Crafting Characters in January

For our Thursday, January 12th Meeting, author and former CIA agent T.J. Waters will be speaking. We'll meet at the Main Branch St. Pete Library at 6:00 PM. Networking/mingling begins at 5:30 PM. This meeting is open to the public.

Topic: Creating a Cast of Characters Your Readers Can't Resist

BIO

Author T.J. WATERS resides in St Petersburg with his wife and their two children. He previously worked as a Senior Consultant in Intelligence Operations for U.S. Special Operations Command. Prior to that he was a Sr. Counterintelligence Analyst for U.S. Central Command, served undercover for the Central Intelligence Agency, and was Vice President for an intelligence consulting firm. He enjoyed a successful private sector career before his government service, including with Celotex Corporation, Lexis-Nexis, and BASF. Waters spent five years as an adjunct professor in the Intelligence Management and Analysis program at Eckerd College. When he's not working, he enjoys volunteering with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay.

T.J.'s website: www.tjwaters.com

Potluck-Style Christmas Party at Miami Ave Wine Bar in Indian Rocks Beach

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM FWA ST. PETE!

I'm very excited about our holiday celebration this week. I hope you'll be able to join us.

Here's everything you need to know, including what to bring (and what not to):

Potluck-Style Christmas Party at Miami Ave Wine Bar

When: Thurs, Dec 8th at 6 PM

Where: Miami Ave Wine Bar (LIKE them on FB)

311 1st Street, Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785 (parking and entrance around back)

Who to Bring: FWA and non-members welcome

Spouse or Significant Other- Yes

Friends Who Enjoy Writing- Yes

Children under 18- No

What to Bring: 

-Side dish to share

-A book you're ready to hand off to someone else for the book exchange.

-Donation items to enter the raffle like a bottle of wine (see DETAILS below).

NOTE: Please do not bring drinks

The owner of Miami Ave Wine Bar is not charging us to use her amazing venue, so please purchase beverages there. Wine, hard liquor, mixed drinks, sodas, etc will be available for purchase, and water will also be available for us.

Why: Win free stuff, eat good food, drink the best wine, and celebrate the holidays all while networking with local writers. Plus there is some great stuff at the Wine Bar, Book Nook, and Art Gallery if you're looking for Christmas gifts.

DETAILS:

We will be holding a raffle for two $10 Starbucks gift cards!

In preparation for next year's Silent Auction at the FWA Conference, we're getting the baskets started.

How to enter the raffle: bring donations for FWA's Silent Auction baskets to promote children's literacy in Florida. Good items to donate would be books you've written, candles, "like new" books, new DVDs, wine stoppers, wine glasses or poolside wine glasses, wine openers, French presses, or coffee grinders, wine decanters or some things for an exercise or a cooking themed basket. Each donation receives one entry but EACH BOTTLE OF WINE DONATED WILL RECEIVE FOUR TICKETS! (A good place to get nice bottles that are still cost-effective is Trader Joe's).

Any questions? Need ideas for a side dish?

Feel free to email me! I look forward to seeing you Thursday!

fwastpete@gmail.com

FWA St. Pete November 10th Meeting with Author Bonnie Paull

For our Nov. 10th Meeting, author and professor Bonnie Paull will be speaking. As usual, we'll meet at the Main Branch St. Pete Library at 6 PM. Networking/mingling begins at 5:30 PM. This meeting is open to the public.


Topic~ Curiosity Kills Cats, Not Writers: How to Find Inspiration and Interesting Subjects to Write About

BIO:

Bonnie E. Paull is a professor emeritus in English from the College of Alameda in California. In addition to her 40 years as a classroom teacher, she has been a dean of students, consultant, writer, researcher, and public speaker. During her years as a teacher, Ms. Paull wrote and published articles, poems, and books, reflecting her teaching experiences and her study of the history of education. Her concern for the declining quality of education, particularly in the basics, led her to establishing an award winning program for students called “The Little Red Schoolhouse for Adults.” Here her college students were able to study and learn their missing basics. Now, in her retirement, Ms. Paull has more time to devote to research, writing, and to studying music, another passion. “As much as I love good fiction, my interest as a writer is in telling real stories of real people who by their courage and persistence overcame obstacles and achieved their goals in life. They inspire us to reach for the stars.” Her most recent book, Lincoln’s Springfield Neighborhood, published by The History Press, reflects this interest.

