Take a look at the May, 2015 TypeRider! Read informative articles about district meetings – each district had a meeting in the past month. Also, find out which members won awards in the 2015 Communications Contest. APW had an excellent showing. Plus check out all the writing events coming up – and much more.

The March, 2015 TypeRider is now available. Look for writing events in each of our four districts plus many others coming up including the annual Tucson Festival of Books. Meet Joan Cox and discover some writing opportunities.

Author shares journey to publication

Join the next monthly meeting of the Rim Country District of Arizona Professional Writers to hear local independent (indie) author Connie Cockrell speak to the challenges and triumphs of getting a book into print. Cockrell says: “From the first challenge to write to getting a book published is a long and perilous journey.”

Cockrell’s books run the gamut from science fiction to contemporary stories. To date, she has published two stand-alone novels and a four-book series. Additionally, her stories have been included in four different anthologies. Cockrell is currently working on on a number of writing projects, including a contemporary young adult series and three collections of short stories. A few of her books will be available for purchase and signing following the presentation. Cockrell’s publications are also available through Amazon and other ebook vendors.

The meeting and presentation will convene at 12:00 noon, Wednesday, February 18, in the Community Room of the Payson Public Library, 328 N. McLane Road. The public is invited to attend free of charge.

The deadline for entries in the Communications Contest is Monday, February 9. Get your entries in! See the contest page for categories and how to enter online.

There’s still time to get a story in, a release out or a blog posted in order to to compete the 2015 APW Communications Contest. First-place winners of the statewide contest are eligible to compete in the National Federation of Press Women Communications Contest.

All entries must have been published, issued, broadcast or e-published between Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2014.

The contest provides an opportunity to compete in a wide range of categories, and encourages and rewards excellence in communication. Entries are judged by leaders in their fields of expertise.

Arizona winners will be honored at the annual membership meeting in the spring, and national contest winners will be featured at the NFPW 2015 Annual Communications Contest Awards Banquet during the national conference, Sept. 10-12, in Anchorage, Alaska.

All work must be submitted electronically with exceptions for a few categories where electronic entry may not be possible: publications edited by entrant (for example, entire newspapers or magazines) and books. The entry deadline is Monday, Feb. 9. For work that must be submitted in hard-copy format, the entry deadline is Monday, Feb. 2.

For more information, visit the APW Communications Contest page.

Read the December, 2014 TypeRider, the last issue of the year! It’s another information-filled issue. Each district is hosting a holiday party – we hope you can come to at least one. And read more about the upcoming contests and writing events taking place in the state. Thank you Lynda for the superb job you do each month!

Happy holidays to all.

Read the October, 2014 TypeRider here! Read all about the NFPW Convention in Greenville, SC and our APW award winners. And mark your calendar for the Payson Book Festival, which will be held July 25, 2015.

The November, 2014 TypeRider is now available. Catch up on members and events. Read about Betty Webb’s search for her sister and Rim Country District’s field trip to the Sedona Book Festival.