Chesapeake Bay Writers

CBW Meeting and Election
Wednesday, February 19
at the Center Street Grill in Williamsburg
Peter Stipe will speak on “Writing With Both Sides of Your Brain”

The two sides of your brain impact the ways you think and write differently. The left side contributes to logic, order, discipline and analytical thinking. This side helps you stay organized and write coherent sentences. The right side of your brain inspires creativity, intuition, artistic and innovative writing. This helps you imagine new stories with intriguing plot twists. For the most effective writing, use both sides of your brain to be both creative and to have the discipline necessary to organize your thoughts. This session will help you understand the ways your brain works and apply your natural tendencies most effectively to your creative writing process.

Reservations are closed. If you haven't replied and would like to attend, please email CBWreply@gmail.com or call 804-725-6163 as soon as possible.

Caryn Moya Block
Carol Bova
Elizabeth Brown
Brenda Burch
Brandy Centolanza
Vera Ann Cooper
Sharon Dillon
Sharon Dorsey
Ellen Dugan
Cindy Freeman
Roger Gosden
Bradley & Chere Harper
Nan Harvey
Tim & Carol Holland
Tracy Lanum
Tanya Martin
Sonja McGiboney
Barbara & Ken McLennan
Frank Milligan
Eva Monk
Peggy Newcomb
Caterina Novelliere
Mary Ann & Frederick Olsen
Linda Partee
Leslie Pearce
Patty Procopi
Mary Shipko
Ann Skelton
Peter & Debra Stipe
Charles Sutherland

Peter Stipe is the author of three books. Now retired, Peter has enjoyed a long career that includes time in education as well as work in Human Resource Development and Training for a variety of businesses. He has a Bachelor's degree in History from Boston University and a Master's in Education from Tufts. In addition to his writing, Peter is an accomplished artist, working with photography and in watercolor. He has photographs on display at the On The Hill Gallery in Yorktown, Virginia. A New Englander for most of his life, he now lives and writes in Williamsburg.

His first publication, Finding Our Way, is a semi-autobiographical collection of short stories. His first novel, The Art of Love, is a love story told against the backdrop of Providence, Rhode Island and other New England locales. In 2019, Remember Me, Peter’s third book was published. This book chronicles Peter’s emotional search for the truth behind his family stories and includes an account of the lives of his great-grandparents in upstate New York and New Jersey during the late 1800s. His next book, The Fairy Garden, is expected to be published early in 2020.

Apply Now for 2020 CBW Second Monday Radio Interviews with Neal Steele on XTRA 99.1 FM!

We are looking for members with recently published books to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to be interviewed by Neal Steele on XTRA 99.1 FM. Email Tracy Lanum at tracygl@cox.net or call (804) 815-9954 to get a copy of the show guidelines and discuss scheduling an interview.

Sonja McGiboney on Feb 10 CBW Second Monday Radio Show

Neal Steele interviewed Sonja McGiboney on her Jazzy Color series of children's books on 99.1 FM. Monday, February 10, 2020.

After the interview, Sonja said, "I just completed my radio interview with Neal Steele. I have performed piano recitals in the past, and was never as nervous as I was this morning. However, the minute I started speaking to Neal, my worries dripped away. If you haven't done it yet, sign up and give it a try."

Sonja described how she got started on the Jazzy books. "On March 7, 2015, we adopted Jazzy at 8 weeks old. I wanted to capture the changes in her as she grew. After her first birthday, I put together a little album of these pictures. I added some descriptive words and gave it to Dale as a gift. I revised it to be a poem and sent it to my great nieces as a gift. They loved it and asked for more.
It is now January, 2020 and I have published ten books. The first 7 books are for younger children who are still learning concepts. The last three books, have a bit more 'substance.'”

Tune in to learn more about Sonja and her books! read more

Neal Steele interviewed Dawn Brotherton on January 13, 2020 about her book, The Road to Publishing."
Dawn said, "It’s a long, twisting road to publishing—don’t let anyone tell you differently. There’s no one path, and results are as varied as the methods to get there.” The Road to Publishing describes options available from self- to traditional publishing, providing helpful hints along the way.

Brad Harper on Dec. 9 show with Queen's Gambit

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Andrew Ball, Gala First Place Winner and Carol J. Bova, CBW Acting President

Photo by Cindy Freeman

2019 CBW ALL STARS GALA LUNCHEON

and All Stars Contest on Nov. 6th

at the Two Rivers Country Club in Williamsburg was a great success!

Members shared their work and competed for prizes! Those in attendance voted for the winners. There was a great assortment of fiction, nonfiction and poetry, and everyone enjoyed the readings.