Visit Bonnie's website: www.bonniepaullwriter.com

Synopsis Workshop Oct 13th with FWA St. Pete

For our Thursday, October 13th Meeting, publishing wizard Molli Nickell will be speaking. We'll meet at the Main Branch St. Pete Library at 6:00 PM. Networking/mingling begins at 5:30 PM. This meeting is open to the public.

Topic: Synopsis Workshop

How to prepare: Send Molli the Synopsis of your story by Oct. 6th
Note: To prepare ahead of time, Molli will have a private page on her website with info about how to write the synopsis and a simple template. Visit this LINK for that info. 

She will be giving feedback to those who submit their synopsis by October 6th. Or you can bring your synopsis to the meeting, but those will be on a first-come first-serve basis.


BIO:
Former publisher, Time-Life and acquisitions editor, MOLLI NICKELL, has been in the publishing biz for 35+ years. She’s authored hundreds of articles and seven books, acquired and edited manuscripts, presented keynotes, designed projects, and led workshops for industry giants including Workman, HarperCollins, Better Homes and Gardens, Simon & Schuster, the SCBWI and ABA. Molli, THE Publishing Wizard, helps writers learn everything they need to know about the submission process to help them achieve their goals of agent/book contract/shelf space at Barnes and Noble.

Molli's website: www.getpublishednow.biz/

FWA St. Pete September Meeting with Patzi Gil and Bill Larson

For our Sept 8th Meeting, radio host Patzi Gil and her entertainment lawyer Bill Larson will be speaking. As usual, we'll meet at the Main Branch St. Pete Library at 6 PM. Networking/mingling begins at 5:30 PM. This meeting is open to the public.

Sept 8th~ Soaring to a Best Seller? Why You Need a Legal Eagle!


About Joy on Paper: For writers and those who dream of writing -- and for everyone who wants to know the story behind the book. It is my JOY to talk every week to amazing authors -- from best selling New York Times authors to authors who have just released their first book. For me it is always fun to hear about the passion to write and what it takes to become a published author. It is fun for me to hear their stories and I hope that their words will inspire new writers. Listen in: Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 11 o'clock at home, in your car or on your phone. Download the TuneIn app. I am happy to have this opportunity to share my joy of reading with so many people. Remember to find the joy and share it. ~PatZi Gil

Free Writing Workshop on Action Scenes

August 20th~ Topic: Action Scenes That Pack a Punch

A Free Writing Workshop! Open to the public.

When/Where: Sat, Aug 20th from 10:30 AM to Noon at St. Pete Main Branch Library
Speaker: Cheri Roman
www.brassragpress.com

CHERI ROMAN is a writer, editor, teacher, wife, mother, grandmother and friend, in whatever order works best in the moment. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Florida with a degree in English literature and a passionate desire to promote great story-telling. With five years of editorial experience, Cheri is comfortable on both the author and editor sides of the page. When she isn’t writing or editing, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and their ever-expanding family somewhere in the wilds of North Florida.

FWA St. Pete Aug 11th Meeting at 5:30 PM with Barbara Harrington

For our Thursday, August 11th Meeting, screenwriter and producer Barbara Harrington will be speaking. We'll meet at the Main Branch St. Pete Library at 5:30 PM. This is earlier than our usual start time. Networking/mingling begins at 5:15 PM. This meeting is open to the public.

Topic: From Novel to Cocoon to Screenwriting

BIO: BARBARA HARRINGTON is a novelist, a screenwriter, and a producer. She worked as Assistant Casting Director in several feature films with Beverly McDermitt (Cocoon, Absence Of Malice, Stick) and still cast for Indie Productions. She has conducted many writing/publishing workshops, and formed FSAC, the Florida Screenwriters & Actors Connection about 15 years ago. She had a short lived radio show, Take One Talk. She's earned several awards, such as the Florida State Group Merit Award for the filming production of the International Association Of Personnel. For fun, she went on Safari in Africa and was almost thrown in jail by Idi Amin.

