Fremont (Zoom): Children's Author, Illustrator, Graphic Designer
2022-11-27 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Denver) | CA

Orange Co (In-Person): Open Mic 2-Minute Readings
2022-12-03 09:00 - 11:00 | Anaheim Packing House, 440 S. Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim, CA, 92805, United States
CALIFORNIA WRITERS CLUB ORANGE COUNTY BRANCH is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

https://www.calwritersorangecounty.org

Visit our new meeting location at:

Anaheim Packing House
440 S. Anaheim Blvd
Anaheim, CA 92805

Click here for visitor and parking information.

Guests are always welcome.

Special Holiday Event & Member Readings

Next Meeting
December 03, 2022

9:00am – 9:30am Networking
9:30am – 11:00am Guest Speaker

Speaker
California Writers Club Members

Topic
“Open Mic 2-Minute Readings”

As we do each year, we get to know our members just a little bit better through their written words. California Writers Club members have the opportunity to read aloud 3 minutes of their written works to our audience.
Keep in mind that readers will be limited to official members of the CWC. Guests will not be invited to read at this event. However, this is a good way to learn about the members. Enjoy original writing from heartfelt to humorous to mesmerizing to mysterious, discover kindred spirits among OC’s finest writing community.
In January our featured speaker format will return as the CWC Orange County chapter continues to provide education, inspiration, and motivation to local writers. But in the spirit of the holiday season, we take the time to get to know each other just a little better this month and share some written gems. Come join us!
To learn more about membership in the California Writers Club please visit: http://www.calwritersorangecounty.org

Coastal Dunes (In-Person): Open Mic and Holiday Celebration
2022-12-03 10:00 - 12:30 | Nipomo Library, 918 West Tefft Street,, Nipomo, CA, United States
Our next meeting is Saturday, December 3rd, 2022, in person at the Nipomo Library and via Zoom, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
This meeting is our annual Open Microphone and holiday celebration. Our members will be reading from their work, and celebrating the fantastic year that Coastal Dunes CWC has had. Join us for entertainment, networking, and goodies, of course. See you there!

San Fernando (Zoom): Stoker on Stoker: The Mysteries Behind the Writing of Dracula
2022-12-03 13:00 - 15:00 | CA
December 3rd – Dacre Stoker

Stoker on Stoker: The Mysteries Behind the Writing of Dracula

The San Fernando Valley Branch of the California Writers Club is pleased to welcome bestselling author Dacre Stoker as the keynote speaker on Saturday, December 3rd at 1:00 pm via Zoom, with a presentation titled “Stoker on Stoker: The Mysteries Behind the Writing of Dracula.”

Dacre Stoker is the great grand-nephew of Bram Stoker and the international best-selling co-author of Dracula the Un-Dead, the official Stoker family endorsed sequel to Dracula. Dacre is also the co-editor (with Elizabeth Miller) of The Lost Journal of Bram Stoker: The Dublin Years. Released in October of 2018, Dracul, a prequel to Dracula, co-authored with JD Barker, was the UK’s # 1 Bestselling Hardcover Novel in Horror and Supernatural in 2018, and a top 5 finalist by the Horror Writers Association for the Bram Stoker Award® for Superior Achievement in a Novel. Film rights for Dracul have beenoptioned by Paramount Studios.

Dacre’s recent work includes Dracula’s Bedlam(2021) with Chris McAuley and John Peel and The Virgins Embrace (2021) with Chris McAuley, a graphic novel adaptation of Bram Stoker’s short story The Squaw (1893). Additionally, short stories with Leverett Butts, Last Days, appeared in Weird Tales Magazine January 2021, The Tired Captain, featured in FX Sherlock Holmes Anthology, and Enter the Dragon in Classic Monsters Unleashed Anthology January 2022 and upcoming The Lost Warrior,in Dracula UnFanged Anthology coming out in the Fall of 2022.

Dacre has consulted and appeared in many recent film documentaries about vampires in literature and popular culture. He hosts tours to the U.K. to visit places where Bram Stoker lived, was educated, worked, researched, and wrote Dracula. He also leads groups to Transylvania to explore both the life and times of the historic Vlad Dracula lll and also the locations where Bram Stoker set his famous novel.

