New book by member Marion Gold
MARION E. GOLD, a 28-year member of the National Association of Press Women—and long-time dual member of the Illinois Woman’s Press Association and Arizona Professional Writers—has launched her first novel, co-authored with acclaimed novelist Jerry Marcus. “Escape from Heaven” is a provocative and insightful in which Moses and Jesus meet in Heaven and decide to work together for the sake on all humanity. Gold and Marcus used a unique technique of vignettes as Moses and Jesus painstakingly discuss faith, tolerance, religion, and bigotry—and the evil committed throughout history in the name of religion. It is a novel where readers meet ordinary people who struggle with good versus evil, politics, friendships, religion, the Holocaust and anti-Semitism. It is about the every-day challenges of life and death, our relationships with God—and all facets of humanity that impact upon the human condition—including a debate about free will, how each individual has the potential to live a life of honest reflection, faith and good works.
Marion is the author of the award-winning “Top Cops: Profiles of Women in Command,” which was endorsed by former Governors George Ryan (Illinois), George Pataki (New York), and Janet Napolitano, former US Secretary of Homeland Secretary, and Governor of Arizona. She also wrote the “Personal Publicity Planner—A Guide to Marketing You,” and co-authored (wrote two chapters) published in “Skirting Traditions: ArizonaWomen Writers & Journalists 1912-2012”. Marion’s essay on “The Heart and Soul of Communications” was also published in the “Centennial Anthology” of the Illinois Women’s Press Association.
JERRY MARCUS is an award-winning author and is internationally acclaimed for his ability to create compelling fiction about thought-provoking issues such as anti-Semitism, political intrigue, and religious hypocrisy. Reviewers have called Marcus prophetic, provocative, masterful, compelling, original and creative – and even a heretic. Morton Teicher, Book Editor for The Jewish Floridian, compared Marcus to Chaim Potok, writing “Marcus caused us to care about the characters he created…” His first novel, published in 1982, was recommended by the American Jewish Congress—and is part of a special collection in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “Escape from Heaven” was his seventh and final novel. Sadly, Marcus passed away before the book was published.
The book is available on amazon.com and at Brittany Publications, Ltd.
APW April Virtual Meeting 4-9-22
To All APW Members: Susan Anderson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
TOPIC: APW Central Meeting – Elizabeth Graham on her book –Democrazy
DATE: Saturday, April 9, 2022
TIME: 10:00 AM Arizona
ZOOM: The Zoom link has been sent to members. Nonmembers are invited to attend as well. If you did not receive the link and would like to attend, email Marie Fasano at mafasano1@gmail.com or look under the Members Only tab for the link.
Bio: 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 give 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.
September 11 – Find your Tiny Ninja!
Susan Anderson of Central District is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
On Saturday, September 11 join Sasha Graham as she shares how to find your own “Tiny Ninja,” who is the most compassionate, brave, supportive version of us.
Topic: APW Central Meeting-Find your Tiny Ninja!
Date: September 11, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
The Zoom link has been sent to all members. If you did not receive it, look in the Members Only section of the website. You can also email Susan at Susan.APW@hotmail.com for the link if you did not receive it.
Bio
Sasha Graham is the author of Milo Does Not Like Mornings (2019), A Milo no le gustan las mañanas (2020) and Whitney Wins Everything (slated for Spring 2022). Each of these books are part of the Tiny Ninja Books Collection (TinyNinjaBooks.com) where the central idea is that we are each born with our own Tiny Ninja who is the most compassionate, brave, supportive version of us.
Sasha grew up on a farm in Oregon with her three siblings, a horse named Jim and a barn cat named Peanut Butter.
She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in Broadcast Communications and minors in Spanish and French, and then worked in the city as a film publicist, television writer and TV segment producer. Later, she moved to Los Angeles where she worked as the Vice President of National Publicity for the Walt Disney Studios.
Sasha is an avid writer and her work has appeared in magazines, newspapers and on television.
In addition to her career in television, film, and writing, Sasha is proud to have worked everywhere from a hair salon, to a grass seed farm, to The Olive Garden, to a Christmas tree farm, to a library, to a therapeutic horsemanship ranch and, most recently, at a doggie daycare & boarding facility.
Sasha and her husband, Alan, live in Scottsdale, Arizona with their three kids; Finn, Indy and Odessa.
August 14 – Time to share!
Susan Anderson of Central District is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
On Saturday, August 14 we will spend time sharing our current work. Several folks have asked to talk about what they are working on and ask questions of the group. It will be a special day after our summer hiatus. Everyone in APW is invited to share. Nonmembers are welcome to attend.
Topic: APW Central Meeting-Time to Share –
Date: Aug 14, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
The Zoom link has been sent to all members. If you did not receive it, look in the Members Only section of the website. You can also email Susan at Susan.APW@hotmail.com for the link if you did not receive it.
Come get feedback for your project and perhaps some new ideas!
