November Speaker Meeting

Thursday, Nov. 17 @7:00pm
Chinook Middle School (2001 98th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004)

Speaker:  Joni Sensel
Topic:  Building Worlds out of Words

Writers of many genres, from science fiction to historical fiction, need convincing worlds for their stories -- not just for setting, but for rich characters and believable plot points.  We'll explore how to build an authentic reality, whether you need to create slang, non-human beings, or the catastrophes your characters encounter.  Participants will practice and leave with tools that can help them bring authenticity to their fiction (and add bunches of words to their NaNoWriMo count).

A full-time freelance writer, Joni Sensel is the author of four novels for young readers and several nonfiction books for adults. Her fiction has been praised as a Junior Library Guild Selection, a Bank Street College of Education "Best Book," a Cybils Award and Crystal Kite Award finalist, a Truman Award short-listed title, and a Henry Bergh Honor winner. She is co-regional advisor for the Western Washington chapter of the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators, and she lives at the knees of Mt. Rainier.

PNWA Member Booksignings: November 5

Please join us this Saturday, November 5, from 1:00pm - 3:00pm for a multi-author booksigning event at the PNWA Writers' Cottage!  The event will feature several talented local authors:

Richard Alan

Sunnie Empie

Otis Goodwin

Judi Blaze

Brian Holers

Marilee Brothers

As usual, the event will take place at our Writers' Cottage location in Issaquah's Gilman Village (317 NW Gilman Blvd, space #8, Issaquah, WA 98027).  We hope to see you there!

NaNoWriMo

November is National Novel Writing Month!  The PNWA Writers' Cottage in Issaquah is participating this year as a "write-in" location, which means we will have extended hours for NaNoWriMo participants to come by and work on their novels, drink coffee, and meet up with other fellow writers.  We'd love to see you there! 

Here are the Writers' Cottage hours for the month of November:

Nov. 6 - 10 (Sun. - Thurs.):  Noon to 8:00pm
Nov. 14 - 15 (Mon. - Tues.):  Noon to 8:00pm
Nov. 18 - 22 (Fri. - Tues.):  Noon to 8:00pm
Nov. 28 - 29 (Mon. - Tues.):  Noon to 8:00pm

So please feel free to stop by anytime during these hours.  We will have hot coffee brewing and free wi-fi.  See you in November!

The Cottage is located at 317 NW Gilman Blvd, suite #8, Issaquah, WA 98027.    

"Writing Truth" 2-day Intensive Nonfiction Workshop

Salability and Structure of your Nonfiction Manuscript    Saturday, November 12 - Sunday November 13
9am - 5:30pm @ the Writers' Cottage

Jill Marr (literary agent), Sheila Bender (author) and Susan Wingate (author) will discuss structure, craft and the salability of your nonfiction work -- both memoir and narrative nonfiction -- in this intensive 2-day workshop.    Cost: $225 (includes lunch and refreshments)

For more information, including speaker bios, click here.

For questions and to make reservations, please contact Susan Wingate: susan@susanwingate.com 

PNWA Member Books to be Displayed

PNWA member Rebecca Meredith's debut novel, The Last of the Pascagoula (La Sirene Press) is now available.  The Last of the Pascagoula is a story about coming of age, art and madness, assisted suicide, and the love of a good-if dead-dog.  Readers who enjoyed The Secret Life of Bees, When Women Had Wings and the larger-than-life characters of Swamplandia! will love the story of Kate Lynn and her fragile, talented sister Martha, who begin a journey of transformation in 1960's Mississippi that culminates in a daring act of love nearly forty years later.

For further information or to find out how to purchase, please visit www.thelastofthepascagoula.com

Rebecca Meredith is a widely published poet and writer whose work has appeared in numerous literary magazines and anthologies, and has been featured on KUOW's The Beat.  She is currently serving a term as the first poet laureate of Redmond, Washington. 

PNWA member Katherine Pym is an EPIC Finalist for the 2012 eBook Awards. Judged by her peers, Katherine's TWINS is one of three finalists in her genre of historical fiction.  The winning announcement will be in March 2012. 

