Next Meeting: Thursday, 29 January, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Tustin Marketplace Corner Bakery (13652 Jamboree Road, Irvine)
30 Jul meeting notes; 6 August reading list
30 JULY MEETING NOTES
Only three people showed up, so we cancelled the meeting. The reading list is unchanged.
Please check last week’s meeting notes for details about the upcoming craft-related reading.
6 AUG READING LIST
Rosie (7/23)
Shari (7/9)
Maddie (7/23)
JoAnne (7/23)
Jo (7/16)
Steve J. (6/18)
Mark H. (6/25)
Burt (7/23)
Marianna (7/9)
John M. (7/23)
Glenda (7/16)
Casey (7/23)
Donna (7/23)
Lance (7/23)
16 July meeting notes; 23 July reading list
16 JULY MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Burt, Casey, Donna (read a chapter from Running with Hounds…and an English Degree), Glenda, Jo, John M., Lance (read a chapter from the Fake reboot), Maddie and Rosie.
News and Notes
Burt suggested that we revive the practice of reading discussing a writing-related book; it helped develop members’ craft and often improved the quality of our critiques. When we did this in the past, we’d pick a book and set aside one reading slot (50 minutes) per month to discuss a certain number of chapters; discussion leadership would circulate among members. The list of the last few books we read is available here. Donna suggested we could also read writing-related articles, which could cut down on the time commitment. Please think about this and come to the next meeting prepared to discuss whether we should do this again.
The next LIT UP! will be held on 21 July at Kean Coffee in Tustin. Find more details in the event post, and check the LIT UP! Facebook page for the latest information.
23 JULY READING LIST
Rosie (7/16)
Shari (7/9)
Maddie (7/16)
JoAnne (6/25)
Jo (7/16)
Steve J. (6/18)
Mark H. (6/25)
Burt (7/16)
Casey (7/16)
Marianna (7/9)
John M. (7/16)
Glenda (7/16)
Donna (7/16)
Lance (7/16)
Jonathan (6/4)
9 July meeting notes; 16 July reading list
9 JULY MEETING NOTES
Once again, eight people attended: Burt, Casey, Glenda (read part two of a revised short story, “The Ancestor Train”), John M. (read the first chapter of Big Daddy), Lance (read two chapters from the Fake reboot), Marianna, Rosie and Shari.
News and Notes
The next LIT UP! will be held on 21 July at Kean Coffee in Tustin. Find more details in the event post, and check the LIT UP! Facebook page for the latest information.
16 JULY READING LIST
Rosie (7/9)
Shari (7/9)
Jonathan (6/4)
Maddie (7/2)
JoAnne (6/25)
Jo (6/25)
Steve J. (6/18)
Mark H. (6/25)
Burt (7/9)
Casey (7/9)
Donna (6/25)
Marianna (7/9)
John M. (7/9)
Glenda (7/9)
Lance (7/9)
2 July meeting notes; 9 July reading list
2 JULY MEETING NOTES
A cozy group of eight attended: Burt, Casey, Glenda (read part one of a revised short story, “The Ancestor Train”), John M., Lance (read a chapter from the Fake reboot), Maddie, Marianna (read a chapter from Red Snow, Gold Cloud) and Shari.
News and Notes
The next LIT UP! will be held on 21 July at Kean Coffee in Tustin. Watch for the upcoming event post here, and check the LIT UP! Facebook page for more information. You can download posters here (1-up and 2-up).
9 JULY READING LIST
Rosie (6/18)
Shari (7/2)
Jonathan (6/4)
Maddie (7/2)
JoAnne (6/25)
Jo (6/25)
Steve J. (6/18)
Mark H. (6/25)
John M. (7/2)
Burt (7/2)
Casey (7/2)
Donna (6/25)
Glenda (7/2)
Lance (7/2)
Marianna (7/2)
25 June meeting notes; 2 July reading list
25 JUNE MEETING NOTES
Eleven people attended: Burt (read the first three chapters of Murder on the 101, the sequel to Dead Listing), Casey (read a chapter from The Boy Who Couldn’t Fly), Donna (read two chapters of Running with Hounds…and an English Degree), Glenda, Jo, JoAnne, John M., Lance, Maddie, Mark H. and Shari.
