Bethane Banks, President
Bethane Banks is an avid reader who would like to write a children’s book. This has not been a simple task. So far, she’s had more ideas than finished product.
However, through attending the Writers of Kern meetings, and the encouragement of other members, hope springs eternal that one day a manuscript will be completed.
Gay Chambers, Vice President
Gay Suzette Chambers, also known as G. S. Chambers enjoyed working for the same school district for 28 years until her retirement and the librarian’s job was a perfect fit. The students had inspired her to pursue a new interest in writing children’s books. She is the author of a children’s series “It Takes a Pond” with the fourth book coming out soon. Gay is a member of Writers of Kern and SCBWI. She has an awesome critique group that meets twice a month and a wonderful Bible Study group that keeps her on the right track. Besides writing, she knits, makes quilted bags for new babies at the church and card making.
Jennette Green, Secretary
Jennette Green writes sweet romance with a touch of spice. She fell in love with writing when she was seven. As a teen, while traveling on a sailboat with her family in Central America, she filled notebooks with stories. Her books have received “Reader’s Favorite Hero,” “Reviewer’s Choice Award” and more. Snowstorm was an international bestseller. In addition, she helps authors format their books and covers for print and ebook distribution, and in 2020 published the well-received second edition of Book Formatting for Self-Publishers, a Comprehensive How to Guide.
Carla Stanley, Treasurer
Carla Stanley has been writing for years, but it wasn’t until 2017, when she retired from teaching high school English and Theater, that she got serious. Since taking a memoir writing class in 2018, Carla has written over 150 memoirs to share with family and friends. Carla has continued the playwriting she polished working with students for 14 years at Shafter High School. In 2022, one of her short plays was performed at Bakersfield Community Theater’s One-Act Festival. Carla joined WOK during the pandemic and participated in many Zoom Open Mic events. Her poem “Veterans” and her short story “A Bunch of Bull” were published in the 2021 Writers of Kern Anthology Pathway to the Heart.
Lisa-Behrens Smith, Critique Group Coordinator
Lisa-Behrens Smith has always been a writer. After spending her high school years in Bakersfield, California, studying journalism and creative writing, she married, had children, and pursued a paralegal career until a change in her husband’s employment took her far from her expected life. Lisa-Behrens now teaches junior high English in Bakersfield, California. She lives with her husband of 46 years, their difficult cat, and a mind filled with words.
Stephanie Apsit, Sunshine Chair
Stephanie Apsit is our wonderful Sunshine Chair. Stephanie sends holiday, get-well, birthday (if we have your birth month), sympathy, and other supportive cards to the Writers of Kern members. Every card is filled with nurturing, caring thoughts, sending rays of peace and comfort to uplift our fellow members’ spirits. How do we know when those special occasions, illnesses, or hardships arise? We rely on you, our WOK members, to alert Stephanie by emailing her the information: [email protected].
Gay Chambers, Member at Large
Gay Suzette Chambers, also known as G. S. Chambers enjoyed working for the same school district for 28 years until her retirement and the librarian’s job was a perfect fit. The students had inspired her to pursue a new interest in writing children’s books. She is the author of a children’s series “It Takes a Pond” with the fourth book coming out soon. Gay is a member of Writers of Kern and SCBWI. She has an awesome critique group that meets twice a month and a wonderful Bible Study group that keeps her on the right track. Besides writing, she knits, makes quilted bags for new babies at the church and card making.
Shirleen Nunn, Social Media Manager
Shirleen Nunn is our wonderful Social Media Manager. A few of the many things she does is update events on our Facebook page and contact the Bakersfield Californian each month with information about our upcoming month’s meeting and speaker.
Jennette Green, Newsletter Editor
Jennette Green writes sweet romance with a touch of spice. She fell in love with writing when she was seven. As a teen, while traveling on a sailboat with her family in Central America, she filled notebooks with stories. Her books have received “Reader’s Favorite Hero,” “Reviewer’s Choice Award” and more. Snowstorm was an international bestseller. In addition, she helps authors format their books and covers for print and ebook distribution, and in 2020 published the well-received second edition of Book Formatting for Self-Publishers, a Comprehensive How to Guide.
Sandy Moffett, CWC Representative, Membership Chair
Sandy Moffett has been a poet and lyricist for more than 40 years. She is an inspirational speaker for women’s groups and uses her personal life experiences and history as a third-generation funeral owner to help those who are grieving.
Sandy’s tales as a funeral singer have appeared in, Mortuary Management and International Mortuary and Cemetery Management. She is the author of Dear Ones, a collection of poetry and prose and has had stories published in Cup of Comfort: Devotional for Mothers and Daughters and Chicken Soup for the Soul Angels Among Us.