Events and Activities for Southern California Writers
- Sun, June 7 — IWOSC Reads Its Own
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- Sat, June 20 — SEMINAR: Self Publishing: Making Your Mark
- Mon, June 29 — GENERAL MEETING/PANEL: Getting the Buzz On: Marketing Your Book
- Wed, July 8 — San Fernando Valley Satellite
- Thurs, July 9 — Westside Satellite
- Thurs, July 9 — Ventura Satellite
- Fri, July 10 — Pasadena/Altadena Satellite
- Thurs, July 16 — Orange County Satellite
- Sat, July 18 — SEMINAR: Your Brand in a Bite or a Byte -Your Elevator Speech
- Mon, July 27 — GENERAL MEETING/PANEL: Biographies and Memoirs
GENERAL MEETING/Panel discussion:
Getting the Buzz On: Marketing Your Book
Monday, June 29
7:30 to 9 p.m. (networking follows the program)
What’s the best way to get a buzz on about your work of art?
Using some of the latest marketing vehicles like social networking sites can help. So can being savvy, creative, and energetic. But you need to know how, you need to know where, you need to know what's new, and you need to know how to do it inexpensively and time-efficiently.
Learn from our experienced panel and resolve to put some buzz into your marketing mix!
Panelists:
TERESA FOGARTY has held a range of positions in public relations and trade publishing before launching Casarsa Public Relations in 2005, and worked working with self-published authors as consultant, project manager, and publicist. She currently works for the Independent Book Publishers Association as marketing and publicity manager.
ANNETTE FIX is the Senior Editor of Wow-WomenOnWriting.com, an online magazine by, for, and about women in the publishing industry. Under her editorship, the site is celebrating its second year on the list of the Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers. Annette is also the author of The Break-Up Diet: A Memoir, which is a finalist in the memoir category for ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year. Her memoir was recently optioned for development as a cable television series (the direct result of her social networking on Twitter). Annette has two upcoming summer workshops: Online Author and Book Promotion and How to Get the Right Agent for Your Manuscript. She also provides freelance services that include comprehensive editing and manuscript analysis.
THORA GABRIEL’s world — and Chessie’s too — is magical. Her debut novel Chessie Bligh” has won multiple awards, including the Mom’s Choice Award 2008, an iUniverse Editor’s /Reader’s Choice Award 2007, the Midwest Book Review 2007, and The Reading Tub, Summer 2008. Her book trailer, Chessie Bligh and the Scroll of Andelthor, is one of the most watched book trailers on the web. A professional writer for 10 years, Thora has three novels to her credit prior to Chessie Bligh: Aiken Payne – The Adventures of Lily Jack, The Oxborrow Mansion Mystery, and adult novel The Empty Grave. Thora is currently working on another in the Chessie Bligh series – Journey to Antelantiesse, and an adult comedy, Life Under the Bus.
ANTOINETTE KURITZ is the founder of the La Jolla Writers Conference, host of Writer's Roundtable Radio Show, a published author, and President of Strategies Literary PR, a multi-media literary management and promotions firm. A speaker at conferences nationwide, Antoinette has shepherded writers from their project's infancy to the NY Times and Wall Street Journal lists and beyond. Her radio show features people of note in the publishing industry, providing information and an ongoing workshop for authors throughout the country.
PENNY C. SANSEVIERI, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc. (AME), last visited IWOSC in April. She is a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. She is the author of five books, including Red Hot Internet Publicity, which has been called the "leading guide to everything Internet." AME is the first marketing and publicity firm to use Internet promotion to its full impact through The Virtual Author Tour™, which strategically works with social networking sites, micro-blogs, blogs, book videos, and relevant sites to push an author’s message into the virtual community and connect with sites related to the book's topic, positioning the author in his or her market. Visit Penny’s web site at aMarketingExpert.com to learn more about Penny and to subscribe to her free ezine.
JOHN SEELEY, IWOSC board member, is a best-selling author of the book Get Unstuck! The Simple Guide to Restart Your Life, and a motivational speaker with a difference. Seeley has a way of cutting through the complexities of the human condition in a very compassionate and caring way, helping people to find their answers to their problems; and allowing them to choose a new life of joy and satisfaction. He's been called “Dr. Phil with soul.”
Location: Veterans Memorial Building, 4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City
(Corner of Culver Boulevard. Parking entrance on Culver) Map of location. Parking is free.
Admission: IWOSC members - free; Non-members - $15
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED — Call 877-79-WRITE (that's 877-799-7483) or
for reservations and information. Reservations will be honored up to ten minutes before the meeting begins.
Please note: The reservation deadline is 12:00 noon on Monday, the day of the meeting.
If you reserve and can not attend, please
to let us know.
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GENERAL MEETING/Panel DIscussion...
