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Left Coast Writers Book Launch: Body of Knowledge by A.M. Matthews 🗓

Linda Watanabe McFerrin
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LEFT COAST WRITERS BOOK LAUNCH:  A.M. Matthews, Author of Body of Knowledge

A. M. Matthews

A. M. Matthews

Friday, October 26, 2018 || 7pm Book Passage-Corte Madera|| 51 Tamal Vista Dr. Corte Madera || www.bookpassage.com

If you’ve missed A.M. Matthews in San Francisco … or even if you haven’t …  join us at Book Passage in Corte Madera for a fascinating evening in the thrilling world of biotech and breakthroughs. This, a winning heroine and quite a bit of intrigue fuel her exciting new mystery novel which reads a lot more like science than science fiction.

After years of working for other biotechnology companies, Susan Glasser has achieved her dream and opened her own research laboratory in the San Francisco Bay Area. Following numerous unsuccessful trials, she has finally gotten a positive result from a new biologic she is testing. But before she can assess her discovery, this socially awkward research scientist finds her life upended by a series of unrelated events. Forced to confront and deal with problems well outside her areas of expertise and training, Susan must figure out what is happening and find a way to reclaim her life.

A.M. Matthews lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and the family dog. Born and raised in Miami Beach, she comes from a family of writers. After raising her children and a career in management, (more…)

Left Coast Writers Book Launch: The Rites of Passage by Jonathan Taylor 🗓

Linda Watanabe McFerrin
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LEFT COAST WRITERS BOOK LAUNCH: Jonathan Taylor, Author of The Rites of Passage

Jonathan TaylorSaturday, October 13th, 2018 || 7pm Book Passage-Corte Madera|| 51 Tamal Vista Dr. Corte Madera || www.bookpassage.com

This month we invite you to a launch event for Jonathan Taylor’s debut novel, The Rites of Passage.

Jamie Goldberg suspects his homosexuality at an early age and manages to hide it from his homophobic ’70s Detroit Community; his Jewish political activist parents; and even from himself until his rape, at the hands of a male prostitute, at the age of 15. Profoundly ashamed, he hides in two worlds one is a beautiful cocoon spun from music, art, theater and literature, another is shadowed with his sado-masochistic desire to obliterate his sexuality. His elaborate fantasies are no match for real life or his true affections, which blossom in spite of his constant attempts to thwart them. When his carefully constructed imaginary world begins to crumble, Jamie must face his demons, both real and invented, finding in the end that personal discovery comes at a very high price. Jamie learns too that even the most challenged, when they dare to cast away labels, deserve a moment or two of grace.

Six-time Emmy award-winning writer Patrick Mulcahey said: “The Rites of Passage … is like encountering a gay Portnoy’s Complaint, in its distinctive blend of Jewishness, sex, moral panic and maternal (more…)

Ferry Plaza Book Party: God Sex and Psychosis by Todd Crawshaw and other Dark Tales 🗓

Linda Watanabe McFerrin
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LEFT COAST WRITERS BOOK EVENT: God Sex and Psychosis by Todd Crawshaw and other Dark Tales

Todd Crawshaw

Monday, October 8th, 2018 || 6pm Book Passage || San Francisco 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco ||www.bookpassage.com

You won’t want to miss this: another entertaining and provocative work by author and artist Todd Crawshaw and other authors of dark tales.

About God, Sex & Psychosis:  When criminal psychologist Mira Skyles is assigned by a court order to evaluate Egon Norwood, a person of interest in a serial murder investigation, she recognizes both a man with a dissociative identity disorder and the boy who once saved her life, with whom she shares a secret history.

God, Sex & Psychosis is divided into three sections. Part One is the thematic overture. It highlights the formative years of Egon and his twin sister, Faye, both traumatized by an abusive father. Part Two illustrates the fragmented points of view of both siblings, now adults, being analyzed by Mira, a court-appointed psychotherapist struggling with her own inner demons. The suspected serial killer assigned to her is mysterious and charming. Against her better judgment, she finds herself falling in love. Part Three is Mira’s story, told as a confessional: how she was gang-raped at age twelve and scarred by her attackers; how her rage manifested into a quest for revenge, which caused two deaths at the college she had attended; and how these incidents are connected to murders taking place in San Francisco.  (more…)

Literary Salon: Mary Jo McConahay, Author of The Tango War in conversation with Andy Ross 🗓

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LEFT COAST WRITERS LITERARY SALON: Mary Jo McConahay, Author of The Tango War in Conversation with Agent Andy Ross

Mary Jo McConahay Left Coast WritersMonday, October 1, 2018 || 7pm
Book Passage-Corte Madera || 51 Tamal Vista Dr.
www.bookpassage.com

Journalism and journalists continue to be blasted by our current national administration and have never been more important. The same thing goes for professional women in general.
In this context, we feel especially honored to be able to celebrate the work of award-winning journalist Mary Jo McConahay and delighted to share an evening with her.
An LCW member for years, Mary Jo will discuss her work with her agent, Andy Ross, and tell us about her latest book, The Tango War and answer questions about this recent publication and her profession. Hers is the kind of reportage we need. Come and help us make this a truly welcoming and highly informative evening.

