SCN members make the news by publishing books, articles, essays, poems, dramas, and art. They also make presentations, lead workshops, facilitate groups, and organize programs. Below are some of our members’ achievements this year.
If you’re an SCN member who has news to share, please let us know by filling out the form found here. If you’re not a member, why not join us? Maybe you’ll soon be able to post your news on this page!
Lorinda Boyer’s Memoir Wins Award
Lorinda Boyer’s Memoir Straight Enough has won a Readers’ Favorite Award from Readers’ Favorites Book Reviews and Award Contest. The book relates Boyer’s journey through fundamental Christianity, to a double life as part perfect housewife and mother/part sexual addict, and finally to self acceptance of her true identity.
Lorinda Boyer is a Pacific Northwest native living in Tucson, Arizona. She spends her days writing, reading, and exploring the desert with her wife Sandy and dog, Mollie. Straight Enough is Lorinda’s first published book. https://lorindaboyer.com/
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Maggie Smith’s Upcoming Book Received Recognition
Maggie Smith’s Truth and Other Lies, which will be released March 8, 2022, was featured in PopSugar‘s December 30 article “67 books that will make their much-anticipated debut in 2022” and in Marie-Claire‘s October listings of “15 books we look forward to in 2022.”
Maggie hosts the weekly podcast Hear Us Roar, where she interviews debut authors about their novel and path to publication, and blogs monthly for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. She’s also Managing Editor of CWA’s Write City Magazine. Visit her website.
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Sara Etgen-Baker Has Various Pieces Published
Sara was fortunate to end 2021 with several pieces being published. “Fruitcake Weather” was published in the December issue of Good Old Days Magazine; “Cutie Pie, Won’t You Be My Valentine?” appears in the just-released February issue of Good Old Days Magazine; “Buried Alive” is included in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Believe in Angels; and “The Betty Crocker Project” was published in Guideposts Magazine January issue of Angels on Earth.
While continuing to write memoir vignettes and personal narratives in 2021, Sara recently completed her first novel, Secrets at Dillehay Crossing. She’ll be spending 2022 getting it as well as her book of memoirs edited and published.
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Sheila Allee Releases Book
All are Free to Write, a one-year journal with writing prompts and blank pages, has been released just in time for writing about life in 2022. The writing suggestions correspond to the 52-week calendar. Each prompt is designed to inspire writers to think and reflect on daily life and events. The book is a collection of Sheila Allee’s “Free to Write” blog posts.
Sheila Allee is the author of three books and she teaches journaling and life writing. She has found journaling to be a transformative and healing experience and hopes to inspire others to take the journaling plunge.
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Judy Alter Releases Two New Books
Irene in Danger—In this second in the Irene in Chicago Culinary Mysteries, Irene Foxglove returns to Chicago after fleeing to France for a year. Henny and Patrick are getting married in a week, there’s cocaine floating around, and someone wants to kill the diva chef. Once again, Irene brings murder and mayhem to those around her. Henny has one week to figure it all out before the best day of her life becomes a cancelled dream.
The Most Land, the Best Cattle: The Waggoners of Texas—In the 19th century, Daniel Waggoner and son W.T. put together the largest Texas ranch under one fence. The 520,000-plus acres cover six counties and sit on a large oil field in North Texas. The Waggoner men built the empire; their wives and daughters enjoyed the benefits. This colorful history of one of Texas’s important ranching families demonstrates the strength and determination necessary to survive in the ranching world and the society it spawned.
Judy Alter writes historical nonfiction about women in the American West as well as contemporary cozy mysteries. http://www.judyalter.com
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Susan Wittig Albert Featured in Podcast with Greenleaf Book Group: “How to Write a Bestselling Book Series”
Susan recently recorded a podcast for Greenleaf Book Group, discussing her writing process and suggesting strategies to new authors who might be considering creating their own book series. Long traditionally published, Susan now publishes under her own imprint, Persevero Press. Listen to the podcast at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MARBDHuaWDg.