Dacre Stoker’s compelling and informative Keynote presentation weaves together the details of Dracula’s history with Stoker family lore, and Bram Stoker’s life in Dublin and London, then separates fact from popular fiction, revealing the truth about all things Stoker and Dracula. Stoker on Stoker has fascinated audiences around the world, exploring the issues behind the mysteries that have baffled Dracula scholars and fans since the book’s publication in 1897. Illustrated with Dacre’s collection of never before published, and seldom-seen historic images, Stoker on Stoker is a glimpse behind the scenes of the life and the writing of one of the least known authors and one of the world’s most famous books.

Visit http://www.dacrestoker.com for more information on this remarkable speaker.

This presentation will be from 60-80 minutes with a Q & A to follow, and will not be recorded. Please note that all members of the CWC-SFV will receive a Zoom invitation to this presentation. Members of other CWC branches and guests should contact Pat Avery by noon on December 2nd at cwcsanfernandovalley@gmail.com for an invitation.

East Sierra (In-Person): Dickens Tea
2022-12-03 14:00 - 17:00 | The Heritage Club House, 425 Heritage Dr., Ridgecrest, CA, United States
DICKENS TEA
Saturday, December 3, 2 pm at
The Heritage Club House
Following a two-year break forced on us by Covid, Ridge Writers enthusiastically presents our annul Dickens Tea — at the Heritage Club House, 425 W. Heritage Drive Ridgecrest, CA.
Come for a Dickens reading, pastries and tea, a book swap with two free books included, and crafts session with materials provided as well. Wear a Victorian costume if you’d like to compete for a prize, but otherwise come in regular street clothes.
Buy your ticket for $25 at Red Rock Books, 206 W. Ridgecrest Blvd., Ridgecrest, CA.

High Desert (In-Person): AV High School Singers
2022-12-10 10:00 - 12:30 | Community Church at Jess Ranch, 11537 Apple Valley Rd,, Apple Valley, CA, 92308, United States
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 AT 10 AM
​AT THE COMMUNITY CHURCH AT JESS RANCH
HDCWC TO FEATURE AV HIGH SCHOOL SINGERS

In celebration of the Christmas Season, the High Desert Branch of the California Writers Club (HDCWC) will feature talented students from the Apple Valley High School choir led by their teacher, Mr. Naim. The event will be held at Jess Ranch Community Church, 11531 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley from 10 am to noon. The public is invited and welcome to attend at no charge.
​
The club will also spotlight HDCWC member Bill Lopez, who will sing and lead the audience in holiday carols. A surprise guest is scheduled to also participate in the musical event. A gift exchange is planned, and anyone bringing a gift will also receive one. Gender specific gifts are to be marked on the outside of the package, and suggested cost of such gifts (no white elephants) is ten dollars or less.

Mt. Diablo (In-Person): Scene Stealer: Master Scene Writing for Powerful Plots
2022-12-10 11:00 - 14:00 | Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Ln, Pleasant Hill, CA, 94523, United States
Jordan Rosenfeld
Scene Stealer: Master Scene Writing for Powerful Plots

Jordan Rosenfeld is author of the novels Women in Red and Forged in Grace and six books on the craft of writing, most recently How to Write a Page-Turner, the bestselling Make a Scene, Writing the Intimate Character, A Writer’s Guide to Persistence, Writing Deep Scenes and Write Free.
Her freelance articles and essays have been published in hundreds of publications, including: The Atlantic, The New York Times, Scientific American, Writer’s Digest Magazine, The Washington Post and many more. She is
also a freelance manuscript editor, writing coach and teaches online classes. Jordanrosenfeld.net and
jordanwritelife@gmail.com

You’ve felt the pulse-pounding drama of a good story, caught up in a book that feels so real you might have been inside it. What makes a story come to life? Strong, powerful scenes. Scenes are the building blocks of
great fiction and memoir.
They bring flat narrative into full-color action, allow you to breathe life into compelling characters through dynamic action, and when added up, they create powerful plots. When you feel connected to the characters and in the midst of action, when you can’t put the book down because you’re gripped by the action, you’re in scenes.
Writers will learn the essential ingredients for scene construction:

How to design scenes from beginning to end
How to bring characters to life through “words and deeds”
How to evoke effective setting without overkill
The role of senses and using imagery
How to use scene types to create energy and tension
And how to make every scene count toward the plot

Schedule

11:00 – Sign-in and Buck-a-Book Fundraiser
11:15 – Writers Table with Isidra Mencos
12:00 – Holiday Buffet
12:35 – Business Meeting
1:00 – Feature Presentation
2:00 – Meeting Ends

Click here to register

San Joaquin (Zoom): Highlights on Marketing from the 20Booksto50K Conference
2022-12-10 12:00 - 14:00 | CA
Dec. 10: Terry Wells-Brown and June Gillam, “Highlights on Marketing from the 20Booksto50K
Conference.”
Meetings are Zoom only, noon to 2:00 p.m. Free for all. For the link, sign up for the branch mailing list,
https://sjvalleywriters.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=899132e01f7a84cc55e31563e&id=7acdb2b23f

Redwood (Hybrid): Member Appreciation Event
2022-12-17 13:00 - 14:30 | Finley Communiy Center, 2060 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa, CA, United States
IN-PERSON & ZOOM MEETINGS
Join us on Saturday, December 17, at 1 p.m.

