THE JANUARY MEETING WAS CANCELLED DUE TO SERIOUS LIBRARY EMERGENCY!

Instead, This cancelled meeting will be postponed until March 7, at the usual time and place. You can email for more info at: jfventures@msn.com

February’s program will still be as planned, we are inviting the library’s current Anthology Program’s participants, not just SWM members, who weren’t chosen to be one of their readers, to do so at our meeting, February 1, 2020 at 2pm, in the Community Room of the PVP Library.

More info: Jeri Fonté, SWM Program Director:
jfventures@msn.com 

---

As a recompense to our casual readers and other interested parties, I am including a link to our latest newsletter, “The Write Stuff,” HERE, which is normally reserved for members only. This way you can see what our 70-year old writers’ group is about and maybe even consider joining…

---

Article Contest Due in March
Next: Edith Battles Nonfiction Article Contest
Deadline: March 7, 2020 SWM meeting
Contest Chair: Barbra Simpson
barbrassimpson@aol.com
(310) 376-8234

SWM Contest Rules:
1. Contest is limited to SWM members only.
2. Four dollars non-refundable fee for each entry. Cash or check OK. One check can cover multiple entries. Make check payable to Southwest Manuscripters and bring to the meeting or send to the SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
3. Maximum three entries per person. In keeping with the purpose of the SWM to encourage writers, especially new writers, only previously unpublished material is allowed. That means not seen in any medium (book, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, internet) with circulation of more than 200 readers. Rule of Thumb: If a judge may already have seen your entry, it is ineligible.
4. Print four (4) copies of your entries, one per each judge. Must be single-sided, double-spaced, with an easy-to-read typeface, and legible. If the entry can’t be read, it can’t be judged. [Note: Times-Roman or Courier 12 is standard.]
5. Note word count on page one (max 2,000). Do NOT put personal info on the pages.
6. Entrant’s name may not appear anywhere on the entry. Put NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE and TITLE of entry as you would like to see them on award on a 3×5 card. You may also indicate intended market (e.g., children’s magazine, sci-fi magazine).
7. Although the contest has four judges, no judge is obliged to provide a written critique.
8. Awards will be presented at the SWM meeting in the month following the contest deadline. Winners of more than one top award will receive one certification for the highest scoring entry and honorable mention for any others. In case of a tie for a top award, each individual entrant will receive the same award.
9. Members who wish their entries to be published in The Write Stuff, may forward their entries, winning or not, after the contest, to Southwest Manuscripters, TWS Editor: van42@hotmail.com
10. Entries that do not comply with the above rules will be rejected and the entry fee will be forfeit.

Give entries, checks and cards to the Contest Chair or mail them to: SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 or bring to the Feb. or May., 2020 SWM Meeting (or before).
Do NOT mail entries to the Editor or to the SWM P.O. Box.

“Readings from PVP Library National Writing Month Anthologies”

Saturday, Oct. 5 th 2019 Anthology Panel
at 2pm in the Community Room
on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library,
701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates.

“Readings from PVP Library
National Writing Month Anthologies”
Moderator Jonathan Brown will relate his experience in the library’s 2016 and 2017 anthology programs, and interview six SWM members who also participated. He has three books released in 2019: “A Boxing Trainer’s Journey” – A Novel Based on the Life of Angelo Dundee, commissioned by Mentoris Books; “The Big Crescendo,” a fiction series centered on a struggling Los Angeles drummer in dangerous pursuit of a rare snare, printed by Down & Out Books; and “Moose’s Law,” an independently-published noir novella.

“KC” Johnson will read “Younger: A Quixotic Journey,” which appeared in the 2018 anthology. She also contributed to the 2016 and 2017 anthologies. KC enjoys a creatively-focused life as a freelance writer, poet, performer, and artist, following a professional career in various technology-driven disciplines. Editor of “Surfwriters’ Anthology, The Writing Game,” and winner of local poetry awards, KC is a member (and co-facilitator) of drama groups for which she has written and performed short plays.

Marilyn Litvak has contributed to all four of the library’s anthologies since the program’s inception in 2015. She is a retired travel agency owner who has toured the world and written and had published a number of travel articles describing her adventures. In addition to belonging to SWM, she manages the Surfwriters’ monthly meetings at the Malaga Cove Library. Marilyn will read her 2016 Anthology nonfiction contribution: “Parlez-Vous Français?”

Dean Okamura resides in Torrance and spends part of his retirement writing short stories and poems. For his 2018 Anthropology contribution: “A Search World Story,” he researched the world of his maternal grandfather, Genkichi Matsuda.

Toni Siamis Steele was born in South Dakota. When her family moved to California, she became an early teenage surfer. She had various careers as an aircraft company executive, college administrator, educator, and counselor to make use of her degree in psychology. An avid reader and world traveler, she’s also a life-long environmentalist and civil rights activist. She will read her 2018 Anthology contribution: “Our Hero, Prince.”

Janis Albright Lukstein loves the magic of poetry, especially haibun with haiku and/or longer tanka. She is published in: “Tanka of America Ribbon Café” prompts; Yuki Teikei Geppo; Poetry Performances at SoCalHaikuStudyGroup in Pasadena; April Altadena Library Poetry Review; and Malaga Cove Library Surfwriters’ April Poetry in the Gallery. She has participated and appears in all four years of the library’s anthologies, and will read her 2017 contribution: “Jan-is.”

J Guenther is a Southern California playwright, the author of twenty-two plays. His books include: “In the Mouth of the Lion”; “Sail Away on My Silver Dream”; “Moon Over the Lost City”; “Tales for a Blue Moon”; and “A True Map of the City.” “Sorcerer of Deathbird Mountain” was nominated for “Best Novel” at the 2005 Santa Barbara Writers Conference. “Prisoner of Suggins Holler” was a prize-winner in Oxnard’s Elite Theatre Group’s 2011 Short play Competition. He will read a one-act play: “Saguaro Flat,” an adaptation of his 2017 Anthology contribution, “Saguaro Flat.”

SWM Dates for 2019 all at 2pm
Oct 5 at 2pm – PV Anthology Panel
Nov 2 at 2pm –
Dec – TBA – Special SWM Holiday 70th Anniversary Celebration !

 

Note: Fiction Contest Winners
Announced at the Sept. 2019 Meeting !
Next: Mona O’Connor Poetry Contest
Deadline: Oct, 2019 SWM meeting
Contest Chair: Barbra Simpson
barbrassimpson@aol.com
(310) 376-8234

SWM Contest Rules:
1. Contest is limited to SWM members only.
2. Four dollars non-refundable fee for each entry. Cash or check OK. One check can cover multiple entries. Make check payable to Southwest Manuscripters and bring to the meeting or send to the SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
3. Maximum three entries per person. In keeping with the purpose of the SWM to encourage writers, especially new writers, only previously unpublished material is allowed. That means not seen in any medium (book, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, internet) with circulation of more than 200 readers. Rule of Thumb: If a judge may already have seen your entry, it is ineligible.
4. Print four (4) copies of your entries, one per each judge. Must be single-sided, with an easy-to-read typeface, and legible. If the entry can’t be read, it can’t be judged. [Note: Times-Roman or Courier 12 is standard.]
5. Note word count on page one (max 2,000). Do NOT put personal info on the pages.
6. Entrant’s name may not appear anywhere on the entry. Put NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE and TITLE of entry as you would like to see them on award on a 3×5 card. You may also indicate intended market (e.g., children’s magazine, sci-fi magazine).
7. Although the contest has four judges, no judge is obliged to provide a written critique.
8. Awards will be presented at the SWM meeting in the month following the contest deadline. Winners of more than one top award will receive one certification for the highest scoring entry and honorable mention for any others. In case of a tie for a top award, each individual entrant will receive the same award.
9. Members who wish their entries to be published in The Write Stuff, may forward their entries, winning or not, after the contest, to Southwest Manuscripters, TWS Editor: van42@hotmail.com
10. Entries that do not comply with the above rules will be rejected and the entry fee will be forfeit.

