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upcoming events

June 2025 Guest speaker

June 17 - Crime, Climate and the Birds in the Sky

Learn how to build the enduring world of a crime series by exploring how geography and climate shape crime narratives, and discover techniques for transforming close observations of a place into rich, immersive fiction. 

 

John Straley has published twenty books. He is best known for his crime writing but has also published non-fiction and poetry.  He has authored thirteen previous crime novels, including the Cecil Younger Investigations and the Cold Storage novels, two series both set in Alaska. John has won a Shamus Award and a Spotted Owl, and his books have been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and on Fresh Air with Terry Gross. He has worked professionally as a wilderness guide, a horseshoer, and for thirty years as a private investigator in Alaska.

 

John Straley graduated from the Browning School for Boys in New York City in 1971.   On his way to earning degrees in literature from the University of Washington, John worked summers in the wilderness of north central Washington State as a wrangler, horseshoer, mill worker, and trail crew foreman.


John married Janice (Morrison) Straley - now a prominent marine biologist - and her work took them to Sitka, Alaska where John became a private investigator and wrote The Woman Who Married a Bear, the first in the Cecil Younger series, published in 1992.  In the years since, John continued the Cecil Younger series, has written four books in the Cold Storage, Alaska series, and has published five books of poetry. He won the best first mystery Shamus award and the Spotted Owl award for the best northwest mystery, was appointed Writer Laureate of Alaska in 2006, and was awarded an honorary PhD from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.


In 2017, John retired from the Alaska Public Defender Agency. In October 2022, he and Jan moved to Carmel, California, to be closer to family. After more than 40 years in Sitka, John remains an Alaskan at heart.  His latest novel was a stand-alone entitled “Big Breath In” published in November 2023 by Soho Press. 

July 2025 Guest speaker

July 15 - THE AI ERA: HOPE, HYPE, and INNOVATION FOR WRITERS and CREATIVES

Explore the transformative possibilities of AI for writers and creators. Through engaging discussions and practical demonstrations, we'll uncover how AI tools can enhance creative practice without compromising authenticity or human voice. This talk from Sam Stern provides a balanced, hands-on introduction to integrating AI meaningfully and ethically into your creative work. Join us to demystify AI, spark your imagination, and empower your creative journey in an ever-evolving technological landscape.


Sam Stern is a Senior Content Creator at Esalen Institute, where he hosts the Voices of Esalen podcast, a deep-dive interview program focused on Human Potential with over one million downloads to date. He is a cum laude graduate of Brown University and received an MFA in Critical Studies and Integrated Media from CalArts. His deep interest in emergent technologies focuses in particular on the creative and relational impact of AI on everyday humans.



august 2025 Guest speaker

no regular tuesday meeting in august

There is no guest speaker scheduled in August 2025 due to the CCW annual summer picnic. Regular Tuesday monthly meetings resume in September.



september 2025 Guest speaker

september 16 - The Author’s Checklist: Developing and Editing Your Manuscript

Elizabeth Kracht is a literary agent with Kimberley Cameron & Associates and the author of The Author’s Checklist: An Agent’s Guide to Developing and Editing Your Manuscript. She has an MFA in fiction from San José State University. She also works as a freelance developmental editor coaching writers. She is a sought-after speaker, teaching both nationally and internationally, for conferences such as San Miguel de Allende and Matera Writers’ Conferences, as well as ThrillerFest in New York, among many others. She also teaches for online venues such as Writer’s Digest and Writing Day Workshops. 


Elizabeth represents both literary and commercial fiction as well as nonfiction. In fiction, she represents thrillers, mysteries, literary, commercial, women’s, and historical. In nonfiction, she is interested in finding true crime, investigative journalism, narrative/creative nonfiction, prescriptive, voice- or adventure-driven memoir, high concept, science, spirituality, sexuality, self-help, and pet stories. Elizabeth’s websites can be viewed at: www.elizabethkracht.com and www.kimberleycameron.com 

october 2025 Guest speakers

october 21 - It's booktoberfest!

Join us at our annual "Booktoberfest" meeting where we will have CCW authors who have published in the last year read excerpts from their latest works. After our usual club business meeting and the readings, CCW authors will be selling their books, signing copies, and answering questions from the attendees.






