Meetings

Do you want to speak at Eastside?  Don’t be afraid, we are a friendly bunch! Contact the webmistress!

Want to come but not a member?  Not a problem there either!

We realize that you want to check things out before making a final decision about becoming a member.  We invite you to be our guest (insert movie tune here!)  You can come for free to two meetings a year – excluding any dates marked ‘Members Only’ of course.  After that, we ask that you become a member and avail yourself to all membership benefits!

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Julia Hunter — Body Language
Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 7pm
Newport Way Library

Julia Hunter will explain how body language can speak volumes even when people are silent. Gain insight on how to read your spouse, kids, or boss, and how to give readers subtle clues about your characters between lines of dialogue.

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Marie-Claude Bourque — Yes, They Are Your Friends: Cyber-Promo Made Easy!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 7pm
Lake Hills Library

Straight from the American Title V promotion trenches, Marie-Claude Bourque shares her experience and tips to promote your work effectively online and touches on balancing promotion with your creative side.

Learn how to draw on your own strengths to create an effective promotional campaign, determine what level of promotion is most effective at this stage in your career, and learn to deal with the effects your public promotion life has on your private creative writer life.

Marie-Claude will specifically touch on differentional strategies to use for each social network, including what to do with book trailers, how to touch readers at a personal level, and how to avoid the over-promoting syndrome.

INSTRUCTOR BIO:
Marie-Claude Bourque is the winner of the American Title V and the author of the upcoming Dorchester release, gothic paranormal romance Ancient Whispers. She also co-created the writer-inspiration blog Musetracks and is a member of RWA and SFWA.

A French Canadian, she holds 4 college degrees, including a BS in Physics from McGill University and a PhD in Oceanography from the University of British Columbia. She is a former research scientist, translator, fitness professional, an avid knitter, reader, and busy mother of two boys. She currently resides in Seattle, WA.

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A.G.H.O.S.T. — Paranormal Investigations by Ross Allison
Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 7pm
Issaquah Service Center

A.G.H.O.S.T. is the most advanced technical paranormal research group in the Pacific Northwest. During paranormal investigations, the team combines hi-tech equipment with qualified psychics, research and training for successful results. Each member of our investigation team has been thoroughly trained in their areas of responsibility. AGHOST has earned the respect of some of the most important names in the paranormal field.

As the ghost hunters, they’ve made it their quest to provide substantial evidence that we are not alone in the dark. What is it that goes bump in the night and gives you the feeling of being watched when you’re all alone?

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Delilah Marvelle — History of Sex and Writing a Hot Sex Scene
Tuesday, April 13, 2010, 7pm
Lake Hills Library

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Anthea Lawson — Critique and Collaboration
Tuesday, May 11, 2010, 7pm
Redmond Library

It’s a tricky art– being able to give and receive critique while you work to write the best story you can. It can be even more challenging when you’re writing with a co-author, especially if you happen to be married to one other! Come find out how the RITA-nominated team of Anthea and Lawson work together. We’ll include basics of critiquing, how to recognize your own strengths and weaknesses, the pleasures and pitfalls of writing together, and some ground rules that every critique group should have.

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Anthea Lawson — aka Anthea and Lawson — are a husband and wife creative team living in the Pacific Northwest. Their first historical romance, Passionate, was released from Kensington books in October 2008, and was a nominee for the prestigious RWA RITA award for Best First Book. Their second novel, All He Desires, is available now! Released November 2009, All He Desires “deftly combines danger, desire, and a deliciously different Victorian setting into a sexy version of Victoria Holt’s classic gothic romances.” -Booklist Reviews.

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Serena Robar — Writing By Process
Tuesday, June 8, 2010, 7pm
Angelo’s Restaurant, 1830 130th Avenue Northeast, Bellevue, 98005

Exploring the why’s, what’s and how’s of your writing to keep you focused, motivated and moving in the right direction.

