Atlanta Writers Club: On Writing

Atlanta Writers Club teaches the craft and business of writing, supports the local literary community, and encourages more reading by the public—and today they join the Decatur Book Festival for this special session. Moderated by Atlanta Writers Club Executive Director George Weinstein, this panel will feature Ritu Anand (I Am My Language), a picture book author and agent for D4EO Literary Agency; Gray Rinehart (Walking on the Sea of Clouds), a science fiction/fantasy writer and editor at Baen Books; and Amy L. Bernstein (Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration), a writer of fiction as well as books on writing. This panel of writers and industry professionals will discuss creativity, community support while writing, and the long process of publishing a book. 

Purchase your book from Charis Books & More. When you check-out from that link, please mention that you will need to pick your book up at the event. Books will also be for sale on-site by Charis, and a portion of your purchase will benefit the Decatur Book Festival.

This event is free and open to the public. No tickets are required, and seating is first come, first served. Signing information: Signing time: 1:45 PM

Signing location: Marriott Conference Center

About the Authors

Ritu Anand has been a passionate storyteller since childhood. Caught and admonished for writing—under her desk—during a math class, she recalls being highly inconvenienced. Inspiration had struck from within and there was little else she could have done to curtail it. Today, Ritu has earned the recognition of being the award-winning author of Kara’s Dreams, a picture book about being resilient in the face of adversity. She gives tremendous credit to the various teachers of Mater Dei Convent, who, in the formative years of her life, laid an impression upon her. No good story should ever be filed away but should be shared, she believes. And that is why she has chosen to champion voices yet unheard. Ritu is excited to represent writers of kidlit, literary fiction, general fiction, and historical fiction at D4EO Literary Agency. Ritu’s new book is I Am My Language.

Amy L. Bernstein writes award-winning fiction and nonfiction that lets readers feel while making them think. As the author of six novels, including Tent City, and a book of inspiration for creatives called Wrangling the Doubt Monster, Amy brings a compassionate and insightful voice to writers' conferences around the country. A former journalist, Amy also works as a book coach, helping nonfiction authors craft compelling book proposals. She welcomes followers to her weekly Substack, Doubt Monster, which explores the agony and ecstasy of creativity.

Gray Rinehart is an award-winning author, an editor, a singer/songwriter, and a retired Air Force officer. He is the only person to have commanded a USAF satellite tracking station, written speeches for presidential appointees, devised a poetic form, and had music on The Dr. Demento Show. He is currently a contributing editor (the "Slushmaster General") for Baen Books. Gray writes science fiction and fantasy stories, among which is his new book, the lunar colonization novel Walking on the Sea of Clouds. His short fiction has appeared in Analog Science Fiction & Fact, Asimov's Science Fiction, Orson Scott Card's InterGalactic Medicine Show, and multiple anthologies. He has also written an eclectic mix of nonfiction books: A Church More Like Christ, Elements of War, and Quality Education. His two latest nonfiction books won Silver Medals from the Military Writers Society of America. In addition, he has written and released four albums, which feature science fiction– and fantasy-inspired music; the most recent is the charity album LibertyCon's Alright for Fandom. During his unusual Air Force career, Gray fought rocket propellant fires, refurbished space launch facilities, "flew" Milstar communications satellites, drove trucks, encrypted nuclear command and control orders, commanded the largest remote tracking station in the Air Force Satellite Control Network, and did other interesting space-related things. Gray's alter ego is the Gray Man, one of several famed ghosts of South Carolina's Grand Strand.

About the Moderator

George Weinstein is the Executive Director of the historic Atlanta Writers Club (established in 1914) and has helped thousands of writers on their quest for publication through the Club and the twice-yearly Atlanta Writers Conference, which he has managed for 16 years. He also is the author of a diverse range of novels, including the beloved Southern historical novel Hardscrabble Road; its 2022 sequel, Return to Hardscrabble Road; the novel of forgotten U.S. history The Five Destinies of Carlos Moreno; the domestic drama of reinvention The Caretaker; the amateur-sleuth murder mystery Aftermath, the kidnapping thriller Watch What You Say, and even a satirical sci-fi romp titled Offlining. His website is GeorgeWeinstein.com. He is married to author Kim Conrey. He also is the author of a diverse range of fiction, from historical novels and mystery-thrillers to contemporary drama and even funny sci-fi.