2021 NFPW Communications Contest winners
Congratulations to APWs two winners at the national level of the NFPS Communications contest! Both won first place in the At-Large Contest before advancing to the finals. We are very proud of them!
Dianne Beeaff (Tucson) – Second place – Collection of short stories written by entrant, On Traigh Lar Beach
Wynne Brown (Tucson) –Second place – Newsletter Web and Social Media – Electronic Newsletter – Personal, The Sara Lemmon Project
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- Dianne Ebertt Beeaff
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- Wynne Brown
Congratulations, Dianne Ebertt Beaff!
Dianne Ebertt Beeaff’s short story collection, On Traigh Lar Beach, was the winner in Short Stories in the At-Large division and moves on to the National Communications Contest.
Dianne is the award-winning author of five previously published books. Her poetry, watercolors, graphite drawings, and magazine articles have been featured throughout the United States and Canada.
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- Dianne Ebertt Beeaff
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- On Traigh Lar Beach – Dianne Ebertt Beeaff https://www.amazon.com/Traigh-Lar-Beach-Dianne-Ebertt-Beeaff/dp/1631527711/ref=sr_1_1
Congratulations to Jody Sharpe!
Special Needs Children, The Angels On My Shoulder by Jody Sharpe has placed second in the category of Autobiography or Memoir in the NFPW At-Large Communications Contest.
Says Jody, this is a memoir of my twenty-five years teaching children with special needs. It’s a love story about the special students and others who over the years graced my life with just that, their grace.
With hearts of angels and challenges to face, the children took me along their journeys and inspired my own life’s journey of self-discovery. When sorrow came, their kindness helped me through. The synchronicity of events from high school to retirement changed my life for the better, turning my face toward heaven.
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- 2nd place Autobiography or Memoir
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- Jody Sharpe
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- The Angels on My Shoulder – Jody Sharpe
Congratulations to Brenda Whiteside!
Brenda Whiteside’s Secrets of the Ravine (The MacKenzie Chronicles, Book 1) was awarded third place in the category Novel, over 40,000 words in the NFPW At-Large Communication Contest. Brenda is a multi-published romantic suspense author and also provides editing services to other writers.
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- Secrets of the Ravine (MacKenzie Chronicles Book 1) by Brenda Whiteside https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Ravine-MacKenzie-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B08GPRFJBT/
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- Brenda Whiteside
Congratulations to Marie Fasano!
Marie Fasano has won two awards in the 2021 NFPW at-large communications contest. Marie currently writes for the Payson Roundup. One of her columns in “Roaming the Rim,” her bi-monthly column, won second place. Commented the judge: Wonderful opening paragraph. Informative and very nice selection of interviewees. Good selection of quotes. Marie won honorable mention in the Feature story, print newspaper category. The judge noted: Nice news feature.
Marie is APW president and our state winner and nominee for the national Communicator of Achievement Award.
Congratulations to Brad Graber!
What’s That Growing in My Sour Cream? – a collection of over 70 essays on love, life, and relationships – by Brad Graber – has won 1st place in the NFPW at-large communications contest and is eligible to advance to NFPW national round of competition.
This year the at-large contest featured entries from New York, Oregon, Ohio, Colorado, New Hampshire, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Minnesota, Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, Maryland, Florida, South Dakota, Louisiana, Tennessee, Iowa, Kentucky and Washington.
Brad Graber writes novels because he grew up in a family where no one listened to him – so he made up stories about them. He’s the award-winning author of The Intersect and After the Fall, and writes a humor blog: There, I Said It! Brad’s currently working on his next novel, Boca by Moonlight, the story of a widower who discovers that his assumptions about family and friends are holding him back from developing meaningful relationships. Brad currently resides in Phoenix with his husband, Jeff.
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- What is Growing in My Sour Cream? – Brad Graber
President’s Page – November/December 2020
Happy Holidays to all members!
We are thankful for the treasures and friendships we have received this past year and we all look forward to 2021 with hope and promise. This has been a difficult year for many folks. Most of us have stayed close to home to be safe. Hopefully, this gave you an opportunity to write more novels, articles, newsletters and blogs.
I had some health issues in the last month and am now getting back to the real world. It hasn’t stopped me from taking part in several meetings of Central and Rim Country, hearing great guest speakers each time. It’s so easy to turn on the computer and be with wonderful, intelligent, articulate folks at these gatherings. Our members are terrific!
