Author and publishing guru Patricia Fry is the June speaker.
She will discuss how she transformed from a nonfiction author into novelist and the lessons she learned along the way.
At the Wednesday, June 20 meeting of IWOSC/WPN Ventura County, author Patricia Fry will discuss her journey and the challenges she met in her transformation from a 30-year career of nonfiction writer and publishing guru into novelist. For someone who is such a fixture in Ventura County’s literary scene, Ms. Fry’s change took many by surprise. When they hear her story of this adventure, it may inspire more to break free and try something new. The meeting will be Wednesday, June 20 at the Newbury Park Library, 6:30 pm.
If you have been writing over the last 25 years in Ventura County, you’ve heard or met Patricia. She spoke at writing groups and local conferences, dispatched excellent information to writers trying to get published, and was a founding member and former president of the Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network (WPN).
“Ten years ago, when I first starting going to local writer meetings, Patricia was one of the first people I met,” said Kathleen Kaiser, WPN’s current president. “She was gracious, knowledgeable about the business of publishing with so many books on the topic, and very generous with her time. We ran into each other often and when I produced the first Ventura County Book and Author Fair, she was the first speaker I invited. Now she has this amazing new career writing cat mysteries. Who knew?”
Why did Fry change course? When you arrive at a certain age and ponder, “what else do I really want to do,” many people think of recreation and travel. For Patricia Fry who began her writing career in 1973, it wasn’t to stop writing nonfiction and leave the publishing industry, it was to change genres.
“All my friends were retiring,” said Fry. “I wondered if I should, too. But how does one retire from something they love? Writing is not just a job, it’s my passion.” The year was 2012. Patricia knew it was time for another career shift and she asked herself, “What writing dreams have not been fulfilled?”
The answer came in one word: FICTION. That year, she gave herself a birthday gift–the time and space to write a novel.
“The idea came rather quickly,” she said. “And within a relatively short time, I was the author of a published novel, “Catnapped”, the first in the Klepto Cat Mystery series.” Every two or three months since, Patricia has produced a new book in the series. There are now 29 books in the series, Fry is a sought-after speaker at Cat Conventions, including the recent Cat Writers Concave of over 5,000 cat writers. Yes, there are that many and even more.
About Patricia Fry
Patricia is the author of 70 books and hundreds—if not thousands—of articles. In 2012, she shifted from a nonfiction (give me the facts, ma’m) type of writing to the over-the-top happy author of the Klepto Cat Mysteries. She currently averages six books per year and has 29 published books in the series. Patricia is a past president and past executive director of WPN. You may also know her as the author of a series of books published by Allworth Publishing on the business side of publishing—Propose Your Book; Publish Your Book; Promote Your Book; and Talk Up Your Book. (Also available in print and ebook at Amazon.com)
Visit her Klepto Cat Mystery website
Come join us at the Newbury Park Library meeting room at 6:30 pm.
We are open to all authors, writers and people curious about publishing.
Fee is $5 at the door, includes coffee, tea, snacks, and water.
Click here to RSVP for our June 20 Meeting before 5 PM June 19.
NOTE: ALL WPN MEMBERS WILL BE ADMITTED FREE OF CHARGE.
CHECK IN AT THE DESK TO HAVE THE $5 FEE WAIVED.
WOSC/WPN MEETING
June 20 – 6:30 to 8 pm
Newbury Park Library
2331 Borchard Road
Newbury Park, CA 91320
(inside the shopping center at the corner of Michael and Borchard)