ZOOM IN!!

ACFW DFW April 2020 meeting

Due to COVID-19 and physical distancing requirements, 

our April 11, 2020 meeting will be conducted as a Zoom meeting online from 11am -12pm. 

Please see our Facebook page for further details  https://www.facebook.com/DFWReadyWriters/

Keys to Meaningful Memoir Writing

Join us Saturday, March 14, 2020, at 10:30 a.m., when we welcome author Gail Kittleson as she presents, “Keys to Meaningful Memoir Writing.”

Kittleson explains, “(the) memoir genre borrows fiction techniques: description, characterization, narration, setting, and plot. Methods we employ to hook readers and create tension apply to memoir writing, and our own personal history influences our fiction. The point of memoir is to make meaning of the past, inclusive of a powerful character arc. It stands to reason that exploring memoir writing may enhance our fiction writing in ways we might not have imagined.”

A baby boomer Iowa farm girl, Kittleson appeared with her thick glasses at the local library counter every Saturday of her childhood and hauled home a new pile of books. Later, she earned her MA in TESOL and taught English as a Second Language and college expository writing. 

Over a ten-year period during her husband Lance’s deployments to the Middle East, Gail’s memoir developed, and another is presently with a publisher. Since the World War II bug bit her, she’s never been quite the same. Her Women of the Heartland fiction brings to life this challenging era’s make-do women whom she loves to introduce to new readers.

Gail delights in historical research, grandchildren, gardening in Northern Iowa, and Arizona’s Mogollon Rim in winter. Facilitating workshops fulfills her craving for teaching and she cheers other writers on through free-lance editing. 

You can find more about her publications and check out her blog at: www.gailkittleson.com. 

Reserve your spot for this program at: https://www.facebook.com/events/213863153326941/

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For more information about this and other programs with ACFW DFW, visit any of our social media pages: http://dfwreadywriters.blogspot.com/,  https://www.facebook.com/DFWReadyWriters/, or https://twitter.com/acfwdfw.

Most meetings are held at Arlington Community Church 1715 W. Randoll Mill Rd, Arlington, followed by a pay-your-way lunch at a nearby restaurant. This is a time for further fellowship, fun, and networking with other writers of all experience levels.

“You Got Science in My Fiction.”

Join us at the Arlington Community Church, located at 1715 W. Randoll Mill Rd, Arlington, on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. as we welcome Rhonda Eudaly (Simpson) when she presents, “You Got Science in My Fiction.”

Her presentation is an introduction to science fiction as a genre, its various uses, and across multiple genres, sometimes allowing the writer to touch on different and tough topics not regularly found in their genre.

Eudaly lives in Arlington, Texas where she's ventured into several industries and occupations for a wide variety of experiences. Her family includes her husband, their dogs, and a rapidly growing Minion© army. Her two passions are writing and music, which is evident in her increasing horde of writing instruments.

  

She has a well-rounded publication history in fiction, non-fiction, and scriptwriting. For her latest publications and downloads, visit her website at www.RhondaEudaly.com.

To reserve your spot for this program, click “Going” on the event page:  https://www.facebook.com/events/174015667026570/.

For more information about this and other programs for ACFW DFW, visit: https://dfwreadywriters.blogspot.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/DFWReadyWriters/.

The program is followed by a pay-your-way lunch at a nearby restaurant for further fellowship and networking.

Join us Saturday, January 11th at 10:30 a.m. when we welcome Pastor Grant Diamond of Rise Frisco Church as he presents, “Insecurity and Creativity.” The meeting will be held at Arlington Community Church, 1715 W. Randol Mill Rd, Arlington.

Nothing kills creativity like insecurity. For every creator the temptation to compare is constant. Insecurity looms large from the first word to the first draft. That’s why you’ll never reach your full creative potential without conquering insecurity. 

Join us as Pastor and content creator, Grant Diamond, discusses how to overcome insecurity and comparison of ourselves to others in order to release our full creative potential.  

A few years ago Pastor Grant Diamond moved his family cross-country to a city where he didn’t know anyone and had barely heard of—all to start Rise Frisco, a church whose mission is to “Love God, build people, and change the world.” You can call it crazy, or you can call it faith! The dream for Rise was to be a place for people who don’t like church, and at just one year old the church has welcomed hundreds of people for worship and seen many begin a relationship with Jesus, including baptism.  As a new church, Rise Frisco exists to be a safe place to take the next step with God. Had a bad church experience before? You’ll fit right in.

Diamond, who calls himself the Lead Communicator for Rise—instead of Pastor—believes it’s a sin to bore people with the Bible and has a passion to bring out the ancient truths of Scripture to speak into our lives today. He had a powerful encounter with God in college that changed everything for him. He considers it his greatest privilege and honor to help others have that same encounter. He holds a Bachelor of Theological Studies, as well as a master’s degree in Biblical Studies, and another nearly completed in Christian Ministry. 

Before moving to Frisco, Grant was serving God through ministry in the Chicago, Illinois area. He met his wife Kayli at Wheaton College in the Chicago suburbs and they were married shortly after graduation. He and his family now make the Greater Dallas area their home.

You can learn more about Diamond and the Rise Frisco Church at:  https://risefrisco.org/, or follow along with Diamond at: https://www.facebook.com/grant.m.diamond and on Twitter @grantlovesjesus.

To reserve your spot for this program, click “Going” on the event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/755103185000146/.

For more information about this and other programs for ACFW DFW, visit: https://dfwreadywriters.blogspot.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/DFWReadyWriters/.

The program is followed by a pay-your-way lunch at a nearby restaurant for further fellowship and networking.

