Next Meeting: Thursday, 11 January, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Tustin Marketplace Corner Bakery (13652 Jamboree Road, Irvine)
16 May meeting notes; 23 May reading list
16 MAY MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt, Glenda, Joanne, Lance (two chapters from The Bluejay of Mullingar), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m.: Itica Milanes, “Selling Your Book Is All in Your Presentation” (in person for SCWA at 19 Restaurant, 24122 Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Hills)
- Saturday, May 18, 1 p.m.: Gary Phillips & Duane Swierczyski in a discussion about noir and the Southern California landscape (in person for Mystery Ink at the Fernhill Clubhouse, 5472 Diamond, Huntington Beach)
- Saturday, May 18, 2 p.m.: Terry Shames, Perilous Waters; Ben H. Winters, Big Time (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, May 19, 11 a.m.: Julia Quinn, Bridgerton: The Duke & I (in person at the Norma Hertzog Community Center, 1845 Park Av., Costa Mesa)
- Sunday, May 19, 3 p.m.: Steve Jackson, “Story Structure” (in person for Sisters in Crime OC at Book Carnival)
- Thursday, May 23, 6 p.m.: E. P. Tuazon, A Professional Lola (in person at the Donald Dungan Library, 1855 Park Av., Costa Mesa)
16 MAY READING LIST
Glenda (5/16)
Donna R. (5/2)
Leighanne (5/16)
Rosie (5/16)
Joanne (5/16)
Burt (5/16)
Lance (5/16)
9 May meeting notes; 16 May reading list
9 MAY MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Burt (chapters from The Class of 1942), Glenda, Lance (two chapters from The Bluejay of Mullingar), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m.: Annie R. McEwan, “Researching History in Romance” (virtual for OC Romance Writers)
- Saturday, May 11, 11 a.m.: Jet Tila, 101 Thai Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die (in person at the Clifton C. Miller Community Center, 300 Centennial Way, Tustin)
- Saturday, May 11, 1 p.m.: Marjorie McCown, Star Struck; Daryl Wood Gerber, A Twinkle of Trouble (in person for Mystery Ink) (joint talk & signing – launch party)
- Monday, May 13, 5:30 p.m.: Chris Epting, Lost Landmarks of Orange County (in person at the San Juan Capistrano Branch Library, 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano)
- Wednesday, May 15, 4 p.m.: Julie Abe, Our Cursed Love (in person at the Tustin Branch Library, 345 E. Main St., Tustin)
16 MAY READING LIST
Glenda (5/9)
Donna R. (5/2)
Leighanne (5/9)
Rosie (5/9)
Joanne (5/2)
Burt (5/9)
Lance (5/9)
2 May meeting notes; 9 May reading list
2 MAY MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt, Donna R., Glenda, Joanne, Lance (two chapters from The Bluejay of Mullingar), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Donna’s novel Running with Hounds…and an English Degree won second place in the Spring 2024 BookFest Awards Romance-Romantic Comedy category. Congratulations, Donna!
The official Instagram account for famed author Daphne Du Maurier (1907-1989) is now following Rosie’s Instagram. If you’re not familiar with the Notorious DDM: she was the author of (among other things) Rebecca, My Cousin Rachel, and the short story “The Birds,” which Alfred Hitchcock liked a bit.
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, May 4, 11 a.m.: Derick Santiago, The Mocktail Club (in person at the Cypress Library, 5331 Orange Av., Cypress)
- Saturday, May 4, 1 p.m.: Mike Befeler, Murder in the Museo Kircheriano and A Mystery Yarn (in person for Mystery Ink)
9 MAY READING LIST
Glenda (5/2)
Donna R. (5/2)
Leighanne (4/25)
Rosie (5/2)
Joanne (5/2)
Burt (5/2)
Lance (5/2)
Benafsha A. (2/22)
Faridoon B. (2/22)
25 Apr meeting notes; 2 May reading list
25 APRIL MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt (a chapter from Class of 1942), Glenda, Lance (a chapter from The Bluejay of Mullingar), Leighanne, Rosie, and Glenda’s son Hunter, visiting from Oakland.
