Nancy Bruning of Nancercize

Join the conversation on blogtalk radio Thursday, January 28th at 9a.m. PST with Nancy Bruning, creator of Nancercize, and author and LCW founder, Linda Watanabe McFerrin. They’ll be talking about Great Getaways.

Whitefish Review

Left Coast Writer® Ethel Mays has a poem in Whitefish Review, the twice yearly non-profit literary journal “created to publish the distinctive literature, art, and photography of mountain culture.” 2009 has been a good and busy year for Ethel, witnessing the publication of a short story and several poems in ten journals, reviews, and anthologies, and over 40 featured and open readings in fourteen cities in seven California counties.

If you’d like to read an online version of the poem, you can do so on the Whitefish Review site.

Left Coast Writer® Jeff Kingman is a finalist for Cutthroat Magazine’s 2009 Rick DeMarinis Short Story Award.  First prize in each genre is $1250 and publication in Cutthroat. Second prize in each genre is $250 and publication in Cutthroat. All finalists are acknowledged in CUTTHROAT and considered for publication.  Winners are announced in Poets and Writers, Winning Writers and the AWP Chronicle.

Stan Goldberg

In 2009 The London Book Festival gave awards for outstanding books in 20 different categories. From the 20 categories a Grand Prize winner was chosen. It was Stan Goldberg’s Lessons for the Living: Stories of Forgiveness, Gratitude,and Courage at the End of Life. The

Nancy Bruning of Nancercize

Join the conversation on blogtalk radio Thursday, December 17th at 9a.m. PST with Nancy Bruning, creator of Nancercize, and author and LCW founder, Linda Watanabe McFerrin. They’ll be talking about family travel … pain or paradise?

A series of workshops set in the South …

April 13-19, 2010

Writing and Photography Workshop with Linda Watanabe McFerrin and featured local photographers …

Charleston and the South Carolina Low Country beckons! Join the organizers of the Southern Sampler Artists Colony on a journey into a place like no other—a place brushed with spirit, dipped in belonging, and brought to life in Gospel, Jazz, Blues, soul food, cooling ocean breezes, wraparound porches, and warm welcomes that begin with y’all. Relax! Let your heart open, soul sing, and spirit soar.

Byron says ...

We had a full house Monday when Byron Belitsos explored the dance of publisher and author at the Literary Salon in a talk that addressed literary matches: Made in heaven? . . . Or hell?

Belitsos, founder of Origin Press, publisher of books on practical spirituality, entertained the group with wild tales about the authors who populate his dreams and nightmares. In addition to an interesting look at some of his list, past and present, he shared his evaluation of what makes a book succeed commercially. Here’s Byron’s test. It’s easy and enlightening. You might want to note that while it applies primarily to non-fiction, fiction writers might want to consider his points as well. We’re sharing it with his compliments.

Roger Housden

Such a simple idea – have an evening of spoken word, poetry and readings in the Bay Area, and send the money raised to those in need. A village in India can then have clean water for the first time and prevent three or four children a month dying from water borne diseases. There are thousands of villages throughout India without clean running water.

All it takes to change that is $8,000 -10,000 per village. That sum pays for a well with simple hand pump, a rainwater collection tank, and eco-sanitation toilets. The groundwork is done by a UK charity, Wherever The Need, which also has non-profit status in the US.

Poetry for Water with Anne Lamott, Roger Housden, Nina Wise

POETRY PUBLICATION WORKSHOP with C.B. Follett, Susan Terris, and Rebecca Foust

Rebecca Foust

Saturday, November 7, 2009 || 10am – 1pm
Book Passage-Corte Madera || 51 Tamal Vista Dr.
Corte Madera || www.bookpassage.com

Learn what to do to get your poetry published in literary journals and other publications. Two experienced poet/editors and one relative newcomer to the poetry scene will address questions related to WHEN, WHERE, HOW, and WHAT to submit, with focus on how to get your work out in the world without stress, fear of rejection, or waste of valuable writing time. When is your work ready to submit? Where should you send it? What is the most efficient way to get the work out? What goes into a submission? Sample cover letters, lists of how-to’s, and website resources will be provided, and an inventory of resource books and sample literary journals will be available for review.

IT’S NOVEL OR NEVER ,,,,

Tim Urlaub

The folks at National Novel Writing Month have devised a plan so simple that even a knucklehead like me has trouble messing it up.  My mistake:  not taking advantage of the opportunity to stretch out.  Me thinks I doth text too much.  Hence, the bad facial hair to conceal my identity until I get it write.

