Happy October, everyone! 

Do you like spooky season? Do you celebrate Halloween? Do the leaves turn where you are? I love October and agree with Anne Shirley, who says, "I am so glad to live in a world where there are Octobers." 

I'm on the road again, and on Zoom--hope to see you soon!

Southport Literary Fair
Southwest Library, 7979 38th Avenue, Kenosha,
October 5th, 11 AM--5 PM 
Free and open to the public
Panel, "Words that Haunt," 1 PM


Sadie Hartmann, aka Mother Horror, in conversation with 
Clay McLeod Chapman, Kelly Dwyer, and Richard Thomas
Live discussion over Zoom
Monday, October 7th, 
5 PM Pacific, 7 PM Central, 8 PM Eastern time
Free! Just join the Zoom link! 



October in-person book events in 
Southern California 

"Prepping for Publication" live event
Free, but you do need to register!  
Register here


My book events in September--live and on Zoom--have been so fun! 
I hope you can join me in October!

Let me know how you're doing, what you're reading, and how you're celebrating fall! 

 We're talking Ghost Mother and Prepping for Publication!



The first live Zoom event is Thursday, September 12th, 7 PM Central, when I will be in conversation with Amy Margolis, the Director of the University of Iowa's Iowa Summer Writing Festival. If you know Amy, then you know that she is brilliant and funny, so this is sure to be a good time!

The 45-minutes to 1-hour event will include a discussion with Amy about my new novel GHOST MOTHER published by Union Square & Co., a short reading, and a question-and-answer session with all of you!

There is no need to register for this event. Simply Join the Zoom discussion with Amy and Kelly here on Thursday, September 12th, at 7 PM Central.



One of the great joys of teaching at  The Iowa Summer Writing Festival   is that I get to meet and become friends with the most incredible people! One such person is Jessica Kusisto, a book influencer with an impressive YouTube channel and a super cute Etsy Page.

Jessica will be hosting my presentation on "Prepping for Publication." Our one-hour discussion is a truncated version of the "Prepping for Publication" day-long and weekend-long workshops I teach through the Iowa Summer Writing Festival, and will include the following topics:

  • Traditional publishing vs. self-publishing and what's right for you
  • How to find an agent
  • How to write a query letter (including hooks)
  • Feedback on your own query letter hooks! (The one-sentence description of your book that gets readers excited to read on.) If you'd like feedback, please come prepared to share your hook with the group.
  • Note that one person who attends will receive a free copy of GHOST MOTHER. (U.S. residents only--sorry.) 
The event is free but space is limited. Reserve your spot today! Once you register, you will receive an email with information on how to join on October 24th at 6 PM Central time, 

Please register for the FREE event, "Prepping for Publication," with Jessica and Kelly here.


Amy and Jessica and I hope to see you at these upcoming live Zoom events! 

Thank you for your support, all, and let me know how your readings and writings are going!




 

Kelly Dwyer at Launch Party in Baraboo, Wisconsin

GHOST MOTHER was published by Union Square & Co. on August 6, and I've loved hearing from readers ever since. If you've had the chance to read the novel, please let me know what you think! And please let others know by posting on goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and social media, if you're so inclined. I try to read every review and I appreciate every one. (Well, not every one, ha!)

From @ash.reads.horror

I've participated in two in-person events, and both have exceeded my expectations. Dr. Marc Seals and I discussed unreliable narrators, gothic literature, and the meaning(s) of the title. At my Chicago event, I talked about the inspiration for the novel and gave a short reading. And at both events, we had a lively question-and-answer session, in which people asked thoughtful and interesting questions, and I attempted to give thoughtful and interesting answers. 

Also we had Ghost Mother cake! (see above and below)

(Note: You can buy an edible image, in which you upload your own photo, on Amazon for under $10. It's really easy!)

