Quarterly Chapter Meeting/Event:
August 17, 2019
Lone Tree Library, 10055 Library Way, Lone Tree, Colorado 80124 (303-791-READ)

9:30-10:00 am
Welcome, Announcements

10:00 am-12:00 pm
Shawn McGuire & Sandra Murphy: “Creating Complex Characters”

No one wants to read about a character who is no more interesting than their driver’s license. The author’s job is to make sure their characters are well-rounded and interesting. The actor’s job is to bring scripted characters to life. In this workshop, you will work with both author, Shawn McGuire, and actor, Sandra Murphy, to explore how characters are created and brought to life.

We will start with the vital stats that tell us little more than what we know about a stranger on the street. We’ll add layers and details that make the story practically start writing itself. Using a developed character, Shawn will walk you through a step-by-step outline as you follow along creating your own character and filling in the details. Sandra will get you up off your chair to put into practice what you’ve learned. Through acting exercises, you’ll engage with your characters on a visceral level and explore your character’s physicality, body alignment, and non-verbal communication.

By really getting to know your characters, you will learn how much easier it is to write scenes that are believable and make sense to the story.

12:00-1:00 pm
Lunch (brown bag or visit nearby restaurants)

1:00-3:00 pm
“The Craft of Writing Q&A/Brainstorming Session”

A Sisters in Crime-Colorado First! Join us for a Q&A and brainstorming extravaganza in our afternoon session. Is there a question about the craft of writing or promoting that you’ve been wondering about? We will have members submit their questions on a piece of paper at the beginning of the session and the group can have a discussion regarding the topic. Also, if you need help on a scene you are working on (limit to one page please), or maybe a query letter, or need help with coming up with ideas for the second or third act of your novel, why not use the collective brain power of the group to help come up with a solution or give feedback?

3:00-4:00 pm
Board Meeting (all are welcome, location to be announced at the meeting)

Please feel free to come to either the morning or afternoon session if you cannot attend both.

Please RSVP at our Meetup Page: https://www.meetup.com/Sisters-in-Crime-Colorado/events/262899786/

About the Presenters:
Suspense author Shawn McGuire started writing after seeing the first Star Wars movie (that’s episode IV) as a kid. She couldn’t wait for the next installment to come out so wrote her own. Sadly, those notebooks are long lost, but her desire to tell a tale is as strong now as it was then. She grew up in the beautiful Mississippi River town of Winona, Minnesota and then called the Milwaukee area of Wisconsin (Go Pack Go!) home for many years before moving to Colorado. Shawn is a homebody. When not writing or read, you’ll find her find her in the kitchen or crafting something. Find out more at: https://www.shawn-mcguire.com/

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Sandra Murphy, the Voice Mama™, is a versatile voice over actor and award-winning audiobook narrator whose compelling, sophisticated narration fully envelopes the listener in the story, whether it’s a cozy mystery or an intense thriller. Sandra knows that there is so much more to a story than the words on the page and is adept at using her theatrical instincts to bring stories to life fully enveloping the listener in the story. Find out more at: https://www.voicemama.com/

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Please RSVP above. This event is funded and presented by Sisters in Crime-Colorado and is not sponsored by Douglas County Libraries. To request more information, please use our contact form.

Photos of the Meeting (08/17/19):