Membership renewal time!
Holiday Greetings to all members!
- APW Central meets every other Saturday at 10:00 AM starting January 14.
- APW Rim Country meets every alternate Wednesday at 1:00 PM starting
- February 8.
APW book Group meets monthly every 4th Saturday at 10:00 AM starting - January 28.
President’s message – end of year
President’s Page: End Of 2022
Has a year gone by any faster than this one? I think not. We’re entering the U.S. Holiday Season and so much has happened.
November is what I call “gratitude” month. Every day I think about one thing I’m thankful for. It could be a rainy day, a meal out with friends, my husband, but whatever it is, I know individually and collectively, those little things are what make my life rich. So I’m wishing you all a wonderful holiday season full of gratitude for all of the things that make your life full and complete.
HOLIDAY GET TOGETHERS
In December, the Southern Region will have a no-host holiday luncheon at noon on Saturday, December 10 at the Terraza Garden Patio and Lounge at Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch Resort. Get details and to RSVP contact Jaimie Bruzenak. Rim Country will have their holiday luncheon in the private dining room at the Mazatal Casino’s Cedar Ridge restaurant on Monday, December 12th, from 11am – 1pm. RSPV to Connie. All APW members are invited to either luncheon!
VERY IMPORTANT!
We need volunteers. As an official non-profit we must report to the Arizona Corporate Commission. At the moment, APW does not have a treasurer. That means we’re operating illegally. If a volunteer does not step up, we may have to close our organization.
In addition, the Payson Book Festival committee needs a new Media Manager as Marie Fasano must step down for health reasons. Our Program Manager (who puts together the paper program for the book festival, has also stepped down for family issues. New people bring fresh, new ideas and we want to keep our organization both active and relevant. Contact me at connie.cockrell@gmail.com to volunteer.
My calendar has Saturday, January 21st, 10 am, as our APW State Officer’s meeting. The meeting is open to all members, and it’s being held via Zoom. Contact me if you’d like to attend.
STORYTELLERS WANTED: Marie Fasano
Join in the Movement to End Hunger and Homelessness
November 12 – 20 is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. This is an annual program where people come together across the country to draw attention to the problems of hunger and homelessness. Find out how you can take action. Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
Register for our 28th Annual Conference in Mesa, AZ. https://www.azhousingcoalition.org/conference.html Early bird prices available until December 16.
Calling All Artists and Storytellers: Share your housing-related art or story and earn $100. Learn more about these opportunities to contribute your talents to the annual conference and to our public awareness campaign. https://www.azhousingcoalition.org/conference.html
FACEBOOK
Take a look at our APW Facebook page. This is a great place to announce your newest book, magazine article, or speaking engagement. This is just one of the many perks you, as an APW member have, so take advantage!
HOLIDAY BAZAAR – not too late!
We are also happy to announce our Holiday Bazaar at our website: https://arizonaprofessionalwriters.org/holiday-bazaar-2022/. This is a terrific perk of being a member. It’s not too late to get your book listed. Send Jaimie Bruzenak a link to the book you want to list along with a high resolution jpeg of the front cover and your website link and she’ll post it for you. Books make great presents!
RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP!
And, it’s membership renewal time. If you have already renewed, thank you! If you’ve renewed via the National Federation of Press Women, let us know to look for your renewal there. If you still need to renew, see Join under the About tab for the form. Those renewing their membership should complete the form so we can be sure your information is up to date and complete.
Thank you everyone for your continued support for this historic organization.
That’s it for 2022. Everyone stay safe, enjoy the upcoming holidays, and hope to see you at the next meeting!
—
Connie Cockrell, Author
H (928) 951-0970
http://www.ConniesRandomThoughts.com
APW Book Group – 10/22/22 – Kathleen Parrish
Karen Lateiner is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
TOPIC: APW Book Group -Author Kathleen Parrish –Second Son
DATE: October 22, 2022
TIME: 10:00 AM Arizona
ZOOM: The link has been sent to Book Club members. If you’d like to join, contact Karen at kslateiner@gmail.com for the link.
ABOUT SECOND SON
Second Son: A Novel about the Deep South by Hermann Willis Logan, continued by Kathleen Parrish is available on Amazon.
The debut novel from Herman Willis Logan, continued by Kathleen Parrish, is filled with beautifully flawed characters struggling to survive the last years of the Great Depression and the epic panorama of World War II.
Trapped on a tenant farm in 1938 Mississippi, young Towanna Whitaker longs to get his education and “be somebody.” But the cotton harvest comes first, and his pa thinks an eighth-grade education is plenty for a cotton farmer. When his troubled mother abandons the family, Towanna must choose between his dreams of an education and helping his pa hold the family together. He gives up his education to care for the house and his baby sister, only to lose her in a tragic accident—one he might have prevented. Grief and self-loathing slowly give way to his family’s stubborn love and the shy overtures of Kathy, a local girl, but World War II arrives all too soon to tear them apart. Drafted into the army and deployed to Europe, Towanna must face death, loss, and his deepest fears if he’s to survive the war and find his way home.
