Claudia Volkman — Speaker November 2021

by -

Speaker Claudia Volkman
Topic: What Authors Can Learn from the TED Commandments
November 13, 2021, 10 AM to Noon (changed from 3rd to 2nd Saturday)

Claudia VolkmanLocation: Map
Word of Life Church
6111 South Pointe Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33919

Note: Google maps or your GPS may direct you to the back of the building. The entrance to the parking lot is on South Point Blvd. between Quigley Eye Specialists and Buckets Restaurant.

When a speaker is accepted to give a TED Talk, they are given a stone tablet engraved with the “TED Commandments,” written by the founder of TED, Richard Saul Wurman, to provide a guide for the speakers. The result: TED Talks are generally exceptional. These ten commandments are geared for speakers, but with a bit of adaptation, they can easily apply to authors wanting to write an exceptional book.

Claudia Volkman has more than thirty-five years of experience in acquisitions, product development, editing, and typesetting, and has worked full-time for several trade publishing houses. Now, as the owner of Creative Editorial Solutions, she assists publishers, authors, entrepreneurs, and speakers with their editorial needs. A Chicago native, Claudia and her husband reside in Southwest Florida with their two charming Corgis.

Claudia Volkman Resume

More Speakers

Join GCWA

January 2022 Meeting — Stephen J. McGuire

by -

Speaker: Stephen J. McGuire
Topic: Challenges of Self-publishing

January 15, 2022, 10 a.m. to Noon

stephen j mcguire

Location: Map
Word of Life Church
6111 South Pointe Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33919

Stephen J. McGuire, retired Chief Judge of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), wrote Prior Restraint, a political thriller.

Steve will discuss how he wrote the book, challenges of self-publishing, and his inside perspective about DC which influenced the storyline. Steve will also provide tips on how self-publishers can market their books.

Prior Restraint--America’s most famous news anchor is brutally murdered by terrorists on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC and the entire media establishment is paralyzed by the fear of who may be next. Seemingly overnight, a pernicious wave of self-censorship grips the airways and no one dares to further criticize religious fanaticism. When a leading newspaper columnist and her editor are soon thereafter kidnapped and murdered in New York, the media hysteria reaches a frenzy.

When Chief Judge of FTC,  Steve presided over well-publicized, antitrust enforcement proceedings. He was honored by President George W. Bush for his service to the nation’s judiciary and received the FTC’s Distinguished Service Award. Now a full-time resident of Naples, Steve has been coming to the area since the mid-1980s. He has traveled extensively to over 65 countries, including memorable trips to Africa, India, Vietnam and Japan. He and his wife Doris taught English to high school students in the Fujian Province of China in July 2019. His letter on the culture and lifestyle of Havana, Cuba was published by Cigar Aficionado magazine. In addition to writing, he enjoys classic cars, fine wine, and sharing life with his wife Doris, their golden retriever, Henry, and their mini goldendoodle, Alftie.

More about Steve

More Speakers

Join GCWA

Calling All Florida Playwrights!

by -

hipp unplugged

The Hippodrome Theatre supports established as well as new and emerging talent and is accepting submissions for its 2022 playwright festival!

Submissions must be received by Dec 3rd, 2021 at 12 p.m.
See submission guidelines for more information.
Winners will be announced Jan 10th, 2022!
Development, rehearsals, and performances will run from Feb 13 – 19, 2022.

Submission Guidelines
✦ Email submissions of complete scripts must be RECEIVED by noon on December 3rd, 2021.
✦ Open to playwrights of all ages, but must reside in FL.
✦ Scripts must be original, unproduced and unpublished plays. Plays which have had readings or workshops are eligible.
✦ Plays must be 15 – 30 minutes in length and have no more than 5 characters.
✦ Writers may submit up to two plays.
✦ Please use standard script format ( Writopia Script Formatting )

What should I submit?
✦ A completed entry form per play that can be downloaded from TheHipp.org/New-Works-Festival-2022/
✦ A short bio of the playwright
✦ One clean copy of your script
✦ A one paragraph synopsis of the play and a cast list with brief character descriptions

✦ Questions? ✦

Go to our website or email hippplayfest@gmail.com

Email submissions to:
✦ Hippplayfest@gmail.com ✦

Develop your work and join our community of artists!
✦ The Hippodrome Theatre

Hippodrome Entry Form 2022

Craft Fair

by -

craft fair

An opportunity has opened for GCWA members and associates to participate in the large Art & Craft Show being held at Word of Life church on Saturday, November 20, 2021. 

Please read the application form and at the top of the form it asks

D.B.A. ______________.

Fill out:  GULF COAST WRITERS ASSOCIATION.

This is the only way Justina can know how many of you are with GCWA and keep you in one area together.

I have a banner that says, Meet the Authors – Gulf Coast Writers Association. This has straps and can be tied to a couple tables for identification.

After the event we would be interested to know how you did at this venue.

Irene, Smith
GCWA President

To sign up, fill out the following application by November 15th, 2021 and mail check and application to:

Word of Life
6111 South Pointe Blvd
Ft Myers, FL  33919
ATTN: Craft Fair

Or email application to: justina@wolm.net
*If application is emailed, the application will not be active until the fees are received.

Craft Fair Application 2021

Moderate Review call for submissions

by -

Please share this opportunity with your members & alumni to submit to The Moderate Review, a newly established online journal showcasing some of the hottest emerging literary talents. We invite your words and voices to the ongoing creative discussion.

