F. P. Dorchak

Speculative Fiction (New Weird) Author

Jimmie Butler

PPWC 25th Anniversary

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This past weekend I attended the 25th anniversary of the Pikes Peak Writers Conference (PPWC). I had not attended the PPWC since 2012, its 20th anniversary. So, except for six conferences (I think it’s been) I’ve been attending since Jimmie Butler started this whole thing 25 years ago.

And I’m glad I did!

I learned a lot from this conference, focusing on social media and promotion, but it was also fun getting back together with many I hadn’t seen for a few years. Some I’d seen in other venues, like Denver Comic Con or MILEHICON, but some I haven’t seen since I 2012. It was like I hadn’t been gone, when we all got back together and caught up. It was fun!

I again volunteered. I just can’t come to a PPWC and not help. It’s fun for me and I like to do what I can. I so rarely can do much during the rest of the year. I moderated two sessions that both happened to be helmed by fellow writer-friend, Kevin Ikenberry. I also assisted in a couple of other areas at the PPWC.

And it was great seeing Jimmie Butler again, the founder of PPW/C. Sure, he had help, but he was the one who spearheaded it all and got this massive ball rolling. Jimmie put a lot of his heart and soul into PPW/C and tried to make it the best learning experience for writers of all levels, and to see where it is today…well, I can’t even imagine what he feels. He created this organization and it has taken on a life of its own. I just can’t imagine how he must feel about something like that.

There was much good about this conference, so many friends I reconnected with, so many great sessions, I can’t begin to attack it all, or it would take me days to do so. But I do know I have a lot of work ahead of me in reworking my social media presence. That feels quite overwhelming, but I’ll just have to attack it one forkful at a time (how one not only eats an elephant but writes a book). I’m actually in the process of revamping things anyway, as I’m doing with this website…and in moving all my WordPress blogs over to it. But. There’s. More.

And then there’s the writing.

Plenty to do. So…guess I better get back to it…and close this post…

25th Anniversary Pikes Peak Writers Conference

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I am attending the 25th anniversary of the Pikes Peak Writers Conference, held in Colorado Springs, CO, April 28 – 30th, 2017. The Colorado Springs Marriott, at 5580 Tech Center Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80919, is hosting it. The Marriott’s phone: (719) 260-1800.

I think I’ve missed six conferences, but I started out with the very first on back in 1992, when Jimmie Butler, a retired Air Force colonel, created the PPWC and a local critique group, of which I was a part. He was a huge influence in the region. I don’t keep in contact with him as much as I used to, but I do run into him at the occasional author event or two I attend. I’d write more about both Jimmie and the conference but I have really gotten behind the power curve on getting this post created and getting ready to hit the conference today. Life has been a wee bit overwhelming for me lately, but read Jimmie’s books—I’ve read a couple of them—and he’s a great writer. I recommend A Certain Brotherhood (which the critique group he’d created had helped him refine—and I’m glad to say that I was a part of that!), and The Iskra Incident. Jimmie will be making an appearance at this Sunday’s luncheon.

Well, gotta run! I’ll be mainly hitting social media and marketing sessions, but am also moderating two sessions, but with Kevin Ikenberry (R&C Author and BookBub: A Post-Mortem), another terrific person and also a writer friend of mine. Check out his Sleeper Protocol. Kevin’s never without an outstretched hand for a handshake and that charismatic smile across that face of his….

Hope to see you there!

#PPWC2017