First Place winner Andrew Ball received a $75 prize, Ann Skelton won Second Prize and received a $50 prize, and Bradley Harper received $25 for Third Prize. Andrews Ball also won the separate contest for the Rick Baily Humor Award and $25 prize.

CBW LITERARY LUNCHEON MEETING

Wednesday, September 18, 2019
"Everything you always wanted to know about literary agents (including how to get one)" presented by Nikki Terpilowski

The September 18th Literary Luncheon at Le Yaca French Restaurant in Williamsburg was great! Those assembled enjoyed a very social time on the patio before a brief meeting. After lunch was served, Nikki Terpilowski, Founder and Senior Agent of Holloway Literary Agency spoke on "Everything you always wanted to know about literary agents (including how to get one)."

CBW members who registered for a pitch session after the luncheon discussed their finished work with Ms. Terpilowski.

About Nikki Terpilowski, Founder/Senior Agent of Holloway Literary

Based in Raleigh, NC and established in 2011, Holloway Literary is a full-service agency that represents writers in romance, women’s and southern fiction, mystery, thriller, historical, literary, science fiction and select young adult.
After receiving a B.A. in English, Nikki worked in the marketing communications field for several years as a writer and editor. Deciding she wanted to align her professional career with her lifelong passion for reading and writing, she interned at the Elaine English Agency based in Washington, DC, and then moved into literary management, representing a small group of women’s fiction and romance writers, that has expanded to include a list of YA, literary, historical, southern, mystery and thriller authors. Nikki loves all types of fiction, but is particularly interested in finding fresh Southern voices and ethnically and culturally diverse fiction.
When she’s not working or wrangling her three sons, she enjoys traveling to the beach, mountains and all historical sites in between.
She Tweets about her favorite topics: books, wine, craft beer, history, southern culture and travel at @AWomanReading.

CBW Summer Celebration Dinner Meeting
Wednesday, June 19
Abigail Putnam spoke on
"Flash Fiction: Small Stories with Big Impact."

The Chesapeake Bay Writers held its dinner meeting on June 19th in Hayes to celebrate the winners of their new annual Keating Award and award prizes.

Abigail Putnam from the Muse Writers Center in Norfolk spoke on, "Flash Fiction: Small Stories with Big Impact." As our attention spans are shrinking and the age of online literary magazines and journals are on the rise, flash fiction is in greater demand than ever. This talk is dedicated to the art of making bite-sized stories feed the minds and imaginations of your reader long after the story’s end.

Abigail Putnam, Editor-in-chief of Penultimate Peanut Magazine, is from Suffolk, VA where the humidity just might kill you and the nearest museum keeps a hundred-year-old ham on display. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Arcadia University and her fiction has appeared in Maudlin House, Five on the Fifth, the Dirty Pool, and Frostfire Worlds AND teaches fiction classes at the Muse Writers Center.

Announcing the Keating Award Winners!

Fiction

First Place: Frank Milligan, Williamsburg, Va “Tit for Tat”
Second Place: Patricia Procopi, Hayes, Va “Please…Tell Me More”
Third Place: Tim Holland, Williamsburg, Va “Changing Trains”

Non-Fiction

First Place: Sara Etgen-Baker, Anna, Texas “Table for Two”
Second Place: Frank Milligan, Williamsburg, Va “The Last Retreat”
Third Place: Corey Stewart Hassman, Kilmarnock, Va “Revelation in the Wreckage”
Honorable Mention: Sara Etgen-Baker, Anna, Texas “Running with My Words”

Poetry
First Place: Ellen Dugan, Richmond, Va “Have You Ever Tried to Meditate?”
Second Place: Kortni Austin, Elizabeth City, NC. Collection –
Third Place: Ellen Dugan Collection – “Are the Bullets Real?” “Leaving,” “Fragile People.”

Poetry Honorable Mentions:
Craig MacQueen, Lancaster, Va “Night Heron”
Ellen Dugan “Stormy Weather” (part of a collection)
Laura Forster, North Chesterfield, Va “Exceeding the Chandrasekhar Limit” (part of a collection)
Gloria Wang, Fairfax, Va “Home is Far From Where I Stand” (part of a collection)

Click for Details and Bios!

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How to Join Virginia Writers Club

VWC Membership is independent of CBW Chapter Membership and requires a separate application and dues payment. If you wish to join the Virginia Writers Club (VWC), click here.

CBW Meeting and Election Wednesday, February 19at the Center Street Grill in WilliamsburgPeter Stipe will speak on “Writing With Both Sides of Your Brain”