APW Typerider July 2025
National Federation of Press Women
2025 Professional Communications Contest WINNERS
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- Jody Sharpe, At-Large -Arizona 2nd Place – Fiction for Adult Readers > 11B – Novellas for “The Dog Who Came For Christmas”
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- Chrisann Dawson, At-Large – Arizona 2nd Place – Fiction for Adult Readers > 11A – Novels for “Congo Ebola”
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- Carol Baxter, At-Large – Arizona 3rd Place – Public Relations Materials > 53 Catalog, Manual, or Handbook for “Day Tripping”
Congratulations to the winners!
Happy writing,
Carol Baxter, APW President
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CHAPTER NEWS
Rim Country
Central
BOOK CLUB CALL FOR AUTHORS
The APW book group was established to provide an opportunity for members to read, discuss, and post reviews of one another’s books. We generally meet via Zoom on the fourth Saturday of every month at 10 am, September through June. It’s a great way to support our journeys as authors and get to know each other.
Some people attend regularly, others not so much, or only a few times, and that’s okay. We are currently looking for APW members who would like to join our group, and potentially present their book for our reviews.
If interested, please contact Karen Shiffman Lateiner, or call 973-997-7204.
White Mountain
White Mountain Festival of Books
2025 NFPW Conference
Registration is now open for the 2025 NFPW Conference, hosted by Colorado Press Women Sept. 11–13 at the Denver Marriott West hotel in Golden, Colorado.
APW Typerider – June 2025
June 2025
Click here to see this month’s issue with the recap of the winners of At-large Communications Contest. our annual State Conference and to see coming events.
APW Book Club 5/24/25 with Dr. Dawn Filos
Notes from Karen Lateiner, Book Club Chair
Turns out our author for our May Book Group is not ready, however one of our new members, Dr. Dawn Filos agreed to present her book, Saturday, May 24 at 10 am via Zoom.
Reminder: APW Annual State Conference will be held Saturday, May 17th. Information and registration can be found on the APW website http://www.arizonaprofessionalwriters.org. I hope to see you all there.
Our Purpose: The purpose of our book group is to hear wonderful presentations, read amazing books by members, and support each other by writing reviews on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Please take some time to acknowledge our authors.
Karen Lateiner is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Tales of A Pet Vet with Dr. Dawn Filos
Date: May 24, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84792846640?pwd=Qaf9qsoOeZ5xbbIQ95IubMz3zbPq2O.1
Meeting ID: 847 9284 6640
Passcode: 208050
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kjLmLAAh9
All are invited to attend.
Tales of A Pet Vet: Stories from the Clinic and House Calls by Dr. Dawn Filos (pen name)
Dr. Dawn Filos’s own menagerie of pets, including Willie the woolly monkey, primed her for a career as a veterinarian. With emotional honesty, Dr. Dawn shares her heartfelt, and often hilarious journey, from nervous novice to seasoned, self-assured doctor. This modern-day James Herriot finds her niche as a house-call vet, with unique, intimate access into the homes and lives of her beloved patients and their human families. She understands with all of her heart that no visit or emergency is too trivial to a pet parent. After reading Tales of a Pet Vet you will never see your own vet the same way.
BIO
Dr. Dawn Filos grew up in New Jersey, in a family of eccentric animal lovers, preparing her for a lifelong career spent with like-minded pet people. She spent most of her career in Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Bucks County), where she remained after veterinary school for most of the last 32 years. She now splits her time between Scottsdale, Arizona and East Hampton, New York.
Her blog DrDawnThePetVet.com was originally started to augment pet first aid classes, and pet CPR courses she taught for years. It began as more informational and evolved to focus on the benefits of the human-animal bond, a topic which interests her and features prominently and often throughout the book. She has contributed several Medical Mystery pieces to the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper, and hopes to pursue further writing in journals and other media, and is available for public speaking engagements.
dawnfmauro@gmail.com Dawn Filos 267-994-2415 via Zoom.
APW Typerider Newsletter – April 2025
I’ve heard the word “authentic” bandied about the past decade, and in being authentic advice on the amount to share on social media.
Practical advice: If selling a book or class, the 80/20 rule applies. That is 20 percent sales, 40 percent behind the scenes of the book or class, and 40 percent fan and potential fan engagement.