I'm going to be taking my book and talk on the road and over Zoom this fall, just in time for spooky season. Please join me for in-person events in Portland, Oregon; Kenosha, Wisconsin; and Los Angeles, California, and also for live, online events you can log onto from wherever you are. All events are free and open to the public. Let me know if you can make any of them (or just show up), or feel free to contact me with questions. KellyDwyer0077@gmail.com 

Next event:

(Zoom link forthcoming) 

Upcoming Events:

September 29, 2 PM, Rose City Book Pub, Portland, Oregon: Rene Denfeld in Conversation with Kelly Dwyer and Madeline McDonnell

October 5, 11 AM--5 PM, Southwest Neighborhood Library, Kenosha, Wisconsin: Southport Literary Fair

October 7, online event, 7 PM Central: Mother Horror/Sadie Hartmann in Conversation with Clay McLeod Chapman, Kelly Dwyer, and Richard Thomas. (Link to come.) 

October 19, 4 PM: Reading and discussion at Siren's Java House in San Pedro, CA.

October 24, 6 PM Central, Presentation: Prepping for Publication with Jessica Kusisto. Event is free but please register in advance. Seats are limited! Learn more and sign up here!

I will also be doing a number of events at various Barnes & Nobles stores throughout the Los Angeles area and southern California. Please check back for details!

Thank you for your support! 
I hope to see you soon! 



 


GHOST MOTHER (and all forthcoming books) are 25% off from July 10--17 at Barnes & Noble! 

As I'm sure you know, preorders considerably help spread the word and get a book noticed, and I so appreciate everyone who has pre-ordered GHOST MOTHER already. If you haven't, please consider doing so, for the low price of about $14!

Go to GHOST MOTHER at B&N , enter the code Preorder25, and please, let me know what else you preorder! (My cart awaits...)

In other news, I had a great time teaching at the Iowa Summer Writing Festival, and am thinking about what to teach online in the Fall. If you have any suggestions, let me know!

Happy summer! Kelly 

Say hello at KellyDwyer0077@gmail.com 

 "Ghost Mother is a moving, thrilling ride! I was so caught up in the mystery of the narrator's possible haunting, I couldn't stop reading until I learned the story's many secrets. I've read ALL the best haunted house novels, but none of them shocked me more at the conclusion than this mesmerizing plot! A must-read for those who love ghost stories..."

--Mona Susan Power, award-winning author of four books, most recently, A Council of Dolls


I'm grateful for this blurb from my dear friend and great writer Mona Susan Power.

I hope it makes you want to read the book! And if you do, please consider pre-ordering Ghost Mother!

Thank you so much for your support! xo Kelly

GHOST MOTHER at Barnes & Noble





My new novel GHOST MOTHER (Union Square & Co.) is available for pre-order through online bookstores, and will be available to purchase in bookstores on August 6, 2024. Whoo hoo! (That's the sound of my celebrating after having worked on the book for approximately 57 years... )

Please see links below to pre-order the novel, and if you like it, I'd be grateful for you to write a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. (If you don't like it, don't worry about it..) 😅 If you're a blogger or reviewer who might be interested in writing an early review, please let me know, and I'll be glad to send you a digital copy of the galleys. 

Thank you for your interest and support! Let me know what you think! xo Kelly

GHOST MOTHER on Amazon

GHOST MOTHER at Barnes & Noble

GHOST MOTHER at Bookshop.org

 


Please join me, Kelly Dwyer, for the Iowa Summer Writing Festival on campus this summer!
We'll meet in the beautiful and inspiring UNESCO City of Literature, Iowa City, where we'll  workshop, laugh, eat, become inspired, and WRITE! 

"Mending the Muddle of the Middle," ISWF 2023


I'll be teaching two workshops this coming summer: 
Weeklong Workshops June 16–21: Writing the Popular Novel (In Any Genre)
Weekend Workshops June 22–23: Plotting the Plot in a Weekend

If you're interested in signing up for these classes, or in any of the wonderful classes taught by the fantastic faculty members this summer, please go to:




I can't wait to write with you in Iowa City!








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