Board of Directors
Shawn Langwell, President
Judy Baker, Vice President
Marilyn Lanier, Vice President
Jeane Slone, Vice President
Malena Eljumaily, Treasurer
Crissi Langwell, Secretary
Roger Lubeck, Immediate Past President
Joelle Burnette, Website Editor
Tina Deason, Contests
Pamela Heck, Conference Volunteers
Tommie Whitener, Policies and Procedures
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
Marie Judson, Critique Groups
Jeanne Jusaitis, Author Support
Marilyn Lanier, Speaker Chair
Crissi Langwell, Newsletter Editor, Social Media & 2020 Prose Anthology Editor
Roger Lubeck, Membership Chair
Linda L. Reid, Historian & Writers Circle
Jeane Slone, Author Launch
Deborah Taylor-French, Author Support
|
IN PERSON MEETINGS
CANCELLED
|
Monthly in-person meetings will resume when we are given the all-clear by the CDC and our local health department.
At that time, we will move to:
Finley Center
2060 W. College Ave
Santa Rosa.
|
|
A NOTE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT |
Sequoia sempervirens,
aka Coast Redwood
Dear Redwood Members,
Did you know that our club is named after one of the tallest, most resilient trees on the planet? Sequoia sempervirens, more commonly known as Coast Redwood, can grow to over 200’ tall and live thousands of years. Their shallow root system extends over 100’ and is intertwined with the roots of other trees within the groves which increases their stability during strong winds and floods.
Why is that important? Because our club relies on the tireless efforts of many to continue to thrive when the winds of change pose a threat to so many around us.
Together we are a healthy strong club.
Our board members are dedicated volunteers who help to ensure that we continue to adapt and grow with each changing season. From membership renewals (Roger Lubeck), quality speakers, (Marilyn Lanier), and timely communication (Crissi Langwell, Judy Baker, Joelle Burnette), to dotting I’s and crossing T’s with our P&P’s (Tommie Whitener), to author launch (Jeane Slone), to managing our cash flow (Malena Eljumaily), to successful contests (Tina Riddle Deason), and invaluable contributions from member-at-large (Pamela Heck), not to mention our incredible chairs for poetry, and anthologies, writers circles, author support and all the other functionary roles that make this club so fantastic.
Our club is like a healthy redwood forest. Connected, stronger together.
There are many exciting things in the works for 2021, including a new salon chair, Robin Gabbert, who will be taking on the salon’s for Sher starting in February. Thank you, Sher, for eight magnificent years of service and Robin for stepping up so quickly!
Members: Please send me a note if you want to learn more and contribute your unique skills and resources to some area of our club.
This newsletter is packed with goodness. Read on. Step up and be a part of the forest. We are far stronger together than we will ever be apart.
Most importantly, best wishes for a safe, happy, and healthy Holiday Season.
See you on the 19th. Happy writing.
Shawn Langwell
President Redwood Writers Club
|
|
Our next board meeting is on Tuesday, December 8, 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: president@redwoodwriters.org to receive an invitation.
|
|
An easy way to support Redwood Writers... |
|
BECOME A REDWOOD WRITERS MEMBER IN 2021!
Did you forget to renew your membership? Or are you still on the fence about joining? January is the perfect opportunity to make the leap and join Redwood Writers.
On January 1, 2021 new members can join the club for the half year price of $42.50. If you are a past member and forget to renew in 2020, you can also join in January for the half year price.
Our 2021 calendar is a full schedule of inspiring speakers, fun writing contests, valuable workshops, and publishing opportunities through our anthologies. Join in January to receive the reduced rate, and to take advantage of all the Redwood Writers branch has to offer.
|
|
Mark your calendars for this month's upcoming events! Keep reading the newsletter for more details about each event. |
|
December 8: RW Board meeting
December 12: Salon
December 19: General meeting with speaker Indigo Moor
January 1: Participation deadline for Author Launch signups
January 1: Half year memberships begin - renew/join for half price
|
|
DECEMBER'S GENERAL MEETING
& FEATURED SPEAKER
|
|
Saturday, December 19
1 - 2:30 p.m.
via ZOOM*
Cost is $5 for members and $10 for guests.
|
Inviting Oscar to Dinner: Poets and Authors Transitioning to Screen
Indigo Moor
|
Whether in poetry or prose, the desire to see our work on screen is irresistible. Breaking onto this platform takes more than desire. Similar to your primary genre, scripts have their own tools and elements that must be observed to make your work palatable to directors, actors, and producers.