Give entries, checks and cards to the Contest Chair or mail them to: SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 or bring to the Oct., 2019 SWM Meeting (or before).
Do NOT mail entries to the Editor or to the SWM P.O. Box.

“How to Build a Power Author Brand and Achieve Tremendous Success as a Writer”

 

ARCHIVE – 2016   2017   2018 Saturday, Sept. 7th, 2019 at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates. “How to Build a Power Author Brand and Achieve Tremendous Success as a Writer” n today’s challenging book market, you either are a power author brand or a commodity. Marketing your books without having an author brand is like building a house without a solid foundation. It’s not enough anymore to write a great book. You need to establish an emotional connection with your reader. Investing your time, energy, and resources into building your author brand will make you stand out in the crowd and sustain your audience-building efforts. Your author brand communicates what makes you unique and represents an implied promise to your readers of what you will consistently deliver. This presentation will show you how to: Build your author brand from scratch. Use your author brand to grow your reputation and turn readers into loyal fans. Use your author brand to get more exposure and increase your book sales. Use your author brand to get a literary agent/publisher. Keep your author brand fresh and captivating. Bio: A.G. Billig is a published author, public speaker, self-publishing expert, and the founder of the award-winning blog Self-Publishing Mastery. Her career spans two continents—Europe and North America. As a self-publishing expert and author coach, A.G. Billig uses her book marketing and publishing expertise to help authors become successful. Her key areas of expertise are brand building, traditional media and PR, book launch events and campaigns, public appearances (including TV and radio interviews) and metadata. A.G. Billig is an experienced book marketing workshop presenter and a frequent guest on writing panels and conferences. Her speaking engagements include book marketing and creative writing workshops for conferences such as The Greater Los Angeles Writers’ Conference and The Annual Conference On Creative Writing at Pacific, and webinars for the Author Learning Center and the Self-Publishing Advice Conference by ALLI. She is also the creator of two online courses for authors, Masterclass in Creating Podcasts that Sell Books and Masterclass in Power Branding for Authors. A.G. Billig is represented by Mr. Steven Hutson, literary agent and founder of Wordwise Media Services. [ See her web page at: agbillig.com ] SWM Dates for 2019 all at 2pm Sept 7, 2019 Oct 5, 2019 Nov 2, 2019 Dec – TBA – Special SWM Holiday 70th Anniversary Celebration ! Note: Fiction Contest Winners Announced at the Sept. 2019 Meeting ! Next: Mona O’Connor Poetry Contest Deadline: Oct, 2019 SWM meeting Contest Chair: Barbra Simpson barbrassimpson@aol.com (310) 376-8234 SWM Contest Rules: 1. Contest is limited to SWM members only. 2. Four dollars non-refundable fee for each entry. Cash or check OK. One check can cover multiple entries. Make check payable to Southwest Manuscripters and bring to the meeting or send to the SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 3. Maximum three entries per person. In keeping with the purpose of the SWM to encourage writers, especially new writers, only previously unpublished material is allowed. That means not seen in any medium (book, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, internet) with circulation of more than 200 readers. Rule of Thumb: If a judge may already have seen your entry, it is ineligible. 4. Print four (4) copies of your entries, one per each judge. Must be single-sided, with an easy-to-read typeface, and legible. If the entry can’t be read, it can’t be judged. [Note: Times-Roman or Courier 12 is standard.] 5. Note word count on page one (max 2,000). Do NOT put personal info on the pages. 6. Entrant’s name may not appear anywhere on the entry. Put NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE and TITLE of entry as you would like to see them on award on a 3×5 card. You may also indicate intended market (e.g., children’s magazine, sci-fi magazine). 7. Although the contest has four judges, no judge is obliged to provide a written critique. 8. Awards will be presented at the SWM meeting in the month following the contest deadline. Winners of more than one top award will receive one certification for the highest scoring entry and honorable mention for any others. In case of a tie for a top award, each individual entrant will receive the same award. 9. Members who wish their entries to be published in The Write Stuff, may forward their entries, winning or not, after the contest, to Southwest Manuscripters, TWS Editor: van42@hotmail.com 10. Entries that do not comply with the above rules will be rejected and the entry fee will be forfeit. Give entries, checks and cards to the Contest Chair or mail them to: SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 or bring to the Oct., 2019 SWM Meeting (or before). Do NOT mail entries to the Editor or to the SWM P.O. Box. Saturday, July 13th, 2019 at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates.   and the GLAWS “Why Manuscripts Arrive DOA at Agents and Publishers or – How to Bulletproof your Manuscript for Success!” ubmitting manuscripts to literary agents and acquisition editors is a courageous act. It can also be a frustrating and perplexing one. When you’ve spent months or years of your life writing a book that you take pride in, and want to share with the world, sometimes it’s hard to understand — let alone accept — why the gatekeepers don’t see the value that you and your colleagues do. What can you do to anticipate such issues, and increase your chances for acceptance and publication? In this special presentation, industry expert Tony N. Todaro will reveal many of the issues that give agents pause, then share the secrets and insights, so you can upgrade the quality of your writing, take your rejections less personally, and target your submissions more effectively. No matter what you are writing, this is an event you must attend. There will be ample time for questions after the presentation. Tony N. Todaro is President and Co-Founder of the Greater Los Angeles Writers Society (GLAWS), and the Executive Director of West Coast Writer’s Conferences (WC2). He has produced hundreds of special speaker events on the craft and business of writing, and directs three major writer’s conferences annually. He consults to and speaks at various writer’s conferences on the craft and business of writing. He’s been a professional consultant at Los Angeles Valley College, where he strategized and authored the branding and website for Los Angeles Valley College’s Media Arts Departments, which included Cinema, Screenplay and Broadcasting. He is also on staff to the Entertainment Industry Training Collaboration (EITC) that works with Hollywood unions and the IDEAS group to promote educational opportunities. GLAWS is one of the largest non-profit organizations on the west coast for writers of all genres and disciplines and offers peer-to-peer critique groups, monthly educational speaker events, opportunities for published authors to promote their platforms and sell their books, as well as provide a wealth of educational and networking opportunities. Tony heads programming for the popular monthly GLAWS Special Speaker Events. Mr. Todaro was a part of the original team for Guitar Center Management, and opened or operated seven locations, which helped grow the chain grow more than 400%. After a decade, he was recruited by Benchmark, the American branch of Interbrand, one of the world’s largest branding firms. In 1992, he started his own company as a marketing expert and brand strategist. He has also worked extensively as a Brand Strategist for international companies from startup to Fortune 500, Hollywood unions, and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center / Department of Defense (SPAWAR/DOD). He is the author of “True Light” and “Nexus Of Swords” in the Lightriders Saga, and the gritty futuristic thrillers, “What Comes Around,” and “Eyes of God” in the Xander Hunt series. When not writing, Tony can be found at writer’s conferences, fine art shows, or snorkeling in Hawaii with Lillian, his wife of 35 years. For more information: tony@wcwriters.com 310-621-3530 Saturday, May 4th, 2019 at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates.Paddy Hirsch “Book marketing—black art or mad skill? Going beyond writing to the business of marketing a book.” Paddy Hirsch is an NPR journalist, broadcaster, online host and now a fiction writer. He was schooled in Ireland and the UK, and spent ten years in the British Royal Marines before moving to Hong Kong to start a career in news. He has worked in every journalistic medium, and in a variety of countries in Asia, Europe and the Americas. He is a specialist in business, financial and economic news, and his work appears regularly on NPR’s Planet Money in the U.S., and on the BBC World Service.      https://www.paddyhirsch.com/ He attended Stanford University as a Knight Fellow in 2011 and has won several awards for his video work explaining financial terminology. In 2012, Harper Business published his book “Man vs Markets, a tongue-in-cheek guide to the financial system.” “The Devil’s Half Mile” (Tor/Forge) is his first novel. The sequel, “Hudson’s Kill,” comes out in the U.S. in September. SWM Dates for 2019 all at 2pm May 4, 2019 – Paddy Hirsch June 1, 2019 – Dan Lambert July 6, 2019 Sept 7, 2019 Oct 5, 2019 Nov 2, 2019 Betty Simmons Fiction Contest Deadline: June, 2019 SWM meeting Contest Chair: Barbra Simpson barbrassimpson@aol.com (310) 376-8234 SWM Contest Rules: 1. Contest is limited to SWM members only. 2. Four dollars non-refundable fee for each entry. Cash or check OK. One check can cover multiple entries. Make check payable to Southwest Manuscripters and bring to the meeting or send to the SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 3. Maximum three entries per person. In keeping with the purpose of the SWM to encourage writers, especially new writers, only previously unpublished material is allowed. That means not seen in any medium (book, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, internet) with circulation of more than 200 readers. Rule of Thumb: If a judge may already have seen your entry, it is ineligible. 4. Print four (4) copies of your entries, one per each judge. Must be double-spaced… but single-sided, with an easy-to-read typeface, and legible. If the entry can’t be read, it can’t be judged. [Note: Times-Roman or Courier 12 is standard.] 5. Note word count on page one (max 2,000). Do NOT put personal info on the pages. 6. Entrant’s name may not appear anywhere on the entry. Put NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE and TITLE of entry as you would like to see them on award on a 3×5 card. You may also indicate intended market (e.g., children’s magazine, sci-fi magazine). 7. Although the contest has four judges, no judge is obliged to provide a written critique. 