Register below for a Zoom link or to attend in person at the Finley Center.

Saturday, December 17, 2022
1 – 2:30 p.m.
MEMBER APPRECIATION EVENT
Join us as we celebrate our members and volunteers for their achievements and contributions to Redwood Writers. The celebration will kick off with Off the Page Readers Theater performing plays written by RW members David Beckman, Susan Bono, and Jo-Anne Rosen, presented by actors Beth Mouse, Hilary Moore, and Jeff Savage.

REGISTER TODAY

Tri-Valley (In-Person): Create a Relevant Marking Plan
2022-12-17 14:00 - 16:00 | CA
Kymberlie Ingalls, Essayist, Editor, and Author, December 17, 2022

Kymberlie Ingalls will present “Create a Relevant Marking Plan” at the Tri-Valley Writers December 17, 2022 meeting. Marketing can be overwhelming, but it takes a creative mind to bend and shape, work to stay relevant, and be inspired to think big!
In this talk, Kymberlie will discuss:
• Building a platform
• How to eliminate the noise
• Narrowing your focus
• Tackling fear and self-doubt
• Developing a fluid strategy
Kymberlie Ingalls is an award-winning essayist, editor, and author of memoir, opinion, and short fiction. Her books, Bridges: A Lifetime in Essay and 43, compile personal essay, social media, and memoir to address themes of grief, humanity, and the heart. Ms. Ingalls is a long-time member and serves on many board levels of the California Writers Club.

Read More »

Register Here

Consent to be recorded
By registering for this meeting, you acknowledge that the meeting may be recorded. Your consent to be recorded is implied in your registration. See meeting information for full details.

East Sierra (In-Person): STEM, Graphic Novels, and Traditional Print
2023-01-05 18:30 - 20:30 | Ridgecrest Presbyterian Church, 633 W. Las Flores, Ridgecrest, CA, United States
KAREN BLAKE LOOKS AT STEM, GRAPHIC NOVELS, AND TRADITIONAL PRINT
January 5, 2023
Award-winning writer and poet, and also a STEM game and book publisher, Karen Blake will give the Ridge Writers January 5, 2023 program that starts at 6:30 p.m, at Ridgecrest Presbyterian Church, 633 W. Las Flores. Pubic invited. Admission free. Masks requested.
Her awareness of the importance of STEM education focuses on encouraging kids to learn about how the world works. This goes beyond science and into the world of business. She accomplishes this through games. She launched STEMdelivered.org and Rhizomes Books, Inc. in 2011 following her run for Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2010. It was her way of meeting the talent required to form the technical team for her publishing company that released two products in 2014, “Physics on the River” (a visual novel) and “Matwa Finds a Brother” (a children’s book). The matching game, Antelope UP, is available on multiple platforms.
For her program, she will discuss finding outlets for her new projects, whether there is a STEM market if members want to break into writing for it, and given her background ranging from graphic novels to traditional print, she will examine the features they would need to succeed such as strong plots and characters, as well as what to know about illustrations, lettering, any software that helps, and finding a publisher.
She will leave plenty of time for Q&A. We hope to see you there.

Orange Co (In-Person): Where Have the Bad Guys Gone? Writing Good Antagonists
2023-01-07 09:00 - 11:00 | Anaheim Packing House, 440 S. Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim, CA, 92805, United States
Next Meeting
January 07, 2023

9:00am – 9:30am Networking
9:30am – 11:00am Guest Speaker

Speaker
Ash Bishop

Topic
“Where Have the Bad Guys Gone? Writing Good Antagonists”

