San Diego Writers and Editors Guild SDWEG Blogs

Guild member, Alex Kecskes is mentioned in the front page of Scripps Ranch News

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:55:11 GMT

Congratulations!

The Search for Dr. Noble by Alex A. Kecskes

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:05:27 GMT

Guild member, Alex Kecskes, has released The Search for Dr. Noble, a sequel to the Healer novel.

Wanting to be with her husband, Rene leaps into Charles’s arms as he is involuntarily swept forward five hundred years into the future. Charles’s time machine is not able to carry two passengers.

Rene is left alone in the past and Charles finds himself temporarily stuck five hundred years in the future. The time machine has malfunctioned and takes weeks to repair.

Rene’s daughter, Rose, has been living in Paris and working with Madame Marie Currie during World War I. The telegraph is down. With no way to reach Rose, Rene, who lives in California, feels she must know that her daughter is safe. In case Charles ever returns, she leaves a note telling where she has gone. Her trip is long.

Finding Rose is safe, Rene joins Rose and Madame Marie Currie in medical research. But an accident exposes mother and daughter to radiation. Dying slow, agonizing deaths, they are sailing home when they give up hope and prepare to jump off the ship.

Will Charles reach Rose and Rene in time to save them with healing technology from the future? The Search for Dr. Noble is a blend of fantasy and historical romance that takes the reader on an often enchanting and other times gripping journey through time as well as across oceans and continents in the 1920s.

We see the author’s vision of a future that includes humans living on the other planets in our solar system.

Alex A. Kecskes is a regular contributor to several national and international print and online magazines. He has written on a wide variety of topics, including health, medical, science, technology, and environmental issues. He immigrated to America when he was five, going through Ellis Island with his nurse mother and artist father. He served in the US Marines and is a graduate of California State University at Long Beach. He lives in Scripps Ranch, San Diego, CA. He has two sons and three grandchildren. He is currently working on his third novel.

The Native Daughter: A Memoir of Movement and Change by Wanjirũ Warama

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:37:35 GMT

Wanjiru Warama, a resident of La Mesa, CA has released a new memoir, The Native Daughter. The author tells stories of her family, the community, and her growing years in Kenya during the mid-1900s.

Warama shares her and her siblings’ memories and insights with compassion and depth. Family dynamics as well as social forces all come into play in her book. Her stories also shed light on the struggles of Kenyan farmworkers and rural populations under the British colonial rule, especially during the Mau Mau rebellion where her family was moved three times to camps.

Native Daughter is compelling and astonishingly positive given the abject poverty under which the author and her family members suffered.

Wanjirũ Warama is a Kenyan-American biographical and historical nonfiction author born who was raised in Kenya during a time of profound cultural and political change. She later immigrated to California, where she continued her education and built a life shaped by resilience, curiosity, and the power of story.

Born and raised on a British colonial farm, Wanjiru is the daughter of peasant laborers who had no formal education. Her writing is deeply shaped by this unique upbringing, her travels across all seven continents, and her journey as an immigrant in the United States. Warama’s eight books preserve the lived experiences of ordinary people whose histories rarely reach the page.

Having grown up in a home without books, Wanjiru understands the transformative power of education. Her own high school struggles—marked by poverty and resilience—are the subject of her upcoming memoir. She believes education is the most powerful tool for breaking free from the dehumanizing grip of poverty.

An active philanthropist and advocate for literacy, Wanjiru is a lifetime member of the Friends of the San Diego Public Library, the Rotary Club, and the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild.

Member, Cynthia Gould's novel, "I'm Adopted"

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 02:36:08 GMT

San Diego resident, Cynthia R. Gould, has released her second novel. The picture book provides a charming and hopeful story about a homeless cat who is picked up and put in a shelter to then be adopted.

Coincidentally, I happen to be looking for a cat from rescue agencies. Gould has given me information, hope and determination to adopt my own homeless animal.

I recommend this book for children of all ages, including parents.

Gould grew up in New Mexico. At the age of four she learned how to read Little Golden Books. She now collects them.

After earning a B.A. in English at Grand Canyon College (now University), Gould relocated to San Diego where she worked for and retired from San Diego County. She’s been married for 42 years, and has a 37-year-old daughter. Her time is occupied, of course, by writing. Her goal is to have parents and children bond through reading. Her first book,

New Member: Susan Black Allen Releases Debut Book of Poetry

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:51:25 GMT

New Guild member and psychotherapist, Susan Black Allen has released her debut book of poetry – some are in free verse, some in more traditional structures.

Allen’s wit and emotional passion fill her gems. She covers many topics --- nature, sex and relationships, pets, her losses, and moments of pleasure. Other times, she seems to see and feel the world as others do --- some of whom may have been patients of hers.

Many of the poems caused me to ponder matters more deeply. Others made me feel surprising emotions. The poems are to be cherished and enjoy over and over. I highly recommend this book if you like poetry or even if you don’t.

Allen’s first poetry collection, The Best Sex I Never Had: Secrets and Solace of a Psychotherapist, was published by Legacy Publications in 2025. She has published essays and poems on mental health and parenting in The Boston Sunday Globe Magazine, for the non-profit, "This is My Brave," and in The San Diego Poetry Annual.

A Boston transplant, San Diego is now one of the top loves of her life. Allen is rather fond of her daughter Emmy, and fiancé Mark, too.

Writers Write

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:21:26 GMT

At the January 17 New Year's Celebration, members were invited to read their 50-word extensions of one of six first sentences. Below are some of the stories they read.

It was bound to happen sooner or later. I hope they’ll have a few days of happiness before the past starts to catch up with them. Maybe she’ll never find the farewell letter I sent. Maybe he’ll never locate the gun.

--Jinny Batterson

I can’t go, not without Alex. I would be a distraction. People who know what happened might politely avoid me so they don’t have to mention him. But people who don’t know might ask me or someone else. It wouldn’t be fair to the newlyweds.

--Sandra Yeaman

It's not my wedding. I don't know the bride or the groom. Some floozy at the bar tonight asked me to go with her. It's a big wedding, she said. The booze is free. She told me she slept with the groom once. That was her big mistake.

--Corey Lynn Fayman

“And you forgot to tell me something?” The champagne flute slipped out of Allison's hand.

“I know,” Michael approached; his crisp tuxedo, long strides – handsome as ever, melting her in his embrace he whispered, “I just didn't want to upset you, but my mom invited my ex-!”

--Terry Bell

Packing books and old sneakers in the honeymoon suitcase was weird enough, but the wedding gown? Ha! I earned that shit by spending a lifetime in fitting rooms. Its simplicity fits any occasion, especially when the sharp kitchen scissors cut it short. Speaking of sharp, those scissors will come in handy.

--Zoe Ghahremani

There we were. No land in sight. And no paddle.
Our boat looked like it was sitting on an enormous sheet of glass.
The silence was deafening.
The only thought I had was: What. The. Fuck.

--Mardie Schroeder

I looked ahead at my daughter, cringed. I’d pushed too hard. I can do 15 miles a day with a full pack but her swimmer’s feet aren’t used to long days on trail. I also hadn’t accounted for the rock scramble of Pennsylvania before the nauseatingly humid slap of Maryland.

--Jessica Brodkin Webb

We stowed the canoes as the rain poured. We pitched the tents in record time, and I unrolled the garbage bags, ripping head and armholes. Tentbound, the girls cried, soaking wet. I dry shaved my legs, told scary stories, and woke with friends.

--Christina Buffington

My bobber twitched. It dipped again. Three seconds later, it submerged, pulled down by the striking bass. I jerked the pole, setting the hook. The fish ran. I reeled up the slack when it paused. Four times we repeated before I saw the flash of silver. I grabbed my net.

--Erik Martin

I’ll keep it that way. It’s said, if two people know a secret, it’s no longer a secret. So … You really wish to know what happened to her, eh? Well … Wish all you want. I’ll never tell.

--Bob Riffenburgh

I heard them fighting. Then, a scream. Later, silence. I watched from my window as he dragged the heavy trash bag across the garden and to his car. When he leaves, I'll follow. They say I'm only twelve. But I'm strong, and my bike is fast. What could go wrong?

--Marcia Buompensiero

And I'm not telling. Suffice it to say that she has never participated in legalizing a marriage, and her parents named her Robert--nickname Bobby--at birth. Bobby Salazar.

--Rachel

And I can't tell you because Mr. Brown mustn't find out where she is. That Narcissist shriveled the amazing Nancy Adams into an insecure, terrified couch cushion he sat on.

She's still scared to stand up to him. But a powerful, courageous first step is escaping his filthy claws.

--Margaret Harmon

That’s because Mrs. Brown is not her real name and all the others that knew are dead.

I mean, everyone knew she disappeared, but those who knew her real identity and what happened to her are dead.

To the general public, Mrs. Brown was a sweet little old lady who loved to read and who could be counted on to sub for the weekly scripture study class at church.

You’d think I should be afraid for my life, or that I might have something to do with the others' deaths--IF Mrs. Brown is still alive.

But that would be telling, and she is my mom.

--Audrey Walz

“Follow me children.” We walked through the dark forest, past the pond and headed downhill toward the old barn. “Don’t be afraid,” I said, as we entered the barn: “Mrs. Brown and her six kittens.”

--David Walz

She was the neighborhood grandma. She’d spend afternoons on her porch bench basking in the sunlight and watching the neighborhood children play hopscotch and Double Dutch. Sometimes, she’d even join in. The children would shout, “Go Grandma, go Grandma, go.”

One day, the bench she’d sit on, cracked in half.

--ShuJen Walker

He kept giving me dry food. Every day. No gravy.

No apology. I nudged the bowl. I whined.

I watched plates pass untouched. No scraps, ever.

I watched patiently, salivating.

One morning, he tasted my breakfast instead.

The vet said it was his heart.

I got chicken that night.

--Jerry Strayve

That matched my mood. I sat on the bed caressing the fully loaded Ruger LCP Max cradled on my lap. As my mind swirled with conflicting emotions, hate, love, grief, I closed my eyes imagining pulling the trigger. Then, I heard my father's footsteps on the stairs.

--Sandra Stahl

… If only my life were that simple. If only seeing Charlie last night meant that the storm would rage and bluster for a while and then move on. Problem solved. Simple. But no. In my world, the storms build and wind rages in the searing light of day.

--Paul Banks

There was no possibility of taking a walk as billowing Santa Ana winds careened fiery embers into the ravenous blackness. Nevertheless, thirteen-year-old Rachel donned her Superwoman Halloween costume and stepped outside.

Overwhemed by her tactile sensibility, she stared into the starless heavens and shouted: “I’m coming for you, Dad!”

--Larry Edwards

They lied. Stories arrive like rain—unannounced. Then vanish.
Stranded in California with a suitcase meant for one year that stretched decades, voices returned:
Peasant workers whose labor fed a nation that never learned their stories.
If these stories remain unread, the world has not yet made room.

--Wanjiru Warama

She was broken, hopeless, lost.
A deep desperation within her spirit.
It would take an act of GOD to give
her freedom from destruction.
She looked up from the bottom of
the grave and heard His voice calling,
"Come to Me"---That was GOD!

--Marie DiMercurio

A miracle. Yes. I was locked up in that body for years. Now I am free. Yes, the first human soul transplanted to a new body.

Now I am running free. I want to weep with joy. Oh look, a fire hydrant. I lift my leg. I really got to pee.

--David Walz

But Harriet knew she could save the mission--and her life--if she could only get to the computer.

The Russian major kept pacing across the flagstones, his boots like the ticking of a clock. If he said yes, she had at least one chance in hell.

The man stopped pacing.

"Well?" she asked.

The major turned and scowled. "No."

--Rick Peterson

I’ve always known that. Most people don’t, but I do.

I’ve lived in Centerville my whole life. Olive moved here with her mother when we were both twelve. In that golden summer we were inseparable. That’s when she told me she didn’t really think she was a girl.

--Jeff Mason

She follows me everywhere. She ruins dinners. She makes people uncomfortable.

I’ve tried ignoring her. I’ve tried removing her. I pleaded quietly, I argued loudly, nothing worked.

Then the bartender asked why I was yelling at my drink and pulled my martini away, the olive still staring at me.

--Jerry Strayve

She always wants to added. She’s wishy washy when it comes to choosing gin or vodka. She likes to have fun. Shaken not stirred, she doesn’t care. Just don’t say with a twist anywhere near her. She’ll feel left out.

--Janet Travers

There’s something about Oliver. They said it couldn’t be done, but the wedding is tomorrow. Who cares? I’m the only one who knows what happened to Mrs. Brown. It was a dark and stormy night. First the wind stopped, then water became very still. A flash of lightening showed…

--Zoe Ghahremani

San Diego Public Library's 60th Annual Local Author Showcase

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 18:30:36 GMT

Fourteen SDWEG members, plus the Guild itself, were among the local San Diego authors featured in the San Diego Public Library’s 60th Local Author Showcase on Saturday, January 24. Several Board members attended the event which featured Dean Nelson, a former Odin Award recipient as the speaker.

If you missed the event, you can see all the books with information about the authors on the Library’s 2025 Local Library Showcase website.

Guild members represented among the exhibits include Connie Bennett, Susan Black Allen, M. Lee Buompensiero, Richard Carrico, and Corey Lynn Fayman. Their book covers appear above.

Other Guild members represented at the Showcase include Cynthia Gould, Cary Lowe, Erik Martin, Tamara Merrill, and Richad Opper. Their book covers appear above.

In addition to the Guild’s anthology, books by R.H. Riffenburgh, Patricia Santana, JR Strayve JR, and Thomas WIng round out the Guild’s representation in the Showcase.

Featured speaker Dean Nelson, also represented at the showcase with his book Talking to Writers based on his experience interviewing writers at the Point Loma Writers Conference by the Sea, encouraged all participants to keep writing or to start writing. Next year we’d like to see more Guild members represented at this, the longest running event of its kind in the US.

Debbie Wastling's New Book: Irish Secrets and Lies

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:51:59 GMT

Irish Secrets and Lies by Guild member, Debbie Wastling, is part of The Sutherland Scandals, a historical series about a family that rises from poverty. In Irish Secrets and Lies, the main character, Martha Lowery, is the daughter of a nonworking alcoholic father and mother whose health is broken from having too many children too often.

Martha works two jobs. Her main one is as a cook and gifted baker. She tries to act as a mother figure to her younger siblings but, one day her father, in a drunken stupor, tries to rape Martha. The next day she finds another place to live. Being hard working and likable, a friend offers the nineteen-year-old girl a temporary place to stay.

At the same time, Martha is swept off her feet by John Benjamin (JB) Sutherland, by whom she becomes pregnant. When her condition becomes apparent, her employer wants to sack her. Fortunately, her friend allows Martha to stay on permanently, saving Martha from a much harder life. Also, a statement of her great character, JB really cares about Martha; however, he drags his feet about getting married.

Despite Martha’s lack of education, she is able to read recipes and quick to learn new skills. Will JB marry her and help raise his children? Will he succeed at starting his dream job as a pub owner? More important, how will the character, who overshadows another book in the Sutherland Scandals, affect Martha and her family members? Her first born, from a young age, lacked empathy and refused to conform to social and physical limits.

For history lovers, this book gives the reader a sense of what life was when women had the right to own property but there still was no birth control for women so women often died when they had numerous children too often.

The Case of the Niceferatu: Dotty Morgan Supernatural Sleuth Book Four by Erik Martin

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 03:14:17 GMT

Guild member, Erik Christopher Martin recently published The Case of the Niceferatu¾his seventh published novel and fourth book in the Dotty Morgan Supernatural Sleuth series: The Case of the Niceferatu.

The book has been an astonishing success. For two days in the first week of January M was #1 in Children's Fantasy and Supernatural Mystery. It also hit #2 in Children's Paranormal Fantasy and Children's Mystery and Detective Adventure.

For about 2 days in the first week of January it was #1 in Children's Fantasy and Supernatural Mystery. It also hit #2 in Children's Paranormal Fantasy and Children's Mystery and Detective Adventure.

Elderton, North Carolina is home to Dotty Morgan, an inventive thirteen-year-old paranormal detective. Despite taking self-defense instruction for a year, Dotty is no fighter. She tries to protect her girlfriend, Hannah, when they are attacked in the locker room following one of Hannah’s wrestling matches. While it is Hannah who saves Dotty, the event awakens Dotty’s suspicions that paranormal individuals are present in her town.

Hannah, is injured as she saves a boy in a sledding incident. While the boy is unharmed, Hannah’s leg is broken. Not being able to be in wrestling competitions or to work in a self-defense studio, Hannah can no longer defend Dotty.

Now alone and wearing a mohawk with tailored clothes made by her close friend and fashion designer, Parker, Dotty endures daily teasing from the basketball team. Spitballs and humiliations become her new norm.

Parker’s dad is spending all his time with a beautiful woman client. Parker’s mom throws out his dad. His dad seems different. Parker tells Dotty that his father worries him.

Dotty discovers Parker’s father isn’t having just an affair with his client, the woman is turning him into a vampire. She also discovers a missing Elderton woman has become a vampire. Then she investigates a hidden apartment in a parking building. The residents tell her they only use the blood bank to feed themselves but say there are others who are blood-sucking monsters.

Dotty, her friend and housemate, Greg, and Greg’s vampire hunter father, investigate and try to stop the monster vampires. Some times they work together, sometimes not.

Tension ratchets up when Dotty learns a group of bad vampires plans to descend on the town for a gathering called the Fifty-Year Feast, where a large number of the town’s residents will be attacked, fed on, and killed.

Every chapter of Martin’s book is full of surprises and the pace never lags as each revelation raises the stakes. Dotty, a scientist at heart, struggles to find a cure for the vampires. Specifically, she wants to save Parker’s dad from becoming a full-fledged vampire. Will she succeed?

Martin’s paranormal creatures are unique. Some are harmful. Others need protection. In his four novels, Dotty invents ways to detect, understand, help or fight the paranormal. The Case of the Niceferatu is his best book so far.

In addition to writing books for YA and middle-grade readers, Erik Christopher Martin’s short fiction for adult readers has appeared on the Tales to Terrify Podcast, in Frontier Tales, Coffin Bell, The Potato Soup Journal, and various other anthologies and journals. He is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild (SDWEG). Visit www.DottyMorgan.com or www.ErikChristopherMartin.com.

We Hope to See You on Jan 24th at the Local Author Expo and Showcase Exhibit

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 19:36:14 GMT

The San Diego Central Library is hosting their 60th annual Celebration of San Diego County Local Authors on Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The celebration and Local Author Expo features books published in 2025 by local authors and includes SDWEG's anthology Good Luck With That as well as books by a number of Guild members. The Keynote Speech at the event will be Dr. Dean Nelson, founder and host of the Writers Symposium by the Sea and a previous Odin Award recipient from SDWEG.

While registration is not required, as a local author, it is highly recommended.

RSVP here.

You may have to confirm the selection of the SD Central Library before the registration page opens.

Larry M. Edwards Releases Another Rent Beacham Mystery

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 01:36:06 GMT

Construction workers in the San Juan Islands of Washington State discover the body of a man who had disappeared three decades earlier. Threats again haunt investigative journalist Rent Beacham as he turns to the San Diego Herald newspaper archives to dig into the man’s disappearance following a toxic-waste scandal in the wake of the America’s Cup sailing regatta in San Diego, California.

Rent confronts prominent property developer James Michael “Mike” Johnson, the former owner of the San Diego boatyard and whose son-in-law has thrown his hat in the ring to become the next congressman to represent California’s 25th Congressional District, which encompasses California’s Imperial Valley.

Rent exposes the Johnson family’s web of financial ties to ADU construction, hazardous waste disposal, lithium mining, and entities redeveloping a geothermal plant and solar arrays to power an artificial intelligence data center in what the local boosters have dubbed as “Lithium Valley.”

The threats escalate to include the lives of Rent’s loved ones as he connects the dots between the cold case, mysterious hazmat disposal activity, a clownish Congressional campaign, and the murky depths of AI avatars and deepfakes as election day looms.

Further threats and abductions portend a dramatic showdown with ruthless rogues cloaked in a veil of propriety as he closes in on those behind the three-decades-old murder.

Although this is a work of fiction, its inspiration emerged from current events, including the indisputable pitfalls posed by artificial intelligence.

Larry M. Edwards is an award-winning investigative journalist, author, editor, and publishing consultant. He has written six books and has edited more than 500 fiction and nonfiction books.

As a journalist, he has won numerous awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the San Diego Press Club, including four Best of Show honors. As business editor for San Diego Magazine, his reporting fueled the resignations of a corrupt CEO and an ineffective San Diego mayor.

As a nonfiction author, Edwards wrote Dare I Call It Murder?—A Memoir of Violent Loss, which took top honors in the San Diego Book Awards and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. It became a bestseller in Memoir and True Crime categories.

As an editor/publisher, one of his proudest moments came when Murder Survivors Handbook: Real-Life Stories, Tips & Resources by Connie Saindon received the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Gold Award from the Independent Book Publishers Association.

As a musician, he plays fiddle and bass and has composed nearly two dozen melodies.

Richard Opper releases "Oaks From Acorns Grow"

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 22:22:30 GMT

A review by Pennell Paugh

Richard G. Opper has released the last book in his Oakheart Trilogy, Oaks From Acorns Grow. It is written in deep point of view of each player in the story, including the criminals.

Mona Oakheart, goes to Guam to find her leading porn star, Tina.Upon Mona’s arrival, Tina is murdered by a judge who took advantage of her when she was a minor. In the midst of events, Mona falls in love with a female court psychiatrist. Upon Gary’s arrival in Guam, Mona ends her relationship with the former Navy and Harbor Police oﬃcer.

Mona decides to go back to school, hoping to help other women from exploitation. Unfortunately, danger is close at hand, as a group of rapists terrorizes the island of Guam. Meanwhile, Gary returns to San Diego to face the Tong, a criminal organization that aims to kidnap the war orphans for whom his father is caring.

As Mona confronts personal tragedy, she becomes aware of an unexpected miracle that will bind her to Gary for the rest of their lives.

The book, like the others in the Oakheart Trilogy, is written in an unusual style that is fast-paced and a pleasure to read.

Former professional photographer and TV-show host, Richard G. Opper later chose law school and went to UCLA where he met his wife, Ann Poppe. They have two grown children.

After graduating they opened a law partnership in Santa Cruz, but they were soon lured away to work for the Attorney General’s Office for the Territory of Guam. Their children were born on Guam, where the family enjoyed their sailboat and being part of the local community. Richard later became the Attorney General for the Territory, On his leaving the office, he was awarded membership in the Ancient Order of the Chamorri, one of the highest civilian honors the Government of Guam can bestow.

After leaving the island he landed in San Diego, where he established a career in environmental law and practiced the power of storytelling in jury trials. Richard was a frequent lecturer on the topic of brownfield redevelopment, and the US EPA sent him to Europe several times to describe cutting edge ideas to our European allies.

Opper is founding director of Progresso Fronterizo (Foundation for Border Progress), an organization focusing on environmental and health conditions along the US-Mexico border. For many years he was a board member for the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego.

Opper has published articles in the San Diego Union Tribune and professional journals. Oaks From Acorns Grow is his third novel.

The Deadly Stingaree by Cory Lynn Fayman

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 21:55:47 GMT

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

Corey Lynn Fayman stages his mystery in April 1891 in his latest novel, The Deadly Singaree. Fourteen-year-old Johnny Cong, an orphan of Scotts-Chinese parentage, who lives in the city’s Stingaree district, tells the story.

Taking advantage of opportunities that come his way, Cong ekes out a living driving a donkey cart, in spite of being treated with contempt like his African American friend. To gain free housing and a place to board his donkey, he watches over the animals in a barn where straw is his bed. He reports that San Diego is anticipating the arrival of Benjamin Harrison, the first US president to visit their city.

Norwegian, John Sigerson, hires Cong as a guide. Mysterious crimes occur that Sigerson investigates in a manner like Sherlock Holmes. Are the crimes linked together? Sigerson comes to believe the US president’s life be threatened. Will people believe him? An exciting thriller unfolds.

Fayman, claims a document was mysteriously delivered to his home that had been written by Johnny Cong. However, the book is written in modern English and Fayman does not sell the book as an authentic historical nonfiction story.

To Fayman’s credit, The Deadly Stingaree has a delightful cast of characters who stand out from the page, including the notorious gunslinger, Wyatt Earp. The book is compelling, at times exciting, and is always interesting.

Corey Lynn Fayman was born in La Jolla, CA. He holds a B.A. in English, with a specialization in creative writing and poetry from UCLA, and an M.A. in Educational Technology from San Diego State University. His creative career includes work as a musician, songwriter, sound designer, multimedia developer and college professor. He is the author of six mystery novels, including the San Diego Book Awards 2021 Geisel award winner Ballast Point Breakdown and the 2024 Shamus finalist Gillespie Field Groove.

Member, Richard Carrico publishes second book with Arcadia Publishing/The History Press

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 18:38:59 GMT

History buffs will love Richard Carrico’s new book, El Presidio de San Diego: Excavating Southern California’s Lost City. The author’s preview to European colonization is short but extensive. Carrico’s greatest focus is upon the presidio in San Diego, which was a Spanish military post as well as the first Catholic mission and settlement in California.

Begun by Franciscans, the El Presidio de San Diego was used as a stepping stone to spread Spain’s northern empire in California, which grew into twenty-one missions and four presidios. These settlements housed soldiers, wives, native workers, and passing travelers. Sometimes, acting as the only form of law, the post declared and carried out justice. As a result, it held a few prisoners.

Carrico states, “Erase any thoughts you might have about metal-helmeted conquistadors, soldiers in matching colorful uniforms, or purebred Spaniards living within the adobe walls. Except for the small contingent of Catalonian soldiers from Spain, few presidial occupants had ever set foot in Europe. Their homeland was in the New World, in the ever-expanding Spanish empire.”

The book shares fascinating findings of excavations done in and around the El Presidio de San Diego that began with limited digs in the late 1920s. Attention was renewed in 1965, and then more extensive archeological studies were performed between 1968 and 1976. The author shares intimate details about the digs in which he was involved.

From artifacts discovered, archaeologists pieced together how people lived in the late 1700s to the mid-1800s. Grave excavations also revealed diseases and deformities of the residents and how long people likely lived.

Below is an excerpt shows how Carrico can make historical events seem exciting:

“One of the major items sought from the Spaniards by the Kumeyaay was cloth. When Serra and his companions told the village leaders that no more cloth would be provided to them, a group of Kumeyaay sailors launched reed canoes and attacked the San Carlos anchored in the harbor. The disgruntled Native men attempted to slash the canvas sails and take them as overdue tribute. They were repelled by on-board guards. In response, additional guards were sent to the ship for protection, leaving the little Spanish camp nearly defenseless.

“In August 1769, realizing that most of the soldiers had gone north with Portolá or were on board the San Carlos, insurgents led by a powerful Kwaapaay named Naguasajo, attacked Serra’s little encampment. In what was described as a pitched battle, several persons on both sides were wounded and one young Spanish boy, a valet or servant from Guadalajara, was shot through the throat and killed. Ironically, seven years later, Serra met with Naguasajo in his prison cell at the presidio. Naguasajo had been arrested for his part in the sacking of the mission in November 1775. He remained steadfastly anti-Spaniard and recalcitrant.

“Over the next several months and then years, expeditions to the north continued, and new missions were established at Carmel, Padua and San Gabriel. Short on supplies, threatened by local Kumeyaay and with many of the sailors and soldiers still suffering from scurvy, the new outpost hung by a tenuous thread. From his command post to the north in Monterey, Lieutenant Pedro Fages bristled at the thought that he was expected to protect the missionaries. This set the stage for decades of competition between the military and the church, leading at times to outright animosity.

“For five years, the new settlers toiled on the hill to build a small church, housing for the troops, bastions to mount their two cannons and other elements of the fort. The term presidio, derived from presidium, meaning “to preside,” was applied to the settlement although it was not officially recognized as a royal presidio for several more years. Under Spanish law, the presidio and especially the mission were expected to fend for themselves, with only limited support from the Spanish government in Mexico City, more than eighteen hundred miles to the south and San Blas, thirteen hundred miles distant. The priests and colonists were instructed to grow their own crops; raise successful herds of cattle, pigs and horses; and defend the little hillside settlement from Native and foreign forces. For the first year, the military element consisted of fewer than ten ill-equipped men.”

About the Writer

Carrico is an award-winning author of nonfiction and historical fiction with a focus on Spanish borderlands archaeology, indigenous people, and true crime. Carrico grew up in San Diego before serving in the U.S. Army in the late 1960s. He holds a BA in history from San Diego State College and a BA in anthropology from San Diego State University. As a postgraduate, he earned an MA in history from the University of San Diego. He taught history, anthropology, and Native American studies at San Diego State University for thirty years before retiring in 2024.

For more than forty years, Carrico participated in archaeological studies in California, Baja California, Arizona, and Hawaii. He directed the San Diego Presidio excavations for two seasons and conducted research on the site for more than forty-five years. He has authored more than twenty academic articles that appeared in professional journals and at least twenty articles in popular magazines, including SkyWest Spirit, San Diego Home & Garden, San Diego Reader and Ranch & Coast Magazine. He has published five books on a variety of topics.

This book is Carrico’s second publication with Arcadia Publishing/The History Press. His book Ramona, in the Images of America series, was a well-received portrayal of a rural community. His Strangers in a Stolen Land, the story of San Diego County’s Native Americans, is used as a textbook at several universities. His most recent book, Monsters on the Loose, won second place at the 2024 Book Fest and was a Silver Falchion Award Finalist at the 2024 Killer Nashville event. His short story “Animals Who Talk, Sing, and Dance” received an Honorable Mention Award from Writer’s Digest Magazine. His most recent piece, Habla Espanol? If You Rodeo You Do was published in Cowboy Up rodeo magazine.

Library Shop SD's 2026 Matchbook Story Contest

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 01:50:19 GMT

The contest, in its 8th year, received over 500 entries and raised more than $5,000 for the San Diego Public Library system. The contest is an annual event, with the next one set to open for submissions on October 1, 2025

Impact: The contest is a fundraiser for the Library Foundation SD, with all proceeds supporting the San Diego Public Library system.

Submission: Entries are accepted online through the Library Shop SD website and are limited to fit inside a standard matchbook.

Prizes: The winner receives 50 matchbooks featuring their story, a $50 Library Shop gift card, their story published in the Library's newsletter, and an exhibition in the Hervey Family Rare Book Room's tiny book display.

Event: The winning story is celebrated at the "Shorties" event, which also includes readings from other finalists.

Sponsored By: San Diego Public Library Foundation

Save the Date for Festival U - September 20!

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 00:56:00 GMT

Festival U

A day of online learning

Saturday, September 20, 2025

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

$60 for seven sessions

Key Speakers & Sessions

Keynote: Actor, writer, and environmental activist Ed Begley Jr.

AI for Writers: A workshop led by Alma Katsu, an author with extensive intelligence experience.

Unleashing the Power of the Flash Essay: A session on essay writing led by Sue William Silverman.

The Art of the Children's Book: A session with Dr. Judith Orloff

Your participation helps keep the in-person San Diego Writers Festival free and accessible to everyone.

Guild Member, Thomas Wing publishes "Against All Enemies"

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 04:29:46 GMT

Thomas Wing, releases Against All Enemies. This gripping thriller ominously shows us a violent but possible reaction to America’s tariff war — China launches a full-scale surprise attack on the U.S. Capitol, Pentagon, military bases, and communication satellites. With weakened communications and a destroyed Congress, disorder descends upon Washington, DC.

Bill Wilkins, captain of the naval carrier, Nautilus, strikes back at the enemy in the South China Sea with surprising success. Thomas Wing, a retired Navy Surface Warfare officer, creates realistic interchanges while Wilkins attacks China’s naval fleet in three battles.

Meanwhile, Russia launches full-scale invasions on Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltic states, and NATO is left in shambles. While U.S. attention is elsewhere, Russia sends nukes to England, which then returns arms in kind.

Against All Enemies is gripping and enlightening about the U.S. military’s weaknesses and strengths. It provides an eerie depiction of the contemporary world sliding from our current military conflagration to global wars that destroy civilians in unimaginable numbers.

The KPBS San Diego Book Festival Is Coming Soon

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 22:38:03 GMT

Saturday, August 23, 2025

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Reserve your free general admission tickets now!

Let’s bring our community closer together through the shared experience of reading and discussing great books! The inaugural KPBS San Diego Book Festival on the University of San Diego campus is a free event for book lovers of all ages. Attendees will enjoy panel discussions with award-winning authors, activities, live entertainment, exhibitors including local authors and independent booksellers, and more.

Check out over 70 author exhibitors joining us this year in The Writers' Block area of the festival. Authors are listed in alphabetical order. The Writers' Block will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

https://cdn.kpbs.org/6f/66/b947777e4a79a25803a20c32cb60/book-graphics2.svg

San Diego Public Library Happenings in 2025

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 21:07:35 GMT

August 23 — Visit the Library Shop SD booth at the KPBS San Diego Book Festival featuring workshops, activities, photo booths, live entertainment, and award-winning authors. Registration is encouraged. Parking at USD is free.

September — Library Card Sign-up Month is the time San Diego joins libraries nationwide to promote library card sign-ups and the power and perks of the card.

October 1 - November 1 — The Library Shop SD's Matchbook Story Contest opens for entries into our San Diego's shortest story contest.

Acorn Publishing Debut Author Prize

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 01:12:38 GMT

In partnership with the San Diego Writers Festival and Coronado Public Library, Acorn Publishing is launching a nationwide contest to discover one exceptional unpublished author.

The winner will:

--receive a full-service publishing package valued at over $11,000.

-- be announced live on stage at the 2026 San Diego Writers Festival in Coronado, CA.

Key Dates

Submissions Open: August 15, 2025
Submission Deadline: November 15, 2025
Winner Announced: March 28, 2026 (Live at the Festival)

Submit

Visit Acorn Publishing Home Page starting on August 15th and follow promps at www.acornpublishingllc.com

Eligibility Snapshot

Open to unpublished authors (no prior published novels or memoirs)
Novels or memoirs only (50,000–95,000 words)
Submission fee: $35
Writers must be 18+ and submit an original manuscript in English

The winner will be selected based on voice, execution, and overall breakout potential.

Learn More

Contact: Holly Kammier, Co-Founder, Acorn Publishing CONTACT@ACORNPUBLISHINGLLC.COM

www.acornpublishingllc.com www.sandiegowritersfestival.com https://www.facebook.com/AcornPublishingLLC https://www.instagram.com/acornpublishing/ https://www.instagram.com/sdwritersfest/

Loving Lavender Finch by Kelly Bargabos

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:40:00 GMT

It isn’t the trauma that almost ruins Lavender, it is the shame she swallows when she keeps a sexual assault she experiences at a college party a secret. As she pushes away those closest to her, she finds herself alone and lonely.

To her former fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Gordon, she’s the reliable babysitter; to her devoted extended family, she’s the beloved daughter, niece, and cousin; and to Jana, who attends the same high school, she is best friend. But her assault at a college party, leaves Lavender terrified of being truly seen and known.

Lavender unexpectedly forms loving relationships with a boy pen pal in Cuba that she’s never met, and a grandmother who usually doesn’t remember who Lavender is.

When her lies begin unraveling in a very public way, how will others treat Lavender?

This book kept me glued to the page, wondering how it would end for Lavender.

Debbie Wastling Released Book Three of the Bell Family Series

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 19:47:43 GMT

SDWEG member, Debbie Wastling has released her third book in the Bell Family Series.

In the early 20^th century in Northern England, Elizabeth writes to her two daughters, sharing her memories as she is dying of ovarian cancer.

She tells of her travails when both her parents died while she was in grade school. Her oldest brother, an estranged bastard offspring of her parents, runs the family pub and quickly runs it to the ground. After that, Elizabeth and her younger brother, not yet finished with schooling, struggle to survive with the help of wealthy family members.

At 19, Elizabeth meets the love of her life while she distributes suffragette pamphlets. Percy is not high-born, but he is hard-working. He, too, lost his parents at a young age. He and Elizabeth form a strong friendship that helps each of them bear and overcome life’s challenges.

Through Elizabeth’s stories, the reader learns what daily life is like for women living before and after WWI. During the war, she becomes an ambulance driver, and her husband, though not enlisted, is separated from the family to oversee the repair of damaged ships.

Women fill men’s jobs while men are away at war; however, when men return home, many resist allowing women to fill men’s jobs or even to wear trousers. It is even frowned on for a woman to bicycle to work. These, and other facts, portray the culture and customs related to British females. By the end of the book, women over 30 years old have gained the right to vote.

Wastling brings history to life by sharing details of daily life down to cooking, sewing family members’ clothes, knitting and crocheting sweaters, and even how to get around using an outhouse in the winter; in this way, we see how women and their families lived in pre-industrial times.

Whether you are a history buff or a general fiction lover, this book is an enjoyable read.

SDWEG Member M. Lee Buompensiero Publishes First in a New Mystery Series

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 01:58:13 GMT

M. Lee Buompensiero, has released her first novel in the Spirit Club Mystery series. Something Wicked features a reluctant heroine, Sophie Lawton, who not only sees and talks to ghosts, she solves crimes with their help. An aunt Sophie has never met, dies and leaves Volare Investigations to her.

A librarian by training, Sophie resists the calling to run her dead relative’s investigative services. However, her first case involves a kidnapping that very much resembles her birth mother’s unsolved case. With the help of a ghost secretary, Maude, and Maude’s deceased, disgraced police investigator ex-husband, Sophie becomes convinced to join forces with the couple to solve a girl's disappearance. It's a race against time to save the girl before a serial killer makes the girl his next trophy victim. Sophie battles against the odds to find the missing girl before it's too late.

I like the idea that ghosts might be helpful to a detective and that they are unpredictable; often disappearing just when they are about to disclose valuable information. I highly recommend this book, even to people who are afraid of ghost stories.

Marcia has published a mystery novel: Sumerland, which was winner of the 2017 San Diego Book Awards, Best Published Mystery category. Writing under the pseudonym "Loren Zahn," she has published the Theo Hunter mystery series: Dirty Little Murders (2009/2017), Deadly Little Secrets (2015), and Fatal Little Lies (2018). Deadly Little Secrets was a finalist in the 2015 San Diego Book Awards unpublished manuscript division.

Marcia acted as Managing Editor and publisher of ten anthologies for the Guild between 2013 and 2019. She is the publisher of five novels and biographical work for authors, including members of SDWEG. She holds the office of Treasurer as a member of the Guild's board of directors.

Award Winning Debut Novel by SDWEG Member Muffy Walker

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 19:18:44 GMT

SDWEG member, Muffy Walker celebrates the release of her debut novel, Memory Weavers. The book has received the Firebird Book Award, the Literary Titan Silver Book Award, the Hawthorne Prize, and was selected as finalist for the 2025 International Impact Book Awards in the Women's Fiction category.

Rachel, in her early twenties, was raped in her college dorm. Traumatized, she quit college. At age 28, she continued to suffer from panic attacks and sometimes hallucinated a replay of her rape.

Hadley, in her forties, has three children and a loving husband. Unfortunately, she has a form of early-onset Alzheimer’s.

Meeting in a psychiatric practice waiting room, the two women form a supportive friendship. Their bond strengthens as each struggles with individual memory issues.

Memory Weavers helps the reader to understand the struggle of each woman and shows how their conditions affect their family members. The story attests to the power of friendship. Rachel gains needed help to recover and heal while Hadley’s husband and children benefit from Rachel’s friendship as they cope with the painful decline of their parent and wife.

The KPBS San Diego Book Festival Is Coming Soon

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 02:50:35 GMT

The KPBS San Diego Book Festival will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2025, 10 AM – 4 PM.

Location: University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park Way, San Diego, CA 92110.

Admission: General admission is free; however, registration is strongly encouraged. Parking on the USD campus is complimentary for Festival attendees.

Activities: This event is for book and library lovers of all ages. Enjoy workshops, photo booths, live entertainment, panel discussions with award-winning authors, and more!

Integrating Nutrition and Mental Health Care by Dr. Ruth Leyse Wallace

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 23:24:34 GMT

Long time SDWEG member, Dr. Ruth Leyse Wallace, recently released her fourth book, Integrating Nutrition and Mental Health Care.

While the book is written for clinical settings, it is written in plain English and offers sensible nutritional facts. I found it helpful in my everyday life and recommend it to the general public

Here is an excerpt from the book:

Mental health counselors, psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists realize that nutrition may be a factor in their clients’ mental health, but a lack of nutritional science background and resources makes it difficult for them to incorporate nutrition into the care they provide. Likewise, registered dietitian nutritionists new to the field of mental health care (whether in a facility or in private practice) may feel the need for succinct resources geared to this area of nutritional care. Integrating Nutrition and Mental Health Care illuminates the intersection between nutrition and mental health, bridging the gap for professionals in both fields. It presents resources in areas such as caffeine intake, family history of a genetically transmitted nutrition-related condition, interpretation of laboratory nutritional assessment, and safe upper limits of supplements, as well as additional nutrition factors, helping practitioners easily incorporate selected nutritional aspects into the mental health care of clients.

Wallace received her doctorate from the University of Arizona in Tucson. She practiced clinical dietetics in the areas of mental health, eating disorders, substance abuse, and general psychiatry at Osawatomie State Hospital in Osawatomie, Kansas; at The Menninger Foundation in Topeka, Kansas; and at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital in San Diego, California. While in Topeka, in the early 1980s, she established one of the first private practices for nutrition counseling in the state.

Wallace served as an adjunct faculty member at Pima County College in Tucson and Mesa Community College in San Diego. She has published three books: Nutrition and Mental Health, Linking Nutrition to Mental Health: A Scientific Exploration, and The Metaparadigm of Clinical Dietetics: Derivation and Applications.

A 50-year member of the American Dietetic Association (ADA), now the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, she has been an active contributor to the Behavioral Health Nutrition (BHN) dietetic practice group in the Academy serving as Mental Health Resource Professional on the Executive Committee and as co- author of the 2018 revision of the Standards of Practice and Standards of Professional Performance for the BHN dietetic practice group. In 2010, she was presented the BHN Excellence in

JR Strayve JR's Third Book in His Braxton Century Series

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 10:58:20 GMT

Guild member, JR Stayer, JR has produced his third book in the Braxton Century series — a historical fantasy set in the late Victorian, Edwardian, and early 20th century. Braxton, as Europe hurtles toward war and revolutions ignite across continents, possesses the foresight to shape the future. He builds wealth that rivals that of Elon Musk, all while navigating two world wars, secret intelligence networks, and the deadly schemes of those who would see him ruined. Being a prince, a financial genius, and a man of varied sexual appetites, Braxton lives an enviable life and eventually becomes King of the British Empire.

For those who revel in historical persons of power and influence, your fantasies will be fulfilled.

Fourth of July Recommended Books

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 21:43:39 GMT

These Truths: A History of the United States, by acclaimed historian and New Yorker writer Jill Lepore, is a one-volume history of America that is devoted to facts, proof, and evidence. The American experiment rests on three ideas―"these truths," Jefferson called them―political equality, natural rights, and the sovereignty of the people. Has America lived up to them?

American Revolutions: A Continental History, 1750-1804 by Alan Taylor provides a comprehensive overview of the era. The Constitution, which provided the nation its democratic framework, is the book’s focus. Alan Taylor is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner.

1776 by David McCullough offers a compelling narrative of the Revolutionary War's early years. The book tells how the average American and Brit felt about the war. Center stage was George Washington, whose actions made a critical difference in America’s claim to independence.

Washington's Crossing by Pulitzer Prize-winning David Hackett Fischer, focuses on the pivotal battles of Trenton and Princeton. American guerrillas, defying military convention, fought in plain clothes, believing they had a natural right to take up arms in defense of their laws and liberties. It was their uprising that created an opportunity for George Washington to succeed.

In Harm's Way is an action-packed historical story set during America’s War of Independence, which is based on actual naval battles. The author explores how the settlers could not pay ship captains to work for their cause, so early American sea warriors lived as pirates and lived off their plunder of English ships. In the end, they struck fear into the hearts of British shippers around the globe.

Central Oregon Writers’ Conference

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 23:37:57 GMT

The Central Oregon Writers’ Conference, October 17-19, 2025, at the beautiful River House Lodge will help you get where you want to go as a writer, not to mention, the conference will be so. much fun!

Register by July 1 and save $50. If you apply the discount code: COWG2024, you will save an additional $25—that’s $75 in savings if you act soon!

PLEASE NOTE: On the shopping cart page, the banner will appear as the Southern California Writers’ Conference (tech glitch they haven’t been able to fix). BUT the cart will list your item(s) as COWC. Rest assured, you are paying for the Central Oregon Writers’ Conference.

Here are a couple of session descriptions to whet your appetite include:

Setting the Mood with Place and Purpose
Workshop leader: Kathryn (Kat) Mattingly, accomplished author and writing instructor. Setting, location, is more than just backdrop—it’s a powerful tool for establishing atmosphere and reinforcing narrative grounding. Here, we’ll distinguish the “what” from the “who,” the how, and the why.

Soul Therapy: Sculpting Your Memoir’s Story
Workshop leader: Cherie Kephart, accomplished author and writing coach who specializes in memoir (see bio on website). Writing a memoir is a journey beyond words. In this workshop, we will explore the fears that block us, the truth behind our intentions for writing our stories, how to discover the real message we are communicating, what to focus on, what to let go of, and how this entire experience transforms us.

The cart banner will be fixed by the first week in July, but if you wait until the website is perfect, you’ll miss out on your $50 discount, so register NOW!

Carpool with your writing friends [or grab a quick flight to the Redmond airport]. Enjoy a beautiful room at the Riverhouse Lodge on the Deschutes River—maybe share it with a friend. This conference will be an experience to remember.

The organizers can’t wait to see you there!

Melinda West and the Gremlin Queen (Monster Gunslingers Book 2)

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 23:39:12 GMT

SDWEG Member, KC Grifant, has released a second in her Monster Gunslingers series. Sharpshooters Melinda and Vance come out of retirement to fight an unbeatable foe.

Melinda uses her steady hand, cool head, and a no-nonsense attitude. Her partner, Lance, brings charm along with firepower. Together, they fight a psychologically persuasive swarm of gremlins who are hellbent on world domination.

Fast-paced, full of novel twists and unexpected outcomes, Melinda fights monsters from her past as she struggles, to mentally and physically, overcome the Gremlin Queen and her hive.

Can the couple survive and overcome?

Jacob Hubbard, SDWEG member, has written a debut novel

Sat, 31 May 2025 01:29:07 GMT

Sounds of Yesterday is about a romantic relationship during COVID as experienced by an autistic man.

For five years, Rob and Ana overcome career challenges, achieve emotional stability, and survive a global pandemic. Though they each achieve successes, Ana ends their relationship.

Rob’s world is shattered. He blames himself. Traumas are reopened, and forgotten insecurities play center stage in his thoughts.

As he mourns, he comes to see that Ana worked in an abusive workplace and had a harsh, demanding mother. Unable to share about the pains in her life, she slowly falls into a depression, and becomes unable to give or receive love.

Murder on the Way: A Camino de Santiago Mystery By Peter Shaw

Sat, 31 May 2025 01:19:46 GMT

SDWEG member, Peter Shaw, has released his debut novel, Murder on the Way.

A bag of money has gone missing and the Italian mob wants it back. Joey, who found the cash in a cave, intends to make a new life, beginning with a Camino pilgrimage from France to Spain. The mob sends a hitman, Max, who poses as a pilgrim. On his way, he learns about the Camino and the history of its sites. Meanwhile, Joey hopes to evade detection with plastic surgery. Will he escape Max’s notice?

Long-time SDWEG member, M. Lee Buompensiero [we know her as Marcia] has written an award-winning novel, Sumerland.

Fri, 30 May 2025 23:03:32 GMT

Long-time SDWEG member, M. Lee Buompensiero [we know her as Marcia] has released an award-winning novel, Sumerland. The story is full of romance, unusual hauntings, and heart-warming dog crises and mishaps.

Kate Post inherits the San Diego historical Liebersohn mansion after her mother, whom she rarely saw and barely knew, dies. Kate doesn't want the house, nor any reminder of her mother's abandonment. Leaving with every intention of returning to San Francisco, Kate stumbles and falls in front of the house. An odd inscription etched in concrete beside a garden pathway catches her eye that haunts her dreams and changes her mind. She will do a period restoration on the house and make for a quick sale. This will take it off her hands for good.

Francis and Marie-Claire Liebersohn have unfinished business—they want someone to set the record straight seventy years after their deaths. Their hauntings reveal family secrets and awaken Kate to paranormal realities. Prompted by her friend, Lulu, Kate adopts a new mission to set matters right for living relatives, including herself.

Kate’s romance with her dog’s vet seems real to life. The dog that pulls Kate into committing to a totally new life is endearing. The melting of Kate’s heart by the dog is realistic and heartwarming. The disturbing hauntings that Kate witnesses turn out to have a positive purpose. I loved this story. I couldn’t put it down.

Thank Ye, Mister Sun by Bob Riffenburgh

Fri, 30 May 2025 18:26:57 GMT

Award-winning SDWEG member, Bob Riffenburgh, has written a charming historical fiction novel about Appalachia, 1939-40.

Thirteen-year-old Ronson Allen, stays hungry after dinner because there isn’t enough food to go around. Nevertheless, he feels carefree, loves his family, and is happy playing with his best friend, Harry. Everything changes when Ronson’s beloved sister is assaulted.

The book focuses on the stark realities of social class. The Allens are poor and fear retribution by the town’s wealthy because members of the privileged victimized their daughter. When his parents don’t seek justice, with Harry’s help, Ronson takes that goal upon himself.

The boys slowly evolve a risky plan. Though scared, they pursue their scheme to exact revenge.

The story is written in the dialect used by the poor; however, the book is readable and optimistic. Rich with life lessons, the story Riffenburgh tells is a gem.

Thomas Wing releases second book, "In Harm's Way

Sun, 25 May 2025 01:44:14 GMT

In Harm's Way is an action-packed historical story set during America’s War of Independence. Wing says he based his story on actual naval battles. The details Wing provides about those times are interesting and compelling.

The main character, Captain Jonas Hawke, returns home to Norfolk after several months of trading in the Indies and the Caribbean. Norfolk, and other Atlantic colonial ports, are blockaded by the British. They take Jonas’s ship and its contents, belonging to Jonas’s father-in-law. Suffering personal losses due to British abuse of power, along with their haughtiness toward colonists, Jonas repairs his own ship, the Resolute, and serves the colonial congress.

Living as a privateer meant that Jonas and his crew lived like pirates. They attacked British vessels in the seas south of Florida, made trade friendships with local islanders, and lived off their booty. In time, Jonas successfully challenges the British’s naval dominance in the area.

In Harm's Way has interesting characters that draw the reader into a heroic story. I loved how Wing weaves his story while showing the rise of conflict between the colonists and the British. The descriptions are spellbinding, and the narration paints a vivid picture of the terrifying challenges ships and sailors faced in sea battles and in turbulent waters.

Wing wrote In Harm’s Way from a desire to explore the topic of America’s early sea warriors and how they struck fear into the hearts of British shippers around the globe. Wing’s award-winning first novel, Against All Enemies, was released in 2023.

The author will mark the release of In Harm's Way at a public launch party aboard HMS Rose/Surprise at the Maritime Museum on June 14 at 1 p.m.; a signing at Barnes and Noble, Encinitas, on June 21 at 2 p.m.; and a signing at Bay Books in Coronado on June 22 at noon.

SDWEG member, Melodie Bac, has written a debut mythic novel.

Thu, 22 May 2025 23:16:29 GMT

Living on Earth, nineteen-year-old Carmen has no idea she carries the soul of mighty Phoenix's son, Anka. Legend has it that the Phoenix bird was born on the planet Crictus. He granted the Queen of Crictus's wish and gave her two sons: Anka and Inca.

The twins possess their father's ability to make their bodies mortal and their souls immortal. When the queen dies, Anka and Inca engage in a war for the Crictus throne that endures for centuries.

Carmen is hunted by her soul's twin, Inca, and discovers the truth—she is the heir to the Crictus throne. With the help of Anka's guardian, Emerald Ron, she travels to Crictus to claim her throne. She faces evil Inca, the last soul hunter who can kill her indefinitely, along with his loyal followers.

Will Carmen succeed in claiming her throne?

SDWEG Member M.L. Meurs releases debut novel Camp Salvador

Wed, 21 May 2025 22:40:24 GMT

Written in first-person, Camp Salvadore reads like a memoir. Ellis Robinson shares her experiences in Baja, Mexico, where roughly built homes have a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean.

Being a sharp, patient, kind soul she tolerates the many conflicts her neighbors experience and sometimes cause. Over time, the presence of the cartel is felt as bodies are found on the camp’s beach. Her time at the camp ends with an astonishing conclusion.

The book is as enjoyable as a vacation. And like life, it has its conflicts and surprising turns.

On Two Legs and Three Wheels Review

Wed, 21 May 2025 22:20:45 GMT

On Two Legs and Three Wheels is by SDWEG member, Cary Lowe. Multiple sclerosis disabled the legs of the author’s wife twenty years ago, making her rely on a mobility scooter. Lowe shares two dozen tales of their travels, from the Arctic Ocean to tropical islands, from deserts and mountains to urban centers, via planes, trains, cars, buses, and ships.

Their adventures show the range of reachable destinations. Through the author’s wonderful descriptions of sites, flora and fauna, views, accommodations, and restaurants, the reader vicariously enjoys each trip.

Catherine Pope, EdD releases debut memoir

Sat, 17 May 2025 21:22:12 GMT

Catherine Pope, EdD writes about her struggle to gain social justice.

As a 19-year-old black college student, Pope set her sights on the Miss America Crown. She began by winning the 1969 Miss Omaha beauty pageant, where she was promised a four-year college scholarship. However, the following year, though she won talent contests, in 1970, Pope did not receive any recognition, let alone receive the Miss Nebraska award. A photo in her book of pageant contestants shows a line of blondes with bouffant hairdos, where Pope and another dark-haired white lady who sit in the foreground, stand out as the most beautiful.

Though Pope’s neighbors showed support, many expressed fears of white backlash as she ran for each contest. Whites called her family and threatened them regularly; often demeaning Pope as an unworthy Miss Omaha winner. However, she wore her crown as she attended civil rights protests and demonstrations. When she lost the Miss Nebraska honor, she experienced it as a personal failure. Nevertheless, she also thought of her loss as a failure of white society to grow and encourage blacks to realize their abilities. Sadly, not until 1984 did the first black woman receive the Miss America pageant.

In every regard, Pope stands out as a winner, personally, professionally, and socially. Her example inspires me to challenge myself and to do more for others.

Book Review of Al Converse's Vermonter

Wed, 14 May 2025 21:45:53 GMT

Long time SDWEG member, Al Converse, departed from his usual genre of humorous who-dunits to write a historical fiction book about his great-grandfather’s experience as he served in Company G of the Thirteenth Vermont Volunteers, Second Vermont Brigade in the Union Army that fought at Gettysburg, PA.

Converse details the way of life for the government’s soldiers during the Civil War. The food was inadequate. Though they had uniforms, the soldiers only had one set, which they wore daily. In addition to being scratchy, their wool pants were hot, and their brogan boots fell apart as they walked. Rarely having a chance to clean their uniforms, the men endured lice most of the time. Only when they stayed somewhere more than a couple of days did they get a chance to boil their clothes and gain some relief from the bugs.

Converse and his troop enlisted for nine months. They spent most of their time walking and camping thirty or so miles outside Washington, DC; probably to protect the capitol city from attack. Only when called on to go to Pennsylvania did the men know they would be experiencing battle. The book depicts all emotions from fear to determination to win, as Converse nears the battle site.

Vermonter depicts the famous Gettysburg battle and gives a sense of its vastness. Details of Converse and his troop during the battle actions are clear and moving. Converse’s troop fought valiantly, and to their relief they found Confederate soldiers raised their hands in surrender to the Union.

Though I have a distaste for battle scenes, Converse won me over. He wrote with such clarity and passion, with meaningful details, I felt breathless from the time Nathan Converse is told that his troop will be packing to go to battle until he returns to his farm and greets his sweetheart.

Since 2012, Converse has published short stories in The Guilded Pen, an anthology produced by the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. His first novel, Bitch'n, a coming-of-age thriller, set in the 1959 beach town, Coronado, was published in 2012. In his second novel, Die Again, a college student's life changes when he catches a serial killer. His novel, Boston Boogie is an adventure thriller set in 1963 Boston. The Baja Moon was his fourth novel. In 2016 he released News from the East, an action adventure set in 1974. In 2017 he completed Flagship, a novel based on his experience in the Vietnam War. In 2018 he released, Hornwinkle Hustle, a cold case thriller. In 2019, Jack Blue was released that addressed some moral questions as Mo Harris solves a murder.

Query Letter Follow-up

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 17:55:56 GMT

The amazing and generous Jonathan Maberry shared with us last October a number of tips on the steps to follow to get our work published. You can review the recording of that workshop here: https://www.sdweg.org/Workshop-Replay-Videos#Maberry

In addition, Rose de Guzman included a number of tips on writing query letters in her prsentation to the Author Marketing Support group in February of this year. You can review the recording of that session here: https://www.sdweg.org/Marketing-Replay-Videos/#Feb2025

Note that the recorded replays of our meetings are only available to current members when they are logged in. If you would like access to our replay libraries, consider joining the Guild for that and other benefits.

We've pulled out a few of the main points from Jonathan's presentation and gathered information from other sources regarding writing a query letter for this blog post. Watch for other blog posts on other topics Jonathan touched on in his presentation.

What is a Query Letter?

After completing your manuscript, submitting a query letter is the first step to getting your book published. Query letters are an avenue for literary agents to learn about your book idea, so it's important to set a good first impression and generate interest. A well-written query letter is key to signing your book and finding someone to represent you for publication.

Essential parts of a query letter

A query letter will typically follow this general structure:

Introduction
Story description
Comp titles
Author's biography
Closing

Let's dive into how you should approach each part.

Introduction

In your introduction, address the audience and your purpose for reaching out.

Devising a hook

Since agents go through multiple query letters a day, you should open your letter with something strong and attention-grabbing. Mentioning a point of connection, such as a previous meeting or referral, can be a good starting point if applicable.

Otherwise, open with something related to your story.

Introducing your novel

Make sure to include these 3 basic (but crucial) pieces of information about your manuscript:

Title
Genre
Wordcount

Story description

The story description will comprise the bulk of the query letter and is arguably the most important part. In your description, include your protagonist(s), general plot, and anything else your audience should know. Since a query letter only runs about one page, brevity is essential. Give agents a taste of your writing style, but make sure the description doesn't go into extraneous detail (something between 150 and 180 words is usually recommended). Lastly, remember that you need to hook your audience. Agents should be interested in your idea from the get-go and compelled to read more.

Comp titles

To strengthen your query letter, mention any comparable titles (comp titles for short) that are similar to your manuscript. The idea is that through the provided titles, agents will be able to get a sense of your novel's intended audience and market.

If you find that there are no novels that quite fit the scope of your book, comp titles are completely optional.

Author’s biography

Make sure to include a brief introduction to yourself, including any previous works, awards, or other achievements in the writing.

Closing

Politely thank your reader for their time. This is also where you place your call to action—a request to the agent to check out your manuscript.

Notes:

To maximize success, personalize your letters to individual agents' requirements and preferences. Some agents might require comp titles, for example, while for others comp titles are more of a suggestion.

For an example of a query letter, check out this version by Jonathan Maberry:

This summary of key points in writing a synopsis was prepared by Rita Sithideth, a student volunteer supporting the Guild.

Synopsis Follow-up

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 17:35:33 GMT

We've pulled out a few of the main points from Jonathan's presentation and gathered information from other sources regarding writing a synopsis. Watch for other blog posts on other topics Jonathan touched on in his presentation.

What is a synopsis?

A synopsis is a summary that outlines the basic plot of a novel. Synopses differ from blurbs—the short summaries on the backs of books that attempt to hook and entice readers. Instead, they function as references to help agents and editors quickly get a sense of what a story is about. This summary should cover all major characters, plot points, conflicts, and narrative arcs. An important distinction from the blurb is that your synopsis should also tell the audience how your book ends. A synopsis should be succinct but thorough, giving a full picture of what agents and editors can expect.

How should a synopsis be written?

A synopsis should strike a balance between showmanship and simplicity.

It isn't a mechanical summary. One common mistake authors make is focusing solely on beat-by-beat plot progression. A strong synopsis should also include the characters' internal motivations and emotional stakes, which add depth to the story. A synopsis can be an opportunity to generate interest in a book idea and showcase an author’s writing ability. However, authors shouldn't veer too hard into selling their novel; the document shouldn’t resemble a blurb or marketing pitch.

The common advice that's often repeated to writers is to show rather than tell. When writing a synopsis, however, authors should focus more on telling the events of the story rather than showing them. Because a condensed version of a story is being presented, it's important to be clear and concise. Specificity should be included to provide context, but authors should refrain from cluttering with stylistic prose or excessive detail.

A synopsis typically falls between one to two pages, but the length will vary depending on submission requirements. The following example synopsis outlines the plot of the popular novel, Pride and Prejudice. Note: This synopsis was generated by AI and may not meet the requirements of all agents or publishers.

Pride and Prejudice follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy as they navigate love, societal expectations, and their own personal growth in early 19th-century England.
The novel opens with the arrival of Mr. Bingley, a wealthy young bachelor, to the Netherfield estate near the Bennet family home. Mrs. Bennet, eager to see her five daughters married, is thrilled at the prospect. At a local ball, Bingley takes an immediate liking to Jane, the eldest Bennet daughter, while his friend Mr. Darcy is perceived as proud and disagreeable, particularly by Elizabeth, the second eldest Bennet daughter.

As the story unfolds, Elizabeth's prejudice against Darcy grows, fueled by his apparent interference in Jane and Bingley's budding romance and his alleged mistreatment of Mr. Wickham, a charming militia officer. Meanwhile, Darcy finds himself increasingly drawn to Elizabeth's wit and intelligence, despite his initial reservations about her family's social status.

The plot thickens with the arrival of Mr. Collins, a pompous clergyman and heir to the Bennet estate, who proposes to Elizabeth. She refuses him, much to her mother's dismay. Collins then marries Elizabeth's friend, Charlotte Lucas.

A turning point occurs when Darcy, having fallen in love with Elizabeth, proposes to her. She rejects him, confronting him about his role in separating Jane and Bingley and his treatment of Wickham. Darcy responds with a letter explaining his actions, causing Elizabeth to reassess her judgments.

The story takes a dramatic turn when Lydia, the youngest Bennet sister, elopes with Wickham. Darcy secretly intervenes to ensure their marriage, saving the Bennet family from scandal. This act, along with his renewed efforts to unite Bingley and Jane, leads Elizabeth to recognize her growing affection for him.

In the end, both Elizabeth and Darcy overcome their pride and prejudices. Bingley and Jane are happily engaged, and Darcy proposes to Elizabeth again. This time, she accepts, having realized the true nature of his character.

Throughout the novel, Austen masterfully explores themes of love, marriage, social class, and personal growth, all while offering a witty critique of the societal norms of her time. The character development of Elizabeth and Darcy, as they move from misunderstanding and dislike to mutual respect and love, forms the heart of this enduring classic.

General guidelines to follow

Write in the third person
Use present tense
Follow normal formatting (e.g., single-spaced, 12 pt font)
Follow grammar, spelling, and punctuation rules
Follow the same structure of your novel from beginning to end

Additionally, you should reference the requirements of the agent or editor to whom you’re sending your synopsis. Submission guidelines can vary by publishing house, so make sure to tailor your document to fit what’s expected.

See Jonathan's sample synopsis from his website here.

This summary of key points in writing a synopsis was prepared by Rita Sithideth, a student volunteer supporting the Guild.

2024 Mini-Local Author Showcase

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:11:53 GMT

Thanks to the members who shared their 2024 published works at our Year-end Celebration in December. Seventeen members showed off their recently published books and gave an elevator pitch to encourage others to read them. One member who planned to present wasn't able to attend. We've included her book in this post.

Reviews are the lifeblood of an author. We encourage members who read any of the below books to leave a review on Amazon, Good Reads, or any other platform where the books can be found.

Chris August —two books to the showcase which were published in 2024: Planet Redshine Silly Farm by Lily Tessie Lamb (pen name) and Deadly Trouble by Heartley Penna (pen name). Redshine Trilogy II which is a compilation of three previous Silly Space Books.

Join the yuks at the Silly Farm with the arrival of Quintuplets Shasme, Rose, Jazzy, Pendo and Eldoor. Queen Rocksea and King Bup adopt rescue animals from Planet Goof-Up and the fun begins. Meet Pierre Poodarilla, Pinky the Cata-Dilly, Tiny the Croc-Maloon and more. See ya at the Silly Farm!

24-year-old Cookie Blonde lands a PI job with Raz Investigations and jumps into an ocean of trouble in sunny San Diego. Follow the addictive action from the Embarcadero to Little Italy as real estate mogul Thornton Peters and his family are targeted for disaster. Cookie and Raz take the case and become entangled inside a fishnet of murder.

This is a compilation of the following books:

*Honeymoon at Moon Splash Motel *Nile Noodles *Magical Muzzie Tinkerbot

Join the fun and enjoy the yuks on Planet Redshine!

Bert-Oliver Boehmer – Galacticide

Galacticide is the third and final novel about Kel Chaada’s journey through an epic inter-galactic conflict and its mind-bending consequences. The story follows the events from the award-winning novels Three Immortals and Dark Cascade.

No cause. No effect. Causality stops and reality shatters.

Kel Chaada believed to have beaten the extra-galactic menace when rigged AI cores blew the Võmémééř’s galactic realm apart. Sheltered from the explosions, the alien Brood Mother survived, mourning billions of her children, burning with vengeance.

One breeding couple is all it takes to re-build an army, but the Brood Mother’s target is neither Kel, nor space fleets: It is reality itself. No universe hostile to the Mother’s children shall remain.

Richard Carrico – Monsters on the Loose

In 1931, San Diego’s idyllic image as a beach town with peaceful suburbs concealed a harrowing reality: a series of unsolved crimes targeting women, fueling fear and vulnerability. MONSTERS ON THE LOOSE tells the tragic and true stories of three women murdered early that year: Virginia Brooks, Louise Teuber, and Hazel Bradshaw. Local law enforcement, out-of-town criminologists, and investigators from what would become the FBI pursued hundreds of leads. Statewide, newspapers covered every angle and clue and sometimes played a role in the investigations. Yet, the killer(s) were never identified and brought to justice. In MONSTERS ON THE LOOSE, award-winning author and historian Richard L. Carrico pieces fragments of evidence together for three cold cases, shedding light on a dark chapter in San Diego's history. More than ninety years after the murders, Carrico emerges as an advocate for the victims, meticulously reconstructing their stories. Immersed in dusty files, long-forgotten oral histories, and newly discovered investigation records, his primary objective remains unwavering: to seek justice for the three young women. With no witnesses to the crimes, the significance of circumstantial evidence and speculation, both then and now, became paramount. And he may have even solved one of the murders.

Larry Edwards - Chariot Canyon: A Rent Beacham Mystery

When investigative journalist Rent Beacham looks into reports of welfare fraud, he has no clue his investigation not only will take him into a remote, semi-lawless area of San Diego County, but that a twist of fate will give his probe a more personal—and deadly—nature than he ever imagined.

As Rent digs deeper, he suspects a sinister criminal enterprise lies behind the fraudulent activity. When horseback riders discover human remains at an abandoned gold mine in historic Chariot Canyon, a murder investigation increases the complexity—and danger—of Rent’s attempt to uncover the truth.

While this story is fiction, the fraud at the heart of this story is not. Join journalist Rent Beacham as his deep dive into welfare fraud drags him into the dark depths of Chariot Canyon.

Zoe Ghahremani - Memory Garden

A lively afternoon together in Nana’s garden is full of laughter, discovery, and connection. In lyrical text that blends past and present, Memory Garden takes us to the places we leave behind but never forget.

Written and illustrated by a loving mother daughter duo, the nostalgic text and vibrant illustrations invite us to enjoy the beauty of Iranian gardens – and culture - in an adventure that will resonate with readers of all backgrounds.

Robert Glick – Finding Your Quantum Sense, How to Enhance Mindfulness, Perception, and Creativity

We live in a quantum world. This book explores the effects of quantum fluctuations on your mind and body, where sensation and learning take place, and offers guidance to tap into your own quantum sense.

QUANTUM SENSE is common sense, It is your spark of curiosity, adaptation and change found in the unravelling of the universe and the mutation of neural connections that give voice to consciousness. It kisses life and light, breath and death, language and thought, drama and emotion. It hides in green buds and black decay, in every face of creation and destruction. Resolute and beautiful, terrifying and inspiring, it is in your blood and heartbeat, your pulse and impulse.

Anne Hoiberg - Tears of War

Tears of War highlights the strength, courage, and resilience of thirty-seven refugee and asylee women originally from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Author Anne Hoiberg made contact with these women through her activism and promotion of women's rights. After interviewing each woman, she compiled their compelling stories into a book along with a brief history of each country from which they fled. The histories provide a backdrop for the intimate and emotional stories of these women, allowing us to feel connected to their journey towards justice and peace in their new homeland.

Jacob Hubbard – Sounds of Yesterday

For five years, Rob and Ana have been inseparable. They both have overcome career challenges, achieved emotional stability, and survived a global pandemic. Their future seems bright.

That is, until Ana abruptly ends their relationship. Rob's routine-driven world is shattered, reopening traumas and insecurities he thought were long put to rest. As he obsesses over what might have gone wrong and struggles for healing and self-acceptance, his memories put him on an imagined stage where he teeters between the habit of meeting outside expectations, and the pain of ripping masks away to reveal his true self.

Sounds of Yesterday dives into the complex interplay between love and loss on the autism spectrum, unpacking the diverse ways empathy and emotional agency interconnect inside a neurodivergent world.

