Next Meeting: Thursday, 11 January, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Tustin Marketplace Corner Bakery (13652 Jamboree Road, Irvine)
28 Aug meeting notes; 4 Sep reading list
28 AUGUST MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Benafsha A. (a chapter from Jewels of Herat), Burt (chapters from The Class of 1942), Jo, Lance (a revised chapter from Bluejay’s Riviera [formerly the KDA Riviera Project]), Ottilia S., and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Thursday, Sep. 4, 6 pm.: Curtis Chin, Everything I Loved, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant (in person at the Donald Dungan Public Library, 1855 Park Av, Costa Mesa)
4 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Donna R. (8/7)
Leighanne (8/21)
Glenda (8/21)
Jo (8/28)
Joanne (8/7)
Rosie (8/28)
Ottilia S. (8/28)
Burt (8/28)
Lance (8/28)
Benafsha A. (8/28)
21 Aug meeting notes; 28 Aug reading list
21 AUGUST MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A. (a chapter from Jewels of Herat), Glenda, Jo, Lance (a revised chapter from Bluejay’s Riviera [formerly the KDA Riviera Project]), Leighanne, Ottilia S. (the first chapter of a romantic suspense novel, Hong Kong Shadows), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Jo brought in the paperback edition of the new SCWA anthology, California is a State of Mind, in which she has a short story. The anthology is now available on Amazon and the other usual places to buy books online.
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Friday, Aug. 22, 6:30: Louis Sachar, The Magician of Tiger Castle (in person at the Laguna Hills Community Center, 25555 Alicia Pkwy., Laguna Hills)
28 AUGUST READING LIST
Donna R. (8/7)
Leighanne (8/21)
Glenda (8/21)
Jo (8/21)
Joanne (8/7)
Rosie (8/21)
Burt (8/14)
Lance (8/21)
Benafsha A. (8/21)
Ottilia S. (8/21)
14 Aug meeting notes; 21 Aug reading list
14 AUG MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Burt (chapters from The Class of 1942), Glenda, Jo, Lance, Leighanne, Rosie (a short story, “The Man in the Tin Mask” [or perhaps not]), and returning new member Ottilia S.
NEWS & NOTES
It looks like the Marketplace Corner Bakery will be PFL’s new home for the foreseeable future. It’s at 13652 Jamboree Road in Irvine (at the corner with El Camino, in the former Romano’s building).
Jo reports that last Saturday’s SCWA Book Launch Party for California is a State of Mind was successful, with several PFL alums in attendance. The anthology is now available on Amazon and the other usual places to buy books online.
Ottilia highly recommends William Kent Krueger’s mystery novel Ordinary Grace.
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- No events scheduled
21 AUGUST READING LIST
Donna R. (8/7)
Leighanne (8/14)
Glenda (8/14)
Jo (8/14)
Lance (8/14)
Joanne (8/7)
Benafsha A. (8/7)
Rosie (8/14)
Burt (8/14)
Ottilia S. (8/14)
7 Aug meeting notes; 14 Aug reading list
7 AUG MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A. (a chapter from Landed), Donna R., Joanne (a short story, “Life’s Stage Coach”), Lance, Leighanne, Rosie, and potential new member Ottillia S. (welcome!).
NEWS & NOTES
It looks like the Marketplace Corner Bakery will be PFL’s new home for the foreseeable future. It’s at 13652 Jamboree Road in Irvine (at the corner with El Camino, in the former Romano’s building).
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Aug. 9, 10 a.m.: Jennifer Griffith, “Seven Big Publishing and Marketing Mistakes Jennifer Made—So You Don’t Have To” (virtual for OC Romance Writers)
- Saturday, Aug. 9, 2 p.m.: Nolan Knight, The Gorgon of Los Feliz (in person at Book Carnival)
- Saturday, Aug. 9, 2 p.m.: SCWA Book Launch Party for California is a State of Mind (at the Knolls Restaurant, 29971 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel)
14 AUGUST READING LIST
Donna R. (8/7)
Leighanne (8/7)
Glenda (7/31)
Jo (7/31)
Rosie (8/7)
Lance (8/7)
Burt (7/31)
Joanne (8/7)
Benafsha A. (8/7)
31 July meeting notes; 7 Aug reading list
31 JULY MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Benafsha A. (a chapter from Landed), Burt (chapters from The Class of 1942), Glenda, Jo, Joanne (a short story, “An Old Stage Show Revisited”), Lance, Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
It looks like the Marketplace Corner Bakery will be PFL’s new home for the foreseeable future. It’s at 13652 Jamboree Road in Irvine (at the corner with El Camino, in the former Romano’s building).
