) Actually, since it’s mostly women (with a handful of male writers of women’s fiction in attendance), most seem to understand the juggling quite well. Oooh, glad to hear you have a novel set in Italy! So is the one I’m finalizing for the pitch sessions at this conference. Viva l’Italia! : )