Next Meeting: Thursday, 5 March, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Tustin Marketplace Corner Bakery (13652 Jamboree Road, Irvine)
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)
30 Jan meeting notes; 6 Feb reading list
30 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Burt (a chapter from Class of 1942), Chris L. (a chapter from Dark Influence), Glenda, Joanne (a short story, “Bad Ass Becky”), Lance, Leighanne, and Rosie (2.5 chapters from In Arcadia Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Feb. 1, 2 p.m.: John McMahon, Head Case (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Feb. 2, 2 p.m.: SinC Los Angeles presents Walter Mosely (in person and virtual; register on the SinC-LA website)
- Sunday, Feb. 2, 2 p.m.: Nicholas George, A Lethal Walk in Lakeland; Kemper Donovan, Loose Lips; Rob Osler, The Case of the Missing Maid (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Feb. 2, 3 p.m.: Memoir Workshop with author Chris Epting (in person at the Mesa Verde Branch Library, 2969 Mesa Verde Dr. E, Costa Mesa)
- Monday, Feb. 3, 6:30 p.m.: Erika L. Sanchez, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter (in person at the Clifton C. Miller Community Center, 300 Centennial Way, Tustin)
- Wednesday, Feb 5, 12 p.m.: Van Hoang, Silver and Smoke (in person for the Huntington Beach Friends of the Library)
- Thursday, Feb. 6, 5:30 p.m.: Memoir Workshop with author Chris Epting (in person at the Laguna Beach Branch Library, 363 Glenneyre St., Laguna Beach)
- Thursday, Feb. 6, 6:30 p.m.: Alexis Daria, You Had Me at Hola (in person at the Clifton C. Miller Community Center, 300 Centennial Way, Tustin)
6 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Donna R. (1/9)
Leighanne (1/30)
Glenda (1/30)
Jo (1/23)
Benafsha A. (1/23)
Lance (1/30)
Burt (1/30)
Joanne (1/30)
Chris L. (1/30)
Rosie (1/30)
23 Jan meeting notes; 30 Jan reading list
23 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Benafsha A. (a proposed epilogue for Jewels of Herat and the first chapter of a new project, Landed), Burt, Glenda, Jo, Joanne, Lance (1.5 chapters from KDA Riviera Project), Leighanne, and Rosie (a chapter from In Arcadia Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Sunday, Jan. 26, 3 p.m.: the Sisters in Crime OC New Year Party presents “Let’s Craft a Cozy” with Jennifer Chow, Kim Davis, and Marjorie McCown (in person at Book Carnival, Orange)
- Wednesday, Jan. 29, 6:30 p.m.: Kevin Kwan, Lies and Weddings (in person at the Norma Hertzog Community Center, 1845 Park Av., Costa Mesa)
30 JANUARY READING LIST
Donna R. (1/9)
Leighanne (1/23)
Glenda (1/23)
Jo (1/23)
Burt (1/23)
Joanne (1/23)
Chris L. (1/16)
Benafsha A. (1/23)
Rosie (1/23)
Lance (1/23)
16 Jan meeting notes; 23 Jan reading list
16 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A., Burt, Chris L. (the first two chapters of a new novel, Dark Influence), Glenda, Jo, Lance (a partial chapter from KDA Riviera Project [working title]), and Rosie (1.5 chapters from In Arcadia, Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Jan. 18, 2 p.m.: Robert Crais, The Big Empty (in person at Book Carnival; $30)
- Saturday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m.: Adam Sykes, “Unmasking Suspense: Crafting Captivating Spy Thrillers for the New Year” (in person for SCWA at 19 Restaurant, 24122 Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Hills; $25-35)
23 JANUARY READING LIST
Donna R. (1/9)
Leighanne (12/5)
Glenda (1/16)
Jo (1/16)
Burt (1/16)
Joanne (1/9)
Benafsha A. (1/16)
Chris L. (1/16)
Rosie (1/16)
Lance (1/16)
9 Jan meeting notes; 16 Jan reading list
9 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Six people attended the inaugural meeting of 2025: Benafsha A. (a revised second chapter of Jewels of Herat), Donna R., Glenda, Joanne (a short story, “Time Travel in Circles”), Lance (the first three chapters of KDA Riviera Project [working title]), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Thursday, Jan. 9, 6 p.m.: Greer Wylder, Born in OC (in person at the Donald Dungan Branch Library, 1855 Park Av., Costa Mesa)
- Saturday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m.: Ines Johnson, “Stealing Secrets from Screenwriting: How to Make Your Book Bingeworthy” and “Back that Book Up: Five Strategies for Backlist Promotions” (virtual for OC Romance Writers)
16 JANUARY READING LIST
Donna R. (1/9)
Leighanne (12/5)
Glenda (1/9)
Jo (11/21)
Chris L. (12/5)
Burt (11/21)
Rosie (1/9)
Joanne (1/9)
Lance (1/9)
Benafsha A. (1/9)
5 Dec meeting notes; 9 Jan reading list
5 DECEMBER MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended the last meeting for 2024: Benafsha A. (the final 1.5 chapters of Jewels of Herat) (congratulations, Benafsha!), Chris L., Donna R., Glenda, Lance, Leighanne, and Rosie (a chapter from In Arcadia, Ego).
NEWS & NOTES
The next regular PFL meeting will happen on 9 January.
The PFL Holiday Party will take place on Thursday, 12 December, at 7 p.m. Donna has tempted fate by inviting us to her new home.