8. Awards will be presented at the SWM meeting in the month following the contest deadline. Winners of more than one top award will receive one certification for the highest scoring entry and honorable mention for any others. In case of a tie for a top award, each individual entrant will receive the same award. 9. Members who wish their entries to be published in The Write Stuff, may forward their entries, winning or not, after the contest, to Southwest Manuscripters, TWS Editor: van42@hotmail.com 10. Entries that do not comply with the above rules will be rejected and the entry fee will be forfeit. Give entries, checks and cards to the Contest Chair or mail them to: SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 or bring to the March, 2019 SWM Meeting (or before). Do NOT mail entries to the Editor or to the SWM P.O. Box. Saturday, April 6th, 2019 at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates.Elaine Ash, Jonathan Brown & Chrome Oxide (Find out more: bestsellermetrics.com – “Look inside” on Amazon) A roundtable discussion with two published authors about the process of working with their freelance editor—from raw manuscript to polished final, and landing book deals with respected publishers. From “killing their darlings,” to hammering out plot points, to hunting for agents and publishers, these three tell it all. It’s a no-holds-barred conversation among two writers and one editor, who never quit until each grabbed the literary brass ring. Elaine Ash, Editor—At Beat to a Pulp webzine, Elaine worked directly with writers for publication. Today, she works with private clients; shaping manuscripts, acquiring agents and scouting deals. Mental State, a legal thriller she edited through several drafts to final, was publisher-nominated for the Edgar Award in 2018. Elaine’s crime series (writing as Anonymous-9) won two Readers’ Choice Awards from the House of Crime and Mystery, Canada. She is the inventor of Bestseller Metrics, a testing system for novels, nicknamed “moneyball for authors.” Jonathan Brown has three books releasing in 2019, starting with A Boxing Trainer’s Journey—A Novel Based on the Life of Angelo Dundee, commissioned by Mentoris Books. His series debut, The Big Crescendo, is about Lou Crasher, a struggling Los Angeles drummer in dangerous pursuit of a rare snare—release is slated for November by Down & Out Books. Finally, Moose’s Law, a noir novella, will be self-published soon. When not drumming and practicing martial arts, Jonathan and his wife enjoy life in sunny southern California. Writers of the Future published finalist, Chrome Oxide, toiled many years writing humor and satire until his short story collection 28 Minutes into the Future was published. Tangent Online, the premiere review magazine for short science fiction and fantasy since 1993, named five stories from “28” to its recommended reading list for 2018. Chrome’s work has been praised by the late sci-fi legend Jerry Pournelle, as well as David Farland—New York Times bestselling author, and Coordinating Judge of the Writers of the Future contest. Chrome credits his success to “inadequate discouragement from my writers’ group.” Don’t Forget! ! WINNERS OF THE ARTICLE CONTEST TO BE ANNOUNCED AT THIS MEETING ! Saturday, March 2nd, 2019 at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates.Mark Fine https://www.markfinebooks.com/ ” Is Listening the New Reading? “ e hear a story long before being able to read one. Listening to stories has been deeply ingrained from our earliest memories, and it’s no wonder audiobooks have grown into a $2.5 billion book industry. Thanks to Audible, it’s possible for authors to get a slice of this sonic action. Though considered a small niche of the book market, audiobook downloads were up 32% in early 2018, at a time eBook sales were flat. One of the most exciting aspects of an audiobook is that the author becomes a producer when matching their compelling manuscript with a gifted narrator. I was fortunate to find Dennis Kleinman to narrate my critically acclaimed novel The Zebra Affaire. Hearing my words come alive through Dennis’ interpretive artistry was amazing. Our successful collaboration resulted in The Zebra Affaire audiobook receiving a nomination in the 2018 Voice Arts Awards. Author Mark Fine was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. Since 1979, New York, Minneapolis and Los Angeles have been home. He now lives in Palos Verdes with his two sons and a neighborhood dog that drops by from time to time. For a decade Fine headed an award-winning record label, Hammer & Lace Records, that united non-profits organizations, corporate and media sponsors, and world-class musicians such as Sheryl Crow, Sting, Melissa Etheridge, Bryan Adams and Boyz ll Men in aid of breast cancer research, at-risk children and wildlife conservation. For his work pioneering an innovative win-win-win paradigm that effectively satisfied creative needs, commercial needs, and the needs of the greater community, Fine received several awards from both the music and oncology communities. He also contributed articles to entertainment publications and led speaking engagements at charity and industry events. “The Zebra Affaire” is his first published work. SWM Dates for 2019 all at 2pm Feb 2, 2019 – Mark Fine Mar 2, 2019 – Rebecca Forster Apr 6, 2019 – Elaine Ash, Jonathon Brown & Chrome Oxide May 4, 2019 – Paddy Hirsch June 1, 2019 | July 6, 2019 Sept 7, 2019 | Oct 5, 2019 Nov 2, 2019 Edith Battles Nonfiction Article Contest Deadline: March, 2019 SWM meeting Contest Chair: Barbra Simpson barbrassimpson@aol.com (310) 376-8234 SWM Contest Rules: 1. Contest is limited to SWM members only. 2. Four dollars non-refundable fee for each entry. Cash or check OK. One check can cover multiple entries. Make check payable to Southwest Manuscripters and bring to the meeting or send to the SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 3. Maximum three entries per person. In keeping with the purpose of the SWM to encourage writers, especially new writers, only previously unpublished material is allowed. That means not seen in any medium (book, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, internet) with circulation of more than 200 readers. Rule of Thumb: If a judge may already have seen your entry, it is ineligible. 4. Print four (4) copies of your entries, one per each judge. Must be double-spaced… but single-sided, with an easy-to-read typeface, and legible. If the entry can’t be read, it can’t be judged. [Note: Times-Roman or Courier 12 is standard.] 5. Note word count on page one (max 2,000). Do NOT put personal info on the pages. 6. Entrant’s name may not appear anywhere on the entry. Put NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE and TITLE of entry as you would like to see them on award on a 3×5 card. You may also indicate intended market (e.g., children’s magazine, sci-fi magazine). 7. Although the contest has four judges, no judge is obliged to provide a written critique. 8. Awards will be presented at the SWM meeting in the month following the contest deadline. Winners of more than one top award will receive one certification for the highest scoring entry and honorable mention for any others. In case of a tie for a top award, each individual entrant will receive the same award. 9. Members who wish their entries to be published in The Write Stuff, may forward their entries, winning or not, after the contest, to Southwest Manuscripters, TWS Editor: van42@hotmail.com 10. Entries that do not comply with the above rules will be rejected and the entry fee will be forfeit. Give entries, checks and cards to the Contest Chair or mail them to: SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 or bring to the March, 2019 SWM Meeting (or before). Do NOT mail entries to the Editor or to the SWM P.O. Box. Saturday, February 2nd, 2019 at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates. Rebecca Forster https://rebeccaforster.com ” Professional Self-Publishing: Using Amazon, Canva, and Vellum “ ebecca Forster started writing novels on a crazy dare. Now she is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of 29 books which the CBS Legal Correspondent calls, “Perfect. . .impossible to put down.” After earning her MBA, Forster spent 14 years as a marketing executive before taking the leap from a corporate to a creative career. A fulltime author, speaker and teacher, Rebecca focuses on legal and political thrillers, but is known for bringing an uncommon sense of character and compassion to her work. Her Witness Series, featuring attorney Josie Bates, has resided on the Amazon bestseller lists for over three years in both the U.S. and U.K. and is a featured series at Audible.com. Before Her Eyes, a cross-genre thriller, captured the winning votes for Reviewers Choice for Best Mystery. Rebecca teaches the craft of writing and the cultivation of creativity at programs that have included the acclaimed UCLA Writers Program and as a guest speaker at legal associations, writer’s conferences, women’s symposiums and philanthropic groups across the U.S. She has made repeat appearances at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and volunteers at Southern California middle schools to bring the excitement of writing into the classroom. Appointed to the Patient/Family Advisory Board at Torrance Memorial Hospital, Rebecca advocates for closer relations between patients, families and medical staff to improve care. Rebecca lives in Southern California. She is married to a prominent Los Angeles Superior Court judge and is the mother of two grown sons. Travel is a passion and when she is not writing you can find her on a tennis court, in front of a sewing machine or on the couch with a book in her hand. Saturday, January 5th, 2019 at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates. his past Fall, Amazon summarily shut down the CreateSpace print-on-demand platform and transferred all accounts to Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Beth Whittenbury, author of How to Self-Publish a Book in 10 Easy Steps: A Guide for Authors Who Want to Publish Their Books for Free, Second Edition will discuss the difference between the two platforms and show us how to use the KDP platform for self- publishing. So, if you ever wanted to get your book published but don’t know how to begin, or you have been printing your books through CreateSpace and don’t know how the change to KDP affected you, this is the talk for you. Beth will have her new book for sale after the talk. However, if you want to buy and read her book in advance of the talk, so that you can ask specific questions, the book is available at (shortened URL): https://amzn.to/2SZEjQs      Beth K. Whittenbury has had two of her books published by traditional publishers. However, in 2013, she self-published her first book and hasn’t looked back. Since then, she has self-published nonfiction, fiction and children’s picture books. She learned the hard way what to avoid and what steps to take to make the publishing experience fulfilling and successful. As a consultant in this field and author, she helps people realize their dreams by allowing them to see their books in print. Beth helps take the frustration and headaches out of self-publishing and leads you to publishing success! Visit her web site at: bethwhittenbury.com

