Next Meeting: Thursday, 12 March, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Tustin Marketplace Corner Bakery (13652 Jamboree Road, Irvine)
22 Feb meeting notes; 1 Mar reading list
22 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Burt (read four revised chapters from Dead Ahead), Casey, Glenda, Jo, Lance, Maddie, P.J., and Steve J. (read 2.5 revised chapters from Bè).
News and Notes
The February LIT UP! was a success, with Anne Cleeland, Sulan Dun and Nancy Klann reading from their works and answering audience questions. The next LIT UP! will happen on 20 March 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.
Steve J. will be speaking at the Dana Point Library at 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, 3 April. More details to come.
1 MARCH READING LIST
Jo (2/22)
Leighanne (2/15)
Maddie (2/22)
Dawn (1/25)
Shari (2/1)
P.J. (2/22)
JoAnne (2/15)
Bob R. (2/8)
Donna (2/15)
Casey (2/22)
Rosie (2/15)
Lance (2/22)
Sarah K. (1/18)
Glenda (2/22)
Burt (2/22)
Steve J. (2/22)
15 Feb meeting notes; 22 Feb reading list
15 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Casey (read half a chapter from Revolver), Donna (read a chapter from Running with Hounds…and an English Degree), Jo, JoAnne, Lance (read two chapters from Donetsk Art Walk), Leighanne, Maddie, and Rosie (read more from her novella The Fur Slipper).
News and Notes
The next LIT UP! will happen on 20 February at Kean Coffee in Tustin. You can download posters here (1-up and 2-up). The lineup:
- Mystery writer Anne Cleeland.
- Sci-fi author Sulan Dun.
- Historical fiction writer Nancy Klann.
As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
22 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Jo (2/15)
Leighanne (2/15)
Maddie (2/15)
Burt (2/1)
Dawn (1/25)
Shari (2/1)
P.J. (2/8)
JoAnne (2/15)
Steve J. (2/8)
Bob R. (2/8)
Donna (2/15)
Casey (2/15)
Rosie (2/15)
Lance (2/15)
Sarah K. (1/18)
Glenda (1/11)
Marianna (1/11)
8 Feb meeting notes; 15 Feb reading list
8 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Bob R. (read three chapters from The Devil’s Heart), Casey, Lance (read two chapters from Donetsk Art Walk), P.J. and Steve J. (read two chapters from Bè).
News and Notes
Lance will be appearing at Book Carnival in Orange with LIT UP! alum Dave Putnam at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, 10 February. They’ll read from their latest novels, answer questions and sign books.
The next LIT UP! will happen on 20 February 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.
15 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Sarah K. (1/18)
Jo (2/1)
Leighanne (2/1)
Glenda (1/11)
Marianna (1/11)
Maddie (1/18)
Burt (2/1)
Dawn (1/25)
Shari (2/1)
Donna (2/1)
Casey (2/8)
P.J. (2/8)
Rosie (2/1)
JoAnne (2/1)
Lance (2/8)
Steve J. (2/8)
Bob R. (2/8)
World War Girl Soldier, Casey Pope, historical fantasy
It’s the height of World War II, and Captain Linc Takelnaught is assigned to take over a special operations team tasked with rooting out German covert agents within the U.S. Army. The key member of his team is an 18-year-old girl, Salty Jackdaw, whose skills are so far beyond normal human abilities that there is a perception about her bordering on the mystical. There are rumors of her being the reincarnation of Joan of Arc. Others question who or what she really is.
Linc doesn’t believe the hype. But the longer he spends time with Salty, the more impressed he becomes. He’s conflicted over trying to reconcile her dedication and skillset with her seemingly sociopathic, violent tendencies, which are in direct contradiction to her moments of shyness, empathy, and tenderness. Things get complicated when Linc develops feelings for her that a commanding officer shouldn’t be developing for someone under his command.
Linc presses those in the know for information about Salty, but no one’s talking. Linc just can’t let it go, and his obsession consumes him to where he not only jeopardizes the team’s mission, but also puts at risk the lives of the team members, including Salty and himself, all the while trying to root out a dangerous enemy within their own ranks.
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
Casey Pope writes novels in the mainstream/upmarket category, i.e., literary/commercial hybrid. His previous works include A Love Life Like Karmic Disaster and The Boy Who Couldn’t Fly.
1 Feb meeting notes; 8 Feb reading list
1 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Eleven people attended: Bob R. (read 1.5 reworked chapters from The Devil’s Heart), Burt, Casey, Donna, Jo, JoAnne (read a short story, “Complicity”), Lance, Leighanne, Rosie (read the start of a novella, The Fur Slipper), Shari, and Steve J.
News and Notes
Casey’s latest novel, World War Girl Soldier, is now available on Amazon for Kindle and in trade paperback. Congratulations!
Steve J. will once again be a part of 24-Hour Creative at the Camino Real Playhouse in San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, 3 February. Tickets for this event are still available online.
Lance will be appearing at Book Carnival in Orange with LIT UP! alum Dave Putnam at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, 10 February. They’ll read from their latest novels, answer questions and sign books.
The next LIT UP! will happen on 20 February 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.
8 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Sarah K. (1/18)
Jo (2/1)
Leighanne (2/1)
Glenda (1/11)
Marianna (1/11)
Maddie (1/18)
Burt (2/1)
Dawn (1/25)
Shari (2/1)
Donna (2/1)
Casey (2/1)
Lance (2/1)
P.J. (1/25)
Steve J. (2/1)
Rosie (2/1)
Bob R. (2/1)
JoAnne (2/1)
25 Jan meeting notes; 1 Feb reading list
25 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Burt, Casey (read a chapter from Revolver), Dawn, Lance (read the revised first chapter of Donetsk Art Walk), Leighanne, P.J. (read a short story, “Night Flight”), Rosie, Shari, and Steve J. (read three chapters from Bè).
News and Notes
Steve J. will once again be a part of 24-Hour Creative at the Camino Real Playhouse in San Juan Capistrano on 3 February. In this exercise in literary masochism, six playwrights write six 10-minute plays overnight, which are then staged the next day. Tickets for this event are available online.
Lance will be appearing at Book Carnival in Orange with LIT UP! alum Dave Putnam at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, 10 February. They’ll read from their latest novels, answer questions and sign books.
The 23 January LIT UP! was a success, with Ara Grigorian, Ona Russell and Wendy Van Camp reading from their latest works. The next LIT UP! will happen on 20 February at Kean Coffee in Tustin. As always, be sure to check the LIT UP Facebook page for more details on the authors.
1 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Sarah K. (1/18)
Jo (1/18)
Leighanne (1/25)
Rosie (1/25)
Bob R. (1/4)
Glenda (1/11)
JoAnne (1/18)
Marianna (1/11)
Maddie (1/18)
Burt (1/25)
Dawn (1/25)
Shari (1/25)
Donna (1/18)
Casey (1/25)
Lance (1/25)
P.J. (1/25)
Steve J. (1/25)
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)
Pure Fiction League 