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February Featured Speaker – Robert Petersen

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Workshop Title: Turning Local History Into Compelling Storytelling

What if some of your most compelling story ideas are already waiting where you live?

Notorious Bakersfield began as a passion project fueled by Robert Petersen’s love of true crime and local history. In this talk, he’ll explore how revisiting forgotten headlines became a way to tell meaningful stories, preserve local memory, and find a unique narrative voice by writing about the place he knows best.

Attendees will learn how real events—especially those drawn from history and true crime—can be shaped into responsible, engaging stories without sensationalism. The session also offers a practical look at how personal curiosity can become an ongoing creative project, developed one story at a time.

Perhaps most importantly, this talk gives writers permission to begin. You don’t need special credentials, a large platform, or a perfect plan to tell meaningful stories. You just need curiosity, attention, and the willingness to start—right where you are.

Robert’s Bio:

Robert Petersen is a Bakersfield native who spent much of his childhood living abroad after his family moved overseas when he was five. Though he lived in several countries, Bakersfield was always home, with summers spent returning before his family resettled permanently in the mid-1980s. During the COVID pandemic, Robert began reading archived issues of The Bakersfield Californian, discovering forgotten stories about his hometown. That curiosity led to the launch of the Notorious Bakersfield podcast in June 2021 and the publication of two companion books in 2023 and 2024.

Notorious Bakersfield website: https://www.notoriousbakersfield.com

Meeting on Saturday, February 21, 2026
Breakfast begins at 8:30 am
The general meeting begins at 9:15 am
Hodel’s at 5917 Knudsen Dr, Bakersfield

Writers of Kern Monthly Meeting and Workshop Fee. Breakfast is included.

January Featured Speaker – Baylie Jett Mills

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Workshop Title: The Stories We Carry – Turning Memory into Creative Fiction and Nonfiction

Our memories hold powerful stories. At this meeting, we will explore techniques for using personal memories to craft compelling creative fiction and nonfiction.

Many of us love to tell stories based on our memories, so why not use those memories to craft compelling creative fiction and nonfiction? Using your own memories as fuel for stories can help guide you toward realistic dialogue and actions while providing you with the basis for plot ideas. There is no rule that you have to use your experiences to write nonfiction; thus, memories can be a great springboard to write autobiographical fiction.

In this discussion, I will be providing techniques to utilize memories for creative story writing. I have been a creative writer my whole life, but as an undergrad and graduate student, I have studied creative writing and participated in various creative writing workshop groups that have helped me hone my technique as a writer of both fiction and nonfiction. Through my discussion and upcoming Levan Institute class, I hope to help others discover seeds for stories using their own life experiences. Be sure to bring a pen and paper to the discussion so you can take part in some writing activities!

Baylie’s Bio:

Baylie Jett Mills graduated summa cum laude from Texas Tech University, earning a BA in English with a concentration in creative writing and minors in communication studies and legal studies. She recently earned an MA in English with an American literature concentration and is currently pursuing a PhD in English literature and criticism. Baylie is the author and illustrator of The Adventures of Max children’s book series. She has also had work published in Western American Literature, Sigma Tau Delta Review, WORDY by Nature, Harbinger: A Journal of Art and Literature, and the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. 

In addition, later in January, Baylie will be teaching a course at the Levan Institute. The class name is: WRITING: HARNESSING MEMORIES FOR CREATIVE STORY WRITING
Levan Institute Class Description: Many of us love to tell stories based on our memories, so why not use those memories to craft compelling creative fiction and nonfiction? This class will teach you how to utilize a variety of craft techniques using your own memories as fuel. Each class will begin with a discussion of creative writing craft concepts. There will be short in-class writing exercises, breakout room activities, and short take-home readings and writing activities that will be discussed during class. Students will receive instructor feedback on their writing and, in the spirit of a workshop setting, students will share constructive feedback with one another. Registration for Spring 2026 will open Monday, January 12, 2026 at 10 a.m.  Register here: https://levan.asapconnected.com/#CourseID=321168

Writers of Kern Meeting on Saturday, January 17, 2025
Breakfast begins at 8:30 am
The general meeting begins at 9:15 am
Hodel’s at 5917 Knudsen Dr, Bakersfield

Writers of Kern Monthly Meeting and Workshop Fee. Breakfast is included.

