October 2019 FWA Blog Post

When October rolls in we know FWA's conference is right around the corner. If you haven't already, it's not too late to register for the 18th Annual FloridaWriters Conference, October 17 - 20 in Altamonte Springs. This year's conference features three bestselling authors with two National Guests of Honor— Sherrilyn Kenyon and Jonathan Maberry. Delilah Dawkins is the Florida Writer of the Year. All three will participate in workshops and panels, and Maberry presents the Celebrity Workshop (requires a separate registration) on "The Art of the Pitch."

Check out the schedule and register now.

Meanwhile, happening in NE Florida ...

• We reported last month that the River City Writers group was in transition and I was searching for a new group leader. I'm happy to say that Linda Feist has stepped up and volunteered to lead the River City Writers. Linda has a good writing background, having been published in three Chicken Soup for the Soul books, in various newspapers and magazines, and she's a six-time RPLA finalist. She plans to return the meetings to the SE Branch Library off Gate Parkway at the original time of the second Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. The first meeting probably won't be until November but watch this space for more details. In the meantime, Linda welcomes your input into the type of meetings you'd like to have and specific subjects to be covered. Email Linda Feist here: feistlyn@aol.com.
• Clay County Writers return to the Orange Park Library on Wednesday, October 16 (6:15-8:00  p.m.) to hear from Tracy Collins, who will speak about writing and marketing her book, Stumbling into Sobriety: And the Things I learned on the Way Back Up. Group leader Maureen Jung welcomes all area writers to join them on the 16th.
• The Ancient City Writers group, which always meets on the third Saturday of the month, takes its traditional month off and urges everyone to attend the Florida Writers Conference instead. They'll be back in the game next month.
• Thinking about writing a flash fiction story? Then plan to attend the Saturday, October 26 meeting of the Ponte Vedra Writers at the Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library. Darlyn Finch Kuhn leads an exploration of the art of extremely short story-telling, and instructs us how to develop a beginning, middle, and end that leaves the reader satisfied. The meeting begins at 10:30 a.m.
• The Amelia Island Writers group will have a Halloween-themed open reading on Thursday, October 31 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Amelia Island History Museum. The program is open to the public.

And in other news:

• The NE Florida Sisters in Crime chapter will have a business meeting on Saturday, October 5 to elect new officers. All members are invited to attend at 10:00 a.m. at the Southeast Regional Library on Deerwood Park Blvd.
• A Gathering of Poets meets on the first and third Thursday of the month at 2:00 p.m. at the Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library.
• And don't forget to register for the Florida Writers Conference, especially if you're an RPLA finalist. 

Cheers,

Vic

Vic DiGenti

NE Florida Regional Director

SEPTEMBER 2019 FWA POST—HURRICANE EDITION

With Hurricane Dorian knocking at our door we all have decisions to make. Some of you may already be on the road to safer harbors. I'll keep this FWA blog post brief so we can proceed with our storm planning. Perhaps this experience will play out in a future book. Good luck.

• It seems the River City Writers group has been abandoned and is no longer meeting. I hope in the near future to have a new leader in place to regroup and re-energize Jacksonville writers. Stay tuned for more news.
• Have you always wanted to write a thriller, but didn't know where to begin? Then attend the Saturday, September 14 meeting of the Ponte Vedra Writers. Award-winning author Vic DiGenti will share the secrets to writing a good thriller in his presentation "Writing the Thriller for Fun and Profit." The meeting begins at 10:30AM at the Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library.
• The Clay County Writers group gathers together at the Orange Park Library on Wednesday, September 18 at 6:15PM. Maureen Jung has the details. 
• Travel to St. Augustine on Saturday, September 21 to hear Bob Boese talk about "The Importance of Setting" at the meeting of the Ancient City Writers chapter. The doors of the Main Library open at 10AM.
• Amelia Island Writers meet Tuesday, September 24 from 4 to 6PM at the Story and Song Bookstore Bistro. Dr. Donna Jennings will discuss blogs, blogging varieties, and writing content.

In other news

• The NE Florida Sisters in Crime chapter Saturday, September 7meeting has been canceled due to Hurricane Dorian.
• A Gathering of Poets meets on the first and third Thursday of the month at the Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library at 2PM. All poets are welcome.

Stay safe everyone, and we'll see you after the storm passes.

Vic

Vic DiGenti

FWA Regional Director