PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Redwood Writers,
Summer is nearly here, and so is a fresh new look for our Redwood Writers website! If you haven’t visited redwoodwriters.org lately, be sure to check it out. We’ve made it easier to find upcoming events, submission opportunities, and everything happening in our vibrant community.
We had a full and fabulous May, starting with our annual Author Launch where we celebrated 16 of our members' newest books—what an inspiring day! You can find the video to that event at redwoodwriters.org/author-launch-2025. We also hosted two incredible workshops that focused on fiction and memoir writing. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated, attended, or helped make these events such a success. Your energy and enthusiasm continue to fuel this amazing community.
June marks the final chance to submit your fiction or memoir pieces to our upcoming prose anthology, Moonshadow: Tales of Hidden Light. Submissions close on June 30, so don’t miss your opportunity to be part of this illuminating collection. More details about this below.
And as one door closes, another opens—on June 30, we officially begin accepting poems for our next poetry anthology, Just So. Whether you’re a seasoned poet or new to the craft, we’d love to see your work! Coming to the website soon.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce that our 10-Minute Play Contest launches July 1! More details will be shared soon, so keep an eye on your email inbox, groups.io, and the website.
Lastly, I want to extend my regrets for having to cancel the May 31 Coffee with the Prez. I look forward to connecting with you all at the next one: Sunday, June 22, from 10 a.m. to noon at Pillowfight Coffee in Kenwood. Let’s talk writing, creativity, and community over a great cup of coffee.
Wishing you a month full of inspiration and story magic.
Until the next chapter,
Crissi Langwell
President, Redwood Writers
president@redwoodwriters.org
| | | | RWC Meeting Fees are Increasing in July | | | |
To help cover the monthly costs of our meeting room and speaker fees, the Redwood Writers branch is increasing our general meeting admission fees to $10/member and $15/non-member per meeting, effective in July.
Express member fees will increase to $90/year at the time of membership renewal.
This fee does not include additional fees added on by Constant Contact and PayPal when paying for our meetings online. To avoid additional fees, members are always welcome to pay by check or at the door.
Visit our website for Membership Information
| | | Get Lit with Redwood Writers | |
Tuesday Mornings on The Krush
Every Tuesday, tune in to The Krush, 95.9 FM, to hear a member of Redwood Writers talk about their book on the Mornings with Mindi show on KRSH. Coming up this month:
If you miss it live, you can hear a recording of the interview at www.krsh.com/mindi-in-the-morning
Replays are available here
https://www.krsh.com/podcast/get-lit/
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The Redwood Writers Board is pleased to announce the current slate of officers, which will be presented for a vote at the June general meeting.
Crissi Langwell - President
Mara Lynn Johnstone - Vice President
Shawn Langwell - Vice President
Barb Cottrell - Secretary
Malena Eljumaily - Treasurer
If you are interested in being considered for one of the board positions listed below, contact Slate Chair Pamela Heck at artful1@sonic.net.
| | Crissi Langwell - President | | Shawn Langwell - Vice President | | Mara Lynn Johnstone - Vice President | | Malena Eljumaily - Treasurer | | Barb Cottrell - Secretary | | AUTHOR LAUNCH 2025 was AMAZING | | |
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Click on the image above to start your tour of the table top book displays.
If you could have been there, you would have been there. The authors rose to the occasion and dazzled us with diverse offerings. Each with their unique presentation style.
We got to see and hear and sample fascinating stories. The authors created table top displays that brought us into the world of their books.
John McCarty won first prize in the display contest with a cozy set up that harkened back in time with flickering candles and small wooden crates to complement his "Golf at Northwood" historical fiction tale.
Laura McHale-Holland's charming tea cups and jewelry from the 70s drew us in and she garnered second place.
Rebecca Rosenberg and her tiger-themed display for "Silver Echoes" included mock-tails, florals, and photos to earn third place.
If you missed us live at the Finley Center, watch the recordings on our Club's YouTube Channel. Roger Lubeck recorded each of the authors talks.
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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 RW are writing, find out at the Salon!