Indigo Moor is a former faculty member at the Stonecoast MFA Program, where he graduated in 2012 with an MFA in poetry, fiction, and scriptwriting. Three of his short plays, Harvest, Shuffling, and The Red and Yellow Quartet, debuted at the 60 Million Plus Theatre’s Spring Playwright’s festival. His full-length stageplay, Live! at the Excelsior, was a finalist for the Images Theatre Playwright Award. The subsequent screenplay was optioned as a full-length film. Indigo continues to consult for independent filmmakers ae scriptwriter and advisor.
Poet Laureate Emeritus of Sacramento, Indigo Moor’s fourth book of poetry, Everybody’s Jonesin’ for Something, took second place in the University of Nebraska Press’ Backwater Prize. Jonesin’—a multi-genre work consisting of poetry, short fiction, memoir pieces, stage plays—will be published in spring 2021. His second book, Through the Stonecutter’s Window, won Northwestern University Press’s Cave Canem prize. His first and third books, Tap-Root and In the Room of Thirsts & Hungers, were both parts of Main Street Rag’s Editor’s Select Poetry Series. Indigo is an adjunct professor at Dominican University and visiting faculty for Dominican’s MFA program, teaching poetry, short fiction, and introduction to stage and screenwriting.
|
|
December's General Meeting Agenda |
|
- Zoom meeting room opens at 12:45 p.m. for open conversation
- Meeting starts at 1 p.m.
-
RW Anthology Sunrise Sunset reading
- Featured speaker Indigo Moor
- Chair announcements
- Member announcements
- Adjourn at 2:30 p.m.
- Mingle on Zoom until 3 pm.
|
|
*WHAT IS ZOOM? It's the most popular online platform for virtual presentations, meetings, get-togethers, etc. Just go to Zoom.com and download the app on your phone, iPad, or computer (camera required to participate). If you can't join us live, you will be able to download the presentation for viewing/sharing at your leisure (and don't we have plenty of that!).
|
|
Make the Most of Zoom
As the Club’s unofficial Zoom expert, I have tips to help you embrace Zoom and enjoy the experiences the Club offers.
We love seeing your smiling faces on Zoom
Stay connected with Redwood Writers by attending a monthly meeting, Redwood Writers Circle, or Redwood Writers Salon. These are opportunities to gather together, learn from one another, and from our wonderful speakers. Social distancing is keeping us safe.
The flow of meetings is a little different. We are keeping them shorter.
For the now and the foreseeable future, we will be meeting on Zoom. To make your experience more pleasant, here are my top tips:
Judy’s Top Tips for Zoom
- Familiarize yourself with Zoom controls on your device: muting, unmuting, raising your hand, and using the chat.
- Check out how you are going to appear before you turn on your video using your Zoom preferences.
- Bright solid clothing reads best on Zoom.
- For women, lipstick and eyebrows help to frame your face.
- Position your eyes at the same level as your camera.
- Turn off your self-view by hovering over the three dots on your image. This turns off your image for you, while it allows the rest of us to see you.
- Pin the speaker or use Speaker View to see a large image of the speaker or switch to Gallery View if you want to see as many people as will fit in your browser window.
- Arrive 5-10 minutes before the official start time.
- Check your lighting, we want to see your face. Have a window in front or to your side, not behind you.
- Test your audio to be sure you sound great and can hear others.
- Stay muted when you are not speaking.
