Next Meeting: Thursday, 11 January, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Tustin Marketplace Corner Bakery (13652 Jamboree Road, Irvine)
15 May meeting notes; 22 May reading list
15 MAY MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A., Burt (a poem, “A Brookdale State of Mind”), Glenda, Joanne, Lance (a revised chapter from the KDA Riviera Project), Leighanne, and Rosie (1.5 chapters from In Arcadia Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m.: Steven G. Jackson, “Edit Like a Pro (Without Paying One)” (in person for SCWA at 19 Restaurant, 24122 Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Hills; $25-35)
- Sunday, May 18, 2 p.m.: DP Lyle, Unbalanced and Tunica (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, May 18, 6:30 p.m.: Sisters in Crime OC will participate in the first-ever Orange County “Noir at the Bar” (in person at Knoll’s, 29971 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel)
- 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)
22 MAY READING LIST
Gloria A. (4/24)
Donna R. (5/8)
Leighanne (5/15)
Chris L. (3/20)
Jo (4/17)
Glenda (5/15)
Benafsha A. (5/15)
Joanne (5/15)
Burt (5/15)
Rosie (5/15)
Lance (5/15)
8 May meeting notes; 15 May reading list
8 MAY MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Burt (chapters from The Class of 1942), Donna R., Glenda, Lance (a chapter from the KDA Riviera Project), and Rosie (a chapter from In Arcadia Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m.: Kate MacIntosh, “Using Psychology to Create Realistic Characters” and “Finding (and keeping) Your Creative Spark” (virtual for OC Romance Writers)
- Saturday, May 10, 2 p.m.: Daryl Wood Gerber, Essence of Foul Play; Sam Lumley, How to Have a Killer Time in DC (in person at Book Carnival)
15 MAY READING LIST
Gloria A. (4/24)
Donna R. (5/8)
Leighanne (5/1)
Chris L. (3/20)
Jo (4/17)
Glenda (5/8)
Benafsha A. (5/1)
Joanne (5/1)
Burt (5/8)
Rosie (5/8)
Lance (5/8)
1 May meeting notes; 8 May reading list
1 MAY MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A. (a revised chapter from Jewels of Herat), Burt, Glenda, Joanne (a short story, “The Bouncer”), Lance (a chapter from the KDA Riviera Project), Leighanne, and Rosie (a chapter from In Arcadia Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Sunday, May 4, 11 a.m.: Jenny Martinez, My Mexican Mesa, Y Listo! (in person at the La Habra Branch Library, 221 E. La Habra Blvd., La Habra)
- Sunday, May 4, 2 p.m.: Shaina Steinberg, An Unquiet Peace (in conversation with Matt Coyle) (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, May 4, 2 p.m.: SinC Los Angeles presents Naomi Hirahara, “Rewriting 2.0: What I Learned From My Editors” (in person and virtual; register on the SinC-LA website)
8 MAY READING LIST
Gloria A. (4/24)
Donna R. (4/10)
Leighanne (5/1)
Chris L. (3/20)
Jo (4/17)
Glenda (5/1)
Burt (5/1)
Rosie (5/1)
Lance (5/1)
Benafsha A. (5/1)
Joanne (5/1)
24 Apr meeting notes; 1 May reading list
24 APRIL MEETING NOTES
Eight(!) people attended: Benafsha A. (a revised chapter from Jewels of Herat), Burt (revised chapters from The Class of 1942), Glenda (an article for a newsletter, “Identical to the Max”), Joanne (a short story, “Living Off Memories”), Lance, Leighanne, Rosie, and a surprise return engagement by Gloria A., who last joined us on 18 May 2023 (welcome back!).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday-Sunday, Apr. 26-27: The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC.
