Next Meeting: Thursday, 2 April, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Tustin Marketplace Corner Bakery (13652 Jamboree Road, Irvine)
25 Mar meeting notes; 1 Apr reading list
25 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Four people attended the second experimental PFL Zoom meeting: Casey, Donna R. (a revised chapter from Running with Hounds…and an English Degree), Glenda, and Lance (two revised chapters from Engaño). Please remember to upload your marked-up readings to the Google drive by 8 p.m. on Friday, 26 March.
NEWS & NOTES
The 1 April meeting will return to Slack. Please put in your bids to read in the #apr01-meeting Slack channel by 8:00 p.m. on Friday, 26 March. The reading submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, 29 March. The next meeting will start on Thursday, 1 April, at 6:30 p.m.
The Zoom experiment didn’t lead to the return of a significant number of PFL members who’ve been absent from Slack. Because of this, we won’t continue alternating between Slack and Zoom meetings. However, we found enough usefulness in the Zoom format to continue with it on the fourth Thursday of every month starting next month (22 April).
The 23 March virtual installment of LIT UP! A Conversation with Orange County Writers and Readers was a success, with Maddie wrangling James Ziskin, Michael Brandman, and Lorenzo Porricelli. Check the LIT UP Facebook page for dates and details about the next LIT UP!
1 APRIL READING LIST
Glenda (3/25)
Rosie (3/18)
PJ (3/11)
Casey (3/25)
Donna R. (3/25)
Lance (3/25)
Leighanne (10/15/20)
Joanne (10/1/20)
Lisa W. (7/23/20)
Sherry C. (7/23/20)
Leslie P. (7/23/20)
18 Mar meeting notes; 25 Mar reading list
18 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Casey (a chapter from Nouveau Trashy Vampire Romance), Donna R., Glenda, Lance (two chapters from Engaño), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
The 25 March meeting will occur on Zoom, starting 6:30 p.m. This is part two of an experiment to see if now-absent PFL members are interested in attending a meeting using a platform other than Slack. If it’s successful, we’ll continue alternating between Slack and Zoom so all members can participate. If after the 25 March meeting we’ve had no appreciable increase in attendance, we’ll go back to Slack-only meetings.
The next virtual installment of LIT UP! A Conversation with Orange County Writers and Readers happens at 6:30 p.m. on 23 March, on Facebook Live. The lineup:
- James Ziskin (mystery).
- Michael Brandman (mystery / crime).
- Lorenzo Porricelli (satire).
To attend, check in at the event posting on the LIT UP Facebook page.
25 MARCH READING LIST
Glenda (3/18)
Rosie (3/18)
Donna R. (3/18)
PJ (3/11)
Casey (3/18)
Lance (3/18)
Leighanne (10/15/20)
Joanne (10/1/20)
Lisa W. (7/23/20)
Sherry C. (7/23/20)
Leslie P. (7/23/20)
Marianna (3/26/20)
Burt (3/26/20)
11 Mar meeting notes; 18 Mar reading list
11 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Five people attended the first experimental PFL Zoom meeting: Casey, Donna R. (a revised chapter from Running with Hounds…and an English Degree), Glenda, Lance (two chapters from Engaño), and PJ (returning from a long absence). Please remember to upload your marked-up readings to the Google drive by 8 p.m. on Friday, 12 March.
NEWS & NOTES
The 18 March meeting will return to Slack. Please put in your bids to read in the #mar18-meeting Slack channel by 8:00 p.m. on Friday, 12 March. The reading submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, 15 March. The next meeting will start on Thursday, 18 March, at 6:30 p.m.
The second Zoom-based meeting will be on 25 March. If it’s successful, we’ll continue alternating between Slack and Zoom so all members can participate. If after the 25 March meeting we’ve had no appreciable increase in attendance, we’ll go back to Slack-only meetings.
18 MARCH READING LIST
Glenda (3/11)
Rosie (3/4)
Casey (3/11)
Donna R. (3/11)
Lance (3/11)
PJ (3/11)
Leighanne (10/15/20)
Joanne (10/1/20)
Lisa W. (7/23/20)
Sherry C. (7/23/20)
Leslie P. (7/23/20)
Marianna (3/26/20)
Burt (3/26/20)
4 Mar meeting notes; 11 Mar reading list
4 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Casey, Donna R., Glenda, Lance (two chapters from Engaño), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
The 11 March meeting will occur on Zoom, starting 6:30 p.m. This is an experiment to see if now-absent PFL members are interested in attending a meeting using a platform other than Slack. The second Zoom-based meeting will be on 25 March. If it’s successful, we’ll continue alternating between Slack and Zoom so all members can participate. If after the 25 March meeting we’ve had no appreciable increase in attendance, we’ll go back to Slack-only meetings. A more detailed email will come out soon.
