Panel & Workshop Schedule

Session 1 - 11:00 – 11:50 A.M.

Romancing the Book

Authors: Mara Wells, Racquel Henry. Moderated by Kait Ballenger.

Romance is the best-selling literary genre in the world. Come chat with the authors that make readers swoon.

How to Keep Young Readers Engaged

Authors: RM Romero, Rob Sanders, Kelly Coon. Moderated by: L.E. Perez.

To captivate young readers, writers must balance a youthful imagination with an adult professionalism. Learn how to write stories that entrance young minds.

Session 2 - 12:00 – 12:50 P.M.

The Truth in Fiction

Authors: Jenny Torres Sanchez, Trish Doller, Caitlin Lochner. Moderated by Lauren Gibaldi.

Fiction can help us face uncomfortable feelings and deal with hard truths. These authors will discuss how fictional stories can shine a light on the world all around us.

Crafting Tension

Authors: Stefani Deoul, James Holmes, Michael Wiley. Moderated by L.E. Perez.

Tension is the secret to both hooking and holding the reader. These authors will show you how to keep readers turning the pages.

Session 3 - 1:00 – 1:50 P.M.

Say YAY to YA!

Authors: Taylor Simonds, Amber Mitchell, Jill Baguchinsky. Moderated by: Laura Helseth.

Some of the best books being published right now are in the Young Adult category. Join us for a discussion of what makes YA awesome for readers of all ages.

World Building

Authors: David Pedreira, Micah Dean Hicks, Isabel Ibañez. Moderated by Laure Gibaldi.

A captivating and unique world is what sets science fiction and fantasy apart from all other genres. Get tips from three great authors on building an authentic world.

Panel Moderators

Laura Helseth: Like most Floridians, Laura is a transplant from somewhere that currently has ice and snow. She was in her 30s when she realized getting paid to read was actually a job, and loves every second of it. @littleread1

Lauren Gibaldi is the author of the young adult novels The Night We Said Yes, Autofocus, and This Tiny Perfect World. She’s also a (very cool) librarian with OCLS. @laurengibaldi

L.E.Perez is a multi-genre author/publisher with a podcast, Legion of Writers. Her mantra is Strong Women, Strong Stories. As an author, she believes in paying it forward. @honorcpt

Kait Ballenger is the author of the Seven Range Shifter paranormal romance series, where she weaves captivating tales of sexy heroes who are cowboys by day, wolf shifters by night. She lives in Central FL. @kait_ballenger

Participating Literary Organizations

Visit with these literary organizations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Orlando Book Festival:

The Kerouac Project

Writer's Atelier

Florida Writers Association

Citrus Crime Writers

Orlando Area Science Fiction Society

Adult Literacy League

WUCF TV - PBS

ePulp