Next Meeting May 17,2008

Wendy LICHTMAN

"Turning the Stories You've Lived Into Fiction"

The Northern California Book Reviewers Association nominated Wendy Lichtman's new teen novel, Do the Math: Secrets, Lies and Algebra, as one of the five best books of Children's Literature in 2007. Calling it "wonderfully inventive," they wrote, "Lichtman has seamlessly woven 8th grade algebraic concepts into a spot-on teen narrative focused on middle school friendships, trust and betrayal. The main character Tess is both a quirky thinker who views the world through the lens of math concepts and a perfectly normal 8th grader with crushes on boys and unreliable girlfriends."

What the Book Reviewers Association didn't know is that Lichtman's novel is the fictionalized version of a story from her own childhood. Come to our May meeting and hear Wendy speak about the tools we can use to take the stories we've lived and convert them into fiction.

Wendy Lichtman holds a degree in mathematics and has written four other novels for young readers, including the upcoming sequel, Do The Math #2: The Writing on The Wall. Her personal essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Good Housekeeping and other national publications.

Reservations

When: Saturday, May 17, 2008, 11:30 a.m.
Where: Oasis Grille, 780 Main Street, Pleasanton
(925) 417-8438. Across from The Rose Hotel.
Cost: $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers.
Reservations: Contact Fred Norman at Fnorman300@aol.com or at (925)462-7495 by Wednesday, May 14th for the luncheon reservation.

Directions: From Livermore, go down Stanley, and turn right on Ray. From Hwy 680 take Bernal exit toward Pleasanton Fairgrounds. Continue on Bernal for 1.3 miles and turn left onto Main St. The restaurant is a half mile up Main on your right. Parking: Behind the restaurant or across the street in bank parking lot, or on Ray.

Last Month

Poetry and Prose Festival 2008

Saturday, April 5, 6, 2008

Mission Statement

The California Writers Club (CWC) shall foster professionalism in writing, promote networking of writers with the writing community, mentor new writers, and provide literary support for writers and the writing community as is appropriate through education and leadership.

TRI-VALLEY BRANCH BOARD

President: Kathy Urban

Vice President:

Treasurer: Lani Longshore

Meeting Reservations: Fred and Cathe Norman

Membership: Janie Hodges

Publicity Chairman: Kate Wheatman

Newsletter: Kelly Pollard and Patricia Bacon

Coordinator: Marilyn Slade

Central Board Rep: Kathy Urban

Webmaster: Irenee Riter