TWINS is set in 1661 London, published by www.wings-press.com

PNWA member Karen Estes will be participating in the Book Buzz at A Book for All Seasons in Leavenworth, WA, on Saturday, November 5, from 1:00 to 3:00pm.  Karen will be speaking with individuals and signing copies of her novel, Plane of the Ecliptic. Four additional authors will also be promoting their books at the same event. Visit this website for more information:  http://www.abookforallseasons.com/events/2011_nov_bookbuzz/

Port Townsend-based author Yvonne Wakefield's new book, Suitcase Filled with Nails, was published in late October by PNWA member Randy Morse's Authorcloud Publishers (www.authorcloud.com). Suitcase is a compelling tale of a woman who leaves her lovely life in the Pacific Northwest behind to teach Muslim women art in Kuwait for six years. Author Nina Amir calls it "An eye-opening look under the veil of young Muslim women," while author Judith Roche says "This 'innocent abroad' tells her story with vivid language, living metaphor, and above all, great story-telling skill." For up to date info regarding Suitcase, and author Wakefield's frank and often funny comments on the whole, crazy-making experience of birthing a book, check out her blog at http://suitcasefilledwithnailsauthorcloud.blogspot.com/

PNWA member Ingrid Ricks announces the release of her new book Hippie Boy: A Girl's Story, available as an e-book through Amazon and BN.com (and soon to be released in paperback). Visit Ingrid at http://ingridricks.com

PNWA member Susan Szafir's prize-winning essay "Bohemia" (which won 1^st place in the PNWA 2011 Literary Contest: Adult Short Topics category) is now available for 99 cents as a download from Amazon.

Born Jewish in 1929 Berlin, Thomas is among the fortunate who escape Nazi Germany. His parents, Walter and Ilse, flee to Palestine with him in tow. While Walter and Ilse leave Hitler's anti-semitism behind, they continue to cling to the bohemian culture of free love, which they'd enjoyed in Berlin. In the sleepy town of Jerusalem, they throw memorable parties and pursue extra-marital lovers. Yet, they do not discuss the nature of their open arrangement with young Thomas. Thomas's inevitable disillusionment takes place amidst a historical backdrop singularly unique in time.

Congratulations, Susan!

PNWA member Dan Kolbet announces the recent release of his debut novel. Off The Grid imagines a world where electricity is transmitted wirelessly, but only one monopolistic company can do it. Described as an "interesting and compelling read" by one industry expert, Off The Grid should interest fans of corporate espionage, Nikola Tesla and anyone who has ever experienced a power outage. Off The Grid is available in paperback and all e-book formats. For more information, visit www.dankolbet.com     

PNWA member Marty Wingate has released The Garden Plot, the first book in the Potting Shed Mystery series, as an e-book. In this first book, Pru Parke is a middle-aged American gardener in London who turns up more than weeds. She's moved to London to start a new life, but she's having a terrible time finding a job - until she lands a big garden makeover in Chelsea. There, she finds murder, secrets, and lies when she unearths an ancient Roman mosaic in the garden. She worms her way into the investigation, which not only puts her in danger, but also creates tension between Pru and the inspector - although the tension isn't all business. For more information, visit martywingate.com

CLASSES/WORKSHOPS:

Author Platform with instructor Mindy S. Halleck

"Author platform" is a catchphrase in the book publishing world. Unless you're John Grisham or Maya Angelou, it's near impossible to sell books without one. The author platform is your foundation of influence and capacity to reach your market. Even before you have a book published there are things you SHOULD be doing in preparation for marketing your book. In this revealing workshop, learn how to develop your platform through free blogs, websites for $25, podcasts, radio interview guest list, Web TV interviews, developing 'expert status', and more. Mindy Sitton-Halleck, author of Romance & Money - 12 Conversations Every Couple Should Have, is also a travel writer for The Victoria Clipper Blog, iTunes Travel Apps, contributing author for Self Growth magazine, e-How, SFGate and more.

