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