California Writers Club, Mt Diablo Branch

CWC Mt. Diablo January 2026 Meeting with Member Interviews and Writers Table

Barry Hampshire
Michael Barrington

January 2026 General Meeting, Part 1: Member Interviews

Meet our very own British Invasion!

Barry Hampshire and Michael Barrington are famous names in CWC Mt. Diablo. As president and vice-president, they are out front, leading the membership to writerly heights.

But what don’t we know about them? What brought them to the Bay Area and into the writing life? And what do they really mean when one says, “England,” and the other insists on “Great Britain?”

January 2026 General Meeting, Part 2: Writers Table
Choose 1 of 6 Topics

All About Substack with Beatrice Weber

Learn all you need to know about Substack, a very popular online publishing platform.

Beatrice Weber writes at the intersection of faith, feminism, and freedom. A former Hasidic wife and mother of ten, she uses memoir and personal essay to explore what it means to reclaim one’s voice after a lifetime of silence.

    Chi and Your Inner Writer with Kaleo Ching

    Kaleo will share some Chi practices for creative inspiration.

    Kaleo and Elise Ching have co-taught Qigong, art, and writing for transformation for 36 years. They have coauthored 6 books on Qigong and the creative process, including Chi and Creativity: Vital Energy and Your Inner Artist and The Creative Art of Living, Dying & Renewal. 

      Spreadsheets and Style Sheets: Organize Your Writing with Bill Stong

      Spreadsheets help with the business
      side, and style sheets provide
      consistency to your story

      Born in Michigan, Bill Stong lived in Venezuela, South Africa, and Japan before a long career in international banking. An avid writer of historical fiction, travel stories, and non-fiction, he uses Excel spreadsheets and Style sheets to keep his writing on track.

        Beta-reading the WRITE WAY with Linda Hartman

        Share your unpublished manuscript to selected readers. Collect feedback and reading data to understand what works and what needs polishing.

        Linda Hartmann, former critical care nurse and biotech Sr. Director developing targeted biologics, blends science and art as an award-winning writer and literary leader. She is past president of CWC–Mt. Diablo, She co-chairs Lamorinda Arts Council events, and is published in Transitions Anthology and with FDA/EMEA regulators.

          Real World Crime, Criminal Policing with Bob O’Brien

          Crime, mystery, & police writers learn
          about the real world of policing,
          investigations, and criminals from a
          retired SWAT cop’s point of view.

          Bob O’Brien is a Retired Cleveland, Ohio, Police SWAT Sergeant, and an Army veteran. He has published numerous police, tactical, crime related articles for a number of law enforcement and counter terrorism publications.

            What Contest Judges Look For with B. Lynn Goodwin

            For writers entering contests, Lynn will
            provide a list of things editors look for
            and a sample or two to let people
            practice editing/rewriting.

            B. Lynn Goodwin is the owner of Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com, online since 1997.

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              CWC Mt. Diablo Branch, P.O. Box 606, Alamo, CA 94507