HIS Writers Calendar,
Events & Contests

Write-Outs | Critque Group | Monthly Meetings | Contests | ACFW Colorado | ACFW National

 

WRITE-OUTS

Arvada
Do you love to write but are hard-pressed to find the time? Or do you just love to write? If so, we would love for you to join us every Tuesday from 6 - 8:30 p.m. at Panera Bread, 7739 Wadsworth Blvd. (just south of 80th & Wadsworth) in Arvada, for an informal write-out. Click here for map.

For further information contact Linda Abels

Lakewood
It's time to write! Join us every Tuesday from 10 a.m. - noon at Atlanta Bread Company, 7740 W Alameda Ave (SW corner of Wadsworth and Alameda) in Lakewood, for a fun, informal write-out. Click here for map.

For further information contact Donna Schlachter

 

CRITIQUE GROUP

HIS Writers critique group meets the third Monday of each month from 7 - 9 p.m. at New Life Church, 1457 Nelson St. in Lakewood. Click here for map.

For information on becoming a part of this group, contact Donna Schlachter.

Note: As the need arises, HIS Writers will likely begin other critique groups to serve our members.

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MONTHLY MEETINGS

HIS Writers meets the second Monday of each month from 7 - 9 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, 9370 Sheridan Blvd (NE corner of 92nd & Sheridan; exit Sheridan Blvd. north if coming from US-36) in Westminster. We are happy to have you attend up to two meetings if you want to check us out before joining. Click here for map.

January 9 - Paula Moldenhauer, Author/ACFW Colorado Coordinator
Topic: A Writer's Identity

Are you brave enough to say, “I am a writer?” If so, did you struggle the first time you spoke those words out loud? Most writers struggle with grabbing hold of the writer’s identity, even after they’ve filled reams of paper with their words. How does identity affect us on the writing journey? What does God have to say about who you are? Finding peace with this concept can help you move forward as you become the writer you’re called to be.

Bio: An author and speaker, Paula Moldenhauer has published over 300 times. Her first book, You’re a Charmer Mr. Grinch, releases September of 2012. Paula and her family live in the Denver area where she enjoys serving as the ACFW Colorado Coordinator, eating peppermint ice cream, and walking barefoot. Her greatest desire is to be close enough to Jesus to breathe His fragrance. Visit her at www.soulscents.us, www.gracereign.blogspot.com, or http://www.facebook.com/PaulaMoldenhauerAuthor.

February 13 - Virginia Burns, Personality Trainer
Topic: Personality Masking

What makes your characters hide behind a personality mask? How you can use it to make your characters powerful and unforgettable?

Bio: Virginia has been writing for a number of years and has previously worked as a reporter, columnist, and editor. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications. Virginia was a contributing author to “Voices Behind The Veil,” in 2003, which was selected as a finalist in the religion category of Forward Magazine’s, book of the year award in 2004. Additionally, Virginia is a Class Communicator and a Certified Personality Trainer. She enjoys ACFW so much that she is an active member of three different groups. Visit Virginia's website at http://virginiaburns.com.

March 12 - Pete Ritzer, Author
Topic: How to Hold A Successful Book Signing

A book signing is when you show up somewhere, books in hand, and sit down hoping to sell one or two. But what is a successful book signing? Does it depend on how many books you sell? How often you sell them? Where you sell them? Join us as P.A. (Pete) Ritzer shares his secrets on how to hold a successful book signing.

Bio: P. A. RITZER took to the road and spent four years traveling through Kansas, Colorado, and especially Texas — from Amarillo to San Antonio — researching primary and secondary sources, as well as the land itself and the people who live on it, to inform his crafting of Seven Ox Seven: A Story of Some Ways in the West.

Ritzer's own western odyssey lends a certain authenticity to Seven Ox Seven. He knows the day-to-day journey into the unknown, the nights in darkened campsites, the concern about provisions, the seeking for that which may not be attained. In addition to his extensive research, Ritzer brings to his story a background in history (Gonzaga University (BA)), and theology (Harvard University, University of Notre Dame (MA)) and over ten years instructing in those subjects. Visit him at http://www.paritzer.com or at http://www.sevenoxpress.com/seven-ox-seven-author.htm.

April 9 - Jack Gardner, Detective, Major Crimes Unit, Boulder Police Department
Topic: The Art of Investigating

What happens once a major crime is committed? How is the information processed? Which department takes care of what? How are cold cases handled? These are just some of the questions Boulder Police Detective Jack Gardner will be addressing to help you better develop your story's "who done it?" factor.

Bio: Detective Jack Gardner is a thirteen-year veteran of law enforcement with the Boulder Police Department, serving in the Major Crimes Unit.  He was previously assigned to the Family Crimes Unit, focusing on domestic violence and crimes against children. Gardner, has also worked as a Crime Scene Investigator, SWAT Negotiator, Officer Survival Instructor, and is a former member of the Boulder County Domestic Violence Task Force.  He was also a crime scene consultant to local Boulder author Elizabeth Hyde (The Abortionist’s Daughter), was recipient of the Boulder County DA’s office Victim Advocate Award, was nominated three times for the Beth Haynes Award for excellence in domestic violence investigations, was recipient of the Rink Blake Award for CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) work, and was selected as the 2010 Boulder Police Department Detective of the Year.

