Writers In Residence

The Writers in Residence program promotes writing in communities by connecting local, professional authors to serve as Writers in Residence at public libraries. Writers in Residence spend time at the library during their residency, composing new works and providing education for community members. 

This project is supported by the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Check the library calendar for workshop dates, room locations, times, and registration.

Fall 2023 - Amy Lukavics 

From September through November, Prescott Valley Public Library hosts author Amy Lukavics as our very own Writer in Residence.  

Amy Lukavics is the Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of The Ravenous, Daughters unto Devils (a YALSA Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers), The Women in the Walls, and Nightingale, with works published in middle grade, young adult, and adult horror fiction. Her short story, The Neighbor, appears in Don't Turn Out the Lights: A Tribute to Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, edited by Jonathan Maberry. Her novella with Audible Originals, Cold Water Veins, debuted at #5 on the Top Ten Audiobooks on Audible in the fiction category. In addition, she has five children's chapter books published under the pen name Scarlet Varlow and has worked with publishing companies such as Cake Literary and Emston Media as a ghostwriter, outliner, and editor. She currently serves as the editor for the Germany-based video game company Crytek, working on the game Hunt: Showdown. 

During Amy’s time as Writer in Residence, Lukavics will offer one-on-one writing consultations and writing workshops at Prescott Valley Public Library to help aspiring authors learn new skills in the craft of creative writing and publishing. All experience levels are welcome and is open to teens and adults. Note: There is one workshop that is open to teens only. 

You can check out Amy’s books through our catalog or visit her website.

Schedule a one-on-one consultation:

for September click here
for October click here
for November click here

Workshops

September 16: The Basics of Storytelling and How to Complete a Novel 

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Want to know what story beats to include in your novel to avoid too many rewrites down the road? Learn how to create a process that works for you, from the first flash of an idea all the way to The End. This workshop is for teens only. 

September 30: The Ins and Outs of Outlining a Novel: whether roughly or chapter by chapter

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Did you know there are several ways to outline a novel and that no technique is better or worse than the others? Learn about a variety of potential methods that are meant to take the author’s lead and help them get through their first draft, with as little or as much structure as they please.

October 7: How to Keep Your Creativity Cycle from Drying Up: Make the most of the juice you’ve got!

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Whether you’ve recently made the shift from hobbyist to creative professional or are simply unhappy with your rate of creative production, it can be extremely frustrating to feel like all of your creative juice is drained when all you want (or need) to do is create. Learn how to meet personal and professional deadlines by making the most of the juice you have, as well as introduce ways you can refresh your creative mind. 

October 21: Editing 101

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Finished your draft and wondering what comes next? Approaching a thorough round of edits can feel overwhelming enough that the temptation to skip it and submit can be strong—do not give in! Every story can be made better with proper editing, and once you know how to implement feedback throughout your document, the task goes from daunting to a fun challenge much in the same way that writing is.  
 

November 4: The Querying Process

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Once your novel is finished and edited, you may find yourself wondering how to submit it to literary agents who can help sell it to publishing houses. Knowing what to expect is half the battle! Come learn how to choose which agents to query (not all agents are good agents!) as well as how to properly format the query letter that will get you that offer of representation.  
 

November 18: Tips to “Making It” in Publishing

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The financial and emotional reality of becoming an author is full of unexpected elements that can sometimes make the dream seem hopeless. But with the right attitude, proper knowledge of the industry, and the ability to come up with a comprehensive plan, you can come to feel in control of your growing career, even when selling something feels impossible.