Kim Ventrella
Kim Ventrella is the author of four middle-grade novels, including The Secret Life of Sam (HarperCollins), a 2021 Oklahoma Book Award winner and one of Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2020. Bone Hollow (Scholastic) was chosen as a NYPL Best Book for Kids 2019, and Skeleton Tree was nominated for the Carnegie Medal in the UK. Her stories tackle difficult topics with big doses of magic, whimsy, and hope. Her short fiction has appeared in the horror anthology Don’t Turn Out the Lights. She is also a freelance editor focused on big-picture feedback and help for querying authors.
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10:00 AM | Location: Sooner A
Where Do You Get Those Wonderful Ideas?
Writers describe the wildest inspirations they've had, or heard about, for a good plot or character. The best things can spring from the oddest places.
Moderator: vickey malone kennedy
Panelists: vickey malone kennedy, Tracy S. Morris, Rook Riley, Sue Sinor, A C Smart, Kim Ventrella
Tracks: Writing & Publishing
Noon | Location: Oklahoma A1
Kids Writing Spooky Stories
Join award-winning author Kim Ventrella for an interactive spooky-story workshop. Young storytellers will learn how to choose the right main character for their spooky tale, how to plot for maximum chills, and how to get creative with their villains. Answer burning questions like, how do you make oatmeal scary? We'll walk through the brainstorming process from beginning to end, even touching on that scariest of all topics: writer's block. Our session ends with time for questions. Students will leave ready to write their own terrifying tales.
Moderator: Kim Ventrella
Panelists: Kim Ventrella
Tracks: Writing & Publishing, Kids, YA
4:00 PM | Location: Boomer A
Being Kind To Our Fellow Creatives
It’s easy to become competitive with other creatives when they get opportunities that you’d like to have. It’s frustrating. Our panel talks about how important it is to be kind to each other and to be nice to your fans no matter what.
Moderator: Peri Charlifu
Panelists: Peri Charlifu, Blair Bartlett - Alternate Realities Studio, Sally Hamilton, Rubiee Tallyn Hayes, Kim Ventrella, Mario Wytch
Tracks: Business & Marketing, Health & Wellness, Maker, Culture & World Affairs, Art, Writing & Publishing, Gaming, General Interest
1:00 PM | Location: Sooner B
The Art of the Long Game: Keeping Momentum, Staying the Course
It’s easy to be super motivated when your business is brand new! But keeping momentum is hard. Setbacks and unexpected problems will face every artist. Our panel of professionals will talk about strategies that keep you focused and productive!
Moderator: Tommy B. Smith
Panelists: Tommy B. Smith, Blair Bartlett - Alternate Realities Studio, Rubiee Tallyn Hayes, Christina Stiles, Kim Ventrella, Scott Zrubek
Tracks: Maker, Cosplay, Art, Gaming, Business & Marketing, Writing & Publishing