Another Authors Fair is under our belts. This one had as much enthusiasm and pride as in the past despite the late start and changes. Well done to all the volunteers who helped in the planning of, mailing of application forms, the selection process, setting up before, and staffing the sign-in table and relieving authors during this event.

The Opening Sentence Contest had close to twenty entries this year. It was judged a little differently. Since there was only one entrant for the teen’s age group, it was decided to lump them all, and award the top three.

First Place was Maralee Wofford with “She had been a cheerleader, a wife, a mom, a widow --- who would she be next?” winning a free subscription to Writers Digest.
Second Place was Melissa Ulrich with “One step and then nothing.” winning a Barnes & Noble gift card.
Third Place was Barbara L. Fisher (one of several Fishers entering) with “Mom, now that I’ve had my operation, please call me Diana instead of Dennis.” winning a Barnes & Noble gift card.

Some notable entries were: Kathleen Fisher with “Jason laughed as he watched the black-clad bride spin cartwheels thru (through) the library;” Alyn Saint Creigh with “The whispers of yesterday haunt my memories and daunt my anticipation of tomorrow;” Lisa Cozens with “The meaning of life is to eat as many corn chips and salsa as we can: Then it is time to go;” Linda Schrieber with “The inside of her desk was so cluttered, she just knew she would not find her homework in time to turn it in to the teacher...again;” Jennifer Leven (the mall’s coordinator) with “The phone rang and the voice on the other end said, ‘Diedre is dead’;” Emma Pringle (age 13, our sole teen entrant) with “My friends don’t get why I’m so enchanted with small, random baubles; they don’t see those small and random items like I do;” Shirley Fisher with “One hundred feet straight down into a deep, dark, slimy pit lived the ugliest and meanest troll that ever lived;” Dave Diehl (age 21) with “Through unexplainable and irreparable means, I have become aware that today is the last day of my life.”

We especially thank this year’s participating authors (see list) who covered many genres, including outdoor, mystery, crime, humor, inspirational, poetry, children, and more.

View the gallery for the Authors Fair.

Participating Authors

Bruce Barron, Lois Browning Bauer. Linda Boyden, Steve Brewer, Shirley and Morgan Fisher, Jack Frazier, Ginger Gibson, Janice and Donald Kirk, John Lawson, Frank LoBue, Richard Lucas, Susana Luzier, Bob Madgic, Carissa Marine, Luanne Mohr, Carol Purcell, Lorraine Shattuck, Lezlie Winberry, Maralee Wofford

Opening Sentence Entrants

1st Place: Maralee Wofford, 2nd Place: Melissa Ulrich, 3rd Place: Barabara L. Fisher, Notable Mentions: Kathleen Fisher, Alyn St. Creigh, Stacie Luann, Dave Diehl, Carol Purcell, Shirley Fisher, Bruce Barron, Jack Frazier, Emma Pringle, Jennifer Leven, John Lawson, Linda Schrieber, Anthony Pellitteri, Lisa Cozens, Ruth Ellen Barrington

Judges for Writing Contest

George Winship, Ron Sutton, Sallyann Keith, Larry Watters.

Speakers

Linda Boyden (“Playing in the Sandbox of Words”), Steve Brewer (reading an excerpt), Ginger Gibson (reading “The Gumtree”), Bob Madgic (“Write Your Life!”), Maralee Wofford (“Electronic Publishing—Another Way to Reach Your Readers”)

Entertainment

Shasta Senior Players (“It’s All in Your Attitude”) featuring Deon Pollett, Susana Luzier, Fulton Doty, Donna Stobie

Volunteers

Alice Anderson, Patricia Crow, Katie Watters, Bonnie Keller, Ron Sutton, Sue Kowalewski, Susana Luzier, John Lawson, Jack Frazier, Deon Pollett, George Winship, Sallyann Keith, Larry Watters
Sincere apologies to any not listed