Biographies & Memoirs: Every Life Tells a Story!
Monday, July 27
7:30 to 9 p.m. (networking follows the program)
Every life tells a story!
Whether you're thinking of putting the story of your own life down on paper, or writing a profile of a historical or celebrity figure you've long admired — or just one of the millions of readers who devour books on history or Hollywood — this panel is for you.
Our moderated panel discussion will feature both those who have found the courage to tell their own life stories — warts and all — plus top industry "names" who have written about celebrity and political figures.
What secrets do they share? What qualities do editors, literary agents, and book-buyers look for in a biography or memoir? What kinds of techniques make a true-life story as interesting and relevant as a good novel or movie? And what about the "hoax memoir" scandals of recent years — James Frey, "JT LeRoy," Margaret Seltzer, Herman Rosenblatt, and Stephen Glass — how have they affected the landscape for biographies and memoirs in today's publishing world?
This July's panel promises a lively discussion on all these topics, plus plenty of time for questions and networking. It's also our last panel before the IWOSC Summer Party, so come on by!
Panelists:
DIGBY DIEHL is a true legend of LA's literary scene. A veteran book and film critic, Diehl has interviewed countless high-profile people and has written bestselling biographies of Hollywood legends like Esther Williams (Million Dollar Mermaid), Natalie Cole (Angel on My Shoulder), and Bob Barker (Priceless Memories). In addition to his celebrity work, Diehl has turned his talents to fictional books like Soapsuds: A Novel, media tie-in companions to TV series (like HBO's spooky '80s camp classic Tales from the Crypt), and controversial red-hot political biographies like A Spy for all Seasons: My Life in the CIA.
Diehl has hosted several IWOSC panels and interviewed celebrated film, tv and stage actress Mariette Hartley at an IWOSC Conversation with... evening. in 2007.
NAT SEGALOFF's career reads like a one-man Hollywood talent directory, having just finished collaborating with legendary director Arthur Penn on his biography. He has written and produced numerous episodes of A&E Network's Biography series, and authored nine bestselling books including Hurricane Billy: The Stormy Life and Films of William Friedkin, Segaloff has contributed career monographs on several screenwriters including Orson Welles – most for the University of California Press's acclaimed Backstory series, and his writing has appeared in a variety of film and entertainment periodicals.
Segaloff is also on the board of the Los Angeles chapter of the ACLU.
IWOSC member INA HILLEBRANDT "replaces fear with fun" for new authors tackling memoir writing. She has written several books on the subject including How to Write Your Memoirs, Stories from the Heart, and More Enchanting Tales and Imagination Tools to Help You Write Better Memoirs.
She hosts a memoir-writing workshop sponsored by the Burbank Public Library, and is fighting illiteracy with her Literacy Plus program aimed at school-age writers. In addition to working for National Public Radio and PBS, she has been featured in The New York Times and on ABC's World News Tonight. Her website (a must for animal-lovers) is InasPawPrints.com.
DIANNE De La VEGA's memoir, Heaven Knows, Anything Goes (about her life as the final life-partner of the late singer/actor Dick Haymes), won first prize for non-fiction at the prestigious Santa Barbara International Writers' Conference in 2004, and won rave reviews upon its first publication last year.
A psychologist for 30 years, she spent the last two decades of her career as an educator working with Spanish-speaking and immigrant children in the LAUSD. She has lectured extensively on issues of health, wellness, and spirituality in both America and Europe, and is a member of the Hospitaler Order of the Knights of St. John. Her website is DianneDeLaVega.com.
JENNIFER SKY BAND has been a model, actress, philanthropist, illness survivor, rock-star wife, and writer. As a 2008 graduate from UCLA Extension's Master Class in memoir writing, her first book, A Model Life, tells the story of her journey from growing up as a chubby and awkward child into the fast-lane lifestyle of a sought-after teen model.
She's currently finishing her second book, and also writes a bimonthly column for a Florida newspaper. Her website is JenniferSkyBand.com.
Moderator: Telly Davidson
Telly is the author of the award-winning book TV's Grooviest Variety Shows and is completing a novel titled Pop Culture. His entertainment and culture articles have appeared in Guitar Player, Entertainment Today, and other publications and websites. He has worked on NBC's Most Outrageous Game Show Moments and PBS's Pioneers of Primetime, and is an active member of IWOSC and PEN.
Note: Digby, Nat, Ina, and Dianne will be signing copies of several of their books, which will be available for sale at the end of the program!
Future IWOSC meeting dates
As a rule, IWOSC meetings are the 4th Monday of the month.
In August we'll forego the search for knowledge to celebrate the holidays.
