PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Hello Redwood Writers,
Welcome, friends! Writing can sometimes feel like a solitary journey, but here’s the beauty of being part of this community: you’re never alone. When the creative flame flickers, leaning on each other can reignite it. Connect with your Redwood Writers family to find encouragement, fresh ideas, and the inspiration to keep going. Together, we can thrive.
Speaking of connection, there’s been a lively discussion brewing on our groups.io forum about AI—how authors use it (or don’t). Opinions are diverse, and the conversation is fascinating! If you’re curious or want to share your perspective, I encourage you to join in and see what your fellow members have to say.
We also have some exciting upcoming events:
- February General Meeting: Saturday, Feb. 15, 11 a.m. at the Finley Center
This month, we’ll hear from the amazing Amanda McTigue, who never fails to leave us inspired and ready to breathe new life into our writing. Plus, we’ll celebrate the winners of our Heartbeats contest! You won’t want to miss it.
- New Member Orientation:
- Saturday, March 1, 3 p.m. at the Santa Rosa Central Branch Library (211 E Street, Santa Rosa).
- Whether you’re new to Redwood Writers, need a refresher, or want to share your knowledge with others, this is the perfect opportunity to learn more about what our club has to offer. We’d love to see you there!
- RSVP here
Thank you for being part of this wonderful community. I’m so grateful to share this journey with all of you.
Until the next chapter,
Crissi Langwell
Redwood Writers President
president@redwoodwriters.org.
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February Meeting & Potluck with Amanda McTigue: UNDERGOING: Opening (into) Emotion on the Page | Are we reaching through? Does the reader care? What is evocative writing anyway? How might we deepen our process in order to deepen the experience of those who read our works? Bring paper and pencils, your phone, or maybe a slab of wet clay and a stylus—whatever you use when you’re playing with words.
About the presenter:
Amanda McTigue has spent her life cross-pollinating between her works on the page and for the stage.
Her works for the stage have been produced at Carnegie Hall, the Minnesota Opera, and Sonoma County’s Green Music Center.
Find her here: amandamctigue.substack.com | | | Members: $5.00/Nonmembers: $10.00 | |
REDWOOD WRITERS SALON
Saturday, February 24, 2025
1 – 3 p.m.
We are inviting twelve Redwood Writers members to read from their works in progress or published pieces. Readings are five minutes. We also welcome all listeners who would like to join us.
If you’ve ever wondered what your fellow Redwood Writers are writing, this is the place to find out!
If you have any questions, send an email to salon@redwoodwriters.org.
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Heartbeat / Heartbreak Contest
We had 81 entries! Thanks for the great participation.
Winners will be revealed on February 15.
Prizes!
- First place: $100
- Second place: $50
- Third place: $25
- Honorary Runner-Up: Certificate
We will feature winners in the Redwood Writers newsletter. The stories will be published on our website (with permission).
Contest chair, Judy M. Baker, at judyb@buzzworthybooks.com
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Redwood Writers Circle of Friends | |
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Authors at the Writers Circle on January 25, 2025, included several with new books (we hope to see them at Author Launch in May). Linda Reid, our gracious host made everyone feel welcome.
The Next Circle is on March 22, 2025. To register, go to our club website: redwoodwriters.org/redwood-writers-circle/ or send an RSVP email to Linda Reid rwcircle@redwoodwriters.org
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Looking for a Writing Group? | |
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Marie Judson keeps an ongoing list of members interested in joining or creating a writing group. If you would like to find a critique group, or add more members to an existing group, send your genre(s) and contact information to mariejudson@gmail.com.
You'll receive an email with the subject line, "Writers seeking writing groups." You can then either reply to all or select specific writers to contact. This has been an ongoing free service for Redwood Writers members for nine years.
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Famolare Hi Up Made in Italy Rainbow Leather Wedge Wavy Sole Sandals Shoes
Oh lord like a Taylor Swift hit
these 1981 platforms - Famolare Hi Up
featured in Seventeen Magazine
4 inch wedge wavy sole sandals
for easier walking
for those uninterested in clumpy Birkenstocks
it was a heady era
of independence & comfortable choices
Wavy soles increased her height &
lengthened her stride
that night she towered over her future husband
he still went up for the kiss
she still can’t say if wearing flats
to accommodate the shorter hem
of her mother’s wedding gown
didn’t change the ending
Catharine Bramkamp holds a MA in Creative Writing, is a past Conference Chair and volunteer for Redwood Writers.
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Nominations Open for the Fran Claggett-Holland Award
The Fran Claggett-Holland Award was instituted to recognize outstanding Redwood Writers members who inspire and live the Club's vision of WRITERS HELPING WRITERS.
Do you know of a member of our branch who embodies this quality?
CLICK HERE to nominate a member by Feb. 28, 2025.
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New Book by Redwood Member Catharine Bramkamp, Out Loud - A Writing Adventure for Women | |
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Out Loud is a lighthearted, intelligent guide to help you start your novel or non-fiction book. If you are an expert in your field and want to share your knowledge or if you’ve always had a dream to create a marvelous character who jumps off the page, this is for you. And if you’d like tips to court your muse and write for your joy, we got you. Come on a writing adventure, indulge yourself, and as Joan Didion commented, “I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking.”
