APRIL 2010
APRIL 2010
Spokane Authors and Self-Publishers (SASP) began in 1998 when Chuck O’Conner, Elmer Freeman, Joe Meiners,
and Dan Vollmer, Spokane area authors
formed a club in order to share their knowledge and experience with those
interested in writing and alternative ways of publishing. Today, SASP is a large non-profit
organization dedicated to anyone with interests in any aspect of writing and
art. Members now include aspiring (and
successful) authors, poets, journalists, illustrators, editors, publishers,
printers, writing instructors, and many others.
Monthly luncheon meetings provide inspiration and education by way of
knowledgeable and entertaining guest speakers, and the cheerful camaraderie of
people sharing common interests and goals.
Membership is open to all who love writing, art, and interesting people.
Spokane
Authors and Self-Publishers meets
the first Thursday of each month, September through May, in the banquet (back)
room of the Old Country Buffet
(509) 484-5026
Speakers’
presentations begin at NOON. The room opens at 11:00 AM to allow members and guests to dine, converse, join, pay
dues, browse, and perhaps buy other member’s books that are on display. Generally a short business meeting is held,
either before or after the formal presentation.
New members and guests are introduced, members relate their
accomplishments, and various door prizes are awarded.
All
members and guests are requested to buy lunch upon entering the establishment,
and to leave an appropriate tip for the waiter/waitress.
Members
need to be present to win door prizes.
Current
membership benefits include a
listing on the SASP website, www.spokaneauthors.org. Many
members provide short biographies and links to external personal websites,
creating more marketing exposure.
Current members may list and describe their published works on the SASP
website and offer their work for sale at meetings.
Guest speakers at our monthly meetings
inform, inspire, and entertain members and guests with a variety of topics, all
designed to provide knowledge pertinent to writing and publishing.
SASP
members are encouraged to purchase or trade completed works of and with fellow
members. They are also encouraged to
donate examples of their work for use as door prizes. Those who win other members’ works are
expected to provide a review of that work.
Dues for SASP membership are $15.00 per
calendar year. Dues may be paid directly to our Treasurer at our monthly
meetings. Alternatively, you may remit
your dues to:
2010 Officers
President:
Dave McChesney (509) 325-2072
Vice-President:
Bob Weldin (509) 327-2897
Secretary:
Robert Pillsbury (509) 842-6803
rvpsasp07@comcast.net
Treasurer:
TBA
Public-Relations:
Russ
Davis (509) 768-6206
Newsletter Editor:
Jim
Parry 509)
325-9922
Web Master:
TBA
Advisory Board:
Jolene Feher (509) 489-0544
fehersong@yahoo.com
Gail Mangano (509) 535-1434
mamamia3224@comcast.net
Bob Manion (509) 448-2901
gunnerbob@comcast.net
OUR
NEXT MEETING!
Please join us for our fourth meeting of 2010 on Thursday April 1 (no foolin’) at 12
noon. We’ll be at our usual location
(Old Country Buffet,
Jim Parry was born in
By the fall of that year he had been hired
by Spokane Public Schools to teach at Longfellow Elementary. In 1970 he helped open the new Garry Junior High,
and spent most of his career there, teaching seventh grade world history and
the occasional math class. Within this
time frame, by taking classes in the evenings and during summers, he earned a
master’s degree in teaching from
Jim has had two short stories included in SpokeWrite, and his first book, Book All the Teachers!, was released
through Gray Dog Press on January 17.
He enjoys jogging, playing drums, Old
Country Buffet, and, of course, writing.
THE
PRESIDENT’s PAGE
April 2010
Over the past few months we’ve been fortunate in
having entertaining, informative, and even famous speakers at our monthly
meetings. March was no exception. Mr. Jack Rogers’ presentation regarding
illustrating and art in relationship to writing was very well received. He was invited to speak as a result of a SASP
member suggestion, so if you are aware of any possible presenter, please let
any SASP officer know.
Guests
at our meeting included Ms. White, Robert Magart, and Alexious Martz. Hopefully they will return and join us as
members in the near future.
We
rang the bell vigorously for: Barbara
Cagle, who had sold out of available copies of her book at a recent signing,
Barbara Hollace, with articles in Spokane
Family Magazine, Good News Northwest,
and with a myriad other projects underway, James Parry whose book is selling
very well, Virginia Meyer in thanking all the SASP members who helped her in
writing her book, and James Vasquez with another scheduled book signing.
Announcements
included mention of extra newsletters at the front and a welcome to James Parry
as our new editor. We also asked it
anyone had an idea for a name for the newsletter. Additionally we reminded everyone to keep the
web-master apprised of readings, signings, or other special occurrences so they
may be placed on the SASP web-site in a timely manner. To that end we stated that we are working on
a comprehensive calendar of writerly events to be included on the web-site and
perhaps printed in the newsletter. Finally
we announced that we had added several sites to the “links” page on our
web-site.
Door
prizes included two packs of Lee Moore’s wonderful home made greeting cards
which were won by Jolene Feher and Bill Tracy.
James Vasquez donated a copy of Prophets
of the Old Testament, and Esther Hildahl had the winning ticket. Barbara Hollace won the copy of Call me Katherine that author Virginia
Meyer donated.
Prior
to the meeting, one of our members suggested that we hold an additional meeting
each month for the purpose of allowing members to read their work. There was considerable interest in this idea,
but not enough to immediately begin scheduling a second monthly meeting. Discussion during the Board of Directors
meeting later in the day suggested that we attempt to publicize as many “open
mic” sessions as we can that take place in the surrounding community. Hopefully those events will help satisfy
those who want to read their works in public.