The Tango War by Mary Jo McConahay fills an important gap in WWII history. Beginning in the thirties, both sides were well aware of the need to control not just the hearts and minds but also the resources of Latin America. The fight was often dirty: residents were captured to exchange for U.S. prisoners of war and rival spy networks shadowed each other across the continent. At all times it was a Tango War, in which each side closely shadowed the other’s steps.

Though the Allies triumphed, at the war’s inception it looked like the Axis would win. A flow of raw materials in the Southern Hemisphere, at a high cost in lives, was key to ensuring Allied victory, as were military bases supporting the North African campaign, the Battle of the Atlantic and the invasion of Sicily, and fending off attacks on the Panama Canal. Allies secured loyalty through espionage and diplomacy—including help from (more…)

Ferry Plaza Book Party: Body of Knowledge by A. M. Matthews 🗓

Linda Watanabe McFerrin
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LEFT COAST WRITERS FERRY PLAZA BOOK PARTY:  A. M. Matthews, Author of Body of Knowledge

A. M. Matthews

A. M. Matthews

Monday, September 10th, 2018 || 6pm Book Passage || San Francisco 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco ||www.bookpassage.com

Biotech and breakthroughs fuel A. M. Matthews new mystery novel that seems a lot more like science than science fiction.

After years of working for other biotechnology companies, Susan Glasser has achieved her dream and opened her own research laboratory in the San Francisco Bay Area. Following numerous unsuccessful trials, she has finally gotten a positive result from a new biologic she is testing. But before she can assess her discovery, this socially awkward research scientist finds her life upended by a series of unrelated events. Forced to confront and deal with problems well outside her areas of expertise and training, Susan must figure out what is happening and find a way to reclaim her life.

A. M. Matthews lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and the family dog. Born and raised in Miami Beach, she comes from a family of writers. After raising her children and a career in management, (more…)

Literary Salon: Your Path to Publishing 🗓 🗺

Linda Watanabe McFerrin
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LEFT COAST WRITERS LITERARY SALON: Your Path to Publishing with Laurie McAndish King, Jim Shubin and Linda Watanabe McFerrin

 

Tuesday, September 4th, 2018 || 7pm
Book Passage-Corte Madera || 51 Tamal Vista Dr.
www.bookpassage.com

Writers, published and otherwise, the mysteries of successful publishing will be revealed on this September night at our next Left Coast Writers Literary Salon. Please note that we will be meeting TUESDAY, September 4th! Mark your calendars and settle in to find out how to avoid becoming one of self-publishing’s epic fails.

We will cover the following:

 

  1. Understanding the process: Which indie publishing model is the best fit for me and my book? What costs are involved? Do I need an editor? Do I also need a proofreader? How does print-on-demand work? How many books will I sell, and how long  does it take?
  2. Planning and getting organized: Understanding how long each step takes (editing, design, production, marketing). Building your list, planning ahead for marketing (short vs long lead time activities), using an ARC, submitting your manuscript for reviews/awards, pricing your book properly.
  3. Marketing: Defining your goals, developing a marketing plan, building your platform, understanding your audience, developing a relationship with your readers, setting up your online presence, optimizing your website, mastering social media.

(more…)

Literary Salon: Chinese New Year Celebration with Author Rosemary Gong 🗓 🗺

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LEFT COAST WRITERS LITERARY SALON: Chinese NewYear’s Celebration with Rosemary Gong, Author of Good Luck Life: The Essential Guide to Chinese American Celebrations and Culture

Rosemary Gong

Monday, February 5th, 2018 || 7pm
Book Passage-Corte Madera || 51 Tamal Vista Dr.
Corte Madera || www.bookpassage.com

Help us celebrate Chinese New Year 2018 and the incredible cornucopia of cultures that we enjoy as citizens of this country with bestselling author, Rosemary Gong. Let’s ring in the New Year with a nod to the diversity that makes the Left Coast magical.

