January 2021 Newsletter






Next Meeting:

Wednesday, January 20

6:45 to 8:45 PM

Zoom

Frisco Public Library Group

6101 Frisco Square Blvd.

Frisco, TX 75034





Write Club





Our next meeting is January 20, 2021 at 6:45 pm via Zoom. “Doors” open at 6:30. Look forward to seeing you then!





You’re Invited!





All are welcome to attend Write Club meetings….no formal invitation needed. Write Club meeting information can be found on the Frisco Library web site and on the club's Facebook page (Frisco Write Club). Additionally, every month, in advance of the meeting, Fergal O'Donnell (fergalod@hotmail.com) will send an invitation by email to the active members.


Anybody who has attended a Write Club meeting is automatically subscribed to our newsletters. At the top of each newsletter is a notice of our next meeting.





Flash Fiction Writing Contest





Frisco Public Library's Flash Fiction Writing Contest is back! In this annual contest, the Frisco Public Library challenges writers to send in an original work of fiction that is 500 words or less.


Submission Rules

  • Original unpublished works of 500 words or less in English.

  • There is no restriction on style, genre, or theme.

  • One entry per person.

  • Open to participants ages 18 and up.

  • Entrants must live in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.

  • The Frisco Public Library reserves the right to reproduce and distribute all submissions.

Submit your entry by: March 31, 2021


Visit the Library's website for submission form.





Suggestions Made at Last Month’s Meeting





Please use the Frisco Write Club page for an exchange of ideas, questions, suggestions or jokes for writers.

Kevin mentioned the Editorial Freelancers Association (https://www.the-efa.org/)..."a group of editors, writers, indexers, proofreaders, researchers, desktop publishers, translators, and others who offer a broad range of skills and specialties."

Send your writing suggestion to lindabjohnson357@gmail.com so your healthy habit or writing mantra may help fellow members.





Successes for November and December





Congratulations to Karen Hodges. Her short story, A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE FOR MRS. CLAUS, was published in Smarty Pants magazine.

Double congratulations to Becky Ross Michael. In November, her rhyming children's story, MISS O'BLAIR HAS LOST HER HAIR, first appeared on Storyberries.

Becky’s short story based on one of her father's childhood experiences, SUMAC SUMMER, will be published in U.P. Reader Volume #5, to be released in Spring 2021. (NOTE: the cover photo for that hasn't been released, yet.)

Congratulations to Derek Blount. This is his comment about the December 4 release of FINAL RECKONING on Write Club website: “Excited for today's release of FINAL RECKONING. It's been a long road to complete The Hostile Takeover Thrillogy. Now I can sleep at night.”

Congratulations to Linda Baten Johnson. Her new book GINGERBREAD COTTAGE was released December 6 as paperback and e-book.

Congratulations to Fergal O’Donnell. His novel PROCONNESUS was named a finalist in Novel Fair 2021. The competition judges, Rick O’Shea, Yan Ge and Madeleine Keane of Novel Fair 2021 spent the past several months reading through over 300 entries to the Fair. After much deliberation, they selected the 12 finalists. The entries came from as far afield as The Ivory Coast, Canada, the USA, Scotland, France, Australia, and of course Ireland. The genres ranged from Urban Fantasy to Magic Realism with every conceivable novel category in-between. Their prize is a chance to meet with Irish and international publishers and literary agents, whether remotely or in person, to pitch their work in order to begin their novel journey.


Congratulations to John Alexander. His book The Young Artist, an unpicture book, was published in November.





Presentation Format for Members Wishing to Present Work for Critique





  • Word Length: 2,500 words (longer permitted, but 2,500 for reading at our meeting)

  • Font Size: 12 points (to aid those with visional limitations)

  • Font Styles: Times New Roman, Arial (but not Comic Sans)

  • Spacing: Double spaced

  • Line Numbering

Please note: If you wish to receive feedback by email from the Write Club members, please also add your email address at the top of the first page.

Please email an electronic copy of your presentation to Fergal O’Donnell (fergalod@hotmail.com) by the Saturday before the meeting. He will email presentations to members prior to our meeting.


At the meeting, the presenter will be allowed twenty minutes. Many choose to read their submission and devote the rest of the time to comments from those attending.





Meet Your Officers





Vice President Daniel D’Eugenio

I joined the New York City Police Department in 1974. Prior employment was with Dun & Bradstreet as a business analyst. I hold an Associates Degree in Business and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science/Economics from Staten Island College as well as a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Long Island University-C.W. Post. During my tenure with the NYPD, I was promoted to Sergeant in 1984 and Lieutenant in 1991. After retiring in 1997 my wife and I traveled to Africa and several European Countries. We then moved onto a 43-foot boat and traveled up and down the East coast of the U.S., Florida, and the Bahamas for 7 years. Prior to moving to Texas 4 years ago we lived in Punta Gorda Florida where I started to write my story (memoir) of my experiences while working in New York City with the NYPD. The book was self-published with Amazon in 2019.

Secretary Linda Baten Johnson

Growing up in White Deer, Texas, a small town boasting one blinking light, Linda Baten Johnson won blue ribbons for storytelling, and the dream of making up tales to entertain was born. As an adult, Linda spent many hours packing and unpacking as she and her husband George have lived in thirty different places in the United States and enjoyed a three-year assignment in England. In between moves, Linda earned her Master of Arts degree in English and history, worked as a Realtor, a teacher, and logged many volunteer hours.


Linda loves traveling, collecting experiences, and sharing stories. Some of her favorite memories include parasailing, white water rafting, and being mistaken for a tour guide in Mexico and in Russia. Her children and grandchildren tease her about never going anywhere without orchestrating an educational experience. She writes historical fiction and romance stories of the squeaky-clean variety and has written for Barbour Publishing, Chicken Soup for the Soup, Winged Publications, and Lovely Christian Romance. For more information, visit her website, www.lindabatenjohnson.com





Shared Writing Hint from a Fellow Member





From Becky Ross Michael: Listen to your heart. Write from your heart.




From Becky Ross Michael: Listen to your heart. Write from your heart.





Blogs from Our Members





















































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Frisco Public Library · 6101 Frisco Square Blvd · Suite 3000 · Frisco, TX 75034 · USA