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.

Take a look at Wendy Merrill’s excellent website for her new book, “Falling Into Manholes” (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, March, 2008). It’s informative, fun and witty, written in the style of the book, and it’s filled with great news and feedback from the likes of Anne Lamott. And while you’re at it, come to Book Passage event (Corte Madera) on March 29th at 7pm.

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.

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

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 WRITERS™ 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