(A flyer for one such event was sent via e-mail a day or two after the
meeting.) If not, and if there is enough
serious interest in holding a separate “open mic” session each month, it will
be considered. At the very least,
perhaps we will add a few more reading sessions into our regular schedule.
Our
recently instituted Peer Review Program has undergone some changes as a result
of a once over by members of the newly established Advisory Board. Details were e-mailed to the membership a day
or so after the meeting. Since then a
few other changes have been made, and those changes will be sent to members
shortly. They will also be posted on the
web-site and included in the next issue of the newsletter.
Finally
we are still looking for someone to fill our vacant Treasurer position. In truth, we are more in need of someone who
can help out with welcoming members and quests, and who can consistently arrive
early to help the other officers. The
thought has just occurred that we also might need someone to be a reporter,
someone to record and write a monthly article about the meeting. This would allow the President’s Page to
engage in deeper discussion of the group’s purpose, goals, and policies, rather
than being an overview of the previous meeting.
Next
month, April 1st (no fooling!) James Parry will talk about his path
to publication.
Write on,
Don’t forget to
bring your submissions for the:
SASP Volunteer Peer Review Program
Paul Lecoq
Rationale:
Self-publishing allows you to avoid the
arduous job of making your writing great – if you so choose. To go beyond family journals, to compete in
the marketplace, you must become competent. Having others evaluate your work,
bringing others into the process of creating, builds that competence.
Process:
The Process is currently under revision. You will be notified of the changes
shortly. Stay tuned.
Reading the reviews:
Don’t take criticism personally; it’s the quickest way to learn. There will be differences of opinion and style. If someone wrote something, he must think it’s important. Pay attention even if you don’t take the advice. Don’t just look at it as editing; apply what you learn throughout your manuscript.
From
the Editor
Hi.
It’s me again, Third-Person Jim.
Just wanted to let you know that From
the Editor is not meant to be a true editorial page, just some meanderings
from Jim’s simple mind. It might be
praise for someone or something; it might be an announcement; or just a thought
about writing that has floated through Jim’s brain.
There isn’t much extra space in this
edition, and, besides, Jim will relate what little he knows in person at
Thursday’s SASP meeting. Be there or be
square.
News
Listed below are acknowledgements of our
member's accomplishments, book signing dates, locations, and other items of
note:
Recent Newsletters now on Site
The five issues of our recently revived
SASP Newsletter are now posted and available on the web-site. Simply go to the Newsletter Tab on our home
page and click on the month you are interested in. All the content of the e-mailed or “snail-mailed”
versions are there. Format has changed
somewhat.
Publishing Accomplishments
Spokane Authors and Self-Publishers
member
Barbara Hollace has recently
had articles
published in both the Spokane Family Magazine and in Good News Northwest
New “LINKS”
We’ve recently
added several “general interest” links on the web-site page of the same name. Amongst
the new links is one to a “writers how to” site by Australian science fiction
and fantasy writer Richard Harland.
See it at:
Attention
Self-Published Authors
Time to consider
the 18th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book
Awards. Enter online at:
www.writersdigest.com/competitions
Deadline is 3 May
2010
Another Contest
New Letters
2010 Awards for
Writers. Call for Fiction, Poetry, and Essays. Offering $1500 for the best in
each category.
Enter online at:
Deadline:
postmark by May 18, 2010
Congratulations
Spokane
Authors and Self-Publishers member
James Vasquez has
been designated as the
Lilac Poet of
2010 by the Poetry Scribes of
Price Reduction
SASP Member and former President Barbara
Cagle has announced that the price of her book 16 x MOM: A MASTERY OF
MOTHERHOOD is now $17.95
A Local Publisher
Recently, Ditto’s Print and
A Most Generous Offer
Writer Kirt Hickman has generously
provided SASP with several “how to” articles on various aspects of
writing. He has also arranged to provide
a copy of his book to the group when it is released latter this year. It will make a great door prize for some
lucky SASP member. We are now posting one of Kirt’s articles on the WRITER’S
TOOLS page of the web-site each month. Each will remain for approximately
one month or until replaced by the next. Kirt’s book, REVISING FICTION: MAKING
SENSE OF THE MADNESS has been released. An
autographed copy has been received by
This month we will begin rerunning the
articles Kirt sent us. If you would like
copies of any of the articles, contact daveeva@comcast.net
If there is sufficient interest amongst
SASP membership, we will see about ordering copies of Kirt’s book for those who
would want it.
A New Publishing Company
Hello Spokane Authors & Self-Publishers, My name is Bob
Griffin. I have just started a small publishing company that will be publishing
fantasy, science fiction and horror stories. Below is my company's first press
release. If anybody is interested in submitting their works of fiction, please
visit us at
Publishing Company.
Rick Decost & Bob Griffin
Absent
MFA
Request brochure
FA35 by email: mfa@spalding.edu, by phone: (800) 896-8941, ext
2423, or see our website: www.spalding.edu/mfa.
The
second annual "Scare The Dickens Out of Us" ghost story contest
offers $1000.00 first place, $500.00 second place and $250.00 third place prize
money this year for a new, original ghost story up to 5000 words.
Any genre is welcome.
This
literary contest is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Dr. Eugene Clark
Library in
Full
rules are available at www.clarklibraryfriends.com
or .org. Entries will be accepted from July 1 to October 1 2010.
We
are also supporting a "Junior Scare the Dickens Out of Us" ghost
story contest with a $250.00 first prize. This is for ages 12-18 and
requires a $5.00 entry fee.
And
thank you. We appreciate your time.
Roxanne
and Gretchen Rix, contest coordinators "Scare The Dickens Out of Us"
2010