Saturday Writers' Clinic

– Two local authors – Adrian van Young and Elise Speranza – will be the featured speakers at the November Saturday Writers Clinic, beginning at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 16 at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.

This event is free of charge and open to the public. There is no registration.

9:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 16

“How to Craft a Tense Scene to Generate Suspense” with Adrian van Young

Adrian Van Young's most recent book is Midnight Self published in 2023. His first book of fiction, won Black Lawrence Press' 2011 St. Lawrence Book Award. His second novel, Shadows in Summerland, was republished in September 2020. He is also the author of Vampire Pool Party, a book for children. He is a Henfield Foundation Prize recipient as well as a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee. He has taught writing at Boston College, Boston University, Grub Street Writers in Boston, and Tulane University. He taught American Literature and Creative Writing at St. Martin's Episcopal School in Metairie. He received his B.A. in English from Vassar College, and his MFA in fiction from Columbia University, where he formerly taught as well.

11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 16

“Book Publicity” with Elise Speranza

Elisa M. Speranza is a fiction writer based in New Orleans, and Martha’s Vineyard. Her 2022 debut novel, The Italian Prisoner, was a finalist in the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition. She serves on the board of the New Orleans Writers Workshop and has been a featured author at the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival, the Louisiana Book Festival, and the Islanders Write conference on Martha’s Vineyard. She is a co-founder of the Washashores Writers Collective. She was a journalist early in her career and has worked in local government, on non-profit boards, and as a global business executive and corporate director. She is an alumna of Boston College and Harvard’s Kennedy School.