WHEN: Monday, November 7, 2011, 6-9pm

WHERE: WCC Foundation Building Whatcom Community College, Bellingham

FEE: $39.00                                       

To register for this 3 hour workshop visit https://register.whatcomcommunityed.com/CourseStatus.awp?&course=11F8028057RA

Connections 2011: Update

The Skagit V alley Writers League in association with the Pacific Northwest Writers Association present "Connections 2011," November 12, 1-5pm, at the Mount Vernon Community and Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. The event is free, Register at skagitwriters.org or with Ann: (360) 445-2507, brittain@nase.org

PROGRAM:

The Virtuoso Sentence: Acquiring the Techniques of the Masters, by Pricilla Long:

This session is designed to set you on a path toward developing virtuoso skills in sentencing, whether you are just beginning or quite experienced and well published.

Stone Soup: Creating Something out of Nothing, by Jane Alynn:

To an empty pot we'll add a pinch of uncertainty, to simmer into a hearty stew. Writing exercises will engage the dialectic mode of thought, add experiment, saving finishing touches for later.

Publishing Options for Novels & Poetry/Story Collections, by Terry Persun & Brandon LeFave:

Today's new electronic genres provide authors new outlets for their work as well as many publishing options like self-publishing, audio, multi-media, working with large and small publishers or co-ops.

Do-It-Yourself Book Promotion in the Northwest, by Diane Duthweiler & Gail DiRe:

Two veteran of Western Washington's book land media worlds share their insider knowledge about who to target and how to do it.

Transforming Boys Into Lifelong Readers

Course Description: Prepare educators, parents and guardians to be more effective in transforming boys into lifelong readers. Focus on reluctant-readers, address the 4^th grade reading-slump, and narrow the gender reading gap between boys and girls.

You will learn:

* How to better connect with your boy

* The most up-to-date research on gender and learning

* How educators should consider gender as they design and

implement lesson plans

Course Details:

Dates: December 9 and 10

Times: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Cost: $275.00

Location: Seattle 

Continuing Education Credit: Receive one continuing education credit from Seattle University.

Limited Seats: To register, email john@boysread.org

12th Annual Northwest Perspectives Essay Contest (no fee)
Postmark Deadline: January 15, 2012

Oregon Quarterly invites entries to the 2012 Northwest Perspectives Essay Contest in both student and open categories. Entries should address ideas that affect the Northwest. The Oregon Quarterly staff will select finalists and this year's contest judge, Robin Cody (http://www.robincody.net/), will choose the top three winners in each category. Past judges have been Kim Stafford, Barry Lopez, John Daniel, Karen Karbo, Brian Doyle, Lauren Kessler, Craig Lesley, Molly Gloss, Kathleen Dean Moore, Kenny Moore, and Thomas Hager.

* Prizes in the Open Category: $750, $300, $10
* Prizes in the Student Category: $500, $200, $75
* No entry fee required
* First-place essay in the open category will appear in Oregon Quarterly
* A selection of top essays will be featured in a public reading on the UO campus
* Fifteen finalists (ten in the Open Category and five students) will be
announced in the Summer 2011 issue of Oregon Quarterly
* All finalists will be invited to participate in a writing workshop with
the contest judge on the day of the reading

Entries should be nonfiction, should not have been previously published, and should be no more than 1,500 words in the Student Category and 2,000 words in the Open Category. The student contest is open to any student currently enrolled and pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree at a college or university. One entry per person. Find complete guidelines at
http://www.oregonquarterly.com/essay.php

Celebrate Elwha! Adventure Writer's Contest

Wirta Hospitality Worldwide is sponsoring a Writer's contest that will capture stories and photos of fun and excitement in the Olympic National Park. The contest is being judged by a distinguished panel of Olympic Peninsula authors; Aaron Elkins, Pat Neal and Glynda Peterson Schadd. All three authors are excited to be supporting Olympic Peninsula writers and writing. The winner will receive five hundred dollars and an offer to post future stories on the adventure-based website www.ExploreOlympics.com. Our judges are looking forward to reading about your adventures! For more details, visit http://exploreolympics.com/reports/?p=3780