2025 DATES:
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 28
Saturday, August 23
Saturday, October 25
Saturday, December 15
To receive address information and to sign up for a reading, contact our Salon Chair, Robin Gabbert.
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2025 Circle Dates
July 26
September 27
November 22
How to sign up:
Members who would like to attend should send an RSVP email to our Circle chair, Linda Reid via the contact form. Upon confirmation, you will receive more information.
Mission:
The Circle’s mission is to offer members a constructive and enjoyable environment in which to read their works, among the warmth and support of fellow writers, and to include brief evaluations and short talks on craft and other writing-related subjects.
Agenda:
Agenda for meetings will follow the following format:
Each reader will have a total 5 minutes (including, introductory remarks)
Meeting runs 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Those to be “readers” will be limited to the first 20 RW members who register
Other attendees may participate as “listeners”
To receive address information and to sign up for a reading, contact our Circle Chair, Linda Reid.
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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.
| | The 2025 RWC Prose Anthology Updates | |
Moonshadow: Tales of Hidden Light
Look in your inbox for prompts and resources, and don't forget to check groups.io to learn more about the theme, writing craft, and the submission process.
All members of Redwood Writers are invited to share one short fiction story or memoir.
"Your submissions can explore the contrast between dark and light. Happy endings are not mandatory. An emotional transformation is the key to engaging stories. The theme gives writers latitude to develop stories that engage the heart and imagination, whether fictional or true."
Join a community of storytellers illuminating the hidden truths and quiet mysteries within the moonshadow. Your words can move readers, provoke thought, and inspire meaningful conversations.
A dramatic cover design is in development. There are many meanings for moonshadow, from astrological to creative. As a title or concept, it has been woven into poetry, literature, film, lyrics, and art.
This year, the submissions will be exclusively from within Redwood Writers members.
Submissions accepted until midnight, June 30, 2025.
Address questions to your editors, 2025anthology@redwoodwriters.org
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Submit with Style
I am sharing documents and a webinar I presented to Redwood Writers in March 2020 (remember lockdown?).
This video is intended to answer your MS Word and formatting questions. I also show how to create a reusable template in MS Word.
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Resources for Writing and the Anthology
Links and resources specific to the Prose Anthology:
Prose Anthology Rules
Ready to Submit
Rubric for Entries
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Get inspiration for writing on Spotify
Music is a portal. It holds space for emotions we don’t always have words for—and sometimes, it sparks the very stories we long to write.
I’ve curated several Moonshadow Playlists filled with songs that echo our anthology’s themes—mystery, transformation, twilight, and hope.
Thematic music to inspire you:
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Members Comments about the Moonshadow Playlist
"What a thoughtful way you have! Wonderful idea. Such a deep heart! Thanks."
Adele Layton
"As a former college DJ, and the proud owner of about 2,500 record albums, I love this approach to inspire potential contributors 😊 Well done!"
John Abbot
"This is amazing!
Thank you so much for the inspiration. I know this took a lot to f time and dedication."
Blessings,
Leanne C. Chapman
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We offered two craft workshops with Kristen Tatroe. If you missed attending in person or on Zoom, reach out to Judy M. Baker, Editor-in-Chief of the 2025 Redwood Writers Prose Anthology to purchase a ticket for the recordings and resources.
Remember: no one’s able to read what you haven’t put on the page!
You can reach Kristen at kristen@kristenedits.com or visit her website, kristenedits.com.
| | Judy M. Baker, 2025 Prose Anthology Editor-in-Chief | | | |  | |
Judy is the past president of the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association and Redwood Writers and is our Club's Newsletter Editor. In addition, she co-chaired Author Launch 2025. She helps find notable speakers for the club and keeps her eyes open for ways to build membership.
Her day job is helping authors create Buzzworthy Books and brands.
https://buzzworthybooks.com
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Attention, poets!
Monthly Poetry Lab!
As Les Bernstein says, “Dare to be great and send us a poem you’re wrestling with. We promise you it is the safest, most empowering space… and if you just want to only observe, that’s okay, too. And remember—no risk, no reward.”
amritaskyepoetry@gmail.com
lessieb13@yahoo.com.
