Northeast Iowa Writers Retreat to be held in McGregor this Saturday

The Northeast Iowa Writers Retreat will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19 at Little Switzerland Inn in McGregor.
Retreat activities will feature northeast Iowa writers Don Harstad, Jacquie McTaggart and Denny Eilers, and will allow for writing time.
Internationally known mystery author Don Harstad of Elkader will speak on how to craft a novel. Harstad served as deputy sheriff in northeast Iowa for almost thirty years before retiring to write his police procedural series (Eleven Days, Known Dead, The Big Thaw, Code Sixty-One.) Carl Houseman is his main character who is an experienced deputy sheriff in fictional Nation County, Iowa. The geography of the county and the personalities of the Iowans are at the heart of the stories.
Non-fiction writer Jacquie McTaggart, author of "From the Teacher's Desk", will speak on the importance of query letters and proposals and how to craft them to attract an editor's eye. McTaggart taught for 42 years in Iowa classrooms before exchanging her teacher's hat for that of an author.
Freelance writer and photo-journalist Denny Eilers will speak about his latest work, including photo-journalist work on the Extreme Make-Over Home Edition television show.

The registration deadline for the retreat is Saturday, Feb. 12. For more information or to register, e-mail Kim Becwar at kimb@alpinecom.net or call her at 563-873-1485. Out-of-town writers who want lodging may find out more at www.littleswitzerlandinn.com or call Becky or Randy Johnson at 563-873-2057.