Next Meeting: Thursday, 9 February 2023, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Corner Bakery, 13786D Jamboree Rd. Suite 4 (Tustin Marketplace), Irvine
2 Feb meeting notes; 9 Feb reading list
2 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
A bumper nine people attended: Benafsha A., Burt, Chris L., Donna R., Glenda, Gloria A. (two chapters from Toxin), Joanne (a very short story, “Musings of an Unreliable Neurotic Narrator”), Lance, and Rosie (two chapters from The Great Mrs. Ziegfeld).
NEWS & NOTES
Check out the new author events posting for local author appearances and writing seminars in February.
9 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Donna R. (2/2)
Glenda (2/2)
Chris L. (2/2)
Burt (2/2)
Benafsha A. (2/2)
Lance (2/2)
Rosie (2/2)
Gloria A. (2/2)
Joanne (2/2)
Upcoming author events, February 2023
The following author events will take place online in February. Click on the venue links for more information and for registration or access codes. Events pop up unpredictably, so return to your favorite venues during the month to see if anything new has surfaced.
- Sunday, Feb. 5, 2 p.m.: Jordan Harper, Everybody Knows (in person)
- Saturday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m.: David Putnam, A Fearsome Moonlight Black (in person)
- Sunday, Feb. 12, 11 a.m.: M.G. Malliet, Invitation to a Killer (virtual)
- Saturday, Feb. 18, 2 p.m.: Kwei Quartey, Last Seen in Lapaz (in person)
- Wednesday, Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m.: Marie Benedict, The Mitford Affair (Norma Hertzog Community Center, Costa Mesa)
- Thursday, Feb. 23, 6 p.m.: Dr. Natalie J. Graham, OC’s inaugural poet laureate (Cypress Library)
- Saturday, Feb. 18, 1 p.m.: David Putnam, The Scorned (in person) (Fernhill Country Club, Huntington Beach)
- Saturday, Feb. 25, 1 p.m.: Ellen Byron, Wined and Dined in New Orleans (in person) (Fernhill Country Club, Huntington Beach)
- Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m.: Jacqueline Diamond, “Taming the FOMO,” and Leslie V. Knowles, “Graphic Design – What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why” (hybrid)
SISTERS-IN-CRIME ORANGE COUNTY
- Sunday, Feb. 26, 3 p.m.: Jordan Harper, Everybody Knows (virtual)
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WRITERS ASSOCIATION
- Saturday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m.: TBD
26 Jan meeting notes; 2 Feb reading list
26 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A. (two chapters from Grown in the Shade), Burt (a chapter from Class of ’42), Chris L., Donna R., Glenda, Gloria A., and Lance (1.5 chapters from Bluejay Rises).
NEWS & NOTES
Donna is in the process of recording the audiobook for Running with Hounds…and an English Degree. Good luck!
On Wednesday, 1 Feb, at 6:30 p.m., the Orange County Public Library is sponsoring an appearance by Marie Benedict, author of The Mitford Affair, at the Norma Hertzog Community Center in Costa Mesa.
2 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Donna R. (1/26)
Rosie (1/19)
Gloria A. (1/26)
Glenda (1/26)
Joanne (1/19)
Chris L. (1/26)
Burt (1/26)
Benafsha A. (1/26)
Lance (1/26)
19 Jan meeting notes; 26 Jan reading list
19 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Burt, Chris L. (the final chapter of System Kid)(congratulations, Chris!), Glenda (the conclusion of “Pair of Dimes”), Gloria A. (two chapters of Toxin), Joanne (the final chapter of Musings of an Unreliable Narrator)(congratulations, Joanne!), Lance, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Stats for 2022: we averaged 6.9 attendees and 3.2 readings per meeting. Glenda was the attendance champ with 42 appearances for the year, while Lance and Benafsha tied at 41.
The Southern California Writers’ Association meeting on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 10 a.m. features author Chris Hauty. The meeting is at the Regency Theater, 26762 Verdugo Street, in San Juan Capistrano.
The Sisters in Crime OC meeting is on Sunday, Jan. 22, at 3 p.m. Cozy January features author Karen Sue Walker. The meeting happens at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Avenue, in Orange.
26 JANUARY READING LIST
Donna R. (12/8)
Rosie (1/19)
Burt (1/19)
Benafsha A. (12/8)
Lance (1/19)
Gloria A. (1/19)
Glenda (1/19)
Joanne (1/19)
Chris L. (1/19)
12 Jan meeting notes; 19 Jan reading list
12 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
There wasn’t a 12 Jan meeting because Corner Bakery wasn’t open for dine-in. We’ll try again next week. We may need to think about a Plan B if Corner Bakery continues to have random closures.