11 MARCH READING LIST
Glenda (3/4)
Donna R. (3/4)
Rosie (3/4)
Casey (3/4)
Lance (3/4)
Leighanne (10/15/20)
Joanne (10/1/20)
Lisa W. (7/23/20)
Sherry C. (7/23/20)
Leslie P. (7/23/20)
Marianna (3/26/20)
Burt (3/26/20)
25 Feb meeting notes; 4 Mar reading list
25 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Four people attended: Casey (a chapter from Nouveau Trashy Vampire Romance), Donna R., Lance, and Rosie (a chapter from Well of the Moon). Glenda couldn’t attend due to technical difficulties but was able to critique.
NEWS & NOTES
Please put in your bids to read in the #mar04-meeting Slack channel by 8:00 p.m. on Friday, 26 February. The reading submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, 1 March. The next meeting will start on Thursday, 4 March, at 6:30 p.m.
We’ll try Zoom-based PFL meetings on Thursday, 11 March and Thursday, 25 March, starting 6:30 p.m. This is an experiment to see if now-absent PFL members are interested in attending a meeting using a platform other than Slack. If it’s successful, we’ll continue alternating between Slack and Zoom so all members can participate. If after the 25 March meeting we’ve had no appreciable increase in attendance, we’ll go back to Slack-only meetings. More to come.
4 MARCH READING LIST
Glenda (2/18)
Donna R. (2/25)
Lance (2/25)
Rosie (2/25)
Casey (2/25)
Leighanne (10/15/20)
Joanne (10/1/20)
Lisa W. (7/23/20)
Sherry C. (7/23/20)
Leslie P. (7/23/20)
Marianna (3/26/20)
Burt (3/26/20)
Dennis P. (3/5/20)
18 Feb meeting notes; 25 Feb reading list
18 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Casey, Donna R., Glenda, Lance (a chapter from Engaño), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Please put in your bids to read in the #feb25-meeting Slack channel by 8:00 p.m. on Friday, 19 February. The reading submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, 22 February. The next meeting will start on Thursday, 25 February, at 6:30 p.m.
The Valentine’s Day romance edition of LIT UP! will happen on 23 February at 6:30 p.m. The lineup:
- Debra Holland (sweet historical / fantasy romance).
- Beth Yarnall (mystery / romantic suspense).
- Alina K. Field (Regency romance).
Chris Lenz will be a special guest star.
To attend, check in at the event posting on the LIT UP Facebook page. See you there!
25 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Glenda (2/18)
Donna R. (2/18)
Rosie (2/18)
Casey (2/18)
Lance (2/18)
Leighanne (10/15/20)
Joanne (10/1/20)
Lisa W. (7/23/20)
Sherry C. (7/23/20)
Leslie P. (7/23/20)
Marianna (3/26/20)
Burt (3/26/20)
Dennis P. (3/5/20)
PJ (2/27/20)
Maddie (2/27/20)
11 Feb meeting notes; 18 Feb reading list
11 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Four people attended: Casey, Glenda, Lance (two chapters from Engaño), and Rosie. Donna couldn’t attend but left a critique.
NEWS & NOTES
Please put in your bids to read in the #feb18-meeting Slack channel by 8:00 p.m. on Friday, 12 February. The reading submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, 15 February. The next meeting will start on Thursday, 18 February, at 6:30 p.m.
The final episode of Season 1 of Deep State Dossier has dropped. Season 2 is on the board.
The Valentine’s Day romance edition of LIT UP! will happen on 23 February at 6:30 p.m. Debra Holland, Beth Yarnall, and Alina K. Field are the featured authors, with Chris Lenz making a cameo appearance. Check the LIT UP! Facebook page for details as they appear.
18 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Glenda (2/11)
Donna R. (2/4)
Rosie (2/11)
Casey (2/11)
Lance (2/11)
Leighanne (10/15)
Joanne (10/1)
Lisa W. (7/23)
Sherry C. (7/23)
Leslie P. (7/23)
Marianna (3/26/20)
Burt (3/26/20)
Dennis P. (3/5/20)
PJ (2/27/20)
Maddie (2/27/20)
4 Feb meeting notes; 11 Feb reading list
4 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Four people attended: Casey (a chapter from Nouveau Trashy Vampire Romance), Donna R., Lance (a chapter from Engaño), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Please put in your bids to read in the #feb11-meeting Slack channel by 8:00 p.m. on Friday, 5 February. The reading submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, 8 February. The next meeting will start on Thursday, 11 February, at 6:30 p.m.
