May 2025 Newsletter

We’ve have great speakers and activities coming up. Join us and bring a friend. Get inspired, and check out the writing contests at the end of the newletter.

• May 10 meeting will feature Story Coach Catherine

• June 14 meeting include our annual Board Elections and will also feature author and critique group specialist, Becca Gomez Farrell.

• July 13 BBQ at Edie Matthew’s home in Santa Clara

I look forward to seeing you soon!

Una Daly

SBW Board President

Catharine Brankamp, a writing coach and workshop facilitator who describes herself as a world traveler, poet, and belly dancer. In her presentation, She will address some of the real concerns writers have about AI by discussing how we access our unconscious minds, the Muse, and how to get re-inspired for our work when the circumstances around us seem overwhelming.

Catharine has an MA in Creative Writing, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Nevada County Arts Council as well as the organizing committees for the Sierra Poetry Festival and the Sierra Writers Conference. She has authored 27 fiction, non-fiction, and poetry books. In January 2025, she released her latest book, “Out Loud – An Adventure in Writing for Women”

Where: West Valley Branch San Jose Library, 1243 San Tomas Aquino Rd (cross street: Saratoga Ave)

When: Saturday, May 10, 10:30 am



Bill Baldwin

So I arrived at our April author’s panel curious what they would say about AI. Joe-Ming Cheng, Alice Wu, Chris Weilert, and Suzanne Bayles would, hopefully, either calm my fears or display clear warning signs:

“STOP! TURN BACK NOW! YOU DON’T WANT TO GO THERE! DANGER!!!”

To get to the point:

“AI, or NOT AI? The answer is Yes.” ( note: pentameter)

AI software can be used for:

—To summarize documents

—To help generate ideas.

—To imitate a particular well-known author’s style.

—To find the “right word.”

—To condense material.

—To translate.

Several panelists have spent years or decades developing AI. They provided information and insight on the many AI packages now available ...

View from the Board

Attendees: Alfred, Alice, Bill, Carolyn, Edie, Shari, Una,

Next Board meeting: Wed, June 11, 7:30pm on Zoom

Membership renewals will begin in late May. Everyone who renews before or during the July 13 BBQ will be eligible for a raffle.

Board approved a small convenience fee for using PayPal for renewals. Cash and check renewals remain unchanged.

Planning is ongoing for a January 2026 all-day writing workshop.

Elections 2025

June 14 is our annual board elections. Six positions on the board (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and two members-at-large) are elected by a majority vote of members present at the June 14 meeting.

We need your help on our board. Reach out to existing board members to hear about their roles or conact

pres@southbaywriters.com.

The final candidate slate will be presented on May 10 and nominations will be presumed closed after the meeting concludes.

Member News

Member Kelly Miller is pleased to announce that her book, “The Mysterious Disappearance of Mr. Darcy,” a Pride & Prejudice Regency mystery/romance, is a 1st place winner, Clean Romance, the 2024 Incipere Book Awards!



Previously, this book was named a finalist, 2024 Indies Today Book Awards, and received an Honorable Mention in the 2024 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards.

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Congratulations to Carolyn Donnell whose pieces: “Where is the Green?", “Just Enough of a Reminder”, and “Stolen Soul”, were accepted by Red Penguin Collection for their upcoming book GREEN - Anthologies for the World Vol. 1.

CWC Vision & Verse II



The California Writers Club will be accepting submissions for poems and short prose to appear in Vision & Verse II: an ekphrastic publication combining member art, poetry, and prose. Ekphrastic writing is a literary reaction to a selected artwork.

Art contest winners and entry form are available at Vision and Verse II. 

Accepting Submissions

April 15 - May 15

Upcoming Writers Contests and Events

• Palo Alto Weekly 39th Short Story Contest - deadline Friday, May 9.

• On Sunday, May 18th from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM on Zoom, CWC-Berkeley's May Panel's features Cory Doctorow, Carol Queen, and David Holper. The Berkeley Branch is wrapping up our Speaker Series season with a panel of experts bringing urgent perspectives about technology, physicality, and spirituality. You can bring your questions about writing, resistance, and shaping the future for these renowned authors and activists. Cost: $5-$10.

Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/monthly-speaker-series-the-art-craft-business-of-writing-tickets-407666771287?aff=oddtdtcreator

• 2025 Indie Author Project annual contest submissions close May 31, an opportunity to share your work with libraries and readers across North America.

• Bay Area Book Festival in Berkeley (event June 1st)

South Bay Writers will have a table at the festival. Sign-up to sell books or volunteer at the table by contacting pres@southbaywriters.com. All sellers will need a California Seller's permit to participate.

• Chill Out & Read 2025 - Bay Area Book Authors (deadline to submit July 1st, Book Faire Aug 12th)

See more Writing Contest and Publishing Events on southbaywriters.com for more events

May is a month of renewal and remembrance:

“Come with me into the woods where spring is advancing, as it does, no matter what, not being singular or particular, but one of the forever gifts, and certainly visible.”

Mary Oliver