Vickey Kalambakal - May 21, 2012

I n May, local writer and Southwest Manuscripter Vickey Kalambakal will talk about writing, publishing, and her new historical novel Death Speaker. Vickey originally joined the Manuscripters when we met over at the Pacific Inn. She left a routine 9-to-5 aerospace job in the late 1990s to go back to school and earn a master's degree in history. Over the past dozen years she's written for magazines like Westways, Arizona Highways, and Boys' Life, and contributed articles to 15 volumes of Uncle John's Bathroom Reader. On the academic side, she's authored articles and chapters for textbooks and encyclopedias. Vickey will talk about book writing and offer some suggestions. She'll discuss what self-publishing entails in 2012, and--time permitting--will mention a few marketing tips. As for her new book, written under the pen name Vickey Kall . . . Death Speaker tells the story of Emyn, a Celtic peasant who possesses a gift at once terrifying and rare: she hears the dead. Spirits warn her of Caesar and his legions who rampage through her homeland seeking power, gold, and slaves. But the ghosts can only talk, and they don't always tell the truth. In the end, Emyn must rely on her own stubborn courage to meet her destiny. Don’t Forget - This Meeting is on a MONDAY May 21st, 2012 Come and Network at 5:30 pm Meeting Starts at 6:00 pm Guest Speaker at 6:30 pm See you on Monday, May 21, 2012 at our regular meeting place, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Library on Silver Spur Road just East of Hawthorne Blvd. and the mall. (click here for directions and a map) (back to main page)

Poetry Panel Meeting - Monday, April 16, 2012

"April 2012 SouthWest Manuscripters’ Poetry Panel" Dan Lambert, Ildy Lee, Alan Cook and Janis Lukstein have responded to say they will be on the poetry panel at our April meeting.
There may be others, including Gwen Binegar, Bernadette Shih and Glenn Willis... all published poets and writers.
Janis is willing to assemble and have printed at her own cost a booklet for the panel.
We would appreciate at least one poem and with maybe a graphic or photo (or two poems) that the poet would like to read and share for the program with a short biography with some poetic writing tips.
Call or e-mail Ildy 310-541-0044 or Janis 310 375-8160 to respond if you would like to read.

Don’t Forget - This Meeting is on a MONDAY!
April 16th 2012

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Edith Battles Nonfiction Article Contest entries are due at the April 16, 2012 SWM meeting

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See you on Monday, April 16, 2012 at our regular meeting place, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Library on Silver Spur Road just East of Hawthorne Blvd. and the mall.

(click here for directions and a map)

Adam Chester - MONDAY! March 19th 2012

March Meeting
Adam Chester...

is the son of a very loving mom, who for almost 30 years has peppered his life with unsolicited advice, news updates, and opinions in the form of thousands of inappropriate, embarrassing, and utterly crazy letters. He works as a professional composer and singer-songwriter who is employed as the official "surrogate Elton John." (Adam sits in as Elton John, playing piano and singing while rehearsing his band for various appearances.)
S'Mother is a hilarious memoir based on this correspondence showing the pathological extremes maternal instincts can take. Why is a grown woman so frantic that her adult son screws on his windows to keep out killer bees? And are adult trick-or-treaters really that much of a threat? Adam saved his mom's letters as proof this all happened and reproduces many of them in the book. And now, with time, perspective, and plenty of therapy, he acknowledges and accepts the comedy of it all and is proud to share his story with you, if for no other reason than to make you feel better about your own mother.
Based in Los Angeles, he is married and has two boys. His mom lives about 20 minutes away and still writes Adam at least four times a month.

Don't Forget - This Meeting is on a MONDAY!
March 19th 2012

Edith Battles Nonfiction Article Contest
entries are due at the
April 16, 2012 SWM meeting

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See you on Monday, March 19, 2012 at our regular meeting place, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Library on Silver Spur Road just East of Hawthorne Blvd. and the mall.

(click here for directions and a map)

SWM on TV!

February Meeting

Local Cable to tape SWM Members' Panel
A producer for Torrance CitiCABLE would like to profile a small, representative group of SWM Members on their station. This would entail meeting with each of the Members, interviewing them, filming b-roll, and producing a five minute piece for each person that would air on CitiCABLE Channel 3 in March and April of 2012.
On February 14th they will come to film. They will be there from 5 pm to 6:45 pm.

Schedule:
5:00 - 5:30 pm: Interview 2-3 club members (approximately 10 minutes each person)
5:30 - 6:30 pm: Film b-roll of members interacting and of the award presented to our Club.
6:30 - 6:45 pm: Film the first 10 minutes of the speaker (Members' Panel).
(Click here for more information.)

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TV Schedule & reading sign-ups on first come basis
Original Schedule sent by TV Producer:
5:00 - 5:30 pm: Interview 2-3 club members (approximately 10 minutes each person)
5:30 - 6:30 pm: Film b-roll of members interacting and of the award your group won
6:30 - 6:45 pm: Film the first 10 minutes of the speaker (Which we don't have!)

Our Proposal:
(You still can share your suggestions !)
5:00 - 5:30 pm: Interview (approximately 10 minutes each person)
1. President
2. Program Chair
3. Newsletter Editor

During this time doors will be closed for noise control. Wait until 5:30 to come in and take your place very fast. No talking or socializing, out of respect for the Producer's time. DO NOT BE LATE since doors might be closed to avoid interruptions.

