Next Meeting: Thursday, 29 January, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Tustin Marketplace Corner Bakery (13652 Jamboree Road, Irvine)
18 Jan meeting notes; 25 Jan reading list
18 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Thirteen people attended: Burt, Casey, Dawn, Donna (read a short story, “Her in the Middle”), Jo, JoAnne, Lance, Leighanne, Maddie, Rosie, Sarah K., Shari (read a revised synopsis for Raised to Win), and Steve J. (read three chapters from Bè).
News and Notes
P.J. will be appearing at Foothill Ranch Library with author Tami Shaikh on Saturday, 20 January. They’ll be leading “Fulfill Your Promise,” a writing workshop about loglines and elevator pitches. Go here for more information.
Steve J. will once again be a part of 24-Hour Creative at the Camino Real Playhouse in San Juan Capistrano. In this exercise in literary masochism, six playwrights write six 10-minute plays overnight, which are then staged the next day. Tickets for this 3 Feb event are $20 and are available online.
The next LIT UP! will happen on 23 January at Kean Coffee in Tustin. You can download posters here (1-up and 2-up). The lineup:
- Contemporary romance writer Ara Grigorian.
- Historical fiction author Ona Russell.
- SF-fantasy writer Wendy Van Camp.
As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
25 JANUARY READING LIST
Sarah K. (1/18)
Jo (1/18)
Leighanne (1/18)
Rosie (1/18)
Casey (1/18)
Bob R. (1/4)
Glenda (1/11)
Lance (1/18)
JoAnne (1/18)
Marianna (1/11)
Maddie (1/18)
Burt (1/18)
P.J. (1/11)
Dawn (1/18)
Shari (1/18)
Donna (1/18)
Steve J. (1/18)
Lisa W. (11/30)
11 Jan meeting notes; 18 Jan reading list
11 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Fourteen people attended again: Burt (read five chapters from what was Beyond the Wire, and now is Dead Ahead), Casey, Dawn, Glenda, Jo, JoAnne, Lance, Leighanne, Marianna, P.J. (read a short story, “Trailer Trash”), Rosie, Shari, and Steve J. Also on hand: Glenda’s guest Hunter, on his way back to university.
News and Notes
P.J. will be appearing at Foothill Ranch Library with author Tami Shaikh on Saturday, 20 January. They’ll be leading “Fulfill Your Promise,” a writing workshop about loglines and elevator pitches. Go here for more information.
Steve J. will once again be a part of 24-Hour Creative at the Camino Real Playhouse in San Juan Capistrano. In this exercise in literary masochism, six playwrights write six 10-minute plays overnight, which are then staged the next day. Tickets for this 3 Feb event are $20 and are available online.
The next LIT UP! will happen on 23 January at Kean Coffee in 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.
18 JANUARY READING LIST
Shari (1/4)
Donna (12/7)
Sarah K. (11/30)
Jo (1/11)
Leighanne (1/11)
Lisa W. (11/30)
Steve J. (1/11)
Rosie (1/11)
Casey (1/11)
Bob R. (1/4)
Glenda (1/11)
Lance (1/11)
JoAnne (1/11)
Marianna (1/11)
Maddie (1/11)
Burt (1/11)
P.J. (1/11)
Dawn (1/11)
4 Jan meeting notes; 11 Jan reading list
4 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
The first meeting of 2018 started with a bang! Fourteen people attended: Bob R., Burt, Casey, Glenda, JoAnne (read a short story, “Sly”), Lance (read the first chapter of Donetsk Art Walk), Leighanne, Marianna (read a chapter from Truth Games), P.J., Rosie, Shari, and Steve J. Also on hand: prospective new member Dawn, and Glenda’s guest Hunter.
News and Notes
P.J. will be appearing at Foothill Ranch Library with author Tami Shaikh on Saturday, 20 January. They’ll be leading “Fulfill Your Promise,” a writing workshop about loglines and elevator pitches. Go here for more information.