For me, March was filled with the anticipation of a first grandbaby and the loss of a family member.
I was deep in the mists (pun intended) of writing a novel that began with a death and a life, but reality struck hard. My heart grew heavier than the novel I wanted to share with my readers, about a crone that lives in a forest in a house built on the legbones of a dragon and the pair of children that adopt her. Eyes tired from tears, I stepped back from my to-do list. I sought solace in time with my daughter, placed my hands on her belly, and told her son, “I can’t wait to meet you!” I called and had a wonderful conversation with a friend who I wished lived so much nearer than Michigan. I found mirth binge-watching “Nobody Wants This” on Netflix. I’ve kneaded bread dough, walked in the woods, and moved the island table in my office back about three inches – ah, breathing room … joy rediscovered in my one wild and precious life.
Those last four words belong to a quote by poet Mary Oliver (1935-2019)
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
This month, I will hold a grandson in my arms, write grants, finish designing the pages of a cookbook, swim, write the crone and those foundlings into the next scene, and the next, and the next.
In May I will stare at the Grand Canyon, laugh and soak in the sun from the deck of a pontoon, and celebrate being a wordsmith with professional writers.
How about you? Care to celebrate your gift?
Wishing you health and joy,
Read the rest of the newsletter to find out what is happening in each chapter. And it’s not too late to sign up for our State Conference to be held May 17.
APW Book Club 4/26/25 with Mark D Walker
Karen Lateiner is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: The Guatemala Reader: Extraordinary Lives and Amazing Stories, by Mark D. Walker
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83980882806?pwd=JfTPbbV9bAa6Og9kxQYOgZjxq1K9Qj.1
Meeting ID: 839 8088 2806
Passcode: 097427
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kppOG5Gzj
Book Overview
Guatemala draws up to 1.8 million tourists per year, whose visits start in the largest city in Central America with brief visits to ancient Mayan ruins and contemporary Maya villages, which provide a partial folkloric understanding of Guatemalan society. Over the last 50 years, Mark Walker has traveled to places most Guatemalans have never seen. He uses encounters with ordinary Guatemalans, profiles, and stories from local Mayan leaders, advocates, writers, and poets to bring a new appreciation and understanding of this country. Maps, graphs, facts sheets, and photos support 17 stories to provide insights into the inner workings of Guatemalan society.
Story Behind the Cover
The photographer who took the picture of the girl on the cover of The Guatemala Reader, Cliff Nagel, managed to find her ten years after he took the photo (she was six) to show her the picture on the cover of my book. She was thrilled and hugged Cliff. Albina still lives in Santa Catarina Palopó on the shores of Lake Atitlan, the deepest lake in Central America.
Bio for Mark D. Walker, Million Mile Walker
Mark D. Walker was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala (1971-1973) and spent over forty years helping disadvantaged people in the developing world with international agencies. His book, Different Latitudes: My Life in the Peace Corps and Beyond, was recognized by the Arizona Authors Association. His second book, My Saddest Pleasures: 50 Years on the Road, won the Peace Corps Writers’ Award for Best Travel Book. His latest book, The Guatemala Reader: Extraordinary Lives and Amazing Stories, is a Best Seller and recipient of the BookFest Award for Nonfiction travel. All three books are part of the Yin & Yang of Travel Series. He’s a board member of the Arizona Authors Association, Advance Guatemala and SEEDS for a Future as well as an Advisory Board member of Peace Corps Worldwide. His wife and three children were born in Guatemala. To learn more about Mark, visit MillionMileWalker.com and (1) Mark D Walker | Substack as well as a recent interview on Voyage Phoenix Magazine Life & Work with Mark Walker of Scottsdale – VoyagePhoenix – Phoenix
APW Book Club 3/22/25 with Fawzia Mai Tung
Karen Lateiner is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Mirror in the Sand by Fawzia Mai Tung
Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82608532051?pwd=RkNb8HPoPj2MnEeuia7xUfC3xqhsHY.1
Meeting ID: 826 0853 2051
Passcode: 855944
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcvUIUEdM7
Mirror in the Sand by Fawzia Mai Tung
About the Book
Why would a French-speaking Chinese/Taiwanese girl study medicine in Amman, Jordan in the 1970s? Why did she feel compelled to leave after 11 turbulent years? Amman, Jordan in the 1970s and early 1980s was mushrooming from a laid-back sleepy city into a modern metropolis. In her eleven years in the City of the Seven Hills, Fawzia too evolved from an accidental Chinese teenage immigrant into a journalist and a psychiatrist, mesmerized by its rose gold dust at sundown, its archaeological treasures littering the landscape, the generous hospitality of its people, yet also some of its harsher cultural baggage: male chauvinism, honor killing, and attitude toward psychiatric patients. Fired with youthful ardor for reform, she threw herself wholeheartedly into work, only to find herself burned once too many times.
