Board of Directors
Judy Baker, President
Crissi Langwell, Vice President
Jeane Slone, Vice President
Malena Eljumaily, Treasurer
Nancy Martin, Secretary
Shawn Langwell, Immediate Past President
Joelle Burnette, Website Editor
Tommie Whitener, Vault Master, Policies & Procedures
Roger Lubeck, Membership Chair
Adele Layton, Member at Large
Chairs and Editors
Les Bernstein, Poetry Anthology Editor
Skye Blaine, Newsletter Poetry Editor
Fran Claggett-Holland, Poetry Anthology Editor
Robin Gabbert, Writers Salon
Cynthia Gregory, 2022 Prose Anthology Editor
Pamela Heck, Volunteer Coordinator, 2022 Sonoma County Writers Conference
Marie Judson, Critique Groups
Jeanne Jusaitis, Author Support
Crissi Langwell, Newsletter Editor, Social Media
Shawn Langwell, 2022 Sonoma County Writers Conference Chair
Linda L. Reid, Writers Circle & Poetry Anthology Liaison
Jeane Slone, Author Launch & Fair Coordinator
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GENERAL MEETINGS ARE NOW HELD IN PERSON AND ON ZOOM |
Every third Saturday, Redwood Writers general meeting will be held 1-2:30 p.m.at:
Finley Center
2060 W. College Ave
Santa Rosa.
If you are not vaccinated, we ask that you wear a mask.
If you are unable to attend or still feel uncomfortable attending in person, we will be streaming the meeting via Zoom.
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An easy way to support Redwood Writers... |
Our next board meeting is on Tuesday, July 12, 6-7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Board meetings are held 6-7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month unless otherwise noted, and are open to any member in good standing. If you would like to attend a board meeting, contact:
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Mark your calendars for this month's upcoming events! Keep reading the newsletter for more details about each event.
July 12: Board Meeting
July 16: Author Support (in person!)
July 16: General Meeting with Betsy Graziani Fasbinder
July 17: "On Fire" prose anthology deadline
July 23: RW Circle
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A NOTE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT |
As I come onboard as President of Redwood Writers, let me begin with gratitude.
Take note of the remarkable team of volunteers, board members, chairs, and editors. It is through their efforts the club continues to shine and grow.
I am fortunate to follow in the footsteps of Shawn Langwell, who has been at the helm of our club for the past two years. Despite the challenges of shifting to online meetings for many months, his artful shepherding and leadership as president and co-editor of the 2021 Anthology, Remember When have kept us together with good humor. He is moving on to the role of Immediate Past President and will be focusing on his role as this year’s Conference Chair.
Crissi Langwell amazes me with rock-solid contributions as newsletter editor, past secretary, social media maven, and editor and co-editor of the 2020 & 2021 anthologies. She is a natural leader and I feel lucky to have her on board as Vice President, newsletter editor, social media maven, and turning over the creation of meeting invitations to her capable and creative hands. All while penning multiple books!
Jeane Slone, Vice President is the dynamo behind Author Launch and coordinating the SoCo Fair for the club. Jeane is also a capable author coach, dedicated author, and a fantastic cheerleader for other authors.
Malena Eljumaily, Treasurer deftly keeps our club financial records, handles registration and membership fees, and is a cheerful face and friendly spirit.
Roger Lubeck, Past President, pitched in to guide our President, became our audio/visual guru as we moved back to live meetings, all while serving as our Membership Chair, our NorCal Rep, and his new role as President of CWC. Good thing he loves wearing hats!
Joelle Burnette, Website Editor, made sure we all knew what was happening through our website. She will be missed.
Nancy Martin, stepped in as our contest chair, but is now sending her energy to being our board secretary
Tommie Whitener, Vault Master, Policies & Procedures, is responsible for the details and documentation that keep the club in compliance.
Adele Layton, Member at Large, her bright smile and ability to articulate kind words and deeds is a gift.