The next LIT UP! will happen on 23 January at Kean Coffee in Tustin. As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
11 JANUARY READING LIST
Shari (1/4)
Donna (12/7)
Sarah K. (11/30)
Jo (11/16)
Leighanne (1/4)
Burt (1/4)
P.J. (1/4)
Lisa W. (11/30)
Steve J. (1/4)
Rosie (1/4)
Casey (1/4)
Bob R. (1/4)
Glenda (1/4)
Lance (1/4)
JoAnne (1/4)
Marianna (1/4)
Maddie (11/9)
7 Dec meeting notes; 4 Jan reading list
7 DECEMBER MEETING NOTES
Eleven people attended the final regular PFL meeting of 2017: Burt, Casey (read half a chapter from Revolver), Donna, JoAnne, Lance, Leighanne, Marianna, P.J., Rosie (read a chapter from The Lion and the Eagle), Shari, and Steve J. (read four chapters from Bè)
News and Notes
The PFL holiday party will happen at 7:00 p.m. on 14 December at Marianna’s place.
The next regular PFL meeting will be on 4 January 2018.
In 2017, we averaged nine attendees and 2.9 readings per meeting. Our lowest attendance was four, and our highest fourteen (accomplished twice).
The next LIT UP! will happen on 19 December at Kean Coffee in 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:
- Macavity-winning, Edgar-Shamus-Agatha-nominated mystery writer Doug Lyle.
- Women’s fiction author Janis Thomas.
- Urban-fantasy writer Merrie Destefano.
As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
4 JANUARY READING LIST
Shari (12/7)
Donna (12/7)
Sarah K. (11/30)
Lance (12/7)
Jo (11/16)
JoAnne (12/7)
Leighanne (12/7)
Burt (12/7)
P.J. (12/7)
Marianna (12/7)
Lisa W. (11/30)
Steve J. (12/7)
Rosie (12/7)
Casey (12/7)
Bob R. (11/9)
Maddie (11/9)
Glenda (11/2)
30 Nov meeting notes; 7 Dec reading list
30 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
Twelve people attended: Burt (read four chapters from After Afghanistan, formerly Beyond the Wire), Casey, JoAnne, Lance, Leighanne, Lisa W., Marianna (read a chapter from Truth Games), P.J. (read a short story, “Wisdom from an Old Tractor Seat”), Rosie, Sarah K., Shari, and Steve J.
News and Notes
PFL’s holiday schedule: our final regular meeting for 2017 will be on 7 December. The holiday party will happen 14 December at Marianna’s place. That’ll be it until 4 January 2018.
The next LIT UP! will happen on 19 December at Kean Coffee in Tustin. As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
30 NOVEMBER READING LIST
Bob R. (11/9)
Shari (11/30)
Donna (11/9)
Sarah K. (11/30)
Lance (11/30)
Maddie (11/9)
Glenda (11/2)
Jo (11/16)
JoAnne (11/30)
Steve J. (11/30)
Leighanne (11/30)
Rosie (11/30)
Casey (11/30)
Burt (11/30)
P.J. (11/30)
Marianna (11/30)
Lisa W. (11/30)
16 Nov meeting notes; 30 Nov reading list
16 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
Ten people attended: Burt, Casey (read half a chapter from Revolver), Jo, JoAnne, Lance, Leighanne (read three chapters from The Karma List), Marianna, Rosie (read a prolog and one chapter from The Lion and the Eagle), Shari, and Steve J.
News and Notes
PFL’s holiday schedule: we’ll have regular meetings on 30 November and 7 December. The holiday party will happen 14 December at Marianna’s place. That’ll be it until 4 January 2018.
The next LIT UP! will happen on 21 November at Kean Coffee in Tustin. You can download posters here (1-up and 2-up). The lineup:
- Macavity-winning mystery writer Glen Erik Hamilton.
