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 Central Chapter Zoom Meeting 3/8 – Virginia Mohler
Susan Anderson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: “To Retire or Retread, That is the Question.”
Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81633563990?pwd=rGSwTTbQi414NCHk4nHbPzgs59rf25.1
Meeting ID: 816 3356 3990
Passcode: 415018 – You will need the passcode at sign in.
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcFBAgQFqq
To Retire or Retread, That is the Question
Author Virginia Mohler retired from teaching in June of 2020 after over 50 years in the classroom. She presently writes children’s books that inspire and encourage young minds, as well as history and humor for adults. Virginia writes a weekly blog on her website to inform and entertain. These funny stories and little-known historical facts are meant to encourage and uplift those of any age.
Takeaways from Betsy Love’s talk
Betsy Love spoke on Zoom to the Central Chapter of APW on Saturday 2/8/25. Betsy is a prolific writer. She has 33 published titles with two more that are close to completing. Her website is https://betsylove.com. Besides writing, she provides editing services and speaks at writers conferences. She agreed to share some of the resources she mentioned.
What do you do to jump start your writing if stalled? One inspiration for Betsy is the book The Elephant and the Ant: Leadership for the Self by Vincent Poscente. Poscente likens the dynamic between the conscious and subconscious minds to an ant and an elephant: “Our minds are separated into two distinct functions: the conscious and subconscious elements. Our ant is the intentional part of the brain, but our elephant is the instinctual, impulsive part of the brain that houses emotions and memories and even guides the body to perform vital functions. While we tend to know our conscious minds—our ants —rather well, we often overlook the power of our elephantine subconscious minds. When we do, unfortunately, we squander a wellspring of human potential.” Recognizing this makes a world of difference.
Betsy also shared the 5-count method for switching gears. If you are procrastinating, for instance, on working on a piece, then switch to that tab or program and count backwards aloud from 5 to 1 and start. The counting acts like a switch in your brain and helps you get out of that feeling of procrastination. Mel Robbins, author of The Let Them and other works, explains how it works on this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRzWRZahOVU Betsy also finds this podcast on the 5 things you do before you go to bed here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFFsYZhn8Rg
Setting goals is also important. The Kanban Board developed by Sarra Cannon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3TN_CsT7Dc&t=585s – helps layout your quarterly goals which more workable than monthly or yearly goals. You get a bigger picture but not as overwhelming as looking at a whole year. With it you visually track your progress, current tasks and successes. Betsy posts it on her bedroom door so she passes it many times a day.
One example she gave from her writing life was deciding to write 12 books last year. She listed four on the first quarter that she was working on. She broke down her tasks. Most satisfying is when she could move a task to the completed section. She wrote 11! She admitted she’d never have written that many without having set a lofty goal.
If you get the opportunity to hear Betsy speak, take it. And go to her website for inspiration.
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 Rim Country Chapter hybrid meeting 2/19/25 with Brenda Whiteside
Connie Cockrell is inviting you to the APW Rim Country Chapter hybrid meeting 2/19/25 with Brenda Whiteside
Topic: Brenda Whiteside will speak on using Book Funnel, a platform that lets authors reach readers through giveaways and book bundles for marketing.
Date: Wednesday February 19, 2025
Time: 01:00 PM Arizona
Location: Majestic Rim Living Retirement Home in Payson. Meet in the chapel off of the mail lobby
or attend on Zoom:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89156371937?pwd=mWoxbVRXNSg1d8HZVHbjLDYDiISzYp.1
Meeting ID: 891 5637 1937
Passcode: 879712 You must have the passcode to join
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kux0yrWST
Bio:
Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of romantic suspense, cozy mystery, and romance. She writes children’s books with her granddaughter under the names of Brenda Sue and Sadi Belle. She’s a born and bred Arizona native who sets her fictional stories in imaginary, but recognizable, Arizona locations. She and her husband live in Central Arizona. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.
