Erle Stanley Gardner [1889-1970] was a California lawyer who enjoyed a trial’s strategy.

As a writer, he turned this intrigue into the subject of his monthly writing goal of 100,000
words. Later dictating to a staff of secretaries, he wrote stories for pulp magazines and
popular crime fiction like the Perry Mason series under his own name plus seven
December pseudonyms.
2010
"Dear Editor: It's a damn good story. If you have any
comments, write them on the back of a check."
–Erle Stanley Gardner
 Write Angles Page 1 of 8

President’s Message…

December Jack London, the Photographer

2010 Recently, the California Writers Club joined the Northern California Independent Book-
sellers Association (NCIBA) and staffed tables at their October 2010 Trade Show in
Oakland. While there, Alon Shalev, Berkeley Branch member and author of The
Contents Accidental Activist, told me he saw a book about Jack London (1876–1916) at another
table—Jack London, Photographer by Jeanne Campbell Reesman, Sara S. Hodson, and
President's Message 1 Philip Adam, published by the University of Georgia Press. I have a copy in front of me
as I’m writing this.
News from NorCal 2
This beautiful book proves that London had talent beyond writing stories such as White
Write On! Winners 2
Fang or Call of the Wild. If you know London fans, this book would make a great
Poetry Page 3 Christmas gift for them.

West Winds Out 4

Member Profile 4
“London had his camera
Survey 5
confiscated in Japan and
Member News 6
was often detained by
Tidbits 7 Japanese officials when
Book Review
Write Anges 7 he got too close to the
front lines...”

Write Anges
Upcoming London took photos in 1904 during the Russo-Japanese War in Korea and Manchuria.
On page 57, the caption reads, "London had his camera confiscated in Japan and was
Events often detained by Japanese officials when he got too close to the front lines,
especially as the war spread to the Yalu River, the boundary between Korea and
Manchuria."
12/11—Holiday
Luncheon Whatever experiences London had in Korea and China would lead to an essay and a
story that ignited a debate that he was a racist. While at the NCIBA, I had two
1/9/11—Workshop: conversations about London. One editor said she heard that London was a racist
Karin Ireland and had trouble believing that. Later, another editor from the University of
Writing for the Serious Georgia Press said he didn't believe London was a racist either.
Beginner London's 1904 essay, “The Yellow Peril,” may have contributed to the claim that he
was a racist. Using Google, I found sites that support this theory. However, after
1/15/11—Kickoff seeing the pictures in Jack London, Photographer, it is hard to believe he was a
25th Anniversary of the racist. (See The Jack London, the Socialist Capitalist
5th Grade Story http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBQoYlXWZyc.)
Contest
London wrote the The Unparalleled Invasion, which takes place in a fictional 1975,
when the West decides to destroy China (for no good reason) by using biological
warfare.
______________
Lloyd Lofthouse is the award-winning author of the concubine saga, My Splendid Concubine
and Our Hart. When you love a Chinese woman, you marry her family and culture too.
 Write
Write Angles
Angles Page
Page 2
2 of
of 8
8

News from NorCal

by Linda Brown

The CWC-NorCal group continues to bring fresh ideas and the

NorCal agenda for 12/4:
energy of idea cross-fertilization to Northern California CWC
members. Since its beginning two years ago as an informal idea Announcements & Introductions
exchange and forum for mutual event publicity, NorCal has
Events
created two writing retreats in Santa Cruz, set up a Northern
California Web site (www.cwcnorcalwriters.org), and estab- Discussion
lished a publications committee to help members get pub-
lished. It has also strengthened publicity among all NorCal Anthology (Redwood)
branches.
Contests (Central Coast)
The Web site is a one-click link to programs, contests, work- Attracting younger members (South Bay)
shops, and other events in Northern California. If you can't
find what you want at a time you need at the CWC-BB, then Talent bank (Fremont)
use your CWC membership to avail yourself of other pro-
grams, most within two hours of the Berkeley Branch Conducting and promoting workshops
The CWC-BB invites all members to come to a NorCal meeting (unassigned)
and enjoy camaraderie with members from nearby branches.
Open Mic: conduct, value, and pitfalls
When Linda Brown becomes president of the Berkeley Branch
in February, she will step down as our representative. (unassigned)
Ideally, two CWC-BB members would make the commitment
to be representatives to NorCal. Event work/cost/benefit sharing between
In addition to the initiatives mentioned above, NorCal is branches–an investigation (unassigned)
working on ways to attract younger members, developing a
Reports/Comments
talent bank and more Open Mics, and making plans for a
leadership conference. Publications Committee/ Web site Demo–
When: The first Saturday every other month. Next ones are Nancy Curteman
December 4 and February 5. Brown bag lunch and conver-
sation is 11:30–12:00, and the meeting itself is 12:00–3:30. Leadership Seminar
Where: Dave Sawle's office (free parking, block or two from
AC Transit route, near Alta Bates Summit Hospital) 2945
Webster, Oakland 94609.

