Next Meeting: Thursday, 26 March, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Tustin Marketplace Corner Bakery (13652 Jamboree Road, Irvine)
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)
9 Nov meeting notes; 16 Nov reading list
9 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Benafsha A. (two chapters from Jewels of Herat), Burt, Donna R. (an essay, “How to Have Your Best Breast Cancer”), Glenda, Joanne, Lance (1.5 chapters from The Bluejay of Mullingar), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Rosie has officially passed the one million word mark with NaNoWriMo. Congratulations!
Lance was an author/table host at last Saturday’s “Men of Mystery” event in Long Beach.
The annual PFL Holiday Party will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 14 Dec, probably in the Tustin Marketplace shopping center. Details will be announced next week after we nail them down.
We’re down to the last three meetings of 2023: 16 Nov, 30 Nov, and 7 Dec.
Author events coming up this next week:
- Saturday, Nov. 11, 10 a.m.: Shauna Roberts, “Historical Setting as Character” (virtual for OC Romance Writers)
- Wednesday, Nov. 15, 6 p.m.: Tess Gerritsen, The Spy Coast (in person at the Cypress Library, 5331 Orange Av., Cypress)
16 NOVEMBER READING LIST
Glenda (11/9)
Leighanne (11/9)
Rosie (11/9)
Chris L. (10/19)
Burt (11/9)
Joanne (11/9)
Donna R. (11/9)
Benafsha A. (11/9)
Lance (11/9)
2 Nov meeting notes; 9 Nov reading list
2 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A., Burt (chapters from the novel formerly called The Class of 1942), Glenda, Joanne (a short story, “Kitchen Table Wisdom”), Lance (1.5 chapters from The Bluejay of Mullingar), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
We’re down to the last four meetings of 2023: 9 Nov, 16 Nov, 30 Nov, and 7 Dec.
Author events coming up this next week:
- Saturday, Nov. 4, 2 p.m.: Christina LePort, Dissection (in person at Book Carnival)
- Sunday, Nov. 5, 11 a.m.: Lara Love Hardin, author of Designing Your Life (in person at the Costa Mesa Library, 1855 Park Av., Costa Mesa)
- Sunday, Nov. 5, 2 p.m.: Wendall Thomas, Cheap Thrills (in person at Book Carnival)
9 NOVEMBER READING LIST
Glenda (11/2)
Donna R. (10/26)
Leighanne (11/2)
Rosie (11/2)
Chris L. (10/19)
Benafsha A. (11/2)
Burt (11/2)
Lance (11/2)
Joanne (11/2)
26 Oct meeting notes; 2 Nov reading list
26 OCTOBER MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Benafsha A. (a chapter from The Jewels of Herat), Donna R., Glenda, Joanne, Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
No author events scheduled before 4 Nov.
2 NOVEMBER READING LIST
Glenda (10/26)
Donna R. (10/26)
Leighanne (10/26)
Rosie (10/26)
Chris L. (10/19)
Burt (10/12)
Lance (10/5)
Joanne (10/26)
Benafsha A. (10/26)
19 Oct meeting notes; 26 Oct reading list
19 OCTOBER MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Benafsha A. (two chapters from The Jewels of Herat), Chris L., Donna R., Glenda, Joanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Author events coming up this next week:
- Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m.: SCWA Halloween Spooktacular with authors Dana Hammer, Candi Sary, and Merrie Destefano (in person at the 19th Hole Restaurant, 24122 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Hills) (new location!)
- Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m.: Tori Eldridge, The Ninja’s Oath; Jonathan Mayberry, Cave 13 (in person for Mystery Ink at the Fernhill Clubhouse, 5472 Diamond, Huntington Beach)
- Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m.: Anne Moose, When You Read This I’ll be Gone (in person at Book Carnival)
26 OCTOBER READING LIST
Glenda (10/19)
Donna R. (10/19)
Leighanne (10/12)
Rosie (10/19)
Chris L. (10/19)
Burt (10/12)
Lance (10/5)
Joanne (10/19)
Benafsha A. (10/19)
12 Oct meeting notes; 19 Oct reading list
12 OCTOBER MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Burt, Benafsha A. (two chapters from The Jewels of Herat), Chris L., Glenda, Joanne (a short story, “The Mad Matter Ride to Hoag ER”), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Author events coming up this next week:
- Sunday, Oct. 22, 3 p.m.: Dennis Crosby, “Writing in the Outer Limits: How to Humanize the Un-human” (in person for Sisters in Crime OC at Book Carnival)
- Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m.: SCWA Halloween Spooktacular with authors Dana Hammer, Candi Sary, and Merrie Destefano (in person at the 19th Hole Restaurant, 24122 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Hills) (new location!)
- Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m.: Tori Eldridge, The Ninja’s Oath; Jonathan Mayberry, Cave 13 (in person for Mystery Ink at the Fernhill Clubhouse, 5472 Diamond, Huntington Beach)
- Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m.: Anne Moose, When You Read This I’ll be Gone (in person at Book Carnival)
19 OCTOBER READING LIST
Glenda (10/12)
Donna R. (9/28)
Leighanne (10/12)
Rosie (10/12)
Chris L. (10/12)
Burt (10/12)
Lance (10/5)
Joanne (10/12)
Benafsha A. (10/12)
5 Oct meeting notes; 12 Oct reading list
5 OCTOBER MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Burt (chapters from The Class of 1942), Benafsha A. (a chapter from The Jewels of Herat, formerly Family Jewels), Chris L., Glenda, Lance (two chapters from The Bluejay of Mullingar), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Benafsha attended the Women’s Fiction Writers Association 10th Anniversary Conference in Chicago on 20-23 September.
Rosie’s and Leighanne’s YA author friend Autumn Krause launches her Amazon Editor’s Pick new novel Before the Devil Knows You’re Here on Saturday, 7 Oct., 6 p.m. at the Bella Terra Barnes & Noble in Huntington Beach.
Author events coming up this next week:
- Sunday, Oct. 8, noon: Mark Sevi (editor), Blood Fiction Vol. 2 (in person at Book Carnival)
- Saturday, Oct. 14, 2 p.m.: Baron Birtcher, Reckoning (in person at Book Carnival)
- Saturday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m.: Rachelle Ayala, “Love at First Write: Whirlwind Romance Writing for Rapid Release and Market Success” and “Love Beyond Boundaries: Writing Romance Novels in the Age of AI” (in person and virtual for OC Romance Writers)
12 OCTOBER READING LIST
Glenda (10/5)
Donna R. (9/28)
Leighanne (10/5)
Rosie (10/5)
Chris L. (10/5)
Joanne (9/28)
Burt (10/5)
Lance (10/5)
Benafsha A. (10/5)
28 Sep meeting notes; 5 Oct reading list
28 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Burt, Chris L., Donna R., Glenda, Joanne (welcome back!), Lance (a chapter from The Bluejay of Mullingar), Leighanne, and Rosie (two chapters from Sure Shot).
NEWS & NOTES
Author events coming up this next week:
- Saturday, Sep. 30, 2 p.m.: Tori Eldridge, The Ninja’s Oath (in person at Book Carnival, in conversation with Gary Phillips)
- Sunday, Oct. 1, 2 p.m.: Tod Goldberg, Gangsters Don’t Die; Kaira Rouda, Beneath the Surface (in person at Book Carnival)
- Wednesday, Oct. 4, 5:30 p.m.: Nicola Harrison, Hotel Laguna (in person at the Aliso Viejo Library, 1 Journey, Aliso Viejo)
5 OCTOBER READING LIST
Glenda (9/28)
Donna R. (9/28)
Leighanne (9/28)
Rosie (9/28)
Burt (9/28)
Chris L. (9/28)
Lance (9/28)
Joanne (9/28)
Benafsha A. (8/31)
21 Sep meeting notes; 28 Sep reading list
21 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Six people attended: Burt, Chris L., Glenda, Lance (a chapter from The Bluejay of Mullingar), Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Author events coming up this next week:
- Saturday, Sep. 23, 1 p.m.: Nancy Cole Silverman, Passport to Spy (in person with Mystery Ink at the Fernhill Clubhouse, 5472 Diamond, Huntington Beach)
- Sunday, Sep. 24, 3 p.m.: Lynda J. Bergh Herring, True Lies – My Life as a Private Investigator (in person with Sisters in Crime OC at Book Carnival)
- Thursday, Sep. 28, 1 p.m.: John Connolly, The Land of Lost Things (in person at Book Carnival)
- Thursday, Sep. 28, 5:30 p.m.: Dr. Cristina LePort, Dissection: A Medical & Political Thriller (in person at the Cypress Library, 5331 Orange Av., Cypress)
28 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Glenda (9/21)
Donna R. (8/31)
Leighanne (9/21)
Rosie (9/21)
Benafsha A. (8/31)
Burt (9/21)
Chris L. (9/21)
Lance (9/21)
Joanne (7/27)
14 Sep meeting notes; 21 Sep reading list
14 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Four people attended: Burt, Chris L., Glenda, and Lance (a chapter from The Bluejay of Mullingar).