- The historical-romance author team Ananya and Brett Ridenour.
- Short-story writer and memoirist C.W. Spooner.
As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
30 NOVEMBER READING LIST
Bob R. (11/9)
Shari (11/16)
Donna (11/9)
Burt (11/16)
Sarah K. (11/9)
P.J. (11/9)
Lance (11/16)
Maddie (11/9)
Glenda (11/2)
Marianna (11/16)
Jo (11/16)
JoAnne (11/16)
Steve J. (11/16)
Leighanne (11/16)
Rosie (11/16)
Casey (11/16)
9 Nov meeting notes; 16 Nov reading list
9 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
A bumper fourteen people attended: Bob R., Casey, Donna, Jo (read a synopsis and query for Moonspell), JoAnne (read a short story, “The Soft Side of Sex”), Lance, Leighanne, Maddie, Marianna, P.J., Rosie, Sarah K., Shari, and Steve J. (read three chapters from Bè).
News and Notes
PFL’s holiday schedule: we’ll have regular meetings on 16 and 30 November and 7 December. The holiday party will happen 14 December. That’ll be it until 4 January 2018.
Bob R. will be featured soon (date not yet set) on The Authors Show, a multi-channel webcast featuring writers in all genres. Watch this space for a link to his show.
The SCWA anthology It’s All in the Story sold 110 copies at the 2 November launch party/PFL meeting at Book Carnival in Orange. Congratulations all!
The next LIT UP! will happen on 21 November at Kean Coffee in 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 NOVEMBER READING LIST
Leighanne (11/9)
Bob R. (11/9)
Shari (11/9)
Donna (11/9)
Burt (10/26)
Sarah K. (11/9)
P.J. (11/9)
Lance (11/9)
Rosie (11/9)
Maddie (11/9)
Glenda (11/2)
Casey (11/9)
Marianna (11/9)
Jo (11/9)
JoAnne (11/9)
Steve J. (11/9)
Stealing Ghosts, Lance Charnes, international crime
Dorotea DeVillardi is ninety-one years old, gorgeous, and worth a fortune. Matt Friedrich’s going to steal her.
The Nazis seized Dorotea’s portrait from her Viennese family, then the Soviets stole it from the Nazis. Now it’s in the hands of a Russian oligarch. Dorotea’s corporate-CEO grandson played by the legal rules to get her portrait back, but he struck out. So he’s hired the DeWitt Agency to get it for him – and he doesn’t care how they do it.
Now Matt and Carson, his ex-cop partner, have to steal Dorotea’s portrait from a museum so nobody knows it’s gone, and somehow launder its history so the client doesn’t have to hide it forever. The client’s saddled them with a babysitter: Dorotea’s granddaughter Julie, who may have designs on Matt as well as the painting. As if this wasn’t hard enough, it looks like someone else is gunning for the same museum – and he may know more about Matt and Carson’s plans than he should.
Matt went to prison for the bad things he did at his L.A. art gallery. Now he has a chance to right an old wrong by doing a bad thing for the best of reasons. All he has to do is stay out of jail long enough to pull it off.
Available for Kindle on Amazon US/AU/BR/CA/DE/ES/FR/IN/IT/JP/MX/NL/UK
ePub available on Nook, Kobo and iTunes
Trade paperback available at Amazon US/BR/CA/DE/ES/FR/IN/IT/MX/UK | Barnes & Noble
Lance Charnes has been an Air Force intelligence officer, information technology manager, computer-game artist, set designer and Jeopardy! contestant, and is now an emergency management specialist. He’s had training in architectural rendering, terrorist incident response and maritime archaeology, but not all at the same time. His Facebook author page features spies, archaeology and art crime.
26 Oct meeting notes; 9 Nov reading list
26 OCTOBER MEETING NOTES
Eleven people attended: Burt, Casey (read a chapter from Revolver), JoAnne (read a short story, “BB Gun”), Lance, Leighanne, Marianna, P.J., Rosie, Sarah K., Shari, and Steve J. (read eight chapters from Bè).
