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Early Bird Fall Conference signups for Guild members only will be taken at the Spring event! Guest Speaker Sandra O’Donnell (sandraodonnell.com). Author of 52 Sundays: An Exploration of Christianity in America. Writer, speaker, academic and communication consultant Sandra O’Donnell’s current project, 52 Sundays: An Exploration of Christianity in America, provides readers with an entertaining, enlightening, and evocative look at church going in America. After losing her husband to pancreatic cancer, Sandra embarked on a journey to visit a different church every Sunday for a year. Her travels took her from Massachusetts to California and from the deep South to New York City, as well as many places in between, representing the broadest possible Christian experience. The goal of 52 Sundays is to open a dialogue about Christianity in America. The book is aimed at a wide audience, both the 125 million Americans who attend church each-and-every Sunday and those who simply want to know more about America’s religious origins and diversity. It will be published in 2016. Also, a book based on her original research and dissertation on the Pilgrims will be published in 2017/18, just in time for the 400th Anniversary of the Pilgrims voyage to America. Sandra studied writing with Lee Gutkind, “the godfather of creative non-fiction” and Stephen Pyne, the prolific author of books about fire, ice, and space exploration while working on her Ph.D. She teaches workshops on writing and creative non-fiction, including “Project 52: Your Book this Year.” Sandra lives in San Diego, where she is currently working on two new books. 52 Weeks of Service is about the volunteer culture in America and 52 Weeks of a Banner Marriage, which provides questions and practices to enhance one of our most important relationships. When she isn’t writing she is exploring San Diego with her husband Kim, whom she met while visiting his church on Sunday 23. (And yes, it was a God thing.) |
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Early Bird Signups: May 16, 2015 at the Spring Fellowship Event (members only!) Guild Members signup opens: May 18, 2015; Open Registration: June 1, 2015 |
![]() Publishing News from Ellie Goolkasian: Tales of A Five-Star Missionary which journals my first four years as a missionary in Baja California, Mexico is now available on CreateSpace.com and Amazon. In 2012 it won the “Best Unpublished Manuscript” at the SDCWG Fall Conference. That stimulated me to move out of that category! I thank the Guild for a wonderful organization and your hard work and dedication! SDCWG has blessed me with learning, support, friends, and encouragement! If not for you, this book may not have happened.Description: Ellie Goolkasian Lugo is a missionary nurse in the “Baja” region of Mexico. “I was the most unlikely missionary!” the author admits. “I loved the pleasures of my five-star life! When I drove into the orphanage where I would live and serve, my heart pounded in unison with its desperate cry, “Abort! Abort!” Starting from there, she journals her way into readers’ hearts through stories that hide nothing. Whether telling of a miracle or of her most desperate moments, the shocking honesty with which she writes sweeps readers into pure enjoyment or soulful reflection. Available on CreateSpace (www.createspace.com/4941837) or Amazon |
Book Signing: Come out and support your fellow SDCWG authors at a Barnes & Noble book signing on April 25, 2015 from . Martha Pope Gorris, Laurie Wallin, Diana Wallis Taylor, Ashley Ludwig, Claudia Ward, Christa Kinde, Sally John, and Sandra H. Esch. |
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![]() Critique Group News: Temecula: The Temecula critique group is going strong (16 years and about 70 books!) and is still meeting on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm at the home of Rebecca Farnbach. Santee: Meets once more in April (15), and meets twice in May (6 & 20), and only once in June (17). No meeting on June 3. Leader Tiffany Hanson will be giving an author talk at her library that night from 6:30-8. Tiffany will also be at the Spring Fellowship Event for anyone who would like more information.
