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
APW White Mountain Chapter open meeting 2/24
Kathleen Osborne is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shelley Nicholson Bias talks about changes in the publishing industry
Date: Tuesday, February 24
Time: 6pm to 7:30pm
Join Zoom Meeting- Members received the link. Guests or members can request the link from Kathleen Osborne.
Topic: Shelley Nicholson Bias (Vic) is going to share on the changes she is seeing in the publishing/writing arena that authors should be aware of. Attendees are invited to bring their questions.
Bio: Shelley Nicholson Bias (Vic) is CEO and owner of ASB Publishing Co. Vic was born and raised in Oklahoma, USA. She loves reading all kinds of books, but romance novels are her favorite. She is an International Award-Winning Author for An Unexpected Fling in 2024. Vic writes small town, spicy romance with settings in various states in the US and around the world. Check out all her books on her website ASBpub.com and find her on all social media sites, linktr.ee/vicleigh
Go to ASBpub.com to buy books directly from Vic.
APW Typerider Call for Nominations
Dear Member,
Our APW Officer Nominations thus far are:
President: Kathleen Osborne
VP: Jacquie Hillman (also active in Tennessee)
VP Membership: Paula Winskye
Secretary: Nancy Marshall
Treasurer: Deborah Barber
If you wish to make a nomination you can still do so until February 21. Email me.
Also, you will find a link to NFPWs First Amendment issue. You can download it here.
Do you have a favorite podcast about writing? Mine is The Creative Penn. I can listen to 4 episodes driving to Phoenix from Pine and back again.
Our webmaster, Jaimie, recommends an article on bank scams. Please scroll down for that link and lots more info.
Wishing you words that flow,
Carol Baxter
APW President
carol@talesofalifetime.net
Click here to see the rest of the newsletter:
- State Conference details and registration
- Renew your membership if you haven’t already done so
- Call for nominations for next fiscal year’s officers
Book Club – Bobbie Bennett’s book - Watch out for bank transfer schemes
- NFPW statement regarding the arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort
APW authors at Scottsdale Book Festival
Several APW authors shared a table at the Scottsdale Book Festival on January 24. Kathleen Osborne interviewed several. Watch the short video.
APW Rim Country Chapter 1-18-26 with Connie Cockrell
Connie Cockrell is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Writing during times of crisis – Connie Cockrell
Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Time: 01:00 PM Arizona
The Zoom link has been sent to members. If you are a guest or need the link, contact Connie.
Bio
Connie Cockrell
A 20-year Air Force career, a manager at a computer operations company, wife, mother, sister and volunteer, provides a rich background for Connie Cockrell’s storytelling.
She writes about whatever comes into her head so her books could be in any genre. She’s published 20 books, has been included in five anthologies and been published on EveryDayStories.com and FrontierTales.com. Connie’s always on the lookout for a good story idea. Beware, you may be the next one.
APW Typerider February 2026
Greetings!
You can get your ticket for the APW Writer’s Conference on EventBrite or you can mail a check c/o RuthAnn Houge, APW Treasurer, 39968 W. Jenna Lane, Maricopa, AZ 85138.
Final deadlines for the NFPW Communication Contest are in the next few days.
Carol Baxter, APW President
Email
Blazing New Trails
Arizona Professional Writers Conference
Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 9 am until 3 pm
Presentations by: Nick Russell, Maria Crimi Speth, and Nancy Hicks Marshall.
Early-bird: $60 through March 31.
Lunch, snacks, and museum tour included.
Location: Western Spirit Museum of the West in Scottsdale.
Get your tickets at Eventbrite!
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Membership
Renew now!
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To see the rest of the newsletter – Nominations for APW officers, February 28 Book Club selection and more about the NFPW Communications Contest, click here to read the full newsletter.
APW Book Club – February 28 with Bobbie Bennett
Karen Lateiner is inviting you to a Zoom meeting of the APW Book Club. (Link to follow)
Topic: Widowhood: The Next Chapter – I’m Still Here – Now What? By Bobbie Bennett
Date: Saturday, February 28 at
Time: 10 am AZ time
ZOOM: Link to follow
ABOUT THE BOOK: (Available on Amazon)
From rural Illinois farm roots to Phoenix community theater and TV commercials, Bobbie Bennett has collected three marriage certificates, two death certificates, and one divorce decree—a paper trail that taught her more about resilience than any self-help book. Her writing earned first place in Arizona and second place nationally from the National Federation of Press Women in 2024. Bobbie transforms life’s unexpected plot twists into unforgettable stories. Her philosophy? “If you can’t be a good example, at least be a colorful one.” Fair warning: keep spare underwear handy. Her tales of marriage, mayhem, and moving forward will leave you laughing until it hurts.
Summary
This heartfelt and candid memoir serves as an essential guide for anyone navigating life after loss. It recounts one woman’s journey through three marriages, two funerals, and one divorce, while offering valuable insights and practical wisdom for others on similar paths.
The personal narrative begins in the shadowy world of organized crime, where the author’s first husband, Tony, brought a sense of danger into Bobbie’s life. Dinner guests had to check their firearms at the door. She recalls one night, while Tony was away on business, a violent storm masked the gunshot that killed his prized quarter horse in the stable. At dawn, the terrified ranch hand delivered the devastating news. By morning, the front page featured a photo of Tony’s prized quarter horse, shot between the eyes in its stall.
A few years after losing her first husband, we’ll explore Bobbie’s brilliant decision to fall head over heels for Danny, a man ten years younger than her. Although he was often carded when they went out, Danny brought many years of fun and adventure into Bobbie’s life. Danny’s wandering eye eventually strained on their marriage, and they each went their separate ways.
The core of the story centers on Clayton, the author’s third husband and true soulmate. He’s a methodical engineer who fell in love with a free-spirited former go-go dancer and entertainer. They say opposites attract, and their relationship was living proof. While he kept busy recalibrating his 3D milling machine, she was rehearsing her lines for an upcoming stage role or television commercial.
What makes this book unique is its collection of shared wisdom. Fellow widows and widowers share their personal journeys, offering diverse perspectives on how to navigate grief and discover new paths. The self-help sections provide clear and useful advice addressing important questions, such as:
- To Date or Not to Date: Navigating relationships after loss
- Eliminating Skeletons: Cleaning out the closet
- Taking Care of Business: Managing legal and practical matters during bereavement.
This all-in-one guide, blending heartbreak and humor, shows that every ending can lead to a new beginning. It provides both emotional support and practical advice for anyone looking to write their next chapter after widowhood.
This book would make an excellent gift for someone you know who is navigating their personal journey of starting over.
I’m sure you will enjoy this great read. See you Feb. 28th
Karen
Arizona Professional Writers 