Next Meeting: Thursday, 11 January, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Tustin Marketplace Corner Bakery (13652 Jamboree Road, Irvine)
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)
6 Oct meeting notes; 13 Oct reading list
6 OCTOBER MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A., Burt, Donna R., Glenda, Gloria A. (1.5 chapters from Toxin), Joanne, and Lance (a chapter from Bluejay Rises). An oven malfunction at Corner Bakery cut the meeting short.
NEWS & NOTES
OC Romance Writers hosts its “Celebration of Romance” (a.k.a. the chapter’s birthday) on Saturday, Oct. 8, starting at 10 a.m. It includes nine author roundtables and a presentation by Brenna Aubrey, “Twisting the Tropes: Creating High Concept Hooks” (in person and virtual).
13 OCTOBER READING LIST
Donna R. (10/6)
Rosie (9/29)
Burt (10/6)
Glenda (10/6)
Joanne (10/6)
Chris L. (9/29)
Benafsha A. (10/6)
Gloria A. (10/6)
Lance (10/6)
Leighanne (9/1)
29 Sep meeting notes; 6 Oct reading list
29 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A. (a chapter from Grown in the Shade), Chris L. (two chapters from System Kid), Glenda (a short story, “Visitor Obscura”), Gloria A., Joanne (continuation of a short story, “Potential Chronicles of Alzheimer’s Retrospective”), Lance, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Check the October events post for imminent author events.
6 OCTOBER READING LIST
Donna R. (9/22)
Leighanne (9/1)
Rosie (9/29)
Burt (9/22)
Gloria A. (9/29)
Lance (9/29)
Glenda (9/29)
Joanne (9/29)
Chris L. (9/29)
Benafsha A. (9/29)
22 Sep meeting notes; 29 Sep reading list
22 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Burt (chapters from The Class of ’42), Chris L., Donna R., Glenda, Gloria A. (a short story, “The Hunter”), Joanne, Lance (two chapters from Bluejay Rises), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Nothing to report. Try again next week.
29 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Donna R. (9/22)
Glenda (9/22)
Leighanne (9/1)
Rosie (9/22)
Joanne (9/22)
Chris L. (9/22)
Benafsha A. (9/15)
Burt (9/22)
Gloria A. (9/22)
Lance (9/22)
15 Sep meeting notes; 22 Sep reading list
15 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A. (a chapter from Grown in the Shade), Burt, Chris L. (a chapter from System Kid), Glenda, Gloria A., Joanne (a short story, “Life on the Uncommon Street”), and Lance (a chapter from Bluejay Rises).
NEWS & NOTES
The Southern California Writers Association meets at 10 a.m. on Saturday, 17 Sep., in San Juan Capistrano. Author Brian Fitzpatrick will speak on “Guts, Grit, and Genre—Writing in 2022”.
The Sisters-in-Crime OC virtual meeting at 3 p.m. on Sunday, 18 Sep. features Kellye Garrett, author of Like a Sister, and Chris Offutt, author of The Code of the Hills.
22 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Donna R. (8/25)
Glenda (9/15)
Leighanne (9/1)
Rosie (9/8)
Burt (9/15)
Gloria A. (9/15)
Joanne (9/15)
Lance (9/15)
Chris L. (9/15)
Benafsha A. (9/15)
8 Sep meeting notes; 15 Sep reading list
8 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Benafsha A. (a chapter from Grown in the Shade), Burt (chapters from The Class of 1942), Chris L., Glenda, Gloria A. (1.5 chapters from Toxin), Joanne, Lance, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
OC Romance Writers has a Scrivener-centric program on Saturday, 10 September, starting at 10 a.m.: Gwen Hernandez with “Plot or Not with Scrivener 3” and “Compiling in Scrivener 3” (virtual).
15 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Donna R. (8/25)
Glenda (9/8)
Leighanne (9/1)
Joanne (9/8)
Rosie (9/8)
Lance (9/8)
Chris L. (9/8)
Burt (9/8)
Benafsha A. (9/8)
Gloria A. (9/8)
1 Sep meeting notes; 8 Sep reading list
1 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Benafsha A., Burt, Chris L. (a chapter from System Kid), Glenda, Gloria A., Joanne (a short story, “Alzheimer’s Retrospective”), Lance (a chapter from Bluejay Rises), Leighanne, and Rosie (three chapters from The Great Mrs. Ziegfeld).
NEWS & NOTES
Check the Events post for upcoming author events.
8 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Donna R. (8/25)
Glenda (9/1)
Leighanne (9/1)
Burt (9/1)
Benafsha A. (9/1)
Gloria A. (9/1)
Joanne (9/1)
Rosie (9/1)
Lance (9/1)
Chris L. (9/1)
25 Aug meeting notes; 1 Sep reading list
25 AUGUST MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Benafsha A. (three new chapters and one revision from Grown in the Shade), Burt (new chapters from 1942), Chris L., Donna R., Glenda, Gloria A. (a chapter from Toxin), Joanne, and Lance.
NEWS & NOTES
Benafsha returned from Killer Nashville, where she had an excellent time meeting authors and industry pros.
Sisters in Crime OC will meet LIVE at Book Carnival in Orange on Sunday, 28 August, at 3 p.m. Mystery novelist and foreign correspondent Jeffrey Fleishman will be in conversation with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett. They’ll focus on his latest novel, Good Night, Forever, and also discuss the art, craft, and business of writing.
