News

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/

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.