First Place – Andrew Leonard, “Victory or Death”
Second Place – Joslyn Fillman, “In this Place”
Third Place – Shelby Reed, “Untold Memories”

Three Honorable Mentions will also be awarded (in no particular order):

Taylor Dutrow – “The Author”
Nicole Pastore – “A Shattered Night”
Emily Anne Price – “The Fall”

We invite you, your family, teachers, and friends to join Sierra Writers at the May meeting, Wednesday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m., where the winning entries will be read by the authors.  These entries will also be included in the Lake Wildwood Literary Review, published by Mike Lambert.  We are proud of all the students who trusted us with their words and stories.

Thanks to everyone who made our contest a success!

Madelyn Helling Library

Succeeding as a Writer – A Panel Discussion

What does it take to succeed as a writer in today’s market? Whether you’re a poet, fiction or magazine writer, or someone who would like to write for a living, you’ll want to hear what published authors from our area—Kim Culbertson, Larry Gold, Marc Davis, and Julie Valin—have to say about writing in a lively panel discussion at the Sierra Writers April 11 meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Madalyn Helling Library Community Room. This is an opportunity to ask questions, join the conversation, and gain tips and insight into publishing in your field and thrive as an author.

In the young adult category, Kim Culbertson has written Songs for a Teenage Nomad (2010, originally Hip Pocket Press, 2007), and her second YA novel Instructions for a Broken Heart (2011) which was named a Booklist Top Ten Romance Title for Youth: 2011. Kim’s short fiction has appeared in Cicada, Canary, and The Smoking Poet.
Larry Gold’s medical-based adult fiction First, Do No Harm was published in April 2007. No Cure for Murder was released in August 2011, and For the Love of God in January 2012.  He submitted his screenplay, Rage to the 80th Annual Writer’s Digest contest and won honorable mention (57 out of 11,000).

Marc Davis specializes in non-fiction magazine articles.  He has been a regular contributor to Rock & Gem Magazine, a nationally distributed publication, since 1986.  Marc has also sold to other national magazines such as Western & Eastern Treasures and Gold and Treasure Hunter. In addition to his writing, Marc has sold hundreds of photos that accompany his articles, and has a book cover photo to his credit.

Julie Valin’s poetry has been published in Chiron Review, Primal Urge Magazine, Red Fez Journal, and others.  Her new book of poetry, The Distance Between, was recently published by Six Ft. Swells Press.  Julie devotes her time to freelance editing and writing; assisting authors through the self-publishing process for their novels or poetry books; and being a poet-teacher for CA Poets in the Schools.

Sierra Writers provides a venue for writers of all types to meet, share and learn, and offers writers a wide range of experience and support. Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month except July, August, and December at the Madelyn Helling Library. Meetings feature six speakers per year, two “Open Reads” per year where anyone can submit a few pages anonymously to be read aloud and critiqued constructively, and the May meeting honors the winners of the young writers contest. Meetings are open to the public. More information can be found at www.sierrawriters.org.

The Sierra Writers Open Read meetings are an opportunity to experience the critique process in a safe, anonymous environment. The public is welcome to participate.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 6:30 PM
Madelyn Helling Library Community Room
980 Helling Way, Nevada City

Guidelines: Only one written work in any form—story, poem, prose, memoir, essay or excerpt—two-to-three pages, may be submitted per person. At the top of the entry, note whether work is fiction or nonfiction and beginning, middle, end or entire piece (such as in a poem), however, beginning pieces usually work best. Do not include author name. Entries must be typed, double-spaced, single-sided and printed in an easy to read font, size 12 point. Word limit is 750 words. The author of any given piece must be present. Attendees at the meeting are asked to be considerate in their feedback and to keep comments brief and tactful.

February 8, 2012

6:30 – 8:30

Madelyn Helling Library

A writer’s life is often considered a solitary one – at least until the book is ready for public consumption.  With book readings, signings, sales pitches and author interviews – public speaking skills become a necessary facet of an author’s life. In this workshop, writers will learn speaking tips and tricks to help them bring their passion from the written page onto the public stage.

Presenter Bio: Emma Santa has worked in marketing for over a decade – including in the book publishing industry. Through her career she has noticed how people who can speak about their writing see dramatically increased sales and awareness of their work. As a member of Toastmasters, a public speaking and leadership organization, she believes that anyone can learn the speaking skills needed to be an effective spokesperson for their work.

More About Emma.

Program is free to the public.

Molly Fisk

Prize-winning poet Molly Fisk is a recognizable voice in our community with frequent public readings and radio essays.  She offers writing workshops and groups that use the creative writing process as a tool for healing. On Wednesday, January 11, 6:30 p.m., Molly will speak at the monthly Sierra Writers meeting held in the Madelyn Helling Library Community Room in Nevada City.  Her topic will be Writing To Heal. The evening is for anyone who would like to use the written word to find their own authentic voice.

With a background and education in business and banking, Fisk did not turn to writing until she was in her 30’s, developing a practice of daily writing that has resulted in an enormous body of work. With hundreds of published essays and poems published in five different collections, she refers to herself as a working poet.   Her works include The More Difficult Beauty, Listening To Winter, Salt Water Poems and a shared collection, Terrain.  Transcripts of her radio essays have also been published.

We hope you will join us for this free and special event.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012     6:30 – 8:00

Madelyn Helling Library

Click here to read the Winter 2012 Sierra Writers Newsletter

Here’s a copy of the Sierra Writers December 2011 Newsletter. Note that Molly Fisk will be our first speaker of 2012.

Our Next Meeting – Crafting Your Author Platform

In the writing industry, there is a great deal of buzz about the importance of the author’s platform. As a writer, your platform is how the world sees you; it is the connection to your readers. With an overwhelming number of tools available to help you build your platform, where do you begin?

At the next Sierra Writers meeting, authors and board members, Babette Donaldson and Lucinda Porter will lead participants through a presentation, discussion, and exercise on organizing an author platform. To get the most out of the evening, participants are encouraged to bring their own short bio (100 to 200 words).

Babette Donaldson is the current president of Sierra Writers and the author of the Emma Lea series of children’s books. Lucinda Porter, RN is the editor of the Sierra Writers newsletter, a freelance writer, and author of Free from Hepatitis C, scheduled to be released December 1^st.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 6:30 PM
Madelyn Helling Library Community Room
980 Helling Way, Nevada City

Due to circumstances beyond our control, October and November’s programs have been swapped. The October meeting will be an open read.

Click here to read the Sierra Writers October 2011 Newsletter.

Our Next Meeting
October Sierra Writers Meeting – Open Read

Wednesday, October 12, 6:30PM

Madelyn Helling Library Community Room

Guidelines: Only one written work in any form—story, poem, prose, memoir, essay or excerpt—two-to-three pages, may be submitted per person. At the top of the entry, note whether work is fiction or nonfiction and beginning, middle, end or entire piece (such as in a poem), however, beginning pieces usually work best. Do not include author name. Entries must be typed, double-spaced, single-sided and printed in an easy to read font, size 12 point. Word limit is 750 words. The author of any given piece must be present. Attendees at the meeting are asked to be consider-ate in their feedback and to keep comments brief and tactful.

Open to the public.