Next Meeting: Thursday, 8 June 2023, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Corner Bakery, 13786D Jamboree Rd. Suite 4 (Tustin Marketplace), Irvine
Upcoming author events for June 2023
The following author events will take place online in June. 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.
- Saturday, June 10, 2 p.m.: Daniel Weizmann, The Last Songbird (in person)
- Saturday, June 17, 2 p.m.: Jeri Westerson, The Isolated Seance (in person)
- Wednesday, June 21, 6:30 p.m.: Matt Goldman, A Good Family (in person)
- Saturday, June 24, 2 p.m.: Cristina LePort, Dissection (in person at the Villa Park Library)
- Sunday, June 25, 2 p.m.: Nolan Knight, Gallows Dome (in person)
HUNTINGTON BEACH FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY
- None in June
- Sunday, June 11, 2 p.m.: D.P. Lyle, Cultured (Jake Longly #6) (in person at Fernhill Clubhouse, 5472 Diamond, Huntington Beach)
- Saturday, June 24, 1 p.m.: Jennifer Chow, Hot Pot Murder; Marjorie McCown, Final Cut (launch party in person at Fernhill Clubhouse, 5472 Diamond, Huntington Beach)
- Thursday, June 8, 6:30 p.m.: Steve Berry, The Last Kingdom (in person at the Clifton C. Miller Community Center, 300 Centennial Way, Tustin)
- Saturday, June 10, 3 p.m.: Dr. Jennifer Dunphy, Don’t Tell Me What to Do (in person at the Laguna Beach Library, 363 Glenneyre St.)
- Thursday, June 15, 5 p.m.: T. Jefferson Parker, The Rescue (in person at the Laguna Beach Library, 363 Glenneyre St.)
- Tuesday, June 20, 6:30 p.m.: Colleen Adair Fliedner, Fascinating True Tales from Old California (in person at the Irvine Heritage Park Library, 14361 Yale Av.)
- Saturday, June 24, 2 p.m.: Colleen Fliedner, In the Shadow of War: Spies, Love & the Lusitania (in person at the Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Rd.)
- Saturday, June 10, 10 a.m.: Greta Boris, “7 Steps to Your Author Brand”; Janis Thomas, “Dialogue in Motion” (virtual and in person at the Brea Civic Center, 1 Civic Center Circle, 2nd floor)
SISTERS-IN-CRIME ORANGE COUNTY
- Sunday, June 25, 3 p.m.: Kaira Rouda, The Widow (in person at Book Carnival in Orange)
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WRITERS ASSOCIATION
- Saturday, June 17, 10 a.m.: TBD
1 June meeting notes; 8 June reading list
1 JUNE MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A. (2.5 chapters from Family Jewels), Chris L. (a chapter from Staff), Glenda, Joanne (a short story, “The Guy with the Truth”), Lance (2 chapters from Bluejay Rises), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Author events this coming week:
- Thursday, June 8, 6:30 p.m.: Steve Berry, The Last Kingdom (in person for OCPL at the Clifton C. Miller Community Center, 300 Centennial Way, Tustin)
8 JUNE READING LIST
Glenda (6/1)
Leighanne (6/1)
Donna R. (5/25)
Gloria A. (5/18)
Burt (5/25)
Rosie (6/1)
Joanne (6/1)
Chris L. (6/1)
Benafsha A. (6/1)
Lance (6/1)
25 May meeting notes; 1 June reading list
25 MAY MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A. (two chapters from Family Jewels), Burt (chapters from Class of ’42), Chris L., Donna R., Glenda, Lance (2 chapters+ from Bluejay Rises), and Rosie (a query letter for The Great Mrs. Ziegfeld).
NEWS & NOTES
Donna has finished editing the audiobook for her romcom Running with Hounds…and an English Degree. The audiobook should be available soon from a vendor near you.
