President's Letters 2011-12
February 2012
Dear GCWA Members,
Here we are once more, days away from our next meeting, Saturday, February 18 at Zion Lutheran Church beginning a 10am.
S. R. (Bob) Maxeiner Jr will bring us his message of Strong Writing. He will remind us that writing should be fun, virtuous and full of life as he leads us down this path showing us how to avoid the pot holes of lazy narrative. This will prove to be another entertaining and informative hour with the author of novels TRANSPLANT, INNOCENTIA and TOO MANY QUESTIONS.
As always we encourage you to check the website for all information pertaining to our association and other related events. There are any numbers of special opportunities for members and non members to enjoy during this active season. Anyone wishing to help with the maintenance of the website please contact Judy Loose.
March heads up; Remember to keep in mind that our March meeting date has been changed to the fourth Saturday, March24th, to allow members to attend the Harbor Side Reading Festival on March 17th. There are still spaces available at the GCWA table for your book signing and sales at the Harbor Side event. Call Ken Feeley 992-2726.
With that date change, we also must meet on March 24th at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2439 McGregor Blvd. It’s near the Edison Estates, see map on web site. ( I see in my Jan letter I announced that we would be at Lakeside Library; that changed and its now Covenant.)
See you this Saturday at Zion.
Tom Nelson, President
January 2012
Dear Members,
After a holiday interruption, it will be good to see all of you back at Zion Lutheran Church for our first meeting of the New Year, Saturday January 21st.
Workshop meetings have always been popular at GCWA and Ms. Pat Nease’s topic of Humor in Writing promises to be a fun-filled, lively time. Pat comes to us from her home in Panama City, Fl and is a celebrated story teller, writer and public speaker who will enlightenus with tips as to how to spice up our own writing with the right touches of wit and levity. As a multiple winner of various liars’ contests, Pat should fit right in with some of our fellow writer friends.
Our normal GCWA agenda will be amended to accommodate this program. We encourage everyone to come early in time for your coffee and a 10:00(sharp) starting time. After a very few announcements, we will immediately start with Pat’s program. A light lunch will be served and we will conclude by 1:00 pm. For this workshop program a one time charge of $10 for members, $15 non-members and visitors will be charged.
The deadline of January 31 for submissions to the Gulf Coast Writers Annual Contest is fast approaching. See the website for details of genre and prizes. Guidelines and Entry Forms can be found at http://gulfwriters.org/contest/wContest.html. Poetry, Fiction, Non Fiction and Script writers are all encouraged to participate. Either submit your entrees at the January meeting or mail by the 31st. Judging teams are in place, anxious to peruse your work.
Important.There are two changes to the March meeting; date and location. The date is changed to Saturday, March 24th to allow member s to attend the popular Ft. Myers Reading Festival at the Harbor Side Event Center on the 17th. The location for this month will be at the Lakes Regional Library, 15290 Bass Road, a change due to a conflict with a meeting previously scheduled at Zion Church. The library is just “around the corner” from the church.
Future special events.Co-coordinator, Ken Feeley 992 2726.
- Ken will be hosting a beginner’swriter’s workshop on February 25th.
- GCWA table spaces are available for the March 17th Harbor Side event at $20/3hours, 10am to 1pm or 1pm to 4pm.
- Watch for website information regarding opportunities for our members to talk with aspiring young writers at the Island Coast High School.
As always, check out the website www.gulfwriters.org for updates and news.
See you Saturday,
Tom Nelson, President
November 2011
Dear Members,
Just a few more days until our November 19th meeting at Zion Lutheran Church at 10am.Remember, we will be using Room 108, which is behind the main church sanctuary.
Our November guest speaker is Sid Simon, Master Storyteller, who will address us on how narrative and story telling can be used to enliven writing. A renowned author and speaker, this will be an entertaining and informative morning.
Last months speaker, Suzanne Barr, related her experiences in writing over twenty novels as a ghostwriter for a New York Times best selling author. A lively Q&A session followed. We thank her for sharing the time with us.
On October 22nd, 20 authors represented GCWA at the Alliance for the Art’s fall festival at the amphitheater grounds selling 59 books. Five GCWA authors made 22 sales at Faith Lutheran Church’s Fall Book Fair on Nov 5th.
Coming Special Events: Ken Feeley.