About the Author
Fawzia Mai Tung is a retired psychiatrist, journalist, and educator. Born in a diplomatic family, she grew up internationally, eventually settling down in Arizona in 1995. Now a mother of seven and grandmother of ten, she has published a middle grade picture book, The Wonderful Tale of Donkey Skin, the first of a series of retold fairy tales. Mirror in the Sand is book 2 in her memoir series “Life of a Rooster”, now available in paperback (Amazon) and on Kindle.
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- Eagle hunter
APW Book Club Saturday, 2/22/25- Nancy Marshall
Karen Lateiner is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Finding Zachariah by Nancy Marshall
Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83806126638?pwd=2rgd2bPPxpcWotx6mTM9Q15rN9Pweb.1
Meeting ID: 838 0612 6638
Passcode: 020331 (You will need the passcode to enter)
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdAovOpBQ2
FINDING ZACHARIAH Synopsis
A feral cat finds a homeless human on an abandoned couch in an abandoned lot. Who knew that Sebastian, the cat, would become Zachariah’s best friend and help set this wounded warrior, a vet with PTSD, on the path to recovery and healing—and reconciliation with his estranged wife and two children? When Zorro, CeCe and their mom, Otoña, arrive at the community garden, little do they know what and who they will find. Meanwhile, Big Joe, a community garden activist, brings many things to the garden—volunteers, gardening science, and second chances for all who participate. FINDING ZACHARIAH in a Community Garden has layers of meaning and holds out hope for all of us who have faced hardship.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nancy Marshall
Nancy Hicks Marshall, a Long Island native and Arizona resident since 1975, brings a wealth of experience and passion to her writing. She is deeply influenced by her early life and love for gardening. Her father tended an organic vegetable garden, from his first “Victory Garden” during World War II through his retirement years. Nancy’s early exposure to gardening planted the seeds of her lifelong interest in cultivating both plants and ideas.
Arriving in Phoenix in 1975, Nancy encountered the unique challenges of gardening in a hot, dry climate. She quickly adapted her approach, learning to plant in the fall and winter while dealing with the scarcity of natural decomposition. As both a home gardener and a volunteer at two community gardens in South Phoenix, Nancy has gained insights into the science and art of gardening in challenging conditions.
Nancy’s journey through gardening has shown her the powerful impact of community collaboration. She has seen first hand how these gardens provide healthy food for families and foster essential skills and productivity among volunteers—from all walks of life. Her experience underscores the importance of resilience and innovation in nurturing both gardens and communities.
Through her work, Nancy aims to share the spirit of possibility and growth she has discovered. She hopes that FINDING ZACHARIAH inspires readers to explore the benefits of community gardening and apply the lessons learned to their own lives.
Contact the author
cell: 602-708-4614; email: nanmar4009@gmail.com; web: http://www.nuggetpress.com.
Get your copy of FINDING ZACHARIAH at: https://www.amazon.com/ or https://www.ingramcontent.com/,
APW Typerider Newsletter – February 2025
Get ready for EMPOWERED COMMUNICATION!
Save 20% when you buy your ticket by February 28th!
The cost for members only is $40. There are two ways to pay:
through your bank using the Zelle app (arizonaprofessionalwriters@gmail.com) or
a paper check. Checks should be mailed to
APW, PO Box 1495, Payson AZ 85547.
I believe that through each other, we learn. Especially when we slow down and listen.
Carol Baxter, APW President
Email
Download the flyer for the State Conference here or click on the State Conference tab.
Roger Naylor
“Most years I put close to 20,000 miles on my truck without ever leaving Arizona. And I never run out of things to see and do. I didn’t move to Arizona sit indoors.”
