APW Book Club – June 27 with Chrisann Dawson
Karen Lateiner is inviting you to the June meeting of the APW Book Club, which will be held Saturday, June 27 at 10 am, via ZOOM. Chrisann Dawson will present her book Congo Ebola It will be the last for this season until September.
Topic: Congo Ebola by Chrisann Dawson
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
The Zoom Meeting link has been sent to members. If you need the link or would like to join as a guest, contact Karen Lateiner. kslateiner@gmail.com
Congo Ebola (Book 3 in the Congo Series)
James sighed. This assignment scared him. He knew that it was because he had more to lose than the last time he landed in Kinshasa, Congo. He had a wife and two beautiful boys. In Congo Ebola, James is called up from a plush teaching job to run security for an international response to an Ebola outbreak in Congo. Through events such as a volatile riot and an encounter with an Ebola-tainted monkey, James is forced to confront his deepest fears. Join him on a thrill ride of menacing proportions that will leave you questioning everything that you thought you knew.
Bio
For seven years, I lived on the ground in Congo doing mission work, providing me first-hand insight into the setting and culture. My family and I have been working with the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1991.We were on the ground in the interior of the Congo for the 1995 Ebola Outbreak that shocked the world. We experienced war, trauma, and the hardships of daily life in Congo during our seven years of living there. I speak Lingala fluently. My degree is in English grammar and history, and I have taught English grammar for more than twenty years. My husband Gale and I have been married for 35 years. We have three grown children: Suzannah, Mackay, and William. Plus, newly-added spouses. My daughter Mackay was born in the Congo. We currently live in Payson, Arizona where we continue to support the Congo national ministry. I am employed part-time with the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.
Ebola Congo is available on Amazon.
President’s message – June 2026
Read the rest of the June 2026 Newsletter. See more about:
- Help build a speaker and teacher database
- APW brochure
- NFPW Conference Announcement
- Book Festivals and other events
Central Chapter meeting June 10 with Sara Fujimura
The temperatures have really spiked up now that we are in June! Many of you may have left town, but Zoom is accessible from everywhere. Please join us on June 10 for our next meeting. Our speaker this month is Sara Fujimura, an award-winning writer of YA fiction. And please RSVP confirmations so I have an idea of attendance.
Fawzia Tung, Central Chapter Chair
Guest: Sara Fujimura, YA Author
Date: Wednesday, June 10
Time: 7 p.m. AZ time
Zoom: The link has been sent to members. Please let Fawzia know if you are attending or if you need to request the link from her. fawziamaitungwriter@gmail.com
Bio: Sara Fujimura (Foo-gee-moo-rah) is the American half of her bicultural Japanese-American family and spends about a month each year in Japan. She started as a journalist, so it is no surprise that Sara’s young adult books contain a lot of facts to go along with the fiction. Whether you want to know about Japan (TANABATA WISH), the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 (BREATHE), what it’s like to be an Olympic-caliber skater (EVERY REASON WE SHOULDN’T), or how unscripted television works (FAKING REALITY), Sara takes readers on swoony journeys to unusual places. She is a creative writing teacher and literacy advocate who is excited to support the next generation of authors. If you go to anime cons (PHX Nov, 2026), you may also see Sara as her alter ego, The Obento Lady. She is an active member of SCBWI and the Chicago-North Romance Writers.
EVERY REASON WE SHOULDN’T was named an NPR Best Book of 2020. BREATHE was named a finalist in the 2026 Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project.
APW BOOK GROUP SATURDAY, MAY 23 with Ric Hinkie
Karen Lateiner is inviting you to the May 23 APW book group meeting with Ric Hinkie.
Topic: 7 KEYS TO A MORE SATISFYING FUTURE AT WORK by Richard Hinkie
Date: Saturday, May 23
Time: 10 a.m. AZ time
Zoom: Link will be sent closer to the date. It will also be posted in the members’ only section.