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Aug. 2, 10 a.m.: Cassidy Krug, RESURFACE: A Guide to Navigating Life’s Biggest Transitions (in person at the Clifton C. Miller Community Center, 300 Centennial Way, Tustin)
- Saturday, Aug. 2, 2 p.m.: Jeri Westerson, The Misplaced Physician (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Aug 3, 2 p.m.: Sisters in Crime LA presents Ellen Byron, Jeri Westerson, Terry Shames, and Daryl Wood Gerber, “The Ups & Downs of Publishing in Today’s Marketplace” (in person at the Radford Studio, Studio City)
- Wednesday, Aug. 6, 5 p.m.: Audrey Lee, The Mechanics of Memory (in person at Book Carnival)
- Wednesday, Aug. 6, 6:30 p.m.: Kaira Rouda, Jill is Not Happy (in person at the Norma Hertzog Community Center, 1845 Park Ave, Costa Mesa)
7 AUGUST READING LIST
Donna R. (7/10)
Leighanne (7/31)
Glenda (7/31)
Jo (7/31)
Rosie (7/31)
Lance (7/31)
Joanne (7/31)
Benafsha A. (7/31)
Burt (7/31)
24 July meeting notes; 31 July reading list
24 JULY MEETING NOTES
Four people attended (Glenda, Joanne, Lance, and Leighanne), but no one brought anything to read. Needless to say, it was a very short meeting.
NEWS & NOTES
We’ll give the Marketplace Corner Bakery another try on 31 July. It ain’t perfect, but it’s better than where we were. It’s at 13652 Jamboree Road in Irvine (at the corner with El Camino, in the former Romano’s building).
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Thursday, July 24, 6:30: Lisa Scottoline, The Unraveling of Julia (in person at the Clifton C. Miller Community Center, 300 Centennial Way, Tustin)
- Saturday, July 26, 2 p.m.: Sarah James, Last Stop Union Station (in person at Book Carnival, in conversation with Shaina Steinberg)
- Saturday, July 26, 2 p.m.: Naomi Hirahara, Clark and Division (in person at the Fountain Valley Branch Library, 17635 Los Alamos, Fountain Valley)
- Sunday, July 27, 3 p.m.: Sisters in Crime OC presents Cristina LePort and D.P. Lyle, “Blending Suspense With Matters of The Heart—Real And Imagined” (in person at Book Carnival)
31 JULY READING LIST
Donna R. (7/10)
Leighanne (7/24)
Glenda (7/24)
Jo (7/17)
Rosie (7/17)
Joanne (7/24)
Benafsha A. (7/10)
Burt (7/10)
Lance (7/24)
17 July meeting notes; 24 July reading list
17 JULY MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Glenda, Jo, Joanne, Lance (a revised chapter from the KDA Riviera Project), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
We liked the Marketplace Corner Bakery enough to give it another try on 24 July. It ain’t perfect, but it’s better than where we were. It’s at 13652 Jamboree Road in Irvine (at the corner with El Camino, in the former Romano’s building).
Jo’s short story “Secret Wishes” is included in the newly released SCWA anthology, It’s All in the Story: California, The Sequel. Also among the 31 works selected are stories by other PFL alums such as Casey Pope, Steve Jackson, Lisa Webb, and PJ Colando. The anthology launches on Saturday, 9 August, at Knolls Restaurant, 29971 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel. Congratulations, Jo!
Joanne highly recommends Anne Lamott’s nonfiction book, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. She especially likes a poem by Phillip Lopate (which she shared) titled “We Who Are Your Closest Friends,” included in the book, about a writers group (that meets on Thursdays) that confirms many a writer’s deepest fears about critique groups. Check it out.
