For most writers, the hardest part is beginning! So for this hands-on workshop, that's exactly what we'll focus on. Lorien will share tips and tricks on how to start a scene, including what needs to be included for the scene to be meaningful and complete. Students will have the opportunity to work and get feedback throughout the workshop. Lorien will use examples from her own writing, and she'll also give some insights into the publishing process and her road to publication. The first 20 participants will receive a copy of Lorien's latest book, The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family! [Check in at the Youth Services Desk upon arrival to receive your copy]

Workshop is for kids ages 8-12. 

Lorien Lawrence is the author of the middle grade horror series called Fright Watch, of which Stephen King said, "The chills come guaranteed". In addition to the three books in that series, she has recently released a fourth stand-alone, The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family, which received a starred review from Booklist. She is a seventh-grade English teacher in Connecticut. When she's not reading or writing, she can be found hunting for ghosts with her family. Learn more at https://www.lorienlawrence.com/

About THE MANY HAUNTINGS OF THE MANNING FAMILY: 
An action-packed, spine-tingling ghost story about twins with supernatural powers—perfect for fans of Five Nights at Freddy’s and the Goosebumps series

Thirteen-year-old twins Gabby and Trent Manning are Connecticut’s youngest paranormal investigators. Both have inherited “the gift” from their grandparents, the Mannings, whose legendary ghost hunts inspired several books and movies—but whose names have been nearly forgotten since their untimely deaths years ago.

Armed with EMF machines, flashlights, and recording equipment, the twins’ mom drags them all over New England in an attempt to bring their family back into the limelight. Never mind that Gabby is tired of being known as a Ghost Twin, and Trent finds most of the haunts to be pretty frightening. Their mom thinks their latest destination is exactly what the family needs to go viral: the abandoned Majestic Theater, the site of the late Mannings’ infamous failed exorcism.

However, nothing about this investigation goes according to plan. After a terrifying séance-gone-wrong on the stage, their mother goes missing in the building, and it’s clear that a powerful demon is haunting the theater. Will the twins be able live up to their grandparents’ legacy and vanquish the demon—before it’s too late?

Featuring articles, interviews, and other found media throughout, The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family is packed with scares that will leave readers sleeping with the lights on.

***STARRED REVIEW***
"[R]eaders will resonate with both characters as they navigate feelings of being exploited for the benefit of others and the trials of viral online life. An excellent discussion to have on the topic of boundaries from friends and, especially, family."―Booklist

"The suspense builds deliciously as the twins get to work in the theater, and the spooks it contains are equal parts thrilling and disgusting. The stakes feel high... Top-shelf suspense and page-turning thrills."―Kirkus Reviews

"[C]aptivating and frightening...Middle-grade horror fans will likely find this a satisfying dive into a world where there are plenty of ghosts, and they’re not all looking for a peaceful release to the beyond."―The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books