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Special Event with Menlo Park Library

Many writers have been struggling in these times to complete a sentence, much less write an essay or a poem, as they juggle the demands of family, Zoom meetings, work and child care. Or they face the challenge of too much unstructured time. Sound familiar? Learn how a panel of Bay Area writers has been coping, and maybe find some strategies that you can apply to your creative practice, whether that’s writing or another pursuit, or just to life in general. Tuesday, July 14 4:00 to 5:00 PM via Zoom
 
About the Panel
Moderator Carole Bumpus 
Having retired as a family therapist, Carole began a second career as a culinary/travel writer, when she stumbled upon amazing stories of women and war in France. Her historical novel and companion cookbook, A Cup of Redemption and Recipes for Redemption were published in 2014-15. Carole has three more books in this series. Book One, of Searching for Family and Traditions at the French Table was published August 2019, her second of this same title is due out this summer. And her third book, A Summer to Remember: Searching for Culinary Pleasures at the Italian Table is due April 2021. She is a past president of the California Writers Club SF Peninsula Branch and remains an active member on both the regional and state boards.
Korie Pelka
Korie left the corporate world five years ago to enter a new stage of life she calls her third act. Since then, she has become a certified life coach, been published in Fault Zone: Strike Slip and performed original works for Women’s Journeys, a reader’s theater event. Korie serves as secretary of the San Francisco Peninsula Branch of the California Writers Club and is exploring the world of fantasy and memoir.
Megan McDonald
Megan was named Literary Stage “Exhibitor of the Year” at the San Mateo County Fair in 2018, and also placed in that contest’s poetry and fiction divisions in 2019. More recently, she read a pair of personal essays at Bay Area Generations, a literary salon. She is at work on a novel about how the threat of wildfire impacts ranching and agriculture on the West Coast.
Audrey Kalman
Audrey writes fiction with a dark edge about what goes awry when human connection is missing from our lives. Her most recent book, “Tiny Shoes Dancing and Other Stories,” was shortlisted for the 2019 Rubery Book Award. She is the author of two novels and numerous short stories and currently serves as president of the San Francisco Peninsula Branch of the California Writers Club. In early 2020, she was selected as one of 21 literary residents at the newly formed Shuffle Collective. More at www.audreykalman.com
Mark Dooley 
After decades of telling computers what to do, Mark decided to make take his talents and opinions to the entire world. The result was awards for writing argumentative essays and the publication of his short stories in literary magazines. Currently, Dooley is querying his first novel, a murder mystery set in gold rush San Francisco and working on a contemporary comedy caper set in the South Bay.
 
 
Past Events
 
CWC Bay Area Generations Peninsula Literary Salon
 
Thursday, February 20, 2020
7:00 PM
$10 suggested donation at the door
 
Please join us for this literary salon featuring curated works of Bay Area poets, writers and storytellers, powered by California Writers Club SF Peninsula Branch.
 
Bay Area Generations is an ongoing reading series that pairs readers of different generations to bring diverse voices and perspectives to the community. Since 2013, more than 400 notable authors, poets, writers, playwrights and musicians have read poetry and stories, or performed at this celebrated literary salon.
 
Workshop: 10 Key Scenes to Frame Your Novel
 
Saturday, April 4, 2020
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
 
In this four-hour workshop with C.S. Lakin, you’ll learn:
  • What the 5 major turning points are and where they’re placed in your novel
  • How to know exactly where to start your story and how to set up your premise
  • What the ten key scenes are that serve as the framework for your novel
  • What pinch points are and why you need them
  • How to craft those essential twists
  • Why your protagonist’s goal is the key to great storytelling
  • How to bring out your story’s themes
$75. CWC members use the code CWC for a $15 discount.
 
CWC Writers On Stage!
 
Monday, February 3, 2020
7:30 PM
$10 suggested donation at the door
 
California Writers Club presents
Readers Theater: Women’s Journeys
 
San Francisco Peninsula Writers take the stage with an ensemble cast of characters and stories to kick off the shortest month of the year! Take a journey with us as we leap from page to stage. Featuring Sue Barizon, Thomas Crockett, Sam Kaufmann, Audrey Kalman, Lisa Meltzer Penn, Korie Pelka, and Lisa Rosenberg. 
 