Beach Cities: Group Leader Martha Gorris reports that the group that meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 8:45 a.m. remains closed to new members due to capacity. Poway: The Poway critique group meets at the home of Kathryn Hughes, usually on the third Monday monthly at 7:00pm though they do move it occasionally. Kathryn requests that people R.S.V.P. every month to have a copy count. New and experienced writers are welcome; please phone before coming. The Poway group includes all genres. National City: Please contact Bill Bagot for meeting time and location. Online: Currently on hiatus. North County Coastal: No longer meeting. |
![]() Barbara Nicolosi has announced a new training program for dramatic writers (Aug 1-8, 2015). www.storycatharsis.com. The creation of every great movie starts way before the writer types “FADE IN.” The concept must brew in the heart and mind of the writer in a prequel to the writing that will have everything to do with if the finished screenplay will work. At Catharsis, we are invested in you as a writer first of all – what do you bring to the table as a visual storyteller? What are your strengths in talent and training? What skills and information do you need to set you on a successful course? What medium of screen storytelling is the best starting point for you and the stories you have to tell? The Prequel experience will provide you three of the key elements every screenwriter needs: information about the craft and business, skill-training to build your storytelling muscles, and feedback to move you and your projects to the next level. At Catharsis, we have been on both sides of the screen storytelling table as producers, development executives and writers. We commit to you that if you give us eight days of your life, we will share with you a lifetime’s worth of smart, inspiring and practical training. If you want to write for the screen this is your next step. ONLY FIFTEEN WRITERS WILL BE ACCEPTED! We don’t want to waste your time or ours and we want to give everyone plenty of personal feedback. Curriculum :•What are the basic skill sets of screenwriting? How do your skills rate? •What is your writing process? How can it be more productive? •What are the essential elements of a story? What makes a story cinematic? •What makes a story matter? What makes it unforgettable? •Do you have a feature idea? A short? A teleplay? A web series? •How do you make a character better than the real? •How can you make the audience care about your character? •How is formatting a screenplay an art and a science? •What is the right structure to support your plot? To highlight your theme? •How do you find and work with writing partners, producers, investors? •(Extra for writing teachers) How do you develop a syllabus for an effective screenwriting program? Each writer will have the opportunity for an introductory and exit interview in which we tailor particular help according to their career hopes and plans. We will help each draft a “What Comes Next?” plan for after the program. Post-Workshop Mentoring: |
Orange County Christian Writers Conference: April 24-25, 2015 |
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Your Royalty Note – March 2015
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Early Bird Fall Conference signups for Guild members only will be taken at the Spring event! Guest Speaker Sandra O’Donnell (sandraodonnell.com). Author of 52 Sundays: An Exploration of Christianity in America. After spending time as both a consultant and academic, Sandra O’Donnell turned her talents to writing, focusing her efforts on the history of religion in America. Her dissertation on the Scrooby Puritans, a tiny obscure group of English separatists, who most Americans know as the Pilgrims brought a new perspective to what many considered an overworked topic. Based on extensive archival research, she spent months in England and Scotland working with original source document no American historian had ever accessed. A book based on her dissertation is set for publication in 2017/18, just in time for the 400th Anniversary of the Pilgrims voyage to America. Sandra lives in San Diego, where she is currently working on a two new books. 52 Weeks of Service is about the volunteer culture in America and 52 Weeks of a Banner Marriage which provides questions and practices to enhance one of our most important relationships. When she isn’t writing she is exploring her new hometown with her husband Kim. They met last year while Sandra was conducting research for 52 Sundays. And yes, it was a God thing. |
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Early Bird Signups: May 16, 2015 at the Spring Fellowship Event (members only!) Guild Members signup opens: May 18, 2015; Open Registration: June 1, 2015
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![]() Critique Group News: Temecula: The Temecula critique group is going strong (16 years and about 70 books!) and is still meeting on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm at the home of Rebecca Farnbach. Several will be attending the Mt. Hermon conference where our Joanne Bischof will be on the faculty. Santee: The Santee Group meets at the Santee Library (9225 Carlton Hills Blvd; Santee, CA 92071) from 6-8pm on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Leader Tiffany Hanson will be at the Spring Fellowship Event for anyone who would like more information.
Beach Cities: Group Leader Martha Gorris reports that the group that meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 8:45 a.m. remains closed to new members due to capacity. Poway: The Poway critique group meets at the home of Kathryn Hughes, usually on the third Monday monthly at 7:00pm though they do move it occasionally. Kathryn requests that people R.S.V.P. every month to have a copy count. New and experienced writers are welcome; please phone before coming. The Poway group includes all genres. National City: Please contact Bill Bagot for meeting time and location. Online: Currently on hiatus. North County Coastal: No longer meeting. San Bernardino: Steve & Pegge Hofman’s San Bernardino group is no longer meeting. |
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Orange County Christian Writers Conference: April 24-25, 2015 |
Your Royalty Note – February 2015
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Early Bird Fall Conference signups for Guild members only will be taken at the Spring event! Guest Speaker Sandra O’Donnell (sandraodonnell.com). After spending time as both a consultant and academic, Sandra O’Donnell turned her talents to writing, focusing her efforts on the history of religion in America. Her dissertation on the Scrooby Puritans, a tiny obscure group of English separatists, who most Americans know as the Pilgrims brought a new perspective to what many considered an overworked topic. Based on extensive archival research, she spent months in England and Scotland working with original source document no American historian had ever accessed. A book based on her dissertation is set for publication in 2017/18, just in time for the 400th Anniversary of the Pilgrims voyage to America. Sandra lives in San Diego, where she is currently working on a two new books. 52 Weeks of Service is about the volunteer culture in America and 52 Weeks of a Banner Marriage which provides questions and practices to enhance one of our most important relationships. When she isn’t writing she is exploring her new hometown with her husband Kim. They met last year while Sandra was conducting research for 52 Sundays. And yes, it was a God thing. |
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![]() Need some encouragement or a smile to lighten your day or just want to make sure you don’t miss the latest from SDCWG? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter (facebook.com/SanDiegoChristianWritersGuild and/or Twitter: SDCWG@SDCWGuild) |
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Orange County Christian Writers Conference: April 24-25, 2015 | |
![]() Passionvoice is looking for an experienced documentary writer for its project, “From Heartbreak To Heaven”. Please visit passionvoice.org/from-heartbreak-to-heaven-fall-2014 to view the short video to understand their efforts. Please send a cover letter and writing samples to: PassionVoice.org; 889 4th Street; San Rafael, CA 94901.DEADLINE: February 14, 2015. Note: This is not sponsored nor endorsed by the SDCWG. |
Your Royalty Note – Dec. 2014
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Book Signing: Nine SDCWG authors will be featured at a book signing at the Barnes & Noble in Mira Mesa on Wed., Dec. 17, 2014 at 7:00 pm. Come out and support the writers in our guild! Ray Bentley, Joanne Bischof, Sandra H. Esch, Martha Pope Gorris, Sally John, Christa Kinde, Susan Meissner, Beverly Nault, and Diana Wallis Taylor. |
My new novel, The Echo of Whispers, Book 2 in the War of Whispers Trilogy is being launched on Sunday, Nov. 2 at His Dwelling Place Ministries. This is a victorious story dealing with healing from rejection and abandonment. Martha Pope Gorris | |
Earlier this year I decided that Mysterious Warriors: Broken would be released on November 27 because it was my parent’s 38th wedding anniversary. It wasn’t until a few months ago that I realized it was also Thanksgiving. 🙂 I am so thankful for the love and support I get from all my friends and family, and I thank you all for being a part of my life. God brings so many different people into my life, and they’re all brought in for a reason. Thank you, and please check out my new book: Mysterious Warriors: Broken Tiffany Hanson (tnhayden.com) | |
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Published SDCWG Authors: If you’re a published SDCWG author, come and post a pic of your book cover in the comment section of our December 4 Facebook post. We’d love to see your books! https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoChristianWritersGuild?ref=aymt_homepage_panel |
Writer’s Party | NOTE: This event is not sponsored nor endorsed by the SDCWG.