Alex A. Kecske – Healer

It's 1888, and Rene Sakin, having tragically lost both parents, is expelled from a prestigious medical college for laudanum abuse. Facing ridicule from New York society and determined to move medicine into the 20th century, she heads west to a Tennessee mining town to seek out a mysterious healer--Charles Noble. After Charles restores a blind woman’s sight and saves a child from an incurable disease, Rene risks everything to learn Noble’s secret. Following a night of passion, Noble enlists Rene to help save lives on an Indian reservation while he eradicates typhus in a utopian town. United again, Charles and Rene race across the country to San Francisco, evading evil forces eager to steal Charles' closely guarded healing secret.

Erik Martin – The Case of the Zombie Ninjas and The Case of the Greensboro Gremlins

Gremlins and fashion don’t mix!

Summer vacation before seventh grade should be awesome. Instead, Dotty Morgan’s favorite clothes don’t fit; her mother constantly embarrasses her with bra-talk; and she’s growing in places she would rather not. She can’t even talk about it with her girlfriend, Hannah, who is tall and slender and has never had to stretch a shirt until threads popped to squeeze into it.

What is a twelve-year-old supernatural sleuth to do? Find a mystery, of course.

The Sato Corporation comes to Elderton.

The Sato Corporation built the new Crooked Creek Commons parking garage. They bought Blue Devil Castle for their new corporate retreat. They funded the Waverly Perchance Memorial Garden, a project organized by twelve-year-old Dotty Morgan. Now, Mr. Sato himself takes an interest in Dotty and her dream of owning and operating a legit Supernatural Sleuthing Agency. Mr. Sato’s interest comes with cash.

If Dotty lets Mr. Sato examine the Japanese sword and cup her dad recently acquired, then Mr. Sato will approve a generous small business grant. All Dotty’s dreams will come true. Simple, right?

Reina Menasche – Twice Begun and perhaps a sample of her latest novel.

It all begins in the closet.Paris Jablonski, wife, mother, social worker, and aspiring writer, is celebrating her seventh wedding anniversary when she uncovers a secret letter about her sexy French husband—and his girlfriend. The letter is in French, nearly incomprehensible, and so is the betrayal. How could she, an experienced mental health professional, have so misread her own life?

After traveling to France to confront her husband, Paris returns to face wildfires, evacuations, and a new job with recovering addicts. And she finds herself attracted to the most unlikely candidate: a recovering alcoholic who also happens to be a client.

In this heart-tugging story of love, loss and renewal, Paris Jablonski is a heroine whose street savvy must learn to take back seat to a wiser heart.

M.L. Meurs - Camp Salvador

Experience a trip to a quirky beachfront surfer camp and its unusual cast of aging expat characters and animals in Baja California, Mexico … In cartel country.

See the world through Ellis Robinson's eyes, the main character whose straight to the point thoughts remind us of our own, but whose outward interactions are generally those of who she is; a nice lady.

This story is at times strange and a little edgy. Heartwarming tales interwoven with a touch of questionable behavior.

Just like real life, when you think you know what’s going to happen, events take over the tranquility of what should be peaceful beach life, leading you to an unforgettable conclusion.

Pablo Sáinz-Ferretti — Desde Navolato añoro: testimonios navolatenses.

"Guía no autorizada para aprobar el examen de ciudadanía", publicada originalmente hace 15 años en 2009 bajo el título "Mica chueca", es una novela californiana y sinaloense a la vez. El lenguaje que utiliza es la confusa morada entre el inglés, el español y el sinaloense, donde habita la identidad de tantos inmigrantes (muchos de ellos de Navolato, Sinaloa) que viven en Huntington Park, una de las ciudades más mexicanas en Los Angeles.

En esta novela ubicada en los 90, PABLO SÁINZ-FERRETTI, da forma a sus personajes (sinaloenses de origen vasco, como el mismo autor) y los pone en la balanza entre el sueño americano y la dura realidad que enfrentan. Con esta ágil muestra de espanglish y sinaloense, el autor logra llevarnos a la vida diaria de los jóvenes inmigrantes indocumentados. También es una sarcástica crítica a la narcocultura, alentando a los jóvenes a no dejarse deslumbrar por el dinero fácil.

The second one is a YA novel titled Guía no autorizada para aprobar el examen de ciudadanía: una novela de Huntington Park.

La nostalgia por un pasado mejor es común entre la gente.

En "Desde Navolato añoro: testimonios navolatenses", docenas de habitantes y personas originarias del Municipio de Navolato plasman sus voces acerca de ese pasado, cuando la vida era más sencilla, tranquila y (por lo menos en la memoria) preferible.

Este libro es una colección de testimonios, recuerdos, añoranzas, tradiciones, leyendas, historia oral, fotos y viñetas del Navolato del ayer.

Con este tomo se cierra la trilogía "Desde Navolato", que celebra 40 años de la municipalización de Navolato, luego de su independencia de Culiacán.

Ken Schafer – An Otherwise Perfect Plan

Join Gwen Pendergrass on an unpredictable and surprisingly funny journey that is "as amusing as it is engaging" (Booklife Prize). Whether you're currently a teen, or can barely remember being one, this is a coming-of-age story that will make you laugh, make you care, and take you on a ride you won't soon forget.

WINNER: BEST YA NOVEL IN THE 2024 KINDLE BOOK AWARDS

At sixteen, all Gwen knows about her dad stems from the fact that she was born, so she figures she must have had one. While her mom does confirm this (rather obvious) conclusion-and even shows Gwen a strip of photobooth pictures of the two of them from "the weekend Gwen was made" (ew...!)-she flatly refuses to elaborate further.

Still, Gwen is mostly okay with that. it's not like anyone had asked for her buy-in on the whole birth deal anyway, so she's just as happy to let it go and move on with life. That is, until Gwen kind of, accidentally, gets her mom an all-expenses paid scholarship to Yale.

There's only one tiny, little hitch. Her mom plans to turn it down because of what she calls "Parental Responsibilities." Or, in other words, because of Gwen.

Peter Shaw – Murder on the Way - A Camino de Santiago Mystery

A newly formed Camino family is on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

Among them is a hitman posing as a pilgrim while searching for his target who is on Camino after undergoing plastic surgery as a start to his new life.

As they traverse the Camino, it becomes apparent that the hitman is not the only one hiding secrets.

The impact that the Camino has on pilgrims will reveal all.

Wanjiru Warama – The Colonial Farm

The Colonial Farm is a remarkable, one-of-a-kind memoir told with honesty, clarity, and suspense. The book captures the opportunities gained and lost, terrors and successes of her family and the Gȋkũyũ community told through the eyes of Wanjirũ Warama, from when she turns twelve and a half years old, as she forges against the tide of her pre-designed farmhand lifestyle. Despite the odds of an African living in 1950s Kenya, where education for a girl is an afterthought, she's determined to stick to an escape route that she believes is her only ticket from the drudgery.

The book shows the resilience and endurance of the human spirit in overcoming adversity under the shadows of a lethal tug-of-war between the powerful and the powerless.

Sandra Yeaman – Whispers in the Shadows: An American’s Adventure Teaching in Romania Behind the Iron Curtain

American Fulbright lecturer, Sandra Wenner, taught English at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in the northeastern capital of the Romanian province of Moldova, Iași, Romania. She arrived in the fall of 1977. Nicolai Ceașescu was in power. An earthquake had flattened major portions of Bucharest the spring before. The shops had plenty of food, but very little variety. And it became quickly clear to her that her students either disliked her or were otherwise pressured into having nothing to do with her outside classes. In spite of these discouragements, she explored Romania with other foreigners, eventually established small inroads into her students' lives, and came to love the country and its population. Fifteen years later, she returned to the region, this time as a US diplomat assigned to the newly independent neighboring country of Moldova which allowed her to travel back to Iași and observe the changes in everyday living after the departure of Ceașescu.

The Guild is always willing to share our members' accomplishments through Tip of the Hat mentions in the newsletter and social media posts. Send news of your book completion, publication, book launch, and awards won to our newsletter editor by the 20th of the month in order to be included in the following month's newsletter. The address to use is community@sdwritersguild.org. Use "For the newsletter" as the subject line.

The Year 2024 In Review

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:39:41 GMT

Before we march into 2025, here's a review of what the Guild accomplished in 2024. We'd love to be able to add to this list the number of books our members published, launched, and won awards for. A poll at the end of this post may help us do just that.

Three in-person meetings:

Literary Games with Margaret Harmon
Our 45^th anniversary celebration with Odin Award presentations
The Year-End Celebration

Plus an extra event in July as “Author of the Month” at the Central Library

In 2025 we are committed to hosting at least three in-person meetings as well in April, August, and December. These meetings may be on a different day and time.

Open Mic Night

We held one Open Mic Night on Zoom in November. Feedback from participants was very positive. We plan to hold at least one Open Mic Night event in 2025.

Eight Presentations on

editing and selecting an editor,
planning a book launch,
legal considerations of AI for writers,
finding a book coach,
tips on preparing an anthology submission,
first page critiques,
the importance of Chapter One, and
the Road from Moments to Memoir

Recordings of all these presentations are available for viewing on our website.

In 2025, we have already scheduled presentations to address finding an agent and building an author website. We welcome ideas from members. Send them to events@sdwritersguild.org.

Four Workshops on

Character Therapy,
Verbing your Writing,
Creating Podcasts, and
How to Sell Your Novel

Recordings of all these workshops are available for viewing on our website.

In 2025 we plan to host two workshops. If you have ideas for topics or presenters for workshops, send them to events@sdwritersguild.org.

Manuscript Critique Program

At an initial Strategic Planning session, we restructured the Manuscript Review Program into the Manuscript Critique Program to provide greater value to our members.
We completed twice as many Manuscript Critique Reviews (8) as we had planned for (4).

The price for the restructure program remains $20 per submission.

Local Book and Author Events

We represented the Guild at two local events

San Diego Writers Festival
North Park Book Fest

We’ve already books a space for the 2024 Writers Festival. And our coordination with Partners In Crime and San Diego Writers, Ink at the North Park Book Fest is something we believe we can build on in 2025.

Anthology

We changed our anthology program in two ways:

first, all submissions are short stories, and
second, the production period spans two years.

The reason for the first is to improve our marketing opportunities to a potential audience beyond our membership. The reason for the second is to allow time for more members to get involved in, and learn about, the production process to benefit their own independent publication skills.

The Poll

Here's the poll that we hope will help us create a list of members' accomplishments in 2024. Click the button below to help us gather the number of books our members published, launched, and won awards for.

{NOTE: To complete the poll, choose "Vote" first and then add your Comments. }

Special Offer: Multiple-year Membership at Reduced Price

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 18:44:52 GMT

The annual membership rate for San Diego Writers and Editors Guild is currently $36. On April 1, 2025, the rate will go up to $40. You can take advantage of the lower current rate by joining the Guild or renewing your membership early before April 1.

Until April 1, 2025, new members will see a choice of four options when they join the Guild:To take advantage of our special membership offer for multiple-year subscriptions, select Regular membership - 2 years - $72.00 (USD) or Regular membership - 3 years - $108.00 (USD). Then select NEXT to complete your membership profile.

Current members can always renew their membership at any time by logging in and then Reviewing their profile. This is also an appropriate time to update any of the fields that have changed.

The date your membership expires is the fourth item in your profile. Under that is a blue RENEW TO [date] option. To renew for up to three years, select this option multiple times until the “Renewal due on” date is in the year 2028, three years from now.

The above image reflects the profile of a member who has already renewed for three years.

New Directory View on our Website

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 20:48:41 GMT

The Member Directory Page has changed.

We’ve updated the Members Only Directory to make it easier to locate other members with common interests. In the past, only the Name and Membership categories were visible. For this reason, the simple search (see the search box above NAME) would only find entries where the first or last name matched the search criteria. It has always been possible to use the Advanced search to find members with profile content that matches search terms, but this has been used little.

Now, by adding Pen Name, Bio, and Actively seeking fields to what displays on the Directory page, it’s possible to pull up a list of names of members who include the search term in either their Bio or Actively Seeking fields. For example, when I used the simple search by typing in “poetry,” 7 member names appeared in the results. When I searched for “critique,” 5 member names appeared in the results.

Why should this matter to you?

By expanding what can be seen on the Member Directory page (remember, it’s only visible to members who are logged in, not the public), you should more easily be able to identify other members with similar interests.

What about the Advanced Search option?

The Advanced search option expands what will be included in the results based on any of the profile fields. For example, I searched for entries where the Zip Code field includes “92103,” a zip code near North Park in San Diego, the results included 6 names.

How can I be sure other members find me by my interests?

Review your online profile and add information about your accomplishments in your “Bio” field and your future plans in the “Actively seeking” field.

A New Marketing Tool: Ingram iD from Ingram Spark

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 20:19:27 GMT

By Rita Sithideth

Ingram iD, developed by publishing platform Ingram Spark, offers new ways for authors to market and sell books.

Through the platform, authors can manage advertising efforts across several channels. Ad campaigns can be launched through Facebook, Google Search, Google Display, and promotional email--all from a single dashboard.

One key feature of Ingram iD is the ability to target books towards the right audience. Audiences are composed of active readers hailing from 60+ genres and niches, all verified through Ingram's network.

Along with its advertising options, Ingram iD offers ad analytics and reporting tools. Authors can track a campaign's performance through important metrics, including clicks and impressions, that provide valuable insights into optimizing a campaign's effectiveness.

Creating an ad campaign with Ingram iD starts at $15 a day for 7 days, with a fixed rate based on expected clicks.

Caveat: We provide this information because it may be a useful tool for some members. None of the SDWEG Board of Directors has experience with this new option. SDWEG received nothing of value in exchange for posting this information.

For More Information

SDWEG Supports Friends of the Central Public Library

Sun, 26 May 2024 22:13:59 GMT

by Marcia Buompensiero

At its May 13 meeting, the SDWEG Board of Directors unanimously voted to support the Friends of the Central Library with a donation of $250, and voted to consider a future annual donation in an amount to be determined.

The Anthology Marketing Committee brought the recommendation forward for consideration. “Libraries provide access to books, thousands of publications from around the world, and also serves as a support system in many communities, including supporting local authors,” Marcia Buompensiero said. “The Anthology Marketing Committee considered the benefits that the Central Library provides, including the annual Local Authors Exhibit which provides a platform for local authors to display their work.” For several years, SDWEG has participated in the Local Authors Exhibit by displaying the current edition of The Guilded Pen, the SDWEG anthology. The exhibit is well attended, usually over 300 in attendance, and it provides a venue for local recognition for the SDWEG and its members. The Central Library has promoted individual authors' exhibits and continues to hold author events.

The Board was enthusiastic in its support and encourages members to support Friends of the Library in their local communities.

A little about “Friends of the Library”—

Friends of the Library groups are composed of volunteers and are independent nonprofits formed to support local libraries. San Diego County Library enjoys active Friends groups at almost every branch, and their support allows the library to provide enhanced levels of service, programming, and collections to better serve the public. Friends groups advocate for libraries as the positive voice spreading the word of library services in the community and with local government and business entities.

They provide financial support to the library with funds earned at their bookstores, collection of membership dues, by accepting donations, fund raising, grant writing, or online sales. All proceeds go directly to support the library’s community initiatives with the purchase of physical and digital materials, buying equipment, computers or furniture and to sponsor library programs.

The local branch chapters of the Friends of the Library are supported by the County-wide umbrella organization, Library Friends of San Diego County (LFSDC) which coordinates activities and shares best practices that benefit all groups. This organization also coordinates shared resources from the individual organizations to provide support for system-wide County Library initiatives.

If you would like to be an advocate for libraries and literacy in your community, join your local Friends of the Library. To do so, please visit your local library's group's website or contact your local library branch for information. Libraries with Friends groups and bookstores include those listed below.

4S Ranch
Alpine *
Bonita-Sunnyside *
Borrego Springs
Campo-Morena Village
Cardiff-by-the-Sea *
Casa de Oro
Crest
Del Mar
Descanso
El Cajon *
Encinitas *
Fallbrook *
Fletcher Hills
Imperial Beach *
Jacumba
Julian *
La Mesa *
Lakeside
Lemon Grove *
Lincoln Acres
Pine Valley
Potrero
Poway *
Ramona *
Rancho San Diego *
Rancho Santa Fe *
San Marcos *
Santee *
Solana Beach *
Spring Valley *
Valley Center *
Vista *

* Friends of the Library bookstores can be found at these library branch locations.

For more information visit: https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/about-the-library/partners/friends

https://www.sdcl.org/friends/ (local branches)

Newsletters and Blogs Especially for Authors

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 18:40:09 GMT

Newsletter and blog resources for writers

Several organizations exist to promote the writing arts of San Diegans. As the oldest such organization, the role San Diego Writers and Editor Guild fills has changed and may need to change further.

Before our return to a monthly newsletter, our Roundup editor had been serving as a clearinghouse of information our members might be interested in. With the change in our Board of Directors and the shift of most of our roles to new incumbents we foresee additional changes in the future.

This blog post includes resources, both local and national, that we encourage members to become familiar with. Instead of using our volunteers’ time and space in the newsletter to pass on information from other organizations, we encourage each member to review the resources below and choose which newsletters or blogs from organizations or individuals are likely to provide information of value.

San Diego Writers, Ink - SDWI provides regular email updates about their activities, classes, read and critique groups, and goings on around town. Their updates are nearly daily. You do not need to be a member of San Diego Writers, Ink to subscribe to their newsletter. https://secure.writeyourstorynow.org/np/clients/sandiegowriters/subscribe.jsp

Publishers and Writers of San Diego - PWSD produces a monthly newsletter that both members and nonmembers can subscribe to. PWSD concentrates on providing information about the business of writing. You do not have to be a member of PWSD to subscribe to their newsletter. https://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=00102zBK1ZSE4YOo2Q9mWFEsdvpq5kdRl4h

San Diego Writers Festival - SDWF provides a monthly newsletter that includes an excellent compendium of upcoming activities in that month. There is no membership fee to get news from SDWF. Start here: https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/ and scroll down until you find the form to “Get on the List.”

San Diego Professional Editors Network - SD/PEN provides a monthly newsletter to its members. Members may also submit blog posts to SD/PEN’s blog. SD/PEN members may join a Slack platform to network and share information. You must be a member of SD/PEN to receive their newsletters. Check out their other member benefits. https://sdpen.com/join/#join

International Memoir Writers Association - IMWA and SDWF work closely together and publicize one another’s events in their communications. You do not need to join IMWA to subscribe to their newsletter: https://sdmwa.org/subscribe/

Judy Reeves - Her monthly newsletter, The Lively Muse, is available to all who subscribe at https://www.judyreeveswriter.com/contact

Jeniffer Thompson provides marketing tips in her monthly newsletter. Check out, https://jenifferthompson.com/contact/ to sign up for her newsletter.

Jonathan Maberry (https://www.jonathanmaberry.com/contact.cfm) provides resources for authors on his website and uses his newsletter to inform subscribers of his activities, including master classes he offers where all proceeds go to good causes.

National and International resources offer newsletters of possible interest to members. Below are a few to consider.

Authors Publish (https://authorspublish.com/) Their newsletter (frequent, short email messages) consists primarily of posting about publishers seeking submissions. Occasionally a blog post on a topic of interest is included. Anyone may subscribe to receive their messages.

Jane Friedman (https://janefriedman.com/) Her free newsletter, Electric Speed, is available to anyone at https://janefriedman.com/free-newsletters/.

Pages and Platforms (https://www.pagesandplatforms.com/). Scroll down to find the Subscribe option. In addition to subscribing to their newsletter, Page and Platforms recommends a number of other newsletters, including Jane Friedman’s Electric Speed.

The Author Wheel (https://www.authorwheel.com/) sends a weekly email message with tips on clarifying your vision as an author.

David Gaughran (https://davidgaughran.com/). Gaughran’s newsletter is heavy on marketing information. He also offers a free marketing course, Starting from Zero.

Writers Workshop at Authors Publish (https://authorspublish.thinkific.com/) offers workshops. Scroll down to subscribe to their email list.

Consider subscribing to the newsletters and blogs of other SDWEG members for at least one of three reasons:

First, to get the valuable information they share
Second, to get an idea of how each uses their newsletters or blog posts in order to identify those who might be able to answer questions you have about your own existing or planned newsletter or blog
Third, to learn about upcoming events where you can show your support for other Guild members by attending

Marla Anderson, https://www.mlandersonauthor.com/

Chris Bannor, https://www.chrisbannor.com/ Scroll to the bottom of the page to find “Newsletter.”

Patricia Bossano, https://patriciabossano.com/. Scroll down until you see “Join My Reader List.”

Bob Boze and Robyn Bennett, https://WritingAllsorts/

Tamika Burgess, https://www.tamikaburgess.com/ Scroll down until the popup screen appears, inviting you to join her mailing list.

Diana Cavagnaro, https://www.dianacavagnaro.com/about-5 Scroll down until you see “Sign up for our newsletter” Note that Diana also designs amazing hats.

Cynthia Dadmun, https://www.allfunandbrains.com/contact-cynthia Use her Contact form to let her know you’d like to be on her newsletter mailing list.

Laura Engel, https://lauralengel.com/blog-2/ Subscribe to her blog.

Corey Lynn Fayman, https://www.coreylynnfayman.com/

Leslie Ferguson, https://lesliefergusonauthor.com/about-me/ Scroll down until you find “Yes! Subscribe Me.”

Tiffany Noel Froese, https://www.tiffanynoelfroese.com/ Scroll to the bottom of the page to find “Sign Up For My Newsletter.”

Andrea Susan Glass, https://www.writersway.com/ Scroll down until you see the button “Subscribe.”

K.C. Grifant, https://scifiwri.com/ Scroll down until you see “Newsletter” in the left column.

Lisa Hagerman, https://lmhagerman.com/contact/ Scroll down until you see “Subscribe To My Blog” in the right column.

Jan Halen, https://www.authorjanhalen.com/ Watch for the pop-up screen offering subscribing to her newsletter.

Sephe Haven, https://www.sephehaven.com/ Scroll to the bottom of the page to subscribe.

Shanti Hershenson, https://www.shantihershenson.com/

Erik Christopher Martin, https://erikchristophermartin.com/. The option to subscribe is at the top of the home webpage.

Caroline McCullagh, https://carolinemccullaghauthor.com/about-caroline/ Scroll to the bottom to sign up for her newsletter.

Stephanie McNutt, https://www.kingaripress.com/ Scroll to the bottom to subscribe.

Reina Menasche, https://reinamenasche.com/blog/ Scroll until you find “Subscribe!” in the right column.

Jane Muschenetz, https://www.palmfrondzoo.com/. Scroll down to see the option to subscribe to her newsletter.

Richard Opper, https://richardopper.com/ Scroll to bottom to subscribe.

Laura C. Rader, https://lcrwriter.com/newsletter-newsies-sign-up/

Jennifer Silva Redmond, https://honeymoonatsea.substack.com/ Look or the button that says “Pledge your support” to subscribe

Patrick Ross, https://patrickrossauthor.com/about/ Scroll down until you find “Sign Up For The Ride.”

Gina Schneider, https://www.manageangerdaily.com/ Scroll down to find “Subscribe” in the right column.

Ken Shafer, https://www.kenschafer.com/ Scroll down until a popup appears to allow you to subscribe.

James Stewart, https://www.jamesstewartauthor.com/contact.html Look for “Join my email list.”

Lisa Swinton, http://www.lisaswinton.com/ Scroll until you see the offer of a Free Story.

Edna Trigo https://ednatrigo.com/

Wanjiru Warama, https://www.wanjiruwarama.com/, Scroll to the bottom for the option to subscribe to her newsletter.

Nicole Wells, https://www.nicolewellswrites.com/ Scroll down to find Newsletter sign-up.

If you think your website belongs on this list, let us know so we can add it. But first be sure to list your website on your member profile so we can find it again.

Upcoming Writers Conferences in April

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 00:56:47 GMT

Below are a number of Writers Conferences happening around the US in April this year.

April 3-7, 2024: Monterey Writers Retreat Conference (Pacific Grove, CA).

Join us on the wondrously scenic and soothing Monterey Peninsula in Pacific Grove for the express purpose of working intimately with experienced author and agent professionals. Know that writers of every kind have journeyed for over a century to this location on the California west coast. They come in search of inspiration, individuality, purpose and vision, but more importantly, to share an understanding that art has preceded their arrival in the form of a brutally beautiful sea and windswept shore. https://montereywritersretreat.com/

April 6-7, 2024: South Asian Literary Association Annual Conference (Virtual).

In the 2024 annual meeting of SALA, we take seriously the call for collective action, coalition building and solidarity between Black and South Asian peoples across the world in the aftermath of Black Lives Matter and new awareness about anti-Asian racism. https://southasianliteraryassociation.org/

April 11-13, 2024: 21st Las Vegas Writers Conference (Las Vegas, NV).

This year – and every year – the 21st Las Vegas Writers Conference is dedicated to helping writers of all genres improve their craft, sharpen their business skills, and network with publishing professionals. Held each spring, this year’s conference will draw virtual attendees from around the world. Pitch sessions with literary agents and editors are included in the price of registration. Writers will have the opportunity for one-on-one mentoring sessions with faculty members and other published authors. https://lasvegaswritersconference.com/

April 18-21, 2024: The 2024 Chanticleer Authors Conference (Bellingham, WA).

What makes the Chanticleer Author Conferences so special? Most importantly, the attendees! You are what makes this conference so special. Learning from the experts – Learn from the Best! Learning from each other and Networking and making new friends and connections. https://www.chantireviews.com/chanticleer-conference/

April 25-27, 2024: NWG Annual Conference (Omaha, NE).

The Nebraska Writers Guild offers three days of consultations, critique boot camps, and shop talk seminars. Appointments with literary agents like Kristina Slater are first-come, first-served, and have no extra cost. This conference is perfect for writers who would rather focus on intimate group or pair discussions rather than large panels. Workshops are capped to allow for in-depth discussion and a focus on networking without small talk. https://nebraskawriters.org/news-events/annual-events/annual-conference.html

April 25-28, 2024: 31st Annual Pikes Peak Writers Conference (Colorado Springs, CO).

Jazz up your Writing: The Roaring 20s comes to the Pikes Peak Writers Conference!

Pull out your flapper dresses, fedoras & channel your inner Gatsby. We’re going to Paris 1920 to learn from the best: Hemingway, Stein, Joyce, Beach, Eliot, the Fitzgeralds. https://conference.pikespeakwriters.org/

April 26–28, 2024: 7th Annual Sonoma Valley Authors Festival (Sonoma, CA).

The Sonoma Valley Authors Festival Brings people together to hear authors from a variety of literary genres and speakers who discuss advances being made in science, technology, and medicine. https://svauthorsfest.org/

April 27, 2024: Atlanta Self-Publishing Conference (Atlanta, GA).

They offer the Atlanta Self-Publishing Conference annually for authors who are interested in self-publishing or who have self-published and want to get the most out of their publishing business. https://atlantawritersclub.org/aspc/

To find more later in the year, visit:

https://book-publicist.com/the-top-writers-conferences-for-2024-by-book-publicist-scott-lorenz/

How Do I Know the Genre of My Book?

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 21:57:13 GMT

You've written a book. You are proud. You are excited. And you should be! Now, you are ready to get it out into the world. But there is one thing holding you back. You're not sure how to sell the book because you don't know what genre your book is.

But first, what is a book genre?

According to Masterclass.com, “Every work of fiction falls into a sub-genre, each with its own style, tone, elements, and storytelling devices.”

Does it matter what genre my book is? The answer is yes!

Jane Friedman tackles the topic well in her post, How Important Is Genre When Pitching and Promoting Your Book? T.S. Ferguson of Azantian Literary Agency makes this important point in the article. Identifying a genre for your book helps meet a reader's expectations.

“...when you tell someone a book is a “fantasy” they are going to expect some magic or otherworldliness, if a book is labeled a “romance” there's an expectation that there will be a Happily Ever After at the end.”

How do I know the genre of my book? These three tips can help.

1. Read articles and posts about book genres

In order to tell what genre your book is, you might first look at the genres out there. A great place to start is this article by Parade.com: 37 of the Most Popular Book Genres. This list includes fiction and nonfiction books. And it provides common characteristics within genres--as well as examples of books for each genre. Continuing with our previous mention of fantasy books, the article notes:

“The fantasy genre is made up of fictional worlds full of supernatural and magical powers that transport the reader into a whole new realm.” -- Parade.com

As you look at Parade.com's wonderful list of book genres, examine your book. Does it have anything in common with the genres listed? If so, you're on the right track.

2. Visit your local bookstore

Your local bookstore is a great resource for helping you identify your book genre. Here are some examples of genres I found on a recent trip to Barnes & Noble.

Survey the room, check out the various sections, and see if any books within those sections strike a chord.

- Do the book covers in a particular section match what you imagined for your book cover?

- Do you notice any themes that are similar to yours?

- Is there a style or tone among the book descriptions that applies to your book, too?

3. Look at book categories on Amazon

If you want to research genres without having to leave the house, look at the book categories listed on the Books on Amazon page. On the left-hand side, scroll down to Department > Books. There, you’ll see a list of book categories, alphabetized from Arts & Photography to Travel. Don’t forget to check out the subcategories listed under Literature & Fiction.

For indie authors interested in self-publishing, these categories and subcategories will prove beneficial down the road. You’ll be able to use them when it’s time to upload your book to Amazon and choose your categories.

But what if you haven't finished your book yet?

Perhaps you've started writing, but you're not sure what book your genre is. This early stage is the perfect time to nail down your book's genre. Why? It'll be easier to deliver the kind of book your reader expects after you've determined your book's genre--you’ll be able to plan (or pants) accordingly.

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Great links to click from this blog post:

Masterclass.com – What Are the Different Genres of Literature? A Guide to 14 Literary Genres

Jane Friedman – How Important Is Genre When Pitching and Promoting Your Book?

Parade.com – 37 of the Most Popular Book Genres

Amazon.com – Books on Amazon

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Photo credits:

Wes Hicks on Unsplash

Photo Nic on Unsplash

Nico Waters

Member Profile: Patricia Watts

Andrea Glass — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 02:36:58 GMT

MEMBER PROFILE: Patricia Watts

http://patriciaawattsauthor.com

Bio

Patricia Watts worked as a journalist for more than 20 years for newspapers in Texas, Hawaii, and Alaska. Following her news career, she worked as a paralegal and then spent 10 years investigating discrimination cases for the Alaska Human Rights Commission.

Her novels include: Paper Targets (2022, Atmosphere Press), Ghost Light (2020, Bowhead Press) and The Big Empty (2018, SoHo Press) co-written with Stan Jones, The Frayer (2017, Golden Antelope Press), and Watchdogs (SheWrites Press, 2013).

She moved to San Diego in 2017 after many wonderful visits there and after 30 years in Alaska. Currently, she’s working on short stories and also works as a freelance proofreader and editor. She earned her B.A. in journalism at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California, and her degree in paralegal studies from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. She has two children and seven grandchildren.

What aspect of writing and/or editing are you involved in?

I’m a published author of five novels and a freelance proofreader and editor.

What first attracted you to writing/editing?

I’ve always had a love of the written word from the time I learned to read, and writing has always been my preferred way to express myself. From the time I was a teenager, I wanted to write a novel. After a career in journalism, I finally started my fiction-writing career in my 60s.

How long have you been writing/editing?

I wrote my first “book” when I was 14, and my first novel was published in 2013.

As a writer, what kind of books do you write? Any published? How about short stories?

I write novels (literary fiction, suspense, mystery), short stories, and essays, and dabble in poetry.

Paper Targets (Atmosphere Press) is literary fiction.

The Frayer (Golden Antelope Press) is suspense noir.

The Big Empty (SoHo Crime/SoHo Press) and Ghost Light (Bowhead Press) are crime mysteries.

Watchdogs (SheWrites Press) is a steamy thriller-women’s fiction.

As an editor, what kind of clients do you work?

I proofread manuscripts for Atmosphere Press as an independent contractor and have worked on nonfiction and fiction that runs the gamut of genres from fantasy and erotica to mystery and children’s books.

What are you working on now either writing or editing?

I’m writing a short story called Sunflower Season, with a theme of how a single decision in the past to stand or not stand by a friend can impact a lifetime. This month, I proofread a novel and a nonfiction manuscript and average two of these projects monthly.

How long have you been a member of SDWEG and why did you join?

I was a member for about two years prior to the COVID shutdowns. I recently rejoined to connect with local writers, to share my writing and my writing experience, to become a better writer, and to promote my editing/proofreading skills.

What benefits have you gained as a member?

I see that SDWEG has added opportunities for writers to share their experience such as the blog posts, and I believe there’s also a way to promote editing skills for hire through the guild, which I had read about some months ago. I would like to write for the blog at some point and get involved with the newsletter and upcoming anthologies. My impression is that SDWEG is more inclusive than some other local writers groups I’ve tried.

What’s something unique or special about you that you’d like others to know?

I’ve lived and worked in a lot of different places which gives me a rich background for sense of place in my books. I have a talent for writing dialogue. I’m adamant about giving a voice to older women (in my books, they have sex lives and a mix of emotions and opinions and can be hilarious). I’ve proved to myself that it’s never too late to follow a dream when I had my first book published at 62.

What request might you have of other members? (joint venture promotions, launch team, referrals, reviews, advance readers…)

I would welcome the opportunity to provide reviews for others and to receive reviews from others, explore joint-venture promotions, receive referrals for editing/proofreading projects, and be part of a critique group.

March Membership Meeting—First Page Critique

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 17:58:15 GMT

The hook is the most important part of your story. If the reader doesn’t get drawn in by the first sentence, they won’t read the first paragraph. If they don’t feel entranced by the first paragraph, they won’t read the first page. No first page, no book.

It’s quite simple really. You need to grab the reader’s interest on that first page if you want them to read your masterpiece.

We’ve held a number of first page slam events when published authors have critiqued first pages of works by Guild members. This year we’re adding a twist. Instead of critiquing the first pages written by Guild members, we’re inviting members to pick out some of their favorite works for attendees to critique them. We want your choices to be books you love, but not classics. So no Dickens or Dostoyevsky, please. Look to best seller lists from recent years for books that are popular but have not yet found their way into English literature classrooms.

On Monday, March 25, Penn Wallace will facilitate the meeting. Penn will provide criteria for members to use when critiquing submissions.

All attendees will have an opportunity to participate.

If you want to submit the first page of a book, here’s what to do:

Since the length of text on the physical first page varies greatly from book to book, retype the text of the first page and beyond until you fill a full MS Word page with 1-inch margins all around, double spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font, with one-half inch indents on first lines of paragraphs. Continue typing from the second page to fill one manuscript page. If the sentence on the last line of the first manuscript page does not end on that page, continue typing to the end of the sentence on the second page and then stop. Do not go past the end of that sentence.

You will do a live reading of your page, then the group will give critiques.

Your first page must be submitted by March 15th, 2024, to be considered. First pages will be critiqued in the order in which they were submitted. In the past, we had more submissions than we could do at our meeting, so some people lost out. Get your submission in right away so you can be sure you get a place at the meeting.

Send your submission to penn@pennwallace.com and mardiewho@yahoo.com. Include “First page from [yourname]” at the top of the page. Use “First Page Critique–Title, Author” as the subject line of your email.

Do not include the book title on the page. Instead, include the title and author in the subject line of your email submitting the piece.

This is a lot of fun, don’t miss out.

To register for the event, select this link.

Congratulations to Presidential Volunteer Service Award Recipients

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 17:37:44 GMT

Congratulations to Marcia Buompensiero, Tamara Merrill, Bob Riffenburgh, Audrey Walz, and Sandra Yeaman for earning Presidential Volunteer Service Awards for their work on behalf of the Guild in 2023. Marcia, Bob, and Audrey earned bronze level awards (minimum of 100 volunteer hours) and Tamara and Sandra earned silver level awards (minimum of 250 volunteer hours).

In 2023, the Guild announced we are approved to certify volunteer efforts from members on behalf of the Guild as part of the White House’s Presidential Volunteer Service Award program.

The dedication of these volunteers helped bring the voices of new writers to light, enabling the publication of the anthology and enriching the lives of countless readers.

The certificates and pins acknowledging the accomplishments of these five members have been sent to recipients. We also want to celebrate their accomplishments and dedication in this post.

The records they kept of their activities made it possible for us to create a Table of Effort for all members to consider using to keep track of their volunteer hours, an excerpt as a sample shown below:

PVSA Table of Effort

Items in blue text may be completed by members not on the Board of Directors.

Items in black text should be completed by one of the Directors on the Board.

Typical # of hours spent per event or month

	Estimate	#	Extended
Subtotal			0
Meetings, Workshops, Festivals
Lead Board Meetings (Pres/VP)	2	0	0	per meeting
Arrange speakers and presenters (all)	4	0	0	per presenter
Host or co-host Zoom meeting or workshop	2.5	0	0	per meeting
Festival Support--Set up, staff display, or take down	3.5	0	0	per event
Prepare and Present Marketing Support Presentation	3	0	0	per meeting
Prepare and Present Meeting Presentation	8	0	0	per meeting
Prepare and Present Workshop	8	0	0	per meeting
Organize social events for members	8	0	0	per event
Edit meeting and workshop videos for website	2	0	0	per meeting
Website, Blog, Google Docs Update
Prepare first draft of blog post or other information for website (Webmaster)	0.5	0	0	per blog post
Gather feedback from proofreaders (Webmaster)	0.5	0	0	per submission
Provide feedback to webmaster	0.5	0	0	per submission
Finalize blog post or page update (Webmaster)	0.5	0	0	per blog or page

Download the full Table of Effort here. Save a copy for yourself to keep track of the time you have devoted to the Guild in 2024.

By joining our vibrant volunteer community, you can make a real difference in the lives of others, develop valuable skills, and connect with a supportive network of passionate writers.

Next year, we hope other members will take the time to total up their hours on behalf of the Guild on a copy of the Table of Efforts so we can acknowledge more of our members whose volunteer service is the lifeblood of our organization.

Lost Love: A Curated List of Fiction Plus One Nonfiction Book

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 21:11:28 GMT

by Raquel Damus

Love is a complex and multifaceted emotion that often comes with joy, passion, and connection. However, it can also bring pain, heartache, and the feeling of loss when it doesn't stand the test of time. The theme of lost love has been a source of inspiration for countless authors, resulting in powerful and emotionally resonant books. In this blog post, we'll delve into a curated list of eight books that beautifully explore the depths of lost love.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel, The Great Gatsby, is a poignant tale of unrequited love. The enigmatic Jay Gatsby's infatuation with Daisy Buchanan and his unattainable dream showcase the tragic side of lost love, set against the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties.

One Day by David Nicholls takes readers on a journey through the lives of Emma and Dexter, who meet on the day of their graduation and reconnect every year on the same date. This novel poignantly captures the passage of time, the evolution of their relationship, and the missed opportunities for true love.

Haruki Murakami's novel, Norwegian Wood, is a melancholic exploration of the deep, often painful connections between people. The protagonist, Toru Watanabe, navigates the aftermath of lost love as he reflects on his relationships and experiences in 1960s Tokyo.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green tells the story of Hazel and Gus, two teenagers with cancer who fall in love. As they grapple with their illnesses and the looming specter of death, they find love and solace in each other's arms, illustrating that love can flourish even in the face of inevitable loss.

Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, is a journey of self-discovery following a failed marriage. It showcases the author's quest for healing, happiness, and, ultimately, love in various forms as she embarks on a year-long journey across Italy, India, and Indonesia.

P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern, a heartwarming yet bittersweet novel, follows the life of Holly after her husband's passing. Through a series of letters he left behind, she embarks on a journey of healing, growth, and rediscovery.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes is an emotionally charged novel. Louisa and Will come from different worlds, but their lives become intertwined. Their relationship raises difficult questions about love, loss, and the choices we make.

For those seeking a non-fiction perspective, The Time Is Now offers a thoughtful exploration of love, loss, and transformation. Joan Chittister provides insights into the human experience of love and grief, offering wisdom and guidance for those navigating the complexities of emotions.

The theme of lost love is a universal and timeless one that resonates with readers across the globe. Whether you're in the mood for classic literature, contemporary fiction, or introspective non-fiction, the books on this list offer a range of perspectives and emotions. These stories beautifully capture the heartache, longing, and sometimes unexpected beauty that can arise from the ashes of lost love.

Check Out Writer's Digest Community

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 19:37:17 GMT

Whether you're a seasoned writer looking to get published or just beginning your writing journey, Writer's Digest has the resources you need.

You can get started by checking out their writing resources available on this page and by reviewing articles written by writers for writers like you! Writer's Digest's mission is to help ignite writers’ creative vision and connect them with the community, education, and resources they need to bring it to life.

Writer’s Digest Resources:

Writer’s Digest University combines world-class writing instruction with the convenience and immediacy of online education to create a state-of-the-art learning environment for writers seeking to improve their craft and learn about the business of writing. Use code WDUFIRST10 to save 10% on your first course.
2nd Draft provides a high-level review of your writing, pointing out reasons your work may be getting rejected, or may not meet the standards of traditional publication.
Writer’s Digest offers several writing competitions, from short story and poetry-specific competitions to the Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition held annually for more than 80 years. Enter for your chance to win big prizes!
Every issue of Writer’s Digest magazine is devoted to helping writers develop their craft and hone their publishing acumen. Since 1920, Writer’s Digest has chronicled the culture of the modern writer and we continue this great tradition through relevant first-person essays, interviews with bestselling authors and profiles with emerging talent.
WritersDigestShop.com is dedicated to bringing writers of all genres and skill levels, the best downloads, webinars, professional resources, information, tips, and inspiration available in the industry. Browse their Selection Today!

Consider joining their community of writers by following them on Facebook, X/Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube! You’ll get up-to-the-minute articles, writing prompts, tips, videos, and more!

This information, from Writer's Digest, is provided for your information. This blog post is not an endorsement of Writer's Digest and SDWEG received nothing in exchange for presenting this information to our members.

Jonathan Maberry Offers New Masterclass

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 19:40:22 GMT

by Raquel Damus

Unlock Your Writing Success: Join Jonathan's Exclusive Masterclass on PITCH & SELL NOVELS, COMICS, SHORT STORIES, AND MORE!

In the ever-evolving landscape of the publishing world, writers need to adapt and embrace change to succeed. If you aspire to not only see your work in print but also make a substantial income from it, then get ready for a transformative experience with Jonathan Maberry's brand-new masterclass: PITCH & SELL NOVELS, COMICS, SHORT STORIES, AND MORE!

When: Saturday, January 13th, 10 am - 1 pm PST (1 - 4 pm EST) via ZOOM

Why You Should Attend:

The writing industry is dynamic, and keeping up with its shifts is essential for writers who want to turn their passion into a profitable career. Jonathan's masterclass promises not only valuable insights but an enjoyable journey into the art of pitching and selling diverse forms of writing.

What You'll Learn:

1. The Query Letter:

Discover new forms and strategies that will set your query letters apart, increasing your chances of catching the eye of agents and editors.

2. The Verbal Pitch:

Learn the art of making face-to-face pitches both enjoyable and successful. Master the skills that will make your pitch memorable.

3. Selling Short Stories:

Uncover the secrets of finding and pitching to magazine and anthology markets, opening up new opportunities for your short-form writing.

4. Selling Comics:

Dive into the world of comic writing – from preparing a pitch to locating editors and assembling the necessary materials.

5. Pitching Tips and Games:

Turn the pitching process into an enjoyable experience for you and your writer friends. Learn creative and effective ways to prepare for meetings with agents and editors.

6. Talking Points:

Identify the story elements that breathe life into your pitch. Understand what captivates the audience and leaves a lasting impression.

7. Hollywood Pitches:

Explore the nuances of crafting a presentation or pitch deck for Hollywood. Find out how to secure a book-to-film agent and take your writing to the big screen.

8. The Market:

Stay ahead of the curve by discovering how and where to learn about changes in the market and uncovering newly opened doors for writers.

And much more!

Invest in Your Future:

Cost: $50

Don't miss out on this exclusive opportunity to supercharge your writing career. Jonathan's masterclass is not just about learning; it's about turning your passion for writing into a lucrative and sustainable profession.

How to Register:

Secure your spot by registering for the masterclass by making a PayPal payment to jonathan_maberry@yahoo.com. Limited spaces available, so act fast!

Join Jonathan on January 13th to embark on a journey to transform your writing dreams into a reality!

Proceeds benefit no-kill animal shelters.

Costs to Publish a Novel Independently

Mon, 25 Dec 2023 17:53:41 GMT

by Raquel Damus

Aspiring authors often embark on a journey filled with creativity, passion, and the dream of sharing their stories with the world. However, the path to publication is not without its challenges, and understanding the associated costs is crucial for a successful venture. In this guide, we'll break down the expenses involved in key aspects of the publishing process, helping authors make informed decisions.

Here are stages to consider gathering prices for:

Getting (and paying) beta readers
Getting (and paying) for reviews
Developmental editing
Line editing
Copy editing
Cover design
Interior design
ISBNs
Publishing

List:

Beta Readers:

Beta readers play a vital role in shaping the success of a manuscript. While some may offer their services for free, others, particularly professionals, might charge anywhere from $50 to $500 or more. Consider factors like the number of readers, their expertise, and potential travel expenses if in-person meetings are planned.

Volunteer Beta Readers: Often free.
Amateur Beta Readers: $0 to $50 per reader.
Professional Beta Readers: $50 to $500+ per reader.
Travel Expenses (if applicable): Varies.

Book Reviews:

Paying for book reviews is a common practice, with costs varying based on the source. Professional review services can charge between $50 and $500 or more per review, while bloggers and review websites may range from $25 to $500. It's essential to weigh the potential benefits against ethical considerations and your budget.

Professional Review Services: $50 to $500+ per review.
Bloggers and Review Websites: $25 to $500+ per review.
Review Copies: $5 to $20 per copy.
Marketing Packages: $500 to $2,000+.
Ethical Considerations: Important to consider.

Developmental Editing:

Developmental editing ensures your manuscript reaches its full potential. Rates typically range from $0.02 to $0.10 per word, with additional costs for rush services or specialized expertise. Editorial assessments might incur a separate fee, ranging from $500 to $2,000 or more.

Editor's Experience: $0.02 to $0.10 per word.
Manuscript Length: Longer manuscripts cost more.
Complexity: Complex edits may cost more.
Editorial Assessment: $500 to $2,000+.
Rush Services: 25% to 50% extra.
Hourly Rates: $50 to $150+ per hour.
Editing Packages: $2,000 to $10,000+.
Genre-Specific: May cost more.
Payment Structure: Deposit may be required.

Line Editing:

Line editing refines the language and structure of your work. Costs can vary from $0.01 to $0.05 per word, with hourly rates for more complex projects. Sample edits, ranging from $25 to $100, allow you to gauge compatibility with an editor.

Editor's Experience: $0.01 to $0.05 per word.
Manuscript Length: Longer manuscripts cost more.
Complexity: Challenging edits may require hourly rates ($25 to $75+ per hour).
Rush Services: 25% to 50% extra.
Hourly Rates: $25 to $75+ per hour.
Sample Edits: $25 to $100.
Editing Packages: $1,000 to $10,000+.
Genre-Specific: May cost more.
Payment Terms: Deposit may be required.

Copy Editing:

Copy editing focuses on grammar, style, and consistency. Expect to pay between $0.01 and $0.03 per word, with additional fees for rush services or hourly rates for challenging projects. Editing packages may range from $1,000 to $5,000 or more.

Editor's Experience: $0.01 to $0.03 per word.
Manuscript Length: Longer manuscripts cost more.
Complexity: Challenging projects may require hourly rates ($25 to $75+ per hour).
Rush Services: 25% to 50% extra.
Sample Edits: $25 to $100.
Editing Packages: $1,000 to $5,000+.
Genre-Specific: May cost more.
Payment Terms: Deposit may be required.

Cover Design:

A captivating book cover is essential for attracting readers. Cover design costs vary based on factors like experience, custom vs. premade designs, and the need for illustrations or photography. Prices can range from $50 to $1,500 or more.

Designer's Experience: $50 to $1,500+.
Custom vs. Premade Covers: Custom $300 to $1,500+; Premade $50 to $500.
Genre and Complexity: Can impact cost.
Illustrations and Photography: $100 to $1,000+.
Stock Images: $10 to $100+.
Typography and Layout: Can affect cost.
Ebook and Print Covers: $100 to $500+.
Revisions: Clarify included rounds.
Licensing Fees: If necessary, additional cost.
Payment Terms: Deposit (typically 50%) may be required.
Consultation Fees: If needed, may incur extra charges.

Interior Design

Embarking on the journey of publishing your book involves more than just storytelling—it's about presenting your work in a way that captivates readers. Interior book design is a critical component, ensuring your narrative is not only compelling but also visually appealing.

Professional Designer Fees:
- Range: $500 to $3,000+
- Hourly rates: $50 to $150+

Software and Tools
- Adobe InDesign: $20 to $50/month

Templates and DIY Options:
- Pre-made templates: $30 to $100
- DIY tools: Varying costs, potential learning curve

Formatting for Print and Ebooks:
- Print books: Consider additional costs
- Ebooks: Typically included in design fee

Revisions and Additional Services:
- Revision fees: May apply for extra revisions
- Additional services: Custom graphics, interactive elements may increase costs

ISBN

When an author opts for Amazon's free ISBN alternative, it serves as a specific identifier within the Amazon ecosystem. However, this exclusivity may prove limiting for authors with broader distribution aspirations. If your plan involves reaching readers beyond the Amazon marketplace — whether through brick-and-mortar bookstores, other online retailers, or libraries — a unique ISBN becomes an indispensable asset.

If you plan to market and sell your book to more than Amazon shoppers, you will need an ISBN. For books published on Amazon, both ebooks and paperbacks, Amazon will provide a number to substitute for an ISBN at no cost, but that number will not be used by any other book distributor or publisher. Unless you plan never to sell a copy of your book, consider purchasing one or more ISBNs from Bowker Publishing Services.

Bowker Publishing Services is a renowned provider of ISBNs, offering authors the opportunity to establish a distinct identity for their work across diverse platforms. Acquiring one or more ISBNs from Bowker comes with several advantages. ISBNs from Bowker are universally recognized, enabling your book to be cataloged and ordered by bookstores, libraries, and online retailers worldwide. Also authors with their own ISBNs have control over the metadata associated with their book, including pricing, format, and distribution details.

Publishing Platforms

Some platforms that indie published authors may choose to use, such as Ingram Spark, charge a fee for uploading the manuscript; Amazon does not charge for uploading manuscripts, but like all platforms, they charge a percentage of the cost of each book printed.

IngramSpark is a publishing platform that facilitates both ebook and print book distribution. It is known for its extensive network, connecting authors with a wide range of retailers, libraries, and bookstores. IngramSpark offers Print On Demand (POD) services, eliminating the need for large upfront print runs. Books published through IngramSpark can be distributed to major retailers worldwide.

Amazon KDP is a dominant force in the world of digital self-publishing. It allows authors to publish and distribute ebooks globally, reaching millions of Kindle readers. Amazon has a vast international audience, offering authors a broad reach. KDP provides user-friendly tools for manuscript uploading, cover design, and pricing.

D2D offers a straightforward interface for uploading and managing ebook files. Authors receive consolidated royalty payments from multiple retailers through D2D. D2D distributes to major ebook retailers, including Apple Books and Barnes & Noble.

Ingram Spark - $25 to $49
Amazon KDP - no cost for uploading to the platform. KDP relies on charging a percentage of the royalties.
Draft2Digital - no cost for uploading to the platform. D2D charges a percentage of the sales of the books.

In conclusion, understanding the costs associated with beta readers, book reviews, editing services, and cover design is vital for authors navigating the publishing landscape. While these investments can enhance the quality and marketability of your work, it's crucial to find a balance that aligns with your budget and overall publishing goals.

Getting Book Reviews

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 18:50:02 GMT

Tactics for Getting Reviews Ahead of the Publication of Your Book

Many of the ideas below require taking action well in advance of when you need reviewers to provide blurbs for your book. The ideas are ordered with those requiring earlier action first, although this is not a recommendation to follow them all in that order.

Not every tactic may fit your overall strategy for marketing your book without further research. Spend some time to describe the persona of your ideal reader first. Then look for tactics you feel resonates best with your ideal reader. Locating a smaller number of potential reviewers who address your ideal reader’s persona may yield stronger reviews than targeting a broader range of reviewers who are not in line with your ideal reader.

Establish connections with potential reviewers ahead of time so your first contact isn’t a request that they provide something to you.

Join Author and Reader Communities:

Engage with online communities of authors and readers, such as writing forums, Facebook groups, or book clubs. This can help you connect with potential reviewers and build a support network.

Build Relationships in Advance:

If possible, establish relationships with potential reviewers before you need their help. Engage with them on social media, attend relevant events or conferences, and support their work in return. Building relationships can make it more likely that they'll agree to review your book.

Author Website and Social Media:

Maintain an author website and active social media profiles. Use these platforms to share updates about your book and request reviews from your followers.

Write a Compelling Pitch:

Craft a persuasive pitch or request for reviews, emphasizing why your book is unique and why the reviewer's audience would be interested. Personalize your pitches to each potential reviewer.

Query Traditional Reviewers:

Send queries to traditional book review outlets, such as newspapers, magazines, and online literary journals. These outlets often review books in advance of publication. Make sure to follow their submission guidelines.

Identify Potential Reviewers:

Create a list of potential reviewers who might be interested in your book. These can include book bloggers, influential figures in your genre, industry experts, or even friends and family.

Leverage Advance Review Copies (ARCs):

Create Advance Review Copies (ARCs) of your book and distribute them to potential reviewers. ARCs are pre-publication copies that allow reviewers to read your book before it's released. Include a cover letter explaining your expectations for the review.

Utilize Online Review Platforms:

Websites like NetGalley and Goodreads allow authors to share ARCs with a broader audience, including readers and professional reviewers. Many reviewers actively seek books on these platforms.

Create a Press Kit:

Develop a professional press kit for your book, including a synopsis, author bio, high-resolution cover image, and sample chapters. This makes it easier for potential reviewers to consider your work.

Offer Incentives:

Some authors offer small incentives for early reviewers, such as personalized thank-you notes, signed copies, or exclusive content related to the book.

Timing Matters:

Approach potential reviewers well in advance of your book's release date. Reviewers often have busy schedules, so give them ample time to read and write their reviews.

Be Professional and Grateful:

A Testimonial and an Offer

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 19:06:20 GMT

From Sandra Yeaman, SDWEG Member and Director-At-Large

Okay, I admit it. This post is right at the edge of promotion for another organization, Pages and Platforms. Because I’ve had some wonderful experiences with them, I asked Sue Campbell, one of the trio of leaders of that organization pictured in the above image, if I could share the offer she sent to me.

Some of you may recall when the other two members of the trio, Anne Hawley and Rachelle Ramirez, the other two featured in the header image, presented at a membership meeting on Story Types. Unfortunately, that was one presentation we missed recording, so we don’t have it to share. However, the offer below includes free access to Pages and Platforms’ Happily Ever Author Club for one month. HEA includes access to in-depth descriptions of all the Story Types Anne and Sue presented that evening. I can also confirm that if you sign up for the free month, Pages and Platforms will let you know ahead of the expiration of that free month so you won't get caught being charged for more, unless you find HEA valuable for you.

So here goes with Sue’s offer to me which she agreed I could share with members of San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. The I and me in the rest of this post is Sue Campbell. The we is the Pages and Platform's team. And the you and your could be you.

Before I lay out the four stages of writing your novel, I want to let you know that we have a big, juicy sale going on. Our masterclasses are 50% off, our courses are 30% off and private coaching calls with me are 20% off. Check out the details here.

-OR- You can join the Happily Ever Author Club and get all the masterclasses and courses* as long as you have your membership. Redeem your one-month free trial!

Okay, so, what’s it going to take to get to the finish line on your current WIP?

Let’s break it down into some manageable chunks.

Stage 1: Zero draft. Editor Anne Hawley likens this to pulling the flatbed truck up to the building site and unloading all the materials. Whether you're pantsing or plotting, this is still the roughest of the rough drafts. You’re dumping out all your ideas of what you think your story is and hopefully a big dose of inspiration is carrying you through. Some of you may doing in this phase if you're doing NaNoWriMo this month.

Stage 2: First draft. Not gonna lie: This is the hardest draft. It’s where you get clear on what your story really is and make sure the foundation is sound. You’ve got to come up with answers to some crucial story questions, the most important being your Story Type (see our Story Path course for lots more on this). Once you know what kind of story you’re telling, it can guide you to what needs to come out and go into the story you have so far.

By the time you’re done, you’ll be a much wiser writer and know the premise of your story, the wants and needs of your characters, what’s at stake and how you want the audience to feel on that last page. This draft really benefits from working with a developmental editor or applying the concepts you learn in our Story Path course, which is currently 30% off. (use code: BFCOURSES) https://www.storypath.me/storypath

Stage 3: Refining drafts. How many additional drafts you write is up to you. It’s very likely you’ll want to do three or four refining drafts where you’re tightening up your structure and making sure you’re satisfying all the particulars for your Story Type. And—hopefully—doing some innovating for your Story Type, too. We recommend doing several refining drafts, working on one story aspect for each draft. You’ll do a draft where you work on your narrative device and POV, another for character development and dialogue, another where you make sure all your expository details are supporting your premise, another to check the stakes, etc.

Stage 4: Final touches. This is the actual home stretch where you can go back and do any final line editing to make sure your prose is as good as your story structure, and then it’s time to copy edit and proofread. These final touches are best done with the help of professional line editors, copy editors and proofreaders, whether you’re traditionally published or not.

That “first” draft, after your zero draft, can be a real slog. And if you don’t get that one right, all the drafts after that will be slogs too. That’s why we’re so excited to be offering 30% off our Story Path as part of our Black Friday Sale (use code: BFCOURSES).

There are seven essential Story Types and the Story Path course helps you figure out which one you’re telling, then shows you how to use it to carve a path to a completed, professional draft that you can then refine and proudly publish.

We are so excited to teach an enthusiastic group of writers exactly what kind of story they’re telling and how to use the special elements of their Story Type to forge a path to a finished book. It’s twenty modules that will deepen your understanding of story structure and help you write better books for the rest of your life. We even throw in some platform building teaching for good measure.

Sue (and Anne & Rachelle)

*If you join the HEA club, some course material is dripped out over several months. You keep access as long as you are a member. If you buy a course as a stand-alone, you get immediate access to all content and retain it for one year.

Want to work with me and my team? The best way to get started on improving your author career is to join the Happily Ever Author Club. Don't forget to redeem your one-month free trial!

Note: This is a personal recommendation from Sandra, not from San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. Pages and Platforms has not provided any incentives or inducements to Sandra for including this message.

We Made the Move from Amazon KDP to Draft2Digital

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 22:31:59 GMT

by Tamara Merrill

For the first time, The Guided Pen 2023 Anthology will be distributed by Draft2Digital. This decision was made for several reasons. Primary among those reasons is the opportunity for wider distribution. But there are other important reasons. This move will allow all future Managing Editors to publish using one account; an account that is assigned to SDWEG. The formatting of the title, author, illustrator, cover designer, etc. will become standardized. The anthology will be published each year using the SDWEG logo as the imprint.

The board intends to move older editions of the anthology to Draft2Digital, thus putting all of our books in one basket. This is not a quick move but will take several months.

There will be no change for the purchasing public. Paperbacks and eBooks will continue to be sold on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc., but our distribution will be much wider.

As this year’s Managing Editor, I thought you might like to know more about Draft2Digital and how it compares to Amazon.

Draft2Digital and Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) are two different platforms for self-publishing eBooks, and each has its own set of features and advantages. Here are some key differences between the two:

Distribution:

Amazon KDP:

Amazon KDP primarily focuses on publishing and distributing eBooks through the Amazon Kindle Store. Amazon does have a wide distribution opportunity, but it is less complete, and many retailers and libraries will not purchase Amazon-distributed books.

Draft2Digital:

Draft2Digital offers a broader distribution network. It allows you to publish your eBooks to multiple online retailers and libraries, including Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and others.

Royalties:

Amazon KDP:

Amazon offers different royalty rates depending on the pricing and distribution options you choose. For example, you can earn either a 35% or 70% royalty on Kindle eBooks, depending on factors such as pricing and exclusivity. Royalty rates for Amazon purchases are lower per book.

Draft2Digital:

Draft2Digital offers competitive royalty rates and provides a single dashboard to manage your royalties, making it convenient for authors who publish on multiple platforms. They also provide a 60-70% royalty rate when distributing through various retailers, depending on the list price and the retailer's policies. Royalty rates for D2D purchases on Amazon are lower per book than the royalties from other “stores.”

Formatting:

Amazon KDP:

Amazon KDP offers the Kindle Create tool and guidelines to help you format your eBook for Kindle devices and apps. You can also upload your own professionally formatted eBook.

Draft2Digital:

Draft2Digital provides an easy-to-use formatting tool and offers automated conversion to multiple eBook formats (ePub, MOBI, PDF) for various retailers. This can save you time and effort in preparing your eBook for different platforms.

Marketing and Promotion:

Amazon KDP:

Amazon provides various promotional tools and opportunities, such as Kindle Countdown Deals, Kindle Free Book Promotions, and advertising options like Kindle Ads and Amazon Advertising, to help you promote your book to a wide Amazon audience. Their advertising platform is limited to Amazon promotion.

Draft2Digital:

While Draft2Digital doesn't have the same direct marketing tools as Amazon, it offers some promotional features, such as universal book links that make it easy to share your book across platforms. Additionally, you can use Draft2Digital's "Books2Read" service to create a reader-friendly landing page for your book, with links to various retailers. They have recently added multiple new, easy-to-use, marketing tools. The universal book link is easy to use in social media, newsletters, emails, etc.

Pricing and Fees:

In both cases, the author(SDWEG) sets the price for paperback and eBooks.

Amazon KDP:

Amazon KDP is free to use. There are no upfront fees, but Amazon takes a commission from your book sales.

Draft2Digital:

Draft2Digital is also free to use, and they also earn their revenue by taking a small percentage of your book sales when your books are distributed through their platform.

In Summary

Draft2Digital is a much smaller company than either Amazon or Ingram Spark. Their publishing, reporting, and formatting functions are straightforward and easy to use. Customer service support is readily available.

Both Amazon KDP and Draft2Digital have their advantages, and the choice between them depends on your publishing goals and preferences. If you want the widest distribution, Draft2Digital might be the better choice. However, if you're primarily targeting Amazon customers or prefer Amazon's promotional tools, Amazon KDP may be the right option for you. Many authors also choose to use both platforms to maximize their book's reach.

November is NaNoWriMo

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 18:17:07 GMT

Every November, novelists, both published and hoping-to-be-published, take on the challenge of writing a novel in one month. That makes November National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo.

The goal is to complete writing at least 50,000 words in one month. And even though writing is usually a solitary activity, NaNoWriMo encourages writers to join group writing sessions, to select writing accountability buddies, and to share results along the way.

So, even if you haven't already joined NaNoWriMo, don't think it's too late. Check out the link to the organization's site and start writing now.

For more information, check the NaNoWriMo home page: https://nanowrimo.org/

Young writers and educators, explore our Young Writers Program

Anne Hoiberg's Latest Book with a Message: Tears of War—Stories of Refugee Women

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 00:06:16 GMT

Anne Hoiberg's latest book, Tears of War—Stories of Refugee Women, packs an education and a call to action. To further that call, she has teamed with a local theatre group to bring the message to others at the same time as another worldwide effort to promote understanding of refugee and asylee issues will take place in San Diego.

From November 3rd through the 5th, Little Amal, an 11-foot giant puppet, visits San Diego to showcase her role as a refugee successfully surviving the harrowing journey from war to peace. Vantage Theatre serves as a local partner of Little Amal’s visit. The refugee puppet was created by the British production companies, The Walk Productions and Good Chance, in collaboration with the South African Handspring Puppet Company.

To honor Little Amal, Vantage Theatre's Executive Director Dori Salois and Anne Hoiberg are presenting a unique performance highlighting the stories of six refugee and asylum-seeking women from Anne’s book, Tears of War—Stories of Refugee Women. The women will present their stories of fleeing their war-impacted country, surviving the horrific journey to refuge, adjusting to a refugee camp or a neighboring country, and resettling in San Diego.

Please join Vantage Theatre’s presentation on Saturday, November 4th, at 3 p.m., at the La Jolla Library, 7555 Draper Avenue, La Jolla. To reserve a seat, please get in touch with vantagetheatre@gmail.com or 858-461-8552. A suggested donation of $20 can be processed at http://vantagetheatre.com/wordpress/donate or with cash at the door. Proceeds will be contributed to Casa Cornelia Law Center (a pro bono law firm for asylum-seeking migrants) and to the six refugee women. After the program and during the reception. Anne will sign her book, Tears of War ($20.).

Anne Hoiberg received a grant from California Humanities to create a play, documentary films, and the book, Tears of War—Stories of Refugee Women, which Montezuma Publishing published in December 2022. Tears of War highlights the strength, courage, and resilience of thirty-seven refugee and asylee women originally from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. These refugee or asylum-seeking women from fifteen different countries responded to Anne's interview questions about the terrifying journey from war to resettlement in San Diego. The book also includes a brief history of the country from which they fled. The histories of the fifteen countries provide a backdrop for the emotional stories of these women and the impact of colonialism and civil war on their lives.

The powerful stories include many successes of refugee and asylee women overcoming the challenges and establishing new lives and careers, many devoted to assisting others. Some stories do not yet have similar happy endings. All are stories of determination and will to survive and thrive.

Horror Literature Reads

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 21:17:10 GMT

Horror literature has always been a source of fascination for me. It offers a unique blend of thrills, chills, and thought-provoking narratives. Among the multitude of authors who have left their mark on this genre, there are five whose work holds a special place in my heart: Stephen King, Mary Shelley, Toni Morrison, Octavia E. Butler, and Victor LaValle. In this blog post, I'd like to share my deep admiration for these authors and explore the profound impact their stories have had on my love for horror fiction.

For as long as I can remember, Stephen King has been a literary companion who's kept me up late into the night, eagerly turning the pages of his spine-tingling tales. From the moment I picked up The Shining, I was hooked. King's knack for crafting relatable characters in chilling scenarios is nothing short of genius. I've felt the terror of the Overlook Hotel, the ancient evil lurking in Derry, and the psychic abilities of Carrie White. King's stories are not just horror; they're journeys into the deepest recesses of human fear and imagination.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a timeless masterpiece that has haunted my thoughts since I first encountered it. Her exploration of the consequences of tampering with the unknown, the loneliness of the creature, and the moral dilemmas of creation are themes that continue to resonate deeply with me. Shelley's work transcends mere horror, delving into the very essence of what it means to be human and the ethical dilemmas we may one day face in our relentless pursuit of knowledge.

Toni Morrison's Beloved is a novel that defies easy classification. It's a ghost story, a historical novel, and a meditation on the profound traumas of slavery. Morrison's storytelling is as poetic as it is haunting, and her characters are etched into my memory. Beloved has a way of lingering, much like the ghostly presence at its core, forcing readers to grapple with the painful legacy of racial injustice and the haunting effects of the past on the present.

Octavia E. Butler's Fledgling introduced me to a new kind of horror—one that blends supernatural elements with thought-provoking social commentary. Her reinterpretation of the vampire mythos challenges conventional notions of power, consent, and identity. Butler's ability to make me ponder real-world issues within the context of a vampire society while maintaining an eerie atmosphere is a testament to her storytelling prowess.

Victor LaValle's The Ballad of Black Tom is a recent discovery that left an indelible mark on my reading journey. LaValle's talent for mixing cosmic horror with social critique is both brilliant and deeply unsettling. As a fan of Lovecraft's work, I was captivated by how LaValle reimagines and critiques Lovecraft's themes while delivering a haunting narrative that forces us to confront the horrors of racism and prejudice.

These five authors—Stephen King, Mary Shelley, Toni Morrison, Octavia E. Butler, and Victor LaValle—have not only fueled my love for horror literature but have also enriched my understanding of the world and its complexities. Their stories have resonated with me on a deeply personal level, leaving me in awe of their ability to craft tales that continue to haunt my thoughts. As I continue to explore the realms of horror fiction, I am grateful for the enduring influence of these literary masters, whose work has forever left its mark on my heart and soul.

Masters Review Chapbook Submissions Now Open

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 22:06:02 GMT

For those who write shorter pieces, this opportunity may be right for you.

“I have always loved chapbooks. The first two books I published were chapbooks. What excites me is when a chapbook takes itself seriously as a literary form–up to something unique and different from other 'packaging,' other narrative or lyrical delivery devices—the novel, the short story collection, the novella, etc. It is not a 'minor' form for me. I love when a chapbook presents itself on an equal footing as those other forms. Not lesser or better but different, special. Its content is unable to be expressed in any other manner but this compact, shaped-charge of a book.” –Michael Martone, Guest Judge

OPEN: Submissions Open Through December 17

Guest Judge: Michael Martone

For the fourth year, The Masters Review is open for submissions of literary prose chapbooks! They're interested in collections of flash fiction, creative nonfiction essays, short stories, and anything in-between. They encourage you to be bold, to experiment with style and form, as long as you stay under 45 pages. One chapbook will be selected as the winner by their guest judge, Michael Martone! The winner receives a $3,000 cash prize, along with manuscript publication and 75 contributor copies. Their chapbooks are distributed internationally and are available through Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. A digital version of the chapbook will be made available to their newsletter subscribers six months to a year after the print publication.

Submissions will be accepted between September 1 and December 17, 2023. The Masters Review staff will select a shortlist of five to ten chapbooks to pass along to Michael Martone, who will pick the winner and write an introduction for the manuscript. The winning chapbook will be published in Spring 2025. Last year’s winner, Coats by Naomi Telushkin, selected by Kim Fu, will be published next spring. Masterplans by Nick Almeida, our inaugural winner, was chosen by Steve Almond, and Matt Bell selected Love at the End of the World by Lindy Biller as the winner of our second contest.

