Next Meeting: Thursday, 16 JULY 2020 at 6:30 PM
online in the PFL Slack workspace
2 Apr meeting notes; 9 Apr reading list
2 APRIL MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Casey (a chapter from Nouveau Trashy Vampire Romance), Glenda, Joanne, Lance (a chapter from Zrada), Leslie P., Lisa W., and Sherry C. Burt and Rosie critiqued offline.
News and Notes
We’ll continue with the 6:30 meeting start next week.
Please put in your bids to read in the #9april-meeting Slack channel by 8 p.m. Friday night. The two bidders highest on the list will be selected as readers, and the third highest will be a backup. The backup will step in if (a) one of the primaries doesn’t upload a reading to #9april-readings in time (noon Monday) or if one or both primary readings are very short.
Leslie P. put together very thorough how-to instructions. They’re in #00_procedures_how-tos. Please review them if you have any questions about the process.
9 APRIL READING LIST
Marianna (3/26)
Burt (3/26)
Glenda (4/2)
Leslie P. (4/2)
Leighanne (3/26)
Sherry C. (4/2)
Dennis P. (3/5)
Joanne (4/2)
Lisa W. (4/2)
Rosie (3/26)
Casey (4/2)
Lance (4/2)
PJ (2/27)
Maddie (2/27)
26 Mar meeting notes; 2 Apr reading list
26 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Eleven people attended: Burt, Casey, Glenda, Joanne, Lance (one chapter from Zrada), Leighanne, Leslie P., Lisa W., Marianna, Rosie (two chapters from Farbourne Manor), and Sherry C.
The modified Slack-centric online process worked relatively well.
News and Notes
We’ll return to a 6:30 meeting start and three readings with the 2 April meeting.
Two minor changes will come into effect during the next meeting:
- When authors post their readings, they should say in the messages they attach their files to whether they want comments only or the full Track Changes treatment.
- When members are pasting pre-written text into a Slack message box, they should drop in no more than one paragraph at a time to keep the text from lurching.
Revised how-to sheets will be posted on Slack in #2april-meeting by the end of the weekend. We hope they’ll make things easier for everyone. Please review them.
We discussed the possibility of using Zoom for video teleconferencing. Zoom would pose various difficulties for several members, so we’ll put that off for now.
2 APRIL READING LIST
Marianna (3/26)
Burt (3/26)
Maddie (2/27)
Glenda (3/26)
Leslie P. (3/26)
Leighanne (3/26)
Sherry C. (3/26)
Dennis P. (3/5)
Joanne (3/26)
Casey (3/26)
Lisa W. (3/26)
Lance (3/26)
Rosie (3/26)
PJ (2/27)
19 Mar meeting notes; 26 Mar reading list
19 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended PFL’s first virtual meeting: Casey, Glenda, Joanne, Lance, Leslie P., Lisa W., Marianna, and Sherry C. (one chapter from Time’s Up for Father Time).
The online process sketched out for this meeting had some successes (notably using Slack) and some challenges (Google Drive/Google Docs). Because this was an experiment, Sherry keeps her place in the list as a thank-you for being the guinea pig. Many thanks to Casey for working out the nuts-and-bolts of the system.
News and Notes
New instructions went out in email on 19 March for a revised meeting process based entirely in Slack. We hope it will be easier for everyone. Please review the instructions. How-to sheets will likely come out in the next few days.
The 24 March LIT UP! has been cancelled, as has every event on the PFL Events page. Be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for news about LIT UP! and any planned future meetings.
26 MARCH READING LIST
Marianna (3/19)
Burt (2/20)
Maddie (2/27)
Glenda (3/19)
Leslie P. (3/19)
PJ (2/27)
Leighanne (3/12)
Sherry C. (3/19)
Lance (3/19)
Dennis P. (3/5)
Rosie (3/12)
Joanne (3/19)
Casey (3/19)
Shari (2/6)
Lisa W. (3/19)
12 Mar meeting notes; 19 Mar reading list
12 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Casey, Leighanne, Leslie P., Lisa W., and Rosie. No one brought readings.
News and Notes
The group discussed a possible backup plan for virtual meetings in case we can’t continue to gather physically. This may involve using Google Docs as a place to make readings available for comment and using Slack for discussions and other communications. Leslie and Sherry will conduct a test of the former; Casey will look into the latter. More info to follow.
