THURSDAY MAY 23 GUILD MEETING FEATURES AUTHOR CATHY LAMB

Portland author Cathy Lamb is the featured speaker at Central Oregon Writers Guild’s Thursday May 23 meeting. Born in Newport Beach, California, when she was ten, Cathy’s parents moved her, her two sisters, a brother, and two poorly behaved dogs to Oregon before she could fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a surfer bum. In high school, she landed on the newspaper staff, and when she saw her byline above an article about people making out in the school hallways, she knew she had found her true calling. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the University of Oregon, after which she became a fourth grade teacher, but her goal was always to become a writer. Cathy says she loved teaching, but also loved the nights and summers where she could write and try to build a career filled with creativity and her strange imagination. After writing freelance articles for a variety of publications, her first novel, Julia’s Chocolates, was published, following by The Last Time I was Me, which is set in Oregon. Her subsequent novels include The First Day of the Rest of My Life, A Different Kind of Normal and Henry’s Sisters. She lives in Portland with her husband and children, who she adores. Currently, she reports she is working on her next novel and not sleeping much. Cathy will share her writer’s journey at this month’s Guild meeting, along with her advice to authors and would-be authors of all genres. Cathy’s website is www.cathylamb.net.

Cathy Lamb

Central Oregon Writers Guild’s Thursday, May 23 meeting takes place at COCC Redmond Campus, 2030 SE College Loop, Building 3 Room 309, 6:30 – 9 p.m. The meeting is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

MEETING NOTES:

Thursday April 25:

Everyone in attendance thoroughly enjoyed author Kim Findling Cooper’s presentation, which included readings from her book Chance of Sun: An Oregon Memoir. In her debut as an author, Kim’s memoir unfolds the story of an Oregon girl coming of age in the 1970s and 80s, navigating her way through pick-up trucks, dive bars, higher education and backwoods trails before finding a place she belongs. Beginning with her childhood in Coos County, Kim relates a rural upbringing spent walking beaches and hiking in the woods with her forester father, among other adventures she experienced growing up in Southwestern Oregon. Following a move to Oregon’s biggest city after college, Kim lost her way and her connection to Oregon’s landscape, but it was Oregon that helped her find herself again , this time on the east side of the mountains, where she found clarity in High Desert trails and a wide-open sky, as well as life’s most grounding phenomenon—love.  A chapter from Chance of Sun titled “The Friday’s Trilogy” won the 2011 Oregon Quarterly Northwest Perspectives Essay Contest. Judge Debra Gwartney said, “Fresh, alive, exciting and bold writing. A compelling piece of writing, heartbreaking and redemptive.” Kim’s book is available at www.nestuccaspitpress.com or via her website, www.kimcooperfindling.com.  Kim is also the author of Day Trips From Portland: Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler. Kim is editor of Central Oregon Magazine, and she announced that articles by local authors about Central Oregon are welcome. Writers’ guidelines and submission details are available at www.CentralOregonMagazine.com.

We really appreciate Kim sharing her writing experiences and expertise during her memorable and compelling presentation. Thanks from all of us!

The April meeting also featured our 4^th Grade Book Contest winners, Shelby McCauley and Jessica Simpson, whose book readings were greatly enjoyed by all. Thanks to them both for sharing!

Upcoming Meetings:

Thursday, June 27—Poet Judith Montgomery, East Branch, Bend Public Library, 62080 Dean Swift Road (near 27^th and Greenwood), 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Thursday, July 25—Bend author Ellen Waterston, COCC Redmond Campus, 2030 SE College Loop, Building 3 Room 306, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 22—Members Showcase, COCC Redmond Campus, Building 3 Room 309, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Details to follow.

Thursday September 26—Bend author Tawna Fenske, COCC Redmond Campus, Building 3 Room 309, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

Friday, October 18—2013 Literary Harvest, Comfort Suites Inn, Redmond, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday October 24—David Jasper, Journalist, COCC Redmond Campus, Building 3 Room 309, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

Thursday November 21—Paty Jager presentation on Proposals, COCC Redmond Campus, Building 3 Room 309, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

Thursday December 19—Annual Holiday Social and Members Showcase, COCC Redmond Campus, Building 3 Room 309, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.