All submissions must be single-author prose manuscripts of 25 to 45 pages. They are not interested in poetry. All manuscripts must be complete: no excerpts, no chapters of a novel, no works-in-progress, or any other incomplete work. Individual pieces may be previously published, but submitted manuscripts should contain some unpublished material. If you have questions or concerns about whether your manuscript would qualify, please email them at contact@mastersreview.com.

SUBMIT NOW

ADD TO CALENDAR

Masters Review Novel Excerpt Contest Closes in November

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 21:42:46 GMT

"I love getting to know new work and new writers through a contest, and I love getting to see novels before they go out into the world, so judging The Masters Review Novel Excerpt Contest provides both of those things at once. I have waited years for a book based on an excerpt I read, and it is the best kind of waiting, and I am someone impatient in life. As a judge, I'm looking for an excerpt that will give me that kind of anticipation, a book that I will want to wait for. I want an excerpt that gives me a sense of the novel as a whole, rather than an excerpt that can stand alone/separate. I like novels that are difficult to excerpt, novels that contain elements of the whole in any part." –Matthew Salesses, Guest Judge

The Masters Review Novel Excerpt Contest is open through November 12, 2023. Prizes include $3,000 for first place, $300 for second place, and $200 for third place. Maximum words for submission is 6,000. The Masters Review requires a $20 fee for submissions.

LEARN MORE

SUBMIT HERE

Need a reminder to submit? Add us to your calendar to be notified on the opening day of this contest!

ADD TO CALENDAR

About the Judge:

MATTHEW SALESSES is the author of eight books, most recently The Sense of Wonder (Little, Brown, 2023), the national bestseller Craft in the Real World (a Best Book of 2021 at NPR, Esquire, Library Journal, Independent Book Review, Chicago Tribune, Electric Literature, and others), and the PEN/Faulkner Finalist and Dublin Literary Award longlisted novel Disappear Doppelgänger Disappear. He also wrote The Hundred-Year Flood; I’m Not Saying, I’m Just Saying; Different Racisms: On Stereotypes, the Individual, and Asian American Masculinity; The Last Repatriate; and Our Island of Epidemics (out of print). Forthcoming is a memoir, To Grieve Is to Carry Another Time (Little, Brown).

Matthew was adopted from Korea. In 2015 Buzzfeed named him one of 32 Essential Asian American Writers. His essays can be found in Best American Essays 2020, NPR Code Switch, The New York Times Motherlode, The Guardian, Time, VICE.com, and other venues. His short fiction has appeared in Glimmer Train, American Short Fiction, PEN/Guernica, Witness, and elsewhere. He has received awards and fellowships from, among others, the PEN/Faulkner Foundation, Dublin Literary Award, Bread Loaf, Glimmer Train, Mid-American Review, and [PANK] Books.

Matthew is an Assistant Professor of Writing at Columbia University. He earned a Ph.D. in Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Houston and an MFA in Fiction from Emerson College. He serves on the editorial boards of Green Mountains Review and Machete (an imprint of The Ohio State University Press), and has held editorial positions at Pleiades, The Good Men Project, Gulf Coast, and Redivider. He has read and lectured widely at conferences and universities and on TV and radio, including PBS, NPR, Al Jazeera America, various MFA programs, and the Tin House, Kundiman, and One Story writing conferences.

Introducing VAMP and So Say We All

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 19:29:01 GMT

Introducing VAMP and So Say We All

From the So Say We All website: A highly-produced multimedia reading series, The VAMP Storytelling Showcase presents an evening of several writers performing works with audio /visual accompaniment revolving around a changing theme. All participants are chosen by blind online submission, given writing and performance workshops to further improve the material and its delivery, and the final product is curated in a featured capacity, monthly since 2009.

So Say We All is therefore another opportunity for you to write a short story, probably tightly related to your personal life experiences, and get a new experience performing your piece. So Say We All and VAMP Long Story Short performances happen each month. This post announces the November presentation and the deadline for submitting a piece to be considered.

Family, tourists, termites, "little green men," even Aunt Flo: Visitors come in many forms. We have all sorts of feelings and reactions towards them. We are them. For better or worse, sometimes they're here to stay.

Send So Say We All your true story!

* Submission deadline: October 23, 2023, 11:59pm *

Submit here

(Showcase date is Thursday, Nov. 30th. Make sure you're available on that date!)

RSVP & Follow this event on Facebook here.

The following information is also from the So Say We All website about VAMP. (Sorry, I couldn't find an explanation for the acronym, but I've attended one of the sessions and it was GREAT.)

Writers are encouraged to submit a 5-10 minute long (4-6 page, 12 pt. font, double-spaced) story related to a show’s theme through the “submit” link on our website. We highly encourage the use of images in power-point style presentation during the writer’s final performance, but these do not need to be submitted up front.How the VAMP process works:

• Writers submit a first draft of their true stories to our submittable account, indicating which VAMP theme they are submitting for.

• A panel of blind readers are assembled from volunteers who have previously performed at VAMP. Each reader, along with the show’s producer and SSWA’s Program Director, upvotes, downvotes, or stays neutral on each piece submitted.

• Scores are tallied and top-scoring stories are identified. Final selection begins with the show’s producer and Program Director, taking into account factors that will make the show as a whole the best it can be. These can include if there are two or more stories too similar in theme, if there is a range of performers that represent the community, if there is a balance of humor and poignancy, etc. Submitters who have never performed at VAMP before are given extra attention.

• The selected cohort begins a literary boot camp that involves participating in group read and critiques to give and receive feedback, work with assigned writing coaches 1-1, and receiving performance coaching to ensure they’re comfortable with public speaking.

• Finally, the cohort members select visual images to accompany their stories, send in their final drafts, and then perform together in front of an adoring audience!

• Videos of performances are uploaded to our Youtube Channel, and selected pieces will appear on The VAMP Podcast.

• We encourage writers to seek opportunities to publish their work, and to treat the VAMP Storytelling Showcase as a powerful growth experience, but not the end of the line for the stories they workshop with us. Authors retain the rights to their work.

San Diego Public Library Local Author Showcase Submissions Open

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 23:36:59 GMT

THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER AND SUBMIT YOUR BOOK IS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2023!

As the crowning event of the library’s Local Author Program, the Showcase offers published authors an opportunity to present their work to a large audience of readers, publishers, and fellow book enthusiasts. On Friday, January 26, 2024, there will be a special reception to honor participating authors and officially unveil the exhibit. The exhibit will run the entire month of February in the beautiful San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common downtown.

For more information and to register, please visit the Library’s Local Author website (https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/news-events/localauthors), and follow the instructions below:

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:

NOW OPEN

If you have registered online but not submitted a copy of your book, please do so asap.

For those who have yet to register, please keep reading:

1. Complete the online registration prior to submitting your book.

2. If you use a pen name, register under your pen name and NOT your real name.

3. If your book is in both print and digital formats, submit the PRINT version only.

4. All authors must submit a high-resolution photo of their book cover to complete registration. (Accepted formats: JPG or PNG. No PDFs.)

After registering, please drop off your book at the Central Library in the book-drop at the corner of J and 11th Streets or mail it inside a sealed manila envelope labeled:

Local Author Book
San Diego Public Library
330 Park Boulevard
San Diego, Ca 92101-7416

If you have any questions or comments, please first see the FAQs (https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/news-events/localauthors#questions). If your question is not addressed, send an email to localauthor@sandiego.gov and it will be answered in the order received. (Be sure to add localauthor@sandiego.gov to your contacts so that further correspondence does not end up in your junk mail.)

San Diego Public Library Announces Opening of Short Story Contest Submissions

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 23:18:44 GMT

The San Diego Central Library is already planning their 2024 Short Story Contest, and to give their jocund judges a bit more time to sort through your scintillating stories, we're going to open up submissions on Monday, February 5, 2024!

Save the Date! Tell your friends! And start writing!

Win $ prizes. Get your winning story performed live. Take a peek at last year. https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/2023-sdpl-short-story-contest-live-readings-and-awards-event

SDWEG Member J. Dianne Dotson To Launch The Inn at Amethyst Lantern October 24

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 19:10:37 GMT

J. Dianne Dotson announces the upcoming launch of her book The Inn at the Amethyst Lantern to be held at Mysterous Galaxy Bookstore on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at 7 p.m.

Atop a seaside bluff, an ancient lighthouse named the Amethyst Lantern sweeps its violet light across the sea and around the bayside town of Glimmerbight. The citizens do not remember a time in which the Lantern was built. But tales abound of the Inn in its shadow. Long ago, the Inn played host to a wonderous twilight era of a time long passed before the sun’s harsh rays forced humanity to adapt to Night Living. Legend tells that the shuttered Inn still houses a mystic hermit who powers the Lantern, and who may have founded the town itself.

Gentian “Gen” Lightworth and her brother Jas are two teens who live at the edge of the woods beyond which the Inn and the Amethyst Lantern still stand. After their cousin, Mira Celestus, breaks the societal age code by attending the annual Glowworm Ball via magic, something awakens in the Inn. Two giant Luna moths carry an invitation from the Inn addressed to Gen alone, portending that something stirs at the base of the Amethyst Lantern after all. Gen and her friends seek to uncover the truth of the Inn and find that something strange is happening in all the land, something that could threaten the pleasant town of Glimmerbight and force Night Living into a more sinister era of darkness, or even worse, to bake in the brilliance of a savage sun.

PRODUCT INFO

Title: The Inn at the Amethyst Lantern
Author: J. Dianne Dotson
Publisher: ‎Android Press
Release Date: October 24, 2023
Language: English
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-1958121337

The book is currently available at the following sites:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Inn-at-Amethyst-Lantern/dp/1958121339/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144010400

SDWEG Member Richard Carrico and WildBlue Press Announce Launch of Monsters on the Loose

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 23:01:55 GMT

SDWEG member Richard L. Carrico and WildBlue Press proudly launch his new book this month. MONSTERS ON THE LOOSE: The True Story of Three Unsolved Murders in Prohibition Era San Diego will be released on October 17, 2023. Richard is a professor at SDSU and the author of more than 30 articles and 5 books.

MONSTERS ON THE LOOSE is a true story examining three unsolved murders during what was a dark time in San Diego's history. Told by an award-winning author and historian, Richard L. Carrico, fans of true crime won’t be able to stop from diving right into this gripping narrative.

Carrico has dedicated time to these victim's stories, emerging as an advocate for them more than 90 years after the murders. Their relentless pursuit of justice and the unearthing of shocking revelations promise to captivate readers and keep them on the edge of their seats.

Richard will be doing several presentations/book signings in the San Diego region kicking off with a program entitled beer and books at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park November 5th from 3 to 5. A new book and fresh craft beers, what could be better? Richard’s web site PastShadows.net has information on this and other signings.

Reviews:

OnlineBookClub.org Kendal Low August 7, 2023

San Diego in 1931 was, apparently, rife with murder. With forensic evidence not quite what it is today, many of these murders went unsolved. Richard L. Carrico details the three unsolved murders of Virginia Brooks, Louise Teuber, and Hazel Bradshaw. The author walks the audience through the girls’ last days alive, the search for their killers, and the criminal trial of one suspect.

I am so pleased to say that I highly enjoyed my time reading this book! I have always been a fan of true crime, so it came as no surprise to me that this book sounded incredibly interesting. I found that Carrico did a fantastic job of describing these girls and their lives, and the search for any suspects. I think it was helpful that these murders took place where the author grew up, so he had a connection to the places featured that was obvious in his writing.

It is obvious how much work Carrico must have put into researching these murders, as there was so much information on the deaths themselves, the lives of the girls before they were murdered, and their families’ reactions to their untimely deaths. The information is so well detailed that I even believe I know who committed Teuber’s murder.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Dr. George Phillips, Professor of History Emeritus, University of Colorado.

As archaeologist, historian, and now murder investigator, the intellectual curiosity of Richard Carrico has no limits. Well researched and written, his new work, as with all good mysteries, takes us into unknown territories and keeps us reading well into the dark night.

San Diego Writers, Ink’s Authors & Artists Event!

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 18:48:46 GMT

SDWI invites you to apply to be one of 16-20 authors that will sell books at their Authors and Artists event, a collaboration with Liberty Station Barracks 16 and 19, on Friday, October 27 from 4-7:30 p.m. They will be curating in order to showcase as many types of books as possible.

In order to apply you must:

be a current Writers, Ink member (individual memberships are $45 per year; student memberships are $30 per year)
be able to set up at 3:30pm and take down at 7:30pm
have a way to process credit card transactions

SDWI will offer:

half of a six foot table (or a full, slim four foot table)
table cloths for the six foot tables
a print out of your name
the company of other lively authors!

Since the event is part of SDWI's Fall For Writing Fundraiser, they will be asking those selected for a $25 donation to the organization. (However, all proceeds from book sales go directly to the author.)

Please submit your interest using this form by Monday October 9 at midnight. We will email everyone our selections by Wednesday, October 11.

We look forward to hearing from you. Please reach out should you have any questions!

SDWI Offers Fiction Writing for Preteens October 7

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 18:32:55 GMT

SDWEG's mission statement is "The Guild shall promote, support, and encourage the writing arts for adults and youth at every level of experience." Since we haven't been able to provide programs directly to address young writers, we provide information about all San Diego organizations that do. And San Diego Writers, Ink, comes through again and again.

Does your child love writing? Creating stories? Have a vivid imagination? In this Fiction Writing for Preteens workshop, award-winning author Puja Shah will teach about the key elements to writing the perfect short story with guided prompts and fun exercises that will allow each child to go home with their own mental toolbox of creative writing tips.

Puja is a mother of two kids and has years of experience teaching children yoga and meditation where she understands each child’s unique creativity. All they need to bring is a notebook and their imagination! Class size is limited, so register today. All writing levels are welcome!

Recommended for ages 10-13. The one-day workshop will be held on Saturday, 10/7 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Kids by the Sea Olivenhain in Encinitas. Cost is $30 for all. Note: This event has already happened.

SDWI Fall for Writing Conference October 26-29, 2023

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 18:22:00 GMT

San Diego Writers, Ink is excited to announce that their annual Fall for Writing Conference will be held October 26 to October 29, 2023! More information coming soon.

If you aren't already a member of San Diego Writers, Ink, consider joining in order to get discounted prices for their courses, read-and-critique groups, and other offerings. Single memberships are $45 per year. Other levels exist for students and households.

Additional information about the Fall For Writing Event:

Fall For Writing (FFW) is not only a fundraiser for San Diego Writers, Ink, but it is also a great way to familiarize yourself with SDWI and their programs or take a class from an instructor or in a subject you are curious about. Best perhaps is that you will be in community with other writers.

Traditionally, students have paid for the entire conference or per class or program. This year, to open up our event to as many people as possible, FFW will be pay-what-you-can. YOU will decide what you would like to pay for your participation this year! Note: The Zoom link will be the same for all classes and will be shared the day before the event.

Though there will be three in-person events Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, all TEN classes will be online and offered in shorter formats. Additionally, all but a few will be recorded for others to access later if one cannot access the “live” Zoom session.

BONUS! SDWI has a NEW course offering on Saturday, October 28 at 2:30 PM: Memoir 101 with Marni Freedman! See below for details.

Learn more & register for Fall For Writing HERE! Note: This event has already happened.

FFW SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26:

Thursday Writers Write, Read, Eat! (In Person)

Once again this year, the Thursday Writers team was the largest contributor to Blazing Laptops, SDWI’s annual fundraising event! To say thank you, SDWI Executive Director Kristen Fogle is honoring Thursday Writers by hosting the group as the kickoff event for Fall For Writing.

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM — Thursday Writers Write

We’ll start by gathering at Liberty Station and doing what we always do—write to a prompt for however many minutes and see what emerges. Some or all will read their work as the rest of us bear witness.

7 PM – 8 PM — Thursday Writers Read

Bring along a piece you started at a Thursday Writers session. It’s okay if you’ve done some editing since then—it’s okay if it’s exactly the way you wrote it at TW. We’ll have an open mic reading for anyone who has ever written at Thursday Writers (did you know the group has been going since 1994?). Please time your piece so that it is no longer than three minutes.

8 PM – 9 PM — Thursday Writers Eat

Kristen is throwing us a fabulous dessert party! Enjoy decadent desserts and spend some time visiting with your fellow Thursday Writers!

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27:

Artists & Authors Event (In Person)

4 PM – 7:30 PM — Join us for a local authors and artists showcase! We will have local authors and artists with their work on display (and sale) for you. The event is a collaboration between Barracks 16 and Barracks 19 in the Liberty Station Arts District.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28:

10 AM – 11:15 AM — Cut Paste Write with Kimberly Lee*

Step into a scene and let it drip through your fingertips.” — MJ Bush

Ekphrastic writing has been described as “taking the visual and transforming it to the verbal.” This form of writing, used for centuries, encourages writers to use visual art as a muse for putting words to paper. In this workshop, participants will explore the use of images as a source of inspiration for imaginative writing. The workshop will include a taste of SoulCollage®, an expressive arts method through which we’ll create and write from our own images. (A background or experience in art is not required.) Join us!

Please have the following on hand (or feel free to work with digital images):

3 pre-selected pages, torn from magazines, of primary images (people, animals, objects)
3 pre-selected pages, torn from magazines, of larger background scenes (nature, interiors, patterns)
Glue stick
Scissors
5×8 piece of paper, preferably cardstock or cardboard
Pen and paper (or laptop!)

11:30 AM – 12:45 PM — A Crash Course in Plot with Wesley Fulkerson

Learn how to plot a story according to the tried and true fundamentals of the craft. Eliminate the guesswork, and learn how to plot the way pros do it.

1 PM – 2:15 PM — Crafting the Perfect Scene with Judy Reeves

The difference between a ho-hum story and a page-turner is the writer’s ability to create dramatic, believable scenes. Scenes are what allow the reader to experience the action at the same time as the characters and take the reader from outside the story to the interior of the conflict. In this workshop we’ll examine the elements that go into crafting successful scenes focusing on character, plot, purpose, and transitions from narrative summary to scene and back again.

2:30 PM – 3:45 PM — Memoir 101 with Marni Freedman NEW!!

Are you seeking a way to transform the stories of your life into a compelling, page turning memoir? Join Marni Freedman, licensed Marriage and Family therapist and professional writing coach, for a fun, interactive, memoir writing workshop that will inspire and ignite your memoir writing journey. Topics introduced:

The difference between memoir, personal essay and autobiography
Structure for memoir: the three key story points that will help you uncover the basic shape of your memoir
Accessing memory and choosing stories
Character arc for memoir
Two voices In Memoir – Adult and Child
Tackling your theme
The secret to writer’s voice: vulnerability and risk

4:00 PM – 5:15 PM — Character 101 with Rich Farrell

Characters and characterization make or break a novel, and as a writer, you must know not only how to construct a person from the ground up, but also how to skillfully relate that character to your readers through action and thought. Join us for a quick but useful dive into crafting an effective character for your story.

6 PM – 7 PM — Writer Mixer

Come out for a casual meet up before our Saturday night reading. There will be treats and writerly conversation to be had!

7 PM – 8:30 PM — A Year In Ink Anthology Reading hosted by Jill G. Hall (In Person)

Writers from any volume of A Year In Ink are invited to read two minutes of their work. Volume 16 will be available, and all other volumes will be on sale at a discount! Sign up to read below!

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29:

10 AM – 11:15 AM — Jammin’ & Hope Ya Like Enjambment, too! A Poetry Workshop with Rebecca Jane

W.H. Auden mined writing material from Beatles songbooks. Major Jackson is moved every day by Fugees’ song “How Many Mics” from their impactful album The Score. Julie Carr praises the use of negative space in Cake’s “Short Skirt/Long Jacket.” Poetry and music are eternal companions. Both stir emotions, trigger impressions, and inspire ideas. What music nurtures your insightful expressions? This workshop will explore this: We will share song titles to create a unique playlist and then we will listen and write. Can you imagine the poetry you will produce listening to the favorite songs of fellow writers? Let’s get together and let the music move us! ** Plus, a secret bonus: The Enjambment Editing Method **

11:30 AM – 12:45 PM — Poetry of Today with Ron Salisbury

Are you a beginning poet or one experienced? Today’s presentation will introduce you to the poetry of today. And why it doesn’t sound or look like your mother’s poetry. Why does poetry today seldom rhyme? And why is it sometimes so hard to understand? Maybe it’s not the poet’s fault. Maybe it’s poetry’s fault. Maybe there is no fault. We will review these topics, as well as discuss the tools poet’s toolbox to write poems, which is covered in depth in SDWI’s Certificate in Poetry.

1 PM – 2:15 PM —The Poetry of Gratitude with Jim Moreno

If you not sure you have anything to be grateful for because you’ve been watching too many news programs, in this poem-making workshop, Jim will help you to be aware of great things, small things, ordinary things, and special things in your life that help you to suit up and show up for life on a daily basis.

2:30 PM – 3:45 PM — Essential Essay Elements with Joyce Hayden

Together we will focus on three to four important essentials of writing a personal essay. Topics will include setting; structure; voice; theme/conflict. Textual examples will be provided for discussion, writing prompts will be offered; and participants will also have time to write and share work written in response to the afternoon’s prompts. This will be an introductory class to a longer course offered next year.

4 PM – 5:15 PM — Query for Magazines with Rebecca Chamaa*

If you want to write for magazines (and get paid for it) this class is a good first step. Learn how to locate and pitch editors in this supportive, informative session.

*All starred will NOT be recorded.

Presidential Volunteer Service Awards and SDWEG

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 21:11:40 GMT

Did you know that SDWEG is certified to submit applications for Presidential Volunteer Service Awards on behalf of members who volunteer to support the organization? In January of 2023, we announced this achievement and advised our member volunteers to keep track of their volunteer hours in support of the Guild. Members over the age of 26 who provide at least 100 hours of volunteer service in a year (attending Board meetings, staffing booths at festivals, writing blog posts and articles, serving as a reviewer for the anthology or Manuscript Review Program, and other activities) are eligible to receive at least a Bronze level pin, coin or medallion as well as a certificate signed by the President of the United States. Volunteers who serve at least 250 hours in a year are eligible for the Silver level. And any member who has put in at least 500 hours as a volunteer is eligible for the Gold level.

If you can document the hours of service you have provided to the Guild and have accumulated at least 100 hours in 2023, send your documentation to sdweg.pvsa@gmail.com. A team made up of Board members will review the documentation to determine if it is sufficient to merit application for the award. We need more than just a total number of hours. The best documentation would be a list of the dates, times, and a description of the activities.

Number of Hours Required for Adult Volunteers (26+)

Bronze medal: 100-249 hours
Silver medal: 250-499 hours
Gold medal: 500+ hours

See also the original post introducing the Guild's participation in the Presidential Volunteer Service Awards Program at https://sdweg.org/blog/13043606

San Diegans Honor Iranian Culture on Hafez Day

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 20:28:29 GMT

Friends of the San Diego Central Library in partnership with the Persian Cultural Center and San Diego Poetry Annual, are pleased to host the city’s 4th annual Hafez Day, an evening of music, poetry, and cultural exchange honoring Persian poet Hafez Shirazi’s words of love, joy, and peace. Taking place on Thursday, October 12, 2023, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the Central Library’s Neil Morgan Auditorium, the free and open-to-the-public event will highlight Hafez’s work as one of the world’s most beloved and influential poets. The evening will also feature refreshments and readings from San Diego poets and writers of varied backgrounds and ethnicities, inspired by Hafez’s enduring legacy.

“Hafez is the only writer to have his own holiday, based on the strength of his impact and his verse that reflects the best aspirations of people,” notes Zoe Ghahremani, prominent Iranian-American author and cohost of the San Diego Hafez Day Celebration. “It is a joy to be able to share this rich history and culture with the wider San Diego community and the countless international communities that mark this day with music and art.”

Michael Klam, Executive Editor of San Diego Poetry Annual and cohost of the Hafez Day Celebration, looks forward to the evening as “an opportunity to introduce some of the best poetry ever written to San Diego audiences and to hear from the many diverse artists performing at the event.”

Performers will include San Diego Poet Laureate Jason Magabo Perez; award winning artists: Kazim Ali, Carly DeMento, Adam Greenfield, Shadab Zeest Hashmi, Ari Hornarvar, Katie Manning, Jane Muschenetz, Robt O, Margarita Pintado, Gill Sotu; and the Namaad Ensemble of Persian Classical Music

About Hafez Day

Hafez Day, celebrated in Iran and several other countries on October 12th, honors the work and legacy of lyric poet, Hafez Shirazi (1325-1390). Considered by many to be the preeminent poet of Persian literary accomplishment, Hafez’s works continue to inspire devotion and adulation in fans across the generations. Learn more at Wikipedia/Hafez

About Zoe Ghahremani

Featured on WBEZ in Chicago, Voice of America, KPBS, Radio Iran, at the Iranian-American Women Foundation Conference, and elsewhere, Zoe founded and curates the San Diego Central Library’s Author of the Month program, is an active member of San Diego Writing Women, and sits on the Board of the Friends of the Central Library. She is a past Board member of San Diego Writers, Ink and the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. In 2019, she was honored with a Community Leader Award from the San Diego Writers Festival. Learn more at: https://zoeghahremani.com

About Michael Klam

Michael Klam is Executive Editor and Associate Publisher of the San Diego Poetry Annual (SDPA). He coedits the bilingual edition of SDPA with Olga Garcia. Michael hosts Central Library’s Conversations with Poets series. He coedited the San Diego Writers, Ink anthology, A Year in Ink, Volume 6. His book, Emma and the Buddha Frog (Puna Press), was a San Diego Book Awards finalist. His most recent collections are The Cheapest Flight to Paradise (Puna Press, 2018) and Anything for a Dull Moment, (Garden Oak Press, 2020). Learn more at: https://poetryandartsd.com/about/

About the Friends of San Diego Central Library

The Friends of the San Diego Central Library is a member-supported nonprofit organization that advocates, fundraises, and provides critical support for The Central Library and related literary and educational programs. They provide the community with opportunities to invest in the success of the library as well as literary and education communities by donating funds or by donating time through volunteering. Learn more at https://www.friendsofsdpl.org/

About Persian Cultural Center

PCC’s core activities are multifaceted and include musical concerts, lectures, art exhibitions, dance performances, as well as language, theater, traditional instrument, and art classes. The variety of PCC’s programming draws a diverse patronage extending far beyond San Diego. We seek and welcome all members of the San Diego community and visitors to the City to enjoy and participate in our events and presentations. To this end our programs/events are non-partisan and secular, with artistic and cultural value being the ultimate benchmarks. Learn more at: https://pccsd.org

About San Diego Poetry Annual

For over 15 years, SDPA has featured renowned poets and artists alongside emerging local voices. Annually, 600 print copies of our publications (including Kids! and Bilingual volumes) are distributed in libraries, public universities, and public colleges in the greater San Diego County area and beyond. Learn more at https://sandiegopoetryannual.com/about/

The Empowering Influence of Book Awards on Aspiring Authors

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 18:55:37 GMT

By Raquel Damus

In the vast landscape of literature, where countless writers strive to make their mark, book awards stand as beacons of recognition, validation, and inspiration for aspiring authors. These esteemed honors not only celebrate the art of storytelling but also play a pivotal role in shaping the careers of writers who are embarking on their literary journeys. As the literary world continues to evolve, the profound impact of book awards on emerging authors becomes increasingly evident, providing them with platforms to showcase their talents and driving them to explore the boundaries of their creativity.

Across the literary spectrum, various awards offer aspiring authors the opportunity to gain recognition and credibility. One such accolade is the Royal Dragonfly Book Award, an international program that seeks to commend exceptional literature spanning diverse categories.

The award is unique in its inclusive approach, welcoming submissions from both traditionally and independently published authors. By embracing a wide array of genres, the Royal Dragonfly Book Award underscores the richness and diversity inherent in literature.

The California Book Awards, presented annually by the Commonwealth Club of California, highlight the exceptional achievements of authors within the state. This program recognizes outstanding works across fiction, nonfiction, poetry, juvenile literature, and first works of fiction. Through this award, the literary community celebrates the unique perspectives and voices emerging from the diverse landscape of California.

The submission process for the California Book Awards reflects its commitment to both traditional and self-published authors. By setting clear guidelines for submission, the award ensures that all aspiring authors have an equal opportunity to have their works considered for recognition. This inclusivity encourages a wider range of authors to participate, enriching the pool of talent that the award recognizes.

The NYC Big Book Award takes regional recognition to a global level, extending its reach to authors from around the world. This award acknowledges excellence in independent, traditionally published, and big press books. This cosmopolitan approach emphasizes the universality of literary accomplishment while encouraging authors to share their stories on an international stage.

Celebrating Literary Craftsmanship

The Pencraft Awards stand as a testament to the commitment to excellence in writing across genres. With a submission process that allows authors and readers to actively participate by submitting their own works or nominating exceptional pieces, the Pencraft Awards create a space for communal celebration of literary craftsmanship. The submission fees, while nominal, contribute to sustaining the integrity of the awards program, ensuring that it continues to champion quality writing.

The Sarton Awards, dedicated to recognizing women's memoirs and contemporary and historical fiction, not only celebrate the achievements of women authors but also shed light on important narratives often overlooked. The submission process for the Sarton Awards underscores its commitment to highlighting women's voices, ensuring that they are heard and acknowledged within the literary community.

For authors who choose to independently publish, the National Indie Book Awards (NIEA) and the National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA) provide a platform that celebrates their entrepreneurial spirit and creative achievements. These awards acknowledge excellence in independent publishing across a broad range of genres. The submission process for both awards underscores their dedication to inclusivity, welcoming submissions from authors worldwide.

In the intricate tapestry of literature, book awards serve as transformative catalysts for aspiring authors. From the global recognition of the NYC Big Book Award to the celebration of regional talent through the California Book Awards, these honors propel authors toward greater visibility, validation, and networking opportunities. Whether through the Pencraft Awards' emphasis on craftsmanship or the dedication to amplifying marginalized voices demonstrated by the Sarton Awards, each accolade plays a vital role in shaping the future of literature. As the literary world continues to evolve, book awards will remain a beacon of hope and inspiration for aspiring authors, nurturing their dreams and driving them to achieve literary greatness.

If you have received an award for one of your books, consider adding that information to the Discussion Forum on the topic of Awards: https://sdweg.org/page-18102/13245255.

If you’d like to know more about the process of submitting your work for one of these awards, consider consulting with one of the Guild members who has already received one to get guidance on the process, the cost, and the benefit.

Hunter S. Thompson Musical - Save 20% with Promo Code

Lisa Hagerman — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 22:13:56 GMT

Careening from the 1940s to his death in 2005, this gonzo musical blasts into the life of one of America’s most influential and destructive icons. In relentless pursuit of the meaning of the American Dream during an era of political and social upheaval, Hunter S. Thompson cultivated a new form of journalism that ― for better or worse ― injected his subjective view into the heart of the story. Now, in another, even more severe moment of fake news, propaganda and polarization, Hunter’s story helps explore how we got here, and how to keep fighting.

Special Invitation and ticket offer:

The La Jolla Playhouse is offering SDWEG members a 20% discount on tickets to The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical. To save, use promo code GONZO20 at LaJollaPlayhouse.org. Valid for performances September 12 – 29.

When I Write a Scene . . .

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 00:29:47 GMT

Submitted by Bob Boze

When I write a scene, I don’t want my reader to be observer. I want them to be a participant.

I want them to feel, taste, hear, smell what my characters senses are feeling, hearing, smelling or tasting. I want to draw upon their imagination to pull them into the scene so they become the character.

In a restaurant scene:

When they take a bite of their salad, I want the reader to feel the cool crisp crunch of the lettuce. The sweetness of a cranberry mixed in with the crunch and woodsy taste of a slivered almond. As the brie, smothered in cranberry sauce is set on the table, I want their senses to light up and drool with my characters.

I want to describe the richness of the butter they’ve dipped their lobster in and the firm, slightly sweet taste of the lobster that blends and complements the butter’s saltiness. Make the reader hurry while sprinkling the vinegar on their chips because they see the crispness of the flour coating or breading on their fish and can’t wait to take their first bite. Then, describe that wonderful aroma of the vinegar mixing with the salt and oil on the chips that makes them grab a chip before delving into the fish.

But it’s not just the food that makes the scene, it’s the setting too. The ambiance of the room, the furniture. Are there dark wooden booths with soft warm colored cushions that scream comfort and “Stay as long as you want” or modern, uncomfortable, no personality chairs and tables that tell you “Hurry up, the next seating is waiting at the door”?

Is there a fireplace, a fire pit or standing heaters? Each creates a totally different feeling. Don’t forget about the attentiveness (or lack thereof) of the staff. Are they helping my characters enjoy a wonderful, relaxed meal or hurrying them along because they have a hot date at the end of their shift?

In a sex scene:

I want to carefully paint the room, the bed, the couch, the table, wherever they’re at. Making love on the table tells the reader something totally different about my couple than if one of them led the other to the bed. As does who led whom to the bed and what articles of clothes they lost, and how they lost them, on the way.

If I want to change the mood, I can plop them down bare ass naked on an imitation leather couch in the middle of the winter or set the mood with the throw Grandma knitted that one of them has had forever. Yes, each sets a totally different mood and tells a different story. Oh my God. If only Grandma could see me now!

Especially in sex scenes, I let my descriptions speak to the reader. Let the scene stir their imagination.

In a setting:

When they’re looking at a cathedral, a castle, a bridge, or a famous landmark I use all their senses to describe it. Anything that distinguishes it, that makes it unique, that piques interest. What makes it a castle and not a cathedral? Or is it both? The sounds it makes, traffic around it, trains at the station across the street or river. Boats sailing, chugging, or being rowed nearby.

Don’t forget smells. A nearby Starbucks, a coffee vendor on the Galata Bridge in Istanbul. A spice market, Christmas tree lot, the sea air smell of the ocean, a restaurant nearby, the fish market.

I not only want the physical details to come to the front, I want subtle and not so subtle feelings to build it into a vision of it and its surroundings. It needs to be appreciated, the feeling you get while looking at it needs to form in the reader’s mind.

The excitement and energy of the moving banner signs of Times Square or the flashing lights of Piccadilly Circus. The fascination of the London Eye as the cars slowly move skyward and the people in them wave to you as they disappear. The beauty of the Eifel tower as its lacelike structure disappears into the clouds.

I need to use all of my senses! I don’t just see the Eiffel Tower. What about the young people on the lawn of the park next to it? The lovers so involved with each other they don’t even know it’s there! Describe my amazement when the Tower Bridge opens like a regular bridge, instead of rising straight up, like I always think it’s going to.

Some would quickly call this show, don’t tell. But it’s more than that. Much more. It’s drawing on all of the pieces from all the senses to fit together to make the scene. It’s painting a picture with your eyes, ears, nose, fingers, feet, and anything else you can use to bring the reader into the scene.

One last thing: Once you start approaching writing this way, you’ll find that by changing one little sensory image, you can change a mood, take your character totally out of character or repaint the picture and send your reader in a direction they were not expecting! But that’s the subject for another time and another post.

Happy writing all.

What’s your approach to pulling your readers into your story?

Patricia Bossano’s Cuentan mis Estrellas Available for Pre-Order

Lisa Hagerman — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:43:20 GMT

Coming with the new moon, on September 14, 2023.

“Did you know… A particular constellation rules the sky—every day and night of the year—and when we come into this world, that presiding constellation twinkles its star dusted magic on each of us.”

Patricia Bossano’s new picture book, Cuentan mis Estrellas tempts you to keep a weather eye on the night sky, waiting for the glow of a shooting star, or the tail of a comet, to light up the stellar trait that makes you, you.

Pre-order a copy today, for the Spanish-speaking tot in your life!

Signed books available for pre-order at WaterBearer Press.

https://waterbearerpress.com/products/cuentan-mis-estrellas

Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC3SLK8R/

SDWEG Member Joins the International Firebird Book Award Circle of Winners

Lisa Hagerman — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 21:43:25 GMT

Speak Up Talk Radio announced the recent FIREBIRD BOOK AWARDS contest winners.

One of the winning entries was from SDWEG member Erik Christopher Martin, whose book titled THE CASE OF THE FRENCH FRY PHANTOM won in the Children’s Mystery & Children’s Diversity categories. The book is a middle-grade paranormal mystery featuring LGBTQ+ and BIPOC protagonists.

Authors and publishers worldwide submitted their work to the International Firebird Book Awards. Two judges from a select panel of 27 read each book and independently scored each entry. All judges commit to a set of standardized criteria that evaluates the quality of the writing as well as production aspects. Only entries with the highest scores are awarded the coveted Firebird.

Patricia J. Rullo, the founder of the Firebird Book Awards, says, “The Firebird Book Awards adds a charitable twist that allows the author’s entry fee to be tax-deductible. In return, we make handmade fun and colorful pillowcases and send them with children’s books to women and children who are experiencing homelessness, including the shelter Enchanted Makeovers, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. In this way, authors get notoriety for their work while helping to transform homeless shelters into bright and happy homes. While it feels good to win a book award, it feels even better to do good and serve others.”

The Firebird Book Award judging panel includes a diverse group who represent a cross-section of ages, cultural heritage, races, religions, gender, and experience. At Speak Up Talk Radio, we offer creative people a welcome place to promote themselves via book awards, podcast awards, radio interviews, audiobook production, and podcasting services, including free opportunities to be featured in the BOOMBANGOHMYGOSHWOW podcast, where authors share short but helpful tips with fellow authors as well as share guest posts on our Blogatini.

The Firebird Book Awards run quarterly contests so authors can receive recognition on a timely basis. Authors from all genres, mainstream, independent, and self-published, are welcome. For additional winning authors, titles, and entry information:
https://www.speakuptalkradio.com

Submissions Are Open Now for IMWA's 2023 Memoir Showcase

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 20:20:14 GMT

This message comes from the International (formerly San Diego) Memoir Writers Association regarding the submission period for entries to the 2023 Memoir Showcase being open. Submissions Close on August 10

The theme for 2023: Funny, Not FunnyNote: Feel free to interpret this theme in any way that sparks your interest. (In other words, it can be a funny story, a not-so-funny story, or anything in between.)

Length: Pieces should be FIVE pages or less. Double-spaced, 12-point font. (Can be less than five pages.)

Link to Submit:

https://sdmwa.org/showcase-2023/

Scholarships available to submit for free or lowered fee contact Marni @ Marnifreedman18@gmail.com

How the Memoir Showcase Works:

Submissions are judged by a panel of judges. Eight to ten winning pieces will be selected. Winning writers will work with a writing coach to refine and polish their pieces. The pieces are directed and performed by professional actors at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center on Thursday, December 14, at 7 p.m. PT.

Click here to submit.

Book Signing with Andrew Fitzgerald: Warwick's, Aug 20, 2023

Lisa Hagerman — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 21:00:55 GMT

Please join SDWEG member Andrew Fitzgerald at Warwick's in La Jolla on Sunday, August 20th, noon - 2 p.m. Andrew will sign copies of his international best selling book, How Did I Get Here?: Traveling The Road To Resilience .

"I flat-lined twice and was brought back to life..." A father, husband, and author, Andrew speaks on what it takes to be successful in the corporate world and how to overcome health crises and other losses. His experiences allow him to show others how to recover in order to flourish and thrive with resilience.

For more information, please visit Andrew's website at www.andrewfitzgeraldauthor.com.

Thank You Lindsey! 2023 KidsWrite! Winners Announced

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 15:50:58 GMT

THANK YOU, LINDSEY!

The winners of the 2023 KidsWrite! program were announced in June at an event at the Coronado Public Library. A special thanks to KidsWrite! Director and SDWEG member Lindsey Salatka for managing the contest again this year. Without Lindsey, this year of SDWF KidsWrite! would not have happened! Lindsey is tireless and dedicated and works for hours on end to make the whole contest for San Diego Youth a reality.

AND CONGRATULATIONS to OTTO LANA and all of the KidsWrite! Winners!

A Message from Otto Lana, a Treasured Member of Our KidsWrite Community

"I want to thank Lindsey Salatka, Jen Laffler, and everyone involved with KidsWrite! San Diego. Thank you for keeping the IDEA of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility alive and well and shining bright. Four years ago, I submitted a poem to the poetry contest, as a high school student, despite the adults in my life encouraging me to enter my work in the special education category. I wanted my poem to be judged as a creative work, not a work segregated from the rest of the poets. This distinction is important to me. It represents inclusion at its core. Congratulations to everyone to was acknowledged with an award on Saturday and to everyone who was brave enough to write something and share it. Thank you for sharing something from your heart. Keep writing. Keep dreaming. And thank you for honoring me with a perpetual award called the 'Otto Lana Award'! If you make movies, you can win an Oscar. If you write plays, you can win a Tony. If you write poetry in San Diego, you can win an Otto! Good luck, everyone!"

About Otto

I have autism, apraxia, and anxiety. These labels describe me but do not define me. I am a self-proclaimed math nerd, so I say it’s A to the third power (A^3). I was introduced to typing as a form of communication at age nine. Let me back up; apraxia prevents me from speaking with my mouth, hence typing.

CLICK HERE to read more about Otto.

Starting in 2024, SDWF KidsWrite! will offer the Otto Award for young writers who exhibit talent, resilience, grit, and passion.

SDWEG has sponsored KidsWrite! each year since its beginning.

The Guild's sponsorship of youth programs such as KidsWriter! is possible because of the growth in SDWEG membership over the past years as well as to the success and sales of our annual anthology, The Guilded Pen. Thanks to all SDWEG members for support over the years. We are proud to be able to share our resources to encourage growth of programs and efforts outside of the Guild as well as within it.

Interview with Penn Wallace, by Casie Pierce

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 00:52:08 GMT

Pendelton Wallace has authored 14 books, including the well-loved Ted Higuera Series (7), and the Catrina Flaherty Mystery Series (4). Formerly, he was a member of the SDWEG board, and has taught Guild members a number of classes and workshops.

His most recent release is Back to Vietnam: Ted Higuera Thriller #7.
In our interview, Wallace shares how he achieved his success as an author by becoming a marketing guru, all while living a life of adventure on a 56-foot sailboat.

Pierce: Talk us through your writing process.

Wallace: Every book starts with a beat sheet—a three-to-five-page document outlining the plot, characters, and story. From that, I write sketches for the major characters. As new characters develop, I produce sketches for them as well. I want to know who they are and how they will react in situations before I begin writing.

Next, I expand the outline. In about fifteen-to-twenty pages, I describe most of the book’s scenes. After completing factfinding homework, I start writing. By this time, I know the characters and story so well that I don’t really think about what I’m writing. The words just flow from my fingertips. Usually, each book comes in around 65,000-75,000 words.

Pierce: While writing, how do you incorporate marketing?

Wallace: My marketing for each book starts during the first draft, about six months before the release. I publish announcements on my website, in my newsletter and on Facebook (aka META) where I state what I am working on. Then, I’ll post updates at least once a month, asking for feedback from readers about plot problems that need solving. Readers can make suggestions. This makes them feel more committed to the book.

About two months before the launch, I do a cover contest. My cover artist will make four or five versions and I’ll send out a newsletter with those different versions asking people to vote for which one they prefer. Usually, two of them will surface to the top and I will have a runoff election. My readers choose the cover, and, here again, I think this makes them feel vested in the book.

After this, I do a cover reveal on Facebook and on my website, and continually provide updates for readers.

When I finish the second draft, I ask for Beta readers. I usually get around 100 volunteers from which I choose ten. A few will be return Beta readers, some of whom I will give preferential treatment.

Pierce: What characteristics make for a good Beta reader—one that you would use again?

Wallace: I mail them a report template that they fill out and return. If they give me helpful feedback, they will definitely go on my “Use Them Again” list. But there are people who don’t show me the problems and just provide worthless feedback, which doesn’t help me at all.

For the ones I haven’t chosen, I email them and say you didn't make the cut this time, but I will be calling for advanced-readers in a few weeks and you can sign-up for that.

The chosen Beta readers provide reports, and I consider their feedback, and incorporate the most valuable into the third draft.

Pierce: What do you do next?

Wallace: Upon completion of the third draft, I send it to my editor. Incorporating his notes, I send the fourth draft to my proofreader. At the same time, I call for readers and send out advanced-reader copies (ARCs). I take any reader willing to volunteer, that is if they agree to write reviews on Amazon. I set a hard deadline for posting their reviews and send reminders. Anyone that does not post, I won’t put on the list again.

Now, it is time to publish.

Pierce: Talk about marketing at the point of the book’s launch. Would you discuss how you juggle the blog, newsletters, social media, advertising, and events to maximize promotion and book sales?

Wallace: On release day, I price the book at $.99 and I do a Facebook blast that announces a three-day Friends and Family Discount for readers. Generally, I sell a whole bunch of copies. On the fourth day, the price goes up to $3.99. So, if a reader didn’t buy in the first three days, they have missed their window of opportunity.

At this point, I will run ads. There are websites where you can purchase advertising, priced anywhere from free to $500. AuthorsXP is my favorite. BookBub is one of the best, but they have grown larger, have a stricter vetting process, and are pivoting more toward featuring big-name authors.

Additionally, I use Facebook. I belong to a couple of hundred groups. At some point, I calculated these groups contain around three million members, and let's just say 10% see the blast. That means, 300,000 people will see it.

I pick a date and location for a launch party, where there will be free food, and readers will be able to ask me all the questions they want. The party invitation goes out in a Facebook blast, the newsletter, and my blog.

For Back to Vietnam, I did a big book release party at the OB Java Shop in Ocean Beach. We had mountains of food. Mingling with guests, I asked those who had read some of the chapters to capture their feel for the book.

Pierce: You mentioned earlier you have an editor and cover designer. Do you hire these for each of your books, and do you use the same ones?

Wallace: Yes. I use the same editor and cover designer. We have established relationships and work well together. They give helpful advice, as members of my writers’ group.

Pierce: Tell us more about your writers’ group.

Wallace: I have been in the group since 2014. There are some main people that are always there, and others who come and go. On Sundays, we submit our work for the week, up to 35 pages. Our meetings are on Wednesday. Usually, we review four to five submissions. We meet on Zoom, and our members are from all over—Japan, Thailand, England. So, each person gets to give their feedback. In my case, the group’s feedback is important while I work on my second draft.

Feedback from female members (and from my girlfriend) is critical, so the women characters think, act, and dress like real people.

Pierce: You have developed a solid group of writer friends. Ones that uphold a similar level of quality in their books. Have you worked together to promote one another?

Wallace: Dave Larson leads two writing groups on Sunday: one is sort of like a Writing 101 for beginers. When these writers get really good, they graduate to the second group, who are considered accomplished writers.

Pierce: And you have also done an anthology with your writer friends?

Wallace: Yes. With that, I have made six very good friends. The anthology showed us the value of promoting one another.

I published my first book, which was a biographical novel about my father (Blue Water and Me, 2012). At that point, I had about 60 people signed up for my reading list. I attended the, now defunct, San Diego Writers Conference, and met a woman who was close to one of my writing friends. They wrote nautical mysteries, and suggested putting together an anthology. I was put in charge, and cold-contacted several dozen writers who wrote nautical mysteries. Seven signed up.

We put together a collection of seven novels that we sold for $.99. When our sales did well, we considered what to do with the funds. We decided to donate money to The Wounded Warriors Project and wrote them a check for over $20,000. We sold a ton of those books.

Even three and four years after, I received emails saying: "I just read your book in the Seven Seas Mysteries anthology. Loved it! I'm gonna be reading more of your books!" So that was a big thing!

The really important thing about that experience was it gave me a chance to work with six other writers, all of whom sold more books than I did. I was just starting out.

All six had mailing lists. I emailed the authors and suggested we all do an email exchange. "I will email all the people on my list and ask them to join your list, and you can email all the people on your list and ask them to join my list." I picked up a couple hundred more readers. Then I discovered AuthorsXP.

Pierce: Let’s talk about that.

Wallace: AuthorsXP [authorsxp.com] is the very best thing I’ve ever done. Amy VanSant runs a weekly genre giveaway—mystery, children’s books, female authors, etc.

She’ll ask 35 authors to sign-up to give away a copy of their books. She’ll post the covers of each book. Those who sign up for her mailing list are entered into the contest. She will draw a name and the winner will receive all 35 books. Also, everyone submitting their name for the mailing list receives a book. She then passes along those mailing list names to the authors.

With every AuthorsXP promotion, I'll get anywhere from 500 to 3,000 new names for my mailing list. This has built my list up into the thousands. I have more than 12,000 people on my mailing list now.

Amy offers different ways to market your book. The “Get to Know the Author” promotion is my favorite. She takes the author’s bio and features all of the books that they have written. She gives readers the opportunity to find out about you and find books of interest. Usually, if they read one, they’ll come back and keep reading.

Recently for Back to Vietnam, I started a promotion, and in one day was able to sell enough books to pay for the ad, and over the next two days, I did about the same. Overall, I received about a 200% return on my investment.

Pierce: Now, 14 books in, what do you know about your target demographic?

Wallace: When I started writing the Ted series, I thought my readers were 18- to 65-year-old males with college degrees, who had white-collar jobs. After Hacker for Hire (2014), the second book in the series, I received several emails from women saying what they didn't like. At first, I thought they weren’t my demographic anyway. But then I got more women giving feedback. I wondered who my demographic might really be.

I sent out a questionnaire to my readers list, asking their age, sex, and where they lived. I was shocked to find out the huge majority were over 55 and 60% were female readers. From the third book in the series (The Mexican Connection, 2014), I tailored more to female tastes. I need to do another demographic questionnaire.

Pierce: Will you briefly touch on the current projects you’d like to promote?

Wallace: I am working on a new story with the working title, The Pirate and the Princess, planned for Kindle Vella. I’m calling it an Alternate History Pirate Romance.

You can contact Pendelton Wallace at: penn@pennwallace.com

And visit him at his website: www.pennwallace.com/

And follow him on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Pendelton-C.-Wallace/author/B008823QGW

Hybrid Publishing vs. Self-Publishing (Pros and Cons): A Patrick Greenwood Interview

Wed, 31 May 2023 00:28:02 GMT

Interview of John Gormally, writing as Patrick Greenwood by Gabi Manangan:

So, you want to publish a book. Great. Got your idea? Your whole story structured? How about your finished manuscript that took months to draft, read over, and edit, again and again. Awesome. You’re almost there!

Now, the hardest part: you must go through the trials and tribulations of becoming published. You may attempt to seek an audience with the traditional publishing kings of the business and plead your worth or take the treacherous path of making it all on your own. Or, at least, this exaggeration is what it may feel like for one new to the gauntlet, and even for those who have already been through it!

Newly published author, Patrick Greenwood, graciously gives us some of his time and wisdom on the matter. Changing careers from tech sales, he faced the very same dilemma you might be facing right now: he had no idea what publishing route to choose! One afternoon, during the pandemic, after a heavy day at work, he sat down and drafted up the first draft of his debut novel, “Sunrise in Saigon.”

At this point, one should seek out others. First, use at least one writing group. Next, find beta readers. There are websites that provide regular people who like to read new books. You could ask your book club to review it. There are even Facebook page sites where people will read your book.

The next step might be expensive. Find an editor. Someone who will catch all the little errors your eyes no longer see. There are automatic programs, but “I assure you, they make lots of errors.”

After he felt that he was ready, Greenwood spent time sending his hard work to traditional publishers. He found an opportunity at a hybrid publisher, Austin Macauley. In the arduous journey before, during, and after, he has gained wisdom to share with authors going through the same process.

Greenwood says that hybrid publishing can be a middle-ground between traditional and self-publishing—a company, for a price, will get the book published, but the author still needs to do a lot of legwork to make sales take off. Greenwood cautions, “Be sure to know what they going to do for you.”

For Greenwood, he saw that despite Austin Macauley’s price, the firm offered “experience and global expertise.” Performing his due diligence, Greenwood bought a whooping 41 books from the publisher. After reading them, he decided they were of acceptable quality and that he would be okay having his book released among them.

Research any publishing house goes a long way— traditional or hybrid. It’s an investment in your book’s future. Prices an author might pay the hybrid publisher may range from $2,500 to $30k! On top of that, there are still royalties held by the publisher that varies for a multitude of situations and conditions.

Acting between traditional and self-publishing, hybrid publishers are able to take the lead on certain aspects of the publishing process, including editing, cover art, various formatting, marketing, and more. While an author may have more control and autonomy doing everything, it means just that – they do everything themselves! Hybrid publishing is especially helpful if the author knows with what aspects of self-publishing they want or need help.

One other example of a hybrid publisher is BookBaby. Through Amazon, they focus on getting your book published and available through various formats. Additionally, BookBaby advertises that they will do some extra promoting of your book.

For example, Greenwood asserts that, despite going through a hybrid publisher, a book’s success will be heavily reliant on the author’s ability to sell the book. Authors should “be realistic on their expectations. Do not expect them to do your marketing. They are trying to get the book out. And they want to have their name on it in some form.” A publisher may not even have a focus on editing your work. You’d expect them to have high attention to detail, but at the end of the day, their focus will be getting the book published and not much else.

Greenwood compares the plight of hybrid and self-published authors to some traditional publisher cases. Traditional publishers may pay an author to do signings or make appearances. When Greenwood approached a Barnes & Noble bookstore about having stock of his book there, he was promptly asked for his marketing plan and was informed that they “do not do signing days unless they are a ’Barnes & Noble premier author.’” Self- and hybrid-published authors must rely on their own marketing. Greenwood offers social media, virtual and in-person book signings, and giveaways as some examples.

When negotiating with publishers, Greenwood knows one thing for sure: “If they don’t offer Ingram Sparks, run the other way.” As soon he was on Ingram, his book was on 14 other websites throughout the world. Ingram Sparks notified other online sites that the book was available. “Part of what you will be paying for is a foot in the door.”

Ingram Sparks, like Amazon, offers “print on demand” services, which can be a powerful tool. One strength is being able to edit as one goes; an author is able to submit edits and require no time at all for their updates to be reflected in the books because they are made when ordered. However, Greenwood admits this strength may not be reflected when a publisher is the one posting the manuscript onto Ingram Sparks; they didn’t always upload the updated master copy in a timely manner.

Going forward, for his future books, Greenwood recognizes his planned self-publishing process will be easier, since he is already a published author and, on top of that, he has a publishing house behind his first book. As an interesting aside, even though he went through his hybrid publisher, Greenwood is still considered self-published since he still owns his manuscript. Many book awards incentivize self-publishing by offering awards specifically for self-published works.

Overall, self-publishing is a very flexible route that gives authors autonomy they otherwise might not have had with a publisher. When going through his publisher, Greenwood admits he had to fight to keep the name and cover he had planned for his work (and he still had to pay the publisher’s art fee)! The beautiful cover art was a photo taken by Greenwood himself, full of meaning to both him and his story.

Additionally, publisher isn’t able to support the author in every way. Greenwood recalls the story of requesting a Vietnamese woman with a narration role in the audio book format. Austin MacCauley was not able to provide an actress’s voice. Fortunately, Greenwood was able to introduce someone to his publisher.

Going through self-publishing, Greenwood offers advice on the different formats—hard and softback, eBook, and audio-book. First, he recommends Ingram Sparks over Amazon; preferring their print-on-demand service. Then, one can use Ingram Sparks’ ISBN for hard and soft copies of the book. Next, take the book’s ISBN number and upload it to Amazon for the sole purpose of having it available through Kindle. For physical sales, books on Ingram Sparks can be listed on Amazon. Last, he recommends “Upwork” as a medium agency to outsource work. Freelancers available to format your book for various formats are readily available, and Greenwood happily reports that some even go the extra mile and even upload it themselves.

The hardest and most important thing a writer must learn and master is marketing, marketing, and marketing. Even when going through a publishing house, Greenwood says, “Publishers will market your book, never you.” Regardless of your route, becoming comfortable with marketing is paramount to your success.

Greenwood emphasizes the importance of doing proactive marketing. “The author is going to have to talk to people." He points out that paying a PR firm to get your work an ad spot on a podcast isn't going to cut it. "YOU have to be the one on that podcast."

Marketing is a continual process. You have to post on social media, send out books, and ask for reviews, good or bad! He gives an example—he thanked a literary titan on LinkedIn. They came back and offered a press release for him, free of charge. Just like many aspects of life, kindness goes a long way.

Greenwood has a few outlets through which he markets his writing. Most notably, the most community-friendly has been his podcast, “Writers on Writers over Triple Espresso.” Over coffee, Greenwood offers a platform for fledgling authors to talk and advertise themselves. Recognizing the plight of getting one’s name out there, Greenwood offers a platform from which writers can talk.

Unfortunately, marketing is a rough slog for many. And despite the author’s best efforts, their book may not sell as well as they expected. Greenwood offers: “Think forward!” Rather than lose oneself in fantasies of grandeur, think smaller: buy books and distribute them. Give them to friends and family and acquaintances and ask them to write reviews. Let your small project take root and care for it as it grows. Treat your written work like a young sapling and nurture its growth.

The point isn’t to subdue your expectations and to expect nothing; it’s to recognize the monumental feat you’ve accomplished just by having the discipline, passion, and drive to sit down and write. And, Greenwood points out, you now can do it again. And again. And again.

Throughout the interview, Greenwood’s passion simmers up as he shares his experiences. A genuine adoration of the art of writing overflows and it’s hard not to get swept into his enthusiasm.

Regardless of how an author publishes, or even if they don’t publish at all, it’s important to savor the time from start to finish. Regardless of the route you take, you can always learn something new and tailor your future publishing experiences accordingly. Keeping this motion in mind, Greenwood signs every one of his books with the same three-word phrase: “Enjoy the journey.”

Announcing the 2023 Kauai Writers Conference

Mon, 22 May 2023 20:25:21 GMT

We are pleased to announce the schedule for the Kauai Writers Conference, taking place from November 6-12. With workshops, interactive sessions and many outstanding new faculty, it provides the full range of varied experiences that people have most requested.

Members of San Diego Writers and Editors Guild are offered a substantial discount. To qualify, enter the code WG789 at check-out when you register. Click here to register for the Kauai Writers Conference.

To find a complete overview of the conference, master classes, agent sessions, meals, lodging and special events, visit the KWC website.

Writers Symposium by the Sea Taped Interviews Available

Thu, 11 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

All of the interviews from UCSD-TV can be viewed on the UCSD website.

They also have a few videos from previous Symposium events on their YouTube Channel.

Click below for direct links to the 2023 interviews on YouTube:

Interview from the Home of N. Scott Momaday with Dean Nelson
Anthony Doerr & Dean Nelson
William Finnegan & Ben Cater (sponsored by PLNU Honors Program)
Maria Hinojosa & Dean Nelson

PLNU has also shared photos from this year's events on their Facebook page. Check out the galleries on Facebook.

They also will be sharing many of these images on their Instagram account. Follow them @writersbythesea

Symposium by the Sea continues to be grateful for your support! And, once more, thank you to the generous donors who make these events possible! They hope you'll join us again in February 2024!

Sincerely,

Dean Nelson
Founder/Director of Writer's Symposium by the Sea
Director of PLNU Journalism Program

Ashley Reynolds-Montaño
Event Coordinator of Writer's Symposium by the Sea
Administrative Assistant to the Associate Deans

WRITER'S SYMPOSIUM BY THE SEA
28th Annual Writer's Symposium by the Sea
Writing that Celebrates, Feb 20-24, 2023

Need an Author Website But Don’t Have Time to Develop Your Own?

Tue, 09 May 2023 18:07:20 GMT

We occasionally hear from local businesses who provide services to authors. One such message arrived recently from Fawzia Burke, author of Online Marketing for Busy Authors, founder of FSB Associates, and co-founder of Pub Site.

Pub Site is an online framework that enables every author, irrespective of financial situation, to have a beautiful, expert website. Pub Site, a brand-new, simple DIY website builder made especially for books and writers, was developed by FSB Associates , a company with extensive experience in the book industry. No matter the amount of books you've written or how many there are, Pub Site makes it easy for you to create, design, and update your website.

With their co-founder Fauzia Burke, they are thrilled to invite you to a free forthcoming virtual event on Zoom on Wednesday, May 17, at 12:00 p.m. PDT.

This event is for anyone interested in Pub Site, whether you've been a member recently or for some time. It's the ideal chance for you to connect with other authors who have used Pub Site to develop their online presences and ask any queries you might have.

You'll have the chance to view an actual demonstration of Pub Site at the event and discover how it can assist you in creating a website that genuinely shows your work and engages your audience. Additionally, you'll see how simple it is to use Pub Site and how their committed support staff is here to help you at every turn.

Take advantage of this excellent chance to upgrade your author website. Don't let it pass you by. Register right away for their free event to find out how Pub Site can assist you in making a name for yourself online. As space is limited, sign up right away.

Note: This information is provided for your information. SDWEG does not endorse any author services provider but shares information for members to consider for themselves.

Master's Review Offerings

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 18:10:06 GMT

Small Fiction Contest:

The Master's Review have long admired the mighty power of the compressed form, which is why they are expanding their search for the very best in small fiction. The Masters Review is excited to announce the new Spring Small Fiction Awards! This contest will honor a grand prize winner in three categories—Microfiction, Flash Fiction, and Sudden Fiction—by awarding $1,000 and online publication to each winner selected by by the magnificent K-Ming Chang! This year’s judge will be announced next week. A runner-up in each category will also be honored with a $200 prize and online publication.

For this contest:

Microfiction is any story up to 500 words.
Flash Fiction is any story between 501 and 1,000 words.
Sudden Fiction is any story between 1,001 and 1,500 words.

The Master's Review welcomes up to two stories per submission, in any combination of the three categories.

Please include both stories in one document.

DEADLINE: June 1, 2023

Novel Workshop:

Writers are invited to submit the first fifty pages of their novels to the Master's Review 2023 Novel Workshop! Enrollment is open until May 2, 2023.

Please include a brief synopsis of the novel, any challenges you may be facing, and any specific feedback you are seeking in your cover letter.

After registration, writers will receive their assigned editor, along with instructional materials compiled by The Masters Review. Manuscripts will be processed in the order they are received.

All participants will receive feedback no later than August 31, 2023.

Registration is $497

Participants will receive:

an editorial letter with specific suggestions and developmental analysis that will help elevate their novel to the next level;
a PDF of a self-guided learning curriculum on fiction and novel writing, featuring workbooks uniquely built by their team around such foundational texts as Naming The World edited by Bret Anthony Johnston, The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass, Writing Fiction by Janet Burroway, and Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody;
an opportunity to join a curated writing group with other participants;
a free submission to one of their upcoming contests;
and an archived copy of The Masters Review anthology.

What is ADA compliance with regard to websites?

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 19:04:58 GMT

The Americans with Disabilities Act is a law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. It concerns all areas of life, requiring equal access to education, employment, and businesses, and more.

Similarly, the Rehabilitation Act outlaws discrimination that affects access to government programs. Section 508 of this act states that federal electronic and information technology should be available to people with disabilities.

Websites belonging to state and local governments, as well as businesses open to the public, must comply with these laws.

Currently, there aren’t federal standards that define exact requirements for an accessible site. As a rule of thumb, most follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines(or WCAG). The WCAG outlines international standards for accessibility on the web.

Why should I care if my website complies with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act?

One in four Americans struggle with some kind of disability. Having an inaccessible site would alienate a significant portion of your audience. The web should be a place that is inclusive to all.

Another reason to make your site more accessible is that it can improve your site for people who don’t have disabilities. Originally, curb-cuts were designed for wheelchair access to sidewalks. Although unintended, the change has improved mobility in general, helping people with strollers and scooters navigate more easily.

The same can be said about video captions, which are used by both deaf and hearing people. Better web accessibility can benefit everyone!

How can I find out what problems my website has that I need to fix?

WebAIM, an organization dedicated to improving accessibility issues, provides several useful resources and tools.

One tool called WAVE (https://wave.webaim.org/) will evaluate a webpage and catch potential accessibility errors.

Try it with your own webpage to see the types of issues it flags. But keep in mind that any online tool is only as good as the knowledge the person who uses it applies. WAVE highlights issues the web designer should look at and then decide if correction is needed.

Other helpful accessibility checkers useful for website developers:

Note: These tools should NOT be used on their own to ensure ADA compliance. There is no application that can catch every accessibility problem (if an app claims to, you should avoid it). These resources should only be used as an aid to manual testing.

How can I fix them or find someone who can fix them?

You can enlist a specialist to find and correct potential accessibility problems. But keep in mind that correcting problems isn’t a one-time and you’re done activity. It’s better to understand the potential problems and address them as you add content.

Alternatively, you could also refer to the WCAG guidelines and try to fix the problems on your own. This would require some familiarity with HTML and CSS.

To improve the accessibility of your site, here are a few changes to start with:

Add alternative text to images. See the screenshot below for an illustration:

Note the gray “tooltip” that appears below this image in the screenshot. It contains two double quote marks as the alternative text for the graphic image. This indicates to a screen reader that there is no information in the image that is not also available within the text so no text needs to be read. Without the alt text, the screen reader will read the filename for the image. Image file names rarely contain useful information.

Add HTML labels to form fields

Clear HTML labels make selected form fields identifiable to users with screen readers.

Use video captions
Apply color contrast

Color contrast makes text more readable.

Use descriptive text for links

Screen reader users often skip through the links on a page to find what they’re looking for. To make the process easier, links should make sense out of context.

This would be considered inaccessible:

Check out the article here.

To improve accessibility, make your link more specific:

Check out this article on writing accessible links.

And overall, keep things clear and concise.

We’ll include more specific information on how to make your websites compliant with Section 508 in future blog posts.

Corey Fayman on Authors Cross Promotion (AXP) for Marketing

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 18:20:42 GMT

In his native San Diego, California, Corey Lynn Fayman has made a career out of staying out of the sun. He has toiled away as a keyboardist for local bands, a sound designer for the renowned Old Globe Theatre, and an interactive designer for various businesses. He holds degrees in educational technology from SDSU and a BA in creative writing from UCLA. He has taught technology and design courses at a number of Southern California schools and institutions. Fayman developed the idea for Rolly Waters, the guitar-playing detective first seen in the mystery Black's Beach Shuffle, which was nominated for a San Diego Book Award. As a result of this early success, he was inspired to write a second Rolly Waters mystery, Border Field Blues, which went on to win the 2013 Hollywood Book Festival's Genre Award.

The third book in the series, Desert City Diva, took home the bronze medal at the 2015 Indiefab Novel of the Year Awards. The most recent book in the series until now, Ballast Point Breakdown, won the Geisel Award for best in show at the San Diego Book Awards in 2021. Fayman had adventures while working for the controversial Internet startup MP3.com which inspired the March 2023 release of the latest in the series, Gillespie Field Groove. Fayman took advantage of marketing programs through Authors Cross Promotion to get the word out. We asked Corey about his experience with Authors Cross Promotion and whether he’d recommend their programs to other authors.

SDWEG: How did you learn about Authors Cross Promotion or AXP?

CLF: I don’t remember, exactly, but I suspect it was because I received a promotional email or newsletter from a fellow author who had signed up for one of AXP’s list-building giveaways. I clicked on the ad, entered the giveaway and then decided to investigate the service to see what it could do for me as an author.

SDWEG: Which of their many programs have you used when promoting your novels?

CLF: I’ve used the Mailing List Builder, Spotlight, Daily Deal, and Read & Review services. The Mailing List Builder does exactly what it sounds like it does. You add one of your books (ebook or paperback) to the list of prizes being given away by AuthorsXP as part of themed giveaway (Mystery, Romance, Cozy). You post the giveaway ad they provide for you on your social media channels. When the contest ends, you send your book to the winner and receive a list of clean emails from AuthorsXP which you can add to your own mailing list for promotions, newsletter, etc. The Daily Deal program is for promoting discounted book sales you may be running on Amazon or other sites. Spotlight Is a way to highlight your books to the AuthorsXP mailing list. It costs a bit more than the other programs

SDWEG: Have you been able to evaluate the programs against sales of your books or do you have a different goal than increased sales?

CLF: I use the Daily Deal program when I want to boost an individual book’s sales. It’s very easy to evaluate its effect since the deal runs on a specific date. You can then check the numbers for that date in your sales reports in Amazon’s KDP center. It’s very much an eBook, Amazon-centric sales approach. I always get some kind of boost in sales, usually enough to at least pay for the service. I plan to experiment more with my book pricing to see if I can boost my margins a little more.

SDWEG: Would you recommend specific AXP programs over others?

CLF: The Mailing List Builder has been the most consistent and useful for me. In the last three years I’ve increased the contacts in my email database from 750 to over 4,000. AuthorsXP hasn’t been the only service I’ve used, but it’s been an effective one, bringing in 200 – 400 new names for my list each time I used it. A few of those will drop off but most of them stay subscribed, even after I’ve sent them a couple of newsletters.

SDWEG: Have you used other marketing promotion programs offered by other companies? If so, how would you rate AXP against them?

CLF: AuthorsXP is my first pick, but BookSweeps runs an email collection program that's been almost as effective. Bargain Booksy has also been useful to me for promoting discounted books. If you have the budget for it, running campaigns on more than one service at the same time can be even more effective. It takes a little practice.

Our thanks to Raquel Damus, a student volunteer, for providing this interview with Corey Lynn Fayman. Raquel is a student at Florida International University with a Public Relations major. Raquel is working with Guild Board members to enhance our communication efforts.

Submission Deadlines in March, Courtesy of Authors Publish

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 02:44:14 GMT

Over the course of March there are multiple contests or submission opportunities for aspiring writers, check them out below!

Creative Writing Fellowship

Given by the National Endowment for the Arts, this program awards $25,000 grants in prose (fiction and creative nonfiction) to published writers. These published works can be anything from short stories to creative essays to a novel.

Entry Fee: FREE Deadline: March 8

Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize

Here’s an opportunity for your short story to be more than just words on a page, when it could be read aloud by stars of stage and screen! Sponsored by the stage and radio series Selected Shorts, the winning submission will be performed and recorded live, receive $1000, and win a free 10-week course with Gotham Writers.

Entry Fee: $25 Deadline: March 10

Bellingham Review Contests

All three of the Bellingham Review’s contests are ending this month, so begin writing now if you want to receive one of the three $1000 first-place prizes! Corinne Manning is judging the Tobias Wolff Award for Fiction, Susan Nguyen is judging the 49th Parallel Award for Poetry, and Sasha LaPointe is judging the Annie Dillard Award for Creative Nonfiction. All of the winners and a selection of the runners up will be published!

Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: March 15

First Novel Fellowship

Created in honor of the late James Jones, author of From Here to Eternity, the James Jones Literary Society will award $10,000 for a novel-in-progress by an unpublished US author. Submissions must include a two-page synopsis and a 50-page excerpt from the manuscript.

Entry Fee: $33 Deadline: March 15

Margery Davis Boyden Wilderness Writing Residency

This is a unique chance for any author who feels the need for unparalleled solitude while working on their current project! In return for an hour a day of maintenance, the resident receives a $5000 stipend and the use of a comfortable house in the Rogue River backcountry of southwestern Oregon for up to 7 months. Applications need to include a brief resume, a 20-page writing sample, and a letter explaining your suitability for the experience.

Entry Fee: $30 Deadline: March 15

The Non/Fiction Collection Prize

The Journal is looking to publish the best collection of short prose written this year, and they are very upfront about their plan! The contest, judged by Lee Martin, is open to writers of fiction and creative nonfiction, and entries must be less than 350 pages. The winner receives $1500 and a publishing contract from The Ohio State University Press.

Entry Fee: $23 Deadline: March 15

Prairie Schooner Raz-Shumaker Book Prize Contest

This is an opportunity for all living writers, writing in English, who just so happen to have an unpublished manuscript in poetry or fiction! Poetry manuscripts ought to be at least 50 pages long, while fiction manuscripts ought to be at least 150 pages long. Winners will receive $3000 and publication through the University of Nebraska Press.

Entry Fee: $25 Deadline: March 15

2023 Creative Nonfiction Prize

This is a call to all writers, who think that their work can make the cut! The winner receives $1000 and publication in Indiana Review. All entries receive a year-long subscription to the journal, and all entries are considered for publication. Submissions should be less than 5000 words, but there are no restrictions on theme or subject.

Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: March 31

The Hudson Prize

If you have an unpublished poetry or short story collection, this could be your big break! Black Lawrence Press is currently accepting submissions from new, emerging, and established authors. The winner will receive book publication, $1000, and 10 copies of the book.

Entry Fee: $28 Deadline: March 31

Prime Number Magazine Awards

With an emphasis on brevity, this contest for poetry and short fiction is meant to be a challenge! Make sure to note that the short story limit is 5300 words, as a nod to their parent organization Press 53. Judged by Felecia Mitchell and Dennis McFadden (for poetry and short fiction, respectively), the first-place winner in each category receives $1000, publication in Prime Number Magazine, and a Pushcart Prize nomination! Enter here.

Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: March 31

Winter Story Contest

This contest from Narrative is open to all fiction and nonfiction writers, writing anything from short stories and memoirs, to essays and literary nonfiction! The entries need to be less than 15,000 words and previously unpublished, while containing a strong narrative drive and intense insights. First prize is $2500, second is $1000, and third is $500.

Entry Fee: $27 Deadline: March 31

Upcoming Events with KC Grifant

Lisa Hagerman — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 00:21:15 GMT

Upcoming Events with SDWEG Member KC Grifant

Sat May 20 at 3pm PT (in-person, San Diego)
KC Grifant will be in conversation with Dennis K. Crosby at Mysterious Galaxy bookstore for an interview and book signing of MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER (Brigids Gate Press).
Signed and personalized books will be available.

Sun May 21 at noon PT (in-person, La Jolla)
KC Grifant will be at the “Weekends with Locals” author event at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Gerard Avenue, La Jolla, to sign MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER (Brigids Gate Press)

June 13 at 6pm PT (virtual)
Join for an interview and reading of MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER (Brigids Gate Press) with KC Grifant at Space Cowboy Books on June 13th at 6pm PT.
Event/appearances details at www.KCGrifant.com/appearances.

The 2023 San Diego Writing Workshop: April 29, 2023

Lisa Hagerman — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 23:22:17 GMT

Writing Day Workshops is excited to announce The 2023 San Diego Writing Workshop — a full-day “How to Get Published” writing event in San Diego, CA on April 29, 2023.

This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event (200 total).

This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego Bay Downtown. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome.

This event is designed to squeeze as much into one day of learning as possible. You can ask any questions you like during the classes, and get your specific concerns addressed. We will have literary agents onsite to give feedback and take pitches from writers as well. This year’s agent and editor faculty so far includes:

literary agent Ameerah Holliday (Serendipity Literary Agency)
literary agent Lesley Sabga (The Seymour Agency)
literary agent Annie Bomke (Annie Bomke Literary)
literary agent Ben Miller-Callihan (Handspun Literary)
literary agent Lindsay Auld (Writers House)
literary agent Carlisle Webber (Fuse Literary)
literary agent Antoinette Van Sluytman (Irene Goodman Literary Agency)
and more to come.

Online events are also available; each online event has more than 30 literary agents attending:

http://www.writingdayworkshops.com/event-locations--dates.html

For more information about the event regarding schedule, details and registration, please visit sandiegowritingworkshop.com .

Geminga 2023: $500 for Tiny Prose, Poetry, Graphic Novels, or Art

Lisa Hagerman — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 07:07:06 GMT

Geminga is a neutron star so small it was difficult to detect. It was named, in part, for a transcription of gh’è minga, meaning “it’s not there.”

With Geminga: $500 for Tiny Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or Art, Sunspot Lit honors the power of the small. No restrictions on theme or category. Word limit is 100 for fiction and nonfiction. Micropoetry is limited to 140 characters. Graphic novels should be 4 pages or less.

Close: March 31, 2023

Entry fee: $10

Authors and artists can view the guidelines and enter via Submittable: https://sunspotlit.submittable.com/submit/246999/geminga-2023-500-for-tiny-prose-poetry-graphic-novels-or-art or Duotrope: https://duotrope.com/listing/31906/geminga-contest-tiny-fiction.

Opportunity provided by:
Sunspot Literary Journal

The Masters Review Anthology Seeks Submissions

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 00:26:33 GMT

Every year The Masters Review opens submissions to produce their anthology, a collection of ten stories and essays written by the best emerging authors. Their aim is to showcase ten writers who they believe will continue to produce great work. The ten winners are nationally distributed in a printed book with their stories and essays exposed to top agents, editors, and authors across the country. Their third volume was awarded the Silver Medal for Best Short Story Collection through the INDIEFAB Awards in 2015, and their fourth volume was an honorable mention for best anthology. Check them out on Amazon!

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

● Previously unpublished works of fiction and narrative nonfiction only

● Up to 7000 words

● They accept simultaneous submissions as long as work is withdrawn if it is accepted elsewhere.

● Multiple submissions are allowed

● International English submissions allowed

● Emerging Writers Only. Writers must not have published a novel-length work at the time of submission (authors of short story collections and self-published titles can submit as can authors with novels or memoirs with a low distribution [no more than 5000 copies]).

● Standard formatting please (double-spaced, 12 pt font, pages numbered)

● $20 entry fee

● Deadline: April 2nd, 2023

● Please, no identifying information on their story

● All submissions are considered for publication in the anthology as well as New Voices.

● If requesting an editorial letter, please indicate on the cover letter if the submissions is fiction or creative nonfiction.

● A significant portion of the editorial letter fees go to their feedback editor, according to the rates established by the EFA.

● All submissions will receive a response by the end of June.

● Winners will be announced by the end of July.

● To view a list of their most commonly asked questions regarding submitting to The Masters Review, please see their FAQ page.

● Friends, family and associates of the final judge are not eligible for this award.

● Writers who have earned an Anthology Prize before and whose work appears in their printed book cannot submit to this category but are welcome to send us work in other open categories

GUEST JUDGE: Each year The Masters Review pairs with a guest judge to select stories. Their editorial team produces a shortlist of stories, which the judge reviews to select winners. Their past judges include Lauren Groff, AM Homes, Lev Grossman, Kevin Brockmeier, Amy Hempel, Roxane Gay, Rebecca Makkai, Kate Bernheimer, Rick Bass, Diane Cook, and Peter Ho Davies. This year’s judge is Toni Jensen!

Toni Jensen is the author of Carry: A Memoir of Survival on Stolen Land, a finalist for the Dayton Peace Prize and a New York Times Editors’ Choice book (Ballantine 2020). An NEA Creative Writing Fellowship recipient in 2020, Jensen’s essays have appeared in Orion, Catapult and Ecotone, among others. She is also the author of the story collection From the Hilltop. She teaches at the University of Arkansas and the Institute of American Indian Arts.

DEADLINE: APRIL 2, 2023

SUBMIT NOW

Are You Listed in the Membership Directory? Don't You Want to Be?

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 23:13:44 GMT

If you are not listed, use this Quick Guide to add yourself or learn why your information does not appear.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The website is structured so that only members may see the entries. It is not necessary to remove your profile or details within your profile to protect your information from the public.

To ensure your information is protected and shared according to your wishes, please follow the instructions below to make yourself searchable to other SDWEG members on the SDWEG website membership directory.

Click the MEMBER LOGIN icon which looks like the profile of a person at the top right of the home page at SDWEG.org.

Click HERE to go to SDWEG.ORG

Click the VIEW PROFILE link in the pop-up window.

Click on EDIT PROFILE

Click the PRIVACY link.

You can always come back to this page to update your personal information.

Keep scrolling till you find
OK TO LIST CONTACT INFORMATION IN THE
MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY.

Click on the radio BUTTON in the Members column, then click SAVE to add yourself to the directory.

You may choose not to include all your profile fields in the directory. For any fields you do not wish to display, click the radio BUTTON under the NO ACCESS column.

Since the Directory only displays to members who have logged in, there is little practical difference between active radio BUTTONs in the Anybody or Members columns. To be certain only members can see your profile, select the Members column for the fields you wish to display and the No Access column for those you do not wish to display.

Be sure to click SAVE at the bottom of the screen to make your choices effective.

Local Author Event Opportunities--Shared by San Diego Writers, Ink

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 23:50:37 GMT

It's a fresh year full of fresh plans for local authors, and we're sure you're interested in working some live author events in 2023! Author events encourage literacy, inspire writers, delight readers, support small business, celebrate diversity, validate public library programs, and create unique community opportunities. They are also terrific for networking with your fellow authors. Check out these three upcoming event opportunities in North County as shared from local author and SDWI member Jolie Tunnell, shared further through San Diego Writers, Ink. While you are there looking around at the Local Author Opportunities, check out their brand new website!

1. Escondido Street Fair on May 21

Grand Ave, Escondido, outdoor canopy
Morning seats from 9am to 1pm
Afternoon seats from 1pm to 5pm
$25 communal pre-decorated tables, chairs included
20,000 festive shoppers

2. Once Upon a Book Fair on June 3

California Center for the Arts, Escondido indoors
100 local authors, dedicated live readings room
All day event from 10am to 4pm
Multimedia coverage, dedicated webpage marketing
$40 private tables, chairs included

3. Escondido Street Fair on October 15

Grand Ave, Escondido, outdoor canopy
Morning seats from 9am to 1pm
Afternoon seats from 1pm to 5pm
$25 communal pre-decorated tables, chairs included
20,000 festive shoppers

If you’re interested, please go to this Google Form created by Jolie Tunnell and Tanya Ross and drop your name. Once each event draws near, they will send out emails and get the party started. Events are "first come first filled," so sign up today!

Romance Writers of America 2023 Annual Conference in Anaheim in July

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 23:46:58 GMT

Registration opened February 14th.

RWA is seeking workshop proposals! Do you have knowledge and experience to share? Consider speaking at the 2023 RWA Annual Conference in Anaheim. Workshop proposals are now open; submit by March 31, 2023.

To learn more go to: https://10times.com/e1z4-85g5-dfrr

Wanjiru Warama Offers Unexpected America Free Feb 20-24, 2023

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 23:32:18 GMT

Curious how African immigrants fare in the USA? Find out in this dramatic and inspiring adult memoir in Alone in America duology Book 1

Unexpected America is a mainstream memoir which reads like a thriller. Wanjiru Warama leaves Kenya in a huff and heads to the United States for a year's sabbatical. From the first day, she realizes she has to learn to live all over again in a new culture she knows nothing about. Loneliness debilitates her until she meets "Mr. Savior" who becomes not only her savior, but her lover and abuser. Money runs out and she has to turn to housekeeping and babysitting to buy a ticket home. She keeps this hidden from her family and friends as the idealized American lifestyle turns into a mirage, which Warama plods along like one tethered until her persistence pays off.

Website: wanjiruwarama.com

Unexpected American ebook on Amazon where the price will be $0.00 from Feb 20-24: https://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-America-Wanjiru-Warama-ebook/dp/B01M31HSZ0

ALL BOOK EDITIONS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Wanjiru-Warama/author/B01M68PJLA

AUDIOBOOKS: https://www.audible.com/author/Wanjiru-Warama/B01M68PJLA

Books that Enlighten, Entertain, and Inspire...

MEMBER PROFILE: Andrew Fitzgerald

Andrea Glass — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 18:30:24 GMT

Andrew Fitzgerald

https://www.andrewfitzgeraldauthor.com

fitzgerald_andrew@yahoo.com

Amazon: https://t.ly/687B

What aspect of editing or writing are you involved in?

I’m a self-published author of How Did I Get Here? - Traveling The Road To Resilience which was released on February 15, 2023 worldwide on Amazon

What first attracted you to writing/editing?

My passion for writing started in high school back in Ireland where I grew up. I loved the opportunity in English class to write about my favorite sports topics. The feedback from my teachers was impressive, how descriptive I was and my ability to transport the reader into the scene.

How long have you been writing/editing?

My first book took me two and a half years as I started, stopped, and repeated that cycle until I sought out book coach support in Andrea Susan Glass and we worked with each other to structure and complete my story.

As a writer, what kind of books do you write? Any published? How about short stories?

A nonfiction memoir detailing my life from growing up in Ireland, emigrating from there to America, a heart health scare which I had a teenager which resulted in me flatlining twice and successfully being resuscitated. In addition to the above, my book details how successful I have been at launching and scaling some of the world’s biggest alcohol brands and recounts the devastation, grief, and loss of four miscarriages that my wife and I suffered before our fifth pregnancy went full term. The core them of my book is “Resilience” and how I used that skill to overcome, survive, and thrive

What are you working on now either writing or editing?

The next project will be a collaboration with another Irish author, and I will also look at developing a resilience handbook for anyone working in sales.

How long have you been a member of SDWEG and why did you join?

This is now my fourth month and I joined after being referred by my book coach. My motivation for joining was to and is to learn! There are many members who all have varied writing and publishing experiences that by osmosis I’m learning from each of them in our member meetings as well as access to speakers for ongoing literary education.

What’s something unique or special about you, that you’d like others to know?

I once competed at the PGA Tour School for golf in 2013!

What request might you have of other members?

I’m available to assist others with any sales and marketing support/advice they may need as I’m an expert in that field. If there are opportunities to run promotions with other members or indeed collaborations, I would welcome hearing from anyone!

KidsWrite! Submissions are Open!

Lisa Hagerman — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 22:44:23 GMT

The San Diego Writers Festival is proud to announce KidsWrite!, a children’s writing contest, whose mission is to elevate and celebrate diverse young writers throughout San Diego. All writers in Kindergarten through 12th Grade who reside in San Diego County are welcome to submit. The three literature categories are Poetry, Short Story, and Graphic Story. Submissions close March 31, 2023. Wishing the best of luck to each and every KidsWrite! San Diego Children’s Writing Contest Entrant!

For guidelines and to enter, go to https://sandiegowritersfestival.submittable.com/submit

Wanjiru Warama's Essay Free Through February 11, 2023

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 21:36:57 GMT

Have you ever wondered how Africans transitioned from their religions to Christianity? Take a peek at the drama in this personal essay of a family living on a British colonial farm in Kenya. wanjiruwarama.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQ79YVQ9

Australian Book Review Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize Contest Open

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 21:00:21 GMT

Australian Book Review welcomes entries to the 2023 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize, one of the world's leading prizes for an original short story. The prize – worth a total of AU$12,500 – is open to all writers writing in English. The winner will receive $6,000, second place will receive $4,000, and third place will receive $2,500. The submission period ends April 24, 2023.

ABR seeks original short stories of between 2,000 and 5,000 words on any subject and in any style.

This year, the ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize is judged by Gregory Day, Jennifer Mills, and Maria Takolander.

Entry costs AU$20 for current ABR subscribers or AU$30 for non-subscribers*. Entrants who are not current ABR subscribers can choose to subscribe when submitting their story for the special combined rates listed below:

Entry + ABR digital one-year subscription – $90

Entry + Print one-year subscription (Australia) – $110

Entry + Print one-year subscription (NZ and Asia) – $190

Entry + Print one-year subscription (Rest of World) – $210

Note: Please use the online entry form to submit your story. Click here for more information about past winners. Before entering the Jolley Prize, all entrants must read the Terms and Conditions. Before contacting ABR with a question, please read their Frequently Asked Questions.

Note: The value of an Australian dollar is less than a US dollar. To see the conversion value, select this currency exchange calculator.

Missouri Review Perkoff Prize Contest Open

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 20:54:51 GMT

Missouri Review announces the submission opening for The Perkoff Prize, a tri-genre contest that awards $1,000 and publication each to writers of the best story, set of poems, and essay that engage in evocative ways with health and medicine as judged by the editors. DEADLINE: March 15.

Guidelines:

● All submissions must engage with health and medicine in some way.

● All submissions must be previously unpublished.

● Poetry: up to 10 pages of poetry.

● Fiction and Nonfiction: up to 8,500 words, double-spaced.

● Winners will be published in print issue of the Missouri Review.

● All entries will be considered for publication (whether in print, or as part of our Poem of the Week or Blast features).

● Multiple submissions and simultaneous submissions are welcome, but you must pay a separate fee for each entry and withdraw the piece immediately if accepted elsewhere.

● Current University of Missouri students and faculty are ineligible.

● Standard Entry fee: $15. Each entrant receives a one-year subscription to the Missouri Review in digital format (normal price $24).

● “All Access” Entry fee: $30. In addition to the one-year digital subscription to the Missouri Review, the “All Access” entry fee grants access to the last 10 years of digital issues and the audio recordings of each digital issue.

Submit online or by mail.

Script Writers: Austin Film Festival Script Competition Deadlines Announced

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 20:49:47 GMT

For thirty years, Austin Film Festival has been catapulting writers into life-changing careers. With one of the most noteworthy competitions among Hollywood tastemakers, AFF consistently yanks newcomers from the isolation of their desks and ushers them into the bustling world of film and television. Their Script Competition for 2023 is open for entries! At the Austin Film Festival, they hope to give storytellers the opportunity to share their voices and have a chance at getting discovered in the industry.

● Early Deadline: March 23, 2023

● Regular Deadline: April 18, 2023

● Late Deadline: May 25, 2023

Additionally, here is a discount code! AFFWG23

In addition to feature screenplays and teleplay pilots and specs, they also accept short screenplays, digital series scripts, stage plays, and fiction podcast scripts. More information on all script competitions can be found here: Austin Film Festival Script Competitions

You are invited to a Book Signing Event

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 02:19:07 GMT

for a new and different kind of book:

Mary’s Vision: Mary Magdalene and the Quest for Gender Equality, by Philip R. Pryde

When? Sunday, February 12, 2023, 2:30 - 4:15 p.m.

Where? Warwick’s of La Jolla, 7812 Girard Avenue, La Jolla

Mary’s Vision: Mary Magdalene and the Quest for Gender Equality is an historical novel set in first century Palestine and Gaul. Its storyline is Mary’s desire to teach about her mentor, Jesus, despite the strict paternalism of that time which forbade women to instruct men. Mary’s Vision casts her as an early seeker of gender equality, determined to spread Jesus’s words regardless of the dangers. The book offers a plausible and inspiring life story for this fascinating but little understood, and often misrepresented, female apostle.

For more information about the book or Mary Magdalene, see Mary's Vision: Mary Magdalene and the Quest for Gender Equality

Local Indie Bookstores Offering Book Signing Events

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:44:28 GMT

San Diego’s Independent Bookstores that Offer Signing Events

Bay Books, Coronado The store specializes in new titles, indie favorites, military history, young adult and children's books. It provides book reviews on their website: https://www.baybookscoronado.com/book-reviews. | 1007 Orange Ave | Coronado CA 92118 |

619.435.0070. | They only order books from Ingram Sparks.

The Book Catapult An independent bookstore in South Park; they carry exclusively debut books, and though small they do events. 3010-B Juniper Street | San Diego, CA 92104 | (619) 795-3780 | info@thebookcatapult.com | https://www.thebookcatapult.com.| They only order books from Ingram Sparks.

Book Star, Barnes and Noble in Loma Theatre. | 3150 Rosecrans Place | San Diego, CA 92110 | (619) 225-0465. Also Barnes and Noble at Hazard Center | 7610 Hazard Center Drive #315 | San Diego, CA 92108 | 619) 220-0175. They have author virtual events for all genres. Each Barnes & Noble store will negotiate with a self-published author if they believe your book will sell at their store location.

Meet Cute Romance Bookstore is a feminist bookshop focusing on romance books in North Park. They feature signing and bookpod events for romance genre books. Accepts self-published authors. https://meetcutebookshop.com/ | 4048 30th Street | San Diego, CA 92104| 619-228-9548

Mysterious Galaxy specializes in fantasy, science fiction, young adult, mystery and horror. They have signing events, many are virtual. Go to https://www.mystgalaxy.com/Contact-MG and fill out their form. They also have a writers’ group on the 2nd and 4th Sundays 4:30-6:30 PM. Newcomers are welcome. | 3555 Rosecrans St #107 | San Diego, CA 92110 | 619-539-7137. Accepts self-published authors.

Verbatim Bookstore carries over 200 local authors. Located in North Park at 3793 30th Street | San Diego, CA 92104 | 619-701-7466. Accepts self-published authors.

Events: Things to know before contacting Verbatim Bookstore about hosting your event:

As a primarily used bookstore, they rarely host traveling authors that they do not already sell in the store. Please do not contact them with sales pitches or attempts to get them to purchase new titles, they will not be able to respond to these messages.

They never buy books via Ingram or Amazon.

Since they don’t want to “play favorites,” they rarely host events for individual authors. If you would like to put together a lineup of authors/poets/etc. (as opposed to just one person) they will be much more likely to want to host that event!

They don’t really do the traditional “book signings” and prefer to do events that are engaging and experiential. They are looking for events that bring their patrons readings, discussions, multiple perspectives, etc.

Their events are always free to the public.

Warwicks Bookstore Located in the Village of La Jolla, Warwick’s is the country’s oldest continuously family-owned and operated bookstore. Beyond books, Warwick’s proudly hosts regular events. (858) 454-0347 | 7812 Girard Avenue | La Jolla, CA 92037. Self-published are covered in their “Weekend with Local Authors.” Learn more at: authors@warwicks.com.

Review Services for Indie Authors

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:31:35 GMT

Review Services for the Self-Published Authors

• Amazon Publishing - The full-service publishing arm of Amazon is composed of a number of imprints including AmazonEncore, AmazonCrossing, Montlake Romance, Thomas & Mercer, and 47North. Check the blog page at: How to get reviews for tips and advice.

• Kirkus Indie: For a nominal fee, Kirkus Reviews offers a review service for independent and self-publishers. Kirkus reviews are typically fewer than 300 words, and include summary content to give context along with a concise, unbiased opinion that can be positive, negative or neutral.

• American Library Association: Marketing to Libraries - By far the largest association for writing related topics. Go to the Reviews section to find a list of professional review magazines, journals, and newspapers. Fee for membership required, however there is no fee to access information on their website.

• BookLife - As part of Publishers Weekly, BookLife offers reviews. Check the Review Submissions Guidelines page to see if your book qualifies. If selected it means your book will be judged by professional standards, the same standards Publishers Weekly applies.

• Midwest Book Review - The Midwest Book Review gives priority consideration to small publishers, self-published authors, academic presses, and specialty publishers whenever possible. Reviewing print books/CDs/DVDs is always free of charge.

Reference: https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/news-events/localauthors/resources#community

Adventures by the Book Announces Super Book IV

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:19:08 GMT

Adventures By the Book announces Super Book IV: a San Diego Adventure featuring 22 New York Times/bestselling authors including half-time speakers Julia Whelan and Allison Winn Scotch

About the Live and In-Person Adventure

Virtual registration is now available!

It’s kickoff time! No, this isn’t about Super Bowl; this is about Super Book IV, and you are invited!

Join the team of 22 renowned authors, including half-time speakers, renowned audio book narrator and author Julia Whelan and New York Times bestselling author Allison Winn Scotch, who will give book enthusiasts and reading fans the experience of a lifetime, complete with national anthem, special half-time presentation, four quarters of excitement, and crowd-pleasing food, scheduled to take place on Thursday, February 16, 2023. at:

Admiral Baker Golf Course Clubhouse, 2400 Admiral Baker Rd #3604, San Diego, CA 92124

Registration

Available at the link to Adventures by the Book website at the bottom of this post—scroll all the way to the bottom of the page. Your choice of End Zone Registration ($140) and/or MVP add-on ($25) to request seating with your favorite author (limited availability).

And, they are now offering Virtual Registration ($35), which includes a Zoom link to view the live sessions and either 1 hardcover book or 2 paperback books.

Your ticket includes:

• Daylong Adventure featuring up to 22 New York Times and bestselling authors

• FREE copy of Thank You for Listening paperback book by Julia Whelan

• FREE copy of The Rewind paperback book by Allison Winn Scotch

• $25 reduced early bird ticket pricing available for the first 50 Adventurers

• Custom Super Book tote bag

• Continental breakfast

• Crowd-pleasing gourmet boxed lunch

• Collectible event program

• Seating at lunch tables with an author

• VIP option available to seat with your favorite author (limited availability)

• Multiple book signing autographing opportunities with all authors

• Photo ops with authors

• Meet and greet opportunities with the authors

• Books provided for sale and signing

• National anthem performance

• Four quarters of author activities

• Half-time presentation

• Discounted block of hotel rooms

• Fun prizes and giveaways

• …and much more

Book Pre-Sales

Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event. Or, pre-order copies using THIS ORDER FORM and then email completed forms to Amber at events@adventuresbythebook.com. Please note, only books purchased at the event or pre-purchased will be eligible for signing at the event.

For complete information, including a list of the speakers check out Adventures By the Book website: https://adventuresbythebook.com/event/super-book-iv-2-16-23/

Members Invited to Observe SDWEG Board Meetings

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:16:15 GMT

The SDWEG Board of Directors meets each month on the second Thursday at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Members are welcome to attend the meetings as observers and will be invited to speak to the Board on topics of interest.

Observing Board meetings is a great way to keep in touch with the Board’s plans and for ensuring the Board knows of your priorities.

If you wish to attend the next Board meeting, send a message to events@sdwritersguild.org by noon Wednesday, February 8.

San Diego Central Library Short Story Contest

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:11:47 GMT

The San Diego Central Library announces the sixth annual Short Story Contest. The contest, a part of the Local Author Program, continues the support that the Library provides to local writing, and shines a spotlight on local authors who craft short stories. This is a popular program which accepts only 75 submissions.

Stories must not exceed 3,000 words

Submission period:

Begins Monday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Closes after 75 submissions

Winners announced in early May 2023

Rules & Guidelines

• All entries are submitted online during a prescribed schedule set by the San Diego Public Library.

• The contest is open to original, published or unpublished stories.

• Stories that have won and/or placed in other writing contests are not eligible.

• Stories previously accepted in this contest in previous years are not eligible.

• Simultaneous submissions are allowed. You may submit a new story to our contest while it is also being considered for other contests, so long as it has not won or placed at the time of submission.

• Stories should be suitable for a general audience.

• Authors must live in San Diego County.

• Only one (1) story per author.

The winner last year in the 2022 contest was David J. Schmidt for his story “Enter the Laag.” David is a member of SDWEG and served on the Guild’s Board of Directors in 2022.

For more information about prizes and answers to frequently asked questions, see the Library’s webpage: https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/short-story-contest

Contests!

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:01:31 GMT

Sun City Library

A member who resides in Riverside County shared this invitation of possible interest to other Guild members who live to the north. Sun City Library, part of the Riverside County Library System, is holding its first Creative Writing Workshop Short Story contest. The theme for the contest is “Heart and Soul.”

Live Reading and Contestants' Brunch will be held Feb 16th at 11 a.m. at the Sun City Library, 26982 Cherry Hills, Menifee, CA 92586.

Submitters must be at least 18 years old. The stories must be under 5,000 words in length. The last day to submit entries is Sunday, February 5, 2023. Send entries to lina.nguyen@rivlib.net.

In addition to the live reading event, there will be prizes and a contestants’ brunch on February 16, at 11 a.m.

San Diego Central Library

The San Diego Central Library announces the sixth annual Short Story Contest. This contest, a part of the Local Author Program, continues the support that the Library provides to local writing, and shines a spotlight on local authors who craft short stories. This is a popular program which accepts only 75 submissions. Submission right as the contest opens is recommended.

Stories must not exceed 3,000 words.

Submission period: Begins Monday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m. and closes after 75 submissions have been received.

Winners announced in early May 2023.

The winner last year in the 2022 contest was David J. Schmidt for his story “Enter the Laag.” David is a member of SDWEG and served on the Guild’s Board of Directors in 2022.

For more information about the San Diego Central Library’s contest, see their website—https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/short-story-contest.

Lost in Translation - Artist/Writer Exhibition at the San Diego Central Library

Lisa Hagerman — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 06:29:05 GMT

Saturday February 4, 2023 is Opening Night of Lost in Translation: A Game of Telephone at the San Diego Central Library. Beginning at 6 p.m., the results of a yearlong game of telephone between 27 local artists and authors will be revealed! Come by and be the first to see the fascinating, touching, and humorous works of (mis)interpretation!

Inspired in part by the current state of communication breakdown in our country, this exhibition examines the many ways we (mis)interpret or (mis)understand each other through a game of telephone with local artists and authors. The fascinating, touching and humorous interpretations that occur as words are rendered into images and back to words highlights how perception evolves. In a time when social media is rife with frustration and defensiveness, this project asks the participants to set aside judgement and respond to another's world view with compassion, curiosity and/or a sense of humor. Local curator Chi Essary teamed up with Julia Dixon Evans, writer and KPBS/Arts Producer to select and match local artists and authors to play a game of telephone over the last year. The exhibition reveals how these layers of interpretation end up wildly different or surprisingly similar to the beginning, analogous to the challenges we face as human beings to relate to one another.

Featuring works by Alanna Airitam, Wick Alexander, Animal Cracker Conspiracy, MR Barnadas, Phil Beaumont, Ryan Bradford, Carlos Castro Arias, Patrick Coleman, Marisa Crane, Hugo Crosthwaite, De la Torre Brothers, Sheena Rae Dowling, Julia Dixon Evans, Corey Lynn Fayman, Max Feye, Charles Glaubitz, Lily Hoang, Ari Honarvar, Marianella de la Hoz, Lizz Huerta, Beliz Iristay, Lindy Ivey, Kirsten Imani Kasai, Kiik Araki-Kawaguchi, John Purlia, Guro Silva, Jackie Dunn Smith, Miki Vale, and Perry Vasquez.

Opening Reception: Saturday, February 4, 2023 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Reception sponsored by the Friends of the Central Library

Exhibition Dates: February 4, 2023 – April 15, 2023

Central Library Art Gallery | 330 Park Blvd. | San Diego, CA 92101 | 619-238-6690

STAY CONNECTED @sdpubliclibrary #SDPLGALLERY
Gallery Hours:
M-Tu: 1-7pm
W-Sa: 12-5pm
Closed Sunday

For more info, visit:
https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/lost-translation-game-telephone

Book Launch for Penn Wallace's Latest Novel: Back to Vietnam

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 03:56:39 GMT

An invitation from Guild member Penn Wallace

Penn has had to reschedule his book launch party from January 28 to February 25 from 1 to 3 pm at the OB Java coffee shop in Ocean Beach at 5047 Newport Ave San Diego, CA. If you’re in San Diego Penn would love to meet you. Please RSVP with him ahead of time so he can let the caterer know how many people to expect.

About the novel

Cybersecurity expert Ted Higuera learns that his Uncle Gino, who went MIA in Vietnam in 1969, may still be alive. Rumors of an American being held in a secret POW camp reach Ted’s ears. He gathers the team, gets high-tech help from Millennial Systems, and they head to Vietnam to search for his uncle.

In Vietnam, the Ted is interrogated, Chris is arrested, and the group is followed by the secret police. Ted gets caught up in the Cartels’ drug war once more. They search the jungles for the POW camp.

In the end, Ted must confront Vietnam’s head of security and number one drug lord, Colonel Bao. He must make an impossible decision and do something he’s never done before.

A burger and a brew with the reading

The OB Brewery is kind enough to provide this space for us. The coffee bar will be open, and Penn implores you to buy a burger and brew as a thank you for their generosity.

The reading will begin at 2 pm and Penn will be available for questions and book signing after the reading.

Please RSVP at penn@pennwallace.com or text me at (425) 775-9273. Penn needs an idea of how many people are coming.

Volunteer Opportunities for Members

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 00:06:55 GMT

The January issue of our newsletter, The Writer’s Life, included information about the Guild’s participation in the President’s Volunteer Service Award program. If you haven’t already read about it, check it out here:

https://sdweg.org/blog/13043606

One reason the Board of Directors agreed to participate in the PVSA program is we recognize that the Board needs assistance from members to maintain the member benefits the Guild offers. For example, without members to serve as reviewers, the Guild could not maintain the Manuscript Review Program. Similarly, member to staff tables at festivals, the Guild cannot represent you, our members.

Over the course of the past few years, it has become clear that the ten members elected to serve as the Board of Directors need assistance with projects and ongoing tasks to avoid burning out. These needs will be the topic of discussion during the half hour from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. ahead of the Monday, January 23, membership meeting. (Note that January has five Mondays this month. Our meeting is on the fourth, not the last, Monday of the month.)

Sometimes we come across a discrete task that we'd like a volunteer or two to tackle. For example, we'd like to invite a member or two with an interest in history to go through old newsletters and meeting minutes to write up one or more articles about the history of the Guild.

Other needs are ongoing, though not in themselves time consuming. For example, whenever we hold a membership meeting, we need to download the recording, edit it to eliminate any dead time at the beginning, and then upload the edited version to YouTube. Once that is done, we need to delete the Zoom recording so we don't exceed the available storage space Zoom provides. Current or former Board members are available to provide training for this task. Tasks related to hosting Zoom meetings, launching the evaluation poll at the end of the meetings, and downloading, editing, and uploading videos to YouTube have been added to the SDWEG Member Volunteer Opportunities Worksheet and are waiting for someone to step up to take on these tasks. If you sign up for one of the slots on this worksheet, please send a message to president@sdwritersguild.org to be sure the Board knows to reach back to you.

A final reason for implementing PVSA is that we know the Guild will need more volunteer support from members to implement new member benefits planned for 2023.

Watch for information in the newsletter, blog posts, and Friday roundups about the Guild’s plan to implement a mentoring program. This program will need member volunteers with specific skills and experience.

San Diego Local Authors Showcase

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 23:56:36 GMT

On January 27, 7 to 9 p.m., the San Diego Public Library is proud to sponsor the 2022 Showcase, featuring published works by San Diego's most talented authors. The event is live and in-person! The Library will be featuring a stunning collection of display cabinets filled with locally authored books from several different genres. The display will be available for public browsing for the entire month of February, afterwards the books will be prepared to circulate for one year. Books will also be featured in an online exhibit. Please visit the Local Author website for more information and to view previous online exhibits.

Multi-award winning local author T. Greenwood will be delivering a keynote speech. The evening will feature local jazz musicians, Ria & Aaron, light refreshments, a limited open mike event* and a few more surprises.

Registration is highly suggested for authors and their guests.

For more information and to register for the event, select this link: https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/57th-local-author-showcase-reception-registration.

Southern California Writers Conference Coming Up in February

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 23:42:50 GMT

The 37^th Annual SCWC is set for Presidents’ Day Weekend and what a weekend it will be with workshops, panels, speakers, a novel boot camp tract, late night read and critiques, and so much more. Join the whole lively community of writers, best-selling authors, agents and editors.

February 17-19 at Marriott Mission Valley in San Diego

https://writersconference.com/sd/

Discounted pre-registration now open.

Wild Atlantic Writers announce the ‘Wild Atlantic Writing Awards’ for 2023 on the theme of hope.

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 23:24:08 GMT

Wild Atlantic Writers is just one of many writers groups offering conferences, retreats, and contests that ask the Guild to publicize their programs. And since it's entirely possible that one of our members may win, we're happy to let you know about this opportunity.

As with all Wild Atlantic Writers competitions, there will be two separate categories - flash fiction and creative nonfiction, which can include travel, memoir, journalism or an essay.

Deadline for submissions: Friday, March 31, 2023.

As you write your story, remember to keep in mind these important guidelines:

• the maximum length of your story should be 500 words, not including the title (please be mindful of this requirement, even one word over the limit can disqualify your entry);

• judges should be left in no doubt that the core theme in your story is linked to ‘hope;’

• you can only use the word ‘hope’ once - either in the body of your story or in your story title;

• multiple entries accepted.

PRIZE

The winner for each of the two categories will receive 500 euro in cash, or a voucher worth 1,000 euro redeemable towards any one of their retreats of your choice this year. [SDWEG note: The retreats are in Europe.]

And more.

With the writer’s permission, the top ten stories in each category will be published on the ‘Ireland Writing Retreat’ website, with a short bio and photograph of the writer. Writers retain all copyrights to their work.

See full details about WAWA Hope competition HERE.

Kindle Pre-Order and Feb 3 Book Reading for KC Grifant's Debut Supernatural Western

Lisa Hagerman — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 23:01:14 GMT

SDWEG member KC Grifant is thrilled to share the release of her debut supernatural Western novel, MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER (Feb 2023, Brigids Gate Press). Kindle pre-order now available! Book releases on February 3, 2023.

KC Grifant will be reading from her novel at the Strong Women, Strange Worlds First Friday Quick Reads on February 3 at noon ET. Registration is free. Visit https://strongwomenstrangeworlds.weebly.com to register.

When monsters roam the Old West, there is one gunslinging couple who can tilt the odds in favor of humanity. Stoic sharpshooter Melinda and her easygoing partner Lance are expert monster exterminators, but when they accidentally release a demon that steals souls, they find themselves caught in a supernatural war. They must battle a menagerie of monsters and hunt a notorious outlaw to save their friends and stop hell on Earth. Supernatural meets Bonnie & Clyde in an epic adventure that the Library Journal calls “wildly entertaining” and a “massive crowd pleaser.”

More info about the book and KC: https://scifiwri.com/publications/melinda-west-monster-gunslinger/

Next Generation Indie Book Awards Entry Deadline: February 10, 2023

Lisa Hagerman — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 23:12:25 GMT

Call for Entries: 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

If you would like to receive greater recognition, monetary prizes, awards and exposure for your books, here is an opportunity not to miss. Enter the 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. (For 2025, here's the link: https://www.indiebookawards.com/)

Calling all indie book authors and publishers - including small presses, mid-size independent publishers, university presses, e-book publishers, and self-published authors who have a book written in English released in 2021, 2022 or 2023 or with a 2021, 2022 or 2023 copyright date to enter the most rewarding book awards program.

Offering 80+ Categories - More than 80 Awards – with over 80 monetary prizes totaling over $10,000 in cash, including $1,500 cash prizes plus trophies for best fiction book and best non-fiction book, $750 cash prizes plus trophies for second best fiction book and non-fiction book and $500 cash prizes plus trophies for third best fiction book and non-fiction book!

Entry deadline for the 2023 awards program – February 10, 2023.

For more information, please visit indiebookawards.com .

(This program is not affiliated with the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild.)

Announcing SDWEG's Participation in the President's Volunteer Service Award Program

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 23:41:57 GMT

Volunteers are the lifeblood of any nonprofit organization. This is certainly true for San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. We are able to provide benefits such as the Manuscript Review Program, the Guilded Pen Anthology, representing the Guild and our members at Festival events, and much more because of the large number of members who volunteer.

In 2023, the Guild plans to take part in the President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) program to recognize members who volunteer significant numbers of hours on the Guild's behalf. PVSA was established in 2003 by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation to recognize the important role of volunteers in America's strngth and national identity.

The PVSA has continued under each administration. To participate, organizations that rely on volunteers must become Certifying Organizations to use the program to recognize their most exceptional volunteers.

In December of 2022, the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild became a Certifying Organization for PVSA through demonstrating it meets all the organizational eligibility requirements. SDWEG must recertify each year to ensure those administering the program understand both the organization’s responsibilities and the eligibility requirements of volunteers.

To be eligible to receive PVSA recognition, volunteers must be US citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States, be at least five years old, and complete eligible service within a 12-month period for Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. The number of hours of service required at each of those levels depends upon the age of the individual. The chart below indicates the levels for each annual level.

Hours Required to Earn Awards in Each Age Group:
Age Group	Bronze	Silver	Gold
Kids (5-10 years old)	26-49 hours	50-74 hours	75+ hours
Teens (11-15)	40-74 hours	75-99 hours	100+ hours
Young Adults (16-25)	100-174 hours	175-249 hours	250+ hours
Adults (26+)	100-249 hours	250-499 hours	500+ hours

Certifying organizations may choose from options to provide recognition to volunteers. The options include an official President’s Volunteer Service Award pin, coin, or medallion; a personalized certificate of achievement and letter signed by the president; or a complete package including both elements of the award. The Guild, like all certifying organizations, must pay for the cost of the awards and not transfer the cost to recipients.

The Guild hopes that implementing the program early in 2023 will permit us to make the first awards to our member volunteers at the end of 2023. The program runs for any 12-month period. For this reason, it’s important for volunteers to keep track of the hours they volunteer in any capacity for the Guild with the date to confirm the hours were offered within twelve months.

If you would like to be considered for recognition through the PVSA program in 2023, please send a message to sdweg.pvsa@gmail.com. Until another program administrator is recruited, Sandra Yeaman will monitor this email account and will provide access to a Google Document for each participating member to use to track volunteer hours.

In the first year of the program, we will request quarterly updates of member volunteers’ activities from those who do not choose to use the Google Docs spreadsheet, to determine if refining the program administration is needed.

We look forward to recognizing all our member volunteers since we cannot continue or expand our programming without member volunteer support.

Join Us for Lunch

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 00:35:58 GMT

In-person get-together opportunities Continue IN 2024.

Mardie Schroeder is continuing her third-Tuesday-of-the-month lunches this month, February 20, and next, March 19, at 1 p.m. Mardie organizes a place to meet at a central location with plenty of parking for up to ten Guild members. Mardie arranges for us to sit outside, undisturbed by noise and appropriately distanced from other diners.

If you wish to join Mardie, send a message to mardiewho@yahoo.com. Be sure to include your cell phone number in your response so Mardie can text you the location of the lunch.

Contest and Prizes: Submission Deadlines in January 2023

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 00:01:18 GMT

Each month the Masters Review* summarizes contests and prizes with deadlines in that month on their website. The majority of the contests they list have low entry fees. Some are free.

For a look at contests with submission deadlines in January, check out this link.

The Masters Review own Winter Short Story Contest submission deadline is also in January, on January 31. For details on the contest and the prizes offered, see their website here. Only emerging writers are eligible to enter. Winners and runners-up receive agent reviews.

*(from The Masters Review website): Always a free way to submit. Always paid for your work. The Masters Review offers a quality platform for emerging writers.

Founded by Kim Winternheimer in 2011, the Masters Review is an online and in print publication celebrating new and emerging writers. We are on the lookout for the best new talent with hopes of publishing stories from writers who will continue to produce great work. We offer critical essays, book reviews by debut authors, contest deadlines, submissions info, and interviews with established authors, all with the hopes of bridging the gap between new and established writers.

How Does the Guild Keep Members Informed of Events?

Sat, 17 Dec 2022 17:02:38 GMT

Keeping members informed of upcoming events as well as opportunities around the region is a top priority for the Board of Directors. Because the talents of the Board change with the coming and going of Directors each year, we recently polled members to learn what messages they rely on. We knew we needed to make some adjustments as incoming Board members didn't all have the same available time to devote as was possible this year.

Here's our new plan for 2023 which we believe we can both accomplish with the talents and time availability of our new Board at the same time as ensuring members are informed of what is coming up.

We will continue sending our monthly newsletter which usually arrives the second week of the month.
We will cut back the Friday roundup messages to twice a month: the first and third Fridays will be our targets. When there are five Fridays in a month, we will consider whether we need to send out a message if the timing of events requires.
Notifications of upcoming events will be sent only twice instead of three times—21 days and 7 days ahead of each event.
One confirmation message, with Zoom details if necessary, will be sent immediately after someone registers.
Reminders of upcoming events will be sent to those who register to attend only twice instead of three times—10 days and 1 day ahead of the event. Both of the reminders will also include Zoom details if the meeting will be held online.

We also will cut down on the amount of information that is repeated in our email messages. Since every member and subscriber will receive at least two messages about upcoming events, the only other place events will be highlighted is in the newsletter.

Events will continued to be listed on the website where both members and nonmembers will be able to see details of all upcoming meetings and workshops at any time.

Member Profile: Richard Lederer

Andrea Glass — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 02:48:06 GMT

MEMBER PROFILE

Richard Lederer

www.verbivore.com

https://www.facebook.com/RichardLederer?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Richard-Lederer/author/B000APBA3G

What aspect of editing or writing are you involved in?

Writing and, having recently switched to hybrid self-publishing, a greater share of editing.

What first attracted you to writing/editing?

I’ve always loved to write and was editor of my junior high literary magazine and my high school newspaper. In college, it became clear to me that I was placed on this planet to do that. Long ago, I blew up the distance between who I am and what I do.

How long have you been writing/editing?

A mere 70 years.

As a writer, what kind of books do you write? Any published? How about short stories?

I’ve written and published 60 books, most of them about language, including nine children’s books and a number of topics, such as doggies, kitties, teachers, aging, and American history, that are not about language. A writer seeks to discover what kind of writing calls to him or her. Early on, I discovered that I sucked at creating fiction but adored explaining everything about the human adventure, especially language. I’ve worked unstintingly to get better at the craft with each book

What are you working on now either writing or editing?

I’ve just published my 60^th (and funniest) book, Lederer’s Language & Laughter. That title feels like the last book that I’ll publish, but I’ll continue to get an F in Retirement because I’ll still write columns (for example, in the Union-Tribune) and magazine articles (for example, the Mensa Bulletin) until I can’t.

How long have you been a member of SDWEG and why did you join?

A life member for about 25 years. To be part of a community of writers.

What’s something unique or special about you, that you’d like others to know?

I am a quintessential extrovert. I adore people, and that makes me a better writer about language, which distinguishes us from the other creatures on this astonishing planet.

What request might you have of other members?

I write to be read and perform to be seen and heard. I am honored to share those talents with my fellow writers and editors.

Symposium By the Sea 2023

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 17:48:52 GMT

The 28th Annual Writer's Symposium by the Sea is just around the corner.

The Symposium by the Sea will be extra special this year, featuring Pulitzer-winning writers William Finnegan, Anthony Doerr, Maria Hinojosa, and N. Scott Momaday. San Diego Writers Festival organizers had the pleasure of talking with Dean Nelson, Ph. D., director of the Journalism Program at Point Loma Nazarene University and the director of the Writer's Symposium by the Sea, to learn about this year's show!

SD Writers Festival — Five-Question Interview

1) When did the Symposium begin? What led to you saying, "Hey, I think I want to do this!"

When I was in grad school at Ohio University, the school had a week where they brought back significant writers, journalists, and filmmakers. So I wanted to try to do something similar. The first year, 1995, we brought in local writers to talk about craft. But what really launched the format we use now, where I interview the writer, was when I asked local writer Joseph Wambaugh to come give a talk. He said no, but then said he would come if someone just wanted to ask him questions. That event was such a success that I thought we had landed on a formula that could work from year to year. Thanks, Joe! All of the interviews have been recorded and televised by UCSD-TV, and they've been viewed more than five million times.

2) Can you tell us a little about this year's program; Who are your guests?

This year every one of our writers has won a Pulitzer Prize.

Anthony Doerr, whose book All The Light We Cannot See is one of the most highly praised books in recent history. It is being made into an HBO series. Personally, I think his most recent book, Cloud Cuckoo Land, is even more stunning.

Bill Finnegan is a long-time writer for the New Yorker, and his book Barbarian Days is about surfing. We have a built-in audience right there!

Maria Hinojosa can do everything. Her work on NPR's Latino USA is brilliant, and so is her podcast Suave (which won the Pulitzer this year), and so is her reporting about the border and immigration. Plus, she's an entrepreneur, plus she's written books that are quite moving.

N. Scott Momaday is one of the most celebrated Native American writers in the U.S. I started reading his work when I was in high school. He's still a phenomenal storyteller, and his stories about our connection to our land and heritage are more poignant now than ever.

Can you tell how stoked I am about these writers?

3) What makes you most excited about this program?

I love engaging writers in discussions about craft. These aren't readings — they're in-depth conversations about their work and the importance of storytelling. I love it when audiences leave these events inspired to become storytellers themselves. And I PROMISE you that you'll be inspired as writers. That's what gets me excited. Plus, they're all really interesting people. You'll see a side to them that you don't necessarily get in the curated settings.

4) Can you share a little bit of the behind the scenes; How do you approach and create each year's program?

First of all, I approach each writer with an invitation that shows them how this Symposium is different from most writers' conferences and workshops. Each event is a celebration in storytelling. I prepare by trying to read every book the writer has written, in the order the books appeared, so I can get a sense of that writer's evolution. I look for big themes and insights. What we'll be celebrating at our next Symposium is creativity, heritage, diversity, and STORIES!

5) Do you have any tips on how to best enjoy the Symposium? (When to arrive, places to eat, or any other tips?)

The PLNU campus is so beautiful. There are many open spaces, such as our Greek Amphitheater, where you can come in the late afternoon, have a picnic, and watch the sun set over the ocean. Or you can just walk the campus and enjoy the scenery and our friendly students. Several writers groups come in the afternoon and have their meeting here, then go to the interview together. Parking is always an issue, so I recommend being on campus by 6, which is when the auditorium doors open. We have special music for each of the nights, so when you come early, you get the additional benefit of hearing great music.

Dates for the event are Monday, February 20-Friday, February 24, 2023.

Tickets are on sale at https://www.pointloma.edu/events/28th-annual-writers-symposium-sea

Dr. Dean Nelson is a past Odin Award recipient and a long-time members of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild.

Book Signing Dec 8th with Richard G. Opper

Lisa Hagerman — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 00:35:35 GMT

One of our newest members, Richard G. Opper, will be signing copies of his new book, The Body In The Barrel, as part of the Point Loma Assembly Holiday Open House on December 8th from 5 to 7 pm. If you’d like to join the party (and buy a signed copy of his book) drop by at 3035 Talbot St. in Point Loma.

See you there!

For more information:

https://richardopper.com

http://pointlomaassembly.org

IBPA Publishing University Coming to San Diego

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 20:22:00 GMT

Coming in May 2023

Independent Book Publishers Association Publishing University, the premier educational event for independent book publishers, is coming to San Diego in May.

IBPA PUBLISHING UNIVERSITY (#PubU2023) is where hundreds of independent publishers and industry partners gather to exchange knowledge, resources, strategies, solutions, and more.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Independent publishers, hybrid publishers, author publishers (aka self-published authors), university presses, and association presses interested in advancing their book publishing know-how.

IBPA Publishing University 2023 will take place at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa from May 4-6, 2023. This idyllic retreat just across the bridge from San Diego features views of the San Diego skyline and Coronado Bridge and is ideally situated to provide easy access to Coronado Beach and San Diego attractions. As a guest of the hotel, you'll recharge in spacious, redesigned hotel rooms, suites, and private cottages while you attend the #1 conference for independent book publishers in the United States.

Check out Publishing University’s Sponsors: https://www.publishinguniversity.org/sponsorship

San Diego Writers, Ink Offers Classes for Young Writers

Sat, 19 Nov 2022 17:32:02 GMT

If you know of a teen or younger aspiring writer who would benefit from joining with other young writers, check out these offerings from San Diego Writers, Ink.

12/17 Teen Monologues

Do you have teens interested in Shakespeare or how to craft a monologue of their own? If so, be sure to have them join Robbie Hammel for Introduction to Shakespearean Monologues (For Teens)! In this class, we will discuss the basics of a Shakespearean monologue and go over the form and structure of the poetry involved. Bring paper and pen and leave with your own version of a sonnet! This one-day class will be held IN PERSON at our space in Inspirations Gallery (upstairs in Barracks 16) on Saturday, 12/17 from 12:30pm to 2:30pm. Sign up here!

12/19 Winter Writing Camp

Attention young writers! You might journal or make up stories or write the occasional poem. And if that’s you—we want to hang with you this winter break! At Young Ink Winter Camp with Kristen Fogle, you will meet other writers your age, write to fun prompts, and try your hand at different genres, styles, and writing activities. At the end you’ll have a book of writing, know a little more about the craft of the written word, and hopefully meet a writing buddy or two.

This one-week camp for kids will be held IN PERSON at our space in Inspirations Gallery starting on Monday, 12/19. We will have two sessions: 9am to 10:45am (recommended for ages 8-10) and 11am to 12:15pm (recommended for ages 11-13). Cost for the week is $85, and we have scholarships and equity pricing available. Sign up your Young Ink writers here!

Editor's Note: Many San Diego Writers and Editors Guild members are also members of San Diego Writers, Ink. The two organizations offer different benefits to their writer members. We encourage our members to check out San Diego Writers, Ink as well.

Member Profile: Mary Ann Horton

Andrea Glass — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 00:50:09 GMT

Dr. Mary Ann Horton is a transgender activist, an author, an internet pioneer and a computer architect. She earned her PhD in Computer Science from UC Berkeley, spent 20 years with Bell Labs and retired from San Diego Gas & Electric, where she protected the power grid from hackers. In 1997 she persuaded Lucent Technologies to be the first Fortune 500 company to add transgender-inclusive language to their nondiscrimination policy, earning her the Trailblazer Outie Award, and inspiring her to write her memoir, Trailblazer: Lighting the Path for Transgender Inclusion in Corporate America.

What aspect of editing or writing are you involved in?

I’m an author. My coming-of-age memoir tells of my life as a trans woman and a trans activist. It commemorates the 25th anniversary of Lucent’s historic policy signed 10/28/1997, the first Fortune 500 company to formally pledge not to discriminate against transgender workers. I was the instigator of that policy.

What first attracted you to writing/editing?

When I talk, I stumble. When I write, I can proofread, edit and clarify. This is important for sending email, and even more important for a memoir.

How long have you been writing?

When I was a kid, I wrote an eight-page children’s book A Beaver’s Story in pencil and crayon. As an adult, I wrote technical papers to explain how to use computer programs and internet domains, so I learned to explain clearly. This led to publication of my technical reference book Portable C Software in 1990. After retiring, I had a new challenge: write a memoir that real people would enjoy reading.

As a writer, what kind of books do you write? Any published? How about short stories?

Beyond my tech pubs and memoir, I wrote (with my friends Lisa and Bill Koontz) the 2004 parody, How the Grinch Stole Marriage, about same-sex marriage, which went viral. A short story based on the first chapter of Trailblazer will be performed December 8 in the IMWA Memoir Showcase in La Jolla.

What are you working on now either writing or editing?

My raw material autobiography has 200,000 words, partly computer stories, partly trans stories, partly just life. I’ll write a second memoir, telling about the computer stuff. My challenge will be to dig into technology and still make it fun to read.

How long have you been a member of SDWEG and why did you join?

I found the SDWEG table at the 2019 San Diego Book Fair. The meetings, members and resources were exactly what I needed as an author.

What benefits have you gained as a member?

The monthly meetings are beyond valuable to me. I’ve learned a ton about every aspect of writing, publishing, marketing, publicity and on and on. SDWEG membership is a great investment of my time and membership dues!

What’s something unique or special about you that you’d like others to know?

I’ve had an interesting life in technology as well as trans activism. One fun tidbit is that I invented the email attachment while a grad student at Berkeley in 1980.

What request might you have of other members? (joint venture promotions, launch team, referrals, reviews, advance readers…)

I’d love to see a “cook book” covering all the aspects of writing, editing, publishing, marketing, etc. If the membership wrote sections they’re knowledgeable about, and we edited it like a Wiki, we’d have a great resource for our members.

Contact Info

https://maryannhorton.com

https://www.facebook.com/maryannhorton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-ann-horton-7a61a4

https://www.amazon.com/Trailblazer-Lighting-Transgender-Equality-Corporate-ebook/dp/B0B8F2BR9B

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trailblazer-mary-ann-horton/1142528504?ean=9798986520513

https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Ann-Horton/e/B0B8G6XP84

San Diego Writers, Ink, announces a weekend writing workshop in November

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 23:09:23 GMT

Each fall, San Diego Writers, Ink hosts a weekend of immersive writing sessions from some of their instructors identified as students' favorites. It's an opportunity to sample their diverse range of classes or get better acquainted with instructors you may not have taken a class with. Think of it as a writing sampler—a way to try out SDWI classes and get a lot of writing work and inspiration in one weekend.

BONUS! When you sign up for Fall for Writing, you will be entered into a raffle. Prize details to come!

Unless specified otherwise, SDWI's Fall for Writing Sessions will be held IN PERSON at SDWI's space in Liberty Station above Veltz Fine Art (Inspirations Gallery, 2730 Historic Decatur Rd #204, Barracks 16, San Diego, CA, 92106). While masks are not required, they are encouraged. Thank you!

FULL CONFERENCE PASSES

Purchase tickets for the whole event for $99 for Members and $150 for Nonmembers. Like last year, SDWI also has a PAY WHAT YOU CAN for the entire conference! (For this option, please email info@sandiegowriters.org to discuss your preferred payment.) Full conference passes will grant you FREE access to ALL classes, social hours, readings, and offerings listed below!

For full information about the event, select this link.

Note: SDWI is releasing only 20 full conference passes for the time being, so be sure to get yours now! Please also select which sessions you plan to attend so that they have an idea of attendance.

SINGLE-SESSION PASSES

If you do not wish to attend the entire conference, individual sessions can be pre-purchased at $15 for Members and $20 for Nonmembers (unless specified otherwise). Be sure to secure your spots now, as they will fill up! Visit the links included here to learn more.

Note: Right now SDWI is releasing only 20 single-session spots for each in-person class. If you hope to attend a single-session class in person, be sure to secure your spot now!

COURSE OFFERINGS

Friday, November 11

5-6:45pm -- Online via Zoom

Memoir vs. Novel: The Best Format for YOUR Story with Robin "R.D." Kardon

Something happened. A series of events shaped your life. Now you want to write about them. But what format will you choose? In this in-depth workshop, we'll investigate whether to take real-life events and use them as the basis of a memoir or a work of fiction--and how to make the right choice for your story.

6pm

Social Hour with Dimestories: FREE!

Join us for a social hour with Dimestories! We will gather in Inspirations Gallery to enjoy time together as writers before the Dimestories Open Mic & Book Launch. FREE to all!

7pm

Dimestories Open Mic & Book Launch (FREE for full conference participants; $10 donation for single -ession purchase)

Join us for Dimestories Open Mic and Book Launch! Share a three-minute story at the open mic or come and enjoy some wonderful writing. We will also celebrate the launch of the Dimestories Anthology!

Saturday, November 12

9-10:45am

Intro to Memoir with Marni Freedman

New to memoir--this is for you. This session will walk students through an introduction to plotting, theme, and character arc for memoir.

11am-12:45pm

Writing to Visual Prompts with Jill G. Hall

Recharge your writing in this fun, interactive workshop. Through the use of visual stimuli such as gallery art, greeting and postcards, your poetry and prose will deepen, become clearer and more joyful. Some generated pieces may be shared in community. Bring journals, pens, and a smile.

1-2:45pm

Playwriting 101 with Aleta Barthell

This Playwriting 101 session provides an opportunity to develop that idea in your head into a script, or hone and develop your current play-in-progress.

3-4:45pm

Story Structure with Rich Farrell

What does ‘structure’ mean in fiction? What defines story structure as applied to writing novels and short stories? This class will explore the elements of story structure, with practical tips towards building solid foundations for your writing. We will explore how writers use plot, character, setting, time, language, and drama to create the magic of fiction.

5-5:45pm

Social Hour at Inspirations Gallery: FREE!

Socialize with Ink staff and instructors and meet other writers. Check out our art show and grab free coffee! FREE to all!

6-6:45pm

Tammy Greenwood Reads & Discusses Such a Pretty Girl (FREE for full conference participants; $5 donation for single-session purchase)

Join Tammy Greenwood for a reading and discussion based on her new novel Such a Pretty Girl!

7-8:30pm

"A Year In Ink Through the Years": Hosted by Jill G. Hall (FREE for full conference participants; $10 donation for single-session purchase)

Join us for A Year in Ink Through the Years, a reading from A Year in Ink contributors from Volumes 1 to 15, hosted by Jill G. Hall.

Note: If you were in a past volume of A Year in Ink and would like to read, please fill out this interest form here. Thanks!

Sunday, November 13

9-10:15am -- Online via Zoom

Atlas of the Heart: A Generative Writing Session with Kristen Fogle

“Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection” is Brene Brown’s newest–and an amazing–resource in which she puts words to eighty-seven emotions and human experiences. In this online session, we will work through a few in the book by using timed writing prompts based on each.

9-10:45am

Podcasting with Adam Greenfield

Learn what it takes to not only prepare for your podcast but also how to record and what equipment you’ll want to consider using to make your podcast. After this class you’ll have the tools and motivation needed to get started.

11am-12:45pm

Prompt Church with Judy Reeves

This Sunday morning “call to workshop” is our literary version of Sunday Mass in which we’ll share communion with the page. Our services will be in two parts—the first hour is Confession, during which we’ll respond to prompts. Our second hour is Praise, and again we work from prompts to express in writing our poetic avowals, lyrical incantations, and prayers to the page.

1-2:45pm

Poetry for Memoir with Tania Pryputniewicz

Do you have a story about your own life that won’t let go of you? In this workshop, we will look at example poetry collections and memoirs as well as engage in several writing exercises designed to help you begin mining your life story on the page. This is a generative workshop, meaning it is a “Show up, Write, and Share” opportunity.

3-4:45pm

Poetry Karaoke with Judy Reeves & Steve Montgomery (FREE for full conference participants; $5 donation for single-session purchase)

Drop by for a lively session of Open Mic Poetry Karaoke with hosts Judy Reeves and Steve Montgomery. Grab a binder filled with poems of all kinds—from Angelou to Yeats, Brooks to Whitman—and select the one you’d like to read. When your name is called, come on up and spin the Big Wheel of Musical Genres, then read your selected poem aloud to the beat of the music. Join us for some raucous fun and some dang good poetry.

5-5:50pm -- Outside Barracks 16 (promenade side)

The Social Experiment for Writers with Rebecca Jane: FREE

Come get outside and partake in this fun game to meet other writers! Created by SDWI instructor Rebecca Jane. Cost is FREE to all!

5-6:45pm

The Travel Writer's Map: An Introduction with Lenore Greiner

In this class, we’ll learn how to hone your observations through journaling, develop the craft of travel writing, and more. Whether writing blog posts, personal essays, magazine articles, or literary longform stories, you’ll emerge from the Travel Writer’s Map as an inspired travel writer.

Monday, November 14

9:30-10:30am

Monday Morning Prompts with Kristen Fogle & Amy Wallen (FREE for full conference participants; $7 for single-session purchase)

Join us for our Monday Morning Prompts group! The group will be co-hosted by Kristen Fogle and Amy Wallen.

10:30am-12:30pm

Room to Write with Kristen Fogle & Amy Wallen (FREE for full conference participants; FREE for SDWI members AND for single-session participants who purchase Monday Morning Prompts!)

Bring a laptop or notebook, your muse, and enjoy a quiet, comfortable place to do your work in the company of other (silent) writers.

5-6:45pm -- Online via Zoom

Healing Through Story: Tell Yours on Stage! with Brenda Adelman

Learn the art form of telling your secret stories on stage in a one-person show! Brenda gives her proven process for turning dramatic events from your life into impactful and entertaining stories that will move your audiences to laughter and tears. Bring your ideas, your experience, your talent and a notebook to write.

7-8:45pm -- Online via Zoom

Intro to Songwriting with Suzanne Yada

Let me introduce you to the world of songwriting, using guided prompts and fun collaborative exercises to explore new musical aspects of your creativity. We'll also explore turning your prose and poetry into seeds for songs, and introduce you to some free online tools that can guide the process. This introductory course is open to all levels and musical backgrounds, beginner to advanced.

57th Annual Local Author Showcase Submissions Welcome

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 22:51:25 GMT

Greetings San Diego County Authors

Did you publish a book or ebook in 2022?

If the answer is yes, and if you reside in San Diego County, you are invited to participate in the upcoming 57th Annual Local Author Showcase!

The registration period is September 9th to November 28th

As the crowning event of the library’s Local Author Program, the Showcase offers our published authors an opportunity to present their work to a large audience of readers, publishers, and fellow book people and residents. The event will run the entire month of February 2023 in the beautiful San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common. There will be a special reception to honor participating authors and officially unveil the exhibit to which authors and guests will be invited.

For information and to register, please visit the Library’s Local Author website, and follow the instructions below:

Complete the online registration prior to submitting your book.
If you use a pen name, please register under your pen name and NOT your real name.
If your book is in both print and digital formats, submit the PRINT version only.
All authors must submit a high-resolution photo of their book cover to complete registration. Accepted formats: JPG or PNG. No PDFs

After registering please send or drop off your book at the Central Library.

You may put your book in the Central Library’s book-drop at the corner of J and 11th Streets. If you choose that option, place the book inside a sealed manila envelope labeled:

“LOCAL AUTHOR BOOK”
SAN DIEGO PUBLIC LIBRARY
HUMANITIES DEPT. ATTN:
330 PARK BOULEVARD
SAN DIEGO, CA 92101-7416

and remember:

LAST DAY TO REGISTER AND SUBMIT YOUR BOOK IS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2022

Be sure to add localauthor@sandiego.gov to your contacts so that further correspondence does not end up in your junk mail. If you have any questions or comments, please reply to this e-mail. Emails will be answered in the order they are received. Thank you and we appreciate your patience!

We Need Your Help

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 00:15:41 GMT

Elections are coming up in October. The new Board won’t take over until January, but the time to begin planning for the transition of responsibilities is now.

A number of responsibilities traditionally been held by Board members could be handled by volunteer members. If you have skills and time to provide assistance in a variety of areas, members of the Board would like to know.

A spreadsheet with tabs that identify tasks needing volunteers are on Google Drive.

Look for Tabs labeled Anthology, Board Admin, Mss Review, Zoom Pro, Membership Support, Marketing, Social Media, and Mentoring Program.

If you are willing to take on one or more of the responsibilities, add your name and contact information on the spreadsheet.

Board members will provide training in all the tasks that are already being handled. The final tab, Mentoring Program, has no specific tasks identified yet as we envision the new Board will hold meetings to discuss what a Guild mentoring program will require. If you are interested in being part of those discussions, add your name.

Congratulations to SDWEG Member Winners of 2022 Memoir Showcase

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 01:54:24 GMT

The International Memoir Writers Association announced the ten winners whose works will be performed in the 2022 Memoir Showcase. Two of those winners are also members of San Diego Writers and Editors Guild: Lindsey Salatka (“I Am Ajumma”) and Mary Ann Horton (“My First Day as a Woman”).

In addition, four of the 25 authors selected to have their works in Volume VI of Shaking the Tree: Brazen. Short. Memoir. to be published in 2024, are also Guild members: Anastasia Zadeik (“Inconceivable”), Janet Hafner (“Janet vs. Goliath”), Lenore Greiner (“My Father’s Moon”), and Laura Engel (“Scars”).

Congratulations to these authors on their success at having their works recognized. The Memoir Showcase judging team indicated the entries were incredible, making this the most difficult showcase to pick winners.

10/9 - FREE Marketing Class

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 17:48:42 GMT

San Diego Writers, Ink is offering a FREE marketing class with John Mark O'Bannon on Sunday, October 9, at 1 p.m. via Zoom.

Learn how to use the most powerful marketing strategy ever devised to create a buying frenzy for your books. We will also discuss how to create an online platform, how to create character brands and how to build a list of lifetime fans who will want to buy everything you write. The one-day workshop will be on Sunday, October 9, at 1 p.m. via Zoom, and it is also available via Digital Ink recording. Register to receive the Zoom link here.

Mark O’Bannon is an American novelist and game designer best known as the author of the fantasy series, “Shadows and Dreams.” O’Bannon has studied writing and marketing techniques extensively and has read over 200 books on the subjects. O’Bannon has been conducting workshops, seminars, and panels for authors on writing and marketing since 2007. O’Bannon is an advocate of Self-Publishing and teaches workshops to aspiring authors on how to publish, market and promote their work. O’Bannon is the CEO of Shadowstar Games, which publishes the Interactive Storytelling Game (a Pen & Paper Role Playing Game), “Fantasy Imperium.” Born in San Diego, California, O’Bannon is the grandson of the famous aviation pioneer, Reuben H. Fleet (who acquired the Wright Brother’s airplane company Dayton-Wright along with Gallaudet Aircraft and formed Consolidated Aircraft, the makers of the famous B-24 Liberator bombers and the PBY Catalina flying boats from WWII).

PLEASE NOTE: It is best to register at least a week before the start of a class to help our instructors prepare and ensure that a class does not get cancelled or rescheduled.

By signing up for the live version of this class, you give your consent to being recorded. If you do not wish to be recorded, you may keep your camera and microphone off during the session. Thank you for your understanding.

New Release: Pacific Vines, by Casey Fae Hewson

Lisa Hagerman — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 20:10:37 GMT

Casey Fae Hewson has just released her latest book, Pacific Vines, now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

As the saying goes, ‘Life is Unpredictable.’ Just how unpredictable, Ryleigh would soon find out. One day her personal and professional life was all organized, then one day it wasn’t.