- Sunday, Apr. 27, 2 p.m.: The SoCal Chapter of the Historical Novel Society presents Diana Giovinazzo, “Setting Research from Near and Far” (in person at the Bella Terra Barnes & Noble, Huntington Beach)
- Sunday, Apr. 27, 3 p.m.: Sisters in Crime OC presents Lance Charnes, “Die, Infodump! Die!” (in person at Book Carnival, Orange)
- Monday, Apr. 28, 6:30 p.m.: Brad Taylor, Into the Gray Zone (in person at the Tustin Branch Library, 345 E. Main St., Tustin)
1 MAY READING LIST
Gloria A. (4/24)
Donna R. (4/10)
Leighanne (4/24)
Chris L. (3/20)
Jo (4/17)
Rosie (4/24)
Lance (4/24)
Glenda (4/24)
Benafsha A. (4/24)
Joanne (4/24)
Burt (4/24)
17 Apr meeting notes; 24 Apr reading list
17 APRIL MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt, Jo (the first two chapters of her new novel, Dandelion Seeds), Joanne, Lance (two chapters from KDA Riviera Project), Leighanne, and Rosie (a chapter from In Arcadia Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
Rosie divulged some details about the 27 April SoCal Historical Novel Society author event “Setting Research from Near and Far” at the Terra Bella Barnes & Noble.
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Apr. 19, 10 a.m.: Dr. Connie Shears, “Wired for Words: Understanding the Creative Brain” (in person for SCWA at 19 Restaurant, 24122 Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Hills; $25-35)
- Saturday, Apr. 19, 3 p.m.: Jonathan Mayberry, Burn to Shine (in conversation with audiobook narrator Ray Porter) (in person at Book Carnival)
24 APRIL READING LIST
Donna R. (4/10)
Glenda (4/3)
Leighanne (4/17)
Benafsha A. (3/27)
Chris L. (3/20)
Joanne (4/17)
Burt (4/17)
Jo (4/17)
Rosie (4/17)
Lance (4/17)
10 Apr meeting notes; 17 Apr reading list
10 APRIL MEETING NOTES
A cozy four people attended: Burt, Donna R., Lance (a chapter from KDA Riviera Project), and Leighanne.
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Apr. 12, 10 a.m.: Jocelyn Ramirez, La Vida Verde (in person at the Westminster Branch, 8180 13th St, Westminster)
- Saturday, Apr. 12, 10 a.m.: Victorine Lieske, “Writing to Market”; Brittany Larsen, “Girl Power: Writing Romance Without Sacrificing Women” (virtual for OC Romance Writers)
- Saturday, Apr. 12, 2 p.m.: Matt Goldman, The Murder Show (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Apr. 13, 11 a.m.: Anne-Marie Bonneau, The Zero-Waste Chef (in person at the Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library, 855 Park Av., Costa Mesa)
- Monday, Apr. 14, 6:30 p.m.: Jennifer Weiner, The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits (in person at the Tustin Branch, 345 E. Main St., Tustin)
- Tuesday, Apr. 15, 6:30 p.m.: Luis Alberto Urrea, Into the Beautiful North (in person at the Brea Branch, 1 Civic Center Circle, Brea)
17 APRIL READING LIST
Donna R. (4/10)
Glenda (4/3)
Leighanne (4/10)
Benafsha A. (3/27)
Jo (4/3)
Chris L. (3/20)
Joanne (4/3)
Burt (4/10)
Rosie (4/3)
Lance (4/10)
3 Apr meeting notes; 10 Apr reading list
3 APRIL MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Burt (chapters from The Class of 1942), Glenda, Jo, Joanne, Lance (two chapters from KDA Riviera Project), Leighanne, and Rosie (a chapter from In Arcadia Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Sunday, Apr. 6, 2 p.m.: Jeffrey Siger, Not Dead Yet (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Apr. 6, 2 p.m.: SinC Los Angeles presents Christopher Goffard, Crimes of the Times (in person and virtual; register on the SinC-LA website)
- Wednesday, Apr. 9, 6:30 p.m.: Ilyon Woo, Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom (in person at the Crown Valley Community Center, 29751 Crown Valley Pkwy., Laguna Niguel)
10 APRIL READING LIST
Donna R. (3/13)
Glenda (4/3)
Leighanne (4/3)
Benafsha A. (3/27)
Jo (4/3)
Chris L. (3/20)
Joanne (4/3)
Burt (4/3)
Lance (4/3)
Rosie (4/3)
27 Mar meeting notes; 3 Apr reading list
27 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A., Glenda, Jo, Joanne (a short story, “Sister, oh Sister: Mary and Martha”), Lance (a chapter from KDA Riviera Project), Leighanne, and Rosie (a chapter from In Arcadia Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, March 29, 10 a.m.: Bob Madison, Targets West (in person for Mystery Ink)
- Tuesday, April 1, 6:30 p.m.: Mary Alice Monroe, Where the Rivers Merge (in person at the Donald Dungan Branch Library, 1855 Park Av., Costa Mesa)
3 APRIL READING LIST
Donna R. (3/13)
Glenda (3/27)
Leighanne (3/27)
Benafsha A. (3/27)
Jo (3/27)
Burt (3/20)
Chris L. (3/20)
Joanne (3/27)
Lance (3/27)
Rosie (3/27)
20 Mar meeting notes; 27 Mar reading list
20 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt (chapters from The Class of 1942), Chris L. (a chapter from Dark Influence), Glenda, Jo (a short story, “Secret Wishes”), Lance, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Jo’s short story “Secret Wishes” will be included in SCWA’s latest anthology, It’s All in the Story, California, The Sequel. Congratulations, Jo!
