California Writers Club, Sacramento Branch

Dedicated to Educating Writers of all Levels

Heather Lazare: Editor and Publishing Consultant

CWC-Sacramento Meeting

Saturday, May 17th, from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm at

The Unitarian Church, 2425 Sierra Blvd, Room 7/8 (Park in the Rear) Sacramento


Heather Lazare
Heather Lazare

Former Big Five editor Heather Lazare pulls back the curtain on what really happens when you book goes out on submission to a publisher. When your literary agent submits your proposal or manuscript, there are dozens of decisions made before an editor is allowed to make an offer—what are those and who’s involved? We’ll talk about all of this and more, and leave plenty of time for questions!

What you will learn from Heather

  • What “comp titles” are and what role they play on the financial side of publishing.
  • What to ask when you get a chance to meet with an editor.
  • What does a publisher mean by “platform” and what role it plays in the acquisition process.
  • Don’t quit your day job—even if you get a six-figure book deal.
  • What is an advance and how does an author earn out their advance.

Heather Lazare is a developmental editor and publishing consultant who specializes in editing adult fiction. She worked at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency and both Random House and Simon & Schuster before starting her own business in 2013. She teaches courses on publishing for Stanford Continuing Studies and is the director and founder of the Northern California Writers’ Retreat. Visit her online at heatherlazare.com and norcalwritersretreat.com.

Plus: Micro-Workshop Query Work with Michael Larsen

We have to pay for this room, so we have to charge an admission fee of $15. You can pay on the day or get your ticket below.

Book online here

Chris Hennessy – How to Captivate Literary Agents and Publishers

Strategies for finding a book agent and getting published

CWC-Sacramento Network Meeting

Friday, May 2nd from 9 am to 11 am at

Denny’s Restaurant, 8841 Greenback Lane, Orangevale, CA, 95662

Denny’s has a nice private room where we can close the doors and keep the noise to ourselves.

Chris Hennessy
Chris Hennessy

Discover pros and cons of various strategies on how to find a literary agent and publisher.

What attendees will learn from Chris’s presentation:

  • You will be prepared to connect with agents at Writers Conferences and on QueryTracker
  • Know You and Your Stuff—manuscript, elevator pitch, one page, you’re extended pitch, etc.
  • Chris’s potent PowerPoint includes clips from his award-winning films, social media posts that tens of thousands have viewed, a query, and a book proposal.
  • See Chris shoot a short/simple promotional video, ad-libbed, with his iPhone 12 and an audience volunteer.
  • You will learn the basics of creating your video speaking reel, getting speaking gigs, building your email list, and getting your name out there. 

Filmmaker, author, and speaker. Board Member, CWC, Sacramento.

From 1990 to 2018, Chris produced 1500 films for Google, eBay, SF 49ers, Deloitte, Office Max, etc. His videos have 8 million views.

Yoyo’s, “Miracles on College Street”—produced to promote his memoir, “Touched by Hannah,”—won most inspirational at the 2022 Manhattan Film Festival and runner-up ‘Best Episode 2022 Western Region Cable TV. Chris recently pitched Touched by Hannah to five agents who wanted Chris’ book proposal and sample chapters.

We currently continue to hold hybrid meetings with zoom.

Please be aware that zoom participation may be limited interaction only.

Zoom will be opened at 10am ready for the presentation.

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 817 3734 0307
Passcode: 227171

Michael Barrington: The Art of the Short Story and its Use as a Marketing Tool

CWC-Sacramento Meeting

Saturday, April 19th, from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm at

The Unitarian Church, 2425 Sierra Blvd, Room 7/8 (Park in the Rear) Sacramento


A short story versus the novel or novelette. What’s involved? How to get published in a magazine or journal. The SS as a major marketing tool.

Michael Barrington
Michael Barrington

What you will learn from Michael

  • How to write a short story: the Art
  • How short is short? The Craft.
  • Genres: Does it matter?
  • Who decides if it is ready for publication?
  • Finding a publisher?
  • Driving readers to your website.

Michael Barrington,  MA., M.Ed., Ph.D., is from England, has a Diploma in Marketing from Harvard, written twelve books, published two collections and more than 60 short stories in the US, UK and Europe. He has taught workshops on the craft of the Short Story, and Marketing. He is an assistant editor for The Brussels Review, and blogs on his website www.mbwriter.net. He is the VP of CWC Mt Diablo.

Plus: Micro-Workshop “Your Author Platform” by Christina Brabham and Query Work with Michael Larsen

Members who sign up by Friday, April 18, will receive a copy of Agent Michael Larsen’s Superpower 2. Based on this article, please come ready to share literary and publishing goals. These goals will determine how and whether a letter and a proposal are needed.

We have to pay for this room, so we have to charge an admission fee of $15. You can pay on the day or get your ticket below.

Book online here

Karen Phillips

Karen A. Phillips
Karen A. Phillips

Karen A. Phillips writes humorous, fun, action-packed mysteries. She has several short stories published in various anthologies. Her characters are engaging and fearless. The Rocky Nelson Boxing Mystery series features an amateur sleuth who boxes . . . and yes, Karen also takes boxing lessons.

Visit her at www.KarenAPhillips.com.