Author events this coming week:
- Saturday, May 27, 2 p.m.: Warren Easley, Fatal Flaw (in person at Book Carnival)
1 JUNE READING LIST
Glenda (5/25)
Leighanne (5/18)
Donna R. (5/25)
Joanne (5/11)
Gloria A. (5/18)
Chris L. (5/25)
Benafsha A. (5/25)
Burt (5/25)
Lance (5/25)
Rosie (5/25)
18 May meeting notes; 25 May reading list
18 MAY MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Benafsha A., Burt, Chris L. (a short story, “Tools”), Glenda, Gloria A. (a short story, “Lost Love”), Lance (1.5 chapters from Bluejay Rises), Leighanne, and Rosie (a chapter from The Great Mrs. Ziegfeld).
NEWS & NOTES
Gloria is moving to Oregon in the very near future. (Wah!) Depending on her schedule, this may have been her last meeting. We wish her fair winds and following seas and hope to see her in print in the not-too-distant future. Good luck, Gloria!
Author events this coming week:
- Friday, May 19, 6 p.m.: Bruce Borgos, The Bitter Past; John Mann, Blind Fear (in person at Book Carnival)
- Saturday, May 20, 10 a.m.: SCWA presents Gregg Hurwitz, “How to Write a Bestselling Thriller—Over and Over and Over Again!” (in person at the Mission Viejo City Hall Council Chamber, 200 Civic Center; $25 advance reservation by 12 p.m. Friday)
- Saturday, May 20, 1 p.m.: Mystery Ink hosts Daryl Wood Gerber, A Flicker of Doubt and Poaching is Puzzling (in person at Fernhill Clubhouse, 5472 Diamond, Huntington Beach)
- Saturday, May 20, 3 p.m.: Collen Adair Fliedner, Fascinating Tales from Old California (in person at the Rancho Santa Margarita Library)
- Sunday, May 21, 2 p.m.: Book Carnival welcomes Joe Ide, Fixit (in person) (this is also the May Sisters in Crime OC meeting)
- Thursday, May 25, 12 p.m.: Huntington Beach Friends of the Library presents Jennifer J. Chow, Hot Pot Murder, and Dr. David Unger, A Lesson in Woo-Woo and Murder (in person at Huntington Beach Central Library)
25 MAY READING LIST
Glenda (5/18)
Leighanne (5/18)
Donna R. (4/27)
Benafsha A. (5/18)
Burt (5/18)
Joanne (5/11)
Gloria A. (5/18)
Lance (5/18)
Rosie (5/18)
Chris L. (5/18)
11 May meeting notes; 18 May reading list
11 MAY MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt (chapters from Class of ’42), Chris L. (a chapter from Staff), Glenda, Joanne (a chapter from The Unreliable Narrator), Lance, and Rosie (1.5 chapters from The Great Mrs. Ziegfeld).
NEWS & NOTES
Author events this coming week:
- Saturday, May 13, 1 p.m.: T. Jefferson Parker, Rescue (in person at Fernhill Clubhouse, 5472 Diamond, Huntington Beach, for Mystery Ink).
- Saturday, May 13, 10 a.m.: Shannon Donnelly, “The Importance of Theme” and “Contests as Marketing Tools” (virtual for OC Romance Writers).
18 MAY READING LIST
Glenda (5/11)
Leighanne (5/4)
Gloria A. (5/4)
Donna R. (4/27)
Benafsha A. (4/27)
Lance (5/11)
Burt (5/11)
Joanne (5/11)
Rosie (5/11)
Chris L. (5/11)
4 May meeting notes; 11 May reading list
4 MAY MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Chris L. (a chapter from Staff), Glenda, Gloria A., Lance (1.5 chapters from Bluejay Rises), Leighanne, and Rosie (a chapter from The Great Mrs. Ziegfeld).
NEWS & NOTES
The Tustin Marketplace buildings housing Barnes & Noble and the Open Market OC are allegedly going to be replaced by housing. Recent specifics are few, so there’s no clear information about whether the food court around the Edwards multiplex (including our meeting place) will survive. The B&N is supposed to announce its new location soon.