For an evening of readings, laughter, wine and more wine, why don’t you come to Writers with Drinks after Litquake’s Off the Richter Scale reading on Saturday? OTRS ends at 6pm and we begin at 7:30! Come early for a good table. A line-up of awesome presenters. Check it out.

The long-running spoken word series Writers With Drinks has finally gone too far—in every possible direction!

Saturday, October 10, 2009, 7:30 to 9:30 PM, doors open at 6:30 PM

• Linda Watanabe McFerrin
• Anthony Swofford
• Roz Savage
• Irina Slutsky
• Doug Dorst
• Joe Loya

LEFT COAST WRITERS BOOK LAUNCH: Stan Goldberg, author of  Lessons for the Living, an evening of laughter, tears, music and wine

Stan Goldberg

Saturday, October 10, 2009 || 7pm
Book Passage-Corte Madera || 51 Tamal Vista Dr.
Corte Madera || www.bookpassage.com

Call in ...

FCCFREERADIO 107.3 FM SAN FRANCISCO’S ALTERNATIVE RADIO

Lilycat on Stuff

Sunday, October 4, 2009

12-2pm

Host Melinda Adams chats with Linda Watanabe McFerrin on things dark and delectable, including Linda’s upcoming reading at Writers with Drinks on Saturday, October 10th.

West Marin Review, a literary and art journal sponsored by the Tomales Bay Library Association and Point Reyes Books, is now accepting submissions of literary works and visual art for the 2010 volume. Submissions should be of previously unpublished work. Members of the Review’s steering committee and review boards may not submit works. Submissions for Volume 3 must be postmarked no later than October 7, 2009.

Submission Guidelines

LCW member and how-to writer Elisa Southard loves to stir up new perspectives and take the guesswork of out risky endeavors.  In October, Elisa’s article, Make Road Kill out of Three Myths for Beginning Riders, will be published in HelmetHairMagazine.com, the online quarterly magazine serving the female motorcycle fan.

The author of the Amazon best seller, Break Through the Noise, 9 Tools to Propel Your Marketing Message,  Elisa cruised into the California DMV with her Motorcycle Safety Foundation certification just this summer, and now cruises on a Honda Rebel 250. Elisa is also working on her second book, Bring Your Inner Newbie Out for professional women launching into a new sport or pursuit.

Linda Watanabe McFerrin

What is it about mountains—super-high mountains—that is so attractive? Is it the challenge they represent? The excitement they provoke? The wonder they inspire? Even if it weren’t the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, rising 19,304 feet above the Great Rift Valley in northern Tanzania, would be awe striking. I remember seeing it from a distance on a long-ago trip to Africa when I was writing a story on the Lunatic Express for the San Francsico Examiner/Chronicle travel section. I was reading Ernest Hemingway’s classic The Snows of Kilimanjaro at the time. I’m crazy about mountains, but I never dreamed of climbing Kilimanjaro, so I was delighted to hear about the 2009 publication of Michel Moushabeck and partner Hiltrud Schulz’s book, Kilimanjaro: A Photographic Journey to the Roof of Africa (Interlink Publishing Group, Inc., 2009). If, like me, you are mesmerized by this particular mountain and have no immediate plans to scale it, you should get the book. Moushabeck’s pleasant, diaristic narrative and Schultz’s well-edited images make you feel as if you are along for the climb.

Instructor Lowry McFerrin

Self-Publishing in the 21st Century

Saturday – October 10, 2009, 10 am – 4 pm

You’ve plotted, planned, revised, agonized over, edited and re-written three books just to finish one. Still, you can’t find an agent or publisher to carry your project forward. But you don’t want to self-publish, because a “real” writer… a SERIOUS writer… wouldn’t dream of resorting to that. Well, not necessarily. Did you know that many notable writers self-published:

• Edgar Rice Burroughs: Tarzan
• Benjamin Franklin: Poor Richard’s Almanack
• Beatrix Potter: The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Sheldon Siegel

Literary luminaries will join members of Homeward Bound’s creative writing groups to present a special fundraising event from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at The Next Key Center.

“How I Became a Writer … An Afternoon of Inspiration” will feature readings and commentary by a stellar lineup of Marin’s published talent along with residents of Homeward Bound programs who participate in focused writing groups that work on journaling, poetry, and more.

The speakers include Sheldon Siegel, writer of bestselling thrillers.

Do What You Love and Make a Living

Learn how at the Simplie Indie writer’s workshop this weekend on September 19, 2009. Four panelists will cover the information essential to achieving your writing goals in a new, fast paced, internet based environment.

