Greetings from the Matera Women’s Fiction Festival

This is an advance post anticipating the fun I’ll be having at the Matera Women’s Fiction Festival when this goes up. The annual festival is underway in the spectacular southern Italian town of Matera.

If you haven’t seen my travel post on Matera  and you’re flat out of ideas for your next holiday, be sure to take a look.

As this post goes up, I’m sure I’ll be learning a great deal about the publishing industry today, meeting lots of interesting and inspiring authors from Italy, the US, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Sweden and other points across the globe, discussing books, attending the great social events the festival organizes and, of course, eating delicious food accompanied by great wines (this is Italy, after all).

To give you a flavor of the seminars I’ll be attending, here’s some of what’s on offer:

  • Publishing is a click away : Trends and outlooks
  • New internet opportunities : Crowdsourcing  (Okay, I’ll ‘fess up. I have absolutely no idea what this is. But I hope to come back with some clue. If not, I’ll be asking all of you…).
  • Twitter doesn’t bite: Instructions for use ( Don’t know if this seminar  was designed specifically with me in mind…)
  • Briefing for thriller writers  – 19th century arms and how to avoid anachronisms (I don’t write thrillers and I rarely read them, but I still find these seminars incredibly  interesting. Last year, I went to a seminar on cyberterrorism and cybercriminals. Doubtful it will ever weave its way into my work, but I learned a heck of a lot!)
  • Women’s fiction as a genre that never loses popularity (!!)
  • Q&A with Agents and Editors
  • Self-publishing

I’ll report back on some of the interesting things to emerge from the conference. In the meantime, an enthusiastic “Ciao!” from beautiful Matera.

I’ll be sure to drink an extra glass of wine – or cup of cappuccino, depending on your preference – just for you…

10 Comments

  1. wordfoolery on September 28, 2012 at 11:38 am

    Sounds amazing, I hope to attend at some future date. In the meantime have a glass of wine for me.

  2. kimberlysullivan on September 28, 2012 at 11:26 pm

    Haha, Grace! Twist my arm to have that extra glass of wine. : ) It’s a great experience… I’ll be sure to post all the great hepl and advice we’re getting from the seminars here.

  3. Chantel Rhondeau on September 29, 2012 at 2:15 am

    I hope you are having a fabulous time, Kimberly! You’ll have to let me know what Crowdsourcing is… new one on me too! Can’t wait to hear about everything!

    • kimberlysullivan on September 29, 2012 at 4:18 pm

      Thanks, Chantel! I’m learning so much here and I’m happy to post all the great suggestions and advice we’re learning here as soon as I’m back. I’ll miss the chance to hang around all day with so many talented writers, who are so enthusasitic about books and generous in sharing information. Throw in good food, wine and the beautiful backdrop of Matera and… well, it’ll be hard to leave! : )

  4. Peri Kaymak on September 29, 2012 at 3:35 am

    Hope you have a great time!

    • kimberlysullivan on September 29, 2012 at 4:19 pm

      Thanks, Peri! We’ll have to get here sometime when you’re passing through Italy!

  5. Melinda Dozier on September 29, 2012 at 4:03 pm

    What fun! I’m jealous!

    • kimberlysullivan on October 1, 2012 at 5:10 pm

      Hi Melinda! Back now and it was pretty fabulous. Will post all about the informative seminars we had. Maybe you’ll be there next September for the Italian launch of your new book! There are lots of romance writers, publishers, agents there, too…

  6. Catherine on October 2, 2012 at 10:45 am

    Hey Kimberly this is Catherine it was lovely to meet you and trip up and down the cobbled stairways with you! Being back home is almost too real for the senses.. Keep in touch and expect me to barge in on your writing group. Big hellos to the other super ladies xcat

    • kimberlysullivan on October 2, 2012 at 5:09 pm

      Ciao, Catherine! How wonderful to hear from you! I loved meeting you, too, in Matera and trying to navigate through the labyrinth cave streets together. Already looking forward to next time!

      I look forward to reading your book and my writing group already has an open invitation issued for whenever you’re passing through Rome. We’d love to welcome our honorary member from the Veneto! A prestissimo!

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