Les Bernstein, Poetry Anthology Editor, provides inspiration and guidance for our impressive Poetry Anthologies and Launches.
Skye Blaine, Newsletter Poetry Editor, brought poetry into our newsletter and we are better for it.
Fran Claggett-Holland, Poetry Anthology Editor is a skillful poet and editor.
Robin Gabbert, Writers Salon, took on the job and has joyfully led the event online and offline.
Pamela Heck, Volunteer Coordinator, 2022 Sonoma County Writers Conference, we are counting on you.
Marie Judson, Critique Groups, works behind the scenes and is a gifted match maker.
Jeanne Jusaitis, Author Support, leading the members in conversation about books, marketing, the whole shebang.
Linda L. Reid, Writers Circle & Poetry Anthology Liaison, and host with the most-ess for the Prose and Poetry Launches (in real life and online). She is gracious and supportive.
And finally, Marilyn Lanier secured an amazing slate of presenters for our monthly meetings before stepping down as Speaker Coordinator. Big shoes to fill!
We are a strong and mighty club. I encourage you to join in the fun by contributing your time and expertise as a volunteer. You will reap rewards like new friends, knowing you are helping others, and being part of the team to shape the future of the club.
Please reach out to me or one of the new board members to learn more about where you can make a difference.
The new board is here to serve you. Come join the fun. The more involved you are, the more you will benefit.
Judy Baker
President, Redwood Writers
Expect the unexpected coming your way in 2022-23!
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IN THIS NEWSLETTER
- President's Welcome Video & Message
- Upcoming Events
- 2022-23 Board
- Open Volunteer Positions
- July General Meeting
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On Fire Anthology Submissions
- Homegrown Poetry
- "Crossroads" Poetry Anthology
- What Common Themes Are in Your Writing?
- Writing Exercise
- Redwood Writers & CWC Events
- Member News & Events
- In Memoriam
- Editor's Note
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NOTE: If you are reading this newsletter through your email, it may be clipped at the end. If you don't reach the editor's note, be sure to click "view entire message" at the bottom of this newsletter.
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2022-23 REDWOOD WRITERS BOARD |
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At the June general meeting, Redwood Writers membership approved the presented slate of board officers by unanimous vote. Congratulations to our new board. We are very excited for this upcoming year! |
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Would you like to be more involved with Redwood Writers? A few volunteer positions have recently opened up and we'd love to have you as part of our team! If you're curious about any of these, email Judy Baker at president@redwoodwriters.org.
- Website Editor
- Speaker Coordinator
- Contest Chair
- Social Media Coordinator
- Public Relations
Is there something you'd like to do for the club that isn't listed here? Let us know and we'll find a place for you!
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Perfect Enough
My Guide to Writing and Funding My Book
Presented by Judy Dang
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Learn how to use the power of community to secure financial backing, raving fans, and loyal amplifiers for your book...even before you've submitted your manuscript.
Judy Dang is a time management coach, speaker, and first-time author. Perfect Enough, Judy's book for Asian-American women on how to let go of perfectionism will be published in September by New Degree Press.
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Saturday, July 16
1 - 2:30 p.m.
at the Finley Center in Santa Rosa
and also online via Zoom
$5 Members / $10 Guests
Masks are required by all, regardless of vaccination status to attend this meeting, per CDC.
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July's General Meeting Agenda |
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- Finley Center opens at noon for networking with other authors
- Zoom meeting room opens at 12:45 p.m. for open conversation
- Meeting starts at 1 p.m.
- Judy Dang, "Perfect Enough: My Guide to Writing and Funding My Book"
- Board and Chair announcements
- Member announcements
- Adjourn at 2:30 p.m.
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2022 PROSE ANTHOLOGY
LAST CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS!
