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Board Elections

If you would like to be more involved in the direction and stewardship of Pikes Peak Writers, please consider running for a position on the board. In September, the board will vote on President (incumbent running), Vice President, Treasurer (incumbent running) and Member at Large positions. To be considered, please submit a 1-2 page letter of interest, including why you want the job, what you bring to the table, and a little about your volunteer experience, PPW or otherwise. Letters should be submitted to president@pikespeakwriters.com no later than Sept. 12.

The time requirement for the board varies. The board meets quarterly, usually on a weeknight, for approximately two hours. The board reviews operational budgets annually, and different members work on different projects. Members at Large represent our PPW members to the board. If you have any questions, please contact Bowen Gillings, president@pikespeakwriters.com.

Zebuloning Into 2018

Hello, my name is SM, and I’m your new Zebulon Contest Coordinator. Living in the Great White North, I may at times add a touch of the Canadian spirit to the contest, but fear not, the Rocky Mountains are close to my heart.

First off, I’d like to thank our outgoing coordinator, Dawn Smit Miller. She’s done an extraordinary job at organizing past Zebulons, PPW’s premier fiction writing contest. I feel I have mighty big shoes to fill, so bear with me as I find my own voice.

For now, nothing major will change, but I do encourage you to read all the rules. In reviewing last year’s results, I found that some entries didn’t make it past the Query Round simply because the entrant did not follow the instructions. And sadly, in a couple of cases, they didn’t make the cut by simply choosing the wrong font. Nuf said.

As a writer, I feel any contest that offers some sort of feedback is always a big win, even if you don’t receive an award. Honest reviews are crucial in making a good book great. I’m a fan of CinemaSins on YouTube, where no movie is without sin. I apply that same philosophy with writing where no book cannot be improved by feedback (you have a critique partner(s), yes?).

I strongly encourage you to take this opportunity and enter. It’s only $20 and more than worth the investment in the judges’ comments alone. You can also pay an additional $20 for a critique. But, it doesn’t stop there. If your entry wins, there are prizes—up to and including a full refund of your PPWC2018 registration fee! And, as a side-note, when clicking on the link below, shuffle over to the PPW Conference pages and check them out.

So, what do you need to do? Easy-peasy, just:

  • Provide the first 2500 words from an unpublished fiction novel. It cannot be part of a published series nor can it have won first prize in a previous Zebulon
  • Provide one query letter in standard format, up to one page in length
  • Provide one synopsis, up to 500 words in length
  • READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS THOROUGHLY
  • Submit with courage

Attending next year’s PPW Conference is of itself a memory waiting to happen. Attending as a Zebulon winner, even more so.

Eager to know more about this year’s Zebulon?  Begin here:

https://www.pikespeakwriters.com/contest/

The contest’s starting gun went off on September 01st, and the checkered flag drops on Nov 01st. This may sound like lots of time to get your ducks crossed and “T”s in a line, but be a tortoise; slow and steady wins the race. Being a hare and doing everything on All Hallow’s Eve can be stressful, make you rush, and can lead to errors in your submission—possibly using the wrong font. 🙂

I hope that I’ve mangled enough mixed metaphors to spin your head and get you thinking about entering early. That early bird and all that…

Questions? Comments? I welcome your e-mail at: contest@pikespeakwriters.com

Ron Heimbecher

On July 8, 2017, Ronald Frederick Heimbecher of Thornton/Broomfield, Colorado, beloved husband of Monica (Reynolds) Heimbecher passed away at the age of 67 from complications after surgery. He is survived by his wife, son Stefan Heimbecher, daughter Lyssa Gad, son-in-law Max Gad, stepson Jason Crump, brother Tony Bersano and sisters Carolee Hutchins and Marti Bersano and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Ron was a gifted businessman, musician, writer, and was an inspiration to those who knew him.

Ron volunteered for Pikes Peak Writers beginning in 2006 and served five years on the board of directors as vice president, president, and immediate past president. He also filled the role of webmaster during this time.

Sweet Success for July 2017

July 14, 2017

 

Congratulations to award-winning poet and aspiring mystery writer Maria Kelson. Maria was selected for a one-month writing residency in 2018 at the Santa Fe Art Institute. The theme for their 2018 residencies is “Equal Justice.” The selection was made based on sample chapters from The Outcasts, her current mystery-novel-in-progress, which addresses issues of justice in immigrant and refugee communities.

Join us here to celebrate the writing and publishing successes of fellow PPW members. When the sweet smile of success shines on you, but sure to let us know!

Sweet Success for June 2017

June 23, 2017

Congratulations to  Author Barbara Nickless for taking Colorado by storm.

Barbara Nickless’s debut novel, Blood on the Tracks, won the 2017 Colorado Authors’ League Writing Award for genre fiction. Barbara’s next book in the series, DEAD STOP, will be released by Thomas & Mercer on October 3rd, 2017.

Barbara Nickless’s debut novel, Blood on the Tracks, won the 2017 Colorado Book Award for mystery fiction. Barbara’s next book in the series, DEAD STOP, will be released by Thomas & Mercer on October 3rd, 2017.

June 16, 2017

Darby Karchut’s DEL TORO MOON (middle grade fantasy/western mashup), received multiple offers before being sold to Hannah Smith at Owl Hollow Press, in a nice deal, for publication Summer 2018, by Amanda Rutter at Red Sofa Literary (World Rights).

June 9, 2017

Pikes Peak Writer member and PPWC faculty member JL Field’s next book will be released June 6: The Vegan Air Fryer: The Healthier Way to Enjoy Deep-Fried Flavors.

