You are in for a treat in November ~ Two events on one day!

Please join us Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 10:15am  (NOTE THE TIME IS EARLIER!!) 

PART ONE: Lyndie Blevins 

“The Other Side of Writing…The Power of Words, Characters and Stories from a Reader’s Perspective.” 

She is our very first presenter in what we plan to bring you each, Launching Writers as Speakers.

Blevins will speak from her point of view as a reader, the various words, characters and stories which have made her laugh, cry, understand her life and changed her thinking and behavior. She will share what she has discovered about the creative writing process as she read. 

She is a firm believer in the connection between writer and reader as stated by Steven James in “Story Trumps Structure,” “Developing the ability to see things from a reader’s point of view is one of the most important things you can do as a storyteller.”

From Blevins’s presentation, “the audience will take away a glimpse of the emotive power of literary art from a reader’s perspective. And the inspiration (and knowledge) that words can change lives.”

Growing up in Duncanville, TX gave Blevins the richness of small town life while the nearness of Dallas and the large metroplex, gave her another reference point to draw from. She still lives in Duncanville, in one of the few hillside lots, full of trees and a creek, in a town that was originally flat hay fields. She is a Jesus-follower and a Texan. She enjoys the UT Longhorns, fabric art, practicing her craft of writing, and of course, reading her books.

A graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA in government, she spent 35 years working in a government agency in the field of Information Technology. In 2008, she wrote her first book for NaNoWriMo, and while she did finished with over 50,00 words, she also unintentionally broke every rule in all the writing books.

When she retired in 2009, she embarked on her writing career but had to take a three-year break to care for her elderly parents in 2013-2015. She’s returned to the keyboard now, “I yearn for wide open spaces in all areas of my life. I write about characters who find their true fulfillment living in community with others.” Her own home community currently consists of a dog, two cats and Japanese Fighting fish. Blevins is published with works in three anthologies.

 Lyndie will be followed by a panel discussion,

PART TWO: “So What’s this Writing Life REALLY Like?” Our panelists will be (alphabetical): Frank Ball, Jackie Castle, Lynne Gentry, and Michelle Stimpson.  

What better way to follow a talk from the lips of a reader turned writer than with a moderated panel discussion about the real life of writers? Here’s your chance to ask Frank, Jackie, Lynne and Michelle what life is like when they’re on deadline, what they do to start their writing day, how they get their inspiration, and well, honestly, “What’s it REALLY like to be a writer?”

Frank Ball - For ten years Ball directed North Texas Christian Writers to help members

improve their writing skills. In 2011, he founded Story Help Groups to encourage and equip all Christians to tell their life-changing stories. Besides his speaking engagements and writing, Ball ghostwrites, copy edits, blogs, graphic designs, and coaches writers to help others publish high-quality books. Previously a Pastor of Biblical Research he wrote sermons, teaching materials, and hundreds of devotions. He is also a panelist on The Writers’ View. His book “Eyewitness: The Life of Christ Told in One Story” is a compilation of biblical information on the life of Christ in a chronological story that reads like a novel. For more information about Ball, visit http://www.frankball.org/

Jackie Castle - Castle looks for the extraordinary in every ordinary day that she

experiences. She is the author of “The White Road Chronicles” a fantasy series, “The Sentinel Archives” for school-age readers, and newly released “Madison Creek Bed & Breakfast” romance series. She's enjoyed many crazy adventures from working as a hairstylist, to her brave quest of teaching children in daycare and elementary schools. She now lives in her comfortable Texas home where she spins entertaining tales and enjoys relaxing in the evenings with her husband Bob, their children and grandchild. Her favorite pastime, besides reading, is traipsing through her imaginary worlds in search of another story. Find out more about her shenanigans over at Jackie Castle's Story World: http://www.jackiecastle.com/

Lynne Gentry - Gentry has always been a storyteller. Growing up on a Kansas dairy farm,

Gentry longed for adventure. Her imagination took her to exotic places to meet famous people, in order to escape rural isolation. Her story and storytelling continued from there. After years of writing musicals and skits for the Christian stage, she started writing fiction. She has written for Simon & Schuster, Tyndale, HCI Books, Guideposts, Worthy, Howard Books, and Christian Woman Magazine. She’s also a professional acting coach who trains young people for successful Hollywood, Broadway, and college theater program auditions. When this inspirational speaker is not on stage or writing high-stakes adventures, she’s spending time with her family or working the oncology wards with her medical therapy dog. Contact Lynne through her website: http://www.lynnegentry.com/

Michelle Stimpson – A bestselling author, Stimpson has penned more than thirty Christian

fiction books including traditional bestseller “Divas of Damascus Road,” Amazon #1 bestseller, “Stepping Down,” the award-winning “Mama B” series, and “Falling Into Grace,” which has been optioned for a made-for-TV movie. She has also published more than fifty short stories through her educational publishing company, WeGottaRead.com. Michelle holds an English degree from Jarvis Christian College and a master’s degree in education from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is a part-time language arts consultant and serves in women’s ministry through teaching and publishing. She and her husband have two young adult children and one bizarre dog. Visit her online at https://michellestimpson.com/.

Join us for this once a year Two-fer!

Please reserve your spot for the November meeting by email: DFWReadyWriters.Events@gmail.com

Subject: November – Blevins and Panel Discussion

Text Body: Name, number of reservations and best phone (name of each if multiple reservations please) 

See you there!

DFW Ready Writers meetings are held at the 

Arlington Community Church,

1715 W. Randol Mill Rd, in Arlington  

10:30am-noon. 

(click on name for map)

For those that would like to continue with fellowship and networking after the meeting, a Dutch treat lunch follows at a nearby restaurant.

And keep up with events, DFW Ready Writers new book releases, news and information visit:https://www.facebook.com/DFWReadyWriters/