The Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club has asked me to speak at their meeting today.  This is a fabulous group of writers, so I feel quite honored.  My topic is “From First Draft to Movie Option.”  Maybe I’ll read the lovely note my producer received from Meryl Streep.  We’ll see.  Wish me luck!

The Authors Book Day on Saturday, June 19th, included a panel entitled, So You Want to Write a Novel. Four Bay Area novelists (including myself) discussed their experiences and offered tips for aspiring fiction writers.  The other three panelists were Teresa LeYung Ryan, author of Love Made or Heart, Jon Cory, author of A Plague of Scoundrels, and Margaret Davis, author of Straight Down the Middle.  The panel was moderated by Geri Spieler, a noted journalist and investigative reporter.

I was thrilled to be asked to participate on a panel of published authors at the San Mateo County Fair on Saturday, June 19th at 2:00 p.m. in the Fiesta Building.  The title of the presentation is “So You Want to Write a Novel.”  My fellow California Writers Club authors, Teresa LeYung Ryan, Margaret Davis, Jon Cory and myself will discuss our experiences and offer tips to aspiring fiction writers.

Here’s the link for more information about the fair.  I hope to see you there!

Last Saturday, I attended Teresa LeYung Ryan’s workshop on building your name, which was presented by the SF/Peninsula Branch of the California Writers Club.  She started the session by asking the group of forty+ attendees to close their eyes and focus on left brain, right brain (see picture).  She then proceeded to give lots of excellent tips on how to build your presence online.  She’s written a 22-day playbook that can be purchased on her website.  Check it out! We writers need all the help we can get in cyberspace.

More than 60 people attended the workshop last Saturday on “How to Improve Your Storytelling Skills,” presented by Janis Cooke Newman, who teaches at the Writer’s Grotto.    

My friends and fellow writers Laurie and Diane joined me in taking copious notes.  It was a great session.