Writers and publishers workshop held Sept. 13

Friday, Sept. 13, was a lucky day for 34 participants who attended a workshop at Martin Community College that was designed and created by Dr. Kaye Dotson and Karen Coltrain on writing and publishing.

Attendees from Dare, Craven, Pitt, Martin, Edgecombe, Beaufort, Washington and Hyde counties learned from ECU’s COE faculty and others, about books, and the logistics of publishing them.

They were provided information about COE programs Library Science, Adult Education, Instructional Technology Department of Mathematics, Science and Instructional Technology Education, as well as the Friends of Joyner Library (FOJL).

The team shared who we are and how we serve students and the community.

Important to the planning for the workshop was the support provided by Dr. Phyllis Broughton. Dr. Broughton is a servant leader in her department in the College of Education and president of the Beta Upsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma in Eastern North Carolina. She and members of her organization provided support and sponsored breakfast ensuring a successful educational experience for writers and future writers in the region.

The workshop sessions were as diverse as the knowledge of the presenters. Participants heard the story from Dr. Dotson about the process by which her work grew into a published book, The Value of Games: Putting Play Back into Practice for Children.

A colleague, Karen Coltrain, business education teacher and former media coordinator with Bear Grass Charter School and co-planner with Dotson for this event, shared the beautiful story of how her book Why Do Raindrops Fall on Me? was published and became a special gift to children, family and others.

ECU College of Education faculty Dr. Crisianee Berry and Dr. Heather Seibert provided sessions that are important to both writers and educators. Participants received the latest in cutting edge research in Artificial Intelligence and Creative Commons Attributions.

Carol A. Brown, retired and returning faculty member, described how attendees could document their own personal story through publishing a memoir. Dr. Brown reminded participants that “Everyone Has a Story to Tell.”

Diane Taylor, nationally recognized founder, and publisher for Taylor Publishing, presented an inspiring and informative session on the ins/outs and how-to’s of the publishing industry. She shared information from the perspective of both an author and a publisher. as to how the process works in moving a manuscript from conception to print.

Taylor is also a newly elected board member for FOJL.