Mount Rushmore on a sunny day

 

 

President’s Page

OUR PREVIOUS/MOST RECENT MEETING

Information about our most recent meetings is available via a link on the “Welcome” page.  (To the left)

Visit the “Programs” page (to the left) to learn about our next meeting and other writer related events.

FROM THE PREZ

 

I feel the need to apologize for last month’s letter. I seem to have disseminated some misinformation.  And in this political climate it needs to be clarified.  Last month I stated that the last batch of canning had just finished, and everything could A person in a green shirt

Description automatically generatedbe put away for the year.  The next day my wife came home with three boxes of pears.

I hope this clears up any misunderstandings.

It will be great to see all of you again. Don't forget we are holding elections for 2025 officers. We don't have a formal speaker for this meeting, but I have a few thoughts to share and hopefully it will generate some discussion.

 

Your Prez,

Carl/Nathan

 

 

FROM THE VEEP

         

We did not receive any message from our vice president for this issue.

 

 

FROM YOUR EDITOR, WEB-MASTER, TREASURER

 

A person with glasses and a black coat

Description automatically generated          We are getting close to the end of another membership year.  I thank all sixty-four of you who have joined or renewed your membership in and for 2024.  But 2025 approaches and most of us need to renew our memberships.  It’s never too early to pay dues for the upcoming membership period.  And you are always welcome to pay ahead if you want.  I believe we have ten individuals who already paid for the next year.

Don’t forget, membership does have some benefits.  Paid members with published books are included in our catalog.  You are listed on our MEMBERS list on our website, complete with a link to your Members Webpage.

As always, we realize that paying dues might pose a problem for some.  We are not all in the same boat financially, and I’m sure many of us would help those who might have difficulty in paying.  But we need to know if you are having difficulty.  At the same time, we need to be as discreet about it as possible, primarily for your sense of pride.  But if you are having problems, contact someone and we’ll see what we can do.

As always, you can send dues to:

Spokane Authors

P. O. Box 18573

Spokane, WA 99228-0573

Or you can bring cash or check to a meeting.  (If I remember to bring my “Square,” or someone else does, there is the chance that we can charge your dues to a card.)

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FROM THE PREZ (Previous)

 

          If the year could be condensed into a day then I would say to all of you, “Good Afternoon.”

          It is back to school time, harvest time and craft fair time. Even though my garden got started a month late, it is finally producing beans, beets, zucchini, garlic and potatoes. The onions tapped out this year.

          I was hoping to have a speaker for our September meeting but as of this moment it doesn't look like she will be available. However, I may have a backup.

          Getting back to craft fairs, I am hoping to partner with as many authors as possible in as many craft fairs as possible this year. So far I am signed up for three...there's like eight this year.

          Also, we have the catalog and the Christmas Anthology which are due by the middle of the month. Also, be mindful of the elections in November. Not just the national election but also our own Spokane Authors elections.

          As always, looking forward to seeing you all again. I hope you are all in good health and that everything is write in your world;) See you soon.

 

Carl/Nathaniel

The Prez.

 

FROM THE VEEP (Previous)

 

          Here it is, almost the end of summer.  The cooler weather will allow us to spend more time hunched over the computer writing the next Great American Novel.  Yeah, sure, do you feel it?”  Me neither, but the keyboard calls and like the rest of we writers; we will answer, and clicking will be heard throughout the neighborhood.  Cool days will cause us to answer the keyboard call.  With cooler weather also comes the call for coffee, tea, or maybe a writer toddy.  Give me time and I’ll think of one that will enhance our writing… or so we think.  Can you tell I’m procrastinating and not addressing the Christmas Anthology?  Yes, I’ve thought of a title, Santa’s Christmas Shorts.  Now, that title should tweak the imagination!

          Our goal is to write or have twenty-four shorts: averaging three to four pages each, or seventy-two to ninety-six pages.  I feel the goal for us to have a good salable sized anthology would be to have 120 or so pages.  I think that is a nice size for a seasonal anthology.  Our drop-dead date (DDD) is October 11th.  That should give us time to edit and do the things that need to be done before it goes to the printer.  We need the book in hand prior to Thanksgiving and book selling and signing opportunities.

          For those of you who would like to get together and toss around ideas and maybe write a little, I talked to the County Library on Regal.  We can get a room with a white board and bust out and write about Christmas and Santa Clause.  I know you have a creative sense of humor, let it be free.  Show the world just how creative we can be.

 

Bob Manion

The Veep

 

FROM YOUR EDITOR, WEB-MASTER, TREASURER (Previous)

 

          So far at least, I seem to be on a more normal schedule for sending out this issue of the newsletter.  Ideally, it’ll go out tomorrow, the last day of the previous month, or at the latest, Monday the 2nd of September.  Even that is well within the time frame I try to meet.

          It’s getting busy.  We have Arts and Craft fairs coming up that a lot of us will participate in as we try to sell some books.  We are also trying to put a catalog together to better promote our members’ books.  We are also pushing ahead with the idea of a Christmas themed anthology that hopefully will be ready for the public in time for the Christmas shopping season.

          If you want to have your books listed in the catalog, you need to be a paid member for 2024.  We’ve also asked that you review your book blurbs/descriptions and make sure they are short enough to fit within the catalog format.  (A good target would be between 50 and 70 words.)  The same goes for author bios, as we hope to include a short bio and picture of each of the authors listed in the catalog.  We’ve asked that you provide blurbs, bios, and dues no later than the 21 of September.  If bios and blurbs aren’t received, catalog “staff” will edit as needed to fit the page.  If dues for 2024 aren’t received by that date, no books for that member will be listed.

          As mentioned, we are also working on a Christmas themed anthology.  Our vice-president talks a little about it in his column.  We are basically looking for short stories ranging in length from 1500 to 3000 words or so.  (I don’t think we’d reject something at 1375 words, or something at 3035, but…)  Bob mentions a final submission date of October 11, but it has been suggested we should set an earlier deadline, perhaps around the middle of September, or to coincide with the catalog cut off date.  If one wants to write a Christmas based short story, they should be able to do so in that time frame, and we will need time to edit and format before publishing.

          So, in reference to our vice-president’s column, let’s find that magical writer’s toddy, take a sip, and get those keyboards clicking.

Dave Mc

 

           

 

 

 

 

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Spokane Authors

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