Matthew J. Pallamary’s popular Phantastic Fiction Workshop has been a staple of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference and the Southern California Writer’s Conference for over twenty five years. He has also lectured at numerous other venues and led his own weekend intensive workshops.

Matt has spent extended time in the jungles, mountains, and deserts of North, Central, and South America pursuing his studies of shamanism and ancient cultures. Through his research into both the written word and the ancient beliefs of shamanism, he has uncovered the heart of what a story really is and integrated it into core dramatic concepts that also have their basis in shamanism.

“The concept of the shaman as a bridge between the worlds is a central idea that defines shamanism. The act of bridging worlds is what the author/creator does with their words. How these words are used and how this message is delivered are keys to what makes the reality that you create come to life in the hearts and minds of your audience. Understanding the world view of a shaman and learning to see things from their perspective brings insight into this process.” Matthew J. Pallamary, Phantastic Fiction