“Second Son is an enthralling depiction of life in the Deep South during the final years of the Great Depression, and the hardships of World War II … fresh and deeply personal.” —Rick Adelmann, Best-Selling Author of the MG&M Detective Agency Mysteries
APW Book Group- 9/24/22- Elizabeth Graham
Karen Lateiner is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: APW Book Group -Elizabeth Graham Democrazy
Date: Saturday, September 24, 2022
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
Zoom: The link will be sent to all members. It is also listed under the Members Only tab of the website. If you would like to attend and do not have the link, contact Karen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elizabeth Graham had a top secret clearance at the age of seventeen with the CIA. She spent about twenty-five years living and working abroad: Soviet Union, then Russia, Central Asia, and other former Soviet pack countries. She was a consultant in war-torn Afghanistan, Rwanda, and Bosnia. Her real-life multi-cultural experiences in totalitarian and dictatorship countries gives her a great vantage point to comment on the Trump-era and how other countries view the U.S. racism, violence, and our democracy. She recently authored DEMOCRAZY, Version 2020 and is working on her second book.
APW September Virtual Meeting – 9/10/22 – Mark D. Walker
Susan Anderson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: APW Central- Author Mark D. Walker – Consolidation and Why American Writers and Bookstores Lose Out
Date: Saturday, September 10, 2022
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
Zoom: The link has been sent to members. You can also find the link in the Members Only section. Guests are welcome. Email Susan Anderson at Susan.APW@hotmail.com for the link.
TOPIC: Consolidation and Why American Writers and Bookstores Lose Out
BIO: Mark D. Walker is a contributing writer at Literary Traveler and Revue Magazine. He was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala and worked with international agencies like MAP International, Hagar, and Make A Wish International for over forty years. Different Latitudes: My Life in the Peace Corps and Beyond was his memoir, soon to be followed by, My Saddest Pleasures: 50 Years on the Road. Two of his 25 articles were recognized by the Solas Literary Awards for Best Travel Writing, most recently with a Bronze for “Travel Adventure.” His wife and three children were born in Guatemala. Over 60 book reviews and 25 articles can be found on his website, MillionMileWalker.com
Find out a little more about his book, Saddest Pleasures.
APW August Virtual Meeting – 8/10/22 Dito Abbott
Connie Cockrell is inviting you to a meeting on Zoom.
Topic: APW Rim Country- Dito Abbott- When life Imitates Art
Date: Wednesday, August 10, 2022
Time: 1:00 PM Arizona
Zoom: Members have been sent the Zoom link. Nonmembers who would like to attend should contact Connie Cockrell at connie.cockrell @ gmail.com for the link.
DITO ABBOTT
“Adventure: When Art Imitates Life” is based on my experience in a wide range of creative disciplines, as well as incorporating my love for adventure.
In this presentation, I will talk about comfort zones and how they define our horizons, using examples from my artistic past, such as:
– Spending 3.5 years shooting a stop motion music video for my band, Too Many Drummers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T0ZCpfSaIA
– Drawing on my sailing experiences to write a novel
– The important role failure plays in creativity
Dito’s debut YA Fantasy novel, Debunked, draws on his love for adventure, googly-eyed slime beasts, and sarcastic swords of legend.
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- Dito Abbott – Debunked
President’s message – July 2022
Greetings!
I want to thank everyone who was able to for attending our 2022 Arizona Professional Writers conference. The venue was exceptional, and we had terrific speakers. We also held elections; many thanks to those who could stay on for another term. Thanks everyone as well for electing me as President. Many, many thanks to Bobbi Bennett, Marie Fasano, Jaimie Bruzenak, and everyone else who had a hand in organizing and putting on this wonderful event. I do hope you all can attend next year.
Treasurer needed: Most importantly, we are in need of a Treasurer. Our previous treasurer, Cheryl Kohout, has been an officer in the organization for decades now and has decided to step down. Of course the treasurer is a vital role in any organization and if you have some time, I promise you will not be overwhelmed with the role. You can contact me at connie.cockrell@gmail.com to talk about it.
June was the National Federation of Press Women annual conference. I had a great time in Fargo, N.D. It’s a lovely city and the venue was fantastic. Best of all, three of our APW members won or placed in the national Communication Contest. Let’s give hearty congratulations to Rebecca Goodrich who won a 1st place in her category, Jan Cleere who won a 2nd place, and Brad Graber with an Honorable Mention. I want to again honor the 9 members who won in the At-Large competitions, winning 15 awards total. These are stiffly competitive categories so all of our winners should receive a round of applause.
