PNWA member Maureen Francisco is celebrating the release of her new book, It Takes Moxie: Off the Boat, Or Out of School, To Making It Your Way in America, on January 19, 2013.

Her launch party is from 9:30am until 1:00pm at the Heathman Hotel in Kirkland, WA. Dr. Connie Mariano, the former White House doctor, James Sun, CEO of Pirq, Bruno Singh, Executive of NBCUniversal, and many more will be there. 

Space is limited.  If you are an Ascend member, the cost to you is nothing to get: valet parking, breakfast, mimosa, coffee and VALUABLE networking opportunities.  The non-Ascend member fee to attend the event is just $20.  To sign up, clink on the following link:  http://www.ascendleadership.org/events/event_details.asp?id=268383

---

PNWA member Richard Opper is paying $75 for the cleverest review of his Kindle novel, Elemental Threat. Richard writes:

"There is no entry fee for the competition other than the price of the book, which I lowered to $1.49 for this contest. The rules are simple:

1. Read the book.

2. Send me an email at richard.opper@gmail.com with your review attached.

3. Post your review as a Customer Review on Amazon.

The competition ends February 15, 2013. I will notify all entrants of the winning entry. Elemental Threat is an environmental mystery set on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana. It involves toxic waste, political corruption, racism and nuclear terror.  All this for just $1.49!"

---

PNWA member Kaki Warner was delighted to learn that Book 3 of her Runaway Brides Novels, Bride Of The High Country (Berkley Trade), made the Library Journal list of Best Romances of 2012. The first two books in the series, Heartbreak Creek (a 2011 RITA Finalist) and Colorado Dawn (a 2012 RT Reviews nominee for best hero), have been re-issued in mass market, with Bride Of The High Country coming out in March 2013. For excerpts of each, as well as a peek at her recent release, Miracle In New Hope, a Christmas e-novella, please check her website: http://kakiwarner.com/books.html 

---

---

PNWA member Deb Mohr's story, "Cross Burning at Gamma Phi Beta," recently won a silver medal for Best Articles of the Year in the CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) Circle of Excellence Awards. The article won gold at the district level last spring, and this latest award is at a higher level, including the Western U.S. and International CASE member institutions.

---

PNWA board member Deborah Schneider was featured in a December article in Time magazine, "The 99-cent Best Seller." The article focuses on the explosion of self-publishing (or as it's now called, "indie publishing") sweeping through the ranks of writers and authors. Deborah is the author of several historical and paranormal romances. Visit her at http://debschneider.com/

---

PNWA member Randall Reneau announces the publication of his self-published (CreateSpace) book Deadly Lode, a "Trace Brandon" novel. The book is a mining, murder, short-selling, offshore-trading, mobbed-up, mystery/thriller set in Washington State, with stops in Vancouver, B.C., Vegas, New Orleans, and the Caymans. The book is available online at B&N, Amazon, Kindle, Kobo Books (Canada), and at various indie bookstores around the country. The second "Trace Brandon" novel, Diamond Fields, will be available in late March 2013.

---

PNWA member Elizabeth Blake announces the release of her children's book, GreenBean: True Blue Family, which she both wrote and illustrated. GreenBean is worried that she does not belong in her family because she is very different from her parents and brother. She is green and they are blue. And that's not all. But she discovers that belonging is about something more important than appearance in this story of differences, acceptance, and belonging. Visit http://elizabethblake.us/ and http://www.nissepress.com/ for more details.

---

PNWA member Rena Mason is pleased to announce her debut novel, The Evolutionist, is now available in trade paperback and ebook format through Amazon or Nightscape Press. Visit Rena at http://www.renamasonwrites.com/

---

Congratulations to PNWA board member Jeff Ayers for being named Library Journal's Fiction Reviewer of the Year! The journal's top reviewers will be featured in the January print issue.

---

PNWA member Peter Manos announces the release of his new e-book, Lucifer's Revenge. In present-day Seattle, quirky private detective Malko Grakowitz finds Carla Engle hiding in the dingy Still Waters Motel afraid for her life because her employer, Jay Karlzmar, has killed one of her coworkers for discovering macabre goings-on at work. Before Malko's eyes, Carla undergoes an otherworldly transformation from a stick figure of a woman into a voluptuous beauty. As they unite to uncover a conspiracy by the fallen angel Lucifer (involving a potent aphrodisiac), Malko begins to overcome his anger at women and Carla her fear of growing up. They fall in love. But when Malko sees her passionately kiss Karlzmar and enter a hotel room with him, their partnership ends.  Brokenhearted, confused, and furious, Malko is now easy prey for Karlzmar who plans to kill Carla next.  It appears that nothing can stop Lucifer from his plan of revenge. The book is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

---

PNWA member and former PNWA president Shirley Davies-Owens announces the publication of her new novel, Paths Unknown,available in print and e-book editions at amazon.com, bn.com and wholesale through Ingram. Paths Unknown is described as "a riveting, unforgettable tale set in Victorian England and the Canadian frontier that tells the story of Lydia Fullerton, a young woman who risks everything for love and family." For more details, visit http://shirleydaviesowens.virb.com/ or find the book here.