News and Notes
The next LIT UP! will be held on 21 July at Kean Coffee in Tustin. Watch for the upcoming event post here, and check the LIT UP! Facebook page for more information.
2 JULY READING LIST
Rosie (6/18)
Glenda (6/25)
Shari (6/25)
Jonathan (6/4)
Maddie (6/25)
JoAnne (6/25)
Jo (6/25)
Lance (6/25)
Marianna (6/18)
Steve J. (6/18)
Mark H. (6/25)
John M. (6/25)
Burt (6/25)
Casey (6/25)
Donna (6/25)
Stace (4/30)
Kari (4/23)
18 June meeting notes; 25 June reading list
18 JUNE MEETING NOTES
Thirteen people attended: Burt, Casey, Donna, Glenda, JoAnne, John M., Maddie, Marianna (read from Red Snow, Gold Clouds), Mark H. (read from The Twelve Labors of Hercules Doe), Rosie, Shari and Steve J. (read from The Lust Gambit). Marianna’s brother Leo returned to observe but didn’t participate.
News and Notes
The 23 June LIT UP! was once again a success! Check the LIT UP! Facebook page for more information.
25 JUNE READING LIST
Rosie (6/18)
Kari (4/23)
Glenda (6/18)
Burt (6/18)
Shari (6/18)
Jonathan (6/4)
Maddie (6/18)
Casey (6/18)
Donna (6/18)
JoAnne (6/18)
Jo (6/11)
Lance (6/11)
Marianna (6/18)
Steve J. (6/18)
Mark H. (6/18)
John M. (6/18)
Stace (4/30)
11 June meeting notes; 18 June reading list
11 JUNE MEETING NOTES
Ten people attended: Burt, Casey, Glenda, JoAnne (read a short story, “Thy Will Be Done…or, Some Rendition”), Jo (read a chapter from Moonspell), Lance (read two chapters from the Fake reboot), Marianna, Rosie, and Steve J. Marianna’s brother Leo observed but didn’t participate.
News and Notes
The next LIT UP! is scheduled for 23 June. Watch the LIT UP! Facebook page for more information.
18 JUNE READING LIST
Rosie (6/11)
Kari (4/23)
Glenda (6/11)
Burt (6/11)
Shari (5/28)
Marianna (6/11)
Steve J. (6/11)
Mark H. (6/4)
Jonathan (6/4)
Maddie (6/4)
Casey (6/11)
Donna (6/4)
JoAnne (6/11)
Jo (6/11)
Lance (6/11)
Stace (4/30)
4 June meeting notes; 11 June reading list
4 JUNE MEETING NOTES
Twelve people attended: Burt, Casey (read a chapter from The Boy Who Couldn’t Fly), Donna (read two chapters from Running with Hounds…and an English Degree), Glenda, JoAnne, Jonathan (special guest appearance before he heads off to NC), Lance, Maddie (read a chapter from Earth Angel), Marianna, Mark H., Rosie, and potential new member John M.
News and Notes
The next LIT UP! is scheduled for 23 June. Watch the LIT UP! Facebook page for more information.
11 JUNE READING LIST
JoAnne (6/4)
Stace (4/30)
Rosie (6/4)
Kari (4/23)
Glenda (6/4)
Burt (6/4)
Jo (5/28)
Lance (6/4)
Shari (5/28)
Marianna (6/4)
Steve J. (5/28)
Mark H. (6/4)
Jonathan (6/4)
Maddie (6/4)
Casey (6/4)
Donna (6/4)
28 May meeting notes; 4 June reading list
28 MAY MEETING NOTES
Eleven people attended: Burt, Casey, Glenda, Jo, JoAnne, Maddie, Marianna (read a chapter from Red Snow, Gold Clouds), Mark H. (read from The Twelve Labors of Hercules Doe), Rosie, Shari (read reworked first chapters from Raised to Win) and Steve J. (read from The Lust Gambit).