Write On! Story Contest Winners Announced

The results are in for the 2010 Write On! Story Contest. For the second year in a row, one writer was awarded
two of the three prizes. Last year our own Berkeley Branch member, Clifford Hui, won first and third place.
This year both the first and second prizes go to Marjorie Bicknell-Johnson. Congratulations, Marjorie!
1st Prize: "The Poisoner's Handbook" by Marjorie Bicknell-Johnson (South Bay membership chair)
2nd Prize: "One Last Ride" by Marjorie Bicknell-Johnson
3rd Prize: "The Perfect Caterpillar" by Michael J. Cooper (CWC member who lives in Lafayette)
Honorary Mentions:
"All the Time in the World" by Barry Boland (CWC Berkeley member)
"You're Going to Learn So Much" by Abby Lynn Bogomolny (CWC Redwood member)
"The Seaglass Tide" by Jennifer Snow (new CWC Berkeley member)
We thank Marilyn Abildskov for judging the 79 entries that mostly came from California but included stories
from several states, as well as one from the U.K. and one from Australia. The winners have been notified, and
the three prize-winning stories will be posted on our Web site in December.
 Write Angles Page 3 of 8

Poetry
Page
Poet Profile:
W.S. Merwin
By Barbara Ruffner

W. S. Merwin, recently named poet laureate of

the United States, lives in Maui, and with his wife
Paula, they cultivate nineteen acres of endan-
gered Hawaiian trees, shrubs and flowers on
what was previously a barren plain. He reluctantly
accepted his new job because he is so contented
in Maui and was not sure if he wanted to move to
Washington D.C.
He is 83 years old and has a lifetime of poetry to
Poet Laureate William S. Merwin
his credit. He won his second Pulitzer Prize in Photo by Matt Valentine/AP/Library of Congress
2009 for his book The Shadow of Sirius. Punctua-
tion was given up over a period of years, and he
said that dropping commas and periods had
made new poems out of old and caused him to
select words in a new way. Trail Marker
Merwin translated the work of two of the greatest
poets of the twentieth century, Federico Garcia One white tern sails calling
Lorca from Spain and Pablo Neruda from Chile. across the evening sky
Lorca, 1898–1936, died at age 38 in the Spanish
Civil War. His body was never recovered.
under the few high clouds touched
Neruda, 1904–1973 was a Nobel Prize winner. with the first flush of sunset
while the tide keeps going out
“I had hardly begun to read going out to the south
I asked how can you ever be sure all day it has been six months
that what you write is really that you have been gone
any good at all and he said you can’t the then tern is gone
you can’t you can never be sure and only the clouds are there
you die without knowing and the sounds of the late tide
whether anything you wrote was any good
if you have to be sure don’t write” – W. S. Merwin
from The Shadows of Sirius
–W. S. Merwin
from “Berryman”
 Write Angles Page 4 of 8