*Saturday, December 3rd will be the next exciting event for our members. Bell Tower Shops will host the Gulf Coast Writers from 10am to 4pm on the concourse of the shopping area in a book signing event called, Meet the Authors Day. Ken Feeley, Special Projects, advises that over 30 members have signed on for half and full day tables. The day will allow authors time to present their published works as well as interact with the public in a festive pre-Christmas setting.
*Now is the time to be perfecting your stories, poems and scriptwriting for GCWA annual writing contest with entries closing January 31, 2012. Check out details on www.Gulfwriters.org.
*Our application has been filed for the Southwest Florida Reading Festival in March at the Harbor Side Center. Extra tables and spaces have been procured to accommodate additional Gulf Coast Writers for this popular book event. See Ken for sign up.
*Tentative arrangements are being made by Ken Feeley for a new writer’s workshop Feb 11 or 25. More info to come.
A nominating committee for 2012 officers is in place. Be advised that we will be filling a number of Board positions. Those interested in running please contact Larry Stiles, Chair. 239 369 7719.
Lastly, remember there is no December meeting of GCWA.
See you Saturday.
Regards,
Tom Nelson, President
September 2011
Dear GCWA Members,
A number of exciting happenings will be announced at our September 17 meeting. I hope to see you for a full morning at Zion Lutheran Church, 7401 Winkler Road.
Our featured speaker is Linda Fasulo, president of the Friends of the Library for Collier County and an on-air book reviewer for WGCU radio. Her subject will be: What does a book reviewer look for? Her presentation will be of special interest for all of us who crave that their books get a good review.
Also, we will hear more about the October 22 Alliance for the Arts and your association’s involvement. Limited table spaces for book signings are available at $15, see Membership Chairperson, Becky Elam on Saturday or contact her at stitchrje@aol.com for your reservation (with your check.)
Ken Feeley, Special Projects Chairman, will have further information on GCWA holding a Meet the Authors day at the Bell Tower Mall Saturday, December 3 from 10 to 4. Those with their books to present and sell, see Ken on Saturday. This will be an all day signing event at the beginning of the holiday season. A half day/half table space is $10 or $15 for all day/half table. Ken’s email is klfeeley@embarqmail.com
Ken will also be announcing details of a writing seminar for beginning authors tentatively scheduled for November 5.
We again thank Professor Marty Ambrose for a lively presentation during our August meeting as she reviewed the writing of a good mystery. (But, of course, we all knew it was the butler who did it.)
Don’t forget to begin preparing your entry into this year’s annual writing contest. Contest entries will close January 31; Poetry, fiction, non-fiction and scriptwriting categories. Check our GCWA web site for details. www.Gulfwriters.org
GCWA continues to grow as we currently have 148 writing souls in membership.
There’s a lot going on as we enter into this fall season. Come early to get your favorite seat and bring a tasty tidbit to help Jan Nieman and her kitchen crew with the snacks.
Tom Nelson. President
August 2011 #2
August 29,2011
Dear Members,
Our August meeting was a busy one and there were a few announcements of coming events that were missed. Please note the following:
*Alliance for the Arts will be holding its fall affair, Fall for the Arts, on Saturday October 22, at the amphitheater grounds on the corner of Colonial and McGregor from 10am to 3pm. Your GCWA will reserve a number of tables to offer writers spaces for introducing and selling your books. We will have ten tables available, accommodating two writers per table. The cost for each writer is $20 on a first come basis. Contact Becky Elam, stitchrje@aol.com with your reservation.
*Ken Feeley, Special Projects, announced that plans are in the works with Bell Tower Shops to host a GCWA event, Meet the Writers Day, tentatively Saturday, Dec 3rd from 10am to 4pm. Six tables in strategic spots around the concourse of Bell Tower, with two members at each table would share a shift of three hours, thereby allowing a total of twenty-four members to participate. Cost of participation to be determined, probably from $15-$20. We won’t start to take reservations as yet until the plans are finalized with Bell Shops.
Ken has been searching for a way to expose our writers to a high traffic area and the Christmas shopping season at Bell Tower looks like just the ticket. Stay tuned.
*It is time for members to be planning for participation in the annual GCWA annual writing contest. Poetry, fiction and non-fiction are the categories with the contest closing on January 31st 2012. Winners will be astounded by the valuable prizes! Details later.
