California Writers Club, Mt Diablo Branch

Welcome to CWC Mt. Diablo Branch!

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Past Speakers

2021

  • 01/09: Frederick Foote: Creating Diverse Characters: Foote_Event
  • 02/13: Penny Warner: Talking the Talk: How to Make Your Dialog Sound Realistic: Warner_Event

2020

  • 01/11: Victoria Zackheim: Turning Ideas Into Prose: Zackheim_event
  • 02/08: Rick Acker: Keeping it Real: Creating Tension with Believable Plot Twists
  • 03/14: Penny Warner: Talking the Talk: How to Make your Dialogue Sound Realistic
  • 04/11: Helen Sedwick: Using Real People in Your Writing: Sedwick_Event
  • 05/09: Jill Hedgecock, Bill Stong: Setting the Stage: When Destination Matters: Hedgecock-Stong_Event
  • 06/13: Kevin Fisher-Paulson: With a Trowel not an Axe: The Gentler Way of Editing: Paulson_Event
  • 09/12: Joan Gelfand: Getting Published: You Can Be a Winning Writer Gelfand_Event
  • 10/10: Christopher Locke: The Power of Book Reviews and How to Harness Them Locke_Event
  • 11/14 Jane Cleland: Mastering Plot Twists Cleleand_Event
  • 12/12 Penny Sansevier: Getting It Right: Top 9 Ways to Make Your Book Successful

2019

  • 01/12: Kevin Fisher-Paulson: Writing as a Search for Meaning: Paulson_event
  • 02/09: Steven Nightingale: The Art of Language: Nightingale_event
  • 03/09: C.S. Lakin: The Four Foundational Pillars of Novel Construction: Lakin_event
  • 04/13: Elizabeth Stark: Scene Making: The Essence of Storytelling: Stark_event
  • 05/11: Rachael Herron: Making the Mud Pie into a Palace: How to Revise Your Novel: Herron_event
  • 06/08: Bell McNeill: Trends in Bookselling Today: Mcneill_event
  • 09/14: Dr. Ann Steiner: How to Successfully Promote Your Book: Steiner_event
  • 10/12: Angie Powers: Screenwriting Tools for Sharpening Prose: Powers_event
  • 11/09: Janine Kovak: It Takes a Village: Kovak_event
  • 12/14: Marianne Lonsdale, Colleen Gonzales, Charla Gabert, Three of Our Own: Lonsdale, Gonzalez, Gabert_event

2018

  • 01/13: Amanda McTigue: Pitching: Telling the Story of Your Story McTigue_event
  • 02/10: Clive Matson: Finding Your Most Powerful Words Matson_event
  • 03/10: Beth Barany: Writing Compelling Characters: Beyond the Five Senses Barany_event
  • 04/14: Dean Gloster: Writing Humor—A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Death Scene: Why and How to Use Humor in Serious Stories Gloster_event
  • 05/12: Veronica Rossi: Life is Fiction and Fiction is Life Rossi_Event
  • 06/09: Brook Warner: An Exploration of Hybrid Publishing Warner_Event
  • 09/08: Stephanie Chandler: Book Marketing and Launch Strategies Chandler_event
  • 10/13: Penny Warner: How to Hook Your Readers… and Reel Them In Warner_event
  • 11/10: David Corbett: The Compass of Character Corbett_Event
  • 12/08: Janet Finsliver, Jim Hasse, Wendy Blakeley: Three of Our Own: Finsilver, Hasse, Blakeley_event

2017

  • 01/14: Catherine Bramkamp: Finding the True Wizard: Social Media Strategies for Authors Bramkamp_event
  • 02/11: Meghan Ward: Writing as a Team Sport: Discover Hidden Talents, Improve your Productivity, and Launch a Successful Writing Career Through Other Writers Ward_event
  • 03/11: Stuart Horwitz: Finish Your Book in Three Drafts Horwitz_event
  • 04/08: Helen Sedwick: How to Protect Your Writing Rights and Your Wallet Sedwick_event
  • 05/13: Tim Meyers: Becoming a Writer Meyers_event
  • 06/10: Molly Williams: Not Only a Cover, Judge a Book by its Pages Williams_event
  • 09/08: Andrew Benzie: Promoting Your Book: Building a Successful Marketing Strategy Benzie_event
  • 10/14: Jordan Rosenfeld: Get Intimate with Your Characters: Mastering Point of View for Dazzling Character Development Rosenfeld_event
  • 11/11: Arlene Miller: Is this the New Normal? Grammar Gone Horribly Wrong! Miller_Event
  • 12/09: Joanna Kraus, Michale Banister, Kymberlie Ingalls: Three of Our Own Kraus, Banister, Ignalls_event

2016

  • 01/09:  Tamara Monosoff: 5 Simple Stratagies to Boost Your Income Now, Monosoff_event
  • 02/13: Roy Mash: Word Selection: Building a Strong Story Foundation, Mash_event
  • 03/13: C. S. Lakin: The Fatal Flaws of Writing, Lakin_event
  • 04/09: Tamim Ansary: Why Do We Write? Ansary_event
  • 05/14: Heather Mackey: Turning Ideas into Stories Mackey_event
  • 06/10: Leeanne Krusemark: Writing Irresistible Querry Letters Kruesmark _event
  • 09/10: Anita Amirrezvani: Write from the Inside Out Amirrezvani_event
  • 10/08: Marilyn Atlas: Dating Your Character Atlas_event
  • 11/12: Joan Morris: Keeping the Hats On Straight Morris_event
  • 12/12: Jil Plummer, Bill Stong, Leslie Rupley: Three of Our Own, Plummer_Stong_Rupley_event

