President Rollins called the meeting to order.

Guests and new members were introduced or introduced themselves and were welcomed. Gail McMillan gave the Treasurer's report. At this time, the Guild has 78 paid members. There are 30 folks registered for the Workshop and Luncheon. Balance in the account stands at $4790.74.

Annual Workshop and Luncheon is scheduled for Saturday October 16. The workshop will begin at 9am, with coffee and pastries served beginning at 8:30am. Come early and visit with others, browse the book tables, and purchase autographed copies of Tess Gerritsen's books. Please register with Gail for the workshop. We would like to have a count of folks coming as early as possible.

The Workshop and Luncheon will be held at Briarstone Manor, 100 Epplen's Court, just south of S.1st St. Register with Gail McMillan. Tess Gerritsen will be the Keynote Speaker. Her newest Best Seller, Body Double, has just been released.

Some folks may have received a postcard from the Guild. If you did, you need to pay your dues. If dues are not paid, then you will not be able to receive the newsletter until they are paid up. You will not receive a September newsletter if dues are not paid.

Members shared Brags and Sags. President Rollins shared with the group that long time member and previous Board Officer Billie McMullen died recently. Billie served the Guild in many capacities through the years, and her loss will be remembered.

Contest entries have been returned by the judges and winners have been determined. Come to the Workshop and Luncheon to find out who won and to receive judges' critiques and comments on your entries. You can pick up entries after the Workshop if you did not include an SASE for entries to be mailed back to you. Nancy Masters stated that the judges all gave many comments and good critique, so all who entered should be pleased with the feedback they get.

Don't forget the Book and Author Festival this weekend, sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Many of your fellow AWG members will have tables and be selling their books. There will also be numerous FREE workshops to participate in. Local writers being honored include Nancy Master, Jim Wilson, Gladys Hume, Sue Turner, Barbara Rollins.

AWG Members Only contests will begin again in October. The first contest is this: Write the Rules for the other monthly contests. Come up with the topics for each month, the length of entries, the rules for presentation, etc. The AWG Board will be the judge for this first contest. At the November Board meeting, we will select the best entry and will use it to devise the monthly contests for the year. Deadline for this first monthly contest is October 10.

Our Thanksgiving meeting and dinner will be the 3rd Thursday of November. Bring a vegetable or salad or dessert for the gathering. The meat, dressing, rolls, and gravy will be provided. There is a small donation asked for the meal. Bring your family and guests, as well. Let Gail McMillan know how many will be attending with you.

Our program speaker was Jack Boyd, introduced by Nancy Masters. Jack bills himself as "the man from Cedar Gap." He has written numerous books of humor and history about Cedar Gap. He described some qualities of his that have come in handy for writing humor: being left-handed, an only child, having depression, and having ADHD. These qualities have come in handy because he can laugh at himself. He told us that humor is not a normal thing, and it is hard to write. He encouraged us to try to make what we write universal, even though it is hard to reach a variety of age groups with each piece. He read one of his stories, the "Ball Peen Hammer" and had the whole group laughing out loud. He also told us that there is no such thing as "writer's block." People who say they want to write and don't, have one of three basic problems. They have no talent, they are lazy, or they are depressed. He advised us to avoid explaining too much at the beginning of the piece. "Pick up a story like you pick up a cat - in the middle." This was advice from Louis L'Amour, the great western writer, and Mr. Boyd says it is sound advice. Focus the reader immediately. The first line "should be a killer" and should be painted with the fewest words necessary. Mr. Boyd brought several books for sale.

Respectfully submitted,


Jan Carrington, Secretary