Monday, March 30, 2009

April Meeting: "Just the facts, Ma'am!"

Join us as Detective Linda Crum of the Dallas Police Department will be our speaker for April 11th, 2009.

Have you ever wondered about police established methods? Would you like to have nothing but the facts, ma’am, of real life situations that will help you present you book with accuracy?

With Detective Crum’s extensive and varied background in police work, she will be speaking about her duties—real life situations and how they are handled, not the made up kind we see on television. This is your chance to hear a knowledgeable veteran Detective, with over thirty years of experience, explain police procedures, lockup, on duty calls, domestic violence, and all the rest that come under the heading of day-to-day police procedure.

At the end of her program, Linda will answer questions that have been submitted in advance by email. Then, if there is time, we will open the floor for questions from everyone present. This will be a great opportunity to ask those difficult unanswered questions about police procedure that you have always wondered about and would love to write into your manuscript with accuracy. Those questions you didn’t know who to ask.

Come hear Detective Crum on Saturday, April 11th, 2009
Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Meeting Place:
La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant
5250 Hwy 121,
Colleyville, Texas

(Restaurant sits alongside the southbound access road between Hall-Johnson and Glade).

Detective Linda Crum’s Bio:

Detective Linda Crum works for the Dallas Police Department. She is married to a retired Dallas Police Sergeant (helicopter pilot) with three stepsons, and seven precious grandkids.

Born in Ft. Worth, Texas, raised in Rendon, Linda Crum was the youngest of four children. When she graduated from Mansfield High School in 1973, she immediately enrolled in the fall at TCJC-N, where she obtained an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice. On May 17, 1976, the Dallas Police Department hired Linda, and as a requirement, attended the police academy, graduating October 7, 1976, to begin her long career in law enforcement.

Linda’s first job as a police officer was working patrol in Oak Cliff. Since that time, she has worked the Youth Division as a detective, and later assigned to the Youth Action Center of the DISD schools. At one point in her career, she covered 23 schools, including Kimball and Carter High Schools.

In May of 1992, she completed her degree in Criminal Justice at DBU, and in May of 1993, transferred to the Crimes Against Persons Division. Her first assignment as a detective was to investigate aggravated assault offenses. Later she moved to the Homicide Unit and while in that position she became a licensed Texas State Polygraph Examiner for the department. Today Detective Crum is currently working Cold Case Homicides for the Dallas Police Department.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

DFW Ready Writers in the News - What's Happening March 2009

Hello, Ready Writers!

Make plans NOW to attend the Christian Book Expo 2009 March 19 - 22, 2009. Several DFW Ready Writers will be in attendance as well as Liz Curtis Higgs, Max Lucado and Lee Strobel. To attend the Christian Book Awards on Thursday night, click here for ticket info.

In Member News:

Speaking of the Christian Book Expo, our very own, red-headed DFW Ready Writer's President, Lena Nelson Dooley, will be signing books and visiting with fans of Christian fiction. Stay tuned for a schedule of our members who will also be in attendance.

Does that comma need to be there? Is your subject/verb agreement giving you migraines? Our very own "Grammar Girl" Jane Thornton will speak to us this Saturday on "What’s Grammar Got to Do with It?" Her realistic look at grammar essentials will help you eliminate those pesky errors that send editors scrambling for their sanity.

Big news for Lisa Buffaloe: Lisa signed this week with Tamela Hancock Murray of Hartline Literary Agency. Congratulations, Lisa! Publication is not far behind!

Wanna win some dough? Visit Leanna Ellis's Web site for a chance to win $50. Leanna's April release, Ruby's Slippers, is already available through Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com, and she'll be bringing some copies on Saturday.

Beth Shriver's newest release, Love at First Flight, will hit stores on April 8th. Grab your copy and support a fellow Christian writer.

Marilyn Eudaly will be presenting the Keeping it Real: An interactive workshop on character motivation and conflicts to the His Writers chapter of ACFW in Denver, CO on April 13. Road trip, anyone?

Additionally, Marilyn's story "Looking Out" in Ultimate Gardner by HCI Publishing will be in bookstores in April.

Mary Ann Hayhurst received her contributor's copies for her devotional that appeared in the March 8th issue of Evangel. Mary Ann, we would love to see it! Please bring a copy on Saturday.

We are writers! If you have news that didn't make it in this month, never fear! Send it to me for inclusion in next month's Member News.

May God bless you richly as you share His Word to the nations.

To be used by Him,

Dawn Michelle Michals
dawn@dawnmichellemichals.com
dawnmichellemichals.blogspot.com

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

March Meeting- Jane Thornton our "Grammer Girl"

What’s Grammar Got to Do with It?

Who cares if your participle dangles?

Jane Thornton does and so should you. “What’s Grammar Got to Do with It” takes a realistic look at an author’s need (or lack thereof) for familiarity with grammar. It includes a shot of relevant basics which won’t trigger that catatonic state you endured in junior high English class. Jane will have you laughing at her fun, concise ways to understand the simple essentials that will help you edit your work in progress and make it the sterling piece editors love to read.

If you live in or around the Dallas/Fort Worth area, make plans to attend the DFW Ready Writers’ meeting and enjoy the fun of learning together. Come share lunch (Dutch treat) and get to know fellow writers in the area.


DFW Ready Writers will meet March 14, 2009.

Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Location: LaHacienda Ranch Restaurant

5250 Hwy 121,

Colleyville, Texas

Directions: Restaurant sits alongside the southbound access road between Hall-Johnsonand Glade.
Biographical Sketch: Jane Thornton lives with the joys and doubts of being an educator. Beginning with her younger sister, she started teaching at the age of four and continues today as a high school English teacher. She knows first-hand that some of the toughest kids are also the most lovable.

After graduating as salutatorian of Huntsville High School, she attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a BBA in accounting. However, a short time as an auditor convinced Jane that, although the job was valuable and someone had to do it, she didn’t want to be the one. After sticking with it long enough to earn her CPA, lest anyone think she couldn’t hack it, she returned to school and earned her teaching certificate in English.

Writing fiction fulfills a life-long dream of Jane’s. In order to improve her craft and connect with other writers she became a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Romance Writers of America (RWA), DFW Ready Writers, and two critique groups.