Next Meeting: Thursday, 5 March, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Tustin Marketplace Corner Bakery (13652 Jamboree Road, Irvine)
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)
1 Feb meeting notes; 8 Feb reading list
1 FEBRUARY MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Benafsha A. (two chapters from Jewels of Herat), Burt (chapters from Class of 1942), Faridoon B., Glenda, Joanne, Lance (two chapters from The Bluejay of Mullingar), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Feb. 3, 11 a.m.: Jacqueline Woodson, Remember Us (in person at the Tustin Library, 245 E. Main St., Tustin)
- Tuesday, Feb. 6, 6:30 p.m.: Nicola Yoon, The Sun is also a Star (in person at the Norma Hertzog Community Center, 1845 Park Av., Costa Mesa)
- Thursday, Feb. 8, 6. p.m.: Jahmal Mayfield, Smoke Rings (virtual for Book Carnival)
8 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Glenda (2/1)
Donna R. (1/25)
Rosie (2/1)
Leighanne (2/1)
Joanne (2/1)
Faridoon B. (2/1)
Burt (2/1)
Benafsha A. (2/1)
Lance (2/1)
25 Jan meeting notes; 1 Feb reading list
25 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Benafsha A., Donna R., Faridoon B. (a chapter from The Dark and the Light), Glenda, Joanne (a short story, “Spiritual Text”), Lance, Leighanne (a chapter from On the Steps of the Palace), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Sunday, Jan. 28, 3 p.m.: Pat Broeske, Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, and Maddie Margarita, “The Art of Interviewing from Both Sides of the Mic” (in person for Sisters in Crime OC at Book Carnival)
1 FEBRUARY READING LIST
Glenda (1/25)
Donna R. (1/25)
Rosie (1/25)
Burt (1/11)
Benafsha A. (1/25)
Lance (1/25)
Leighanne (1/25)
Joanne (1/25)
Faridoon B. (1/25)
18 Jan meeting notes; 25 Jan reading list
18 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Four people attended: Benafsha A. (two chapters from Jewels of Herat), Glenda, Joanne, and Lance (a chapter from The Bluejay of Mullingar).
NEWS & NOTES
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Jan. 20, 10 a.m.: Wendall Thomas, “Sequential writing, setting up scenes that work for intent, and crafting scenes that move plots forward” (in person for SCWA at the 19th Hole Restaurant, 24122 Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Hills)
- Saturday, Jan. 20, 11 a.m.: Bricia Lopez, Asada: The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling (in person at the Donald Dungan Library, 1855 Park Av., Costa Mesa)
- Saturday, Jan. 20, 2 p.m.: Duane Swierczynski, California Bear (in conversation with Eric Beetner) (in person at Book Carnival)
- Wednesday, Jan. 24, 5 p.m.: George Geary, L.A.’s Landmark Restaurants (in person at the Laguna Hills Technology Branch, 25555 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills)
25 JANUARY READING LIST
Glenda (1/18)
Leighanne (1/11)
Donna R. (1/11)
Joanne (1/18)
Rosie (1/11)
Burt (1/11)
Faridoon B. (1/11)
Benafsha A. (1/18)
Lance (1/18)
11 Jan meeting notes; 18 Jan reading list
11 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Benafsha A., Burt (chapters from The Class of 1942), Donna R., Faridoon B. (a chapter from The Dark and the Light), Glenda, Lance, Leighanne, and Rosie (the prologue from The Mad Monk’s Daughter).
NEWS & NOTES
Lance finished a first draft of The Bluejay of Mullingar over the holidays.
Upcoming author events for the next week:
- Saturday, Jan. 13, 10 a.m.: Laura Drake, “Balancing Backstory”; Selene Grace Silver, “Strategies for Writing Short Romances” (virtual for OC Romance Writers)
- Saturday, Jan. 13, 2 p.m.: Jeri Westerson, The Twilight Queen (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Jan. 14, 1 p.m.: Brian Fitzpatrick, Mechcraft; Lauren Cipollo, Parallax; screenwriter and SF novelist Matt Conant (in conversation with Maddie Margarita) (in person at Muzeo)
- Sunday, Jan. 14, 2 p.m.: Matt Phillips, A Good Rush of Blood; Lee Matthew Goldberg, The Great Gimmelmans (in person at Book Carnival)
18 JANUARY READING LIST
Glenda (1/11)
Leighanne (1/11)
Donna R. (1/11)
Joanne (1/4)
Benafsha A. (1/11)
Lance (1/11)
Rosie (1/11)
Burt (1/11)
Faridoon B. (1/11)
4 Jan meeting notes; 11 Jan reading list
4 JANUARY MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended the inaugural meeting of 2024: Benafsha A. (two chapters from Jewels of Herat), Burt, Faridoon B., Glenda, Joanne (a very short story, “Guile”), Lance (two chapters from The Bluejay of Mullingar), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Joanne’s grandson collected her short stories and put them into paperback book form. We look forward to seeing the book soon!