CWC Anthology Includes 2 Berkeley Branch Members

Under the guidance of editor Kelly A. Harrison, South Bay Branch member, California Writers Club has recently
published West Winds Centennial, the fifth anthology of members’ work since the club’s incorporation in 1913.
For the first anthology, published in 1914, Jack London donated his short story “The Son of the Wolf” in exchange for
being named an honorary founding member of the CWC. Founding member Herman Whitaker edited the book. The
second volume of West Winds, published in 1925, was a book of verse representing 85 poets, including Ina Coolbrith,
Oakland's first librarian as well as California's first poet laureate, who also wrote the foreword. The next two books
were published in 1931 and 1989 respectively. CWC-BB member Therese Pipe wrote the foreword for West Wind Four.
In West Winds Centennial, two Berkeley Branch members, Anne Fox and W.E. Reinka, are among the 35 whose work
was accepted for publication out of the 300 or so submitted.
Anne copyedits the Berkeley Branch Write Angles, was a joint copyeditor for the Branch-sponsored 2009 chapbook
publication of the WestSide Story Contest winners, and copyedits for the Oakland neighborhood newspaper, the
MacArthur Metro. She also does freelance copyediting for writers of fiction and nonfiction. In addition, she co-hosts
the third Saturday support/critique writers’ group at Oakland’s Rockridge Branch Library. Her short story "Morocco"
appeared online in the Tribute Issue (Winter 2009) of Able Muse. Anne’s anthology story is “It Comes to This.”

Just before the West Winds Centennial publication, W. E. Reinka, a past CWC -BB
president, died after a long illness. His anthology essay, “Landfalls,” represents one
example of his extensive and varied writing that has appeared locally and nationally.
Bill contributed many articles about writing and publishing to Write Angles.
Members can purchase West Winds Centennial at our next meeting (which helps to
support our upcoming contests) or order from Amazon or other online stores. The
Publicity Committee has offered a copy to the Oakland Library along with books by
CWC members. A copy will be with the CWC archives at the Bancroft Library on the
UC Berkeley campus.
West Winds Centennial is a publication of the CWC Central Board. Editor Kelly
Harrison created the book and cover design. LSI, a print-on-demand press owned by
Ingram, published the anthology.

Member Profile:
Francine Thomas Howard
I am Francine Thomas Howard. I want to urge all CWC members with
publishable novels to prepare their work for Amazon.com’s upcoming
writing contest—The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.
I was a most fortunate entrant. Following the 2009 contest, my novel
Page From a Tennessee Journal, though a nonwinner, was chosen for
publication through AmazonEncore. Released in March 2010, Page
has benefitted from the vast marketing expertise of Amazon and has
done quite well in sales.
The contest offers a wonderful opportunity for unknown writers to
break into publishing while avoiding the painful process of agent/
publisher rejection. I urge all BB-CWC novelists to enter. I am proof
that miracles can happen.
My entry into the first contest in 2007, The Sisterhood Hyphen, is
scheduled for release in April 2011 through Parker Publishing. Stay
tuned for the publication date on my third novel, Paris Noire.
Write Angles Page 5 of 8

A Write Angles Survey

Do CWC Members Read E-books?
By Tanya Grove

Type “e-reader” into a search engine and you may be surprised by how much is out there in cyberspace.
Googling it got 283,000,000 results. The market has exploded with various e-book readers since the Kindle was
released in November of 2007. Now there’s the Sony Reader, iPad, NOOK, NOOKcolor, Kindle 3, Kindle DX, and
many others, as well as ways to turn your BlackBerry into an e-reader.
Whether you still prefer bound books made of paper and ink or you’ve embraced the e-book technology, I would
like to hear your opinions about e-readers. Below is a survey for Berkeley Branch members of CWC. If you are
interested in taking it, simply cut and paste it onto a Word document, answer the questions, and send it to me at
writeangles@gmail.com with “e-reader survey” in the subject line. I will post the results in the January issue of
Write Angles.

Write Angles Survey of CWC-BB Members on E-readers

1. Do you own an e-reader?

2. If so, what kind?

3. If you do not own one, do you plan to purchase one in the future?

For questions 4 & 5, please limit your answers to one example.

4. If you do not own an e-reader, what is the main reason? (no interest, price, lacks features you want)

5. If you do own an e-reader…

– what is its primary advantage?
– what is its biggest drawback?

For question 6, please limit your answer to yes, no, or un (for undecided).
6. Are you happy with your e-reader in terms of the following:
– design (usability, wireless capability, screen size)
– content (ability to get the titles you want)
– life (length of time you can read without recharging)
– readability (text size, amount of glare, contrast)

Thank you for taking the e-reader survey!

