Steve Abbott’s writing interests have centered on local history, antique collecting, short stories, song lyrics, and a little poetry. He has a B.A. in English from Butler University, an M.A in English from CSUS, was a high school English teacher for thirty-two years, and still evaluates writing skills for prospective California teachers through CBEST.

     An interest in Fair Oaks led him to write a brief history of Fair Oaks on its historical society’s website. Additionally on that site under “Articles,” appear his published piece on the Fair Oaks Fruit Company and an unpublished paper on the origins of Fair Oaks.

     So far he has published eight articles on Sacramento or California pre-Prohibition whiskey companies and has three more in line.

     He has two pieces of music on YOUTUBE, the first a bluegrass piece and the second a piece for classical guitar and baritone, his lyric. 

   He recently entered a short story contest and submitted a piece of “creative non-fiction” to a literary magazine. He has two other short stories completed and is near completion of another.

     His interests in the writing club are to receive criticism from established writers and guidance about publication sources.

 

 

 

Katya Mills is an independent author of literary fiction and urban fantasy. She has 3 novels and over 100 positive reviews of her work online. She also publishes flash fiction and creative nonfiction on her website @ www.katyamills.com. Her most recent novel Maze won a table at the Sacramento Library Author Festival in 2016. She also has been a featured reader for the last 2 years @ Writers On The Air. She is currently close to self-publication on her fourth novel, Ame and The Tangy Energetic. She was an English Literature major at Northwestern University and enjoys not having to be bound by traditional publishing demands. She earns her living as a practicing psychotherapist. She considers writing her spiritual practice. That said, as her storytelling evolves, she hopes to someday submit her work to a house and become a hybrid author, if only out of curiosity and the willingness to try new endeavors, be challenged, and help her work reach a greater audience.

 

 

 

Marilyn Smith-Murphy served as the branch’s long time Vice President for Membership. She also served as board member for 14 years. Among her many other roles, she served as branch Treasurer. Marilyn writes plays and articles on varied subjects, including juvenile and senior topics. She is known for her upstanding values and commitment to the branch. In the years following health challenges that begin in 2014, she remained helpful to the branch. In 2017 she made herself available to enable the board to access branch records. She visited the Bank of America twice – when mobility was difficult for her – to authorize the updating of the bank-branch signature card, so new officers could access the branch account in accordance with the Policies and Procedures. For this act, she was hailed as a branch hero, since the board is responsible for monitoring branch funds.

 

 

 

Marsha Porter, author of the nonfiction DVD & Video Guide (Ballentine Books), taught high school English for many years, She earned a reputation as “excellent writer,” having won many branch writing contests and serving as judge in branch writing contests. Marsha was very involved in the club and served as President more than once when needed: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005 and 2006. Some were half years.  In 2017, she came back to lend her expertise with remarks about Anthony Folcarelli when he received the CWC Ina Coolbrith Award during the time she was President.

 

 

 

Carol O’Hara, who joined in 1981, directed both 1993 and 1995 CWC conferences at Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove. Through her business Cat Tale Press, she published four books and served for many years as a board officer of the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association. She wrote articles for local, national, and international publications. Carol edited and consulted on writing for clients throughout the U.S. the U.K.  She also served as editor of Global Writes. A long-time travel writer, she devoted her focus to travel for the less-able traveler. She has directed writing conferences for colleges and association, including two aboard cruise liners. She remains an editor, writing instructor, and photographer.