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The Promise of Spring
While the sky may be dark
and clouds heavy as soggy jeans
in an unbalanced washer,
Or weathered boots
caked with mud
from slogging through
the boggy doldrums of winter,
look up,
There
on the tips of trees,
Her fingers spread wide,
as open palms in meditation
or prayer,
There,
new life blossoms
See and smell the delicate flowers
dancing in the wind.
Shawn Langwell is an inspirational storyteller, marketing mentor,
and confidence coach with over three decades of experience in
media sales. His personal mission is to encourage, inspire, and help
people become brave and confident enough to believe they can
accomplish their dreams and goals. He lives in Northern California
with his wife, Crissi and Maine Coon Cat, Cleo.
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Available to order now: Ghost Matinee poetry collection
In Ghost Matinee by Cathryn Shea, poems weave together the personal, political, and global, revealing the hidden and overlooked amid the ordinary. Rather than yearning for "the good old days," these poems look forward, even as the ghosts of the past cast shadows over the matinees of our lives. Ghost Matinee presents explorations of how we carry the past and deal with the present while seeking solace and possibility in what lies ahead.
Kirkus Review says, “Shea’s descriptions are intricate and evocative… The poet’s truth-telling is bold and brave…”
| | | John's charming book display won first place at Author Launch | |
Golf at Northwood is a work of historical fiction
Golf at Northwood traces the adventures of Alister MacKenzie during his transition from battlefield surgeon to designing Northwood Golf Course along the Russian River. The story leaps from 1928 to 1961as eight-year-old Eddie Bale befriends an eccentric Homer Williams who maintains the layout by his lonesome. Eddie comes of age and together with a local physician, Dr. Charlie Schaap, the course is rescued from loan sharks, developers and con artists. Along the way, escapades abound including the serendipitous discovery of Northwood’s lost legacy with MacKenzie.
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BUZZWORTHY BOOKS SHARES MARKETING INSIGHTS ON LINKEDIN
Judy M. Baker invites you to read and subscribe to "Get More Buzz for Your Book" Newsletter on LinkedIn. She is a master of creating newsletters that get seen and shared, whether on LinkedIn, your website, or via an email service.
Subscribe to her newsletter on LinkedIn
| | NEWS FROM OUR SISTER CWC CLUBS |
Sharpen Your Pencils: Flash Fiction Contest Coming!
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May THE MUSE be with You! | |
Wanda Sue Parrott, 90, California journalist-turned-poet, has pledged 100 percent of 2025 royalties from sales of her new poetic salutations May THE MUSE be with YOU to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, sponsor of National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcast Service (PBS).
The book was in the Top 10 of Amazon's Poetry Writing Reference Books for ten days following its April 25, 2025 release and has since been a periodic #1 Best Seller in its genre.
Contact: Wanda Sue Parrott, 831-899-5887, amykitchenerfdn@hotmail.com
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CWC Marin Author Meet-and-Greet at Copperfields
On Saturday, June 7th, three CWC Marin writers will showcase their work at Copperfield's Books in Larkspur (Marin Country Mart, 2419 Larkspur Landing Circle) from 11 am to 2 pm.
This is your chance to embody our credo, writers helping writers. Your presence will not only support CWC writers, it will help ensure that Copperfield's will continue to offer shelf space and events to CWC Marin members.
A farmers' market is scheduled that day as well, so after you come by--and perhaps purchase a book--you can pick up a basket of fresh strawberries.
Get the full details here
(https://www.copperfieldsbooks.com/event/ca-writers-club-marin-mg).
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Murder Your Employer
To kick off the party, I am listening to a devilishly delicious book, Murder Your Employer, The McMasters Guide to Homicide.
Audiobook: 14 h, 13 m
Author: Rupert Holmes
Narrated by: Neil Patick Harris and Simon Vance
A murderous romp of poetic justice and mayhem. The students of the McMaster Academy apply and must successfully execute their Masters Thesis or they will be deleted. Campy and clever, the words are jewels as are the performances of the narrators. If you love crime and comedy, listen in.