Engaged to be married and on the fast track to move up at Pacific Vines Winery, she would quickly find out that being enticed by recognition and blind love could sabotage everything she thought she wanted. Add falling in love with the wrong person, and watch it destroy not only common sense but friendships.

But, as another saying goes, ‘Sometimes the worst things in life can lead to the best things.’

Observations from Our Editing Experience

Lisa Hagerman — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 19:48:34 GMT

Written by Bob Boze

We’ve been editing for a number of years. Over time, our edits have surfaced two very big surprises.

Who would have thought that our editing would have taken us on a tour of writers from all over the world? Writers from Romania, Bermuda, New Zealand, Australia, as well as coast to coast in the United States. Writers not only spread all over the world, but stories, that like our reading, cover a host of genres and are aimed at age groups from children to seniors.

But perhaps the biggest surprise has been the talent of those whose work we’ve edited. Many have been first time writers, and we’re glad to say that our initial expectations of extensive editing, have often been unfounded. Even for those with English as their second language, their storytelling skills have made our correcting misused words or rewriting jumbled sentences more of a pleasure then a trauma.

Perhaps our vast travels have helped, especially when regional details and time zones become muddled. Even there though, spotting where they went astray and getting things back to the proper place and time is often easy.

But it’s not just been a one-way street of learning. Helping with our knowledge of regional histories has been the various memoirs we’ve edited. Here again, our editing has taken us into areas of research that have broadened our worldly knowledge and allowed us to verify the author’s descriptions, based on their memories.

Finally, the wide variety of genres, each with their own rules, story arcs and subplots has often allowed us to suggest blending these from one genre to another, thus, helping our authors to create some truly unique subplots.

Phil Pryde Publishes Mary Magdalene and the Quest for Gender Equality

Sat, 13 Aug 2022 00:54:28 GMT

Long time Guild member, Phil Pryde has published his book, Mary Magdalene and the Quest for Gender Equality, an historical novel set in first century Palestine and Gaul.

According to Phil, the novel necessarily has a religious setting, but it isn't primarily about religion. Its storyline is the desire of Mary Magdalene to teach others about her mentor, Jesus. However, this would be almost impossible given the paternalistic nature of society at the time, which held that women weren’t allowed to teach to men.

Commenting on the book, Phil said that, "this fictional, but plausible, depiction of Mary Magdalene as an early seeker of gender equality should appeal to many who have the same vision, given that 2000 years later the battle for this basic human right still continues."

You can learn more about the book and Mary Magdalene here.

You will find the printed book on Amazon.com.

An e-book is also available for purchase.

What the World Needs Now

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 23:23:30 GMT

A karaoke-loving shower singer, I usually have a rolodex of songs queued up in my head that can be triggered at any time with just a word. Lately, I’ve had that old Jackie DeShannon classic playing, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love, It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.”

But I can’t help thinking that what the world really needs right now, more than anything, more than love, or thoughts and prayers, or good deeds, is leadership. Authentic leadership.

We have a serious leadership crisis in our country, in politics, in public health, in corporate America, in faith and religion, and in all of our civic departments and local governments. We need leadership in addressing racial injustice, the homelessness crisis, and gun violence.

How can leadership be more important than love? Love is the only thing. Love wins. Love rules. I agree. I do believe that love can be world-changing and life-altering, and it’s necessary. But we need leadership, and we need it now.

Don’t we already have leaders? We elect new leaders. We hire CEOs and Presidents, appoint Mayors and Commissioners, and place others in positions of power. We have plenty of people with leadership titles, but leadership is so much more than a title.

Being a leader is more than the position you hold, the title you have, the degree you’ve earned, the money you make, the size of your company, or the size of the department or team that you manage. Being a leader is so much more than appearances, elections, political positions, fancy corner offices, or impressive titles and salaries.

Regardless of how you or I define leadership, when it comes to authentic leadership, I know it when I see it, and you probably do too. Instead of leadership quotes on a shareable meme, I am more interested in what leadership looks like on a daily basis in the trenches. Who is providing leadership when children are gunned down in the streets or at school, when citizens of our own country are murdered by those who are supposed to protect them or when others succumb to homelessness or an opioid addiction? I am more interested in leadership when the cost of gas has become unmanageable for most and mothers can’t feed their babies.

What does leadership do for us? Why is it so important, especially in times of crisis?

There are four primary things that leadership gives us. Leadership provides:

Vision.
Unity.
Inspiration.
Strength.

Leadership provides Vision. Proverbs 29:18, a scripture in the Bible, says something like, where there is no vision, the people perish. Vision allows us to see what is possible and where we need to go. Leaders can tell us what the roadmap looks like and what directions we need to follow to get there.

We need vision as a collective group, because as individuals, we are pulled in too many different directions. We all have varying priorities, needs, crises and egos. We all have different resources available to us, including privileges and abilities, whether they are physical or intellectual or otherwise. We are all caught up in the weeds of our own life. So much so that we need someone who can see above and outside all of that and give us a vision.

We need someone who can help us imagine a different future than the one we’ve been handed, and not just imagine it, but lead us on the path to get there.

Leadership provides Unity and brings people together around a common goal in spite of all the differences and conflict. Despite the evil and ugliness we witness on the news and in social media and sometimes even within our own friend group or family, I believe that the majority of people are good and that we all want the same things. One of my credos in life, which I included at the beginning of my book, Chasing the Merry-Go-Round, is this:

Home is a place all of us want to be. We all want to have our corner of the world, surrounded by people who know us, accept us, love us; a place where we are safe, warm, fed; a place where we have enough, where we are enough. This is all there is. I also believe that how we care for those who need help has an everlasting impact, and that if we can help people meet the basic needs of their spirit, soul and body, it allows them the ability to keep their own corner of the world, their home, safe and prosperous for them and their family. This is all there is.

At our core, as human beings, that is what we all want. And if we all want the same thing, I believe that we can rally around that, even though we may all have different ideas on how to get there. When I use the word unity, I'm not implying that we all have to follow the same path. There is not one path for everyone. Unity in the context of being a leader is someone who can rise up and remind us that even though we disagree on different things, we all want many of the same things. We all want a home. We all want to have enough. We all want our children safe. We all want our corner of the world. We need someone who can help us unite around that idea when we’re pulled in all these different directions.

Leadership provides Inspiration. The sensational and brutal nature of our 24/7 news, along with the behavior of some of our so-called leaders, can be overwhelming and discouraging. Why haven’t we made more progress in the areas of social justice? Why are people dying on the streets, unsheltered, hungry or addicted? Why can’t we solve these issues that plague us? Why are school-aged children murdered en masse for no reason?

We watch videos on YouTube that make us feel like we’re on that street or in that school, watching it happen. It’s devastating and we feel helpless. We feel like we’re standing by, silently watching these horrible things unfold before our eyes. We wonder why we can’t do anything to stop it. Perhaps we can’t worry about what is happening on a national scale because we lost our job and are consumed with trying to make our next mortgage payment so our family doesn’t end up sleeping in the car, or maybe we’re trying to figure out how to buy groceries or find health insurance because our four-year-old was just diagnosed with leukemia.

We need inspiration from our leaders to remind us of who we are, what we’re capable of, and that we can all impact and change the world.

Finally, authentic leadership gives us Strength. It gives us the resolve, the determination, the resilience to stay in it for the long haul, to go the distance, to get back up when we fall, to turn away from those things that hold us down and hold us back. Leadership sends a message to our enemies and those who wish us harm. A leader can be strong for us when we’re too weak to keep going.

What the world needs now is leadership. The kind of leadership that provides vision, unity, inspiration and strength.

Kelly's latest book, HERE TO LEAD: Mastering the Art of Leadership in Order to Execute Strategy, Advance Change, and Drive Results, is available now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Kelly has held executive leadership positions in multiple organizations and regularly consults with companies regarding leadership, operational excellence and change implementation. Also host of the podcasts, All There Is and Here to LEAD, as well as the award-winning author of Chasing the Merry-Go-Round: Holding on to Hope & Home When the World Moves Too Fast, Kelly is working on her next novel in Syracuse, New York and collaborating with her husband, Craig, on other art and writing projects.

Opinion: A realistic look at copyrighting your work

Sat, 09 Jul 2022 21:51:10 GMT

The SDWEG DOES NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice.

The authors of this post are NOT lawyers and all thoughts expressed should be considered as opinion. Please consult with an attorney should you have a legal question.

This blog started out to be quite simple. Define copyright, then tell you why should or shouldn’t copyright your work. Ha! That quickly turned out to be not so simple. Then, my wonderful partner Robyn started editing my first cut and threw the plagiarizing monkey wrench in it. So, please bear with us as we try to keep this as simple as we can yet help you to understand copyrighting your work.

To start with, we are not copyright attorneys and in fact have no legal experience. We have, however, done a lot of research on the internet and strongly encourage you to follow our footsteps to better understand what follows.

Our internet sources for what follows are: Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org) and Plagiarism.org (https://www.plagiarism.org/)

One final note. Our research covers US law only so if you live or sell your books in other countries, the laws may be different.

***

Let’s start with what is a copyright? From there we’ll cover some of the elements of copywrite law, then talk about plagiarism and finally suggest what you should do and why.

What is a copyright?

Our friends at Wikipedia define copyright as follows:

Copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive right to make copies of a creative work, usually for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, educational, or musical form. Copyright is intended to protect the original expression of an idea in the form of a creative work, but not the idea itself. A copyright is subject to limitations based on public interest considerations, such as the fair use doctrine in the United States.

In many jurisdictions, copyright law makes exceptions to these restrictions when the work is copied for the purpose of commentary or other related uses. United States copyright law does not cover names, titles, short phrases or listings (such as ingredients, recipes, labels, or formulas). However, there are protections available for those areas copyright does not cover, such as trademarks and patents.

What’s all that mean? First, the copyright protects the owner and gives them the exclusive right to make copies. That means only you, the copyright holder, can make copies. Anyone else who wants to copy your work needs your permission.

But your copyright is intended to protect the original expression of an idea in the form of a creative work, but not the idea itself. Nor does it cover names, titles, short phrases or listings (such as ingredients, recipes, labels, or formulas).

What’s all that mean? Copyright is intended to protect the original owner’s expression of an idea in the form of a creative work, but not the idea itself. So, to start you’ll probably need some way to prove you’re the owner, which is where fixation comes in. But it also means only your story is protected.

So, if you write a story about CJ helping horses at a horse rescue ranch, like I did, your copywriting the story of someone named CJ helping horses at a specific horse rescue ranch. That does not mean that you own the rights to all stories with characters named CJ or about horse rescue ranches. We’ll talk more about this in a bit too.

Fixation

Fixation means that a works should exist in some tangible, permanent media form before it will attract copyright protection. That is, what you’re copyrighting should be ‘fixed’ in the form of a permanent media. For most artistic works, such as a manuscript, song or photograph, the point at which the work is created is generally considered the point of fixation.

Some jurisdictions require "fixing" copyrighted works in a tangible form when works are shared among multiple authors, each of whom holds a set of rights to use or license the work, and who are commonly referred to as rights holders. These rights frequently include reproduction, control over derivative works, distribution, public performance, and moral rights such as attribution (Credit). (This will become clearer when we get to changes in the law)

What’s that mean? Simple, you need to have whatever you’re copyrighting defined in a media form that can be stored unchanged. This could be a written or digital final manuscript, a published story, typed or written song lyrics or a photograph. Put another way, your original work needs to be in fixed entity that defines what your copyrighting.

Originality

Copyright requires originality for several reasons. For one thing, it ensures that the work protected by copyright reflects the author’s personality and expression and that the effort the author expends in creating the work is substantial enough to justify legal protection. This also means that copyright protection is limited to each author’s expression, leaving non-original expressions and works free for others to use in the creation of new works: in this way, the originality requirement protects the creative and intellectual freedom of other creators.

Huh? Okay, let’s take an extreme example. Let’s say you write a story that ‘borrows’ big chunks from other stories, TV shows, movies, songs and anything else you can find. Or, worse yet, there is absolutely nothing original in your story. When you copyright your story, the only parts that will be covered by the copyright will be the original parts you created. In fact, for all the parts you ‘borrowed,’ you’ve certainly plagiarized the work of others and likely violated multiple copyrights. (We actually read a story that fell into this category.) (We’ll also get to plagiarism shortly.)

Territorial Rights

Copyrights can be granted by public law and are in that case considered "territorial rights". This means that copyrights granted by the law of a certain state, do not extend beyond the territory of that specific jurisdiction. Copyrights of this type vary by country; many countries, and sometimes a large group of countries, have made agreements with other countries on procedures applicable when works "cross" national borders or national rights are inconsistent. An example of such an agreement is the Berne Convention Implementation Act which provides a standard for those countries that comply with it.

Some countries require certain copyright formalities to establishing copyright, others recognize copyright in any completed work, without a formal registration.

The key here is to be aware that different countries have different copyright laws so, what may be covered by your US copyright may not be honored if your work sells in other countries.

Changes to US copyright laws

We’re only including this so you know how we got to where we are with US copyright law and you can understand some of our suggestions at the end.

Before 1989, United States law required the use of a copyright notice, consisting of the copyright symbol (©, the letter C inside a circle), the abbreviation "Copr.", or the word "Copyright", followed by the year of the first publication of the work and the name of the copyright holder. Several years may be noted if the work has gone through substantial revisions. The proper copyright notice for sound recordings of musical or other audio works is a sound recording copyright symbol (℗, the letter P inside a circle), which indicates a sound recording copyright, with the letter P indicating a "phonorecord".

In 1989 the United States enacted the Berne Convention Implementation Act, amending the 1976 Copyright Act to conform to most of the provisions of the Berne Convention. As a result, the use of copyright notices has become optional to claim copyright, because the Berne Convention makes copyright automatic. However, the lack of notice of copyright using these marks may have consequences in terms of reduced damages in an infringement lawsuit – using notices of this form may reduce the likelihood of a defense of "innocent infringement" being successful.

But what is meant by the Berne Convention makes copyright automatic? This is where Fixation comes in. Since you need to know what’s being copyrighted, the standard interpretation is that as soon as whatever you’re copyrighting is defined in a media form that can’t be changed, it’s automatically copyrighted. To quote plagiarism.org: Almost all forms of expression fall under copyright protection as long as they are recorded in some way (such as a book or a computer file).

Which is the perfect lead into plagiarism!

What is Plagiarism?

According to plagiarism.org: “Plagiarism is the representation of another author's language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions as one's own original work. Plagiarism is considered academic dishonesty and a breach of journalistic ethics. It is subject to sanctions such as penalties, suspension, expulsion from school or work, substantial fines and even incarceration.”

According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, to "plagiarize" means:

to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own
to use (another's production) without crediting the source
to commit literary theft
to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.

In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward.

All of the following are considered plagiarism:

turning in someone else's work as your own
copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
failing to put a quotation in quotation marks
giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation
changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit
copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not (subject to "fair use" rules).

So, where are we going with all this? Hopefully by now you’ve realized that there is a fine line between what is copyright protected and what falls under plagiarism. Remember, copyright is intended to protect the original expression of an idea in the form of a creative work, but not the idea itself. Nor does it cover names, titles, short phrases or listings.

So, what if someone only steals parts of your work, some unique words, phrases or ideas? While copyright clearly doesn’t cover these, plagiarism very well may. And plagiarism is suable as an act of fraud.

Before we wrap things up, we need to cover registering your copyright.

Copyright Registration

Registration establishes a claim to copyright with the Copyright Office. An application for copyright registration can be filed by the author or owner of an exclusive right in a work, the owner of all exclusive rights, or an agent on behalf of an author or owner. An application contains three essential elements: a completed application form, a nonrefundable filing fee, and a nonreturnable deposit— that is, a copy or copies of the work being registered and “deposited” with the Copyright Office.

A certificate of registration creates a public record of key facts relating to the authorship and ownership of the claimed work, including the title of the work, the author of the work, the name and address of the claimant or copyright owner, the year of creation, and information about whether the work is published, has been previously registered, or includes preexisting material.

You can submit an application online through www.copyright.gov or on a paper application. In addition to establishing a public record of a copyright claim, registration offers several other statutory advantages:

before an infringement suit may be filed in court, registration (or refusal) is necessary for U.S. works.
registration establishes prima facie evidence of the validity of the copyright and facts stated in the certificate when registration is made before or within five years of publication.
when registration is made prior to infringement or within three months after publication of a work, a copyright owner is eligible for statutory damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs.
registration permits a copyright owner to establish a record with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)4 for protection against the importation of infringing copies.

Registration can be made at any time within the life of the copyright. If you register before publication, you do not have to re-register when the work is published, although you can register the published edition, if desired.

Summary

As soon as you finish your work in a fixed form, it is automatically copyrighted.

That’s great! Maybe. But, what should you do and why?

To start with, if someone steals your work it’s up to you, the copyright holder, to sue them. Even if you registered your copyright with the Library of Congress, they are not going to help you sue. However, if you don’t register your copyright, you can only sue for a cease and desist order and will not be eligible for statutory damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs.

So, what should you do? That depends on how worried you are about having your work stolen.

Our recommendation is:

Why? This way, no one can claim they didn’t know your work was copyrighted. (Believe us, it happens! There is no intelligence test required for book thieves but they are good at playing dumb)

Don’t forget to add a notice for other copyrighted items used in your book. For example, the lyrics to my wedding song in book two of my trilogy holds a separate copyright, which is also listed on my copyright page.

If you really think you’ve got a best seller that someone might want to steal, register your copyright. Remember, you can always register your copyright at a later date; like after your second million copies sell. Seriously, registering your copyright is less than $50 so if you’re really concerned and want peace of mind, register it. (The $50 doesn’t count fixed copy and mail costs.)

When should you register your copyright? When you’re finished making major changes, typically when it’s done being edited. Minor changes such as corrections and small story enhancements will not negate your copyright, as long as they don’t substantially change your work. Also remember, for major changes you can always update your copyright, such as after your work is published or for a new edition.

Some Final Comments

The chances of having your work stolen are slim. Even slimmer are the chances of you finding out about it. However, if the old adage “better safe than sorry” ever applied, this is it. So, do whatever makes you feel like your work is protected.

We often hear concerns about editors stealing an author’s work. If your concerned, copyright and register your draft before you send it off for edit. Remember you can always update your copyright. If you’re still worried, ask your editor to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement.

Happy writing and copyrighting everyone!

***

Have we missed anything? Let us know.

Bob Boze and Robyn Bennett

How to Write a Winning Memoir

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 00:40:58 GMT

The San Diego Writers Festival is sponsoring a free writing workshop titled HOW TO WRITE A WINNING MEMOIR SHOWCASE PIECE. This is presented as part of the 2022 Memoir Showcase. If you are interested in joining, follow the link below to sign up.

SIgn Up Now

Graphic Novels - The Next Frontier

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 06:51:13 GMT

While publishing in general has been flat or declined over the past few years, there has been a remarkable rise in sales of graphic novels which already accounted for $1.28 billion in 2020.

2021 saw a 65% overall increase in sales, with adult graphic novels up 107%. That means we should all be thinking about how we can find a way into that market.

How to write a graphic novel

Writer’s Digest: 10 Tips for Creating Your Own Graphic Novel

Masterclass : How to Create a Graphic Novel: Examples, Tips, and Complete Guide

The Writing Forge: So You Want to Write a Graphic Novel?

Why write a graphic novel?

SoCreate Screenwriting Blog: Why Your Next Story Should Be a Graphic Novel

Library Journal: Graphic Novels Continue to Push Boundaries

The Beat: Report: Graphic novel sales were up 65% in 2021

The Pain Caused by Amazon's eBook Return Policy is Causing a Backlash

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 23:11:03 GMT

A TikTok trend has finally pushed writers over the edge. Readers have been posting TikTok videos about returning their eBooks within the 14 days after purchase, even after reading the entire book.

This has sent writers in the BookTok universe into a rage. When an eBook is returned, the reader may not feel the pain, but the author, required to finance the editing, cover design, formatting and more, is charged for the data used to deliver the book to that customer.

Amazon, speaking to The Times, commented, “Our e-book return rates are consistently low and we have policies and mechanisms in place to prevent this from being abused. Our aim is to inspire reading and we recognise (sic) the important role of authors.”

Writers disagree vociferously with Amazon, with one telling The Times that over 100 copies of their books came back as returns in a single month. If the commenter's numbers are to be believed, this amounts to a 900% increase over the prior month when only ten books were returned.

An online petition demanding Amazon change their eBook returns policy has garnered over 65,000 signatures already.

The petition's statement reads:

“There has been a huge upswing in author’s eBooks being returned to Amazon AFTER they have been read. As a reader this is VERY upsetting. Yes, Amazon’s return policy allows it. However, that doesn’t make it right. When you have read the book, you CONSUMED the product. Returning a book after reading 10-20% is one thing. But when the book has been read in it’s entirety it should not be allowed to be returned. End of discussion. One author had triple digit returns for March! That same author had single digit returns the prior TWO months combined. Authors are not being paid accurately for their art. Please, Amazon change your policy!”

You can view the Petition at Change.Org

It Is Time To Stand Up For The Freedom To Read, And Think.

Sat, 04 Jun 2022 20:20:51 GMT

Opinion : Leon Lazarus

Writers and the reading public can expect a tumultuous year ahead

As 2022 slips into a chaotic political season, more authors are liable to be affected by book bans. These are most often the result of bad-faith politics and religious zealotry. Of course, none of this is new but the clamor appears to be growing louder.

Perhaps this happening because there is evidence that the approach works. In 2021, Glen Youngkin (1) successfully campaigned for governor of Virginia against Toni Morrison's Beloved. Also in Virginia, congressional candidate Tommy Altman is suing to ban Maia Kobabe’s graphic memoir Gender Queer and Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Mist and Fury (2) in time for the 2022 elections.

The history of book banning and burning is still being written

Reported in February, Tennessee based Baptist pastor Greg Locke held a book burning which split his community but raised his political profile. Similarly, a Catholic church in North Carolina threw published works deemed “heretical” into the flames (3).

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, banned and then unbanned in Alaska schools along with four other books in 2020, was previously targeted in South Carolina, Georgia, and Montana as well. A school board member in Summerville, SC called for a banning because it "is a filthy, filthy book." (4)

The Color Purple by Alice Walker has been challenged in cities across America, from Hayward, California to Morganton, North Carolina. (4)

The Oklahoma State Senate is seeking to outlaw books on sexual activity, sexual identity or gender identity from public school libraries. (5)

Earlier this year, the McMinn County Board of Education in Tennessee banned Art Spiegelman's Maus, a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel. (6)

Right now, Wyoming prosecutors are considering charges against librarians for keeping Sex Is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg and This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson on the shelves. (7)

In January of this year, a Mississippi mayor moved to withhold funding from the library system until all L.G.B.T.Q. themed books were removed. (8)

In Texas, many communities have tried to ban books across a range of subjects, from books on racial inequality to popular books on sexual identity. (9)

Children's books are a key target

Shockingly, many of the children's books most of us see as largely anodyne and part of a rich literary history have been challenged or banned across the country. These books include Hop On Pop by Dr. Seuss, Harriet The Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, Where The Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. The hit list also includes American classics like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, both of which have come under fire for racially insensitive language and themes. (10)

Why care?

Whatever the merits of the individual books and authors being targeted, this new reality requires that the writing community stand together in defense of the written word. If we cannot speak up for our fellow writers, who will?

It is worth remembering the words of Heinrich Heine who said, “Where they burn books, they will ultimately burn people also.”

What Can Be done?

We are not helpless in this situation. Writers can visit the Freedom To Read Foundation and the National Coalition Against Censorship to join the fight against book banning. The American Library Association is also actively working to shine a light on the issue and have provided some great ideas for getting involved.

Sources, Resources, and Additional Reading:

1) Glenn Youngkin Assures Virginia Voters He’ll Protect Them From Toni Morrison Books - Vanity Fair

2) Freedom to Read Advocates Sound Alarm as Obscenity Lawsuit Advances in Virginia - Publishers Weekly

3) Pastor holds bonfire to burn to 'witchcraft' books like 'Twilight' - NBC News

Censorship Escalates to Burning Books - American Library Association

4) Alaska School Board Votes To Remove Five Books - ABC7

CMLIT 130: Banned Books - PSU

Book Ban Efforts Spread Across the U.S. - The New York Times

Banned and Challenged Classics - American Library Association

5) Oklahoma State Senate wants to outlaw books on sexual activity - The Oklahoman

6) Banned by Tennessee School Board, ‘Maus’ Soars to the Top of Bestseller Charts - Smithsonian Magazine

7) Prosecutors in Wyoming Weigh Charging Librarians Over Books - US News

8) Mississippi mayor withholds library funds over LGBTQ books - PBS

9) Texas librarians face harassment as they navigate book bans - The Texas Tribune

10) 28 Banned Books That Every Kid Needs to Read - TinyBeans

13 banned children’s books that will surprise you - Bright Kids Books

Book bans and the threat of censorship rev up political activism in the suburbs - NPR

Membership - Freedom To Read Foundation

Get Involved - American Library Association

Free Expression Network - National Coalition Against Censorship

KidWrite! Winners Announced

Fri, 20 May 2022 21:22:22 GMT

The Guild is proud to support the San Diego Writers Festival KidsWrite! program. This children’s writing contest celebrates diverse young writers across San Diego County. Our donation to KidsWrite!‘s allows them to run the contest and award prizes without asking for an entrance fee.

If you would like to get involved or make a donation to the KidsWrite! program, go to https://sandiegowritersfestival.com/kidswrite/.

9 Steps When Critiquing Another Writer’s Work

Fri, 13 May 2022 20:01:08 GMT

You’ve just been asked to provide feedback on another writer’s prose. Congratulations! The writer values your opinion. Caution! In sharing their prose, the writer has chosen to make him or herself vulnerable.

Here are 9 steps to help you provide value while avoiding upset or conflict.

Recognize the writer’s vulnerability. Unless your only response to the submission is to say that it is by far the greatest work of literature ever written and all other writers should now stop because this prose will never be surpassed, your feedback runs the risk of causing at a minimum disappointment and potentially anger. Understand you have another human being’s emotions in your hands.
Ask questions. It’s important to understand what feedback the writer is seeking. Is the submission just a short segment of a larger story, meaning you shouldn’t focus overly much on plot and character development? Do they have a specific concern, perhaps pacing or dialogue or description? Ideally, you have some guidance before you begin reading.
Open and close with positives. Surely there were elements you enjoyed. Perhaps it was a masterful passage of description. Maybe it was a humorous line of dialogue. Always begin by pointing out something you liked and be specific (not just “I liked it”).
Make it about the words, not the author. Be careful with your language. Don’t say “You did this or that” or “I don’t understand why you choose to do this.” Say “I’m wondering why the character did this” or “This passage here doesn’t seem to be accomplishing that.” If you treat the prose as an independent part of the conversation, you can help cushion the blow to the writer.
Focus on where your experience was disrupted. Nothing is more valuable to a writer than hearing where the reader became hung up while reading. It could be an odd word choice, the introduction of a plot point that seems contrived or contradictory, or a character acting, well, out of character. Whatever it is, we don’t want our readers to stop reading out of confusion.
Don’t try to fix it. You’re a reader, not a repair person. Bestselling author Neil Gaiman says that you should listen to every reader when they say they had a problem yet ignore every piece of advice they offer on how to fix it. If you feel strongly you have a solution and are meeting in person, ask if the writer wants to hear it. When sharing it, make it clear it is just one possible approach.
Note what you think is missing. Did a scene start to grab you but leave you hanging? Did you enjoy a character and wish you had spent more time with him or her? This is a way to focus on a positive (something you liked) while indicating a possible path for improvement (giving you more of what you liked).
Be encouraging. All prose can be improved if the writer is willing to put in the work. This is even true of literary classics. Congratulate the writer on producing what he or she has so far and let them know that you’re sure the next draft will be even better.
Have fun! This is a good lesson for any activity in life.

If you follow these guidelines when providing another writer your feedback, you’ll give them a great gift: Reader input they can make use of in improving their work. A word of warning: As this will likely be a positive experience for them, they may come back for more!

Patrick Ross

Blog or Be Blogged

Wed, 04 May 2022 00:04:21 GMT

If you are interested in writing for the SDGWEG.org blog, or you would like to have a your own profile piece written or book reviewed, this program is perfect for you. Not only will your blog post be featured in the Guild's monthly newsletter, but it goes out on our social media feed to amplify your brand.

The Guild is dedicated to promoting our members and their writing in every way possible, and our blog is a wonderful resource to achieve that end.

To request a member profile or book review from Andrea Glass, please contact us using the email button below.

To submit a piece for the blog, please contact sandiegowriterseditorsguild@gmail.com and include the text either in the email message or as an attachment. Prior to being published, the submission will be reviewed by a review comittee to determine if the post is appropriate. In that case, a member of the website admin team will either post the content for you or work with you to allow you to post it yourself. The level of your familiarity with blogging platforms as well as your wishes will be part of the determination of how to publish the post.

Useful tips on writing your own OCs

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 22:31:40 GMT

This outstanding blog post was written for us by Audrey Akin, aged 14.

There’s a reason I’ve gained the nickname “OC Generator” among my friends. I am notorious for constantly coming up with ideas and concepts on the spot. Sometimes, I make some brand spanking new ones which causes me to drop entire characters completely. This, coupled with the fact that I’ve been in a wide array of fandoms with some vastly differing tones in story, I think I can give some useful tips on writing your own OCs. (BTW, OC means original character.)

Tip #1- Secure Your Tone

First, ask yourself, what tone are you aiming for? Do you want the character to just be some dumb fun, or do you want a character with a weighty presence? Whichever you choose, it’ll help guide you while creating your OC.

Tip #2- Tell Me More About Your Lore!

Backstory and character motivations are extremely important. You have to create these things to have a compelling character and/or story.

“What’s the trauma?” “What’s with this thing?” “Why does this character hate this or that?” “Why do they have these abilities?” You need to be able to give an answer to these questions. Not only does it help create attachment to the character (both for you and any reader), it also helps in coming up with ideas or character relationships later down the line.

Tip #3- Look Through the Eyes of a Reader

This is something I do semi-regularly with my creations. When you’re making your OC, you have to keep in mind how someone from the outside would or could read the character.

Being self-critical is healthy in the creation process. Sometimes when you look through the eyes of a reader, you can find parallels that your OC has with other characters in the Fandom you’re in, whether intentional or not. Other times you can find a perspective of your OC that you didn’t think of before. When you find these things, you can change them if you don't want that to be the case, or you can embrace it and add it to the character.

Tip #4- Embrace the Change

It’s okay to drop ideas and characters. It’s okay to start phasing out things in the character or backstory. Even if you drop a character, sometimes you can still use parts of them. You can bring them back in a new way, assimilate them into another character, and you can take the ideas behind them and cobble them together into a whole new idea!

Ask a friend to help in creation. They can help with criticisms, checking if things are too cluttered, and can challenge your perception of both your writing and your character. Overall, accept and embrace the change in your writing and the evolution of your characters. Speaking of clutter…

Tip #5- Less is More. So Keep it Simple, Sister!

Sometimes simplicity is better than complexity. When creating a story, it’s always preferred to create a simple layout of events that take place. Trying to add more details to the timeline, lore, and/or backstory is janky no matter what. It can become stressful, hard to manage and organize, and just overwhelming. Try to keep things simple. Trust me, it’ll help you out in the long run.

Tip #6- Give Your Characters Flaws!

Flaws are important, every single person on the planet has ‘em. But what constitutes a flaw? While there is no clear cut answer, I’ll do my best. For one, the limitations of a character's abilities are NOT flaws. Achille’s heel is a good example of what I mean. He’s basically indestructible, except for this one spot. That isn’t a character flaw, that’s just a place you can attack and do damage. A guy feeling immense pain after being kicked in the groin isn’t a character flaw, either.

An example of an actual character flaw is the character being too protective of his friends. It might not seem like one but hear me out. This can be exploited. It can become a character flaw in the right circumstances. Anger issues are a character flaw, but being distrusting of people at first isn’t; lacking empathy is a flaw, but being stubborn isn’t always one. Another example of a weird character ‘flaw’ is trauma. What it can bring in certain behaviors makes some consider it a flaw. This isn’t true. The behaviors themselves can be considered flaws, but the trauma is not a flaw. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

Tip #7- Maybe Some Melodies?

Music gives atmosphere for a reason. Sometimes listening to music can give you ideas. It certainly has for me. Whether it be songs from your fandom, Sea Shanties, Irish folk songs, or whatever, you can use music to help you focus on what you’re writing. For example, say you’re writing this intense emotional scene where a character is venting their problems to someone but you can’t find the right words for it to seem natural; why not find some good emotional music that fits with the scene?

And don’t limit it to just the writing itself! Hunt for character, area, boss, or fight themes, even intro themes! Treat your work like it’s a show, with animation, music, the whole nine yards! While this might not work for everyone, I do recommend to at least try it to see if it’ll help you during the creation process.

Tip #8- Play Things Out

Music can only get you so far, sometimes actions can bring you farther. When you’re writing a story or coming up with events, play the event out in your mind. Like I said in the previous tip, treat your work like it’s a show. You know what is meant to happen, play out the event and you can get a good idea for how it happened. Say this character is supposed to break out of a prison, play out the event and you’ll most likely come up with a cool break out scene that’ll be memorable. Treating your work like an anime can help add suspense and intensity to scenes, especially fight scenes.

Tip #9- To Create Attachment to Your Character(s)

This is not talking about getting your readers attached to ‘em. This is for getting yourself attached. Add pieces of yourself to the character. Add traits that you find fun and want to use. Add whatever it is that’ll be fun for you to write and help create attachment to the character(s). Just have fun, and create whatever comes to your mind, though, make sure that it won’t screw up anything with your story. But you can probably find a way to work it in, as long as it doesn’t get cluttered.

Tip #10- General Advice

Write what you know. It’s important to keep things in the realm of your knowledge. Doing otherwise is going to cause you trouble in the long run. Don't try to please everyone, it’s just gonna cause a headache. No matter what, someone out there is gonna get offended about it.

Keep notes, it’ll help you keep track of things. Not to mention sometimes you’ll start writing away and come up with something new. Create designs, both character and area. It helps a lot when you create the look of a place or character, for many reasons. Watch videos on writing, it can help you more understand aspects of writing, like world building and tropes.

Don’t keep everything set in stone. Changes in concepts and events is a natural progression in the process of creation. Add some friends to the project if possible, it can add more to the fun, and they can help in a lot of areas. That is, if they are competent. Always experiment. Sometimes you just need to write in a different way or different perspective for everything to fall in place.

Have fun with your writing. It becomes a lot easier to write and create when you’re having fun with it. Don’t take your story seriously. Listen, you aren’t going to write the next Bible, right?

And most importantly, take breaks. Branch out and do other things when you can’t think of anything. You can’t create anything good when you’re forcing yourself to do it. You’ll only make yourself hate writing and despise your creation.

That’s all for my tips! Remember, these aren’t guidelines for writing, and you don’t have to follow every single one of ‘em. Just have fun, and see if these can help you make better stories and characters.

Member Profile: Wanjirũ Warama

Andrea Glass — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 18:47:58 GMT

wanjiru.warama@gmail.com | www.WanjiruWarama.com | www.Amazon.com/author/wanjiruwarama.com

Wanjirũ Warama uses her unique experiences of growing up on a British colonial farm in Kenya, her world travels, and as an immigrant in the United States to write biographical, nonfiction books that enlighten, entertain, and inspire readers to do their best and thrive. Her fifth book, THE COLONIZED And the Scramble for Africa is the first of the COLONIZED series. Her sixth book, and the second in the series, will be published in the fall of 2022. Besides writing, which takes most of her time, Wanjirũ is a philanthropist who is passionate about education. She is a lifetime member of the Friends of San Diego Public library and of The Rotary Club, among others. She lives in San Diego, California and visits family and Gȋtũra Secondary & Primary schools in Kenya whenever she can.

What I write: I write creative nonfiction

What attracted me to writing: I gave a 10-minute talk at a library fundraiser, and the following morning woke up with stories jostling in my mind like unruly children. I thought I had gone mad. It baffled me when the voices disappeared in one week. I joined a writers’ group to try to figure how I could write such stories. One page led to another and here I am.

How long I’ve been writing: I’ve been writing for nine years.

What kind of books do I write? I write nonfiction books: personal/family memoirs sprinkled with a lot of history. I have published three full-length books, one novella, and one novelette of short stories. I’m currently writing a personal essay to submit to the SDWEG 2022 anthology. I’m finalizing the second book of THE COLONIZED series.

SDWEG membership: I became a member of SDWEG five years ago when Mardie Schroeder approached me at my table at a book fair. I joined because I wanted to belong to a writers’ group to exchange ideas and support and network with members of the writing community.

SDWEG benefits I’ve gained: Unquantifiable knowledge from presentations, networking, and support from members.

Something unique or special about me: In my golden years, I can still stand on my head.

My current Wishlist with other members : Joint promotions, launch team, referrals, reviews, beta readers, and advance readers.

Writing to a Theme for the 13th Edition of the SDWEG Anthology

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 20:19:19 GMT

This year’s Guilded Pen – 2024 Anthology theme is: Good Luck or Is It?

Note: The blog post below was written ahead of the announcement of our 11th edition (2022) of Guilded Pen anthology. For information about the requirements for the 13th edition, see https://sdweg.org/Anthology. The information in this blog post applies to the 13th edition, but the information here is not everything submitters need to know about the process.

What is a “theme” – it is, simply put, the meaning of the story. This year’s anthology theme is Good Luck or Is It? Each submission must address this theme in some way: drama, comedy, enlightenment/transcendence.

While writing a short story with a theme in mind seems intimidating, below are some ways that might inspire you as you weave a thematic message through your work.

Here are links to helpful tips on writing to a theme in short stories.

The Simple Way to Weave a Thematic Message:

https://thewritepractice.com/writing-theme/

and

https://diymfa.com › writing › themes-short-stories

“The best works of literary fiction are driven by an overriding theme.” Some famous contemporary authors explain how they write to a theme:

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/categories/writing

Here are tips on how to write a theme-based short story:

https://self-publishingschool.com/how-to-write-a-short-story/and https://davehood59.wordpress.com/2011/05/04/the-theme-of-a-short-story/

Some ideas to fit the theme of the 13th edition, Good Luck or Is It, might be stories of success or failure or facing a challenge. Considering the association of the number 13 with bad luck might also serve as inspiration.

Have some fun with the theme as you focus on creating your short story.

Notes from the Copyeditor, Sandra Yeaman

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 21:10:10 GMT

For the past two years, I have had the pleasure of serving as the final copyeditor of the 9th and 10th editions of The Guilded Pen. If you are planning to submit a piece to the 11th annual Guilded Pen anthology, be sure to carefully read the requirements, stated below for your easy reference:

The submission must address this year’s theme of New Beginnings. Remember, a theme is the meaning of the story. (Please read the blog post regarding writing to themes for some helpful tips.) There will be no exceptions.
Up to 3 submissions may be entered; however, the aggregate word count may not exceed 3500 in total;
Submissions must be:
- Double-spaced,
- Times New Roman, 12-point font,
- 1-inch margins on all sides, and
- A word document with .doc or .docx
No headers or footers, no page numeration, author’s name cannot be shown on any of the pages submitted.
The entry must be edited for spelling, punctuation, verb tense and other grammar issues prior to submission. The author understands that further copyediting may take place after submission is accepted.

As copyeditor, I have little to say about the first two requirements. You, as author, are in control of what you write and how your submissions connect to this year’s theme.

This blog post addresses items 3 and 4 above. These are items that may seem arbitrary. In this blog post, I hope to make it both easier to accomplish them and give a compelling reason for them.

And I’ll end with a few notes on the format changes that may be applied to submissions even after you have carefully edited for spelling, punctuation, verb tense, and other grammar issues prior to submission.

Why must submissions be double-spaced?

This may be a holdover from when manuscripts were submitted as hundreds of typed or printed pages where the editors needed the extra line to make comments, but it remains the standard of submission requirements even when submitted electronically. We included it in order to familiarize our submitters with what is required when submitting manuscripts to agents, publishers, and contests. It is much easier to read a document with plenty of white space around the words. Double-spacing is an efficient way to introduce enough white space to invite the editors, reviewers, and final copyeditors to read the submission.

What’s the big deal about Times New Roman and 12-point font?

According to Lara Willard, editor and story consultant when commenting on formatting your novel manuscript, “The choice of font for your manuscript is one that’s been made for you. You need to use 12 pt. Times New Roman, double-spaced.

“The size 12 font and double spacing is non-negotiable. The typeface is. Still, after asking dozens of literary agents about their preferences, I urge you to choose Times New Roman.”

Why 1-inch margins?

Once again, white space is part of the answer. But in the case of collecting pieces from several authors, the answer is that we need all submissions to have consistent margins all around so the pieces when put together will look unified in format.

Why does the document need to be in Word?

The primary reason is for all submissions to be consistent. The tools we use to edit the final versions require documents to be Word documents. In fact, one tool requires the documents to have the docx, not the doc extension. Upgrading the extension is simple, so we will accept documents with either extension.

But it’s problematic to accept documents in other formats, such as Pages or rtf files. Microsoft Word has become the standard for nearly all computers. Pages is a native file format for Apple Mac products. And a Pages document can be converted to a Word document by using the Export feature. See the screenshot below:

In the past, we have occasionally received pieces submited as rtf (rich text format) documents. I have not found a way to convert these documents into Word. Instead, I have had to copy the text and then paste it into a blank Word document. We hope submitters will do that work before submitting pieces.

As for the final item, getting your piece edited before submitting it, don’t be dismayed if the final version isn’t letter-perfect when compared to your carefully edited submission. Changes made to submissions in order to accept them into the anthology are not intended to reflect poorly on the authors. They are for consistency throughout.

For example, each of you may have a preferred style to emphasize a word, phrase, or even sentences or paragraphs. But the anthology is a new entity, larger than any of the entries in it. Where one author uses underlining for emphasis and another uses ALL CAPS, the individual styles conflict with one another. For uniformity, all changes made to individual submissions are done according to The Chicago Manual of Style.

Additionally, the final version may change the spelling of a word. For example, two years back, two submissions used the word copilot, but one used a hyphen as in co-pilot. Again, for consistency in the presentation of a professional quality volume, we choose the spelling in Merriam-Webster’s current edition. Words with hyphens in the past are often being combined into a single word, but there is no rule for when this happens. I look up every hyphenated word to see if it is still the preferred version.

I’m looking forward to receiving the submissions for the 11th anthology. It’s bound to be even better than the earlier ten.

Literary Agent Scam Alert

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 22:38:42 GMT

You may have received unsolicited emails from a vanity publisher apparently disguised as a literary agent.

After the initial excitement of seeing an agent in the inbox, it quickly becomes clear that the offer sounds too good to be true. The latest email pitch begins, "One of our book agents scoured the published writers database for prospective authors and recommended you. As a Literary Agency, we're actually looking for book titles to represent."

Before you pay any money to a shady company and sign away your rights with a seven-year deal, remember, the sales pitch may be misleading or completely false.

The Better Business Bureau is racking up complaints surrounding this particular "agent" and other similar bait and switch companies, none of which we can name.

Suffice to say, please be careful out there, do your due diligence, and follow these rules:

If they claim to be an agent, check their credentials before you sign anything. You can find most current, working literary agents here: https://jerichowriters.com/us-literary-agents/
If they ask for any money up front, run!
If they suggest a book deal before reading the book, run!
If they promise you incredible results that sound too good to be true, run!

Finding a Read and Critique Group

Sat, 12 Mar 2022 23:05:57 GMT

We invite you to use the SDWEG forums to find your next Read and Critique group.

To learn all the most important critique group rules, connect with others looking for groups, and find groups looking for members, join the thread on the SDWEG Forums Page.

A few choice rules

Here are a few things to consider when looking to grow your own group or find one to join:

You are there to support your fellow writers and help others improve their craft. Start at a place of respect.
Submit your work on time, arrive on time, and stick to your allotted time. Your critique should go to plot, character, pacing, and other important structural elements. Your minor line edits are not worthy of everyone's time, so leave them on the page.
Start and end your feedback on a positive note. Sandwich your negative comments so they go down a little easier. No one loves to find out that their work of genius has imperfections. If you have nothing good to say, decline to comment.
Critique the work and not the writer. If you want to avoid your comments being perceived as destructive, watch your language. When you say something like, "I did not like your," you are calling out the writer. If you say, "I did not like the," you are focusing on the words.
Accept critiques without defending your work. It is a waste of everyone's time and, if you are honest with yourself, you know a reader can only critique the words on the page. Your intentions are irrelevant once the work is submitted. Remember, when that book is opened by a reader, you are not there to tell them what to make of it. Those words stand or fall on their own.
Make sure you are getting what you need from the group. If not, ask. If the group does not oblige, find another group. Don't look for fans and adulation. You want writers who consistently write, and who offer fair, unvarnished feedback.
If the other writers in your group are not better than you, leave. You want a group that will challenge you and make you grow into your craft. You can all still stay friends, but your writing may improve with a different group.

Gratitude for Long and Faithful Service

Sat, 12 Mar 2022 00:07:37 GMT

What can you say about someone who gives a decade of her busy life in service to a nonprofit? “Thank you” is a good place to start. That’s where I’ll begin with Marcia Buompensiero. Since 2012 she has served on the Board of Directors of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild, giving her time, energy and creative thinking to that position.

Marcia has also filled the role of Treasurer. Based on my experience in nonprofit service, there is no position more important. Without a competent (and honest) treasurer, a nonprofit can lose its recognition by the state or federal government by which it is recognized. It can run adrift financially, spending more than it’s taking in. None of those fears have come close to being a reality during her leadership of our 501(c)(3).

Longtime members know her service to the Guild doesn’t end there, however. For years she has made possible the signature production of the Guild, the annual Guilded Pen anthology. It’s fair to say that collection of inspiring fiction, nonfiction and poetry might not still be in publication without the dedication of Marcia and her co-editor Rivkah Sleeth.

Why am I writing this (much-deserved) tribute to Marcia? Due to life circumstances, she is scaling back her volunteer work with the Board. Marcia remains a co-editor of the anthology this year. She has stepped down from her role as Board member and Treasurer, however. True to her dedication to the Guild, she did not do so in a way that left the organization adrift. She has recruited her friend and longtime companion, Rivkah, to step in and assume both roles through the end of 2022.

Rivkah is another longtime giver to the Guild in so many ways, including past service on the Board. It’s hard to imagine a more capable replacement. I’m grateful to be part of a nonprofit with such dedicated volunteers willing to take on challenging and time-consuming roles.

The next time you see Marcia, please thank her for her past and continued service. And the next time you cross paths with Rivkah, please extend gratitude to her for stepping in on short notice to ensure the Guild continues to operate in a financially sound and responsible manner.

Patrick Ross
President

2022 in-person Kauai Writers Conference is ON!

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 15:04:33 GMT

The 2022 in-person Kauai Writers Conference is ON! The dates will be November 7 to 10 for master classes and November 11 to 13 for the conference and one-on-one agent sessions.

For the last two years, the pandemic forced the postponement of their in-person event. Now at last, the conference will take place.

Almost all of the classes and faculty scheduled for 2020 and 2021 will be held in November. In addition, they have added several new master classes and some outstanding new authors.

They have also launched a new version of their website with all the details about the new expanded program.

Learn about the in-person 2022 Kauai Writers Conference

Our devoted faculty pitched in to create a virtual conference experience. This proved so popular that it will continue along with, rather than instead of, the in-person event. You can learn about these weekly online sessions here:

Learn about the virtual Kauai Writers Conference

Be a Presenter or Panelist at the 2022 San Diego Writers Festival

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 21:55:23 GMT

The San Diego Writers Festival is gearing up for their 4th Annual event starting October 8.

This year the festival will be held both online and in-person. Most of the sessions will be in person at the beautiful Coronado Public Library Performing Arts Campus

If you would like to present or be on a panel, you can submit for consideration right now. The earlier you submit, the better - but the deadline to submit this year is May 1, 2022.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The 2022 Festival will only be offering 12 sessions this year so space is extremely limited. Programming announcements will be made by mid-June 2022. If your event is not selected for the 2022 festival, we encourage you to consider submitting again next year or showcasing your work as a sponsor. As a 100% volunteer-run organization, we also hope that you will consider serving as a volunteer.

Fill out the submission forms here.

“The Mayor of O.B.,” by Mark Stephen Clifton

Sat, 26 Feb 2022 00:53:34 GMT

Reviewed by Penny Paugh

Written by the award-winning freelance journalist, Mark Stephen Clifton, “The Mayor of O.B.,” taps the author’s personal experience as a surfer, martial arts instructor, and resident of San Diego. The novel gives the reader an in-depth look at the late 1960s surfing and drug culture in northern California and Ocean Beach.

Clifton brings his journalistic strengths to play and steeps us in the lingo, attitudes, and lifestyles of that time. We are immersed in the drug culture, following Paul and Angelina to San Francisco and back on LSD buying trips, and Captain Alfonso (Al) Marutas with his Mexican cocaine and “crank”. Along the way, we are introduced to cultural icons like Timothy Leary and the Hells Angels. We are also witness to the harm done by LSD.

The story turns ugly with the death of a surfer, Angela’s disappearance, treachery, murder accusations, and arrests.

Can Al forgive his old friend Pops and find inner peace? And might Al intend Pops additional harm? Read Clifton's book to find out, and deeply experience the late 60s culture with its many repercussions.

East County Magazine Seeks Reporters and Book Reviewers

Sat, 19 Feb 2022 02:18:19 GMT

East County Magazine, an award-winning, nonpartisan community news agency, covers San Diego’s inland region. They are looking to hire freelance reporters and also accept volunteers. Reporters are needed to cover East County news including actions by County Supervisors and other public boards, investigative reporting, events, and features.

In addition, the magazine seeks reviews of books by San Diego area authors who have recently published via a traditional publishing house. They accept reviews of all genres.

Occasionally, East County Magazine reviews a book by a non-local author if it meets one of these other criteria: the novel is set in San Diego County (such as a mystery in Ramona’s wine country), the topic is of strong local interest (such as border issues, wildfires, etc.), appeals to a large population here (such as our Iraqi Chaldean population or military veterans), a prominent author is stopping in our region on a book tour, or the topic is a high-level topic of national interest such as a presidential election.

Contact Miriam Raftery at editor@eastcountymagazine.org or call (619)698-7617.

What’s the WOW factor?

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 22:41:33 GMT

Here are some points you need to hit in order for your story to WOW the Reviewers and Editors of the SDWEG Anthology.

There is a difference between written and verbal dialogue. Know which to use.
Be sure you understand what POV (point of view) means. Know how to use it.
Can you write a great opening HOOK?
Ensure your main character (protagonist) has a specific need or want that conflicts with their goals or circumstances.
Do not be nice to your protagonist. Make it really hard for them.
Make sure there is growth in your main character(s). Otherwise, it is a boring story.
What is the theme of your story? Try using symbols, motifs, etc. to remind the reader of it.
Don’t spend a lot of time in description unless it furthers the story.
Don’t forget your grammar and formatting skills. These are the foundational elements that could get your piece eliminated immediately.
Make an emotional connection with the reader. What do you want them to feel when they finish reading your story?

FICTION WRITING & REVISING with Karen Ackerson

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 16:11:10 GMT

Join the Writers' Workshop for in-person and online classes for beginning and experienced writers. Classes meet on Saturdays, 10-3:30 pm, with a lunch break. Registration is in advance only at www.twwoa Classes are $80 each, and financial assistance is available for low-income writers in exchange for volunteering. (For in-person, the limit is 6 participants, vaccinated.

FEB. 19: FICTION WRITING & REVISING with Karen Ackerson

Writers of fiction and creative non-fiction books and stories will learn how to revise and polish their works before submitting to an agent or publisher. Techniques will be taught on how to grab the reader's interest by eliminating unnecessary details, building tension, and fine-tuning dialogue and descriptions. Participants may bring five pages (double-spaced) to the class for discussion. Ackerson is Senior Editor at The Renbourne Editorial Agency (renbourne.com), and has edited hundreds of novels, memoirs and creative non-fiction stories.

You can learn more at The Writers' Workshop / www.twwoa.org

The Key Elements of Your Short Story

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 22:07:11 GMT

As you start thinking about your submission to the 2022 Guilded Pen Anthology, it is worth considering the essential elements that will make your story brilliant and a standout piece.

Enjoy the article by Sarah Gribble linked below, and happy writing.

Book Review – "Build Your Author Platform With a Purpose: Marketing Strategy for Writers" by Mimika Cooney

Andrea Glass — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 19:21:23 GMT

Like many creatives, I love to create and write and I don’t love to market myself. I’ve written dozens of books as a ghostwriter and didn’t have to be concerned about marketing or building a platform. That was up to my clients, and most were as clueless as me.

Yet with the books I’ve written and those I still want to write as I build a career as an author, I know I am the one to sell these books. So I had to bite the bullet and study up on marketing, primarily building a platform from scratch. I knew I had to build a fan base, because few of who I consider my ideal readers know who I am, and won’t know about my books unless I find a way to let them know.

Build a platform

So to build a following–a platform—I purchased Build Your Author Platform With a Purpose. I “met” Mimika Cooney on a few webinars and was impressed by her energy and knowledge. She was helpful in teaching in a way that even the beginning author would understand what was needed to create a presence before publishing a book.

Mimika covers a lot of ground from the what and why of building a platform and author branding to the significance of building a mailing list and the value of social media. “In today’s society, the term platform simply means how you stand out in a crowded marketplace.” She stresses that anyone can stand out and create a presence online. She says, “Many people think that you have to be a celebrity or a big name to have influence.” She explains that it’s a myth, and with the ease of reaching people through social media, anyone can build a following.

She places a lot of emphasis on building an email list of raving fans. One of the best ways to do that is to create a “freebie” or as some call it a “lead magnet.” She also stressed how important it is to automate as much of your marketing as you can, such as an automated email marketing sequence.

Additionally, Mimika touches on the value of social media, video, publicity, guest blogging, podcasts, and paid advertising. Indeed as authors, we have myriad opportunities to market our books.

Be discoverable

She stresses that because every author feels what he/she has to say is valuable, it’s vital to find a way to “show up in the right places and be present. You need to put the effort into being discoverable.” Mimika outlines strategies any authors can follow so they can implement the right actions at the right time to the right audience.

With Mimika’s guidance through her book and valuable handouts, I’ve stepped into the journey of authorship with more confidence. I see this book as an essential guide for first-time authors to get over their fears and build their confidence in marketing their books so they can realize their writing dreams.

SDWEG: A Community of Writers Making a Difference

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 06:26:05 GMT

What comes to mind when you think of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild? You might remember an informative workshop, an engaging open mic night, or a great short story in a past anthology. Whatever comes to mind for you, our goal is that it’s part of the Guild’s larger mission: Creating a community of writers of all skill sets with a focus on improving people’s lives.

The 2022 SDWEG board recently held a virtual retreat to engage in blue-sky thinking about the Guild’s past, present and future. It was an inspiring conversation, driven by each member’s passion for the Guild and its members. What consensus emerged from the discussion? These three truths:

We serve writers of all backgrounds, ages and skill levels.
We foster strong community connections among our members.
We do so with a passion for positively impacting others.

We’d love to hear from past, present, and (we hope) future members about what you would look for from the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. What do you appreciate about SDWEG? Where could we improve? And what might we start doing that we aren’t doing now?

Please feel free to communicate with me directly at president@sdwritersguild.org. I’d love to hear from you!

The Virtual Kauai Writers Conference Begins Soon

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 19:54:32 GMT

The virtual Kauai Writers Conference begin their 2022 offerings with sessions by Jamie Raab, Susanna Porter, and Sally Kim, three of the leading figures in the publishing world. The knowledge they share will be a tremendous help to writers looking to find the most direct path to successful publication of their work.

Literary agent extraordinaire Andy Ross will moderate their discussion on Breaking Into the Publishing World.

Sessions begin Sunday, January 9, and continue every Sunday thereafter with workshops and discussions on the craft of writing and the fast changing publishing landscape. Faculty are chosen for the excellence of their writing and their outstanding teaching skills. They include both winners and judges of the world's most important literary prizes.

Author Mentor Match Submissions Open Soon

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 19:41:31 GMT

Author Mentor Match (AMM) provides mentorship for finished manuscripts for middle grade, young adult, and select adult projects. Select mentors will accept graphic novels.

January 12-14, 2022, AMM will post a questionnaire for mentees to fill out which the mentee will send to up to four possible mentors listed on the website. To help mentees prepare before the form is posted, a list of possible questions is provided on the website that could be on the questionnaire.

Additionally, between January 12 and 14th, mentees are also to send a query letter, the first three chapters or first 50 pages (whichever is longer) and a 1-2 page synopsis to the addresses indicated on the website for Middle-Grade, Young Adult or Adult. (If you are submitting a YA project with crossover appeal to an adult mentor, send your submission package to both the YA and Adult emails (using a CC is fine).)

To learn more go to: https://authormentormatch.com/.

Thanks to Pennell Paugh for writing this alert.

Book Review by Rebecca Jane

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 03:33:04 GMT

Written from the Strength of the Human Heart

The Colonized and the Scramble for Africa by Wanjirū Warama

Reviewed by Rebecca Jane

I’m grateful to Wanjirū Warama for writing The Colonized and the Scramble for Africa, a true village saga that impressed this reader with its precision and clarity. She is generous with her first-hand accounts and descriptions of peasant life in Kenya between 1880s and 1950s. Her writing gives voice to the voiceless. It takes a mighty talented writer to listen to and perceive the humanity amidst all the complexities and conflict that arise when British colonialism meets African tribal traditions. Warama has this talent. For instance, she describes the rite of passage of sex education juxtaposed to the cultural taboo of single motherhood in a way that makes the reader think. Also, readers get a chance to witness what it was like to juggle British tax policies amidst trying to cope with multiple marriages and infertility. Warama is perceptive, and we can trust her to inform us with honesty and integrity.

Each scene is deftly detailed so it comes alive off the page. I felt I was with this family through challenges, such as seeking health care from a fledgling hospital system, as well as through every joy, such as family members reuniting after long separations. This book gives a bird’s eye view of generations of social change.

This is a book that helps to understand African life without demeaning references or images. For example, Warama observes the ways previous writers about Africa describe the houses as huts. Not only does her writing show how the word hut and its connotations do not match the ways the Kikuyu perceive their reality, but readers feel akin to the perception that the word hut was never an accurate word to describe these homes. We yearn for more accurate views.

It’s so refreshing to read a story on Kikuyu terms with Kikuyu perceptions. We can receive Warama’s writing as a fresh voice and welcome perspective. It’s especially honorable to see the way she handles culture constructs of polyandry and polygamy.

Also, the tone is not sentimental nor is it critical, but it is an accurate articulation of the situation as felt by the strength and fierceness of the human heart, making it all so relatable. Reading this book, we are in the hands of a trusted guide. From descriptions of keeping goats on a village farm to seeing a mother delivering her first baby in a hospital, this book covers vast territory that helps us to understand life of a polygamous father, a junior wife, or an observant young girl growing up in Kenya during socially tumultuous years. It’s a great read that restores our humanity.

Warama is an author whose journalistic integrity and attention to detail is sure to impress us. I eagerly await the next book in this series of stories that are bursting to be told with humanity and awareness.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Wanjiru Warama

PRONOUNCED: One-g-row Wah-Rah-Mah

Born to farmworker parents with no formal education, Wanjirũ Warama uses her unique experiences of growing up on a British colonial farm in Kenya, her world travels, and as an immigrant in the United States to write biographical, nonfiction books that enlighten, entertain, and inspire readers to do their best and thrive. She has written five books.

Her latest, THE COLONIZED And the Scramble for Africa, the first in a series about the lives she, her family, and her Gȋkũyũ community led on the colonial farm published November 2021. She is writing a sequel that will publish in Spring 2022.

Because she grew up in a world devoid of books, education is close to her heart. It’s the only way she knows that will enable a person, born under a cloud of disadvantages, to escape dehumanizing grind of poverty similar to the one she endured in her younger years.

A philanthropist, Wanjirũ is a lifetime member of the Friends of the San Diego Public Library, a member of the San Diego Writers & Editors Guild, and a member of The Rotary Club, among others.

She lives in California, United States.

You can reach her through her website at wanjiruwarama.com

Applications Are Open For The AWP Mentorship Program

Sun, 02 Jan 2022 21:09:12 GMT

The Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) offers a mentorship program to its members. January 2022 is the time to apply for their Spring program.

AWP's mentorship program, Writer to Writer, matches emerging writers and published authors for a three-month series of modules on topics such as craft, revision, publishing, and the writing life. Mentors volunteer their time and receive a free one-year AWP membership. Writer to Writer is free of charge to mentees.

Their Spring session begins each February and consists of six modules over a three-month period, concluding mid-May.

There is no charge to apply, and there is no fee for this program.

Membership is $75 a year.

To learn more, visit:

https://www.awpwriter.org/community_calendar/mentorship_program_overview

Seasons Greetings from the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild

Sat, 25 Dec 2021 17:04:51 GMT

HERE'S SOME HOLIDAY SING-ALONG

THE SEVEN DAYS OF SAN DIEGO CHRISTMAS

by Tom Leech

On the 1st Day of Christmas

My True Love Gave to Me

A Sea Gull in a Palm Tree.

On the 2nd Day of Christmas

My True Love Gave to Me

Two Margaritas

And a Sea Gull in a Palm Tree.

On the 3rd Day of Christmas,

My True Love Gave to Me

Three Cold Cervezas

Two Margaritas

And a Sea Gull in a Palm Tree.

On the 4th Day of Christmas

My True Love Gave to Me

Four Quesadillas

Three Cold Cervesas

Two Margaritas

And a Sea Gull in a Palm Tree.

On the 5th Day of Christmas

My True Love Gave to Me

Five Beef Burritos

Four Quesadillas

Three Cold Cervesas

Two Margaritas

And a Sea Gull in a Palm Tree.

On the 6th Day of Christmas

My True Love Gave to Me

Six Enchiladas

Five Beef Burritos

Four Quesadillas

Three Cold Cervesas

Two Margaritas

And a Sea Gull in a Palm Tree.

On the 7th Day of Christmas,

My True Love Gave to Me

Seven Cheese-filled Nachos

Six Enchiladas

Five Beef Burritos

Four Quesadillas

Three Cold Cervesas

Two Margaritas

And a Sea Gull in a Palm Tree.

ADIOS AND FELIZ NAVIDAD

Tom Leech wears several hats. He heads his own communication consulting firm, based in San Diego, California. He is author of many published books about business, communications, nature and travel, plus his poems have appeared in many publications and his new children's Christmas book:
- THE CURIOUS ADVENTURES OF SANTA'S WAYWARD ELVES, just released, a 24 page color-illustrated poetic tale telling how two frisky elves decided to tag along with Santa as he made his special rounds taking presents to little boys and girls. They found many surprises when they also went down the chimney (after Santa had flown off with the sleigh and reindeer to his next destination). By Tom with co-author Leslie Johnson-Leech.
- SAY IT LIKE SHAKESPEARE: THE BARD'S TIMELESS TIPS FOR COMMUNICATIONS SUCCESS(original from McGraw-Hill, with different sub-title). WINNER of Int'l Book Awards in "Business: Communications/Public Relations" category;
- HOW TO PREPARE, STAGE & DELIVER WINNING PRESENTATIONS, 3rd Edition 2004 (AMACOM), named by Presentations Magazine as one of six "Top of the Class" books for the year;
- OUTDOORS SAN DIEGO: HIKING, BIKING & CAMPING, with Jack Farnan (Premier), based on his many columns as Outdoors Editor for San Diego Magazine Online;
- ON THE ROAD IN '68: A YEAR OF TURMOIL, A JOURNEY OF FRIENDSHIP (Presentations Press), his personal stories from his 6-months around-the-world adventure trip during this tumultuous year. (Remember the TET offensive?)

For nearly three decades, he has helped organizations nationwide enhance communications success and capabilities via executive and team coaching, Winning Presentations Training Seminars, and conference programs and keynotes. He is a long-time free-lance writer and columnist with over 200 articles in national and local publications, among them in-flight magazines of Frontier, Air Tran and American Airlines, Executive Update, The Toastmaster, Presentations, Opportunity World, Sales & Marketing Excellence, Manage, Master Salesman, Business Journals, San Diego Magazine and Mission Valley News.

He's a native of the Hoosier State -- Indiana, and a graduate of Purdue University. His spare time activities include hiking, travel, ball-room dancing, reading good books and walking the dogs (occasionally).

Information about his various pursuits can be found at at www.winning-presentations.com, presentationspress.com and outdoorssandiego.com.

Congratulations to Mark Clifton

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 19:50:50 GMT

Mark Clifton has published his second novel, The Mayor of O.B. The book, available for purchase in the coming weeks, tells the story of the unofficial Mayor of Ocean Beach who holds court daily on the sea wall by the O. B. pier.

The story follows the protagonist from his youth, growing up surfing, doing martial arts, and finding trouble with his best friend, Al Marutas, who lives next door on Abbot St. directly behind the break called "Middles". Life gets more complicated when they meet a beautiful surfer girl and rescue her from a difficult situation. They both fall in love with her, which divides their once iron-clad friendship.

As the counter-culture affects all of their lives in 1967, the two friends become enemies while their lives take different directions. The following years dangerously unfold for the future "mayor" while he works through the loss of his girl, his friend, and his life.

Mark's first crime novel, There Goes The Neighborhood, was set in the community of San Carlos.

Look out for a review of Mark's latest novel in the coming weeks, right here on the SDWEG blog.

Why Art Matters

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 19:08:21 GMT

“Blessed are they that see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.”—Camille Pissarro

By Kelly Bargabos

My youngest nephew was five years old when we boarded the elevator in my building and stared up at the lit numbers counting down from the fourth floor to the first and he blurted, “I love the city. I want to marry it.”

He and I had just spent a day hanging out at my condo that was in an old brick building where workers once left their sweat on the factory floor and now the place breathed new life filled with mostly childless couples of varying ages who had time and money to walk to restaurants, hip new bars and lounges, and all the festivals and events held in the city’s downtown square.

That day, my nephew saw a different life up close as we roamed the streets and walked the gritty landscape of a northeast post-industrial city on a Saturday. Even with his limited life experience, he could sense how different it was from his suburban, predictable, daycare-to-private-school-life. His five-year-old brain didn’t have the language to articulate the strong emotion bubbling up in his chest, so he used what he knew.

My aunt Sharon died last July after fighting cancer for a few years. She was eighty-one and the last time I visited her, I was awestruck at her peace with knowing the end was near. I wish that same peace for myself someday. Her funeral was held a few days later in the place she came from. She was born on a farm in a one-intersection town that didn’t even warrant a stoplight. The service was held in the Town’s only church, located on the Northwest corner of that intersection. It was a modest white building with a small steeple and a sign out front that told of the next church supper and the summer field days. I sat with my brothers and sisters in wooden pews behind my parents while they greeted old men and women who they had been in grade school with, others they had known when they were just starting out as a married couple and some they met when their kids were little at the same time as us. There were others they hadn’t known at all but they were associated with the familial names of the town. My parents whispered with cupped hands around their mouths and pointed—“He’s a Kincaid.” “Oh, she’s a Miller, I knew her brother.” “Oh, I know her … what is her name? She used to work at the dentist’s office. It’s going to drive me crazy,” and then they’d smile and say hello like they knew exactly who she was.

I was happy just to be there that day with my mom and dad, sitting behind them as if it was forty-five years earlier and we were getting ready for a Sunday church service. I watched people filter through the receiving line to greet my aunt’s children and their families with stories of how they knew her and what she meant to them. This community knew hard work and tough times and you saw the battle lines in their faces and eyes and felt it in their strong, muscular hands that had worked them through this life. They were proud, not victims. They were old but satisfied to still be here. They were slower to think and speak but quick to share a handshake or a hug and were genuinely happy to see their people come together in this place.

As I watched this unfold, I was struck with an overwhelming desire to capture this scene. I needed to figure out a way to write about it. I had to find just the right words to describe the smell of old hymnals and church basements, to articulate what it is like to watch your parents greet old friends and grieve the loss of someone who stood with them at their wedding. I wanted to tell how the light broke through the stained glass and for a moment bathed us all in its glow.

Yes, I know this is the very thing that makes us writers, but why? What is it that makes me want to write about it? What is the purpose? What am I trying to achieve? I also realize that the desire to capture moments that touch our souls is not unique to writers. Writing is just one form of Art. But what is the phenomenon that makes us want to write about these moments, or depict them in a photograph, or a painting, or a song lyric or movie plot? Why are some of us convicted with that thought of “I need to write this” or “I need to paint that?”

That urge or compulsion to document, to capture, to witness, to share because it touches us so deeply, is at the core of being human. This is what separates us from other creatures and living things on the earth. Art separates us. Art is the language we use to convey moments like these to others. Art is created when a moment, an experience, a sunset, a landscape, a person, overwhelms your senses and compels you to capture the feeling, the emotion, the connection to other humans, in whatever your medium is—words, paint, music, theater, film, pictures, poetry, voice.

This is why art matters. Artists have something they need to say. Most of us do not commit to our work or our craft in lust of notoriety, fame and fortune. No, we do it because we love what we see so much we are compelled, driven and harassed by our inner voice until we put pen to paper or until we draw or paint or create. We cannot rest until we’ve done what we can to capture and record, to preserve the moments and share them in the only way we know how.

Artists work to hold on to real life, in its most raw state, so that we can all remember this day, this sunlight, this cathedral, this heroine, or that farmer in my aunt’s hometown. We are so in love with this beautiful life and all of its pain and glory, its aching sadness and joy, the people who inhabit our generation, the ones who’ve come before us and the ones we will leave behind. We love it all so much we want to marry it.

Kelly Bargabos is currently hosting two podcasts, All There Is and Here to LEAD, and the author of Chasing the Merry-Go-Round: Holding on to Hope & Home When the World Moves Too Fast, a 2018 Nautilus Book Award Silver winner and a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards. She is currently serving as a board member for the SDWEG and finishing a nonfiction book on mastering the art of leadership.

www.kellybargabos.com

BUILD YOUR BUSINESS! WRITE A BOOK!