NEWS & NOTES
Burt’s novel Madness of March is now available at the main branch of the Newport Beach Public Library. Good job, Burt!
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Apr. 27, 2 p.m.: Mike Befeler, A Mystery Yarn and Murder in the Museo Kircheriano (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Apr 28, 3 p.m.: Gayle Carline, “How Will My Readers Find Me?” (in person with Sisters in Crime OC at Book Carnival)
2 MAY READING LIST
Glenda (4/25)
Donna R. (4/11)
Leighanne (4/25)
Rosie (4/25)
Joanne (4/18)
Burt (4/25)
Lance (4/25)
Benafsha A. (2/22)
Faridoon B. (2/22)
18 Apr meeting notes; 25 Apr reading list
18 APRIL MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt, Glenda, Joanne (a short story, “A Child with Boundaries”), Lance (a chapter from The Bluejay of Mullingar), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Lance attended Left Coast Crime in Seattle last week, during which he signed a representation letter with his new agent.
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Wednesday, Apr. 17, 5:30 p.m.: Arlene L. Walker, Seeds of Deception (in person at the Tibor Rubin Library, 11962 Bailey St., Garden Grove)
- Thursday, Apr. 18, 6 p.m.: Christopher Reich, Matterhorn (in person at the Cypress Library, 5331 Orange Av., Cypress)
- Saturday, Apr. 20, 10 a.m.: Brian Fitzpatrick, Dennis Crosby, and Matt Conant, “Creating Unforgettable Worlds in Any Genre” (in person with SCWA at 19 Restaurant, Laguna Hills)
- Thursday, Apr. 25, 6 p.m.: Sheila Yasmin Marikar, Friends in Napa (in person at the Donald Dungan Library, 1855 Park Av., Costa Mesa)
25 APRIL READING LIST
Glenda (4/18)
Donna R. (4/11)
Leighanne (4/18)
Rosie (4/18)
Burt (4/18)
Lance (4/18)
Joanne (4/18)
Benafsha A. (2/22)
Faridoon B. (2/22)
11 Apr meeting notes; 18 Apr reading list
11 APRIL MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt (revised chapters from Class of 1942), Donna R., Glenda, Joanne (a short story, “Annie’s Story”), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Attendees celebrated Donna’s birthday during the meeting.
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Apr.13, 10 a.m.: Mary Buckham, “Active Setting” Parts I and II (virtual for OC Romance Writers)
- Sunday, Apr. 14, 3 p.m.: Private investigator and retired FBI agent Kenneth Strange, author of A Cop’s Son: One G-man’s Fight against Jihad, Global Fraud, and the Cartels; Orange County licensed private investigator and ambassador for child safety Lynda Bergh Herring; and retired SWAT and Hawaii 5-0 team member and LA County Deputy Sheriff David Putnam, author of the Bruno Johnson series (in person at the Muzeo Open Book Series in Anaheim) (moderated by Maggie Margarita)
- Wednesday, Apr. 17, 5:30 p.m.: Arlene L. Walker, Seeds of Deception (in person at the Tibor Rubin Library, 11962 Bailey St., Garden Grove)
- Thursday, Apr. 18, 6 p.m.: Christopher Reich, Matterhorn (in person at the Cypress Library, 5331 Orange Av., Cypress)
18 APRIL READING LIST
Glenda (4/11)
Donna R. (4/11)
Leighanne (4/11)
Rosie (4/11)
Lance (4/4)
Joanne (4/11)
Burt (4/11)
Benafsha A. (2/22)
Faridoon B. (2/22)
4 Apr meeting notes; 11 Apr reading list
4 APRIL MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt (chapters from Class of 1942), Glenda, Joanne, Lance (a chapter from The Bluejay of Mullingar), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Lance will attend Left Coast Crime in Bellevue, WA next week.
