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Events

October Featured Speaker – Lisa-Behrens Smith

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Workshop Title: Beyond the Book Table – The Author Event Playbook

What does it take to make the most of an author event? Learn how to make your brand—and your books—stand out in the crowd.

At an author event, every conversation matters. Learn how to step out from behind the table and employ the tips and tricks to make your brand, and your product, stand out in any crowd.. This presentation offers practical suggestions for building the buzz before your event, creating eyebrow-raising interest with your display, delivering your elevator pitch, engaging visitors with yourself and your works, networking with absolutely everyone, handling pain-free payments, and deciding what you really need to offer.

Members will also have time to consider their brand, their audience, and their event goals while gathering practical tips for Writers Row and future events. You will learn what a successful event looks like and how you can make it happen.

Lisa’s Bio:

As an award-winning author and educator, Lisa-Behrens has spent more than two decades engaging learners worldwide. Her writings challenge others to think deeply and explore human nature through powerful stories. A true Southern soul forged by grit and determination, she has never lost her sharp sense of humor, her appetite for adventure, or her stinging sense of justice. She currently shares her life with her husband of 48 years, Steve, and their sassy cat, Midget. In days filled with curiosity and the unexpected, she proves that relevance, resilience, and reinvention know no age.

Website: https://lisa-b-smith.com/
Instagram: @lisa.b.writer
Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisabsmithauthor

Meeting on Saturday, October 17, 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.

August Featured Speaker – Kathleen Kline

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Workshop Title: To Use a Nom de Plume/Pen Name or Not

Square event picture for the Writers of Kern August 2026 meeting featuring speaker Kathleen Kline. All event details are listed in the main body text below.


Should you write under your own name—or a pen name? There’s more to that decision than most writers realize.

This session explores why writers choose to use a nom de plume (pen name), when it makes sense to use one, and how to select one. It also discusses the legal and copyright considerations involved in publishing under a pen name. The session will also include time for questions about those topics.

Kathleen’s Bio:
Kathleen M. Kline has been putting words to paper and screen since Oct. of 1991. Her craft has taken shape, grown and expanded from the newspaper and magazine industries to the book, booklet, teaching, coaching and publishing arenas. This self-starter began learning with Writer’s Digest magazine’s teachings and then added her university education which led to industry training and experience to her growing craft. She coaches internationally and enjoys encouraging writers and aspiring authors in and around her community as well as her expanded community world-wide.

Website: https://DragonflyEditingAndPublishing.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kathleen.klinelivingston
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DragonflyEditingAndPublishing
TikTok – @KathleenMKline
Instagram – TheKathleenKline
Substack – Kathleen.Dragonfly

Meeting on Saturday, August 15, 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.

Writers Row: Meet the Makers

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Writers Row Meet the Makers graphic with details also found on this page

Writers Row: Meet the Makers is a celebration of books, creativity, and community. Local authors, music, and hands-on activities create an atmosphere that feels both inspiring and welcoming for all ages. It’s a chance to enjoy stories, engage in creative experiences, and connect with others through a shared love of books.

In addition to being a celebration of creativity, the event also supports an important cause. Proceeds from the event help provide scholarships for local student authors, making it both a meaningful and enjoyable way to spend the day.

Writers of Kern is proud to support Kern County student authors with this scholarship fundraiser, hosted by Russo’s Books.

Writers Row: Meet the Makers will be held on Saturday, May 9, from 10AM to 2PM at Russo’s Books, 1601 New Stine, Bakersfield, California.

Join us for a variety of activities, including:

  • Author Meet and Greet tables
  • Craft activities for all ages, including Book Bedazzling, Make Your Own Book and/or Bookmark
  • Vintage and Collectible Book Sales
  • Craft Items from Local Vendors
  • Live Music
  • Author Readings
  • Literary Finds From the Lost Library (Blind Date with a Vintage or Collectible Book)
  • Opportunity Baskets and Silent Offerings, and
  • Gifts and Grab Bags for Moms, Dads, and Grads

Visitors can expect a full schedule, including the opportunity to meet local authors:

  • Carla Stanley
  • Alyssa Maxwell
  • Lisa-Behrens Smith
  • Kathleen M. Kline
  • Robert Petersen / Notorious Bakersfield
  • Hannah Vassallo
  • Kirk Golding
  • Jennette Green

Local podcasters Robert Petersen, Notorious Bakersfield; and Samuel Wright, of Ink, Coffee, and Regrets, will also be available.