~ Roger Naylor, Arizona Explorer of one hiking trail and one restaurant at a time.
Darlene Ziebell
“I’m not your typical business coach spinning feel-good clichés. I’m a no-nonsense, results-driven consultant who delivers the unfiltered truth about what it really takes to achieve extraordinary success.”
~ Darle Ziebell, entrepreneur, business strategist, and author of the 7-Figure Sales Audit course.
Michele Nelson
“I hope my presentation to APW will illuminate and inspire us to recognize that all of us have a brain, we need to learn to take care of it.”
~ Michele Nelson, Payson Roundup Newspaper Reporter, Strength Beyond Struggle Podcast host, and NAMI Ending the Silence Program Specialist
Barbara Lacy
In addition to our three fine speakers, we will honor brilliant Southwest artist, author, former APW President, and staunch advocate of NFPW, Barbara Bayless Lacy. Her artwork is featured at the event venue.
Buy your ticket to the APW Conference and mark your calendar for May 17th!
I don’t want you to miss out!
- view Barbara’s stunning art
- glimpse Arizona through Roger Naylor’s eyes
- learn about publishing in a niche market
- find out from Darlene what you didn’t know you didn’t know about writing as a business
- discover tips to help your writing business thrive
- allow Michele to inspire you to begin a podcast seek podcast guest opportunities for yourself
- explore fresh ideas
- play a game
- win a prize
- buy a raffle ticket for a chance at a mystery box
- grab your s.w.a.g. bag
- delight in a new friend
- hug a friend you have not seen for a while
SWAG opportunity for APW Members!
Mail 60 of your bookmark, or promotional item to me by April 30 and
I’ll include it in the goodies for attendees.
(Carol Baxter, PO Box 1384, Pine AZ 85544)
NFPW Annual Contest
Book Final Deadline, February 5, 2025 (noon in your time zone)
Due to the extended time it takes to judge book categories, all book entries must be entered by this date.
Final Deadline Everything Else, February 19, 2025 (noon in your time zone)
All remaining entries must be entered by this date.
If you have yet to renew your membership,
please do so today!
It is $30 for the Arizona-only membership.
To see the rest of the newsletter, go here. Scroll down for Chapter News and Notable News
APW Book Club 1/25/25 – Karen Lateiner
The APW book group will not be meeting in December. Our next meeting will be Saturday, January 25, 2025 via ZOOM at 10 am. We will discuss Timeless Dance: A Story of Change and Loss by Karen Shiffman Lateiner, M.Ed.
Date: Saturday, January 25, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. AZ
Zoom: to be sent out in mid-January
Timeless Dance was the first book our group reviewed on October 24, 2020. In light of current controversies regarding transgender issues, and since we have many new members, it is timely to discuss it again.
TIMELESS DANCE: A Story of Change and Loss, is just that — a compelling memoir about life, death, gender change, acceptance, advocacy, and coping within the family, the community, and the world. It is a well told story of generational challenges and reflections on life altering events; a skillfully woven mix of narrative, prose, poetry, and letters. A page turner by many accounts, Timeless Dance illuminates issues not often contemplated, especially those related to transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.
About the Author
Karen Shiffman Lateiner holds an M.Ed. in Educational Psychology. Throughout her personal life, and her professional career as a developmental psychologist and mental health clinician, she has actively advocated for safe and nurturing school and home environments for all children, especially for those at-risk for marginalization and bullying.
A native of New Jersey, she moved to New York City, where she met and married her husband Roger. After spending a year living on a kibbutz in Israel in 1972-73, they returned to New York,before ultimately settling in Montclair, New Jersey, where they raised their two children. Upon retirement, she and her husband traveled the country in a motorhome for two years before making Arizona their new home. Combining her love of writing and the Sonoran Desert, Karen created a Hike and Write program to encourage others to write as a means of expressing their thoughts and telling their own unique stories. Currently, she is a member of her HOA Board of Directors and a member of Arizona Professional Writers.
APW Typerider Newsletter – December, 2024
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To see the newsletter and the coming events, click here.
NOTE: If you join NFPW you also pay an extra $15 for your APW membership. If you join APW as a state-only, the dues are $30/year.
Arizona Professional Writers 