The first novel from Ash Bishop is hard to resist from the mesmerizing cover art to the storyline that immediately gets under your skin. But it’s the ability to create awful yet irresistible antagonists that linger long after you’re finished reading.
While I normally summarize the author’s bio, I couldn’t say it better than Ash says it himself: “I’m a lifetime reader who loves all genres, especially science fiction, mystery, and fantasy. I have been a high school English teacher, worked in the video game industry, and in educational app development. I even used to fetch coffee for Quentin Tarantino during the production of the film Jackie Brown. I currently produce script coverage for a major Hollywood studio, but I spend my best days at home in Southern California with my wonderful wife and two wonderful children. Many years ago, I earned an MFA in Creative Writing from San Diego State University.”
Join us as we hear from this entertaining storyteller about his professional journey in developing the craft of writing.
To learn more about the author, visit https://ash-bishop.com

Visit our new meeting location at:

Anaheim Packing House
440 S. Anaheim Blvd
Anaheim, CA 92805

Click here for visitor and parking information.

Guests are always welcome.

Coastal Dunes (Hybrid): Wrangling Ideas, Goal Setting and Beyond
2023-01-07 10:00 - 12:30 | Nipomo Library, 918 West Tefft Street,, Nipomo, CA, United States
We have switched to an RSVP system for our Zoom meetings. If you’re NOT currently a member of Coastal Dunes CWC, and you’d like to attend our next meeting via Zoom, use our Contact Form to request the Zoom link (put “Zoom link” in the Subject line.)
Our next meeting is Saturday, January 7, 2023, in person at the Nipomo Library and via Zoom, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM.

Guest Speaker: Mike Sewall
Topic: Wrangling Ideas, Goal Setting and Beyond
M.J. Sewall (pronounced SOO-ALL, really fast) is a small business owner, author, playwright, and supporter of the arts. Helping to raise four children, he now gets to play with three grandchildren and has zero responsibility. Mike is the author of six novels, a short story collection, and a forthcoming book on local history. He owns a restaurant. and serves on the board of directors for Lompoc Civic Theatre and The Lompoc Theatre Project.
Owner of Sewall Publishing, he began his writing career as a self-published author and has been with a small press publisher for nearly five years. His book Wild Monsters Dance About: Stories from an Unruly Mind won a SOVAS (voice arts) award for best short story collection.
Sewall proudly served as the Vice President of the Coastal Dunes branch of the California Writers Club for many years and is delighted to finally be back amongst distinguished colleagues and friends. Mike is a very entertaining speaker, so we hope you’ll join us to kick off a new year!
Our in-person monthly meetings are open to the public and held at the:
Nipomo Library, Community Room, 918 West Tefft Street, Nipomo, CA
Directions: From 101 northbound or southbound, take the Tefft Street exit.
Proceed west for .9 miles. At Orchard, turn right into the library parking lot.
Date/times: Saturday mornings (the first Saturday of each month unless a holiday weekend)
10:00 AM- 10:30 Check-in and Networking
10:30-10:45 CWC Announcements
10:45 AM – 12:15 PM: Featured Presentation
12:15 – 12:45: Q&A, Book Signing if applicable
Refreshments are provided; admission is free.

San Fernando (Zoom): The First Drafts Club
2023-01-07 13:00 - 15:00 | CA
January 7th – Angie Chatman

The First Drafts Club

The San Fernando Valley Branch of the California Writers Club is pleased to
welcome freelance writer, editor and story teller, Angie Chapman as the keynote speaker on Saturday, January 7 at 1:00 pm via Zoom, with a presentation titled “The First Drafts Club”.

Angie Chatman is a Pushcart prize nominated writer and a WEBBY award winning storyteller. Her short stories and essays have appeared on the Brevity blog, TaintTaintTaint Magazine, Literary Landscapes, The Rumpus, Pangyrus, Blood Orange Review, Hippocampus Magazine, fwriction:review, and elsewhere. She’s told on the stages of The Moth Radio Hour, World Channel’s Stories from the Stage, and Story Collider. A native Chicagoan, Angie now resides in Boston with her family and rescue dog, Lizzie.

During the presentation, Angie will discuss that, as with any product, your story needs beta testing. Having a critique group is necessary to iron out any wrinkles in your text. It’s called the First Drafts Club and you must be careful who you allow to join. Angie Chatman will discuss the criteria to use so that you can get help to polish your piece for publication.

Please visit www.angiecwriter.com for more information on this popular speaker.

Please note that all members of the CWC-SFV will receive a Zoom invitation to this presentation. Members of other CWC branches and guests should contact
President and Zoom host Karen Gorback by noon on January 6 at
karen.gorback@gmail.com for an invitation. We regret we cannot accommodate late requests.