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 22:08:48 GMT

In 2022 You Need to Write Your Book

Wednesday, January 19, 2022
5:30 to 7:30 PM
Hera Hub, 5205 Avenida Encinas, Suite A, Carlsbad, CA 92008
General public: $15
Hera Hub members: $10

REGISTER

Join SDWEG members Andrea Susan Glass and Melody A. Kramer, along with publishing consultant Karen Wilkins, to talk about writing a book that will build your business in 2022.

About this event

Are you a business owner, service provider, coach, or an expert in your field? Would you like to add a published book to your credentials and be able to share your expertise with far more people than you could ever reach in person? Would you like to attract more clients to you as the author of a bestselling book?

2022 could be the year you write your fabulous first book! In this educational and interactive evening, authors Andrea Susan Glass and Melody A. Kramer, along with publishing consultant Karen Wilkins, will share their experience and expertise for getting your book written and published in 2022.

In this panel presentation, you’ll learn valuable tips such as:

How a book can build your credibility, visibility, and profitability for your business
How to overcome fears and challenges stopping you from becoming an author
How to schedule time to write when you are running a full-time business
An overview and timeline of the process from book concept to published book
What kind of support is available for self-published
Presentations by panel members will be followed by Q&A, as well as networking and light refreshments.

This event will be offered as a hybrid event - live and virtual via Zoom. We hope you will join us in person for this event, but understand that current Covid challenges might make that difficult for you. Register now to reserve your spot.

If you have any questions, please contact andreasusanglass@gmail.com

About the presenters

Andrea Susan Glass is the bestselling author of Your Fabulous First Book: How to Write with Clarity, Confidence & Connection and My Fabulous First Book: A Workbook Companion to Your Fabulous First Book. She serves as a book coach to first-time nonfiction authors and teaches at the University of California San Diego Extension. She’s the owner of WritersWay, a business that has offered copyediting, ghostwriting, and coaching for 20+ years. Andrea is active in the four largest writing and editing organizations in San Diego. She offers one-on-one book coaching and several coaching programs and courses.

Melody A. Kramer is a trial lawyer, visionary, and bestselling author on a quest to make lawyers useful again. She launched her legal career in Nebraska and now runs a business law practice in San Diego, California. Her consulting company, Legal Greenhouse, is committed to creating innovative solutions in the legal space, changing how lawyers and clients interact, and making lawyers more useful to their clients. You can buy her book, Why Lawyers Suck! Hacking the Legal System, Part 1 on Amazon. (Also available under the more politically correct title Lawyers Decoded.

Karen Wilkins is the Executive Liaison for Elite Online Publishing, a full-service publishing and marketing firm. She got involved in the publishing business since her best friend is a book coach. Karen became intrigued with learning more about publishing and marketing after to talking to entrepreneurs and business leaders who benefitted from publishing their books. Although Karen’s background is in environmental regulations, she brings her skills as an administrator and public speaker to this newfound career.

Fulfill the Guild’s Mission—Support Young Writers

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 23:42:21 GMT

SDWEG’s mission is to promote the skills and development of writers of all ages and levels of experience. We especially appreciate creativity and energy of young writers.

This season, writing professionals in San Diego have an opportunity to fulfill the Guild’s mission by volunteering expertise or donating time or resources to the San Diego Writers Festival Kids Write contest. This contest is open to children ages kindergarten through 12th grade. Their submission deadline is February 28.

Kids Write is seeking judges for the writing contest. This involves reading contest entries and searching out the best writing. This is an exciting opportunity to discover young talent. Plus, judges gain insider knowledge of what kinds of content kids like to write about, what they think about, and how young writers wish to express themselves. This year’s theme is “Here Comes the Sun.”

Kids Write is seeking leaders for workshops for young writers, especially workshop leaders for graphic stories and fiction. This is an opportunity to volunteer time and expertise to help young writers grow and thrive. It’s also a chance to bridge the generational gap and get to know one another better. If you like teaching workshop to young writers, please step up.

Kids Write is also proud to work together with an organization called C2SDK whose mission is to help families in need have access to technology, computers, internet, and education. You or your organization may choose to help give a young writer a much-needed computer.

Perhaps you know an organization, or you yourself, could sponsor a monetary award. Kids Write welcomes anyone to donate money to sponsor a monetary gift to the young writers who win the contest.

If any of these opportunities are calling to you, please reach out and communicate to the Director of Kids Write, Lindsey Salatka. Her email is lindseysalatka@gmail.com.

Chapters

Andrea Glass — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 20:19:57 GMT

Chapters

By Bob Boze

Let’s start with the fact that there are no real rules for chapter breaks. Chapters can be as long or as short as you want. Because of this, the answer to the question we often get asked, “How many chapters should I have?” is “As many or as few as you want.”

Two of the tools in a writer’s toolbox that we find are often overlooked are chapter breaks and titles. As such, when we edit someone’s work, all we see are seemingly random breaks with Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and so on.

We believe several things about chapter breaks. They should be used to make a change in our story. A scene change, a POV change, a lead into a major event, a dramatic twist… anything we want to stand out. Thus, our chapters can be as long or short as we need to make the change, then close it out.

We’ve seen one-page chapters and twenty-page chapters, where both worked well. We don’t typically recommend twenty pages since we also believe chapter breaks should be used to allow the reader to catch their breath; to take a break after an intense or emotional scene. Here again, it’s whatever length works with your story.

Like your story title, chapter titles should also entice the reader, make them want to read on. Any good reader will open a book to the table of contents and scan the chapter titles. When they do, you want them to go: “Wow, wonder what that chapter’s about?”

So, use every tool in your toolbox, including chapter titles. However, not all fiction has chapter titles, but they do enhance the structure and interest in the book.

One last suggestion. Chapter titles are often hard to come up with. Write your chapter, then go back and look for something that will make the reader ask, “Wow, where is this going and what’s that about?” But, don’t give anything away!

SDWEG’s Tenth Anthology Ordered by Diesel Bookstore in Del Mar

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 02:22:27 GMT

Current Board member, Janet Hafner’s favorite place to find books is Diesel Bookstore in Del Mar. Thanks to her efforts, the store ordered a copy of the The Guilded Pen – The Power of Ten!

Diesel opened in October of this year, and we should show support for a local bookstore of this quality. When you go in to browse, ask for a copy of the SDWEG anthology.

Thank you, Janet!

The 7th Annual Memoir Showcase Features SDWEG Authors

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 19:27:53 GMT

The 2021 Memoir Showcase features two of our very own members, Valerie Looper and Janet Hafner. Both have pieces that will be performed live on December 7 at 7 PM at the Conrad in La Jolla.

Presented by the San Diego Memoir Writers Association, the 7th Annual Memoir Showcase with the theme, “But I’m Still Here,” features ten bold, theatrical, and entertaining readings.

You will be immersed in stories about driving through life-threatening wildfires, facing down a hammerhead shark, being left alone on a war-torn tarmac in Afghanistan, and more.

This is a one night only event and tickets are on sale now!

Get your tickets here.

2021 Kops-Fetherling Book Awards are Fast Approaching

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 13:32:27 GMT

CALL FOR BOOK AWARD SUBMISSIONS! 50% OFF SPECIAL

The end of the year deadline for submitting to the 2021 Kops-Fetherling Book Awards are fast approaching.

- Submissions welcome for newly published AND previously published books.

- Over 60 categories and genres.

- At least 3 winners per category.

- Great exposure for winners.

Submit your book today at https://kfbookawards.com/enter-your-book/

Use promo code KFBAFB50 for 50% off your submission.

Jared Kuritz

jkuritz@strategiespr.com

Managing Partner

STRATEGIES Public Relations

www.strategiespr.com

Director

La Jolla Writer’s Conference

www.lajollawritersconference.com

Director

Kops Fetherling Book Awards

www.kfbookawards.com

Book Review by Rebecca Jane

Andrea Glass — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 03:35:47 GMT

My Fabulous First Book:
A Workbook Companion to Your Fabulous First Book
by Andrea Susan Glass

A Writer’s Fabulous Friend

If you’re writing non-fiction or a thought leader book, you may be familiar with Andrea Susan Glass’s bestselling book, Your Fabulous First Book: How to Write with Clarity, Confidence, and Connection. Whether your book is finished or still in the creative process, Glass now offers a companion workbook to help writers hit their book’s marketing targets. The workbook is available in a user-friendly, affordable, and sustainable paperback format.

I found this workbook to be a game changer. Its exercises support the idea that a book’s marketing project is as purpose-driven, necessary, and fulfilling as is the writing process. Often, we’re led to believe that writers prefer writing the book over making marketing plans. Social media too often triggers writer’s feelings of dread; but, with My Fabulous First Book, dread turns to delight. Clarity about a writer’s ideal reader, and reader result, feels refreshing and friendly. Making plans and nurturing professional connections becomes manageable, even fun. With the help of this workbook, we truly believe: Yes, writers can also be resilient and savvy book marketers!

The writing in the workbook is straightforward and intelligent, which gives instant inspiration. This workbook is like having your writing coach by your side, offering instantaneous knowledge and support to help you organize your book for marketability. From your author aspiration through the long haul of delivering a book that’s useful to many readers, this workbook polishes the process and makes writing to publishing feel accessible and elegant.

It’s great for writers who enjoy a flood of ideas but don’t always have clarity on how to fit them into the marketable package that will attract buyers. This workbook offers clear solutions to making connections and taking bold action. It serves as a Global Positioning System (GPS) for getting written work into the hands of ideal readers. Completing its exercises helps a writer overcome issues related to lack of clarity or confidence.

Throughout the workbook are helpful quotes from authors such as Richard Bach who said, “A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” With Andrea Susan Glass’s workbook in hand, not only will writers not want to quit, but they’ll sense the world needs them to stay the course, finish the work, and put in the effort to sell. Writers, readers want your book!

Andrea’s tone is friendly and motivating, stating, “If I can do it, so can you!” With 30 years of experience, she knows the book-selling industry. Her workbook will help any writer take hold of the reins on the project without getting sidetracked by challenges, obstacles, distractions, or excuses, which she labels CODEs. The magic of this workbook, compared to others out there, is that it shows readers how to face and overcome challenges head on. While doing so, it makes the marketing part of a writer’s work feel just as rewarding as the writing part. Andrea wastes no time overthinking it. She helps a writer feel empowered to take action now. You can buy the workbook on Amazon.

An Evening with Artemesia Publishing and Two Mystery Writers

Sat, 06 Nov 2021 13:20:22 GMT

An Evening with Artemesia Publishing and Two Mystery Writers

November 17, 2021 7pm MST (by Zoom)

Contact: Marty Eberhardt

Join Southwestern mystery writers Marty Eberhardt and Vicky Ramakka as they discuss their books, and learn what their publisher, Geoff Habiger of Artemisia Publishing, looks for in a mystery. The session will be moderated by author, speaker and publisher Rose Marie Kern.

Artemesia was founded in 2004 with the vision of publishing unique and interesting books by little known authors who might be overlooked by larger publishers. Artemesia is a micro-publisher based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico working in a creative partnership with authors. They limit the number of titles published each year to focus on quality over quantity, and this has led to numerous awards for their titles.

In Marty Eberhardt’s hot-off-the-press DEATH IN A DESERT GARDEN, the founder of Shandley Gardens is killed by a falling eucalyptus branch. When it is clear that this is no accident, Gardens employee Bea Rivers is drawn into the investigation. She struggles to maintain the life of a committed single parent as she decodes odd botanical clues and discovers just how tangled the relationships among the staff and board members really are.

In Vicky Ramakka’s THE CACTUS PLOT, murders overshadow botanist Millie Whitehall’s peaceful summer surveying endangered plants in northwest New Mexico. Autopsies show the deaths involve plants. Millie uses knowledge of ecology to investigate—before becoming another victim.

Both books can be purchased at your favorite bookstore, on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, or bookshop.org.

Both Marty and Vicky bring their backgrounds to their mysteries. Marty is a former botanical garden director, now located in Silver City, NM, and San Diego, CA, and Vicky is a self-described naturalist living in Aztec, NM.

To register for the event, please email martyeberhardt@earthlink.net

Kauai Writer's Conference Coming November 14 online

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 14:17:47 GMT

The virtual Kauai Writers Conference will launch Sunday, November 14, with the first session of Joshua Mohr's six-lesson master class, Five Sense Psychology. Sessions will be every Sunday at 7pm ET, 4pm PT (2pm Hawaiian.) This is a unique opportunity to join this wildly popular class.

Josh Mohr was originally introduced to the conference by one of the students in his Stanford online creative writing program. She said he was the best teacher she had ever had of any subject. Organizers invited him, and more than a dozen of his Stanford students came to Kauai because they wanted to spend more time with him. People came away from the class saying that it had forever changed their approach to writing.

Joshua Mohr

During the in-person conferences, many sessions are held concurrently, so people have to pick and choose the few they most want to take. In the virtual conference, sessions are spread out over months, with one every Sunday. You'll be able to participate in as many as you want, up to all of them.

Josh Mohr's class is just the first of many. People attending writers conferences generally want to learn two things: how to write better and how to get published. Our online sessions focus entirely on these two subjects.

Publishers, literary agents and editors, each among the most experienced and influential in their fields, share practical guidance and surprising insights into the most direct path to successful publishing.

The authors leading sessions on the craft of writing are renowned, not just as brilliant writers, but as gifted and caring teachers. Those two traits don't always coexist in the same individual, but in each of our faculty they most definitely do.

Learn more about the virtual Kauai Writers Conference

Conference organizers want you to feel that you are sitting in one of these two chairs on Kauai. Sitting in the other will be a succession of bestselling authors and leaders of the publishing world, each intent on getting to know you and sharing their lifetimes of hard-won wisdom.

It's recommended that you sign up before Josh Mohr's first class on Sunday, November 14, but all of the sessions will be recorded and available for members to watch any time at their convenience.

The virtual Kauai Writers Conference is available to registrants of the postponed in-person events, and to all others by subscription. You are invited to join the conference starting November 14 at 7pm ET, 4pm PT, 2pm Hawaiian.

The links you need to participate in the sessions will be sent to all subscribers and conference registrants each week by email.

The Spirit of Shy Moon Lake - Book Review - by Rebecca Jane

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 20:08:19 GMT

This Season, Visit Shy Moon Lake

Reviewed by Rebecca Jane

This novel casts a spell. Its mystery grabs a reader by the spirit and does not let go. An ordinary family: a teacher, a poet, and a curious son, expect a summer vacation, but then enter a deep mental, emotional, and spiritual struggle. Be ready for a novel that effectively disrupts the peace with its power to contemplate historical accounts that unsettle us.

Reina Lisa Menasche gives us relatable domestic struggles between husband and wife and sets them amid the enigmatic presence of a haunted, bottomless lake. An assumption many of us treasure—summer months spent in a cottage by a peaceful lake are unquestionably idyllic — is shattered by the disturbing reality of a small town haunted by the destruction of a nature-dwelling people and their sacred ceremony. So the setting is idyllic, yet not. The family is happy, yet not. This story gives feelings that range from mildly uneasy to ghastly until a reader is grief-stricken and expecting doom. Where is hope?

Shy Moon Lake is not a small town full of friendly people. The people are awkward and standoffish. They seem scared of something, and no one is allowed to talk about it. When Jess, Charlie, and their son Jonah move into town, into the “Thurston place,” they ask too many questions. They wonder about strange red handprints on the rocks. The husband-wife relationship turns strained. We are poised to read on with hope awakened in our heart. Why and how does Shy Moon Lake have a beguiling magnetic pull? With the book’s complex characters, we try to settle in and make sense of a place where spirits and mother nature collaborate to mete out justice. This book gives us things to think about.

Plus, it is also cinematic. When I read it, I can see the otherworldly beauty of the setting. A row of cottages, a wall with warning signs, and an ignorant newcomer witness the calm lake swallow a loon? I’d love to see this novel made into a film.

This story explores the consequences of the murders of indigenous people, and small town culture, where the inhabitants now live as either sedated prisoners or lake spirits. The mystery and message are spellbinding.

The Spirit of Shy Moon Lake lingers with a reader outside the pages of the book. It inspires internal considerations related to what it is like to be sucked into a place or a habit or an addiction and not know why and not know the answer to this question: is there a way out? If so, what is it? If not, how do we continue, knowing we are stuck here forever?

But then again, the beauty of our surroundings may simply be reminding us that these very surroundings, this beauty, is longing for us to stay here because all will be well. Be sure there is a profound mixture of emotions and impressions that this book will leave on you.

If you like being drawn in by currents of fear and peace, if you are attracted to stories of mysterious haunted places, read The Spirit of Shy Moon Lake. Great for a cozy read this autumn. Here there is peace and intricacy; we’re lured by women, a town, and a lake with stories; we find ourselves in “a place too rich for books or computers, where underwater shadows play like children.” Would you want to stay here? Read to find out.

Reina Menasche will be discussing her book, The Spirit of Shy Moon Lake, at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore on Sunday, December 12th and noon. Please come out and support this awesome writer!

Reina Lisa Menasche’s fiction has been honored by organizations such as the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild, the San Diego Book and Writing Awards, and the Southern California Writers Conference. Her first novel TWICE BEGUN, and her second novel SILENT BIRD, were finalists in the 2012 and 2013 San Diego Book Awards. Her newest novel, a paranormal suspense titled THE SPIRIT OF SHY MOON LAKE, was released in spring 2021. Her first children’s book, THE HOUSE THAT SNEEZED, will be released in early 2022. She is currently writing THRICE BEGUN, the sequel (and prequel) to TWICE BEGUN. Her website, reinamenasche.com, includes blogs on psychology and wellness, writing, and other social commentary.

Also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Reina has taught psychology and counseling at Southern California universities, as well as therapeutic techniques to human service professionals. In addition, she is a workshop leader at the Southern California Writers’ Conference in San Diego and in Irvine. She created the class called “Character Therapy—And You’re the Shrink” and “It’s Alive!” to emphasize the joyful creativity of exploring therapeutic exercises with a fictional character. Reina has served as Vice President of the Chronos Theatre Group and often uses dramatic as well as therapeutic techniques in her creative work.

As Host of BOOKSHELF, East County Magazine’s Radio Show on KNSJ, 89.1 FM in San Diego, Reina interviews local authors about their creative processes. Her website can be found at reinamenasche.com.

Janet Hafner Publishes a New Middle Grade Novel

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 23:15:47 GMT

Janet Hafner has published a new middle-grade novel titled Peter Poppin and the Lost Emerald. A long time member of the Guild and a serving member of the Board, Janet has been generous with her time and talents in the service of the San Diego writing community, and we wish her all the best with her new book.

About the Book

At the bottom of a treacherous cliff lies a hidden beach. One with tales of treasure, pirates and sunken ships. With his mother's birthday only ten days away Peter decides that a woodcarving will make the perfect present. He'll need the very best driftwood.

While there, a sudden accident leaves Peter blinded in one eye. With doctors unable to help, Peter and his best friend Marian travel to a local Shaman who gifts him a magical new eye. But all magic has a price. Able to see into the past, he must solve the mystery of a great shipwreck and return the lost treasure to its rightful owner.

Follow Peter, Marian, and his trusted dog, Patches as they navigate obstacles of all shapes and sizes. From friendships and bullying, to pirates and giant eagles, their journey inspires us all to overcome fear and embrace destiny.

About Janet Hafner

JR Hafner spent much of her adult life raising three adventurous boys who were brave and always up for a challenge. A dream brought her main character; her son named him, Peter Poppin. Travelling to the rugged coast of Maine, she discovered the life that Peter encountered as a thirteen-year-old growing up in a late 1800s settlement. Indian tribes still inhabit the area – the same as in her dream. Her travels and research come together in

Peter Poppin and the Lost Emerald.

Another part of her life focused on a rescued pup named Tessa. A dog who didn’t think she was a dog. In No Cage For Me! I’m Free, little Tessa, the runt of her litter, shows us how to escape a bad situation and how never to lose hope.

In Steps, Sidesteps and Missteps, a memoir, JR Hafner, demonstrates how perseverance is never wasted. Her memoir essays have appeared in anthologies, such as The Guilded Pen, the annually published anthology of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. One of her scenes, The Watermelon, was one of ten winners in the 2020 Memoir Showcase. She says, “I’m an all- time optimist who loves to laugh and knows the value of tears.”

Visit: www.jrhafner.com.

Buy the book. Amazon.com

Book Review of "Lights On, Clothes Off" by Stuart Schwartz

Andrea Glass — Sat, 16 Oct 2021 01:54:24 GMT

Exhibitionist Novel Outstrips Convention

Book Review of Lights On, Clothes Off by Stuart Schwartz

By Rebecca Jane

Lights On — Clothes Off: Confessions of an Unabashed Exhibitionist by Stuart Schwartz will expand your sensitivity related to exhibitionism. The book is narrated by Eddie Saul who tells his story of being a proud homosexual who likes nothing more than a crowd gawking at his naked body. The book follows Eddie in his ability to feed this desire. Eddie is lovable and relatable, and his joy for what he does drives the plot forward. In fact, his enthusiasm is infectious. It’s enthusiasm that leads Eddie to opportunities, financial gain, and interesting relationships.

The book demonstrates a fresh writer’s voice that is able to make nudist sensibilities accessible and even endearing. Eddie becomes a friend, confiding in the reader. Voice is often one of those aloof skills of writing a novel that is difficult for a writer to master. It’s not easy for a writer to present a story with an original voice. But the voice is refreshing because Eddie tells familiar stories—such as a gay man coming out of the closet—in a conversational and relaxed way. This sense of feeling relaxed extends to receiving the wisdom of gay identity and desire. So often, stories about homosexuality and desire feature sadness, cruelty, heartbreak, and frustration. But this isn’t the case with Eddie. His story is uplifting and entertaining. He displays his joy as readily as he displays his genitalia.

This means readers never really know if Eddie has any internal conflicts. Anything that might be a potential setback for the protagonist is dealt with in a quick sentence. For instance, we learn that Eddie does not want his parents to know about the secret life he leads, but the reader is never filled in as to why not or what is at stake if his parents find out. His parents handled his sexuality with ease and tenderness. What would it take for his parents to be equally accepting of their son’s exhibitionism? This and other potential conflicts are resolved in ways that make Eddie’s life seem too easy. Readers may finish this book wondering about all the challenges Eddie is not telling us about. Perhaps there will be a sequel told from another perspective.

While it’s light on dramatic tension, this novel does give a strong sense of what it’s like to pose nude for a Life Drawing class where the instructor encourages “tactile learning.” As this method of learning is no longer part of art programs, Eddie’s experience is so precious because it is so ephemeral. It’s reassuring to know a reader can open a novel and participate in a culture that is rare, a hidden gem.

Lights On, Clothes Off is a light-hearted reading experience that stimulates curiosity, appreciates kinky desire, and perhaps even helps a reader relate to his or her own nudity with fresh enthusiasm. I highly recommend this character-driven jubilee that celebrates the simple joy of being seen.

The Rick Lakin Podcast featuring Andrea Susan Glass

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 14:41:13 GMT

The Rick Lakin Podcast featuring Andrea Susan Glass

Andrea Susan Glass, CEO of WritersWay, is a leader in personal and professional development book coaching, ghostwriting, and copyediting of books and ebooks. She prides herself on being flexible and easy to work with, providing successful solutions and building satisfying relationships with her clients. WritersWay assists both emerging and seasoned authors in reaching their writing goals on time, on track, and on budget!

Andrea’s professional writing experience spans a 30-year period where she has written for newspapers, magazines, businesses, and individuals. She's the bestselling author of Your Fabulous First Book: How to Write with Clarity, Confidence & Connection. As an award-winning ghostwriter and copyeditor, she has written and/or edited several hundred books and ebooks on subjects ranging from business and alternative health to memoir and fantasy fiction. She is the recipient of the 2001 San Diego Book Award for the best “how-to” book. Additionally, Andrea teaches “Marketing for Copyeditors” and “Building a Business Around Writing” for UCSD (University of California San Diego) Extension, and has taught several webinars and workshops on writing and publishing.

Andrea’s memberships in professional trade associations include San Diego Professional Editors Network, Publishers & Writers of San Diego, San Diego Writers Ink, and San Diego Writers & Editors Guild. Her hobbies and interests include organic gardening, healthy cooking, crafting (mostly beading and mosaics), reading, word games, volunteering, and napping with her cat!

Write a Fabulous First Book Even If You Don’t Know How to Begin

Are you a coach, speaker, service provider, or entrepreneur whose goal is to write a non-fiction book to share your message, attract business, and generate passive income…
but you just can’t figure out how?

Perhaps you’re frustrated because you don’t know how to get all your content organized...
Or you’re afraid your book won’t be good enough or no one will want to buy it…
Or maybe you don’t know how you’ll market and sell your book.

If this is you, welcome to the club. It’s normal and it’s what just about every first-time author experiences when writing your first book. Fortunately, all you need is an easy-to-follow guide to walk you through how to write and finish your fabulous first book. You want the steps to writing a book that will guarantee you’ll write and publish a book that will sell.

That’s why author Andrea Susan Glass wrote Your Fabulous First Book: How to Write with Clarity, Confidence & Connection. In the book, you’ll follow an award-winning ghostwriter and book coach as she leads you, an aspiring author, to discover the key ingredients that if missing could mean the difference between success or failure for your book.

Writersway.com

Guests on The Rick Lakin Podcast appear in exchange for promotional considerations.

Theme Music is Energy: http://www.bensound.com

Contact me at rilakin@gmail.com

Visit iCrewDigitalPublishing.com

Follow me on Twitter @rickspodcast

Link to The Rick Lakin Podcast

Isabella Steel releases her latest political thriller

Sat, 09 Oct 2021 00:43:19 GMT

Available on Amazon. Isabella Steel’s political thriller novel, “Revenge is Reason Enough,” is set against the backdrop of a stagnating cesspool of corruption, partisanship, and apathy in Washington, D.C.

“The novel takes readers into a world in which politicians callously line their pockets without the slightest regard for the consequences of their actions. They simply do not care for the innocent victims left in the wake of their political games,” Steel writes.

According to the publisher, Black Raptor Books, the political thriller is a roller coaster ride. "From beginning to end, the reader will be left wondering about who the true villain in the novel is. They would ask themselves whether it was the grief-stricken and vengeance-seeking protagonist or the crushing and corrupt government machine that drove him over the edge."

Fans and readers can find Steel's murder mystery, intrigue books, and political thriller novels, on Amazon and at www.BlackRaptorBook.com.

Call for Submissions

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 18:02:56 GMT

The San Diego Public Library has issued a call for submissions for the Local Author’s Exhibit for 2021. As we have in the past, we will be submitting this year’s 2021 anthology to be included in the exhibit. Previous events included a “live” reception with the local authors and guests and luminaries of the local writing community. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, events since 2019 have been relegated to the online venue only. The 2021 exhibit will debut in January of 2022. Whether there will be an “in-person” event depends on what COVID-19 restrictions will be in place at that time.

For information about the exhibit please view this link: https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/news-events/localauthors

Please note that SDWEG is one of the local organizations that is featured on the public library homepage. Clicking on the link (SDWEG Logo) will take you to a video of former president Sarah Faxon talking about the Guild and its benefits to the writing community.

SDWEG Members Honored in Memoir Showcase

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 15:10:01 GMT

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2021 MEMOIR SHOWCASE WINNERS

Congratulations to the 2021 Memoir Showcase and “Shaking the Tree, Volume 5” selections! (If you made it to the Memoir Showcase, you are also included in “Shaking the Tree.”) Apprently this was a very tough decision this year as there were so many wonderful stories to choose from.

Scroll down until you find "2021 Results" to see that two SDWEG members, Janet Hafner and Valerie Looper, are among the 2021 Memoir Showcase winners. This is at least the second time Janet has been among the winners.

Death in a Desert Garden - Book Review by Rebecca Jane

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 02:12:39 GMT

A Bea Rivers Mystery by Marty Eberhardt

Publisher: Artemesia Publishing

And You Thought the Garden Was a Safe Place

This is a cozy mystery for plant lovers, artists, and those who fundraise. Bea Rivers is a character who we care about. We relate to Bea’s challenges as she is a working, single mother rushing to meet the kids’ camp bus in time. Unfortunately, her routines are spiced up with a murder investigation. In this book, such common, everyday routines take on roles in the drama. The book is evocative in that way that after finishing it, when I returned to my own daily routine, an eerie sense of foreboding stayed with me.

Engaging dialogue moves the plot toward great personality clashes. The characters interactions highlight traits and flaws. These characters endure the heat of Tucson, Arizona while fighting for a desert botanical garden that is teetering on survival. Yes, there is a lot of questioning: who can you trust. It’s a 204-page turner that is appropriate with the fireplace lit, even better if you are in the desert lighting your fire pit. I liked all the references to plants because I learned new information about desert flora such as invasive plants relating to climate change. Rivers’ story gives a cozy combination, interweaving plant knowledge with motive sleuthing. Plus, the novel can be read as a deep psychological investigation into how Bea relates to all the characters, including the main detective on the case, a woman who has a history with Bea.

Eberhardt has crafted a fine novel that reveals the ways personality clashes create intrigue. Characters come from different walks of life, their fates tangle, and all their interactions hint at the sinister.

The novel wraps the quiet stillness of a high desert with the risk of uncertain romance, all enduring the uneasiness of an unsolved murder. Eberhardt’s work reminds me of books by Ellery Adams or Amanda Flower. Her writing gives the thrill that stays with me after I’ve finished reading. I love when a book puts me in the kind of dream that keeps me on edge, so I stay alert.

________

Get a copy of Marty Eberhardt's awesome mystery below!

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Desert-Garden-Rivers-Mystery/dp/1951122224

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-in-a-desert-garden-marty-eberhardt/1138867213

San Diego Public Library: 56th Annual Local Author Showcase!

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 15:52:39 GMT

Did you publish a book or ebook in 2021?
If the answer is yes, and if you reside in San Diego County, you are invited to participate in the upcoming
56th Annual Local Author Showcase!

The registration period is September 25 to November 30th

As the crowning event of the library’s Local Author Program, the Showcase offers our published authors an opportunity to present their work to a large audience of readers, publishers, and fellow book people and residents. The event will run the entire month of February 2022 in the beautiful San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common. There will be a special reception to honor participating authors and officially unveil the exhibit to which authors and guests will be invited.

For information and to register, please visit the Library’s Local Author website, and follow the instructions below:

1. Complete the online registration prior to submitting your book.
2. If you use a pen name, please register under your pen name and NOT your real name.
3. If your book is in both print and digital formats, submit the PRINT version only.
4. All authors must submit a high-resolution photo of their book cover to complete registration. Accepted formats: JPG or PNG. No PDFs

Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, we are requesting authors to send their books by mail to the Central Library.

SAN DIEGO PUBLIC LIBRARY
HUMANITIES DEPT. ATTN: LINDA L. BRAWLEY
330 PARK BOULEVARD
SAN DIEGO, CA 92101-7416

If this option presents a hardship, you may put your book in the Central Library’s book-drop at the corner of J and 11th Streets. If you choose that option, place the book inside a sealed manila envelope labeled:
“LOCAL AUTHOR BOOK”

and remember:

LAST DAY TO REGISTER AND SUBMIT YOUR BOOK IS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2021

Local Author Exhibit Staff

Humanities Section, Central Library @Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common

City of San Diego

San Diego Public Library

localauthor@sandiego.gov

SanDiego.gov

How to Make Friends, Extend your Life and More!

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 20:05:30 GMT

Volunteering is often unfairly characterized as burdensome or time consuming, but it is exceptionally good for you. Don’t believe it? Here are six great reasons to join in and help others through your Guild.

Make Friends

Being part of a group with a mission brings you closer together with like-minded individuals and cements long-term relationships. Make a friend for life.

Giving is receiving

Helping others teaches us more about how we can help ourselves. Want to be inspired? Inspire others first and reap the rewards. Want to refine your skills? Help others develop theirs.

Live Longer

Studies show ample empirical evidence of the health benefits of volunteering. You live longer. A 2007 report compiled by the Corporation for National and Community Service wrote the following:

The results of a survey of a large, ethnically diverse sample of older adults showed no association between receiving social support and improved health; however, the study did find that those who gave social support to others had lower rates of mortality than those who did not, even when controlling for socioeconomic status, education, marital status, age, gender, and ethnicity. (Brown et al., 2005)
A longitudinal study of older married adults found that those individuals who reported providing instrumental support to friends, relatives, and neighbors had lower rates of mortality five years later than those who had not reported providing support. In addition, providing support was found to have a stronger relationship with longevity than receiving support from others. (Brown et al., 2003)

Have Fun

Volunteering is fun! The SDWEG is looking for new ways to make a difference, so your ideas are welcomed and your participation valued. You can write blog posts, help with emails, assist in meetings, design artwork, make videos, work with the publishing team, and much more.

Learn new skills

Volunteering is a wonderful way to learn new skills. If you want to grow your social media following, develop your critiquing skills, or learn how to publish a book on Ingram-Spark or Amazon, the outstanding talents who run the Guild programs are happy to pass along essential skills that will benefit you for a lifetime.

Build a resume

Members who are focused on their career path can take full advantage of the resume building opportunities that volunteering offers. Whether part of a team or on the board, volunteering makes you more valuable to employers looking for steady, committed, community-minded employees with leadership potential.

In closing

You live longer, you live better, you have more friends, and you make more money when you volunteer. What are you waiting for?

Send an email to secretary@sdwritersguild.org and let us know where your volunteering interests lie.

Death in a Desert Garden by SDWEG Member Marty Eberhardt Available October 5

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 13:13:51 GMT

In the new botanically-themed mystery DEATH IN A DESERT GARDEN, Bea Rivers’ euphoria over her new job at Shandley Gardens is shattered by the death of the Gardens’ founder, Liz Shandley. When the police determine that she was murdered, Bea is drawn into the investigation, while trying desperately to maintain the life of a committed single parent dating a struggling writer. Every one of the members of the small staff and board are murder suspects. Through the sizzling and beautiful days of a Sonoran Desert summer, someone keeps dropping odd botanical clues. As Bea’s family’s safety is threatened, she discovers just how tangled the relationships at the Gardens really are.

The book can be pre-ordered at bookshop.org and Amazon, and will be available October 5.

Marty Eberhardt is a former botanical garden Executive Director of both Tucson Botanical Gardens and The Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon, CA. She now delights in using the right side of her brain to write fiction and poetry. DEATH IN A DESERT GARDEN is her first novel. Marty has published several poems and prose pieces, in The Wilderness House Literary Review, The Dragon Poet Review, The San Diego Writers INK 2017 Anthology, The Twisted Vine Literary Review, four volumes of The Guilded Pen, and The Silver City Quarterly Review. She divides her time between the small mountain town of Silver City, NM, and San Diego, and enjoys the flora and fauna of both. She lives with her husband and a dog, and sees her children and grandchildren as much as possible.

Peggy Hinaekian Releases her Memoir, The Girl From Cairo

Andrea Glass — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 17:00:00 GMT

Member Profile: Peggy Hinaekian

What aspect of editing or writing are you involved in?
I’m a book author of several books.

What first attracted you to writing?
I was introduced to books in three languages (English, French and Armenian) at a young age. I grew up in a cosmopolitan environment and was an avid reader. I kept a journal since the age of 12, was editor of the high school newspaper and wrote short stories.

How long have you been writing?
I’ve written journals since I was 12. In 2015 I published my first novel Of Julia and Men. It was included in the New York Times Book Review Magazine under “Discover New Titles: Great Stories, Unique Perspectives.”

As a writer, what kind of books do you write? Any published? How about short stories?
I’ve published three books: One romance, one memoir and another of short stories. I’ve had great reviews on all three.

What are you working on now either writing or editing?
I just completed my memoir, The Girl from Cairo and I’m seeking a publisher. I’m also writing my fourth book, a novel about Egypt and Europe.

How long have you been a member of SDWEG and why did you join?
I have been a member of SDWEG for six years. I joined because I wanted to meet other authors.

What benefits have you gained as a member?
I have been in contact with other authors and learned from their experiences. I also enjoy the marketing group and the reading evenings.

What’s something unique or special about you, that you’d like others to know?
What’s special about me is that I was born in Cairo and grew up there. I’ve also lived in Europe and Canada and my view of life is quite different than the typical American life. I’ve lived in three different cultures.

What request might you have of other members? (joint venture promotions, launch team, referrals, reviews, advance readers…)
My request to other members is to give me critiques and reviews.

Website: www.peggyhinaekian.com
Amazon Author Page: https://tinyurl.com/jv57j4a9

Of Armenian origin, Peggy Hinaekian was born and raised in Egypt. She immigrated to Canada with her first husband, then on to the United States, where she pursued a career in fashion design and fine arts. After her divorce, she moved to Geneva, Switzerland where she worked at one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations and furthered her artistic career. She met her second husband in Rome and they lived in Geneva where they raised two sons. After their children went to college in the U.S., they also moved there and now divide their time between California and Florida. Parallel to her art, Peggy wrote essays and short stores. She has published several short stories in the Anthologies of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild for the past four years.

Would You Like to Be On the Zoom Portion of Self Pub. Vs. Traditional Pub?

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 14:08:05 GMT

Just write back to this email and we will get the Zoom info to the first 20 responders.

Much love all!

Marni

Marni Freedman

Program Director ~The San Diego Writers Festival www.sandiegowritersfestival.com

New Book by Member Margaret Harmon

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 13:31:32 GMT

Snuggling with family is cozy during the pandemic. But kids are missing opportunities to develop healthy independence and social skills.

The hero of Mr. Helpless Gets Organized is suddenly forced to confront the limitations of leaning. But instead of falling apart, he discovers how powerful he is—and that he loves being his own strong self.

This safe-to-open jpeg introduces our empowering hero and some intriguing Treats for favorite children—and us.

Have FUN!

Margaret Harmon

fabulistharmon@gmail.com

www.margaretharmon.com

The book is available at Amazon, of course: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734144335/

The ABCs of Mental Healthier Writing

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 04:58:52 GMT

A is for ANXIETY

You used to be called “nerves.” Now you have an elevated title: “anxiety.” How hoity-toity of you. No vapors here, no images of Victorian ladies swooning because some beastly fashion statement is suffocating the life out of them.

No, “anxiety” is the new buzzword universal, as we might say in French—if we spoke French and wanted to show off. Anxiety. That’s your name in the 21st century, in whatever language. Millennials suffer from you and so do Baby Boomers. You are an umbrella term, covering everything from the pitter-pat of lovesick teenyboppers to the free-floating angst of living in a Pandemic world.

Struck by panic attack and need an EKG to check your heart? Could be anxiety. Bobbing along from one fear to another because half of them have already come true and the other half have happened to someone you know? It’s just good ‘ol anxiety.

We can’t cancel you completely if you seem to mean everything from grief, to stage fright, to a case of O My God, I-CAN’T-FIND-MY-PHONE. So, what do I do? Therapy is great; a potentially perfect place to process productively or pointlessly, if you’ll excuse the alliteration. And medication? No comment, that’s outside my scope of practice. There’s also cost—and insurance—to consider. Isn’t anything free, and as often as we want? How can we protect ourselves from ANXIETY?

Write. We humans can write often; we can write well—or we can write badly. We can free write on a beach or timed-write in a wheelbarrow. We can journal, we can blog (yup!), we can write stories and books and poems and captions that make no sense for art pieces that no one understands.

Writing protects us like a wet suit does against the cold ocean waves. It’s not magic, no. We are still wonderfully, terribly human. A little sprinkle of “anxiety” a day may keep some other ailments away. What I mean is that sometimes the feelings are a message, a wave of internal antennae. Sometimes you are a life saver. Leave This Situation Now, you say. Heads Up.

Sometimes you are a chemical aberration, a flash of the genetic wand. You may be a sign of the times, if we take a step back to notice the big picture. Maybe our technology is good for electronic files but poor for Brain Files. Oh, and the Pandemic sucks. By the Way. If the news yells at us and we yell back, we may clench our muscles at the same time. Clenched muscles don’t work for oh so many moments of our every day.

Writing releases. Writing plays. Writing evokes. Writing shares. Writing blurts and shapes and reframes. Through writing we shift gears. Through writing we clench—and let go. We can put the writing away and shut the box and go do something else: something active and allegedly fun, like jogging (I prefer walking myself).

A is for Anxiety.

B is for Boredom. (I’ll talk to you next time!)

By,

Reina Menasche

Reina Lisa Menasche’s fiction has been honored by organizations such as the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild, the San Diego Book and Writing Awards, and the Southern California Writers Conference. Her first novel TWICE BEGUN, and her second novel SILENT BIRD, were finalists in the 2012 and 2013 San Diego Book Awards. Her newest novel, a paranormal suspense titled THE SPIRIT OF SHY MOON LAKE, was released in spring 2021. Her first children’s book, THE HOUSE THAT SNEEZED, will be released in early 2022. She is currently writing THRICE BEGUN, the sequel (and prequel) to TWICE BEGUN. Her website, reinamenasche.com, includes blogs on psychology and wellness, writing, and other social commentary.

As Host of BOOKSHELF, East County Magazine’s Radio Show on KNSJ, 89.1 FM in San Diego, Reina interviews local authors about their creative processes. Her website can be found at reinamenasche.com.

Using Amazon Keywords to Define Categories

Sat, 28 Aug 2021 13:33:58 GMT

Do You Need Keywords to Get Into Certain Book Categories?

By Dave Chesson

Last updated on August 26th, 2021

Every once in a while I will still come across someone who asks, do I need to use keywords in KDP to rank for a category?

For example, say you wanted to be in the Arthurian category, but there’s no Arthurian BISAC category available when you upload your book to KDP. Should you include a keyword that says something like “Arthurian Novel” to your keywords in the hopes that you will rank for that keyword?

There’s a lot of confusion about this, and even some of the mainstream publishing websites have some of the wrong information, so I’m here to set the record straight.

The short answer is, no, you do not need keywords to rank for categories.

Read on to learn why.

In this article, you will learn:

How the relationship between KDP keywords and categories used to work
How to add categories today
How to best make use of your keywords today
Additional restrictions to categories

How it Used to Work

Back in the day, selecting the Book Industry Standards and Communications (BISAC) categories in KDP was the only control that you had over book categories.

All you could do was select the two categories that you wanted (and BISAC categories tend to be very broad), and that was it. You had no more specific control over the categories that your book would show up under.

So instead, you would use keywords.

Amazon would take the seven keywords that you imputed into KDP and use that as clues on what other categories to rank your book for.

Do you need keywords to rank for categories? No, and this article explains why. #selfpublishing #bookmarketingCLICK TO TWEET

So if you put “Arthurian Romance” down as a keyword, you might have seen that book show up under an Arthurian category, and possibly a Romance category.

But BISAC definitely doesn’t niche down as well as we’d like, so Amazon actually had a list of keywords that you could use to get your books into separate categories.

That page no longer exists, but you can still get a glimpse of it using the Way Back Machine here. That page now looks like this.

The Way Back Machine just shows what that page used to like, but you can’t see any keyword lists because they’re hidden in some drop-down menus. Here’s an image showing a list of some of these keywords that would get your book listed in a specific category.

As you can see, if I wanted to get into the Arthurian category, all I had to type in was “Arthurian” for one of my keywords.

But there are literally thousands of categories, and several just for Arthurian-related topics. So how do you get into those categories?

Well, it used to be that if you didn’t get into a category, after you’ve done the work of selecting the right keywords and BISACs, then…tough.

You were out of luck. Until….

Amazon Added the Change Categories Feature

There was originally no way to change your category status apart from selecting BISACs and keywords, and of the thousands of categories out there, it seemed a shame that we couldn’t target all the categories that made sense for the book.

So around 2018 (the exact date is unclear), Amazon began rolling out a roundabout way to request certain categories. Here’s a screenshot of what that looked like:

Overall, this worked, but Amazon still used keywords to rank for categories, or at least to provide context to add additional categories.

However, it was a step in the right direction. I even created a video on how to add or change categories. That video is no longer publicly available, since I’ve updated it recently, but this was a big milestone for authors.

That said, the form you fill out has changed a lot since then, as have the use of keywords. So let’s dig into that.

How it Works Today

Today, the process of getting your book added/removed to a category is much simpler.

All you have to do is:

Select the category you want to rank for (copy the full string)
Visit this Help/Contact Page for Author Central and sign into your KDP account
Under “How We Can Help” select “Amazon Book Page”
Then select “Update Amazon Categories”
Fill in the information, and you’re good to go!

We’ve got a whole post on this topic that you should definitely check out if you want a full walkthrough of how to add your book to different categories. Or you can check out this video:

Want more videos like this? Then click HERE to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

This method of requesting categories is now the standard method that Amazon uses to allow authors to select their categories.

They also changed their Category FAQ page to remove mention of the keywords and give more information about being able to change your categories.

But what does this mean for selecting your seven keywords?

It means exactly this: You don’t need to target categories in your keywords. Period.

Think of it this way, even if Amazon did use your keywords as category clues, you can still adjust your categories using their online form. And if you can do that, then why would you want to waste your keywords on categories when you could, instead, use them for other purposes?

How You Should Use Your Keywords

Keywords are best used to target search terms that a reader will type in on Amazon.

To do this, you want to select specific, unique keywords that readers are likely to search for with the intent to buy.

There’s a lot that can be said about selecting your keywords, but it comes down to this: choose something long-tail, meaning you use a phrase that is more specific, and therefore means that a reader is more likely to buy, if they are typing in that phrase.

To continue with our Arthurian example, if I just put “Arthurian Books” as a keyword, that might be too broad. That could refer to Arthurian fiction novels, Arthurian reference books, scholarly books, other forms of non-fiction.

And that’s not to mention all the different fiction genres that might have Arthurian elements, everything from epic fantasy to romance to comedy.

Instead, something like: “King Arthur for Kids” might yield better results, assuming it accurately describes your book.

How to Find Keywords with Publisher Rocket

Rocket is a great piece of software that will help you find these target keywords. You can see that here it gives me the competition score for “Arthurian Book”, and it’s a little bit competitive:

Whereas, my keyword for “King Arthur for Kids” is much less competitive, yet still has more estimated searches each month.

“King Arthur for Kids” is also a more actionable keyword, because a reader who types that in knows what they want, and are likely to buy what they find. You’ll notice that the average monthly earnings is also higher.

Since you no longer have to use keywords for selecting categories, it makes sense to use a tool like Publisher Rocket to focus completely on a reader’s search intent.

And you can do this by selecting the best keywords.

CHECK OUT PUBLISHER ROCKET TODAY!

Special Category Requirements

Now it’s worth pointing out that not all categories can be selected using the Amazon online form. There are a few categories that are better monitored, or have additional restrictions, than others. Including the following:

Usually this applies to categories that involve age-appropriate content.

For example, Amazon cares a lot about children’s books, so if you want to select a category for children’s books in their online form, you have to prove that your book fits.

The simplest way to do this is in your Book Details page, under Age and Grade Range. Make sure you select the appropriate age range when uploading your book to KDP.

This also goes for adult content. Any erotica books should select the appropriate age as 18+ to make it clear to Amazon that you’re publishing a book with adult content.

Having an erotica book will also limit the number of categories you’ll be allowed to target. Amazon wouldn’t allow you to place it in “Clean and Wholesome Romance” for example.

Additionally, series pages do have categories, but currently Amazon does not allow authors to request new categories, though that could change in the future.

To Sum Up

In short, you do not need to worry about selecting categories when you input your keywords into the KDP dashboard.

Instead, you should do two things:

Use the Amazon online form to select your categories
Use the keywords section to target long-tail, specific keywords that readers are likely to search for

If you can do this, you’ll not only have all the categories you need, but you’ll also be targeting keywords that are more likely to find a reader ready to buy.

Or in other words, you’re more likely to sell more books.

Cheers!

Dave Chesson

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FOUNDER

Dave Chesson

When I am not fighting dragons or chasing the bogey man out of my kids closet, I like using my previous Online Optimization skills to help other authors with the 'technical' stuff and get the right authors to the top of Amazon and any other eBook service out there.

Hi, I'm Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

“Gain insight from Kindlepreneur on how you can optimize marketing for your books."

- Kindle Direct Publishing

The Writers' Workshop - MEMOIR WRITING ONLINE

Sat, 28 Aug 2021 13:28:33 GMT

THE WRITERS' WORKSHOP

387 Beaucatcher Road

Asheville, NC 28805

828-254-8111

writersw@gmail.com www.twwoa.org

08/28/21

Dear PSA Editor, please announce these writing classes. We are a non-profit arts organization since 1985.

Thanks so much! – K. Ackerson, Exec. Director

Writing Workshops Summer ‘21

Each class meets online on Saturdays, 10-3:30 pm with a 45 min. lunch break. Registration is in advance only at our website, www.twwoa.org. Classes are $80, or $75 Workshop members. Financial assistance in exchange for volunteer hours is available for low-income writers!

Sept. 4: Creative Non-Fiction Writing with Glenn Proctor

Being able to write about life’s challenges and successes is cathartic, and for many, an opening to a new understanding of self, family and circumstances. Prior to the workshop, participants should write a short mission statement: what you want out of the class, and the type of writing you’re interested in. Please email by July 20 to writersw@gmail.com. Proctor has taught journalism at Kent State, Washington & Lee, Northwestern, and shared the Pulitzer Prize at the Akron Beacon Journal.

Sept. 11: Write Your Life with Richard Krawiec

The class will learn how to draw on the "material" of their lives to write and revise memoirs, stories, or plays. Elements covered include time compression and expansion, theme, and developing your piece professionally. Previous students will learn new material. Krawiec is the founder of Jacar Press, and the author of numerous books such as "Breakdown: A Father's Story", "Faith in What?" and "Time Sharing". His works are published in numerous journals including Shenandoah, Florida Review, and N.C. Literary Review.

Sincerely, Karen Ackerson

Executive Director

The Writers'Workshop

Learn How to Give & Receive Critiques

Andrea Glass — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 00:13:25 GMT

By Janice Coy

Learning how to give and receive critiques is an important skill for any level of writer. It’s natural to initially reject any critique of a writing piece. After all, a written piece can be very personal. Writers, like other creatives, take a risk when they’re vulnerable with their work and ask for input. I would love to hear nothing but accolades about my work. However, I know my writing won’t improve without the valuable input of those who are interested in helping me.

A critique is different than a criticism. A criticism can be a remark or comment that expresses disapproval. It can also refer to “literary criticism” or the activity of making judgments about the quality of a written piece. A critique typically refers to a careful judgment in which someone gives an opinion about something.

For example, a writing workshop instructor critiquing an attendee’s work could mean that the written sample is excellent but that the teacher is giving pointers to make the writing even better. If a reviewer criticizes the writing, it means the reviewer regarded the writing unfavorably.

Sometimes, a critique when first received can feel like a criticism. This is when the writer needs to use his or her judgment to discern whether the input is meant to be helpful. This discernment usually comes with practice.

Writers who are objective about critiques can learn to recognize which suggestions will improve their work and which will not. Sometimes, a critique can be well-intentioned but miss the mark by encouraging a writer in a different direction than he or she wants to go.

Last year, I received a critique about the main character in my novel. The reader said the character came across as mean. I was surprised as that wasn’t my intent, and I was tempted to reject the comment. However, a careful review of my descriptive word choices revealed that the reader was right.

A helpful critique will often contain some positive feedback about the writing. Every writing piece has some good in it. Remember, the goal of a requested critique is to encourage writers to make good writing better.

When asked, comment on a well-written description, make note of an original character or unique turn of phrase. Be specific about where a character’s choice is confusing or where a scene skims the surface.

I first learned how to receive and give helpful critiques in a novel writing class at UCSD Extension. Later, I was a member of a writing critique group. I’ve also experienced expert critiques from editors at the San Diego State University Writers’ Conference and the Southern California Writers’ Conference.

SDWEG offers a wonderful critique service to its members for the first twenty pages of a manuscript. I’ve benefitted from this service as well as from the critiques I’ve received with my SDWEG anthology submissions.

It’s not easy to receive a critique. It can also be difficult to give one if the recipient isn’t truly open to suggestions. This can happen even when a critique is requested.

Like any other part of the writing process, giving and receiving helpful critiques takes practice and sometimes, lots of deep breathing.

Janice Coy is the author of six novels. Her work has appeared in several anthologies including the SDWEG anthologies and the upcoming San Diego Decameron Project anthology.

Kenny Loggins Appearing at San Diego Union-Tribune Festival of Books

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 13:23:31 GMT

For the full lineup and panel schedule, click here.

Admission is free to the virtual event.

Meeting this Sunday - Taste of Mystery Panel

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 14:15:05 GMT

View this email in your browser

Sunday August 22 at 4pm
Panel with E.A. Aymar, Alma Katsuand Tara Laskowski
VIRTUAL EVENT - FREE

Attendance is free and it is open to the public.
SHARE THIS INVITE WITH FRIENDS

You are invited to a free special event on August 22 at 4pm. As part of their Sizzling Summer Series, three chapters of Sisters in Crime are presenting a FLAVORS OF MYSTERY panel that gives you a taste of three authors’ different takes on the mystery genre. With moderator Maddie Margarita, these authors will talk about how they write and the differences in their approaches in their latest books.

The well-known E.A. Aymar has a recent thriller to discuss while Alma Katsu has her first spy novel, after a lifetime of work as an intelligence officer. Tara Laskowski’s debut novel is suspenseful and award-winning. All of these authors bring different styles and approaches on what it takes to write crime fiction.

Join the Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego Sisters in Crime for a FREE event. We welcome all members of the public interested in hearing these authors and maybe getting a chance to ask a question yourself. The Zoom link is below. Share the info with your friends.

Anthony Award-nominated E.A. Aymar’s most recent thriller, They’re Gone, was published in 2020 under his pseudonym E.A. Barres. He has a monthly column in the Washington Independent Review of Books, is a former member of the national board of the International Thriller Writers and an active member of Crime Writers of Color, the Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. He also runs the Noir at the Bar series for Washington, D.C., and has hosted and spoken at a variety of crime fiction, writing, and publishing events nationwide.

RED WIDOW is Alma Katsu’s first spy novel, the logical marriage of her love of storytelling with her 30+ year career in intelligence. As an intelligence officer, Ms. Katsu worked at several federal agencies as a senior analyst where she advised policymakers and military commanders on issues of national security. Ms. Katsu also writes novels that combine historical fiction with supernatural and horror elements. THE HUNGER (2018), a reimagining of the story of the Donner Party, was named one of NPR’s 100 favorite horror stories.

Tara Laskowski’sdebut suspense novel One Night Gone won the Agatha Award, Macavity Award, and the Anthony Award. Her second novel, The Mother Next Door, will be published in October 2021. She also wrote two short story collections, Modern Manners for Your Inner Demons and Bystanders. She has won the Agatha Award and Thriller Award for her short fiction and was the longtime editor of the online flash fiction journal SmokeLong Quarterly. A graduate of Susquehanna University and George Mason University, Tara grew up in Pennsylvania and lives in Virginia.

BOOK CARNIVAL and the chapters of SISTERS IN CRIME in Orange County, San Diego, and Los Angeles welcome you to the third and last of their Sizzling Summer Speaker Series themed The Many Flavors of Mystery featuring East Coast authors,E.A. Ayar, Alma Katsu, and Tara Laskowski.

Link to Purchase Books is on the Book Carnival event page: https://www.annesbookcarnival.com/events/

Kauai Writer's Conference

Sat, 14 Aug 2021 13:18:10 GMT

Aloha from Kauai!

This Sunday's session of KWC Online and the Kauai Book Club will feature Paula McLain discussing her new bestselling novel When the Stars Go Dark.

We're delighted to tell you that KWC faculty member Amanda Eyre Ward will join in to discuss the book. This conversation between these two amazing authors will be one not to miss!

There is a session every Sunday. One Sunday each month is devoted to the Kauai Book Club, much like a living room book club but with the author herself leading the discussion. The other sessions focus on topics of interest to writers, with bestselling authors sharing advice on their craft and agents and publishers giving guidance on how to get published.

We warmly invite you to join us.

Register for Kauai Writers Conference online sessions

Paula McLain is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Paris Wife, Circling the Sun, and Love and Ruin. Her new novel, When the Stars Go Dark, was released this spring to widespread acclaim.

“A total departure for the author of The Paris Wife, McLain’s emotionally intense and exceptionally well-written thriller entwines its fictional crime with real cases.”—People (Book of the Week)

“The kind of heart-pounding conclusion that thriller fans crave . . . In the end, a book full of darkness lands with a message of hope.”—The New York Times Book Review

Amanda Eyre Ward is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Jetsetters, as well as nine other books including novels, nonfiction, and a collection of short stories.

MEMBER PROFILE: Bob Boze

Andrea Glass — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 18:44:01 GMT

Bio

My name is Bob Boze and I live in the South Bay area of San Diego. My partner, Robyn Bennett, lives in Blenheim on New Zealand’s South Island. We are both published romance and non-fiction authors, editors, teachers, workshop presenters, speakers and bloggers. Together we have over fifteen published works, several short stories and are collaborating on several more novels, short stories, articles and other works. We also offer a variety of writer and business services through our business website, Writing Allsorts. To learn more about us, our published works and the services we offer, go to https://writingallsorts.com/, which is also linked to our writer’s websites, https://bobboze.com

Amazon link: www.amazon.com/bob-boze

Connect on Facebook: https://facebook.com/bobbozeauthorpage/

What aspect of editing or writing are you involved in?

Pretty much everything related to writing. We write, edit, teach, do workshops, speak at writer’s conferences and provide a wide variety of services to writers and businesses.

What first attracted you to writing/editing?

A tour of a friend’s horse rescue ranch. I kept staring at the horses thinking there’s a story here. It took me over a year though to figure out how to write it. The editing and teaching parts came later when I met Robyn, who teaches, and the two of us realized we would make a great writer’s teaching team.

How long have you been writing/editing?

I started writing my first book twelve years ago. We formed our editing business about six years ago.

As a writer, what kind of books do you write? Any published? How about short stories?

I have nine published books and three short stories, with two more books in the works with a target publication dates of Fall 2021. We both write feel-good romance, with a little nonfiction (Text books and an autobiography) thrown in for good measure. Together we have over fifteen books and five short stories published. There are also two more series containing six more books outlined.

As an editor, what kind of clients do you work with and what services do you provide?

We do editing for both writers and businesses. Developmental, line or copy editing, proofreading and I guess you could say borderline production editing since a lot of our clients self-publish. So, a lot of formatting, adding front and back matter (title page, copyright page, about the author and acknowledgements) and helping them with a good description for the back cover and Amazon page.

What are you working on now either writing or editing?

I’ve lost track of how many edits we’ve done and books we’ve helped get published. Right now we’re quoting an edit for a dark fantasy writer in Romania and we just helped three writers (two in New Zealand and one in the US) self-publish two memoirs and a mystery. All of them are now working on their next books, by the way. As for us, we’re finishing up the two I mentioned above, with at least six more behind them.

How long have you been a member of SDWEG and why did you join?

I’ve been a member for about eight years now and Robyn for five. We both joined to see what the rest of the writing world is doing and hopefully learn from the other writers in the Guild.

What benefits have you gained as a member?

Listening to other members and learning from them. We also answered a request for help from a teacher with the San Diego Charter School of the Arts who came to a Guild meeting. She teaches writing and we’ve been helping as guest teachers for three years now. It’s unbelievably rewarding for both the students and us.

What’s something unique or special about you, that you’d like others to know?

I love teaching, almost as much as writing. Robyn’s been a teacher much longer and I’m sure much of love for teaching has rubbed off from her.

What request might you have of other members? (joint venture promotions, launch team, referrals, reviews, advance readers…)

I think the biggest single message I can give writers, especially those just starting out, is learn your trade! There are so many elements to writing and getting yourself published, many of which you only find out about after your story is finished. Getting your work edited, formatted, copyrighted, writing a description, getting your cover done and on and on and on. Little of which writers are prepared for or know much about. That’s where writers’ groups like the Guild come in. Learning from experienced writers and experienced editors to help finish and polish your work is critical to making sure your work gets published and out into the world.

Warwick's presents Joshua Henkin

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 21:10:11 GMT

Hi, Supporters of the SDWF/Warwick's Book Club!

We're so excited about our next book club event with author Joshua Henkin and his AMAZING book, Morningside Heights. The book club will be on Facebook Live on Monday, August 16, from 5 to 6 p.m. PT.

If you would like to be part of the Zoom audience where you have an opportunity to ask our author questions, RSVP to tjjones1@gmail.com,

There's still time to order your copy from our sponsor, Warwick's, at this link:
https://www.warwicks.com/book/9781524748357

There's a building buzz around this book:

#1 Indie Next Pick for June
The New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice Book
Good Morning America 27 Books for June
The Millions June Most Anticipated
One of 2021’s Most Highly Anticipated New Books —Newsweek
38 Novels You Need to Read this Summer —Lit Hub
One of Alma’s Favorite Books for Summer 2021

Thank you for supporting the SDWF/Warwick's book club. We hope you'll join us on Zoom on August 16!

Ameya Pandit: Impressions: Short Letters

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 02:54:29 GMT

Ameya Pandit has released Impressions: Short Letters, a non-fiction collection on nature, art, and childhood. You can find the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or at local bookstores like Bay Books Coronado and DIESEL.

The short letters in this book are the narration of many things felt. All the letters curated here are an extension of all those things that were naturally felt. In today’s time and age, as the world divides itself, these letters attempt to unify it, portray the commonality in each of us, and provides any thoughtful reader, an elevation, an escape into a world of ideas—one of objectivity, of purity, and of individuality.

This is Pandit’s first book, a selection of letters from the remains of his file, his inquiry, his study in the magnificence that lives in and around us, of those in plain sight—in the child, the nature, or the art. The short letters in this book endeavor to highlight the brilliance of these most basic forms. It’s a quest, so it’s by no means finished.

Review

"'The simplicity of life paradoxically makes its comprehension difficult.' This passage from Impressions applies generally to these 'short letters' from Ameya Pandit, because while they often touch on seemingly simple and quotidian matters, they reveal an underlying and often unseen depth, and reward extended consideration. Pandit combines his training and profession in science with a passion for art and philosophy, right and left brain joined with heart, all connected to eyes that see the world with exquisite clarity. He begins with meditations 'On Childhood' and the way that young children are natural artists and scientists, and throughout the following sections 'On Nature' and 'On Art' he models how to maintain a child-like sense of wonder and imagination. He extols music in particular as 'a language the world fully grasps,' and along with its literary equivalent of poetry he suggests they offer the prospect of a 'universal philosophy' and a peek into our 'inner nature.' Life is simultaneously 'a mathematical equation' and 'a musical melody,' he asserts, and 'where art ends, science begins.' In Pandit’s vision, and in his life practice, they form a continuum, each informing the other, together revealing 'the universe is a work of art.' This book is now a contribution to that work, and that art."

-- Larry W. Moore, Publisher, Broadstone Books.

San Diego Union-Tribune Festival of Books

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 13:11:45 GMT

Join The San Diego Union-Tribune for the fifth annual
Festival of Books on Saturday, Aug. 21 starting at 10 a.m. PDT.
Enjoy live panel sessions, author Q&A’s, children’s storytime,
Spanish-language programming and much more!

Click Here for more Info.

Debut novel free on Kindle for one day only

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 18:30:05 GMT

The debut novel “Down Under” by Georgia Faye launched on Amazon in July. This romantic summer read is set in Australia, where a free spirited girl finds herself in a love triangle between two suitors.

Amazon is offering it free on Kindle on Wednesday, July 21 only.

Member Profile: Stu Schwartz

Andrea Glass — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 21:44:36 GMT

Bio: I had an extremely satisfying and productive 35-year career as a university professor. During 24 of those years I also held the position of public information officer for my local fire department. My significant writing accomplishments have included four college textbooks, 39 refereed journal articles, and 20 workbooks and learning kits for high school students. Until now all my publications have been nonfiction. My husband and I love living in San Diego. We enjoy the weather, our friends, the cultural opportunities, and the awesome beaches—especially clothing-optional Blacks Beach. Travel is always high on our to-do list. In addition to writing I do a significant amount of volunteer work in our community.

Contact: stuauthor@gmail.com.

Link to Amazon: There's a direct link on each page of my website as well.

What aspect of writing are you involved in?

My current writing involves two projects: my next novel and writing a monthly column. The working title of the novel I'm now working on is I’ll be Naked at Six. This is fully outlined and much of it is in draft form. The story follows Eddie Saul, the main character in my first novel, Lights On – Clothes Off, from graduate school to present day, as he reveals all his exhibitionist adventures. The column is called “Sans Clothing” and it appears in Diversity Rules Magazine. I’m hoping to find other homes for my column and currently I’m in discussions with two other monthly publications.

What first attracted you to writing?

As a professor at a publish or perish university, writing and being published was a requirement. However, that wasn’t a chore for me as I enjoyed research and sharing my results in professional publications. All my university writing was quite satisfying as I always felt I was sharing information that would help college and high school students with their careers. And I must admit that much of my professional writing was quite lucrative.

How long have you been writing?

As a child I liked writing for fun. I became serious about my writing when I was a college student in the late 60s.

As a writer, what kind of books do you write? Any published?

All the following have been published: Four college textbooks, 39 refereed journal articles, and 20 educational materials for high school students.

What are you working on now?

I have a couple of writing ideas brewing but I’m not ready to share those.

How long have you been a member of SDWEG and why did you join?

I’ve been a member since 2017. I joined because I was embarking on a new writing adventure, a first for me, a novel. I had a lot to learn and an author friend of mine suggested that I would benefit from the classes and workshops offered by the Guild.

What benefits have you gained as a member?

At just about every formal presentation and at every marketing program I’ve learned techniques for writing and marketing. In addition, I’ve met quite a few accomplished authors who’ve been willing to answer my questions and give me advice. That’s always greatly appreciated.

What’s something unique or special about you, that you’d like others to know?

Because of the topic of my current writing I’m often asked if I’m an exhibitionist. I let everyone know that my first college job in 1964 was posing for art classes. Those were the days when male models were in high demand and those who were willing to pose nude were paid at a significantly higher rate than those who posed in underwear or a bathing suit. I needed the money and became instantly comfortable standing sans clothing in a room full of artists. In fact, I still pose for art classes. So, when I’m asked, I share my posing experience and remind everyone that the rest of my book’s story is a novel. They have to decide what’s fact and what’s fiction.

What request do you have of other members? (joint venture promotions, launch team, referrals, reviews, advance readers…)

My only request is to continue with the valuable programming. I still have lots to learn. And, of course, I’m hoping members offer suggestions to help me improve my writing and that they post reviews on Amazon.

San Diego Writers Festival - July 17 and July 31

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 10:30:00 GMT

This year’s event features an amazing line-up of authors and speakers. Headlining the first day of the 2-day festival (July 17th) will be former SNL original cast member, Laraine Newman, to talk about her recent memoir, May You Live in Interesting Times. Also featured that day will be world’s bestselling author James Patterson with co-writer First Sergeant (ret) Matt Eversmann discussing their new book, Walk in My Combat Boots: True Stories from America’s Bravest Warriors. A member of 75th Ranger Regiment, Eversmann was immortalized in the epic film Black Hawk Down.

Featured on the second day of the festival (July 31st) will be Award-winning NYT bestselling author, Tayari Jones, to talk about the craft of writing and in a later program, her most recent book, An American Marriage. Also featured will be multi-award winning and bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series [that have been adapted for film starring Tom Cruise], Lee Child, discussing the art of mystery writing. In addition will be bestselling author, Rabbi Steve Leder, discussing his book The Beauty of What Remains in conversation with Dean Nelson about life, death, and grief.

WE WILL BE LIVE STREAMING THE ENTIRE FESTIVAL ON FACEBOOK FROM ONE CONVENIENT LINK:
You don’t need to have a fb account to watch - just click on the link below.

Facebook Live Link (SDWF):

https://www.facebook.com/sandiegowritersfestival/live/

Richard Lederer's Ultimate Book of Literary Trivia will be published on July 15.

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 09:41:22 GMT

San Diego Writer's Guild Life Member and Odin Award Winner Richard Lederer announces that his new book Richard Lederer's Ultimate Book of Literary Trivia (Waterside Productions) will be published on July 15.

What fictional detective survived an attempted murder by his creator?
Whose gravestone bears the inscription "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated"?
Who was the single mother, living on state benefits, whose series of fantastic novels made her the richest writer in England?

Richard Lederer's Ultimate Book of Literary Trivia lives up to its title by offering a treasure chest of amazing facts, curiosities, and quizzes about your favorite authors and their works. Looking back at the Bible, mythology, and Shakespeare and moving up to a library of contemporary writers. Literary Trivia promises bright days of entertainment and enlightenment for the passionate book lover.

Answers: Sherlock Holmes, Mark Twain, J.K. Rowling.

Richard Lederer - in his own words

Not long ago, I visited a nearby progressive elementary school and chatted for about forty-five minutes with the sixth graders about the joys of language and the writing life. One of the boys in the class asked me, “Dr. Lederer, where do you get your ideas for your books?”

Ever since I became a writer, I had found that question the most difficult to answer and had only recently come up with an analogy that I thought would satisfy both my audience and me. Pouncing on the opportunity to unveil my spanking new explanation, I countered with, “Where does the spider get its web?”

The idea, of course, was that the spider is not aware how it spins out its intricate and beautiful patterns with the silky material that is simply a natural part of itself. Asking a writer to account for the genesis of his or her ideas is as futile as asking a spider the source of its web and method of its construction. The young man, in response to my question, appeared thoughtful for a moment. Then he looked me squarely in the eye and shot right back, “The spider gets its web from its butt!”

I checked out the boy’s assertion, and, sure enough, spiders do produce their silk from glands located in their posteriors. The glands open through tiny spinnerets located at the hind end of the abdomen. Well, it may be that for lo these many years I’ve been talking and writing through my butt, but that doesn’t stop me from being an unrepentant verbivore.