May 14 - Don Pape, Publisher, David C Cook
Topic: Publisher: Author’s Colleague, Critic and Friend

Learn what a publisher loves and looks for in relationship to their writers.

Bio: Don Pape is Publisher over trade books and study resources at David C. Cook. With a varied history in publishing spanning over twenty-five years, he has been involved in shipping and packing, sales & marketing and as a literary agent. Born in Brazil of missionary parents, he grew up in Canada. Married to his best friend, Ruth Gentry, he resides in Colorado Springs and is the father of three exceptional young men. He always has a book or manuscript handy.

June 11 - Jill Hups, Author/President, HIS Writers
Topic: Websites and Blogsites and Social Networking, Oh My!

Do authors need a website? What about Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn? Are they necessary? And what if I'm not published? Are having these networks important? These are just some of the questions that will be addressed.

Bio: Jill Hups has been part of ACFW and HIS Writers since 2006, and in 2008 was part of a team that implemented social networking and web presence for HIS Writers, Mile High Scribes, Worship Write Witness, and ACFW Colorado. She currently serves as HIS Writers president, ACFW Colorado webmaster, and Internet/publicity chairperson for HIS Writers and ACFW Colorado. 

Jill writes under the name J. N. Hups. Her current project is a nine-book, young adult speculative fiction series called Spector. The first book is due to release February 29, 2016, with Spirit Publications, an independent publishing house located in Colorado.

July 9 - Kathy Brasby, Speaker/Coordinator, Spunk & Spirit Christian Writing Group
Topic: More than Frosting: Inviting God into My Writing

God's word should be more than the frosting on top of our work. It should be an integral part of who we are as writers. Join us as Kathy shares how God in us forms the texture and content of what we write. 

Bio: Kathy Brasby is the founder of Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group. A former journalist, Kathy writes prayers, essays and stories. When not writing, Kathy enjoys photography, videography, and disc golf.

Visit and "like" Spunk and Spirit's new Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spunk-and-Spirit-Christian-Writers-Group/311068252272793?ref=tn_tnmn.

August - Summer break, no meeting

September 10 - Denise Holmes, President, Words for the Journey (WFTJ)
Topic: Creating a Great Villain

Could it be that a story is only as good as its villain? Experience the miracle of energizing your story with a truly amazing bad guy or girl! In this instructional time, learn the secrets to creating a villain who is truly the bane of your heroine’s existence. Secrets to layering the villain with personality, motivations, and habits will be revealed. Learn unsavory traits that will make your bad guy or girl fascinating and engage your readers!

Bio: Denise Miller Holmes is a writer and speaker who is also Director of Words for the Journey Christian Writers Guild in Parker Colorado. Compelled by her love of communication, she graduated with a B.A. from the USC School of Journalism in 1980; and, in 1991, she completed her Masters courses in Counseling Psychology.

Currently, she explores Christian thought on her website RedHotRead.com and is writing a fiction how-to called Creating Dynamite Fiction Using the Eight Basic Conflicts, with plans to publish it as a Kindle e-book.

October 8 - Jordyn Redwood, Author
Topic: Medical Mayhem

Tips on how to write medically accurate fiction.

Bio: Jordyn Redwood is a pediatric ER nurse by day, suspense novelist by night. Redwood's Medical Edge is her blog designed to help contemporary and historical novelists write medically accurate fiction. Her debut suspense novel, Proof, will be published June 1, 2012-- a heart pumping journey where DNA testing has set a vicious criminal free and how Lilly Reeves, one of his victims, proves his guilt despite the justice system working against her.

November 12 - Kimberely Woodhouse, Author
Topic: Deep POV

No one wants to read shallow characters, they want to live deep inside them and experience the journey along with them.

Bio: Kim is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook. A popular speaker, she’s spoken at over 700 venues. Her family was chosen for ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and has appeared on The Montel Williams Show and Mystery ER. Kim’ book, Welcome Home: Our Family’s Journey to Extreme Joy released in 2009, and No Safe Haven and Race Against Time, part of a three-book suspense series, written with daughter Kayla, released in 2011.

December 10 - Christmas party

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CONTESTS

None at present

 

ACFW COLORADO

November 17, 2012 - 3rd Annual Novel Crafters Seminar of the Rockies, featuring award-winning novelist and bestselling author, DiAnn Mills. The one-day seminar will be held at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Northglenn, Colorado.

Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn’s first book was published in 1998. She currently has more than fifty books in print, which have sold more than a million and a half copies.

For details, click here.

February 2013 - 5th Annual Peak Writing Conference featuring best-selling author, Kristen Heitzmann. Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Details coming soon!

 

ACFW NATIONAL

September 20 - 23, 2012
Dallas, TX

Click here for details.

 

 

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