Rosie has hung out her shingle as an editor! It’s still a work in progress, but you can get more details here. A website will appear forthwith. Good luck!
The Valentine’s Day romance edition of LIT UP! will happen on 23 February at 6:30 p.m. Check the LIT UP! Facebook page for details as they appear.
11 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Glenda (1/21)
Donna R. (2/4)
Rosie (2/4)
Casey (2/4)
Lance (2/4)
Leighanne (10/15)
Joanne (10/1)
Lisa W. (7/23)
Sherry C. (7/23)
Leslie P. (7/23)
Marianna (3/26/20)
Burt (3/26/20)
Dennis P. (3/5/20)
PJ (2/27/20)
Maddie (2/27/20)
28 Jan meeting notes; 4 Feb reading list
28 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
A cozy three people attended: Casey, Donna R., and Lance (two chapters from Engaño, formerly DAA #2). Glenda and Rosie submitted critiques but couldn’t attend.
NEWS & NOTES
Please put in your bids to read in the #feb04-meeting Slack channel by 8:00 p.m. on Friday, 29 January. The reading submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, 1 February. The next meeting will start on Thursday, 4 February, at 6:30 p.m.
The next LIT UP! will happen on 23 February. Check the LIT UP! Facebook page for details as they appear.
4 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Glenda (1/21)
Donna R. (1/28)
Rosie (1/21)
Casey (1/28)
Lance (1/28)
Leighanne (10/15)
Joanne (10/1)
Lisa W. (7/23)
Sherry C. (7/23)
Leslie P. (7/23)
Marianna (3/26/20)
Burt (3/26/20)
Dennis P. (3/5/20)
PJ (2/27/20)
Maddie (2/27/20)
21 Jan meeting notes; 28 Jan reading list
21 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Casey (a chapter from Nouveau Trashy Vampire Romance), Donna R., Glenda, Lance, and Rosie (rebooted prologue and first chapter from Well of the Moon).
NEWS & NOTES
Please put in your bids to read in the #jan28-meeting Slack channel by 8:00 p.m. on Friday, 22 January. The reading submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, 25 January. The next meeting will start on Thursday, 28 January, at 6:30 p.m.
Former PFL member Dana Swift’s debut novel Cast in Firelight released on 19 January. Congratulations, Dana!
The next LIT UP! will happen on 23 February. Check the LIT UP! Facebook page for details as they appear.
28 JANUARY READING LIST
Glenda (1/21)
Donna R. (1/21)
Lance (1/21)
Rosie (1/21)
Casey (1/21)
Leighanne (10/15)
Joanne (10/1)
Lisa W. (7/23)
Sherry C. (7/23)
Leslie P. (7/23)
Marianna (3/26)
Burt (3/26)
Dennis P. (3/5)
PJ (2/27)
Maddie (2/27)
14 Jan meeting notes; 21 Jan reading list
14 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Casey, Donna R., Glenda, Lance (a chapter from DeWitt Agency Adventure #2), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Please put in your bids to read in the #jan21-meeting Slack channel by 8:00 p.m. on Friday, 15 January. The reading submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, 18 January. The next meeting will start on Thursday, 21 January, at 6:30 p.m.
Episode 8 of Casey & Marianna’s Deep State Dossier podcast just dropped.
A recording of the 10 Jan LIT UP! Orange County and the Muzeo Museum & Cultural Center is now up on the Muzeo Facebook page. Christopher Reich, Matt Coyle, and Nick Petrie headlined, with Maddie as ringleader.
14 JANUARY READING LIST
Glenda (1/14)
Rosie (1/14)
Donna R. (1/14)
Casey (1/14)
Lance (1/14)
Leighanne (10/15)
Joanne (10/1)
Lisa W. (7/23)
Sherry C. (7/23)
Leslie P. (7/23)
Marianna (3/26)
Burt (3/26)
Dennis P. (3/5)
PJ (2/27)
Maddie (2/27)
7 Jan meeting notes; 14 Jan reading list
7 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Four people attended the first meeting of 2021: Casey (a chapter from Nouveau Trashy Vampire Romance), Donna R., Lance (two chapters from DeWitt Agency Adventure #2), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Please put in your bids to read in the #jan14-meeting Slack channel by 8:00 p.m. on Friday, 8 January. The reading submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, 11 January. The next meeting will start on Thursday, 14 January, at 6:30 p.m.
Casey & Marianna’s Deep State Dossier podcast now has over 1000 downloads. Congratulations on the milestone!
LIT UP! Orange County and the Muzeo Museum & Cultural Center in Anaheim present Christopher Reich, Matt Coyle, and Nick Petrie in conversation with Madeline Margarita on Sunday, 10 January, at 1:00 p.m. PST. To pre-register for this free event, please visit the Muzeo website.