Author events this coming week:
- Saturday, May 6, 2 p.m.: Gigi Pandian, The Raven Thief; Ellen Byron, Wined and Died in New Orleans; Diane Vallere, Gilt Trip; Lisa Q. Matthews, Fashionably Late (virtual for Book Carnival).
- Saturday, May 6, 2 p.m.: Carolyn Huynh, Little Saigon Stories (in person at the Westminster Branch Library).
- Sunday, May 7, 11 a.m.: Elly Griffiths, The Last Remains (virtual for Book Carnival).
- Tuesday, May 9, 6:30 p.m.: John Borack, The Beatles 100 (in person at the Heritage Park Library, Irvine).
11 MAY READING LIST
Glenda (5/4)
Leighanne (5/4)
Burt (4/27)
Joanne (4/27)
Gloria A. (5/4)
Donna R. (4/27)
Benafsha A. (4/27)
Rosie (5/4)
Chris L. (5/4)
Lance (5/4)
Upcoming author events for May 2023
The following author events will take place online in May. 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.
- Saturday, May 6, 2 p.m.: Gigi Pandian, The Raven Thief; Ellen Byron, Wined and Died in New Orleans; Diane Vallere, Gilt Trip; Lisa Q. Matthews, Fashionably Late (virtual)
- Sunday, May 7, 11 a.m.: Elly Griffiths, The Last Remains (virtual)
- Friday, May 19, 6 p.m.: Bruce Borgos, The Bitter Past; John Mann, Blind Fear (in person)
- Sunday, May 21, 2 p.m.: Joe Ide, Fixit (in person)
- Wednesday, May 24, 3:30 p.m.: Chris Hauty, The Devil You Know (in person)
- Saturday, May 27, 2 p.m.: Warren Easley, Fatal Flaw (in person)
- Thursday, May 4, 6:30 p.m.: Brendan Slocumb, Symphony of Secrets (in person at the Norma Hertzog Community Center, Costa Mesa)
- Saturday, May 6, 2 p.m.: Carolyn Huynh, Little Saigon Stories (in person at the Westminster Branch Library)
- Tuesday, May 9, 6:30 p.m.: John Borack, The Beatles 100 (in person at the Heritage Park Library, Irvine)
- Saturday, May 20, 3 p.m.: Collen Adair Fliedner, Fascinating Tales from Old California (in person at the Rancho Santa Margarita Library)
HUNTINGTON BEACH FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY
- Thursday, May 25, 12 p.m.: Jennifer J. Chow, Hot Pot Murder; Dr. David Unger, A Lesson in Woo-Woo and Murder (in person at Huntington Beach Central Library)
- Saturday, May 13, 1 p.m.: T. Jefferson Parker, Rescue (in person at Fernhill Clubhouse, 5472 Diamond, Huntington Beach)
- Saturday, May 20, 1 p.m.: Daryl Wood Gerber, A Flicker of Doubt and Poaching is Puzzling (in person at Fernhill Clubhouse, 5472 Diamond, Huntington Beach)
- Saturday, May 13, 10 a.m.: Shannon Donnelly, “The Importance of Theme” and “Contests as Marketing Tools” (virtual)
SISTERS-IN-CRIME ORANGE COUNTY
- Sunday, May 21, 2 p.m.: Joe Ide, Fixit (in person at Book Carnival in Orange)
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WRITERS ASSOCIATION
- Saturday, May 20, 10 a.m.: Gregg Hurwitz, “How to Write a Bestselling Thriller—Over and Over and Over Again!” (in person at the Mission Viejo City Hall Council Chamber, 200 Civic Center; $25 advance reservation by 12 p.m. Friday)
27 Apr meeting notes; 4 May reading list
27 APRIL MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Benafsha A. (the first two chapters from Family Jewels), Burt, Chris L. (a chapter from Staff), Donna R. (an essay, “How To Have Your Best Breast Cancer”), Glenda, Gloria A., Joanne, and Lance (a chapter from Bluejay Rises).
NEWS & NOTES
Author events this coming week:
- Sunday, Apr. 30, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: The Anaheim Library Foundation’s 26th annual Mystery Authors Luncheon and Silent Auction featuring David Putnam, George Fong, Rachel Howzell Hall, and Sheila Lowe. Sheraton Park Hotel, Anaheim.
