2019-2020 Events

   Invite a friend.  Save the dates.   

2019:

* Saturday, June 29 - 10 to 11:45 - Aina Haina Library -  Writers Workshop: “Narrative in Drama” with local director and acting teacher Joyce Maltby (how is the story told? what can fiction writers learn from drama?)

* Saturday, July 20 - 10 to noon - Aina Haina Library - Writers Workshop: “Food in Fiction” 

* Saturday, August 17 - 10 to noon - Aina Haina Library - “Share a Favorite Writer”  Bring one or two pages of a favorite writer to read and discuss.

* Saturday, September 21 - 10 to noon - Aina Haina Library - Writers Workshop: “Prose Poems” -  Workshop Leader: Carol Catanzariti.

* Saturday, October 19 - 10:30 to noon - Kapolei Library - Readings:  “More Scary Stories.”  Followed by lunch at Assaggio Kapolei.

* Saturday, November 30 - 10 to noon - Aina Haina Library - Craig Howes on Narrative.    

2020:

In 2019 we have been focusing on narrative and voice.  For 2020, the HFW spotlight will be on short stories.  We have set a publication goal for next year, one that should be fun and exciting.   We are planning to publish a collection of short stories in 2020 ... fractured fairy tales (alternative versions of familiar fairy tales).  Carol Catanzariti, Gail Baugniet, and Michael Little have agreed to edit the book.  The plan is to publish submission guidelines in January 2020, accept submissions until June 1, edit in the summer, and publish in the fall.  We invite all who want to submit, including students.  See Call for Submissions below.

Save the dates for Hawaii Fiction Writers workshops and readings in 2020.  All are set for Aina Haina Library from 10 a.m. to noon on third Saturdays, except for February and October, when we will have readings at Kapolei Library:

*Saturday, January 18 - Aina Haina Library - "On the Road to Publication."   Join our 2020 short story collection editors--Carol Catanzariti, Gail Baugniet, and Michael Little--as we play the "what if" game with some familiar fairy tales, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and The Frog Prince.  Cinderella, anyone?  Hansel and Gretel?  Beauty and the Beast?  Sleeping Beauty?  Rumpelstiltskin?  Little Red Riding Hood?  See Call for Submissions below:

*February 22 (10:30 to noon) - Readings at Kapolei Library (followed by lunch at Assaggio Kapolei). Readings will include a first look at stories submitted for the upcoming 2020 short story collection, Kissing Frogs, and Other Quirky Fairy Tales. Reading will be Laurie Hanan, Shauna Jones, Gail Baugniet, Carol Catanzariti, and Michael Little.

*Saturday, March 21 (10 a.m. to noon) - Aina Haina Library - Writers Workshop: "Another Opening, Another Fairy Tale." A look at the openings of traditional fairy tales. It's not always "Once upon a time." Fairy tales are often read aloud, in one sitting, so they are not long, they have to establish character and setting in the opening paragraph or two, and get on with the plot. How does your variation on a traditional fairy tale begin? Read and share. March 21 workshop: POSTPONED WHILE PUBLIC LIBRARIES REMAIN CLOSED.

*Saturday, April 18 (10 a.m. to noon) - Aina Haina Library - Writers Workshop: "Closing Time." A look at the closing paragraphs of traditional fairy tales.  It's not always "They lived happily ever after."  As the King in Alice in Wonderland famously said,  "Begin at the beginning, and go on till you come to the end: then stop."  Try writing the beginning paragraph or two, then the ending paragraph or two.  Maybe write the middle last.  If you don't know where you're going, how will you know when you're there?  Read and share.  (Note:  Julius and Philip Epstein, the twin brothers working on the screenplay for the classic film Casablanca, did not know how to end it until almost the last minute, one morning when they were riding in to work.)
April 18 workshop: POSTPONED WHILE PUBLIC LIBRARIES REMAIN CLOSED. NOTE: When the libraries reopen, we will schedule the two workshops postponed from March 21 and April 18.

