Next Meeting: Thursday, 19 February, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Tustin Marketplace Corner Bakery (13652 Jamboree Road, Irvine)
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.
14 May meeting notes; 21 May reading list
14 MAY MEETING NOTES
Eleven people attended: Burt, Casey (read a chapter from The Boy Who Couldn’t Fly), Donna (read a chapter from Running with Hounds…and an English Degree), Glenda, Jo (read a chapter from Moonspell), JoAnne, Lance (read a chapter from the Fake reboot), Marianna, Shari, Steve J., and possible newcomer Mark H.
News and Notes
The next LIT UP! A Conversation with Orange County Writers and Readers will happen at 7:00 p.m. on 19 May at Kean Coffee. This one-year anniversary edition of LIT UP! will feature New York Times-bestselling author Caitlin Rother, and PFL’s somewhat less-selling Lance Charnes. Watch the LIT UP! Facebook page for more information.
21 MAY READING LIST
JoAnne (5/14)
Stace (4/30)
Rosie (5/7)
Kari (4/23)
Maddie (5/7)
Glenda (5/14)
Marianna (5/14)
Burt (5/14)
Shari (5/14)
Steve J. (5/14)
Jo (5/14)
Casey (5/14)
Donna (5/14)
Lance (5/14)
7 May meeting notes; 14 May reading list
7 MAY MEETING NOTES
Ten people attended: Burt (read the final four chapters of Dead Listing — congrats!), Casey, Donna, Glenda, Jo, Lance, Maddie, Rosie, Shari (read a revised synopsis and query for Raised to Win) and Steve J. (read three chapters from The Lust Gambit).
News and Notes
The next LIT UP! A Conversation with Orange County Writers and Readers will happen at 7:00 p.m. on 19 May at Kean Coffee. This one-year anniversary edition of LIT UP! will feature New York Times-bestselling author Caitlin Rother, and PFL’s somewhat less-selling Lance Charnes. Watch the LIT UP! Facebook page for more information.
14 MAY READING LIST
JoAnne (4/23)
Stace (4/30)
Rosie (5/7)
Kari (4/23)
Maddie (5/7)
Glenda (5/7)
Jo (5/7)
Casey (5/7)
Donna (5/7)
Lance (5/7)
Marianna (4/30)
Burt (5/7)
Shari (5/7)
Steve J. (5/7)
30 Apr meeting notes; 7 May reading list
30 APRIL MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Burt, Casey, Donna (read two chapters from Running With Hounds…and an English Degree), Glenda, Lance (read two chapters from the Fake reboot), Maddie, Marianna (read a chapter from Gold Dust, Red Snow, formerly Tsar Gold), Rosie and Stace.
News and Notes
The next LIT UP! A Conversation with Orange County Writers and Readers will happen at 7:00 p.m. on 19 May at Kean Coffee. This one-year anniversary edition of LIT UP! will feature New York Times-bestselling author Caitlin Rother, and PFL’s somewhat less-selling Lance Charnes. Watch the LIT UP! Facebook page for more information.
7 MAY READING LIST
JoAnne (4/23)
Stace (4/30)
Rosie (4/30)
Kari (4/23)
Burt (4/30)
Maddie (4/30)
Shari (4/23)
Steve J. (4/23)
Glenda (4/30)
Jo (4/23)
Casey (4/30)
Donna (4/30)
Lance (4/30)
Marianna (4/30)
23 Apr meeting notes; 30 Apr reading list
23 APRIL MEETING NOTES
A more-than-full house, with thirteen people attending: Burt, Casey (read a chapter from The Boy Who Couldn’t Fly), Donna, Glenda (!), Jo (read a chapter from Moonspell), JoAnne, Kari, Lance, Marianna (read the revised first chapter of Tsar Gold), Rosie, Shari, Stace and Steve J.
News and Notes
The 21 April LIT UP! was, once again, a success, with Maddie ably wrangling Ted Parvin, last-minute sub Suzanne Redfearn, and D.P. Lyle before an audience of 21. Congratulations, all!
The next LIT UP! A Conversation with Orange County Writers and Readers will happen at 7:00 p.m. on 19 May at Kean Coffee. This one-year anniversary edition of LIT UP! will feature New York Times-bestselling author Caitlin Rother, and PFL’s somewhat less-selling Lance Charnes. Watch the LIT UP! Facebook page for more information.