Sections include:
- The Adventure
- Charting the Course
- Messing Around in Boats
- Navigating Rough Waters
- Here be Dragons
- The Pirate Code
- Journey to the Center
- Ithaca
- Welcome aboard!
- https://amzn.to/3DZBgVq
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Catharine Bramkamp is a world traveler, poet, and belly dancer. In her spare time, she is a writing coach and workshop facilitator. She has authored 27 fiction, non-fiction, and poetry books, and her book Out Loud – An Adventure in Writing for Women was released in January 2025. | |
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Find Your Creative at a One-Day Writing Retreat in Petaluma
Riversong Retreat: Find Your Creative Flow
Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. PST
Location: The Metro Hotel, 508 Petaluma Blvd S., Petaluma, CA 94952
Rivers rush, rewind, and retreat. They flow, eddy, and meander. They offer sanctuary for spawning salmon and solace and inspiration for the human beings who attune their ears to riversong.
This retreat embraces the river as a metaphor. Inspired by the Petaluma River in Northern California, this intimate gathering, hosted by Birth Your Truest Story co-creators Jennifer Browdy and Audrey Kalman, will guide you to
• Trace your inspiration back to its source.
• Follow the twists and turns of your creative flow state.
• Learn to ride the rapids of your creative life and float gently through the quiet stretches.
• Write together and share your work.
• Savor the group energy of our Birth Your Truest Story creative community.
Join us for a day of contemplation, writing, walking, discovery, and sharing! We'll write, share, grab lunch at a neighborhood cafe, and amble to the river for inspiration.
REGISTER NOW at bit.ly/BYTS-Retreat-Early-Bird
Early registration ($139) runs through February 28.
Regular pricing ($149 for BYTS members, $159 for non-members) effective March 1.
Space is limited, so grab your spot!
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THE BUZZWORTHY BOOK EXPERIENCE | |
THE BUZZWORTHY BOOK BISTRO GOES MONTHLY in 2025
Judy M. Baker invites you to the BUZZWORTHY BOOK BISTRO. We meet once a month on Monday via Zoom. It's an hour of marketing honey for authors focused on building an audience without dependence on social media.
Dates: February 10
Time: 2:00-3:00 PM
Q&A office hours where you can celebrate wins, and brainstorm solutions for book marketing challenges. Invite a friend.
Register:
bookmarketingmentor.com/cafe-sign-up-page
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Twenty-one Days of Magic
Lady Luck flashed her light on me when I opened my email on November 25 to learn my book, The Magic of Yes, was a Finalist of the 2024 American Writing Awards. This was particularly surprising since the book won't be released for another six weeks!
A week later, excellent reviews from Kirkus and Publisher's Weekly/Booklife came in. Whew! I was worried about what those tough reviewers would say. (If you want to publish any part of the review, you have to agree that they can publish the review in entirety on Amazon, etc.)
Last week, I received word that six relevant podcasts are interested in profiling me and The Magic of Yes - and two podcasts are already booked: The Deconstructed Woman, hosted by Elisa Marie and Jojy, and Real Talk Real Woman, hosted by Gemma Serenity.
Truthfully, this wasn't magic - my publicist and I have spent the past six months building my author platform and brand.
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Let's Celebrate Launching a New Career at 75 Open House | |
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You can add your content, images, and a brief news article. Be sure to include your name and email.
Have you published a new book? Have you got a book deal? Received media coverage, earned an award? We want to share your good news.
Please include your name and contact information: 50 words or less about book events, publications, awards, and classes of interest to our members. Photos, jpegs, or pngs are welcome.
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REDWOOD WRITERS LEADERS & VOLUNTEERS | |
Volunteers make Redwood Writers possible. Thank you to our wonderful leaders and chairpeople who generously give their time and efforts. We appreciate you!
Board of Directors
Crissi Langwell, President
Mara Lynn Johnstone, Vice President
Shawn Langwell, Vice President
Barb Cottrell, Secretary
Malena Eljumaily, Treasurer
Judy M. Baker, Immediate Past President
Tommie Whitener, Vault Master, Policies & Procedures
Roger Lubeck, Membership Chair
Karl Kadie, Member at Large
Janice Rowley, Member at Large
Chairs and Editors
Judy M. Baker, Newsletter Editor
Amrita Blaine, Newsletter Poetry Editor
Les Bernstein, Poetry Anthology Editor
Robin Gabbert, Writers Salon
Pamela Heck, Conference Volunteers Chair
Laura McHale Holland, Social Media
Marie Judson, Critique Groups
Crissi Langwell, Website Editor
Shawn Langwell, Speakers, Communications & PR Director, and Conference Chair
Linda L. Reid, Writers Circle, Poetry Anthology Party
Board meetings are held 6:30-7:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month unless otherwise noted and are open to any member in good standing. Contact president@redwoodwriters.org to receive an invitation.
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