Sacramento (Zoom): Crafting a Strong Story Premise
2023-01-11 14:00 - 16:00 | CA
Crafting a Strong Story Premise

Wednesday, January 11
2-4 p.m. on Zoom

CWC-Sac member C. S .Lakin is teaching an intensive workshop online (Zoom) on January 11, 2-4 p.m. on crafting a strong story premise. In this 2-hour workshop, you’ll learn what a premise is, how to write a dynamic one-sentence story concept, and come up with a story hook that will enthrall readers.
We’ll cover these important elements (and more):

The difference between an idea, a concept, and a premise
What a “high concept” premise is all about
The questions you must ask to develop a strong premise
Why you need to understand MDQs and theme for your premise to rock
The power of the story hook

In preparation for this workshop, see if you can craft a one-sentence concept that follows this basic format:
“When [opening conflict] happens to [character(s)], they must [overcome conflict] to [complete their quest].”*
We’ll be kicking around your ideas, so be sure to bring your story concept to the workshop to share (I’ll get to as many as time allows). Cost is $38. Register at Eventbrite HERE. Space is limited!

Napa (in-Person): Podcasts as Platform: Making the Most of the Newest, Hottest Medium
2023-01-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave, Napa, CA
January Meeting
WHEN Wednesday, January 11, 7-9 p.m.
WHERE Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave. Napa
“Podcasts as Platform: Making the Most of the Newest, Hottest Medium”
Napa Valley Writers will feature Betsy Graziani Fasbinder, who hosts a bimonthly podcast, The Morning Glory Project: Stories of Determination. The MGP, now in its fourth year, includes interviews of inspiring survivors, thrivers, innovators, trailblazers, and barrier busters. Betsy is dedicated to telling, or helping others to tell their stories. She is a licensed psychotherapist and works as a developmental editor and coach for public speakers and writers of memoir, fiction, and non-fiction. She is award-winning author of a novel, Fire & Water, a critically acclaimed memoir, Filling Her Shoes, and From Page to Stage: Inspiration, Tools, and Public Speaking Tips for Writers.

High Desert (In-Person): The Future of News Reporting
2023-01-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Community Church at Jess Ranch, 11537 Apple Valley Rd,, Apple Valley, CA, 92308, United States
SATURDAY, JANUARY 14 AT 10 AM
​AT THE COMMUNITY CHURCH AT JESS RANCH
RENE DE LA CRUZ
​THE FUTURE OF NEWS REPORTING

Beginning the New Year of 2023, the HDCWC is proud to present longtime High Desert resident and Daily Press reporter, Rene De La Cruz. Self-described as News Reporter, Pastor, Podcaster, Videographer, American. Dodgers/Packers/StarWars/Tacos Fan, Rene is uniquely qualified to speak on the Future of Journalism and News Reporting.
The presentation begins at 10 am at the Community Church at Jess Ranch, 11537 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley. The public is invited and welcome to attend at no charge.

Mt. Diablo (In-Person): The Magic of Storytelling through the Art of the Screenplay
2023-01-14 11:00 - 14:00 | Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Ln, Pleasant Hill, CA, 94523, United States
CWC Mt. Diablo Presents: Paul Zeidman “The Magic of Storytelling through the Art of the Screenplay”

January 14, 2023 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Our Feature Presentation

Paul Zeidman was born and raised in the suburban wilds of southern New Jersey. He began writing at a very early age. Little did he realize that his desire to put words to paper and a subsequent love of all things cinematic would someday combine to launch his screenwriting career.
When not writing, rewriting, or reading scripts, he enjoys watching movies, reading books of all sorts, running somewhat long distances, and making what could possibly be the best pecan pie west of the Mississippi.

The Magic of Storytelling through the Art of the Screenplay
Paul loves to create a ripping yarn that grabs the viewer and takes them on a rollercoaster ride of thrills and excitement that they can’t wait to experience again.
Paul is an award-winning screenwriter and the author of the three GO AHEAD AND ASK screenwriting books. Paul has also been running his screenwriting blog Maximum Z since 2009, co-hosts the Creative Writing Life podcast, and has been the featured guest on several screenwriting podcasts.
Writers will learn craft skills:

Developing structure and conflict within your story
Creating three-dimensional characters
Taking the familiar and putting your own personal spin on it

Writers Table – TBD

Schedule

11:00 – Sign-in
11:15 – Writers Table
12:00 – Buffet Lunch
12:35 – Business Meeting
1:00 – Feature Presentation
2:00 – Meeting Ends

Click here for more info or to register

San Joaquin (Zoom): Learn About Copyediting
2023-01-14 12:00 - 14:00 | CA
The next meeting of the San Joaquin Valley Writers Club will take place on Zoom on Saturday, January 14 at noon.

