2022 State Conference is a wrap!
Our 2022 State Conference is over. It was special getting to see old friends in person; some we had only ever met on a Zoom call. We also had several guests plus our speakers and our 2022 scholarship winner and her father and brother.
President Connie Cockrell called the meeting to order. We accepted the slate of officers, welcoming Jody Sharpe to the Board and passed the budget. The winners of the At-large division of the NFPW Communications Contest who were in attendance were introduced.
Our morning speaker was Dr. Karen Bryson who spoke on “The Top Ten Reasons your Book Isn’t Selling And What To Do About It.” Everyone authoring a book should take these into account. Find help at Karen’s newest Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/motivatethemuse.
During lunch, Marie Fasano and Jody Sharpe presented our 2022 Scholarship winner, Elena Morrison, with a certificate and a check for $1000 to pursue a career in journalism. Elena is a student at Coconino Community College in Flagstaff.
Brad Graber spoke after lunch on “The Stories We Tell Ourselves: The Importance of Shifting Our Mindset.” Using personal stories and humor, Brad shared how we can limit ourselves. His website is BradGraber.com.
The last activity was a tour of the wonderful Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Their collection of all things Western is second to none. Put it on your list to visit if you never have. https://scottsdalemuseumwest.org
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- APW President Connie Cockrell conducting the business meeting
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- 2022-23 Board – Jody Sharpe, Marie Fasano, Brenda Whiteside, Connie Cockrell, Cheryl Kohout, Bobbie Bennett, Jaimie Bruzenak
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- 2021 At-large communications contest winners in attendance – Chrissann Dawson, Marie Fasano, Jan Cleere, Bobbie Bennett, Jody Sharpe, Brad Grabor. (Not pictured – Rebecca Goodrich)
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- Dr. Karen Bryson
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- Elena Morrison, winner of the 2022 scholarship. Jody Sharpe and Marie Fasano presenting. (Kathleen Kelly not present). Thanks also to Brenda Whiteside and Brenda Warneka for assisting the committee.
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- Brad Graber
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- Attendees listening to Brad Graber’s talk
APW May Virtual Meeting – 5/11/22
Connie Cockrell and Susan Anderson are inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Arizona Inspiration with Roger Naylor
Date: Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Time: 01:00 PM Arizona
Zoom: Members have been sent the Zoom link. If you are a guest or need it, contact Susan Anderson at Susan.APW@hotmail.com. Members can also find the link in the Members Only section.
Arizona Inspiration with Roger Naylor
Arizona is the focus of almost all my books, from travel to history. Yet even my book of fiction uses Arizona as its unifying theme. Crazy for the Heat: Arizona Tales of Ghosts, Gumshoes, and Bigfoot is a collection of humorous short stories, all based in Arizona locations, utilizing the state’s history and legends. Cactus and roadrunners and red rocks and border towns and blazing sunsets and the perfume of rain and sun that screams are all woven into the fabric of the stories. I’m not sure I even know how to write anymore if Arizona is not involved.”
Roger will discuss a little of his process and encourage others to explore more of Arizona for their own inspiration.
Roger Naylor is one of Arizona’s premier travel writers. In 2018, he was inducted into the Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame. His most recent book, Arizona’s Scenic Roads and Hikes, was selected as Best Arizona Travel Book at the 2021 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards. It also won as Best Arizona Book. His previous book, Arizona State Parks, also won in 2020 as best Arizona Travel Book.
Naylor is the narrator of Verde Canyon Railroad. His work appears most weeks in the Arizona Republic. He has also written for The Guardian, USA Today, The Week, Country Magazine, Arizona Highways, and dozens more. He is the author of several other books including The Amazing Kolb Brothers of Grand Canyon, Arizona Kicks on Route 66, and Boots and Burgers: An Arizona Handbook for Hungry Hikers. For more information, visit RogerNaylor.com.
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- Roger Naylor
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- Crazy for the Heat – Roger Naylor
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- Arizona’s Scenic Roads & Hikes – Roger Naylor
Jodi Decker – another winner!
Jodi Decker was awarded Honorable Mention in the Specialty Articles, History category in the A-large division of the 2021 NFPW Communications Contest for her essay in The Stars in Your Family: The Southern California Genealogical Society Anthology. Congratulations, Jodi!
Jodi and other winners will be recognized at our May 14 State Conference in Scottsdale. (see tab above for details and to register.)
Competition in the At-large contest was strong with entries from 18 states, the District of Columbia and Spain.
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- Jodi Decker
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- The Stars in Your Family
Jody Sharpe – 3rd place winner!
Jody Sharpe won third place in Fantasy in the At-large division of the 2021 NFPW Communications Contest! She won for her book, Town of Angels Christmas. Congratulations, Jody!
There was strong competition in the At-Large division with entrants from 18 states, the District of Columbia and Spain.
Jody and the other APW members who won awards in the contest will be honored at our annual State Conference on May 14 at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Besides our business meeting and honoring winners, we’ll have two excellent speakers, a salad lunch and a private docent-led tour of the museum. (Free parking is available.) See the tab above for details and to register. Both members and guests are welcome.
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- Jody Sharpe
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- Jody Sharpe – Town of Angels Christmas
Chrisann Dawson – two awards!