- Sunday, Apr. 30, 2 p.m.: T. Jefferson Parker, The Rescue. In person at Book Carnival.
4 MAY READING LIST
Glenda (4/27)
Leighanne (3/30)
Burt (4/27)
Joanne (4/27)
Gloria A. (4/27)
Rosie (4/20)
Donna R. (4/27)
Benafsha A. (4/27)
Chris L. (4/27)
Lance (4/27)
20 Apr meeting notes; 27 Apr reading list
20 APRIL MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Burt, Chris L., Glenda, Gloria A. (a chapter from Toxin), Joanne, Lance (a chapter from Bluejay Rises). and Rosie (a chapter from The Great Mrs. Ziegfeld).
NEWS & NOTES
Chris recommends the writing-related newsletters available from Scribophile, an online writing community.
Author events this coming week:
- Sunday, Apr. 23, 3 p.m.: Sisters in Crime OC. Carl Vonderau, “Crafting Thrillers with Heart” (in person) (Book Carnival, Orange)
27 APRIL READING LIST
Donna R. (4/6)
Glenda (4/20)
Leighanne (3/30)
Burt (4/20)
Benafsha A. (4/13)
Joanne (4/20)
Chris L. (4/20)
Gloria A. (4/20)
Rosie (4/20)
Lance (4/20)
13 Apr meeting notes; 20 Apr reading list
13 APRIL MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Benafsha A. (read the revised first chapter of Grown in the Shade), Burt (chapters from Class of ’42), Chris L. (a chapter from Staff), Glenda, Joanne (a chapter from Musings of a Neurotic Unreliable Narrator), and Lance.
NEWS & NOTES
Lance will be speaking remotely to the Tucson chapter of Sisters in Crime on 15 Apr.
Author events galore this week:
- Saturday, Apr. 15, 10 a.m.: SCWA. Lisa Cupolo, Have Mercy on Us (in person) (Regency Theatre, 26762 Verdugo St., San Juan Capistrano)
- Saturday, Apr 15, 11 a.m.: AAUW Author Luncheon. Susan Straight, Mecca and In the Country of Women; Lian Dolan, Lost & Found in Paris and The Sweeney Sisters (in person) (Mile Square Golf Course Clubhouse)
- Sunday, Apr. 16, 12 p.m.: Open Book with the Muzeo Museum. Authors Julia Bricklin, Colleen Adair Fliedner, and Baron R Birtcher in conversation with Maddie Margarita (virtual on Facebook Live)
20 APRIL READING LIST
Donna R. (4/6)
Glenda (4/13)
Gloria A. (3/16)
Rosie (3/30)
Leighanne (3/30)
Lance (4/13)
Burt (4/13)
Benafsha A. (4/13)
Joanne (4/13)
Chris L. (4/13)
6 Apr meeting notes; 13 Apr reading list
6 APRIL MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Benafsha A., Burt, Chris L. (a chapter from Staff), Donna R., Joanne (a chapter from Musings of a Neurotic Unreliable Narrator), and Lance (1.5 chapters from Bluejay Rises).
NEWS & NOTES
Benafsha plans to attend the San Diego Writing Workshop on 29 Apr.
The Tustin branch of Orange County Public Libraries will host Katherine A. Sherbrooke (The Hidden Life of Aster Kelly) on Wednesday, 12 Apr., at 6 p.m.
OC Romance Writers welcomes Betsy Graziani Fasbinder for a virtual workshop double-header: “Podcast as Platform” and “Avoiding the Corny, the Porny, and the Clinical: How to Write Sensual Scenes.” The meeting starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, 8 Apr.