The next LIT UP! is happening at 7:00 p.m. on 24 March at Bardot Bars & Coffee, 662 El Camino Real, Tustin. You can download posters here (1-up and 2-up). As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
19 MARCH READING LIST
Marianna (2/13)
Burt (2/20)
Maddie (2/27)
Glenda (2/20)
Leslie P. (3/12)
PJ (2/27)
Leighanne (3/12)
Sherry C. (3/5)
Lance (3/5)
Dennis P. (3/5)
Rosie (3/12)
Joanne (3/5)
Casey (3/12)
Shari (2/6)
Lisa W. (3/12)
5 Mar meeting notes; 12 Mar reading list
5 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Casey (read a chapter from Nouveau Trashy Vampire Romance), Dennis P. (read a partial chapter from Winesburg Revisited), Joanne (read a short story, “Boycotting Christmas Eve”), Lance, Leslie P., Rosie (read the first two chapters from Farbourne Manor), and Sherry C.
News and Notes
Maddie is now vice president of the Orange County Chapter of Sisters-in-Crime. Congratulations!
Version 3.0 of the PFL Guidelines is now available on the website. This is the first significant revision in ten years, though most of it consists of updates (it used to list our previous meeting place twice removed, still had the website on Multiply, and predated our social media presence). The only material change regards use of the member contact data Sherry C. gathered and distributed to our current members. Please read the updated guidelines on the website, or download a PDF here.
Want to have new posts delivered to your email inbox? Go to the website’s home page and look to the right-hand side of the page; you’ll see two narrow columns. In the left one you’ll find FOLLOW BLOG VIA EMAIL. Enter your email address in the blank field under the headline. Join the 216 other people who get notified whenever a new post goes up!
The next LIT UP! is happening at 7:00 p.m. on 24 March at Bardot Bars & Coffee, 662 El Camino Real, Tustin. You can download posters here (1-up and 2-up). As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
12 MARCH READING LIST
Marianna (2/13)
Burt (2/20)
Maddie (2/27)
Glenda (2/20)
Leslie P. (3/5)
PJ (2/27)
Leighanne (2/27)
Sherry C. (3/5)
Lance (3/5)
Dennis P. (3/5)
Rosie (3/5)
Joanne (3/5)
Casey (3/5)
Shari (2/6)
27 Feb meeting notes; 5 Mar reading list
27 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Casey, Joanne, Lance (read a chapter from Zrada), Leighanne (read three chapters from The Karma List), Leslie P., Maddie, PJ, Rosie, and Sherry C. (read 1.5 chapters from Time’s Up for Father Time).
News and Notes
PJ will be speaking at the Foothill Ranch Library’s monthly Writers Retreat on Saturday, 7 March, at 10 a.m. The library is at 27002 Cabriole in Foothill Ranch. Click here for more details.
Sherry C. is now secretary to the Orange County Chapter of Sisters-in-Crime. Congratulations!
The next LIT UP! is happening at 7:00 p.m. on 24 March at Bardot Bars & Coffee, 662 El Camino Real, Tustin. You can download posters here (1-up and 2-up). As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
5 MARCH READING LIST
Marianna (2/13)
Burt (2/20)
Shari (2/6)
Dennis P. (2/6)
Rosie (2/27)
Maddie (2/27)
Glenda (2/20)
Joanne (2/27)
Leslie P. (2/27)
Casey (2/27)
PJ (2/27)
Leighanne (2/27)
Sherry C. (2/27)
Lance (2/27)
New addition to the blogroll
Ever look at the far right side of the screen when you’re in the PFL website? There’s a blogroll split into a number of different categories, all of them having to do with writing in some form. Of course, links to PFL members’ sites take pride-of-place.
There’s a new category: “Writing Podcasts.” It has links to seven current writing-related podcasts (including a few with some nexus to PFL or LIT UP!) and will probably grow over time. Check it out.
BTW: if you find a dead link in the blogroll, comment about it on this post so we can fix it or kill it. Thanks.
20 Feb meeting notes; 27 Feb reading list
20 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Burt, Casey (read a chapter from Nouveau Trashy Vampire Romance), Glenda, Joanne (read a character sketch, “Holiday Fixer-Upper”), Lance (read a chapter from Zrada), Leslie P. (read three reworked chapters from Ghost Dog), Maddie, and Sherry C.
