Speaking to Self-Promote
2018-09-09 14:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Millhopper Library, Meeting Room A, 3145 NW 43rd St,, Gainesville, FL, 32606, United States
This summary provided by Connie Morrison.
Toastmaster award winners Terry Martin-Back and Roz Miller tag-teamed their way through a variety of questions and answers on “professional public speaking with the goal of selling books.” As members of the same organization, they have competed against each other in numerous Toastmaster contests, and they exhibited a rapport and camaraderie to which the audience quickly warmed.
First, they emphasized the importance of audience members being able to hear the speaker. All kinds of equipment are available for purchase, and they felt that money is better spent on sound than advertisement. In advance of the program, the speaker should test the audio system by walking around the room while listening to an associate talk. The speaker must also be seen. Center aisles are a hindrance. Two side aisles are better, allowing the speaker to easily project to a large crowd.
If you are planning to give a slide or screen presentation, limit the words on the slides, and the audience will listen more to you. When drafting your speech, write it down. You will remember it better. Rehearse in front of a camera. Practice with a recorder. Public speaking is a learned skill. You gain confidence by speaking.
If sound equipment is not available, speakers must project their voices. Talk louder and make sure the people in the back can hear. Remember that your voice is your instrument. Speak with inflection, and pace yourself; do not gallop.
The Toastmasters organization requires that a member’s first speech be given without notes, and authors should do the same. Use keywords and do not read from your book. The audience wants to know about you.
Make inquiries of area organizations such as Kiwanis, Rotary, and the Lions Club. Most meet weekly and need speakers. The library has a list of all the associations in Florida. Know your group in advance so that you can appeal to that audience. Open with a question to spark interest. Be sure to have business cards, and if you use images or take photos, obtain permission. You may be asked what you do, so be prepared with a 5- to 30-second promo. Have a prepared answer to “Why did you write the book?” People want to know how your story relates to them.
At the end of your presentation, ask the audience for questions, or lead them with a question. Be sure to repeat audience questions so that everyone can hear. Do not engage in one-on-one conversations because once you lose your audience, it is hard to get them back.
On a level of importance with your speech is your follow-up. Ask audience members, who show an interest, for their business cards, and follow-up with emails inquiring how you may improve your presentation or whether the person bought your book—why or why not? Make use of a CRM (contact resource management) system such as Mail Chimp or Google Streak, but be sure not to spam. Also, be sure to send a highly-valued hand-written thank you to your host.

Terry Martin-Back writes horror fiction and has published a number of nonfiction books, including Networking the Right Way. A trainer and professional speaker, he is a member of the National Speakers Association.
Roz Miller, speaker, storyteller, artist, writer, and speech coach combines considerable promotional and speaking skills for effective self-promotion.
Check out Toastmasters International for personal development of speaking, communication, and leadership skills.

Author Debra Segal to Speak in Melrose
2018-09-01 15:00 - 16:00
Author Debra Segal and the authentic Idylwild Cowgirls will give an entertaining book presentation at the Melrose Bay Art Gallery on Saturday, September 1, at 3:00 p.m.
Refreshments and a book signing will follow.

Poetry: From Basics to Brilliant
2018-08-12 14:30 - 16:00 | Millhopper Library, Meeting Room A, 3145 NW 43rd St,, Gainesville, FL, 32606, United States
Summary of presentation by Bob Crow and Joan Carter
Rukmini Kalamangalam demonstrated how to bring poetry from basic to brilliant, showing her passion for poetry and using her dynamic style to inform and involve the audience.
Her tips for enhancing poetry (and other writing):

Get rid of filler words
Go farther with everything (connections, metaphors, etc.)
Don’t worry about everyone getting everything
Go wild – do everything you’ve ever dreamed of
Get it on paper
READ

Kalamangalam showed slides and read poems by a variety of authors, including a standard poem followed by a prose poem, a pantoum, and a sestina. She described how the forms differed from each other.
The prose poem is easier than free verse because there are no rules about line breaks or form. It resembles prose but reads like a poem.
The pantoum, initially created as a type of song, consists of four-line stanzas, the second and fourth lines of which become the first and third lines of the next. It’s an interesting way to play with the meaning of words, with no need to stick right to the rules.
Writing the sestina starts by picking six words These are the endings of your lines in six-line stanzas. The chosen words rotate from one stanza to the next—the word ending the first line in the initial stanza will end the second line in the second stanza, etc. This form plays again with word meanings. It’s a cool way to get into a headspace which views words more carefully.
Kalamangalam encouraged us to make all of our writing more vivid, breaking rules as poets do. She led us in exercises that challenged our creativity, so we directly experienced major points she was sharing. First, we wrote a poem (any poetry form) using nouns as verbs. Then we wrote about a favorite topic without employing our customary descriptive words. Several WAG members said they found this session very informative and fun.
She closed with a suggested reading list:
“Afterland” – Mai Der Vang
“Night Sky with Exit Wounds” – Ocean Vuong
“Don’t Call us Dead” – Danez Smith
“Virgin” – Analicia Sotelo
“Silencer” – Marcus Walker
Kalamangalam is a current freshman at Emory University. In 2018, she was named Youth Poet Laureate of the Southwest and a National Youth Poet Laureate Ambassador. Prior to her induction as Houston’s Youth Poet Laureate (2017-2018), she was on Houston’s youth slam poetry team, Meta-Four Houston.
Her poem “After Harvey” was set to music by the Houston Grand Opera. She has been published by the Houston Chronicle, ABC 13 Visions, Houston Public Media, Mutabilis Press, and The Apprentice Writer. She has been recognized nationally by Scholastic Writing Awards.

Digital Marketing Strategy
2018-08-04 13:00 - 15:00 | Cone Park Library Branch, 2801 E. University Ave., Gainesville, FL, 32641-6034
Award winning author Mohana Rajakumar presented a seminar on Digital Marketing Strategy at the WAG Marketing Coalition meeting August 4, 2018, at the Cone Park Branch Library, 2801 E. University Ave., Gainesville, FL, 32641.
Rajakumar took attendees through the ins and outs of various platforms such as Facebook ads, Google AdWords, sponsored Instagram posts, and she suggested questions to ask yourself while designing a marketing strategy for your book(s).

Members of the Marketing Coalition meet monthly to discuss and share successful marketing ideas and strategies for their books. If you are a WAG member interested in selling more books, we invite you to attend a meeting to see what it’s all about.