 

Saturday, July 13th, 2019 at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates.   and the GLAWS “Why Manuscripts Arrive DOA at Agents and Publishers or – How to Bulletproof your Manuscript for Success!” ubmitting manuscripts to literary agents and acquisition editors is a courageous act. It can also be a frustrating and perplexing one. When you’ve spent months or years of your life writing a book that you take pride in, and want to share with the world, sometimes it’s hard to understand — let alone accept — why the gatekeepers don’t see the value that you and your colleagues do. What can you do to anticipate such issues, and increase your chances for acceptance and publication? In this special presentation, industry expert Tony N. Todaro will reveal many of the issues that give agents pause, then share the secrets and insights, so you can upgrade the quality of your writing, take your rejections less personally, and target your submissions more effectively. No matter what you are writing, this is an event you must attend. There will be ample time for questions after the presentation. Tony N. Todaro is President and Co-Founder of the Greater Los Angeles Writers Society (GLAWS), and the Executive Director of West Coast Writer’s Conferences (WC2). He has produced hundreds of special speaker events on the craft and business of writing, and directs three major writer’s conferences annually. He consults to and speaks at various writer’s conferences on the craft and business of writing. He’s been a professional consultant at Los Angeles Valley College, where he strategized and authored the branding and website for Los Angeles Valley College’s Media Arts Departments, which included Cinema, Screenplay and Broadcasting. He is also on staff to the Entertainment Industry Training Collaboration (EITC) that works with Hollywood unions and the IDEAS group to promote educational opportunities. GLAWS is one of the largest non-profit organizations on the west coast for writers of all genres and disciplines and offers peer-to-peer critique groups, monthly educational speaker events, opportunities for published authors to promote their platforms and sell their books, as well as provide a wealth of educational and networking opportunities. Tony heads programming for the popular monthly GLAWS Special Speaker Events. Mr. Todaro was a part of the original team for Guitar Center Management, and opened or operated seven locations, which helped grow the chain grow more than 400%. After a decade, he was recruited by Benchmark, the American branch of Interbrand, one of the world’s largest branding firms. In 1992, he started his own company as a marketing expert and brand strategist. He has also worked extensively as a Brand Strategist for international companies from startup to Fortune 500, Hollywood unions, and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center / Department of Defense (SPAWAR/DOD). He is the author of “True Light” and “Nexus Of Swords” in the Lightriders Saga, and the gritty futuristic thrillers, “What Comes Around,” and “Eyes of God” in the Xander Hunt series. When not writing, Tony can be found at writer’s conferences, fine art shows, or snorkeling in Hawaii with Lillian, his wife of 35 years. For more information: tony@wcwriters.com 310-621-3530 Saturday, May 4th, 2019 at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates.Paddy Hirsch “Book marketing—black art or mad skill? Going beyond writing to the business of marketing a book.” Paddy Hirsch is an NPR journalist, broadcaster, online host and now a fiction writer. He was schooled in Ireland and the UK, and spent ten years in the British Royal Marines before moving to Hong Kong to start a career in news. He has worked in every journalistic medium, and in a variety of countries in Asia, Europe and the Americas. He is a specialist in business, financial and economic news, and his work appears regularly on NPR’s Planet Money in the U.S., and on the BBC World Service.      https://www.paddyhirsch.com/ He attended Stanford University as a Knight Fellow in 2011 and has won several awards for his video work explaining financial terminology. In 2012, Harper Business published his book “Man vs Markets, a tongue-in-cheek guide to the financial system.” “The Devil’s Half Mile” (Tor/Forge) is his first novel. The sequel, “Hudson’s Kill,” comes out in the U.S. in September. SWM Dates for 2019 all at 2pm May 4, 2019 – Paddy Hirsch June 1, 2019 – Dan Lambert July 6, 2019 Sept 7, 2019 Oct 5, 2019 Nov 2, 2019 Betty Simmons Fiction Contest Deadline: June, 2019 SWM meeting Contest Chair: Barbra Simpson barbrassimpson@aol.com (310) 376-8234 SWM Contest Rules: 1. Contest is limited to SWM members only. 2. Four dollars non-refundable fee for each entry. Cash or check OK. One check can cover multiple entries. Make check payable to Southwest Manuscripters and bring to the meeting or send to the SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 3. Maximum three entries per person. In keeping with the purpose of the SWM to encourage writers, especially new writers, only previously unpublished material is allowed. That means not seen in any medium (book, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, internet) with circulation of more than 200 readers. Rule of Thumb: If a judge may already have seen your entry, it is ineligible. 4. Print four (4) copies of your entries, one per each judge. Must be double-spaced… but single-sided, with an easy-to-read typeface, and legible. If the entry can’t be read, it can’t be judged. [Note: Times-Roman or Courier 12 is standard.] 5. Note word count on page one (max 2,000). Do NOT put personal info on the pages. 6. Entrant’s name may not appear anywhere on the entry. Put NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE and TITLE of entry as you would like to see them on award on a 3×5 card. You may also indicate intended market (e.g., children’s magazine, sci-fi magazine). 7. Although the contest has four judges, no judge is obliged to provide a written critique. 8. Awards will be presented at the SWM meeting in the month following the contest deadline. Winners of more than one top award will receive one certification for the highest scoring entry and honorable mention for any others. In case of a tie for a top award, each individual entrant will receive the same award. 9. Members who wish their entries to be published in The Write Stuff, may forward their entries, winning or not, after the contest, to Southwest Manuscripters, TWS Editor: van42@hotmail.com 10. Entries that do not comply with the above rules will be rejected and the entry fee will be forfeit. Give entries, checks and cards to the Contest Chair or mail them to: SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 or bring to the March, 2019 SWM Meeting (or before). Do NOT mail entries to the Editor or to the SWM P.O. Box. Saturday, April 6th, 2019 at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates.Elaine Ash, Jonathan Brown & Chrome Oxide (Find out more: bestsellermetrics.com – “Look inside” on Amazon) A roundtable discussion with two published authors about the process of working with their freelance editor—from raw manuscript to polished final, and landing book deals with respected publishers. From “killing their darlings,” to hammering out plot points, to hunting for agents and publishers, these three tell it all. It’s a no-holds-barred conversation among two writers and one editor, who never quit until each grabbed the literary brass ring. Elaine Ash, Editor—At Beat to a Pulp webzine, Elaine worked directly with writers for publication. Today, she works with private clients; shaping manuscripts, acquiring agents and scouting deals. Mental State, a legal thriller she edited through several drafts to final, was publisher-nominated for the Edgar Award in 2018. Elaine’s crime series (writing as Anonymous-9) won two Readers’ Choice Awards from the House of Crime and Mystery, Canada. She is the inventor of Bestseller Metrics, a testing system for novels, nicknamed “moneyball for authors.” Jonathan Brown has three books releasing in 2019, starting with A Boxing Trainer’s Journey—A Novel Based on the Life of Angelo Dundee, commissioned by Mentoris Books. His series debut, The Big Crescendo, is about Lou Crasher, a struggling Los Angeles drummer in dangerous pursuit of a rare snare—release is slated for November by Down & Out Books. Finally, Moose’s Law, a noir novella, will be self-published soon. When not drumming and practicing martial arts, Jonathan and his wife enjoy life in sunny southern California. Writers of the Future published finalist, Chrome Oxide, toiled many years writing humor and satire until his short