Bill Walker on new publishing

Jennifer Bourn on personal branding

Jerry Kennedy on sales

Stephanie Chandler on tricks of the trade.

Panelists include Social Networking Strategist Peter Lang.

Register Today: simplieindie.com/writer-event.html

When: September 19, 2009, 8 am to 5 pm—includes rolls and coffee and catered lunch. Where: The Clubhouse at Woodcreek Golf Club, 5880 Woodcreek Oaks Blvd, Roseville, CA Questions? Contact Roxanne Dodge at 916.531.3470 or roxanne.dodge@SimplieIndie.com

All attendees receive a goodie bag containing books, CDs, and coupons worth hundreds of dollars.

The deadline for this year’s Solas Awards for Best Travel Story of the Year is just a few days away. To enter this year’s competition, go to BestTravelWriting.com and follow the instructions.

As of today, competition is light in the following categories:

* Animal Encounter

* Cruise Story

* Doing Good or the Kindness of Strangers

* Elder Travel

* Love Story

* Men’s Travel

* Travel and Healing

* Travel and Shopping

* Travel and Sports

* Young TravelerTr

The Dallas Morning News, one of America’s premier daily newspapers with an outstanding Sunday Travel section, published Dick Jordan’s story “Glacial pace: Go with the floe and see what southeast Alaska has to offer” on August 16, 2009.

The story (not yet available on the newspaper’s Web site) and three of Dick’s photos took up an entire page of the paper’s Travel section.

This is Dick’s second story on glacier touring in Southeast Alaska.  His first story on this part of America appeared on Mother’s Day in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Dick Jordan has become a an active member of the Bay Area Travel Writers, a not-for-profit, professional association of writers and photographers with outstanding achievements in travel journalism. These professionals share their unique stories in newspapers, magazines, books, Internet publications, and travel industry publications.

In June he joined Left Coast Writers, a prestigious group of well-known as well as new writers of all genres, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, sci-fi, and travel, which holds its monthly “salon” meetings at one of America’s premier independent book stores, Book Passage, in Corte Madera.

Wendy Merrill’s March/April column, “How Chasing Mr. Wrong Led to Mr. Write,” is still front and center at Roadwork on the Left Coast Writers site – http://www.leftcoastwriters.com/category/road-work/ – but you’ve already read it, right? Now, if you haven’t submitted something to Roadwork yet yourself, what are you waiting for? Contact Pat to submit your story or to pitch an idea. Roadwork@Leftcoastwriters.com.Are you ready for Roadwork?

Roadwork is the LeftCoastWriters.com on-line column about travel, writing and the writer’s life. All members of Left Coast Writers are welcome to submit an essay of 800 to 1000 words to editor Pat Bracewell at Roadwork@Leftcoastwriters.com for on-line publication. A new Roadwork column is posted on our website every other month.

Wendy Tokunaga, wowed us at our LCW Literary Salon with her powerful and witty story of beating the odds and realizing her dream with the publication of Midori by Moonlight (St. Martin’s Griffin, September, 2007). Now, she’s hit Japan with a great interview and review in “The Japan Times,” “Midori by Moonlight” sure to raise a smile. Click here to read the article…and congratulations, Wendy!

Christine Krieg, our LCW photographer, has just uploaded the photos from that great Salon with Jane Juska. Click here to view (and order prints) of these photos and others from previous LCW events.

By the way, Christine takes excellent portraits for your author photos and does wedding photography.

Saturday, April 7, 7PM
Book Passage || 51 Tamal Vista Dr. || Corte Madera, CA
For Info: Book Passage

From MICHAEL SHAPIRO:
I’m coordinating a benefit with Prosper Ndabishuriye to rebuild homes in Burundi. Prosper is a director of a home-building project in Burundi’s Camara area, bringing together Hutu and Tutsi youth to construct homes for some of the country s thousands of refugees. During the 1990s, Burundi was devastated by civil wars similar to those in Rwanda, but Prosper’s group is building homes and giving employment to young men and women.

JEFF GREENWALD’S article, Passing Through but Leaving a Lasting Impression, about his work and what it means to be an ethical traveler, was published in the March 13, 2007 edition of The New York Times.

“Travel often turns my expectations upside down. In 1999, I visited Iran with a small group of Americans to watch a total eclipse of the sun. On the afternoon of the event, I found myself alone in Esfahan’s vast Khomeini Square: one American among 50,000 Iranians…Aldous Huxley was right. To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” To read more, click here.