Meeting July 14th with Live Readings

For our July 14th Meeting, anyone who would like to do a reading of their First Page is welcome to participate in a live critique session. As usual, we'll meet at the Main Branch St. Pete Library at 6 PM. Networking/mingling begins at 5:30 PM. This meeting is open to the public.

July 14th~ First Page Critique

What to bring: First Page of your novel, short story, or other writing (double-spaced, up to 250 words)
Who can participate: First-come first-serve, members and non-members

What will the critique look like:

• After the author reads their first page, the critique will open up to the audience
• Audience will be encouraged to provide positive feedback and constructive criticism in combination
• Author will not be allowed to talk during the critique (a buzzer will be on hand--if the author talks, they will get buzzed)
• The critique will be timed for each author. At four minutes, the timer will announce that the critique is over and the next author will be allowed to read their First Page

Does everyone have to read?

• No. But the audience will be encouraged to provide feedback, even those who choose not to read their work to the group.

FWA St. Pete Meeting June 9th with speaker Sara Im

For our June 9th Meeting, Author Sara Im will be speaking. As usual, we'll meet at the Main Branch St. Pete Library at 6 PM. Networking/mingling begins at 5:30 PM. This meeting is open to the public.

June 9th~ Hope, Love, and Determination

BIO

Author SARA IM endured four brutal years in a forced labor camp that became known as “The Killing Fields” in Cambodia, suffering multiple serious diseases simultaneously. With no access to medical care, nutrition, proper rest nor adequate sleep, she had gone near death several times. However, with God’s grace, her strong love for her family and her hope had compelled her to survive. Sara found her way back to good health through good nutrition and proper total self- care, body, mind and spirit. Sara escaped from Cambodia and arrived in US in 1981. She graduated from college in 1987. Today, Sara run a business “Smart Healthy Living” that enhances people’s life through the use of effective natural nutrition and safe personal care products. She is an author of her inspirational award-winning book “How I Survived the Killing Fields: A Story of Hope, Love and Determination.”

Sara's website: www.smarthealthylivingtoday.info/

FWA St. Pete May 12th Meeting

For our May 12th Meeting, author Brigitte Moore will be speaking. As usual, we'll meet at the Main Branch St. Pete Library at 6 PM. Networking/mingling begins at 5:30 PM. This meeting is open to the public.

May 12th~ A Writer's Journey from Post-War Germany to America

BIO

BRIGITTE MOORE was born and reared in Germany. She worked twenty-five years for a small Import/Export company in Long Island, NY. Apprenticing as clerk, she worked her way up to Vice President of Sales and Product Development. In this capacity she travelled across the United States, in Europe and the Far East. Now retired, she lives in Florida where she enjoys reading, writing, and Tai Chi. She has been a Hospice Volunteer for nineteen years. Brigitte is the proud grandmother of two grandsons, who inspired her memoir, Finding Home.

Her website: www.brigittedmoore.wordpress.com

Mini-Conference and Multi-Genre Author Book Signing

Writer's Nest Mini-Conference

Where: Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs

350 Northlake Blvd., Altamonte Springs, Florida, 32701-5297
Telephone: 407-830-1985

When: April 30th from 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Cost: $89 for FWA members

$109 for non-FWA members

$54.50 for non-member guest**

To Register: www.floridawriters.net/conferences/mini-conferences/writers-nest

All-Day Workshops

• The Role of the Male Character in Today’s Stories, Larry J. Leech II & Joanne Lewis
• Short Stories, John Hope
• Creating a Fictional World, Kate Maier

Morning Workshops

• Writing for Children, Jaimie M. Engle
• Business Tools for Every Writer, W. Terry Whalin

Afternoon Workshops

• Poetry, Peter Meinke
• Writing for the Inspirational Market, Carol J. Post

Faculty who teach half-day workshops are available for 15-minute appointments when not teaching. Appointments are $25. All-day faculty will not be available for appointments.

** Available to members only. Bring a guest who isn’t a member of FWA, and your friend gets in at half the non-member price. You must include your non-member guest when you register for the mini-conference in order to qualify for this special pricing

Includes continental breakfast, lunch and snacks

FWA Multi-Genre Book Signing Event (the day after Mini-Conference)

Where: Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs

350 Northlake Blvd., Altamonte Springs, Florida, 32701-5297
Telephone: 407-830-1985

When: May 1st from 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Cost: General admission is free

More details on the website: www.floridawriters.net/conferences/multi-genre-book-signing

Readers, come and learn about different authors, and purchase signed books. You may discover a few you have never read as well as some of your favorites.

