The State of the League
by CAL President, Jodi Bowersox | | Well, here we are again at the beginning of a New Year, so it's time for a look back on 2023.
- We held a few coffee gatherings in the spring with members in Parker and Colorado Springs getting together to discuss books, publishing, marketing, and just getting to know each other.
- A book a day was promoted through social media, as well as numerous book signings and author events.
- More than a hundred books, essays, articles and poems were featured in the New Releases section of the website.
- The CAL Awards boasted 145 entries in 23 categories with a celebration in July.
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- Brenda Small highlighted CAL speakers and their areas of expertise in our new Speakers' Bureau on the CAL site.
- Jerry Mitchell was instrumental in connecting us with the Colorado Virtual Library and their support for book clubs.
- Lauren Braden has kept our new Retail Opportunities Calendar up to date.
- Barb Lundy introduced us to a variety of book topics through The Expert Edge zoom sessions.
- A CAL panel met with students from several Denver schools via Zoom to answer their questions about writing and publishing.
- Our book racks at Third Space in COS and The Perfect Gift in Lakewood continue to sell books and attract new CAL members.
- Stefan Scheuermann signed on as Promotions Director, connecting CAL members with SunLit interviews and library events.
- Our Co-op Book Booths brought in over $7000 for the 40+ members who participated.
- Andrea Spoor took on the job of Event Director and worked with Maggiano's for our Holiday Party.
- Other volunteers shared the load: Barb Lundy, John Rabins, Marj Charlier, Laurie Marr Wasmund, Todd Fahnestock, Cassi Clark, Mary Johnson, Theresa Crater, and Tyler Holme have all done their part to keep the CAL wheels rolling.
- Our SunLit Sponsorship published interviews of CAL Awards finalists and winners.
- Finalists and Winners book readings were added to CAL's YouTube Channel.
- Books were added to our GoodReads shelf.
- A new CAL Awards Submission site was created by Kevin Bowersox.
- Our social media following on Facebook, Mastodon, and Instagram grew through the year.
- CAL membership increased--we now have over 340 members!
What's new for 2024
- Jean Jacobsen has agreed to take over The Expert Edge.
- We are still searching for more coffeeshops or gift shops to install our consignment book racks. If you know of a possible location, please let us know.
- Special edition, genre-specific CAL T-shirts.
- Continue all the great things we've started!
| In The Spotlight: Adam Gaffen | It’s an honor to be featured here.
As a science fiction author, the question I’m most frequently asked is how I come up with my ideas. That’s fair; after all, I write stories which push the boundaries of what is possible and what might never be. How do I get there?
Simple.
I read.
I think that every author begins as a reader, and not just a casual one. No, authors are those kids who would rather curl up with a book than go out for recess. | | | The kids who sit under their blankets at night with a flashlight, turning page after page. The kids who beg for just one more story before bed.
Authors are obsessed readers who, at some point, said, “Hey! I wonder what would have happened if...?” And off they go.
That’s what happened to me.
Right after high school, I dove head-first into Robert Heinlein’s books and the universe he’d created, including the idea of a “Future History” which provided a framework for the stories.
Intrigued, and working from a point in history fifty years after Heinlein, I started my own version. Now, fast-forward twentysomething years: I’m working on a story that starts with a minister trying to kill the bride at the wedding. I need a world to put this story in, and I happen on a map I’d drafted for my timeline.
Bingo.
Add in some details, inspired by Heinlein and others, and I have the beginnings of what is now a nine book universe.
So that’s it. How do I come up with my ideas? I ask the essential question, “What if…?” and follow my imagination from there.
Of course, it helps that I have characters who are insisting I give their voices a place to be heard. Kendra Cassidy, in particular, is extremely vocal about her need to be freed upon an unsuspecting populace.
Read more about Adam and his writing at ColoradoAuthors.org. For a a chance at your own spotlight article, make sure you have a headshot or other representative picture on your profile page. The How-To is under Member Resources>Members FYI. You must be logged in. | Enter the CAL Awards Today | | Did you publish a book, short story, poem, article or essay in the last two years. Did you illustrate a book or design a book cover* that was published in that time? If the answer is YES, you are eligible to enter the 2024 CAL Awards!
Here are some tips:
1) Read ALL the rules and steps for entering at ColoradoAuthors.org BEFORE you begin.
2) Our new Awards Submission Site is separate from the regular CAL website on Club Express. Therefore, you will need to create a new User Name and Password. | | | 3) There are two points of approval. The first is to check that entrants are indeed CAL members. The second is to determine if the entry is truly eligible to be entered. So there are two places to pause. After creating your User Name, chill until you receive an email telling you to go back in, set your password and enter your works. Pause again as your entry is being evaluated. Once approved, you will receive an invoice telling you to pay on the regular CAL website. When you log in, a pop-up will remind you of the payment due.
4) If you plan on entering, and you can enter now, please get it done. This will help us line up enough judges. The deadline to enter is Jan. 31, 2024.
5) If sending physical books, please send two copies per category entered to Jodi Bowersox, 3922 Alemeda Circle, Colorado Springs CO 80918
6) Send contest rules questions to jodi.bowersox@gmail.com and site technical questions or problems to kevin@oonian.com
*Authors who did not illustrate their own book or design their own book cover may still enter Illustration and Book Cover Design. | | The 2024 CAL Awards will be held Sunday, July 21 at The Washington Park Boathouse, 701 S. Franklin St., Denver. Reservations can be made in early July. | Book & Paper Fair
Find out everything you need to know HERE | |
A good time was had by all who attended the Holiday Party Dec. 17 at Maggiano's. Did you miss this one? Save the date for next year!
The 2024 party will be held the third weekend in Dec. Details to come later in the year. | | | CAL Gatherings: You Make Them Happen | | Do you have a favorite coffee shop? Would you be willing to name it and a date that you'll be there? Would you love to be joined by other CAL authors to talk about books, publishing, marketing, etc.? Let us know, and we'll advertise it!
I'll start!
February 19 @ 2:00
Third Space Coffee in CO Springs
5670 N. Academy Blvd
My birthday is Feb. 20, so help me get a head start on the celebrations! | | | Virginia White Passes Away | | Virginia White, age 79, died peacefully in her sleep on November 30, 2023 at her home in Aurora, Colorado, after a year-long battle with cancer. She was an author, educator, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, as well as a cat mom to many cats that served as inspiration for her children's books.
Virginia was always a part of CAL's Co-op Booths, passing out stickers to the kids and telling them the stories of her cats and other critters. She and her husband Warren also helped with transporting books, set-up and tear-down. | | | Just last fall she presented at a writing conference and came to her last two co-op booths in Nov., even though she wasn't feeling well. CAL has lost a gem and any of us who knew her lost a dear friend.
You can read her full obituary HERE.
| Send your information about new book releases or essay, article, and poem publications to
lauriemarrwasmund@gmail.com.
Send news (finalist designations, awards, magazine features and other big news) to
mcharlier2022@gmail.com
Send any Retail Opportunities you know of (craft fairs, makers markets, or cons) to
bradenwriting@gmail.com. Check out the new calendar on the homepage at the top under Events.
Send your FREE or .99 promotions to stefanjscheuermann@gmail.com.
Continue to send your book signings and other appearances to jodi.bowersox@gmail.com.
Send forum questions to cassileith@yahoo.com. | | that CAL promotes a book a day on Facebook and Mastodon? If you'd like to have your book(s) promoted, add your headshot or other representative picture to your profile page. | |