News and Notes
The next LIT UP! is happening at 7:00 p.m. on 24 March at Bardot Bars & Coffee, 662 El Camino Real, Tustin. You can download posters here (1-up and 2-up). As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
27 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Leighanne (2/13)
Marianna (2/13)
Burt (2/20)
Shari (2/6)
Dennis P. (2/6)
Rosie (2/13)
Sherry C. (2/20)
Maddie (2/20)
Glenda (2/20)
Joanne (2/20)
Leslie P. (2/20)
Casey (2/20)
Lance (2/20)
PJ (1/23)
Dana S. (1/23)
13 Feb meeting notes; 20 Feb reading list
13 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Casey, Joanne, Lance (read a chapter from Zrada), Leighanne, Leslie P., Maddie, Marianna, Rosie (read a chapter from The Bear and the Rising Sun), and Sherry C. (read 1.5 chapters from Time’s Up for Father Time).
News and Notes
The special romance-themed installment of LIT UP! on 11 Feb was a great success. Three local erotic romance authors (Caitlyn O’Leary, Louisa Bacio, and Sabrina Sol) read from their works and discussed them and the genre with the audience. As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for the next event date and more details on the authors.
Speaking of LIT UP!… Maddie, the driving light behind LIT UP!, is now an internet radio star. She hosts Character Floss, “an entertaining deep dive into compelling characters and the authors who create them.” Current podcast episodes include interviews with Matt Coyle, D.P. Lyle, and S.A. Lelchuk. You can get more info on the Character Floss Facebook page; episodes are available on Spotify, Google Podcasts, I Heart Radio, and various other outlets.
20 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Leighanne (2/13)
Marianna (2/13)
Burt (2/6)
PJ (1/23)
Dana S. (1/23)
Shari (2/6)
Joanne (2/13)
Leslie P. (2/13)
Casey (2/13)
Dennis P. (2/6)
Rosie (2/13)
Lance (2/13)
Sherry C. (2/13)
Maddie (2/13)
Glenda (1/2)
6 Feb meeting notes; 13 Feb reading list
6 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Burt, Casey, Dennis P., Joanne, Lance (read a chapter from Zrada), Leslie P., Shari, Sherry C. (read the ending of her short story “Phaeton of the Opry”), and potential new member Karen W.
News and Notes
A romance-themed installment of LIT UP! is happening at 7:00 p.m. on 11 February at Bardot Bars & Coffee, 662 El Camino Real, Tustin. You can download posters here (1-up and 2-up). Three featured local romance authors will read from their works and discuss them with the audience. The lineup:
- Caitlyn O’Leary (Midnight Delta series).
- Louisa Bacio (paranormal & SF).
- Sabrina Sol (Latinx).
As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
13 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Leighanne (1/30)
Glenda (1/2)
Marianna (1/23)
Burt (2/6)
PJ (1/23)
Dana S. (1/23)
Shari (2/6)
Joanne (2/6)
Leslie P. (2/6)
Casey (2/6)
Dennis P. (2/6)
Rosie (1/30)
Lance (2/6)
Sherry C. (2/6)
Maddie (12/5)
30 Jan meeting notes; 6 Feb reading list
30 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Casey (read the opening chapter of Nouveau Trashy Vampire Romance), Dennis P. (read a partial chapter from Winesburg Revisited), Joanne, Lance, Leighanne, Leslie P., Rosie (read the opening chapter of The Bear and the Rising Sun), and Sherry C.
News and Notes
Rosie recommends Before and After the Book Deal by Courtney Maum. Aimed at writers who want to know what to expect of the legacy publishing experience, it bills itself as “the definitive guide for anyone who has ever wanted to know what it’s really like to be an author.”
A romance-themed installment of LIT UP! is happening at 7:00 p.m. on 11 February at Bardot Bars & Coffee, 662 El Camino Real, Tustin. You can download posters here (1-up and 2-up). As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
6 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Leighanne (1/30)
Glenda (1/2)
Marianna (1/23)
Burt (1/23)
PJ (1/23)
Dana S. (1/23)
Shari (1/9)
Joanne (1/30)
Leslie P. (1/30)
Lance (1/30)
Sherry C. (1/30)
Casey (1/30)
Dennis P. (1/30)
Rosie (1/30)
Maddie (12/5)
23 Jan meeting notes; 30 Jan reading list
23 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Burt, Casey, Dana S., Joanne, Lance (read two chapters from Zrada), Leslie P. (read three chapters from Ghost Dog), Marianna, PJ, and Sherry C. (read two chapters from Time’s Up for Father Time).