Bio and Summary
Richard Hinkie has been writing since he set the type, inked it and turned the crank on his toy printing press when he was 9. High School paper, asst PR guy at a new live classical theater. 24 years as an Army Reserve communications officer. And a civilian career from Jr communications writer to President of a National Energy Trade Association. His contacts were willing to share their career journeys individually and as Ric published all 60 individually he recognized common patterns. They became the 7 Keys to a More Satisfying Future at Work. He tested the keys in over 20 national webinars with interested folks. That lead to the creation of www.your7keys.com website with free downloads and interactive phone apps
Ric is teasing future readers as he drafts his second book called First Boomer where he relates the story of his life as the first Baby Boomer born.
Please read the book so you can leave a review. It is available on Kindle. Guests are welcome to attend; only APW members can have their books featured.
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- Career checkup worksheet
Central Chapter Zoom meeting May 13 with Roger Naylor
Hello, everyone!
I’m looking forward to our next meeting on May 13, at 7:00 pm. I’m very happy to present this month’s speaker, Roger Naylor, who will discuss how to build an author brand.
Fawzia Tung, Central Chapter Director
Topic: Building an Author Brand with Roger Naylor
Date: Wednesday, April 13
Time: 7 p.m. AZ time
Zoom: Please respond to Fawzia (fawziamaitungwriter@gmail.com) to let her know you are interested in attending. She will email you the zoom link the day before the meeting.
TOPIC: Building an Author Brand by Roger Naylor
Roger Naylor, an Arizona author and travel writer, discusses building a strong unique brand to help authors carve out a path to success.
BIO: Roger Naylor is an award-winning Arizona author and a resident of Cottonwood for the past 30 years. He has been the freelance travel writer for the Arizona Republic since 2007. He was inducted into the Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame in 2018 and is the narrator of the Verde Canyon Railroad. Naylor’s work has also appeared in the USA Today, The Guardian, Country Magazine, Arizona Highways, Route 66 Magazine, and dozens more.
Roger Naylor has authored a dozen books including Arizona Boots and Burgers: A Guide for Hungry Hikers, Arizona Route 66 Road Trip, Arizona’s Scenic Roads and Hikes, Arizona National Parks and Monuments, Awesome Arizona: 200 Amazing Facts about the Grand Canyon State, Arizona State Parks, The Amazing Kolb Brothers of Grand Canyon, Arizona Kicks on Route 66, and Crazy for the Heat: Arizona Tales of Ghosts, Gumshoes, and Bigfoot. For more information, visit http://www.rogernaylor.com.
2026 Communications Contest At-large winners
APW did quite well in the At-large division of the NFPW 2026 Communications Contest. Affiliate states that do not have their own contest can enter the at-large division. Entries must have been published or broadcast between January 1 and December 31, 2025. This year there were 173 entries so a lot of competition! First place winners of the At-large and affiliate state contests go on to the national level competition. Sweepstakes award winners will be announced at the 2026 NFPW Conference in Maryland in September.
Severn APW members won awards for their submissions, including one member in two categories.
APW At-large Contest Winners
- Carol Baxter, 3rd: Writing – Books, Short Stories, Verse – Children’s Book – Fiction – Oblee Ollie Olee’s Roly-Poly Rally Race
- Dianne Beeaff, 2nd: Writing – Books, Short Stories, Verse – Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers – Autobiography or Memoir – Infinite Paradise, Witnessing the Wild
- Bobbie Bennett, 3rd: Writing – Books, Short Stories, Verse – Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers – Autobiography or Memoir – Widowhood: The Next Chapter, I’m Still Here-Now What?
- Jan Cleere, 3rd: Writing – Third Place – Books, Short Stories, Verse – Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers – Biography or History – 100 Western Women: The Bold, Brave, Gutsy Women of Arizona’s Past
- Marie Fasano, 3rd: Writing – Personality Profiles – 750 words or fewer – Wright Brothers Master Flight Award
- Marie Fasano, Honorable Mentions for Writing – News story – Print-based newspaper – Temporary Tower at Payson Airport and Writing – Feature Story – Print-based newspaper – Students Achieve the Gift of Flight
- Nancy Marshall, 2nd: Writing – Books, Short Stories, Verse – Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers – Biography or History – Six Who Stopped the Steal
- Fawzia Tung, Honorable Mention: Writing – Books, Short Stories, Verse – Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers – Autobiography or Memoir – Mirror in the Sand
Winners were recognized at the State Conference on April 25, 2026. Four of the winners were in attendance: Fawzia Tung, Nancy Marshall, Bobbie Bennett, Marie Fasano.
