The Workshop elects a new Board of Directors during the first meeting of each year. To qualify to run for office, members must be eligible to vote. To vote, members must have paid their fiscal year dues and have atten­ded at least three of the five busi­ness meetings prior to the election. Busi­ness meetings are those conducted on the first Wednes­day of every month.

To cast their votes, qualified voters should arrive by 6:30 p.m. and no later than 6:50 p.m. on Wednesday, January 5. Each member's eligibility to vote will be verified, and then he or she will be directed to the voting area. The goal is to complete the balloting prior to the start of the business meeting at 7 p.m.

While visitors cannot vote, they are always welcome to attend. However, be forewarned that the monthly business meetings can sometimes run long.

Despite it being the day before Thanksgiving, the November 24 meeting of the Workshop was well attended and included two visitors. Proving once again that DFWWW authors are a dedicated bunch.

In the news, Cladach Publishing requested a partial of Jimmie Kepler's book Honor and Jealously in Texas. Secretary Kyle White advised that the nomination period for the 2011 Board of Directors has closed. The full slate of candidates will be presented on December 1. Additionally, next week's business meeting is the last chance for members to qualify to vote in the January election. Per the By-laws, qualified voters must have paid their annual dues, and have attended at least three of the five business meetings prior to the election.

Chilly winds that howled like banshees failed to scare away dedicated DFWWW members from the November 17 meeting.

In the news, A. Lee Martinez displayed the spring/summer 2011 catalog from Orbit Books which has a full-page ad for his upcoming novel Chasing the Moon. Jimmie Kepler announced that Poetry & Prose ezine invited him to submit more of his poems. Kenneth Ingle had a successful book signing this last weekend at a local arts and crafts fair. Speaking of book signings, Mike McMullen has two of them this weekend for his recent nonfiction release I, Superhero. The first is on Saturday, November 20, at 1 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in Dallas at Interstate 75 and Northwest Highway; and the second is on Sunday, November 21, at noon at Barnes & Noble in Las Colinas.

In the official news, Secretary Kyle White advised that Wednesday, December 1, is the last business meeting of the year and the last chance to qualify to vote in the January election. President Russell Connor reminded everyone interested in running for the 2011 Board of Directors that they need to sign-up by next Wednesday when the nominations close.  

Five visitors joined a standing-room only crowd at the November 10 meeting of the Workshop.

It seemed as if the news and announcements would never end. Candace Havens delivered her newest book, Turn and Dare, to Harlequin. A. Lee Martinez' newest novel, Catching the Moon, was accepted by Orbit. Delacorte accepted Rosemary Clement-Moore's newest work, Texas Gothic, and the book is already available for pre-order at Amazon.com.

Del Cain reported a successful event at the Saginaw Public Library last week. Russell Connor and A. Lee Martinez appeared, along with Rosemary Clement-Moore who was the keynote speaker. This weekend, Rosemary will appear at Readers & 'ritas in Allen, with Candace Havens as the Master of Ceremonies. Also this Saturday, A. Lee Martinez has a book signing at 2 p.m. at the Borders in Burleson.

Finally, President Russell Connor thanked a wide variety of volunteers who unselfishly give of their time each week. Harry Hall who arrives early to set up the building and to make coffee;  Eric Dixon who never fails to monitor one of the read-and-critique rooms; former President Stephen Manning who assists the Board in making the hard decisions; and Jeff Posey, Jason Myers and Michelle O'Neal who work on the annual writers' conference.

Thank you everyone who contributes in some way. As a non-profit, all volunteer organization it takes all of us to keep DFWWW functioning.

The November 3 meeting was busy with four new members joining the Workshop.

In official business, historian Stephen Manning announced book 304 donated to the Trophy Room. (If the numbers keep growing at this pace, could another celebration be just around the corner?) President Russell Connor opened the nominations for the 2011 Board of Directors, with each current Board member describing his or her duties.

In other news, David Alkek had a poem titled "The Doorway" accepted by Abandoned Towers magazine. He also had a successful book signing for his nonfiction work, The Self-Creative Universe, recently in Plano. Del Cain reminded everyone that several DFWWW writers will attend an authors' reception at the Saginaw Public Library, Thursday, November 4 at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to meet the authors and to purchase signed copies of their books.

Finally, conference chairperson Jeff Posey described a few of the now 50-plus classes scheduled for the 2011 DFW Writers' Conference. The breadth of speakers and topics alone make the price of admission a bargain. Throw in 20 agents and editors, Thriller Master Sandra Brown as the keynote speaker, and you have one of the best values among writers' conferences in the country.

