Dear Gulf Coast Writers.
Your GCWA executive board trusts you have enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and we wish you a very Happy New Year. As we enter into this new year of 2013 I would like to remind you of a few future events.

After changes of location for the October and November gatherings we will be back at Zion Lutheran on Winkler for the January 19th meeting starting at 10am; come early for coffee, snacks and a good seat. Chris Angermann…journalist, ghostwriter and director of theater will speak. With a wide variety of experiences, his topic “What Every Writer Should Know about Publishing” is guaranteed to enlighten and entertain us.

Entry’s for the annual GCWA writing contest were closed as of Dec 1 and have since been sent to the respective judging teams. Forty-five entries were received vying for the cash prizes and bragging rights when winners will be announced at our March meeting.

Ann Dalton will be presenting a work shop on Pine Inland, January 5th. Check the web site for details regarding her topic of invasion of privacy and defamation issues.

Your nominating committee is actively pursuing nominees for the next slate of officers to be voted upon at the March meeting. If interested in becoming a nominee please contact; Pat Jana, Linda Kruleski, Richard Georgian, Martha Jeffers, and Donna Rodio who form this group. A new web-master is high on our future needs!

Should any member see a need to change or revise a bi-law or our constitution, this should be brought up in our January’s meeting. This will give ample time for consideration by our March annual meeting.

Oh, yes folks, a reminder that annual dues should be paid in January. At $25 it’s still the best bargain in town.

Regards,

Tom Nelson, President

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