If you are thinking of attending next year’s NFPW Conference, it will be in Cincinnati, Ohio. The time spent with these fantastic, intelligent, and pretty darn witty women and men was a boon to my soul. The presentations were wonderful and one, on treating your customers as a non-profit treats their donors, was worth the price of the entire conference. Not saying the other presentations weren’t good, it’s just that that one had info that could be pressed into service that very minute. Don’t miss out on next year’s event.
July features the Payson Book Festival. It will be held July 23rd at the Mazatzal Hotel and Casino from 9am to 2:30pm. We have over 80 authors this year and an all-day, on-demand children’s program. In the Fireside room we have presentations by authors: Ditto Abbott, Jody Decker, Chrisann Dawson, Bryan Lee (aka Bullseye the Clown), and TJ Boyer. The topics range from poetry to bullying. I’m sure each one will be very interesting. I do hope you can make it to the Festival even if you aren’t a “seller.” It will be a great time to catch up!
Spread the word! Speaking of the Book Festival, we’re doing a lot of posting on our Facebook pages for both APW and the Book Festival. Take a look at those pages and share the posts. Lots of people sharing creates a big boost in the number of people who get to see each post. It’s an easy way for you to get to know the authors appearing and to help us drive attendance to the festival.
https://www.facebook.com/PaysonBookFestival and
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ArizonaPressWomen
That’s it for July. Everyone stay safe, enjoy the summer, and hope to see you at the book festival!
Connie Cockrell
APW President
APW Book Group- 6/25/22- Elizabeth Graham
Karen Lateiner is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: APW Book Group -Elizabeth Graham Democrazy
Date: Saturday, June 25, 2022
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
Zoom: The link will be sent to all members. It is also listed under the Members Only tab of the website. If you would like to attend and do not have the link, contact Karen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elizabeth Graham had a top secret clearance at the age of seventeen with the CIA. She spent about twenty-five years living and working abroad: Soviet Union, then Russia, Central Asia, and other former Soviet pack countries. She was a consultant in war-torn Afghanistan, Rwanda, and Bosnia. Her real-life multi-cultural experiences in totalitarian and dictatorship countries gives her a great vantage point to comment on the Trump-era and how other countries view the U.S. racism, violence, and our democracy. She recently authored DEMOCRAZY, Version 2020 and is working on her second book.
Webinar: Avoiding publishing scams 6-15-22
One of our APW authors received an invitation to this webinar by Archway Publishing’s Author Learning Center.
“We’ve become aware of widespread scams and misrepresentations targeting self-published authors. These fraud attempts come in different shapes and sizes—and are continuously evolving, becoming more sophisticated every day.”
ALC President Keith Ogorek discusses the recent increase in publishing-related scams, and how to tell the difference between a legitimate opportunity and fraud.
The webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, June 15, 2022 10:30-11:30 Arizona time.
Read more and sign up for the webinar here.
APW June Virtual Meeting 6/11/22
Susan Anderson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: APW Central: An introduction to Rebecca Goodrich and her memoir, Saving My Soul From Scientology, plus some high points on improving your books.
Date: Saturday, June 11, 2022
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
Zoom: The link has been sent to all members. If you did not receive it or would like to attend as a guest, contact Susan Anderson for the link at Susan.APW@hotmail.com.
About Rebecca Goodrich:
Rebecca Goodrich
Raised in the family inventing business, Rebecca Goodrich left the glitter of California–and the deadly cult of Scientology–to build a houseboat in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. There, in the future home of the Deadliest Catch, Goodrich fought to protect her children from the cult they grew up in and introduced them to the elemental beauty and freedom of Dutch Harbor and its surprising community.
Rebecca started writing poetry at the age of 8. She learned business writing in the family inventing business. She was published at an early age in local publications and even in Reader’s Digest. Over the next 30 years, she worked in bookstores, published articles, and did editing. She won several awards for her writing and started a book project.
In 1994, she left her marriage, cult, and California for Dutch Harbor, Alaska. There she went back to college and worked for newspaper and radio. In 1998 she moved to Anchorage. She edited more and continued to win awards for her writing. She encouraged her editing clients to enter the NFPW Communications Contest and several won first place. She began writing Saving My Soul From Scientology in bits and pieces, fits and starts due to health issues from chemical injuries.
In October 2019, Rebecca moved to Arizona to visit family and friends for a couple of years but Covid froze her in place for months. Now she is finally ready to move back to Alaska and finish editing her manuscript.
Rebecca was a first place winner in this year’s At-large division of the NFPW Communications Contest for a chapter in her memoir.
Rebecca A. Goodrich (She/her/hers. Ally.)
Now in Sun City, Arizona
GHOSTWRITERS
Manuscripts, Editing, Publishing
Ideas rendered with clarity and strength.
home/ofc cell 480-682-7520
scribing@hotmail.com
Arizona Professional Writers 