President’s Page – February 2020
Marie Fasano
In February, Black history Month, I remember the black authors who have influenced my writing and my life. My early thirties were rebellious years for me. I remember reading Maya Angelou’s first book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and thinking how brave she acted. I wondered if I could be as strong as she in difficult times.
For writers, we have Angelou’s inspiring words. “There is no greater agony then bearing an untold story inside of you.” We must write. We must put finger to keyboard and “get it out.”
Another book by a black author that had an impact on my life was, James Mc Bride’s The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother. I had adopted an eight-year-old biracial girl and I needed to understand her experience. His poignant story told of his mother who was loving and caring to all her children, color didn’t matter. I think of these authors often and especially during February.
On March 4th our APW Board meeting convenes at 10:00 AM in Phoenix. Any member may join us to learn how APW plans for the future. Email me if you want to attend.
We had scheduled six members to attend the ASU Desert Nights Literary Conference on February 22. After months of planning, the one day of pouring rain cancelled the outdoor exhibit. We’ll try again next year!.
Our APW Conference plans for May 9 are proceeding. It will be held in Payson. More next month.
Keep Writing,
Marie A. Fasano
APW President
Children’s Book Author To Speak at Central Chapter APW Meeting
Susan Claire Anderson
Want to write children’s books but don’t how to start? Picture book author Susan Clare Anderson will lead you through exercises that will get you started and lead you to the finished product at the March Arizona Professional Writers Central Chapter meeting.
DATE/TIME: Saturday, March 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
WHERE: Barbara Lacy’s home at 5425 E.Mockingbird Lane, Paradise Valley
COST: $15, which includes a light lunch. Pay at the door.
RSVP: by March 10 to Barbara Lacy- lacyarts@gmail.com or 480-620-1358. Members and nonmembers welcome.
Anderson has written, Illustrated and published three age-appropriate, fun-to read children’s books and will share her techniques in a hands-on session.
She used her knowledge of child development and teacher training in developing her books: “Metina, The Small Butterfly,” “Why the Rooster Crowed”, “Rattling Rocco” and her first chapter book, “Everything.”
President’s message – January, 2020
APW Anthology
As we welcome 2020, we are excited about our many new members coming to our programs in Phoenix Central and Payson Rim Country each month and hearing exceptional speakers.
One item in our history that we almost forgot about is our book, Skirting Traditions. Members of the Arizona Press Women put together this wonderful volume of Arizona Women Writers and Journalists with Brenda Warneka editing. Many of our members, who started the organization in 1953, are included as part of this history.
The book was a project of the Arizona Press Women, Inc. in affiliation with the National Federation of Press Women Education Fund. In 2012, it was approved as an Arizona Centennial Legacy Project by the Arizona Historical Advisory Commission. Profits from the sale of the book will fund scholarships for Arizona students at Arizona colleges and universities.
Recently, I reread several sections. In the first chapter of the book, member Jan Cleere writes of Sharlot Mabridth Hall who fell in love with the Arizona Territory and helped push it to statehood. Sharlot was one of the first inductee’s in the Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame.
Member Marion Gold showcased member Pam Stevenson’s story of being one of the first women newscasters on KOOL-TV. Pam did ten interviews a week and has won numerous awards for her documentaries including News Women: 50 years of Change, which is a celebration of Arizona Press Women’s 50th Anniversary.
One of our goals this year is to reintroduce you to this fabulous historical book and encourage you to purchase it through your usual outlets, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. and support our scholarship fund.
Keep Writing,
Marie A Fasano
President, Arizona Professional Writers
It’s all about research! February Central Chapter meeting
Jan Cleere
Research is everything! When writing historical biographical books like our February speaker, Jan Cleere, it is easy to see how essential research is. But every book requires research—even fiction. What have you found helpful? Where do you find subjects or check important details of a location or time period? Jan will be sharing her research methods and material sources but would also like to hear how others find resources necessary for creating storylines. Our meeting will be a time of learning and sharing. We hope you can join us!