NEWS & NOTES
Check the updated “January Author Events” post for writing-related events this month. I’ve removed the Huntington Beach Friends of the Library (they don’t seem to be having author events anymore) and replaced them with OC Public Libraries (which do).
19 JANUARY READING LIST
Donna R. (12/8)
Rosie (12/8)
Burt (12/1)
Benafsha A. (12/8)
Gloria A. (1/5)
Glenda (1/5)
Joanne (1/5)
Chris L. (1/5)
Lance (1/5)
5 Jan meeting notes; 12 Jan reading list
5 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Five people attended the inaugural meeting of 2023: Chris L. (two of the final three chapters from System Kid), Glenda (a replay of Part 1 of a short story, “Pair of Dimes”), Gloria A. (1.25 chapters from Toxin), Joanne (a short story, “A Complicated Chain of Women”), and Lance (two chapters from Bluejay Rises).
NEWS & NOTES
Check the accompanying “January Author Events” post for writing-related events this month.
12 JANUARY READING LIST
Donna R. (12/8)
Rosie (12/8)
Burt (12/1)
Benafsha A. (12/8)
Gloria A. (1/5)
Glenda (1/5)
Joanne (1/5)
Chris L. (1/5)
Lance (1/5)
PFL Holiday Party, 15 December
The PFL Holiday Party will go ahead as planned on Thursday, 15 December, at 6:30 at Gloria’s house. Contact me if you didn’t get a flyer with the address, map, and food list. See you there?
8 Dec meeting notes; 5 Jan reading list
8 DECEMBER MEETING NOTES
Four people attended the climactic meeting of 2022: Benafsha A. (a chapter from Grown in the Shade), Donna R., Lance (1.5 chapters of Bluejay Rises), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
The first meeting of 2023 is on 5 Jan.
The PFL Holiday Party will happen starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 15 December. The current venue is Gloria’s place in Tustin Hills, but we may need to make a last-minute change depending on illness. Watch this space for breaking news.
5 JANUARY READING LIST
Donna R. (12/8)
Rosie (12/8)
Gloria A. (11/10)
Glenda (12/1)
Burt (12/1)
Joanne (12/1)
Chris L. (12/1)
Lance (12/8)
Benafsha A. (12/8)
1 Dec meeting notes; 8 Dec reading list
1 DECEMBER MEETING NOTES
Six people attended the penultimate meeting of 2022: Benafsha A. (a chapter from Grown in the Shade), Burt (chapters from The Spirit of 1942), Chris L. (a chapter from System Kid), Glenda (the first half of a short story, “Pair of Dimes”), Joanne (a short story, “Pandora”), and Lance.
NEWS & NOTES
Our last meeting for 2022 is on 8 Dec. The first meeting of 2023 is on 5 Jan.
Lance completed the first draft of Bluejay Rises last weekend. Editing will begin after a two-week break.
The PFL Holiday Party will happen starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 15 December, at Gloria’s place in Tustin Hills (change of venue). A food list has already made the rounds.
8 DECEMBER READING LIST
Donna R. (11/17)
Rosie (11/10)
Gloria A. (11/10)
Lance (12/1)
Glenda (12/1)
Burt (12/1)
Benafsha A. (12/1)
Joanne (12/1)
Chris L. (12/1)
17 Nov meeting notes; 1 Dec reading list
17 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt, Chris L. (a chapter from System Kid), Donna R., Glenda, Joanne (a short story, “Charolette Shelly”), and Lance (two partial chapters from Bluejay Rises).
NEWS & NOTES
The Sisters in Crime OC meeting on Sunday, Nov. 20, starts at 3 p.m. with “Thrillers in Exotic Places,” a readers forum led by Pat Broeske. At 4 p.m., Barbara DeMarco-Barrett will have a conversation with Erica Ferencik, Girl in Ice, and Aaron Philip Clark, Under Color of Law. Pre-register for this virtual meeting at the SinC website.
We have two meetings left this year: 1 Dec and 8 Dec. Our usual last meeting is on the first Thursday of December, but since that’s the 1st, we can go one more. The first meeting of 2023 is on 5 Jan.
The PFL Holiday Party will happen starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 15 December, at Gloria’s place in Tustin Hills (change of venue). A food list has already made the rounds.
1 DECEMBER READING LIST
Donna R. (11/17)
Glenda (11/17)
Rosie (11/10)
Burt (11/17)
Benafsha A. (11/10)
Gloria A. (11/10)
Joanne (11/17)
Chris L. (11/17)
Lance (11/17)
10 Nov meeting notes; 17 Nov reading list
10 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A. (two chapters from Grown in the Shade), Burt (chapters from The Class of ’42), Chris L., Glenda, Gloria A. (a short story, “Nothing Like Roughing It”), Lance, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
We have three meetings left this year: 17 Nov, 1 Dec, and 8 Dec. Our usual last meeting is on the first Thursday of December, but since that’s the 1st, we can go one more. The first meeting of 2023 is on 5 Jan.