2015

  • 01/10 Jim Azevedo: The Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success, azevedo_event
  • 02/14 Susan Shea:  Writing What We Know: What Does That Mean?, shea_event
  • 03/14 Jordan Rosenfeld:  Writing the Page-Turner: Keep Your Readers Up Past Their Bedtime, rosenfeld_event_2
  • 04/14 Eric Elfman:  How to Hook them from the First Page, elfman_event
  • 05/09 Young Writers Contest and Marissa Moss:  Taking the Plunge:  An Insider’s Tips for Writers, YWC_and_Marissa_Moss_event
  • 06/13 Joshua Mohr:  Plarachterization: Intersection of Plot and Character, mohr_event
  • 09/12 Grant Faulkner:  Writing with Abandon: Overcoming procrastination and learning how a goal and a deadline pay off, faulkner_event
  • 10/10 Amanda McTigue:  Writing Emotion to Move Your Readers, mctigue_event
  • 11/14 David Congalton:  Chasing a Creative Dream, congalton_event
  • 12/12 B. Lynn Goodwin, Al Garrotto, Ann Steiner:  The Path to Publication, goodwin_garrotto_steiner_event

2014

  • 01/11 Victoria Zackheim: Building Your Masterpiece, Start to Finish, Zackheim_event
  • 02/8 Janice de Jesus: Writing in Different Genres, de_jesus_event
  • 03/8 Marilyn Atlas: Creating 3-Dimensional Non-Stereotypical Characters, marilyn_atlas_event
  • 04/12 Jordan Rosenfeld: Plotting Your Novel One Scene at a Time, jordan_rosenfeld_event
  • 05/10 Young Writers Award Banquet with Ellen Klages, YWC_klages_event
  • 06/14 Mary Mackey:  How to Travel Like a Writer, mary_mackey_event
  • 09/13 Bridget Watson Payne:  The Power of Words and Images, bridget_watson_payne_event
  • 10/11 Amanda McTigue:  What Voice Can Do for Your Writing, amanda_mctigue_event
  • 11/8 C. S. Lakin: Sizzling Scenes, cslakin_event
  • 12/13 Andrew Benzie, Dina Colman, Melanie Denman: Top Ten Tips on Publishing, benzie_colman_denman_event

2013

  • 01/12 Constance Hale: Creative Use of Language in Fiction and Non-Fiction, constance_hale_event [note: this event did take place in 2013, despite the error in the date on the event page]
  • 02/9: Nina Egert: Trimming the Fat from our Writing, nina_egert_event
  • 03/14: Angela Schiavone: Smashwords and Best Practices of E-publishing,  angela_schiavone_event
  • 04/13: Jane Vanderburgh:  Architecture of Long Works in Fiction and Nonfiction, jane_vanderburgh_event
  • 05/13:  Young Writers Award Banquet, with Mike Jung, mike_jung_event
  • 06/13:  Margit Lietsche:  Weaving Stories Around Actual Events, margit_lietsche_event
  • 09/13:  Judith Newton:  Publishing Both Short and Full-length Works, judith_newton_event
  • 10/13:  Ron Shoop:  Confessions of a Bookseller, ron_shoop_event
  • 11/13:  Rick Acker: The Legal Aspects of Writing and Publishing, rick_acker_event
  • 12/13:  Three of our Own: Ann Damaschino, Lyn Roberts, & Elisabeth Tuck, Why Editing is Essential to Writing, three_of_our_own_december_2013_event

2012

  • 01/14 Camille Minichino:  She stepped in for Nick Mamatas at the last minute to the gratitude of the CWC Mt. Diablo Board and entire branch, camille_minichino_event
  • 02/11 Elizabeth Rossner: Thinking Like A Poet Can Improve Your Writing, elizabeth_rosner_event
  • 03/10 Sean Hazlett:  Blogging to Build an Audience 101, sean_hazlett_event
  • 04/14 Maria Murnane: Sell Your Book!  Tons of Tips from a PR/Marketing Pro, maria_murnane_event
  • 05/14 Young Writers Award Banquet, with Lindsey Grant, lindsey_grant_YW_event
  • 06/09 Maxine Hong Kingston:  “Woman Warrior’s Journey from War to Peace,” maxine_hong_kingston_event
  • 09/08 W. Byron Parnell:  “How a Book Gets Published — Or Not,” w_byron_parnell_event
  • 10/13 Rick Reed: “Put Life Experiences Into Your Writing,” rick_reed_event
  • 11/10 Nick Mamatas: “Beginnings and Endings for Fiction and Non-fiction,” nick_mamatas_event
  • 12/8 Two of Our Own, two_of_our_own_event

2011

  • 01/11 Ransom Stephens, the God Patent and the Future of Publishing, ransom stephens event
  • 02/11 Tamim Ansary, Afghan American author and lecturer, Tamim_Ansary_event
  • 03/11 Carla King, Self-publisher, carla_king_event
  • 04/11 Naomi Epel, author, radio host and former head of a book-tour escort agency, naomi_epel_event
  • 05/11 Young Writers Award Banquet, with Abigail Samoun, abigail_samoun_YW_event
  • 06/11 Jeff Carlson, best-selling author, jeff_carlson_event
  • 09/11 Victoria Zackheim, “From Sex to Senility: In Anthologies, Anything Goes!,” Victoria_Zackheim_event
  • 10/08 Veronica Rossi, “Creating High Concept Fiction,” veronica_rossi_event
  • 11/12 Jessica Inclán, “Who’s Telling the Story and When?  Point-of-View and Tense,” inclan_event
  • 12/12 Three of our Own, three_of_our_own_event

