In celebration of yesterday's Groundhog Day, I'm repeating my call to attend one of the following FWA meetings this month.
- Tuesday, February 10 is the date for the next meeting of the River City Writers group. They'll assemble at the SE Branch Library at 7:00 p.m. to hear from group co-leader Melissa Kosciuszko who will speak on her journey to traditional publication. There will be group critiques after Melissa's talk. Questions? Direct them to Gregg Golson at gtgolson@comcast.net.
- The Clay County Writers meet Wednesday, February 18, 6:5 p.m. at the Orange Park Library. Contact group leader Maureen Jung for details.
- Writers By the Sea (formerly the Amelia Island Writers) will meet an hour earlier this month due to the kickoff of the Amelia Island Book Festival. They'll gather at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 19 at the Amelia Island Museum of History, 233 S. Third Street in Fernandina Beach, to hear group chairperson, Nadine Vaughan Williams present, "Writers in the Storm: Novel Approaches for Turbulent Times."
- There will be no meeting of the Ancient City Writers group this month since their meeting room has been requisitioned for tax preparation sessions. They will return on Saturday, March 21 with a program on historical research by author Arliss Ryan.
- Ponte Vedra Writers group leader Vic DiGenti (aka Parker Francis) presents "The Suspense is Killing Me," at the Saturday, February 28 meeting. The group meets at 10:30 a.m. at the Ponte Vedra Library. If you're looking for ways to build more suspense into your stories, this workshop will share some of the secrets bestselling authors—and the late "Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock—use to keep the reader in a constant state of anticipation.
- The Jax Youth Writers meet on the first and third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the SE Branch Library. Contact Kimberly Smith for more information.
- Nassau County Youth Writers also meet on the first and third Thursdays, though they meet at 4:45 p.m. at the Peck Center in Fernandina Beach. Jim Weinsier has details.
- And finally, FWA affiliate, First Coast Christian Writers gather at Webb-Wesconnett Library each Thursday at 6:45 p.m.
But wait, there's more:
- Florida Sisters in Crime welcome Donald Knight CIV NCIS to help separate fact from fiction. They meet at 10:30 a.m. at the SE Regional Branch Library
- The next FWA mini-conference is set for Saturday, February 14 at the Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore. The Annual Day at the Bay Conference has two tracks: romance and writing about fighting. Visit the FWA website for more information about this and the other 2015 mini-conferences, www.floridawriters.net.
- Speaking of FWA, the RPLA competition is now open for submissions through May 15. It's time to get your best writing out there for judging by your peers. You can't win if you don't enter. Be aware that FWA has instituted a tiered entry fee this year ranging from $30 per entry through February 28, increasing to $40 through the end of April, and jumping to $60 per entry May 1 to May 15. The early bird gets more than a worm, it saves money. Click here for competition guidelines and details.
- The Friends of St. Augustine's Main Library present "Murder at the Library," a fundraiser, on Sunday, February 22 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person and all are invited. For more information, contact Branch Manager Valerie Mull at 904-827-6940, or FOL President Toni Siriani.
- The Amelia Island Book Festival, February 19 - 21, kicks off Thursday night with a concert by musician/author Zara Phillips, and continues with writing workshops, a Teen Fest, and the VyStar Reader's Luncheon featuring keynoter Carolyn Curry.
- Sleuthfest 2015, February 26-March 1, has an all star cast this year, including James Patterson, Dave Barry, and James W. Hall.
- Write On! The 2015 Writers Conference and Book Fair at South Florida State College, Friday, September 27 in Avon Park. A full day of workshops and a book fair for authors. Contact me for more information.
- For you history lovers out there, particularly history of Florida, the St. Johns County Public Library System has selected Les Standiford's book, Last Train to Paradise: Henry Flagler and the Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Railroad that Crossed an Ocean (in the running for the worlds longest book title) as this year's St. Johns One Community, One Book Program. Standiford will be here to discuss his book on Saturday, February 28 at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Johns County Auditorium in the County Administration Building, 500 San Sebastian Way, St. Augustine. As part of the month-long celebration, all of the branch libraries will have special programs. The Ponte Vedra Library welcomes Dr. Thomas Graham on Monday, February 23, 6:30 p.m., to discuss his book, Henry Flagler's St. Augustine.
- The Ancient City Romance Writers meet Saturday, February 28 (a popular date for meetings and events, it seems) to hear Elizabeth Sinclair discuss "The Dreaded Synopsis." They meet at 1:00 p.m. at Generation Next Christian Teen Center, 12650 Gillespie Avenue in Jacksonville.
- And this just in: Harper Lee's second book will be published this July. Go Set a Watchman is the title of the book she completed in the 1950s and never published. Of course, we all know Ms. Lee as the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, her only published novel to date.
It's a short month, but it's crammed with meetings, conferences and special events. Be sure to put aside time to keep writing. And if you haven't already, please Follow this page.
Vic
Vic DiGenti
FWA Regional Director
