OCTOBER 2011
OCTOBER 2011
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 in the banquet (back) room of the Old
Country Buffet at:
(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. Members
are encouraged to provide short biographies and links to external personal
websites and thus create 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:
2011 Officers
President:
Dave McChesney (509) 325-2072
Vice-President:
Bob Weldin (509) 327-2897
Secretary:
Robert Pillsbury (509) 842-6803
rvpsasp07@comcast.net
Treasurer:
Bonnie Stichart (509) 684-0424
Public-Relations:
Russ
Davis (509) 768-6206
Newsletter Editor:
Jim
Parry 509)
325-9922
Web Master:
Dave
McChesney (509) 325-2072
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 on Thursday,
October 6th at 12 noon. We’ll be at
our usual location, Old Country Buffet,
Our October
speaker is Victor Bobb, who has enjoyed teaching at
Victor
was first published 1979. Over the years
since he has written serious fiction and articles about a variety of
subjects. He has penned juvenile horror
fiction, inspirational essays, pulp-style science fiction stories, and a
hardboiled detective novel. Victor also
collaborated with Cynthia MacGregor on ten family activities books. He has served as fiction editor for two
magazines and for nineteen years has contributed a monthly article to Ruralite, a magazine focusing on life on
the Colville Indian Reservation.
The
President’s Page
September 2011
After
taking August off, Spokane Authors and Self-Publishers resumed their monthly
meeting schedule on the 1st of September. A rather curious and attentive crowd occupied
the back room of Old Country Buffet to hear President Dave McChesney speak
about his decision to become a self-publishing author.
We
welcomed Carl and Teresa Wilkens as guests.
Carl has recently self-published a book about remaining in
Michael
Marsden talked about joining with several other authors and taking turns
manning a booth at the North Idaho Fair.
He reported that all had a good time, although books did not sell all
that well. Joyce Wilkens brought a copy
of her recently published Tea Cup Art
for us to see. She also mentioned
signings scheduled for the next couple of days.
At the same time James Vasquez had been thumbing through the book and
offered an instant and highly complimentary review. Chuck Lehman continues to sell copies of Angels Three Six. He recently had a signing at a
Bob
Manion talked about the Authors 4 Authors marketing group that is being
established. Dave McChesney made the
usual presidential announcements, including mention of copies of the newsletter
being available for those that might want them.
He reminded folks that we need bios and book reviews (of members’
books), as well as information so we can list members’ books on the web-site. Dave again called for ideas for programs or
speakers and for volunteers, nominations, and suggestions for officers in 2012.
There
was a bonanza of door prizes, thanks to the generosity of so many members
wishing to share. To begin, Stan Parks
and Don Williams each won meal passes from Old Country Buffet. Damien Bauer and Michael Marsden collected
checks from SASP that will cover the cost of their meals at our next
meeting. Joyce Wilkens had the winning
ticket for a print of Dave McChesney’s painting entitled “The Hotchkiss
Paradox.” (For those who did not have a
chance to closely examine the picture at the meeting, or who were unable to be
there, go to www.annemini.com/?p=16009. Anne has enthusiastically posted the picture
as well as Dave’s article on deciding to become a self-published author.)
Robert
Pillsbury brought copies of several books, many by our members that he had
already read and wished to pass along to others. Nolan Lewis’s Clouds are Always White on Top went home with Bob Manion. Esther Hildahl collected Chuck Lyon’s Love on His Mind, and Soul Karriem gets
to read
Joyce
Wilkens donated three packs of cards, won by Gail Mangano, Richard Smith, and
Betty Deuber. The copy of Tea Cup Art that Joyce donated was
claimed by Carolyn Sue Williams. Carl
Wilkens also donated a copy of I’m Not
Leaving, which Bob Hildahl will have the pleasure of reading.
At
our next meeting on October 6, Victor Bobb of
Finally,
we have a couple small requests. First,
if you are lucky enough to win one of the ten dollar free lunch checks from Spokane Authors and Self-Publishers, please
cash and use it. We don’t really care
what use you make of the ten dollars, but do cash the check. Doing so makes record keeping so much easier
when our books match those of the bank.
Secondly, if you attend as a guest, make sure we have your name written
down. We like to acknowledge your
presence with us, but during introductions in the course of the meeting we are
not always able to make a detailed note of it.
Write on,
For What
it’s Worth!
I
know you all are expecting this section to contain humorous observations and
comments perpetrated by our editor.
Well, it seems Jim’s computer is on the fritz and he is unable to
compile and send out this issue of our newsletter. Being the resourceful individual he is, he
contacted me to see if I would be able to produce and distribute this month’s
issue. Being an easy mark, I said, “yes,”
and so now I’m scurrying to do just that.
Hopefully I will have it done and out to you all at least a day or so
before our next meeting.
Speaking
of which, this meeting will mark the third time since becoming a member of SASP
in which I shall not be in attendance. I
have medical tests scheduled that take a bit of priority over attending and
presiding over a SASP meeting. I’ll see
you all in November.
