June FWA Post

If the heat and humidity are getting to you, find a cool spot to hunker down and write—or read. Successful writers tell us that reading is a major part of a writer's toolbox. Even Stephen King, an author who never seems to stop writing, has said, "If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that."

Reading gives us knowledge and inspiration. We'll learn to recognize good writing and absorb the rules of grammar while building our vocabulary. So read widely and read often. Read on for this month's FWA NE Florida June blog post.

• If you want to know more about blogging, then you should attend the River City Writers meeting on Tuesday, June 14 at 7:00 p.m. at the SE Regional Library off Gate Parkway. Author Janet Walter has just completed her 100th blog post (over 50,000 words), and will speak on "Why I Blog." Hint: Her blog has provided her with a solid platform.
• The Clay County Writers group meets on Wednesday, June 15 at 6:15 p.m. at the Orange Park Library. Group leader Maureen Jung has the details. Click here to contact her.
• Writers by the Sea meets Thursday, June 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the Amelia Island Museum of History. Award-winning children's author Jane Wood will discuss the art and craft of "Children's Story Writing."
• Kathryn Bain wants to play "The What If Game" with us. The award-winning author of Christian mystery and suspense novels is featured at the Saturday, June 18 meeting of the Ancient City Chapter of FWA. She says this is a surefire way to avoid writer's block. The interactive workshop will help generate story ideas, seal plot holes and prop up sagging middles. The ACC meets at St. Augustine's Main Library at 10:00 a.m.
• We're all interested in finding ways to be more creative, aren't we? Del Kiernan-Lewis addresses this topic in his workshop, "How to Boost Your Creativity," on Saturday, June 25 at the Ponte Vedra Writers meeting. Del will present twelve different ways to boost creativity by simply changing a few habits. He'll show us what such creative types as Twyla Tharp, Ray Bradbury, Beethoven and Agatha Christie had to say about creativity, and highlight the latest scientific research. Del has a Ph.D. in Philosophy, and is now publisher and editor at San Marco Press. The meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Ponte Vedra Library.
• FWA affiliate First Coast Christian Writers meet each Thursday at 6:45 p.m. at the Webb-Wesconnett Library.

And in other news ...

• Florida Sisters in Crime welcome Deputy Chief United States Attorney Mac Heavener, III to the Saturday, June 4 meeting, which starts at 10:15 a.m. at the SE Branch Library. Mr. Heavener will discuss the recent trial of the individual who attempted to kill a Federal judge.
• FWA's last mini-conference of 2016 will take place on Saturday, June 25 at the Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs. The "Non-fiction and More" conference includes extended sessions on marketing, editing, business and humor writing. Click here for all the details and to register.
• The Ancient City Romance Writers also meet on June 25, starting at noon at the South Mandarin Branch Library. The guest speaker is Sarina Rose.
• The Florida Heritage Book Festival presents a full day workshop with master storyteller Connie Regan-Blake this Saturday, June 4 at the Ringhaver Student Center of Flagler College. Visit the website for details.
• Heartfelt condolences go out to Judy Habeck Weber on the passing of her husband Michael last week. Judy has been an important part of the committee planning and coordinating the Ancient City Chapter for many years.
• The Ponte Vedra Library's Book Talk Cafe program presents a local author's book fair on Monday, June 20 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Four area authors will talk about and sign their books. The authors are Thomas Bragg (Nankipooh Ranger), Sheila Weinstein (Moving to the Center of the Bed: The Artful Creation of a Life Alone), Martin Olsen (We Were Amateur Soldiers), and Bill Yancey (Quantum Timeline). The book fair is free and open to the public.

Kudos to the following authors for recent publications and upcoming book launches and signings. Send in announcements of newly published books, signings or awards.

• Civil rights activist and author Rodney L. Hurst, Sr. will participate in "A Learning Exchange" followed by a book signing of his new book, Unless We Tell It ... It Never Gets Told as part of UNF's Commission on Diversity and Inclusion, Tuesday, June 7 at 7:00 p.m. at the Adam W. Herbert University Center.
• Former forensic psychologist Linda Foley will sign her latest novel, Vigilante Justice, at Green Erth Bistro, Saturday, June 11 at 10:00 a.m.
• Congratulations to Florence Karsner, who has published Highland Circle of Stones as a Kindle ebook.
• Kudos to Biblical scholar and author Walter Schenk on the publication of his first books of poetry.

Until next time, remember to ...

“Read, read, read. Read everything—trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it.” 

~ William Faulkner

Vic DiGenti

FWA Regional Director