California Writers Club Tri-Valley Branch

Finding Your Voice

Tri-Valley member B. Lynn Goodwin, author of the just released book, You Want Me To Do WHAT: Journaling for Caregivers, believes voice is the key to carving our unique paths as writers. "Who will tell your story if you do not?" Goodwin asks, quoting poet and playwright Pat Schneider. The importance of voice can't be overstated. Editors frequently cite "voice" as the element … [Read more...] about Finding Your Voice

Putting it All Together: How to Research, Write and Market Historical Fiction

Lecture: Janis Cooke Newman This is terrain historical novelist Janis Cooke Newman knows well. Her novel, Mary, about Mary Todd Lincoln, was a Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist and #3 on the Bay Area Best Seller List in 2006. Janis will explore the unique challenge writers of historical fiction face, and share her personal journey in bringing to life one of the most … [Read more...] about Putting it All Together: How to Research, Write and Market Historical Fiction

Nancy Drew’s Guide to Surviving – and Thriving! – as a Writer

Penny Warner, author of over fifty books for adults and children, including The Official Nancy Drew Handbook, will share the secrets of her success with us at the October 18 lunch meeting. Penny's unique take on the writing life is summed up in her topic, "Nancy Drew's Guide to Surviving - and - Thriving! as a Writer." With help from "Nancy," Penny will reveal how she uses … [Read more...] about Nancy Drew’s Guide to Surviving – and Thriving! – as a Writer

The Path to Publication: Advice From the Pros

What are publishers really looking for these days, and how can you gain a competitive edge? What makes a query letter or book proposal grab an editor's attention? Inquiring writers want to know and savvy editors and agents have the answers. Join us on Saturday, September 20 as we kick off our new year with a dynamite Publishing Panel of experts including: Brie Mazurek, … [Read more...] about The Path to Publication: Advice From the Pros

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Tri-Valley Writers was selected to participate in “Conversation Pieces,” an invitational youth exhibition of banners conceived by Livermore artist Thomasin Dewhurst. Our banner honors notable writers associated with CWC and TVW, including Jack London, Andy Weir, Ann Parker, and Kanchan Naik. TVW’s student members and 2021 high school writing contest winners used their own prose, poetry, and artistic skills to create life-like images of each author. The back of the banner will have information about Tri-Valley Writers and bios of each of the featured authors. The exhibit will be on display at the Bankhead Plaza in downtown Livermore this fall, with a grand opening scheduled for October 17th from 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Kendra Murray & Ralph Scott, Squeaky Cheese Productions, December 18, 2021

Kendra Murray and Ralph Scott will present “He Said. She Said. We Said.” at the Tri-Valley Writers December meeting. The pair are narrators/producers in Squeaky Cheese Productions where duet/dual/solo narration magnetizes audiobook audiences. Kendra and Ralph will select up to three TVW members’ WIP or published novel submissions and take them to studio, then use the audio to illustrate what they look for as verbal cues to capture the writer’s vision. If you want your work considered, please email president@trivalleywriters.org for requirements for submission.

Join us on Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Four Points by Sheraton, 5115 Hopyard Road in Pleasanton. Check-in begins at 1:30 p.m. There is a two-step RSVP & Payment process:

An Email RSVP is REQUIREDat reservations@trivalleywriters.org by Wednesday, December 15.
Payment is REQUIRED (see below)

REGISTRATION DETAILS:

CWC adult members, $14; nonmembers, $18. CWC student members (ages 14-22), $6; student nonmembers, $10. Payment MUST be made via online below. Payment will be available after November 20th.

What if the girl next door got hold of a microphone? And nobody was around to hear her? Would there be a sound? As it turns out, quite a few. Kendra Murray, the voiceover actor who is never without an audience. Even if she comprises all of the voices in the room! In fact, you’d swear she was a lot of people. One after the other.

An award-winning producer with a get-it-done (with a smile) attitude, Ralph Scott produces audiobooks, audio theatre, scripted entertainment commercial spots, or pretty much anything within the live or recorded audio arena. The characters Ralph creates on the spot (we lost count just north of 83) are only bested by the number of children’s verses he has written since he was handed a cocktail napkin on a dare back in 1993. (That would be just north of 1,700.) Give him three words and he’ll compose a witty poem for you in under five minutes.

Member Premier & Publications

James Morehead’s poem, “Gallery,” which has been composed by Deon Nielsen Price, will premiere worldwide on Sunday, November 14, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. PST, at the Presidio in San Francisco. “Gallery” will be performed by Welsh baritone Jeremy Huw Williams, accompanied by Paula Fan on piano. James will recite his poem before the performance. The program also features pieces set to poems by Dana Gioia (Poet Laureate – State of California), Charlene Derby and E. E. Cummings, and songs by Welsh and American composers. Free tickets are available. Here is the link: https://viewlesswingspress.com/2021/10/25/gallery-by-composer-deon-nielsen-price-and-poet-james-morehead-world-premiere-at-the-presidio-chapel-sun-nov-14/

Elaine Drew’s cozy medieval mystery Nun Too Clever was published on October 22, 2021. It is available in paperback and ebook. Elaine wished to thank Violet Moore for her expert and meticulous editing.

Monique Richardson’s memoir When Then Became Now was published on October 17, 2021. It is available in paperback and ebook.

Member Publications

Four Tri-Valley Writers’ members have pieces in the CWC 2021 Literary Review. Patricia Boyle for her poem, “Unidirectional Flow,” Connie Hanstedt for her poems, “Holding On for Dear Life” and “Letting Go,” Julaina Kleist-Corwin for her memoir, The Town Crier,” and Coralyn McGragor for her poem, “Rooted.” In addition, two members have their photos included: Monique Richardson’s “Concrete Love,” and Jordan Bernal’s “Kerry Coast.”

Connie Hanstedt’s poem, “Lost,” is a finalist in the 2021 San Francisco Writers Contest and will be published in the 2021 SFWC Writing Contest anthology.

Kathleen Moore’s debut novel, Elinormal, was published on October 15, 2021. Kathleen will be in conversation with Olympic Gold Medalist and NY Times Best-Selling author, Kristi Yamaguchi, on November 4, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.. Here’s a link to register.

The Poemsmiths of the Mojave High Desert have selected two of Rose Owens’s poems, “How Far to Bethlehem” and “They Pity Me in the Village,” for inclusion in the anthology, From Silence to Speech: Women of the Bible Speak Out. They had over 150 submissions and 91 poems were selected.

More Member News...

Date & Time:	Third Saturday (except July & August) 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Check the specific speaker post for more details)
Location:	Four Points by Sheraton (5115 Hopyard Rd. (Pleasanton, CA 94588)
Reservations:	Required: E-mail Reservations

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