Rosemary is an expert on the joy of researching, writing about and sharing your personal and cultural heritage with others. Her book, Good Luck Life, is packed with historical facts, legends, foods, old village recipes, and quick planning tools for celebrating Chinese festivals and life’s special milestones with wit, warmth and considerable flair. Whatever you are writing—fiction, memoir, history, travel, self-help or more—we know you will come away (more…)

Library Reading: Wandering in Andalusia: The Soul of Southern Spain 🗓

Linda Watanabe McFerrin
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Saturday, August 5th, 2017 || 11am
Novato Public Library || Novato
1720 Novato Blvd, Novato CA 94947

In many ways, Andalusia, situated as it is, at the southern boundary of the Iberian Peninsula, is a crossroads, a caravansary where settlers from northern Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East have left their mark. Our writers went from Córdoba to Málaga, from Granada and its Alhambra to Cadíz to bring back stories of cities, rivers, coasts, plains, food, spirit and passion. All embarked upon new roads of discovery, and all were well rewarded in their investigations. These, after all, are the landscapes that inspired Cervantes, Lorca, Machado, Navarro, Unamuno, Hemingway, Conrad and Menocal.

In the words of poet and rock idol, Jim Morrison, “Andalusia with fields ripe with grain, I want to see you again and again.”

“Wandering in Andalusia’s enchanting collection of travel tales illuminates the region’s history, traditions, and myriad attractions. It’s the perfect companion for your next visit to Spain.”
— Christi Phillips, Author of The Rosetti Letter and The Devlin Diary

“To change ourselves, we must give ourselves away. The glass we hold cannot be filled until it is first emptied. In Andalusia, we yield ourselves to an irresistible and cumulative beauty, just as we do in love. And the life we then can lead, with reborn and unbound hopes, follows a trajectory of dedication and understanding.
— Steven Nightingale, Author of Granada: A Pomegranate in the Hand of God and The Hot Climate of Promises and Grace (more…)

Left Coast Writers Poetry: Jeanne Powell 🗓

Linda Watanabe McFerrin
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Left Coast Writers Poetry: Jeanne Powell, Author of My Own Silence and Carousel, among other books

Jeanne Powell

Jeanne Powell

Kawika’s Ocean Beach Deli
734 La Playa St, San Francisco, CA 94121
Sunday, July 2nd from 5pm-7:15pm

Join a featured LCW poet at the First Sunday of the Month Happy Hour Poetry series at Kawika’s Ocean Beach Deli. Our featured poet’s reading is followed by an open mic for other poets to share original work, or even just to read favorite poems aloud. Happy Hour starts at 5pm, and after our featured poet reads for 30 minutes, open mic (three minutes per poet) goes until 7:15 pm. Celebrate creativity and poets while supporting a local, community-oriented, and family owned business! Enjoy $1 off your sandwich with the purchase of a glass of wine or bubbly! Up in October is Jeanne Powell, Author of My Own Silence.

Jeanne Powell has earned degrees from WSU in Detroit and USF in San Francisco.  She writes prose poems, flash fiction and short stage plays.  Her books in print are Word Dancing, My Own Silence, and Carousel (essays).  Her new chapbook is entitled Two Seasons.  For ten years Jeanne hosted an acclaimed spoken word series, “Celebration of the Word,” in the City.  She is the inspiration behind Meridien PressWorks™ which has published 20 authors since 1996.  Jeanne reviews films for an online site, and lately has taken up photography. (more…)

Literary Salon: Robert Pimm, President of California Lawyers in the Arts 🗓

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LEFT COAST WRITERS LITERARY SALON: Robert Pimm, President of California Lawyers for The Arts

Robert Pimm

Monday, June 5, 2017 || 7pm
Book Passage-Corte Madera|| 51 Tamal Vista Dr. Corte Madera ||
www.bookpassage.com

Questions about legal literary issues? We’ve hear you asking. Well, this is it: your opportunity to find out just what you can and can’t do in your memoir and other forms of literary non-fiction and fiction. 
Join us for what we know will be an enlightening and informative talk on your rights and responsibilities as an author, as well as plenty of time to ask questions.
Robert Pimm is a lawyer and Chief Learning Officer and Director of Legal Services for California Lawyers for the Arts. He manages CLA’s State Bar Certified Lawyer Referral Service, CLA’s Modest Means Incubator Program, CLA’s Clinical and Educational Programs, as well as other duties. CLA provides lawyer referrals, dispute resolution services, educational programs, publications and a resource library to creative artists of all disciplines.

(more…)

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