East Sierra Branch
Calls for Entries in Weird Weekend Competitions
September 22-23, 2017, Ridgecrest
The East Sierra Branch hosts Weird Weekend Friday-Saturday September 22-23, including an indie film shorts festival on Friday and the Third Annual Weird Storytelling Competition on Saturday afternoon. Films and readings must reflect or relate to “the stranger side of the desert – lost gold mines, aliens, haunted hideouts, bigfoot sightings. Truth is optional.” Filmmakers and storytellers interested in participating must sign-up in advance at Red Rock Books in Ridgecrest, www.redrockbooks.net; 760-375-3454 . The weekend will conclude Saturday evening with “The Silent City” set in Ridgecrest 2063 A.D., a Mastery Mystery Productions interactive mystery by C.R. Rowenson.
Coastal Dunes President Johnson
Cuesta College 33rd Annual
Central Coast Writers Conference
September 28-30, 2017, San Luis Obispo
Central Coast Writers Conference, an event considered one of the top writers conferences, offers panels, networking, private critique sessions, publishers, and agents, highlighted by workshops in all genres presented by Tom Schulman, Mary LoVerde, Jean Steel, and George Saunders. Coastal Dunes Branch president Jenna Elizabeth Johnson will hold two sessions – one on building an anthology and the other, self-publishing. Coastal Dunes will also have a booth with ample information and resources, and with their new anthology available. Cuesta College is located between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay (www.centralcoastwritersconference.com).
High Desert Branch Members
Win at San Bernardino County Fair
Several High Desert members won distinction at the San Bernardino County Fair. Lorelei Kay won First Place and Best of Show awards for her “Ballad to the Jeep” and First Place and Judge’s Award for “Goodyear Guru.” Anita Holmes won two First Place awards, for both her “Haiku in Seven Snap-shots” and “Tradition Says a Sonnet.” Mary Langer Thompson’s “Wonderment” and “Lemon Power” scored as well. Additionally, Holmes took First Place and Best in Show awards in Crafts for her origami cranes, and First and Third Place in Floriculture for flora design.