Kevin Spradlin
CUMBERLAND — Frostburg State University’s Center for Creative Writing is coordinating the upcoming Western Maryland Small and Regional Press Fair.
The third annual event features editors, publishers, writers and educators on panels on writing and getting published. It’s scheduled Sept. 19 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the main Allegany County Library on Washington Street. It’s free and open to the public.
Unfortunately for Charlene Haines, she won’t be able to attend. Instead, the 29-year-old West Side resident will be a part of an author extravaganza the same day at Country Club Mall in LaVale.
While the self-published author of “Unexpected Heroes: The Battle for the Black Onyx,” a fantasy adventure for young adults, is going through all the trials and tribulations any self-published writer can experience, it’s events like the press fair that helped her get started.
“Oh, goodness, I was nervous,” she said before attending last year’s fair. “I thought there were going to be tons of people there shootin’ questions at you. I was nervous about that.”
Haines was there with two hats on, first as a member of a children’s literature panel where two young fans came just to see her. Prior to that, she visited another panel that offered ideas on how to get published and how to promote her book, the first of a trilogy.
“We just kind of talked to each other,” Haines said. “It was cool. I got to meet a lot of different genre authors and they all published differently.”
Haines’s first book was released through Indiana-based AuthorHouse in March 2008. On the same day as the small and regional press fair and the author extravaganza, the second book in the series — Unexpected Heroes: Birth of Victory — was originally scheduled to be released.
She submitted her manuscript on Aug. 16 and paid extra to have the book printed in a month’s time. Only recently, Haines said, did the publishing company claim the manuscript was never received.
“Now, they’re going to start working on it on the first (of September),” Haines said. “I’m upset about that … I wanted the book (ready) for the 19th. It won’t be ready for that.”
Chalk it up to the self-publishing experience — something she learned quite a bit about at the press fair last September. It’s an event John Taube, library director, thinks is an important part of available programming.
Through the small press conference, they hope to foster avenues for people to the world of publishers and to provide additional avenues for people to learn about the region through the many writers, poets and artists.
New to this year’s event are two panels, one called “Teachers, Publishers and Students and another under the title “Pick Up that Book — Getting Kids to Want to Read.” Also new this year is a poetry slam.
“This is a literary arts festival,” said Gerry LaFemina, creative writing center director. “We’re celebrating the writers, the teachers, the libraries, the readers and the publishers, but most of all we’re celebrating that fire inside of us that wants to make up stories.”
For Haines, the storytelling will continue. And so will efforts to make writing a full-time job.
“I never turn down a chance to promote my book,” Haines said. “Even though I work a regular job. This is what I want to do for a living. I want to write. I’m working towards that goal.”
For more information on the small and regional press fair, visit www.frostburg.edu/cwcenter
Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.