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IWOSC SATURDAY SEMINAR
Saturday, June 20
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Seminar:
Self Publishing: Making Your Mark
Self-publishing is finally getting some respect, especially in this age of hard times for mainstream publishers. There are many good reasons to consider self-publishing, whether as a traditional book, an electronic book, an audio book, a print-on-demand book, a large-print book, or all of the above. Self-publishing cuts much of the wait time, places you in charge of a greater percentage of profits, allows "free" books if you speak for a group, and gives you greater flexibility for other sales generated by the book.
There are also downsides, such as the investment of time and money, and the learning curve. All of that can be managed, and the choice is yours. But you do need to know what to do, how to do it efficiently, and especially when to do it.
Our seminar experts will help you through that process.
Seminar Leaders:
- REG GREEN is the father of Nicholas Green, a seven-year-old California boy who was shot in Italy in a botched robbery in 1994. The decision by Reg and his wife, Maggie, to donate their son’s organs and corneas led to a worldwide increase in awareness of the shortage of donors. As a result, thousands of people are alive who would have died. As part of their campaign, Reg, a former journalist, has written two books on organ transplantation, “The Gift that Heals,” self-published through AuthorHouse, and “The Nicholas Effect.”
The Greens have produced a series of ground-breaking documentaries, been interviewed by the media around the world, and written numerous articles. They also worked closely with the production team on a made-for-television movie, “Nicholas’ Gift,” starring Jamie Lee Curtis.
- CLIFF CARLE, an editor and publishing consultant, has been called “a great Zen Master of words” for his ability to work wonders with rough text. Under his guidance, projects deemed “unmarketable” have been transformed into moneymakers.
During his 20 years as the editorial director for an L.A. based publisher; plus the last seven years working freelance, Cliff has edited over 300 fiction and non-fiction books, placed with over 20 publishers including Hay House, Rodale, and McGraw Hill.
Carle helps first-time and veteran authors develop and fine-tune their books not only for literary merit, but for their marketing aspects, including title, subtitle, style, organization, and, ultimately, the “pitch” to publishers. He has the ability to bring out the best in a writer by clearly articulating what is needed to make a good manuscript great.
His clients have included TV and newspaper journalists, film and television producers and directors, best-selling authors, and medical professionals.
Where: Veterans Memorial Building, 4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City
(Corner of Culver Boulevard. Parking entrance on Culver. Parking is free.) Map.
Cost: IWOSC members: $15; Non-members: $35
Reservations Required — Space is limited.
Reservation deadline: 4 p.m. the Friday before the seminar.
For reservations and information,
or call 877-79-WRITE (that's 877-799-7483).
NOTE: If you reserve and can not attend, please
to let us know.
IWOSC SATURDAY SEMINAR
Saturday, July 18
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Seminar:
Your Brand in a Bite or a Byte - Your Elevator Speech
Call it an elevator pitch or a sound bite, that first sentence or two that you speak is what makes or breaks a connection. Join consultant and IWOSC member Lilli Cloud in this seminar to spiff up your personal PR.
Networking opportunities abound in both the real and virtual worlds, from the dog park and soccer field to Facebook and LinkedIn. In this workshop you’ll explore what makes you so special, and craft it into words you can use online and in person.
Wait! There’s more.
Bonus content includes in-person and virtual:
• Networking strategies
• Networking etiquette
• Conversation starters
• Conversation transitions
Workshop Facilitator
Marketing/Communications Consultant Lilli Cloud is the founder of Blue Feet, providing personal branding and marketing services to executives and entrepreneurs. She has more than 20 years of experience in developing and delivering persuasive communications to generate results with target audiences. She works with entrepreneurs and executive job seekers to articulate their core offering and share it with the world–both verbally and in writing–in a clear, authentic and compelling way that makes them stand out from the crowd.
Where: Veterans Memorial Building, 4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City
(Corner of Culver Boulevard. Parking entrance on Culver. Parking is free.) Map.
Cost: IWOSC members: $15; Non-members: $35
Reservations Required — Space is limited.
Reservation deadline: 4 p.m. the Friday before the seminar.
For reservations and information,
or call 877-79-WRITE (that's 877-799-7483).
NOTE: If you reserve and can not attend, please
to let us know.
Future IWOSC Seminar and Workshop dates
As a rule, IWOSC seminars are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month.
In August we'll forego the search for knowledge to celebrate the holidays.
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IN ORBIT: UPCOMING SATELLITE MEETINGS
IWOSC's monthly drop-in satellite sessions are free and open to all writers — both members and non-members.
Bring your writing, your ideas, problems, questions, and complaints. Receive support, laughs, juicy controversy, and plenty of networking. And please support our hosts by purchasing snacks and other products.
ORANGE COUNTY Satellite
Our Orange County Satellite has a new host, Kurt Bensworth.
