Hello All,

Due to many members having family emergencies, I am canceling the September meeting. I also sent a notice to the mailing list, so hopefully you will receive the message in time.

***** IMPORTANT NOTE *****

Those who participated in the September critique will get feedback via email.

*****IMPORTANT NOTE *****

My prayers go out to those coping with family members in need—the two- and four-legged kind.

If you would like to participate in the October critique, please send your manuscript to me by October 1 for distribution.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via the group email.

See you all in October month.

–
April
Leader
Gainesville Writers Group

Hello All,

Just a reminder that tomorrow, Aug 26, is the writers group meeting; however, the location has changed. The United Way conference room in unavailable until September as their fundraising campaign has begun and their supplies are stored in the conference room for the duration.

I have searched high and low for a new location to no avail. I have settled for meeting at the Tower Road library (though their room is also unavailable). We can gather at the tables and hold a meeting/discussion.

Tower Road Branch Library
6:00pm-8:00/30pm
3020 S.W. 75th Street
Gainesville, Florida 32608
352-333-2840

Directions and maps can be found by visiting this link: http://www.acld.lib.fl.us/locations/tower-road.

Please RSVP to gainesvillewritersgroup (at) gmail (dot) com if you are able to attend. I have magazines and newsletters to hand out and need to know how many to bring as they can be cumbersome to carry.

Please bring any work (stories or poetry max 5 pages) if you would like feedback.

Depending on how many attend, I would also like to cover some of the following issues for the 2010:

• Increase number of meetings a month (e.g. one reading aloud group and one detailed critique group)
• Increase participation in email critiques
• Research field trips
• Manuscript submitting
• Self-promotion
• Workshops sponsored by GWG
• Acquiring guest speakers

Please let me know if you have any questions. I apologize for this inconvenience.

–
April
Leader
Gainesville Writers Group

Recently, while discussing a joint-design project, one of my colleagues alerted me to a new company called Blurb. One of his clients recently had a book produced by Blurb and my friend was amazed at the price and quality.

“Blurb is a company and a community that believes passionately in the joy of books – reading them, making them, sharing them, and selling them.”

And I believe it.

Blurb focuses on producing bookstore quality books–or works of art in some cases. They offer a wide range of sizes (7″x7″ to 12″x12″) and styles (soft cover or hard cover). You can also choose to have a traditional dust jacket or use their ImageWrap service, in which “the cover image is directly printed on the hardcover, creating a sophisticated effect and a durable matte finish.”

There is also a bookstore/gallery featuring client-created books. The store houses a variety of masterpieces created simply as family keepsakes, design portfolios, works of fiction, nonfiction and children’s books. Be sure to take a look at the Staff Picks section while you’re over there.

You can upload your book’s design files (e.g. a book layout done in InDesign) using the Blurb Booksmart® software or via PDFs. Unfortunately, editing services are not currently offered. Users are responsible for the editing of their own content but hopefully Blurb will offer this service in future.

Until then…Write on!

April

We did it.

With the tireless efforts of Bev Browning of the Anhinga Writers trio, Alachua county writers are now the proud owners of the month of July.

On Tuesday, July 15, Commissioner Mike Byerly presented to representatives from the Anhinga Writers Studio, Gainesville Writers Group and the Writers Alliance of Gainesville the proclamation declaring the month of July, “Writers Month”, in Alachua County. Comm. Byerly thanked Gainesville’s writers for their contributions to the community and the world at large.

Their will be a vote as to where the original proclamation will be displayed. If you have a suggestion, please send it here.

A limited supply of copies of the proclamation are also available FREE of charge to those who could not attend. Please contact me if you would like your own copy.

Bev Browning of the Anhinga Writers Studio

Diana Tonnessen (left) of the Anhinga Writers Studio

Liz Wilson, dedicated PR and Marketer of the Writers Alliance of Gainesville

April FitzGerald, leader of the Gainesville Writers Group

Wendy Thornton, President of the Writers Alliance of Gainesville, deep in conversation.

If you have the time and access to iTunes, download the STM 2.03 E-Books 2009, “E-Book Trends: An Industry Analyst’s Viewpoint” podcast by Kaveh Bazargan of River Valley Technologies. This podcast is chock full of useful info on the ebook trends of the future.

“A high level review of E-Books, covering how people are using them, estimates of revenues from this important emerging medium, and key features and trends in e-books and their much-hyped readers (the technology, not the people).”

It is well worth the download–and it’s free!

Janet McGuire Hendershot, of “No sex, no profanity, just plot, and lots of it!” fame, is publishing her novel, Flicker of Freedom, with Sapphire Blue Publishing.

This 70-something mother of five is ecstatic as “All the work rewriting my novel has evidently paid off.”

Mrs. McGuire Hendershot also won 2nd place for her novel, Dangerous World, in the unpublished mystery category of the 2008 Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Awards. And in 2005, she was one of the top eight of the Cape Fear Short Story Contest.

Congratulations, Janet! You are an inspiration to us all.

Thanks to the hard work of Beverly Browning of Anhinga Writer’s Studio, Alachua County writers now have a month all to themselves.

On Tuesday, July 14 at 5:00 p.m., local writers and friends, invited by the Board of County Commissioners of Alachua County, will be honored for their profession with a proclamation designating the month of July as Writers’ Month.

After the proclamation, attendees will have opportunity to network with fellow writers and receive a copy of the proclamation courtesy of Xerographic Copy Center.

Attendees will also have opportunity to vote on where the original proclamation will be displayed. The Alachua County Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Alachua County Library Headquarters are currently being considered but other suggestions are welcome.

If you plan to attend this historical event, please send your RSVP by July 13 to April FitzGerald.

Until then…Write on!

April FitzGerald
Leader
Gainesville Writers Group

Fiction Factor touts itself as being the online magazine for fiction writers

“Every month we will feature tips on writing better fiction, articles on improving your writing, tips on fiction writing, learn to write a novel and get stories published, promoting and marketing your fiction and much more!”

Filled with tips, tricks and courses for active writers, FF is a well-rounded resource. Offering a variety of article categories, readers can educate themselves on issues ranging from writing basics to setting up an author web site.

For more info click here.

Scrivener top writing software for Mac

So…What is it?
“Scrivener is a word processor and project management tool created specifically for writers of long texts such as novels and research papers. It won’t try to tell you how to write – it just makes all the tools you have scattered around your desk available in one application.”

Created by a 2-man team based in Truro in Cornwall, England, this duo has created a robust, intuitive program that eases the writing process for novices and seasoned professionals more…

Just back from touring New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware, the popular thriller author, Lisa Unger is now heading back to her home state of Florida to present her latest novel, Die for You.

Best known for her books Beautiful Lies, Sliver of Truth and Black Out, Unger has topped the bestseller lists of the New York Times and USA Today. In addition to being an international author of literary thrillers, Unger’s novels have been published in over 26 countries around the world. more…