Dave
NEWS
Listed below are acknowledgments of
members’
accomplishments, book-signing dates, locations, and other items of note:
SASP Member Book Soon to
Be in
E-Format
James Bartlett Parry’s thrilling
memoir, BOOK ALL THE TEACHERS!, is about to be released as an
e-book. Stay tuned. This move might just revive the lackluster
sales of late. Youngsters are sure to
buy it in the e-book format, and it will become a monster hit - which it so
richly deserves. Watch for it!
It’s not
just for teachers.
It’s for
anyone who has suffered through junior high/middle school.
It’s for
anyone who has ever been 13.
SASP Member Book Release
Anna Goodwin
Hurrah! JUSTICE
FORBIDDEN, my
psychological thriller, murder mystery is finally out. You can get it on my website www.anaparkergoodwin.com
for 20% off the regular price of $13.50.
10% of my profits will go to counseling abused children. Or you can get
it at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
ISBN: 978-0-9845566-0-1
What is the story
about? Of course it’s all about what I know best. I am a psychotherapist who had a private
practice for many years. Although the
plot is fictional, the character of the client and much of her past is based on
true events.
What are the facts about memory? Are
there false memories? Can memories be
repressed and then remembered years later?
This is one of
the greatest controversies still raging in psychology today.
Dr. Faythe Bradington, Clinical
Psychologist, is shocked to discover that
an ex-client is
suing her for implanting false memories of childhood abuse. Faythe rushes to her office to read her
files, but when she arrives she discovers a body in the waiting room. Now
terrified, she calls 911. To make her
situation worse, her insurance company insists she settle out of court. There will be no justice for her unless she
discovers what actually happened to her ex-client 25 years ago. Determined to clear her name and discover the
truth, she hires a private
investigator, who
unknown to her, has psychic powers that become crucial in solving the case. As
Faythe and L.P. probe into her ex-client’s
haunted past,
they discover dark secrets so ominous that just knowing them will set off
unstoppable deadly events.
Read
the book, leave a comment at my website, at Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and
then pass the book to someone else you know would enjoy it. If you want me to
do the same for your book send me an e-mail: jargoodwin@msn.com. We are very fortunate to have
a wonderful group. Let’s cooperate and help each other reach our writing
dreams.
Another
Contest
We will run four short story
competitions in 2011. The deadlines will be the end of February, May, August
and November. Our main writing competitions have an open theme with a 3,000
word limit. There are three prizes to the top three winning writers of £100,
£50 and £25. There will also be the opportunity for the stories to be published
on our website as well as being recorded for broadcast on Brighton’s Coastway
Hospital Radio, which provides music and entertainment to a network of
The competition is just four pounds
to enter, via PayPal or cheque, and the competition is open to writers
worldwide. Stories can be submitted online along with payment or by post with a
cheque. We will notify all entrants of receipt of their story. Each entry will
be judged impartially and be read at least twice in full before judging
decisions are made.
We are planning some fun free to enter contests too. Our first
is a flash fiction- 250 word limit. Deadline 31st January 2011. Five
song titles are on the site as themes. Three ten pound prizes and publication
on site.
Thank you
Andrew
Campbell-Kearsey info@brightoncow.co.uk
(COW stands for
Community of Writers)
Recent Newsletters now on
Site
All 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 content of the e-mailed or “snail-mailed”
versions is there, although format is changed somewhat.
New “LINKS”
We’ve recently added several “general interest” links on the
web-site page of the same name.
Many SASP members’ web-sites and blogs
are linked here as well.
A Most Generous Offer
Writer Kirt Hickman has generously
provided SASP with several “how to” articles on various aspects of
writing. We are reposting Kirt’s
articles on the WRITER’S TOOLS page. Each will
remain for approximately one month or until replaced by the next.
A New Publishing Company
Hello
My
name is Bob Griffin. I have just started a small publishing company that will
be
publishing fantasy, science fiction and
horror.
If anybody is interested in submitting
their works of fiction, please visit us at
Chuckles & Moans
(or
at least something
to
fill out the page)
Sometimes You
Just Can't Win!!
When the world ended everybody on earth was dead
and waiting to enter
Soon, the women were gone, and there were two lines of
men. The line of the men who were dominated by their wives was 100s miles
long and in the line of men who truly were heads of their household, there was
only one man.
God said to the long line, "You men should be ashamed
of yourselves; I created you to be the head of your household! You have been
disobedient and have not fulfilled your purpose! Of all of you, only one
obeyed. Learn from him."
God turned to the one man, "How did you manage to be
the only one in this line?"
The man replied, "My wife told me to stand here."
A Wife’s Love
A very old man lay dying in his bed.
In death's doorway, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate
chip cookie wafting up the stairs.
He gathered his remaining
strength and lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly
made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort forced himself
down the stairs, gripping the railing with both hands.
With labored breath, he leaned
against the door frame, gazing into the kitchen. Were it not for death's agony,
he would have thought himself already in heaven.
There, spread out on newspapers
on the kitchen table, were literally hundreds of his favorite chocolate chip
cookies.
Was it heaven? Or was it one
final act of heroic love from his devoted wife, seeing to it that he left this
world a happy man?
Mustering one great final
effort, he threw himself toward the table. The aged and withered hand, shaking,
made its way to a cookie at the edge of the table, when he was suddenly smacked
with a spatula by his wife.
"Stay out of those,"
she said. "They're for the funeral."