Kicks from Boot Camp

“I admire anybody who has the guts to write anything at all.’’ -- E. B. White

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Fourth Annual Book Boot Camp on Saturday at The Telegraph.

It was the largest turnout ever. We had 58 people attend and a panel of 11 writers, editors, publishers and others in the book industry.

Proceeds went to support our Newspapers In Education program, which provides newspapers to local schools.

William Rawlings, a novelist from Sandersville, was the keynote speaker at lunch. Williams has written four novels set in rural Georgia, which he describes as “intelligent Southern thrillers.’'

Others speakers who participated in the seminar were:

• Yvonne Stuart, media specialist from Hutchings Career Center in Macon.
• Joni Woolf, director of editorial services, Indigo Custom Publishing in Macon.
• Marc Jolley, director of Mercer University Press and author of one book and editor of two festschriften.
• Mary Robinson, marketing and public relations director, Indigo Custom Publishing in Macon.
• Barbara Keene, marketing director, Mercer University Press.
• Christopher Paine, assistant manager, Barnes & Noble bookseller in Macon.
• Jackie K. Cooper, author of four books and co-host of “Fridays With Jackie” on Georgia Public Radio, who lives in Perry.
• Rick Maier, author or two novels both thrillers based in Macon, who is CFO at Wesleyan College.
• George Mettler, who has published seven novels and is also an artist. He has had a self-described “eclectic” career as an Army officer, FBI agent, practicing attorney and college professor.
• Ed Grisamore, the author of five books and one audiobook, and a columnist/blogger/goodwill ambassador for The Telegraph.