Session Description

Sometimes an idea can be so epic that the story can fill an entire novel. Sometimes they can be whittled down into shorter formats or bite-size reads. Sometimes it’s hard to know the difference. Brian has written in all kinds of formats and has learned quite a bit on how to distill an idea down to its core and sharpen it like a razor. He’ll do his best to equip you with some of the tools that have helped him decide what path an idea should take, and he promises you that he’s not the typical tweed jacket speaker. He’s a lot more fun than that. Even at 9 in the morning.

About Brian Panowich

Brian Panowich is an international best-selling author who ranked #1 on Apple iBooks Best Mystery List, made the top twenty best books on Amazon, went on to win the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel, as well as the Southern Book Prize for Best Mystery. He has also been nominated for the Barry Award, the Anthony Award, The Georgia Townsend Book Prize, and was a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize. Brian’s first novel, BULL MOUNTAIN (G.P. Putnam) was also selected for the coveted BOOKS ALL GEORGIANS SHOULD READ list by the Georgia Center of the Book, was an Indie Next Pick, and has been the recipient of several foreign press awards. Brian’s sophomore novel, LIKE LIONS (St. Martins), earned him The Georgia Author of the Year Award for best Mystery, and his latest, HARD CASH VALLEY (St. Martins) was named one of the top 10 best crime novels of the year by the New York Times. Brian also maintains a popular monthly opinion column (Scattered & Covered) in Augusta Magazine and his forthcoming novel NAILS: AN AMERICAN LOVE SONG (St. Martins) drops in the Fall of 2023.

Brian’s Books

Amanda Vining photo

Amanda holds a BS in Biology from Georgia College & State University. She began her career as an educator with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. After leaving the DNR, Amanda became a formal educator with Baldwin County School System and Jasper County School System. Amanda began her museum career at the Museum of Arts and Sciences (MAS) in Macon, Georgia, where she served as Curator of Environmental Science
(2011-2020). While at MAS, Amanda developed a love for sharing the world around us with the many students who visited on school field trips. During her time as Curator of Environmental Science, Amanda launched a storytime
program for preschool children.

Since 2020, Amanda has been serving Georgia Writers Museum as a volunteer on the Education Committee. Amanda has brought her love of sharing stories with students by launching Peaches’ Reading Pasture. As Museum Manager, Amanda looks forward to serving the community and helping to inspire those within our community to put words to paper and share their stories.

Amanda was born and raised in nearby Shady Dale, Georgia. Her husband, Rodney, is a native of Eatonton, and they currently reside in Putnam County. They have three children.