News and Notes
The next LIT UP! is scheduled for 23 June. Watch the LIT UP! Facebook page for more information.
4 JUNE READING LIST
JoAnne (5/28)
Stace (4/30)
Rosie (5/28)
Kari (4/23)
Maddie (5/28)
Glenda (5/28)
Burt (5/28)
Jo (5/28)
Casey (5/28)
Donna (5/14)
Lance (5/21)
Shari (5/28)
Marianna (5/28)
Steve J. (5/28)
Mark H. (5/28)
21 May meeting notes; 28 May reading list
21 MAY MEETING NOTES
Eleven people attended: Burt, Casey, Glenda, JoAnne, Lance (read a chapter from the Fake reboot), Maddie, Marianna (read a chapter from Red Snow, Gold Clouds, which used to have various other titles), Mark H., Rosie, Shari and Steve J. (read four chapters from The Lust Gambit).
News and Notes
The 19 May first anniversary LIT UP! was a great success, with 26 people turning out to watch bestselling true-crime author Caitlin Rother and PFL’s own Lance Charnes read from their works. Our able MC Maddie not only kept the show rolling, but also provided treats for the audience and led a raffle for free copies of books by LIT UP alums. The next LIT UP! is scheduled for 23 June. Watch the LIT UP! Facebook page for more information.
Steve J’s thriller The Zeus Payload released on Wednesday and is available on Amazon and B&N. Congratulations! See the PFL post for more details.
28 MAY READING LIST
JoAnne (5/21)
Stace (4/30)
Rosie (5/21)
Kari (4/23)
Maddie (5/21)
Glenda (5/21)
Burt (5/21)
Shari (5/21)
Jo (5/14)
Casey (5/21)
Donna (5/14)
Marianna (5/21)
Steve J. (5/21)
Lance (5/21)
Mark H. (5/21)
The Zeus Payload, Steve Jackson, thriller
Nick King is a computer programmer and the lead technologist at his grandfather’s company, Gordon Defense Technology. When he’s not developing sophisticated security software for private and government clients, Nick and his friend and roommate, Dean Wright, travel to the Middle East in search of Saleh, the terrorist responsible for the 1983 Beirut embassy bombing that killed Nick’s parents. Nick has promised his grandfather, former CIA operative Anthony Gordon, that he will find and kill Saleh before his grandfather dies from heart failure and dementia.
When Nick is approached by CIA agents to complete his work on a cyberweapon that can infiltrate any computer system without being detected, he does so with the understanding that the technology will be used to protect the United States from future cyber-attacks. While completing the computer worm, King uncovers evidence of espionage and conspiracy within the CIA, with a trail that leads back to the Nazi Party. King, not knowing whom to trust, and realizing the unstoppable power his product would bring to whoever controls it, commits treason and removes the worm from the classified facility.
As Nick comes to realize the consequences of his creation, he goes on the run with Dean and NSA agent Tanya Rose, who originally accused Nick of being involved with the terrorist organization that killed her brother in Benghazi.
Saleh has been orchestrating the cyber weapon’s development for his own purposes, and plans to use it to attack the United States. Saleh lures King to Beirut, where their drama began thirty years earlier, and King must fight off Saleh, al-Qaeda, the CIA, the NSA, a white supremacist group, rogue agents, and assassins, to keep the promise he made to his grandfather, and keep the ultimate cyber weapon out of the wrong hands.
As if there are any right hands.
Available for Kindle on Amazon US, AU/NZ, CA, UK
ePub available on Nook US, Nook UK, Smashwords
Award-winning novelist Steven G. Jackson holds a Master’s Degree in Professional Writing from USC, and lives with his family and his yellow lab “Bear” in Southern California. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Writers Association.
Pure Fiction League 