The Moderate accepts creative text (fiction, poetry, screenplays), zeitgeisty essays, reviews, and interviews as well as visual art such as painting, sculpture, and photography. We especially seek work that interfaces with the current moment.

We are currently accepting submissions on a rolling basis.

Submissions should be sent as a word attachment to moderatereview@gmail.com with “A Moderate Submission” in the subject line. There are no word limits, guidelines, or restrictions. However, all submissions must be original work and not previously published.

McGuire — Prior Restraint

by -

Prior Restraint 

by Stephen McGruire

prior restraint” Prior Restraint”–America’s most famous news anchor is brutally murdered by terrorists, and the entire media establishment is paralyzed by the fear of who may be next. Seemingly overnight, a pernicious wave of self-censorship grips the airwaves, and no one dares to further criticize religious fanaticism. A corrupt Senator, intoxicated by ambition and greed, exploits the ensuing chaos, while a tenacious, young reporter risks her career and her life to uncover the truth. “Prior Restraint” is a chilling story about fear, greed and power that blurs the borders between reality and illusion, with a plot line even more terrifying in its disturbing proximity to our everyday reality.

Purchase at Amazon

Stephen J. McGuire

by -

stephen j mcguireSteve is a native of Louisville, Kentucky, and had a 30+ year legal career serving as an attorney and a federal judge in Washington, DC.  Steve retired in 2008 as the Chief Judge of the Federal Trade Commission, where he received the FTC’s Distinguished Service Award and was honored by President George W. Bush for his service to the nation’s judiciary. He has two certifications from Harvard University, one from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, and the other from Harvard Law School. Subsequently, he became Vice President for Corporate Compliance at the University of Louisville Hospital.

He has traveled to over 65 foreign countries, including 10 communist countries. Among his more memorable trips were those to Cuba (where his letter about the culture and lifestyle of Havana was published by Cigar Aficionado magazine), Africa, India, Vietnam, and Japan. In July 2019, he taught English to high school students in the Fujian Province of China.

Steve is scheduled for over 40 speaking engagements (May 2021-March 2022) at bookstores, libraries, country clubs, civic associations, art center and radio shows. Steve has been interviewed on the following radio shows: Beach Talk Radio, Fort Myers, FL; The Mike Boyle Show, Colorado Springs and Denver, CO; and Lars Larson, nationally syndicated. Steve is a member of the Gulf Coast Writers Association, Inc. and The Authors Guild. He lives in Naples, Florida, with his wife, Doris, and their golden retriever, Henry.

Steve’s books

Roche — Havoc at Harrison Hospital

by -

Mystery at Marian Manor (A Nora Brady, Student Nurse Mystery #1)

by M.E. Roche

mystery at marian manorWhat kind of person would dream of harming the elderly? How could such a thing ever happen in a place as nice as Marian Manor? These are the thoughts that plague Nora Brady, the young student nurse assigned to the lovely nursing home in Jacobsport, a small coastal town in northern California. When cherished belongings of the residents begin disappearing and several residents die unexpectedly, Nora is forced to act. While carefully observing those around her, she looks for clues, follows her hunches and plays detective as well as student nurse. But not everyone involved is happy with Nora’s investigation and Dan Maguire is one of them. He’s the young police detective assigned to the case who believes that the police should handle all crime investigations. Eventually, however, he realizes that it helps to have someone on the inside—and the inside of Marian Manor is certainly filled with colorful characters, from Nora’s co-workers and nurse managers to the residents with whom she loves spending time. Mystery at Marian Manor offers a glimpse into the world of nursing today and how one student nurse succeeded in making a difference!

Purchase at Amazon

Roche — The Ghost of Gresham Green

by -

The Ghost of Gresham Green: The Adventures of Nora Brady, Student Nurse #3

by M.E. Roche

Ghost of Gresham Green

In this third book of Nora Brady’s adventure, Nora and her friend Tina are now in Dublin, Ireland, on a work-study phase of their student-nursing program. Charmed by life in Dublin, Nora soon learns that even there people can have a dark side. After meeting fellow students Ailish and Maire, who are cousins of her friend from home, Dan Maguire—the police detective in Jacobsport—she once again becomes entangled in a web of politics, lost jewels, and murder.

This time, however, she has help from above. As Nora learns the history of Gresham Green hospital, she discovers the legend of Lady Margaret Hampton, a ghost with a tragic past, who has continued to watch over the people of Gresham Green. With Nora’s help, Lady Margaret is finally allowed to rest in peace. As Nora expands her nursing skills in pediatrics, she finds fun, friends, danger, and mystery beyond her wildest imagination. Once again, she is up to the task.

The Ghost of Gresham Green is an engaging thriller reminiscent of Nancy Drew, Sue Barton, and Cherry Ames. It highlights the world of nursing today and shows that the concerns of nurses are the same the world over.

Purchase at Amazon

Roche — Havoc at Harrison Hospital

by -

Havoc at Harrison Hospital: The Adventures of Nora Brady, Student Nurse (A Nora Brady, Student Nurse Mystery #2)

by M.E. Roche

Nora Brady continues her student nurse adventures at Harrison Hospital in Jacobsport, a small coastal town in northern California. As she is introduced to the exciting and complex care of critically ill patients, she is once again immersed in a web of suspicious friendships, hospital politics, missing patient records and murder. But has Nora gone too far this time?

Purchase at Amazon