 Author Day at Barnes & Noble

December 7, 2019  9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Barnes & Noble, Hillsdale Shopping Center, 11 W Hillsdale Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94403, USA

These CWC authors will read and sign books:

9a.m. until Noon
Audrey Kalman
Chris Knoblaugh

Noonuntil 3 p.m.
Laurel Anne Hill
Marjorie Johnson
Penny Cole

3p.m. until 6 p.m.
Luanne Oleas
Nanci Lee Woody
Thomas Crockett

6p.m. until 9 p.m.
Carole Bumpus
Jeannine Gerkman

Bay Area Generations: Literary Salon #75

Our first literary reading and salon was a success! 10 fabulous readers, 1 fantastic musician, a cozy cafe and… magic! 
Our next salon will be Thursday, February 20th. 
Want to be a reader the next time? Our next salon will be Thursday, February 20th. Grab a partner at the holiday party or find another writer friend somewhere else in your life and submit your work together. The caveat—you need to be different generations (at least 10 years apart in age). For more information, stay tuned for announcements as we get closer, or check back at Bay Area Generations website or the CWC website or Facebook page .

A literary salon featuring curated works of Bay Area poets, writers and storytellers. Powered by California Writers Club SF Peninsula Branch.

With fine Poets & Authors, featuring:
Jordan Sher + Neetal Parekh
Chuck Brickley + Aileen Cassinetto
Megan McDonald + Korie Pelka
Carole Bumpus + Lisa Meltzer Penn
Laila Kramer + Dana Kwan

& Special Music Guest Karen Soohoo

Bay Area Generations: Literary Salon #75
@ Penelope’s Coffee & Tea
Comfy cafe | Food available for purchase

Get Tickets! http://bit.ly/BAG75tx
Map: http://bit.ly/BAGPenelope

Bay Area Generations literary reading series features paired readers of differing generations in a curated submission based show. Since 2013, over 400 hundred notable authors, poets, writers, playwrights and musicians have read poetry and stories, or performed at this celebrated literary salon.

Submit to our next show! http://bit.ly/BAG76fbs

Website: www.bayareagenerations.com
FB: www.facebook.com/bayareagenerations
Events: www.facebook.com/bayareagenerations/events

Help us keep presenting good literature readings.
Donate here: www.paypal.me/BayAreaGenerations

#reading #books #poetry #sflit #writers #openmic  

 

CWC SF-Peninsula Branch Workshop

Mastering Memoir

Brooke Warner

Memoir expert and enthusiast Brooke Warner brings energy and passion to her teaching of memoir, supporting writers to find ways to make their stories bigger and more meaningful than simply “what happened.” This workshop will guide writers through the most important craft elements: scene, narration, character development/characterization, memory and flashback, reflection and takeaway. And we’ll examine popular memoirs that execute these elements of craft beautifully so that writers will grasp how to implement what they learn in their own writing.
 
Whether you’re a beginning memoirist or well into your project, this workshop will give you hands-on strategies to deepen your work and, most importantly, write scenes and characters that make readers care.  
 

Saturday, September 28, 2019  

9:00 AM – 1:00 PM PST

Twin Pines Lodge

 
TO SIGN UP, VISIT http://bit.ly/CWCMemoir
Enter code CWC for special
CWC member pricing ($15 off)
$60 CWC member early bird through August
$75 non-member early bird through August
Early bird pricing ends soon! On September 1, CWC member pricing goes up to $65 and non-member pricing goes up to $80. Don’t miss out!
 
 

 

May 19th: Barnes & Noble Author Day

 
Come join us!
A fabulous selection of our local authors will be reading and signing their books at Barnes & Noble! Participating authors include Audrey Kalman, Thomas Crockett, Bill Baynes, Carole Bumpus, Laurel Anne Hill, Elise Frances Miller, Jeannine Gerkman, Penny Cole, Marjorie Johnson, Nanci Woody and Russ Towne.
Please join us in celebrating our local authors.

 
Find us at…
Barnes & Noble
Hillsdale Shopping Center
 
Sunday, May 19, 2019
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Drop in any time.
 

CWC SF-Peninsula branch Workshop

Find Your Characters & Follow Them Into Danger!

