Stormy Weather

I'm one of those people who find good quotes to make a point. With the passing of tropical storm Hermine, it seemed appropriate to find a storm related quote, and I found several that fit.

"There some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm."

~ Willa Cather

Or what about this one?

"I never waited for my Irish Cream Coffee to be the right temperature, with a storm happening outside and my fireplace crackling ... I wrote every day, at home, in the office, whether I felt like it or not. I just did it."

~Stephen J. Cannell

It looks like NE Florida was spared once again, so let's hope all future storms fall into the metaphor category. And now on to September highlights.

• The Ponte Vedra Library is holding its semi-annual book sale the fourth weekend of the month, necessitating a move of the Ponte Vedra Writers meeting to Saturday, September 10 at 10:30 a.m. Award-winning writer Sandra McDonald will explore the evolving publishing world and the many options available in her workshop, "Picking Your Publishing Platform." Remember the meeting is on the second Saturday this month, not the fourth.
• River City Writers meet Tuesday, September 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the SE Branch Library. Contact Gregg Golson for more information.
• Writers by the Sea meets on Thursday, September 15 at the Amelia Island Museum of History at 6:00 p.m. Graphic novelist and illustrator Michael Regina presents "How Art and Illustration Can Help Sell Your Story." Please contact Nadine Vaughan-Williams for more details.
• Learn how to write an effective press release at the Saturday, September 17 meeting of the Ancient City Writers chapter of FWA. Nancy Quatrano will educate us on writing "Press Releases that Work." The group meets at the St. Augustine Main Library at 10:00 a.m.
• Maureen Jung and the Clay County Writers will focus on their anthology project, as well as learn "How to Write a Summary." Join the crowd at the Penney Farms Community Commons Classroom, Wednesday, September 21 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Contact Maureen if you need directions.
• FWA affiliate, First Coast Christian Writers, meet each Thursday at 6:45 p.m. at the Oakleaf Christian Fellowship on Lake Gray Boulevard.

And in other news:

• The Florida Heritage Book Festival & Writers Conference, September 15 - 17, offers a diverse schedule of workshops and events for both writers and readers. Over 30 award-winning authors, workshops and critique groups, plus receptions honoring Stetson Kennedy and Elaine Konigsburg. Click here for more information and to register.
• Each year on the Thursday preceding the FWA Conference, the FWA Foundation presents a
  
  day-long "Celebrity Workshop." This year you may opt to join award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Tosca Lee in a fast-paced workshop covering everything from writing unforgettable characters to creating gut-wrenching scenes. Her workshop is titled "10 Secrets of a New York Times Bestseller." Tosca is the bestselling author of The Progeny of a Queen, Demon: A Memoir, Havah: The Story of Eve, and The Books of Mortals Series. You also have another Foundation Workshop choice this year as John Rehg presents "From Nursery Rhyme to Novel: Singing Your Story Structure." John's presentation will run from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Tosca's from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 20. Each one is $89. Visit the site for more information.
• Florida Sisters in Crime welcome Lt. Chase Mathews from the U.S. Navy Rescue Swimmers School to their Saturday, September 10 meeting. The group meets at 10:15 a.m. at the SE Regional Library.
• A Gathering of Poets meets each first and third Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at the Ponte Vedra Library.This is a workshop group so bring four extra copies of your poems. Contact Sharon Scholl with any questions.
• Ancient City Romance Writers present its annual conference, September 9 - 10 at the St. Augustine Beach Hampton Inn. Spend the weekend at the beach with authors Jade Lee/Kathy Lyons and Cindy Dees. Deb Werksman, editor from Sourcebooks Casablanca will keynote and take pitches. Click here for details.
• If you have a one page short story, there's a contest for that. Visit this site for details, but hurry, the deadline's September 12.

One more storm quote before I clean up my yard.

"I pass my life in preventing the storm from blowing down my tent, and I drive in the pegs as fast as they are pulled up."

~Abraham Lincoln

Happy peg pounding,

Vic

Vic DiGenti

FWA NE Florida Regional Director

2017 FWA Conference Chair