Why go to this signing?

• 50 authors for you to meet and learn about their books
• “Author Bingo” allows you to mingle and get the chance to win a prize
• VIP readers can attend a brunch with all the authors
• 4 hours of fun to buy books and support Indie authors
• So many genres represented, from children’s to romance and everything in between

What are you waiting for? Add it to your calendar now!

General admission is absolutely free.

But if you want more perks, become a VIP Reader, and enjoy a brunch with the authors, get into the signing early, and grab some raffle tickets for cool prizes!

Join our Facebook page so you can see the excitement build!

General Admission is Free! Enjoy meeting the authors from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

While general admission is free, we would appreciate it if you’d click here to email and let us know you’re coming.

VIP Reader

Fee: $50 Includes:

• Brunch with the authors from 10:00 AM – Noon
• Early admission to the book signing room, 12:30 PM (30 minutes before the general public)
• Two raffle tickets for prizes awarded throughout the day

Writers Picnic for All Pinellas County Writers

Local writers in Pinellas County, come out to the annual Writers Picnic! Meet and mingle with other local writers and enjoy a meal and and afternoon at Taylor Park.

What: Annual George Ewing & Diane Marcou Memorial Writers Picnic

When: Sunday, April 17, from about 10 am to 4 pm 

Where: Taylor Park, 1100 8th Avenue SW,  Largo, in Covered Pavilion #5 or possibly #6. (They share a parking lot, on on each side of the lot.
Look for the banners of the sponsoring clubs).

Who: All Pinellas County writers are invited including families

Sponsors: Event is co-sponsored by BAPWG, the St. Pete Writers Club (SPWC),
Pinellas Writers and David Edmonds for the Tarpon Springs Fiction Writers Group.
However the event  is open to  ALL Pinellas writers.

What to Bring:
Please bring a finger food entree, side dish, appetizer, salad or dessert to share.
The sponsoring clubs will provide hotdogs, buns, and condiments,
and of course plates, cups, and plastic utensils.

FWA St. Pete April Meeting

For our April 14th Meeting, Nancy Howe, the Publisher of Tampa Bay Newswire and CEO of KnowHowe, will be speaking. As usual, we'll meet at the Main Branch St. Pete Library at 6 PM. Networking/mingling begins at 5:30 PM. This meeting is open to the public.

April 14th~ Creative Ways For Freelancers to Expand Their Customer Base

BIO

NANCY HOWE has spent the vast majority of her life in Pinellas County and began her publishing career at the St. Petersburg Times while attending USF, majoring in archaeology.  She moved on to become the Managing Editor of Art & Design News (an international graphic arts magazine), and then to Maddux Business Report in 1990 – starting out as circulation director, moving to associate publisher and then publisher for the past 14 years. When the Maddux Business Report closed in 2010, Nancy continued on as publisher of the daily NewsWire, changed the name to Tampa Bay Newswire and founded KnowHowe, a full-service writing company that offers a varied menu from blogs, to press releases, editing, web copy, ebooks and everything in between. Current client industries include not-for-profits, legal and court reporting, commercial and residential real estate, manufacturing and service industries. KnowHowe is also the publisher of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce’s publications, ‘Burg Life and St. Petersburg’s Official Visitors Guide.

Her website: www.knowhowe.biz

Free Writing Class at North Branch Library

FWA St. Pete is proud to present this FREE Writing Class for members and non-members alike!

Hurting Your Characters

Speaker: M.J. Carlson

Join us for this FREE writing class called "Hurting Your Characters: Writing Believable Injuries from the Character's Point of View." Award-winning Author M.J. Carlson will be speaking.

About the Class
Attendees will come away from the lecture with a basic understanding of the most common injuries in fiction, in everyday language. This includes the immediate effect of the trauma on the body, and its physiologic response to trauma. M.J. Carlson will help attendees gain an understanding of why a given injury hurts, including a superficial overview of the physiology of acute pain in easy-to-understand terms and ideas. He'll conclude with an overview of the expected recovery times for the injuries discussed in young, otherwise healthy individuals.