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Theme: On Fire
Editor: Cynthia Gregory
Genre: Short Fiction/Memoir
Word Limit: 2500 words
Open Submissions: May 1, 2022
Close Submissions: July 17, 2022
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Fire is a primal and mythic symbol in life, literature, and the evolution of humankind. Since the discovery of fire, igniting a flame has been a hallmark of warmth and comfort. We share ancestral stories around campfires, and a robust hearth is a symbol of a well-kept home.
As a symbol, fire can mean being consumed by passion. Flames can be a comfort or a danger, as we have discovered in California; as we add a fifth season to our calendars: fire season. Intense heat can refer to a super-natural world beyond our planet as in blazing comets and lava spewing interstellar volcanos.
Haven’t we all burned at some time in the heat of shame, love, or conflict? Certainly after the past two years we are familiar with the fever dreams of Covid 19.
The mythology of fire has been used to represent transformation, ambition, purification. We celebrate good and bad circumstances with something that has been called firewater. We admire pioneers and call them trailblazers and there are some who, like a Phoenix, rise from the ashes.
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As a writer, what does On Fire mean to you?
If fire ignites your imagination, submit a 2500-word short fiction or memoir entry by July 17.
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Cynthia Gregory, MFA, is an award-winning author of short stories. Her work has appeared in a range of publications, including The Sun, Glimmer Train, the Briar Cliff Review, Santa Barbara Review, The Ear, and Central PA. She took second place in Writers Digest annual fiction contest, first place in the Glimmer Train Family Matters short story competition, and first place in the Mark Twain Short Fiction Prize.
Cynthia coaches would-be authors through the exciting and terrifying process of writing and producing the book of their dreams through 1:1 coaching, online workshops, and group coaching. She lives in California’s Sonoma Valley with her rescue pups, Winston the Wonder Dog, and the fabulous Mr. Blue.
Her books, Journaling as Sacred Practice, and What is Possible from Here are available on Amazon. Find Cynthia online at www.cgregorycreativity.com
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HOMEGROWN POETRY IS NOW ACCEPTING YOUR POEM SUBMISSIONS!
Please submit poems to: poetrynewseditor@redwoodwriters.org. Submission guidelines: single-spaced, Times or Times New Roman, 12 point font, no all caps, please. Poems are reviewed by a team of poets. We will acknowledge receipt of your work, and let you know if your poem is going to be included, or if we are requesting minor edits prior to inclusion.
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Wedding Poem
By Jennie Orvino
So far, I have missed the privilege of hearing
the last breath of a body. Neither friend, nor parent—
my father, with only my brother at bedside;
my mother, with all grace, departed in her sleep.
But oh, have I attended the genesis of love!
When the crown of the baby’s head battered its way,
I held the girl as she pushed, whispered encouragement
in her ear. Birth fluid splashed the floor with a noise
like the brown pelican’s perfect dive. There’s no stopping
such a cataclysm, the grunt-howl of effort.
What brings a couple together is no less miraculous
and daunting. They’re picked up and shaken
the way a puppy wrestles a rag toy
that it both adores and worries to a frazzle, the taste
of its own saliva a glorious aphrodisiac.
“Let her kiss me with the kisses of her mouth, for thy love
is better than wine,” begins the Song of Solomon—
that Bible chapter we scanned, as young teens,
searching for racy words.
Saffron, spikenard, cinnamon and honeycomb,
frankincense, myrrh, aloe and pomegranate,
the sweetheart compared to amorous aromatics.
As in this bower, where lofted redwood and luscious grape
can most easily be compared to body parts.
The saucy Song of Songs invites us to “come away,”
uncork libations, gather rare herbs that incite the palate
to feast. Drunk with love, we witness this couple
embrace each other as paramour and sibling,
partner and friend, each and all of these
for as long as they both shall live.