story collection 28 Minutes into the Future was published. Tangent Online, the premiere review magazine for short science fiction and fantasy since 1993, named five stories from “28” to its recommended reading list for 2018. Chrome’s work has been praised by the late sci-fi legend Jerry Pournelle, as well as David Farland—New York Times bestselling author, and Coordinating Judge of the Writers of the Future contest. Chrome credits his success to “inadequate discouragement from my writers’ group.” Don’t Forget! ! WINNERS OF THE ARTICLE CONTEST TO BE ANNOUNCED AT THIS MEETING ! Saturday, March 2nd, 2019 at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates.Mark Fine https://www.markfinebooks.com/ ” Is Listening the New Reading? “ e hear a story long before being able to read one. Listening to stories has been deeply ingrained from our earliest memories, and it’s no wonder audiobooks have grown into a $2.5 billion book industry. Thanks to Audible, it’s possible for authors to get a slice of this sonic action. Though considered a small niche of the book market, audiobook downloads were up 32% in early 2018, at a time eBook sales were flat. One of the most exciting aspects of an audiobook is that the author becomes a producer when matching their compelling manuscript with a gifted narrator. I was fortunate to find Dennis Kleinman to narrate my critically acclaimed novel The Zebra Affaire. Hearing my words come alive through Dennis’ interpretive artistry was amazing. Our successful collaboration resulted in The Zebra Affaire audiobook receiving a nomination in the 2018 Voice Arts Awards. Author Mark Fine was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. Since 1979, New York, Minneapolis and Los Angeles have been home. He now lives in Palos Verdes with his two sons and a neighborhood dog that drops by from time to time. For a decade Fine headed an award-winning record label, Hammer & Lace Records, that united non-profits organizations, corporate and media sponsors, and world-class musicians such as Sheryl Crow, Sting, Melissa Etheridge, Bryan Adams and Boyz ll Men in aid of breast cancer research, at-risk children and wildlife conservation. For his work pioneering an innovative win-win-win paradigm that effectively satisfied creative needs, commercial needs, and the needs of the greater community, Fine received several awards from both the music and oncology communities. He also contributed articles to entertainment publications and led speaking engagements at charity and industry events. “The Zebra Affaire” is his first published work. SWM Dates for 2019 all at 2pm Feb 2, 2019 – Mark Fine Mar 2, 2019 – Rebecca Forster Apr 6, 2019 – Elaine Ash, Jonathon Brown & Chrome Oxide May 4, 2019 – Paddy Hirsch June 1, 2019 | July 6, 2019 Sept 7, 2019 | Oct 5, 2019 Nov 2, 2019 Edith Battles Nonfiction Article Contest Deadline: March, 2019 SWM meeting Contest Chair: Barbra Simpson barbrassimpson@aol.com (310) 376-8234 SWM Contest Rules: 1. Contest is limited to SWM members only. 2. Four dollars non-refundable fee for each entry. Cash or check OK. One check can cover multiple entries. Make check payable to Southwest Manuscripters and bring to the meeting or send to the SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 3. Maximum three entries per person. In keeping with the purpose of the SWM to encourage writers, especially new writers, only previously unpublished material is allowed. That means not seen in any medium (book, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, internet) with circulation of more than 200 readers. Rule of Thumb: If a judge may already have seen your entry, it is ineligible. 4. Print four (4) copies of your entries, one per each judge. Must be double-spaced… but single-sided, with an easy-to-read typeface, and legible. If the entry can’t be read, it can’t be judged. [Note: Times-Roman or Courier 12 is standard.] 5. Note word count on page one (max 2,000). Do NOT put personal info on the pages. 6. Entrant’s name may not appear anywhere on the entry. Put NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE and TITLE of entry as you would like to see them on award on a 3×5 card. You may also indicate intended market (e.g., children’s magazine, sci-fi magazine). 7. Although the contest has four judges, no judge is obliged to provide a written critique. 8. Awards will be presented at the SWM meeting in the month following the contest deadline. Winners of more than one top award will receive one certification for the highest scoring entry and honorable mention for any others. In case of a tie for a top award, each individual entrant will receive the same award. 9. Members who wish their entries to be published in The Write Stuff, may forward their entries, winning or not, after the contest, to Southwest Manuscripters, TWS Editor: van42@hotmail.com 10. Entries that do not comply with the above rules will be rejected and the entry fee will be forfeit. Give entries, checks and cards to the Contest Chair or mail them to: SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 or bring to the March, 2019 SWM Meeting (or before). Do NOT mail entries to the Editor or to the SWM P.O. Box. Saturday, February 2nd, 2019 at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates. Rebecca Forster https://rebeccaforster.com ” Professional Self-Publishing: Using Amazon, Canva, and Vellum “ ebecca Forster started writing novels on a crazy dare. Now she is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of 29 books which the CBS Legal Correspondent calls, “Perfect. . .impossible to put down.” After earning her MBA, Forster spent 14 years as a marketing executive before taking the leap from a corporate to a creative career. A fulltime author, speaker and teacher, Rebecca focuses on legal and political thrillers, but is known for bringing an uncommon sense of character and compassion to her work. Her Witness Series, featuring attorney Josie Bates, has resided on the Amazon bestseller lists for over three years in both the U.S. and U.K. and is a featured series at Audible.com. Before Her Eyes, a cross-genre thriller, captured the winning votes for Reviewers Choice for Best Mystery. Rebecca teaches the craft of writing and the cultivation of creativity at programs that have included the acclaimed UCLA Writers Program and as a guest speaker at legal associations, writer’s conferences, women’s symposiums and philanthropic groups across the U.S. She has made repeat appearances at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and volunteers at Southern California middle schools to bring the excitement of writing into the classroom. Appointed to the Patient/Family Advisory Board at Torrance Memorial Hospital, Rebecca advocates for closer relations between patients, families and medical staff to improve care. Rebecca lives in Southern California. She is married to a prominent Los Angeles Superior Court judge and is the mother of two grown sons. Travel is a passion and when she is not writing you can find her on a tennis court, in front of a sewing machine or on the couch with a book in her hand. Saturday, January 5th, 2019 at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates. his past Fall, Amazon summarily shut down the CreateSpace print-on-demand platform and transferred all accounts to Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Beth Whittenbury, author of How to Self-Publish a Book in 10 Easy Steps: A Guide for Authors Who Want to Publish Their Books for Free, Second Edition will discuss the difference between the two platforms and show us how to use the KDP platform for self- publishing. So, if you ever wanted to get your book published but don’t know how to begin, or you have been printing your books through CreateSpace and don’t know how the change to KDP affected you, this is the talk for you. Beth will have her new book for sale after the talk. However, if you want to buy and read her book in advance of the talk, so that you can ask specific questions, the book is available at (shortened URL): https://amzn.to/2SZEjQs      Beth K. Whittenbury has had two of her books published by traditional publishers. However, in 2013, she self-published her first book and hasn’t looked back. Since then, she has self-published nonfiction, fiction and children’s picture books. She learned the hard way what to avoid and what steps to take to make the publishing experience fulfilling and successful. As a consultant in this field and author, she helps people realize their dreams by allowing them to see their books in print. Beth helps take the frustration and headaches out of self-publishing and leads you to publishing success! Visit her web site at: bethwhittenbury.com

