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The Ridge Writers, the East Sierra Branch of the California Writers Club, is based in the city of
Ridgecrest. The Ridge Writers meet year round, usually the first Wednesday evening of each month
at 6:30 PM (unless conflicted with a holiday) at the High Desert Haven.
All meetings are open to the public.
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Site Contents: Writers of the Purple Sage Newsletter Back Issues: Contact Information
Speakers for 2009
Tainted Legacy documents Kay's search for the truth about alleged serial killer Bertha Gifford -- her great-grandmother. According to Kay's website, www.skaymurphy.com, "If the newspaper reports, magazine
articles, online postings and comic book features are true, my great-grandmother qualifies as American's first female serial killer.
"When I discovered that I had an ancestor who had spent the last years of her life in an institution for the criminally insane," she writes, "I was compelled to determine why, for several reasons. First, because I love a
good mystery, and her guilt had never been fully established. Second, because of an admitted romantic notion that I just might clear her name, if that were warranted. And last, because I needed to know more about
my history so that I could understand more about myself." The result: a complex story with twists, turns and irony so bizarre that even by Kay's admission, at times it seems almost contrived or surreal.
The April 1st talk will look at what to do and what not to do in terms of publishing a memoir or other book. Kay, who has published using a conventional publisher as well as a publisher who does publish-on-demand,
will also discuss the differences, as well as the pitfalls and rewards of publishing in general.
She has been writing since the age of 21 and has had her work published in The Writer magazine, the Christian Science Monitor, the Los Angeles Times and many children's and literary magazines. She has a
master's degree in American Literature, and she enjoys teaching English and Journalism to high school students in Upland, California. She lives in Mt Baldy in the San Gabriel Mountains.
"My life has never gone in the direction I expected it to, and neither has my writing career," Kay observes.
Sandy Lynn Moffett will present the next Ridge Writers program - "From the Heart" - on Wednesday, May 6th beginning at 6:30 PM. She'll talk about some life events close to her heart, how she has used them in her
writing, and how others can tap into that area of creative expression. The meeting takes place at High Desert Haven.
An inspirational speaker and writer, Sandy is the author of Dear Ones, a book of prose and poetry, and she maintains an email devotional by the same name. Her story about her daughter, Sarah, appears in
A Cup of Comfort Devotional for Mothers and Daughters, the latest release in the national bestselling A Cup of Comfort anthology series. The series features uplifting slice-of-life true stories about the
experiences and relationships that inspire and enrich us. Titles currently in development include A Cup of Comfort for Mothers: Stories that celebrate the women who gave us everything, A Cup of Comfort for a
Better World: Stories that celebrate generosity, compassion, and volunteerism, A Cup of Comfort for Couples: Stories that celebrate what it means to be in love and A Cup of Comfort for Golfers: Stories that
celebrate the follies, the triumphs, and the joy of the game.
Born in Bakersfield, Sandy spent many years in Southern California before returning to her hometown in 1985. She began writing and singing at a young age and discovered her love of poetry under the tutelage of
her freshman English teacher, Kathryn Wilkins. She has sung with the San Joaquin Sweet Adelines and the Bakersfield Symphony Singers, taught vocal music to children from pre-school age to third grade, and
began composing music in 1996. Her first solo album; "Welcome My Child," came out in 1998. She has worked as a vocalist for the mortuaries in Bakersfield and the surrounding region for more than 25 years,
drawing on her talents as a poet to provide written remembrances of those services for families.
"I have had some very interesting requests for music over the years," she reflects. "One husband asked for, 'You Picked A Fine Time To Leave Me Lucille.' His children wisely chose another song. There was the
service for the gentleman who loved the song 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head' and just when we started, it began to rain outside."
Sandy joined the Bakersfield branch of the California Writers Club, Writers of Kern, and represents "WOK" on the CWC central board. A few months ago at a CWC function, she found herself sitting with a woman
and discovered in amazement that it was Kathryn Wilkins - now a fellow CWC member. Sandy is married to Greg Moffett. They have four children and two grandchildren, and she has a web site,
http://www.sandymoffett.com.
Sandy has two projects currently underway - her second inspirational book, Consider the Lilies, and also a book to help children deal with death.
Ridge Writers and Adventurers' Club member Fredrick Gary Hareland will share his experiences with "Writing about Adventure and the Adventure of Writing" on Wednesday, June 3. The meeting takes place at High Desert Haven and begins and 6:30 PM.
"I'll talk about my many seagoing adventures, how to find adventure, write about it, and then get your articles published," says Gary, who has loved adventure from an early age when he and brother Barry hiked and camped with the Boy Scouts of America. When life seemed to get too boring at the ripe old age of 11, he hopped a train and rode it from his hometown of San Fernando to Mojave. His boyish impetuosity landed him in the Bakersfield Juvenile Hall overnight, until his parents drove to Bakersfield and bailed him out. This became Gary's one and only time behind bars to date, he is happy to report.
Come hear Gary tell about how you can chart your own course to adventure - and the bigger adventure of writing about these memorable exploits and seeing them in print. As an added bonus, meet Gary's special guest, Allan Smith, President of DreamQuest Productions and current president of the Los Angeles Adventurers' Club.
For our July meeting, we'll hold an Open Mike Night, with members and the general public invited to read from their own works. Participants are asked to limit their presentations to 5-7 minutes.
As in the past, we will have a sumptuous dinner with every course well
represented. If you have not already signed up to bring a salad,
casserole, entre, vegetables, dessert or other dish but want to, do it
now by contacting Donna McCrohan Rosenthal at mccrohan@ridgenet.net. Also
let Donna know if you would like to read so that she can put your name on
the list. We ask members to limit themselves to original pieces no longer
than 5-7 minutes.
The Heritage Clubhouse is located at 425 North Heritage Drive (a little
beyond the Heritage Inn). We urge members to attend with spouses or
significant others but please remember that we do not open this particular
festivity to the general public.
Speakers from 2008
Past Speakers
The Ridge Writers Branch of the CWC is very proud of the caliber of
presenters that have spoken at our meetings. Listed below are some of these outstanding
speakers:
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He joined the U.S. Navy at age 19 and "upon flunking out of nuclear power school, I was assigned to the Destroyer Escort U.S.S. McMorris DE 1036" (left) - the start of his nautical adventures that have thus far spanned 12 ships, most oceans, and many exotic ports. In addition to serving in the navy, he has also served aboard ships in the U.S. Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, Maersk Line Limited, and Norwegian Cruise Line where was slated to become the first Electronic/Communications Officer assigned to the Project America vessel Pride of America. (right)
Now a castaway in the desert at the constant urging and request of his "First Mate, Thelma Hareland," he works as a Sa-Tech contractor in the North Rangers Communications Shop. In his spare time he loves to write. His favorite subjects: local biographies, technical articles and, heading the list, true sea stories which the Adventurers' Club News, Professional Mariner, Marine Electronic Journal, Sea Classics magazine, The Titanic International Society publication Voyage, the Steamship Historical Society of America publication Steamboat Bill, and Ocean Navigator have published.
