The 2023 Independent Press Award has given James Hanna’s book, Fact Check and More Probing Tales, a Distinguished Favorite Award. The 2023 Book Excellence Awards Book Contest designated the same book an Award Finalist in the anthology category.

Dr. Jac Fitzenz recently published Shanahans: Growing Pains, Book Two in The Shanahans Trilogy. Mike’s Last Chance (Book One) was published in September 2022, while readers can look forward to Full House (Book Three) sometime after April. Doctor Jac’s books are available on Amazon and bn.com.

Nanci Woody’s short story, “Unknown,” will be featured in The Waiting Room, a literary journal by Nervous Ghost Press in April 2023. The story is about a small-town widow’s untimely pregnancy. The 1940s was not a good time to bear an illegitimate child. Check out samples of Nanci’s work here.

Megan McDonald has been awarded an Honorable Mention in the Redwood Writers 2023 Poetry Contest. Her poem, “Burn Scar, Lake Margaret Trail, Alpine County, California,” will be published on the organization’s website in April!

Geri Spieler recently gave two readings from her latest book, Housewife Assassin: The Woman Who Tried to Kill President Ford (Diversion Books). On Thursday, March 9, at 6:30 p.m., she read for an audience at the Palo Alto Rinconada Library. On Sunday, March 12, at 2:00 p.m., she entertained readers at Book Passage at the Ferry Building.

Dr. Jeanne Powell recently completed a ten-day writing retreat with Anaphora Arts. She also attended the annual AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) Conference, March 8–11, held in Seattle, Washington, and online this year.

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay intends to use Ida Lewenstein’s children’s book A Sad Little Dog in their reading program!

On Valentines Day, Evelyn LaTorre, who read a chapter from her latest book at our February 18th meeting, received word from the International Book Publishers Association that Love in Any Language had a solid showing with 577 media clicks by organizations such as USA Today, the New York Times, Parenting Magazine, and the Washington Post.

On Thursday, March 16, from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., Darlene Frank will present "Editing Memoir and Personal Stories" at the Writers Helping Writers event at the Rinconada Library in Palo Alto. Discover what you can do on your own before you give your manuscript to an editor, and what to expect as the two of you work together.

Carole Bumpus and Geri Spieler will be participating in several events at the San Francisco Writers Conference this upcoming weekend, February 16–19. Carole will participate on two panels, “Travel as Research” and “Finding or Building Your Writing Community.” Geri will present two masterclasses, "Super Sleuthing: Internet Research Skills Everyone Should Know” and “Just the Facts: How to Research True Crime.” Details on the SFWC 2023 schedule.

On Thursday, February 9, Dr. Jeanne Powell, along with two other Rooted & Written Fellowship recipients, read from her works at Salesforce Park Poetry Series in San Francisco. Performances are curated by the SF Writers Grotto on Thursdays during the month of February.

Nanci Woody’s short story “Bessie” appears in the CWC-Sacramento anthology Visions (August 2022). In December 2022, her poem “A Question for the Gods” was published online by The Fear of Monkeys, while her poem “These Hands” appeared in the online magazine Fleas on the Dog.

Marianne Brems has two poems, "Curtain of Darkness" and "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing," in the latest issue of WriteNow A Literary Journal. 

David Harris had a flash fiction piece “Acts of God,” which he read at the CWC SFP holiday party, accepted for publication in the summer issue of Calliope.

James Hanna’s Gertie McDowell, heroine of The Ping-Pong Champion of Chinatown, returns in “Lights Out Lizzie,” published in Across the Margin. Gertie is recruited by Christian Ladies of Wrestling, a professional women’s wrestling troop, whose mission is to bring folks to Jesus by having wrestlers pretending to be god-fearing women wallop the daylights out of wrestlers pretending to be sinners. Madcap humor or social commentary? You decide.

Geri Spieler's new book, Housewife Assassin, and accompanying audio are available on Amazon. She will speak at the Library Book Club about the book on Thursday, March 9 at 6:30, at Rinconada Library in Palo Alto. Her book has been optioned for a movie again with different folks. She has a contract—and her fingers crossed!

Colleen Olle’s short story “Scarification” appears in Unfortunately, Literary Magazine. From initial draft to published piece, with quiescent periods in between, the story took nearly fifteen years to complete.

At the Writers Helping Writers session on February 16 at the Rinconada Library, member Eva Barrows will discuss creating a value-filled newsletter that your target audience will love to receive in their email inbox. Eva will discuss content ideas, newsletter email systems, important dos and don’ts, and more. Check out our Events page for more information.

The Birth Your Truest Story online community, co-founded by member Audrey Kalman, will offer a Writers' Roundtable on Sunday, February 5, 9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m. Learn how to develop your characters more deeply so readers will stay engaged. Ask questions, interact with other writers, and energize your writing practice. Purchase here or join the BYTS community for free to find out more about this and other events, including a love-themed open mic!

Laurel Anne Hill’s multi-award-winning novel Plague of Flies: Revolt of the Spirits, 1846 has recently been moved from the Chanticleer Dante Rossetti Book Awards Young Adult Fiction long list to their short list. Next up: the semifinals! Please cross your fingers for Laurel and her flies.