Historian Stephen Manning summarized this momentous achievement by providing some interesting trivia.

• Of the 300-plus novels displayed in the Trophy Room, what is the most commonly used word in a book's title? Texas (no one was surprised).


• The second most commonly used word in a title? Blood (now that surprised everyone a
  
  
  
  bit).


• The third most commonly used word in a title? Gun (notice a trend?).  


• There have been an average of 11.6 titles published per year by DFWWW members since 1985.


• The best year was 1996 when 22 titles were published (all comprised of only two genres: Westerns and horror).


• The second best year was 2005 when 20 titles were published (notable because of the large number of first-time novelists).


• From 1985 until 2000, the Workshop produced mainly Westerns, mysteries and horror novels.


• After 2000, there was an explosion of all genres, with nonfiction works becoming more prominent.

In the news, Kenneth Ingle displayed the audio version of his novel, Saragosa Prime, released by Books in Motion. Carolyn Williamson announced the additional of two new reference books for the Workshop's library.

In official news, President Russell Connor reminded members that next Wednesday nominations open for the 2011 Board of Directors. Secretary Kyle White, who will serve as the election coordinator, advised members on the requirements to run for the Board. Basically, members must have paid their 2010-2011 dues and have attended at least three of the five monthly business meetings prior to the election.

You may have seen an announcement, here or in an email distribution list, regarding an upcoming editor visit at the Workshop. Contrary to what was posted, this is a private event only for Workshop members. Pitch sessions are available only to members who joined by Aug. 18.

Membership will be checked at the door. Non-members will unfortunately have to be turned away.

The Workshop does host an annual writer's conference open to the public featuring agents and editors from around the country. The 2011 conference is in February. For more information, please visit www.dfwwritersconference.org. The Workshop also strives to provide exclusive benefits to its members to say thank you for their support. This single-editor visit is one of those benefits. If this event is successful, more like it are planned in the future, and all writers are welcome to join the Workshop and attend those events.

We apologize for the erroneous communication and any disappointment it causes.

Summer vacations finally caught up with the DFW Writers' Workshop as a light crowd attended the July 28th meeting.

In the news, Nik Holman received a partial request for his novel The Boy Who Wasn't There from agent Brandi Bowles. Del Cain had two poems accepted by Cross Tim­bers magazine. A. Lee Martinez announced Gil's All-Fight Diner and In the Company of Ogres will be released as a combined book by his German publisher. In addition, Martinez has a book signing for his newest release, Divine Misfortune, this Saturday, July 31 at 10 a.m. at the Borders bookstore in Arlington.

In official news, treasurer Jeri Burbage displayed a new form that members need to complete to receive reimbursements when purchasing items for the Workshop. Secretary Kyle White advised this blog and regular meetings are now the source for all member news, including inclement weather closings (but we all know DFWWW never closes - not matter the weather). Finally, President Russell Connor stated a party will be held on October 27th to celebrate the recent milestone of 300 traditionally published books written by Workshop members. It's sure to be a big event.

Summertime typically means lower attendance at the Workshop, but not this year as good-sized crowds have continued to pack the building. The July 14 meeting was no exception with four visitors joining the already large group.

In the news, Jason Myers received a partial request for his novel Mayhem Inc. from agent John A. Ware. Paula Laroque announced that the Marion Street Press has bought her series, "The Ben Gallagher Mysteries", for a new line of imprints. The first title, Chalk Line, should be released in September 2011.

Finally, Larry Enmon gave a stirring talk on the importance of delivering detailed and informative critiques. Members, both established and new, enjoyed a reminder that we're all here to help one another.

What a night it was at the DFW Writers' Workshop. Both amendments to the By-laws passed by an overwhelming majority. According to the Treasurer's report, the conference and the workshop continue to operate in the black. And plans are underway to invite several agents and/or editors to visit later this year to speak and hear book proposals.

 In other news, A. Lee Martinez is a guest speaker at MythCon 41 this weekend in Dallas. Candace Havens turned in her latest manuscript, She Who Dares Wins, to Harlequin, and submitted a book proposal titled, Triple Dare Ranch, to the same publisher. Jamie Harrington announced her participation in WriteOnCon.com, a free online writers' conference now accepting registrations.

But in the biggest news of the night, historian Stephen Manning announced the donation of the 300th traditionally published book by a DFWWW author. A party is being planned to commemorate this momentous milestone, 33-years in the making.