Former Sacramento Branch president La Ronda Bowen (bowen.writer@gmail.com) has pursued writing and public policy her entire adult life. Her areas of expertise include economic development and global warming.  She served the US Environmental Protection Agency as an advisor and currently splits her time between Southern California and Sacramento, where she is the California Air Resources Board’s Ombudsman and Small Business Liaison.   Connecting citizens to their government in meaningful ways is her passion. La Ronda has written numerous articles, including on environment, business, and health. With a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction, she belongs to a critique group in Los Angeles County while maintaining her Sacramento Branch membership. When not working or writing, La Ronda travels internationally, reminding her that the best recipe for healthy communities is an informed, activist population, a strong small business community, and an open government. China, Indonesia, Korea, Cuba, Spain, Scandinavia, and many Latin American countries are among the destinations La Ronda has visited. In the early 2000’s, La Ronda worked hard to gather historical documents for the branch. She drafted the first Sacramento Branch history for which she interviewed Ethel Bangert, the longest serving member at the time and co-founder of Sacramento Suburban Writers.

 

Elise Spleiss (spleisse123@yahoo.com) has written more than 300 articles for Sacramento-area community newspapers covering the communities of Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Rancho Cordova, and Placer County, since 2011.  Her favorite topics are human-interest stories “with heart.” She loves writing about veterans. A subject requiring historical background will motivate her to delve in every time.  If Elise were to list four recent representative articles, they would include, “A True Hero and Survivor: Battle of Okinawa Survivor Part of Final Battle of World War II” (Citrus Heights Messenger, http://www.citrusheightsmessenger.com/articles/2017/1119-A-True-Hero-and-Survivor/index.php?ID=4194); “Grace House: Living Sober, Powerful and Free” (Carmichael Times, http://www.carmichaeltimes.com/articles/2017/0628-Grace-House-Living-Sober/index.php?ID=3835); “Rusch Home History Day Takes Visitors Back 100 Years”;” (Citrus Heights Messenger, http://www.citrusheightsmessenger.com/articles/2018/0413-Rusch-Home-History-Day-Citrus-Heights/index.php?ID=4685); and “Auschwitz Survivor in Rocklin Captivates Young People (Placer Herald,http://www.placerherald.com/article/3/23/16/auschwitz-survivor-rocklin-captivates-young-people).

A writer to the core, Elise remembers producing narrative as a child. At age 9 she wrote her life story, then proceeded to contribute to her school newspaper through college.  During her 25 years with Santa Clara County Social Services she created two office newspapers to keep employees connected.  Elise also writes for her church and service organizations. When not writing, Elise is a personal caregiver, a Toastmaster, and a committed volunteer, all which she finds to be rich sources for stories.

 

Pat Rigley is a longtime graphic designer, a full-time husband, and a part-time writer. He is trying to do his utmost to invert the sequence of his list while still preserving the sanctity of the Oxford Comma.

He is a regular contributor to ipinionsyndicate.com. His columns and stories have appeared in the Tacoma News Tribune and the Davis Enterprise. He was also a twice-time winner of Bob Dunning’s nearly famous “Replace the Above-Pictured Columnist” contest. “The Pitcher Plant,” his first novel, was published in December 2017, and has received awards in both the University of Pacific – Jameson Awards, and Northern California Publishers & Authors competitions.

Ensconced in the extraordinary company of his beautiful wife, two sons, three daughters, and six grandchildren, he spends most of his day doting over his amazing sheltie that threatens the rightful inheritance of all the aforementioned.

 

A born storyteller, Everett Anson has been making up stories as long as he can remember. During the Korean War he served in the U.S. Navy as an electronics technician. After getting out of the navy, he went to college to get his B.S. degree in electrical engineering. He worked in that field until he retired. He began to write. His first book, Bullets for Ballots, a political thriller, kept readers intensely involved. Everett decided to rewrite the story turning it into a romantic thriller. His effort gives The Third Party readers  a beautifully irresistible and emotional love story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lisa Deines (penname Eilis Wycke), holds a degree in Literature from the University of California at San Diego. She was a Communications Director for the California Association of Local Ecomonic Development for seven years and owned a business for eight years. These experiences utilized her graphic design skills and gave her insight into the language of marketing. In the Sacramento Branch she has served as a Board Member, First Friday Network Facilitator, and was a participant in the first CWC Building Better Branches training. Currently she writes fantasy fiction and can be found at eiliswycke@gmail.com or on her blog at http://eiliswycke.wordpress.com.