Turn Your Passion Into a Book
2018-07-08 14:30 - 16:00 | Millhopper Library, Meeting Room A, 3145 NW 43rd St,, Gainesville, FL, 32606, United States
Summary by Kimberley Mullins
We had the pleasure of having Elois Waters delight us with her passion for dance and writing. Hence the topic, “Turn Your Passion into a Book.” Waters worked in Alachua schools for over thirty years with special needs students. To help them connect, she incorporated dance in her classroom. Well—dance was the saving grace that helped the young people express themselves through learning and creativity. It was such a hit, she created a dance group within the school.
She ventured out with her kids performing at various venues. As it grew, so did her aspirations. Waters not only used dance in her classrooms, but also in church ceremonies. Her daughters became involved along with their close friends, and it caught on like wild fire.
After retiring from teaching, she continued growing her dance groups and eventually wrote her first book, “Dancing Before God,” a children’s book that teaches the basics of dance along with a workbook. Additionally, she created a similar book for adults. Waters showed the audience costumes such as tutus she created for performances. Her daughters and their friend demonstrated some dance moves to conclude her presentation.
Waters earned a degree in Special Education from the University of Florida. The founder and CEO of Expressive Song and Dance Ministries and author of four books, she teaches dance through workshops and seminars and is active in dance ministry, after school programs, and theater throughout Central Florida.

The Value of Audiobooks and Marketing
2018-06-10 14:30 - 16:00 | Millhopper Library, Meeting Room A, 3145 NW 43rd St,, Gainesville, FL, 32606, United States
Thanks to Mallory M. O’Connor for this program summary.
On Sunday afternoon, June 10, audiobook publisher Tina Dietz presented a program on the value of audiobooks and marketing. Dietz is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed speaker, audiobook publisher, podcast producer, and content marketing expert who has been featured on ABC, Inc.com, Huffington Post, and Forbes.
Dietz is also the owner of StartSomething Creative Business Solutions, a company committed to connecting experts, authors, and entrepreneurs with their ideal audiences.
Her podcast, The StartSomething Show, was named by INC magazine as one of the top 35 podcasts for entrepreneurs. She received the Evolutionary Business Council MORE award in 2016, and the Outstanding Audio Company award from The Winner’s Circle in 2017.
With credentials like these, I expected an authoritative and enlightening program. I was not disappointed.
Dietz covered the basics of audiobook production and distribution, noting that the market for audiobooks is the fastest growing market in publishing for the last four years. Audible, an Amazon affiliate, is the biggest audiobook company.
Audiobooks have a surprisingly long history, having been first produced in the 1930s. They have a similarity to “storytelling,” (read me a story, Mommy). According to Dietz, “storytellers are the holders of history.” They are the publishing form most likely to reveal the “power of your voice.”
Dietz then outlined a series of steps in producing an audiobook:

Read your book aloud before you publish it in any format.
Publish your book on Kindle.
Create an ACX.com account. (You will need to have published a book on Amazon in some format.)
To find a narrator, you can post a request for an audition. You need to decide how much you’re willing to pay the narrator and if you want Audible/Amazon/iTunes to be your distributor. Although you may narrate the book yourself, Dietz warned against that, saying that hiring a professional is worth the cost.
Review audition samples and select someone who not only sounds good but who has a good track record for professionalism. Negotiate a contract (ACX has a standard contract to use). Expect to pay from $100 to $200 per hour, or around $1,500 for a book of 100,000 words.
Send an audio-friendly manuscript to the narrator that includes the pronunciation of difficult/foreign names. Also include a character/s profile. The book is produced by chapter. You can add an author interview at the end or a list of book club discussion questions.
Listen carefully to each chapter as it is sent to you, and make any corrections. Upload your book cover. Then approve the book and send it to ACX/Audible for a final check before the audiobook goes live on the Amazon/Audible/iTunes platforms.
Pricing depends on length. A 100,000-word book would be priced at around $30.00. Royalties vary, so be sure to check on this in advance.
Marketing: Create a five-minute retail sample in MP3 format that can be used on radio. Advertise on your website and on your Amazon author page (having a strong author page on Amazon is very important). According to Dietz, the core of all marketing is building relationships.
Podcasts: Dietz also stressed the value of literary podcasts which offer a big opportunity to promote your book by doing a reading or an interview that introduces you and your book to potential readers. According to Dietz, about one third of Americans, most in the 35-55 age range, listen to podcasts on a weekly basis.

For more information, contact Tina Dietz at StartSomethingCreativeBizSolutions.com

Author K. E. Mullins to speak
2018-05-12 14:30 - 15:30 | Alachua County Library Headquarters, Meeting Room A, 4th Floor, Rm. A, 401 E Univ. Ave., Gainesville, FL, 32601
K. E. Mullins will discuss her book, In the Company of Strangers in the ongoing Local Author Series at the Alachua County headquarters library in downtown Gainesville.
In the book, Detective Anita Johnson along with her partner Chloe and boss, Tseudo, are close to capturing suspect, Gabrielle, the alleged mastermind of a criminal operation, and her team of ruthless prospects. They will take you on the ride of your life as they weave in and out of scenarios in their attempt to avoid the DEA, FBI, and the local police.

Mullins began writing during her 20-year career in the Navy. She has published a book of poetry, Thinking Aloud: Dimensions of Free-Verse, and two novels: The Friends and Family Connection: Get Unplugged, and In the Company of Strangers. She is a graduate of National University with a MBA from the University of Central Florida, and currently works as a Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) Instructor in Gainesville, Florida.

Writers Alliance of Gainesville (WAG) Is Featured on The Ilene Silverman Show
2018-05-12 06:30 - 2018-05-23 06:30 | TV
The Writers Alliance of Gainesville (WAG) is being featured on The Ilene Silverman Show on these dates:*

Saturday, May 12, 6:30 a.m. on WGFL-TV Cox Ch 4
Sunday, May 13, 6:30 a.m. on WNBC (NBC 9) Cox Ch 9
Sunday, May 13, 1:00 p.m. on WUFT-TV, Cox Ch 3
Wednesday, May 16, 6:30 a.m. on WGFL-TV Cox Ch 4
Saturday, May 19, 6:30 a.m. on WGFL-TV Cox Ch 4
Sunday, May 20, 6:30 a.m. on WNBC (NBC 9) Cox Ch 9
Sunday, May 20, 1:00 p.m. on WUFT-TV, Cox Ch 3
Wednesday, May 23, 6:30 a.m. on WGFL-TV Cox Ch 4
* Dates and times may vary if you have a service such as DirecTV (Sunday, May 13, 5:00 a.m. on channel 53, for example).