2025 Winter Holiday Breakfast

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The Writers of Kern 2025 Winter Holiday Breakfast & Year-End Celebration will take place at Hodel’s Country Dining on Saturday, December 20th from 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM. Come and celebrate the holidays with breakfast, a gift exchange, and an open mic!

We will also be recognizing the winner of our Fall Writing Contest. 

  • Gift exchange: Wrap a book or anything to do with writing.  Exchange for another gift. We all have treasures on our shelves that we want to share.
  • Open mic: Bring a writing you want to share that is in the spirit of the season. Three-minute limit so everyone interested has a chance. Sign-up when you come in for breakfast.
  • Fall Writing Contest: Winner will be announced and will read the winning entry. 

You do have to be a member to attend, but members are encouraged to bring guests.  Dress is casual, but if you prefer a more formal or holiday attire, you’re a writer, go ahead and express yourself.  

Click below to reserve your spot.  Space is limited and we recommend you make your reservations today!

See you there!

Meeting on Saturday, December 20, 2025
Breakfast begins at 8:30 am
The general meeting begins at 9:15 am
Hodel’s at 5917 Knudsen Dr, Bakersfield

Click Here To Reserve Your Spot!

November Featured Speaker – Beth Brookhart

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Workshop Title: The Long Journey – From Journalist to Published Fiction

How does a journalist with “no clue what she was doing” end up as a published novelist? In this session, Beth Brookhart will share her winding path—rookie missteps, the classes and workshops that launched her forward, and how she wove some of life’s craziest moments into fiction. She’ll also touch on the querying process (which she calls as “archaic as a rotary-dial phone”) and why, despite it all, she refused to give up. Writers will come away encouraged by one author’s candid, and often humorous, road to publication.

Beth’s Bio:

Beth Brookhart has been a storyteller since childhood in Colorado, beginning with a book of poems written for her mother. A journalism graduate of Colorado State University, Beth spent two decades reporting on agricultural news, often found tromping through farm fields in pursuit of a story. Later, her career shifted to communications roles with several agricultural organizations in Bakersfield, CA. In 2010, she embarked on her fiction-writing journey, leading to the completion of The Book Project, a prestigious two-year program at the Lighthouse Writers Workshop in Denver. An avid volunteer, Beth was inspired by her seventeen years of service on the board of her local museum to pen The Four Queens of the Buttonbush Museum.  

You can connect with Beth here:

Website: https://bethbrookhart.com/

Meeting on Saturday, November 15, 2025
Breakfast begins at 8:30 am
The general meeting begins at 9:15 am
Hodel’s at 5917 Knudsen Dr, Bakersfield

Writers of Kern Monthly Meeting and Workshop Fee. Breakfast is included.

October Featured Speaker – Jenna Brandt

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Workshop Title: Marketing for Indie Authors



This session will cover practical, effective marketing strategies tailored for authors, including the best ad platforms, social media advertising, and how to optimize Amazon ads with the right keywords. You’ll also learn how to automate newsletters, grow your email list, and keep readers engaged.

Jenna will explore tools like Publisher Rocket, Amazon Affiliate Links, and online giveaway platforms to help expand your reach. She will also discuss the importance of a strong book cover—your most powerful marketing tool. Whether you’re new to book promotion or looking to refine your strategy, this session will provide actionable insights to make your marketing efforts more effective.

Jenna’s Bio:

Jenna Brandt is an international bestselling and award-winning author who writes inspirational romance. Her page-turning books have elements of humor, suspense and faith. She has several best-selling series including Disaster City Search and Rescue, First Responders of Faith Valley, Badges & Baristas, and The Lawkeepers all based off the life of her husband in law enforcement.

You can connect with Jenna here:

Website: https://www.jennabrandt.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JennaBrandtAuthor
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jenna-brandt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennabrandtauthor/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/JennaBrandtAuthor/
Jen’s Joyful Page Turners Reader’s Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/844819802336835/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16847426.Jenna_Brandt

Meeting on Saturday, October 18, 2025
Breakfast begins at 8:30 am
The general meeting begins at 9:15 am
Hodel’s at 5917 Knudsen Dr, Bakersfield

Writers of Kern Monthly Meeting and Workshop Fee. Breakfast is included.