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Sunday, Apr. 7, 6:30 p.m.: Tommy Orange, Wandering Stars (in person at the Norma Hertzog Community Center, 1845 Park Av., Costa Mesa)
- Tuesday, Apr. 9, 6:30 p.m.: Don Winslow, City in Ruins (in person at the Norma Hertzog Community Center, 1845 Park Av., Costa Mesa)
- Thursday, Apr. 11, 5:30 p.m.: Dr. Cristina LePort, Dissection: A Medical & Political Thriller (in person at the Laguna Beach branch, 363 Glenneyre St., Laguna Beach)
11 APRIL READING LIST
Glenda (4/4)
Donna R. (4/4)
Leighanne (4/4)
Joanne (3/28)
Rosie (4/4)
Burt (4/4)
Lance (4/4)
Benafsha A. (2/22)
Faridoon B. (2/22)
28 Mar meeting notes; 4 Apr reading list
28 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt, Glenda, Joanne, Lance (a chapter from The Bluejay of Mullingar), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author event for the next week:
- Tuesday, Apr. 2, 2 p.m.: Annual Spring Tea and Book Launch with Van Hoang, The Monstrous Misses Mai (in person at the Huntington Beach Central Library, 7111 Talbert Av., Huntington Beach)
4 APRIL READING LIST
Glenda (3/28)
Donna R. (3/21)
Leighanne (3/28)
Benafsha A. (2/22)
Faridoon B. (2/22)
Burt (3/28)
Joanne (3/28)
Rosie (3/28)
Lance (3/28)
21 Mar meeting notes; 28 Mar reading list
21 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Four people attended (again, though not the same four): Donna R., Glenda, Lance (a chapter from The Bluejay of Mullingar), and Rosie (a revised prologue and new first chapter for The Mad Monk’s Daughter).
NEWS & NOTES
Lance posted pitches for PFL on the Sisters in Crime national online forum and in its Guppy Chapter online forum.
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Mar. 23, 1 p.m.: Jennifer J. Chow, Ill-Fated Fortune; Sybil Johnson, Brush up on Murder (in person for Mystery Ink at the Fernhill Clubhouse, 5472 Diamond, Huntington Beach)
- Sunday, Mar 24. 25, 3 p.m.: Laurie Stevens, “Creating Fiction in a World of AI and Technology” (in person at Book Carnival)
28 MARCH READING LIST
Glenda (3/21)
Donna R. (3/21)
Leighanne (2/29)
Benafsha A. (2/22)
Faridoon B. (2/22)
Burt (3/14)
Joanne (3/14)
Rosie (3/21)
Lance (3/21)
14 Mar meeting notes; 21 Mar reading list
14 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Four people attended (again): Burt (chapters from Class of 1942), Glenda, Joanne (a short story, “The Other Side of Addiction”), and Lance (a chapter from The Bluejay of Mullingar).
We also discussed ways to advertise for new members.
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Mar. 16, 2 p.m.: Pat Spencer, Golden Boxty in the Frypan (in person for Book Carnival)
14 MARCH READING LIST
Glenda (3/14)
Donna R. (2/15)
Rosie (2/29)
Leighanne (2/29)
Benafsha A. (2/22)
Faridoon B. (2/22)
Burt (3/14)
Joanne (3/14)
Lance (3/14)
7 Mar meeting notes; 14 Mar reading list
7 MARCH MEETING NOTES
Four people attended: Burt, Glenda, Joanne (the first part of a short story, “Death by Suicide Ideation”), and Lance (two chapters from The Bluejay of Mullingar).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Friday, Mar. 8, 10:30 a.m.: Colleen Adair Fliedner, Fearless Females who Shaped the Golden State (in person at the Brea Library, 1 Civic Center Circle, Brea)
- Saturday, Mar. 9, 10 a.m.: Annabeth Alpert, “Meet Cute to Meet Awesome” and “Plotting Your Author Career” (virtual for OC Romance Writers)
- Saturday, Mar. 9, 2 p.m.: Eric Beetner, The Last Few Miles of Road; Jon Lindstrom, Hollywood Hustle; Iris Yamashita, Village in the Dark (in person for Book Carnival)
- Saturday, Mar. 9, 4 p.m.: Matt Coyle, Odyssey’s End (in person for the Huntington Beach Friends of the Library)
14 MARCH READING LIST
Glenda (3/7)
Donna R. (2/15)
Rosie (2/29)