30 APRIL READING LIST
JoAnne (4/23)
Stace (4/23)
Rosie (4/23)
Kari (4/23)
Burt (4/23)
Donna (4/23)
Lance (4/23)
Maddie (4/16)
Shari (4/23)
Steve J. (4/23)
Glenda (4/23)
Jo (4/23)
Casey (4/23)
Marianna (4/23)
16 Apr meeting notes; 23 Apr reading list
16 APRIL MEETING NOTES
A full house, with twelve people attending: Burt, Casey, Donna, Jo, JoAnne, Kari, Lance, Maddie (read the opening chapter from Earth Angel), Marianna, Rosie, Shari (read a revised query for Raised to Win) and Steve J. (read four chapters from The Lust Gambit). For the first time in recent memory, eight members brought work to read.
News and Notes
This weekend will be busy with lit-related events:
- The L.A. Times Festival of Books will take place on the 18th and 19th at USC.
- SCWA will host guest speaker Anne Cleeland at its regular meeting on the 18th in Fountain Valley.
- Fullerton Public Library’s Local Authors Day will take place at the Main Library on the 18th, including PFL’s own Lance as one of five speakers.
The next LIT UP! A Conversation with Orange County Writers and Readers will happen at 7:00 p.m. on 21 April at Kean Coffee. This month’s lineup includes Anita Hughes, Ted Parvin and D.P. Lyle. Watch the LIT UP! Facebook page for more information.
23 APRIL READING LIST
JoAnne (4/16)
Stace (4/2)
Jo (4/16)
Rosie (4/16)
Kari (4/16)
Casey (4/16)
Burt (4/16)
Marianna (4/16)
Donna (4/16)
Lance (4/16)
Maddie (4/16)
Shari (4/16)
Steve J. (4/16)
Richard (2/26)
Marsha (2/19)
Glenda (1/22)
9 Apr meeting notes; 16 Apr reading list
9 APRIL MEETING NOTES
A cozy eight people attended: Burt, JoAnne, Kari, Lance (read a chapter from the Fake reboot), Maddie, Marianna, Rosie and Steve J.
News and Notes
The next LIT UP! A Conversation with Orange County Writers and Readers will happen at 7:00 p.m. on 21 April at Kean Coffee. This month’s lineup includes Anita Hughes, Ted Parvin and D.P. Lyle. Watch the LIT UP! Facebook page for more information.
16 APRIL READING LIST
Maddie (4/9)
Richard (2/26)
Glenda (1/22)
Marsha (2/19)
Shari (4/2)
JoAnne (4/9)
Stace (4/2)
Steve J. (4/9)
Jo (3/26)
Rosie (4/9)
Kari (4/9)
Casey (3/26)
Burt (4/9)
Marianna (4/9)
Donna (4/2)
Lance (4/9)
2 Apr meeting notes; 9 Apr reading list
2 APRIL MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Burt, Donna (read a chapter from Running with Dogs…and an English Degree), Lance (read a chapter from the Fake reboot), Maddie, Marianna, Rosie, Shari, Stace and Steve J.
News and Notes
Steve J. received the final draft of his upcoming thriller The Zeus Payload from Brighton Publishing.
PFL alum Melodye has been offered representation by Bob DiForio and Mandy Hubbard of D4EO Literary Agency. This brings her long-simmering memoir Can I Get a Witness? another step closer to publication.
Lance will be one of five authors featured at Fullerton Public Library’s Local Author Day on Saturday, 18 April, 1-5 p.m.
The next LIT UP! A Conversation with Orange County Writers and Readers will happen at 7:00 p.m. on 21 April at Kean Coffee. Watch the LIT UP! Facebook page for more information.
9 APRIL READING LIST
Maddie (4/2)
Richard (2/26)
Glenda (1/22)
Marsha (2/19)
Shari (4/2)
JoAnne (3/19)
Stace (4/2)
Steve J. (4/2)
Jo (3/26)
Rosie (4/2)
Kari (3/26)
Casey (3/26)
Burt (4/2)
Marianna (4/2)
Donna (4/2)
Lance (4/2)
26 Mar meeting notes; 2 Apr reading list
26 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Eleven people attended: Burt (read revisions to Dead Listing), Casey, Donna, Jo, Kari, Lance (read a chapter from the Fake reboot), Maddie, Marianna (read a chapter from Tsar Gold), Rosie, Stace and Steve J.
News and Notes
The 24 March LIT UP! was a resounding success, with at least 23 audience members coming to hear authors Christina Adams, Nancy Klann, and PFL’s own Donna Roberts. Congratulations to Maddie for another successful event.
The next LIT UP! A Conversation with Orange County Writers and Readers will happen at 7:00 p.m. on 21 April at Kean Coffee. Watch the LIT UP! Facebook page for more information.
