Auditorium: Panel Discussion
Authors: Sal Greco, Mary Bowman-Kruhm, Joyce & Jim Lavene
Topic: Real Life Mysteries
Description: Have you ever read about a real life mystery and wondered,"What if. . . ?" Or how a man can go from a mobster to a minister in real life? Or the true stories that inspire today's best mysteries? Then this session is for you! Find out about real life mysteries from these intriguing authors!

Classroom #1: For Children of All Ages
Author: Charles Benoit
Topic: Turn Your Stories into Cartoons!
Description: Here's your chance to learn some tricks from a real cartoonist! In this hands-on presentation, mystery author and storyboard artist Charles Benoit will show you how to turn your basic story ideas into cartoons. Whether you draw stick figures or detailed caricatures, this session will help sharpen your cartooning - and story telling - skills! Supplies will be provided.

Library: Author Talks
Author: Andy Straka
Topic: Falconry and Felons
Description: Award-winning author Andy Straka will appear with a live bird of prey. You won't want to miss his unique video and participate in a discussion on his private eye novels. Learn how he interweaves falconry into his murder mysteries!

Classroom #2: Author Talks
Author: Tee Morris
Topic: From Shooting for the Stars to Shooting Yourself in the Foot: The Business Side of Books
Description: Sure, getting into conventions for free is cool, and receiving the accolades of fans (and creating your own fan base) is good fun...but don't kid yourself -- this is a business. How serious is the business of aliens, elves, detectives, and criminal minds, and how seriously should you take it? Is it possible to take yourself too seriously? How do you prevent yourself from being puffed up with vanity when your work reaches print? How do you behave at a convention or book festival? Enjoy an honest and candid chat on the common sense tactics needed and some sage advice on representing yourself in the continuously changing world of books.

Auditorium: Keynote Speaker
Introduction by: Waynesboro Police Chief Doug Davis
Author: Diane Fanning
Topic: True Crime
Description: Diane Fanning's first book, Through the Window, chronicled two decades of cross-country murders committed by Tommy Lynn Sells. Her newest book, Into the Water, brought her back to the beauty of Virginia to write about the horrific crimes of Marc Evonitz. Diane has been featured on Court TV, the Discovery Channel and television and radio stations across the country. Find out the story behind the writing of her fascinating books.

Classroom #1: For Children of All Ages
Author: Alison Hart
Topic: The Case of the Missing Necklace
Description: Join author Alison Hart (aka Alice Leonhardt), who has written over sixty books for children. Ms. Hart will talk about the 'mystery' and fun of writing mysteries, and participants of all ages can help her solve "The Case of the Missing Necklace".

Library: Author Talks
Author: Marcia Silvermetz
Topic: Bullies
Description: Do you know a bully? Then you'll want to attend this reading of Gertrude the Albino Frog and Her Friend Rupert the Turtle, which covers bullies in school, who knows a bully, who is a bully, how some bullies grow up to be adults called "difficult people" and what to do when you're bullied.

Classroom #2: Author Talks
Author: Wendie Old
Topic: To Fly!
Description: Check back for a description of this talk about Wilbur and Orville Wright!

Auditorium: Panel Discussion
Authors: Steve Armstrong, Daniel Bailey, Sallie Bissell, Christopher Chambers, Gary Kessler
Topic: The Long Arm of the Law
Moderator: Waynesboro Police Chief Doug Davis
Description: From writing about an FBI agent battling election politics and law enforcement turf wars to catch a murderer whose inspiration is in the supernatural… to writing two espionage/international crime novels as well as a short story book based on Charlottesville and a reference aid on publishing … to writing about a half-Cherokee prosecutor that the L.A.Times dubbed one of the "ten best mysteries" … find out where these authors find their inspiration and ideas!

Classroom #1: For Children of All Ages
Author: Charlene Hudgins Klima
Topic: Jordy's Story
Description: Jordy's story is about growing up and making choices. At twelve, he is up to his eyeballs in danger. To spy on her topic, author Charlene Hudgins Klima became a detective in every sense of the word: reading local publications, talking with people in the know, traveling to the site, and imagining what a "good guy" and "bad guy" might do. Jump on in and turn the pages of Jordy's latest adventure, if you dare!

Library: Author Talks
Author: Joseph Kelly
Topic: Christians and Fantasy
Description: From the story of King Arthur to the Dune Chronicles, writers, storytellers and movie directors have all used The Holy Bible as a blueprint for crafting some of the most popular stories we know today.

Classroom #2: Author Talks
Speaker: Chris Graham
Topic: Stop the Presses!
Description: Chris Graham will talk about his first book, Stop the Presses, a collection of humor columns and short essays that have appeared in The Augusta Free Press. A news reporter and editor for nine years, his pieces have appeared in numerous publications throughout the Mid-Atlantic, including The Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Charlottesville Daily-Progress, The Hook, The Daily News-Record, The (Eden, N.C.) Daily News and The Hickory (N.C.) Daily Record. He has won 10 Virginia Press Association awards for journalism excellence - though he has the plaques commemorating those honors packed safely away in storage, so as not to let success run to his head.