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Jennie Orvino is author of the book Poetry, Politics and Passion: memoir, poems, personal essays, and a spoken word album, Make Love Not War. She works as a grant writer/consultant, blogger and freelance journalist whose articles have appeared in NorthBay biz and Diablo magazines as well as the North Bay Business Journal. www.jennieorvino.com
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POETRY ANTHOLOGY CROSSROADS |
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A huge round of applause to everyone who submitted to the "Imagine" contest, and our heartfelt gratitude to our contest chair, Nancy Martin, and judges Daniel Coshnear, Janice Rowley, and Deborah Taylor-French.
Please join us in congratulating the contest winners! Be sure to click the links so you can read their winning stories.
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1st Place: "Frannie and Fritzi," Jeanne Jusaitis
Jeanne Jusaitis, MA, author of The Teen Journey Books, and Lilah Dill and the Magic Kit, lives in Petaluma California where she writes poetry and fiction for children and young adults. Jeanne draws from her memories of growing up in northern California, and years of teaching and traveling.
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2nd Place: "How to Survive the Wild," Crissi Langwell
Crissi Langwell writes romance and women’s fiction novels that tell stories of the heart. Several of her stories have placed in the Redwood Writers contests, and two of her novels won awards in the Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards. She joined Redwood Writers in 2012 and serves as the board secretary, social media manager, and newsletter editor. Find her at crissilangwell.com.
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3rd Place: "Alexa and Me," Joan Goodreau
Joan Goodreau's recent works are Where to Now? Strangers Together: How My Son’s Autism Changed My Life, and Another Secret Shared. Joan is a Pushcart nominee and recipient of the Hedgebrook Writing Residence Award. Her work has appeared in numerous reviews and anthologies and her short plays in local productions.
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WHAT COMMON THEMES ARE IN YOUR WRITING? |
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Last month in groups.io I asked members to share about any common themes they've found in their writing. Here is what some had to say: |
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Skye Blaine:
Oh boy howdy, do I have themes. In my fiction, it's mainly always including disability or difference--I have a disabled son, and I'm always striving to encourage the broader population to see disabled people as simply human. And of course, I write about dogs, sighthounds in particular.
But I'm writing a great deal of poetry now, and the themes are different: awakening; the devastation of our planet; and I guess implied, hope, love, and kindness. The poems rarely end in a dark place.
Sometimes I feel as though I write the same poem again and again. Apparently other poets have said that as well.
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Natasha Yim:
My works tend to feature multicultural themes, usually with Asian characters or settings. I draw much of my inspiration from my cultural upbringing growing up in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
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Karl Kadie:
Most of my fiction centers on the developmentally disabled and mentally ill. These are challenging stories to tell because they're based on extreme situations, typically out of the norm, meaning the writer must provide the context and show the characters' emotions in credible ways.
There is little fiction I've read on these topics, however, that focuses on the impact of these conditions on the families, and how the families cope with the problems that come with them. These stories need to be told.
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Tina Deason:
My recurring theme, no matter what I write, seems to have a touch of magic. I am often surprised at how it weaves its way through my tales, but it does.
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Crissi Langwell:
I'm a fiction writer with characters that come from all different backgrounds and circumstances. I've written young adult, romance, women's fiction, and even magical realism. So you can imagine, there are a lot of differences between each book. However, I've noticed that each of my novels has a strong sense of family. Some books show great family relationships, and some are more troubled. But in all my novels, the main character's family life affects much of who they are and how they handle themselves.
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Want to participate in next month's callout? Keep an eye on groups.io!
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Each month, the Redwood Writer will feature an exercise to help inspire your writing. This can be an exercise you do on your own, or you can send your 300-word (or less) piece to editor@redwoodwriters.org for possible publication in the newsletter. |
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Using a Metaphor as the Basis for a Short Fiction
Metaphors and Similes compare two things. Simile uses like or as (e.g., x is like y) whereas a metaphor does not. He is as big as a house is a simile. She wears her heart on her sleeve is a metaphor meaning she shows her emotions easily. Also, because it is a common phrase, it is an idiom.