 

 

Paddy Hirsch “Book marketing—black art or mad skill? Going beyond writing to the business of marketing a book.”

Paddy Hirsch is an NPR journalist, broadcaster, online host and now a fiction writer. He was schooled in Ireland and the UK, and spent ten years in the British Royal Marines before moving to Hong Kong to start a career in news. He has worked in every journalistic medium, and in a variety of countries in Asia, Europe and the Americas. He is a specialist in business, financial and economic news, and his work appears regularly on NPR’s Planet Money in the U.S., and on the BBC World Service.      https://www.paddyhirsch.com/

He attended Stanford University as a Knight Fellow in 2011 and has won several awards for his video work explaining financial terminology. In 2012, Harper Business published his book “Man vs Markets, a tongue-in-cheek guide to the financial system.” “The Devil’s Half Mile” (Tor/Forge) is his first novel. The sequel, “Hudson’s Kill,” comes out in the U.S. in September.

SWM Dates for 2019 all at 2pm
May 4, 2019 – Paddy Hirsch
June 1, 2019 – Dan Lambert
July 6, 2019
Sept 7, 2019
Oct 5, 2019
Nov 2, 2019

Betty Simmons Fiction Contest
Deadline: June, 2019 SWM meeting
Contest Chair: Barbra Simpson
barbrassimpson@aol.com
(310) 376-8234

SWM Contest Rules:
1. Contest is limited to SWM members only.
2. Four dollars non-refundable fee for each entry. Cash or check OK. One check can cover multiple entries. Make check payable to Southwest Manuscripters and bring to the meeting or send to the SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
3. Maximum three entries per person. In keeping with the purpose of the SWM to encourage writers, especially new writers, only previously unpublished material is allowed. That means not seen in any medium (book, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, internet) with circulation of more than 200 readers. Rule of Thumb: If a judge may already have seen your entry, it is ineligible.
4. Print four (4) copies of your entries, one per each judge. Must be double-spaced… but single-sided, with an easy-to-read typeface, and legible. If the entry can’t be read, it can’t be judged. [Note: Times-Roman or Courier 12 is standard.]
5. Note word count on page one (max 2,000). Do NOT put personal info on the pages.
6. Entrant’s name may not appear anywhere on the entry. Put NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE and TITLE of entry as you would like to see them on award on a 3×5 card. You may also indicate intended market (e.g., children’s magazine, sci-fi magazine).
7. Although the contest has four judges, no judge is obliged to provide a written critique.
8. Awards will be presented at the SWM meeting in the month following the contest deadline. Winners of more than one top award will receive one certification for the highest scoring entry and honorable mention for any others. In case of a tie for a top award, each individual entrant will receive the same award.
9. Members who wish their entries to be published in The Write Stuff, may forward their entries, winning or not, after the contest, to Southwest Manuscripters, TWS Editor: van42@hotmail.com
10. Entries that do not comply with the above rules will be rejected and the entry fee will be forfeit.

Give entries, checks and cards to the Contest Chair or mail them to: SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 or bring to the March, 2019 SWM Meeting (or before).

DO NOT mail them to your Editor!

 

Beth Whittenbury “How to Self-Publish on the New KDP Print-on-Demand Platform for Free”

 

ARCHIVE – 2016   2017   2018 Saturday, January 5th, 2019 at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates. Beth Whittenbury “How to Self-Publish on the New KDP Print-on-Demand Platform for Free” This past Fall, Amazon summarily shut down the CreateSpace print-on-demand platform and transferred all accounts to Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Beth Whittenbury, author of How to Self-Publish a Book in 10 Easy Steps: A Guide for Authors Who Want to Publish Their Books for Free, Second Edition will discuss the difference between the two platforms and show us how to use the KDP platform for self- publishing. So, if you ever wanted to get your book published but don’t know how to begin, or you have been printing your books through CreateSpace and don’t know how the change to KDP affected you, this is the talk for you. Beth will have her new book for sale after the talk. However, if you want to buy and read her book in advance of the talk, so that you can ask specific questions, the book is available at (shortened URL): https://amzn.to/2SZEjQs      Beth K. Whittenbury has had two of her books published by traditional publishers. However, in 2013, she self-published her first book and hasn’t looked back. Since then, she has self-published nonfiction, fiction and children’s picture books. She learned the hard way what to avoid and what steps to take to make the publishing experience fulfilling and successful. As a consultant in this field and author, she helps people realize their dreams by allowing them to see their books in print. Beth helps take the frustration and headaches out of self-publishing and leads you to publishing success! SWM Dates for 2019 all at 2pm Jan 5, 2019: Beth Whittenbury Feb 2, 2019 – Mark Fine Mar 2, 2019 – Rebecca Forster Apr 6, 2019 – Elaine Ash, Jonathon Brown & Chrome Oxide May 4, 2019 – Paddy Hirsch June 1, 2019 | July 6, 2019 Sept 7, 2019 | Oct 5, 2019 Nov 2, 2019 Edith Battles Nonfiction Article Contest Deadline: March, 2019 SWM meeting Contest Chair: Barbra Simpson barbrassimpson@aol.com (310) 376-8234 SWM Contest Rules: 1. Contest is limited to SWM members only. 2. Four dollars non-refundable fee for each entry. Cash or check OK. One check can cover multiple entries. Make check payable to Southwest Manuscripters and bring to the meeting or send to the SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 3. Maximum three entries per person. In keeping with the purpose of the SWM to encourage writers, especially new writers, only previously unpublished material is allowed. That means not seen in any medium (book, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, internet) with circulation of more than 200 readers. Rule of Thumb: If a judge may already have seen your entry, it is ineligible. 4. Print four (4) copies of your entries, one per each judge. Must be double-spaced… but single-sided, with an easy-to-read typeface, and legible. If the entry can’t be read, it can’t be judged. [Note: Times-Roman or Courier 12 is standard.] 5. Note word count on page one (max 2,000). Do NOT put personal info on the pages. 6. Entrant’s name may not appear anywhere on the entry. Put NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE and TITLE of entry as you would like to see them on award on a 3×5 card. You may also indicate intended market (e.g., children’s magazine, sci-fi magazine). 7. Although the contest has four judges, no judge is obliged to provide a written critique. 8. Awards will be presented at the SWM meeting in the month following the contest deadline. Winners of more than one top award will receive one certification for the highest scoring entry and honorable mention for any others. In case of a tie for a top award, each individual entrant will receive the same award. 9. Members who wish their entries to be published in The Write Stuff, may forward their entries, winning or not, after the contest, to Southwest Manuscripters, TWS Editor: van42@hotmail.com 10. Entries that do not comply with the above rules will be rejected and the entry fee will be forfeit. Give entries, checks and cards to the Contest Chair or mail them to: SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 or bring to the March, 2019 SWM Meeting (or before). Do NOT mail entries to the Editor or to the SWM P.O. Box.