News and Notes
The 2 November PFL meeting will happen at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Street in Orange, starting at 7:00 p.m. It will also be the launch party for the SCWA anthology It’s All in the Story, since most of PFL’s members contributed at least one story to the anthology.
The 24 October LIT UP! was a success, with four authors reading short stories included in It’s All in the Story. As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the next meeting.
9 NOVEMBER READING LIST
Leighanne (10/26)
Bob R. (9/21)
Shari (10/26)
Jo (10/19)
Donna (10/19)
Burt (10/26)
Sarah K. (10/26)
P.J. (10/26)
Lance (10/26)
Rosie (10/26)
Maddie (9/7)
Glenda (9/14)
JoAnne (10/26)
Casey (10/26)
Steve J. (10/26)
Marianna (10/26)
19 Oct meeting notes; 26 Oct reading list
19 OCTOBER MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Donna, Jo, JoAnne, Lance, Leighanne, Rosie (read two chapters from The Lion and the Eagle), and Shari.
News and Notes
It’s All in the Story: California: An Anthology of Short Fiction, the SCWA short-story anthology, will be available for sale at the 21 October SCWA meeting. Author copies will also be available to the writers whose stories are featured in the book. The official launch party is still scheduled for 2 November at Book Carnival.
The next LIT UP! will happen on 24 October at Kean Coffee in Tustin. You can download posters here (1-up and 2-up). This special edition of LIT UP! features three of the authors whose stories are included in It’s All in the Story:
- YA writer Rosie de Guzman.
- Contemporary lit author Casey Pope.
- Metaphysical fantasy writer Jeff Michaels.
As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
26 OCTOBER READING LIST
Leighanne (10/19)
Bob R. (9/21)
Shari (10/19)
Jo (10/19)
JoAnne (10/19)
Donna (10/19)
Casey (9/28)
Steve J. (10/12)
Burt (10/12)
Sarah K. (10/12)
P.J. (10/12)
Lance (10/19)
Rosie (10/19)
Maddie (9/7)
Glenda (9/14)
It’s All in the Story: California, multiple members, anthology
It’s All in the Story: California is an anthology of twenty-four original short stories edited and curated by best-selling author D. P. Lyle. From San Juan Capistrano in 1812 to the Bay Area in the present day, these satisfying bites of contemporary and literary fiction are packed with delicious characters and tales that will stay with you long after the last story is devoured.
Available for Kindle on Amazon US/AU/BR/CA/DE/ES/FR/IN/IT/JP/MX/NL/UK
Trade paperback available at Amazon US/BR/CA/DE/ES/FR/IN/IT/MX/UK
It’s All in the Story is published by the Southern California Writers Association and features works by seven PFL members: PJ Colando, Rose de Guzman, Steve Jackson, Maddie Margarita, Jo Pitzer, Casey Pope, and Glenda Rynn.
12 Oct meeting notes; 19 Oct reading list
12 OCTOBER MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Burt (read five reworked chapters from Beyond the Wire), Jo, Lance (read the final two chapters from Stealing Ghosts), Leighanne, P.J. (read a query letter for Cash to Dash Down Under), Rosie, Sarah K. (read the first chapter of Lemon Park), and Steve J.
News and Notes
You can still listen to the recording of Maddie, Steve J. and Doug Lyle being interviewed by John Raab, CEO of Suspense Magazine, on Suspense Radio.
It’s All in the Story: California: An Anthology of Short Fiction, the SCWA short-story anthology, will be available for sale at the 21 October SCWA meeting. Author copies will also be available to the writers whose stories are featured in the book. The official launch party is still scheduled for 2 November at Book Carnival.
Stealing Ghosts — Lance’s latest novel — is available for pre-order from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. The book releases on 17 November.