In this exercise, select a favorite metaphor/idiom and write a flash fiction (300-1000 words) that relates to the metaphor. Tells a story about the metaphor. Here are a few common metaphors to consider:
1. I could eat a horse.
2. She is an open book.
3. The dog days of summer.
4. He marches to his own drummer.
5. This place is a zoo.
6. Speak of the devil.
7. She missed the boat.
8. Salad days.
9. Herding cats.
10. The elephant in the room.
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In response to last month's writing exercise on Flash Fiction with a theme of "On Fire," Nancy Martin wrote this:
EVERY DAY NEW
By Nancy J. Martin
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Ever an early riser, Carly slid open the white louvered shutters covering the glass slider in her bedroom, looking out at the still-shadowed visage of her backyard thinking, “It’s always darkest before the dawn.” She regarded the space behind her house as “my little world.” The property backed up to endless untouched acres of oak-studded hills.
Throughout the nocturnal hours, the only sounds to be heard were the comforting call of owls and occasional howling of coyotes. The night sky, unobstructed by any light allowed the majesty of the galaxy to shine brightly. It had long been her habit to sit outside and observe the constellations every evening before bed.
This morning, as the light ever—so—gradually revealed itself to this little patch of earth, Carly watched in awe as the rosy glow of the sun’s fire blanketed itself across her panorama of the eastern landscape. An explosion of color in her flower garden revealed itself, framed by the soft mossy spring green of the rolling hillsides. A fresh, soothing aroma wafting from her dew-splashed lavender beds and the cheerful chirping of early-waking songbirds buoyed her spirit for the new day. With palms pressed together at her heart in a blissful salute, she offered a morning greeting to the dawning of a new day. “Namaste Mother Nature.”
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REDWOOD WRITERS & CWC EVENTS |
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Redwood Writers members with published books are invited to sign up to sell their books at this year's Sonoma County Fair. Participating in the fair is a HUGE benefit to all Redwood Writers members. Our club subsidizes the fee, and we make friends, develop contacts, and get lots of exposure from the general public.
This year, our club will participate only on the weekends: Aug. 4, 5, 6 and Aug. 12, 13, 14. The RW booth will be in the Garrett Building, 1350 Bennett Valley Rd, Santa Rosa, near the Brookwood entrance and attached to the Kraft Building. Space is limited to 12 authors each day, plus 2 volunteers to sell RW merchandise and hand out RW material. Each author will be assigned a table spot, and a day manager will be there to ensure a smooth and successful event.
Cost to participate is $21.50 per day. Those who volunteer to sell RW merchandise can attend for free. Tickets will arrive in the mail. Parking is $10. Carpool or email Jeane Slone for information on where to park for free and walk. More information on our website.
Spots will fill up fast, so don't delay to sign up for this wonderful event. If you need more information or want an email reminder to sign up, contact fair chairperson Jeane Slone at info@jeaneslone.com.
We look forward to seeing you at the fair!
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The Circle's mission is to offer members a constructive and enjoyable environment in which to read their works, among the warmth and support of fellow writers, and to include brief evaluations and short talks on craft and other writing-related subjects.
Redwood Writers Circle will meet at Linda's home.
Agenda for meetings will follow the following format:
- Meeting runs 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Those to be "readers" will be limited to the first 20 RW members who register
- Other attendees may participate as "listeners"
- Each reader will have a total 5 minutes (including, introductory remarks)
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Save the Date: October 8, 2022 is our Sonoma County Writers Conference
I would like your input. I am looking for a few enigmatic, evocative, polished, and highly recommended presenters for our club’s conference. In total I expect we will have 10-16 total presenters, including a keynote speaker and I would like to have some new voices.
Specifically, I am looking for qualified speakers for story structure and engagement techniques, dialogue expert, the third protagonist-setting, and experts in memoir, screenplay, and thrillers. Also want some new angles on marketing: hooks and author elevator pitches, positioning and shameless self-promotion with enthusiasm. And I think a poetry workshop discussing structure and metaphor, etc. would be very valuable to the high number of poets in pour club.
