Dear Gulf Coast Writers,

I want to remind you of our forthcoming meeting this Saturday, November 17th at 10am. We are meeting once again this month at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2439 McGregor Blvd. ( This another temporary change due to scheduling conflict at Zion Lutheran.) As always, there will be no December meeting to allow all to enjoy the holidays as you travel to and fro.

Saturday we will be hearing from attorney Ann Dalton. Her topic is Copyright Traps and Pitfalls. What every writer should know, as taught by a creative arts attorney. Bring your questions for Ms. Dalton. This should get interesting.

Last month, Gulf Coast members, Richard Georgian and Kyle Miller entertained and enlightened us on how to market our books once we have them published. Go out into the world with the question on our lips, “Who do you know that wants to buy a book?” Or perhaps shouting, “Books for Sale, Books for Sale!” Kyle and Richard have this marketing down pat and provided a delightful and worthwhile program on the right way to do this. Thanks to you both.

Remember, for you procrastinators, the GCWA Writing Contest entrees will close December 1st. Cash prizes will be awarded in March to the successful winners. Don’t be bashful; send in your best writings in the fiction, non-fiction, poetry and play writing. See the web site for details.

As we approach the new year and with a new slate of officers to be installed in March, we will be looking for a few roles to fill. One that requires special skills is that of Webmaster, currently held by Judy Loose. Over the recent three years, Judy has brought the level of our website to new professional heights and now wants to turn it over to a new keeper. If you feel so moved, please contact Judy or myself so we can discuss the challenges.

See you Saturday; come early for coffee and snacks.

Regards,

Tom Nelson

Hi GCWA Members.
Here we are in September and time for another meeting at Zion Lutheran Church, Saturday the 15th starting at 10am.

Our speaker this month is Russell Trahan, President and owner of PR Public Relations who will advise us on different attention getting ways to increase the sales of our books and articles.

Also on Saturday we will hear an exciting progressive story written by four of our members under the tutelage of Richard Georgian.

Special Projects chair, Ken Feeley, still has author signing spaces available for the October 20th Alliance for the Art’s, Fall for the Arts event. Ken’s email is klfeeley@embarqmail.com. And don’t forget our annual writing contest in four categories: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and play scripting. Great cash awards to be won. As always, check the website http://www.Gulfwriters.org for details.

Again, the our next month’s meeting will be October 27th ( a week later than usual, due to the Alliance affair ) and will be relocated to Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2439 McGregor Blvd. Also, our November 17th meeting will be at the same location, Covenant Presbyterian. Sorry for these changes due to conflicts.

See everyone Saturday.

Tom Nelson, President.

Dear GCWA Members.

Don’t forget our August meeting this Saturday, the 18th, Zion Lutheran Church, starting at 10am. Come early for coffee (maybe bring a snack to share) and claim a front row seat to hear speaker, Felice Gerwitz, discuss her secrets of book marketing “and ways for authors to get their books noticed.” What a great idea!

Attendance this summer has been excellent considering how we lose so many going north to escape the Florida heat. (Boy have they been surprised this year!) As reported by our Membership chair, Linda Kruleski, our July meeting attendance was 80+, the third highest of the year to date; 13 were first time guests, with 12 new memberships signing up. Good numbers and we thank all those who bring friends and recommend GCWA. Total membership as of July is 149…and growing.

Special Projects chair, Ken Feeley, is continuing to take reservations for GCWA author’s signing tables for the October 20th Fall For the Arts Event. Check www.Gulfwriters.org for details. Ken’s email is klfeeley@embarqmail.com to rent full ($25) or half ($15) day tables.

A heads ups about a change of date and place for the October meeting. To allow members to participate in the festivities of the Alliance event that month’s meeting will be rescheduled to the fourth Saturday, October 27th and will be relocated to Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2439 McGregor Blvd. Mark your calendars; more later.

Our annual writing contest started in July and is now in full swing. As always, details are on the web site.

We also welcome new web-helpers, Barbara Burnett, Denise Holbrook, and Michelle James to help Judy Loose with this important tool of our association. Thanks gals.

Look forward to seeing you Saturday.

Tom Nelson, President

Dear GCWA,

Your President’s letter is being sent earlier than usual this month to make sure you’re aware of the change in July’s entrance fees.

No, we are not changing the Saturday, July 21, exciting program, Ms. Elizabeth Huntoon Coursen’s “The Seven Steps to a Wildly Successful Book Tour.” However, instead of the workshop fee of $10 and $15 that was originally announced, we will be charging our normal fee of $3 per member, $5 per non-member and first time guests at no-charge. We will include a catered lunch for this meeting but at no premium cost.

By arrangement with GCWA’s generous treasurer, Mr. Anthony Rodio, your executive committee is pleased to provide this special treat of a great program and appetizing lunch all for the price of a normal meeting. A special thanks to you summer-time attendees.

Starting at 10am at Zion Lutheran Church, we should be finished no-later than 1pm. This added time, with a break for lunch,should give Ms Coursen ample opportunity to make it through all seven steps of this wildly successful book tour and handle our members and guests probing and pithy questions.

Speaking of guests, at our June meeting we were pleased to have 11 guests in attendance with 3 joining GCWA that same day. It is always good to have guests come and check us out and even better when they join our association.

Don’t forget, July is the beginning of the writing contest. Check out www.gulfwriters.org for details. See you on the 21st of July.

Regards,

Tom Nelson, President

Dear GCWA Members,

We are days away from our first summer time meeting, Saturday, June 16 at Zion Lutheran, beginning at 10:00am(sharp).

Personally, I am looking forward to being back to meet and greet you after being gone in May. Oh, you say you hadn’t noticed my absence, but wondered why the meeting was running so smoothly? Well, that’s because Vice Chairman, Tim Jacobs and the rest of the executive committee did such a wonderful job. Thanks Tim and crew. But yes, I did have a good trip to Wisconsin, and no I didn’t go because of the recall election. I’ll have to tell you about it someday.

As for Saturday’s meeting, our speaker is Patricia George, who will discuss the keys to establishing a relationship with an editor. One clue she gives is that editors like presents. That alone should pique ones curiosity.

At this time of the year, as always, our membership list continues to be reviewed and adjusted for those who are current with their dues and those who are not. From a membership high this spring of 178, the adjustment brings us back to 132. As the year progresses we will look for the paying membership to climb back up. The average attendance for the first five months of 2012 is 75 with a high of 97 in January. Really folks, all of these are great numbers to be proud of and again shows the popularity and desirability of GCWA. Keep bringing your friends and potential new members.

A heads-up for the July meeting: Elizabeth Huntoon Coursen will be presenting a workshop July 21 on “The Seven Steps to a Wildly Successful Book Tour” which will include a catered lunch. Check out www.gulfwriters.org for further details.

Your Executive Committee is in the process of refining the annual GCWA Writing Contest guidelines. We will begin to start receiving entries as early as July 1st with final submissions by December 1st. More details to come. Be thinking about your entry for 2012/2013.

See you all Saturday.

Regards,

Tom Nelson, President