What a fun day! Four of us from Redwood Writers joined the Napa Valley Writers for their cruise of the Napa River on October 17th. The four of us didn’t write a single note, but enjoyed a great day!
L-R: Billie Peyton Settles, Jeanne Jusaitis, Arlene Miller and me, Robin Moore
Thank you, Napa Writers, for the invite!
Redwood Writers member, Jack Fender, is the first from our club to build a “Little Free Library” in Sonoma County. He recently completed his project and placed it in front of the home he shares with Pamela, his wife, in Rohnert Park.
The way it works is if you wish to take a book, you leave another book. This free sharing of books is all in the interest of promoting literacy. What more could a reader love than a free book?
If you wish more information about the world wide program of “Little Free Libraries” here is the link:
London born, Jack Fender writes short stories and poems. He will be one of the two Featured Readers, along with Lee Gant, at the next Redwood Writers Open Mic, Saturday, October 24th, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Gaia’s Garden restaurant in Santa Rosa, CA. Come on by! The Open Mics are open to all writers and poets.
Here’s another great blog from The Grammar Diva, Arlene Miller. She has a gift of being quick & to the point, with a sense of humor, when it comes to using good grammar.
Come read aloud with the Redwood Writers at the September 26th Open Mic. All writers and poets are welcome! It is not necessary to be a member of Redwood Writers to participate. Don’t feel like reading aloud? Then come anyway and enjoy the company and readings for fellow poets and writers.
Poet Juanita J. Martin
Our Featured Readers that day will be Sabrina Rawson and Suzanne Sherman. (Rawson and Sherman are pictured in the above flyer.) Open Mic sign ups start at 1:30 p.m. that day, at Gaia’s Garden on N. Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, CA. It is first-come-first-serve to reserve a five minute Open Mic spots. The Open Mic is set for 2 to 4 p.m. Bing a friend!
Source: Writers Helping Writers
Here is another great post from writer friend Thonie Hevron. Thank you, Thonie!
By Thonie Hevron
“Writers helping writers” is the motto of my writing club, Redwood Writers, a chapter of the California Writers Club. Granted, it sounds a bit overused, trite maybe even idealistic. But this chapter takes its motto seriously. It’s something we all learn when we become members. From the President, Sandy Baker, Past President, Linda Loveland Reid down to the newest member—all are willing to share expertise, time and the wisdom gleaned from years of scribbling.
So when a friend, colleague and critique partner, Billie Payton-Settles, asked for help marketing her new book, I jumped at the chance. After all, didn’t romance writer Sharon Hamilton spend almost a full day helping me set the perfect sig line for my emails? Didn’t Kate Farrell teach me WordPress to help with the club website? I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Payback time.
Tonight, after our critique group, Billie took me into her office to show off her new website. It was wonderful! She now had a place where readers, agents and publishers can go to find out about her, contact her and order her book!
Another “Yay!” moment was my cousin Sandie, setting up a blog site within days after spending time exploring her new adventure into authorship. Yay, Sandie! She now has two posts on her site, with the promise of more. This while she works on her new book.
I know this post sounds like I’m patting myself on the back but my intention is just the opposite: I want to let the world know that these two women have taken the plunge–beyond writing a pristine manuscript and into the brand new world of social media and book promotion. This is not for the faint of heart as it requires commitment, organization and drive. Writing, publishing and marketing books isn’t like a Jessica Fletcher TV show. Times have changed. Publishers and agents demand authors promote their work more than ever before. This is almost as much work as the actual writing. And it’s a tough thing for writers, who are normally pretty shy. It’s work to put yourself and your project out there.
There will be times when they’ll be at the keyboard instead of having lunch with friends because of that commitment. Be patient, honor that streak of creativity that drives them. I guarantee, you’ll find a happier friend next lunch date.
Billie and Sandie are on the right track and I’m so pleased I could be a part of it.
Don’t be fooled by squawking geese.This is not a farm tale! Author Sheri Graves snagged this reader with her witty mystery Deep Doo Doo. It was one of those novels that is truly hard to put down. It moves along quickly and made me wonder what could possibly happen next to reporter Carrie McClelland. I highly recommend this novel! In fact, it has proven to be my favorite read this summer. 
Here is another great blog post from The Grammar Diva, Arlene Miller. She tackles the question of “liking” someone’s blog, Tweet or Facebook blurb, but the awkwardness of their apostrophe usage makes a reader cringe. http://bigwords101.com/2015/blog/grammar-meets-social-media/
Have you written a timely piece or a touching poem? Maybe your work is a humorous look at the world. If so, Redwood Writers invites you to come read your work aloud at an RW Open Mic session.
These events are held every month on the fourth Saturday from 2:00 to 4:00 with sign-in time starting at 1:30 p.m. for the Open Mic sessions. Currently, these are held at Gaia’s Garden restaurant on N. Mendocino Ave. in Santa Rosa. We ask a time limit of five minutes per reader, (or about 500 words.) It is not necessary to read a complete story, just reading a sample of your writing or a few poems will be greatly appreciated. Can’t make the fourth Saturday of each month? Check out the bi-monthly Redwood Salon or the Library Open Mic under the “events” tab on the Redwood Writers website: http://redwoodwriters.org/
Whether you are new to Redwood Writers or have been with us for a number of years, we’d love to have you participate. These events offer a great way to meet your fellow poets 
(L.to R.: Michelle Wing & Ripley, Nina Tepedino & Robert Shafer)
and writers in a friendly setting. Think you may be nervous about reading aloud before a group? These Open Mic events may be the best way to conquer those nerves. And when you come, bring a friend. They may read aloud too if they wish. We love to share the fun and entertainment. The Open Mics are not restricted to RW members only.
Have you seen the flyers with our Featured Readers for the Open Mics? They open each session with longer readings in which share their work. Are you wondering how to become a featured reader? The best way to introduce yourself to us is to start participating in the RW Open Mic events.
The dates for the next four RW Open Mics are August 22, September 26, October 24 and November 28. The featured readers for August will be Jeane Slone and Billie Peyton Settles. We rotate the MC for the RW Open Mics between Abby Bologmolny, Dmitri Morningstar and myself. We will all be happy to have you join us!
—Robin Moore
Robin of Rockridge's Blog 