- Position yourself in the frame with about a hands-width margin at the top of the frame
- Virtual backgrounds are distracting. If you use one, be considerate and understand this: moving backgrounds cause visual fatigue. A virtual background may also cause you to float in and out of the picture. You can purchase a greenscreen for under $100 on Amazon if you insist on using a virtual background on calls and you will look much better.
- Turn off your video if you need to move about, turn it back on when you are settled.
- If you have problems, contact the meeting host by text.
- Relax and enjoy yourself.
Redwood Writers plans to announce workshops via Zoom for 2021 soon. Stay tuned!
Judy Baker
Vice President, Redwood Writers
The Badass Book Marketing Mentor
707.210.6696
|
|
We are so happy with our 2020 poetry anthology, AND YET. We will be posting a poem from the anthology each month. Copies of the anthology are available on Amazon.
|
|
This month's poem is by Warren Bellows.
With love,
Fran Claggett-Holland and Les Bernstein
|
|
|
Beauty on the Edge
by Warren Bellows
Just before it happened
I heard the sound of wings
Erasing what I thought was mine to hold:
light of lavender,
jasmine after a rain,
helping hands
encouraging words
All distractions hiding harmonies
Just beyond the range of hearing
Not gentle but sounding a harder truth
The stream has an unerring flow
Saying “jump in … let go”
trust
Even over the falls
Forever over the falls
|
|
Please note: Poetry submissions for the newsletter are temporarily on hold while we feature poems from the 2020 poetry anthology, And Yet. If you have any questions, please contact our poetry editor at poetrynewseditor@redwoodwriters.org.
|
|
AUTHOR LAUNCH 2020
ONLINE VIA ZOOM
|
|
DEADLINE TO PARTICIPATE AS A READER IS JANUARY 1.
Did you publish a book between April 2019 - Sept. 2020? If so, you're invited to present your new book at this year's Author Launch.
Mark your calendars for FEB. 20, 1 p.m.,
at the Saturday general meeting.
To participate, you must be a current Redwood Writers member, and your book must have been published between July 2019 and January 2021. This year, we are seeking authors who have never presented at an Author Launch. There will be a waiting list for past presenters.
Here's what you can expect at Author Launch:
- The order of presenters depends on when you sign up
- Authors will have 5 minutes to read from their book
- If you are scheduled to read but don't show up, you won't be able to present again
- Sign ups begin NOW, and space is limited!
Reserve your spot for this event by January 1 for consideration. To register, visit the link below and fill out the reservation form and contract. If you have any questions, contact Jeane Slone, Author Launch chair, at info@jeaneslone.com.
|
|
REDWOOD WRITERS HOLIDAY SALON
“Making Spirits Bright: Stories of Hope, Inspiration, and Celebration!"
Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 12
1-2:30 P.M. via Zoom
|
|
We are inviting fifteen RW members to read from their works in progress or published pieces. We also welcome all listeners who would like to join us.
If you’ve ever wondered what your fellow RW are writing, this is the place to find out!
|
|
For many years, Sher Gamard has been a champion for writers, hosting the bi-monthly Salon event. These events have given club members the opportunity to read their work aloud, and to hear the writings of other members.
Sher is passing the baton to Robin Gabbert, who is enthusiastic about continuing this wonderful and cherished event. We are excited to see how the Salon evolves under Robin's leadership, and we are very grateful for all Sher has done to support writers.
Thank you, Sher!
|
|
Marin CWC Author Showcase
It’s Time to Celebrate You, Your Writing Community, and Your Spectacular Talent!
Redwood Writers are invited to join the Marin CWC branch at their annual author showcase, held this year on Zoom on Sunday, December 6.
Do you have a book, poem, news article, essay, script, play, song or some other literary work that you want to read to the group? Or maybe you want to practice what it would be like on a mini-book tour? Here’s your opportunity to present you and your works in a friendly, supportive space. Even if you don’t have anything ready to share, come join in on the fun.