2010

  • 01/10 Veronica Chater, Memoirist, veronica_chater_event
  • 02/13 Suzanne Woods Fisher, Starting Small—Working your way from short pieces to book length projects, suzanne_woods_fisher_event
  • 03/13 Nik C. Colyer, Grit-Lit Novelist, Poet, nik_colyer_event
  • 04/10 Workshop—Martha Engber, Pyramid Tipping: How To Create Great Characters From the Top Down, martha_engber_event
  • 05/15 Young Writers Banquet, Melissa Manlove, Editor, Chronicle Books, melissa_manlove_YW_event
  • 06/12 Sophie Littlefield, Finish That Book, sophie_littlefield_event
  • 09/11 Malena Watrous, novelist, malena_watrous_event
  • 10/9 Robert Dugoni, Step Up and Swing the Bat, robert_dugoni_event
  • 11/13 James Dalessandro, Similarities between Books and Screenplays, james_dalessandro_event
  • 12/11 Three of Our Own: Bev Lauderdale, novelist; Deborah Davis, The Hard Questions to Ask Yourself When You Revise; Judith Marshall, From First Draft to Movie Option, three_of_our_own_event

2009

  • 01/09 Laurel Ann Hill and Alice Wilson-Fried, The Long and Short of Writing an Award-Winning Novel, hill_wilson_fried_event
  • 02/09 Robert G. Pimm, attorney at law, Legal Aspects of Writing and Publishing, robert_g_pimm_event
  • 03/09 Stephanie Chandler, The Author’s Guide to Building an Online Platform: Leveraging the Internet to Sell More Books, stephanie_chandler_event
  • 04/09 Priscilla Royal, Researching and Writing the Historical Novel, priscilla_royal_event
  • 05/09 Young Writers Awards Banquet: Camille Minichino & David Alpaugh, minichino_alpaugh_YW_event
  • 06/09 Verna Dreisbach, literary agent, verna_dreisbach_event
  • 09/09 Janis Bell, Clean, Well-Lighted Sentences, janis_bell_event
  • 10/09 Jack London Lecture: Ron Hansen, Why We Write, ron_hansen_event
  • 11/09 Workshop: Janis Cooke Newman, Characters and Plotting, janis_cooke_newman_event
  • 12/09 Three of Our Own: B. Lynn Goodwin, Aline Soules, Catherine Accardi, three_of_our_own_2009_event

2008

  • 01/08 Elisa Southard, APR, Break Through the Noise: 9 Tools to Propel Your Marketing Message, elisa_southard_event
  • 02/08 Hailey Lind, mystery novelist, hailey_lind_event
  • 03/08 Meredith Maran, nonfiction workshop, meredith_maran_event
  • 04/08 Emily Boyd, editor, North Atlantic Books, emily_boyd_event
  • 05/08 Leslie Griffith, news anchor & HuffingtonPost.com columnist, leslie_griffith_YW_event
  • 06/08 Martha Engber, Great Characters From the Ground Up, martha_engber_2008_event
  • 09/08 Anita Amirrezvani, The Blood of Flowers, anita_amirrezvani_event
  • 10/08 Darryl Brock, Practical Tips for Writing Novels, darryl_brock_event
  • 11/08 Workshop: Penny Warner, Effective Plotting, penny_warner_event
  • 12/08 Three of Our Own: Barbara Bentley, Gary Gwilliam, Katie Vecchio, three_of_our_own_2008_event

2007

  • 01/07 Kate Nitze, MacAdam Cage editor; Janis Cooke Newman,  cooke_nitze_event, jan_2007_photos
  • 02/07 Simon Wood, mystery author, simon_wood_event, feb_2007_photos
  • 03/07 Beth Proudfoot, Getting the Most out of Writing Conferences, beth_proudfoot_event, mar_2007_photos
  • 04/07 Beth Lisick, humor essayist, memoir, beth_lisick_event, apr_2007_photos
  • 05/07 Susan Taylor Brown, middle grade novelist,
  • 06/07
  • 09/07 Bryan Tolin & B.J. West, screenwriters, tolin_west_event
  • 10/07 Ron Shoop, Random House sales representative, ron_shoop_event
  • 11/07 Camille Minichino, workshop: Writing Cover Letters, Queries and the Synopsis, minichino_lind_event
  • 12/07 Three of our own:  Myles Knapp, Contra Costa Times book reviewer; Frank Thornburg, humorist; Fran Wojnar, crime novelist, three_of_our_own_2007_event

2006

  • 01/06 Martha Alderson, Blockbuster Plots, alderson_event, jan_2006_photos
  • 02/06 David Cole, Baytree Publishing, Book Marketing, cole_event, feb_2006_photos
  • 03/06 Joshua Braff, novelist, How to Create Humor Within Serious Fiction, braff_event, mar_2006_photos
  • 04/06 Judge James Marchiano, First District Court of Appeal, Learn the Criminal Justice System, marchiano_event, apr_2006_photos
  • 05/06 Young Writers Contest Banquet: Kathryn Reiss, author, kathryn_reiss_YW_event, YW_2006_photos
  • 06/06 Kathryn G. McCarty, playwright, artistic director, Galatean Players Ensemble Theatre, kathryn_g_mccarty_event, June_2006_photos
  • 09/06 Andrew Sean Greer, novelist, The Confessions of Max Tivoli, andrew_sean_greer_event, Sept_2006_photos
  • 10/06 Larry Habegger, executive editor, Travelers’ Tales, habegger_event, Oct_2006_photos
  • 11/06 Jane Anne Staw, Unstuck: Working Through Writing Blocks; Donna Levin, Get That Novel Started, staw_levin_event, Nov_2006_photos
  • 12/06 Two of Our Own: Beverley Lauderdale, articles, short stories; Sally Tubach, self-publishing, lauderdale_tubach_event, dec_2006_photos