NEWS & NOTES
Author events coming up this next week:
- Saturday, Sep. 16, 10 a.m.: “Getting the Word Out: The 411 on Book Promotion,” with book publicist Megan Beatie (in person for the Southern California Writers Association)
- Saturday, Sep. 16, 2 p.m.: Michael Brandman, Death Threat (in person at Book Carnival)
- Thursday, Sep. 21, 12 p.m.: Author luncheon featuring Jennifer Coburn, Cradles of the Reich, and Sarah James, The Woman with Two Shadows (in person at the Huntington Beach Central Library, 7111 Talbert Av.)
- Thursday, Sep. 21, 6 p.m.: Ronald Winston, King of Diamonds (in person at the Villa Park Library, 17865 Santiago Blvd., Villa Park)
21 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Glenda (9/14)
Donna R. (8/31)
Joanne (7/27)
Leighanne (8/31)
Rosie (9/7)
Benafsha A. (8/31)
Burt (9/14)
Chris L. (9/14)
Lance (9/14)
7 Sep meeting notes; 14 Sep reading list
7 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Burt (a chapter from Class of 1942), Chris L. (the final chapter of Staff) (congratulations, Chris!), Glenda, Lance (a chapter from The Bluejay of Mullingar), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Author events coming up this next week:
- Saturday, Sep. 9, 10 a.m.: Allie Pleiter, “Perfect Pairings: Characterization” and “The Five Friends Every Writer Needs” (virtual with OC Romance Writers)
- Saturday, Sep. 9, 3:30: Nicola Harrison, Hotel Laguna (in person at the Laguna Beach Library, 363 Glenneyre St., Laguna Beach)
- Monday, Sep. 11, 6 p.m.: William Kent Krueger, The River We Remember (in person at the Donald Dugan Library, 1855 Park Av., Costa Mesa)
14 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Glenda (9/7)
Donna R. (8/31)
Joanne (7/27)
Leighanne (8/31)
Rosie (9/7)
Benafsha A. (8/31)
Burt (9/7)
Chris L. (9/7)
Lance (9/7)
31 Aug meeting notes; 7 Sep reading list
31 AUGUST MEETING NOTES
Five people attended: Benafsha A. (a chapter from Family Jewels), Donna R., Glenda, Leighanne, and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Benafsha will attend the Southern California Writers’ Conference in Irvine 15-17 Sep.
Craig Johnson will discuss his latest novel, The Longmire Defense, at the Orange Public Library (407 E. Chapman Av., Orange) on Tuesday, Sep. 5, at 6 p.m. (in person with Book Carnival).
7 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Glenda (8/31)
Donna R. (8/31)
Joanne (7/27)
Leighanne (8/31)
Rosie (8/31)
Burt (8/24)
Chris L. (8/24)
Lance (8/24)
Benafsha A. (8/31)
24 Aug meeting notes; 31 Aug reading list
24 AUGUST MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended: Benafsha A. (two chapters from Family Jewels), Burt (chapters from Class of 1942), Chris L. (the penultimate two chapters of Staff), Donna R., Glenda, Lance (a chapter from The Bluejay of Mullingar), and Rosie.
NEWS & NOTES
Lance will attend Bouchercon in San Diego 30 Aug-3 Sep and will participate in an author panel on Thursday, 31 Aug.
Author events coming up this next week:
- Saturday, Aug. 26, 1 p.m.: Naomi Hirahara, Evergreen (in person with Mystery Ink at the Fernhill Clubhouse, 5472 Diamond, Huntington Beach)
- Sunday, Aug. 27, 3 p.m.: Greta Boris and Megan Haskell, “The Author Wheel” (in person with Sisters in Crime OC at Book Carnival)
31 AUGUST READING LIST
Glenda (8/24)
Donna R. (8/24)
Joanne (7/27)
Leighanne (7/27)
Rosie (8/24)
Burt (8/24)
Chris L. (8/24)
Benafsha A. (8/24)
Lance (8/24)
Pure Fiction League 