Officers & Chairs

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.

Carla Joy Martin, Critique Group Coordinator

Carla Joy Martin is a poet, pastel artist and piano instructor. After living in New York, Scotland and Pasadena, she found herself in Bakersfield and has been here for thirty years now. She obtained her MA in English Literature from Stanford and enjoys promoting the arts in Bakersfield. She hosts the Dukes Memorial Concerts as well as co-hosts the First Friday Open Mic Nights with Portia Choi. She published her first poetry chapbook, A Kaleidoscope of Love, in the middle of the pandemic. A member of Writers of Kern for many years, Carla is the current Critique Group Chair. She can’t thank WOK enough for all they have done to nurture her talents.

Stephanie Apsit, Sunshine Chair

Gay Chambers, Member at Large

TBA, Social Media Manager

This position is open. Duties include updating events on our Facebook page and contacting the Bakersfield Californian each month with information about our upcoming month’s meeting and speaker.

If you’re interesting in applying to be our Social Media Manger, please contact [email protected].

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.