Susan Wittig Albert is the author of 4 long-running mystery series, as well as standalone biographical fiction, memoir, nonfiction, and YA. She is the founder and past president of the Story Circle Network.
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Goodwin’s Book TALENT Wins Another Award
Talent, by B. Lynn Goodwin, was the winner of the NYC Big Book Award / Independent Press Award for YA books. It’s the fifth or sixth award the book has won. Copies are available through https://writeradvice.com/
Writer and editor B. Lynn Goodwin owns Writer Advice, writeradvice.com. She’s the author of two award winning books: Talent, and a memoir titled Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62. She’s also a reviewer, teacher and editor.
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Multiple publications for Sara Etgen-Baker
Sara Etgen-Baker has had several stories published recently. Her piece “From a Distance” was published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Navigating Eldercare and Dementia. “Fruitcake Weather” and “Is There a Doctor in the House” were both published in the November/December issue of Good Old Days Magazine. A recent issue of Guidepost’s Angels Here on Earth included her essay “The Eskimo Igloo Cake.”
Sara Etgen-Baker began her writing career after retirement in 2010. Since then she’s been published in various anthologies, magazines, and blogs. She recently completed her first novel, SECRETS AT DILLEHAY CROSSING.
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Linda Wisniewski Double Published
Linda Wisniewski saw the publication of two of her pieces on the same day, September 4th. Her flash fiction “Bonnie’s Dream Room” was published in Sledgehammer online literary magazine. “Class of Rebels” was published in Panoply literary magazine.
Bonnie’s Dream Room – Linda C Wisniewski
Class of Rebels – Linda C Wisniewski
Linda Wisniewski lives in Bucks County, PA, where she volunteers at the historic home of author Pearl S. Buck. Linda’s debut novel, Where the Stork Flies, came out in May 2021. Linda’s website
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Jo-Ann Vega Interviewed for “PRIMO Magazine”
Jo-Ann Vega, a 3rd-generation American with Italian heritage, was interviewed in PRIMO Magazine about her book Moments in Flight: A Memoir. The memoir is crafted from four decades of journaling and writing experience and is set in the last half century of disruptive cultural change. It offers an independent perspective from a gay woman who retained her core in the face of internal and external obstacles for success. Good stories are nutrients for healing and connection.
Jo-Ann Vega is an author and dynamic speaker with 30 years experience as an educator who lives with her life partner and canine companion, and is technologically challenged.
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Jude Walsh included in new publication
In Transformational Journaling for Coaches, Therapists, and Clients: A Complete Guide to the Benefits of Personal Writing (Routledge), more than 50 coaches, therapists, and journaling experts from around the world share their best practices and explain in detail how they use journaling to improve their work with clients. Jude Walsh’s chapter, “More Journals, Fewer Lesson Plans,” offers advice on using journaling to create shared culture, including a school-wide focus on literacy.
Jude Walsh is the author of Post-Divorce Bliss: Ending Us and Finding Me. She also writes personal essay and fiction. Her current work-in-progress is a Christmas romance.
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Stephanie Barko Wins Award as Best Publicist
Stephanie Barko, Literary Publicist was voted Best Promotional Firm, Site, or Resource in the 2020 Critters™ Readers’ Poll (formerly Preditors & Editors).
Learn more here.
Stephanie Barko has been marketing adult pre-pub nonfiction and historical fiction for 15 years. She especially enjoys working with debut authors. Clients include Sarton winner Jamie Patterson, bestselling memoirist Anna Penenberg, and SCN editor Mary Jo Doig.
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Bette Lafferty Published in “The Pen Woman” Magazine
“Words,” Lafferty’s story about becoming a writer, will be published in the Summer 2021 issue of The Pen Woman magazine, a publication of the National League of American Pen Women. Previously, Lafferty’s poem The Giver of Wisdom won first place in their Free Verse contest.