WHEN: Saturday, March 26th from 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

WHERE: North Branch St. Pete Library, 861 70th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33702 (Ph: 727-893-7214)

COST: FREE

Limited to 40 participants. Please RSVP to this email fwastpete@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

BIO:

M.J. Carlson is an FWA member and fiction author. His futuristic suspense stories have received honorable mentions in 2013 and 2015 WRITERS OF THE FUTURE science fiction contests and been finalists in the 2010 RPLA short story and novel categories. He’s authored articles in THE FLORIDA WRITER and short stories for The Prometheus Saga and In Shadows Written.
Two of M.J.’s novels, Changed and Indigo Man are currently available, and he’s working on the book You Broke What? -- The Writer’s Guide to Believable Injuries.

www.mjcarlson.com

March FWA St. Pete Meeting

For our March 10th meeting, author and Soul Attitude Press publisher John Rehg will be presenting. As usual, we'll meet at the Main Branch St. Pete Library at 6 PM. Networking/mingling begins at 5:30 PM. This meeting is open to the public.

Topic: Dump Your Word Processor!
Other Tools to Help You Write More Effectively

A demonstration of free tools available to fit your writing style, making you more productive in producing your masterpiece. John Rehg, president, CEO, owner, and head honcho of Soul Attitude Press, will show you several writing tools (all free) that might fit your writing style better than the standard word processor.

He will also answer all questions regarding self publishing, during the 
presentation.


BIO

JOHN REHG has been writing and rewriting since 2006, after taking 30 years off to pursue a career. He's still working, fitting in writing at odd times of day or night. After getting several short stories published in various anthologies, he started his own publishing business, to control the revenue on his stories as well as to help others realize their dream of holding their own book in their hands. He has published his own short fiction and non-fiction, and has helped others publish their stories. His novel is currently in its second revision, which he hopes to complete this year.

www.soulattitudepress.com

February FWA Meeting

For our February 11th meeting, Arch Deal will be presenting. As usual, we'll meet at the Main Branch St. Pete Library at 6 PM. Networking/mingling begins at 5:30 PM. This meeting is open to the public.

Topic: Lessons From Skydiving

BIO:

ARCH DEAL was a long-time news anchor on WFLA-TV (Tampa, FL). Arch was also a professional pilot and a skydiver who survived a 3000-foot fall when both parachutes failed.  He returned professionally as one of 35 athletes for a national company, skydiving around the world.  Therefore, he became the CORPORATE FALL GUY (the title of his book) who added more than 5,000 more jumps, working with greats like Lite All-Star Celebrities like:  Bob Eucker, John Madden, Larry Csonka, Boog Powell, Corky Carroll, Rodney Dangerfield and others. He has made many motivational speeches, trying to inspire others to never give up.

www.corporatefallguy.com/

January FWA St. Pete Meeting

For our Jan. 14th meeting, radio host Patzi Gil will be presenting. As usual, we'll meet at the Main Branch St. Pete Library at 6 PM. Networking/mingling begins at 5:30 PM. This meeting is open to the public.

Topic: Dreams You Don't Even Dream Can Come True
(How reading five thousand books turned into a career)

BIO

PATZI GIL is the host of a talk radio program called Joy on Paper – a program for writers and those who dream of writing. Patzi has interviewed some of the most prestigious writers and bestselling authors in the world, including Sue Grafton, Brad Meltzer, Robin Cook, Eloisa James, Douglas Brunt, and Ann B. Ross. During the past few months she has formed a close working relationship with many major publicists and agents. Three of her film scripts have been optioned by Hollywood and have appeared in the Hollywood Reporter. She also wrote the screenplay for The All American Boys based on Apollo 7 Astronaut, Walt Cunningham’s book. In addition to her work on Joy on Paper, she is developing two television projects: History? It’s Food (http://www.historyitsfood.com/) and Forgotten F-105 Warriors ( http://www.forgottenf- 105warriors.com/). Patzi is a proud Yooper – which means she was born in Michigan’s Northern Peninsula. She is married and the proud mother of two sons.

Website: www.radio-joyonpaper.com