I was the kind of child who, almost as soon as he could talk, saw a butterfly and cooed, “Oh, goody. A butterfly will flutter by.” Even as a high-school student, I knew that Elvis Presley, born three years before me, would become immortal because I saw that “Elvis Lives” is a two-word anagram.Still, I entered Haverford College as a pre-medical student but soon found that I was reading the chemistry books for their literary value. I became an English major and then attended Harvard Law School, where I found that I read the law cases for their literary value. So rather than fighting my verbivorous instincts, I switched into a Masters of Arts and Teaching program at Harvard. That led to a position at St. Paul’s School, in Concord, NH, where I taught English and media for 27 wonderful years. I would have gladly served them all their days, but my earning a Ph.D. in English and Linguistics from the University of New Hampshire inspired me to write my books on language. The enthusiastic popular response to these books, beginning with Anguished English, gave me the opportunity to leave the St. Paul’s community to extend my mission of teachership.

That’s what I do now, as a fly-by-the-roof-of-the-mouth user- friendly English teacher, Wizard of Idiom, Attila the Pun, and Conan the Grammarian.

More than a million of my books have been sold, most with Pocket Books, Bantam Doubleday Dell, St. Martin’s Press, Gibbs Smith, and Marion Street Press. My books have been Book-of-the-Month Club and Literary Guild alternate selections, and my work has appeared in the New York Times, Sports Illustrated, AARP, National Review, and Reader’s Digest. I have appeared in the likes of Plexus, The Toastmaster, Farmers’ Almanac, Mensa Bulletin, Language, Annals of Improbable Research, Word Ways: The Journal of Recreational Linguistics, and Journal of Court Reporters.

As a San Diegan, I am button-burstingly proud to announce that my column, “Lederer on Language,” appears weekly in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

I have broadcast regularly on a number of major market public and clear-channel commercial radio stations, including KPBS in San Diego and KSFO in San Francisco. I have appeared a number of times on just about every major radio station in the U.S., including Larry King radio, the Osgood Files, G. Gordon Liddy, Tom Snyder, Roy Leonard, Dave Maynard, David Brudnoy, and Jordan Rich, and television shows, such as the Today Show, and CNN Prime Time. I have been elected International Punster of the Year and Toastmasters International’s Golden Gavel by Toastmasters International winner.

For those organizations that need a brief biography about me for an introduction, please go to the statement I have prepared under the Public Speaking tab.

Visit Richard's website at verbivore.com

I Want to be a Writer. Where do I start?

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 09:27:16 GMT

Most important—Don’t be fooled into thinking there is only one way.

There is no single guaranteed path to producing a best selling book. Asking yourself a few questions before you start, after you start, once you finish your first draft, after your book is published, and in the years that follow may help you find the right starting point for you at that moment in time. You might even find more than one place to start.

Here I offer 16 questions to get you to start thinking, with links to more information. All of them are suggestions, not ingredients in a book-making recipe.

Caveat: I list resources here that I know of, but including a resource is not an endorsement. Do your own research into writing coaches, for example, by checking their references before making a commitment.

Sixteen questions to ask and answer if you want to be a writer. Subsequent posts on the dates indicated below will provide links to resources based on your answers to these questions.

Questions requiring research to answer

1. Do you have a story or idea in mind? July 2
2. Do you know who your audience is? July 5
3. Does your audience want books? July 6
4. Is your book idea fiction, memoir, or creative nonfiction based on history? July 8

Questions regarding writing

5. Do you have an outline, summary, or synopsis for your story? July 9
6. Have your written a first draft? July 12
7. Have you had your draft edited by a developmental editor? July 13
8. Have you had your draft reviewed by beta readers or manuscript reviewers? July 15

Questions regarding book production

9. Do you want to publish your book through a traditional publisher? July 16
10. Do you know what indie authors must do for themselves? July 19
11. Do you have an agent? July 20

Questions regarding marketing and publicity

12. Has your agent sold the publishing rights for your book? July 22
13. Do you have a marketing plan for the lead up to the launch of your book? July 23
14. Has the book been published? July 26
15. Do you have a marketing plan for the continued promotion of the book? July 27

Nonfiction research

16. Do others consider you an expert on the topic of your nonfiction book? July 29

Sandra Yeaman retired from the US Department of State in 2007 after 23 years as a Foreign Service Officer. As a management officer, she served at US embassies in Qatar, Barbados, Moldova, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Madagascar, Zambia, and Eritrea. In addition, she served in consular positions in Germany and Barbados and previously taught English as a Foreign Language in Iran and Romania.

She is familiar with Arabic, Farsi, German, Romanian, Russian, and Spanish. Her experiences overseas brought her in touch with underserved minorities and religious groups out of favor with the current government. These experiences provide her with a sensitivity in her writing and editing not easily attained by others.

These changes in environment and cultures challenged her notion of what success is. What made it possible for her to thrive in the midst of the change is the solid foundation she received in her childhood years in northern Minnesota.

Since retirement, Sandra has been writing her story and her journey from a young woman seeking adventure to a mature woman who found her mission. She hopes to complete her novel in 2021 and looks forward to gaining the expertise in the full range of pre-publication book preparation and marketing.

Congratulations to SDWEG Member Corey Lynn Fayman

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 10:30:43 GMT

Published Mystery/Suspense Fiction
Ballast Point Breakdown: A Rolly Waters Mystery
Corey Lynn Fayman

The 2021 NILA Writers Cider Toast

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 04:33:35 GMT

The 2021 NILA Writers Cider Toast writing conference will take place on August 7 and 8, 2021.

The conference is a favorite of NILA alumni and is open to authors around the world,

There is a $60 fee to join the conference, and we suggest you go to the EventBrite page to learn more.

To find links to the live Zoom events featuring Noah Lukeman, Geraldine Woods, Eric Witchey, Deb Lund, and more, visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nila-writers-cider-toast-2021-tickets-152928008791

You can also find updates, community content, documents from speakers, insider scoops, and more at the their Facebook group linked below:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/274035497609514

Meet author Kawai Strong Washburn this Thursday at 12:30 p.m.

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 10:49:33 GMT

Join The San Diego Union-Tribune this Thursday, July 1 at 12:30 p.m. PDT with author Kawai Strong Washburn on Facebook. Moderated by Phyllis Pfeiffer of the La Jolla Light.

Kawai Strong Washburn

Kawai Strong Washburn was born and raised on the Hamakua coast of Hawaii’s Big Island. His work has appeared in Best American Nonrequired Reading, McSweeney’s and Electric Literature’s Recommended Reading, among other outlets. He now lives with his wife and daughters in Minneapolis. “Sharks in the Time of Saviors” is his first novel.

Purchase “Sharks in the Time of Saviors” on bookshop.org/shop/sdfob.

For more information, visit sdfestivalofbooks.com.

Upcoming Virtual Events

July 8 at 11 a.m. PDT – Children’s storytime with Rob Machado

July 15 at 12:30 p.m. PDT - Author Q&A with Kelly Senyei, “The Secret Ingredient Cookbook” and Sam Zien, “Sam the Cooking Guy: Recipes with Intentional Leftovers”

July 22 at 11 a.m. PDT – Children’s storytime with Taylor Knox

July 29 at 11 a.m. PDT - Children’s storytime with Kristina Audencial

For more info, click here.

SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR
FIFTH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF BOOKS!
AUG. 21, 2021

For more information, visit sdfestivalofbooks.com

Brought to you by

San Diego Memoir Writers from Member Marni Freedman

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 10:40:24 GMT

Ready to make a new friend? What about a little good, old-fashioned pen-pal friendship? SDMWA is inviting members to get to know each other through the art of snail mail. If you would like to participate, BEFORE JULY 1, please fill out this Google Form:

https://forms.gle/PJLzGA8R7DWjuWHe7

We will be matchmaking before July 1 based on your interests and responses. By participating, you commit to sending one letter or postcard a month to your Pen Pal, though we're sure you'll be inspired by your new friendship to send more!

Thank you all,

Marni

Marni Freedman

Book Review: Your First 1000 Copies: The Step-by-Step Guide to Marketing Your Book by Tim Grahl

Andrea Glass — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:40:20 GMT

Author Tim Grahl knows what he’s talking about when it comes to book marketing. For more than a decade, he’s helped hundreds of authors market their books, many of which have become bestsellers. What Tim does that countless other authors of the dozens of book marketing books I’ve read don’t do is simplify the process. He shows new and seasoned authors a clear marketing path to success.

In this recently revised second edition, Tim uses the example of two authors, a compilation of those he’s worked with. One is a first-timer, the other more seasoned and we follow along on their marketing journeys.

The Connection System

Having a system and using the right tools is Tim’s approach to book marketing, beginning with building a platform to build a fan base. His three-part system includes permission to stay in touch with people, content that lets people know you’re a good fit for them, and outreach which is how you let people know you exist.

Permission

The best permission tool is email, which Tim proves by statistics that show how it outperforms social media. What’s really helpful is he gives templates for the first three emails to send after you sign up a subscriber. He also gives clear directions on how to get people to sign up for your mailing list, which is often a challenge for most new authors.

Content

Tim discusses many ways we can create content, and his examples gave me so many new ideas. Repurposing content into a variety of formats is so smart since people learn in different ways: written, audio, or video. I love that he addresses the issue many authors fear: that giving away too much free content will diminish book sales. Tim says it’s the opposite: the free content attracts followers who are engaged with the content and want more, whatever the author has. That’s how authors build a fan base.

Outreach

This is the scary part for most new authors: asking for help and being willing to get a “no” or no response at all. Tim makes it easy to reach out to an author’s ideal reader (persona) as well as others who may be able to help authors promote their book. His comprehensive list of how to find your personas and influencers and templates of emails to send for contact make these tasks less frightening. I appreciate his tip about asking for referrals whether or not your request results in a positive or negative response.

Tim also provides a huge list on his website through a link in the book with many valuable resources. After reading Your First 1000 Copies, I felt I had a blueprint to build a fan base of avid readers who would buy my book, write great reviews, and tell others about it. All I had to do was follow Tim’s suggestions and I had a roadmap to success. I’ve already started the process by building my website and setting up my opt-in and email sequence. I can’t wait for my fabulous results.

Tim Grahl, Author of Your First 1000 Copies

Tim Grahl is the founder of [Out:think], a firm that helps authors build their platforms, connect with readers and sell more books. He is the author of Your First 1000 Copies: The Step-by-Step Guide to Marketing Your Book and works with many of the top authors in the world including Hugh Howey, Daniel Pink, Dan and Chip Heath, Barbara Corcoran and many more. He has launched multiple New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling books.

Through his work with more than 100 authors across all genres, Tim has learned and practiced the secrets behind successful marketing campaigns and teaches these strategies and techniques through his website at http://outthinkgroup.com.

Andrea Glass, SDWEG Editor

Andrea Susan Glass, CEO of WritersWay, is a book coach, copy editor, and award-winning ghostwriter specializing in personal and professional development books. She teaches “Marketing for Copy editors” and “Building a Business Around Writing” for UCSD Extension and gives webinars and workshops on writing and publishing. Andrea is the bestselling author of Your Fabulous First Book: How to Write with Clarity, Confidence & Connection and the soon-to-be-published My Fabulous First Book: A Workbook Companion.

Andrea is a long-time member of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild and is a website contributor.

Use Your Head - from Sandra Yeaman

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 11:38:34 GMT

Before I retired, I spent a good deal of time taking part in online webinars to keep current with new media trends. One resource I discovered is leadership and culture coach Christine Comaford, who for 30 years has been helping leaders navigate growth and change using her expertise in human behavior and applied neuroscience.

Applied neuroscience. What a wonderful term. Not just neuroscience, but applied neuroscience.

In her presentations, Comaford simplifies the functions of the human brain by focusing on three different areas she refers to as the reptilian brain, the mammalian brain, and the pre-fontal and neo-cortex which she refers to as the executive brain.

Simplifying even further, she assigns a question to each of the three areas. The reptilian brain deals with the question “am I safe?” The mammalian brain addresses “do I belong?” and the executive brain concerns itself with “do I matter?”

These three questions are useful considering when viewing marketing messages and even the news. Marketing messages or news stories that focus on fear of your surroundings address the reptilian brain. Those that focus on differences between you and others address the mammalian brain. Understanding this can help raise your thinking above these lower functions by shifting attention to the executive function question of mattering.

Apple takes aim at newsletters

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 13:09:11 GMT

Hey,

There’s a huge change coming in September – once again being driven by Apple – which could have a pretty major effect on how we sell books. And to all readers, not just Apple Books customers.

It’s a genuinely big deal so I’m going through it in detail for you today. This is a long, substantive email and I urge you to read it carefully because there is going to be panic about these changes, and probably a steaming pile of hot-takes too with dumb headlines like “Email marketing is dead.”

Before we get to that, one small but very necessary bit of housekeeping – which will become very relevant to the above in a moment.

Whitelist Me Now Or Lose Me Forever

Many of you didn’t get my last email.

I can always tell when something drops into Promotions (or worse) because my open rate drops around 15%. I typically get an open rate of 55%+ on this list for each campaign send, and if it drops to something like 42% then I know there’s an issue. While I usually test for this in advance, sometimes one will slip through the net.

This quick process should ensure you always get my emails: whitelist my email address by following these instructions. It only takes a minute.

BTW, it’s a good idea for you to do this periodically with your own lists, as well as at least once during your onboarding process.

(I will give you examples of how to do this in a future email as we are going to be talking about email marketing a fair bit this summer for reasons that will soon become clear.)

You will never get massive uptake on whitelisting – it’s not exactly sexy – but it is something you only need to get (some) readers to do once and then the benefits accumulate over time across your entire list.

Definitely one of those situations where every little helps.

(To be clear: this is your personal choice, nothing will happen if you don't whitelist me, you just might miss some important emails... which you presumably want to receive if you are on this mailing list!)

With that amuse-bouche scoffed, let’s move on to the rather troubling main course.

Apple To Block Email Open Tracking

Apple held its annual developer shindig last week and amidst all the usual glitzy new features was one which had marketers scrambling.

The next update from Apple – iOS 15 – will contain something called the Mail Protection Privacy, which will block email open tracking.

Virtually all email opens on Apple phones and tablets are routed through Apple Mail (often even if you are using Gmail), and around half email opens on Apple desktop devices go via Apple Mail as well, this is huge news – especially as other players are expected to follow.

Indeed, a Google spokesperson confirmed that they are looking at similar changes.

This genuinely is a major development for anyone that has a mailing list – and not a positive one – so let’s break down what this all means, and what you should do about it.

There's no reason to panic, but there definitely is reason to take action - and the window to do that effectively is limited.

How Open Tracking Works

Email Marketing Services like MailerLite or ConvertKit provide us with data so that we know how our lists are performing - and open rates are the most important, followed by click rates.

This data is essential for knowing how campaigns are doing, if readers are opening your messages and clicking the links, whether a new batch of subscribers are performing well, if a welcome sequence is keeping readers engaged, or alerting you to when a new release email drops into Spam or Promotions, and many more besides.

The way open tracking works is this: your email marketing service inserts a tiny image the size of a pixel into each of your emails, and when that pixel “fires” – i.e. when it is loaded on the recipient’s device – an open is registered on your dashboard.

From September, Apple will start blocking that process. Direct from Apple:

"In the Mail app, Mail Privacy Protection stops senders from using invisible pixels to collect information about the user. The new feature helps users prevent senders from knowing when they open an email, and masks their IP address so it can’t be linked to other online activity or used to determine their location."

While Mail Privacy Protection won't be an automatic default, users will be prompted to adopt it (and if figures around the Facebook changes are any guide, we can expect around 80% of users to follow Apple's prompts).

Just to underline how many users will be affected: most of them are using the Apple Mail app, even if they don’t realise it – when you hook up that generic looking envelope pre-loaded on your home screen to something like Gmail, your messages are still being routed via the Apple Mail app, and your email open tracking will be blocked for anyone who updates to iOS 15 and follows Apple's prompting.

And there's one final twist: Apple will actually report an open on every email that passes through Apple Mail in iOS15, so if you aren't aware of these changes, you might see a spike in your open rates and think your list performance is improving, when the opposite could be true.

In other words, it's going to make a mess of all your data, not just the big chunk of your subscribers using Apple devices. (I guarantee you this point will be missed in a lot of commentary on this, so keep it in mind.)

Click tracking works differently, I should add, and it looks like that will be spared (for now).

But that doesn’t soften the blow very much.

How Does This Compare To Recent Apple/Facebook Changes?

Some observers are comparing this to the recent changes in iOS14.5 which crippled Facebook’s ability to collect data on users of Apple devices. But let me explain why this move on email open tracking is a much bigger deal.

The changes in iOS14.5, aimed at Facebook, got a lot more media coverage but – for most authors at least – they turned out to be a bit of a damp squib.

Unless you were a heavy user of the Facebook Pixel or the Audience Network, and unless you were a wide author or otherwise had a disproportionate amount of Apple users in your target audience, you might not have noticed much more than what I saw: a shrinking of some Pixel-based custom audiences, a reduction in the size of some interest audiences, and a moderate increase in CPC.

In plain English, the changes only really impacted more advanced users of Facebook Ads and the impact was not as bad as feared… so far. And the reason why is directly relevant to how the impact on email open tracking might play out.

I was chatting to a friend at Facebook about all this recently, and he pointed out that only around a sixth of Apple users had upgraded to iOS 14.5 a month after its release.

Of course, those numbers will rise over time, but this is very useful to know – because it means that the impact of Apple’s changes won’t bite all at once this September. Rather, it will be a slow gnawing of the rope.

This gives us more time to adapt. And we’re going to need it!

How Will Email Marketing Services React?

I have no idea - honestly. This is all pretty new and while some of them surely predicted this was coming, I’m sure they are all scrambling now to get their hands on a beta of iOS 15 to see what they can do in practical terms.

I’ve seen a few potential solutions mooted: there has been talk of Open Rates going away as a metric and being replaced with some kind of predicted or estimated number, using the remaining trackable users on your list and extrapolating from that to cover the gaping hole created by Apple, but it’s all up in the air right now.

And that sounds like a sticking plaster to me, rather than a bona fide solution. However, I don’t think there is a magic way to fix this.

Also, Email Marketing Services might be reticent to invest too heavily in solving this problem right now for understandable reasons: others will probably follow Apple’s lead. So I would expect those sticking plasters to abound in the short term. Because the long term trends all point one direction.

The Age of “Privacy” Is Here

Marketers may well look back at the last two decades as the Golden Age of Data because the trends right now are obvious. Apple nixed Facebook data tracking in April, and will take aim at email open tracking in September. Google are taking the axe to cookies in 2022. And regulators around the world are nipping at the heels of all the big tech companies to do much more again.

All the tech companies will tell you this is about privacy, but as someone who used to work for a big tech company, I can tell you this is highly dubious.

Apple is still collecting tons of data on its users; it’s just not sharing it with Facebook anymore. And Apple will still be monetizing that user data – just in different ways.

For me, Apple’s move (and Google’s next year) is more to do with building the walls of its garden higher and boosting its App Store and associated ad platform.

Apple wants less people on the internet and more inside apps – where it gets 30% on all transactions, and where companies will increasingly need to be discovered in the App Store... on Apple's own ad platform.

It’s kind of ironic that all these moves to hold Big Tech accountable and reduce their power and increase our privacy will, most likely, solidify the position of Big Tech and make it harder for other companies to challenge their hegemony (and do little for privacy), but that’s a rant for another day.

Whatever our personal feelings on these moves and these companies, authors are mere leaves in the wind of these forces which blow through our industry; all we can do is adapt to the changes as best we can.

Is Email Marketing Dead?

You’re going to read a lot of thinkpieces with silly headlines like that over the summer, but there is no point overreacting here.

The change sucks for anyone who uses that data to build their business and get better at email, but it doesn't reduce the power of email marketing one bit. It just makes it harder to optimize and raise your email game.

There's also no point getting mad at Apple because if they didn't make this move, someone else would have. I actually expected this - it was kind of inevitable the way things were trending, it just happened faster than I expected.

I'd rather attack this problem in a positive way.

So let me summarize what all this means for authors specifically, especially those of us for whom email marketing is an important plank in our operations. Or what I think this means. Remember, this is all new; no one has had much time to digest it yet:

Email open tracking is going away whether we like it or not.
This will make it much harder to measure performance of campaigns and subscribers.
Email Marketing Services will probably come up with solutions., but they won’t be great and probably will be temporary as the blocking of open tracking becomes industry standard.
It will have a huge impact on aggressive list-building strategies in particular.
List-culling will become way trickier.
All this will happen gradually… so you have time. But it is coming.
If you were planning some list-building, now is a very good time.
And if you were putting list-culling on the long finger… perhaps rethink that as the window to do that effectively might only be a few months.

If you want one takeaway it is this: the time to get good at email is nowbecause it’s going to get harder next year.

But this distinction is critical: email marketing will still be the most powerful tool at your disposal. It's just going to get harder to monitor your performance in key areas - so now is the time to address any shortcomings you may have. Because you are going to be flying somewhat blind soon.

In other words, if you were deciding between a variety of things to pursue on the marketing side, bump email-related activities up the list. I’m certainly going to be doubling down on email for fiction and non-fiction for the rest of the year - while I can still get useful data on whatever I'm trying.

What this means for this newsletter is simple: we are going to focus a lot on email marketing this summer.

Starting next week, I’ll give you some resources to help with everything I've discussed here – this email is long enough!

Just make sure that you followed the whitelisting instructions above because the next emails from me will likely have quite a few images and links, and that can make an email drop into Promotions or Spam.

Because soon I won’t be able to tell…

Dave

P.S. Writing music this week is Joni Mitchell with All I Want.

10 Things You Can Do to Promote Your Books and eBooks

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 11:11:20 GMT

The following article is adapted from a wonderful newsletter shared recently by Steve O’Keefe, author of Set the Page on Fire: Secrets of Successful Writers. It outlines ten ways you can promote your books on Amazon—as well as ten ways you SHOULD promote your books on Amazon.

1. Register, Claim, and Fix Your Amazon Author Page

Amazon Author Central (https://author.amazon.com/claim/welcome) enables you to register as a book author and claim your books. You can add a blog feed (from your main author blog), videos, photos, a bio, and more. Steve wrote a detailed article for IBPA on how to claim and complete your author page here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/blogpost/1734581/309773/The-Amazon-Makeover-by-Steve-O-Keefe.

An Amazon author page can act as your home page on the internet (if you like to use it for that purpose). From there you can promote yourself as an author, talk show guest, consultant, expert, speaker, and more.

Steve O’Keefe’s Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Steve-OKeefe/e/B001HD0BJ4

John Kremer’s author page: https://www.amazon.com/John-Kremer/e/B001H6L2T4

2. Fix Your Amazon Book Pages

You can control the content on the pages for your books. Amazon provides six bins you can fill with content, including Editorial Reviews, Inside Flap Copy, Back Cover Copy, and About the Author. You can put anything you want into those bins, within reason, such as excerpts, reviews, special offers, rights information, tour schedule, etc.

But don’t be annoying or too aggressive. And don’t link to any site outside of Amazon (Amazon does not like to send people outside of itself when people are reading about books to buy).

3. Add a Media Kit to Your Website

A good media kit, the key to promoting your book to a variety of audiences, is foundational content for a book website. Your kit should contain a single-page printable summary with Contact Info, Book Summary, Author Summary, Book Cover, Author Photo, and META data such as dimensions, pages, ISBN, etc.

Steve recommends an index to Best Lines, Power Paragraphs, and Best Excerpts, along with Keynames, Keyplaces, and Keywords. You should also include and update Author Endorsements and Book Endorsements. And, of course, you can add all that onto your Amazon Book and Author pages.

Check out this wonderfully complete media kit for Words Whispered in Water: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fgJI0dZvI09JBmJGMsEuSPT2Y8SRVILhHM0OQVeHNR4.

4. Review Books on Amazon

Review books in your field, books you like, books you’ve just read, books Amazon associates with your book (both in the Amazon ads as well as on your book pages), and books by authors Amazon associates with you. When you do a review, always link your name to your Amazon Author Page and your book title to your Amazon Book Page.

You don’t have to write long reviews, but you should show that you read the book (or at least scanned it). A one-sentence review can often get more attention and be more effective. Most important, make sure your review enhances your credibility as well as the credibility for your book.

Besides reviewing books on Amazon, you can also post your book reviews to GoodReads, Facebook, Twitter, your website, and more. Again, with links to your Amazon Author Page and Amazon Book Page.

Note: If you start doing effective book reviews that help sell books, you can ask for review copies from the publicity department of book publishers.

Here is Steve’s book review page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AFAEINMZMSHSFDABB5CJDQ5NR3OQ.

For the other six points in this article, go to https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/10-free-things-you-can-do-to-promote.

After you finish reading the other six points, subscribe for the free version of my book marketing newsletter or upgrade for a small price to the paid version with extra issues, free books, free audios, and free videos—all to help you sell more books. - John Kremer

Visit The Book Marketing Network at: http://thebookmarketingnetwork.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

World Refugee Day

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 11:35:38 GMT

by Sandra Yeaman

The United Nations designated June 20 each year as World Refugee Day in order to highlight the needs, rights, and desires of refugees who have fled their homes in order to escape persecution and conflict. The goal is to keep the focus on the plight of refugees until ways to improve their lives are found so that they not only survive but thrive.

The first observation of World Refugee Day was in 2001, to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees.

Refugees face a number of challenges even after they have managed to escape the countries they left because of persecution, conflict, natural disaster, or other circumstances that interfere with public order. Outside of the environments they knew, finding a doctor or schools for their children or safe areas for their children to play are new challenges. Resettlement to a permanent location may take years, putting refugees in a state of limbo with regard to their education, health, and safety.

This year’s UN Refugee Agency’s theme for World Refugee Day is Together We Heal, Learn, and Shine which emphasizes the power of inclusion. Whether refugees are in temporary camps or have been resettled into permanent residences, making sure they receive high quality health care, education for both children and adults, and opportunities to participate in sports and other creative activities is essential to creating a path for them to contribute to society.

World Refugee Day offers us all an opportunity to build our empathy for others through sharing the stories of refugees, especially the stories of their successes, such as those linked below.

For more information about how you can get involved in observing World Refugee Day in a meaningful way, check out the UNHCR’s website. You can also join in a Facebook Live Panel Discussion, Welcoming Refugees on Friday, June 18, at 9 a.m. PDT.

2021 Memoir Showcase Submission Guidelines

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 23:36:40 GMT

Submissions open for the Memoir Showcase on June 20. Please follow the submission guidelines. Pieces that are too long will not be considered.

IMPORTANT: Give your piece a unique title. DO NOT title it the theme. The judging process is blind and we use the unique title to identify your piece.

Submissions are open: June 20

Submissions are closed: August 15

Theme for 2020: But I’m Still Here

Note: Feel free to interpret this theme in any way that sparks your interest.

Length: Pieces should be 5 pages or less. Double spaced, 12-point font.

Submission Fee:

$30 for 1

$50 for 2

$65 for 3

$85 for 4

To Submit: Go to www.sdmwa.org , click on the Memoir Showcase page and you will be prompted to upload your information and your piece.

How the Memoir Showcase works:

Submissions will be read and judged by a panel of judges. The winning pieces will be selected (top 10 submissions) and notified by the middle of September.

Winning Writers will be assigned a writing coach. Writers will work with their writing coach to refine their theme, and then cut or polish their piece for approximately one month. Note: If you do not want to refine, cut or polish your piece with a writing coach, then this is not a good contest for you to enter.

The director will hold auditions and select actors and actresses. Writers will then meet for a roundtable read of their pieces with their selected professional actor/actress and their director. Writers will have the opportunity to hear their piece read and offer input during a collaborative discussion.

The director will take the notes from the collaborative roundtable and work with the actor/actress.

The pieces will be performed in October at North Coast Repertory.

Meet author, Donna Freitas!

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 22:25:23 GMT

Do You Want to Be On the Zoom Portion Of the June 15 Book Club?

Just click on the submission button below, send us a YES, and we will get you all signed up!

Warmly,

Marni

www.marnifreedman.com

The Writer's Workshop - June 4, 2021

Sat, 05 Jun 2021 15:10:12 GMT

IN-PERSON & ONLINE FICTION CLASS & CONTEST

The Writers' Workshop offers in-person and online classes for beginning and experienced writers. Classes meet on Saturdays, 10-3:30 pm, with a lunch break. Registration is in advance only at www.twwoa.org. Classes are $80 each, and financial assistance is available for low-income writers in exchange for volunteering.

JUNE 12: FICTION WRITING & REVISING with Karen Ackerson

**********

Humor Me Writing Contest Deadline: Postmarked or emailed by June 30, 2021

Awards:

1^ST Place: Your choice of a 2 night stay at our Mountain Muse B&B in Asheville; or 3 free workshops (in person or online); or 50 pages line-edited and revised by our editorial staff

2nd Place: Two free workshops; or 35 pages line-edited

3rd Place: One free workshop, or 25 pages line-edited

10 Honorable Mentions

Guidelines:

Email or snail-mail a humorous story (fiction or non-fiction) of 5,000 words or less. Use of witty, dry humor is encouraged. Pages should be paper clipped, with your name, address, phone and title of work on the first page. Double-space, and use 12 point font. Mention if this is fiction or not.

The entry fee per story is $25/$20 Workshop members. Multiple entries are accepted. Enclose self-sealing SASE for critique and list of winners.

Make check or money order payable to The Writers’ Workshop, and mail to: Humor Contest, 387 Beaucatcher Road, Asheville, NC 28805. Emailed submissions may be sent in Word doc attachment to writersw@gmail.com (this link is out of date because the contest has closed), with “Humor Contest” in the subject. The entry fee is payable online at www.twwoa.org, or by mailing a check. No sase is required – comments will be emailed.

* * * * *

They Ate by Margaret Harmon, SDWEG Member

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 13:55:09 GMT

THEY ATE

By Margaret Harmon
Read by David Fenner

Click to listen - 4.5 minutes

Margaret Harmon is a local author who is, lucky for us, also a fan of Write Out Loud. We are delighted that she has given us permission to read some of her stories for Listen To This. This little amuse bouche sized piece might be reminiscent of Ray Bradbury, who said of her work - Fantastic! We're glad to once again bring you a reading by my nephew, David Fenner. If you'd like to learn more about Margaret click here.

Listen to This is made possible in part by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, County of San Diego, Doctor Seuss Fund and the Conrad Prebys Foundation.

San Diego Writers Festival Newsletter

Mon, 31 May 2021 13:40:53 GMT

We are delighted to share our full lineup for the first day of programming on Saturday, July 17, 2021.

Stay tuned for more information about signing up to pitch an agent (for free). The slots will be first come, first served. We treasure you and can't wait to connect this summer!

Tip from Sandra: Understanding MS-Word Templates

Mon, 24 May 2021 14:17:49 GMT

Why do I need to know about Microsoft templates?

MS Word templates are like cookie cutters. Everytime you begin a new document in MS Word, formatting options such as the indentation of each paragraph, the spacing between paragraphs, the spacing between lines within a paragraph, the font style and size, and much more are determined by the Word template you chose when you created the new document. Each new document is a copy of the template that cut it.

Even if you think you didn’t make a choice, you did. If you start typing without choosing anything, MS Word makes the choice for you by providing a default template, normal.dotm. The template is like a map or pattern for every new document. Each new document is a copy of the template’s formatting, all of which can be changed in your new document. But the template remains the same, available to be used again later.

The default settings for the normal.dotm template on my Mac laptop are as follows:

US letter-sized paper
Calibri font, 12-point size
single spacing within paragraphs
no extra points of space after each paragraph
no indentation of the first line
no tab stops set, but default stops every .5 inches
1-inch margins at top, bottom, left, and right
portrait orientation

Unless I change the formatting of a new document, these formatting instructions will apply. And even if I change the formatting of the document I am editing, the next one I create will go right back to the default formating of normal.dotm.

The settings for normal.dotm on a Windows PC may differ. You can discover the settings for normal.dotm by reviewing the page layout, paragraph layout, font choice, and other formatting information after you create a new document before you begin typing on it.

Can the default settings be changed?

You can change any of these default settings, but those changes will only apply to the specific document you are creating or editing—the specific copy of the template. If you make the changes before you begin typing, the changes will apply to everything you type on that document. But, if you make changes after you have already begun creating the document, the changes will only apply from the point where your cursor is anchored. If you move the cursor to another place in the document, the changes you made will not apply. I hope the chart below will help make clear the impact of changes you make to the format of the current and other documents.

Action	Effect on Template	Effect on Current Document	Effect on Previous Documents	Effect on Future Documents
Create a new document	none	matches format of the selected template	none	none
Change margins before adding text	none	margins will change for the entire document	none	none
Change margins after typing has begun	none	margins will change for either the document, page, or section, depending on the author’s choice	none	none
Adding tab stops before adding text	none	tab stops will apply across the document	none	none
Adding tab stops after typing has begun	none	tab stops will apply from the point at which the cursor is anchored and for any text typed afterwards*	none	none
Changing the font before adding text	none	font type and size will match the change throughout the document	none	none
Changing the font after typing has begun	none	font type and size will match the change from the point at which the cursor is anchored and for any text typed afterwards*	none	none
Changing the paragraph style before adding text	none	paragraph format will match the changed paragraph style throughout the document	none	none
Changing the paragraph style after typing has begun	none	paragraph format will match the change from the point at which the cursor is anchored and for any text typed afterwards*	none	none
Changing the settings on normal.dotm	everything will change to match the new settings	see information below about how to change normal.dotm	none	all future documents will match the new formatting of the changed template

*If you make changes to any of the settings and wish them to apply to the entire document, you must highlight the entire document before changing the settings so that the changes apply to everything that is highlighted.

May I have more than one template on my computer?

Yes, you may have multiple templates, but if you do not choose one, the normal template will be applied. If you choose New Document from the File options in the main menu, you are choosing normal.dotm as the template. To choose a different template, you must choose New from Template from the File option menu and then choose one of the templates that appear. MS Word comes with many templates preloaded.

You can also create a new template, or change normal.dotm so that new documents are created with a different style or size of font or line spacing or tab settings, if you want to use different settings for every new document you create. Using the cookie cutter analogy again, if you want round cookies, you’d rather use a round cutter from the beginning than have to cut off the edges of a square cookie and then reshape the edges of every new cookie.

First, understand what normal.dotm does. If you decide you want different formatting features to be standard for every document you create, you may want to change normal.dotm. If, in contrast, you decide it would be helpful to have a specific set of formatting features available when you start a specific set of documents, such as new manuscripts for your read-and-critique group or for submitting to contests, you may want to create a new template with a unique name for that set of documents.

Because the means to change normal.dotm vary from release to release as well as from PCs to Macs, I recommend searching for instructions until you find what works for your computer.

Creating a new template is easier. When you have formatted a new document with all the features you want for it, use Save As Template or Save As and select Word Template (.dotx) in the File Format drop down list. Give your template a name that you will recognize whenever you need to create a new document with those formatting features.

The video below shows how to create a new template as well as how to update an existing template, including normal.dotm, for Microsoft Word 2016 for Windows. If these instructions do not work for your computer, search for “creating templates for MS Word 20xx” with the release year of your MS Word replacing xx.

Sandra Yeaman retired from the US Department of State in 2007 after 23 years as a Foreign Service Officer. As a management officer, she served at US embassies in Qatar, Barbados, Moldova, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Madagascar, Zambia, and Eritrea. In addition, she served in consular positions in Germany and Barbados and previously taught English as a Foreign Language in Iran and Romania.

She is familiar with Arabic, Farsi, German, Romanian, Russian, and Spanish. Her experiences overseas brought her in touch with underserved minorities and religious groups out of favor with the current government. These experiences provide her with a sensitivity in her writing and editing not easily attained by others.

These changes in environment and cultures challenged her notion of what success is. What made it possible for her to thrive in the midst of the change is the solid foundation she received in her childhood years in northern Minnesota.

Since retirement, Sandra has been writing her story and her journey from a young woman seeking adventure to a mature woman who found her mission. She hopes to complete her novel in 2021 and looks forward to gaining the expertise in the full range of pre-publication book preparation and marketing.

Thoughts from Mardie Schroeder - Palimpsest

Thu, 13 May 2021 16:26:11 GMT

by Mardie Schroeder, Past President, San Diego Writers and Editors Guild

In olden days, writing surfaces were so rare that they were often used more than once. "Palimpsest" originally described an early form of recycling in which an old document was erased to make room for a new one when parchment ran short. Fortunately for modern scholars, the erasing process wasn't completely effective, so the original could often be distinguished under the newer writing. De republica, by Roman statesman and orator Cicero, is one of many documents thus recovered from a palimpsest. Nowadays, the word palimpsest can refer not only to such a document but to anything that has multiple layers.

San Diego Library Connections

Sat, 01 May 2021 16:07:48 GMT

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Learn Something New at the 6th Annual How-To Festival

In partnership with California Coast Credit Union, the Library is hosting its 6th Annual How-To Festival online on May 22. A curated collection of how-to videos created by Library staff and community members will premiere online and will remain available for later viewing. Round up your family and learn something new together, like How-To Make a Banana Dog, How-To Meditate for Busy People, or How-To Create a Kokedama. There is something for everyone and all ages!

Free Seed Distribution at All Open Libraries

Spring is a great time to start a new vegetable garden! All open Libraries now have seeds available for the public to grow their own healthy food. Available seeds include melons, carrots, squash, and more. This is made possible through a generous donation from Vlada's Seeds for Life and the Ahern Seed Company. Visit your local branch today to get your free seeds and inquire about available gardening books.

Take a Library NExT Course in May

Library NExT is a series of workshops on STEAM topics for elementary, middle, and high school students. Sign your student up for a course specifically aimed at grades 3-5, 6-8, or 9-12. Upcoming topics include Medicine and the Heart, Physics of Fidget Spinners, Intro to Python Programming, Screenwriting, Wellness in the Digital Age, and Beginner's SketchUp. All classes are virtual and held on Zoom.

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage

The Library celebrates the rich heritage, cultures, experiences, contributions, and resilience of our Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander-identified (AAPI) communities. Join us in the celebration by checking out our diverse program offerings or reading a book from our staff-created AAPI Heritage Month book list. Program highlights include Cooking Around the World on May 3, Storytime with Señor Chon on May 14, Polynesian Paradise Dancers on May 20, and Hmong Culture & Craft on May 26.

SD Access 4 All: Reducing the Digital Divide in San Diego

Together with the City of San Diego, the Library is taking action to close the digital divide that leaves residents without internet access. Through the SD Access 4 All program, the Library is offering outdoor computer labs, public WiFi, and mobile hotspots for library card holders to check out in select locations. The mobile hotspots are easy to use and allow you to connect your laptop, tablet, and other WiFi-enabled devices to the internet.

Listeners' Advisory: The San Diego Public Library Podcast

Episode two of Listeners' Advisory: The San Diego Public Library Podcast is out now and the theme is books! Learn about the new reader's advisory service Matchbook; meet the creative team behind the Library's first children's book, Odi's Library Day; and discover some great reads from the hosts of the Library's web series, Read More. Listeners' Advisory is available anywhere you get your podcasts.

Media Literacy Series: How the Media Covers Race

From police shootings of unarmed Black people, to the recent rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans, to debates over the ongoing crisis at the U.S. border—stories about race and race relations have dominated recent headlines. Join the Library on May 10 for an open and honest discussion about how journalists approach these difficult issues, how newsroom diversity impacts coverage of race, and what role the media should play in creating more equitable, inclusive communities.

Digital Resource Spotlight: SimplyE

Developed by the New York Public Library, SimplyE is a free, open-source e-reader app that allows the library to bring together a collection of eBooks and audiobooks from cloudLibrary and enki Library to make them accessible all in one place. Search the Google Play or Apple app store for "SimplyE." To begin using the app, open it and log in with your full library card number and PIN.

Author of the Month: Lilita Zvejnieks Hardes

A Memoir of Home, War and Finding Refuge - Biruta's Story is a heartwarming story just in time for Mother's Day. On May 8, join first-generation American, Lilita Zvejnieks Hardes, as she presents a loving tribute to her mother in this compelling, well-researched memoir about her journey for refuge as a young Latvian war refugee during World War II. Fleeing Latvia, Biruta's path takes her through Nazi-occupied Germany as she searches for peace, love, and a place to call home.

The Library Shop's Curbside Caravan Returns for One Last Encore Tour

The Library Shop is back in May for its last Curbside Caravan Tour! The Shop will be visiting 11 Library branches and stopping by Verbatim Books in North Park with a convenient, safe, and socially distanced pop-up shop curbside. Check the schedule and visit the Caravan to pick up a new book or literary-themed gift. All proceeds support the Library system.

Financial Wellness Webinar: Managing Your Retirement Accounts

As part of an ongoing collaboration with California Coast Credit Union, the Library is excited to offer a series of financial wellness webinars. On May 12, financial experts from California Coast Credit Union will explore account solutions designed to fit your life, whether you are planning for retirement or looking to grow and preserve your wealth.

Pitch Your Book Contest - Voyage Magazine -Due May 21

Sat, 01 May 2021 14:04:29 GMT

Pitch Your Book Contest

Query Letter Advice

From Voyage YA Editor-in-Chief Racquel Henry!

I initially learned to write a query letter from Literary Agent Carly Watters at P.S. Literary Agency. After 6 years of querying my YA novel off and on, I’ve stuck by these tips and used them to write the query that eventually landed me my agent! I’m sharing these tips below and hopefully, they’ll help you too!

Break your query into three sections:

The intro
The book pitch
The bio/wrap-up

Query letters should be one page.

Address the agent or editor by their full name or use their first name. (I know the inclination is to be formal, but you may not always know the agent’s preferred pronoun.)

Intros can include info such as: where you heard about the agent (mention if you took a workshop with them, or saw them at a conference, etc.), why they might be a good fit, the title of your novel, the word count, and genre/category. Many agents also like comp titles, and this would be a good place to put those as well.

The pitch should be the focus of the query. Agents and editors will be most interested in the project itself. Therefore, the pitch section will be the longest section. The pitch should also make three things clear: who your protagonist is, what the conflict is, and what the stakes are. Try your best to avoid introducing too many characters—the leads of the story should be the center of attention. Keep the intro and bio section brief.

We have additional query letter resources listed on our Book-Pitch contest page here.

And you can also see samples of successful query letters here and here.

Happy query letter writing!

Learn More

Add to Calendar

First Page Slam News

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 18:14:46 GMT

Thank you for your registration for the First Page Slam on May 24th. I'm not sure that we gave sufficient instructions on next steps for members like you who indicated an intent to participate and have your first pages critiqued.

Here's what you need to do next, if you have not already -

Your first page must be submitted by May 17^th to be considered. First pages will be critiqued in the order in which they were submitted. Last year we had more submissions that we could do at our meeting, so some people lost out. Get your submission in right away so you can be sure you get a place at the meeting. If you do not have your submission critiqued at the meeting, you will still receive a written critique.

All submissions must be made by May 17^th, 2021 to penn@pennwallace.com in Microsoft Word format.

Use New Times Roman 12-point font, 1-inch margins, double spaced, indent first line of paragraph.

DO NOT put any identifying information on the page. These need to be anonymous.

NYC Big Book Awards

Sat, 17 Apr 2021 13:38:27 GMT

We are accepting the next round of books, open to ALL authors and publishers, http://nycbigbookaward.com

We are requesting applications by June 30th, with books to follow.

Book submissions come from all parts of the country, and abroad. Winners announced Fall 2021.

Thank you for your consideration.

-gabby

NYC Big Book Award

[twitter] www.twitter.com/GabbyBookAwards

[LinkedIn] https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-olczak-ba928b127

https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/

Publish your serials and shorts. Amazon is launching Kindle Vella, mobile first serialized fiction .

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 14:13:58 GMT

From Goodreader

April 14, 2021 By Michael Kozlowski 4 Comments

Amazon is launching a new system the iOS Kindle app called Kindle Vella, in the next few months. It is a new way for authors to share serialized stories with readers, one chapter at a time. Authors can self-publish Kindle Vella stories in a serial format, one short 600–5,000-word episode at a time, using the same Kindle Direct Publishing platform that have always used in the past.

Kindle Vella stories will be able to be purchased right on the iOS app, using tokens. The first few episodes of every story will be free so that readers have a chance to check out a new story and see if they like it. Readers will then purchase and redeem tokens to unlock subsequent episodes. The number of tokens required to unlock an episode is determined by the length of the episode. Amazon will have different bundle options for readers and will be sharing the details soon. Authors will earn 50% of what readers spend on tokens, which are used to unlock a story’s episodes. Authors will also be eligible for a launch bonus based on customer activity and engagement.

This service is available now for authors in the United States and readers when it launches in a few months. It remains to be seen if tokens will be sold right on the Kindle for iOS app, because Amazon does not actually sell books on the app, since they don’t want to give Apple a percentage of every book sold. I have reached out to Amazon to clarify on how users can buy tokens, and will update the story.

Kindle Vella will have a social component, where readers can talk to the author, using author notes. Readers can leave a Thumbs Up for any episode they like. Once a week, readers who have purchased Tokens will receive a Fave to award to the story they enjoyed most that week. Amazon will then feature stories with the most Faves in the Kindle Vella store.

One of the most interesting things about the Vella program, is that it provides a fresh approach to storytelling and provides a revenue model for new and existing authors to make money. Serialized novels, can easily be written, a few pages here and a few pages there, once published, readers can give feedback and authors can tell their readers, what feedback they are using, for feature chapters. Ideally, this will help chart the future direction of the overall story and catter it towards what readers want to see. Ideally, once a Vella has been completed, the author can likely spin it into an ebook and sell it on Amazon.com. Although, if they do this, they will have to remove the story from Vella. The serialized and social approach is similar to Toronto, Canada, based Wattpad, except they don’t pay writers.

Note: Amazon will shut down Kindle Vella in February 2025.

Michael Kozlowski

Michael Kozlowski is the Editor in Chief of Good e-Reader. He has been writing about audiobooks and e-readers for the past ten years. His articles have been picked up by major and local news sources and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times.

William Barrons, 1926-2021

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 13:59:51 GMT

by Rick Lakin

On Sunday March 28, 2021, William Barrons, aged 95, sat at his computer for six hours and finished his 17th book, Cadillac Commands, the 13th in his series San Diego Police Homicide Detail. The next day, as his publisher, I visited Bill and picked up his last manuscript. I put the book up on Amazon on Friday of that week. The following Monday, his daughter called me and told me that Bill passed away.

Born in 1926, in Cadillac, Michigan, Bill was the oldest boy of fourteen kids. He survived the Great Depression and joined the Marines the day after he turned 17. He could hardly wait to go fight those nasty Nazis and Japanese. Bill served 2½ war years in the Marines, got married, went to college, had kids, and re-joined the Marines in 1949 - in time for the Korean War. Bill was commissioned a Marine Second Lieutenant but was a Platoon Commander only for a short while as his wife nearly died and he had to resign to care for his family. He became a Telephone equipment engineer with AT&T in Chicago, then was a kitchen and home remodeling designer for 22 years. Bill retired at age 69 and began to research and write novels. He became a long-time member of San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. At the age of 95, he was still at it!

Rick Lakin is the publisher at iCrew Digital Publishing.

Visit his website at williambarrons.com

Community Survey for Library Master Plan

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 12:57:41 GMT

Dear Local Author:

As one of our most loyal and cherished constituencies, the library values your opinion and would like your help with this important community outreach project. The San Diego Public Library wants to know what you want your library to look like. We are working with the San Diego Public Library Foundation to complete a Library Master Plan and are seeking broad public participation in a Community Survey that asks:

What you need from the Library,
How can the Library serve the community,
What services, technologies, and programs would help you and your community.

Please visit the survey webpage and complete the survey online. The survey is open February 17 to April 17 and is available in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Tagalog, and Vietmanese, in addition to English. If you have questions or would like to get more information, contact the Library Foundation at office@supportmylibrary.org or call (619) 236-5849.

Kind Regards,

Local Author Exhibit Staff
Humanities Section, Central Library @Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common
City of San Diego
San Diego Public Library

Writing Workshops, Poetry Contest

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 14:58:06 GMT

THE WRITERS’ WORKSHOP

387 Beaucatcher Road

Asheville, NC 28805

www.twwoa.org * 828-254-8111 * writersw@gmail.com

Writing Workshops, Poetry Contest

The Writers' Workshop of Asheville NC is offering online classes for beginning and experienced writers. Each class meets on Saturdays, 10-3:30 pm, with a lunch break. Registration is in advance only, at www.twwoa.org. Classes are $80/75 members, and financial assistance is available for low-income writers in exchange for volunteering.

For more info, see www.twwoa.org, or contact writersw@gmail.com. [These workshops have happened. The email address may no longer be valid.]

April 17: Finding Your Poetic Voice with Bruce Spang

May 1: Writing Your Memoirs with Karen Ackerson

May 15: Writing From The Top Of Your Head with Nina Hart

May 29: Screenwriting Workshop with Nathan Ross Freeman

June 12: Fiction Writing And Revising with Karen Ackerson

Poetry Contest Deadline Extended to April 15.

For Awards and Guidelines, go to www.twwoa.org.

April 10th is Encourage a Young Writer Day

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 14:34:10 GMT

April 10th marks Encourage a Young Writer Day, and to celebrate, Caitlin Stewart, Resource Coordinator at the Center for School, College, and Career Resources in Reno, Nevada, rounded up some of her organization’s favorite writing resources to help inspire the world’s next great writers. She shared those resources with the Guild. If you know of a student interested in a writing career, please share this message with them.

The first guide details the steps young people can take to become a professional writer, an overview of career concentrations and related jobs, and the skills they’ll need to be successful:

How to Become a Writer – https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/writer/

The second resource is a go-to guide for students that walks them through what they need to know to improve their writing skills in college. It details various writing styles and lists available writing tools and apps:

Writing Guide for College Students – https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/college-writing-guide/

The last guide Caitlin shared was created with help from four experts in English language and writing. It breaks down common essays students will encounter in school, how to nail the research and outline process and keep their writing on track. It also lists common writing mistakes and how they can avoid them. You can read more here:

Student Guide to Academic Writing and Research – https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/student-writing-resources/ The link in this url is broken. Perhaps you can find a working link to a similar source.

The Center for School, College, and Career Resources believe that by sharing these guides, they can help aspiring writers cultivate a love of writing.

From Alyssa Johnson: I have been writing for the past few years and have taken part in conducting a Writing Resources Guide: https://edubirdie.com/blog/writing-resources

Common Issues in Manuscripts Requiring Correction: #8 Sentence-ending Punctuation

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 14:31:21 GMT

This is the eighth in a series of posts to address common issues in manuscripts with my suggestions for how writers can improve their manuscripts before turning them over to agents, editors, and the many other individuals involved in the process of turning a manuscript into a book.

#8 USE ONLY APPROPRIATE SENTENCE-ENDING PUNCTUATION

There are five appropriate sentence-ending punctuation marks, three legitimate ones and two coincidental ones that just end up there because of what the author has written.

The legitimate ones
- periods (referred to as full stops in British English) (.)
- question marks (also referred to as interrogatory marks) (?)
- exclamation points (!)
The coincidental ones that just end up there
- ellipses (. . .)
- em dashes (—)

The Legitimate Ones

Period

The most common sentence-ending punctuation mark is the period. A period at the end of a sentence is what we all expect. When you reach the period, the message is complete. Anything else signifies information beyond the words that were spoken or written. And that’s why we have more than one sentence-ending punctuation mark.

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, AS YOU LIKE IT

Question Mark

The appropriate mark at the end of a question is a question mark. Pretty obvious, right? Questions might indicate a request for information.

Who is that masked man?

Or they might serve as a clue that the speaker disbelieves what has been said.

Are you telling me you’ve never been to Paris?

The inherent quality of a sentence ending with a question mark is that the speaker wants more information.

Exclamation Point

An exclamation point marks the end of a sharp or sudden utterance (says Merriam-Webster.com).

Watch out!

Such utterances are not usually whispered or spoken in one’s inside voice. And that’s why people interpret an exclamation point as evidence that the speaker is shouting. Add all caps, and the message is even clearer.

Since almost no one in the world likes to be shouted at, editors, including me, stress the importance of being very cautious in the use of exclamation points. Some editors will accept one exclamation point per chapter. Some accept one per book. The most stringent of editors prefer to see only one exclamation point in a lifetime’s work. My view is that if you need one, use it. But if you use too many, be aware that the reader may be dissuaded from continuing.

The Coincidental Ones

Ellipses

Ellipses (or ellipsis points as The Chicago Manual of Style refers to them) function most often within sentences. CMS defines an ellipsis (three or four marks that look just like periods) as denoting “the omission of a word, phrase, line, or paragraph from a quoted passage.” When the passage continues after the ellipsis until it reaches the end of a sentence, the ellipsis consists of three dots. When the omission falls at the end of a sentence or in the middle of text that picks up again with a new sentence, the ellipsis consists of four dots, which is really a sentence-ending period followed by the three ellipsis points. An ellipsis can also follow other punctuation marks, including commas, colons, semicolons, question marks, and exclamation points.

When following the rules for the use of an ellipsis when a character stops speaking without finishing the thought, CMS refers to the dots as suspension points. This is the case for the appropriate use of the ellipsis (or what looks just like an ellipsis) as a sentence-ending punctuation mark.

I wonder if I will finish my first novel this year or . . .

Em dashes

Like ellipses, em dashes are used most often within sentences, where a comma, a semicolon, parentheses, or a period would also be appropriate, but where the writer wishes to connect items or distinguish among items, when the use of other punctuation may lead to confusion. For example, when items in a sentence, separated by commas, include one or more items that are further explained within the text, as an appositive would do, the use of commas alone may confuse the reader regarding how the pieces of the sentence fit together. The preceding sentence, with em dashes in place of some of the commas, makes the main clause easier to identify by isolating the subordinate text between em dashes:

For example, when items in a sentence—separated by commas—include one or more items that are further explained within the text—as an appositive would do—the use of commas alone may confuse the reader regarding how the pieces of the sentence fit together.

One of the usual uses of em dashes, according to CMS, is “to indicate sudden breaks.” This may occur within a sentence or at the end of what is spoken, whether or not it’s a complete sentence. This is where an em dash functions as a coincidental sentence-ending mark in dialog. If one character interrupts another in mid-sentence, an em dash marking the interruption at its end becomes a sentence-ending punctuation mark.

She said, “I thought we were going—”

He interrupted and said, “Don’t tell me what you thought. You never think things through anyway.”

Ellipses vs em dashes

The rules to remember:

An ellipsis marks the end of a segment of dialog if the speaker trails off without finishing . . .
An em dash marks the end of a segment of dialog if the speaker is interrupted—by someone or something.

Putting them all together

Question: How do all these sentence-ending punctuation marks go together?

Answer: One at a time. No sentence-ending punctuation mark should be repeated or combined with another sentence-ending punctuation mark.

Never use more than one sentence-ending punctuation mark together with another one. One period (.) One question mark (?) One exclamation point (!) That’s it.

Each sentence needs only one sentence-ending punctuation mark. What might look like three or four periods in a row is really a three-dot ellipsis or a period that ends one sentence followed by a three-dot ellipsis that marks something has been left out.

What about the interrobang? (‽ or ?!)

Merriam-Webster.com defines the interrobang as “a punctuation mark (‽) designed for use especially at the end of an exclamatory rhetorical question.” It combines a question mark with an exclamation point. Considered an unconventional punctuation mark, its use has not caught on widely, but I suspect this will change. Given my statement above that exclamation points are interpreted by readers as shouting, I will continue to recommend against using the interrobang. I suspect in the future, it may become accepted since each legitimate sentence-ending punctuation mark already includes what looks like a period, and each conveys its own subliminal meaning (surprise for exclamation marks and more information, please, for question marks) that may call for combining occasionally.

Sandra Yeaman retired from the US Department of State in 2007 after 23 years as a Foreign Service Officer. As a management officer, she served at US embassies in Qatar, Barbados, Moldova, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Madagascar, Zambia, and Eritrea. In addition, she served in consular positions in Germany and Barbados and previously taught English as a Foreign Language in Iran and Romania.

She is familiar with Arabic, Farsi, German, Romanian, Russian, and Spanish. Her experiences overseas brought her in touch with underserved minorities and religious groups out of favor with the current government. These experiences provide her with a sensitivity in her writing and editing not easily attained by others.

These changes in environment and cultures challenged her notion of what success is. What made it possible for her to thrive in the midst of the change is the solid foundation she received in her childhood years in northern Minnesota.

Since retirement, Sandra has been writing her story and her journey from a young woman seeking adventure to a mature woman who found her mission. She hopes to complete her novel in 2021 and looks forward to gaining the expertise in the full range of pre-publication book preparation and marketing.

Sandra's Website

Meet author Marie Lu this Thursday at 12:30 p.m.

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 13:40:49 GMT

The San Diego Union-Tribune Festival of Books virtual event series is back! This Thursday, April 1 at 12:30 p.m. PDT, we are kicking off the first virtual live Q&A with No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu on the Union-Tribune Facebook. Abby Hamblin, the Union-Tribune opinion editor, will moderate.

Marie Lu is the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of the Legend series, the Young Elites trilogy, “Batman: Nightwalker,” the Warcross series, “The Kingdom of Back” and “Skyhunter.” She graduated from the University of Southern California and jumped into the video game industry as an artist. Now a full-time writer, Lu lives in Los Angeles with her illustrator/author husband, Primo Gallanosa, and their son.
Purchase “Skyhunter” on bookshop.org

Upcoming Virtual Events

April 8 at 11 a.m. PDT – Children’s storytime with Mayor Todd Gloria

April 15 at 12:30 p.m. PDT – Author Q&A with Joe Kenda

April 22 at 11 a.m. PDT – Children’s storytime with Gulliver of the San Diego Gulls

April 29 at 12:30 p.m. PDT – Author Q&A in Spanish with Paola Ramos

SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR FIFTH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF BOOKS!
AUGUST 21, 2021

For more information, visit sdfestivalofbooks.com.

Common Issues in Manuscripts Requiring Corrections: #6 Foreign Words

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 16:50:18 GMT

This is the sixth in a series of posts to address issues I have seen in the work of others with my suggestions for how writers can improve their manuscripts before turning them over to agents, editors, and the many other individuals involved in the process of turning a manuscript into a book.

#6 ITALICIZING FOREIGN WORDS

The Chicago Manual of Style recommends italicizing unfamiliar foreign words. But what is unfamliar and foreign to one person may be familiar to another. A standard means to determine the familiarity of a foreign word is whether it appears in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary.

When I edit the work of others, I use merriam-webster.com to look up all foreign words and place any not appearing there in italics. I do not rely on whether the words are familiar to me.

The exception—there’s always an exception—to this rule of italicizing unfamiliar foreign words is that foreign proper names are not be italicized.

In my own work-in-progress, set in Tehran in the mid-1970s, therefore, I have not italicized the names of streets even though the words do not appear in merriam-webster.com. In addition, I found many words I thought would be unfamiliar to readers in merriam-webster.com, likely because more than forty years have passed since I lived there.

Image credit: Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash

Sandra Yeaman retired from the US Department of State in 2007 after 23 years as a Foreign Service Officer. As a management officer, she served at US embassies in Qatar, Barbados, Moldova, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Madagascar, Zambia, and Eritrea. In addition, she served in consular positions in Germany and Barbados and previously taught English as a Foreign Language in Iran and Romania.

She is familiar with Arabic, Farsi, German, Romanian, Russian, and Spanish. Her experiences overseas brought her in touch with underserved minorities and religious groups out of favor with the current government. These experiences provide her with a sensitivity in her writing and editing not easily attained by others.

These changes in environment and cultures challenged her notion of what success is. What made it possible for her to thrive in the midst of the change is the solid foundation she received in her childhood years in northern Minnesota.

Since retirement, Sandra has been writing her story and her journey from a young woman seeking adventure to a mature woman who found her mission. She hopes to complete her novel in 2021 and looks forward to gaining the expertise in the full range of pre-publication book preparation and marketing.

Sandra's Website

What is Creativity?

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 19:17:41 GMT

Dr. Patricia Daly-Lipe
literarylady.com

What is creativity? To find out, we can pursue two avenues. On the one hand, we can follow a systematic, methodical mode of rational thought. On the other hand, the search can be approached irrationally or non-logically, a non-linear mode of thought.

On the rational side, we begin with words. To form a description of creativity, we need a vocabulary. Or do we? Here, the right brain (the non-rational side) kicks in and challenges the left's (or rational side's) attempt at analysis. Is part of the essence of creativity beyond definition? If this is the case, can we think (and thus experience creativity) without words?

Are language and the naming of things equivalent to thinking? According to Webster, to think means "to have the mind occupied on some subject; to judge; to intend; to imagine, to consider" and "to believe." Can we imagine without imaging something? Can we believe without believing something? Prior to naming things, is man thinking?

Thinking involves knowing, and what follows is the possibility that knowing does not need an image. Perhaps to know requires that we recognize how much we do not know. To paraphrase St. Thomas: "The more that I know, the more I know how little I know." Etymology or the study of the derivation of words can assist and enhance our search for the origin of thought. The word "recognize," for example, comes from "re" (again) andcognosere (Latin, meaning 'to know'). Thus, if we recognize something, it is because we knew it before. But when did we begin to know? And, therefore, when did we begin to think, since thinking and knowing are mutually supporting? Again, we look at words. How do we "know," understand, and "recognize" (know again) the following words: love, hate, envy? These are words, but they aren't objects; they cannot be visualized. They come from within. These are called emotions. Our primitive ancestors probably anthropomorphized word pictures to express feelings; adjectives came later.

Metaphor pairs two images thrown into relief but intact, each unto itself. There is a definite psychological mechanism used in the processing of a metaphor. "Metaphor is probably the most fertile power possessed by man," wrote Jose Ortega Gassetin in 1948. For Ortega, life was an intense dialogue between oneself and one's environment. "Things are not me and I am not things: we are mutually transcendent, but both are immanent in thatabsolute coexistence, which is life." (Unas lecciones de metafisica, (1966) "Yo soy yo y mi circumstancia—I am I and my circumstances." Metaphor transcends the obvious and the visual; it translates man's relation to his environment on another level—a "transcendent," unique, or creative level.

Another linguistic aspect of creativity might be observed in Descartes' definition of the essence of man: "Je pense, donc je suis" (I think; therefore, I am) which occurs in his Discourse on Method (1637). Philosophical thought expresses both the potential and the limitations of human knowledge. It demands that we attempt to think beyond reality.

But how did man jump from naming names to 'understanding' them, from depicting observed images on the walls of a cave to developing philosophical insight? The answer, I believe, occurred when we became conscious of the difference between us and other; when we understood that we were 'seeing' this or that and we were somehow involved with what was "out there." Could it be that our awareness of ourselves in the world as other than the objects came before words? If so, the words, even the painted images, followed thought. And if this is so, thought comes before words. Man can think without words. I am; therefore, I think. So, the depiction of what we observed and the development of a language to express our relationship with the observed were preceded by something beyond words.

The root of the word imagination, is image. To imagine something in the mind's eye, we must have seen it in the "outside" world. The object is on the outside; the thought of the object is on the inside. However, the two sides are not separate. Sensations follow the same logic. We can feel/hear/see/smell; there is no hearing without sound, no sense-perception without an object to provoke it. Again, it is a question of the person knowing that he knows, being aware that he is aware. First there is the thought and then there is the thing. The inevitable question follows: If there were no thought of it, would the object not be there? Is an object/sensation a thing unto itself without a person's perception of it? Does thought exist before words?

Science can contribute facts; however, the philosopher (from Latin, philos, meaning "loving," and Sophos, meaning "wise") in his wide intellectual pursuit knows no boundaries.

The word 'create' means to bring forth something new as an artistic or intellectual invention. The moment preceding the act of spontaneous creativity has been described many ways. Dancer Isadora Duncan called it a "state of complete suspense." This non-verbal excitement, dreamlike, vague, and ambiguous is also experienced in the other arts: painting, writing, music, and sculpting. Author and poet Stephen Spender expressed it succinctly and pointedly as "a dim cloud of an idea, which I feel must be condensed into a shower of words." In painting, I have often experienced what Cezanne described as "an iridescent chaos" when the painting and I compete for dominance. Paint stroke by paint stroke, the colors sit up on the canvas, and the adventure begins as I attempt to come to an agreement (or image) while the painting seems to have a mind of its own. This sounds like nonsense, but for me it sets in motion my subconscious. Mesmerized, I watch as something new manifests itself on the canvas before my bewildered eyes. The same happens in creative writing, when the words take over and I am amazed.

But it is the art of music that represents a plane of consciousness beyond form and epitomizes creativity at its most abstract and pure state. In its acoustical and physical manifestation, music is imbued with mathematics. Pythagoras (c. 582 B.C. - 497 B.C.) was considered an early "scientist" and was thought to be the originator of the theory of harmonics. Fascinated with numbers and their manifestations as chords, Pythagoras is supposed to have "cured" his ailing disciples by playing music. In ancient times, music was inseparable from science mainly because of its source, mathematics. Recent studies have shown that the music of Mozart strengthens the neural connections that underline mathematical thought. So, the ancients were on to something after all. The etymology of "mathematics" is from the Greek mathema, meaning what is learned. Perhaps this should convince us of music as a source of creativity outside of the visible but well within the norm of analysis?

Digging into the consciousness, letting loose associations and the confines of sequential constraints and expressing an ah-ha moment or creative vision is not confined to the artist. Were it not for the free ranging of his imagination, Einstein could never have formulated his laws of relativity. It was in a dream, he said, that he "discovered" the basis of his insight into relativity. "Inspiration," he wrote, "is more important than knowledge." The free-roaming mind allows the scientist to "discover" things he surely would miss if he were locked into pure rationality.

To summarize, "creativity" may be viewed in this new age of fiber optics and cyberspace as an oddity, half-feared and half-distrusted but surreptitiously peeking its head out, demanding attention. The sixth sense needs to be heeded. Perhaps that is the most important function, the goal of the artist, to "transport the mind in experience past the guardians—desire and fear—to the...rapture of seeing in a single hair 'a thousand golden lions' (Joseph Campbell). As Alfred North Whitehead concluded,

"Nature is a structure of evolving processes. The reality is the process." And equally, understanding creativity is itself a "process." Answers are not required!

Join the ZOOM Portion of the SDWF Magical Realism Workshop on March 20

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 14:59:46 GMT

Hello Friends and Family,

If you would like to be in on the Zoom portion of this FREE workshop please respond to this email with a YES. I will let you know if the class has been filled (so if interested let me know asap as it will fill). It's next Saturday, March 20 at 10 am. We are very excited to be hosting the one and only Keith Rosson who will be discussing Magical Realism.

More about the event: https://fb.me/e/8NXGrfDh9 (The event is over.)

SDWF sends love,

Marni Freedman

Common Issues in Manuscripts Requiring Corrections: #5

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 15:42:19 GMT

by Sandra Yeaman, SDWEG Webmaster Emeritus

This is the fifth in a series of posts to address common issues with my suggestions for how all writers can improve their manuscripts before turning them over to agents, editors, and the many other individuals involved in the process of turning a manuscript into a book.

#5 REMOVING COMMAS FROM WHERE THEY DON’T BELONG AND INSERTING THEM WHERE THEY DO

When sentences get long, writers fall victim to the temptation to put in a comma—or two—to give the reader a place to breathe. But sometimes that results in a comma separating the subject from its verb or the verb from its direct object. Often a comma inserted before a conjunction such as and simply breaks a compound predicate into one complete sentence and a phrase that can’t stand on its own.

When editing someone else’s work, I remove unnecessary commas, leaving them in only when their use meets one of four criteria: commas in a series, commas with two or more adjectives, commas with conjunctions (but watch out for this one because it has some rules of its own), and commas in introductory or parenthetical phrases including nouns of address.

The Chicago Manual of Style recommends use of the serial, or Oxford, comma. This is the comma that precedes the conjunction—usually and—that connects items listed in a series. Sometimes it is absolutely necessary to accurately convey meaning. See the example sentences below:

EXAMPLE 1: THE PEOPLE WHO INFLUENCED MY LIFE CHOICES MOST WERE MY PARENTS, THE POPE AND MOTHER THERESA.

EXAMPLE 2: THE PEOPLE WHO INFLUENCED MY LIFE CHOICES MOST WERE MY PARENTS, THE POPE, AND MOTHER THERESA.

Because the serial comma is needed some of the time for clarity, I use it in all cases when I edit a manuscript.

The most common case of commas needing to be deleted is connected to conjunctions. Commas are not needed before every instance of a conjunction (and, or, but, so, etc.). For example, commas before and in compound predicates such as the one below are unnecesary.

MY DOCTOR ADVISED THAT I SHOULD REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF SUGAR I CONSUME AND GET MORE EXERCISE.

That’s where I find the most unneeded commas. As important, commas are not needed after most uses of conjunctions either unless what follows is a parenthetical thought that could be left out without changing the meaning of the sentence..

Read through this post to see if you can identify which of the four rules applies to each comma you find.

Sandra Yeaman retired from the US Department of State in 2007 after 23 years as a Foreign Service Officer. As a management officer, she served at US embassies in Qatar, Barbados, Moldova, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Madagascar, Zambia, and Eritrea. In addition, she served in consular positions in Germany and Barbados and previously taught English as a Foreign Language in Iran and Romania.

She is familiar with Arabic, Farsi, German, Romanian, Russian, and Spanish. Her experiences overseas brought her in touch with underserved minorities and religious groups out of favor with the current government. These experiences provide her with a sensitivity in her writing and editing not easily attained by others.

These changes in environment and cultures challenged her notion of what success is. What made it possible for her to thrive in the midst of the change is the solid foundation she received in her childhood years in northern Minnesota.

Since retirement, Sandra has been writing her story and her journey from a young woman seeking adventure to a mature woman who found her mission. She hopes to complete her novel in 2021 and looks forward to gaining the expertise in the full range of pre-publication book preparation and marketing.

Sandra's Website

Guild Member Corey Lynn Fayman is soliciting Beta Readers

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 15:33:54 GMT

Corey Lynn Fayman has completed the manuscript for a new novel, working title The Rip.

It's an historical crime novel, the first in a planned trilogy that will follow several families growing up in La Jolla, CA in the 1950s - 1970s.