Local musician Randall Horne and his acoustic guitar will be providing live music.

Crafters Rebecca SC Martinez of Crafted by RSC; and Clayton Steiner of Steiner Creations will also be supporting our event.

Attendance at this event is free with limited parking available in the north and south lots. Please plan to join us!

May Honors Breakfast 2026

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May Honors Breakfast 2026 with details about the meeting that are found on the page below.

 

May Honors Breakfast – Members and Guests Only

Please note that this Awards Breakfast will be held at our usual Saturday morning meeting time.

It’s time for our May Honors Breakfast.  Unlike our “teaching” meetings, this meeting is a breakfast, a social opportunity, and a time to honor those who have met certain goals.

Peggy Connelly Scholarship Presentations*
April Poetry Month Contest Awards*
Robert C. Hargreaves Achievement Award
Writers of Kern Active Member Pinning

If you have been traditionally published within the last 12 months you will be honored with the Robert Hargreaves award.  Please let us know asap if you have qualified for that honor.

If you have any questions, you can reach out to Bethane Banks at president@writersofkern.com for more information.

At the meeting, there will be an opportunity basket and time to share your latest writing (five minutes each).  In addition, there will be games and prizes, and a writing prompt if you would like to participate.

*All entries will be judged according to a rubric and must meet the standards of the rubric to be considered for an award.

We look forward to seeing all of our members and their special guests.

Members $20 and **Guests $20
(**If you are bringing a guest and would like to pay below, choose “Member” and then select 2 people, so you can pay for you and your guest at the same time.)

Meeting on Saturday, May 16, 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.

April Featured Speaker – Tina Hogan Grant

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Workshop Title: Workshop for Indie Authors

Square event flyer for the Writers of Kern April 2026 meeting featuring speaker Tina Hogan Grant. All event details are listed in the main body text below.

Planning to publish your book? Learn the essential steps authors should take before publication—from building exposure while writing to understanding publishing choices, distribution options, and key marketing considerations.

This session condenses three of the speaker’s indie author workshops into an hour and fifteen minutes, focusing on the most important steps authors should take before publishing a book.

The presentation will address building exposure while the book is still being written, along with the importance of establishing an author website and maintaining a social media presence. It will also explore the publishing choices available to authors, including the decision between publishing wide or enrolling in Kindle Unlimited exclusivity, and how to avoid vanity publishers.

The session will also discuss distribution options, including the role IngramSpark can play, and considerations surrounding ISBN choices. Time permitting, Tina will touch on some of the ongoing challenges of marketing a book and highlight several key factors authors should keep in mind.

As time allows, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions or request additional clarification on specific topics.

Tina’s Bio:

Award-winning author Tina Hogan Grant was born in England and moved to the U.S. in 1979. She spent a decade as a commercial fisherwoman on the southern California coast before retiring to the mountains, where she and her husband built their own dream home. Tina writes women’s fiction, family sagas, small-town rural stories, and romance series—all with strong female leads who know what they want and aren’t afraid to go after it. Her writing blends emotional depth, suspense, and heartfelt relationships, drawing inspiration from her own adventurous life.

Awards:

The Reunions – Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal Award, Best Fiction Adventure (2021)
Better Endings – Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal Award, Best Fiction Adventure (2020)

Website: https://tinahogangrant.com
Facebook Group: “Read More Books” https://www.facebook.com/groups/tinahogangrant
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Tina.Hogan.Grant.Author/
Instagram: @tina_hogan_Grant
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tinahgrant
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tinahogangrant/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18477671.Tina_Hogan_Grant

Meeting on Saturday, April 18, 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.