 Write Angles Page 6 of 8

Member News
On Saturday, Dec. 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Charlotte Cook and Jon James Miller will present the Adapting
Sideways workshop on “World Building” for novelists concerned about submitting their manuscripts to agents
and publishers. The workshop, for participants as well as auditors, is based on the book Adapting Sideways:
How to Turn Your Screenplay into a Publishable Novel, coauthored by Charlotte Cook and Jon James
Miller. For more information, e-mail Charlotte at charlotte@adaptingsideways.com.
Therese Pipe is participating with her photography in the Annual Membership Exhibit at the Berkeley Art
Center, 1275 Walnut Street at Live Oak Park, Berkeley, opening Saturday, December 11, reception 5:30–
7:30 pm. Using the theme, "Green," the exhibit runs through December, open Wednesdays–Sundays, 12-5
p.m. 510-644-6893.
Essays by the late W. E. Reinka (see November Write Angles Member News) appear, respectively, in the
CWC anthology, West Winds Centennial (“Landfalls”), and in the Chrysalis Reader, Fall 2010 Edition
anthology, Bridges: Paths Between Worlds (“Bridge Tolls”).
Anne Fox’s “The Rise and Fall of Plan A” appeared in the 22nd Flash in the Pan section of Tiny Lights: A
Journal of Personal Narrative, November 2010 issue.
Thomas Burchfield's first novel, Dragon's Ark, a contemporary Dracula novel set in the California Sierra, will
be re-leased in March 2011 by Ambler House Publishing (http://amblerhouse.blogspot.com/) as an e-book and
POD, avail-able through Lightning Source/Ingram, or at independent bookstores. His blog:
www.http://tbdeluxe.blogspot.com/.
JoAnn Smith Ainsworth has two upcoming guest-author events:
1) Saturday book signing 12/4/10, 1-3 p.m., Borders, 120 Sunset Dr., San Ramon, CA 94583 (925.830.1190).
2) with five other authors at a holiday book signing, 12/18/10, 11-4 p.m., Borders, 4575 Rosewood Drive,
Pleasanton, CA 94588 (925.227.1412).
Sad news to announce that Carlene Cole, former treasurer of the Berkeley Branch and resident of Berkeley’s
Strawberry Creek Lodge, died in October after an illness of some time. Her memoir was in progress.
David Gray is promoting his nonfiction work-in-progress, How and Why All Languages Continuously Change.
The first Monday of every month from December to April, he will present a talk in the back room of Cafe Au
Coquelet, 2000 University Avenue, Berkeley. Come at 6 p.m. for dinner or 6:45 for the talk. See
dmg1789@yahoo.com.

Tidbits
If you haven’t RSVPd to CWC-BB holiday luncheon, please do so today so we can get an accurate head count for
the restaurant. There are a few spots left, so you can still come! If you’ve reserved a spot but haven’t paid yet,
don’t forget to send a check made out to CWC-BB to P.O. Box 6447, Alameda 94501 for $25. If you must pay at
the door, please bring either a check or exact change.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
In the November issue of Write Angles I neglected to give Linda Brown photo credit for the group picture taken at
NCIBA, which appeared on page two. Thank you for the photo, Linda.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Volunteers Needed for Publicity Committee
Marketing your book is almost more important than writing it in the new world of publishing. Learn how to reach the
media and build connections with industry colleagues through volunteer work on the Publicity Committee. We meet
if convenient but do most of our work on the phone or online. Contact Linda Brown at BrownCalifornia@aol.com or
510-530-1261 if you can commit one to three hours per month.
 Write Angles Page 7 of 8

Calls for Submission:

