Press Room - Left Coast Writers

Workshop: Southern Sampler Artists Colony, Words and Rhythm

Charleston, South Carolina. April 15-22, 2015

Southern Sampler Artists’ Colony: Words and Rhythm – High Notes in the Lowcountry

Write . . . Embrace Music . . . Create Art . . . Relish Culinary Delights . . . Set your Pace to a Gullah Geechee Beat while Celebrating the Charleston New Renaissance.

Be Inspired
• Writing workshops taught by award-winning author, LINDA WATANABE MCFERRIN, as well as individual consults on your literary and creative projects and an opportunity to contribute to the next SOUTHERN SAMPLER anthology.
• HARLAN GREENE, author and historian extraordinaire, introduces the Charleston Renaissance. Discover how Charleston “reinvented” itself in the 1920’s.
• Swing low at THE MEZZ: A lunch and jazz concert with THE CHARLESTON JAZZ INITIATIVE, QUENTIN BAXTER and his quintet.
• Share perspectives with MARY EDNA FRASER, internationally renowned aerial photographer and batik artist. See Mary Edna’s exhibit at City Gallery and create a collective art project at her studio. Music by the Lime and the Coconuts is guaranteed to provide a glorious toe-tapping nale.
• THE GULLAH LADY, aka Sharon Cooper-Murray, and Captain Anton present a new twist on a Tidal Adventure. Prepare to be surprised!
• A Literary Walking Tour through historic Charleston, led by HARLAN GREENE. Discover where legendary writers, such as DuBose Heyward, lived and worked, catch a Lowcountry creative breeze, and celebrate stories embellished in time.
• Music Café Evening: A potluck of food, wine, friends and, of course, music in the lovely historic home of Charleston friends. It’ll be a celebration of notes and rhythm like no other.
• Farm to Plate Supper: A gastronomical adventure hosted by renowned chef and chocolatier, DAVID VAGASKY, and horticulturist, JIM MARTIN. (more…)

POETRY: The Long & Short of It
with Linda Watanabe McFerrin
Saturday, July 19th, 2014, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Boulevard, Corte Madera, CA 94925
$105

Ever wondered where the poetry is today? We’ve never needed it more. Join poet, travel writer and novelist, Linda Watanabe McFerrin, for a look at how to push the envelope and integrate poetry into our lives and work. You’ll spend a day filled with terrific poetic prompts. Come prepared to write and read your work..

Poet, travel writer, and novelist Linda Watanabe McFerrin (www.lwmcferrin.com) is a contributor to numerous newspapers, magazines and anthologies. She is the author of two poetry collections, past editor of a popular Northern California (more…)

Wandering in Paris Wins Again, in Paris!

Congratulations to the writers, editors, designer, and printer of Wandering in Paris for doing a beautiful job! The anthology has won another award; this time at the 2014 Paris Book Festival.

The anthology includes a foreword by noted Paris-based author and travel writer David Downie and the work of talented Bay Area writers. It is the third in a series from the Wanderland Writers workshops (www.wanderlandwriters.com), which have also produced collections of essays on Costa Rica and Bali. Writers in this anthology include: Unity Barry, Daphne Beyers, Sandra Bracken, Mary Brent Cantarutti, Antoinette Constable, Kitty Hughes, Laurie McAndish King, Ethel Mussen, Catherine Pyke, Cindy Rasicot, and Anne Sigmon. Cover and interior page design were done by Jim Shubin, the Book Alchemist, production by Proforma Mactec Solutions.

Phil Cousineau, author of The Art of Pilgrimage and The Book of Roads, has this to say about the anthology: (more…)

Workshop: Writing Sexy Stuff, 5/31/14

EROTICA: WRITING SEXY STUFF
with Linda Watanabe McFerrin
Saturday, May 31st, 2014, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Boulevard, Corte Madera, CA 94925
$105

If you have trouble steaming up the page, this is the workshop for you.

Spend a day with poet, travel writer and novelist Linda Watanabe McFerrin loosening up and learning the techniques for adding spicy, sensual, and sometimes hilarious sizzle to your work. The class is full of quick free-writes and entertaining exercises that will have you moving from comfort zones to erogenous zones in no (more…)

Yes, this is your opportunity to make a scene! Do it on the page.

In this one-day workshop, you’ll learn to balance setting, character, and dialogue to create stellar scenes. Some of the exercises have given birth to award-winning work by past participants. Bring your laptop and/or paper and pen and discover how a good writer takes center stage on the page and holds it.

The workshop will be held on Saturday,March 22nd from 10:00am-4:00pm at Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera, CA, 94925. This particular workshop is only $105, and you can register here.

Lindahat_s — Linda Watanabe McFerrin/Sleuth

Character-driven—it’s one way to ensure that your writing is compelling. But how do you create characters that captivate a reader? Digging up all you’ll need to know to create characters that jump from the page can be as complicated as a covert operation. So let’s put on our best sleuthing attire and gather the info on our protagonists, antagonists, confidantes, love interests and assorted supporting characters. This workshop includes plenty of in-class exercises and amusing tips on craft.