The next LIT UP! will happen on 24 October at Kean Coffee in 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 OCTOBER READING LIST
Leighanne (10/12)
Glenda (9/14)
Bob R. (9/21)
Shari (9/28)
Jo (10/12)
JoAnne (10/5)
Donna (9/28)
Casey (9/28)
Rosie (10/12)
Steve J. (10/12)
Burt (10/12)
Sarah K. (10/12)
P.J. (10/12)
Lance (10/12)
Maddie (9/7)
5 Oct meeting notes; 12 Oct reading list
5 OCTOBER MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Burt, JoAnne, Lance (read two chapters from Stealing Ghosts), Leighanne, Rosie (read a chapter from The Lion and the Eagle), Sarah K., and Steve J. (read six chapters from Bè).
News and Notes
Maddie, Steve J. and Doug Lyle will be interviewed at 9 a.m. on 7 October by John Raab, CEO of Suspense Magazine, on Suspense Radio. A recording will be available on the show website if you can’t listen live.
It’s All in the Story: California: An Anthology of Short Fiction, the SCWA short-story anthology, will be available for sale at the 21 October SCWA meeting. Author copies will also be available to the writers whose stories are featured in the book. The official launch party is still scheduled for 2 November at Book Carnival.
The next LIT UP! will happen on 24 October at Kean Coffee in 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 OCTOBER READING LIST
Leighanne (10/5)
Glenda (9/14)
Burt (10/5)
Bob R. (9/21)
Sarah K. (10/5)
P.J. (9/28)
Maddie (9/7)
Shari (9/28)
Jo (9/14)
JoAnne (10/5)
Donna (9/28)
Casey (9/28)
Rosie (10/5)
Lance (10/5)
Steve J. (10/5)
Lisa W. (8/31)
Marianna (8/24)
28 Sep meeting notes; 5 Oct reading list
28 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Eleven people attended: Burt, Casey (read the first three chapters from Revolver), Donna (read a chapter from Running with Hounds… and an English Degree), JoAnne (read a short story, “Bubble Wrapped”), Lance, Leighanne, P.J., Rosie, Sarah K., Shari, and Steve J.
News and Notes
Burt shared copies of “34 Agents Looking for New Writers Now” from the October 2017 Writer’s Digest. Thanks, Burt!
The next LIT UP! will happen on 17 October at Kean Coffee in 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 OCTOBER READING LIST
Leighanne (9/28)
Glenda (9/14)
Burt (9/28)
Bob R. (9/21)
Sarah K. (9/28)
P.J. (9/28)
Maddie (9/7)
Shari (9/28)
Jo (9/14)
Rosie (9/28)
Lance (9/28)
Steve J. (9/28)
JoAnne (9/28)
Donna (9/28)
Casey (9/28)
Lisa W. (8/31)
Marianna (8/24)
21 Sep meeting notes; 28 Sep reading list
21 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Four (!) people attended: Bob R., Casey, JoAnne, and Steve J. (read three chapters from Bè).
News and Notes
The 19 September LIT UP! was a success, with a capacity crowd listening to Chris Lentz, Kristen Mai Pham and Sandra Lopez. The next LIT UP! will happen on 17 October at Kean Coffee in Tustin. As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
Maddie, Steve J. and Doug Lyle will be interviewed on 7 October by John Raab, CEO of Suspense Magazine. It’s not yet known whether this a live interview for radio or a recording for a podcast. More details later.
28 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
JoAnne (9/21)
Donna (8/17)
Marianna (8/24)
Leighanne (9/14)
Glenda (9/14)
Burt (8/17)
Bob R. (9/21)
Sarah K. (9/14)
Lisa W. (8/31)
P.J. (9/14)
Maddie (9/7)
Shari (9/7)
Jo (9/14)
Casey (9/21)
Rosie (9/14)
Lance (9/14)
Steve J. (9/21)
Pure Fiction League 