Jim Hanna’s piece of creative nonfiction, “Lady, This is for You,” appears online in A Thin Slice of Anxiety, a journal that challenges the norm of what is published in most mainstream journals. The essay depicts an incident of institutional racism in a Midwest prison where James worked as a counselor.

Fault Zone editor Kate Adams will read her poetry at Feldman’s Books on Curtis Street in Menlo Park, just off Santa Cruz Avenue, on January 5, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.. 

Katherine Russell Becker is thrilled to announce that her debut novel, Playing God, will launch on January 15, 2024. “I hope you will share in my joy, and I thank you for your encouragement and support in helping me realize my dream to become a published author.” Her book is available for preorder on Amazon and will also be sold in Barnes and Noble bookstores and Powell’s Books.

Join us at the next Writers Helping Writers’ event on Jan 11, Thursday, 6:30pm, at the San Mateo Public Library. Joan Gelfand, author of You Can Be A Winning Writer: The 4 C's System to Author Success: Craft, Commitment, Community & Confidence, will discuss:

• Getting published

• Promotion

• Community groups

• Confidence & building a fan base.

Joan has been speaking on these topics for over ten years and has taught at the Writing Salon, at writing conferences, and at many CWC chapters. Copies of her book will be on sale.

Want to move past writing blocks, find your creative edge, and go deep into your imagination to produce powerful writing? Darlene Frank’s “Spark Your Creativity: A Writing Journey into the Deep Imagination” will help! This online workshop takes place January 6, 13, and 21, 2024. Includes publication of your work in Spirited Voices magazine. Details are here.

Vanessa MacLaren-Wray has announced that our branch’s latest anthology Fault Zone: Detachment is on its way! The paperback and digital editions are open for preorders, and the hardcover edition will be ready soon. Our members-only holiday party will feature readings and the chance to purchase copies at a tidy discount from the online price. Check out our book on the Paper Angel website.

Marianne Brems's latest poetry chapbook, In Its Own Time, was reviewed in The Writer's Workout on November 16.

Geri Spieler writes, “I'm really excited. My new literary agent has sold the Regina Trilogy to a traditional publisher, Speaking Volumes, and they said they are looking forward to publishing the works. I'm fortunate to have two fabulous literary agents, one for my nonfiction book, Housewife Assassin, about Sara Jane Moore and now this new one for historical fiction.”

Marianne Brems just received acceptance for publication from Kelsay Books of her first full-length poetry collection Stepping Stones. The book includes fifty-four poems and should be out in May or June 2024.

Our newsblast is dressing up just in time for the holidays and the coming new year thanks to Eva Barrows. We hope you enjoy the new look. We might tweak it from time to time, refining as we go along—when do writers ever settle for their first draft? But we’re so pleased and grateful to Eva for helping us take this big step.

Pat Obuchowski’s poem “I Want to Live in a Sarong” has been selected as a finalist in the San Francisco Writers Conference contest, which includes publication in their anthology. The San Francisco Writers Conference takes place on February 15–18, 2024. More information:  SFWriters.org.

Vanessa MacLaren-Wray invites members to participate in two free and exciting online book events. On December 1st, WNBA-SF is hosting a group book release party featuring readings, giveaways, and more.  The very next day, Strong Women, Strange Worlds presents their Holiday Extravaganza, with live MadLibs, improv, visitations by the ghosts of women writers of the past, and fabulous virtual swag.

Build your writing attention and cultivate lively, engaging prose in a two-part online workshop, “Grow Your Prose by Diving into Poetry.” The first session is November 5 in the Birth Your Truest Story writers’ community run by Audrey Kalman. $119 for two two-hour sessions (11/5 and 11/12). Register here.

Ida J. Lewenstein’s ten books of rhyming poetry were recently featured at a book signing at a Barnes & Noble in Tampa, Florida. Dan Jenkins, Ida’s son and publisher, represented her at the event, which was attended by many book lovers. Ida’s work includes children’s poetry as well as rhymes focused on environmental issues.

Jim Hanna’s tale of urban horror, "Hunting Bear," appears in The Chamber Magazine, which welcomes dark writing. In this story, which contains strong language and ribald humor, a street thug with a diseased mind is assailed by hallucinations as he tries to hunt down and kill a snitch.

Laurel Anne Hill served as a keynote speaker for the Gold Country Writers Short Story Contest awards celebration in Auburn, California, on Saturday, October 7, 2023. Her presentation “A Short Story is Not a Very Short Novel” was financially supported by Poets & Writers and is now available on YouTube. Her talk occurs near the beginning of the program. Laurel also served as a judge for the contest. 

Marianne Brems’s poem "Docile Movement" was published in Remington Review on October 19, 2023. Congratulations!

Whether you’re a new or established writer or poet, figuring out how to get your work published in literary journals can be confusing and overwhelming. How do you evaluate which publications are likely to publish your work and how do you keep going after receiving multiple rejections? David Harris began writing short fiction several years ago. On Thursday, November 16, from 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. at the Rinconada Library in Palo Alto, he’ll share what he’s learned about the often-bewildering landscape of literary journals.

Whether you're writing a book-length memoir or a personal story or an essay, editing is critical. On Thursday, November 9, 6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. at the San Mateo Public Library, writing coach and editor Darlene Frank will help you 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.

Register online: https://www.cwc-sfpeninsula.org/whw-san-mateo

Hello, Critique Group Seekers, Hosts, and Members,

Congratulations to all who met their perfect match! If the shoe did not fit, let me know what you would have liked to see. What did you wish worked differently? All responses will remain confidential and shall be used to make the program better. Still looking? Find an open group here. Then fill out this form to join a group. Questions? mieraraocwc@gmail.com