Seton Hill University and Seton Hill’s Writing Popular Fiction master’s program alumni group will host the seventh annual “In Your Write Mind” working retreat for all fiction writers from June 26 – 29, 2008. “In Your Write Mind” will be held at Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania’s scenic Laurel Highlands. This retreat is open to any writer, published or unpublished, and features workshops on various elements of fiction writing in addition to presentations on the ins and outs of the publishing industry. Attendees also have the opportunity to have their writing critiqued by peers, meet with agents and editors, and network with other writers in a supportive, informal environment. The cost for the retreat is $150, and campus housing is available for an additional fee. For a detailed retreat schedule or to register online, visit http://alumni.setonhill.edu/wpf08. For more information, contact Josie Funari, at 724-830-1005 or funari@setonhill.edu.

The featured guest speakers for “In Your Write Mind” are Ginjer Buchanan, editor-in-chief, Ace/Roc Books; JA Konrath, author and editor; and Uwe Stender, literary agent, TriadaUS Literary Agency. Also scheduled to lead workshops and retreat sessions are published authors and writers Natalie Duvall (SHU 04); Matt Duvall (SHU 04); Michael Mehalek (SHU 08); Diana Botsford (SHU 06); Heidi Ruby Miller (SHU 08); Mary SanGiovanni (SHU 07), who was nominated for a 2007 Bram Stoker Award for her novel "The Hollower;” Jason Jack Miller (SHU 07); Ron Edison (SHU 06); Diane Turnshek; Maria V. Snyder (SHU 07), whose novel “Fire Study” was a New York Times bestseller; and Kim J. Howe (SHU 07).

Workshops and retreat session topics include “Writing Action Scenes,” “Saving Your Characters by Letting Them Save Themselves,” “Compelling Plots,” “How to Get Published,” “Almost There: How to Make that Last Push to Your Big Break,” “The Heart of the Matter: The Perks and Pitfalls of Romantic Subplots in Non-Romance Novels,” “Who’s Who in Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing,” “To Wand or Not to Wand,” and “Publicity, Poisons, and Purple Cows.”

“In Your Write Mind” coincides with the June intensive residency for students of Seton Hill University’s master’s program in Writing Popular Fiction. Attendees of “In Your Write Mind” are welcome to attend a special presentation on Saturday, June 28, of the Writing Popular Fiction program’s featured speaker, Edgar Award-winning novelist Walter Sorrells.