*A new coffee shop in south Ft. Myers, The Coffee Cup, is organizing Friday and Saturday night events for local authors/poets/musicians to perform from 7 to 9pm. This open mic event would be another chance for those of you uninhibited in front of an audience to recite your stories, poems or sing a song. Check out The Coffee Cup web site www.coffeecupftmyers.com for additional information.
Contact owner Jaime Hewitt jaime_hewitt@yahoo.com to reserve your spot on a program.
Don’t forget to check out the web site www.Gulfwriters.org for more exciting events.
Regards,
Tom Nelson, President.
August 2011
Dear GCWA Members,
If you’re looking for a cool place to spend with good company, a morning of enlighten instruction, please plan on joining us at this months meeting, August 20th. Mt. Zion Lutheran Church at 10 am.
Professor Marty Ambrose will be our August speaker sharing the nuances of plotting and devising characters in writing the traditional mystery. With four published books to date, Ms Ambrose should be able to help the rest of us solve some of our own writing mysteries.
Last month Tim Jacobs gave us an enthusiastic rendition of the techniques of research, inquiry and investigation. Tim was aptly rewarded with a big bear hug from Doug McGregor for a job well done––we do go out of the way to appreciate our speakers.
Good news; comments and winners have been posted on the website (www.GulfWriters.org) for your May submissions. Bad news; we still need additional comments and voting in the coming months as your submissions for prose and poetry come in.
Your club has always encouraged members to join our guest speakers for lunch at the conclusion of the Saturday meeting. It is a relaxed way to personally thank them, as well as an opportunity to get better acquainted with fellow members. Come join us for good food and conversation one of these months, you’ll like it. (Dutch treat of course.)
See you on the 20th.
Regards,
Tom Nelson
July 2011.
Dear Members,
I trust you have enjoyed the 4th of July holiday and are now looking forward to this months Gulf Coast Writers meeting July 16th at 10:00 am.
Seventy members and nine first time guests attended our June affair with four new members joining. This was a great turnout for an early summer meeting. Although we were tightly squeezed in the temporary quarters, Sandra Yeyati’s message was enthusiastically received. She offered tips for those of us preparing for future book publishing.
July’s meeting will once again be in our regular site at Zion Lutheran Church fellowship hall. After a few years absence, our own Tim Jacobs will be returning to the podium to review techniques of research and all those others hints of writer’s inquiry and investigations you always wondered about; but have been too shy to ask.
During the remainder of this year we will be looking to fill some Executive Board positions for the coming 2012 year. Contact a board member or myself if you are interested. (Volunteers are welcome, before the selective draft board convenes and you receive a call.)
As always we will be encouraging members to report their good news come Saturday, and enjoy the networking and fellowship of your fellow writers.
Regards,
Tom Nelson.
June 2011.
Dear Members:
For the past many months your president’s letter has been penned by Richard Georgian. As your newly elected president, I am recognizing what a tough act Richard is to follow after his three years of service to GCWA. Thank you once again, Richard for a job so well done. I will do my best to communicate with you this coming year and attempt to reach the high bar Richard has set in the past.
The first of June brings on the hurricane season and possibly a slow down in our organization’s attendance with many members leaving for cooler climates. However, our May attendance reached sixty-seven as we heard Alison Chabonais, National Editor of Awakening provide us with tips on freelance writing. Seven first time guests were in attendance with four joining that day.
The June meeting is scheduled for Saturday the 18th beginning at 10am. There has been a change in the location. [map] While still at Zion Church, 7401 Winkler Drive, we will be meeting in Room 108, (shown as room 10 on the map) located on the east side of the main church, rather than the usual fellowship hall. Please follow the signs that morning. (We previously met in room 108 last October.)
Our program June 18th will feature Sandra Yehati, Marketing Director of Whitehall Printing in Naples. She will be reviewing the steps necessary to produce a published book from a finished manuscript; discussing PDFS, Format, Layout, Artwork and Numbering along with many other aspects of preparing your book for publication.
Web Editor, Judy Loose, reminds us that short stories and poems are still needed for the GCWA web page. Please consider submitting; I guarantee that any judging by your peers will be of a kindly nature.
See you on the 18th.
Tom Nelson