Saturday, March 2, 2019  

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM PST

Twin Pines Lodge

40 Twin Pines Lane Belmont, CA 94002

Come join us for a day-long workshop that will spark your creativity, hone your writing skills and connect you with fellow writers! Led by Elizabeth Stark, renowned writer, editor, teacher and coach, we will gather for inspiration and warmup, then get to work digging deep to discover how to create characters in need of a story. After lunch, we’ll turn to the twists and turns that create a page-turning ride for your characters.

This is a hands-on workshop: you’ll have time to practice what you learn and share with others. And it’s suitable for writers of memoir and creative non-fiction as well as fiction … any storyteller interested in creating a compelling narrative will find value in this day!

Lunch will be provided.

This is a limited capacity event, so sign up now to reserve your seat.

Cost $125 – Pay by Credit Card when you sign up.

TO SIGN UP, VISIT CWC SF-Peninsula branch Workshop

 

LET TECHNIQUE TORQUE YOUR POETRY

USING POETIC TECHNIQUE TO AMPLIFY EMOTIONAL IMPACT

Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m.

San Carlos Public Library, 610 Elm Street.

This workshop will explore how famous poets use different techniques to make their works more powerful. We’ll talk about the importance of form in poetry. We’ll look at rhyme, stanza. meter, metaphor, euphony and repetition and how their use has changed.

Participants will practice reading poetry aloud and analyzing the use of various poetic tools. They’ll also try their hand at using some of these techniques.

Bill Baynes will lead the discussion. He has been writing poetry for more than 50 years. His work has been published in the Fault Zone, the CWC State Literary Review and other literary magazines. His newly published novella, The Occupation of Joe, is a powerful page-turner about an American naval officer who befriends a local boy at the beginning of the American Occupation of Japan in 1945.

Sponsored by the California Writers Club, SF Peninsula branch.

San Carlos Library Workshops
From Carole Bumpus, Volunteer Coordinator

As of this January 2018, our California Writers Club, San Francisco Peninsula Branch, will be starting a series of events with one of our local libraries, the San Carlos Library, located at 610 Elm St, San Carlos, CA 94070.

We have been asked to help them form a monthly writers group, wherein we will take turns teaching other writers some of the necessary skills of writing. Held on the 3rd Wednesday night of the month, from 7-9 p.m., the first of the series will be led by member teacher Laurel Anne Hill who has stepped up to the plate to teach: “Breathing Life Into Your Writing: Story-Writing Basics.”

For the month of February, Pratibha Kelapure will be teaching on the basics of poetry called: “But I Can’t Write a Poem.”

If you have a subject or a scintillating idea that you would like to present to the San Carlos Writers Group, please get in touch with me to see if it would be a good fit. We are organizing a total of twelve classes per year.

Because we have offered to help the San Carlos Library with this project, they have reciprocated by offering rooms in which we can hold several gatherings, including panel discussions, Fault Zone readings, and special speaker events. All of these events will be free and open to the public, and we will be able to sell our books and connect with the local community in a fuller measure. Again, if you have ideas you would like to pursue, contact me. This is our year to extend our talents out and beyond our general meetings. Think big!

2018 SAN MATEO COUNTY FAIR: JUNE 9–17.

On January 16, Laurel Anne Hill attended the monthly San Mateo County Fair Staff Meeting.

Important Points Regarding Literary Arts

  • There will be no SMCF “Carry the Light Anthology” in 2018. As a result, there will be more emphasis on contest-winner readings on the opening day of the fair.
  • Literary contest submissions deadline to be in the usual April 1-3 time frame.
  • Those interested in presenting/volunteering on the Literary Stage should contact Laurel Anne Hill at laurelannehill@gmail.com. Fair volunteers will receive free entry and parking passes.

SMCF Contest Book

The contest book will be going online in stages. As of January 23, entry information for The Literary Arts Department hadn’t been posted, but should be soon. Go to: https://www.sanmateocountyfair.com/ to check on the contest book status. The release of the hard-copy contest book should occur in the late January or early-to-mid February time frame. Reminder postcards (to former exhibitors, libraries and community centers) to go out in March.

Exhibitor Outreach School Outreach:

Notices are going out soon to school superintendents in San Mateo County about ticket and exhibit programs. Laurel requested that information about adult writing contests (those taking entrants as young as sixteen years of age) be sent to local high schools.