Left to right: Darlene Marshall, Roz Miller, Ron Haase, Kimberley Mullins, Susie Baxter, and host of the show, Ilene Silverman
During the taping of the show, five WAG members were interviewed by Silverman in four segments. They discussed the many benefits of the organization, WAG’s community outreach through various programs, and the annual journal, Bacopa Literary Review.
Please share the air times shown above with family and friends Interested in the written word. The interview — with long stretches of a blank, black screen between each segment — may also be viewed on youtube.

Belea Keeney's Secrets of Short Story Writing
2018-05-06 14:30 - 16:30 | Millhopper Library, Meeting Room A, 3145 NW 43rd St,, Gainesville, FL, 32606, United States
Thanks to WAG member Connie Morrison for writing the following summary:
Audience members received an in-depth presentation on writing and marketing the short story. Belea T. Keeney, an award-winning author and editor who has sold many short stories, shared her knowledge and expertise.
A short story is 7,000 words or fewer and, for the writer, is a valuable tool to practice the craft of writing. It is brief, does not have the depth of a novel, and editing is more flexible because of its length. A published short story can give you credits for your query cover letter, thus strengthening your ability to secure a publisher for your novel.
Shaw Shank Redemption and Apocalypse Now are among the many films originating from short stories. Small publishers rarely ask for film rights, leaving this as a possibility for your short story and for future income. Several magazine publishers pay for short stories, and The New Yorker leads the group at a top rate of $1,000. Woman’s World, Good Housekeeping, and others are possibilities for publication including anthologies.
Most short stories are character driven. The character does not need to be likable—think Hannibal Lecter—but they must be consistent and credible. You should set up your characters early in the story by showing intimate details of their lives and how they perceive things. Also, humor can give your story a breather and add a three-dimensional aspect.
Make sure your point of view is consistent, that is, whose head you are in. First and third person are popular with most publishers frowning on omniscient third person since it distances the reader. Carefully control your time period, keeping the action current and happening now. Short stories cover short time periods. Show emotions in a scene by gestures, facial expressions, and dialogue. All dialogue should advance the plot and be important to the story. Remember that famous quote of Elmore Leonard, “Leave out the boring parts.” No chit-chat. Inner dialogue may be in italics in genre fiction but not in literary fiction. Character dialects are important, but should not be overused. And remember, you must have conflict in your short story, or it is nothing more than a vignette.
An audience member asked, “What does ‘I am published’ mean?” Belea responded by saying, “If you have made your writing public, you are published.” However, be aware that if a publication is no longer in print, electronic or otherwise, you should not include it in your bio.
Writers Market, Writers Weekly, Duotrope, Hope Clark’s Newsletter, and the Wag Digest are excellent sources for locating publication opportunities. “Don’t overlook literary journals and contests,” Belea said, “but a $20 entry fee is my limit.”
A 20-25 page story should not take more than ten days for a first draft. Unfortunately, editors do not find short stories cost effective, leaving the writer to search out fellow authors and friends for that task. Look at previous contest winners and make sure your story is a good fit before entering.
Belea ended the program by graciously giving away one of her books to an audience member. The winner, John Waaser, was randomly selected by one of WAG’s popular authors, Sandra Lambert.
Thank you, Belea, for delighting our audience and for your memorable presentation.
This was her second presentation to a WAG audience. She spoke in early 2017 on Five Common Mistakes Writers Make.
She serves as editor for a variety of private freelance clients. She especially enjoys working on paranormal, horror, romances, memoirs, and most anything written about animals. You may contact her at www.beleatkeeney.com.

Author Daniel Blumberg to speak at Alachua County library headquarters
2018-04-21 14:30 - 15:30 | Alachua County Library Headquarters, Meeting Room A, 4th Floor, Rm. A, 401 E Univ. Ave., Gainesville, FL, 32601
Daniel Blumberg, the author of The Rise & Fall of MechaniKalle will discuss and read from the book at the library on Saturday, April 21, at 2:30 p.m.

Kalle Talbot has always wanted to be a superhero. When her sixteenth birthday passes without her developing any powers, she decides to create her own power armor suit. Follow Kalle as she grows as a hero, all while attempting to keep things from blowing up around her.

“Daniel Blumberg is incredibly imaginative and original,” writes one reviewer. “Great premise. Refreshing to see a self-made superhero.”
Blumberg has lived in the Gainesville, Florida, area since 1980 and enjoys fantasy and sci-fi. This is his second published book. Two to three times a month, he works to save the world in weekly pen and paper superhero games.
His talk is part of the ongoing Local Author Series, sponsored by the Alachua County Library and Writers Alliance. Join Blumberg at the downtown library in Meeting Room A, fourth floor.

Enjoy an Afternoon of Poetry and Prose
2018-04-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Matheson History Museum, 513 E University Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32601, United States
Come join us!

Editors of the Bacopa Literary Review will host an afternoon of readings at the Matheson History Museum, 513 E. University Avenue, in downtown Gainesville, on Saturday, April 14, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The event will feature a series of poetry and prose readings by Bacopa editors and Gainesville-area authors whose published works have appeared in Bacopa, an international print journal published by the Writers Alliance of Gainesville (WAG).
Presented by the Matheson History Museum, Bacopa Literary Review, and WAG, this afternoon of readings will offer attendees a taste of the local talent reflected in Bacopa. The journal will also be available for purchase.
WAG will provide light refreshments, and members will be available to answer questions about WAG, a Gainesville non-profit organization that promotes, encourages, and supports aspiring and experienced writers.
This event, like most of WAG’s programs, is free and open to the public.
For directions to the Matheson, click on the Google map above right.