2005

  • 01/05 Mary Roach, nonfiction author, gonick_event, jan_2005_photos
  • 02/05 John Billheimer, mystery novelist, billheimer_event, feb_2005_photos
  • 03/05 Ted Weinstein, literary agent, weinstein_event, mar_2005_photos (note: photo head reads Feb, 2005, which is incorrect)
  • 04/05 James Dalessandro, novelist and screenwriter, dalessandro_2005_event, apr_2005_photos (note: photo head reads Feb, 2005, which is incorrect)
  • 05/05 Lynn Hazen, children’s author, hazen_YW_event, may_2005_photos
  • 06/05 Claudia Kawczyska and Susan Tasaki, writing and editing team, Bark Magazine, kawczyska_tasaki_event, june_2005_photos
  • 09/05 Nina Schuyler, Historical Fiction, schuyler_event, sept_2005_photos
  • 10/05 Margaret Lucke, Short Story, Mystery Writing Secrets, lucke_event, oct_2005_photos
  • 11/05 Charlotte Cook, editing, Al Garrotto, dialogue, Liz Pentacoff, character, Camille, Minichino, setting, cook_garrotto_pentacoff_minichino_event, nov_2005_photos
  • 12/05 Jill Hedgecock, Essays; Lee Paulsen, Humor; Chasity Canfield and Tammy Maxon, newsletter editors, three_of_our_own_2005_event, dec_2005_photos

2004

  • 01/04 Gonzalo Ferreyra, Bookstore Chains — Catching Their Eye, ferreyra_event, jan_2004_photos
  • 02/04 Ann Parker, Getting It Right-Researching for Fiction, parker_event, feb_2004_photos
  • 03/04 Thomas Farber, Meditations on Art, farber_event, mar_2004_photos
  • 04/04 Jill Lublin, Guerrilla Publicity, lublin_event, apr_2004_photos
  • 05/04 Richard Stockton, Laughing Thru the Writing Life, stockton_event, may_2004_photos
  • 06/04 Loretta Ichord, Making History Fun, ichord_event, june_2004_photos
  • 09/04 Marty Nemko, how-to book & article author, nemko_event, sept_2004_photos
  • 10/04 Ying Compestine, cookbook and children’s author, compestine_event, oct_2004_photos
  • 11/04 Karen Joy Fowler, novelist, fowler_event, nov_2004_photos
  • 12/04 Three of our own:  Donna Cook, self-publishing; Paul Cooper, columns; Ray Nelson, sci-fi, three_of_our_own_2004_event, dec_2004_photos

2003

  • 01/03 Aaron Wehner/Gonzalo Ferreyra, TenSpeed Press Publishing, wehner_ferreyra_event, jan_2003_photos
  • 02/03 Michael Larsen/Elizabeth Pomada, agents, Publishing, larsen_pomada_event, feb_2003_photos
  • 03/03 Tess Uriza Holthe, Novel, Blending Fact and Fable, holthe_event, mar_2003_photos
  • 04/03 Cara Black, Fiction and Mystery, black_event, apr_2003_photos
  • 05/03 Panel: Three of our own: Liz Pentacoff, Al Garrotto & Camille Minichino, What Works for Me, three_of_our_own_may_2003_event, may_2003_photos
  • 06/03 Marisa Montes, children’s author, Motivation and the Muse, montes_event, june_2003_photos
  • 09/03 William Wong, Viewing a Technicolor World Through a Yellow Lens, wong_event, sept_2003_photos
  • 10/03 Ron Borland, Looking For a Melody (Songwriting), borland_event, oct_2003_photos
  • 11/03 Dena Fischer, Amy Rennert Agency, Writer’s Best Friend—Your Agent, fischer_event, Nov_2003_photos
  • 12/03 Three of our own:  Katrina Prado, Betty Fielding, and Pearl Atkins Schwartz, three_of_our_own_2003_event, dec_2003_photos

2002

  • 01/02 Claudia MonPere, Essay and Memoir, monpere_event, jan_2002_photos
  • 02/02 Rhys Bowen, Mystery, bowen_event, feb_2002_photos
  • 03/02 Ethan Watters, Writers Community and Freelancing. watters_event, mar_2002_photos
  • 04/02 James Kruger, Subsidy/Self-Publishing, kruger_event, apr_2002_photos
  • 05/02 Debra Levi Holtz, Memoir, holtz_event, may_2002_photos; David Alpaugh, Poetry Workshop, may_2002_poetry_workshop_photos
  • 06/02 Gennifer Choldenko, children’s author, choldenko_event, june_2002_photos
  • 09/02 Wendy Lichtman, Freelance, Writing in First Person; Matt Wills, TV News Workshop, lichtman_event, sept_2002_photos
  • 10/02 Richard Dry, Fiction, dry_event, oct_2002_photos
  • 11/02 Jessica Barksdale Inclan, Fiction, inclan_event, nov_2002_photos
  • 12/02 Barry Eisler, Fiction/Mystery, eisler_event, dec_2002_photos (note: photo head says Nov, 2002, which is incorrect)

