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Check out the books!

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These are just a sampling of the books that are showcased on the Books By Members page, which we launched just a week ago!

The page is open to Writers of Kern members in good standing – and showcases their published (and self-published) works.

The way Books by Members works today, you will see a list of Authors at the top – click on any Author’s name to be taken to the section of the page where their books are…or you can just glory in the books by scrolling down the page. 🙂

Stand up and be counted! If you have published or self-published, and you are a member in good standing (paid your dues) send me an email with the list of links where your books can be purchased, and I’ll do the rest. Send to me at Webmaster@writersofkern.com.

As we get more and more books, I will be restructuring the page, and eventually prolific authors, who are members, will have their own sub-pages. But don’t worry, I’ll alert you all before anything happens.

Thanks, and stay tuned! Natalia Corres, Webmaster Writers of Kern

Author Recognition

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Writing is a lonely job…

WOK is calling all published and self-published authors to share their books on a new page of the WritersofKern.com website called “Books by Members“.

To have your book included on this page, you must be a member in good standing and provide us with a link to where your book is currently available for sale, for example the Amazon link.

If your book is only available through your own website, then please provide the link to the page on your site.

If you aren’t sure how to send the link – send the complete title of your book and we’ll get back to you if we have questions!

Send your information in an email with the subject: 

Books by Members 

to Webmaster@writersofkern.com

Against The Odds By Jenny Estes

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A Beginning Writer’s Uphill Climb

Cresting the hill to sixty is an interesting time to take up serious writing. When I say serious, I actually mean writing to get published—a challenging feat at any age. My last English class was in 8th grade, but when my husband informed me he was going to write a book, I boldly offered to help. By the time the final proof was at the publishers, a new passion had ignited my soul. I wanted to write! I enjoyed every aspect of publishing from first draft to final manuscript. I excelled at editing content and flow, but quickly discovered grammar was not my forte.

No problem.

I signed up for English 50 at Bakersfield College, a crash course in critical writing and thinking. . .and almost expired. Attending two evening classes a week on top of a very busy work schedule with out of town travel was insane. An additional ten to fifteen hours a week was required for homework. What was I thinking?

I loved every minute of it.

Joining Writers of Kern (WOK) and a critique group helped me find an online Fiction Writers Workshop offered by Iowa University—I signed up immediately (even though I’d never written a word of fiction in my life). What better way to find out if I’d like it? But thinking about doing something new is so much easier than actually doing it. The first assignment almost had me running for the door. They wanted an inanimate object to come to life and have an experience with real people! My very practical critical, brainy self went straight into a tail spin.

I did it anyway.

A new world of existence opened before me over the following weeks as I delved into plot, character, motivation, and setting. I was sad when the course was over. I missed the excellent teaching, peer reviews, and participation in a close writing community. However, fertile seeds were sown for future pieces, and the experience encouraged me to explore other writing venues.

It was liberating.

Fast forward a few years and a gazillion WOK meetings later and I am a published author with works in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Gratitude; The California Writers Club Literary Review; and Res Ipsa (Kern County Bar Association Magazine). My first book, The Anglican Rosary: Going Deeper with God—Prayers and Meditations with Protestant Prayer Beads was published on June 11, 2019.

Writers of Kern made this possible.

Was it easy? No. Rewarding? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.

Writers of Kern continues to be my mentor, muse, and inspiration. The excellent speakers, conferences, and resources challenge me to grow as a writer and keep me up to date on publishing trends. The critique groups are invaluable and interactions with fellow writers encouraging. I’m honored to part of an organization that truly has its members best interests at heart.

Jenny Lynn Estes jennylynnestes.com The Anglican Rosary: Going Deeper with God—Prayers and Meditations with Protestant Prayer Beads 

20 July 2019 | Featured Speaker Robert Scott Kimsey | Intellectual Property for Writers

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Intellectual Property Law for Writers

How do writers protect their intellectual property? Join us for our July workshop. Robert Scott Kimsey will be presenting basic intellectual property rights for writers: how they can protect those rights and license them to others. The program will be a general survey of the pertinent Intellectual Property (IP) issues and will include copyrights, trademarks, and licensing of rights.

Click here to purchase tickets to the meeting online.

Robert Scott Kimsey

Robert Scott Kimsey is a Registered Patent Attorney and a founding member of the firm’s Agriculture and Food Law Practice Group. He has over 19 years of experience counseling large corporations, small companies, individual inventors, authors, artists, and non-profit organizations on intellectual property matters. Over the course of his practice, he has filed and prosecuted numerous patent applications, secured trademark and copyright registrations, negotiated license agreements, drafted employment and termination agreements focused on intellectual property rights, and drafted collaboration agreements between authors and artists.

1 May 2019 | NPM WebPoetrySlam: And One to Grow On

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 Lilacs 
  
 I remember that lilacs enfolded the night
 in a soft June kiss,
 a never-never land
 of love in a candy store.
 They floated like clouds of stingless bees
 in mesmeric rivers of honey
 around your tender face.
 There was a sound like water falling
 or clusters of little bells
 or birds about to sing.
 Sometimes I touch that lilac night
 when your grave opens,
 when dreams take us deep, deep
 to love without time, without loss.
  
 ~ Helen Shanley

Helen Shanley was program director for Writers of Kern for many years. She may have been one of the founders of WOK. She held poetry writing critique group at her home and influenced a number of poets in our community, including Portia Choi.  More of Shanley’s poems can be found at kernpoetry.com in the section “tribute to Helen.” Submitted by Portia Choi.