---

PNWA member Donna Lee Anderson announces the release of her new book, Necessary Words for Writers. Every industry has its own vocabulary and jargon, and the publishing world is no exception. If you ever wondered what an ARC was, or just what they wanted if an agent asked for clips, or why they wanted a bio instead of a resume, then Necessary Words For Writers is a book you'll really use. Visit Donna at http://donnaleeanderson.com/ 

---

PNWA member Gary Eddings announces the release of his new e-book, Buffalo Hump, from Champagne Book Group (www.champagnebooks.com). The book is a present-day fiction and tells a story about gold, friendship, greed and the values of the Nez Perce tribe of Central Idaho. It is available for most e-reader formats. Visit Gary at http://www.garyeddings.com/

CLASSES/WORKSHOPS:

Seattle7 Conference

The published authors behind Seattle7Writers, a nonprofit collective that raises money for literacy, are busy planning their third annual Write Here Write Now conference for all writers, at all levels.

On Saturday, January 26, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the group will host over one hundred writers at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center, 4272 Fremont Ave NW in Seattle for a day of instruction, one-on-one meetings with authors, and community, but mostly, writing.

Seattle7Writers co-founder and bestselling author Garth Stein (The Art of Racing in the Rain) explains: "Write Here Write Now is unlike other writing conferences because the focus is on actually writing, right there, together with over a hundred other writers of all levels." Stein will be there along with Timothy Egan, Maria Semple, Laurie Frankel, William Dietrich, Tara Austen Weaver, Jennie Shortridge, Kevin O'Brien, Carol Cassella, Deb Caletti, Dave Boling, Randy Sue Coburn, Kathleen Alcala, Anjali Banerjee, Stephanie Kallos, Bernadette Pajer, Katherine Malmo, and more. More information and registration for the event is available at www.seattle7writers.org.

---

The Joy of Chapbooks with Terry Persun

Saturday, January 26, 2013, 2:00-3:00 pm, Everett Public Library, 2720 Hoyt Avenue, Everett 98201. Sponsored by NWWW. www.northwestwomenwriters.org

Presenter: Terry Persun, award winning author and poet: Poems That Tell the Truth published by March Street Press,  And Now This publishing in 2013 by MoonPath Press, plus six poetry chapbooks published by small publishing houses. A Renaissance man, Terry additionally has penned numerous other fiction, science fiction, and nonfiction technical books. www.TerryPersun.com

Terry has numerous ideas for chapbook use, including family recipes and flash fiction. At the workshop, Terry will provide names of publishing houses interested in chapbooks, plus give practical suggestions for self-publishing and production.

For further information or questions, please contact Maxine Brink, NWWW Poetry Coordinator, at Maxine@adagio-afh.com

---

Amazon's Publishing Solutions

The National Speakers Association's Northwest chapter will be hosting a special workshop about digital publishing featuring experts from Amazon.com on January 18 at the Doubletree Suites in Southcenter. For details, visit http://www.nsanorthwest.org/jan-18-2012-so-you-want-to-write-a-book-amazon/

CONTESTS/SUBMISSIONS:   

PNWA's 2013 Literary Contest (deadline: Feb. 22, 2013)

The 2013 PNWA Literary Contest presents an opportunity for writers to showcase their unpublished work.    

Contest categories:

1. Mainstream

2. Historical

3. Romance/Erotica

4. Mystery/Thriller

5. Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Paranormal

6. Young Adult (ages 12-18)

7. Middle Grade (ages 8-12)

8. Nonfiction/Memoir

9. Poetry

10. Short Story

11. Children's Picture/Chapter Book

12. Adult Short Topics (Article/Essay/Short Memoir)

Awards and Benefits:

• The eight finalists in each category will be notified June 2013 prior to the PNWA Summer Conference (July 25 - 28, 2013).
• Award winners will be announced at the conference.
• Every entry accepted in the contest will receive two critiques - a useful tool for any writer.
• Finalists who attend the PNWA Summer Conference will receive a Finalist ribbon for their name badge, giving them high visibility to the agents and editors at the conference. Finalists' manuscripts will be made available to agents and editors during the conference.
• In addition, finalists' entries are read and judged by an agent or editor to determine the top two in each category.
• Winners are given the opportunity to attend the Agents and Editors Reception at the PNWA Summer Conference.

For more details, visit our website. Click here for a copy of the entry form.