Leighanne (2/29)
Benafsha A. (2/22)
Faridoon B. (2/22)
Joanne (3/7)
Burt (3/7)
Lance (3/7)
29 Feb meeting notes; 7 Mar reading list
29 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt (a chapter from Class of 1942), Glenda, Joanne, Lance (a chapter from The Bluejay of Mullingar), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Mar. 2, 2 p.m.: Gigi Pandian, A Midnight Puzzle and The Raven Thief; Jennifer Chow, Ill-Fated Fortune (in person for Book Carnival)
7 MARCH READING LIST
Glenda (2/29)
Donna R. (2/15)
Rosie (2/29)
Leighanne (2/29)
Joanne (2/29)
Benafsha A. (2/22)
Faridoon B. (2/22)
Burt (2/29)
Lance (2/29)
22 Feb meeting notes; 29 Feb reading list
22 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
A cozy four people attended: Benafsha A. (a chapter from Jewels of Herat), Faridoon B. (a chapter from what’s now called The Infinite Shades of Grey), Glenda, and Lance (a chapter from The Bluejay of Mullingar).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Feb. 24, 3 p.m.: Gregg Hurwitz, Lone Wolf (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Feb. 25, 3 p.m.: Mary Castillo, “How She Become an Audiobook Narrator, and How It Impacted Her Writing” (in person for Sisters in Crime OC at Book Carnival)
- Wednesday, Feb. 28, 6:30 p.m.: C.J. Box, Three-Inch Teeth (in person at the Laguna Hills Community Center, 25555 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills)
29 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Glenda (2/22)
Donna R. (2/15)
Rosie (2/15)
Leighanne (2/15)
Joanne (2/8)
Burt (2/15)
Lance (2/22)
Benafsha A. (2/22)
Faridoon B. (2/22)
15 Feb meeting notes; 22 Feb reading list
15 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Benafsha A. (a chapter from The Jewels of Herat), Burt (a revised chapter from The Class of 1942), Donna R., Faridoon B. (a chapter from The Dark and the Light), Glenda, Lance, Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Rosie recommends The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden, a “hauntingly beautiful historical novel with a speculative twist.”
Upcoming author event for the next week:
- Saturday, Feb. 17, 10 a.m.: Dete Meserve, “Writing — Like Love — Comes in All Forms & Sizes” (in person for SCWA at the 19th Hole Restaurant, 24122 Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Hills)
22 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Glenda (2/15)
Donna R. (2/15)
Rosie (2/15)
Leighanne (2/15)
Joanne (2/8)
Lance (2/15)
Burt (2/15)
Benafsha A. (2/15)
Faridoon B. (2/15)
8 Feb meeting notes; 15 Feb reading list
8 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Burt, Faridoon B. (a chapter from The Dark and the Light), Glenda, Joanne (a short story, “Pearls of Wisdom”), Lance (two chapters from The Bluejay of Mullingar), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Feb. 10, 10 a.m.: Kristy Tate, “How Your Newsletter is Like a Spork”; Dr. Debra Holland, “Mental Health for Writers” (in person at OC Romance Writers)
- Saturday, Feb. 10, 1 p.m.: Janet Elizabeth Lynn and Will Zeilinger writing as Will Janns, Stone Pub (launch party) (in person for Mystery Ink at Fernhill Clubhouse, 5472 Diamond, Huntington Beach)
- Saturday, Feb. 10, 2 p.m.: Jeffrey Siger, At Any Cost (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Feb. 11, 2 p.m.: Thomas Perry, Hero; Jo Perry, The World Entire (in person at Book Carnival)
- Saturday, Feb. 10, 3 p.m.: John M. Borack, The Beatles 100 (in person at the Rancho Santa Margarita Library, 30902 La Promesa, Rancho Santa Margarita)
15 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Glenda (2/8)
Donna R. (1/25)
Rosie (2/8)
Leighanne (2/8)
Burt (2/8)
Benafsha A. (2/1)
Joanne (2/8)
Faridoon B. (2/8)
Lance (2/8)
Pure Fiction League 