News and Notes
Dana’s upcoming YA fantasy novel Cast in Firelight will be available online for preorder by the end of February. Stay tuned for the exact date.
The 21 January LIT UP! was a success, with a near-capacity crowd hearing readings from Nancy Klann, Casey Dorman, and Dennis Copelan.
A romance-themed installment of LIT UP! is happening at 7:00 p.m. on 11 February at Bardot Bars & Coffee, 662 El Camino Real, Tustin. You can download posters here (1-up and 2-up). As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
30 JANUARY READING LIST
Leighanne (1/16)
Casey (1/23)
Glenda (1/2)
Marianna (1/23)
Burt (1/23)
PJ (1/23)
Dana S. (1/23)
Shari (1/9)
Joanne (1/23)
Dennis P. (1/16)
Rosie (1/16)
Leslie P. (1/23)
Lance (1/23)
Sherry C. (1/23)
Maddie (12/5)
16 Jan meeting notes; 23 Jan reading list
16 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Casey, Dennis P., Joanne, Lance (read two chapters from Zrada), Leighanne, Marianna, Rosie (read the first two chapters of Well of the Moon), and Sherry C. (read 1.5 chapters from Time’s Up for Father Time).
News and Notes
The next LIT UP! is happening at 7:00 p.m. on 21 January at Bardot Bars & Coffee, 662 El Camino Real, Tustin. You can download posters here (1-up and 2-up).
Three featured local authors will read from their works and discuss them with the audience. The lineup:
- Literary fiction writer Nancy Klann.
- Thriller and SF author Casey Dorman.
- Historical/psychological fiction writer Dennis Copelan.
As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
23 JANUARY READING LIST
Leighanne (1/16)
Casey (1/16)
Glenda (1/2)
Marianna (1/16)
Burt (1/2)
PJ (1/9)
Dana S. (1/9)
Shari (1/9)
Leslie P. (1/9)
Joanne (1/16)
Dennis P. (1/16)
Rosie (1/16)
Lance (1/16)
Sherry C. (1/16)
Maddie (12/5)
9 Jan meeting notes; 16 Jan reading list
9 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Ten people attended: Casey, Dana S., Joanne (read a short story, “A Rip in the Screen”), Lance, Leighanne, Leslie P. (read five chapters from Ghost Dog), PJ, Rosie, Shari, and Sherry C. (read part one of a short story, “Phaeton of the Opry”).
News and Notes
Anaheim Public Library has begun a monthly Writers’ Workshop Series, which will happen at 2 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month at the Central Library, 500 West Broadway in downtown Anaheim. Two PFLers will be featured: PJ on 18 January, and Casey on 14 November. All events are free.
Rosie and Dana S. are now mentors on Author Mentor Match, a program run by author Alexa Donne that pairs unpublished MG and YA authors with agented or published authors in those genres. The next round of aspiring mentee submissions opens in February.
The next LIT UP! is happening at 7:00 p.m. on 21 January at Bardot Bars & Coffee, 662 El Camino Real, Tustin. You can download posters here (1-up and 2-up). As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
16 JANUARY READING LIST
Leighanne (1/9)
Casey (1/9)
Glenda (1/2)
Maddie (12/5)
Marianna (11/21)
Rosie (1/9)
Burt (1/2)
Lance (1/9)
PJ (1/9)
Dana S. (1/9)
Shari (1/9)
Leslie P. (1/9)
Sherry C. (1/9)
Joanne (1/9)
Dennis P. (11/14)
2 Jan meeting notes; 9 Jan reading list
2 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Six people kicked off PFL’s 2020: Burt (read the revised last three chapters of Shadows), Casey, Glenda, Joanne, Lance (read two chapters from Zrada), and Leslie P.
News and Notes
The PFL Holiday Party was a great success. Many thanks to Marianna, who hosted the event, and to Sherry and Leslie for organizing the writing contest and the food arrangements.
Lance will be speaking at the Foothill Ranch Library’s monthly Writers’ Retreat on Saturday, 4 January, at 10:30 a.m.
The next LIT UP! will be scheduled soon. Be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for the date and details on the authors.
9 JANUARY READING LIST
Leighanne (11/21)
Leslie P. (1/2)
Casey (1/2)
Glenda (1/2)
Maddie (12/5)
Marianna (11/21)
Rosie (12/5)
Sherry C. (12/5)
Joanne (1/2)
Burt (1/2)
Lance (1/2)
PJ (11/14)
Dana S. (11/14)
Dennis P. (11/14)