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, July 12, 10 a.m.: Heather B. Moore, “Finding Yourself Among the Words” and “Self-Publishing: A-Zs of Creating a Professional Product” (virtual for OC Romance Writers)
- Saturday, July 19, 10 a.m.: Barbara Pronin, “The Art of the Spark: How Great Stories Begin (and Keep Going!)” (in person for SCWA at 19 Restaurant, 24122 Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Hills; $25-35)
- Tuesday, July 15, 5:30 p.m.: Cristina LePort, Change of Heart (in person at the Rancho Santa Margarita Library, 30902 La Promesa, Rancho Santa Margarita)
24 JULY READING LIST
Donna R. (7/10)
Leighanne (7/17)
Glenda (7/17)
Jo (7/17)
Rosie (7/17)
Joanne (7/17)
Benafsha A. (7/10)
Burt (7/10)
Lance (7/17)
10 July meeting notes; 17 July reading list
10 JULY MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A. (welcome back!), Burt (chapters from The Class of 1942), Donna R., Glenda, Lance (a revised chapter from the KDA Riviera Project), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
We liked the Marketplace Corner Bakery enough to give it another try on 17 July. It’s at 13652 Jamboree Road in Irvine (at the corner with El Camino, in the former Romano’s building).
Rosie enjoyed the Historical Novel Society National Conference in Las Vegas, especially since her pitch sessions with agents yielded four requests for full copies of In Arcadia Ego. Congratulations!
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, July 12, 10 a.m.: Heather B. Moore, “Finding Yourself Among the Words” and “Self-Publishing: A-Zs of Creating a Professional Product” (virtual for OC Romance Writers)
- Sunday, July 13, 2 p.m.: Sisters in Crime LA presents Alex Kenna, “Fact and Fiction” (in person at The Last Bookstore, 4437 Lankershim Blvd., Studio City)
- Tuesday, July 15, 5:30 p.m.: Cristina LePort, Change of Heart (in person at the Rancho Santa Margarita Library, 30902 La Promesa, Rancho Santa Margarita)
17 JULY READING LIST
Donna R. (7/10)
Leighanne (7/10)
Glenda (7/10)
Jo (7/3)
Rosie (7/10)
Joanne (7/3)
Benafsha A. (7/10)
Burt (7/10)
Lance (7/10)
3 July meting notes; 10 July reading list
3 JULY MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Burt, Glenda, Jo, Joanne (a short story, “Hands of My Mother”), Lance (a chapter from the KDA Riviera Project), Leighanne, and Glenda’s guest John.
NEWS & NOTES
The 10 July PFL meeting will happen at the Marketplace Corner Bakery, 13652 Jamboree Road in Irvine (at the corner with El Camino, in the former Romano’s building).
Leighanne had a fine time at the Historical Novel Society National Conference in Las Vegas, including meeting other authors, getting agent interest in her WIP, and being dead during the costume contest.
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Tuesday, July 8, 1 p.m.: Brandon Hoàng, One Last Quest (in person at the Donald Dungan Branch Library, 1855 Park Ave., Costa Mesa)
10 JULY READING LIST
Donna R. (6/19)
Leighanne (7/3)
Glenda (7/3)
Jo (7/3)
Rosie (6/19)
Burt (7/3)
Joanne (7/3)
Lance (7/3)
Benafsha A. (5/29)
26 June meeting notes; 3 July reading list
26 JUNE MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Burt (chapters from The Class of 1942), Glenda, Jo, Joanne, and Lance.
NEWS & NOTES
The 10 July PFL meeting will happen at the Marketplace Corner Bakery, 13652 Jamboree Road in Irvine.
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- There are no scheduled author events for this week.
3 JULY READING LIST
Donna R. (6/19)
Leighanne (6/12)
Glenda (6/26)
Jo (6/26)
Benafsha A. (5/29)
Joanne (6/26)
Lance (6/26)
Rosie (6/19)
Burt (6/26)
19 June meeting notes; 26 June reading list
19 JUNE MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Donna R., Glenda, Jo, Lance (a chapter from KDA Riviera Project), and Rosie (two chapters from In Arcadia Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
The Tustin Marketplace Corner Bakery is open! It’s in what used to be the Romano’s Macaroni Grill building across El Camino Real from the Regal Edwards Market Place theater. (We used to meet in the Corner Bakery next to the theater until 30 May last year, when it abruptly closed.) The resurrected Corner Bakery is clean, has a working soda fountain, a full pastry case, and an enthusiastic manager. Urban Plates has been an uneasy new home for us since we moved there a year ago. So, to test the waters: the 10 July PFL meeting will happen at the Marketplace Corner Bakery, 13652 Jamboree Road in Irvine.
Rosie will attend the 2025 North America Historical Novel Society Conference in Las Vegas next week. We’ll probably never hear much about it because what happens in Vegas…well, you know.