ASJA PANEL: BOOK EDITOR INSIGHTS: PROPOSE, PUBLISH, PUBLICIZE:

HOW TO MAKE YOUR BOOK SUCCEED

NOV. 2  7PM   MECHANICS INSTITUTE   SAN FRANCISCO

_____________________________________________________________

 

Pitching book ideas to publishers is easier now than it ever has

been. So says, Alan Rinzler, who will address ASJA members Nov. 2

in San Francisco. Yet, he adds, most book proposals fall wide of

the mark. Rinzler, executive editor at Jossey-Bass — along with

Roger Freet, senior editor at HarperSanFrancisco — will reveal

how writers can make use of new information and technologies on

Thursday, August 17, 2006 to Sunday, August 20, 2006

Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference

Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista, Corte Madera, CA

For info: www.bookpassage.com

MAY 27
Saturday, May 27 || 10:30am – 5:00pm
SUSAN GRIFFIN WRITING WORKSHOP: THE MUSIC OF IT
A workshop on sound in poetry and prose
Susan Griffin
904 Keeler Ave
Berkeley CA 94708
FOR INFO: Call 510.528.9296 from 10 am until 5 pm or
Email: mailto:ninong@comcast.net

JULY – AUGUST
TRAVELING VISUALLY
FEATURING THE WORK OF MARSHA BLACK
Reed’s Cameras
1524 Locust Street
Walnut Creek, CA
For info: 925 934 7207
www.visualtravels.com

AUGUST 5
Saturday, August 5 || 10:00-4:00Pm
CONNIE HALE WORKSHOP: MASTERING CRAFT: MANUSCRIPT CLINIC
Book Passage – FERRY PLAZA
One Ferry Plaza #46 Ferry Plaza
San Francisco
For Info and Registration: http://www.bookpassage.com

AUGUST 7
Monday, August 7 2006 || 7:00 – 9:00p.m.
LEFT COAST WRITERSâ„¢ LITERARY SALON featuring BRAD NEWSHAM,
around-the-world backpacker and author of “Take me With You,” and
ramrod for Backpack Nation.
Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista Blvd.
Corte Madera
For Info: http://www.leftcoastwriters.com

JULY 10
Monday, July 10 2006 || 7:00 – 9:00p.m.
LEFT COAST WRITERS(tm) LITERARY SALON Featuring MELBA PATILLO-BEALS,
inspirational speaker, coach and author of “Warriors Don’t Cry”
Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista Blvd.
Corte Madera
For Info: http://www.leftcoastwriters.com
JULY 13 – 16
Thurs.-Sun. July 13-16, 2006
BOOK PASSAGE MYSTERY WRITERS CONFERENCE
Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista
Corte Madera
For Info and Registration: http://www.bookpassage.com
JULY 15
Saturday, July 15 || 10:00 – 4:00pm
JANIS COOKE NEWMAN’S “GETTING INTO PRINT” COURSE
Book Passage – FERRY PLAZA
One Ferry Plaza #46 Ferry Plaza
San Francisco
For Info and Registration: http://www.bookpassage.com
JULY 17
Book Passage – FERRY PLAZA
One Ferry Plaza #46 Ferry Plaza
San Francisco
For Info: http://www.bookpassage.com