Stats for 2024: an average of 6.5 people attended our weekly meetings, bringing an average of 2.4 readings. Our highest attendance — 10 people — occurred twice: 13 June and 19 September.
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Dec. 7, 2 p.m.: Kimberly Patton Kerner, A Jingle and Belle Christmas (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Dec. 8, 2 p.m.: Mike Befeler, The Adventures of Sure Luck Holmes (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Dec. 8, 2 p.m.: SinC Los Angeles presents Dennis Palumbo, “Writer’s block is good news, and other surprises” (in person and virtual; register on the SinC-LA website)
9 JANUARY 2025 READING LIST
Donna R. (12/5)
Leighanne (12/5)
Glenda (12/5)
Jo (11/21)
Chris L. (12/5)
Vivian J. (10/17)
Joanne (11/7)
Burt (11/21)
Lance (12/5)
Rosie (12/5)
Benafsha A. (12/5)
Hunter B. (10/3)
21 Nov meeting notes; 5 Dec reading list
21 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Benafsha A. (two half-chapters of Jewels of Herat), Burt (a revised second chapter from Class of ’42), Chris L., Glenda, Jo, and Lance (the final chapter of The Bluejay of Mullingar).
NEWS & NOTES
There will be no PFL meeting on 28 Nov; we’ll be slaughtering turkeys instead. The final PFL meeting of 2024 will be on 5 Dec.
The PFL Holiday Party will take place on Thursday, 12 December, at 7 p.m. Donna has tempted fate by inviting us to her new home. Rosie will be the food wrangler. Watch for an email regarding the food list.
Upcoming author event for the next week:
- Sunday, Nov. 24, 2 p.m.: Jonathan Brown, “Resilience, Strength and Gratitude: A Crash Course in Finding Joy” (in person at the Muzeo, moderated by Maddie Margarita)
5 DECEMBER READING LIST
Donna R. (11/14)
Leighanne (10/17)
Glenda (11/21)
Hunter B. (10/3)
Jo (11/21)
Chris L. (11/21)
Vivian J. (10/17)
Joanne (11/7)
Rosie (11/14)
Benafsha A. (11/21)
Burt (11/21)
Lance (11/21)
14 Nov meeting notes; 21 Nov reading list
14 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt, Donna R., Glenda, Jo, Lance (the penultimate two chapters of The Bluejay of Mullingar), and Rosie (a revised short story, “Murder on the Sands”).
NEWS & NOTES
The PFL Holiday Party will take place on Thursday, 12 December, at 7 p.m. Donna has tempted fate by inviting us to her new home. Rosie will be the food wrangler and will bring a sign-up list to the last two meetings of the year (21 Nov and 5 Dec).
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Nov. 16, 10 a.m.: Caitlin Rother, “The Fact or Fiction of the Matter: Telling, Creating and Streaming Crime Stories” (in person for SCWA at 19 Restaurant, 24122 Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Hills)
- Saturday, Nov. 16, 2 p.m.: Jeri Westerson, The Mummy of Mayfair (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Nov. 17, 2 p.m.: Alex Kenna, Burn This Night (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Nov. 17, 4 p.m.: Georgia Jeffries, The Younger Girl (in person for the Friends of Huntington Beach Library at the HB Main Library)
- Wednesday, Nov. 20, 6 p.m.: Carole Hopson, A Pair of Wings (in person at the Donald Dungan branch, 1855 Park Av., Costa Mesa)
21 NOVEMBER READING LIST
Donna R. (11/14)
Leighanne (10/17)
Glenda (11/14)
Hunter B. (10/3)
Jo (11/14)
Chris L. (11/7)
Vivian J. (10/17)
Joanne (11/7)
Benafsha A. (11/7)
Burt (11/14)
Lance (11/14)
Rosie (11/14)
7 Nov meeting notes; 14 Nov reading list
7 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Benafsha A. (three chapters from Jewels of Herat), Burt (a revised first chapter of Class of ’42), Chris L., Joanne, Lance, and Rosie (a short story, “Murder on the Sands”).
NEWS & NOTES
Rosie will be speaking at the Southern California chapter of the Historical Novel Society regarding her experiences at September’s HNS UK Conference. The program will take place 12 p.m. on Sunday, 17 November, at 330 E. Cordova St. in Pasadena. Non-members are welcome to attend.
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Nov. 9, 10 a.m.: Shannon Donnelly, “Pacing Tips”; Linda Carroll-Bradd, “Multi-Author Projects (virtual for OC Romance Writers)
- Saturday, Nov. 9, 2 p.m.: Daryl Wood Gerber, Murder on the Page; Kemper Donovan, The Busy Body (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Nov. 10, 2 p.m.: Celia Imrie, Orphans of the Storm; Fidelis Morgan, Meet Me at Rainbow Corner (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Nov. 10, 2 p.m.: Susan Helene Nack, Womenscape (in person at the Cypress branch, 5331 Orange Av., Cypress)
- Wednesday, Nov. 13, 5 p.m.: Chris Epting, Where One Hears the Rain: Finding Your Voice and Crafting Your Story from Inspiration to Publication (in person at the San Juan Capistrano branch, 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano)
14 NOVEMBER READING LIST
Donna R. (10/24)
Leighanne (10/17)
Glenda (10/3)
Hunter B. (10/3)
Jo (10/17)
Chris L. (11/7)
Vivian J. (10/17)
Joanne (11/7)
Lance (11/7)
Benafsha A. (11/7)
Rosie (11/7)
Burt (11/7)
Pure Fiction League 