Pam Van Allen does copyediting and line editing for short stories, novels, and memoir. Some authors are apprehensive about having their work edited because the process seems mysterious. In this presentation, Pam will demonstrate how she makes suggestions for improving a manuscript. She will provide her rationale for each change based on principles from the Chicago Manual of Style and other writing resources.

Whizzits is her indie publishing company. She provides the gamut of services for self-published authors.

https://www.pamvanallen.com

To get the Zoom link by subscribing to the newsletter, go to https://sjvalleywriters.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe…

Long Beach (Zoom): How to Quit Your Day Job: Writing for Fun and Profit
2023-01-14 15:00 - 17:00 | CA
January 14, 2023

Anne Cleeland

“How to Quit Your Day Job: Writing for Fun and Profit”

Anne Cleeland writes a contemporary Scotland Yard mystery series that is featured in the Amazon top 100 best sellers. Her 15 Doyle & Acton Scotland Yard series includes her latest title, Christmas with Acton & Doyle. She also writes a historical series of stand-alone books set in the Regency period. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, The Historical Novel Society, and Mystery Writers of America.
Our Janury meeting will be for members only (and those invited by our speaker)
while we arrange for a new meeting venue.
Check back for more information about our future meeting location.

Berkeley (Zoom): Sipping the Elixir—An Overview of the Heroines Journey
2023-01-15 13:00 - 15:00 | CA
“Sipping the Elixir” with Gail Carriger on January 15th, 2023

An Overview of the Heroines Journey
What is the Heroine’s Journey (as opposed to the Hero’s), and what aspects make for compelling narrative and voracious readers? Where do these elements originate and how do we write them? This presentation by a highly successful writer of unconventional female protagonists explains all. Gail Carriger, author of The Heroines’s Journey, covers briefly what this journey is, how it works, one source myth, one pop-culture example, and how it can be expertly activated by authors of fiction and narrative non-fiction.
About Gail Carriger
Order “The Heroine’s Journey” here
Gail Carriger writes books that are hugs, mostly comedies of manners mixed with steampunk and urban fantasy (plus sexy queer joy as G. L. Carriger). These include The Parasol Protectorate, Custard Protocol, Tinkered Stars, and San Andreas Shifter series for adults, and the Finishing School series for young adults. Also nonfiction: The Heroine’s Journey: For Writers, Readers, and Fans of Pop Culture. She is published in many languages, has over a million books in print, over a dozen New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, plus starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus, and Romantic Times.
Her first book, Soulless, made Audible’s Best list, was a Publishers Weekly Best Book, an IndieBound Notable, and a Locus Recommended Read. She has received the American Library Association’s Alex Award, the Prix Julia Verlanger, the Elbakin Award, the Steampunk Chronicle‘s Reader’s Choice Award, and a Starburner Award. She was once an archaeologist and is fond of shoes, cephalopods, and tea. Get early access, specials, and exclusives via her website gailcarriger.com

Email: gail@gailcarriger.com
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter
Websites: gailcarriger.com

Get Tickets Now
Say you’re coming on Facebook!

Event Schedule
$5 for members, $10 for guests, free tickets available*
Community
12:00 Club leaders check-in
12:30 Welcome and networking with members & guests
Program
1:00 p.m. Club Announcements
1:30 p.m. Member Spotlight: Bobbie Kinkead
1:45 p.m. Featured Speaker: Gail Carriger
2:30 p.m. Book Sales & Networking
Tickets include admission to our online craft and marketing support groups, now meeting Thursdays. more info here.
See meetings for more info.

Mendocino (Zoom): Anthology Readings
2023-01-15 15:00 - 17:00 | CA
2023 WMC ANTHOLOGY READINGS
Sunday, January 15, 3 p.m. Zoom
In celebration of the upcoming release of Common Ground, the following authors will read five minute excerpts from their stories and poems: windflower, Earlene Gleisner, Maureen Eppstein, Susan Lundgren, Mary-Ellen Campbell, Fran Schwartz, Naty Osa,
Nancy Wallace-Nelson, windflower, Sallie Reynolds, Maureen Eppstein, Sharon Gilligan, Elizabeth Kirkpatrick-Vrenios, Art Weininger, Ericka Lutz, Nona Smith.
The remainder of the readings will occur during our March meeting.
NO NEED FOR WMC MEMBERS TO PREREGISTER FOR ZOOM EVENTS
Each month a new meeting link will be sent to your email address.
The public is welcome to send an email to writersmendocinocoast@gmail.com to request the Zoom link. All meetings are recorded.
At the close of the presentation, the Zoom session will remain open half an hour for chatting.