How do I create? Is there a right or wrong way to write? What’s my motivation?  This workshop helps the writer (new or experienced) get a better understanding of their individual writing process and why they do what they do, so they can maintain their productivity, creativity and motivation over the long haul.  Engaging, interactive and full of surprises, refill your creativity well with Serena Robar.

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CLOSED for RWA NATIONAL CONFERENCE
July & August 2010
Nashville, TN

Have Fun Everyone!!!!

Note: In July and August we’ll have dinner get-togethers for the folks who are in town. No speaker, just dinner and chatting.

July dinner details:

Tuesday July 13^th, 6:00 PM <– note different time

Tap House Grill, Bellevue Galleria
550 106^th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004
425-467-1730
http://www.taphousegrill.com/

August dinner details:

Tuesday, August 10th, 6:00 PM <– note different time

Pogacha
119 106^th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004
425-455-5670
http://www.pogacha.com/

If you’d like to be included in the dinner reservation, please email danasch@blarg.net by Sunday 8/8 at 8:00 PM.

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April Rickard—Be Your Own Spielberg
Tuesday, September 14, 2010, 7pm
Angelo’s Restaurant, 1830 130th Ave NE, Bellevue, 98005, 425.883.2777

DESCRIPTION:

Some authors pay hundreds to thousands of dollars for exciting mini-movies to attract readers. Those that don’t, generally tackle the project themselves, but for some, the idea of producing a book trailer can be daunting. You don’t have to be a professional movie producer to create a dynamic and enticing video. We’ll review the “rules” of online videos, learn how to tame the most common movie programs, how to budget and if it’s even worth the effort. You’ll also leave with a list of free or low cost options for stock photos and music, as well as distribution channels for your newly created trailers.

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

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Lucy Monroe — Weaving in Backstory
Tuesday, October 5, 2010, 7pm
Angelo’s Restaurant, 1830 130th Ave NE, Bellevue, 98005, 425.883.2777

SPECIAL BONUS MEETING AND SPEAKER!!!

We all know how clunky a story can become when we try to “dump” all the character’s important backstory in the first chapter or so.  And yet, that information needs to be there for the reader to understand and/or appreciate the mounting conflict and tension in our characters’ current lives.  The skill of weaving in what is necessary and doing so in a way that does not send our readers to sleep, is one each of us as authors must work on continually to perfect.  Lucy Monroe will be discussing her favorite techniques for doing this, the pros and cons of using prologues and what it means to actually write a prologue, rather than what really should just be another chapter of the book.  Join us for a lively talk and discussion time afterward, with Lucy Monroe, who never limits herself to answering questions on the current topic at hand.

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Award winning author Lucy Monroe published her first book in September of 2003.  Since then she has sold more than 50 books to four publishers and hit national bestsellers lists in the US and England.  Her highly charged, sensual stories touch on the realities of life while giving the reader a fantasy story not easily forgotten.  Whether it’s a passionate Harlequin Presents, a sexy single title for Kensington or a steamy historical for Berkley or Samhain, Lucy’s books transport her readers to a special place where the heart rules and love conquers all.  Known for her emotional depth, snappy dialogue, solid plotting and dry wit, Monroe’s stories have found their way into readers’ hearts and their keeper shelves.

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Theresa Meyers — Character Development
Tuesday, October 12, 2010, 7pm
Angelo’s Restaurant, 1830 130th Ave NE, Bellevue, 98005, 425.883.2777

DESCRIPTION:

It’s been said before, characters are the heart of your story. But how can we create characters so well developed from the very first page that they seem to walk in and take over, pulling in the reader? Multi-published author Theresa Meyers shares her tips and techniques for a quick way to get to know who your characters are and what motivates them so your story has both internal and external conflict from the very beginning. We’ll look at resources for creating quick character sketches that work and talk about what to do when secondary characters demand their own stories.