In the At-large division of the 2021 NFPW Communications Contest, Chrisann Dawson won 2nd in General Non-fiction for her devotional, Principles and Proverbs from Pride and Prejudice. And she received an honorable mention for her novel in the Fiction for Adult Readers category, Congo Crisis.
Chrisann will be recognized at the 2022 APW State Conference on May 14 (see tab above) and will be selling her books at the Payson Book Festival on July 23.
This year’s At-large division of the Communications Contest had strong entries from 18 states, the District of Columbia and Spain.
Congratulations, Chrisann!
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- 2021 winner!
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- Chrisann Dawson
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- Chrisann Dawson – Congo Crisis
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- Chrisann Dawson – Principles and Proverbs from Pride and Prejudice
Marie Fasano – another multiple award winner!
APW member Marie Fasano won three second place awards in the 2021 NFPW At-large division of the Communications Contest! Congratulations, Marie!
Marie won 2nd place, photo/writer; 2nd place, Informational Column and 2nd place, Feature story. Her entry, “Celebrating women of Rim Country working in non-traditional roles,” appeared in the Payson Roundup. (Click on the link to read her article.) The photos accompanying the article are in the gallery below.
There was stiff competition in the At-large division with strong entrants from 18 states, the District of Columbia and Spain. Marie and all APW winners will be honored at our annual state conference on May 14. (See tab to get details and to register.)
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- Marie Fasano
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- 2021 winner!
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- Chancy Thomas with her first pump truck and her dog Red – photo credit Marie Fasano
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- Robyn Byers Which trim is the best? – photo credit Marie Fasano
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- Daren DuFriend Tightening the Spark Plugs – photo credit Marie Fasano
Bobbie Bennett – multiple awards!
APW member Bobbie Bennett won four awards in the At-large division of the 2021 NFPW Communications Contest. The awards were for the February 2021 edition of the Beaver Valley Bulletin, the community newsletter she regularly edits and writes for.
Bobbie’s awards included 2nd place, Publication regularly written by entrant; 3rd place, Publication regularly written by entrant; and two honorable mentions for Publication regularly written by entrant. The At-large division was extremely competitive this year with entrants from 18 states, the District of Columbia and Spain.
Good job, Bobbie! The Bulletin is chock full of news pertinent to this Arizona community and is clearly a labor of love.
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- 2021 winner!
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- Bobbie Bennett
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- February 2021 edition
Brad Graber – another 1st place winner!
Brad Graber was the second of three First Place winners from APW in the At-large division of the NFPW 2021 Communications Contest!’
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- 2021 winner!
Boca by Moonlight won first place in the category “Fiction for adult readers.”
Brad’s book will go on to the national level of judging. National award winners will receive a Certificate of Achievement at the NFPW National Communications Conference Awards banquet to be held in Fargo, ND June 23-25 plus be recognized at our state conference on May 14. Entries from 18 states, the District of Columbia and Spain competed in the At-large division.
Brad is the afternoon speaker at our State Conference. His talk is ” THE STORIES WE TELL OURSELVES: THE IMPORTANCE OF SHIFTING OUR MINDSET.” Find out how his tips could help you create an award-winning book too! Click on the tab above or go to https://arizonaprofessionalwriters.org/2022-apw-state-conference/
APW Book Group 4/23/22 Marylee MacDonald
Karen Lateiner is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: APW Book Group – Speaker Marylee MacDonald on Body Language
Date: Saturday, April 23, 2022
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
Zoom: The Zoom link has been sent to book club members. APW members and nonmembers are welcome to attend. Contact Karen for the link. It is also posted in the Members Only tab.
Message from the speaker:
Hi Everyone,
I made a short video about the book, and I invite you to watch it. A picture is worth 1000 words!
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/678908333?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=58889930
Here’s the Amazon link. https://www.amazon.com/Body-Language-unforgettable-portraits-heartbreak-ebook/dp/B08414S74Y/ An audio version is also available, narrated by Adam Barr.
Knowing this group, I’m thinking that the stories you would most enjoy reading are “The Blue Caboose,” “Voices,” and “Year by Year.”
Although you might not guess it, the story that is drawn most directly from personal experience is “Body Language.” My personal favorite is “Tito’s Descent.”
If you’re short of time, my suggestion is that you skip to the middle of the book and find the three stories I’m recommending that you read. The good thing about short stories is that you can read them in one sitting, and I hope you will enjoy the chance to dip into the lives of some of my favorite people.
Jan Cleere – 1st place winner!
Jan Cleere is one of three First Place winners in the At-large division of the NFPW 2021 Communications Contest!
Jan won 1st place in the Books, Biography or History category. Her entry, Military Wives in Arizona Territory: A History of Women Who Shaped the Frontier, will go on to the national level of judging. National award winners will receive a Certificate of Achievement at the NFPW National Communications Conference Awards banquet to be held in Fargo, ND June 23-25.
Accord to Teri Ehresman, contest director , “We had an extremely competitive at-large contest again this year. We had strong entries from entrants from Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Spain, Washington D.C. and Washington state.”
Congratulations, Jan, and good luck!
Arizona Professional Writers 