Texas High Plains Writers

This month, Texas High Plains Writers will enjoy a social gathering where we can connect with our fellow writers, hear a summary of the year to date, and learn what 2025 will bring to Texas High Plains Writers. We will also install our 2025 Board of Directors.

We’ll meet at the X- Steakhouse, in the Party Room, at 9181 Town Square Boulevard, Ste. 1311. Our meeting will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 1 p.m.

Lunch is included in the social at no extra cost. The menu for our group includes a 6 oz. Top Sirloin, Grilled Chicken, Chicken Fried Steak, or Chicken Strips. Each meal comes with a side of your choice. Sides include Baked Potato, Potato Casserole, Mixed Vegetables, Cream Corn, Cream Spinach, Mac & Cheese, Rice, or Fries.

We will also have board games available, a fun group game, and we will select the theme for our next anthology. Plus, LOTS more exciting news for the year to come.

Please join us for our social and take the opportunity to pay your 2025 dues. We hope to see you there.

How to Build Your Author Press Kit with Kim Black

What is a Press Kit? How do I make one? Why would I need one?

Kim Black will answer these questions and more at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 19th via Zoom.

Join us by clicking the link below:

October Craft Talk – Author Press Kit with  Kim Black Texas High Plains Writers is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Texas High Plains Writers’ Zoom Craft Talk – Author Press Kit with Kim Black Time: Oct 19, 2024 11:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85880777139?pwd=AP9JmhU8xeoavhpL5iA58dhbMDM37G.1 Meeting ID: 858 8077 7139 Passcode: 804642 — One tap mobile +13462487799,,85880777139#,,,,*804642# US (Houston) +12532158782,,85880777139#,,,,*804642# US (Tacoma) — Dial by your location • +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) • +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) • +1 669 444 9171 US • +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) • +1 719 359 4580 US • +1 253 205 0468 US • +1 646 931 3860 US • +1 689 278 1000 US • +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) • +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) • +1 305 224 1968 US • +1 309 205 3325 US • +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) • +1 360 209 5623 US • +1 386 347 5053 US • +1 507 473 4847 US • +1 564 217 2000 US Meeting ID: 858 8077 7139 Passcode: 804642 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcaR6Xmr3u

Stacy Clopton will speak about authors’ opportunities within the Amarillo Public Library system, including putting their books on library shelves, doing book signings, and more.

Stacy Clopton joined the Amarillo Public Library staff as the Coordinator of PR and Programming in February 2008. Before that, she worked for High Plains Public Radio for seven years and for NewsChannel 10, KGNC, and the Amarillo Globe News.

            Stacy received her undergraduate degree from Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and her master’s from West Texas A&M. She is currently enrolled in the Certificate of Ministry program at Austin Theological Seminary.

            Stacy is an active member of St. Luke Presbyterian Church, where she serves on several committees.  She is the Coordinator for Open and Affirming Congregations of the Texas Panhandle and serves on the Religious Affairs Committee of the local NAACP chapter. 

                In her spare time, Stacy enjoys reading, painting, hiking, and camping.

To provide even more benefits for our membership, we are offering a Zoom Workshop program on the third Saturday of our “off” or non-meeting months.

Our inaugural program will be held Saturday, June 15th at 11:00 AM. This program is open to all, and will last about one hour.

We ask that when you join the Zoom meeting, please use the video option, but keep your mic on mute until the meeting begins. There will be brief instructions from the host, and then we will have an hour of Q&A about what works best in our writing processes, what are our concerns and challenges, and other ideas. This is just our first meeting of the kind, so please join us and let us know if you have ideas for future programs.

Texas High Plains Writers is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Texas High Plains Writers’s Craft Chat Zoom Meeting

Time: Jun 15, 2024, 11:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84130031098?pwd=0leIa5ZgRJUJYZALHZRt7U8MpPXNK0.1&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0Lr18jrRJktU00Wr1–oGFZDCHO-X3Mr-XdHOFWKSQZk7PNAtrM6I9ksQ_aem_AecIoq2IeXSKlBPOsf4PsCGLJLm8kqB5b699Z-DpLoSaKtP2vYmML7dcqQf6CT9HkcO4noZZUmZcqku0UAJdrlA_

Meeting ID: 841 3003 1098

Passcode: 547891

—

One tap mobile

+13462487799,,84130031098#,,,,*547891# US (Houston)

+16694449171,,84130031098#,,,,*547891# US

—

Dial by your location

• +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

• +1 669 444 9171 US

• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

• +1 719 359 4580 US

• +1 253 205 0468 US

• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

• +1 646 931 3860 US

• +1 689 278 1000 US

• +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

• +1 305 224 1968 US

• +1 309 205 3325 US

• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

• +1 360 209 5623 US

• +1 386 347 5053 US

• +1 507 473 4847 US

• +1 564 217 2000 US

Meeting ID: 841 3003 1098

Passcode: 547891

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kmP6Is5T9

US02WEB.ZOOM.US

Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting

September 21, 2024

You know writers’ conferences and workshops can help, but which ones, and what should you do there? Invest one full day in your future as an author with Texas High Plains Writers and workshop leaders Jodi Thompson, publisher and guide, and TwylaBeth Lambert, editor, and become a ConConqueror.