Auditorium: Panel Discussion
Authors: Peter Abresch, Carol Bellacera, Charles Benoit, Linda Morelli, Mark Wildes
Topic: The Characters That Lurk
Moderator: Amy Kehm, WHSV-TV Anchor
Description: "Get into the skin" of an eclectic cast of characters in these authors' gripping books, and find out what they do to make the reader genuinely care what happens to them... whether they are sultry vixens or mysterious gentlemen or wisecracking Arab voice-over actors!

Classroom #1: For Children of All Ages
Author: Joseph Anthony and Cris Arbo
Topic: Page-Popping Picture Books
Description: Meet author/illustrator husband & wife team Joseph Anthony and Cris Arbo as they take you behind the words and pictures that make their award-winning children's books come alive."

Library: Author Talks
Author: Dirk Robertson
Topic: Breaking Out
Description: Thanks to the arts, particularly writing, author Dirk Robertson is here from Scotland, inside ready to talk to you, rather than outside… up an alley… waiting for you… Enter if you dare.

Classroom #2: Story Time
Speaker: Susan Blanton
Topic: Stories from Around the World
Description: Susan Blanton, Youth Services Librarian at the Waynesboro Public Library, has been sharing stories with audiences of all ages for over 12 years. She is a frequent teller at libraries and schools throughout the Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia. She will be telling lively stories from around the world for families with children of all ages. She often involves the audience in her stories with songs, chants, and other forms of audience participation.

Auditorium: Panel Discussion
Authors: Mindy Starns Clark, Pamela Kimmell, Rainey Moon, B.J. Mountford, Al Leichter
Topic: The Path to Publishing
Moderator: Best-selling author Andy Straka
Description: From starting a career with a dysfunctional literary agent who is now out of business to an author who escaped the vanity press stigma to those who took the traditional mainstream route… find out what it took for these authors to get published and launch successful careers!

Classroom #1: For Children of All Ages
Author: Marcia Silvermetz
Topic: Gertrude and the Bullies
Description: Come with your special forever friends for a fun reading about a very different frog and a very special turtle. Have fun stretching and jumping with frogs of all kinds. Learn about respect, diversity, tolerance and big bad bullies. Everybody knows a bully; come learn more!

Library: Author Talks
Author: Nick Patler
Topic: Struggling for Equality
Description: Ever wonder how Gandhi was able to achieve so much through nonviolent means, while the Palestinian Conflict seems to grow ever larger and more violent and still gets nowhere? Nick Patler, the fascinating author of Jim Crow and the Wilson Administration: Protesting Federal Segregation in the Early Twentieth Century will discuss Gandhian nonviolence, including his forthcoming article in the journal, Peace Review, offering a nonviolent option to the Palestinan-Israeli conflict. Join this thought-provoking discussion of the struggle for equality from the early twentieth century through the 21st century.

Classroom #2: Author Talks
Author: Mary Bowman-Kruhm
Topic: Confrontations & Encounters with the Police
Description: Trying to stay out of trouble helps and is the right thing to do, but it’s no guarantee you can avoid the police. Whether the encounter is at a mall, in a car caught speeding, or with a problem more serious, at some time you’ll find yourself involved with the police. Mary
Bowman-Kruhm will help teens and parents understand how their behavior can impact what happens and give them, guilty or innocent, tips for handling the situation.

Auditorium: Panel Discussion
Authors: Dennis Burgis, Elizabeth Massie, Tony Ruggiero, Elizabeth Terrell, Rainey Moon
Topic: Scaring Ourselves Silly
Moderator: Best-selling author Peter Abresch
Description: Explore your deepest fears - haunts, vampires and boggarts, helplessness, betrayal, the loss of loved ones to death or darkness, and the capriciousness of human malice.

Classroom #1: For Children of All Ages
Author: C.W.Bowie
Topic: Busy Toes & Busy Fingers
Description: It was a dark and icy night. To avoid thinking about a car accident on the Pennsy Turnpike, three writers started jotting down ideas. These are the writers who became C. W. Bowie who used email to finish the book that finally found a publisher who hired an artist who drew the illustrations that went with the words that became the award-winning Busy Toes that children enjoy. Wendie Old and Mary Bowman-Kruhm will tell you how they write, from head to toes, and share some tricks and tips you need to help you too see your name on the cover of a picture book.

Library: Author Talks
Author: Charles Culbertson
Topic: History's Mysteries
Description: Check back for exciting information about this discussion of the area's history!

Classroom #2: Author Talks
Author: Janet Lembke
Topic: The Nature of Nature Writing
Description: The talk is for anyone fascinated by birds, bugs, and baboons. It offers tips on how to make writing about the natural world and its denizens wiggle, swim, leap, and soar. Examples, ranging from the useful but totally boring to the lively and interesting will be given.