Carmela A. Martino

     I taught writing classes for both children and adults at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois for over 20 years before retiring in 2020. I also taught at North Central College in Naperville, IL, Aurora Community College in Aurora, IL, the Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, IL, and elsewhere. I'm not scheduled to teach any ongoing classes at this time, but may do so in the future. Watch this space for updates, or, to receive updates via email, subscribe to my Creativity Newsletter here. Meanwhile, see below for information about upcoming and past events and appearances.

     I will present "Gathering Your Circle of Saints" at the 2025 Catholic Writers Guild Live Conference, April 29-May 1, 2025 in Naperville, Illinois. For details, see the conference information page. You may also subscribe to my newsletter for updates.

• 2/25/24: "Turning Life Into Fiction" presentation at the 2024 Catholic Writers Guild Online Conference
• 5/31/23: I provided first page critiques at the 2023 Catholic Writers Guild Conference.
• 1/27/22: SMALL PRESS, BIG DECISION webinar for the SCBWI-IL Chicago Southland Network 
• 7/28/21: "First Page Critique workshop" at the 2021 Catholic Writers Guild Conference in Schaumburg, IL
• 2/20/21: "Great Beginnings: How to Hook Readers and Keep Them Turning the Pages" webinar at the 2021 Catholic Writers Guild Online Conference
• 2/19/21: "The Pleasures and Perils of Writing Historical Fiction" webinar at the 2021 Catholic Writers Guild Online Conference 
• 1/25/20: "Coping with Your Inner Critic" Workshop at the SCBWI-IL LaGrange-Naperville Network meeting
• July 12-13, 2019 Three workshops for the Literary Arts Track at the 25th Anniversary Karitos Worship and Arts Conference in Streator, IL. 
• 6/1/19 Presentation at Italian American (IA) Literati 2019 at Casa Italia in Stone Park, IL, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm
• 4/27/19 Panelist at the Wheaton Library Author Fest in Wheaton, IL
  
• 4/17/19 "Turning Life into Fiction" talk at the Fremont Public Library in Mudelein, IL
  
• 4/10/19 Presentation of "Turning Life into Fiction" to young writers at the Southwest Prairie Conference Literary Festival at Plainfield South High School
• 11/3/18 "Turning Life into Fiction" talk at ACFW-Chicago's "Write to Success" conference in Schaumburg, IL
• 9/22/18 Panelist on the topic of "The Truth of Creating" at the SCBWI-WI Fall Conference, 2:30-3:30 pm, Green Lake, WI
• 8/2/18 Catholic Writers Guild Conference talk on "Reaching without Preaching: Writing Fiction that Engages Teens and Tweens" with fellow YA author Amy Cattapan, 2-2:45 pm, Lancaster, PA Convention Center 

"Carmela's class was outstanding. I have a list of revisions to make from all that I learned. If you ever have a chance to take any of her classes I can assure your money and time will be well spent.”

—Mary Sandford
Lisle, IL

"I would like to sing the praises of Carmela Martino, teacher extraordinaire. . . . Attendees at all experience levels got valuable ideas and insights from the exercises she shared, as well as the experiences she described in working through the writing of Rosa, Sola.”

—Lisa Bierman
Oak Park, IL

"I just wanted to celebrate Carmela Martino. . . . The exercises she offered were extremely helpful. Her emotions poured out as she described the writing process she went through with her novel Rosa, Sola. Thank you, Carmela, for inspiring me to dig deep into my soul to write compelling (let's hope) children's literature.”

—Trina Sotira
Roselle, IL