Future 2020 dates reserved for the libraries:

May 16
June 20
July 18
August 15
September 19

October (date TBD)

November 21

Call for Submissions for HFW's 2020 collection
of variations on familiar fairy tales:

For 2020 publication:  a collection of entertaining variations on familiar fairy tales.   Title:  Kissing Frogs, and Other Quirky Fairy Tales.  (Note:  Please do continue to submit by email, until June 1, 2020.)

Please follow these submission guidelines:

1.                   Original authorship.

2.                  Not previously published.

3.                  Length:  up to 4,000 words.

4.                  You may submit up to two pieces.

5.                  Submission deadline:  June 1, 2020.

6.                  Submit electronic only, in MS Word, Times New Roman,
              12 point, double spaced, and include your contact information
              and word count on the first page.

7.                  Send by email as an attachment to mlittlehi@gmail.com.

Note:  Pieces in this collection will have First North American rights.  Authors are free to publish their work elsewhere after publication in this collection.

Editors' Tips: 

1.  We are looking for entertaining variations on familiar fairy tales, such as Cinderella, Snow White, Goldilocks, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, and The Frog King (also known as The Frog Prince).

2.  Submissions may be in any genre, except erotica, and may have any setting.

3.  More than one writer may select the same fairy tale. 

4.  Be fastidious regarding the basics such as spell check and grammar.  Submit a story that entertains and one that the reader can easily follow. The editors will read all manuscripts submitted during the reading period up to June 1, 2020.  If you receive a request to rewrite your story, it is up to you to do so. A rewrite is not a guarantee of acceptance for publication.

5.  Resources:  Read the original version of the fairy tale you select.  There are many collections available.  For a collection of all 211 fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm, with illustrations and several extra features, see Grimm's Fairy Tales: Complete and Illustrated (99 cents on Kindle), from Maplewood Books.

2019 Events

   Invite a friend.  Save the dates.   

  
Our focus in 2019 will be on narrative.  
What stories do we tell, and how do we tell them?  

* Saturday,  January 19 - 10 to noon - Epiphany Episcopal Church (10th & Harding in Kaimuki) - Writers Workshop:  “The Voice of the Narrator:  Who’s Telling Your Story?”  Imagine that Audible wants to promote your book (or story) as one of its audible selections.  Better yet, Audible has asked you to choose the person, or persons, to record your book.  Make your selection.  Any actor or actors, any familiar or unfamiliar voice or voices.  You get to decide.  What is your answer?  Audible is waiting. To help you decide, you can go on Audible.com and sample some of their narrators.  Explain your choice!  
Workshop leader:  Michael Little.

* Saturday, February 23 - 10:30 a.m. - Kapolei Library - Readings:  “When Love Goes Wrong, or Right.”  Followed by lunch at Assaggio Kapolei.

* Saturday, March 16 - 10 to noon - Epiphany Episcopal Church (10th & Harding in Kaimuki) - Writers Workshop:  “Hearing Voices” - Don't panic; sometimes it doesn't mean you're crazy.  Continuing our January discussion of the importance of voices in stories (the voice of the narrator; voices of characters; handling dialogue).  Janae Mitchell writes, "I became a writer so that the voices inside my head would become an acceptable occurrence." Bring a page of your own to read and talk about the voice or voices on that page.  
Workshop Leader:  Michael Little.  

* Saturday, April 27 - 10 to noon - Epiphany Episcopal Church (10th & Harding in Kaimuki) - Writers Workshop:  “The Story Behind the Story” -  Ever hear this question:  "What inspired you to write this story?"  What was the spark?  Do you have a muse who throws you ideas?

In Bag of Bones, Stephen King writes that "The muses are ghosts, and sometimes they come uninvited."  Helen Hanson tells us that  "Inspiration is the windfall from hard work and focus.  Muses are too unreliable to keep on the payroll."  

