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MONTHLY
MEETINGS
Monthly Program Meeting
We are meeting via Zoom on the first Tuesdays of each month. Please email Pat Gray for virtual meeting information.
Critique Sessions are now online!
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Members Dennis Desmond and Beth Pocker unveil our new SFW branding created by Beth. They're at Gulf Gate Library. Photo by Mark Mathes.
How SFW Rallies
to Support
Publishing Day
at Selby Library
By Mark Mathes
Publishing Day was a terrific success thanks to so many SFW members who volunteered their creativity and time.Our table on the second floor attracted probably a hundred curious walk-ups. They were drawn to our new SFW branding, from the table banner and signage by Beth Pocker to the interactive flash fiction stories by Barry Weinman. Beth created a stunning poster featuring the covers of our members who sent theirs in.
Pam Mones began our setup at 8:30 and helped with the breakdown after 3.
Our newsletter signups total 33!
My next step is to write a personal welcome to SFW to each about our benefits. I staffed the table from 8:30 to 3, except for two hours critiquing book pitches of about 15 authors. Overall, a couple A grades and mostly C grades. I am following up with those who are recrafting their pitch. I outlined SFW to each, touted our upcoming Best Short Stories 2026 ebook collection and said we can still fit in short stories by new members.
Other members who helped at our table:
Jacqueline Sullivan Wyco
Jack Massa
Barry Weinman
Richard Bonte
Pam Mones
Beth and Richard Pocker.
Our newest member Patty Hutchings traveled from St. Pete and shared bookmarks of her debut fantasy thriller Colony of the Dead that I edited.
SFW members who had their own tables:
Stan Aizin
Teresa Michael
William Platt
Sandra Gurvis
Brenda Spalding.
Member Barry Roth stopped by on his way to hear tips on getting an agent, while former president Grier Ferguson moderated a session. In its 4th year, Publishing Day exceeded expectations, said Renee DiPilato, Library Director and recent SFW speaker.
They counted equal to last year. This year, they opened on Sunday for Publishing Day.
This is the debut event of a multi-week Off the Page. It’s important to authors and members to recognize that Publishing Day supports local authors at opening of Off the Page.
Standing in Selby, Jacqueline shared some thrilling news: the Sarasota County Libraries accepted her debut memoir in their collections. Renee and colleagues Amanda Leuck and Katie Dow shared with SFW how to submit their books for the Sarasota Libraries collection.
MEMBER BOOKS
1/43
IN THE NEWS
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