President Rollins called the meeting to order.

Guests and new members introduced themselves to the group and were welcomed.

Gail McMillan gave the treasurer's report. With 65 - 70 members paid to date, the balance in the account is $3746.40.

Members shared Brags and Sags.

The Annual Contest was discussed, with total entries being 395. This is a record for the Guild. Members were urged to go ahead and sign up with Gail McMillan for the Workshop and Luncheon. Tess Gerritsen, NY Times Bestselling writer will be our keynote speaker. She is a powerhouse writer of thrillers and suspense, and it is a rare treat for us to have someone of her caliber come to Abilene to speak with us. We hope many will come to hear her.

The Workshop is set for Saturday, October 16 at Briarstone Manor, on Epplens Court. Workshop begins at 9am, with coffee and pastries served at 8:30am.

Jan Carrington discussed the Christmas project for CPS children. Please bring an item for the gift project to the AWG Thanksgiving meal this year. Items should be new and unwrapped. Items should relate to reading, writing, or creative learning in some way. Ideas include puzzles, ABC items, games, arts & crafts, books, drawing/writing items, etc. Items should be for children of all ages, from infants to teenagers. The project last year was a success, and we hope it will be again this year.

Refreshments were provided by Pat Mehaffey, Ginny Greene, and Laura Thaxton.

Our program was presented by Jodie Thomas, a NY Times Bestselling author of romance novels. Ms. Thomas lives in Canyon, Texas, and is Writer-in-Residence at West Texas A&M University. She described two qualities that helped her become a writer: a loose grip on reality and a long family line of liars. She encouraged us to stick to the task of writing, to "finish our shift." Only 1 in 100 writers that start page 1 ever write "The End." Ms. Thomas has had 18 books published, and she brought some for sale. Sales were brisk after her delightful and informative program.

Respectfully submitted,


Jan Carrington, Secretary