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, March 22, 10 a.m.: Sophie Stava, Count My Lies (in person for Mystery Ink)
- Sunday, Mar. 23, 3 p.m.: Sisters in Crime OC presents Georgia Jeffries, The Younger Girl (in conversation with Marjorie McCown) (in person at Book Carnival, Orange)
27 MARCH READING LIST
Donna R. (3/13)
Glenda (3/20)
Joanne (3/13)
Lance (3/20)
Leighanne (3/13)
Benafsha A. (3/13)
Rosie (3/20)
Jo (3/20)
Burt (3/20)
Chris L. (3/20)
13 Mar meeting notes; 20 Mar reading list
13 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Benafsha A. (a chapter from Landed), Chris L., Donna R., Glenda, Jo, Joanne, Leighanne (two chapters from On the Steps of the Palace), and Rosie (a chapter from In Arcadia Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Mar. 15, 10 a.m.: Paddy Hirsch (in person for SCWA at 19 Restaurant, 24122 Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Hills; $25-35)
- Saturday, Mar. 15, 2 p.m.: Caitlin Rother, Body Parts (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Mar. 16, 2 p.m.: Garrett M. Brown, Tin Sea: A Memoir Gone Rogue (in person at Book Carnival)
20 MARCH READING LIST
Donna R. (3/13)
Glenda (3/13)
Jo (3/13)
Joanne (3/13)
Burt (3/6)
Chris L. (3/13)
Lance (3/6)
Leighanne (3/13)
Benafsha A. (3/13)
Rosie (3/13)
6 Mar meeting notes; 13 Mar reading list
6 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Benafsha A., Burt (chapters from The Class of 1942), Chris L. (a chapter from Dark Influence), Glenda, Lance (a revised chapter from KDA Riviera Project), and Rosie (revised chapter segments from In Arcadia Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Mar. 8, 10 a.m.: Sarah Allen, “Making Your Characters Sing!” (in person and virtual for OC Romance Writers)
- Sunday, Mar. 9, 2 p.m.: Rick Jackson and Matthew McGough, Black Tunnel White Magic (in conversation with author Miles Corwin) (in person at Book Carnival)
- Saturday, Mar. 15, 10 a.m.: Paddy Hirsch (in person for SCWA at 19 Restaurant, 24122 Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Hills; $25-35)
- Saturday, Mar. 15, 2 p.m.: Caitlin Rother, Body Parts (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Mar. 16, 2 p.m.: Garrett M. Brown, Tin Sea: A Memoir Gone Rogue (in person at Book Carnival)
13 MARCH READING LIST
Donna R. (2/6)
Glenda (3/6)
Jo (2/27)
Leighanne (2/13)
Benafsha A. (3/6)
Joanne (2/27)
Burt (3/6)
Chris L. (3/6)
Lance (3/6)
Rosie (3/6)
27 Feb meeting notes; 6 Mar reading list
27 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A. (a chapter from Landed), Chris L., Glenda, Jo, Joanne (a short story, “Near Misses: From the Diary of a Sexless Serious Sally Almost”), Lance, and Rosie (1.5 chapters from In Arcadia Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Mar. 1, 11 a.m.: Chef Tuệ Nguyễn, Di An (in person at the Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library, 855 Park Av., Costa Mesa)
- Sunday, Mar. 2, 2 p.m.: Gregg Hurwitz, Nemesis (in person at Book Carnival; $30)
- Sunday, Mar. 2, 2 p.m.: SinC Los Angeles presents Robert Rotstein, A True Verdict (in person and virtual; register on the SinC-LA website)