Please send me any ideas of topics and speakers that interest YOU and which you think will help make you, and others, a better writer. Fully vetted ideas for speakers and or topics, including their website and contact info, can be sent to me at: shawnlangwellwriter@gmail.com.
Thank you,
Shawn Langwell
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AUTHOR SUPPORT GROUP
IN PERSON!
July 16, noon - 12:45 p.m.
Held at the Finley Center before the general meeting
Please join us in person to chat about writing, listen to the challenges of others, and share resources. All levels of writers can benefit from participating. Published authors enjoy this group as well as beginning writers. This is a forum where you pick the topics and questions to be discussed. Discuss the challenges of writing fiction, memoir, or nonfiction. Find new ways to handle rejection, writers' block, or to start a critique group.
The Author Support Group's purposes are to help those who want assistance getting unstuck, want new resources, or need guidance in choosing options.
Registration not required.
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The following are announcements from a few of our fellow CWC branches. To see all branch events, visit the CWC events calendar at calwriters.org/events-month. |
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Mendocino Coast Writers' Conference
The Mendocino Coast Writers' Conference is a three-day festival of workshops, seminars, readings, and other celebrations that bring writers together from all over California, the West, and the world. Our 2022 program runs from August 4-6, 2022 and in addition to Naomi's workshop includes workshops taught by Lydia Kiesling (Novel), Jean Chen Ho (Short Fiction), Pablo Cartaya (Middle Grade/Young Adult), Claudia Castro Luna (Poetry), Ayize Jama-Everett (Speculative Fiction), and Anastacia-Reneé (Emerging Writers Workshop) as well as a full slate of seminars and talks by agents, editors, and industry professionals. Our keynote speaker is the iconic author Karen Tei Yamashita.
Worshop seats are going fast! Registration is open to all and does not require a writing sample or application. Please visit our website at mcwc.org and register today!
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Submit your writing news to CWC's The Bulletin!
The deadline to submit to the next issue of The Bulletin is September 1. All submissions should be sent to editor@calwriters.org.
For new book releases, short stories, poems or articles, or news of literary honors. 50 words or less. Put “Member Spotlight” in the Subject line. Send a copy of your book cover in JPEG format as an email attachment.
Articles on writing craft, marketing and publication: Send a proposal by email. Contributors will receive a short blurb to promote their books and/or services.
Photographs: JPEG format, sent separately (not embedded in a Word doc or PDF). Please provide complete details in the caption, including names of people pictured.
Note: This is separate from the Redwood Writer newsletter. To submit your news or articles to this newsletter, please email editor@redwoodwriters.org.
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If you have news to share about your writing, an award, an appearance, or other writing-related news, send a 100-word or less announcement to editor@redwoodwriters.org. Photos encouraged. Deadline for consideration in next month’s newsletter is the 15th of this month.
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Writers Forum
July 7, 14, 21, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Free Zoom workshop for anyone who wants to write in a freestyle method of writing.
July 7: Susan Bono: Ready, Set, Pivot!
Personal narratives are documents of change. They always contain a “before” and “after.” We’ll explore this concept and experiment with some structures that create natural pivots or shift points.
Susan Bono brings wry humor, gentle guidance, and ever-evolving wisdom to the teaching of memoir and personal essay.
July 14 and 21
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HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN WOMEN WAR CORRESPONDENTS
Come and meet the American women reporters and photographers who reported WW II for the folks at home to understand what was occurring at the time. A few went behind enemy lines to get the scoop from the male correspondents.
This was the second wave of women’s liberation, with the right to vote as the first. Women had to step up and take over the men’s jobs because they went to war. There were 127 accredited American women war correspondents.