2001

  • 01/01 Tess Collins, Mystery and Writing, collins_event, jan_2001_photos
  • 02/01 Frank Baldwin, Fiction, baldwin_event, feb_2001_photos
  • 03/01 James Dalessandro, Screenwriting, Fiction and Nonfiction, dalessandro_2001_event, mar_2001_photos
  • 04/01 Clive Matson, Facilitating Creativity and Non Fiction, matson_event, apr_2001_photos
  • 05/01 Eric Maisel, Ph.D., Psychotherapy, How-To’s for Creative People, maisel_event, may_2001_photos
  • 06/01 Katherine Sturtevant, Historical Fiction/Children’s, sturtevant_event, june_2001_photos
  • 09/01 Elizabeth Fishel, Memoir, Nonfiction, fishel_event, sept_2001_photos
  • 10/01 Catherine Coulter, Historical Romance/Suspense/Thriller, coulter_event, oct_2001_photos (note:  photo head reads Sept, 2001, which is incorrect)
  • 11/01 Matt Wills, Television News, wills_event, nov_2001_photos
  • 12/01 Fritz Tubach/Bernie Rosner/Sally Tubach, Nonfiction, tubach_rosner_tubach_event, dec_2001_photos

2000

  • 01/00 Beverly Lauderdale, Freelance Writing, lauderdale_event, jan_2000_photos
  • 02/00 Christine Walker, Facilitating Creativity, walker_event, feb_2000_photos
  • 03/00 Gail Tsukiyama, Historical Fiction, tsukiyama_event, mar_2000_photos
  • 04/00 David Alpaugh, Poetry, alpaugh_event, apr_2000_photos
  • 05/00 Gil Mansergh, Movies, mansergh_event, may_2000_photos
  • 06/00 Marilyn Sachs, Children’s Books, sachs_event, june_2000_photos
  • 09/00 Journalists Panel, How to Sell to the Print Media, billings_biro_event, sept_2000_photos
  • 10/00 Carol Lynn Pearson, Poetry, Plays, Nonfiction, pearson_event, oct_2000_photos
  • 11/00 Sarah Andrews, Mystery, andrews_event, nov_2000_photos
  • 12/00 Susan Page, Inspiration and How to Get Published, page_event, dec_2000_photos

1999

  • 01/99 Penny Warner, mystery, warner_event, jan_1999_photos
  • 02/99 Gary Bogue, wildlife, bogue_event, feb_1999_photos
  • 03/99 Jean Hegland, futuristic author, hegland_event, mar_1999_photos
  • 04/99 Cynthia Bass, historical novelist, bass_event, apr_1999_photos
  • 05/99 Molly Giles, short story, giles_event, may_1999_photos
  • 06/99 Three of our best:  Joanna Kraus, plays; Susan hart Lindquist, children’s author; Lori Marquest, publisher and editor, three_of_our_best_1999_event, june_1999_speaker_photos, june_1999_other_photos
  • 09/99 Mary Jane Ryan, nonfiction publisher, ryan_event, sept_1999_photos
  • 10/99 Eric Maisel, Ph.D., psychotherapist, How-To For Creative People, maisel_1999_event, oct_1999_photos
  • 11/99 Stephen D. Gutierrez, Short Story and Essay, gutierrez_event, nov_1999_photos
  • 12/99 Lori Fairweather, mystery author, fairweather_event, dec_1999_photos

1998

  • 01/98 Jonnie Jacobs, mystery author
  • 02/98 Muriel James, nonfiction author
  • 03/98 Michael Larsen and Elizabeth Pomada, literary agents
  • 04/98 Molly Giles, short story author
  • 05/98 Ray Nelson, screenwriter
  • 06/98 Beverly Lauderdale, author
  • 09/98 Ruth Heller, children’s books, heller_event
  • 10/98 Thaisa Frank, Finding Your Writer’s Voice; a Guide to Creative Fiction, frank_event
  • 11/98 Marion Cunningham, cookbooks, cunningham_event, nov_1998_photos
  • 12/98 Brenda Hillman, poetry, hillman_event, dec_1998_photos

1997

  • 01/97 Joanne Pence, Gourmet Food And Murder
  • 02/97 Joanna H. Kraus, Playwriting, From Page to Stage!
  • 03/97 Carol Fowler, How to Write About Peripatetics
  • 04/97
  • 05/97 Alfred J. Garrotto & Shyrle Hacker, Summer Sendoff
  • 06/97
  • 09/97 Karen Cushman, author
  • 10/97 Marjorie Wallace, copyrights
  • 11/97 Joan Morris, Contra Costa Times, columnist
  • 12/97 Persia Woolley, Historical Fiction

1996

  • 01/96 Peg Jordan, Script Writing/Jumpin’ Productions
  • 02/96 Brenda Love, Encylopedia Of Unusual Sex Practice
  • 03/96 Roger Schuester, What The IRS Wants You To Know
  • 04/96 Jon Carroll, San Francisco Chronicle writer
  • 05/96 Eric Maisel, Ph.D.
  • 06/96 Jane Trittipo, The Marvelous Microwave: Good Food in Practically No Time
  • 09/96 Sally Patterson Tubach, The Experimental Novel
  • 10/96 Sarah Wilson, children’s author
  • 11/96 Ella Leffland, Rumors Of Peace
  • 12/96 Jane Trittipo, How to Win at the Self Publishing Game

1995

  • 01/95 Shirley Strevensky
  • 02/95 Cynthia Bass, Sherman’s March
  • 03/95 Jane Bonander
  • 04/95 Louise Murphy, The Sea Within
  • 05/95 Panel: Ted Fuller/Denella Kimura/Ginger Wadsorth
  • 06/95 Diane Stevens, Liza’s Blue Moon
  • 09/95 Roger Rapaport, Berkeley publisher
  • 10/95 Ella Ellis
  • 11/95
  • 12/95