Central Coast (Hybrid): Setting That Works - How Memorable Setting Can Advance Plot, Reveal Character, Echo Theme, and More.
2023-01-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Pacific Grove’s Juice n’ Java, 599 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA
January 17, 2023
John Byrne Barry
Setting That Works – How Memorable Setting Can Advance Plot,
Reveal Character, Echo Theme, and More.
The primary job for setting is to immerse readers in the scene, but the most memorable settings do more than that — they advance your story, echo your theme, and convey mood and tone. More than anything, they reveal character. This talk will address how to capture the essence of a place in writing that is lean and strong, pushing your story along without stopping its momentum.
John Byrne Barry is a writer, actor, designer, walker, and pickleball player. He is author of three novels, including When I Killed My Father: An Assisted-Suicide Family Thriller, which was recently named a finalist in the San Francisco Writers Conference 2022 Writing Contest. He is also a board member for the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA). You can find out more at johnbyrnebarry.com.

Writers of Kern (In-Person): Sheryl Giesbrecht Turner
2023-01-21 09:00 - 11:30 | Hodel’s Country Dining, 5917 Knudsen Drive, Bakersfield, CA, 93308, United States
Pop in at one of our monthly meetings/workshops to see what Writers of Kern is all about.
21 January 2023 | Sheryl Giesbrecht Turner | TBA
Not a member? No problem! We’d love to have you.

When: The 3rd Saturday of the month, 9:15-11:15 am. Join us 30 minutes early for breakfast and writer’s fellowship, January, February, April and June-November.
Where: Hodel’s Country Dining, 5917 Knudsen Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308.
Fee: $10 for members, $15 for guests. Both include buffet breakfast. Pay at the door or skip the line and pay online.
Who: It’s a new speaker with new insights at every meeting. Check out our next speaker & workshop topic right here.

SF Peninsula (In-Person): How to Read Your Writing to an Audience
2023-01-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Sequoia Yacht Club, 441 Seaport Ct., Redwood City, CA, United States
How to Read Your Writing to an Audience with Sam Kauffman
Do your knees shake when you’re asked to speak in public? Does your mouth go dry when asked to read your writing in public? Do your lips stick to your teeth as you are about to read for an audience? Does your mind take what seems like an extended vacation as the butterflies in your stomach rise in pure panic when preparing to read out loud?
Sam Kauffman has experienced all the above in abject terror when asked to read or perform. There is an art to dramatic reading. Learn some basic techniques for reading your short stories, story excerpts, drama, or poetry in public forums.
Sam Kauffman, CWC member and dramatist, has written and performed over eighteen one-woman musical dramas all over the U.S. for 20+ years. She will share her experience and the basics of dramatic reading.

Register to Attend

10:00 am – Club business and
mingle with fellow writers
11:00 am — Speaker

Redwood (Zoom): Alka Joshi - My 10-Year Journey to Overnight Success
2023-01-21 13:00 - 14:30 | CA
THIS MEETING WILL BE ON ZOOM ONLY
Join us on Saturday, January 21, at 1 p.m.

Registration link below.

Saturday, January 21, 2023
1 – 2:30 p.m.
ALKA JOSHI – MY 10-YEAR JOURNEY TO OVERNIGHT SUCCESS
In a highly anticipated presentation, Alka Joshi, the bestselling author of The Henna Artist (a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick) and The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, and upcoming release, The Perfumist of Paris, will share:

How she went from advertising copywriter to NYT Bestselling author
What she learned along the way
Why she loves her villains as much as her good characters
The process of screen adaption
And what has changed in her life since becoming a NYT Bestseller

Alka Joshi was born in India and raised in the U.S. since the age of nine. She has a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts. At age 62, Joshi published her debut novel, The Henna Artist, which immediately became a New York Times bestseller, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, was Longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and is being developed into an episodic series by Miramax TV. The sequel, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, released June 2021, and will be followed by The Perfumist of Paris, the third book in the trilogy in 2023.
Connect with Alka Joshi at alkajoshi.com.