Join JL for her book release party from noon to 2 p.m. on June 17, 12 to 2 p.m., at Colorado Common Hard Cider. All are welcome! First 75 people get a free drink coupon (if over 21), free recipes samples from the book, vegan food truck fare for purchase, and everyone in attendance is entered in a free drawing to win an air fryer!

Join us here to celebrate the writing and publishing successes of fellow PPW members. When the sweet smile of success shines on you, but sure to let us know!

Sweet Success for May 2017

May 26, 2017

Congratulations to Chris Goff and her second International Thriller Red Sky, which is due out June 13th. The second in the Jordan series, New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter says, “Breathtaking suspense, do not miss Red Sky.”

May 19, 2017

Congratulations to Author Cynthia Kuhn

About the Agatha: Agatha Awards are given out at the annual Malice Domestic conference held in Bethesda, Maryland: “The Agatha Awards honor the ‘traditional mystery.’ That is to say, books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie as well as others” (Malice Domestic website). Categories include Best Contemporary Novel, Best Historical Novel, Best First Novel, Best Nonfiction, Best Short Story, Best Children’s/Young Adult.

About the book: English professor Lila Maclean is thrilled about her new job at prestigious Stonedale University until she finds one of her colleagues dead. She soon learns that everyone, from the chancellor to the detective working the case, believes Lila—or someone she is protecting—may be responsible for the horrific event, so she assigns herself the task of identifying the killer.
More attacks on professors follow, the only connection a curious symbol found at each of the crime scenes. Putting her scholarly skills to the test, Lila gathers evidence, but her search is complicated by an unexpected nemesis, a suspicious investigator, and an ominous secret society. Rather than earning an “A” for effort, she receives a threat featuring the mysterious emblem and must act quickly to avoid failing her assignment…and becoming the next victim.

May 12, 2017

STALKING GROUND by Margaret Mizushima is a finalist in the 2017 Colorado Book Awards mystery category. In this second book in the Timber Creek K-9 mystery series Deputy Mattie Cobb, her canine partner Robo, and veterinarian Cole Walker investigate the disappearance of Deputy Ken Brody’s sweetheart, but the hunters become the hunted when they find themselves caught in a killer’s stalking ground. “Dog lovers will want to read this thriller.” – Library Journal

Join us here to celebrate the writing and publishing successes of fellow PPW members. When the sweet smile of success shines on you, but sure to let us know!

Emotions in Fiction — Special Paid Event with Angie Hodapp

Pikes Peak Writers is very proud to present “Emotions in Fiction” with presenter Angie Hodapp. This paid event will occur on June 24th, 2017 from 1PM until 5PM at Library 21C in Colorado Springs.

Advance payment ($25.00 via PayPal) and RSVP are required to attend as this four-hour workshop does not fall within the usual free monthly events Pikes Peak Writers normally hosts. More details can be found in the link above.

About the workshop: Memorable stories are rooted in emotion. In this workshop, we’ll start by looking at emotion in fiction from three perspectives: writer, character, and reader. Then we’ll dive into the many ways you can use character, story, and prose to elicit emotion in readers and make your stories unforgettable.

About the presenter: Angie Hodapp holds a BA in English and secondary education and an MA in English and communication development, and she is a graduate of the Denver Publishing Institute at the University of Denver. She has worked in publishing and professional writing and editing, in one form or another, for sixteen years. She currently works at Nelson Literary Agency as the Director of Literary Development and loves helping authors hone their craft and learn about the ever-changing business of publishing.

Monthly Write Drunk, Edit Sober

The “Write Drunk, Edit Sober” sessions at the 2017 Pikes Peak Writers Conference were so successful, Pikes Peak Writers is launching a fourth free monthly event for our writing community! Our thanks go out to Deb Courtney, who is spearheading this effort.

We hope you show up at our initial Write Drunk, Edit Sober session on May 10th, 2017. You can always find out more about our regular, monthly events, and about Write Drunk, Edit Sober by following the links.

The Write Drunk, Edit Sober sessions will include guided improv writing time, and then a discussion about the tips, tricks, and techniques that go into writing in general. It will be a great time for our adult members.

As a note: The location is Bar K in downtown Colorado Springs. This means no minors, please.

Sweet Success for April 2017

April 28, 2017

Pikes Peak Writers member, Barbara Nickless, has been nominated for for two outstanding awards.

“The Colorado Book Awards is an annual program that celebrates the accomplishments of Colorado’s outstanding authors, editors, illustrators and photographers.” Barbara’s debut novel, Blood on the Tracks, is a finalist in the mystery category. She and her fellow mystery finalists (along with finalists in the thriller and genre fiction categories–including PPW member Kevin Ikenberry) will be reading at Denver Bookbar at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 14th.

In addition, Barbara is thrilled to announce she is a finalist for the Colorado Authors’ League Writing Award in the genre fiction category. She will be doing a reading with her fellow finalists at Tattered Cover (Colfax) on Saturday, April 29th at 6 p.m.

April 21, 2017

The Chemistry of Heroes, a short story by PPW member Catherine Dilts, is a Derringer finalist in the Novelette category. The Derringer is awarded annually for the best short story in four categories – Flash, Short, Long, and Novelette. Catherine’s story was published in the May 2016 issue of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. The winners will be announced May 1st.

Catherine’s sixth story for Alfred Hitchcock, Unrepentant Sinner, appears in the May /June 2017 issue. She is the author of the Rock Shop Mystery series. http://www.catherinedilts.com/

Join us here to celebrate the writing and publishing successes of fellow PPW members. When the sweet smile of success shines on you, but sure to let us know!