Florida Book Awards Program by Drs. Noll and Gallman
2018-04-08 14:30 - 16:00 | Millhopper Library, Meeting Room A, 3145 NW 43rd St,, Gainesville, FL, 32606, United States
Summary of the April 8 program by Mallory M. O’Connor
The Florida Book Awards is an annual awards program that honors, recognizes, and celebrates literature by Florida authors and books about Florida that were published in the previous year. Established in 2006, the program now gives awards in eleven categories with bronze, silver and gold medals. According to Dr. Steven Noll, one of two presenters on April 8, it is the nation’s most comprehensive state book awards program.
The awards program is coordinated by the Florida State University Libraries and has a number of co-sponsors including the Florida Center for the Book, the State Library and Archives, the Florida Humanities Council, and the Florida Writers Association. Submissions are read by juries of three members for each of eleven categories: Younger Children’s Literature, Older Children’s Literature, Cooking, Florida Nonfiction, General Fiction, General Nonfiction, Popular Fiction, Spanish Language, Visual Arts, Young Adult, and Poetry.
The jurors are nominated by the co-sponsoring organizations from across the state. Jurors are authorized to select up to three medalists in each category (one gold, one silver, and one bronze). The jurors are also authorized to make no selections in any given year. Winning authors from across the state are honored at an annual awards banquet in Tallahassee. Previous winners include such well-known authors as Cynthia Barnett whose book Rain: A Natural and Cultural History was a 2015 gold medal winner.
Another 2015 winner was J. Matthew Gallman. His book, Defining Duty in the Civil War, was a silver-medal winner for nonfictiion. Dr. Gallman spoke about how his book progressed from intended satire to a more nuanced account of the concept of “duty” among Northerners during the Civil War period.
He pointed out the problems faced by men and women as they grappled with the unprecedented decision associated with taking sides in a divided nation. He also discussed the issues of gender and ethnicity as women and African-Americans struggled to understand their role in the conflict. Dr. Gallman used a number of visual images in the form of political cartoons to support and augment his discussion.
A juror in the non-fiction category, Steven Noll, PhD, University of Florida, is a master lecturer and author of three books including co-author of Ditch of Dreams, a history of the ill-fated cross-Florida barge canal project. Dr. Noll was named one of the 300 best professors in the US by the Princeton Review in 2012. His writing interests include many topics of Florida history including sports history and the environment.
J. Matthew Gallman earned his PhD in American History from Brandeis University and taught at Loyola College, Gettysburg College, and Occidental College before joining the Department of History at the University of Florida in 2003, where he teaches, reads, and writes about the American Civil War.

Wendy Thornton Discussed Her Latest Book: Sounding the Depths
2018-03-17 14:30 - 15:30 | Alachua County Library Headquarters, Meeting Room A, 4th Floor, Rm. A, 401 E Univ. Ave., Gainesville, FL, 32601
Author Wendy Thornton discussed her latest book, Sounding The Depths, as part of the ongoing Local Author Series at the Alachua County Library headquarters on Saturday, March 17.
“Music creates memories,” Thornton said, “even for those who are on the verge of losing theirs forever. You hear an old song and it transports you back into the past.”
Through humorous essays and remembrances in Sounding the Depths, Thornton has explored the past fifty years of music, the way it has changed, and the many ways it has remained the same.
Thornton, signing a book for Mallory O’Connor
Near the end of her talk, Thornton said her all-time favorite musician is Gainesville’s beloved Tom Petty, who died on October 2, 2017, at age 66. She mentioned the city’s plan to honor Petty and the possible options: rename a city street, park, or facility; add a statue to a city park or facility; host an annual concert or music festival; proclaim his birthday, Oct. 20, as Tom Petty Day; dedicate the month of October to his legacy. Want to vote? Go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/TomPettyMemorial. The survey ends April 16.
A book signing followed Thornton’s talk and included her other books: Dear Oprah Or How I Beat Cancer and Learned to Love Daytime TV (2013) and a mystery, Bear-Trapped: In a Trashy Hollywood Novel (2015). She also had a number of journals on exhibit to show the opportunities that exist for writers.
Thornton’s stories and essays have been published in a variety of journals and books including Riverteeth, Epiphany, and MacGuffin. She was nominated for a Pushcart Prize, has been Editor’s Pick on Salon.com multiple times, and has received numerous awards. Her works have been published in England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia and India.

Tips for Submitting Written Work to Contests
2018-03-04 14:30 - 16:00 | Millhopper Library, Meeting Room A, 3145 NW 43rd St,, Gainesville, FL, 32606, United States
Award winners Richard Gartee, Roz Miller, and Darlene Marshall shared with WAG members and guests their experiences in submitting their works to contests. The panelists focused first on the benefits.
Gartee, whose third novel, Ragtime Dudes in a Thin Place, won the first place 2016 Royal Palm Literary Award (RPLA) for unpublished, book-length fiction, stated that the benefit of entering a contest depends on what you’re writing. If you are writing poems or short stories, having your work published in a journal can bring recognition. For writers of novels, winning a contest can help you build a platform to boost sales.
The RPLA contest, sponsored by the Florida Writers Association (FWA) is judged blindly. According to FWA’s website, each judge receives a rubric designed for a particular genre. Judges for book-length fiction, for example, look at:

characters
setting
plot
story flow
dialogue
creativity
mechanics
appropriate genre
overall impression

An added benefit of some contests, such as the RPLA, is that the judges provide comments to authors when the contest is over. This feedback is more objective than you might receive from someone you know in a critique pod or from a beta reader you know.
Marshall, who has won nine awards for her seven romance novels, said, “The feedback, the acclaim, and the award on a shelf are all good reasons to enter contests. Winning a contest helps separate you from the herd. And don’t be modest. Contest winners should use the phrase ‘award-winning-author’ when they market their books.”
“Winning or even just being a finalist translates into sales,” Gartee said. He noticed that some of the authors at the recent Amelia Island Book Festival had award stickers on their books. “I bought the book of a person who won an RPLA contest I entered,” he said.
Miller said that some contests will provide stickers to award winners for them to place on the front covers of their books. “One of WAG’s recent speakers, author M. W. Gordon, who won the 2014 RPLA Award for Published Book of the Year, even changed his cover design to incorporate the award sticker. Now, potential customers shopping on Amazon see that his book won an award.”
The RPLA and many other contests accept unpublished works, Gartee reminded the audience. So, if you enter a manuscript and learn that you’re a finalist, notify your agent immediately. Being a finalist boosts your chances of getting published, even if you don’t win. And if you win, notify the agent again.
The three panelists also offered suggestions for making sure a contest is legitimate.
“The RPLA is a prestigious award,” Marshall said, “especially in the state of Florida.” But recognize that not all contests and awards are created equal. Before entering, learn how the contest is conducted. Read the rules and ask yourself what’s the purpose of the contest.
“I once entered a contest,” Gartee said, “thinking I would win a place in an anthology—and I won! But then I quickly realized the catch. To be published, I would have to fork over $60 for the published anthology.”
Keep in mind that there are many scam contests out there. Read the guidelines and fine print. Be suspicious of the legitimacy of the contest:

