Florida author Laura Lee Smith discusses creative writing and publishing during an open event at the Firehouse Cultural Center on Saturday. Mitch Traphagen photos.
During its Spring Forward Writers Week last week, the Firehouse Cultural Center offered aspiring South County authors a unique opportunity: the chance to discuss their work and prepare for the challenges and potential triumphs of writing with an award-winning Florida author.
Novelist Laura Lee Smith was the Cultural Center’s Author in Residence, during which she reviewed portions of manuscripts from a limited number of hopeful authors, and then discussed and provided input and even (often much-needed) support to help bring projects to completion.
In addition, the author also held discussions throughout the week on topics ranging from creative writing to publishing.
Although the manuscript review of up to 20 pages, a significant and time-consuming enterprise, carried a nominal fee, many of the discussions and workshops were free of charge.
For writers, the Cultural Center’s residency provided a unique opportunity to discuss their work and aspirations with a published successful author.
Firehouse Cultural Center Author in Residence Laura Lee Smith reads portions of a manuscript. A discussion followed.
Laura Lee Smith published her first novel, Heart of Palm, in 2013. The book was awarded the Silver Medal for Fiction in the Florida Book Awards and was described as “an incandescent first novel” by O, The Oprah Magazine. Smith’s work has appeared in numerous journals and has received accolades from the literary press.
For more information about Laura Lee Smith, visit www.lauraleesmith.com.
For more information about upcoming events at the Firehouse Cultural Center, visit www.firehouseculturalcenter.org.