Send in a mini–book review
What books or literary journals are you reading? What have you read contacts
that you recommend? What was disappointing or not worth your time?
Write Angles is calling for submissions of mini–book reviews. This is CLUB OFFICERS
not the New York Times Review of Books, so no research is
necessary. You don’t need to give the author’s background, set the President: Lloyd Lofthouse
historical stage, or draw parallels to any other books. Just write your Vice President: Linda Brown
honest opinion. And keep it between 250 and 350 words. I’ll start.
Past President: Barbara Ruffner
Secretary: Kymberlie Ingalls
It’s Not Just a Book Treasurer: Madelen Lontiong
By Tanya Grove
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Earlier this year, I vowed I would no longer buy myself any books
unless I was at a book signing where I could meet the author. It’s a Marketing: Lloyd Lofthouse
Book by Lane Smith made me break that promise.
Publicity Chair: Linda Brown
I saw this picture book at Pegasus, picked it up, and read it. It struck Membership: Clifford Hui
an immediate chord with me. I had to have it. I asked the sales clerk
if Lane Smith was due for an author appearance in the Bay Area any New Member Orientation: Barbara Gilvar
time soon. Not that he was aware of. Speaker Chair: Jane Glendinning

Hmm…I realized I had a credit slip for Pegasus. So I decided that Workshop Chair: Barbara Ruffner
getting this book was more like redeeming a gift certificate than Write Angles Editor: Tanya Grove
actually making a purchase. (Was it Woody Allen who said no one
can go a day without a rationalization?) But the point is that I was Copyeditor: Anne Fox
willing to break my own rules for this book. That’s how fabulous it is. Delegate Central Board: Lloyd Lofthouse

The plot is simple: a donkey sees a monkey reading a book. The Delegate CWC-Norcal: Linda Brown
donkey asks the monkey all sorts of questions about the book: How Web Manager: Matt Martin
do you scroll down? Does it need a password? Can it text? Tweet?
The monkey keeps saying “It’s a book.” Write On! Story Contest: Tatjana Greiner
5th Grade Story Contest: Debby Frisch
Smith’s book reminds our technologically advanced society that we
don’t need an app, a screen, or a source of electricity to enjoy a
good story. It’s a Book came out this past August, and to my mind, ____________________________________
not a day too soon.
Oakland Public Library
Yes, publishing as we know it is changing. Newspapers are in the West Auditorium
process of reinventing themselves, small presses are being eaten by 125 14th Street (94612)
larger ones, and the big publishing houses are taking fewer risks Entrance on Madison Street
while trying to look toward the future and imagine what paths to between 13th & 14th Streets.
choose in order to keep afloat. In today’s world of blogs, twitters, ____________________________________
and e-readers, the bound book could conceivably be on its way out.
Our monthly meetings are free and
open to the public and feature a
But Smith assures us with his simple text and captivating pictures
speaker, an author event, or both.
that there will always be a place for old-fashioned books. I for one
breathe a sigh of relief.

About Us
The CALIFORNIA WRITERS CLUB, founded in 1909, is a 501(c) (3) educational nonprofit dedicated
to educating members and the public-at-large in the craft of writing and in the marketing of their work.

Find out about our speakers, authors, contests, workshops, writing groups, and more at www.cwc-berkeley.com.
 South Bay Writers is proud to present

“THE NEW ‘BOOK’ MODEL:

How to Write, Publish & Promote Your Book”
with DAN POYNTER

Followed by a Self-Publishing Fair

On January 15, 2011 - 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m

The Lookout Restaurant, 605 Macara Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94085

Registration at 8:15; workshop begins promptly at 9; continental breakfast

and lunch included.

Early Bird (before Dec. 30, 2010): CWC members: $45; Non-members: $55
Students w/ID (up to age 25), anytime $25
After Dec. 30 and at the door: CWC members: $55; Non-members: $65

Cancellation Policy: $5 fee through midnight 12/25; $15 fee 12/15 through
midnight 1/8; no refunds after midnight 1/8. Register and pay by credit card
(Paypal) at www.southbaywriters.com

SELF-PUBLISHING FAIR:
During the last hour and a half of this event, you’ll have the chance to meet SBW self-
published authors, and local print-on-demand and e-book publishers.

Ask your questions about how to self-publish your book, which self-publishing options
have worked for other authors, what self-publishing costs, and more! Plus, purchase
books from SBW authors.

Contact Information: Nina Amir, CWC-SBW workshop chair, 408-353-1943

or at cpywrtcom@aol.com.