The presentation will bring the class alive in photographs for all to understand what happened during this period (1938-1945) of history. Presented by Jeane Slone, author.
Class Details
Thursday, July 14, 10 am-11:50 am
Location:
Sonoma State University
#1142 Women War Correspondents SSU CAMPUS – Darwin 103
Instructor Jeane Slone
Tuition: $25
Registration Closes On Tuesday, July 12, 5 p.m.
Phone registration deadline: Wednesday, July 13, 5 p.m. 707-664-2691
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SAN FRANCISCO WRITERS CONFERENCE
July 21-24, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco
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Tickets are still available to the 18th annual San Francisco Writers conference with keynote speakers Charlie Jane Anders, Annalee Newitz, Lysley Tenorio, plus a large list of inspiring presenters that cover a wide range of topics related to writing, publishing, and marketing. Cost to attend is $195-$250. Please visit SF Writers Conference for details.
Volunteer spots may still be available which will get you into the conference for free. Please email Carol Bumpus carole.bumpus@yahoo.com for details.
CONGRATULATIONS to Skye Blaine & Bo Kearns, winners of FREE Summit passes to this year's conference.
Skye is the lucky winner of complimentary pass for the Poetry Summit for the SF Writers Conference featuring book sellers and publishers as well as three Poet Laureates held all day on Saturday July 23.
Each year, the CWC (California Writers Club) offers each of the twenty-two club branches two tickets (one for each workshop/summit) to be decided by a random draw. Our club had a total of eleven submissions.
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Sonoma County Literary Update
Have you heard about the Sonoma County Literary Update? Published by Jo-Anne Rosen and Terry Ehret, this free online publication is sent out once a month as a service to writers and those interested in writing-related news and events. For submission guidelines, visit socolitupdate.com. |
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CRITIQUE GROUP COORDINATION
Marie Judson keeps an ongoing list of RW members interested in joining or creating a writing group. If you would like to find a critique group, or add more members to an existing group, send your genre(s) and contact information to mariejudson@gmail.com. You'll receive an email with the subject line, "Writers seeking writing groups." You can then either reply to all or select specific writers to contact. This has been an ongoing free service for Redwood Writers members for nine years. |
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Marc Henry Hoffman
October 18, 1953-June 14, 2022
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On June 14, Redwood Writers member Marc Hoffman passed away after a brief illness. A kind man, storyteller, and wonderful wordsmith, Marc was a familiar face at Redwood Writers meetings and events. He will be missed very much.
Deborah Taylor-French, one of Marc's close friends, wrote this about him:
Marc has been our closest family friend for 15+ years and my beta reader and editor. Marc loved to plant flowers and trim the garden for the three RWC salons I hosted.
Also, he volunteered at RWC events, greeting guests, and sorting parking places with Harry Reid. Marc liked setting up and packing away the sound equipment.
Many of our club enjoyed chatting with him, including Dmitri, Robbi, Robin, Jan Rowley, Roger D., Jeannie J., and Waights Taylor, Jr.
He leaves behind a legacy of kindness and good humor.
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Former RW member Pamela Fender, another one of Marc's very close friends, wrote an open letter to Marc after his passing:
Dear Marco,
Man, am I ever gonna miss you. I already do.
I have too many memories to count. I remember when we went to Sebastopol to do the Beatles sing-a-long at that little coffee house. Remember when we sang and danced at the live music shows to R&B and The Beatles at Montgomery Village? Always The Beatles.
How can I forget the wonderful birthday celebrations with you and me…October babies. And you’d be here for our Chanukah celebrations, too. And will you ever forget the “slinky?” We must’ve been on the same wave length when we both came up with that answer when we played “Balderdash” at Patty and Richard’s for Jack’s birthday. Thank you, Marco, for the slinky, which I keep on my desk as a reminder of you.
And we talked and talked for hours about politics and being “PC.” Kvetched about those annoying people in our lives.
