We will meet at 10:10 am at the HOOD COUNTY LIBRARY, upstairs in the Cottonwood room. The parking lot may be full. Use the big church lot or the public lot behind Farina’s.

Geoff Mantooth will speak on “Character.”

Why Readers are drawn to Characters above all other elements of a story.

Tools to develop memorable and compelling people that readers want to spend time with.

Participation of the audience (in character or out) is encouraged.

Geoff Mantooth is a former electrical engineer and intellectual property attorney who won the largest trademark infringement jury verdict in Texas history. He explores compelling stories in his Substack newsletter Trials By Writing.

https://trialsbywriting.substack.com.

We meet at 10:00 am (CDT) on April 26, 2025, in the Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall.

Topic: The Truth about Writing Life and Money (via Zoom)

Kathleen Baldwin is an award-winning author with more than 650,000 copies of her books sold to readers around the globe. Publishers translated her books into several languages, and a Japanese publisher even made Lady Fiasco into a manga. Scholastic licensed her School for Unusual Girls series for school book fairs. The YA series won numerous awards and was optioned for film by Ian Bryce, producer of Spiderman, Transformers, Saving Private Ryan, and other blockbuster films. The series is currently in its third film option.

The Truth About Writing Life and Money 

Are you wondering what career path to follow, Indy or Traditional? Would you like to know how much money authors really make, but Google shows you a hundred different numbers? Confused about how much to invest promoting your novel, on skill-development, or making an audiobook? Do you feel like you spend hours on your writing career but don’t get anywhere? Experienced, happy, bestselling author Kathleen Baldwin has answers to your questions and wants to help.

In addition to your questions, we will cover:

Explore the hidden reasons why you write. You may think you know, but the truth is tucked away deep in your psyche. Kathleen will help you dig to find out what lies beneath. This is essential information for new writers and equally crucial for experienced writers, who may be burning themselves out chasing the wrong dream. Understanding your inner motivations determines what pathways are optimal for your writing business.

What does it really take to be a successful author? How many hats must a writer wear?

Maintaining balance in your writing life. A wholistic approach, with multiple real-life examples of how to focus, and write through life’s personal challenges.

A clear look at the differences between Traditionally Published versus Independently Published versus Hybrid authorship—the demands, the pitfalls, the perks of each, and the financial rewards. And which path is best for you based on your motivation for writing.

A candid look at money. Are your expectations in line with reality? Examine the recent trends and financial data regarding writing incomes and publishing in general. Ignore misinformation: both the false hype and negative Nellys are misleading. Instead, we’ll look at reliable data and facts.

How much time do you really need for your writing? Should you write full time or part-time, and how to flourish either way.

Writing sideshows: how and where you can make extra cash as an author.  

Kathleen loves adventure in books and in real life. She taught rock climbing in the Rockies, survival camped in the desert and the snow, was stalked by a mountain lion, lost an argument with a rattlesnake, enjoyed way too many classes in college, fell in love at least a dozen times, and married her very own hero. They’ve raised four free-spirited adventurous children and are enjoying their many grandchildren.

Wendy Wheeler will present at 10:00 am on March 29, Fellowship Hall, Presbyterian Church in Granbury……..

3 Acts vs 7 Points vs 15 Beats: Adventures in Story Structure

Learn why failure is not an option. It’s a requirement!

Stories we enjoy reading and hearing have a beginning, middle and end. Aristotle confirmed that when he made the three-act format in his Poetics, way back in 340 B.C. In the 20th Century, writing experts added to the crafting knowledge for popular fiction. Damon Knight at Milford workshops had a simple system called the 7-Point Plot Outline. Blake Snyder’s inspiration came from American cinema, but his 15-Beat System applies as well to successful fiction. See if these can help you hack your path to a good story — and learn why failure is not an option. It’s a requirement!

We hope to see you then.

Peggy Purser Freeman will speak:

Program Title: “Write the Last To-Do—First”

Saturday, February 22, Fellowship Hall, Presbyterian Church

Even if you plan to self-publish, begin your project with the Letter to the Editor, the Tagline, a One Sheet, Market Analysis, and scariest of all—the Editor’s Submission Guide.

Write your novel, play, or short story, even if you plan to self-publish by starting with what most people think is the last thing to do. It can be a fast track to success. When you write The End, you’ll be halfway to publication.

Peggy Purser Freeman began her writing career shortly after the invention of the computer and joined the Writers’ Bloc in Granbury, Texas, soon thereafter. She enjoys the groups’ diverse personalities and loves to share.

She has taught writing classes for Continuing Education at UT Arlington and the Langdon Center in Granbury. She wrote and presented Kid Talk, a 620 AM Radio Disney’s public affairs show, and produced a series of Kid Talk shows for Dallas County TV.

Her books are available from TCU Press, on Amazon.com, and on her website at www.PeggyPurserFreeman.com. She received the Austin League of Writers Teddy Children’s Book Finalist Award presented by Laura Bush for her first book, The Coldest Day in Texas. Her stories and inspirational articles have been published in numerous Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

As a journalist, Peggy brings twelve years of experience as a regional magazine editor and has written for magazines across Oklahoma and Texas. Peggy Purser Freeman www.peggypurserfreeman.com author, editor and writing teacher 214 675 5752.

Teach Writing Without a Pencil

Cruisin’ Thru Life ~Dip Street and Other Miracles

Spy Cam One

We meet January 25, 10:00 am, at the Fellowship Hall in downtown Granbury.

Laura Drake, our multi-published author, will lead a “round table” discussion on writing craft problems and questions.

If you want feedback on a page of two, bring your writing for the discussion.

President Greg Gifford will speak on Great American Novels of the 20th century and how the author’s world today is much different than it was in 1950.

He will discuss “Gone with the Wind” (Margaret Mitchell), “To Have and Have Not (Ernest Hemingway), and “From Here to Eternity” (James Jones).

Techniques for setting the scene will be compared.

Hood county Library, 10 a.m., Pecan Room.

Where: Hood County Library – Granbury

Room: Cottonwood Room, 2nd Floor

When: 10:00 am Saturday, July 27

That Story Would Make a Good Movie!

Or would it? Do you, like me, so vividly picture your stories in your mind that you dream about a relationship with Hollywood to get them onto the Big Screen? This will talk about what it takes to sell and produce a movie vs a book (very important!), what stories work best for a movie vs a book, and ways you can write your novels/stories to fit the needs of Hollywood so they might get optioned. Or, expand your skill set by writing screenplays too.

Bio:

A member of Science Fiction/Fantasy Writers of America, Wendy Wheeler has sold fiction to Analog, Daily SF, Gorezone and other periodicals. She’s had stories in The Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror, Snow White Blood Red, Silver Birch Blood Moon, and The Crafters. No novels yet! She sometimes teaches fiction craft, writes small films, does freelance story development with filmmakers, and has had her work performed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Visit her at www.wendy-wheeler.com.