6 MARCH READING LIST
Donna R. (2/6)
Glenda (2/27)
Jo (2/27)
Leighanne (2/13)
Burt (2/20)
Chris L. (2/27)
Lance (2/27)
Benafsha A. (2/27)
Joanne (2/27)
Rosie (2/27)
20 Feb meeting notes; 27 Feb reading list
20 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt (read a revised chapter from Class of 1942), Chris L. (a chapter from Dark Influence), Glenda, Joanne, Lance (a chapter from KDA Riviera Project), and Rosie (a chapter from In Arcadia Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Feb. 22, 2 p.m.: Georgia Jeffries, The Younger Girl (in person at Book Carnival)
- Saturday, Feb. 22, 3 p.m.: Dr. Cristina LePort, Change of Heart: A Miner and Mulville Medical Thriller (in person at the Fountain Valley Branch Library, 17635 Los Alamos St., Fountain Valley)
- Sunday, Feb 23, 3 p.m.: Sisters in Crime OC presents Janis Thomas, “Love in the Plotlines: Writing Romance That Sweeps Readers Off Their Feet” (in person at Book Carnival, Orange)
- Thursday, Feb. 27, 5:30 p.m.: “Open Book: The Golden Age of Hollywood” with Pat Broesky and Maddie Margarita (in person at Muzeo)
27 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Donna R. (2/6)
Glenda (2/20)
Jo (2/6)
Benafsha A. (2/6)
Leighanne (2/13)
Joanne (2/20)
Burt (2/20)
Chris L. (2/20)
Rosie (2/20)
Lance (2/20)
13 Feb meeting notes; 20 Feb reading list
13 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt, Glenda, Joanne (a short story, “Got Stuck in the Dark Web Somewhere in the State of California”), Lance (1.5 chapters from KDA Riviera Project), Leighanne (1.5 chapters from On the Steps of the Palace), and Rosie (a chapter from In Arcadia Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Thursday, Feb. 20, 5:30 p.m.: Dr. Cristina LePort, Change of Heart: A Miner and Mulville Medical Thriller (in person at the Laguna Beach Branch Library, 363 Glenneyre St., Laguna Beach)
- Saturday, Feb. 15, 10 a.m.: Dr. Christina LePort and Doug Lyle, “Celebrating Matters of the Heart–
Both Real and Imagined” (in person for SCWA at 19 Restaurant, 24122 Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Hills; $25-35)
20 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Donna R. (2/6)
Glenda (2/13)
Jo (2/6)
Burt (2/13)
Chris L. (1/30)
Benafsha A. (2/6)
Leighanne (2/13)
Joanne (2/13)
Rosie (2/13)
Lance (2/13)
6 Feb meeting notes; 13 Feb reading list
6 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Benafsha A. (two chapters from Landed), Donna R., Glenda, Jo, Joanne, and Lance (1.5 chapters from KDA Riviera Project).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Feb. 8, 10 a.m.: Greta Boris, “Self-publish or Get an Agent?” and Megan Haskell, “Using the Enneagram to Create Characters that Feel Real” (in person and virtual for OC Romance Writers)
- Sunday, Feb. 9, 2 p.m.: Thomas Perry, Pro Bono (in person at Book Carnival)
13 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Donna R. (2/6)
Leighanne (1/30)
Glenda (2/6)
Jo (2/6)
Burt (1/30)
Joanne (2/6)
Chris L. (1/30)
Rosie (1/30)
Benafsha A. (2/6)
Lance (2/6)
Pure Fiction League 