This meeting is at the Community Center on Civic Drive.
November General Meeting featuring Gideon Asche,
Author, Columnist, Historian
November 14, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Early Bird Special:
Register before Nov. 7th and save $5.00
Gideon Asche is a writer with an amazing story to tell. In addition to working as a clandestine intelligence officer, (a spy!), during the Cold War, he worked for Radio Free Europe rewriting scripts for English learning programs for broadcasts behind the Iron Curtain. He has worked in several highly secret and dangerous government positions. He wrote unofficially about some experiences and published in High Times and other publications, after which he was visited by unwelcome government investigators. His publisher canceled his first book because of Government restrictions. It took another 2 years to get clearance to publish JINNIK the Asset, A Cold War Memory. He is currently working on a historical novel, Hummingbird, and it too will require clearance by the State Department.
General Meeting Part 1
- Member Book Sale, 10:00 – 10:30
(Please come early to set up your spot) - 3-Minute Flash Fiction, 10:30 – 10:45
- Business Meeting, 10:45 – 11:00
Coffee, tea, fruit, and pastries included.
General Meeting Part 2
Our Featured Speaker: Gideon Asche, 11:00 – 12:00
Come and listen to this fascinating writer. Learn about the dual challenge of holding down an unusual full-time job while being a writer. You will learn about the challenges and restrictions of memoir and novel writing with the State Department looking over your shoulder.
General Meeting Part 3
Stay after the meeting until 1:30 for optional events. Attendance at Parts 1 and 2 is required to participate in optional activities.
Suggested activities:
- Sell more books! Restricted to this meeting only.
- Critique groups
- Hush & write group
- Start a discussion on a particular topic of writing
- Play Scrabble (bring your own game board)
Cost
CWC Members: $15.00 ($20.00 after Nov. 7th)
Guests: $20.00
LOCATION
Pleasant Hill Community Center
320 Civic Drive
Pleasant Hill, CA
Click on the Heading for More Information
Guest Vouchers
Give a friend $10.00 off a General Meeting or Workshop
- Invite a guest who has never attended a Mt. Diablo meeting
- Request a voucher for your guest for $10.00 off a meeting or workshop.
- We will email your guest a voucher number and the link to register for the meeting.
- Your guest registers for the meeting, enters the voucher number, and receives a $10.00 discount.
Meeting Policy for Guests under Age 13
While CWC-Mt. Diablo strives to ensure our meetings, whether in-person or online, are safe for all, participant views are their own. Youth under 13 years old must have their adult join them for this event. By registering you are acknowledging that you are over 13, and that you intend to participate in this program. If you are under 13, please ask your adult to help you sign up. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of every third-party website or service that you visit or use, including those third parties with whom you interact through our meetings.
Cancellation Policy
We accept cancellations up to 72 hours in advance of the meeting. If you paid with PayPal, you will receive a refund. If you cancel after the deadline, no refund is given. In that case, if you choose to pay at the door, we will bill you for the payment.