If entry fees seem unreasonable ($100 is unreasonable even if cash awards are offered)
If the guidelines state that all entries will be published
If a publishing contract is guaranteed
If the contract says the publisher owns all rights to the work
If you are asked to grant exclusivity, which takes your work off the market for a time
If there are lots of winners, because that dilutes the win

Pay attention and look for contests that are talked about. You’ll learn which ones will do you the most good. Also keep in mind that not all contests give you feedback, which can be extremely valuable. Miller noted that author Rebecca Heflin said, “If not for a contest, I would not be published; the feedback I received made me a better writer.”
“Look at the timing of contests,” Gartee said. “Some stagger their fees based on when you submit, so If you submit early, you save money. Staggered submissions help the judges—gives them more time to read all entries.”
Marshall, who serves as a judge for several competitions, said it’s helpful to know who the judges are; the Hugo Award, for example, is judged by readers, not other authors. Most contests have certain qualities the judges are looking for in the work. Judges are usually asked to rate the work on a scale of one to ten.
“I’ve been judging books about six years,” she said, “and in one of the contests, I’m to judge five qualities: structure, voice, accuracy, originality, and craft. Some contests even ask me to break the score down further—5.5, for example. In the Romance Writers of American contest, I must judge for competency, story, whether it is believable, and if the book has a happy ending (romance novels must end with the protagonists together).
Miller reminded the audience to keep submitting—that who wins a contest can be subjective, since it all depends on the judge’s perspective. “We artists sometimes bite our tongues when we see which painting won a prize.” She also promised a list of 2018 Writing Contests (and here it is!).

Marshall writes award winning historical romance, mostly about pirates, privateers, smugglers, and the occasional possum. Her book, The Bride and the Buccaneer, won the First Coast Romance Writers Award for historical romance, and The Pirate’s Secret Baby received the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence.

Gartee is a novelist, poet, and author of seven college textbooks. In addition to his novels, he has had five collections of his poetry published as well as numerous chap books. His third novel, Ragtime Dudes In a Thin Place won the first place 2016 Royal Palm Literary Award for unpublished book-length fiction.

Miller is an artist, speaker, freelance writer, short story writer and playwright. Her nomination for the Spirit of Gainesville Award commended her commitment to helping others promote their work and grow in their development.

Bacopa Submissions Are Open
2018-03-01 - 2018-05-31
The 2018 contest is open through May 31.
We expect to award a $250 prize in each of four genres (poetry, prose poetry, short story, and creative nonfiction) plus a $25 payment for each published work.
The submission fee is $3 (first submission is free for members of the Writers Alliance of Gainesville).
If accepted for publication, the author agrees to grant First North American Serial Rights to Bacopa Literary Review.
For more information, see our Submission Guidelines.

Book Talk by Robert Crow: Nudge and Boost for Better Living
2018-02-18 14:30 - 15:30 | Alachua County Library Headquarters, Meeting Room A, 4th Floor, Rm. A, 401 E Univ. Ave., Gainesville, FL, 32601
Robert Crow will discuss and read from his book, Nudge & Boost for Better Living, A Semi-Autobiographical Novel on Using the ABCs of Human Behavior.
In the book, Frasier and friends explore uses of principles of human behavior to improve people’s lives. Their discussions of successes for better living and tools called nudge and boost are described in engaging stories.

Crow has a PhD in behavioral science and 35 years’ experience in systems of education, community development and higher education where he applied principles of science and life-lessons to promote the development of human potential.

Mary Sue Koeppel's Talk: Compiling a Group Memoir
2018-02-11 14:30 - 16:00 | Millhopper Library, Meeting Room A, 3145 NW 43rd St,, Gainesville, FL, 32606, United States
Talk summarized by Roz Miller
Mary Sue Koeppel, one of the four editors of No One’s Easy Daughter, Our Journeys of Transformation. discussed how she and the other editors collected the stories of 39 nuns and former nuns of the School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with the mission of sharing the stories in a group memoir.
After attending a fifty-year reunion at the convent, the editors approached this daunting task by first outlining a plan to locate former classmates and journals. They also discussed how they might work with reluctant participants by instilling trust, while recognizing and accepting that a few might still decline to participate.
Trailer for NO ONE’S EASY DAUGHTER
Participants were encouraged to provide written vignettes—memories and musings of their lives—to document a way of life that has been all but erased from the planet. They asked each participant to explain why she became a nun, why she left or stayed at the convent, and to tell stories of how she transitioned from a girl in a 1950s convent to a woman of 2017 and her possible involvement in major social, political, spiritual, and educational movements of the past 60 years.
The editors asked these 21st century women to explain what they believe now—their spirituality. But the editors also wanted to know each nun’s journey of transformation. What was it like to be a nun in the days of long habits and heavy rules? How did their lives as women in the convent affect who they are now and why? They wanted them to explain the life journey of transformation open to each of us, not just women, but to everyone?
The book is a mosaic of personal stories, divided into three parts: (1) Early Life, (2) Mid Life, and (3) Later Life. In advance of publication, the editors collected a forward and advance praise from experts. They also added a glossary.
Koeppel said the process the editors used for gathering information for this book can be adapted and adjusted for any group memoir. Decide what your readers would want to know and how you will arrange information to satisfy them.

Koeppel taught English and Creative Writing for many years at Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ), now Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ). Her poetry, short stories, book reviews, and articles have appeared in over fifty journals, magazines, and newspapers.
A women’s literary journal, Kalliope is a collection of poetry, prose and visual art by an assortment of female contributors.
She also served as the editor of Kalliope, a Journal of Women’s Literature & Art for seventeen years. She has published writing guides, including Writing Strategies-Plus Collaboration, a text for college students, and Write Your Life, The Memory Catcher. Her poetry books include In the Library of Silences: Poems of Loss, and Between the Bones. Koeppel also interviewed writers for the television programs “Writer-to-Writer” and “Worth Quoting.”