Then there's this from Erica Jong, from Seducing the Demon:  "But the fact is, she [the muse] won't be summoned.  She alights when it damn well pleases her.  She falls in love with one artist, then deserts him for another.  She's a real bitch!"

Workshop Leaders:  Gail Baugniet & Michael Little.

* Saturday, May 25- 11:30 - Assaggio Kahala - Lunch and Guest Speaker:  
Richard Boudreau, “Engineering Our Way to Publication.”  Richard’s exciting 
new book is just out:  Engineering Our Way to the Moon: Untold Apollo Stories.  
He has a story to tell, and what an amazing story it is.  There are fascinating 
behind-the-scene tales of the challenging Apollo mission days, including Richard’s 
personal adventures (and misadventures), as well as the long and winding road of 
writing and publication that resulted in this remarkable book.  The cover features a 
July 1969 photo of Wernher von Braun and the NASA engineering managers at 
the Apollo 11 liftoff.  Their smiles are no bigger than Richard’s smile at the liftoff 
of this remarkable book!

* Saturday, June 29 - 10 to noon - Aina Haina Library -  Writers Workshop: “Narrative in Drama”  with Joyce Maltby (how is the story told? what can fiction writers learn from drama?). 

* Saturday, July 20 - 10 to noon - Aina Haina Library - Writers Workshop: “Food in Fiction” - the role of food in storytelling, such as the apple in Snow White.  Food fiction turns out to be a very popular topic (see  http://literaryfoodie.blogspot.com/p/food-fiction-list.html).  See also "Why Literature's Greatest Detectives Are All Obsessed with Food" (https://www.eater.com/2017/8/31/16216310/20th-century-detectives-food).  Share examples of times you have included food as part of your writing.  Writing exercise: create a short scene with two or more characters sharing a meal. Workshop Leader: Michael Little.

* Saturday, August 17 - 10 to noon - Aina Haina Library - “Share a Favorite Writer”

* Saturday, September 21 - 10 to noon - Aina Haina Library - Writers Workshop: “Prose Poems” -  Workshop Leader: Carol Catanzariti.

* Saturday, October 19 - 10:30 to noon - Kapolei Library - Readings:  “More Scary Stories.”  Followed by lunch at Assaggio Kapolei.


* Saturday, November 23 (tentative) - 10 to noon - Aina Haina Library - Craig Howes on Narrative.                       

        

Hawaii Fiction Writers

 2018 Events

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Our focus in 2018 will be “character-driven fiction.”  Character drives fiction ... 
but what drives your characters?  Your program suggestions are welcome!  

* Saturday, January 27 - 10 to noon - Aina Haina Library -  Writers Workshop:  “Strong Entrances: First Impressions of  Characters in  Fiction” (workshop leader:  Michael Little).  “A fictional person is balanced in the doorway between non-existence and being.  Can the author imbue his character with a projected ray of life, a compelling human future with which the reader can identify?”
        
* Saturday, February 24 - 10:30 a.m. - Kapolei Library - Readings:  “When Love Goes Wrong”  followed by lunch at Assaggio Kapolei.

* Saturday, March 17 - 10  to noon - Aina Haina Library - Writers Workshop:  “Caveman Fiction and Agatha Christie: Imagining and Writing a Two-Character Scene.”  Continuing the Hawaii Fiction Writers focus in 2018 on character-driven fiction.  Brush up on your caveman history, or just let your imagination run wild.  Plan ahead, and we will be writing and sharing during the workshop.  We’ll discuss the basics and importance of a two-character scene, how it can be the genesis of a short story, or even a novel.  We will also examine the opening two-character scene from Agatha Christie’s The Body in the Library, featuring the unsuspecting Col. Bantry and Mrs. Bantry, sleeping peacefully, unaware that there is, of course, a body in their library.

