Award-winning Author Will Share Tools Of The Trade As Glendale’s Writer In Residence
Workshops, one-on-one consultations in libraries aim to inspire writers of all levels
An award-winning author with extensive experience as an academic librarian and a talent for painting vivid pictures of life in rural Oklahoma through her mystery novels, will share her recipe for success with residents as the city of Glendale’s Writer in Residence from September to November.
The Glendale Public Library is thrilled to welcome Donis Casey to provide several free workshops at the city’s four libraries and meet one-on-one for consultations with anyone seeking advice on writing. Casey, a former academic librarian at Arizona State University and University of Oklahoma, wrote the Alafair Tucker Mysteries, which are historical, mystery novels about a married woman, Alafair, with 10 children living on a farm in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, during the booming 1910s. While Alafair does not intend to solve mysteries, Tucker’s children keep getting themselves into shady situations and they need her to rescue them. The 10 books in the series hit close to home for Casey, who was born and raised in Tulsa, surrounded by her siblings, nestled in the love of aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and great-grandparents on farms and in small towns.
Residents can ask questions and bring writing for Casey to review during free, half-hour consulting sessions at the Foothills Library during her Writer in Residence visits. Participants must register ahead of time for a session at http://gplaz.org/ events or by calling 623-930-3600.
Casey also will provide these workshops in Glendale:
- Creating the World of Your Story: Learn how to create a setting that is authentic as possible at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 12 at Heroes Regional Park Library, 6075 N. 83rd Ave.
- The Plot Thickens: Learn techniques to maintain readers’ interest throughout the novel at 3 p.m. on Sept. 21 at Foothills Library, 19055 N. 57th Ave.
- Dialog, Dialect and Voice: Discover how you can use dialog to reveal information about your characters at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 at Velma Teague Library, 7010 N. 58th Ave.
- Memoir and Autobiography: Learn how to use personal memories in powerful storytelling at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 21 at the Main Library, 5959 W. Brown St.
- Characters are Everything: Explore proven techniques for creating compelling characters at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 28 at Foothills Library, 19055 N. 57th Ave.
- Getting Published: Delve into ways to get your book or story published at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 21 at Foothills Library, 19055 N. 57th Ave.
Casey’s first novel, “The Old Buzzard Had It Coming” was named an Oklahoma Centennial Book, and Casey won the Arizona Book Award twice. She was also named a finalist for the Willa Award and Oklahoma Book Award. She didn’t rest on her laurels after finishing the 10-book series, though. Casey penned two spin-off books to the Alafair Tucker Mysteries – “The Wrong Girl” and “Valentino Will Die,” which are part of the Bianca Dangereuse Hollywood Mysteries, about one of Alafair’s daughters, who becomes an actress in Hollywood.
“If you want a reputable publisher, you have to have a hide like a rhinoceros and incredible patience,” Donis Casey said. “Even Stephen King got lots of rejections. If you’ve got a book burning in you, you should get it on paper, I at least know the technique and I’m very glad to get people started.”
Sarah Herlache, interim supervising librarian in charge of programming for the Foothills Library, said the Writer in Residence program inspires budding and experienced authors.
“It’s fun to see how they come up with ideas; it’s motivating,” Herlache said. “Donis is a successful, nationally known author. She has a good sense of humor, but she’s practical and very down-to-earth. She will be a kind and patient teacher.”
To learn more about the Writer in Residence and other Glendale Public Library programs, visit Home - Glendale Public Library (glendaleazlibrary.com)