San Diego Writers, Ink has invited the members of the SDCWG to join them for their holiday party on Friday, December 5 from 5:00-8:00 pm at their Liberty Station location. (2730 Historic Decatur Road, Barracks 16, Suite 202, SD, CA 92106). Unlike some other holiday events that weekend, they have a lot of free parking in the area. And Friday Night Liberty means that all the arts organizations in the area have their doors open so there is a lot to see, plus the party. https://www.facebook.com/events/675105969275558/. They are inviting all writers and readers and all local writing organizations to share a holiday party with them. There will be a lot going on in Barracks 16. Right next door to Writers, Ink is Inspirations Gallery. There will be an unveiling of Lori Mitchell’s new painting, “Florence, 1478” at Inspirations Gallery at 7 pm. This painting was commissioned by John Van Roekel as a memento of his trip to Italy last year where he did research for his new historical novel, LORENZO’S ASSASSIN. In addition, “Florence, 1478” will be the basis for the cover of LORENZO’S ASSASSIN. Lori Mitchell is a popular San Diego artist and teacher, and is also the author and illustrator of DIFFERENT JUST LIKE ME which has been featured on Oprah and The Today Show. |
OCCWC | Orange County Christian Writers Conference: April 24-25, 2015. Early bird special of $175 valid until December 31. |
Your Royalty Note – Nov. 2014
![]() Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1 |
Book Signing: Nine SDCWG authors will be featured at a book signing at the Barnes and Noble in Mira Mesa on Wed., Dec 17, 2014 at 7:00 pm. Please come one and all to support the writers in our guild. |
![]() Critique Group News: |
![]() Martha Gorris: My new novel, The Echo of Whispers, Book 2 in the War of Whispers Trilogy is being launched on Sunday, Nov. 2 at His Dwelling Place Ministries. This is a victorious story dealing with healing from rejection and abandonment. |
![]() Brett Burner: I have just launched a new kickstarter for my 1200+ page Graphic Novel series HAND OF THE MORNINGSTAR. This project is very near and dear to my heart, and is the culmination of nearly 10 years of hard work. This series was originally co-published with Zondervan, and I am finally receiving my rights back. I’ve gotten amazing responses on this story, and it has received noteworthy acclaim of having surpassed the boundaries of story and art quality we often long for in the Christian Market. |
![]() Attention Fiction Writers! The American Christian Writers, western region, meets for fellowship the second Friday of every month at the Souplantation restaurant in Carmel Valley at 11:00 am. (Note: This group is not endorsed nor affiliated with the SDCWG) |
![]() San Diego Local Author Exhibit: Deadline for online registration and book submission is Sunday, November 30, 2014. The San Diego Public Library’s 49th Annual Local Author Exhibit is nearing and the Library is calling our resident authors for submissions. If your book or eBook was originally published in 2014, we would like to display it in the exhibit, which will run the entire month of February 2015 in the San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common. Only one title may be registered per author. For information and to register for this event, please visit the San Diego Local Author webpage. Last day to register and submit your book is Sunday, November 30, 2014. All submissions to the Local Author Exhibit become gifts to the San Diego Public Library for possible inclusion in the collection. Qualified participants will be invited to an exclusive Local Author event to kick off the exhibit. |
![]() Jerry Jenkins Shuts Christian Writers Guild. (Note: This is NOT affiliated with the San Diego Christian Writers Guild). The Christian Writers Guild, owned by novelist Jerry Jenkins, has shut down after 50 years of operation. Jenkins, who purchased the group in 2001, announced the closing at the CWG website, citing no reason but noting that students would be able to finish writing courses offered through the guild, begun as a correspondence course in the 1960s. |