* Saturday, April 21 - 10  to noon - Aina Haina Library - [postponed due to Aina Haina flooding]

* Saturday, May 19 - 10:30 a.m. - Aina Haina Library - “Bring Out Your Best” - Share the best of your own writing, your personal favorite - [postponed due to Aina Haina flooding]

* Saturday, June 16 - 10 to noon - Epiphany Episcopal Church (10th & Harding in Kaimuki) - Joyce Maltby will speak on what drives character, from her years of experience in directing and acting in the theatre, where developing character really counts. Joyce Maltby’s lifetime career in theatre has taken her throughout the U.S. as an actor, director and teacher. In Hawaii she’s known for her work at MVT, DHT, ACT, UH Manoa, TAG and as founder of the HPU Theatre program, serving as Theatre Professor for 23 years. 

* Saturday, July 21 - 10 to noon - Epiphany Episcopal Church -  Writers Workshop:  “Sidekicks & Buddies in Fiction & Film.”  From Adam & Eve (add a serpent), to Don Quixote & Sancho Panza, to Holmes & Watson (add a mystery), to Butch & Sundance, to Poirot & Hastings, to Thelma & Louise, to Han Solo & Chewbacca ... the list is endless!  Workshop led by Michael Little.

* Saturday,  August 18 - 10 to noon - Epiphany Episcopal Church - Tracy Trevorrow (Professor of Psychology at Chaminade University) on character development.  Also: Report from the  May 18-20 Master Class with John Truby (“The Anatomy of Story”), which was held at the Ala Moana Hotel.

* Saturday, September 8 - 10 to noon - Epiphany Episcopal Church - Craig Howes, Professor of English at the University of Hawaii, speaking on character-driven fiction.

* Saturday, October 20 - 10:30 to noon - Kapolei Library - Readings: "More Scary Stories"

* Saturday, November 17 - 11 a.m.  - Assaggio Kahala - End of year luncheon with High School & College Short Story Contest Winners.

HAWAII FICTION WRITERS

2017 Events

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* Saturday, February 25 - 10:30 a.m. - Kapolei Library - Readings, followed by lunch at Assaggio Kapolei.

* March 16 thru 19 - Left Coast Crime Convention at Hilton Hawaiian Village,  See www.leftcoastcrime.org/2017.

* Saturday, April 22 - 10  to noon - Aina Haina Library - “Songwriting and Poetry & Prose: the Interplay of Art Forms” with Steven Goldsberry and Dylan Nobuo Little.

* Saturday, May 20 - 10  to noon - Aina Haina Library - Workshop and Readings: “Six African American Poets, from Langston Hughes to Maya Angelou” -  Ten poems with elements that are also part of fiction, such as narrative, character, setting (both time and place), point of view, voice, tone, word choice, and imagery. Workshop leader: Michael Little.

* Saturday, June 17- 11:30 a.m. - Readings and lunch at Assaggio Kahala.

* Saturday, July 29 - 10 to noon - Aina Haina Library - John Simonds, “News, Notions and Narratives: Using Verse to Mine the Memory.”

* Saturday, August 19 - 10 to noon - Aina Haina Library - Workshop and Readings: Christy Passion and Ann Inoshita.

* Saturday, September 9 - 10 to noon - Aina Haina Library - Writers workshop: “Pinocchio at the Keyboard” - Wikipedia lists 34 kinds of lies, a gold mine for fiction writers! - Workshop leaders: Michael Little and Craig Howes, UH professor and director of the Center for Biographical Research at UH Manoa.

* Saturday, October 21 - 10:30 a.m. - Kapolei Library - Readings, followed by lunch at Assaggio Kapolei.

* Saturday, November 18 - 10 to 11 - Aina Haina Library - High School & College Short Story Contest Winners, followed by end-of-year luncheon.

