We’re excited to have NY Times Bestselling Author, Darcie Chan as an online guest at this meeting. Her story is not totally unique, but it is one of the lightening strike ones. Ms. Chan published her first novel as an independent writer and it took off like a rocket! It did so well that she was approached by one of the Big Four publishers and signed a contract for her next two books. But let’s hear her tell her own story — how it happened and what she did to get to best seller status.  Come be inspired. We have plenty of seating in the two rooms we’ve reserved for our organization, so there is space to safely distance from each other. While we have had some technical issues over the past few meetings due to either Scheels’ lovely video system that we don’t really know how to work or due to missing cables to connect Rene’s lowly laptop to the auxiliary input. To remedy this, we’ve now purchased our own set of HDMI cables that should resolve the issue. We will also have FIRST PAGES at this meeting. If you’d like to submit the first page of your book, please send it to Matt by Friday, May 13th. Follow these guidelines. Do not put your name on the page, do include the title and genre. Use 12-point Times New Roman or an equivalent font and double space. From the President:  About Darci Chan Don’t miss our May guest, Darcie Chan. While working as a lawyer and raising children, she marshaled enough spare time to write The Mill River Recluse. She posted it on Amazon and three months later had a NY Times bestseller on her hands. Random House came a-callin’ and offered her a book deal. She now has three bestsellers under her belt and is working on her fourth.   Would you like to hear from someone who has straddled both self-publishing and traditional publishing and made a success of both in just a few years?   In preparation for her visit via Google Meet, High Sierra Writers will buy MEMBERS ONLY a Kindle copy of The Mill River Recluse. The window for us to take advantage of a special low price may close quickly, so order soon. Like right now. Email Rene and MAKE SURE YOU PUT IN THE SUBJECT LINE THE NAME: DARCIE CHAN. If you don’t, your request might not be seen.Note: The price has returned to its normal Kindle price. However, Rene has nine copies purchased at the lower rate she can send to the first nine people to contact her, compliments of HSW.   Rene’s email is ruamor@sbcglobal.net    Here’s an Amazon link to The Mill River Recluse which you can use to get into Darcie’s other books and see her bio.

Google Meet JOIN Information:
Join Link for Google Meet
Saturday, May 14· 10:00am – 12:30 pm
meet.google.com/bmx-txbf-nnu
Join by phone
‪(US) +1 949-424-7153‬ PIN: ‪995 846 279‬#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/rdp-eaqc-bqp?pin=9051709270750

ATTENTION PLEASE!

Do you have a finished manuscript which needs just one more round of critiques before being sent off to the agent? Then contact Linda Enos, at lynda.r.bailey@gmail.com! 

 As a reminder, in a FM group, you take a month to read/critique a story, sharing your comments and suggestions at the end. Each story gets one month.

On the Calendar for May

May 7th – Divas Day Out at the Grand Sierra. This is a fun ladies’ day event from 10 am to 3 pm. Several HSW authors will be sharing a big booth with their Biggest Little Bookshop. Come check it out. Tickets may be purchased at the door. 

May 14th – High Sierra Writers meeting with guest Darcie Chan. Starts at 10 am.

May 21st – Grassroots Reading and Book Signing with several HSW members

Rene would like to thank everyone who completed the poll regarding future meetings and activities. She will compile the results, suggestions, and other details and provide a recap at the May meeting.

HSW Writers’ Success Stories

High Sierra Writers has quite a few published writers in the group. We have a page featuring the various books grouped by author under genre. These are under HSW Writers link. As our authors release new books, we’ll feature them here. This month we have a new release from Rene Averett and one from A.J. Wildman.

Cat Whisper is Rene’s latest release under her Riona Kelly pen name. He’s got a whopper of a secret that he’s kept from the whole town, but a newcomer threatens to expose it. 
     She’s studying to be a veterinarian and is working with the local pet doc over the summer break. Falling for a guy is the last thing on her mind.
     Of course, they’re drawn to each other with a mutual interest in animals. Can he trust her with his secret?
     This romantic suspense novel is available in Kindle, KU, and paperback at Amazon.

The Zauberin and the Dragon by A.J. Wildman was released April 26  to Amazon Kindle. In this  dark, paranormal romance, he’s the

 Protector of his kind, heir to a cursed throne. She’s the one regret that’s stung his heart for nearly two decades.
     Divorced. Career in the tank. Forced to return to her hometown of Roanoke, Virginia to start over. To say Livi’s life could be better would be an understatement. Then he pays a her late night visit, and her life is turned upside down.
     If they can navigate Riley’s overbearing family, and he can help stop a serial killer before his family secrets are exposed, they might stand a chance.

Please support your fellow HSW members by reading and reviewing their work. They will reciprocate when possible.