Award-Winning Author Darlene Marshall: The Bride and the Buccaneer
2018-01-21 14:30 - 15:30 | Alachua County Library Headquarters, Meeting Room A, 4th Floor, Rm. A, 401 E Univ. Ave., Gainesville, FL, 32601
Darlene Marshall writes award winning historical romance, mostly about pirates, privateers, smugglers, and the occasional possum.
On Sunday, January 21, she discussed her book, The Bride and the Buccaneer, winner of the First Coast Romance Writers Award for historical romance. Two adversaries squabble their way across Florida Territory following the clues on their pirate treasure map. They know that before they’re through they’re either going to kiss each other, kill each other, or both.
Marshall lives in North Central Florida, perfect for hopping into the convertible, driving to the beach, drinking mojitos and calling it research.
This program was part of the ongoing Local Author Series.

Writing as a Small Business
2018-01-14 14:30 - 16:00 | Millhopper Library, Meeting Room A, 3145 NW 43rd St,, Gainesville, FL, 32606, United States
Presentation Summary* by Art Crummer
With 15 years of experience as an accountant for CRI, Riggs & Ingram, LLC, it’s no wonder Lorie Keegan was able to use simple terms to outline accounting requirements for small businesses such as those of authors.
Salient features of her presentation included the following:
If you take in money at all, you must keep complete records. If your earnings are greater than $400 in a year, you must:

prepare an income/expense report
complete an end-of-year balance sheet
report fully the details to the IRS

Under certain specific low-revenue situations, your activities may be considered a hobby (in which losses incurred cannot be included in IRS filings). Rules exist regarding the number of years you may show a loss.
Taxes must be paid on income minus expenses. You must choose how your income flow is recorded, cash vs accrual. Keegan recommended the cash method, and passed around a copy of IRS publication 334 which explains all details in simple layman’s language (free at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p334.pdf).
If your business shows much activity, she recommends that you keep a separate bank account, pay all expenses from it, and deposit all income into it. Consider getting a federal ID number (it’s free). Types of expenses common for most writing and other small businesses include conferences, travel, home office, and computers.
If selling online, know about the 1099-K requirements. If you have employees, details can become complicated; consider hiring someone knowledgeable to handle payroll. If you hire an independent contractor for certain tasks related to your business, you need to file a W-9; for employees, a W-2.
Keegan presented a useful summary of requirements for tangible personal property taxes and strongly advised documenting all tangible property of your business the first year, noting that if the total is less than $25,000, you will not pay any tangible taxes, so you won’t have to report anything until a year when tangibles exceed that total. Keegan said, “Once you receive an exemption certificate, you no longer need to file.”
She handed out a CRI table giving detailed retention-period requirements for a host of accounting and IRS documents.
Many other details are covered in a downloadable, free, startup-business guide available on the website CRIcpa.com.
And finally, there’s the question of who pays taxes for your business. One must consider the options:

sole proprietorships (rules have changed recently),
partnership (for two people or more, you use a K-1 form)
corporation (perhaps an S corporation for an author’s small business)

Many detailed questions were answered in Q&A throughout this enjoyable and informative give-and-take presentation.

Keegan provides tax compliance, tax consulting, and planning services to small-business owners. She specializes in providing tax services for several not-for-profits. She is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA).
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*Disclaimer: Do not rely on this brief summary for your business. Seek the advice of a professional.

Music, Readings, and WAG's 2017 Book Project
2017-12-10 14:30 - 16:30 | Sal’s Place, 5109 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville, FL, 32606, United States
A crowd turned out on a brisk Sunday afternoon to enjoy music, readings by WAG members, and food and drink at Sal’s Place, a sports bar and restaurant in Northwest Gainesville.
Arthur Crummer, Ken Booth, and Janet Barrett Suggs provided the music, and about a dozen WAG members read essays or selections in poetry, fiction, or memoir.
A big thanks to Wendy Thornton for coordinating the event, to Ken Booth for setting up the sound equipment, and to Sal’s Place for providing the venue.
Donated books
We are also grateful to Roz Miller who organized WAG’s Holiday Children’s Book Project. Many of those attending the Sal’s Place event donated books or cash.
Roz (WAG), and Kristen (Peaceful Paths)
On December 18, all donations were delivered to Peaceful Paths, a non-profit organization that helps children caught in the middle of stressful domestic-violence situations. Peaceful Paths provides a safe place for women and their children, away from their abusers.

Children Books . . . Readings at Local Author Series
2017-12-09 14:30 - 15:30 | Story Woods Room, Children’s Department, Alachua County Library Headquarters, 401 East University Avenue, Gainesville, FL, 32601
On Saturday, December 9, authors Bonnie T. Ogle and Judith A. Barrett discussed their new children’s books in the Story Woods room of the Alachua County Library Headquarters.

Bonnie Ogle reading from Arthur the Arthropod
Arthur the Arthropod by Ogle. Feeling quite vulnerable when his shell comes off, the young centipede Arthur tries to overcome his feelings of inferiority by bragging. Along the way, he discovers he is part of a very large family that includes his neighbors, a mosquito, a dragonfly, and even a crawfish. He receives delightfully repetitive advice from his wise Mama, and ultimately realizes that he has everything he needs!
The Sounds and Smells of Christmas by Ogle. Would a king be born in a dark, moldy cave, surrounded by smelly animals? Would shabby, dirty people be allowed near a king? Only a king who loves His people, young or old, pretty or ugly, rich or poor. Enter the stable and experience the real sounds and smells of the Nativity and discover that Jesus didn’t come to sit on a fancy throne. He came to be with ordinary people like me.
Ogle is a retired first grade teacher, now teaching children at a natural history museum. She is a huge fan of lepidoptera (butterflies) and herptiles, especially frogs.
Judith Barrett reads from Pink Baby Alligator
Judith Barrett’s first book, Pink Baby Alligator, is a story she told her young granddaughter, who then requested the story be written down so she could read it for herself. Soon, the story passed through many grandchildren, proving particularly meaningful for her autistic grandchild.
Pink Baby Alligator by Barrett. Pink in a world of green. From the very beginning, it’s obvious that Rose is different. As a lone pink alligator in a family of green ones, she stands out when all she wants to do is blend in. With the support of Mama Alligator and her friends, Rose sets off on an adventure to discover how to use her special gift to create a place where everyone is included!

