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Nearly 100 seasoned and aspiring writers of all ages came from as far away as New Mexico to attend the Third Annual Catholic Writers’ Conference hosted by Thomas Aquinas College. Emphasizing the integration of Faith and professional excellence, the conference exposed attendees to an impressive list of successful authors, screenwriters and editors. Orchestrated and moderated by Dave Shaneyfelt, director of College Relations, the conference included three lively workshops — including one on Fiction Writing by Ventura-based children’s author Bernardine Connelly Clark (Follow the Drinking Gourd, Simon & Schuster) — and several full assembly talks, including one given by San Diego-based author and business consultant Dick Lyles (Winning Ways—Four Secrets for Getting Great Results by Working Well with People). Lyles is perhaps best known as the president and CEO of The Ken Blanchard Companies and founder, with his wife Martha, of Maric College, a nurse-training institution in San Diego. The luncheon keynote speaker, best-selling author Matt Pinto, was awarded the Saint Augustine Award for Excellence in Writing, by the College. Pinto is founder of Ascension Press, co-founder of Catholic Exchange, and author of Do Adam and Eve Have Belly Buttons?, which has sold more than 100,000 copies. A self-confessed advertising man, Pinto addressed the pros and cons of self-publishing. Other speakers included Matt Sommer, a noted Hollywood screenwriter (Murder, She Wrote, The Man from Snowy River); columnist and freelance writer James Bemis (Los Angeles Times, California Political Review); Chris Weinkopf, editorial editor of the Los Angeles Daily News, and other publications; and writer/publicist Karen Walker (Catholic Press Association). Attendee responses were strongly favorable, including such comments as: "It went by too quickly," "I found all the sessions quite useful," and "Very inspiring. The constant mention of prayer is most appreciated—giving one’s gifts back to God for His purposes." "This is our third Catholic Writer’s Conference, and the feedback I hear year after year is that each conference is even better than the last," said Shaneyfelt. "As always, the College was very pleased with the enthusiasm of both conference participants and speakers. It’s a wonderful opportunity to provide a great forum for so many excellent Catholic writers."
(Cassette tapes of the entire conference or of individual speakers are available from Thomas Aquinas College. For more information call Amanda Atkinson at 805/525-4418, extension 337.) -- Qtrly Newsletter, Spring 2003 |
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