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

 Once upon a time there was a professional publicist who was a closet romance writer. She joined RWA in 1993, wrote several books, amassed a rejection file more than half a foot thick and eventually became published with Harlequin. Along the journey Theresa Meyers has seen multiple facets of the book publishing industry, first as a professional book publicist for multiple NYT Bestsellers and some of the biggest publishers in New York, then as one of 11 people in the nation to final in the American Title II contest, and now a full-time multi-published romance writer. She currently writes paranormals romances for Harlequin’s Nocturne line, steampunk romances for Kensington and historicals for Diversion Books and teaches writing and publicity classes online. Her most current releases include her Nocturne Bite titled The Vampire’s Mistress and her historical, which was in the American Title contest now titled The Spellbound Bride. You can keep up with her online at www.theresameyers.com or via Twitter or Facebook.

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Ann Charles & Wendy Delaney — Plotstorming!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010, 7pm
Angelo’s Restaurant, 1830 130th Ave NE, Bellevue, 98005, 425.883.2777

During this month’s meeting, we’ll be group brainstorming, led by Ann Charles and Wendy Delaney. During the meeting, we will help two authors build a strong, conflict-laden plot for their next novel, and have fun in the process! In case you haven’t attended a Plotstorming Party, it consists of several people and the two hosts (Wendy and Ann–one a left-brained plotter and the other a right-brained pantser). Not only will it help the authors to define the structure of their plot, including the story arc and romance arc, but it will also give the authors lots of story and plot ideas from which they can pick and choose.

Presenters Bios:

Ann Charles

Ann Charles writes mysteries full of mayhem, fun, and romance. She has a B.A. in English (Creative Writing) from the Univ. of Washington. A former Golden Heart and PNWA Literary Contest finalist, she’s been a member of the Greater Seattle RWA chapter for many moons, serving as Vice-President, Conference Chair Assistant, Editor/Agent Chair, and ECO Contest Chair. Ann has written several contemporary novels and is currently toiling away on her next while her age nt works on selling her manuscripts. www.anncharles.com

Wendy Delaney

Former Golden Heart finalist and Emerald City Opener winner, Wendy Delaney, writes fun-filled romantic mysteries. A long-time member of Romance Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, she has served the Greater Seattle chapter as Secretary, Treasurer, Tape Librarian, Conference Chair, Registration Chair, Program Chair, and most recently as ECO Contest Chair. Wendy makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and has two grown sons. www.wendydelaney.com

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NON-DENOMINATIONAL WINTER FUN PARTY — Our end-of-year celebration!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010, 7pm
Location TBA

MEMBERS ONLY!

This potluck and white elephant gift exchange is always a blast! For location, see Eastside RWA Yahoo! Group, or email the Eastside Board.

 So Now, Where are these Meetings Being Held Again?

Starting June 2010, Eastside has a permanent meeting spot! We now meet at Angelo’s Restaurant in Bellevue in the banquet room. The meetings start at 7:00, but you can join us for dinner starting at 5:00 (if you wish to order dinner, please arrive no later than 6:30 so that we don’t disturb our speaker).

Angelo’s Restaurant

1830 130th Avenue Northeast
Bellevue, 98005
425.883.2777
http://www.angelosofbellevue.com

Occasionally, we may have to meet at another location. Here are the most common ones we’ll use:

 Lake Hills Public Library

Location Address: 15228 Lake Hills Blvd, Bellevue, 98007
Location Phone Number: (425) 747-3350
Location: View Map

Newport Way Public Library

Location Address: 14250 SE Newport Way, Bellevue, 98006
Location Phone Number: 425-747-2390
Location: View Map

Redmond Public Library

Location Address: 15990 N.E. 85th, Redmond, 98052
Location Phone Number: 425-885-1861
Location: View Map

North Bellevue Community Center

Location Address: 4063 148th Ave. NE, Bellevue, WA 98009
Location Phone Number: 425-452-7681
Location: View Map