Book talk: Lancelot's Disciple
2017-12-03 14:30 - 16:00 | Alachua County Library Headquarters, Meeting Room A, 4th Floor, Rm. A, 401 E Univ. Ave., Gainesville, FL, 32601
On Sunday, December 3, as part of the Local Author Series, Richard Gartee discussed his latest book, Lancelot’s Disciple.
Frith, a student of Sir Lancelot, leaves the Christian abbey he has always called home, to join a caravan on the ancient Silk Road. While staying with a Sultan in Central Asia, he is tutored by a Taoist, a Buddhist, and a Hindu Swami. Confounded by their strange philosophies, he becomes catatonic during the journey home. Once back in Britain, he must sort out his confusion, attain the Holy Grail, and find the sister he left waiting at the abbey.
Gartee is a novelist, poet, and author of seven college textbooks. In addition to his novels, he has had five collections of his poetry published as well as numerous chap books. His third novel, Ragtime Dudes In a Thin Place won the first place 2016 Royal Palm Literary Award for unpublished book-length fiction.

Susie H. Baxter, Local Author Series
2017-11-19 14:30 - 15:30 | Alachua County Library Headquarters, Meeting Room A, 4th Floor, Rm. A, 401 E Univ. Ave., Gainesville, FL, 32601
On Sunday, November 19, Susie H. Baxter was the featured speaker in the Alachua County Library’s Local Author Series. She discussed her recently published book, Pumping Sunshine. Believing that everyone has a story to tell, Baxter also encouraged those in the audience to write about their own lives.
An Alachua County resident, Baxter has deep roots in Suwannee County where she grew up on a farm near the Suwannee River, and where she was known as Susanette Howell.
After a career in health-science publishing as an acquisitions editor, she now serves as creative nonfiction editor for Bacopa Literary Review and teaches memoir writing in the community education program at Santa Fe College. She is also the author of Write Your Memoir, One Story at a Time and C.G. & Ethel, A Family History.
The November 19 program was held at the Headquarters Library. Refreshments (homemade cookies made from a family recipe in the book) and a book signing followed the program.

WAG Book Sale at Downtown Festival
2017-11-11 - 2017-11-12 | Downtown Gainesville, 111 East University Ave, Gainesville, FL, 32627, United States
North Florida’s art scene will swing into high gear on Saturday, November 11, 2017, with the arrival of Gainesville’s Downtown Festival & Art Show. Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday.
From City Hall to the Hippodrome State Theatre, the streets of Gainesville will transform into a celebration of art and creativity complete with live music, performing arts, and a spectacular array of food. More than 100,000 art lovers are expected to fill the streets to enjoy and purchase one-of-a-kind artwork — and books!
This will be WAG’s third year to have a booth at the downtown festival. Festival goers are expected to stop by to learn about our organization and purchase books.
Fifty-four books by local authors were offered at special discounts at the recent Thornebrook festival. Even more are expected at the downtown festival.

2017 Bacopa Literary Review Readings
2017-11-05 14:30 - 16:00 | Millhopper Library, Meeting Room A, 3145 NW 43rd St,, Gainesville, FL, 32606, United States
WAG members, local authors with works in the 2017 journal, and Bacopa editors read excerpts from winning entries:

FLASH STORY
“Excerpts From The Trakl Diaries” by Stephanie Emily Dickinson;
CREATIVE NONFICTION
“Caregiver’s Journal: How to Survive, or Not” by Raphael Helena Kosek;
FICTION
“Ignis Fatuus, and More, at Eleven” by Chad W. Lutz;
POETRY
“A Mote of Dust “by Claire Scott.

Program coordinated by Mary Bast, Editor in Chief.

Gene Cowell, Local Author Series
2017-10-22 14:30 - 15:30 | Alachua County Library Headquarters, Meeting Room A, 4th Floor, Rm. A, 401 E Univ. Ave., Gainesville, FL, 32601
On Sunday, October 22, Gene Cowell was the featured speaker in the Alachua County Library’s Local Author Series.
Cowell discussed the evolution of popular crime fiction from its Nineteenth-Century roots through classic British “cozy” mysteries of the early Twentieth-Century, and the enduring noir novels of famous American authors from Raymond Chandler and James M. Cain to Elmore Leonard and Dennis Lehane.
He also read from his second recently-published novel, Bring Me the Gypsy, inspired by true events; it follows American Gypsy Dix Arcos as he struggles to escape the lethal wrath of his gangster boss.
An Alachua resident, Cowell touched on lessons learned over a 45-year career as an advertising copywriter, ad agency owner and subscription newsletter publisher that he claims helped him in his fiction writing. He paid homage to Elmore Leonard’s immortal “Ten Rules for Good Writing,” including the one rule he broke.
The program was held at the Headquarters Library, 401 E. University Ave., Gainesville FL.
The Local Author Series features a new author each month.

Thornebrook's 33rd Annual Art Festival
2017-10-21 10:00 - 2017-10-22 17:00 | Thornebrook Village, 2441 NW 43rd Street, Gainesville, 32606
In booth #128, WAG members dispensed WAG literature, talked with festival goers about our organization, and sold many of the fifty-four books on display by local authors. Thanks to all who participated in this fun event.