All about angels- January Central Chapter meeting
APW Central Chapter hosted Jody Sharpe in January on the topic of “The Angels On The Writer’s Shoulders.” Writing about angels became healing for Jody after losing her daughter. The valuable lessons learned about moving forward have set her on a mission to tell stories with love and spiritual awakening, which she shared with the attendees.
Central Chapter Director, Barbara Lacy, said of the meeting, “I have been thinking about ‘my’ Angel ever since!” Two memories came to mind. Here’s one of them in Barbara’s words”
“..two things that happened because of Amazing Coincidence’s. . .that I never could have imagined.
“In 1977, my family and I lived on the Navajo Reservation. I was working on a book about Navajo plant use—being careful to leave out anything about sacred plants. I even had a publisher.
“Then, the Navajo Medicine Men’s Association heard about the book and, as men who were charged with protecting the Tribe’s sacred knowledge of plants, they banned my book. I had finished my project by then. . .and left the Reservation that week.
“Almost 10 years later, a woman professor from Illinois who came to the reservation every summer to research Navajo music, walked into the (now defunct) Navajo Press Bookstore to see what was new. Sitting on the counter was my manuscript!
“’Oh,’ she said, ‘Are you publishing Nanise?’
“’We want to, but we can’t find the author,’ the clerk said.
“My friend (or Angel!) pulled her address book out of her purse and gave her my Phoenix address! (I had met her the summer I stayed behind, after my family had moved to Phoenix, to finish up book details. She spoke Navajo and had been in the room when the Navajo Medicine Men banned the book and told me of their decision right after the meeting. I knew her for all of three days that summer and had no contact with her once I left the Reservation.)
“Did my Angel put the manuscript on the counter that day and direct my friend to the bookstore? Had that meeting almost ten years earlier been directed by my Angel?”
Next month we hear from Jan Cleere who researches interesting Arizona women and writes about them and will talk about sources for research.
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- Speaker Jody Sharpe
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- Barbara Lacy, Central Chapter Director
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- Jan Cleere
Rim Country Chapter January 8, 2020 meeting
An Arizona Professional Writers meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 from 1:00-2:00 pm at the Majestic Rim on Tyler Parkway in Payson. Members and guests are welcome. Our guest speaker is Andy McKinney who will be speaking on the history of storytelling and will give some examples of first paragraphs that do or do not grab the reader.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Andy lived for thirty years in Alaska. The long winters gave him plenty of time to watch movies. He now lives in the Great American Southwest in retirement. He writes a regular newspaper column on current movies for the Payson Roundup. This is his second nonfiction work. He loves the flickers and finds zombie films fascinating and loads of fun. His book, A Gross of Zombies is his second non-fiction book after The Armed Forces of Iran.
DATE: Wednesday, January 8, 2020
TIME: 1:00-2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Majestic Rim at 310 E Tyler Parkway, Payson
SPEAKER: Andy McKinney, author, columnist and movie buff
Note: If you haven’t paid your 2020 dues you can bring your check to the meeting.
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- Andy McKinney
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- A Gross of Zombies by Andy McKinney
First APW event of 2020! – Central Chapter presents Jody Sharpe
Author Jody Sharpe
Saturday, January 11, award-winning author Jody Sharpe will be speaking to members and guests of Arizona Professional Writers in Phoenix on “The Angels On The Writer’s Shoulders.” A light lunch will be served.
DATE/TIME: Saturday, January 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WHERE: the Fireplace Room of Shepherd of the Hills Church, 5524 East Lafayette Blvd., Phoenix, AZ., 85018.
COST: $15, which includes a light lunch. Pay at the door.
RSVP: by January 7 to Barbara Lacy- lacyarts@gmail.com or 480-620-1358.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Jody had a rewarding career as a special education teacher. Writing about angels became healing after losing her daughter. The valuable lessons learned about moving forward have set her on a mission to tell stories with love and spiritual awakening.
Says Jody about her writing, “I believe angels have always been guiding me. After my daughter’s death, experiencing messages in dreams, meeting a man who might have been a real angel set me on the spiritual journey of writing novels where angels live as humans, and no one knows the secret.” Books in her Mystic Bay Series are: “The Angel’s Daughter,” “To Catch an Angel” and “Town of Angels.”