The Katie Wheeler Library is now the site for the monthly networking meeting.
Meeting pattern: Third Thursday of every month
Next meetings:
Thursday, June 18
Thursday, July 16
Time: 7:30 to 9 p.m. (except 7 p.m. start on May 21)
Location: Katie Wheeler Library (bottom floor, community room), 13109 Old Myford Road, Irvine
Admission: Free to both WOSC members and non-members.
If you have any questions about this satellite,
PASADENA/ALTADENA Satellite
Writers in the San Gabriel Valley meet on the second Friday of every month. This gathering is a joint meeting hosted by the IWOSC Pasadena Satellite and the Alameda Writers Group Special Interest Group (SIG). Jane Neff Rollins is our IWOSC contact for the Pasadena/Altadena Satellite.
Meeting pattern: second Friday of every month.
Next meetings:
Friday, June 12
Friday, July 10
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Location: Coffee Gallery, 2029 N. Lake Ave, Altadena 91001
626-398-7917
Here's a Map to the Coffee Gallery for you.
Admission: Free to both WOSC members and non-members. However, we'd like you to purchase coffee or a snack in support of our host.
For more information about this satellite,
or call her at (818) 957-3405.
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY (ENCINO) Satellite
Writers in the San Fernando Valley meet on the second Wednesday of most months.
The Valley Satellite offers writers a chance to participate in a free-flowing exchange of ideas about their work and the writing business.
Meeting pattern: Second Wednesday of most months
Next meetings:
Wednesday, June 10
Wednesday, July 8
Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 16461 Ventura Blvd., CA, Encino
Free parking in the shopping center
Here's a map to Barnes & Noble for you.
Admission: Free to both WOSC members and non-members.
Our San Fernando Valley Satellite is currently run by Ron Vazzano. Grab a snack from Starbucks next door or Gelson's across the street before the networking begins. For any questions,
WESTSIDE Satellite
Writers on L.A.'s west side get together at the Westside Satellite.
Meeting pattern: second Thursday of every month.
Next meetings:
Thursday, June 11
Thursday, July 9
TIme: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Dolores Restaurant, 11407 Santa Monica Blvd., West Los Angeles (at Purdue).
Restaurant and street parking
Here's a map to Delores Restaurant for you.
Admission: Free to both WOSC members and non-members.
So we can have an idea of attendance, please
Ventura County Satellite (Thousand Oaks) — NEW!
We have a new Ventura County satellite group, thanks to Dawn Wood and Nancy J. Rigg. Dawn is a published poet, physician, and medical script consultant, who recently taught medical narrative fiction at a University of Iowa workshop, The Examined Life: Writing and the Art of Medicine. Nancy J. Rigg is published book author and journalist, who also teaches memoir and lifewriting classes.
Meeting pattern: Second Thursday of every month
Next meetings:
Thursday, June 11
Thursday, July 9
Time: 10 to 12 p.m.
Location: Sherwood Country Club, 320 West Stafford Road (Golf Clubhouse), Thousand Oaks, CA 91361.
Free parking – stop at guard house for directions to IWOSC.
Reservations are requested. Please contact
or
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IWOSC Reads Its Own
Sunday, June 7, 2009
2 to 4 p.m.
Twice a year we hold a special FREE event — IWOSC Reads Its Own — spellbinding afternoon of eclectic, eccentric, and exemplary works — from poems to true stories to hilarious monologues and beyond, read aloud by distinguished IWOSC scribes.
A baker’s dozen of IWOSC’s talented member writers will read their work aloud. We’ll be regaled with their wit, have our emotions stirred, or be plunged into deep thought. First-time and return readers will share their work. Selections may be published, unpublished, or works in progress, no longer than five to seven minutes.
Come hear:
- Ron Vazzano — yes, our program coordinator will also be reading)
- Susan Carrier
- Gary Young
- Alice Romano
- Gerald Jones
- Jennifer Sky Band
- Stephen Wolcott
- Adolphus Ward
- Telly Davidson
- Flo Selfman
- Dana Ellingwood
- Dianne de la Vega
- Lisa-Catherine Cohen
- Linda Lichtman
The lineup is filled, but
if you are a current member of IWOSC and would like to be placed on the waiting list to read on June 7 or next time.
Don’t miss this exciting afternoon event. Come and bring friends!
June location: Barnes & Noble at The Grove
189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90036 (map)
3rd floor reading area
Cost: IWOSC Reads Its Own is always open to the public and free to attend.
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Intensive Writing Workshop
Our writing workshop is on hiatus. Watch this space for new information.
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Some of Our Past Events
Wondering what other events and types of events we've had? See our past 2006 events and 2007 events and 2008 events and this year's past events.
This page was last updated on Friday, June 26, 2009 at 1:37 AM
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