Events

WATCH THIS PAGE FOR COMING SPECIAL EVENTS
Scroll down for past events, including writing contest winners

Save the Dates

Meet Bestselling Author Jill G. Hall
Monday, February 2, 6:30‒8:00 PM, Georgetown Public Library

Step behind the pages with award-winning author Jill G. Hall, creator of the Anne McFarland Series, as she reveals the fascinating research and creative process behind her bestselling novel, On a Sundown Sea. Discover the extraordinary story of clairvoyant Katherine Tingley as she strives to establish a utopian Theosophical community, Lomaland, brought to life through rare archival photos and Jill’s behind-the-scenes insights. A book signing follows.

Jill G. Hall is the author of the award-winning Anne McFarland series about women searching for their place in the world, connected by vintage finds. These dual-timeline novels—The Black Velvet Coat, The Silver Shoes, and The Green Lace Corset—are bestselling book club favorites. Her latest, On a Sundown Sea: A Novel of Madame Tingley and the Origins of Lomaland, became the #1 top seller at Warwick’s and an Amazon #1 bestselling new release in biographical historical fiction.

Hall’s poems and personal narratives have appeared in a variety of publications and on her blog Crealivity, the art of practicing a creative lifestyle. Her tenure as an educator spanned over twenty years, incorporating the arts along the way. She holds a doctorate from Northern Arizona University and is an instructor and past board president at San Diego Writers, Ink. She also practices yoga, loves to garden, and enjoys spending time in nature. A native San Diegan, she resides near the Lomaland property. To learn more about her, go to http://www.jillghall.com.

This event is sponsored by the San Gabriel Writers’ League and is open to the public, free of charge. No advance registration is required.

We will, once again, be exhibiting at the Nonprofit Fair in the Sun City Ballroom on February 20^thfrom 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. The event is open to the public.

While we cannot sell your book, we are happy to display it.* If you are interested, you can either:

1. Bring your book to the February 5th SGWL meeting. Kerry Dashnaw will be collecting them, and your book will be returned to you at the March 5th meeting.

2. Drop off your book to Linda Thornton at 607 Archer Lane in Sun City during the week of February 1 – 7. (Do not leave books after February 7^th!) There will be a box on her front porch. Books can be picked up anytime after February 20 at the same location.

* We have limited room on our table. Please bring no more than 2 books you have published in the last three years. Your cooperation is appreciated.

THE SGWL ANTHOLOGY IS HERE!
Writing Strong! 35 Years of Creativity showcases gripping fiction, insightful essays, and poignant poetry in a captivating mix of styles and voices from San Gabriel Writers’ League, a vibrant and diverse community of writers celebrating the journey from aspiring writer to published author.
Get your copy now!

Lisa Greinert, a member of San Gabriel Writers League, interviews writers on her podcast, “How to Write a Book from A-Z.”
Check it out here.

SGWL partners with the following organizations to bring writing-related events to our members. Partnership does not constitute endorsement of any events, policies, or procedures of partners.

As a service to our members, SGWL provides the following information, but does not sponsor or endorse these events.

Past Contest Winners

Click each title to read the entry.

2025 Writing Contest

1st Place: Constance Odom, “The Good Luck Charm.”
2nd place: Martha McAlister, “Venice in the Hood.”
3rd place: TG Gilliam, “Life Lessons.”

2023 Fall Writing Contest Winners

FICTION
1^st Place: Kathy Sutphin, “A Murder of Crows” (unavailable at this time)
2^nd Place: Sandy J. Nielsen, “The Wedding”
3^rd Place: Todd Maras, “Airwave Anthology”
Honorable Mention: T. L. Becker, “Buried in a Cotton Field”

NON-FICTION
1^st Place: Swaminadham Midturi, “A Race Well Run”
2^nd Place: Janice Airhart, “Tectonic Shifts” (double winner)
3^rd Place: John R. Price, “Starting Over”
Honorable Mention: Janice Airhart, “How to Grow a $400 Squash” (double winner)

