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.) It’s usually there sooner that it is in the newsletter, whether sent via USPS, email, or posted here under “NEWSLETTERS.

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

FROM THE PREZ

It is 2025, and we have hit the quarter century mark. Only 75 years left to go.

Have any of you ever been working diligently on a project, only to have it temporarily derailed by another project?

That's what has happened to me. Here I was working away on my third book in 'The Ant Doctor' series...BAM! Along came “The Mystery of Caroline.”

Yes, it is mystery and sci-fi and romance and it's driving me nuts. I know, I know, going nuts is either a short drive or a long putt. And you squirrels in the back, don't get any ideas.

Sorry about all that, I got a sign for Christmas with a squirrel picture on it telling me to protect my nuts.

In other news, we have at least two speakers lined up for this year that I am aware of. However, at the moment none for January, that I'm aware of.

Hope you all had a great Christmas and are looking forward to a literarily prosperous New Year. (No Dave, literarily is not spelled wrong. You can't spell a word wrong that you just made up).

See you all again when we turn the page on 2024 and start the new chapter of 2025.

The Prez,

Carl/Nathan

FROM OUR VICE-PRESIDENT

Happy New Year!

Hello, fellow Spokane Authors. I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating the quarter-century mark last week. Did you make any resolutions or set any goals for the coming year? Especially writing goals? Some wise person once suggested you write down three goals for this year, three to accomplish in the next five years, and three 10-year goals. Then seal them up, put them in a drawer, and don’t look at them again for 10 years. I did this once, and it surprised me how many I had accomplished. It was also helpful to note which ones didn’t make it. As a challenge, I’d like to amend the process to have those members who wish to participate write down 10 things they would like to accomplish this year, seal them up, and don’t look at them again until 2026. Perhaps in our 2026 January meeting, we could share the results or at least how many goals were met. Just a thought.

We have a few interesting and fun programs lined up for this year. To start it all off, our own Dave McChesney will speak at our January meeting. Dave has been a stalwart member and officer of Spokane Authors for a long time and has spoken on many occasions to not only our group but to other writers as well.

February will bring us Eric Schubach, an indie writer from Nine Mile Falls, and a driving force in the effort to unite the various groups around the area. Along with a couple of others, he was instrumental in organizing the Northwest Indie Bookfest at Auntie’s Bookstore last April and is one of the most prolific writers I have had the pleasure of knowing. Eric will share some of his secrets on how he makes a living writing. Check out Erik’s website at www.erikschubach.com or follow him on Facebook.

In March we will welcome back Ben Van Voorhis. Ben is a writer, editor, and musician from Santa Clarita, California, now living in Spokane. He holds an MFA in fiction from Eastern Washington University and is the former managing editor of Willow Springs. A recipient of the PEN/Dau short story prize, his fiction and other writing have appeared in Nimrod, Salamander, The Masters Review, and Best Debut Short Stories 2024. He is the current editor of ArcUser, a magazine for users of geospatial technology. He also runs community writing programs for teens and adults at Spark Central and occasionally teaches English at Gonzaga University.

There are several other guest speakers in the queue who will share their expertise with us once we can match up our schedules. I hope you will enjoy and benefit from each of them.

See you at our January meeting on Friday the 10th at 2:00 p.m. in the Clubhouse at Sans Souci West, 3231W. Boone Ave, in Spokane, Washington

The Veep.

Sue Eller

FROM YOUR EDITOR, WEB-MASTER, TREASURER

As I sit down to write something for this issue of the LITERARY GAZETTE, it’s New Year’s Eve. Once I finish this I’ll be that much closer to getting the January issue out to everyone. If all goes according to plan, I should be emailing it to you on Friday. Ideally, the handful of printed copies will get mailed on Friday or Saturday.

That will give me a couple of days to see if I have my new printer figured out. I’d printed something on my old one around Christmas time, and went to print something else the next day, and it had died. I followed some of the troubleshooting procedures listed, but it seems like something broke and is rattling inside a subassembly. I had the old one for quite some time, so it will probably take me some time to get used to the new one.

I hope everyone has had and is having a wonderful Holiday Season. As we move forward, let’s wish each other success in the coming year. are finishing the year on a strong positive note, with a Christmas themed anthology and a catalog of our books. For the coming year

With the coming of the New Year, we need to remember that for most of us, dues are due. It makes things easier for me if you all pay your dues as soon as possible. And remember, being current in your membership determines if you will have a Member Webpage accessible via our website. It will also determine if you will have any of your books listed in the next edition of our catalog.

As always, you can send dues to:

Spokane Authors

P. O. Box 18573

Spokane, WA 99228-0573

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

FROM THE PREZ (Previous)

Wow! December!

Pecan pie, snow, presents, snow, pumpkin pie, more snow, open mic, cherry pie, snow and a heavy dose of mocha cream pie. (The snow is what burns off all the pie. So bring on the snow!)

Not really much to share this month, but I am looking forward to open mic on the 13th. The challenge had been brought up last meeting about ugly sweater wearers going to the wrong address as a topic for our short stories. I've never had an ugly sweater or gone to the wrong address, so I don't know what they were talking about.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Our first one was traditional with friends. Ham, turkey and all the rest. Our second one was non-traditional with family. My world famous three day chili was the main course with corn bread and gopher butts (mole asses), pickled beans, chips, salsa and salad. With a side of riding minibikes around in the dark.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all those who can't be with us on the 13th. May your New Year be one to write about.

This is my final "Letter from the Prez." for 2024.

See Ya'll next year.

Carl/Nathan

FROM THE VEEP (Previous)

DECEMBER 2024

Can you believe almost a quarter century has gone by already? Where does the time fly; when confronted by a keyboard and a screen where words appear… or not? Do you think the weather has anything do with the absence of motivation? Where is my warm weather where I can sit outside and think of a story. Actually, I think more about going golfing rather than sitting in the house in front of this #$%*’ machine. So, with a blank mind, I sit here thinking of nothing to write for the VP piece.

Okay, why do they call today Black Friday? No answer comes to mind; unless you see flying $’s leaving your wallet or purse. That is depressing. I best think better thoughts. How about a new vampire novel? Yeah, I can do that.

I’m happy again! This is my last VP piece. So, I will wish you all a wonderful Holiday Season. Remember, sugar is good, and one of the top foods. Ho Ho Ho! Have a Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year! May the Word gods be kind and provide excitement and happiness to your pages! December is a great month to start a new project. There are many wonderful ideas flying about during the holidays. Grab one or more and begin the New Year with gladness and joy.

The VEEP,

Bob

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

We are finishing the year on a strong positive note, with a Christmas themed anthology and a catalog of our books. For the coming year we are thinking of compiling and releasing a more general anthology. So, get your thinking caps on and see what you can come up with in the way of short stories, poems, or short articles of interest and intrigue. And who knows, we might end up doing another Holiday Anthology as well.

It would seem our catalog is finalized. At least, I hope so. We didn’t get a mandate to have them printed professionally at our last meeting, so let’s work with what we can print ourselves. Over the course of the coming year we can work on revisions a put out a second edition towards the end of 2025. I’m sure we’ll have new members with books to be listed and many will have new books to add.

I know you get tired of me harping on it, but don’t forget to pay your dues for 2025. If you already have, thank you. I think I’ve mentioned it before, but it is a lot easier to update records to show you’ve paid than it is to revise things when you haven’t. Pay your dues and make it easier on me. I’m not as young as I once was.

As always, you can send dues to:

Spokane Authors

P. O. Box 18573

Spokane, WA 99228-0573

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

Dave Mc

Page revised 01/07/2025 DAM

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