Thursday, September 24 from 7-9 PM ET
An instructor in the English Department at UMass Lowell, Joanne Carota traces the long road from initial idea to publication of her debut novel “The Docks,” a New England thriller set along the waterfront of South Boston.
Carota was employed at MIT’s Lincoln Lab when she first conceived of a career change. She followed a path common to aspiring writers, first earning an MA in Writing and Literature, then an MFA, during which time she began writing what would become “The Docks.” Carota shares her experience of writing and revising her book, working with editors to polish her manuscript, sending out query letters to agents and small presses, and her decision to ultimately take control and publish the book herself.
Over the years she says, “I learned a lot about the gatekeepers of publishing,” and those insights — covering her career shift, what a graduate writing program is like, the fits and starts of completing a book, and the merits of self-publishing — is what she’ll cover in her talk and Q&A, along with the challenges of book promotion during the time of covid.
With the July 2019 publication of “The Docks,” Carota brings her family history full circle: her dad lifted words on the docks of Houghton Mifflin Book Company.
In addition to her novel, Carota has published short pieces in The Subtopian, Solstice Literary Magazine, Pink Panther, Merrimack Journal, Chelmsford Independent, Middlesex Beat, and Andover Townsman.
“The Docks” is available in paperback and ebook at Amazon.
Can’t Attend Live?
The talk will be recorded and every registrant will receive a link to watch a Zoom replay; the link will be good for two weeks post-event. If you’re not able to attend live but have questions, you can submit them in advance for Joanne Carota to answer.
To Register
Complete the form below and submit payment by clicking on the Pay with PayPal button. You’ll receive the Zoom link to the live workshop by email and a link to the recording after the event.
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