Stats for 2023: we averaged 6.5 attendees and 2.9 readings per meeting.
11 JANUARY READING LIST
Glenda (1/4)
Leighanne (1/4)
Donna R. (11/9)
Rosie (1/4)
Burt (1/4)
Faridoon B. (1/4)
Joanne (1/4)
Benafsha A. (1/4)
Lance (1/4)
7 Dec meeting notes; 4 Jan reading list
7 DECEMBER MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended the ultimate meeting for 2023: Benafsha A., Burt (chapters from The Class of 1942), Faridoon B. (a much revised first chapter from The Light of the World), Glenda, Lance, Leighanne, and Rosie (two chapters from Sure Shot).
NEWS & NOTES
The next regular PFL meeting will be 4 January 2024.
The annual PFL Holiday Party will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 14 December, at Romano’s Macaroni Grill in the Tustin Marketplace shopping center (13652 Jamboree Rd., Irvine, across El Camino from Taco Rosa). The entertainment (other than throwing breadsticks at each other): each attendee will provide a prompt or logline for a story, and the others will write the first line of that story. Bring a notepad and writing utensil. This will not be a potluck affair.
4 JANUARY READING LIST
Glenda (12/7)
Leighanne (12/7)
Joanne (11/30)
Donna R. (11/9)
Benafsha A. (12/7)
Lance (12/7)
Rosie (12/7)
Burt (12/7)
Faridoon B. (12/7)
Chris L. (10/19)
30 Nov meeting notes; 7 Dec reading list
30 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Benafsha A. (1.5 chapters from Jewels of Herat), Glenda, Joanne, Lance (a chapter from The Bluejay of Mullingar), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
We’re down to the last regular meeting of 2023: 7 December.
Rosie and Benafsha both “won” NaNoWriMo (by writing 50,000 words+ each). Congratulations!
The annual PFL Holiday Party will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 14 December, at Romano’s Macaroni Grill in the Tustin Marketplace shopping center (13652 Jamboree Rd., Irvine, across El Camino from Taco Rosa). The entertainment (other than throwing breadsticks at each other): each attendee will provide a prompt or logline for a story, and the others will write the first line of that story. Bring a notepad and writing utensil. This will not be a potluck affair.
7 DECEMBER READING LIST
Glenda (11/30)
Leighanne (11/30)
Rosie (11/30)
Chris L. (10/19)
Joanne (11/30)
Donna R. (11/9)
Burt (11/16)
Faridoon (11/16)
Benafsha A. (11/30)
Lance (11/30)
16 Nov meeting notes; 30 Nov reading list
16 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Benafsha A. (two chapters from Jewels of Herat), Burt (a chapter from Graduation Day, formerly The Class of 1942), Glenda, Lance (1.5 chapters from The Bluejay of Mullingar), Rosie, and the return of Faridoon (the first chapter of an untitled American Civil War saga) (welcome back!).
NEWS & NOTES
We’re down to the last two meetings of 2023: 30 Nov and 7 Dec. There will be no meeting on 23 Nov.
The annual PFL Holiday Party will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 14 Dec, at Romano’s Macaroni Grill in the Tustin Marketplace shopping center (13652 Jamboree Rd., Irvine, across El Camino from Taco Rosa). The entertainment (other than throwing breadsticks at each other): each attendee will provide a prompt or logline for a story, and the others will write the first line of that story. Bring a notepad and writing utensil. This will not be a potluck affair.
Author events coming up during the next two weeks:
- Saturday, Nov. 18th, 9:30 a.m.: Matt Phillips, “Writing Heart Pumping Fiction” (in person for SCWA at the 19th Hole Restaurant, 24122 Moulton Pkwy., Laguna Hills)
- Saturday, Nov. 18, 2 p.m.: Matt Coyle, Odyssey’s End (in person at Book Carnival)
- Saturday, Nov. 18, 3 p.m.: Dr. Nancy Segal, The Twin Children of the Holocaust: Stolen Childhood and the Will to Survive (in person at the Rancho Santa Margarita Library, 30902 La Promesa, Rancho Santa Margarita)
- Sunday, Nov. 19, 3 p.m.: Janet Lynn & Will Zeilinger, “Are Two Heads Better than One?” (in person for Sisters in Crime OC at Book Carnival)
- Saturday, Nov. 25, 1 p.m.: Matt Coyle, Odyssey’s End (in person for Mystery Ink at the Fernhill Clubhouse, 5472 Diamond, Huntington Beach)
30 NOVEMBER READING LIST
Glenda (11/16)
Leighanne (11/9)
Rosie (11/16)
Chris L. (10/19)
Joanne (11/9)
Donna R. (11/9)
Burt (11/16)
Benafsha A. (11/16)
Lance (11/16)
Faridoon (11/16)
Pure Fiction League 