Author of a dozen books, Cecelia Tichi straddles fiction and nonfiction alike.  Her two mystery series, the Kate Banning and Reggie Cutter books, launch amateur sleuths into the crime-ridden back streets of Nashville and Boston. In nonfiction, her books cover American popular culture (TV) and American landmarks and events from Mount Rushmore to the Apollo moon landing. She teaches American literature and writing at Vanderbilt and has conducted workshops in fiction writing over a decade.

The Jumpstart fiction workshop invites writers in search of fresh ideas and those with projects already underway. We will "fast forward" our work with hands-on focus on the essentials--from character to plot to scene and setting and pay attention to the word-choice surprises that bring a reader to the edge of the cliff and the depths of the soul. We also invite participants interested in shaping real-life stoires, including events of family history or episodes from U.S. or World history. Fascinating figures of the past await their moment in today's light, and bringing them forward requires the same skills as those of the novelist or short story writer. Our workshop will serve up cues and clues for effective nonfiction narrative.