2023 Spring Writing Contest
Fiction Winners
1^st Place (tied): Christine Aramburu, “Alice’s Diner”
1^st Place (tied): Kathleen Sutphin, “Hattie and Whisper”
2^nd Place: Kris Thompson, “Three Daughters” excerpt
3^rd Place: Caryn Cross Hawk, “Like Father Like Son”
Honorable Mention: Barbara Freet, “The Great Dance”
Non-Fiction Winners
1^st Place: Elizabeth Weaver, “Virginia Jane”
2^nd Place: Kent Cummins, “I Want to Be Like Houdini”
3^rd Place: David Dupree, “A Physics and Trigonometry Score from the Roof of Science Hall”
Honorable Mention: Richard Thielmann, “The Lack of a Sense of Humor”

2022 Fall Writing Contest Winners
1st Place – Ken Stubert for “Frank and Clarence”
2nd Place – Kris Thompson for an excerpt from “Three Daughters“
3rd Place – Jackie Hunt for “Keep Your Distance”
Honorable Mention – tie:
Bud Lester for “The Silence of the SAMs”
Linda Sagley for “A Christmas Miracle”

2022 Spring Writing Contest Winners
1^st Place – D. A. Featherling for “Flames Rising”
2^nd Place – K. F. Stubert for “Telling Time”
3^rd Place – Tie:
Caryn Cross-Hawk for “Hurricane David Is No Match for Us”
Marjorie Anderson for “The Missing Suitcase”
Honorable Mention – Martin Shelton for “The Bluff”

January 2022 Writing Contest Winners
1^st Place – Kris Thompson for “Gone”
2^nd Place – D. A. Featherling for “Cactus Kid to the Rescue”
3^rd Place – Linda Sagley for “The Island Bird”
Honorable Mention – Tie:
Sidney W. Frost for “Taking Time to Say Goodbye”
K. F. Stubert for “Blink, Blink”

Our 35th Anniversary Dinner was a grand success!
Photos below.

The 35th Anniversary Dinner for the San Gabriel Writers’ League took place on Sunday, October 20 on the Patio at Mulligan’s Restaurant in Sun City. This milestone event featured good food, fellowship and fun! All attendees received a 35th Anniversary commemorative pen. Fifteen Door Prizes valued at over $1,000 included gift cards and certificates from Georgetown businesses, books by SGWL Authors and a 2025 SGWL Family Membership. These items were distributed in three raffles throughout the evening.

Slideshow shown that evening:

Photos from the night:

KENT CUMMINS FANTASTIC MAGIC CENTER FIELD TRIP

On Feb. 6, some members of the San Gabriel Writers’ League and their spouses gathered for their first field trip to visit member Kent Cummins’ Fantastic Magic Center.
Listen to Lisa Greinert’s podcast interview with Kent.
Learn more about the Fantastic Kent Cummins on his podcast.

We had a great turnout and a great time at the “Meet Your Local Writing Community” event at the Round Rock Public Library. Here are a few photos of the events.

Two Books by SGWL Member J.B. Penrose Named Finalists

Fire Over Water, by SGWL member J.B. Penrose (Jo An Brown), is a finalist in the Screenplay Adaptation category of the Page Turner Awards, an international writers’ contest.

Shadow and Light: The Devil is also a finalist in the Page Turner Awards.

J.B. Penrose is the author of six books available on Amazon. Her books are filled with magic, danger, and romance, all in the world as we know it. J.B. drops characters into the worst circumstances possible to create adventures with twists and surprises. Learn more at https://jbpenrose.com/.

Report on Special Event:
Write a Book How To A-Z

Almost a hundred people crowded the Friends Room of the Georgetown Public Library on May 27 to hear a panel discuss various segments of the writing profession. League members representing fiction (J.B. Penrose), non-fiction (Linda Thornton), and the editing and publishing fields (Teresa Lynn and Donnella Looger) took questions from the audience, then provided individual small group time for further discussion.

SGWL Author Nominated for Pushcart Prize

Local author Teresa Lynn has been nominated for the prestigious Pushcart Prize for her freestyle poem “Lines” in the Story Circle Network quarterly Journal. Lynn is a member of San Gabriel Writer’s League and is the senior editor at Tranquility Press, a local publishing company.

We had a great time at the 2022 Christmas Brunch, which included entertainment by magician Kent Cummings.