1 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Donna R. (8/25)
Glenda (8/25)
Leighanne (8/4)
Joanne (8/25)
Rosie (8/18)
Lance (8/25)
Chris L. (8/25)
Burt (8/25)
Benafsha A. (8/25)
Gloria A. (8/25)
18 Aug meeting notes; 25 Aug reading list
18 AUGUST MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Chris L. (a chapter from System Kid), Glenda, Joanne, Lance (two chapters from Bluejay Rises), Rosie (a chapter from The Great Mrs. Ziegfeld), and potential new member Larissa S., a published author of high fantasy (welcome!).
NEWS & NOTES
Be sure to check the “upcoming events” post for author events scheduled for the next two weeks.
25 AUGUST READING LIST
Donna R. (8/4)
Burt (8/11)
Glenda (8/18)
Leighanne (8/4)
Benafsha A. (8/4)
Gloria A. (8/11)
Joanne (8/18)
Rosie (8/18)
Lance (8/18)
Chris L. (8/18)
11 Aug meeting notes; 18 Aug reading list
11 AUGUST MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Burt, Chris L. (one revised and one new chapter from System Kid), Gloria A. (a chapter from Toxin), Joanne (a very short story, “Seeking Silence”), and Lance (a chapter from Bluejay Rises).
NEWS & NOTES
OC Romance Writers: On Saturday, Aug 13, at 10 a.m., Kathryn Le Veque will present “The Mechanics of Writing: From the Ground Up,” and Jenna Barwin will discuss “BookTok on TikTok: Getting Started & Upping Your Game” (in-person event).
18 AUGUST READING LIST
Donna R. (8/4)
Burt (8/11)
Glenda (8/4)
Leighanne (8/4)
Rosie (8/4)
Benafsha A. (8/4)
Gloria A. (8/11)
Lance (8/11)
Joanne (8/11)
Chris L. (8/11)
4 Aug meeting notes; 11 Aug reading list
4 AUGUST MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Benafsha A. (a new chapter and a revised chapter from Grown in the Shade), Chris L. (a chapter from System Kid), Donna R., Glenda, Gloria A., Joanne (a very short story, “Free Fall”), Lance, Leighanne, and Rosie (two chapters from The Great Mrs. Ziegfeld).
NEWS & NOTES
Watch for the August author events post, coming soon.
11 AUGUST READING LIST
Donna R. (8/4)
Burt (7/21)
Glenda (8/4)
Leighanne (8/4)
Gloria A. (8/4)
Lance (8/4)
Rosie (8/4)
Joanne (8/4)
Chris L. (8/4)
Benafsha A. (8/4)
28 July meeting notes; 4 Aug reading list
28 JULY MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Benafsha A. (a chapter from Grown in the Shade), Chris L. (a chapter from System Kid), Glenda, Gloria A. (1.5 chapters from Toxin), Joanne, and Lance (most of a chapter from Bluejay Rises).
NEWS & NOTES
It appears that the Panera Bread PFL used to haunt at Jamboree and Irvine Blvd. now sleeps with the fishes. (We killed off another one!) We’re committed to Corner Bakery for the duration.
4 AUGUST READING LIST
Donna R. (7/21)
Rosie (7/21)
Burt (7/21)
Glenda (7/28)
Joanne (7/28)
Leighanne (7/21)
Gloria A. (7/28)
Chris L. (7/28)
Benafsha A. (7/28)
Lance (7/28)
21 July meeting notes; 28 July reading list
21 JULY MEETING NOTES
Ten(!) people attended: Benafsha A., Burt (three chapters from The Spirit of 1942), Chris L., Donna R., Glenda (the last half of a short story, “The Dungeon of Knowledge”), Gloria A., Joanne (a very short story, “Throwaways: Johnnie”), Lance, Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Glenda recommended checking the free webinars offered by the Institute for Brain Potential for information about mental conditions and their presentation (for instance, “Treating Six Forms of Anxiety”) in case you need a character to exhibit such a thing.
Benafsha will be attending Killer Nashville, her first writer’s conference, next month.
Sisters in Crime OC is sponsoring a virtual event on Sunday, July 24, at 4 p.m., featuring : Chris Hauty, Nick Petrie, and Brian Freeman, moderated by Maddie Margarita.
28 JULY READING LIST
Donna R. (7/21)
Gloria A. (7/21)
Rosie (7/21)
Chris L. (7/21)
Benafsha A. (7/21)
Lance (7/21)
Burt (7/21)
Glenda (7/21)
Joanne (7/21)
Leighanne (7/21)
14 July meeting notes; 21 July reading list
14 JULY MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A. (a chapter from Grown in the Shade), Chris L. (a chapter from System Kid), Glenda, Gloria A., Joanne, Lance (two partial chapters from Bluejay Rises), and Rosie (a chapter from The Great Mrs. Ziegfeld).
NEWS & NOTES
The monthly Southern California Writers Association meeting will happen Saturday, July 16, at 10 a.m. The featured guest is Gary Phillips, presenting “Like You Were There—Writing Immersive Historical Fiction.”
21 JULY READING LIST
Donna R. (6/30)
Glenda (7/14)
Burt (7/7)
Gloria A. (7/14)
Joanne (7/14)
Rosie (7/14)
Chris L. (7/14)
Benafsha A. (7/14)
Lance (7/14)
Pure Fiction League 