Cosumnes River College film professor Mark Steensland will co-host a writers discussion on crafting, publishing, marketing and building a career at A Seat at the Table Books in Elk Grove from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday.
The workshop is part of this month’s installment of “Writing Demystified,” an event hosted by local author Jason Denzel on the first Thursday of each month. The workshop invites guest writers to the bookstore to participate in an open discussion about building a writing career.
Denzel said the goal of the series is to make the publishing process more transparent for writers at all levels.
“Writing Demystified seeks to unveil the often obscure process of writing a book and having it published,” Denzel said. “We invite anybody to join us each month, regardless of where they’re at in their writing journey.”
Steensland said the purpose of the event is clarity.
“It’s kind of like a map for people who maybe haven’t been published before,” Steensland said. “A lot of people don’t know how a book ends up on the bookshelf — all the steps that go into it. That’s the mystery. We’re going to demystify it.”
Although Steensland teaches film, he has always been a writer. He self-published his first book in fourth grade and continued writing through his school years, even writing for publications including American Cinematographer magazine.
His first novel, “Behind the Bookcase,” was published by Random House in 2012. His screenwriting credits include “Jakob’s Wife” and a film adaptation of “The Special,” which is based on a novella he co-wrote in 2020 and is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. His most recent book, “The Black Magic Murders,” blends fiction and true crime.
Emily Autenrieth, the owner of A Seat at the Table Books, said supporting local authors is central to the store’s mission.
“We very much believe in the importance of working with local authors, particularly as many of the local authors who have not found a path to publishing are from marginalized communities and face additional obstacles to having their voices heard,” Autenrieth said.
Autenrieth added that the rotating guest format is intentional.
“Our co-hosts offer perspectives on different genres, paths to publishing and target audiences,” Autenrieth said. “Our attendees always leave with more knowledge and confidence to inform their authorial journeys.”
Denzel said he looks forward to co-hosting the event with Steensland to learn more about how he produces great books and other media.
“Mark is a remarkable local creator who has such a rich and diverse creative portfolio,” Denzel said. “Anytime someone of his talent and experience is willing to help pass on the lessons they’ve learned, our entire community benefits.”
Steensland said the event is particularly valuable for writers who have questions about the process, especially those just starting out.
“When you’re beginning, you don’t know what you don’t know,” Steensland said. “I learned from other people. So if those farther along in the journey can help people who are just starting out, that strengthens the community.”
While networking can play a role, Steensland emphasized that success ultimately comes back to the work itself.
“Sometimes people say it’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” Steensland said. “But it really still comes back to what you know. You still have to do the work.”
He also addressed a common issue about writing and publishing.
“Maybe the biggest misconception is that it’s easy,” Steensland said. “People will say, ‘I’ve got a great idea — you write it and we’ll split the money.’ But it doesn’t work that way.”
Steensland encourages students from all departments to come to the event.
“I hope participants walk away with something that they didn’t have when they started, Steensland said”
Tickets for the event are free and can be found on the Eventbrite website.