The 2nd Annual Del Shores Foundation Writers Search is accepting scripts through the end of February. This contest is open to Southern LGBTQ+ screenwriters and playwrights. This could be an opportunity for Gulf Coast writers in other genres to spread their wings. Use the code “DSFFL” for free submission. See the graphic for further information.
LOVE IS IN THE AIR AT THE ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS
STORYTELLERS BRING STORIES OF LOVE TO THE FOULDS THEATRE
By Mary Lou Williams
Storytellers of the Round Table and Elephant Showcase Storytellers will take the stage at the Alliance for the Arts on Friday, February 3, 2023, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm (EST) to tell their tales of love lost and love gained.
The tellers, in order of appearance, will be Dr. Joel Ying, Rhonda Brazina, Mary Lou Williams, and Marilyn Graham. Dr. Ying will be the MC; he will tell two folk tales, “The Marriage Boulder” and “The Spring of Youth.” Both tales originate from Asian folklore. Rhonda will tell her own personal love story about how she, a hopeless romantic who liked candlelit dinners and red roses, fell in love with a logical realist, who thought flowers were a waste of money. Mary Lou will tell a literary story, “The Birthmark,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and a fractured fable about “Truth and Story,” who fell in love. Marilyn will tell a legendary tale called, “The Real McCoy” that features a ghost and may or may not be true. She will end with a folk tale called “Martina the Beautiful Cockroach,” an entomological love story.
Experience the power of the spoken word. Captivating, spellbinding, and entertaining. The stories will be followed by a Talk Back, which is a Q&A session with the audience. Meet the storytellers. Discover the stories behind the stories. The Talk Back has become a popular feature of our storytelling events.
The Alliance for the Arts is located at 10091 McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers. The ticket price is $18 for members and $20 for non-members. To purchase tickets visit www.artinlee.org or call 239-939-2787.
President’s Letter for January
This year began with the continuation of ‘negotiating’ with Truist Bank. Michael Cole is working diligently with one of the fraud analysts at Truist and with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to get our funds restored. Hopefully, we will have more information to share with you at our January meeting.
One of our members, who was a professional financial attorney, suggested the amount might be below the bank’s deductible and that could potentially be the reason why they do not want to pay it. Gee–this sounds like the homeowners insurance companies!
The latest info will be available at our January 21st meeting. We hope to have as many of you in attendance as possible because we really need your support and encouragement for other members. We have been polarized for too long. Now is the time to step forward and say, “I am not going to take this anymore!”
One of our authors is bringing people with her who probably haven’t been able to attend for fear of driving, etc. Carpooling is an efficient and effective way to save gas and to spend time with like-minded people; it is one way we can be of assistance to our fellow writers. This author recently left one writer’s group because of the “cliques” that were ruining the organization. This type of behavior has destroyed two other local groups that used to exist in our area.
GCWA is blessed not to have that issue. The reason is simply because we follow our constitution. When we have differences, we collaborate and iron them out at our monthly Executive Committee meetings. Many elder members had to retire; however, we have been blessed by the new residents who have relocated to our area.
If you want an exciting and thorough understanding of what life was like in Southwest Florida years ago, our January guest speaker, Clarissa Thomasson’s four novels offer delightful reading. In addition, add five children’s books, two award-winning stage plays, and a new novel for 2022. Her complete bio is listed on the first page of the website. Check it out when you get a chance.
The 2023 Writing Contest details can be found on the GCWA website as well. There is still time to submit your entries–the deadline has been extended to February 28, 2023.
Our January meeting is scheduled to be held on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 10:00 am – noon. Remember, the meeting will be offered, both, in person and via Zoom. We offer quite a few diverse ways to renew your membership. A payment can be made while physically attending the January meeting, you can pay online through PayPal, or you can mail a check to:
Gulf Coast Writer Association
P.O. Box 60771
Fort Myers, FL 33906
Irene Smith, President
January 2023
Speaker: Clarissa Thomasson
Topic: Suspending the Disbelief
January 21, 2023, 10a.m. to Noon
In Person and Zoom Meeting – Register Here
Location: Map
Word of Life Church
6111 South Pointe Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33919
“Suspending the Disbelief” reflects the writings of Florida Historical Authors: Marjorie Rawlings, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, Patrick Smith, Carl Hiaasen, and my own Florida books. The Florida setting of each of these authors directly affects both the characterizations and the plot and makes their stories come to life.