Sign up to present by Thursday, December 3 at noon. Send an email at marincwc@gmail.com, with your name, what work(s) you plan to present, and when they were published or completed. The work need not be published or even for sale to showcase it. Writers with works completed since January 2019 will be showcased first, but we expect everyone to have an opportunity to showcase.
|
|
Diary of a Mad Poet
Robin Gabbert
Robin Gabbert recently published her first book of poetry, titled Diary of a Mad Poet. Here is what acclaimed writer Jonah Raskin had to say about it:
Diary of a Mad Poet comes out of pain and loss, fire and cancer, but they are also poems of healing and joy, family ties and friendships. Gabbert's individual poems add up to a portrait of a life lived fully. They offer hope to readers who have come through troubles and those who delight in the powers of memory and the rigors of the English language.
You can find Diary of a Mad Poet at Amazon.
|
|
Strangers Together
Joan Goodreau
Joan Goodreau read from her recent book, Strangers Together: How My Son's Autism Changed My Life, at "Art Embraces Words" sponsored by the La Morinda Arts Council. You can listen by going to the site, Art Embraces Words November 2020-YouTube.
|
|
2020 Toy Drive Fundraiser Event
Kymberlie Ingalls
You may know that my charity hosts a toy drive each year, as many of you have generously donated your books over the years to our raffle. We’re unable to do that at this time, but there are other ways to participate. Please visit to the following links to learn more. Angels & Blimps will be hosting another comedy event this year, but online! We’ll be raising money for our local chapter of the Toys For Tots program. Hope to see your face in the crowd!
|
|
CWC NorCal Calendar
Because of social distancing, most events are now held virtually. This presents a unique opportunity to attend events, workshops, and meetings held by other CWC branches that would have been difficult to attend in person. To keep up to date with upcoming events, be sure to check the CWC NorCal calendar at the button below.
|
|
If you have news to share about your writing, an award, an appearance, or other writing-related news, send a 75-word or less announcement to editor@redwoodwriters.org. Deadline for consideration in next month’s newsletter is the 15th of this month.
|
|
Redwood Writers extends a warm welcome to our newest members! Since we can't meet in person, we're sharing a little about each new member here in our newsletter. Be sure to say hello at our next general meeting! |
|
Marty Malin is a semi-retired psychotherapist who began his writing career as the editor of a small college weekly newspaper. He has recently published a collection of short stories titled Grandmother’s Devil & Other Tempting Tales, available on Amazon, and is currently working on a novel.
|
|
2020 ANTHOLOGY
SUNSET SUNRISE
|
|
|
|
NOW PUBLISHED!
5 star review:
If you don't have time to read an entire novel right now, pick up Sunset, Sunrise and read a great short story or memoir by authors from Redwood Writers. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection.
|
|
What a year, right? At the beginning of this year, we were preparing to say goodbye to the Flamingo Hotel as our meeting spot, and hello to the Finley Center as our new place to hold our monthly meetings. And then, the pandemic happened. Suddenly, we shifted from an in-person club to one that met online, seeing each other through tiny squares on Zoom, and adapting to our new way of staying in touch and networking with other writers.
I think we’ve done a really great job of shifting in this new socially distanced reality. That said, I know I’m not alone in hoping 2021 is the year we come back together in person.
Until it’s safe to come together again, our club events will remain online. 2021 promises to be a year to remember, as next year’s meetings have a full slate of inspiring speakers.
I hope your holiday season is healthy, stress free, and full of joy. I also hope your writing reaches new heights in this next year, whatever that means for you.
|
|
In case you missed it, here are some of the events and information we shared in this newsletter:
-
Indigo Moor will share how writers can transition to screen at our December meeting.
- The deadline to reserve your spot in February's Author Launch is right around the corner.
-
Redwood Writers Salon is this month, and you're invited to read your writing.
- Half year memberships are almost here.
P.S. Have you published a new book? Have a writing-related event coming up? Have exciting writing news to share? Send it to me in 75 words or less and I'll include it in the newsletter. Deadline is the 15th of this month.
Happy writing!
Crissi Langwell
Redwood Writer Editor
|
|
|
|
Our mailing address is:
The Redwood Writer
P.O. Box 4687
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