 

Autumn Leaves Poetry – Saturday, Nov. 3rd Poetry Event

 

Saturday, Nov. 3^rd Poetry Event
at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library,
701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates.
Participating Poets include:

Alan Cook, who is an author of mystery suspense books, including the “Carol Golden” novels, plus “Dancing with Bulls,” a young adult book. You can read more about his work at:                http://alancook.50megs.com/

Daniel E. Lambert is a teacher at several Los Angeles colleges, plus an author of poetry and short stories, collected into books which can be found on Amazon under his name

Bernadette Shih is a writer of children’s poetry and stories, which she has collected in several books; “Song of Life” and “Ling Ling, the Most Beautiful Giant Panda in the World,” plus others.

Jeri Fonté is a member of SWM whose most recent book, “Romancing the Lion,” is a memoir of her time spent in Africa.

Quiana Beco is a writer of Poetry and Prose whose most recent work is collected in a book titled “Day To Day Dealings.”

Robert Reed is your co-ordinator for this event and a multi SWM Award-winning poet and writer of memoirs about his experiences in the Coast Guard.

Carol Sperling is your current SWM President and a writer of family memoirs, plus an author of Sherlock Holmes Pastiches.

Don Abrams is a multi-instrument musician and a writer of a children’s fantasy book that teaches children how to play the piano, called “The Musical Rainbow Story,” which can be found at: http://www.themusicalrainbowstory.com/

Ian Gordon, who is also your newsletter Editor, is a writer of mystery and science fictions stories, as well as the occasional poem.

Janis Lukstein is a poet who leans toward Haiku and other esoteric forms of verse and prose. She can be found hanging around barns and corrals, conversing with her friends, the horses, while composing rhyme and reason.

Dean Okamura is a recently-joined member of SWM whom we have great expectations for. Come and hear him and the others read for you.

Future SWM Meeting Times & Dates for 2018
Dec 2018 – Hol. Party-TBD
Jan 5, 2019: Beth Whittenbury –
Feb. 2, 2019 – TBD
Mar. 2, 2019 – TBD

Poetry Contest Winners
Announced at the November Meeting!

Edith Battles Nonfiction Article Contest
Deadline: March, 2019 SWM meeting
Contest Chair: Barbra Simpson
barbrassimpson@aol.com
(310) 376-8234

SWM Contest Rules:
1. Contest is limited to SWM members only.
2. Four dollars non-refundable fee for each entry. Cash or check OK. One check can cover multiple entries. Make check payable to Southwest Manuscripters and bring to the meeting or send to the SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
3. Maximum three entries per person. In keeping with the purpose of the SWM to encourage writers, especially new writers, only previously unpublished material is allowed. That means not seen in any medium (book, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, internet) with circulation of more than 200 readers. Rule of Thumb: If a judge may already have seen your entry, it is ineligible.
4. Print four (4) copies of your entries, one per each judge. Must be double-spaced… but single-sided, with an easy-to-read typeface, and legible. If the entry can’t be read, it can’t be judged. [Note: Times-Roman or Courier 12 is standard.]
5. Note word count on page one (max 2,000). Do NOT put personal info on the pages.
6. Entrant’s name may not appear anywhere on the entry. Put NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE and TITLE of entry as you would like to see them on award on a 3×5 card. You may also indicate intended market (e.g., children’s magazine, sci-fi magazine).
7. Although the contest has four judges, no judge is obliged to provide a written critique.
8. Awards will be presented at the SWM meeting in the month following the contest deadline. Winners of more than one top award will receive one certification for the highest scoring entry and honorable mention for any others. In case of a tie for a top award, each individual entrant will receive the same award.
9. Members who wish their entries to be published in The Write Stuff, may forward their entries, winning or not, after the contest, to Southwest Manuscripters, TWS Editor: van42@hotmail.com
10. Entries that do not comply with the above rules will be rejected and the entry fee will be forfeit.

Give entries, checks and cards to the Contest Chair or mail them to: SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 or bring to the March, 2019 SWM Meeting (or before).
Do NOT mail entries to the Editor or to the SWM P.O. Box.

Wanda Maureen “Mo” Miller – May 5, 2018

Saturday, May. 5^th 2018 Guest Speaker – at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates.

Wanda Maureen “Mo” Miller

“The Perils of Publishing”

Like her main character, Grace Marie, Wanda Maureen Miller grew up on an Arkansas farm, read and wrote for escape, got an education, and moved to California. She taught college English and published four other books in various genres. She is retired now and lives in Manhattan Beach, CA, with a retired doctor. She has a daughter and granddaughter living in North Carolina and still owns the farm she grew up on.

 

 

 

About “Last Trip Home”
“Who do you thank you are, the Quane of Anglund?” That’s what Grace Marie’s father used to say to her whenever he thought she was getting out of her place. In her fifties now, Grace Marie is a college professor living in a beach town in California, and when she gets a phone call telling her that her father is dead, she is glad. She hopes her return for his funeral will be her “last trip home.”
As a young girl Grace Marie struggled to escape from poverty, her father’s lecherous, controlling grip, and a husband in the Klan. Determined to get an education, she clawed her way to a comfortable life and a home with indoor toilets—but her most unexpected struggle turned out to be survivor’s guilt, so she kept returning home to “fix” her family and the sharecropper shack. After her father’s funeral, Grace Marie burns down the family home—only to discover that she has unexpected ties to both the land and the people in her community. She realizes she will never have a “last trip home.”
https://lasttriphome.wordpress.com/

FREE Self Publishing Workshop with author Christopher J. Lynch

Saturday, Feb. 3rd 2018 Guest Speaker – at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates.
Christopher J. Lynch     www.christopherjlynch.com
FREE Self Publishing Workshop with author Christopher J. Lynch

With an extensive background in nonfiction, Los Angeles native Christopher J. Lynch has written for numerous local and national publications.
A lover of crime fiction, he also has self published many short stories and novels. His debut novel One Eyed Jack, a hard-boiled crime thriller about a professional extortionist. The book was a 2013 Shamus Award finalist and a Writer’s Digest honorable mention for best self-published genre fiction.
He also wrote-and self-published-the authorized biography of the famous child actor Ken Osmond, (Eddie Haskell from the TV series “Leave it to Beaver”). The book is one of the highest-rated celebrity biographies on Amazon.