November 2025 Guest speaker (Rescheduled)

november 18 - writing as a Pathway to Global UNDERSTANDING

Ava Homa is an acclaimed author, speaker, activist, and faculty member at California State University, Monterey Bay. Her debut novel, Daughters of Smoke and Fire (HarperCollins & Abrams, 2020), was featured in Roxane Gay's Book Club, the Unplugged Book Box, and Women for Women International. The novel earned a place among the 'best books' in outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, the Independent (UK), and Globe and Mail (Canada). It received the 2020 Nautilus Silver Book Award for Fiction and was a 2022 William Saroyan International Writing Prize finalist. A groundbreaking work in English by a Kurdish woman, Daughters of Smoke and Fire has been incorporated into university curricula at institutions such as George Mason University, the University of Toronto, and Southern Methodist University.

​

Ava's collection of short stories, Echoes from the Other Land, was nominated for the 2011 Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award. Her essays, written in English, Kurdish, and Persian, have been published in outlets like the BBC, Literary Review of Canada, Open Democracy, and Literary Hub. Her short stories and non-fiction pieces have been anthologized and she has delivered speeches across North America and Europe, including a memorable appearance at the United Nations in Geneva. She holds a master’s degree in creative writing and is a 2023 California Arts Council fellow.

additional upcoming events

June 3rd - CCW author marlo faulkner book launch

June 22nd - CCW author marlo faulkner book reading

June 22nd - CCW author marlo faulkner book reading

 June 3rd  -  New Book Launch   

 

Join CCW member Marlo Faulkner as she launches her debut Historical Fiction, THE SECOND MRS. LONDON: Charmian Kittredge Shares Her Life With Jack London. Learn the inspiration for the book and Marlo's adventure in writing. Listen to music of Charmian's era on the Canterbury Woods Steinway Concert Grand piano by Karen Robinson. Marlo will read excerpts from her novel and you will have the opportunity to purchase hard or soft cover First Editions at a special launch price, and have them personally signed by Marlo. Join the audience for a champagne reception and enjoy the evening on this unique occasion. 7:00-8:30 pm in the Canterbury Woods Auditorium, 651 Sinex Avenue, Pacific Grove.

June 22nd - CCW author marlo faulkner book reading

June 22nd - CCW author marlo faulkner book reading

June 22nd - CCW author marlo faulkner book reading

 June 22nd  -  Book reading  

  

Find a chair on the patio (bring a hat) and enjoy a late morning coffee or cold drink at the Roastery, a muffin or cookie at a nearby bakery, or luscious chocolate from Lula's as you meet Marlo Faulkner and hear about how she wrote THE SECOND MRS. LONDON.
She will answer your questions, read excerpts, and personally sign books specially priced for this occasion thanks to River House Books, Carmel Crossroads Shopping Center, 208 Crossroads Blvd, Carmel-By-The-Sea. 11:00 am -12:30 pm.

June 21st - solitce summer slam at asilomar

August 3rd - CCW Members Only Summer Picnic - Whispering Pines Park, Monterey

August 3rd - CCW Members Only Summer Picnic - Whispering Pines Park, Monterey

 June 21st  -  Solstice Slam at Asilomar

(see flyer below) 

 

Calling all writers – of stories, songs, or verse! Celebrate the turning of the seasons with an evening of creativity, connection, and inspiration at Asilomar. Gather 'round the fire to share your voice, your words, and your spirit in a vibrant gathering of storytellers, musicians, and poets.

Whether you're performing or simply soaking it all in, join us for a night of expression and camaraderie in a warm, welcoming space.

 Open Mic 7 – 9 PM Saturday, June 21 Scripps Lodge Patio, Asilomar State Conference Grounds

🕊️ 5-minute slots • Supportive space • All levels welcome

August 3rd - CCW Members Only Summer Picnic - Whispering Pines Park, Monterey

August 3rd - CCW Members Only Summer Picnic - Whispering Pines Park, Monterey

August 3rd - CCW Members Only Summer Picnic - Whispering Pines Park, Monterey

 August 3rd - CCW Members Only Summer Picnic - Whispering Pines Park, Monterey 



For additional details, see the "Members Only" page (login required)

Flyer - upcoming open mic event

eVENT vENUE

cENTRAL COAST WRITERS Monthly meeting

We meet in the evening on the third Tuesday of the month at the Center for Spiritual Awakening located at
522 Central Ave., Pacific Grove, CA  (next to the PG Library).  Doors open at 5:30 PM, and the meeting starts at 6:15 PM.


522 Central Avenue, Pacific Grove, California 93950, United States

Past Events

January 2025 speakers Eva Barrows and Lila LaBine

"Good Editors and How To Find Them"

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