14 JANUARY READING LIST
Glenda (12/3)
Rosie (1/7)
Donna R. (1/7)
Casey (1/7)
Lance (1/7)
Leighanne (10/15)
Joanne (10/1)
Lisa W. (7/23)
Sherry C. (7/23)
Leslie P. (7/23)
Marianna (3/26)
Burt (3/26)
Dennis P. (3/5)
PJ (2/27)
Maddie (2/27)
3 Dec meeting notes; 7 Jan reading list
3 DECEMBER MEETING NOTES
Five people attended the final meeting of 2020: Casey, Donna R. (the final chapter of Running with Hounds…and an English Degree) (congratulations, Donna!), Glenda, Lance (the first chapter of the Zrada sequel, currently named DeWitt Agency Adventure #2), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Please put in your bids to read in the #jan07-meeting Slack channel by 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 30 December. The reading submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, 4 January. The first meeting of 2021 will start on Thursday, 7 January, at 6:30 p.m.
LIT UP! will happen on Tuesday, 15 December. The featured authors will probably be Steve Jackson, Sharmyn McGraw, and Lance. Check the LIT UP! Facebook page for more details.
There will be no PFL holiday party this year (sniff).
7 JANUARY READING LIST
Glenda (12/3)
Rosie (12/3)
Casey (12/3)
Lance (12/3)
Donna R. (12/3)
Leighanne (10/15)
Joanne (10/1)
Lisa W. (7/23)
Sherry C. (7/23)
Leslie P. (7/23)
Marianna (3/26)
Burt (3/26)
Dennis P. (3/5)
PJ (2/27)
Maddie (2/27)
The Lamia, Steve G. Jackson, horror
Evil is preying. With the highest possible stakes, amidst a horrific and suspenseful race against time, a reluctant psychiatrist fights a demon, a global pandemic risk, and his own troubled past in a fight for his daughter’s soul.
On a remote boulder on a beach in Costa Rica, an unorthodox family vacation turns into a fight to stop a global pandemic. Emerging from the jungle treetops during a thunderstorm, a vampire bat attacks teenager Taylor. When her mother drowns in the turbulent ocean during the storm, Taylor blames her father, Richard Morgan, when his medical training can’t save his ex-wife.
The leader of a Costa Rican task force, a transplant from the nearby indigenous Bribri tribe in the Talamancan mountains, is determined to stop the spread of a deadly global pandemic originating from a Bribri demon. She tries to kill Taylor on the spot, but Morgan overcomes the task force and the family escapes home to Salem, Oregon.
But Taylor starts to change, and Morgan is conflicted between the science he relies on as a psychiatrist (and his atheist girlfriend) and the religion he abandoned. Linda, who lost her daughter to the pandemic, arrives to convince Morgan the inexplicable is real, and he eventually has no choice but to accept that his daughter is possessed by an evil that is transforming her into a vampire. Morgan and Linda take Taylor to the Bribri village in a desperate attempt to get help from the Bribri shaman to perform an exorcism to rid Taylor of the demon. If this last-ditch attempt fails, he knows he’ll have to destroy his own daughter to save her soul, and the world.
The Lamia is the ultimate battle between good and evil, offered from a master storyteller.
Available soon for Kindle
Trade paperback available at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound
Award-winning novelist and playwright Steven G. Jackson holds a Master’s Degree in Professional Writing from USC and lives with his family and his yellow lab “Bear” in Southern California. He also serves as Vice President of the Southern California Writers Association. He is the author of the highly-acclaimed thriller The Zeus Payload.
19 Nov meeting notes; 3 Dec reading list
19 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Casey, Donna R. (the penultimate chapter of Running with Hounds…and an English Degree), Glenda, Lance, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Please put in your bids to read in the #dec03-meeting Slack channel by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, 25 November. The reading submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, 30 November. The last meeting of 2020 will start on Thursday, 3 December, at 6:30 p.m.
Joe Ide will be the featured guest at the virtual SCWA meeting on Saturday, 21 November, at 10 a.m.
There will be no PFL holiday party this year (sniff). We’ll resume on 7 Jan 2021.
3 DECEMBER READING LIST
Glenda (11/19)
Lance (11/19)
Rosie (11/19)
Casey (11/19)
Donna R. (11/19)
Leighanne (10/15)
Joanne (10/1)
Lisa W. (7/23)
Sherry C. (7/23)
Leslie P. (7/23)
Marianna (3/26)
Burt (3/26)
Dennis P. (3/5)
PJ (2/27)
Maddie (2/27)
Pure Fiction League 