Once a book author is offered a contract, the hard work is done, right? Not so -- every year, writers hungry to see their work in print suffer pitfalls like reduced royalties or signing away rights because they don't understand their book contracts.

The Twin Cities chapter of the National Writers Union will offer a half-day conference: "NEGOTIATE LIKE A PRO: What every author should know about book contracts" on Saturday, Oct. 23, 9 a.m to noon. The program is co-sponsored by Hamline University's Graduate Liberal Studies Program and will be held at Hamline University, Law and Graduate Schools Building, Rm 005, St. Paul.

Phillip Mattera, the NWU's National Book Grievance Officer since 1988 and one of the union's senior book contract advisors, will share information compiled by the National Writers Union during years of advising writers about publishers' and agent's contracts. Mattera is the author of four books on economics, business and labor, and serves as research director of Good Jobs First, a non-profit research center; he lives in Washington, D.C.

The last contracts session hosted by the Twin Cities chapter in 2000 was full. One participant, author Bev Bachel, attended right after she signed her first book contract. She says, "What did I learn? That I could have asked for a bigger advance and a larger royalty percentage. . . . Thanks to the NWU, I now know what to look for in a contract and -- more importantly --what to avoid."

The event is open to the public. Registration is $25 for NWU members, $40 for others. New members can join the NWU on the day of the event and get the member discount, if space is available, but advance registration is recommended (advance registration and payment must be received by Wednesday, Oct. 20). For more information or registration details, see the NWU chapter website at www.nwu-tc.org or call or email Susan Grieger at 612-722-8776 or sggrieger@earthlink.net