Our new APW Book Club, hosted by Karen Lateiner, is thriving with highlighting members books and having very lively and interesting discussions. Feel free to join us the last Saturday of every month. Contact me at mfasano.apw@gmail.com for the Zoom url.
Jaimie Bruzenak has kept us informed on our website and FB page. She can add you and your books to our new section called Holiday Bazaar to showcase our members’ books and websites. If you want to be included send your information to Jaimie at calamityjaimie@gmail.com.
We will be looking for some new officers for 2021. If you have any interest in taking a more active part in this thriving organization let me know. Our Bylaws are on the website under the members section. Here you can get an idea of what each position entails.
Here is another reminder to enter the NFPW Professional Contest under the At-large section. Several members have already entered their books, newsletters and articles. Go to NFPW.org for more information.
The APW Conference plans for April 2021 are going forward. We will look at the health of our community as we get closer. More information will be sent as our plans come together.
To close 2020, I wish each APW member the best of health and happiness.
Keep writing,
Marie A. Fasano
APW President
President’s Page – October, 2020
We hear so much on the news about the upcoming election. Whomever you choose, your obligation is to vote. As writers we have the power of our pen to bring out injustices where we see them and to voice our opinion in a civil way. So be sure to vote.
I wrote an article that was published in the local paper honoring Ruth Bader Ginsberg for all she has done for gender equality.
We have a responsibility from the First Amendment to speak the truth and not feel cowered by negativity. I have had my candidate’s sign torn down three times and then defaced. I just keep putting one back up. I refuse to live in fear.
The NFPW Communications Contest is on! Go through all your published writings for 2020 and pull up your best material to enter the contests. There are numerous categories from which to choose. I’m sure one fits your writing style. Several of our APW writers have won awards over the years. Although we do not have an Arizona specific contest, you can enter the At-large section. Check it out at NFPW.org
Let’s see how many members we will have this year in the contest. See our website ArizonaProfessionalWriters.org or our Facebook page for more information. In fact, you can subscribe to our APW blog so you get notification whenever something new is posted. You’ll see the latest blog entry when you go to ArizonaProfessionalWriters.org. Look on the right-hand side for the signup.
Monthly meetings: I don’t understand why more members have not taken advantage of all our virtual meetings. We have had two guests a month from either Central or Rim Country chapter with all members invited. From my viewpoint, most are outstanding. They have created much discussion on a variety of topics.
Recently at the last Central meeting a Book review group was created. See it on the 4th Saturday of the month. Again check out the info on FB and our website. You will receive the zoom invitation before the program.
2021 Membership: APW is alive and thriving. Why not take advantage of all we have to offer. Membership renewal will be due soon. You will be receiving a notice from Connie Cockrell, state membership chair, for state dues or from NFPW if you are a national member.
APW Board meeting: Our next APW Board meeting is scheduled for December 5.It will be a virtual one and all members are invited. More informatioin in November.
Keep writing,
Marie A. Fasano,
President APW
Helen Ruth (DeFouw) Cornell 1933-2020
Helen Ruth Cornell
Long time APW member Helen Cornell passed away June 20, 2020. She was president of APW in 1980. In 1994 she was APWs nominee for the NFPW Communicator of Achievement Award. The Communicator of Achievement (COA) award is the highest honor bestowed by NFPW upon those members who have distinguished themselves within and beyond their field. Nominees are chosen for exceptional achievement in the communications field, as well as service to NFPW, the affiliate organization and the community.
A Memorial Service will be held later in the summer to celebrate her life. Anyone who is interested in receiving an update on this email her daughter, Kathy Hanrahan, at kchanrahan@yahoo.com
You can read her obituary at Legacy.com.
Dianne Beeaff – 2020 At-Large Contest winner
Congratulations to Dianne Beeaff! A Grand Madness, U2 Twenty Years After has taken Second Place honors, Autobiography/Memoir, in the National Federation of Press Women’s 2020 At-Large Communications Contest!
“An enjoyable romp through the eyes of a U2 superfan, filled with telling details of the band and punctuated by lyrical descriptions of extraordinary concert moments and fascinating scenery along the road . . . . my head will be filled with U2 tunes for some time!” Judge, National Federation of Press Women
Arizona Professional Writers 