In this interactive workshop, you will:
• Learn strategies to make the most of opportunities for networking, learning, and career development
• Develop your own doable plan of action for choosing, attending, and winning with your writers’ conference goals
• Receive a professional author headshot for your social media and promotional opportunities
• Walk away with a printed workbook and two e-books to map your personal path to literary conquest

We’ll enjoy a light breakfast and a catered buffet lunch so you can begin networking right away.
Texas High Plains Writers is hosting this one-day workshop in place of the regularly scheduled bi-monthly meeting.

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

When: September 21, 2024, from 9 AM to 5:30 PM

Where: Amarillo Area Foundation at 919 S. Polk, Amarillo, TX 79101

Headshot by a professional photographer includes a single sitting with no setting/wardrobe changes

To Zig or To Zag? Creating from the Crooked Road.

Since I’ll be speaking to THPW members with such a broad scope of creativity, my topic is about creating art through one’s own experience. Using personal (and humorous) examples, I’ll discuss how a creative career takes courage, dedication, and is anything but linear. I’ll also say a bit about my current published novels, what agents and editors really want, a few tips, and take questions.

Timothy Lewis is the author of the bestselling novel, Forever Friday, which was translated into multiple languages and featured in Reader’s Digest Select Editions. He’s only the second Reader’s Digest author of an inspirational crossover title in over twenty-five years. Reviewers on BookBub, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon compared his poetic prose to Nicholas Sparks. In an article for USA Today, a literary editor likened Tim to Garrison Keillor.

As a published playwright, Tim’s penned more than twenty plays/musicals and over a hundred songs. His article, Freighting on the XIT Ranch of Texas, was published in the Panhandle-Plains Historical Review. Committed to help fellow writers, he co-founded the West Texas Writers’ Academy held at West Texas A&M University from 2009 to 2021.

Mr. Lewis holds a bachelor’s degree of Music Education (BMED) from Sam Houston State University, plus studied master’s level playwrighting at The University of Texas. Moreover, he’s a graduate of The Institute of Children’s Literature and a cowboy poet.

Tim and his wife, Dinah, live “happily ever after” atop the beautiful high plains of Texas.

As a marketing expert and CEO of her own fine art supply company, Victoria has learned that small businesses are best driven through community, whether it’s online or in person. Additionally, she’ll share tricks to branding and social media posting. She loves to answer questions and open dialogue.

Victoria began her career in marketing, design, and branding with Disney at 19 years of age with her more recent work as a special guest on morning shows, designing for NASA, writing for Forbes, and branding clients such as ESPN and pro athletes, but her greatest joy professionally is helping the little guy look like they’ve hired a costly marketing firm using her 30 years of industry experience.

Victoria uses a holistic approach to branding her clients to showcase who they are to their core along with proven strategies for social media exposure.

She lived in Amarillo for several years and has since moved back to Utah to be close to family but hasn’t lost her Texas love!

When Victoria isn’t writing content, shooting videos for social media and designing experiences for her clients, she’s creating northern lights art, loving on her two dogs Biscuit and Chowder, and spending time by the water.

Writing & Branding Portfolio:

Forbes

NASA

NBC

ABC

FOXTV

ESPN

Discovery Channel’s Orange County Choppers

Huffington Post

Join your board of directors at the Texas High Plains Writers November meeting to vote in our new slate of officers! Afterward, stick around for a light brunch from Jason’s Deli, coffee, and donuts while you play board games like Scrabble and Boggle with your fellow members. The winning team of the Jeopardy game will receive $5-off vouchers for the 2024 anthology submission fee. And the winner of the anthology theme drawing will win free submission!

Now would be a great time to pay your dues for 2024, as we have some great plans we’re cooking up for the year. You’ll also get the opportunity to leave comments in our box for improvements, requests, and suggestions.

Please RSVP at November Writers’ Social | Facebook to help us know how much food to bring! Guests will be charged the $10 fee for this event.