You Are Invited!

Come join the festivities on Saturday, December 14th at 10:30 a.m. at Arlington Community Church! Guests welcome.

Ye Olde Thespian Troupe and other entertainment – enjoy, and maybe even participate in a short play written by our own Bard of the Treasury, Lyndie Blevins. 

Ye Olde Booksellers – this is your chance to purchase books from your ACFW DFW author friends! (Selling is only open to ACFW DFW members.)

Plus, much fun, food, and fellowship!

**Other activities available for members only. See our member newsletter for more details.

I'm attending, what do I need to do?

Let us know you’re coming by clicking that “Going” button at: https://www.facebook.com/events/468883737075493/

Bring:

* Pot luck Dish 

* Paper cutting scissors (for part of the entertainment activity)

* (Optional) bring/donate packages of colored pens to include with our Christmas gift to our host church's Awanas program.

* Cash if you would like to purchase members books from Ye Olde Booksellers (they make great gifts for your favorite bookworm. Acceptance of check or CC is up to each bookseller).

* Enjoy and participate!

* Member? See our member newsletter for further member-only details. Don’t get the member newsletter, yet? Send a message to ACFW DFW to be added to the list: https://www.facebook.com/DFWReadyWriters/.

See you there!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

~Your 2019 ACFW DFW Board

Launching Writers as Speakers

Join us Saturday, November 9, 2019 as we hold our annual “Launching Writers as Speakers” (LWaS) program. This event is for our members to begin their journey of becoming speakers in the comfort and care of their fellow members. The program will be held at Arlington Community Church, 1715 W. Randol Mill Rd, Arlington,, TX from 10:30a.m.-12pm.

The 2019 LWaS program welcomes Connie Leonard and Ann Boyles as our presenters this year.

Connie Lewis Leonard will present, “Called to Write.” Why do you write? What are your goals? What do you do when you get discouraged?

Lenoard is an accomplished novelist and active journalist who writes fiction and nonfiction. As a journalist, she regularly writes inspiring personal interest stories about people who make a positive difference in the world. Her articles can be found in multiple regional magazines published by Green Fox, With You in Mind Publications, and RedFinn Publications.

Leonard’s latest Christian romance, Play Me back Home in Texas, was released on Amazon in October 2019. Other books include Light up My Life in Texas, Somebody Somewhere in Texas, A Psalm a Day, and Big C, little c.

A retired public school teacher, Leonard shared her passion for writing with her students, encouraging many young writers to pursue their writing interests. She has a Master of Arts in English and Education from Midwestern State University and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Angelo State University.

She lives in Granbury with her husband and three rescue dogs and enjoys visiting with their two grown children and three grandchildren. Connect with Leonard at: https://www.facebook.com/connielewisleonardauthor/.

Ann Boyles will present “How Subtext Can Create the Aha! Moment.” Discussing an awareness of how subtext functions, how it can increase our skill, and utilizing it to enrich our writing and capture our reader.

Boyles has written three novels that make up the series, Dragonfly Trilogy. The stories are set in the mid-nineteenth century, primarily in Japan. She is in the process of self-publishing and expects to launch her books beginning in early January 2020.

Her Japanese settings harken back to a specific call God gave her to Japan after she joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ. She lived in Japan for four years, where she taught English Bible studies as well as met and married her missionary husband. She briefly met her Japanese cousins there, not knowing she would someday write fictional stories about their common ancestor, her great-great-uncle, the first American consul in Nagasaki.

Later, for thirteen years she directed the Dallas Baptist University Intensive English Program for international students. Additionally, she led teams for summer English camps and seminars in Taiwan, mainland China, and South Korea. Officially retired now, she still teaches an international course, “Developing the Christian Mind,” at DBU.

Boyles is the winner of the 2018 ACFW Genesis award and the ACFW Virginia Crown award for historical romance. She believes these awards belong also to her many mentors who came along to assist her, first in North Texas Christian Writers, then for several years in the ACFW critique group at Janice Olsen’s home, and currently in the local ACFW DFW group. Connect with Boyle at: https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethAnnBoyles/.

The meeting is followed by a pay-your-way lunch at a nearby restaurant for further fellowship and networking.

To reserve your spot for this program, click the “Going” button at: https://www.facebook.com/events/416826452543184/.

Dynamic Setting: Using Sensory Details to Ground Your Story.

Join us Saturday, October 12, 2019, at Arlington CommunityChurch, 1715 W. Randol Mill Rd, Arlington, when we welcome back Jessica White, former ACFW DFW secretary and longtime member, as she discusses, “Dynamic Setting: Using Sensory Details to Ground Your Story.”

White, who recently moved from the DFW area explains, “learn how to use sensory details unique to your characters to bring your setting to life and drop your reader into a world they wish was real.”

She is a prayer warrior who loves to encourage and teach others how to create safe spaces for the hurting and lost. She graduated in 2014 from Western Governor’s University with a B.A. in Educational Studies, in addition to publishing her first books, Surviving the Stillness and  Bound by Brokeness.

White is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Mantle Rock Publishing, and represented by Hartline Literary Agency. She is also a founding member and admin of 10 Minute Novelists. She created and manages their annual 365 Writing Challenge, encouraging writers to develop the habit of writing daily.

When she's not writing or coaching fellow authors, she can be found spending time with her husband and two daughters or curled up with a good book. Visit with her at:  https://authorjessicawhite.wordpress.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicawhite/.

To reserve your spot for this program, click “Going” on the event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/387888788558087/

The program is followed by a pay-your-way lunch at a nearby restaurant for further fellowship and networking.