M. W. Gordon - Ask Not for Whom the Pen Writes . . .
2017-10-08 14:30 - 16:00 | Millhopper Library, Meeting Room A, 3145 NW 43rd St,, Gainesville, FL, 32606, United States
Summary of M. W. Gordon’s talk by Penny Church-Pupke.
Retired UF law professor turned mystery writer Michael Gordon (pen name M.W. Gordon) presented a program entitled “Ask not for whom the pen writes, it writes for me.” A published author of nonfiction and fiction, Gordon’s debut novel Deadly Drifts, the first of nine in his McDuff Brooks mystery series, won the 2014 Royal Palm Literary Award for Published Book of the Year.
Throughout his talk, Gordon used anecdotes from his life and gave writing advice gained through publishing his book series. Gordon said his writing grew out of his examination of his life’s interests including law, sports, boating and fly fishing. After his retirement at age 73, he sifted through his work experiences of teaching, lecturing, consulting, and writing in international law as well as civil law. At the same time, he assessed his other interests—he was a boat builder, a certified fly-fishing guide, an oboe and English horn player, and an owner of Shetland Sheepdogs. At leisure, with no thought of writing, he began reading fiction. Eventually, he wondered whether he could write dialogue and if he knew enough to write a book, using the knowledge he had gained during his life.
Two years later, Deadly Drifts was complete. Now, he wondered what he should do with his 300-page manuscript. He tried traditional publishing, but the publishing agent he contacted wanted a contract of five years to search for a publisher. Gordon didn’t want to wait that long. On his own, he tried the Big Five Publishing Houses—Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hachette Book Group, and MacMillan—but they weren’t interested. Going to a subsidiary of the Big Five, what Gordon called a “sub of a sub of a sub” wasn’t satisfactory. His alternative was DIY publishing (Do-It-Yourself). He suggested authors use the term Do-It-Yourself rather than self-published. Gordon confessed he had made lots of mistakes as he learned the ins and outs of publishing. In addition, he said DIY publishing took lots of his time, and required him to make lots of choices.
Here are some of his recommendations.
Gordon suggested that authors not edit their works themselves; he added that it is important to know what kind of editing is being contracted (grammar, punctuation, content). Referring to DIY books, he said writers should make use of templates—5.5 x 8.5 is a good size. Once a template it used, it can be reused through copy and paste. Use 1.5 line spacing for your final submission since double-spacing makes it look like a draft. He advised forming your own publishing entity LLC (Limited Liability Company) or create a fictitious name so you can say you are “published by a small publishing firm in (location).” Also purchase your own ISBN (International Standard Book Number) so the number belongs to the writer not the publisher—it is, he emphasized, a matter of control.
Gordon discussed the differences between print-on-demand (POD) publishers like IngramSpark and Amazon’s CreateSpace. CreateSpace publishes only softcover (paperbound) books sold by Amazon or by the author. One positive is that a Kindle e-book can be made with just a click of a mouse. However, some bookstores do not like to work with Amazon since they take a 25% cut, and books are not generally returnable. Gordon recommends not using Amazon Kindle’s special programs—Kindle Select/Kindle Unlimited—because this may require an exclusive agreement with Amazon and may lower royalties by 20%. In contrast, IngramSpark will publish a softcover or hardcover and the company distributes to bookstores and makes the books available to libraries. For ease of use, Gordon suggested going to IngramSpark first, then CreateSpace.
When writing a series, Gordon said, it is essential to have a timeline; the timeline he created for his series is about 25-pages long. Equally important is to have a list of characters. He found that characters are easier to write if they come from a dysfunctional family. In a similar vein, he said children grow up fast—in other words, how long can a child be credibly enrolled in high school or college? He said adults age much better. Gordon suggested it is a good idea for the main character to have a pet; that pet can be a minor figure, or it can be another character, but it should have some quirks. He added that his dog character, Wuff, has appeared in all his books and was even shot. In a series, if the main characters are married or are a couple, one spouse/partner can be killed. Likewise, if a character isn’t working out, or if the author is worried that the readers are getting bored, characters can be killed. However, he added, don’t bring back a character who was killed. Gordon said, it is good to have a sinister character appear throughout the series, much as Professor Moriarty served as a nemesis to Sherlock Holmes.
Gordon’s book display at October 8 WAG program
As for marketing suggestions, Gordon said book tours and lectures are usually not arranged by publishers. He found book tours did not give him a reasonable return; he sold only 2 copies the first time, 12 the second, and 25 the next month. The most he sold was 62, this past year. In contrast, he has sold 2,000 e-book copies. He said, book sales come after radio and TV interviews. Another marketing tip (good for bookstores) is to create a one-page handout, with a photo of the book cover on one side and a description and contact information on the other.
Gordon provided a handout, which said “Enjoy what you are doing.” If you don’t enjoy writing, do something else. His final recommendation, written in bold letters was Write for yourself.
When not writing, Gordon has been involved in Project Healing Waters in Montana, where fly-fishing is taught to former military personnel who were combat wounded. Next summer, he hopes to become involved in Casting for Recovery in Vermont, where fly-fishing is taught to women cancer survivors. According to his handout, he sailed in the America’s Cup on America’s contender “American Eagle” in 1967.
Gordon has degrees from the U.S., France, and Mexico, and except for a case of malaria, he would have had another degree from the Netherlands. He consulted and lectured at U.S. Embassies in a dozen or more foreign nations and was consulted on cross border issues by the Departments of State, Commerce, and Justice. He primarily fishes in the U.S. and Canada and is on pro-boards in fly-fishing in Simms in Montana and Orvis in Vermont. He has never kept a fish he caught; his first trout was caught in 1944 and was immediately released because he said, he was struck by its beauty. And fittingly, he uses barbless hooks whenever he fishes.

Celebrate Stetson Kennedy's Life
2017-10-04 19:00 - 20:30 | Civic Media Center, 433 South Main Street, Gainesville, Florida, 32601
The Civic Media Center is honoring the life of Stetson Kennedy, famous Florida folklorist, human rights organizer, and environmentalist, on Wednesday, October 4, the day before he would have turned 101. Join the celebration, which will feature a birthday cake, and other refreshments provided by the Writers Alliance of Gainesville.
The evening’s program, “Living a Life of Purpose,” covers 80 years of Kennedy’s activism, from organizing against anti-Semitism as a 14-year-old to marching with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in their fight for higher wages as a 94-year old. Between those years, Stetson infiltrated the KKK, and he engaged in other organizing and journalistic endeavors in support of the Black Freedom Movement, a series of protests that began with the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955-56. He wrote and published seven books and innumerable articles. He cultivated friendships with Woody Guthrie, Studs Terkel, Jean Paul Sartre, and countless others.
Musical entertainment for the evening will be provided by Kennedy’s longtime friend, singer-songwriter, and co-founder of the University of Florida Arts in Medicine program, Cathy DeWitt.
Parking is available along SE 5th Ave., across the street on S.Main St, or up at the Courthouse. The event is free. Donations are appreciated.

WAG at the Life Expo
2017-09-23 | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, UF Campus, Gainesville, FL
WAG had the unexpected opportunity to participate in the LIFE EXPO on Saturday, September 23, 2017. The Gainesville Sun designed the event to publicize products, services, and opportunities for active boomers and seniors. It was held in the Holloway Touchdown Terrace, an air-conditioned room at the north end of the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Attendees enjoyed visiting exhibits and seminars relating to health, wellness, hobbies, sports, travel, home, garden, automotive and more.
A big thanks to Joan Carter and Penny Church-Pupke, who organized WAG’s participation in the six-hour event and to all the WAG Members who assisted in the booth, promoting WAG and selling fellow members’ books.
Joan reported that 156 books by 18 WAG authors were displayed, plus Bacopas. Eleven authors participated in at least one aspect of the event, from setup to cleanup. This is especially remarkable since some of the volunteers were still recovering from Hurricane Irma, having had no electricity, communication, and water for several days. What a show of support!
Joan Carter and Penny Church Pupke. Photo courtesy of Carol Ray Skipper