Hawaii Fiction Writers Events: August thru October 2016

Saturday, August 20, 2016:

10:00 a.m. to noon - Aina Haina Library

Guest Speaker: Craig Howes

Craig Howes, UH professor and director of the Center for Biographical Research at UH Manoa, on “How do you turn personal experience or factual material into fiction?”:

There are huge debates about this at the moment, with people talking at length about “biofiction,” which is sort of the equivalent of a film’s claim to be “based on a true story.” And more and more, you’re hearing novelists and short story writers saying things in interviews like--“Of course, my work is based on my own experience--but I add unicorns and alien lovers.” And of course, in other cases, short stories and novels draw extensively on historical or contemporary events--DeLillo, Martin Amis, Hilary Mantel, etc. etc.--but place fictional characters at the center. (It used to be called “historical fiction”) Iʻve actually written about this, and talked about what constitutes a “fictobiographical pact” with the reader.

Saturday, September 17, 2016:
10:00 a.m. to noon - Aina Haina Library
“Opening Lines” - Workshop led by Michael Little

As Glinda the Good Witch says in The Wizard of Oz, “It’s always best to start at the beginning.”  Twenty opening lines from literature to amuse and inspire, first drafts of a dozen opening lines to familiar stories and novels, and a chance to write opening lines for a snippet of monologue overheard on a Honolulu street.

Saturday, October 15, 2016:
10:00 a.m. to noon - Aina Haina Library
“Poetry Skills for Fiction Writers” - 

Workshop led by Ann Inoshita

Ann Inoshita, who teaches at Leeward Community College and has published both poetry and fiction, shares her insights on how fiction writers can draw on elements of poetry to enrich their stories.

You're Invited!

In 2015, Hawaii Fiction Writers presented writers workshops and readings, focusing on the elements of fiction, including character, plot, dialogue, point of view, and setting. In 2016, we focus on mystery writing and other genres. Here’s the schedule for events January through May.

Saturday, January 16, 2016 -                                           

Hawaii Mystery Writer Laurie Hanan

10:00 a.m. to noon - Aina Haina Library  

   

Join us as for an informal Q&A with local mystery writer Laurie Hanan! Laurie grew up in the picturesque islands of the South Pacific. She moved to Seattle to study photography and dance at the University of Washington. On Oahu Laurie had a career with the Postal Service and raised three children. She retired in 2006 and started writing the Louise Golden mystery series. Titles include Almost Paradise, How Far Is Heaven?, Another Day in Paradise, and Stairway to Heaven. 

Saturday, February 20, 2016 -
“What's Life Without a Little Mystery?” - Readings by Laurie Hanan, Rosemary & Larry Mild, Gail Baugniet, and Kent Reinker

10:30 a.m. to noon - Kapolei Public Library

Saturday, March 19, 2016 -11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Assaggios Kahala - Lunch & Readings

Saturday, April 16, 2016 -10:00 a.m. to noon - Aina Haina Library - “A ___ Walks Into a ____”: Writing a Comic Scene -Workshop led by Michael Little

Saturday, May 21, 2016 -10:00 a.m. to noon - Aina Haina Library - “Mystery Writing”: Workshop led by Rosemary & Larry Mild

Hawaii Fiction Writers: Mary Lou Sanelli speaking Saturday, November 21

Hawaii Fiction Writers:
Mary Lou Sanelli speaking
Saturday, November 21

10:00 a.m. to noon - Aina Haina Library

Guest Speaker: Mary Lou Sanelli

Followed at 12:30 by lunch at 
Ryan’s Grill in Ward Centre.

A WOMAN WRITING (Aequitas Books, 2015), is Mary Lou Sanelli’s newest title. Mary Lou Sanelli has published seven collections of poetry and two works of non-fiction, AMONG FRIENDS (Aequitas Books, 2009) and FALLING AWAKE (Aequitas Books, 2007). 

Her regular columns appear in Seattle’s City Living Magazine, Art Access magazine, as well as the Peninsula Daily News & Lilipoh health magazine. She has written for the Seattle Times, Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, Morning Edition, National Public Radio, Seattle’s NPR station KUOW FM, and many other publications and radio stations. 

She works as a successful literary speaker and is booked at regional and national conferences and many other venues. She is also a master teacher of Lyrical style Jazz Dance and teaches classes & workshops throughout the world. She lives in Seattle.