This free workshop will include:

Pros and Cons of self-publishing versus traditional publishing
Editing
How to format your manuscript as an E-Book or POD (print on demand)
Cover design
ISBN’s and bar-codes
Costs of services
Pricing
Sales channels
Promotion
A live step-by-step demonstration of an e-book being uploaded and created on Amazon

Note: This meeting of the SOUTHWEST MANUSCRIPTERS, will be on: Saturday, Feb. 3rd, 2018 2-4:00pm, in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the PV Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates. Try parking on the roof, as the 2nd floor parking is usually packed. Contact Carol at: (310) 676-7494 or
carol.ann.sperling@gmail.com for further information.

Don’t forget! Non-Fiction Contest Entries are due by the March 3rd Meeting! – See Below…

Barbra Simpson, Contest Chair

Due to our annual Poetry Program, now occurring later in the year, we are changing the order of the contests around.

SWM Contest Rules
Edith Battles Nonfiction Article Contest
Deadline: March 3rd, 2018 SWM meeting.
Contest Chair: Barbra Simpson
barbrassimpson@aol.com
(310) 376-8234
1. Contest is limited to SWM members only.
2. Four dollars non-refundable fee for each entry. Cash or check OK. One check can cover multiple entries. Make check payable to Southwest Manuscripters and bring to the meeting or send to the SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
3. Maximum three entries per person. In keeping with the purpose of the SWM to encourage writers, especially new writers, only previously unpublished material is allowed. That means not seen in any medium (book, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, internet) with circulation of more than 200 readers. Rule of Thumb: If a judge may already have seen your entry, it is ineligible.
4. Print four (4) copies of your entries, one per each judge. Article entries must be double-spaced… but single-sided, with an easy-to-read typeface, and legible. If the entry can’t be read, it can’t be judged. [Note: Times-Roman or Courier 12 is standard.]
5. Note word count on page one (max 2,000). Do NOT put personal info on the pages.
6. Entrant’s name may not appear anywhere on the entry. Put NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE and TITLE of entry as you would like to see them on award on a 3×5 card. You may also indicate intended market (e.g., children’s magazine, sci-fi magazine).
7. Although the contest has four judges, no judge is obliged to provide a written critique.
8. Awards will be presented at the SWM meeting in the month following the contest deadline. Winners of more than one top award will receive one certification for the highest scoring entry and honorable mention for any others. In case of a tie for a top award, each individual entrant will receive the same award.
9. Members who wish their entries to be published in The Write Stuff, may forward their entries, winning or not, after the contest, to Southwest Manuscripters, TWS Editor:
van42@hotmail.com
10. Entries that do not comply with the above rules will be rejected and the entry fee will be forfeit.
Give entries, checks and cards to the Contest Chair or mail them to: SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 or bring to the Mar. 3rd, 2018 SWM Meeting (or before). Do NOT mail entries to the Editor or to the SWM P.O. Box.

Basically what the above is saying:
A) Submit 4 (four) copies of your work, without any personal info on the sheets, just the title.
B) At the same time, include a card or paper with title and your personal info.
C) Send them to or give to Barbra at the above address or at the next meeting along with your check or cash.
D) Pick up your award at the following meeting.

SIMPLE!

Michael Kurland – Saturday, Oct. 7 th

 

Saturday, Oct. 7 th Guest Speaker – at 2pm in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the Palos Verdes Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates. Michael Kurland It’s a Mystery to Me: the Art and Craft of Writing the Mystery Story Successful fiction writing, of mysteries or anything else, is one of the hardest forms of self-abuse ever devised. the ancient bards had years decades to devise one tale, and often it took several of them in succession, and perhaps a couple of hundred years, to perfect it. Today’s fictioneers are expected to knock off a novel every year or so, and lard their output with short stories, essays, and commentary. But the passage of millennia has not made the task any easier. When someone asked Raymond Chandler how he wrote, he said, “I stick a fresh piece of paper in the typewriter and stare at it until blood forms on my forehead.” Famed short story writer Jorge Luis Borges put it this way: “Every writer hates writing, but loves having written.” And that indeed is the way it is with most of us no matter how long we’ve been writing or how successful we are. Writing remains the most difficult job we know, but having written, seeing that short story in the magazine or that novel on the bookstore shelf, is the most satisfying feeling in the world. And when you become professional enough to eke out a living through your pen (that’s known as a metaphor, unless you still write with a pen, in which case it isn’t), you wouldn’t, as the song goes, trade it for a sack of gold.      The author of over 30 novels and non-fiction books, Michael Kurland has been nominated for two Edgars and an American Book Award. His books have been translated into over a dozen different languages and have been selections in the History Book Club, the Science Fiction Book Club, the Young Adult Literary Guild, the Military Book Club, and a couple of others. His early novel, The Unicorn Girl, along with Chester Anderson’s The Butterfly Kid and TA Waters’ The Probability Pad have become fantasy cult classics known collectively as the Greenwich Village trilogy, or more informally as “The Buttercorn Pad.” He lives in San Luis Obispo with his partner, attorney and novelist Linda Robertson, a dog, a cat, and an occasional raccoon. Note: This meeting of the SOUTHWEST MANUSCRIPTERS, will be on: Saturday, Oct. 7th, 2-4:00pm, in the Community Room on the 3rd Floor of the PV Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, in Rolling Hills Estates. Try parking on the roof, as the 2nd floor parking is usually packed. Contact Carol at: (310) 676-7494 or carol.ann.sperling@gmail.com for further information. Don’t forget! Short Story Contest Entries are due by the Oct. 7th Meeting! – See Below… Barbra Simpson, Contest Chair SWM Contest Rules Betty Simmons Short Story Fiction Contest Deadline: Oct. 7th, 2017 SWM meeting. Contest Chair: Barbra Simpson barbrassimpson@aol.com (310) 376-8234 1. Contest is limited to SWM members only. 2. Four dollars non-refundable fee for each entry. Cash or check OK. One check can cover multiple entries. Make check payable to Southwest Manuscripters and bring to the meeting or send to the SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 3. Maximum three entries per person. In keeping with the purpose of the SWM to encourage writers, especially new writers, only previously unpublished material is allowed. That means not seen in any medium (book, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, internet) with circulation of more than 200 readers. Rule of Thumb: If a judge may already have seen your entry, it is ineligible. 4. Print four (4) copies of your entries, one per each judge. Article entries must be double-spaced… but single-sided, with an easy-to-read typeface, and legible. If the entry can’t be read, it can’t be judged. [Note: Times-Roman or Courier 12 is standard.] 5. Note word count on page one (max 2,000). Do NOT put personal info on the pages. 6. Entrant’s name may not appear anywhere on the entry. Put NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE and TITLE of entry as you would like to see them on award on a 3×5 card. You may also indicate intended market (e.g., children’s magazine, sci-fi magazine). 7. Although the contest has four judges, no judge is obliged to provide a written critique. 8. Awards will be presented at the SWM meeting in the month following the contest deadline. Winners of more than one top award will receive one certification for the highest scoring entry and honorable mention for any others. In case of a tie for a top award, each individual entrant will receive the same award. 9. Members who wish their entries to be published in The Write Stuff, may forward their entries, winning or not, after the contest, to Southwest Manuscripters, TWS Editor: van42@hotmail.com 10. Entries that do not comply with the above rules will be rejected and the entry fee will be forfeit. Give entries, checks and cards to the Contest Chair or mail them to: SWM Contest, 872 – Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 or bring to the June 3rd, 2017 SWM Meeting (or before). Do NOT mail entries to the Editor or to the SWM P.O. Box. Basically what the above is saying: A) Submit 4 (four) copies of your work, without any personal info on the sheets, just the title. B) At the same time, include a card or paper with title and your personal info. C) Send them to or give to Barbra at the above address or at the next meeting along with your check or cash. D) Pick up your award at the following meeting. SIMPLE!