Clarissa Thomasson was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She received a BA in English Literature from Duke University and a MA in English from the University of
Florida. Thomasson taught English, journalism, and creative writing in Montgomery County, MD, until her retirement. Her first two novels, Defending Hillsborough and Reconstructing Hillsborough were chosen by the North Carolina Association of Public School Librarians for use in the high school study of the Civil War. Lorinda’s Legacy was “pick of the month” at Greensboro, NC Barnes and Noble.
In 2000, Thomasson returned to Florida and now resides in Venice, FL. She has written five children’s books in her Little Green Monkey series, four novels: Florida Shadows, Florida Secrets, Florida Sunset and Surviving Sarasota set in Southwest Florida, a World War II novel—Over the Bridge—and Venice Dreamers, which highlights Venice’s original settlers. Thomasson’s stage plays, Over the Bridge and Florida Shadows, each won first place in the Clarence “Bud” Jones Playwriting Competition at the Firehouse Theatre in LaBelle, FL, in 2014 and 2015.
Thomasson is also a freelance writer–having written for GRAND magazine, Yesterday in Florida—where she won a 2005 Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Award for her contributions to Florida history—and Eastside Venice Neighbors—where she authored monthly articles on Florida history. She is also a contributor to the Venice Gondolier.
Thomasson’s newest book, Forgotten Florida, tells the story of the earliest American settlers on Florida’s west coast, was released September 1, 2022. More information at saltmarshpublications.com.
Gulf Coast Writers Association Victimized by Theft
In September and October of 2022, during the lead up and aftermath of Hurricane Ian, we had $4,000 stolen from our bank account, via account-to-account transfers, from our account at Truist Bank. This left us with only approximately $1,000 to operate. All of this took place around the time of hurricane Ian. We filed a fraud claim with Truist. They did an investigation and denied our claim, despite overwhelming evidence that we were the victims of fraud.
Their reason for denial given was, “We have determined that the transactions were authorized and therefore not eligible to be returned.” When Mike Cole asked who authorized these transactions (only Mike is authorized to do so), they continually refused to reveal who the thieves were, even though they know who the perpetrators are.
These account transfers were initiated by another bank, which Michael Cole found out to be Suncoast Credit Union.
Mike opened a case (#22-480794) with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office; they claimed banks do this all the time. Mike was told they would wait and see how Truist respond to him and will then submit a subpoena for the relevant bank records, if necessary. They have since subpoenaed the documents and the investigation is ongoing.
I have read the complete transaction report on this activity, rest assured; this was no amateur job.
It is clear the bank has no intention of returning our stolen funds; although, we continue our efforts to have them restored.
I ask YOU: why do banks protect the criminals and not their depositors? How safe is anyone’s money if the banks are permitted to persist in this behavior?
The answer is obvious: There are 16 full pages of lawyers in this area but not one handles fraud cases. I stopped calling after 15. The reason is obvious…there is no money to be made for the lawyers.
For three months and a countless number of hours, Michael has met with and documented every conversation he has had with Truist officers and their Centralized Fraud Claims Team members, and all have the same answer, “I cannot give you that information.”
Mike contacted local TV media, but again, absolutely no acknowledgment of his request.
We are also in the process of moving our business to another bank, which we hope will be more attentive to the security of our deposits.
Ever since the COVID crisis, our membership attendance and renewals have dropped by nearly 90%. We understand some people didn’t wish to go out or gather indoors with a crowd of people, but for most, times have changed. Without financial stability, we cannot survive as an organization.
I would like to make this very clear…this is not a request for charity. We are asking that you renew your membership, so we can continue our goal of encouraging emerging writers, and to create an inclusive environment for writers and would-be writers.
Our January meeting will be held on Saturday, January 21, at 10:00am-Noon. Remember, you can attend physically or via Zoom. You can renew your membership through PayPal or mail a check to:
Gulf Coast Writer Association
P.O. Box 60771
Fort Myers, FL 33906
Details of that meeting will be discussed in the January 2023 President’s Letter.
Irene Smith, President