REGISTER TODAY

Sacramento (In-Person): Deepen Your Travel Experiences and Improve Your Writing with a Muse Board
2023-01-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Ave, Sacramento, CA, United States
Free Monthly Meeting
(includes Q&A)
Saturday, January 21, 2023
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Arden Dimick Library
891 Watt Avenue
Sacramento, CA
(Note: a recording of this meeting will be posted on the Meeting Archive tab)

with
Jill Hedgecock
Awarding-Winning Novelist and Freelance Writer
Travel broadens your life perspective, creating a muse board reveals the details—both experiences will make you a better writer.
Attendees will:

Understand the importance of treating setting as character in travel-based writing
Take the necessary steps to retain the sensory details of your travel experiences
Learn what a muse board is and how to create one
Discover the 12 benefits of writing a muse board

Jill Hedgecock is an award-winning and internationally published author of four novels and writes monthly book and pet columns for a Bay Area paper. Jill was the Program Coordinator for Mount Diablo CWC for 8 years, twice received a Distinguished Service award, and currently judges the club’s young writer’s contest. To learn more visit www.jillhedgecock.com.

Tri-Valley (In-Person): Emotional Mastery for Fiction Writers Workshop
2023-01-21 14:00 - 17:00 | Las Positas College, 3000 Campus Hill Dr., Livermore, CA, United States
Workshop with Suzanne Lakin, Novelist & Writing Coach, January 21, 2023
December 18, 2022

Suzanne Lakin will present a special three-hour workshop on “Emotional Mastery for Fiction Writers” at the Tri-Valley Writers January 21, 2023 meeting. The emotional landscape of fiction is the greatest challenge for writers, yet it is perhaps the most important element because readers want to care. And they can’t care about characters unless writers effectively, evocatively, and masterfully show emotion in their characters.
In this workshop, you’ll be given techniques to help spark emotional response in your readers.

Read More »

New Location !!!
Join us on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Tri-Valley Writers’ newmeeting location: Las Positas College, room 2470 at 3000 Campus Hill Dr. in Livermore. Check-in begins at 1:30 p.m. There is a two-step RSVP & Payment process:

An Email RSVP is REQUIRED at treasurer@trivalleywriters.org by Thursday, January 19, 2023
Payment is REQUIRED (details appear when you click button, below)

Register Here

Attendance Fees
CWC adult members, $25; nonmembers, $30. CWC student members (ages 14-22), $10; student nonmembers, $15

Marin (Zoom): Podcasts as Platform: Making the Most of the Newest, Honest Medium
2023-01-26 18:00 - 20:00 | CA
Betsy Fasbinder, award-winning author and host of a bimonthly podcast, will be speaking on Podcasts as Platform: Making the Most of the Newest, Hottest Medium. Podcasting is a huge opportunity for writers, whether as host, listener, or featured guest. Betsy reveals how to create your own podcast and how to be a sought-after guest on other podcasts. Podcasting is a great plank to add to your writer’s platform. Wednesday, January 25, 6:00 – 7:30 pm PT via Zoom.
Meetings: $5 for CWC Members (any branch), $10 Non-Members. Registered guests will receive the Zoom link one week before and on the day of the event.

January 2023 Meeting

CWC Member $5.00 USDNon CWC Member $10.00 USD

South Bay (In-Person): Powerful Plotting Workshop
2023-01-28 09:00 - 14:30 | CA
Powerful Plotting Workshop : Jan 28, 2023 from 9:00AM-2:30PM
by Tatyana Grinenko | Dec 13, 2022 | Workshop, Writing

Powerful Plotting Workshop with Jordan Rosenfeld
Getting down the bones or “architecture” of plot is an essential part of writing a compelling story. You may know where you want the story to go, but getting there can be challenging. Plot is a journey of transformation for your characters as well as the method in which you write a page-turning tale. Whether you consider yourself a “pantser” or a “plotter” this class will demystify key plot elements such as: action, emotion & theme in your plot and scenes, backstory and front story, increasing your stakes, creating causality and believability, assessing your pacing, as well as exploring a variety of plot structures, and more!

Cost: Member: $85, Nonmember: $95
Early Bird Registration: January 15.
Member $75, Nonmember $85
Where:
Headen-Inman Historical House Museum
1509 Warburton Ave.
Santa Clara
(Located behind the Triton Museum)

Payment Options

Early Bird Registration (by jan 15th): Members $75.00 USDEarly Bird Registration (by jan 15th): Non-members $85.00 USD
