July Speaker — Charley Valera

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July 2022

Speaker: Charley Valera
Topic: Pitch Your Writing
July 16, 2022, 10 a.m. to Noon
Charley Valera
Why do I need a pitch? It was a cold early winter afternoon at the Manchester airport. I was flying to NYC to discuss my recently published book, My Father’s War. As we were getting ready to board, we were told the flight would be delayed because a storm front stalled in our path, and we’d have to wait it out.
As some of us commiserated, the talk was about the necessity to arrive on time and why. One of my fellow commiserators asked me why I was heading to New York. I bumbled about a book I wrote, and, er, it was about some WWII veterans, and er, ahm, my father was in the war, and I had interviewed some veterans. My pitch was embarrassing, and at that point, I knew it. I asked him why he was going there, and he handed me his business card. He was the COO for Hudson News. Great! I sure messed that up. Had I been better prepared, would my book be in every airport in the country? Maybe, who knows. I sure blew my chance out the window. That’s why I needed a great pitch.

Charley Valera has appeared on NBC/NECN, WPRI and other TV outlets. He’s been featured in magazines, newspapers and radio throughout the country. Valera writes articles and blogs for various media on topics from WWII, real estate and aviation. My Father’s War: Memories from Our Honored WWII Soldiers covers both theaters and all branches of war during WWII.  This book features more than a hundred personal photos and stories from WWII veterans. A licensed commercial pilot, Realtor, author, filmmaker, public speaker, father of two boys and husband to Cheryl, they live in southwest Florida. He can be reached through www.charleyvalera.com.

June Speaker — Susan Grunin

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June 2022

Speaker: Susan Grunin
Topic: Hybrid Publishing
June 18, 2022, 10 a.m. to Noon

Susan Grunin

The presentation will look at Using a Hybrid Publisher including:

  1. Defining a Hybrid Publishing Company
  2. The Three Models of Hybrid Publishers
  3. Key to Understanding the Differences between a Hybrid Publisher and a Vanity Press
  4. Ways to Tell is a Hybrid Publisher is Legit
  5. 8 Signs Your Publisher is a Scam
  6. The Guidelines for Recognizing a Legit Hybrid Publisher from the Independent Book Publishers Association (2018)
  7. What type of Author is Most Likely to Benefit from a Hybrid Publisher
  8. Deciding Whether to Use a Hybrid Publisher – It Isn’t for Everyone!

Susan’s sample Author Page. Make your own Author Page and bring to the next meeting.

Susan’s PowerPoint presentation

Dr. Susan K. Grunin is a retired college professor, who taught for over 2 decades for the University of Virginia (UVA) and a number of other colleges and universities. Dr. Grunin also authored a text book for the University of Virginia Graduate School. She is a retired Executive who has been an Executive Coach, a CEO, a Human Capital Consultant and who also worked for the Federal Government, where she served in various positions for the Federal Courts, including over 20 years as a Federal Law Enforcement Officer.

Susan is currently a member of the Gulf Coast Writers Association of SW Florida and is writing a series of children’s books, Life Lessons and Tales of Little MisFit.

More about Susan

Paul McFarlane

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Paul McFarlane

Mr. McFarlane finished a 34-year federal career in 2015. He resides in Millville, DE with his wife, Karen; their two adult sons live in Maryland. He writes memoir, fictional mysteries and enjoys family history research. He facilitates weekly FreeWrites for two other writing groups and plans to offer these to GCWA members.