June 12: Novel As A Second Act
APW Central District Guest Speaker Sheila Grinell “NOVEL AS SECOND ACT”
Susan C Anderson, Chairperson, is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: APW Central Guest Sheila Grinell: Novel As A Second Act
Date: Jun 12, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
“If you’ve ever contemplated leaving a job and starting something completely new, you’ve probably also thought about all the good reasons not to. Even so, there may be a benefit in forging straight ahead.” –Sheila Grinell, novelist and former CEO of the Arizona Science Center came to Phoenix in 1993 to build the Arizona Science Center. In her sixties, she took on a different challenge—to begin a second career as a novelist.
What was it like for Sheila to start over again? How does her experience compare to that of others facing a life transition? How does writing compare to running a museum? Sheila will share lessons learned, with time for Q&A.
Her debut novel, APPETITE, was published in 2016, and a second novel, THE CONTRACT, appeared in September 2019. Born in a taxi in Manhattan, she studied at The Bronx High School of Science, Harvard University, and the University of California at Berkeley. She lives in Phoenix with her husband, Tom Johnson.
To receive the Zoom link, contact Susan.APW@hotmail.com
- Sheila Grinell
- Sheila Grinell – The Contract
May 8 – Writing on the go!
Central Chapter chairperson, Susan Anderson, is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: APW Central meeting: Writing on the go! Jaimie Bruzenak
Date: May 8, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
Writing on the go!
Did you ever consider combining traveling this country while writing? APW member Jaimie Bruzenak and her late husband, Bill, began full-time RVing on Election Day 1992. They voted and left Pennsylvania for the West. Her only writing previously was customizing business proposals and regular letters describing their travels to relatives and friends.
However, she started contributing pieces to her RV Club and to a publication that advertised jobs for RVers wanting seasonal work. She wrote a book on this topic, self-published, marketed and fulfilled orders. With a writing partner she added two more print books plus eBooks. She decided a few years ago that she had “been there, done that” and it was time to do some new things in her remaining years. Used copies of her print books plus eBooks can still be found but she no longer markets or updates them.
She’ll talk about self-publishing vs traditional publishing and why she chose the former; building a brand and opportunities for writing while traveling in an RV.
Contact: Susan.APW@hotmail.com for the link if you did not receive it.
- Jaimie Bruzenak
- Support Your RV Lifestyle!
April 10 – Running with the Law!
APW Central Meeting April 10 Saturday 10:00 A.M
Running With the Law!
Zoom: The link will be sent to members. All are welcome. If you would like to attend and don’t receive the link, contact Susan Anderson, Chairperson and put “Zoom link” in the title.


March 13 – Dead bodies talk!
Join APW Central Chapter on Saturday, March 13 for our virtual meeting “Dead bodies talk!” with Patty Mahoney.
Topic: What Can Dead Bodies Tell Us? with Patty Mahoney, author of Secrets From the Pink Chair
Date: Saturday, March 13, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
Zoom: The link for Zoom has been sent to members. All are invited so if you did not receive the link, contact Susan Anderson
What can dead bodies tell us?
Author/Editor Patty Mahoney has a unique journey to share. Aside from her teaching and editing experience, and education, she has an unusual and interesting story to tell.
Patty is the author of Secrets from the Pink Chair, a fictionalized account of childhood memories of the city of Tempe and her family’s mortuary business. She earned an undergraduate degree in print journalism from Arizona State University and eventually amassed three graduate degrees, one in education, another in school counseling, and a third in mental health counseling.
She has been an English, journalism, and psychology instructor to students ranging from 7th graders to university seniors. Then, she earned certification as a counselor, working primarily with emotionally disturbed children.
Upon retirement, she returned to writing as the primary focus, writing her own book and editing works of others.
“Love is in the air” with Christy Hovland
APW Central Chapter Virtual Meeting – February 13, 2021
Valentine’s Day is coming up! Nothing like a good romance novel to get you in the mood. Perhaps you’ve thought of writing your own. Our next speaker will help you get started!
Susan Anderson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. All are invited. Members have been sent the Zoom link. If you did not receive it and would like to attend, contact Susan and she will forward the link to you.
Date: February 13, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
Guest Speaker: Christina Hovland
Topic: Love is in the air! Crafting Your Own Romance Novel
Love is in the air! Crafting your own romance novel
USA Today Bestselling Author Christina Hovland lives her own version of a fairy tale–an artisan chocolatier by day and romance writer by night. Born in Colorado, Christina received a degree in journalism from Colorado State University. Before opening her chocolate company, Christina’s career spanned from the television newsroom to managing an award-winning public relations firm. She’s a recovering overachiever and perfectionist with a love of cupcakes and dinner she doesn’t have to cook herself. A 2017 Golden Heart® finalist, she lives in Colorado with her first-boyfriend-turned-husband, four children, and the sweetest dogs around.
Find out more or subscribe to Christy’s newsletter at ChristinaHovland.com