2 APRIL READING LIST
Maddie (3/26)
Richard (2/26)
Glenda (1/22)
Marsha (2/19)
Shari (3/19)
JoAnne (3/19)
Stace (3/26)
Steve J. (3/26)
Jo (3/26)
Rosie (3/26)
Donna (3/26)
Kari (3/26)
Casey (3/26)
Burt (3/26)
Lance (3/26)
Marianna (3/26)
19 Mar meeting notes; 26 Mar reading list
19 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Ten people attended: Burt, Casey (read a chapter from The Boy Who Couldn’t Fly), Donna, JoAnne, Jo, Kari (read a revised part of her untitled short story), Maddie, Marianna (read a chapter from Tsar Gold), Rosie and Shari.
News and Notes
The next LIT UP! A Conversation with Orange County Writers and Readers is happening at 7:00 p.m. on 24 March at Kean Coffee. This month’s lineup: Christina Adams, Nancy Klann, and PFL’s own Donna Roberts. You can download posters here (1-up and 2-up), and the Facebook event page is up. LIT UP! also has its own Facebook page now.
26 MARCH READING LIST
Maddie (3/19)
Richard (2/26)
Glenda (1/22)
Marsha (2/19)
Burt (3/19)
Shari (3/19)
JoAnne (3/19)
Stace (3/5)
Steve J. (3/12)
Jo (3/19)
Rosie (3/19)
Donna (3/19)
Lance (3/12)
Kari (3/19)
Casey (3/19)
Marianna (3/19)
12 Mar meeting notes; 19 Mar reading list
12 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Ten people attended: Burt, Casey, Donna (read a reworked chapter from Running with Hounds…and an English Degree), JoAnne, Kari, Lance (read a chapter from the Fake reboot), Marianna, Rosie (read a chapter from the On Thin Ice prequel), Shari and Steve J.
News and Notes
LIT UP! alum Terri Nolan will be speaking at the 21 March SCWA meeting. Watch for the event posting.
The next LIT UP! A Conversation with Orange County Writers and Readers is happening at 7:00 p.m. on 24 March at Kean Coffee. This month’s lineup: Christina Adams, Nancy Klann, and PFL’s own Donna Roberts. You can download posters here (1-up and 2-up), and the Facebook event page is up. LIT UP! also has its own Facebook page now.
19 MARCH READING LIST
Maddie (3/5)
Richard (2/26)
Glenda (1/22)
Marsha (2/19)
Kari (3/12)
Burt (3/12)
Shari (3/12)
JoAnne (3/12)
Casey (3/12)
Stace (3/5)
Steve J. (3/12)
Jo (3/5)
Marianna (3/12)
Rosie (3/12)
Donna (3/12)
Lance (3/12)
5 Mar meeting notes; 12 Mar reading list
5 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Burt, Casey, Jo (read a reworked chapter from Moonspell), Kari, Lance, Maddie, Marianna (read a chapter from Tzar Gold), Stace (!) and Steve J. (read four chapters from The Lust Gambit).
News and Notes
Casey discovered a new app from Poets & Writers magazine. P&W Local provides a localized, automatically updated list of literary events. Casey was able to post the next LIT UP! on it; we’ll see if it brings in new audience members. The app is available for iPhone and Android.
The next LIT UP! A Conversation with Orange County Writers and Readers is happening at 7:00 p.m. on 24 March at Kean Coffee. This month’s lineup: Christina Adams, Nancy Klann, and PFL’s own Donna Roberts. You can download posters here (1-up and 2-up), and the Facebook event page is up.
12 MARCH READING LIST
Maddie (3/5)
Richard (2/26)
Glenda (1/22)
Marsha (2/19)
Kari (3/5)
Rosie (2/26)
Burt (3/5)
Donna (2/26)
Shari (2/19)
JoAnne (2/26)
Casey (3/5)
Lance (3/5)
Stace (3/5)
Steve J. (3/5)
Jo (3/5)
Marianna (3/5)
26 Feb meeting notes; 5 Mar reading list
26 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Twelve people attended: Burt, Casey (read a chapter from The Boy Who Couldn’t Fly), Donna, Jo, JoAnne (read her short story “The Blind Reveal”), Kari, Lance (read a chapter from the Fake reboot), Maddie, Marianna, Richard, Rosie and Steve J.
News and Notes
The 24 February LIT UP! at Kean Coffee was a success, with an audience of 21 hearing readings by Colleen Hannegan, Jim Keck, and PFL’s own Casey Pope. The next LIT UP! is slated for 24 March; watch here for more details.
5 MARCH READING LIST
Maddie (2/26)
Richard (2/26)
Glenda (1/22)
Marsha (2/19)
Kari (2/26)
Rosie (2/26)
Burt (2/26)
Steve J. (2/26)
Donna (2/26)
Shari (2/19)
Jo (2/26)
Marianna (2/26)
JoAnne (2/26)
Casey (2/26)
Lance (2/26)
Stace (10/2)
Pure Fiction League 