I so much enjoyed sharing recipes and other food ideas with you. You were a true Italian—through and through. Then I’d prepare all those homemade soups for you: chicken soup with matzoh balls, Tuscan bean soup, organic spinach and mushroom soup, homegrown tomato soup and squash soup, veggies that Jack grew in his garden.
I talked with you two or three times a day. It didn’t have to be about anything in particular; we just loved hearing each other’s voices.
I loved your amazing stories you shared. Some frightening, some funny, and some almost unbelievable. And thank you for editing one of my published pieces. That’s a talent I’ll miss as well; you really had the knack.
I was determined, and so were you, to get your vote in for the primaries. I got your ballot, brought it to you, helped you fill it out and got your signature. Just in time for the election two days later.
Jack and I would take you out for strolls for fresh air and then a picnic.
All you wanted was hugs and kisses. You got them…plenty from me.
Born in Virginia. Raised in Pittsburgh then moved to California. You were a true Californian. Most knew you as “Marc,” but I affectionately called you “Marco.”
Man, oh, man am I ever gonna miss you.
Sweet dreams, Marco.
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Kerry Schafer
Freud, Not Frankenstein: Creating Lifelike Characters with a Little Help from Psychology
August 20, 2022
at the Finley Center and on Zoom
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Dear friends,
The other evening, I was reading a book that inspired intense epiphanies in me, and I felt the urge to stop reading and write them down. Do you know what I did? I kept reading. I figured I’d remember these epiphanies later, and could write about them when the timing was more convenient. After all, it was the end of the day, I was already comfortable in bed. The writing could wait until tomorrow.
You know how this ends, right? I never did write those epiphanies. By the time the morning came, all my inspired thoughts had scattered, and I was left regretful that I hadn’t captured them.
One of my favorite stories about a situation like this was told by Elizabeth Gilbert who, in her famous Ted Talk, relayed a conversation she'd held with the late American poet, Ruth Stone. Ruth described how there were times when she’d be working the fields, and she would feel and hear a poem coming at her from over the landscape. She would actually feel the earth shake, and she knew she needed to get to a pen and a piece of paper as fast as she could before the poem thundered through her. She would, in her words, “run like hell” toward the house, the poem at her heels as she ran. Often, she’d make it, and was able to collect the words as they moved through her and write them on the page. But other times, the poem would barrel through her before she got to the paper, and then would continue over the landscape, looking for another poet. And sometimes she would almost miss it, feeling it go through her just before she got to the paper. At the very last second, she’d grab the pencil with one hand and the end of the poem with the other. She would then pull the poem back through her, transcribing as she did, so that the poem would be written from ending to beginning, completely backwards on the paper.
Writing isn’t always convenient. And the muse is only persistent for so long. So this is my message to you, and to myself, too: Keep your notebook handy. Put down everything when inspiration strikes. As soon as you feel that familiar rumble of inspiration, stop what you’re doing and attend to it so it won't pass you by in search for a writer who's listening.
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This month we start a brand new year of Redwood Writers, starting with a new board. I am so excited to have Judy Baker at the helm, and to see what new things she brings to the table. To start is her welcome video at the top of this newsletter, which is something that has never been done before.
Something else to look forward to is Judy Dang’s presentation on funding her book at our next general meeting. As those of you who self-publish know, producing a book can be an expensive endeavor! I can’t wait to see what Judy Dang has to say about tackling these costs!
Not to be forgotten is the coming deadline for our prose anthology, On Fire. Have you submitted your story yet? The extended deadline ends July 17, so get your stories in!
And we cannot forget about the Sonoma County Fair! This is a special opportunity for members of Redwood Writers to share their books with the local public.
All this and more is in this month’s issue!
Happy reading, and happy writing!
Crissi Langwell
Newsletter Editor
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- What We're Reading - 100 words or less
- Homegrown Poetry - short poems work best
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The Redwood Writer
P.O. Box 4687
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
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