2021 At-Large Communications Contest winners
- Second place -Columns, general, Roaming the Rim Column – “WHO designates 2020 as Year of the Nurse and Midwife”
- Honorable mention -Feature story, Print based newspaper, “Homeless Give Back “
- Third Place- Autobiograpy or Memoir, Surrender
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Second Place-Collection of short stories written by entrant (published together in book form, including electronic books) Body Language
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Honorable Mention Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers – General Nonficton, The Big Book of Small Presses and Independent Publishers
APW Rim Country Meeting Wed. May 12, 1:00PM
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!
APW Book Club – 5/22 -What’s That Growing in My Sour Cream?
Our next APW Book Club meeting will feature Brad Graber’s What’s That Growing in My Sour Cream?
Date: Saturday, May 22
Time: 10:00 A.M.
Zoom: The link has been sent to members of the Book Club. If you did not receive the link and would like to participate, get a copy of Brad’s book and email Karen Lateiner, host for the link.
Ever wonder why a fly is circling the deli? What you can learn from your dog about aging? If Mahjong is the true game of champions? Wonder no more. If you’re a fan of the Chicken Soup series, love Erma Bombeck, David Sedaris, and Larry David, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll wonder why you didn’t buy this book sooner (and so will Brad).
What’s That Growing in My Sour Cream? is the winner of the 2020 National Indie Excellence Award in Humor, 1st prize from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association in Humor, recipient of a Bronze from Readers’ Favorite, and 1st place in the National Federation of Press Women At-Large Communications Contest.
Insightful, personal, and often very funny, What’s That Growing in My Sour Cream? consists of over seventy essays exploring the subjects we only share with our dearest friends.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Brad Graber is the award-winning author of The Intersect and After the Fall. He also writes a humor blog: “There, I Said It!” Born and raised in New York City, he grew up in a family where no one listened to him. So, he made up stories about them. He currently lives in Phoenix with his husband, Jeff. For more information on Brad, check our his website and subscribe to his blog at: BradGraber.com
What’s That Growing in My Sour Cream? is available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook, and can be purchased at: https://www.amazon.com/Whats-That-Growing-Sour-Cream/dp/0997604247
- What is Growing in My Sour Cream? – Brad Graber
Marie Fasano -winner of COA!
Congratulations to Marie Fasano! She was named Communicator of Achievement for Arizona for 2021 at our APW Virtual State Conference on April 17, 2021. Her entry is being considered by NFPW at the national level. Her writing and community involvement credentials are impressive. Here’s a very brief summary of Marie’s career. And the photos are of our new president, Connie Cockrell, presenting Marie with a certificate and the traditional Navajo Storyteller figurine for her achievement.
Marie A. Fasano from Arizona had a career in nursing and as a photojournalist. As a pilot, she volunteered flying to clinics in Mexico and writing travel articles. Marie has published books in the health field and a memoir, Tessie’s Tales. She edited two nationwide magazines and wrote articles for newspapers and magazines. Currently, she writes a column for the Payson Roundup, “Roaming the Rim.”
We should note that a Communicator of Achievement is not named every year. So it is quite an honor for Marie to be selected and well deserved!
APW Book Club – 4/24 – Tessie’s Tales
APW Members and guests,
Karen Lateiner is inviting you to our next APW Book Club Meeting on Zoom. You do not need to be an APW member to attend, but attendees are expected to have read the book prior to the meeting. See below for information about where to obtain a copy.
TOPIC: APW Book Club: Marie Fasano –Tessie’s Tales
DATE: Saturday, April 24, 2021
TIME: 10:00 AM Arizona
Contact Karen: kslateiner@gmail.com
ABOUT THE BOOK: Award-winning Tessie’s Tales consists of the stories as told by Tessie Trotta Fasano to her family. It’s about growing up in New York City in an Italian family with Marie capturing her voice in the telling.
Available in print at $9.99 or on Kindle at $3.99
April 14 – Find you inner poet!
April is National Poetry Month
APW Rim Country Chapter Virtual Meeting
Topic: Let poetry release your imagination-Open discussion
Date: Apr 14, 2021
Time: 1:00 PM Arizona
Zoom link: The meeting is open to all. Members have been sent the zoom link. Nonmembers should email Connie Cockrell, Rim Country Chairperson for the link.

Play with your inner poet! Connie will be leading the discussion as we write poetry based on the forms created by Stephanie Peterson Abney. It should be fun!
APW State Conference coming April 17!
Arizona Professional Writers Annual Conference Saturday 9:00am to 12:00 pm April 17, 2021
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.
Sherry E. Engler is an author, illustrator, and writer. She writes articles for “Outdoors Southwest” formally known as GYMOAZ (Get Your Mountain On Arizona). She attended the University of Arizona. She received a diploma from the Institute of Children’s Literature and a diploma from the International Correspondence School in Master Art. Inspired by her passion for writing, she wrote Living with LEO: Law Enforcement Officer sharing light-heartedly her observations of family life with law enforcement officers in her roles as wife and mother.
Her website is https://sherryengler.com Her books are also listed with Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online vendors. Best price is at-https://sherryengler.com though to get free shipping and the discount, order directly from her.2021 APW Virtual State Conference
2021 APW Virtual State Conference
Making the Past Come Alive:
Stories from Days Gone By
Attend the 2021 State Virtual Conference
of Arizona Professional Writers
Saturday, April 17, 2021, 9 a.m. —12 p.m. on Zoom
The conference is presented by Arizona Professional Writers (APW), a non-profit statewide organization of professional women and men in the communications field. The Conference is being brought to members and nonmembers at no charge by APW. To reserve your seat and receive notification of the Zoom link, register at Evenbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stories-from-days-gone-by-tickets-147437893709 You will need to register for both the Program open to the public and the general meeting, if you wish to attend both free sessions.
We’ll be holding our annual meeting from 9 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.; followed by a program with two excellent Arizona authors and speakers: Jan Cleere and Linda Pressman. Click here to see more details. Or, click on the navigation tab 2021 APW Virtual State Conference.
- Speaker Linda Pressman












