The Literary Showcase

The Literary Showcase will have the honor of hosting a dynamic duo in the publishing industry: Terry Whalin and Melanie Bragg on September 6, 2013.  

W. Terry Whalin understands both sides of the editorial desk--as an editor and a writer. He worked as a magazine editor and his magazine work has appeared in more than 50 publications. A former book acquisitions editor for several publishers and a former literary agent, Terry is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing.  He has written more than 60 books through traditional publishers in a wide range of topics from children’s books to biographies to co-authored books.

They say when the student is ready, the teacher appears.  Melanie Bragg met the late, great Rita Gallagher, the co-founder of Romance Writers of America, who became her writing teacher, her mentor, and her good friend. The idea for Crosstown Park came one day when she was driving back to Houston from a seminar in New Orleans.  She kept seeing an African-American man hitchhiking in a business suit and tie.  The urge to pick him up was strong enough to make her begin asking questions-what if he was a widowed, retired teacher who was on his way to Houston to help some homeless children?  What if they teamed up to help those children?  She got home, went straight to her pen and paper and began the story that is now Crosstown Park.