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, June 21, 10 a.m.: Richard Bausch, A Word, and Then Another Word, and Then Another (in person for SCWA at 19 Restaurant, 24122 Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Hills; $25-35)
- Sunday, June 22, 3:00 p.m.: Sisters in Crime OC will host members of the Orange PD SWAT team (in person at Book Carnival)
- Thursday, June 26, 6:30 p.m.: Julie Clark, The Ghostwriter (in person at the Foothill Ranch Library, 27002 Cabriole Way, Foothill Ranch)
26 JUNE READING LIST
Donna R. (6/19)
Leighanne (6/12)
Glenda (6/19)
Jo (6/19)
Benafsha A. (5/29)
Joanne (6/5)
Burt (6/12)
Lance (6/19)
Rosie (6/19)
12 June meeting notes; 19 June reading list
12 JUNE MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Burt (chapters from The Class of 1942), Glenda, Lance (two chapters from KDA Riviera Project), Leighanne, and Rosie (two chapters from In Arcadia Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, June 14, 2 p.m.: Darrell Denny, Of Light and Lies (in person at Book Carnival)
- Saturday, June 14, 5 p.m.: Eric Beetner, Real Bad, Real Soon; Jim Fusilli, A Song for Katy Shayne (in person at Book Carnival)
- Saturday, June 14, 10 a.m.: Rebecca Forster, “The B-Word: When the Blurb is a Bitch,” and Karen Sue Walker, “Help! Why Are My Books Not Selling?” (in person and virtual for OC Romance Writers)
- Wednesday, June 18, 6:30 p.m.: Martha Hall Kelly, The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club (in person at the Norma Hertzog Community Center, 1845 Park Ave., Costa Mesa)
19 JUNE READING LIST
Donna R. (5/22)
Leighanne (6/12)
Glenda (6/12)
Jo (6/5)
Benafsha A. (5/29)
Joanne (6/5)
Burt (6/12)
Lance (6/12)
Rosie (6/12)
Gloria A. (4/24)
5 June meeting notes; 12 June reading list
5 JUNE MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Glenda, Jo, Joanne (a short story, “I’m Not Job, God”), Lance (a chapter from KDA Riviera Project), and Rosie (a chapter from In Arcadia Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
There have been some changes to the “Author Events for June” post–check it out.
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, June 7, 3 p.m.: Barbara Pronin, Winter’s End (in person at Book Carnival)
12 JUNE READING LIST
Donna R. (5/22)
Leighanne (5/29)
Glenda (6/5)
Jo (6/5)
Benafsha A. (5/29)
Burt (5/29)
Joanne (6/5)
Lance (6/5)
Rosie (6/5)
Gloria A. (4/24)
Chris L. (3/20)
29 May meeting notes; 5 June reading list
29 MAY MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Benafsha A. (two revised chapters from Jewels of Herat), Burt (revised chapters from The Class of 1942), Joanne, Lance, Leighanne, and Rosie (a chapter from In Arcadia Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- None scheduled
5 JUNE READING LIST
Donna R. (5/22)
Leighanne (5/29)
Chris L. (3/20)
Glenda (5/22)
Joanne (5/29)
Lance (5/29)
Jo (5/22)
Benafsha A. (5/29)
Burt (5/29)
Rosie (5/29)
Gloria A. (4/24)
22 May meeting notes; 29 May reading list
22 MAY MEETING NOTES
Three people attended: Donna R., Glenda, and Jo (two revised chapters from Dandelion Seeds).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Friday, May 23, 7 p.m.: Susan Wands, “Magic in Historical Fiction Settings” (in person for the Historical Novel Society OC at Book Carnival, Orange)
- Wednesday, May 28, 6:30 p.m.: Katherine Center, The Love Haters (in person at the Norma Hertzog Community Center, 1845 Park Ave., Costa Mesa)
- Thursday, May 29, 12 p.m.: Spring Tea with authors Sophie Stava & Ritu Murkerji (in person for the Huntington Beach Friends of the Library) ($33.85; reservations required)
29 MAY READING LIST
Donna R. (5/22)
Leighanne (5/15)
Chris L. (3/20)
Glenda (5/22)
Benafsha A. (5/15)
Joanne (5/15)
Burt (5/15)
Rosie (5/15)
Lance (5/15)
Jo (5/22)
Gloria A. (4/24)
Pure Fiction League 