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Sunday, February 28, 2016

Learn how to “hand-sell” your books at Guild’s March 5 workshop


If people just pass you by at book signings, learn how to close the deal at the “Human Fly Fishing: Hand-selling Books” workshop from 10 a.m. to noon, March 5, at Kirkwood Community Center, 111 S. Geyer Rd, Kirkwood, Mo. Free to St. Louis Writers Guild members, $5 for nonmembers.

The presenter--Ronald R. “Reggie” Van Stockum, Jr.--is a lawyer, teacher, biologist, writer, guitarist, and recently an actor living on his family's old farm in Shelbyville, Kentucky.

He has a B.S. in Biology from Santa Clara University, and an M.S. and PhD. in Biology from the University of Louisville. He also has his Juris Doctorate in Law from the University of Louisville and practices law from offices in Shelbyville. He concentrates his legal practice in environmental law, and his biologic research in historical phytogeography.

Dr. Van Stockum has published numerous articles in the area of law, science and creative writing. He has published two novels of magic realism: Markman's Home (2014) and Cosmos, the Stellar Stalker (2015). He has also published a number of short stories including “The Great and Terrible Wilderness” and “Ollie Deaton and the Breathitt County Silver Mine.”

After the ARCHON 39 science fiction and fantasy conference last October, St. Louis Magazine writer Thomas Crone wrote of his experience: “HUSTLED, but gently: While walking through the Gateway’s halls, I was summoned by a book vendor with this one-liner: ‘You, you have a backpack with enough room for a book!’ As simply as that, I wandered over and listened to the pitch by author Ronald R. Van Stockum Jr., who sold me a copy of Cosmos: The Stellar Stalker, which I’ve not yet delved into. His approach was so refreshing that I couldn’t resist plunking down $12 on a sci-fi thriller taking place in 1976 Louisville. Honestly, if this fella’s book is half as entertaining as his table persona, I’ll get a bit of entertainment outta this one.”

Learn more about the St. Louis Writers Guild at www.stlwritersguild.org.

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