He is looking for beta readers to give offer feedback. If you're interested, email Corey at clf@coreylynnfayman.com.

The Rip

Summer 1956. In the affluent seaside resort of La Jolla, California, a rookie cop's high principles are put to the test when his search for a stolen suitcase implicates the rich and famous guests of the Del Charro Hotel, including Raymond Chandler, J. Edgar Hoover, and Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Lookout! CD

Groovy tunes from San Diego's Finest 1958 - 1973

La Jolla Shores

1955 Just a sleepy seaside town in Southern California

Killer Motivation

Free read. Contract killer meets multi-level marketer.

Submissions Open April 1 for The Guilded Pen: The Power of Ten

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 17:40:35 GMT

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR:

The Guilded Pen, Tenth Edition, 2021

The Guilded Pen―2021 will mark our 10th Year!

What a milestone!!

To celebrate this achievement, the 2021 Anthology will highlight the number “ten” in this year’s publication. All SDWEG members are invited to submit their short stories, poems, and essays for review and possible acceptance for publishing.

HOW TO SUBMIT:

The submission period will begin April 1, 2021. Last day to submit is May 31, 2021.

Email submissions to: anthology@sdwritersguild.org

(Note: ONLY email submissions will be considered.)

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

1. The submission must contain the word ten or the number 10 in the first sentence. There will be no exceptions.

1.1 Some examples of using “ten” in the first sentence (Please do not use any of these examples):

Ten books were stacked on the desk when . . .
The clock struck “ten” as the shot rang out . . .
Maud and Harry were looking forward to their tenth anniversary—that was before Ted showed up and said . . .
If you half-heartedly divide 20 by 10, does the result completely measure up?

Note: If the word Ten or the number “10” is omitted from the first sentence, the submission will not be read and will be returned to the author without further review. The author may choose to correct the oversight and resubmit.

2. Up to 3 submissions may be entered; however, the aggregate word count may not exceed 4500 in total;

3. Submissions must be:

3.1 Double-spaced,

3.2 Times New Roman, 12-point font,

3.3 1-inch margins on all sides, and

3.4 A word document with .doc or .docx

4. No headers or footers, no page numeration, author’s name cannot be shown on any of the pages submitted.

5. The entry must be edited for spelling, punctuation, verb tense and other grammar issues prior to submission. The author understands that further copyediting may take place after submission is accepted.

If you find you need help with any of the technical aspects of the guidelines or with finding a good person to look over your piece before submitting it, remember that you are member of a group of dedicated writers and editors. Contact a fellow guild member for assistance. If you are unsure who to ask and you have checked the website, PLEASE contact someone on the Board of Directors and they will be more than happy to offer names of prospective writers and/or editors for you to contact.

We hope you will step up to the challenge and submit your short stories, essays, and poetry to this year’s anthology. On a personal note, it’s a great way to add to those publishing credits; and, as our major fundraiser, your contribution will help support the mission of the SDWEG which is: To Support the Writing Arts for Youth and Adults.

So, get writing!

Marcia Buompensiero and Rivkah Sleeth

Managing Editors

New Release from Guild Member Penn Wallace

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 20:22:31 GMT

If Chevy Chase had played Indiana Jones, he would be Penn Wallace. Penn has a thirst for adventure, but nothing ever seems to go exactly as planned.

In the spring of 2010 he lost the love of his life, his wife Connie, to Ovarian cancer. Ten years of living with cancer changed Penn's priorities. He learned that you can't live for tomorrow. You must live your dreams today, you never know if tomorrow will come.

To this end, he set sail in the summer of 2012 for for the warm blue waters of Baja California in his 56-foot sailboat, the Victory.

Penn is a confirmed dog curmudgeon. By a strange twist of fate, he lives on his boat with a one hundred seventy-pound Great Dane, Odin, and his owner, Dawn. You may read about his adventures and living on a boat with a giant dog on Penn's blog at www.pennwallace.com.

He currently lives on the Victory in San Diego, but you never know where he will drop anchor next.

As always, he's working on the next book.

The Panama Murders: Catrina Flaherty Mysteries Book 4 (The Catrina Flaherty Mysteries) $0.99 NEW RELEASE!

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK

Based on a true story.

People on a remote Panamanian island are disappearing, and the local police are incompetent.
Who you gonna call?

Cat Flaherty.

When the love Seattle PI Catrina Flaherty’s life turns out to be a serial killer, she turns him over to the police and walks away from her business, home, and friends. She slinks off to Panama to recover from her broken heart.

Staying with Suzanne, a friend from the police academy, she meets colorful characters and observes the sometimes bizarre lifestyle of the ex-pats. She is enchanted by the beauty and the wildlife, but when people start dying, it’s obviously the work of a serial killer. Cat is sucked back into her role as an investigator and the killer soon has her in his sights.

Can Cat discover the identity from a host of persons of interest before he gets her?

Mirror Image: A Catrina Flaherty Mystery (Catrina Flaherty Mysteries Book 1) $0.99

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK Female PI Catrina Flaherty tackles one of her most difficult cases. Cat specializes in women’s issues, infidelity, messy divorces, spousal abuse, sexual harassment, etc. But her newest client, Mandy Alcott, has an unusual problem; her abusive husband is the chief of police.

What do you do when your abuser is The Law?

You call Cat Flaherty.

Cat sees in Mandy the same terror she herself endured at the hands of her police officer ex-husband. Can Cat save Mandy from her life of fear? Can she extricate Mandy and her two children safely?

Murder Strikes Twice: A Catrina Flaherty Mystery, Book 2 (The Catrina Flaherty Mysteries) $0.99

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK

One man; two dead wives.

The police have ruled both cases accidents, but something doesn’t feel right.

Who you gonna call?

Cat Flaherty.

Cat and her team scour Seattle for clues as the pieces start falling into place, but can she make a case that the D.A. will take to court? Can she bring the killer to justice before he finds her?

Did Murder Strike Twice or will Brody Barrett get away with killing both of his wives?

Catrina is known for administering vigilante justice. Will Brody finally have to pay for his sins?

Solve the mystery along with Cat today!

The Chinatown Murders: Catrina Flaherty Mysteries book 3 (The Catrina Flaherty Mysteries) $0.99

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK
WARNING: This book contains graphic sexual violence. Not intended for younger readers.

Based on a true story.

Someone is raping women working at massage parlors in Seattle's China Town. He selects his victims because they are undocumented aliens. They can’t go to the police or they risk deportation.

Now he has escalated to murder.

Who you gonna call?

Cat Flaherty.

The Man leads Catrina on a danger-fraught chase through the ancient streets of Chinatown in a race against time. Neither Catrina, nor her ex-lover, Detective Sergeant Tom Brennen, can stop the monster as the body count piles up.

With a shock ending that you’ll never predict, the latest Cartrina Flaherty Mystery is a page burner.

5 out of 5 stars

"Another great read from Pendelton C. Wallace. I find myself wishing there another book to read about these characters as soon as I finish. If you are looking for entertaining fast paced actions this is the author for you. If you haven't read any of his work, good for you, as you can keep on going until you've read them all."

5 out of 5 stars
I love Cat as a special human whom I can relate ...

"This book is so fast paced, just up my alley. I love Cat as a special human whom I can relate to.....Some of the characters are so politically incorrect that one can't help but smile. The plots are interesting and relevant and eye opening. Don't read if you are put off by explicit sex. Read if you can appreciate a great story line."

San Diego Professional Editors Meet March 18

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 16:07:03 GMT

March Program Meeting
Building Your Business:
10 Pearls from 15 Years of Hard Knocks

Thursday, March 18, 2021
6:45–8:30 p.m. (presentation starts at 7:00 p.m.)
Online Meeting via Zoom
Click here to RSVP!

Join SD/PEN at our next program meeting on Thursday, March 18 when Amy Rasdal, founder of Billable at the Beach®, teaches us how to build business and client relationships—by tapping into our superpowers.

Amy has helped hundreds of people start their own successful consulting businesses through speaking, workshops, and informative programs over the past 10 years. Founder of Billable at the Beach®, she traded her corporate job for consulting 15 years ago. The advantages are freedom, flexibility, control, interesting work, and—if you do it right—excellent pay.

As Amy puts it, we should be aiming to build client relationships where you are the superhero using your unique “superpowers” to do work that others can’t. That enables you to be selective about who you work with, be confident that you’ll always find work, and be well-compensated for what you do.

In this program, Amy will also help us with business questions like these:

How do I build and maintain a steady flow of clients?
How do I set my rates?
Should I pursue stable, long-term contracts or flexibility?

Amy has over 25 years of experience in operations, product development, corporate development, and marketing. Prior to forming Rasdal Associates, she held a variety of positions at CareFusion, Cardinal Health, Tandem Medical, Epic Cycle Interactive, and ASK Computer Systems. Amy holds an MBA from The Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth as well as undergraduate degrees in computer science, music, and French. She also founded Billable with Baby®, aimed at liberating corporate working mothers.

To receive a link to the Zoom meeting,
RSVP via Eventbrite by clicking here no later than Wednesday, March 17.

Cost: Members – FREE; Nonmembers – $7.50

President Sarah Faxon Interviews Guild Member Janet Hafner

Sat, 20 Feb 2021 16:31:10 GMT

Check out this interview between Guild members Sarah Faxon, the interviewer, and Janet Hafner, the author, about Janet's journey into the world of writing.

https://youtu.be/d626hqfdRw4

If you would like Sarah to interview you on your latest writing projects, contact her at Sarah@sdwritersguild.org.

And check out her YouTube Channel to see interviews with other authors.

Remembering our Founder, Rhoda Riddell 1920-2015

Sat, 20 Feb 2021 15:26:32 GMT

October 28, 2020, marks the 100^th anniversary of the birth of Rhoda Riddell, founder of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. The Board of Directors of the Guild are pleased to dedicate the 2020 edition of The Guilded Pen anthology to the memory of Rhoda Riddell.

The story of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild is one of struggle and fortitude by a group of gutsy women who got started, and many who have continued the effort.

In the fall of 1978, our founder, Rhoda Riddell, returned to San Diego from the East Coast. She yearned to find a group of compatible souls who, like her friends in the Word Guild in New York, would share the joys and travails of a freelance writer's life. She advertised for writers in The Reader and was inundated by people seeking work. A dozen or so accepted her invitation to meet as an informal support group.

That began the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. Nineteen years later, in January 1998, the Guild honored Rhoda Riddell with its Founders Award and acknowledged her impact through the granting of the Rhoda Riddell Builders Award to four others who helped get the Guild going: Betty Dodds, Betty Smith, Peggy Lipscomb-Kazwara, and Betty Jurus. Since then the Guild has continued to present Rhoda Riddell Builders Awards to members who have had a positive impact on the Guild.

Rhoda lived a full and interesting life. From Rhoda's obituary in the Borego Sun.

Rhoda (Fulton) Riddell was born in Japan on October 28, 1920 to Robert and Karen Fulton, marking the start of an adventurous life.

Her parents left Japan after the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923 and eventually settled in La Jolla. Rhoda graduated from La Jolla High in 1938 and then waited tables at her mother’s local restaurant “Fulton’s Green Dragon Inn.” She also did some modeling and briefly attending UC Berkeley and secretarial school.

Rhoda met an enlisted man in La Jolla and they went to Hawaii to be married - two weeks before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Rhoda told how she and her husband Robert were in bed when the Japanese attacked and how the Japanese were shooting at their get-away car.

When the couple later divorced, Rhoda decided to travel the world with her two daughters, Laurie and Cecily. Rhoda lived in nine countries and worked as a foreign war correspondent, had a radio show for armed forces, was a realtor in La Jolla and a travel writer and social director aboard a cruise ship in the Mediterranean.

She loved to read and was a member of the Mensa Society and founding mother of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. Rhoda lived in Borrego Springs for about fifteen years and passed away after complications from a fall.

Rhoda was known for her wit, was cheerful, funny and authentic. Interestingly, she ended her stay on Friday the 13th [2015]. Mrs. Riddell lived in Borrego Springs for about fifteen years and had a remarkable life.

Creative Tips: Common Issues in Manuscripts Requiring Corrections

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 16:07:56 GMT

by Sandra Yeaman, SDWEG Webmaster Emeritus

This is the fourth in a series of posts to address common issues I have found in manuscripts with my suggestions for how to improve them before turning them over to agents, editors, and the many other individuals involved in the process of turning a manuscript into a book.

#4 PUTTING HYPHENS AND NUMBERS TOGETHER

Because some numbers, when spelled out, require hyphens, I often see hyphens in numbers where they don’t belong, usually because of the confusion between the general rule for spelling out numbers and the rules for using hyphens in compound modifiers. Below is a general rule for spelling numbers with hyphens and some specific rules for writing out numbers as times, fractions, and prices.

General rule: A hyphen must separate the two words representing numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine. At least for now. Given the nature of commonly hyphenated words eventually becoming spelled as single words over time, this may change. Numbers representing multiples of ten do not require hyphens since they are single words.

Hours of the day rule #1: No hyphen is needed between the hour and the minute when writing out times of the day unless the spelled-out time is used as a compound modifier. The minute may need a hyphen if it is spelled with two words.

I have a meeting on the fourth Monday of every month at five thirty. (no hyphen between the hour and the minute)

My five-thirty meeting doesn’t usually begin until five forty-five. (hyphen between the hour and minute needed because it is a compound modifier and hyphen in forty-five because that is how it is spelled)

Hours of the day rule #2: No hyphen is needed between the hour and the word o’clock, because o’clock is usually only used with the hour and none of the hours between one and twelve require hyphens. When using a twenty-four hour clock, numerals are used.

The meeting was scheduled for three o’clock.

Hours of the day rule #3: No hyphen is needed when citing a time using a half or a quarter hour unless used in a compound modifier.

The meeting started fifteen minutes late, at a quarter after three, because one of the key presenters hadn’t arrived.

Fraction Rule #1: A hyphen is needed when writing out fractions whether they are used as nouns or modifiers.

Reduce the amount of time to bake by one-half. (a fraction used as a noun, the object of the preposition)

The recipe called for one-half cup of milk. (a fraction used as a modifier)

Fraction Rule #2: No hyphen is needed when writing out a whole number and a fraction together unless the combination is used as a compound modifier.

I walked three and three-quarters miles yesterday. (the number and fraction used as a simple modifier)

My three-and-three-quarter-mile walk took me just over an hour. (the number and fraction used as a compound modifier with the noun mile)

Price Rule: No hyphen is needed when writing out prices unless the numbers require a hyphen to be spelled correctly or if the numbers are part of a compound modifier.

I paid a dollar and seventy-five cents for a pastry at the bakery. (Seventy-five requires the hyphen because that’s how it is spelled.)

That dollar-and-seventy-five-cent pastry was the best I have tasted in years. (The full cost needs to be hyphenated because it is a compound modifier of pastry.)

Whenever I edit the work of someone else, I look closely at every hyphen to see if it is necessary. For times, fractions, and prices, the above rules apply. In other cases of hyphens between words, I check the dictionary or determine if the hyphenated words form a compound, multiple-word modifier.

Sandra Yeaman retired from the US Department of State in 2007 after 23 years as a Foreign Service Officer. As a management officer, she served at US embassies in Qatar, Barbados, Moldova, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Madagascar, Zambia, and Eritrea. In addition, she served in consular positions in Germany and Barbados and previously taught English as a Foreign Language in Iran and Romania.

She is familiar with Arabic, Farsi, German, Romanian, Russian, and Spanish. Her experiences overseas brought her in touch with underserved minorities and religious groups out of favor with the current government. These experiences provide her with a sensitivity in her writing and editing not easily attained by others.

These changes in environment and cultures challenged her notion of what success is. What made it possible for her to thrive in the midst of the change is the solid foundation she received in her childhood years in northern Minnesota.

Since retirement, Sandra has been writing her story and her journey from a young woman seeking adventure to a mature woman who found her mission. She hopes to complete her novel in 2021 and looks forward to gaining the expertise in the full range of pre-publication book preparation and marketing.

Sandra's Website

San Diego Decameron Project

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 14:01:13 GMT

Four partner organizations, San Diego Public Library, La Jolla Historical Society, Write Out Loud, and San Diego Writers, Ink present the San Diego Decameron Project.

Members of our San Diego community were invited to submit previously unpublished fiction or nonfiction narratives of 1,000 words or less loosely themed around the current pandemic. The 100 winners of the San Diego Decameron Project will have their stories posted on the 4 partner websites beginning February 16th 2021. The top 10 most compelling stories will be read by Write Out Loud actors and presented in a Virtual Presentation on February 26th along with a panel discussion with the top authors hosted by KPBS art and culture reporter Beth Accomando. Sign up to receive free access to the ceremony at https://writeoutloud.ticketspice.com/san-diego-decameron...

Creative Tips: What is Creativity? by Dr. Patricia Daly-Lipe

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 14:47:05 GMT

Dr. Patricia Daly-Lipe

literarylady.com

What is creativity? To find out, we can pursue two avenues. On the one hand, we can follow a systematic, methodical mode of rational thought. On the other hand, the search can be approached irrationally or non-logically, a non-linear mode of thought.

Thinking involves knowing, and what follows is the possibility that knowing does not need an image. Perhaps to know requires that we recognize how much we do not know. To paraphrase St. Thomas: "The more that I know, the more I know how little I know." Etymology or the study of the derivation of words can assist and enhance our search for the origin of thought. The word "recognize," for example, comes from "re" (again) andcognosere (Latin, meaning 'to know'). Thus, if we recognize something, it is because we knew it before. But when did we begin to know? And, therefore, when did we begin to think, since thinking and knowing are mutually supporting? Again, we look at words. How do we "know," understand, and "recognize" (know again) the following words: love, hate, envy? These are words, but they aren't objects; they cannot be visualized. They come from within. These are called emotions. Our primitive ancestors probably anthropomorphized word pictures to express feelings; adjectives came later.

Metaphor pairs two images thrown into relief but intact, each unto itself. There is a definite psychological mechanism used in the processing of a metaphor. "Metaphor is probably the most fertile power possessed by man," wrote Jose Ortega Gassetin in 1948. For Ortega, life was an intense dialogue between oneself and one's environment. "Things are not me and I am not things: we are mutually transcendent, but both are immanent in thatabsolute coexistence, which is life." (Unas lecciones de metafisica, (1966) "Yo soy yo y mi circumstancia—I am I and my circumstances." Metaphor transcends the obvious and the visual; it translates man's relation to his environment on another level—a "transcendent," unique, or creative level.

Another linguistic aspect of creativity might be observed in Descartes' definition of the essence of man: "Je pense, donc je suis" (I think; therefore, I am) which occurs in his Discourse on Method (1637). Philosophical thought expresses both the potential and the limitations of human knowledge. It demands that we attempt to think beyond reality.

But how did man jump from naming names to 'understanding' them, from depicting observed images on the walls of a cave to developing philosophical insight? The answer, I believe, occurred when we became conscious of the difference between us and other; when we understood that we were 'seeing' this or that and we were somehow involved with what was "out there." Could it be that our awareness of ourselves in the world as other than the objects came before words? If so, the words, even the painted images, followed thought. And if this is so, thought comes before words. Man can think without words. I am; therefore, I think. So, the depiction of what we observed and the development of a language to express our relationship with the observed were preceded by something beyond words.

Science can contribute facts; however, the philosopher (from Latin, philos, meaning "loving," and Sophos, meaning "wise") in his wide intellectual pursuit knows no boundaries.

But it is the art of music that represents a plane of consciousness beyond form and epitomizes creativity at its most abstract and pure state. In its acoustical and physical manifestation, music is imbued with mathematics. Pythagoras (c. 582 B.C. - 497 B.C.) was considered an early "scientist" and was thought to be the originator of the theory of harmonics. Fascinated with numbers and their manifestations as chords, Pythagoras is supposed to have "cured" his ailing disciples by playing music. In ancient times, music was inseparable from science mainly because of its source, mathematics. Recent studies have shown that the music of Mozart strengthens the neural connections that underline mathematical thought. So, the ancients were on to something after all. The etymology of "mathematics" is from the Greek mathema, meaning what is learned. Perhaps this should convince us of music as a source of creativity outside of the visible but well within the norm of analysis?

Digging into the consciousness, letting loose associations and the confines of sequential constraints and expressing an ah-ha moment or creative vision is not confined to the artist. Were it not for the free ranging of his imagination, Einstein could never have formulated his laws of relativity. It was in a dream, he said, that he "discovered" the basis of his insight into relativity. "Inspiration," he wrote, "is more important than knowledge." The free-roaming mind allows the scientist to "discover" things he surely would miss if he were locked into pure rationality.

"Nature is a structure of evolving processes. The reality is the process." And equally, understanding creativity is itself a "process." Answers are not required!

Literary Lady, Dr. Patricia Daly-Lipe, is an Author, Artist and Speaker. Patricia has written ten books: MIAMI'S YESTER' YEARS, Its Forgotten Founder Locke Tiffin Highleyman; NATURE'S WISDOM (a collection of short stories about animals, the high seas, and nature); A CRUEL CALM, Paris Between the Wars (historical fiction); MYTH MAGIC AND METAPHOR, A Journey into the Heart of Creativity; ALL ALONE, Washington to Rome; LA JOLLA, A Celebration of Its Past; HISTORIC TALES OF LA JOLLA; PATRIOT PRIEST, A Personal Perspective of History from WWI, WWII to the Vatican; HELEN HOLT, Memoir of a Servant Leader; and HORSE TALES, Teddy and Just'n Come to an Understanding.

The La Jolla book was the Winner of the San Diego Books Awards in 2002. A Cruel Calm, the USABookNews.com Finalist Award, 2013 won First Prize for historical fiction Royal Dragonfly Book Award. Named ‘Author of the Year 2016-2017’ by IAOTP (International Association of Top Professionals) and ‘Lifetime of Achievement and Success’ in 2017.

Patricia is the past President of the National League of American Pen Women-La Jolla Branch and later President of the Washington, DC Branch. In 2007, Patricia was speaker for the National Capital District 36 Toastmasters 2007 Spring Conference. Her presentation was titled 'The Power of Words'. The Special Achievement Award was presented to Patricia Daly-Lipe for participation in the 2009 "Golden Nib" Contest and an award of second place in poetry for "A Poetic Meditation".

Patricia has written for the Evening Star Newspaper in Washington, DC, the Beach and Bay Press including La Jolla Village News in California, and The Georgetowner and Uptowner Newspapers in Washington, DC as well as several magazines across the country.

Her presentations have covered all aspects of writing for literary groups as well as colleges and universities.

In her "spare" time, Patricia has been rescuing thoroughbred horses. In the late '70s and '80s, she raised, raced and showed them.

Open Call for The Writer's Workshop

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 14:37:40 GMT

The Writers’ Workshop of Asheville, NC, is sponsoring our Annual Poetry Contest, open to any writer regardless of residence. The awards are:

1^ST Place: Your choice of a 2 night stay at our Mountain Muse B&B in Asheville; or 3 free workshops online; or 10 poems line-edited and revised by our editorial staff

2nd Place: Two free workshops; or 8 poems line-edited

3rd Place: One free workshop, or 5 pages line-edited

10 Honorable Mentions

ANNUAL POETRY CONTEST

Deadline: Postmarked by March 30, 2021

Guidelines:

All work must be unpublished. Each poem should not exceed two pages. Multiple entries are accepted. Your name, address, phone email and title of work should appear on the first page. The entry fee is $25 for every 3 poems. All entries receive comments from the judges.

Enclose self-sealing SASE for comments and winners' list, and mail to: Poetry Contest, 387 Beaucatcher Road, Asheville, NC 28805.

Emailed submissions may be sent to writersw@gmail.com with "Poetry Contest" in the subject. Entry fee is payable online at www.twwoa.org

SunspotLit.com – Open Call for Writers and Artists

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 14:35:33 GMT

Sunspot Literary Journal is seeking articles and essays on working in any creative form. See the full guidelines for examples of the kinds of works we’re interested in.

Payment: $0.01 per word ($50 US maximum per piece) when published.
Open: January 1, 2021
Close: October 31, 2021
To submit, visit https://sunspotlit.submittable.com/submit/183769/creative-advice-for-creatives

***

Thank you, as always, for all that you do for the creative community!

HINDSIGHT - Call for submissions

Sat, 13 Feb 2021 20:41:21 GMT

Hindsight is a collection of stories about 2020, written by people just like you. The publication seeks nonfiction stories from around the world that capture what it was like to wake up every day to a new normal — whether that means navigating emergencies as a first responder or tying the knot over Zoom. They are particularly interested in material that gets up close and personal with the struggles of 2020, rather than headlines or commentary on current events.

Hindsight is an independent, one-time publication. Content will be made available in two forms: Some stories will be shared on our website; the very best submissions will be compiled into a print anthology, which will be published in 2021.

Submission fee: None

Length: Up to 2,000 words

Deadline: Rolling

Compensation: Writers whose work is selected for the print anthology will receive a complimentary hard copy of the book, as well as a digital file.

To learn more, please visit: www.hindsightbook2020.com

Being Original: How to Permissibly Reference Other Creative Works in Your Own Writing (aka copyright basics every author should know)

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 06:46:19 GMT

There’s a saying among writers that there is nothing new, all writing is just a spinoff from an earlier story, or idea, or writing, and there is some truth to that. Writers often incorporate not only a feel of previously created work, but specific reference to them. The characters in a book may perform a Shakespearean play, some hit song may be playing on the radio, a well-known poem may be hanging on a protaganist’s wall. There are unending varieties of these references.

How much can you reference someone else’s work, however, before it become plagiarism or copyright infringement? There are legal guidelines that can help you navigate this quandary.

What is a copyright?

Copyright is the exclusive right to print, publish, perform, and otherwise use literary, artistic, or musical material. Certain rights automatically exist as soon as the material is created. For example, if you are an artist, as soon as you are finished with the painting, you own a copyright to that painting.

The material must be fixed in a tangible form before it has any copyright protection. For example, humming a tune doesn’t provide any copyright protection. However, if you write the tune down on paper, then you have a copyright on it.

Default copyright protections exist whether or not you mark them on the work. Placing the notation “Copyright” and the date and owner is a good idea, it puts people on notice that you are claiming copyright protection of something, but that marking in and of itself does not create the rights.

In order to get more expanded legal protections, including statutory damages for infringement of copyright, you can register your work with the U.S. Copyright office.

Avoiding copyright infringement?

When a person holds a copyright to some literary, artistic, or musical material, they hold the exclusive rights to use it. Infringement is the action of someone else using copyrighted material without your permission.

When you are the one using someone else’s copyrighted work, even if it’s just a small portion of a larger work, start with the assumption that you are infringing unless (1) you have permission; or (2) you are engaged in “fair use” of the material.

Permission is easy, at least in concept. Say you are an author and you want to quote the lyrics to a song in your novel. You can contact the person who wrote the song, or the company that holds the rights to it (look at the copyright notice on your recording or sheet music) and ask for permission, explaining how you intend to use it. They may agree outright, they may agree for a fee, or they may not agree. One way or another, you will have an explicit understanding as to whether you can legally use it or not.

I know it seems like permission might be a costly process, but it doesn’t have to be. Keep in mind that referencing their work in your own might give them expanded reach for their own work, especially if you are willing to acknowledge the source and maybe even include a URL or hyperlink to the original source. Good for you, good for them. Obviously, they want to see the context in which their work is being referenced and, if it isn’t flattering, they may not agree.

“Fair use” is another way you can use someone else’s copyrighted material without being guilty of infringement. “Fair use” is defined by law as use of someone else’s copyrighted work “for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research” (17 U.S.C. § 107). If you are writing an article discussing a pop artist’s recent song release and talk about the opening line of the song (and you quote it) evokes a feeling of nostalgia for the 1950s, etc., you are commenting on it, not infringing. If, however, you are writing a novel and your protagonist sings a song to his love interest that is, verbatim, the lyrics of a popular love song, you are most likely engaged in copyright infringement. Simply crediting the source is not enough for “fair use;” you must be engaged in one of the defined purposes.

When a court, or the copyright owners and their lawyers before them, consider whether a certain use infringes on a copyright, the following four factors are considered for a “fair use” analysis:

The purpose and character of the use, importantly whether it is a commercial use or something else.
The nature of the copyrighted work.
The amount of the copyrighted work that you used in your project, whether it is the bulk of the copyrighted material or just a fragment.
The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work.

Remember that as a writer you probably don’t want to get to this level of analysis. You are a writer, rework your piece to not infringe. If you really think you need to include copyrighted material and can’t easily get permission or feel confident you fall within the definition of “fair use,” talk to a lawyer. Don’t wait until your book is published before fixing this issue.

Final thoughts

As a writer, you should be relying on your own creativity, not simply piecing together other people’s creativity. Have pride in your ability to create something new. However, if reference to other people’s creations would be helpful to your work, keep the references short and fragmental. The title of a song, a line or two of lyrics, these are fairly safely not copyright infringement. When it doubt, rewrite or get permission.

****

Melody A. Kramer freelance writer and licensed attorney. This article is not intended as legal advice for any specific client matter and does not create an attorney-client relationship with any readers.

Welcome to our new website!

Sat, 02 Jan 2021 23:49:17 GMT

With a new year and new enthusiasm, the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild is pleased to announce a new facelift. We have reimagined and recreated our website to reflect our enthusiasm for the writing and editing community in San Diego.

Check it out and let us know how we can help you!

San Diego Central Library presents Listen to This: Short Stories Read Aloud

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 15:21:46 GMT

Write Out Loud (WOL) and the San Diego Central Library present Listen to This: Short Stories Read Aloud. Every Tuesday, readings of favorite classic and modern stories written by the world's best writers, and recommended by Library staff, are performed by professional WOL actors. This program is part of WOL's popular Listen to This program where new stories are released daily for the community to enjoy. Join their growing local and international listenership and receive your free daily story.

Sam Warren, 1940-2020

Sun, 20 Dec 2020 15:03:15 GMT

Sam Warren, a long-time member of SDWEG, was born to a Mennonite family in 1940 and was raised in a small town in Kansas. After attending a business college, he joined the Army in 1959 and was first assigned to Korea, Fort Riley, and then the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Sam started his writing and publishing career in the ‘60s when as an Army sergeant he was attached to the Defense Intelligence Agency and assigned to the American Embassy in Moscow in the middle of the cold war. His first experience as a writer was as a part-time editor of the embassy newsletter, “This Week in Moscow.” He also wrote articles for his hometown newspaper.
After leaving the service in 1970, he attended Orange Coast College and later started a publishing company that published a number of tabloids including a community newspaper “The Santa Ana Journal,” a military paper “The West Coast Military News” and a Spanish language community tabloid, “El Hispano.” He also published Orange County's first gay newspaper and was the founder of the Orange County Gay and Lesbian Community Center.
After selling his business in 1980, he moved to San Diego where he was editor of the “Uptown San Diego Examiner” and published the short-lived “Border Business Journal.” His column, “The Baja Beat,“ was published in six community tabloids.
He wrote and published a number of books, including travel guides, Having Fun in Tijuana, Baja by Night, Sin Diego, and a humor book, The Priest, the Pastor, and the Rabbi.
In 2000, he was arrested on trumped-up charges at his bed and breakfast in Playas de Tijuana. The corrupt Mexican police stole everything he owned and he spent over three years in Baja prisons. In 2003, an honest lawyer was able to have all the charges dropped. His book, Tales from the Tijuana Jails, was written about his experiences in three Baja California prisons and the people he met inside.
In addition to book publishing for clients, he was a past-president of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild and publisher of a webzine for the San Diego writers at SDWriteWay.org (no longer active).

Guild Member Patricia Bossano releases Love & Homegrown Magic

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 16:08:59 GMT

Indie Author Patricia Bossano continues to charm with her compelling style, building vibrant worlds, and creating unique characters.

True to form, Patricia’s new release casts a spell, sewn from stardust and tradition. Let it touch your heart; wander into the enchanted garden of Love & Homegrown Magic^©.

“Our choices tell the story of who we are.”

From the ashes of burned letters comes a celestial romp, spanning seven decades and two continents.

Love is the guiding force, even when Maggie, ever the planner, chooses her mind over her heart.

Family comes first and she has always known her purpose is to be a guiding light to her siblings and, one day, her children. But a dash of destiny, and two loves blessed by the stars tug at Maggie’s heartstrings in a way she could never have planned for.

Wander into her magical garden, where thorns and perfumed blossoms coexist, through Love and her Homegrown Magic.

Don’t miss out on this once in a blue moon incantation!
Order a copy today at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other fine booksellers.

Fresh Cuttings:

“The characters come alive and pull you into their lives. Ms. Bossano paints a vivid portrait that will not let you put it down.” –Brian Peters

“Having worked on breaking familial patterns and healing ancestral pains, it’s lovely to see it laid out in such a simple way… I love how easily you brought Maggie’s beliefs together to form something that surpasses religion to become faith.” –Yanieke Terband, Alchemy

“I genuinely enjoyed the way “Love & Homegrown Magic” pulled me through a beautiful variety of emotions. Maggie is very relatable as a mother and the sisterhood feels so real.” –Beta-Reader

“Love & Homegrown Magic was so easy to read! The story flows so well and the author paints a clear picture for readers to delve into for as many hours as they choose. Be warned, it will take a few minutes to get back to reality after you’ve been in the book for a bit.” –Paul Wold

About the Author

Patricia Bossano has penned several award-winning philosophical fictions and supernatural escapes. She lives and writes in California with her family. Patricia is the Newsletter Editor at San Diego Writers and Editors Guild.

To learn more about her work please visit: www.PatriciaBossano.com

Media Queries: Please contact Patricia author@patriciabossano.com

Published in the U.S. by WaterBearer Press on October 31, 2020.

978-1-7325093-3-7 (HC) $25.99
978-1-7325093-4-4 (SC) $15.99
978-1-7325093-5-1 (e) $ 4.99

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other fine booksellers.

Guild President Sarah Faxon has released The Animal Court

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 15:47:25 GMT

The Animal Court by S. Faxon transports you to a country on the verge of collapse. The people are starving but the king is blind to the threats that surround him. Unless Gertrude, the king’s advisor, can enact drastic changes, the country she loves will be lost to the animal court. The Animal Court is a fantasy-political and romance novel.

Now available here.

Sarah Faxon, pen name S. Faxon, is a creative warrior. Her writing career spans fifteen fantasy novels, several short stories, and an emerging comic series. S. Faxon’s published novels, The Animal Court and Foreign & Domestic Affairs are about a king and queen’s struggle to maintain power over the country that they love. Foreign & Domestic Affairs was featured in the 54th annual San Diego Public Library’s Local Author Showcase.

Sarah is a member of the Horror Writers Association, San Diego Writers Ink, and the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. In November of 2020, Sarah was elected to the SDWEG Board of Directors and will serve as the organization’s President in 2021.

In an effort to help other authors and creatives on their journeys, Sarah co-stars in the writing-podcast, Semi-Sages of the Pages, available on all of your favorite podcast apps. Sarah also provides a number of services for authors including book trailers, interviews, publishing formatting, and strategic marketing.

To stay up to date on Sarah’s creative projects, follow her vlog on YouTube and sign up to receive insights from her weekly newsletter. S. Faxon is available for Zoom and Skype Interviews, meetings, or book club events.

Most importantly, Sarah loves the sound of rain and the scent of ink on legal pads.

Sarah's Website

Guild Member Wanjiru Warama Releases Beyond Conscious Self

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 14:56:37 GMT

by Wanjiru Warama, SDWEG Member

My fourth book, Beyond Conscious Self, has just rolled off of the press and onto the sale block, ready for your eyes.

The book shares two pivotal and inspiring stories in my midlife. The first story explains how and why I became a writer, which I credit to my membership in the Friends of the San Diego Public Library

The second story is a travel log to the Greek Islands where my endurance was tested to the limit. I had to trust my instincts and press forward even when things turned difficult, especially when self-doubt and fear took hold. By choosing to believe in myself, I discovered we are truly never alone if only we could dig deep within ourselves and then accept the help the universe offers.

Life is not about what scares you; it’s about embracing the possibilities.

Book available in print and eBook at:
https://t.co/lIjX2TO9b3
Reminder - click on the book cover

Born and raised in Kenya when it was a British colony, Wanjiru Warama is an author who writes nonfiction books that inform and entertain. She moved to California, USA, in 1984, where she still resides. Her latest book, Beyond Conscious Self, published in November 2020.

When Ms. Warama arrived in California, she went through unforgettable rigors and tribulations of having to start her life all over in a new culture. She scrambled and fought off defeat before she got a foothold in her adopted country. This became the basis of her first two books, Unexpected America and Entangled in America.

She believes the books will avail readers a peek at a different perspective of the lives led by their immigrant neighbors and/or friends. The books will also help not-yet-established immigrants realize they are not alone in their struggles, and that their challenges are only temporary.

Her third book of short stories, YEARS of SHAME, highlights the marginalization and subjugation of women from infancy to old age. It especially details the despicable practice of Female Genital Mutilation and its psychological effects on a victim.

Her latest book, Beyond Conscious Self, shares two timely, life-changing, and inspiring stories in the life of Author Wanjiru Warama’s journey from a woman who aspired to do great things to a woman who proved to herself that aspiration wasn’t a destination but a journey worth taking.

Wanjiru's Website

City Council Celebrates SDWEG Day, October 26, 2020

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 14:35:41 GMT

SDWEG is proud to announce that the San Diego City Council has named October 26, 2020, as San Diego Writers and Editors Guild Day. Council member Mark Kersey presented the proclamation to the City Council, and it was approved on the 20th Day of October, 2020.

The proclamation text follows:

Whereas, the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild nurtures the writing arts in the community for adults and youth through its programs, workshops, and its participation in author symposiums, local book fairs, and public events; and,

Whereas, the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild builds relationships among authors, editors and those aspiring to hone their skills in the writing arts; and,

Whereas, the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild has organized public displays at bookstores and libraries to introduce Guild members to the larger reading and writing community; and,

Whereas, the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild publishes a collection of members’ works in its annual anthology; and,

Whereas, the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild has, over the years, conducted writing contests and provided scholarships to high school students; and,

Whereas, the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild has made presentations to middle school students at career day events, encouraging them to explore their creative talents and hone their writing skills; and,

Whereas, the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild is dedicated to preserving the cultural value and promotion of the written word through its many philanthropic efforts; and,

Whereas, the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild has been in existence since 1979 and is the oldest organization of its kind in the area; NOW THEREFORE,

BE IT PROCLAIMED, by the Council of the City of San Diego, that this Council, for and on behalf of the people of San Diego, does hereby proclaim October 26, 2020 to be "SAN DIEGO WRITERS & EDITORS GUILD DAY" in the City of San Diego.

The proclamation was signed by Council President Georgette Gomez, Council President Pro Temp Barbara Bry, Council member Jennifer Campbell, Council member Chris Ward, Council member Monica Montgomery, Council member Mark Kersey, Council member Chris Cate, Council member Scott Sherman, Council member Vivian Moreno, and Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer.

SDWEG Life Member Yvonne Nelson Perry 1932-2020

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 14:11:48 GMT

Lifetime member and former Odin Award recipient Yvonne Nelson Perry passed away at 88 on October 22, 2020 after a brave fight with cancer.

Yvonne contributed many years to The Guilded Pen, always insights into her Hawaiian life.

To know Yvonne was to be swept up in a force of a human being. Just under six feet tall, she was bold and charismatic, and moved through life with a tenacious spirit.

Born in Puunene, Maui, to John Nelson (originally Nilsson), a Maui Soda & Ice Works employee, and his Polish-Polynesian wife, teacher Emma von Peplowski, Yvonne Nelson grew up in Hawai’i. Pride in her heritage was evident; cards in Yvonne's distinctive print often ended in Hawaiian.

An akamai (intelligent) woman, she entered the University of Hawai’i at just 15. In 1950 Yvonne married naval officer Donald Walter Perry and their family grew as Don was stationed around the US and Japan. In 1966 the couple and their five children settled in Bonita, CA. It was there that this equestrian, actor, party organizer, authentic friend, and involved mother established herself as a community mainstay—and had two more children! Yvonne’s civic engagement led to principal roles with the PTA, Sunnyside Saddle Club, Sweetwater Valley Little League, Scouts, AYSO, Bonita Valley Players Club (as its President and as an actor), and the South Bay YMCA (as the first woman to be chairperson). She also acted as office manager for her husband's political campaign for San Diego Supervisor, then State Assembly in 1982.

Yvonne valued the written word (nothing compares to holding a book, running your hands along its surface and pages, she would often proclaim), and not many could match her remarkable Scrabble skills. Her last months were spent playing Scrabble with daughters Yana Aldridge and Heather Perry.

Although she didn't start writing fiction until her sixties, there was no better storyteller than Yvonne. An editor-for-hire and award-winning author, she could weave conditions of the human heart into captivating stories. Author of The Other Side of the Island, as well as over fifty published short stories, Yvonne shared her talents at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference for over twenty years. She also held writing classes in her home for decades. Yvonne enjoyed an audience, but also loved helping others amplify their voices. She was the recipient of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild Odin Award for her contributions to San Diego’s writing community.

The matriarch of the large Perry family, "Nana" imparted wisdom gleaned from rich experiences. She led by example and imbued lessons with playful humor—and played a mean game of poker. Yvonne accepted everyone exactly as they arrived. There were no strangers in her Bonita home, Pau Hana. She was the beating heart of the Perry family and her indomitable spirit added value to her community, and to the world. While her physical body has passed from this earth, the reverberations of her love, intellect, and kindness will be felt for generations. Her stories live on in the hearts and minds of those who knew and loved her. In her words, “all stories must have a beginning, middle, and end.” Aloha ‘oe, farewell to you, dear one.

In light of the pandemic, the family will observe a celebration of Yvonne’s life on her birthday, July 4, 2021, in Maui. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Santa Barbara Writers Conference scholarship fund are welcome.

Anthology Magazine Short Story Competition Open for Submissions

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 14:44:13 GMT

written by Edel Cassidy September 2020

The editors of Anthology Magazine, a magazine published in Ireland, have asked that we publicize their short story competition.

Writers of short fiction are invited to enter the Anthology Magazine Short Story Competition. Established to recognise and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication, it is open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. Stories submitted must be on the theme of ‘Memories’ and not exceed the maximum of 1,500 words. Writers can submit as many entries as they wish.

It is not a requirement, but is advisable to refer to Anthology Magazine or purchase a copy beforesubmitting your work, so that you can see the type of material we publish. Subscriptions and single copies are available to purchase through their online shop.

The winner will receive a €500 cash prize and the chance to see their work published in a future issue of Anthology.

The winner will also receive a one year subscription to Anthology Magazine

Submission Deadline & Entry Fees:
Early Bird: 30 April 2021 – €10 per short story
Deadline: 31 July 2021 – €15 per short story

Submit a Short Story

Terms and Conditions

To enter, submit an original, unpublished short story, written in English on the subject of ‘Memories’ with a maximum of 1,500 words.
Entry fee: €10 per story if entered by midnight on 30 April 2021, or €15 per story if entered by midnight on 31 July 2021.
There is no limit to the number of entries you can submit.
There is no age limit.
The closing date for receipt of entries is Saturday 31 July 2021 at midnight.
Submissions will be judged on literary merit, originality and readability.
Once selected, the winner will be contacted by email or telephone.
Copyright remains with the author but Anthology Magazine reserves the right to be the first to publish or arrange a broadcast of selected works. The right to use the stories to further publicise this award is also retained.
Submission of a written piece implies the author’s acceptance of the rules and conditions.
Anthology Magazine reserves the right to change the prizes in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

Read the 2020 WINNING Short Story by Niamh Donnellan

Congratulations to the WINNER of the Anthology Magazine Short Story Competition 2020

1st Prize
Niamh Donnellan (Ireland) for Islands

Highly Commended
The judges would also like to highlight the work of the following three writers:
– Marguerite Doyle (Ireland) for Outlier
– Neil Tully (Ireland) for The Road Was Full of Mud
– Brian O’Connor (United Kingdom) for Hope is a Green Shoot

Guild Member Tom Leech Releases Titillating Tales from the Outhouse

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 15:23:20 GMT

Titillating Tales from the Outhouse and other perky poetic adventures from author Tom Leech

Who among us does not have personal experiences with those small but important little buildings that go by many names – outhouses, privies, portapotties, johns, loos, cans, crappers, thrones, and many more? And who has not heard or shared their own funny tales about those adventures?

Available now is a book full of amusing and rhyming poems dealing with exactly that subject, from

How the term "crapper" got its name,
including the story of Jose who rents his portable bano to drivers at the world's busiest border,
to military colonels using two-story outhouses (hmmmmm...what does that mean to the privates?)

These and more outhouse tales will likely stir some memories and definitely bring on big-league chuckles (and maybe snorts).

Also here is a set of poems by author Tom on subjects other than outhouses that will trigger more laughs. Finally there are some classic centuries-old poems about adventuresome outhouse experiences written by authors James Whitcomb Riley, Robert Service, and yes, some tomes Shakespeare himself spouted off.

“Never in my life did I realize there was so much to say about outhouses! From drunken damsels to a triad of escaped convicts to the outhouse adventures of Santa Claus, this book of poems is a delight. It transports the reader to another time and (odorous) place in a deluge of hysterical whimsy. I challenge you not to giggle.”
Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D., Author of 3 Keys to Defeating Unconscious Bias: Watch, Think, Act”

Titillating Tales from the Outhouse is available here.

Tom Leech is the author of books on various subjects: humor, business, nature, world travel and children's poetry. Recent books include Fun on the Job: Amusing and true tales from Rosie-the-Riveters to Rocket Scientists at a major aerospace company and the 2nd edition of Say It Like Shakespeare: The Bard’s Timeless Tips for Successful Communication. Tom's poems have been published in many author anthologies, his own books, and various publications.

Tom's Amazon Page

Lifetime Member John Warren Davis 1946-2020

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 15:18:23 GMT

Guild President Mardie Schroeder received a notice that a past president of the Guild, John Warren Davis, one of our lifetime members, passed away on September 22, 2020. He listed the Guild as family or friend to be notified of his passing.

A long-time resident of San Diego, he died peacefully on September 22, 2020, following a long illness. He was 74.

John was born in York, Pennsylvania, to Lillian Putnam Billings Davis (Rochester, New York) and Frank Asbury Davis, Jr. (St. Joseph, Missouri). John grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and attended Fenger High School. Earning a Bachelor of Arts degree at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

John was soon off to the U.S. Army, where he served honorably as a decorated enlisted man and acting Sergeant in Vietnam and Hawaii.

In 1972, upon discharge, he moved to San Diego primarily for the weather. He worked in Real Estate Sales and Management but left San Diego for a position at the Office of Naval Research at Stanford, University.

He returned to San Diego in 1988 after assignments in Corona, CA, for Naval Weapons Center Seal Beach at the Fleet Analysis Center, and on a Joint Service Program at Los Angeles Air Force Base (DMSP), joining the COMNAVIRPAC staff at North Island. He finished his Civil Service Career with the Defense Contract Management Command in San Diego at Raytheon. His final work assignment was a civilian position with Kellogg, Brown, and Root as a GMlS/Colonel equivalent with duty in Kuwait, supporting the U.S. Army in Iraq.

During his working career, John was active in Community Affairs as a member of the Greater Golden Hill Planning Committee, an active leader in the National Contract Management Association's San Diego Chapter as a Fellow Mentor, and CPCM Adjunct Professor at San Diego State University. He also was a past President of the San Diego Writers and Editor's Guild, publishing one non-fiction book and several professional journal articles in the field of Federal Contracting.

In addition to his professional designations, Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM) and Real Estate Broker, John held an A.A. in Real Estate from San Diego City College, a B.A. in Political Science from Drake University, an M.S. in Federal Contracting from West Coast University and did post-graduate work at Walden University.

In retirement, John was able to resume one of his favorite hobbies of international travel, which he began at age seventeen. He visited well over 100 countries and the seven continents. He was a proud member of the Traveler's Century Club of Los Angeles. John was a life member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Colonists, Sons of Colonial New England, and Founders of North America.

His community service volunteer work in retirement included as a member of St. Paul's Friends of Military Outreach & Support (FOMOS) committee in outreach efforts for the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). He was a Patron of the San Diego Opera. He is survived by a brother, William F. Davis of Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and a step-sister, Karen Rambeaux of Rogers, Arkansas.

In addition to being a Life Member and a past president of the SDWEG, he was published in The Guilded Pen several years since the inaugural 2012 edition.

Guild Member Bob Boze Releases The Heiress and the Dolphins

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 12:58:28 GMT

Congratulations to Bob Boze on the release of his latest novel, The Heiress and the Dolphins. Bob provided the description of the novel below.

A wonderful feel good story about relearning how to love, trust and laugh at the littlest things.

Annie hadn’t smiled or laughed since Todd was killed, and after the board meeting, she definitely needed something to brighten her life.

On a whim, she booked herself on a dolphin tour in Aqua Bay, New Zealand, saved the owner’s boat, and unknowingly changed the rest of her life.

A life that would involve: a beat-up Ford Anglia (in dire need of a colonoscopy), a pub with the best fish and chips in the world, daily doses of Hokey Pokey ice cream, and Moana and Hunu; two dolphins that would play tag and keep her in giggle fits all day if she’d let them. Oh, and let’s not forget the smile that now never leaves her face.

In this new life she will still be a CEO, and a tour guide, and the driver of two beautiful tour boats and part owner of a lodge where people go to escape the world’s rat race. All while trying to ride herd on a crazy team of employees. Oh, and let’s not forget being madly in love with the most wonderful man in the world; well… right behind Hunu. Come join Annie as she falls in love with a new country, a new life and a new special someone.

Bob Boze lives in the South Bay area of San Diego and his writing partner, Robyn Bennett, lives in Blenheim on New Zealand’s South Island. Both are published romance and non-fiction authors, editors, speakers and bloggers. Together they have over twelve published works and are collaborating on several more novels, short stories, articles and other works.

Bob and Robyn also offer a variety of writer and business services through their business website, Writing Allsorts. To learn more about them, their published works and the services they offer, go to https://writingallsorts.com/

Guild Members Victoria and David Povall Launch Book

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 12:55:43 GMT

Congratulations to Victoria and David Povall for the recent release of their space opera Ascension, set in far distant Talderon Era.

Below is the book description from their website, https://2authors.com/, where the book is available for order.

Kelahya Devona, born in the 680^th cycle of the Talderon Era, is a bewitching and formidable warrior, and the most powerful weapon of Kronos Deucarrion, Supreme Commander of the Alliance of Stars.

Kelahya is a Minder, capable of influencing the thoughts of most species in the universe…until now.

The nightmare behind her eyes insists that she murdered Kronos, but she refuses to believe that the images of blood and violence are real.

Due to this involuntary fissure, her thoughts are dissociating, which in a Minder’s brain intermingles reality with illusion, and almost always leads to their demise.

The specter of death forces Kelahya to run for her life in search of the truth before her mind disintegrates, and the struggle for power destroys the Alliance of Stars.

In a race against time, the pursuit propels her into a forgotten past and an uncertain future, where danger is reflected in every face and reality is never what it seems.

__________

“Perfectly paced action, lush and layered characters. Ascension: Kelahya Unbound is the real deal.”
J. D. BARKER, International Bestselling Author of the Fourth Monkey.

Guild Member Cornelia Feye Releases Death of a Zen Master

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 23:11:34 GMT

Private security specialist, Greg Stern, is a reluctant guest in a remote and inaccessible Zen monastery. His wife, Vega, sent him there after a marital transgression to ponder and improve his interaction with women. When a dead boy is found in the meditation hall, the group of eclectic guests and monastics find themselves trapped in an enchanted valley with a murderer in their midst and no way out.

Death of a Zen Master received a 5-star review from Readers' Favorite. See the review below.

Cornelia Feye’s Death of a Zen Master is a well-written and absorbing story that harkens back to the classic murder mystery novels such as those penned by Agatha Christie. I loved the isolated setting for the crime and relished seeing the fear and suspicion of the students as they realize they are trapped with a killer, with no way out and no way to contact the outside world. Feye’s characters are finely crafted and true-to-life and her plot is ingenious. She gives the armchair sleuth plenty of red herrings to consider along with Greg Stern, as he tries to unmask the killer and stay alive. This classy, modern-day homage to the golden age of murder mysteries is most highly recommended.
5-star review by Jack Magnus for Readers’ Favorite

What do other authors say about Death of a Zen Master?

From the very beginning of this mystery, set at a remote Zen Retreat in the Ventana Wilderness area, the characters are full of life and opinions. Greg is here to pacify his wife and has no intention of embracing anything other than the excellent food. When the Abbess is found murdered and a 300-year-old Buddha goes missing, Greg finds something to fill his time and, he hopes, a way to impress his wife. Feye, who is known for her art mysteries, takes the reader on a clever and twisting route to a satisfying conclusion. Woven throughout the story is just enough Zen philosophy, history, and art history to create a fully evolved novel.
Tamara Merrill, Author of Shadows in our Bones, and The Augustus Family Trilogy

Forget your English Manors. And manners. A Buddhist monastery in California makes the perfect setting for this engaging and clever take on the we're-trapped-in-place-and-one-of-us-is-a-killer story. In Cornelia Feye's capable hands, the search for spiritual enlightenment goes hand in hand with the search for a murderer. A tasty Karma-snack of a mystery novel.
Corey Lynn Fayman, author of the award-winning Rolly Waters Mystery Series

A rousing and entertaining mystery in a very unique setting— a Zen monastery. The talented Cornelia Feye has created two unforgettable characters, Greg and Vega Stern. Separately and together they must solve a murder while they immerse themselves in Zen Buddhism. It will keep you guessing all the way to the last page.

Carl Vonderau, author of Murderabilia

Cornelia Feye is an author, art historian and publisher. She published three mystery novels, and the first one, Spring of Tears, won the San Diego Book Award in 2011. The anthology Magic Mystery & Murder, co-edited with Tamara Merrill, won the San Diego Book Awards in 2019. She is the founder of Konstellation Press, an indie publishing company for genre fiction and poetry. Her publications include art historical essays and reviews in English and German.

Visit her website

SDWEG Member Theresa Halvorsen releases Warehouse Dreams

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 15:38:14 GMT

Congratulations to Theresa Halvorsen, whose new novel, Warehouse Dreams, launches on July 29.

Below is the book description from Amazon.com, where the book is currently available for pre-order.

Kendle’s job is on the line every time she rescues a Wild teen. But Wilds, with their uncontrolled psychic abilities, need her help. They need the chronically underfunded Warehouse, the only school available for Wilds. But accepting a teen with potentially dangerous abilities puts her at odds with her boss; refusing means the teen faces life institutionalized, sedated, and under restraint.

Stephen, the new telepathy teacher, is a Bred. His wealthy parents paid for his perfect genetic code. He’s not used to the Warehouse’s long hours, to students who float beds through walls during nightmares, or send fishbowls through windows—not to mention the food sucks. The only bright spot is the fascinating Wild teacher in the next room who plays amazing cello or guitar music late at night.

Kendle doesn’t think Stephen belongs at the Warehouse, but when he helps save her and her students from a violent mob, she wonders if she was wrong…and if a Bred like Stephen might fall for a Wild like her. But Kendle has little time for romance. As society ramps up its hatred of Wilds and the Warehouse’s resources stretch desperately thin, Kendle must find a way to keep the director from expelling the most gifted students as dangers to the school.

https://youtu.be/InsxWhw3uYM

Member Robyn Bennett writing as Casey Fae Hawson releases Misty Springs

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 13:19:24 GMT

Congratulations to SDWEG member Robyn Bennett, writing as Casey Fae Hewson, for publishing a new romance, Misty Springs. In addition to writing both fiction and nonfiction on her own, Robyn also writes jointly with another Guild member, Bob Boze. And Robyn has the distinction of being the SDWEG member who lives the farthest from San Diego. She resides in New Zealand and travels occasionally to San Diego when she attends our meetings.

Misty Springs Summary

Emily Seymour sat in her favourite spot on Red Hill Mountain, looking down at the alpine village of Misty Springs. Glancing at her disfigured hand, she wonders if she’ll ever be able to put aside her insecurities from the accident and her broken engagement and rebuild her life.

Ricky Coles, a cocky builder, working side jobs as a bartender, wants nothing more than to lay low, pay off his debts, and put his past behind him.

After their first meeting gets off to a rocky start, it doesn’t take long to confirm they are like oil and water: Emily naïve and trusting; Ricky seemingly unable to tell the truth about anything.

But both have much more important things to worry about. Emily’s dream house that has put her in debt to her unforgiving brother and may never be built, thanks to an unscrupulous contractor, and the people chasing Ricky to collect on his debts.

Will this unlikely pair end up proving that there’s a reason opposites attract and that support often comes from the most unexpected places?

Link to Amazon:

Casey Fae Hewson has always loved to write stories.

In 2014 she got serious about her writing and drafted her first novel, Haven River, a Young Adult contemporary romance, which was published in 2016.

Well and truly bitten by the writing bug in 2017 she published Aqua Bay set in spectacularly beautiful New Zealand where she lives.

She is currently editing her third novel, Misty Springs.

Casey is now partnered with Bob Boze the author of Love is a Pretty Girl with a Cape to Share Your Dreams With, The Horses of Tir Na Nog, The Sisterhood and Dreams. Together they are working on several collaborative efforts including: The Beach Pool and a new co-authored romance novel: Light My Way.

When she writes Casey draws on the natural beauty of her hometown, Blenheim, which is surrounded by hills, vineyards and olive trees, and bathes in endless sunshine.

When she's not writing she's reading from her extensive collection of romance, drama, thriller, horror, Young Adult and biography. "As I can't live in a library, I've created the next best thing - my own library."

You can also find Casey in the garden, mountain biking, walking on the beach, listening to music or trying to keep her crazy cat under control!

Warwick's Facilitates Interview with Member Cary Lowe

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 13:48:17 GMT

SDWEG member Cary Lowe was interviewed by former San Diego Union-Tribune reporter Roger Showley in a live streamed event hosted by Warwick’s Books. Roger and Cary, as well as Julie Slavinsky of Warwicks talked about the experiences Cary recounted in his book, as well as how those apply to current political events. The video of the interview can be seen at: https://www.facebook.com/warwicksbooks/videos/852486275154896/ .

Congratulations, Cory.

Member Cary D. Lowe receives IndieReader Discovery Award

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 13:59:05 GMT

Congratulations to Cary Lowe for receiving an IndieReader Discovery Award has been announced, recognizing Becoming American as the best book from an independent publisher in the field of politics/current events.

On Thursday May 28^th, IndieReader, one of the original review services for self, hybrid, and independently published authors, announced the winners of their annual IR Discovery Awards (IRDAs) for 2020. Becoming American by Cary D. Lowe won in the politics/current events category.

IndieReader launched the IRDAs in 2011 to help notable indie authors receive the attention of top publishing professionals, with the goal of reaching more readers. Noted Amy Edelman, author and founder of IR, “The books that won the IRDAs this year are not simply great indie books; they are great books, period. We hope that our efforts via the IRDAs ensure that they receive attention from the people who matter most. Potential readers.”

Past and present sponsors for the IRDAs include Amazon, Reedsy, Smith Publicity and NY-based literary agents Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. Judges have included publishers (from Penguin Group USA and Simon & Schuster), agents (from ICM, Dystel), publicists (from Smith Publicity), and bloggers (from GoodeReader).

Becoming American received the verdict of Winner from IndieReader’s reviewers. The book is a political memoir chronicling the author’s growing up in post-war Europe with parents who were Holocaust survivors, immigrating to the US, serving in the military, working on campaigns and causes, and overall becoming a politically engaged American. Mr. Lowe is a retired lawyer and college professor residing in San Diego and active in politics there.

Reacting to winning this award, Mr. Lowe said, “I hope this book shows readers how immigrants become Americans and what it means to be a real American.”

Marcia (M. Lee) Buompensiero Reads from her book, Sumerland

Thu, 14 May 2020 13:42:12 GMT

The San Diego Library's Local Author Program invited authors to submit short videos of them reading from their books for the Library to include on its website. As we learn of Guild members who have submitted videos, we hope to feature them on our website as well.

Here's Marcia (M. Lee) Buompensiero reading from her award winning novel, Sumerland, which earned Marcia the 2017 San Diego Book Award for best mystery.

If you have also submitted a video to the San Diego Library's Local Author Program and are willing to share it with Guild membership, please send a link to it on YouTube (or send the file for the Guild to upload to our own YouTube channel) for us to highlight your work as well.

Guild Members Volunteer with San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts

Mon, 11 May 2020 13:57:03 GMT

At the November 2019 meeting of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild, Susie Strasser of the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, Creative Writing Department, asked if Guild members would be interested in helping students at her school. (Susie has since joined the Guild. Yay!)

Guild members Robyn Bennett and Bob Boze volunteered after the meeting and have since been working with her to help the school’s students perfect their writing skills.

In January 2020, Robyn and Bob were given twelve short stories from students and asked to critique them. Then in early February, they were part of a four-person Jury Panel that listened as the students read their papers. The other two jury panel members were instructors from the school, who had evaluated the students' papers ahead of time.

After each student finished reading, one by one the jury panel members provided their critiques of the paper, offering both positive feedback and suggestions for enhancements.

Before the first student read, the four panel members did a quick comparison of their critiques. Instantly, it became obvious how impressed they all were with the twelve papers. Each student had done an excellent job, and almost all of the suggestions for improvements were truly enhancements that an edit of a published writer might find.

Perhaps even more impressive was that none of the students took offense to the comments or suggestions, and each and every one of them expressed appreciation for the jury panel members helping them to become better writers.

In mid-April, Robyn and Bob put together a PowerPoint presentation on how to enhance Creative Non-Fiction using Creative Fiction writing techniques.

This was presented by Bob at the end of April, as the Creative Non-Fiction class kicked off its first session via Zoom. The session covered the three structures of Creative Non-Fiction which the students were to choose their first paper from.

It then provided example topics within each structure and gave examples of how show don’t tell, emotions, the five senses, and other fiction techniques could be used in each. Once again, the presentation was very well received as the students went off to select the topic for their first papers.

Next up, once on grounds classes resume, Robyn and Bob have offered to do their Editing Untangled Workshop to help round out the students' skill sets. That is, unless Susie comes up with another assignment before that.

Robyn Bennett gives presentations and workshops at conferences, library and community groups incuding at Zonta, writing guilds, and is a long-standing lecturer at Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand. Robyn writes contemporary romance and business books

Bob Boze gives presentations, and has chaired panels and workshops at writer’s groups (e.g. San Diego: Writers Guild, Editors Network and Romance Writers), and at conferences, book fairs, library and community groups. Bob writes contemporary romance and business books and holds a BS degree in Engineering and Project Management with studies in Creative Writing at NYU, William and Mary, University of Maryland and University of Delaware.

NanoMorphosis from Guild Member Marla Anderson

Tue, 05 May 2020 14:27:20 GMT

SDWEG member Marla Anderson's science fiction novel NanoMorphosis has received a number of awards: 2018 B.R.A.G. Medallion, 2019 eLit Book Bronze Medal, 2019 IAN Book of the Year Finalist.

Congratulations, Marla!

What is indie B.R.A.G. and the indie B.R.A.G. medallion? The term “indie” refers to self-published books and B.R.A.G. is an acronym for Book Readers Appreciation Group. The name “indieBRAG” and the B.R.A.G. logos are trademarks of indieBRAG, LLC. The B.R.A.G. Medallion is a certification trademark owned and controlled by indieBRAG, LLC.

What are the eLit Awards? The annual eLit Awards are a global awards program committed to illuminating and honoring the very best of English language digital publishing entertainment.

The eLit Awards are an industry-wide, unaffiliated awards program open to all members of the electronic publishing industry.

The contest is presented by Jenkins Group Inc., a Michigan-based book publishing and marketing services company that has operated the popular Independent Publisher Book Awards contest since 1996.

What is the IAN Award? The Independent Author Network (IAN) is a community of authors who are self published or published by a small indie press. IAN promotes and has supported indie authors since 2010 to more than 580,000 Twitter followers and 115,000 Facebook followers.

One step in the marketing of your book should be entering competition for awards such as these for your marketplace. For more information about available awards for indie authors, see this article in IndieReader listing the top ten such award programs.

Marla L. Anderson

I am a writer of novel length fiction and short stories, concentrating mostly (but not exclusively) on science fiction. I also dabble in horror, suspense, fantasy, mainstream fiction and the occasional philosophical rant.

Yes, sometimes I stay in the real world, though it’s not nearly as much fun as the ones I can imagine.

I hope you will join me on my flights of fancy.

40th Anniversary Gala Dinner

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 15:15:05 GMT

The San Diego Writers and Editors Guild observed our 40th anniversary on Saturday, September 14, at the Admiral Baker Clubhouse in San Diego.

The highlight of the event was the awarding of three Odin Awards to members of the San Diego literary community to recognize their body of work and their contributions to the wider San Diego community of writers. The awardees were Marc Chery, Charlotte Thompson, and Richard Lederer.

One of San Diego's writing legends and former Odin Award recipient, Judy Reeves, served as the master of ceremonies for the event. After providing a thoughtful presentation on the history of the Guild and the Odin Award, she highlighted the many remarkable achievements of each of the awardees in her introductory remarks.

Marc Chery modestly lists himself in his LinkedIn profile as Branch library management, community outreach, program planning, collection development, readers' advisory librarian at the San Diego Central Library. His impact on behalf of the San Diego writing community is much greater than that description implies. Marc is the man behind most of the presentations at the San Diego Central Library.

Marc was recognized as Black History Month Local Hero while he served as branch manager of the Malcolm X library, he has hosted panel discussions of local authors, and he plays a major role in the San Diego City Library's Local Author Showcase and in promoting the annual One Book, One San Diego selections.

Charlotte E. Thompson, M.D., is a board certified pediatrician. From 2005 to 2008, she was named each year as one of the nation's top pediatricians by the Consumer's Research Council of America. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at University of California Medical School in San Diego and the author of ten nonfiction books.

Dr. Richard Lederer is the author of more than 40 books about language, history, and humor, including his best-selling ANGUISHED ENGLISH series and his current books, AMERICAN TRIVIA, AMAZING WORDS, HILARIOUS HOLIDAY HUMOR, and THE BIG BOOK OF WORDPLAY CROSSWORDS. His works range from bloopers and puns to word origins and word games to pets and American history. He writes a weekly column for the San Diego Union Tribune, "Lederer on Language." He is the founding co-host of the syndicated program, "A Way With Words," presented each weekend on KPBS.

San Diego Writers and Editors Guild SDWEG Blogs

Guild member, Alex Kecskes is mentioned in the front page of Scripps Ranch News

The Search for Dr. Noble by Alex A. Kecskes

The Native Daughter: A Memoir of Movement and Change by Wanjirũ Warama

Member, Cynthia Gould's novel, "I'm Adopted"

New Member: Susan Black Allen Releases Debut Book of Poetry

Writers Write

San Diego Public Library's 60th Annual Local Author Showcase

Debbie Wastling's New Book: Irish Secrets and Lies

The Case of the Niceferatu: Dotty Morgan Supernatural Sleuth Book Four by Erik Martin

We Hope to See You on Jan 24th at the Local Author Expo and Showcase Exhibit

Larry M. Edwards Releases Another Rent Beacham Mystery

Richard Opper releases "Oaks From Acorns Grow"

The Deadly Stingaree by Cory Lynn Fayman

Member, Richard Carrico publishes second book with Arcadia Publishing/The History Press

Library Shop SD's 2026 Matchbook Story Contest

Save the Date for Festival U - September 20!

Guild Member, Thomas Wing publishes "Against All Enemies"

The KPBS San Diego Book Festival Is Coming Soon

San Diego Public Library Happenings in 2025

Acorn Publishing Debut Author Prize

Loving Lavender Finch by Kelly Bargabos

Debbie Wastling Released Book Three of the Bell Family Series

SDWEG Member M. Lee Buompensiero Publishes First in a New Mystery Series

Award Winning Debut Novel by SDWEG Member Muffy Walker

The KPBS San Diego Book Festival Is Coming Soon

Integrating Nutrition and Mental Health Care by Dr. Ruth Leyse Wallace

JR Strayve JR's Third Book in His Braxton Century Series

Fourth of July Recommended Books

Central Oregon Writers’ Conference

Melinda West and the Gremlin Queen (Monster Gunslingers Book 2)

Jacob Hubbard, SDWEG member, has written a debut novel

Murder on the Way: A Camino de Santiago Mystery By Peter Shaw

Long-time SDWEG member, M. Lee Buompensiero [we know her as Marcia] has written an award-winning novel, Sumerland.

Thank Ye, Mister Sun by Bob Riffenburgh

Thomas Wing releases second book, "In Harm's Way

SDWEG member, Melodie Bac, has written a debut mythic novel.

SDWEG Member M.L. Meurs releases debut novel Camp Salvador

On Two Legs and Three Wheels Review

Catherine Pope, EdD releases debut memoir

Book Review of Al Converse's Vermonter

Query Letter Follow-up

What is a Query Letter?

Essential parts of a query letter

Introduction

Devising a hook

Introducing your novel

Story description

Comp titles

Author’s biography

Closing

Notes:

Synopsis Follow-up

What is a synopsis?

How should a synopsis be written?

2024 Mini-Local Author Showcase

The Year 2024 In Review

Three in-person meetings:

Open Mic Night

Eight Presentations on

Four Workshops on

Manuscript Critique Program

Local Book and Author Events

Anthology

The Poll

Special Offer: Multiple-year Membership at Reduced Price

New Directory View on our Website

The Member Directory Page has changed.

Why should this matter to you?

What about the Advanced Search option?

How can I be sure other members find me by my interests?

A New Marketing Tool: Ingram iD from Ingram Spark

SDWEG Supports Friends of the Central Public Library

Newsletters and Blogs Especially for Authors

Newsletter and blog resources for writers

Local Resources

Resources from a Wider Region

Blogs and Newsletters from SDWEG members

Upcoming Writers Conferences in April

April 3-7, 2024: Monterey Writers Retreat Conference (Pacific Grove, CA).