Success Stories

Our most recent success story:

Back in 2003, I received a Kay Snow Award for my children's short story THE CHESS MEN. I got lots of positive feedback from editors, but they all said, "we don't publish short stories." One of those editors said, "This is great writing. Send me something else." Three years later, he made an offer for my first novel, HEART OF A SHEPHERD. It's a book based on that short story. In fact THE CHESS MEN is in the first chapter of my novel.

So not only is this book due to be released by Random House in January of 2009, the editor who acquired it will be a guest at this summer's conference. He's Jim Thomas from Random House Children's Books.

In any event, thank you Willamette Writers for sponsoring the Kay Snow Award, and for all you do to encourage the craft of writing. It made an enormous difference in my life.

Rosanne Parry
Heart of a Shepherd
Random House January 2009

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One of our most familiar success stories comes from an often-quoted letter in the Willamette Writers archives from June, 1977. It says:

You are my last hope! ... I'm a new writer, and have only had a few poems published in small local private publications, but I am serious about writing and want to learn all I can. I have embarked on a historical fiction novel, my first, and should have the first rough draft completed soon. With luck, I will have completed two or three revisions and will have it ready to send to publishers by fall.

I'm prepared for a difficult time to break into the field, but I'm not prepared to give it up at any time. If Willamette Writers can offer help and encouragement, I would consider joining. (I need all I can get!)

Sincerely Yours,

Jean M. Auel

Jean joined Willamette Writers and attended the Conference where she met Literary Agent Jean Naggar that August. Her book "Clan of the Cave Bear" was published in 1980, and became an instant best-seller. By the time she released the fifth book in the series in 2002, it was issued in 28 editions.

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Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant's hysterical new gift book, Not Guilty by Reason of Menopause (Ten Speed Press, 2008, $12.95), is now available at book stores everywhere and online. Leigh Anne says, "I wouldn't have had the opportunity to do this book if I hadn't pitched Ten Speed's editors at the Willamette Writers' Conference for three years running. Even though they rejected my proposal, they decided they liked my style and sense of humor and so they pitched me. Proof positive that the conference sometimes works in mysterious ways!"

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Here's a partial list of some of our members who have their own success stories that you can read about by clicking on this link or by visiting their websites.


Dale Basye (2005 Conference) - Two book deal; Heck: Where the Bad Kids Go, published by Random House, 2008.
Bill Johnson - A Story is a Promise - Blue Heron Books
Christina Katz (2005 Conference) - Writer Mama for Writer's Digest Books, February 2007.
Jennifer Keene (2005 Conference) - We Can't Stay Together for the Dogs deal signed in April 2006
Annie Long (2005 Conference) - Acquired an agent and is in the final stage of writing her book. She had attended two previous conferences.
Ted Magnuson (1992 and subsequent Conferences) - Oregon Trivia, in third printing; Moses Probe released spring 2006.
Al Siebert (2004 Conference) - The Resiliency Advantage: Master Change, Thrive Under pressure, and Bounce Back From Setbacks