A careful investigation will also reveal that you can receive Dominican College credit for this workshop.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, February 22, from 10am-4pm at Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera, CA, 94925. Sign up here.

(more…)

Wanderland Writers Win Top Honors from the 2013 London Book Festival

2013 LONDON BOOK FESTIVAL AWARDS

Bay Area Travel Writers Land International Anthology Prize In This Competition “Honoring the Best in International Publishing”

The winners, runner-ups and honorable mentions for the 2013 London Book Festival have been announced.

Wandering in Paris: Luminaries and Love in the City of Light, edited by Bay Area poet, novelist and travel writer, Linda Watanabe McFerrin (www.lwmcferrin.com) and Bay Area author and journalist, Joanna Biggar (www.joannabiggar.org), took top honors in the anthologies and collections category. The collection, which includes a foreword by noted Paris-based author and travel writer, David Downie and the work of talented known Bay Area writers, is the third in a series from the Wanderland Writers workshops (www.wanderlandwriters.com), which have produced collections of essays on Costa Rica and Bali. Writers in this anthology include: Unity Barry, Daphne Beyers, Sandra Bracken, Mary Brent Cantarutti, Antoinette Constable, Kitty Hughes, Laurie McAndish King, Ethel Mussen, Catherine Pyke, Cindy Rasicot, and Anne Sigmon.

Phil Cousineau, author of The Art of Pilgrimage and The Book of Roads, has this to say about the anthology: (more…)

Workshop: Southern Sampler Artists Colony, A Musing Lowcountry Medley

Charleston, South Carolina. April 7-14, 2014.

Sample a new way of Being rooted in Gullah Geechee traditions set to African rhythms and slow Jazz beats. Meander down Creative Lane, bewitch the spirits, and open your heart to magic. Linda Watanabe McFerrin, award-winning author, and Ty Collins, playwright and educator, will be our musing guides. JACK’S HAT, a movable ritual “play” written and directed by Ty Collins, will be our performing stage.

One-on-one direction on your literary and creative projects
Professional guidance in literary presentation and performance
Soul nourishing Lowcountry cuisine prepared by local chefs
Creative interaction with the Charleston music and arts community
Daily prompts designed to foster life-enhancing experiences
Online publication of your stories, poems and photos inspired by the South

April 2014, Charleston here we come! Local friends: writers, artists, performers, chefs, and musicians will welcome us (more…)

Gary Kamiya — A Fun Guy Sings a Love Song to San Francisco by Barbara Falconer Newhall

Left Coast Writer® Barbara Falconer Newhall has recently written a wonderful article about Gary Kamiya and his talk at the October Left Coast Writers® salon. You can find this story, along with many other great stories, articles and blog posts at Barbara’s website, http://barbarafalconernewhall.com.

Due to a common writing misstep, Gary Kamiya, a highly experienced writer and editor, found himself with only six months to write a 385-page book.

The San Francisco author and co-founder of Salon.com described his predicament earlier this month to a roomful of authors and author wannabes gathered in the writers room at the back of Book Passage, Marin county’s powerhouse independent bookstore.

It was the first day of Kamiya’s brand new job as executive editor of San Francisco magazine, but he had taken time out to cross the Golden Gate Bridge to read from his new book and to share writing tips with members of the Left Coast Writers salon.

The book was Cool Gray City of Love: 49 Views of San Francisco, which is selling very nicely in the San Francisco Bay Area, thank you, and has received a New York Times review that promises to make his (more…)

MelindaAdams — Melinda Adams, aka Lilycat

LEFT COAST WRITERS® ON THE AIR

These Bay Area writers are pushing the edge from the page to Internet radio in a new monthly series on FCCFREERADIO, San Francisco’s Alternative Radio

On Sunday, January 19, 2014 Left Coast Writers® take to the air with a monthly spot on FCCFREERADIO – San Francisco’s Alternative Radio Studio 1-A from 12-2PM with popular radio talk show host, Melinda Adams, aka Ms. Kitty, aka Lilycat.

The monthly two-hour call-in spot on FCCREERADIO’s long-running weekly talk show, Lilycat on Stuff, will feature stories and chat on topics that have these writers climbing out of their garrets and closets and congregating in a SOMA studio to hold forth on topics that move them to ire and ecstasy.

On Sunday, January 19, find out more about Undercover Love: Lust, Literature and Lingerie as Left Coast Writers and Hot Flashes: sexy little (more…)

Workshop: Southern Sampler Artists Colony, Words and Rhythm

Workshop: Poetry: The Long & Short of It with Linda Watanabe McFerrin

Wandering in Paris Wins Again, in Paris!

Workshop: Writing Sexy Stuff, 5/31/14

Workshop: Making a Scene with Linda Watanabe McFerrin

Workshop: Building Character with Linda Watanabe McFerrin

Wanderland Writers Win Top Honors from the 2013 London Book Festival

Workshop: Southern Sampler Artists Colony, A Musing Lowcountry Medley

Gary Kamiya — A Fun Guy Sings a Love Song to San Francisco by Barbara Falconer Newhall

Left Coast Writers® Broadcasting Live

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