PENCRAFTERS WRITING MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
Welcome to the PenCrafters Writing Mentorship Program! Join us for an exciting opportunity to enhance your writing skills and learn from SEVEN seasoned experts in all aspects for the writing and publishing industry. (Dave Creek, Lynn Tincher, Tony Acree, Leah Pugh, Erv Klein, Mick Williams and Dan Klefstad) This is a seven-week program that meets on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 PM until 8:00 PM beginning on January 7, 2025.
The meetings are an in-person and online. Meetings will take place at 205 E Main St, La Grange, KY and on Zoom. Sessions will be recorded in case you miss them. You will also have access to a private Facebook group and chat where you can work with other authors as well as the mentors. Whether you're a beginner looking to improve your craft or a seasoned writer seeking new insights, this program is perfect for you. Engage in workshops, receive personalized feedback, one on one time with mentors, and connect with fellow writers. Don't miss this chance to take your writing to the next level. See you there!
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Week 1: Development Phase
Week 2: Craft Improvement
Week 3: Revision and Editing
Week 4: Publishing Process
Week 5: Marketing and Promotion
Week 6: Post Publication Support
Week 7: Networking, Community Building and Mentoring Others (Pay it forward)
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What Authors are saying about the PenCrafters Writing Mentorship Program:
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"PenCrafters Writing Mentorship Program is worth every penny! The knowledge I now have has better prepared me for my next steps in the publishing process. I cannot say enough good things about this program." - Jessica Lindsey, Author
OUR MENTORS
DAVE CREEK
Dave Creek is the author of the novels CHANDA'S AWAKENING, CHANDA’S HOMECOMING, SOME DISTANT SHORE, ALL HUMAN THINGS, and WATCHER OF THE SKIES, and short story collections A GLIMPSE OF SPLENDOR, THE HUMAN EQUATIONS, KAYONGA’S DECISION, and THE SECRET OF PLAINSVILLE.
His short stories have appeared in ANALOG SCIENCE FICTION AND FACT, AMAZING STORIES, and APEX magazines, and the anthologies FAR ORBIT APOGEE, TOUCHING THE FACE OF THE COSMOS, and DYSTOPIAN EXPRESS.
LEAH PUGH
Growing up surrounded by storytellers and books, Leah developed a love of
reading at an early age. After graduating high school, she pursued an English
Literature degree at Jefferson Community College. She dabbled in writing and was
thrilled when her first novel, The Diamond Caper, was published. The second book
and third books, Anything But A Diamond and Houston, We Have a Problem, soon.
After becoming a mom, she wrote three picture books: The Day Please Slept In,
Something Warm For Grandma, and King Robert the Wet. Something Warm for
Grandma won The Written Word Award 2021. Her short story, The Voice, was
published in The 2023 Writer’s Block Anthology. When she’s not writing, she
spends time with her family, has her nose in a book, or enjoys a cup of tea.
LYNN TINCHER
Lynn Tincher was born just outside of Louisville, Kentucky, in the charming city of La Grange. One of her fondest childhood memories is of her English teacher reading a short story she wrote to the students of Oldham County High School. This moment sparked her enduring love for writing. She pursued Theater Arts at Eastern Kentucky University with aspirations of becoming a Drama/English teacher. Although Lynn had several articles published in local magazines and online, the dream of writing a novel always lingered. ​In 2022, Lynn became the Associate Publisher of Stardust Romance, an imprint of Hydra Publications. In addition to her writing career, Lynn is a creative writing coach and the founder of the PenCrafter’s Writing Mentorship Program, where she helps aspiring writers develop their skills and achieve their writing goals.
ERV KLEIN
Award-winning author Erv Klein has published two books, an historical fiction mystery called Subterfuge, and a literary fiction called Squat. He lives in Louisville, Ky. with his wife, Linda, their dog, Bailey, and Castro, the cat. They have four absolutely adorable grandchildren. One son and a daughter live in the Louisville area and one son splits his time between Paris, France, and Normandie.
Erv is President of the Board of Directors of Louisville Literary Arts and is a member of the adjunct faculty at Indiana University Southeast. He is a member of three writing groups as well as the Kentucky Bar Association, the Professional Writers’ Association, the American Writers and Artists, Inc., the Historical Novel Association, and the Nonfiction Authors Association.
DAN KLEFSTAD
Dan Klefstad is a longtime radio host and newscaster. His latest book, DIY Book Promo, helps his fellow authors find readers without spending money. It’s based on lessons from the campaign for his novel, Fiona’s Guardians, plus his broadcasting career. Dan is excited to be part of the author mentoring group at From the Ground Up Books. He writes in Louisville, Kentucky.
TONY ACREE
Tony Acree is an award-winning publisher, novelist, and screenwriter. He lives near Louisville, Kentucky with his wife, twin daughters, two female dogs, two female cats, and says the way the goldfish looks at him, he’s sure she’s female, too.
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Dark Harbor Pictures will be producing two streaming shows, one based on his Victor McCain thrillers, and the other on his Samantha Tyler thrillers. In addition, his screenplay, Songs of Bloody Harlan has been optioned for the silver screen by Jamezz Hampton and 1209 Productions. His publishing house, Hydra Publications, won the Jason Sizemore Award for best small press, and Publisher of the Year by the AOF Megafest and Conquering Disabilities w/Film International Film Festival.
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His screenplay, The Hand of God, co-written by Sarah Gardiner, won Best Horror Screenplay at The LA Film Awards. ​His first solo screenplay, Songs of Bloody Harlan, took Best Long Format Screen Play at the Imadjinn Film Festival.
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Tony is currently the Creative Writer in Residence at the Oldham County Schools Art Center.
Tony is also on the board of Louisville Literary Arts.
MICK WILLIAMS
Award winning author, editor, and screenwriter, Mick Williams, has penned 14 novels. He moved to Kentucky from England. After a decade, he went back to his homeland. Three years later, he came back to Kentucky. This time, he's staying. As well as having a patient wife who rarely reads his books, he has also been adopted by two gorgeous cats, Crash and Thud. They don't read his books either.