Award-winning Melbourne Author shares advanced storytelling techniques with fellow writers at upcoming Florida Writers Association conference

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 5^th 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 5^th 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.