OCC/RWA Wish List for 2012 – Bring on the Night!

A different ambiance exists in the evening hours. There’s something definitely alluring about going out for an night shared with friends who have common interests, especially when it spikes one’s creativity.

Early 2011 saw Orange County RWA hosting a nighttime chat with Susan Elizabeth Phillips. We met at the Fullerton Marriott, and offered light refreshments, a talk and a book signing. Members were allowed to bring guests, and one of my best friends attended with me. She’s now become a new member.

As the incoming vice president, I’ve been thinking of goals for 2012. What can we do differently to support new writers, foster relationships with our established published authors and help with their careers, and continue to bring in inspirational writers from outside our immediate community.

One idea I’ve been mulling is a few more evening programs. Perhaps, one in the spring and another come fall. We might be able to entice one of the many authors here for this summer’s RWA National Conference to do a separate event either before or after the conference.

With the launch of OCC/RWA’s first anthology, Romancing the Pages, maybe we even want to do a reading of contributing authors. What a way to gain new experiences!

Oh, yes, this means more work for our new co-programs directors Beth Yarnell and Brenda Parrish. But we have double the input now … so let’s use that energy!

My question for our membership: What would you like to see? Is there a topic and/or genre that you feel hasn’t been covered? Is there an author who you’d love to have visit? How about one of our published authors that you’d like to hear more from? Let’s start a wish list, and see how we can meet it!