Lots of content in this month’s Gazette, please see my interview on page 16 with actor/sculpture artist Tom Franco.
Also, check out my piece on Half Moon Bay on page 11, TWO book reviews this month for Tosca Lee’s medical thrillers on page 14, plus sweet Bennet and info on dog food recalls in my dog rescue column on page 15.
http://www.diablogazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Diablo-Gazette-October-21D.pdf?utm_medium=website
Events
10/30 Speaking Event
I’m excited to announce I’ll be speaking at the Lafayette Library along with four other talented artists/authors, including Tom Franco (brother to actor James Franco). Optional: Come in costume as your favorite literary character or author for a chance to win prizes too! Don’t miss out on this fun event!!!
Saturday October 30th at noon at the Lafayette Library & Learning Center Amphitheater, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. The writers will read excerpts from their work, while Tom and another local artist will discuss a selection of their artwork. A Q&A and outdoor reception will follow.
Upcoming Event-2/13/21 Mount Diablo CWC
Jill: The End: Finding the Best Way to Wrap It All Up
Penny Warner: Writing Dialogue
10 am 2/13/20 $5 CWC members; $10 nonmembers
https://cwcmtdiablo.org/current-cwc-mt-diablo-meeting/:
Whether it’s a chapter ending or the conclusion of a novel or memoir, endings matter. Not every chapter needs to end with a cliffhanger, but there should be a sense of drawing the chapter’s purpose to a close. Every book should leave the reader with a sense of satisfaction. It doesn’t have to be a happy ending, but it does need to tidy up all the loose story ends. There’s nothing worse than leaving your reader with this thought: “Did their printer run out of ink?”
During this Writer’s Table, I will cover:
How beginnings and endings are linked
Examples of successful ways to end books
How genre can affect endings
Differences between chapter versus book endings
When to think about your ending
Writing Exercise
9/12/20 Speaker: Writing for a Cause – Zoom Writers Table – Mount Diablo California Writers Club
I will be speaking with the amazing Lucinda Jackson on 9/12 at the September Mount Diablo California Writers Club Zoom Meeting on the subject of Writing for a Cause. Join us and the featured speaker,
Joan Gelfand, speaking on the 4Cs of Successful Writers.
Registration required: https://cwcmtdiablo.org/current-cwc-mt-diablo-meeting/:
Registration Fee:$10
9:30 am Sign in and Breakout Rooms
9:45 am Board Info and Announcements
10:00 – 10:45 am Writer’s Table
10:45 – 11:00 am Break
11:00 – noon Featured Speaker
Book Signing/Speaking Events
Hi Folks,
I have two upcoming book-signing/speaking events in April (Multicultural Children’s Bookstore on 4/18) and a Mount Diablo CWC speaking event on Travel Writing May 9th. I will update the status of these events in the coming weeks.
March 5, 2020 Microplastics Talk at Mount Diablo Audubon
Microplastics: Environmental Impacts and Practical Tips to Reduce Your Plastic Footprint
Mount Diablo Audubon Meeting in Walnut Creek
“Birding Information” presenter
The meeting is free to the public.
Camellia Room at The Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek.
6:30 pm Doors open
7:00 pm Microplastics Talk
Feel Free to Stick around for the Main Program
7:25 pm News
7:40 pm Snacks & Raffle
8:00 pm Main Program
January 25th So You Want to Write a Book Panelist
What’s happening at Orinda Books?
So You Want to Write a Book…
Four local writers, all members of the California Writers Club, Mt. Diablo Branch, will discuss their writing and publishing journeys and offer tips for aspiring writers. A Q&A session will follow.
Saturday, January 25, 2:00 to 3:30
Joining us will be:
David George has published his debut novel, Granddad’s Garden – Stories of the Natural World. Granddad’s Garden explores the relationship shared by a granddad and his grandson while discovering nature’s laws together. David is President of the California Writers Club, Mt. Diablo Branch, and writes a monthly column on gardening for a local newspaper.
Jill Hedgecock writes monthly book reviews and dog rescue columns for The Diablo Gazette. Her short stories, personal essays and nonfiction pieces have appeared in multiple anthologies, newspapers, and magazines. Her debut novel, Rhino in the Room, won a New Apple Literary Award in 2019.
Dorothy Edwards recently published her first children’s story, Langston’s Moon, a picture book about a young boy who sees the full moon for the first time and believes it is a giant sugar cookie. When the moon dwindles to a tiny sliver, he fears a sky monster has eaten it and the moon will disappear forever.
Andrew Benzie has published a series of books on die-cast collectables which are available on Amazon. A Bay Area native, with over 30 years of experience in the design industry, Andrew established Andrew Benzie Books in 2010 to help authors design, publish, and market their books.
If you have any interest in writing and/or being published,
this is “must-attend” event.
Orinda Books, 276 Village Square, Orinda, CA (925) 254-7606
December 12, 2019 Mount Diablo Audubon – Gorillas, Rhinos and More
Mount Diablo Audubon Meeting in Walnut Creek
I am the “Birding Information” pre-speaker talking about Mount Gorillas and
The main program speaker: Birds and Wildlife of Kenya
I’ll be selling signed copies of Rhino in the Room afterward.
The meeting is free to the public.
Camellia Room at The Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek.
6:30 pm Doors open
7:00 pm Birding Info
7:25 pm News
7:40 pm Snacks & Raffle
8:00 pm Main Program
December 9 – Book Signing
Forma Gym’s Holiday Faire
December 9th
9 to 7 pm
1908 Olympic Blvd.
Walnut Creek, CA
Come join me at Forma Gym where I’ll be selling books and doing a book signing along with other craft sellers.
10/11 & 10/12 Concord Oktoberfest – Diablo Gazette Booth
Meet Instagram-Sensation Ruby, the Doberman on the cover of my new novel, Between Shadow’s Eyes at the Concord Oktoberfest at Todos Santos Park. A stamp of Ruby’s paw is available to for her to sign books as well. Award-winning Rhino in the Room books will also be available.
Book Signing:
Friday from 6-8 PM, Saturday after 4PM-6PM.
Todos Santos Park, Downtown Concord, CA.
You will also receive a free dog 
bone soap with any book purchase while supplies last.