Bette Lafferty is a retired 85-year-old widow living in Boerne, Texas. A member of the Tampa branch of the NLAPW, she has had two books of poetry and life stories published in the last three years, and is working on book three. Besides writing, Bette loves growing flowers.
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Marilea Rabasa’s “Stepping Stones” Tapped Again
Stepping Stones is a finalist in the 2021 National Indie Excellent Awards.
Marilea and her partner live on an island in Puget Sound where they enjoy music, boats, salt air, and grandchildren. More at www.recoveryofthespirit.com.
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Debra Thomas Interviewed in Loyola Marymount University Podcast
Member and Sarton Winner Debra Thomas was interviewed by Rachael Beaty. Listen to the Advocate through Fiction, a Talk with a Debut Author podcast here.
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Marilea Rabasa’s “Stepping Stones” a Finalist
Stepping Stones is a 2021 Finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards for Memoir/Personal Struggle/Health Issues. I feel so honored to be in the company of all these talented authors.
A retired ESL teacher, Marilea’s travels in the diplomatic service provide the backdrop for her second memoir, full of humor and pathos, on how she’s overcome her lifelong depression and found her key to happiness. More at www.recoveryofthespirit.com.
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Patricia Daly Published in Bestselling Anthology
Patricia Daly’s contribution to the anthology Quitless: The Power of Persistence in Business and Life was one of 32 submissions selected to appear in this USA Today Bestseller publication. Quitless also hit the Wall Street Journal Bestseller list the following week. A free download of her personal story of persistence can be obtained here: https://landing.mailerlite.
Betty Gillies WAFS Pilot: The Days and Flights of a World War II Squadron Leader (October 2020) is a finalist in two categories in the Colorado Authors League awards competition: Non-Fiction: Biography, Memoir and Fiction/Non-
Sarah Byrn Rickman is the author of 11 books about the gutsy women pilots who flew Army aircraft in World War II. Her latest: biographies of the flight leaders—trailblazers, role models—aimed at the Young Adult audience. www.sarahbyrnrickman.comBeeaff’s “On Traigh Lar Beach” Wins Award
Dianne Ebertt Beeaff is pleased to announce that her short story collection, On Traigh Lar Beach, was the winner in the category of Short Stories with the Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards and also won the Gold Award for first place in the category of Popular Fiction with the Kops-Fetherling International Book Awards.
Dianne Ebertt Beeaff has written professionally for many years, beginning in the area of magazine journalism. She is also the author of six published book, most recently her short story collection, On Traigh Lar Beach. More: www.debeeaff.wordpress.com.
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Linda Wisniewski Releases Novel “Where the Stork Flies”
Sand Hill Review Press released Linda Wisniewski’s time-travel novel, Where the Stork Flies, on May 3rd. Inspired by a female ancestor, Linda tells the story of a 19th-century Polish peasant and a wisecracking medieval queen who join forces to help a confused Pennsylvania librarian heal her broken family. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57931627-where-the-stork-flies
Linda C. Wisniewski is a former librarian and journalist. Her work has been published widely in literary magazines and anthologies, and on her blog, www.lindawis.com. She is the author of a memoir, Off Kilter, published by Pearlsong Press.
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More Recognition for Marilea Rabasa’s “Stepping Stones”
“So happy and honored that Stepping Stones has earned more recognition. It picked up a Silver Medal in the Women’s Issues category of the 2021 eLit Awards. Thank you, Brooke, and all the wizards at SWP. Such a great team effort!
“In addition, I am thrilled, and humbled, to be recognized as a semi-finalist in the 2020 Chanticleer International Book Awards, The Journey Award. It’s an honor to be recognized with all these talented authors.” ~Marilea Rabasa
A retired ESL teacher, Marilea’s travels in the diplomatic service provide the backdrop for her second memoir, full of humor and pathos, on how she’s overcome her lifelong depression and found her key to happiness. More at www.recoveryofthespirit.com.
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