5:30 - 6:30 pm: "Film b-roll of members interacting and of the award our group won"
Opening of the meeting, Ildy Lee acknowledges Maury Gamholz, our outgoing president and points out Glenn Willis, our next Contest Chair.
Presenting guests and new members (Make it brief)
Acceptance or interesting rejections (Make it brief)
Judy Sunderland explains who we are
Old business: Talk about the awards: Bernadette Shih
New business (only positive matters, guys! No complaints, conflicting or bickering.)
Reading by our members, 3 minutes or less, (not a second more!) - Presented by Richard Myer
So far signed-up (we still have 4 more spots!):
Dan, Glenn, Faith, Gwen, Richard, Ildy
5:30 - 5:45 - Since we don't have a speaker, Producer is interested to come back to film him in March.

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Betty Simmons Short Story Fiction Contest Winner will be Announced!
(At the February 14th Meeting!)

See you on Tuesday, Febuary 14, 2012 (Valentine's Day) at our regular meeting place, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Library on Silver Spur Road just East of Hawthorne Blvd. and the mall.

(click here for directions and a map)

Special - SWM Wins Torrance Arts Award

On Sunday, October 30, 2011 the Southwest Manuscripters was the recipient of the Prestigious "Excellence in Arts" Award from the Torrance Cultural Arts Commission as well as a Commendation from the County of Los Angeles!

The Literary Society of the Southwest Manuscripters wishes to thank the City of Torrance and the Cultural Arts Commission for this honor.

The Staff of the Southwest Manuscripters also wish to thank the many illuminating and helpful guest speakers down the 60+ years of our existence, and, of course, it's many members who support the club with their spirit and intelligence.



Ildy, Bernie and Alan with Awards On the right, Ildy Lee, Bernadette Shih and Alan Cook, holding our multifarious awards.

Below, small thumbnails of the awards...

Torrance Excellence in Arts Award
Torrance Assembly Certificate of Recognition Award LA County Commendation





Below also is the display which we had in the Toyota Hall where the awards were presented.

Southwest Manuscripters Display




A You-Tube clip of the proceeding is in the works and will soon be displayed here...


(click here to go back to our main page)

Donna Sozio - Nov. 21, 2011

Guest Speaker
Donna Sozio



"How to Get a Literary Agent and Major National Media to Sell Your Book in Record Time!"




Donna Sozio, is an author, publishing consultant, writing coach and publicity expert. Emmy and Oscar award-winning writers have sought out her publishing advice. Her clients have been published by Adams Media, Allen & Unwin, Three Rivers Press and more. Clients have won many awards including: The Australian Literature Review, The Borders' James Patterson Thriller Competition, and the National Indie Excellence Awards and have been featured on and in E!, The Today Show, Fox News, Vogue, Cosmopolitan and more.

The Man Whisperer Personally, Donna received multiple offers from top literary agents multiple times, sold her first book to a major publisher in three weeks, sold the TV and film rights to her second book The Man Whisperer before she finished writing it and has been featured in over 100 major national media outlets including The Tyra Banks Show, The Early Show, GMTV, Good Day LA, and Fox News. Her success is due to a specific pitch process that she now makes available to all writers.



Learn more about her at:


http://donnasozio.com/getpublished/


or email her at:


donnasozio@gmail.com

( Come to the next meeting and hear her talk - Nov. 21, 2011 at 6pm, come early for networking )
( Palos Verdes Peninsula Library - Community Room - 701 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates )
( Click Here For Directions )

Judy R. Cook - Oct. 17, 2011

Guest Speaker
Judy R. Cook
"Memoir, The Fine Line between Fact and Fabrication"

Judy R. Cook Judy R. Cook, (October's Speaker),
discovered amazing stories of struggle, survival, and scandal when she chronicled her grandparents' lives as homesteaders on the Northern Plains.

She lives with her husband, Robert, near Los Angeles. A North Dakota native and graduate of the University of North Dakota, Judy enjoys singing, travel, genealogy, and gardening.

Her new book is: "If This Land Could Talk - Homesteading on the Northern Plains"

If This Land Could Talk Millions of settlers flocked westward for homesteads, taking advantage of the free land opened to settlement by the expanding railroads. Author Judy Cook's family never lost faith in the land. Cook's Dakota roots inspire a compelling story of her grandparents' homesteading experiences in North Dakota.

If This Land Could Talk provides a riveting look at three generations of life on the Northern Plains where Cook spent her formative years. Her candid portrayal brings to life her four grandparents who carved a living from the inhospitable prairie and her parents who continued to farm. She offers a poignant yet entertaining glimpse into her ancestors’ daily lives. The author recounts growing up on the same land in the 1950s, shaped by a way of life since vanished.

Based on meticulous research, personal experiences, and stories passed from family to family, If This Land Could Talk also features photos of bygone years. It resonates with a powerful sense of place, an enduring love of the land, and reverence for the family.

The book has been recognized with iUniverse Editor's and Readers' Choice Awards indicating writing excellence and reader demand. Awarded recognition as iUniverse Star book. Second edition published June 2010 has new cover and new ISBN number.