Local children’s book author, Jaimie Engle, will share some of the
children’s writing techniques that helped her books win awards and surge
in popularity with sunshine state writers during a morning workshop at
the Florida Writers Association 5th Annual Writer’s Nest Mini-Conference on Apr. 30 at the Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs on Northlake Blvd.
During Engle’s workshop, Florida
writers will learn techniques she developed to add depth and
believability to stories so that readers feel a connection to the
characters. Writers have been told time and again that they must build
tension, show instead of tell and build intriguing fictional worlds, but
they usually aren’t provided with proven tools. Engle’s workshop digs
into each of these critical areas to help children’s book writers
develop writing habits that will pay off come publication time.
Upon
debut, Engle’s middle grade novel “Clifton Chase and the Arrow of
Light” introduced children to a fantasy world that they quickly fell in
love with. The book went on to win a Brag Medallion in 2015, listed as a
Top Ten Pick by Kids Lit Reviews, and along the way, garnered media
attention for its strong anti-bullying message, which resonates with
children in a way that few other efforts have. As a mother with personal
experience grappling with the nationwide issue of school age bullying,
Engle saw the need for change and built a campaign to help enact it.
Each year, she shares her anti-bullying presentation with hundreds of
students across Brevard County and challenges them to use their words to help, not hurt.
Engle will momentarily break away from the launch of her upcoming novel to speak at the 5th
Annual Writer’s Nest Mini-Conference. “Dreadlands: Wolf Moon,” which
JME Books will release on Apr. 22, tells a haunting Nordic style tale
that is sure to turn young adult fantasy fans into ferocious readers.
“Putting
pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, doesn’t have to be a solitary
endeavor, but I find that many writers don’t feel connected to their
community,” Engle said. “That’s something I want to help to change
because the writing community can and should be a network that supports
each other and shares knowledge.”
Engle
may be a wordsmith, but she doesn’t offer any lip service. In 2014, she
founded A Writer For Life, a coaching service just for writers that
aims to inspire, empower and educate storytellers so that they can reach
their loftiest publishing goals.
Jaimie Engle is a children’s book author, speaker and editor from Melbourne, Florida.
Her past works have won a Brag Medallion and an honorable mention in
the L. Ron Hubbard’s Writer’s of the Future contest. In addition to
speaking at schools and writing conferences across the country, Engle
shares her anti-bullying message with children across Central Florida.
Her coaching firm, A Writer For Life, walks authors step-by-step
through the writing process from story idea to published book and also
sponsors editing
workshops at local libraries and Eastern Florida State College. Her
next book, “Dreadlands: Wolf Moon” is set to release on Apr. 22.
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