Reader/Writer Get-Together: Authors Helping Authors Get Published

Guest post by Dianne Castell

Whenever we achieve something in out lives we’ve had help along the way. Somehow, someway we all stand on the shoulders of others. Someone has helped us to get where we want to go. 

When we do achieve our goal we must then help others. It’s the right thing to do and it’s fun! Now that I’m a published author I believe I must help other get published  and I must give my readers the best read I can. 

Lori Foster, a dear friend since before either of us were published, believes this too so we came up with the Reader/Writer Get-together. We’ve done this for five years now here in Cincinnati and the sixth year is in the works. The cost is fifty-five dollars, just enough to cover the costs of the three meals at the Marriott where the get-together is held. It is always the first weekend in June. 

The idea behind the get-together is three fold. Lori and I bring in editors and agents who take author appointments where writers can pitch their work and find representation. We have over a hundred authors attend each year so readers have a chance to meet their favorite authors and get acquainted with new authors and talk books. And we also have a huge raffle of donated baskets and a huge book fair. All the proceeds of the raffle and a percentage of the Barnes and Noble book fair go to local charities. To date the get-together has generated over thirty-thousand dollars for local charities such as the YWCA Battered Woman’s Shelter, AAF the Animal Adoption Foundation a no-kill shelter, One-Way Farm a home for abused and abandoned children. 

There is nothing more fun then talking about books and there is no group of people more generous and supportive than readers and writers. Lori and I want to do our best to give back to that community. The Reader/Writer Get-together is our way of helping others and our community as others have helped us. 

To see photos of the get-together visit my website DianneCastell.com. It’s a blast and for all the right reasons. 

USA Today best selling author Dianne Castell writes for Kensington BRAVA. She also writes a monthly editor interview column for Romance Writers Report. Her books have won Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, been on the cover of Romantic Times Magazine and included in Rhapsody Book Club, Doubleday Book Club and have made the Waldenbooks Bestseller list. Her book, Hot and Irresistable is available for purchase.