13 APRIL READING LIST
Donna R. (4/6)
Glenda (3/23)
Burt (4/6)
Gloria A. (3/16)
Rosie (3/30)
Benafsha A. (4/6)
Leighanne (3/30)
Joanne (4/6)
Chris L. (4/6)
Lance (4/6)
30 Mar meeting notes; 6 Apr reading list
30 MARCH MEETING NOTES
A cozy five people attended: Benafsha A. (the final two chapters of Grown in the Shade)(congratulations, Benafsha!), Chris L. (a chapter from Staff), Lance (1.5 chapters from Bluejay Rises), Leighanne (the first two chapters of On the Steps of the Palace), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
On Saturday, Apr. 1, at 2 p.m., author Katherine Applegate will appear at the Tustin Library.
Book Carnival will host A.E. Wasserman and her latest book, 1888: The Dead & the Desperate, in person on Sunday, Apr. 2, at 2 p.m.
6 APRIL READING LIST
Donna R. (3/16)
Glenda (3/23)
Burt (3/16)
Gloria A. (3/16)
Rosie (3/30)
Joanne (3/23)
Chris L. (3/30)
Benafsha A. (3/30)
Lance (3/30)
Leighanne (3/30)
23 Mar meeting notes; 30 Mar reading list
23 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A. (a chapter from Grown in the Shade), Chris L., Glenda, Joanne (another episode from The Musings of an Unreliable Neurotic Narrator), Lance (a chapter from Bluejay Rises), Rosie (a chapter from The Great Mrs. Ziegfeld), and a special guest appearance by Leighanne.
NEWS & NOTES
On Wednesday, Mar. 29, at 6 p.m., Book Carnival sponsors a virtual visit with Margaret Mizushima, author of Standing Dead, and Scott Graham, author of Saguaro Sanction.
30 MARCH READING LIST
Donna R. (3/16)
Glenda (3/23)
Burt (3/16)
Gloria A. (3/16)
Chris L. (3/23)
Benafsha A. (3/23)
Rosie (3/23)
Lance (3/23)
Joanne (3/23)
Leighanne (3/23)
16 Mar meeting notes; 23 Mar reading list
16 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Burt (a chapter from The Class of ’42), Chris L. (a chapter from Staff), Donna R., Glenda, Gloria A. (a chapter from Toxin), Joanne (another episode from The Musings of an Unreliable Neurotic Narrator), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Lance was at Left Coast Crime in Tucson.
On Saturday, 25 March, at 1 p.m., Ellen Byron’s book launch party for Wined and Died in New Orleans will happen at the Fernhill Country Club in Huntington Beach, sponsored by Mystery Ink.
On Sunday, 26 March, Sisters in Crime OC welcomes Daryl Wood Gerber speaking on “Persistence Pays!” The program starts at 3 p.m. at Book Carnival in Orange.
23 MARCH READING LIST
Donna R. (3/16)
Glenda (3/16)
Benafsha A. (3/9)
Rosie (3/16)
Lance (3/9)
Burt (3/16)
Joanne (3/16)
Gloria A. (3/16)
Chris L. (3/16)
9 Mar meeting notes; 16 Mar reading list
9 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A. (a chapter from Grown in the Shade), Chris L. (a chapter from Staff), Donna R., Glenda, Gloria A., Lance (two chapters from Bluejay Rises), and Rosie (a chapter from The Great Mrs. Ziegfeld).
NEWS & NOTES
Kirkus Reviews called Donna’s novel Running with Hounds…and an English Degree “a fast-paced and ebullient contemporary romance.” Now it’s on Kirkus’s “36 Great Indie Books Worth Discovering.” Congratulations, Donna!
OC Romance Writers’ meeting on Saturday, Mar. 11, at 10 a.m., features Phoebe Ravencraft, “Giving Your Blurbs Character,” and Denise Colby, “Ten Ways to Improve SEO” (virtual).
On Saturday, Mar. 11, at 2 p.m., Gregg Hurwitz (The Last Orphan) will appear in person at Book Carnival.
16 MARCH READING LIST
Donna R. (3/9)
Glenda (3/9)
Burt (3/2)
Joanne (3/2)
Benafsha A. (3/9)
Gloria A. (3/9)
Rosie (3/9)
Chris L. (3/9)
Lance (3/9)
Pure Fiction League 