The PFL Holiday Party will happen starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 15 December, at Burt’s place in Newport Beach. A food list has already made the rounds.
17 NOVEMBER READING LIST
Donna R. (10/27)
Glenda (11/10)
Rosie (11/10)
Joanne (11/3)
Chris L. (11/10)
Lance (11/10)
Burt (11/10)
Benafsha A. (11/10)
Gloria A. (11/10)
3 Nov meeting notes; 10 Nov reading list
3 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Chris L. (a chapter from System Kid), Glenda, Gloria A. (a chapter from Toxin), Joanne (two chapters from Musings of an Unreliable Narrator), and Lance (1.5 chapters from Bluejay Rises).
NEWS & NOTES
Donna will participate in this year’s Indie Author Day program at the Anaheim Main Library, 500 W. Broadway in Anaheim (natch), 11-4 on 5 November. She’ll have a table at the event to sell and sign books. There will also be panel discussions and a poetry tent.
We have four meetings left this year: 10 Nov, 17 Nov, 1 Dec, and 8 Dec. Our usual last meeting is on the first Thursday of December, but since that’s the 1st, we can go one more. The first meeting of 2023 is on 5 Jan.
It’s time to start thinking about whether there will be a PFL Holiday Party this year, and where it might take place…
10 NOVEMBER READING LIST
Donna R. (10/27)
Glenda (11/3)
Burt (10/20)
Rosie (10/27)
Benafsha A. (10/27)
Gloria A. (11/3)
Joanne (11/3)
Chris L. (11/3)
Lance (11/3)
27 Oct meeting notes; 3 Nov reading list
27 OCTOBER MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A. (two chapters from Grown in the Shade), Chris L. (a chapter from System Kid), Donna R., Gloria A., Joanne, Lance (a chapter from Bluejay Rises), and Rosie (a short story, “Blank Canvas”).
NEWS & NOTES
Watch for the November author events post, coming soon.
It’s time to start thinking about whether there will be a PFL Holiday Party this year, and where it might take place…
3 NOVEMBER READING LIST
Donna R. (10/27)
Glenda (10/20)
Burt (10/20)
Gloria A. (10/27)
Joanne (10/27)
Rosie (10/27)
Chris L. (10/27)
Benafsha A. (10/27)
Lance (10/27)
20 Oct meeting notes; 27 Oct reading list
20 OCTOBER MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Benafsha A., Burt (chapters from Class of ’42), Chris L., Glenda, Gloria A. (a short story, “The Black Country”), Joanne (a chapter from Musings of an Unreliable Narrator), Lance, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
SCWA is sponsoring a Zoom seminar and workshop on October 22 with author Mark Sevi speaking on “Essential Story Solutions.” Mark is a novelist, screenwriter, and writing instructor. He will discuss tactical, real-world solutions to any writing problems. Attendees will also receive an e-copy of his latest book, Quantum Scriptwriting, which covers the essentials and structure of every type of story from novel to screen to short story. For more information or to register, go to the SCWA event page.
27 OCTOBER READING LIST
Donna R. (10/13)
Rosie (10/20)
Glenda (10/20)
Chris L. (10/20)
Benafsha A. (10/20)
Lance (10/20)
Burt (10/20)
Gloria A. (10/20)
Joanne (10/20)
13 Oct meeting notes; 20 Oct reading list
13 OCTOBER MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Benafsha A. (two chapters from Grown in the Shade), Burt, Chris L. (a chapter from System Kid), Donna R., Glenda, Gloria A., Joanne (a chapter from Alzheimer’s Retrospective), Lance (a chapter from Bluejay Rises), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
SCWA hosts its Halloween meeting on Saturday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m. at the Regency Theater in Costa Mesa. LIT UP! alum Dana Hammer will speak on “Writing Humor and Horror: Opposites Attract.”
Donna will participate in this year’s Indie Author Day program at the Anaheim Main Library, 500 W. Broadway in Anaheim (natch), on 5 November. She’ll have a table at the event to sell and sign books.
20 OCTOBER READING LIST
Donna R. (10/13)
Rosie (10/13)
Burt (10/13)
Glenda (10/13)
Gloria A. (10/13)
Joanne (10/13)
Chris L. (10/13)
Benafsha A. (10/13)
Lance (10/13)
Pure Fiction League 