Neil Patrick Harris is a multi-talented performer and narrator. Simon Vance is likewise.
Release Date: Februar 21, 2023
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Literature & Fiction (Or is it?)
Wacky and wicked.
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
Judy M. Baker
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Now It's Your Turn to Contribute a short and sweet book review
Use the Newsletter Submission Form to send in your 250-word (or less) book review. It can be and it is not limited to a review of a member's book.
Include:
Book Title
Genre
Author
ISBN
What you loved, or didn't
Why do you recommend the book
How many stars: 0 – 5 Stars
A cover image
Tell us Your Name
Where to submit
| | | | Top 5 Writing and Publishing News Stories (Non-Political/Religious) | |
Some of the latest developments in our industry:
1. Audible Launches AI Narration Services for Publishers
Audible announced on May 13 that it's rolling out AI-powered narration and production services to select publishers, offering "fully integrated, end-to-end AI production technology" for audiobooks. Publishers can choose from over 100 AI voices in English, Spanish, French, and Italian, with multiple accent and dialect options. The company also plans to launch AI translation services in beta later in 2025, supporting translations from English to Spanish, French, Italian, and German.
2. Major Book Deals Featuring Celebrity Collaborations
HarperCollins and William Morrow acquired world rights to an untitled thriller co-written by James Patterson and YouTuber MrBeast, centered on "an extreme global competition" with 100 contestants competing for a billion-dollar prize. Additionally, Abrams ComicArts secured world rights to "Megalopolis: An Original Graphic Novel" by Francis Ford Coppola, adapted by Chris Ryall and illustrated by Eisner Award-winning artist Jacob Phillips.
3. Romantasy Genre Continues Market Dominance
Romantasy titles featured prominently on BookTok regularly see sales spikes of 500-800% within days, with major publishers now maintaining dedicated TikTok content teams. The romantasy explosion shows no signs of slowing, with romance-only bookstores popping up across the country and the genre continuing to dominate BookTok and bestseller lists. Industry experts predict this trend will spread to adjacent genres like romantic suspense and mysteries.
4. Simon & Schuster Eliminates Book Blurb Requirements
Simon & Schuster announced they will no longer require contracted writers to seek out author blurbs before publication, calling them "more an annoyance for authors than they are of benefit to people who buy and read the books." This represents a significant shift away from traditional book marketing techniques and could signal broader changes in how publishers approach book promotion.
5. Publishing Industry M&A Activity Continues
2024 saw active mergers and acquisitions in publishing, with Simon & Schuster making two international purchases - acquiring Veen Bosch & Keuning in the Netherlands and Affirm Press in Australia. Independent publishers also remained active, with Arcadia Publishing acquiring multiple smaller presses including Belt Publishing and Dry Climate Studios, while Abrams acquired Taunton Books division, bringing about 900 titles in craft, food, and gardening. Industry experts predict 2025 will continue this trend of smaller, niche acquisitions rather than blockbuster deals.
These stories highlight the ongoing technological transformation of publishing, the power of social media in driving book sales, evolving marketing practices, and continued industry consolidation through strategic acquisitions.
| | | | Copyright Protection and AI | | |
Submit member news by the 15th of the month using the button below or access the form at: https://forms.gle/ZHjJNW41xuGdVBHv6
You can add your content, images, and a brief news article. Include your name and contact info in your announcement.
Please review your submission and only send it once per month.
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Submissions may or may not be included in the newsletter.
Checklist for submissions:
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50 words or less about book events, publications, awards, and classes of interest to our members.
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If you have a paid event, you can purchase an ad in the newsletter as follows:
3 lines (text only) for $25.00
Display ads (square or horizontal images: .png, .jpg only, under 2M) for $50.00
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Please submit your paid advertisements here and pay online:
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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, Author Launch, Prose Anthology Editor
Amrita Blaine, Newsletter Poetry Editor
Les Bernstein, Poetry Anthology Editor
Robin Gabbert, Writers Salon
Pamela Heck, Conference Volunteers Chair
Mara Lynn Johnstone, Author Launch
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
Janice Rowley, Author Launch
Board meetings are held 6:30-8:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday 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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