To receive special offers, news about her latest books, and to be eligible for quarterly and year-end gifts that only members of BNG receive, join Brenda’s Newsletter Group.
https://us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=4804e039587723cfe02e83f2c&id=5e4b22a4ac
Brenda is a prolific writer. Two of her more recent titles:
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- Brenda Sue (aka Brenda Whiteside)
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
Central Chapter meeting 2/8/25 with Betsy Love
Susan Anderson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: “Remaining Positive and Creating Achievable Goals” with Betsy Love
Date: Saturday, February 8, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM Arizona
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84304161514?pwd=kb5ux0A4VsDkC5QaJJ3JYH0UIEs2hD.1
Meeting ID: 843 0416 1514
Passcode: 402179 You will need this to join the meeting
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcSDkvwBkS
Betsy’s Bio:
Betsy Love has loved to write from the moment she could hold a pen and has been creating stories since she was in elementary school. In high school, her creative writing teacher told her one day she would be published.
After raising her family, she graduated Suma Cum Laude from Ottawa University with a bachelor’s in English and Secondary education. Besides, her family, she loved teaching high school theater and English.
When not sitting at her computer pouring her heart and soul into her novels, she loves spending time with her family. She is the mother of eight children and at last count, has 21 grandchildren.
If she had a horse, she’d ride it. If she had a pool, she’d swim in it. But since she doesn’t have either, she writes. And her amazing husband has accepted that pajamas are an acceptable attire for her profession.
APW Typerider Newsletter – January 2025
TYPERIDER – JANUARY 2025
Get ready for EMPOWERED COMMUNICATION! |
Experience the synergy of being in a room filled with professional writers at our 2025 conference. You are invited to learn, chat with friends, and network on May 17th.
Save 20% when you buy your ticket by February 28th!
The cost for members only is $40 when you pay via Zelle or mail a check. (arizonaprofessionalwriters@gmail.com)
SWAG opportunity!
MEMBERS ONLY: Mail 60 of your bookmark, or promotional item to me (Carol Baxter) by April 30 and I’ll include it in the goodies for attendees. (P O Box 1384, Pine AZ 85544)
In addition to our three fine speakers, we will honor brilliant Southwest artist, author, and staunch APW member Barbara Bayless Lacy. Her artwork is featured at the event venue.
If you are reading this on Wednesday, January 15th before 1 p.m. you can catch the Tim Country Chapter’s meeting via Zoom (links below). Attendees will be chatting about writing.
A bright, happy, healthy new year to you!
EARLY BIRD APW MEMBERS SAVE
Buy your $40 ticket by February 28th and pay via Zelle.
(arizonaprofessionalwriters@gmail.com)
JOIN OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP NOW!
NFPW Professional Membership dues are $90.
APW membership dues = $15.
It is $105 to renew both, click here.
You must be a member of NFPW to enter the yearly contest.
If you only want to renew AZ dues, you can send a $30 payment via Zelle to ArizonaProfessionalWriters. Go to the JOIN tab to download the application to update your information and to find the address if you’d prefer to mail a check.
Enter, I dare you!Categories and Requirements
Early Bird entries until January 20, 2025 NFPWProfessional Communications Contest |
CHAPTER NEWS
Rim Country
The next meeting is Wednesday, February 19th.
Meetings are held at 1 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month via Zoom and in-person in the chapel at Majestic Rim.
10th Annual Payson Book Festival
Author tables are selling quickly. Register here: https://paysonbookfestival.org/
Central |
Author Betsy Love is the featured speaker at the next regular meeting is February 8th at 10 a.m. via Zoom (link emailed to members later).
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BOOK CLUB Meeting
We will discuss Timeless Dance: A Story of Change and Loss by Karen Shiffman Lateiner, M.Ed. 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, Karen, host fo the Book Club, took the liberty of listing it again for discussion.
Saturday, January 25, 2025 via ZOOM at 10 am
(link emailed to members later)
Arizona Professional Writers 