JUNE 3 – 10
Sat.-Sat. June 3 – 10
ROBIN SPARKS’ WRITING WORKSHOP IN TURKEY: “Learn to Write the
Personal Travel Story” with LARRY HABEGGER
Deposit: $500 (payable through PayPal)
Cost: $2495 (everything but air)
For Info and Registration: Robin@robinsparks.com
JUNE 5
Monday, June 5 || 7:00 – 9:00PM
LEFT COAST WRITERS(tm) SALON FEATURING: JAMES DALESSANDRO, author of
“1906: A Novel”
Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista
Corte Madera
For Info: http://www.leftcoastwriters.com
JUNE 10
Saturday, June 10 || 9:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
CRICKET’S BOOKS AND GIFTS PRESENTS:
“How To Become A Published Author/Poet: A to Z”
Hosted by: MARK SHAW
Cricket’s Books and Gifts
40 Princess St
Sausalito
FEE: $45.00 Fee Includes Free Copy of Book On Grammar
TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT: Limited Seating – Call 415.331.1233 for
Reservations
JUNE 11
Sunday, June 11 || 7pm
JAMES DALESSANDRO READING AND BOOK SIGNING FOR “1906″ +
DOCUMENTARY FILM PREVIEW: “THE DAMNEDEST FINEST RUINS”
Book Passage-Corte Madera
51 Tamal Vista Blvd.
Corte Madera
For Information: http://www.bookpassage.com
JUNE 12
Monday, June 12 || Readings: 5:30-7:00PM/Networking 7:00-8:00PM
LEFT COAST WRITERS(tm) READING SERIES & NETWORKING
TOPIC: Queer Tales – Gay and Lesbian Writings
READERS: KUNAL MUKHERJEE, CERRIDUEN FALLINGSTAR and others
Book Passage – FERRY PLAZA
One Ferry Plaza #46 Ferry Plaza
San Francisco
For Info: http://www.leftcoastwriters.com
JUNE 12
Monday, June 12 || 7pm
GEORGIA HESSE LECTURE: “FROM LISBON TO ROME ON THE PRINSENDAM”
Book Passage – FERRY PLAZA
One Ferry Plaza #46 Ferry Plaza
San Francisco
For Info and Reservation: 415.927.0960 X400
JUNE 17
Saturday, June 17 || 9:00AM – 3:00PM
LINDA WATANABE McFERRIN COURSE: “Writing for Publication”
Book Passage – FERRY PLAZA
One Ferry Plaza #46 Ferry Plaza
San Francisco
For Info: http://www.leftcoastwriters.com
JUNE 21
Wednesday June 21 || 5:30 – 6:45PM
LEFT COAST WRITERS(tm) BOOK LAUNCH PARTY SHOWCASING: TOM DeMOTT and
his new book, “Into the Hearts of the Amazons: In Search of a
Modern Matriarchy” (University of WI Press, May 2006)
Monticello Inn
121 Ellis Street (corner of Ellis & Powell)
San Francisco
For Info: mailto:leftcoastwriters@aol.com

MAY 17
Wednesday, May 16 || 5:30 – 6:45PM
LEFT COAST WRITERS(tm) BOOK LAUNCH PARTY SHOWCASING:
“FLOATING THROUGH FRANCE: LIFE BETWEEN LOCKS ON THE CANAL DU
MIDI.” New travel anthology by edited by LCW member BARBARA
EUSER, featuring LEFT COAST WRITERS(tm) faculty members, JOANNA
BIGGAR and LINDA WATANABE McFERRIN and writers, CONNIE BURKE,
CRISTIE MARCUS, APRIL ORCUTT, and MARY JEAN PRAMIK
Monticello Inn
121 Ellis Street (corner of Ellis & Powell)
San Francisco
For Info: mailto:leftcoastwriters@aol.com
MAY 20
Saturday, May 20 || 4PM
BARBARA EUSER reading and book signing for “FLOATING THROUGH
FRANCE: LIFE BETWEEN LOCKS ON THE CANAL DU
MIDI,” new travel anthology edited by LCW member BARBARA
EUSER, featuring faculty members LARRY HABEGGER, JOANNA
BIGGAR and LINDA WATANABE McFERRIN and writers, CONNIE BURKE,
CRISTIE MARCUS, APRIL ORCUTT, and MARY JEAN PRAMIK
Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista Dr.
Corte Madera
For Info: http://www.bookpassage.com
MAY 20
Saturday, May 20 || 9:00AM – 3:00PM
LARRY HABEGGER course: “Crafting the Personal Travel Story”
Book Passage-Ferry Plaza
One Ferry Plaza #46 Ferry Plaza
San Francisco
For Info: http://www.bookpassage.com
MAY 23
Tuesday, May 23 || 6:30PM
Reading and book signing for “FLOATING THROUGH FRANCE: LIFE
BETWEEN LOCKS ON THE CANAL DU MIDI,” new travel anthology edited
by LCW member BARBARA EUSER, featuring LEFT COAST WRITERS(tm) faculty
members, JOANNA BIGGAR and LINDA WATANABE McFERRIN and writers,
CONNIE BURKE, CRISTIE MARCUS, APRIL ORCUTT, and MARY JEAN PRAMIK
Zebulon’s Lounge(now known as SoHo) – Music Venue Wine Bar
Art Gallery
21 Fourth Street
Petaluma, California
For Info: (707) 769-7948

IT’S ABOUT TIME!
Four or five years ago, TONI WEINGARTEN wrote a feature story for “Cruising World,” a sailing magazine. They paid her for it but she never saw it in print until….she opened the October 2005 issue of the magazine and saw her story! Now, that’s being in the writing game for the long haul!