1994

  • 01/94 Patricia Evans, The Verbally Abusive Relationship
  • 02/94 Lyn Stegner
  • 03/94 Susan Holtzer
  • 04/94 Ginger Wadsworth, children’s nonfiction
  • 05/94 Diane Weddington, How To Bat 1000 With Your Book Proposal
  • 06/94 Eric Maisel, Ph.D., Sharing Your Work Speaking
  • 09/94 Shyrle Hacker
  • 10/94 Richard Silberg, poet, editor of Poetry Flash
  • 11/94 Gunther Boccius
  • 12/94 Penny Warner

1993

  • 01/93 Eric Maisel, Surviving As A Writer
  • 02/93 Joe Gore, screen writer, novelist
  • 03/93 Linda Grant, Writing Your First Novel
  • 04/93 Marc Weidenbaum, Pulse!
  • 05/93 Marc Weidenbaum, Relationship Between Editors And Freelancers
  • 06/93 Ida Rae Egli, No Rooms Of Their Own: Women Writers of Early California
  • 09/93 Andrea Brown, agent
  • 10/93 Michael Litchfield, It’s A Conspiracy
  • 11/93 Jim Scala
  • 12/93 Richard F. Carter, The Golden Years Are A Crock

1992

  • 01/92 Deborah Lee Rose, How To Write Children’s Books
  • 02/92 Alan Rinzler, Editor; Friend Or Foe?
  • 03/92 Sister Carol Anne O’Marie, Murder After Mass
  • 04/92
  • 05/92 Laurie Harper, The Outlook For Publishing
  • 06/92 Dave Newhouse, syndicated columnist, The Jim Plunket and Heismann After-Story
  • 09/92 Bud Gardner, Turning Your Dreams Into Sale
  • 10/92 Networking exchange with members “Old” and “New”
  • 11/92 Candice Fuhrman, literary agent
  • 12/92

1991

  • 01/91 David O’Rourke, Writing The Way You Talk
  • 02/91 Dorothy Stroup, Writing, Publishing And Surviving Your First Novel
  • 03/91 M. Larsen/E. Pomada, The 100% Solution To Becoming A Best Selling Author
  • 04/9 Ila Berry, On Poetry
  • 05/91 Sue Olson, Ghost Writing Can Be Scary
  • 06/91 Ginger Wadsworth, Writing Biographies
  • 09/91 Jon Herren, Breaking Into A Small Press Market
  • 10/91 Sue Bender, Following The Path To Your Heart
  • 11/91 Patricia J. Hall, What A Small Press Can Offer You
  • 12/91 CWC panel

1990

  • 01/90 Sam Metnick, How To Be Published
  • 02/90 Linda-Mane Singer, How To Interview Celebrities
  • 03/90 Maggie Switzer, George Emanuel and Danard Emanuelson, Self-Publishing
  • 04/90 Nancy Cherich, Cliffhanger Press
  • 05/90
  • 06/90 Ted Fuller, Self-Publishing
  • 09/90 Alan Rinzler, What Editors Want
  • 10/90 James Frey, How To Write A Damn Good Novel
  • 11/90 Dr. Arlan Cohn, How To Kill As Few Patients As Possible
  • 12/90 CWC panel, A Writing Panorama

1989

  • 09/89 Janet Fullwood, Sacramento Bee travel editor
  • 10/89 Robert McDowell, Quiet Money
  • 11/89 Myna Courtney, Travel Writing

Follow Us

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Our Meeting Schedule

General Meetings and Workshops are held the second Saturday of each month, except July and August.
During Covid-19 restrictions, we are meeting on Zoom. Otherwise, we meet in Pleasant Hill at
Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant
611 Gregory Lane

 

Upcoming Programs

March 13: James Scott Bell
Write Your Novel From The Middle: A New Approach for Plotters, Pantsers and Everyone in Between