APW White Mountain Chapter public meeting 4/28 with Connie Reid
Kathleen Osborne is inviting you to the White Mountain APW Chapter Public Meeting 4/28 with Connie Reid
Topic: Insights into a reviewer’s mind with Connie Reid
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Time: 6 p.m. – 7:15 AZ/PDT time
Zoom: The link has been sent to members. Guests are welcome. Contact Kathleen Osborne for the link.
Connie Reid has been the owner and site manager of Yabookscentral.com since 2021. She is a former elementary school teacher and reading interventionist and has her master’s in Library Science. She consistently reads over 350 books a year and works to spread that joy to her children, nieces, and nephews. Beyond being an avid reader, Connie donates hundreds of books each year to local schools and other charitable organizations.
Yabookscentral (YABC) was first created in 1998, and it has continued to expand its solid reputation for connecting readers with their next book ever since. YABC works with authors, publicists, and publishers to review books and feature them on YABC’s website. YABC runs an active blog with hourly content Mon-Fri 10 AM- 4 PM ET (plus Saturdays) that features author interviews, excerpts, guest posts, giveaways, and reviews for Kids, Middle-Grade, and YA books.
Our volunteer staff comprises teachers, librarians, homeschool families, parents, indie authors, and reading enthusiasts who provide insightful reviews for our audience. Last year, we collectively reviewed around 2,000 books! YABC works to provide a moderated site free of spamming and trolling, safe for children, teens, and adults to learn about great books and even win a free book in our giveaways!
Be sure to check out Yabookscentral.com or on social media @yabookscentral (FB, IG, X, and Bluesky). If you would like to submit a book for review consideration or promote an upcoming book (babies-YA) please email connie.yabc@gmail.com
APW Central Chapter Meeting 4-8-26 with AnnElise Makin
Hello, Everyone!
Our first APW Central Chapter this year will launch next Wednesday! Our speaker is AnnElise Makin. To receive the zoom link to the meeting, please send a request to Fawzia at fawziamaitungwriter@gmail.com. Those of you who already replied (thank you!), I have put you on the list!
Fawzia Mae Tung
Arizona Professional Writers, Central Chapter Chair
Topic: Breathing Life into History — The story of the Texas Germans in the Civil War With AnnElise Makin
Date: April 8, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.AZ time
How: Zoom (link will be emailed the day before)
TOPIC: AnnElise Makin will chat with us about how her fascination with cowboys led her to Texas, and more recently, to her research into early German settlers there, leading her to a story that blew her mind. She will explain how she stitched together research, immersion, and interviews to create the characters who carry the drama forth, pioneers as well as Comanche, in her upcoming book Texas Justice for the Muskrat.
BIO: AnnElise Makin, a Munich native, started working in journalism in high school, and went on to become a US-German correspondent from her time at the University of Texas at Austin where she received two M.A. degrees. She has published so far three novels and three anthologies, and is working on a nonfiction book as well as a novel based on the German pioneers in the Texas Hill Country.
AnnElise also helps clients with publishing needs, having learned her bookmaking craft at Harcourt Brace College Publishers. She continues to contribute to German lifestyle magazines.
APW Book Club – March 28 with Kathleen Kelly
Karen Lateiner is inviting you to the next APW Book Club meeting.
Save the date. Start reading! Zoom link to follow
Topic: JIMI: Journey of a Wounded Warrior as told to Kathleen Kelly
Date: Saturday, March 28
Time: 10 a.m. AZ
Zoom: link to follow
Amazon link for the book https://us.amazon.com/JIMI-Journey-Wounded-Warrior-Kathleen/dp/B0GNZ8X1L1/ref=sr_1_1
JIMI: Journey of a Wounded Warrior as told to Kathleen Kelly by Kathleen Kelly (Author)
Nominations for officers for 2026
The following have been nominated for positions as officers of APW beginning July 1, the start of our fiscal year.
- President: Kathleen Osborne
- VP: Jacque Hillman
- VP Membership: Paula Winskye
- Secretary: Nancy Marshall
- Treasurer: Deborah Barber
Arizona Professional Writers 