Menu
Log in


Log in

News

Members who wish to submit a blog entry should send it to sandiegowriterseditorsguild@gmail.com. A review committee will consider each submission for membership interest and may suggest edits before publishing the submission to the blog. For more information, see Blog or Be Blogged.

  • 28 Nov 2020 7:29 AM | Deleted user


    Local Authors Featured in San Diego Writers and Editors Guild 2020 Anthology


     November 17, 2020  Marcus Brock  0 Comments

    The Guilded Pen - Strange Happenings anthology coverThe Guilded Pen anthology includes outstanding works by established San Diego writers and new talent.

    The San Diego Writers and Editors Guild has released their ninth anthology featuring many of the county’s best-known authors and poets.

     

    The anthology represents the best of the local writing community”

    — Mardie Schroeder 

    SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES, November 17, 2020 /EINPresswire.com/ — The San Diego Writers and Editors Guild have released their 2020 anthology, titled The Guilded Pen – Strange Happenings. The collection of selected works pivots on the theme of strange happenings, and features stories and poems across a range of genres and styles.

    The anthology includes outstanding works by established local writers like Richard Lederer, best known for his puns, oxymorons, and anagrams. It also includes outstanding submissions from several aspiring local authors.

    According to Guild president Mardie Schroeder, “The anthology represents the best of the local writing community. It is the pride of our guild, and it provides a place for talented but undiscovered authors to publish for the first time. Many of the writers featured over the years have built remarkable careers from their start in the anthology.”

    Anthology editor, Marcia Buompensiero commented that the anthology is sometimes hilarious, and sometimes deeply introspective. “Readers can expect a surprising range of topics within the Strange Happenings theme. While many of the pieces draw inspiration from life on the California coast, some are about people and places as far afield as South Africa.”

    Readers can order The Guilded Pen – Strange Happenings anthology as an e-book or softcover volume on Amazon.com.

    With the tenth anniversary edition of the anthology slated for release in the summer of 2021, the Guild committee are calling on writers of all ages to join, become involved, and submit their work when the call for submissions goes out this winter.

    About the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild: The SDWEG, founded in 1979 by Rhoda Riddell, is the oldest Guild of its kind in San Diego County. Today, after 41 years, the SDWEG continues its leadership role in the local writing arts. Members enjoy meetings throughout the year, marketing support, and ongoing seminars and workshops that assist in the development of writing skills and career advancement.

    Mardie Schroeder
    San Diego Writers and Editors Guild

    Marcus Brock

     News Alerts

    I am Marcus Brock and I focus on breaking news stories and ensuring we (“News Deli”) offer timely reporting on some of the most recent stories released through market wires about “News Alerts” sector companies. I have formerly spent over 5 years as a trader in U.S. Stock Market and is now semi-stepped down.


  • 20 Nov 2020 6:56 AM | Deleted user


    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





  • 26 Oct 2020 7:35 AM | Deleted user


    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.

  • 22 Oct 2020 7:11 AM | Deleted user

    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.


  • 19 Oct 2020 7:44 AM | Deleted user

    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


  • 5 Oct 2020 8:23 AM | Deleted user


    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


  • 22 Sep 2020 8:18 AM | Deleted user


    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.


  • 28 Aug 2020 5:58 AM | Deleted user


    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/


  • 28 Aug 2020 5:55 AM | Deleted user


    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 680th 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.


  • 12 Aug 2020 4:11 PM | Deleted user


    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



Copyright 2021 San Diego Writers and Editors Guild

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software