April 10: Alan Brennert
Researching Your Novel: Reality Matters

Our Members' Books

WingsOverNormandy
WingsOverNormandy
Unnatural
Unnatural
From Shadow's Perspective
From Shadow's Perspective
Colossus-HOME book cover
Colossus-HOME book cover
Five Plays for Young Audiences
Five Plays for Young Audiences
The Blue Jeans Rebellion
The Blue Jeans Rebellion
The Mona Lisa Sisters
The Mona Lisa Sisters
FDN
FDN
Blood Debt- A Vince Torelli Mystery
Blood Debt- A Vince Torelli Mystery
Oh Little Ham of Buffalo: A Korean Adoption Memoir
Oh Little Ham of Buffalo: A Korean Adoption Memoir
Granddad's-Garden
Granddad's-Garden
The Scattered Autumn Leaves
The Scattered Autumn Leaves
Just a Girl: Growing Up Female and Ambitious
Just a Girl: Growing Up Female and Ambitious
I'll Paint a Sun
I'll Paint a Sun
Forgiving-Day-by-Day
Forgiving-Day-by-Day
Shadow Birds
Shadow Birds
Meet the Principal
Meet the Principal
The Burning Barn
The Burning Barn
Race to Radar
Race to Radar
Husbands May Come and Go but Friends are Forever
Husbands May Come and Go but Friends are Forever
Between Shadows Eyes cover
Between Shadows Eyes
Maracaibo Oil Brat Book Two cover
Maracaibo Oil Brat Book Two
The Fire Trail book cover
The Fire Trail
Inheritance book cover
Inheritance
Confessions of a Middle-Aged Runaway
Confessions of a Middle-Aged Runaway
Rhino in the Room cover
Rhino in the Room
Another New Years Eve cover
Another New Years Eve
MP
MP
Diplomatic Immunity
Diplomatic Immunity
Retribution
Retribution
Sin Eater
Sin Eater
Dream Me
Dream Me
The House at 758
The House at 758
Going Places
Going Places
Help Your Group Thrive
Help Your Group Thrive
Never Too Late
nevertoolate.png
Rhythms Primeval cover
Rhythms Primeval
Ingalls 43
Ingalls 43
Chronicles of an Occupational Prostitute
Chronicles of an Occupational Prostitute
“Get 10,000+ Twitter Followers—Easily, Quickly, Ethically is one of the best books on building a Twitter audience that I have ever read. I’ll be recommending this must-have guide to our clients for years to come.”
twitter cathy turney
“Get 10,000+ Twitter Followers—Easily, Quickly, Ethically is one of the best books on building a Twitter audience that I have ever read. I’ll be recommending this must-have guide to our clients for years to come.”
you_want_me_to_do_what
you_want_me_to_do_what
worlds_apart
worlds_apart
women health
women health
women health movement
women health movement
what is life
what is life
west winds
west winds
visiting_the_sins
visiting_the_sins
verbally_abusive_relationship1
verbally_abusive_relationship1
uncommon_friendship
uncommon_friendship
theres-more
theres-more
the-missing-kennedy-668x1030
the-missing-kennedy-668x1030
9781602901261-Perfect.indd
9781602901261-Perfect.indd
talent
talent
stained glass
stained glass
soul-of-art-amazon-cover-small
soul-of-art-amazon-cover-small
silk mills
silk mills
shipbuilder
shipbuilder
second opion
second opion
running_with_the_enemy
running_with_the_enemy
rolys_relic
rolys_relic
road_to_california
road_to_california
remember
remember
remember childhood
remember childhood
raconteur
raconteur
quotient_of_murder
quotient_of_murder
powerpoint-talk-projector-file-version-2-002
powerpoint-talk-projector-file-version-2-002
plague_of_scoundrels
plague_of_scoundrels
people-cover-five-star-pub-rev
people-cover-five-star-pub-rev
paper-boat-cover
paper-boat-cover
night_tamales_roses
night_tamales_roses
mermaid
mermaid
meditation_on_woman
meditation_on_woman
margie-hamilton
margie-hamilton
madness_in_miniature
madness_in_miniature
intothemist-500x750
intothemist-500x750
husband
husband
hana_lani
hana_lani
getting_a_winning_verdict
getting_a_winning_verdict
german voices
german voices
fredlandia
fredlandia
fouringarden
fouringarden
fourbears
fourbears
evening sun
evening sun
dream dancing
dream dancing
devotionalwalkforgiveness
devotionalwalkforgiveness
death_by_chenille
death_by_chenille
controlling_people
controlling_people
concubine_sage_book_cover
concubine_sage_book_cover
come_together
come_together
career_savvy
career_savvy
amber dust
amber dust
51lkbgbm3l-_sx311_bo1204203200_
51lkbgbm3l-_sx311_bo1204203200_
51it6kneyll-_sx326_bo1204203200_
51it6kneyll-_sx326_bo1204203200_
stolen identity
stolen identity
sherlock
sherlock
maracaibo_oil_brat_bk1
maracaibo_oil_brat_bk1
lights camera
lights camera
janus
janus
dance_with_the_devil1
dance_with_the_devil1

Want to add your books to our carousel? Click Here!

Click Here for full page version.

Join Us for our Next Meeting

Virtual Workshop for March

James Scott Bell
Write your novel from the middle: A New Approach for Plotters, Pantsers and Everyone in Between

 

Register online

Pre-Meeting Events

Come to the meetings early for Writers Table
or Helpful Editor. Click here for details.

