Shadows After Midnight Is Free on Kindle

Pat Smith, publisher of Welkin Press, has announced that Shadows After Midnight: 12 Spooky Tales, is available for free until Tuesday, March 26. 

 

Lou Turner and Donna Volkenannt, members of Coffee and Critique, have stories in the Shadows anthology.

 

Here's a link to Shadows After Midnight on Amazon if you want to check it out.

 

Did I mention it's free?



Fifty Shades of Santa Free on Kindle until March 5

From now until March 5, Fifty Shades of Santa will be available for FREE from Amazon Kindle.

The anthology, which is published by Welkin Press, includes humorous romantic (not explicit) stories from twelve award-winning writers.

Marcia Gaye and Donna Volkenannt, from Coffee and Critique, are two of the writers with stories in the famly-friendly anthology.

Did I mention that Fifty Shades of Santa is free?

Act fast because the free copy is only available until March 5.

An Overdue Post

We've had some going ons and a few new faces in our Coffee and Critique group.

First, welcome Janet and John. I met them at  Dianna Graveman's seminar on marketing and told them about our group. They are just getting the feel for our group, but they are welcome additions and bring to the table open minds and a willingness to learn and share

Also, welcome back, Doyle. Doyle recently returned from Florida, looking relaxed and ready to write--and critique. We have missed your smiling face and helpful comments. The comments he gave me on my essay last week were spot on.

An overdue welcome is due to Rebeca, who spent a few months in England. Her always sweet smile and considerate comments are very helpful.

Get well wishes to Nick and Judy. Hope to see you back soon.We also are thrilled that Karen's surgery went well and she is back on her feet--and back to teaching, but will join us again during summer break.

Charles has been on a winter hiatus, but he should be back next month.

Lou has been busy making books--not in a gambling sense, although some might argue being in the publishing business is a big gamble.

Take care, and don't forget to write!

Coffee and Critique News: Change in Meeting Time

Due to popular demand (and a bit of whining), beginning on Tuesday, November 13, the meeting start time for Coffee and Critique writers' group is reverting to the original start time of 10 a.m.

We will still meet at the Rendezvous Cafe on Main Street in O'Fallon, but our critiques will start at 10 a.m. and end around noon.

Donna Volkenannt and Lou Turner Speakers at the Write Direction Conference in Columbia

Coffee and Critique members Donna Volkenannt and Lou Turner will be among the featured speakers at the Write Direction Conference in Columbia, Missouri, on Saturday, November 10.

Volkenannt will give a presentation on "Structuring Short Stories for Passion and Profit," and Turner, publisher of High Hill Press, will be part of a publishers' panel.

The conference is sponsored by the Columbia Chapter of the Missouri Writers Guild. The event will be held at:

The Unity Center

1600 West Broadway

Columbia, MO

Events kick off at 8:30 and end at 4 p.m.

Some other speakers are:

William Trowbridge, Missouri Poet Laureate and author

Dr. Edward Adelstein, anatomic and clinical pathologist

Bill Clark, columnist, Columbia Daily Tribune
Judy Stock, poet and writer
Linda Fisher, blogger, writer, and publisher, Mozark Press
And several others!

 

Click here for the agenda and speaker notes. 

 

 

Registration fees are modest and late registration is available at the door. Fee includes choice of breakout sessions, participation in a First Page exercise, opportunities to interact with writers with similar interests, and lunch.

 

Hope to see you there!

All Star Tribute to Nick Nixon on Sunday, October 28

On Sunday October 28 at 1 p.m., local country western entertainers, as well as a couple guest stars from the Grand Old Opry, will show their support during an all star tribute and fundraiser for Nick Nixon at the Stegton Regency Banquet Center, 1450 Wall Street in St. Charles.

Nick is a legendary local country and western star and a treasured member of Coffee and Critique writing group.

In the 1970s Nick had more than a dozen top 100 hits on the Mercury label, including "Rocking in Rosalee's Boat," which climbed to No. 28 on the U.S. Country Charts. The Nick Nixon Tribute and Fundraiser is being held to help support Nick with medical expenses in his battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Headliners include: Johnny Rodriguez, Barb Allen, Leona Williams, Curtis Lyn Cook, Doc Holiday, the Well Hungarians, and an all star house band.

General admission tickets are only $10 per person and can be purchased at the door. Other highlights include a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, a live auction, and some special surprizes.

For more information, or to make a donation, e-mail Elmo Linton, who planned and organized the event, at elmojllinton (at) wildblue.net.

Hope to see you there!

Coffee and Critique Group Members Win Big at Ozarks Creative Writers Conference

Last weekend, three Coffee and Critique group writers won big at the Ozarks Creative Writers Conference in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

C&C member Lou Turner is on the board of OCW, and Lou and the rest of the board do an outstanding job putting on this conference each year.

The OCW conference is attended by writers from all over the United States, and the contests include dozens of entries in each category. Winning at Eureka is quite an honor, and here's what some C&C members won:

Marcia Gaye took home these awards:

1st: Las Manos Bella de Elizabeth for short story
2nd: Giving Love a Chance for memoir essay
2nd: My Volkswagen for Creative Nonfiction essay
2nd: Lost Hope Missouri for Literary Novel
3rd: Geese for Japanese Tanka Poetry
HM: Mother of the Painted Desert for free verse poetry

Nick Nixon was recognized for:

1st: Little Red Rider for Storyteller Magazine award
3rd: Bless u Dexter for humorous short story
3rd: Old Dempsey for Ozark Nostalgia
3rd: The Teacher's Paleo Pecker for Jim Richardson Memorial Award

Doyle Suit received awards for:

1st: Tales of a Misspent Youth for The High Hill Press Book Award
1st: A Loose Sole for Search for Excellence Award
1HM: Hale's Law for the Oxbow Award
3HM: A Pig for Sarah for OWL Award

Doyle also received lunch with agent Cherry Weiner for winning the synopsis award

Congratulations to all the winners!