Members’ Books

WingsOverNormandy
WingsOverNormandy
Unnatural
Unnatural
From Shadow's Perspective
From Shadow's Perspective
Colossus-HOME book cover
Colossus-HOME book cover
Five Plays for Young Audiences
Five Plays for Young Audiences
The Blue Jeans Rebellion
The Blue Jeans Rebellion
The Mona Lisa Sisters
The Mona Lisa Sisters
FDN
FDN
Blood Debt- A Vince Torelli Mystery
Blood Debt- A Vince Torelli Mystery
Oh Little Ham of Buffalo: A Korean Adoption Memoir
Oh Little Ham of Buffalo: A Korean Adoption Memoir
Granddad's-Garden
Granddad's-Garden
The Scattered Autumn Leaves
The Scattered Autumn Leaves
Just a Girl: Growing Up Female and Ambitious
Just a Girl: Growing Up Female and Ambitious
I'll Paint a Sun
I'll Paint a Sun
Forgiving-Day-by-Day
Forgiving-Day-by-Day
Shadow Birds
Shadow Birds
Meet the Principal
Meet the Principal
The Burning Barn
The Burning Barn
Race to Radar
Race to Radar
Husbands May Come and Go but Friends are Forever
Husbands May Come and Go but Friends are Forever
Between Shadows Eyes cover
Between Shadows Eyes
Maracaibo Oil Brat Book Two cover
Maracaibo Oil Brat Book Two
The Fire Trail book cover
The Fire Trail
Inheritance book cover
Inheritance
Confessions of a Middle-Aged Runaway
Confessions of a Middle-Aged Runaway
Rhino in the Room cover
Rhino in the Room
Another New Years Eve cover
Another New Years Eve
MP
MP
Diplomatic Immunity
Diplomatic Immunity
Retribution
Retribution
Sin Eater
Sin Eater
Dream Me
Dream Me
The House at 758
The House at 758
Going Places
Going Places
Help Your Group Thrive
Help Your Group Thrive
Never Too Late
nevertoolate.png
Rhythms Primeval cover
Rhythms Primeval
Ingalls 43
Ingalls 43
Chronicles of an Occupational Prostitute
Chronicles of an Occupational Prostitute
“Get 10,000+ Twitter Followers—Easily, Quickly, Ethically is one of the best books on building a Twitter audience that I have ever read. I’ll be recommending this must-have guide to our clients for years to come.”
twitter cathy turney
“Get 10,000+ Twitter Followers—Easily, Quickly, Ethically is one of the best books on building a Twitter audience that I have ever read. I’ll be recommending this must-have guide to our clients for years to come.”
you_want_me_to_do_what
you_want_me_to_do_what
worlds_apart
worlds_apart
women health
women health
women health movement
women health movement
what is life
what is life
west winds
west winds
visiting_the_sins
visiting_the_sins
verbally_abusive_relationship1
verbally_abusive_relationship1
uncommon_friendship
uncommon_friendship
theres-more
theres-more
the-missing-kennedy-668x1030
the-missing-kennedy-668x1030
9781602901261-Perfect.indd
9781602901261-Perfect.indd
talent
talent
stained glass
stained glass
soul-of-art-amazon-cover-small
soul-of-art-amazon-cover-small
silk mills
silk mills
shipbuilder
shipbuilder
second opion
second opion
running_with_the_enemy
running_with_the_enemy
rolys_relic
rolys_relic
road_to_california
road_to_california
remember
remember
remember childhood
remember childhood
raconteur
raconteur
quotient_of_murder
quotient_of_murder
powerpoint-talk-projector-file-version-2-002
powerpoint-talk-projector-file-version-2-002
plague_of_scoundrels
plague_of_scoundrels
people-cover-five-star-pub-rev
people-cover-five-star-pub-rev
paper-boat-cover
paper-boat-cover
night_tamales_roses
night_tamales_roses
mermaid
mermaid
meditation_on_woman
meditation_on_woman
margie-hamilton
margie-hamilton
madness_in_miniature
madness_in_miniature
intothemist-500x750
intothemist-500x750
husband
husband
hana_lani
hana_lani
getting_a_winning_verdict
getting_a_winning_verdict
german voices
german voices
fredlandia
fredlandia
fouringarden
fouringarden
fourbears
fourbears
evening sun
evening sun
dream dancing
dream dancing
devotionalwalkforgiveness
devotionalwalkforgiveness
death_by_chenille
death_by_chenille
controlling_people
controlling_people
concubine_sage_book_cover
concubine_sage_book_cover
come_together
come_together
career_savvy
career_savvy
amber dust
amber dust
51lkbgbm3l-_sx311_bo1204203200_
51lkbgbm3l-_sx311_bo1204203200_
51it6kneyll-_sx326_bo1204203200_
51it6kneyll-_sx326_bo1204203200_
stolen identity
stolen identity
sherlock
sherlock
maracaibo_oil_brat_bk1
maracaibo_oil_brat_bk1
lights camera
lights camera
janus
janus
dance_with_the_devil1
dance_with_the_devil1

Click here to add your book cover to our carousel.

Critique Group


CLICK HERE for information about our Critique Groups and how to join.

 

Upcoming Events

Writing for Health and Healing - FREE Online Retreat
Feb 20,12:00 PM – Feb 21, 6:00 PM. Sponsored by Dominican University MFA for Creative Writing Writing Program.
Art Embraces Words
Art Embraces Words
Please join us for our first 2021 Art Embraces Words webinar of the season. Click HERE to register as an attendee for our January 31, 2021 Art Embaces Words event.
Open Mic Night!
Come to CWC-Mt. Diablo’s First Open-Mic Night! Sign up to read or listen. January 27, 6:00 pm on Zoom. Click here for details and link to register.
NorCal Events Calendar
Click here to see what other NorCal branches are doing. You might want to attend one of their meetings!

Click here to learn about workshops, conferences, and other writing opportunities in the community.

Join Our Branch

Writers need each other.
Click here to join us! Or click here to renew your membership.

CWC Calendar

Click Here for full page version.

Member Spotlight

Telling a Story on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RPQ9migj54 The Heartland League of Women Writers has published an audio version of Phyllis Houseman's story on Youtube.
MT. DIABLO MEMBERS IN THE 2020 LITERARY REVIEW
Huzzahs to five of our own! Fran Cain, Robert Poirier, Marian Lonsdale, Jill Hedgecock, and Suzy Orpin.
George Cramer Awards
The results of the Public Safety Writers Association 2020 writing contest were announced July 12, 2020. George Cramer placed in several categories: Flash Fiction Non-Published First Place Joe Flash Fiction Non-Published Third Place Welcome Home Short Story Non-Published Honorable Mention Hard Time Fiction Book Non-Published Fourth Place A Tale of Robbers and Cops In the weeks to come, George will post his flash-fiction stories, “Joe” and “Coming Home” to his webpage, followed, in three parts, by the short story. “Hard Time” was the inspiration for a chapter in A Tale of Robbers and Cops. Visit my webpage at: https://gdcramer.com/

 

This will be updated regularly with information 
about upcoming member news and awards.

Our Community Partners

Art Embraces Words
Art Embraces Words
Our Community Partners
Our Community Partners
Our Community Partners
Our Community Partners
Our Community Partners
Our Community Partners

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