April 13, 2019 Florida Chapter, Mystery Writers of America Luncheon Meeting

DATE: April 13, 2019 (Second Saturday due to Easter weekend)
GUEST SPEAKER: Tina Koenig
PROGRAM: “Building an Author’s Online Presence”

Building an author website can be a daunting task. Especially if you’re tech challenged. There are companies that let you build a site for free. However, a free service won’t provide essential features like the ability to back up your content. In this lecture, we’ll go over why an author needs a website, how to choose the best website host for your needs, what those needs are, and how much you can expect to spend. This session will also cover the importance of branding across all your platforms.

SPEAKER BIO:

Tina Koenig is an award-winning graphic designer and writer. She founded the Internet’s first PR wire service in 1995 and has since held various communication, marketing and fundraising roles that have included working with the Broward County Library System and the Broward Public Library Foundation.

She currently works as a marketing consultant and literary consultant to writers. She guides writers through the publishing process, helps them to develop a signature brand, builds websites (or helps you DIY), plans and executes online and traditional marketing strategies.

Tina is the author of the middle grade historical mystery, A Case of Considerable Consequence. She’s a frequent contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, specializing in humorous stories about family. She’s adapted some of those stories into a stand-up comedy show called Gefilte Fish Out of Water. Read more about her at www.tinakoenig.com.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 13, 2019 (Note: This is the second Saturday as the third Saturday falls on Easter Weekend.)
TIME: 11:30: Mingling; 12:00: Lunch; 12:30: Business Meeting; 1:00: Presentation
PLACE: Embassy Suites by Hilton Boca Raton, 661 NW 53rd Street, Boca Raton, Florida, 33487; Get Directions Here
COST: $25 for MWA members; $30 for non-members. Prepayment by April 9th is strongly urged.

RESERVATIONS/PREPAYMENT: To reserve and pay online: Scroll down to the “Sign up for Luncheon Meeting” box and fill in your information, then click the “Pay Now” button and follow the instructions.

IMPORTANT – if you sign up for a meeting via PayPal in error, do NOT dispute the charge with PayPal. Instead, please contact our Treasurer via email ASAP at ray@rayflynt.com and she will refund your payment less PayPal’s transaction fee of 2.9% plus $0.30. If you do dispute the charge, be aware that you will be liable for any penalties back-charged to the FMWA Chapter by PayPal (minimum $20.00 per disputed transaction). Thanks for your cooperation!

To reserve and pay via mail:
Step 1–Email ray@rayflynt.com with the subject line “FMWA Meeting” to reserve a spot. In the body of the email, please include your name, the name of any guest you have invited, your email address, and telephone number.
Step 2– Write your check or money order payable to “Mystery Writers of America/Florida Chapter.”
Step 3-Mail your payment to FMWA Treasurer, 2767 Carambola Cir S., #202, Coconut Creek, FL 33066.
Please make your online reservation by April 9th or mail your check at least 3 days prior to that date so that you will be included on the reservation list, and we can provide the hotel with an accurate headcount! Walk-ins are accommodated only it space allows.

Next Meeting Date: May 18, 2019

DATE: February 16, 2019 Florida Chapter, Mystery Writers of America Luncheon Meeting
GUEST SPEAKER: Daphne Nikolopoulos
PROGRAM: Writing for Magazines and Websites

Program: Whether working on your next novel or figuring out where to start, it’s important to keep your writing sharp and focused—and, of course, to make a living. Writing for magazines and websites can be rewarding on many levels. It hones your research skills, keeps you writing, broadens your network, and can provide the income to make the dream of full-time writing a reality. In this session, we will cover the basics of writing for the media, including who and how to pitch, common mistakes to avoid, how to best present yourself and your work, and how journalistic writing can benefit your fiction.

Daphne Nikolopoulos, photography by Lauren Lieberman / LILA PHOTO

Speaker: Daphne Nikolopoulos is an award-winning journalist, novelist, lecturer, and writing instructor. She is editor in chief of Palm Beach Illustrated magazine in Palm Beach, Florida, and editorial director of Palm Beach Media Group, a publisher of lifestyle and custom magazines. Daphne writes historical mysteries and thrillers under the pseudonym D.J. Niko. Her books, including The Tenth Saint, The Riddle of Solomon, The Oracle, and The Judgment, have been published in four languages. Her newest novel, The Firebird, will be published in Germany in April. Her books have been awarded a gold medal for popular fiction in the Florida Book Awards, a national bronze medal for historical fiction in the Independent Publisher Awards, and first place in historical fiction in the Royal Palm Literary Awards. Daphne also teaches writing and literature courses at FAU’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 16, 2019
TIME: 11:30: Mingling; 12:00: Lunch; 12:30: Business Meeting; 1:00: Presentation
PLACE: Embassy Suites by Hilton Boca Raton, 661 NW 53rd Street, Boca Raton, Florida, 33487. Get Directions Here
COST: $25 for MWA members; $30 for non-members. Prepayment by February 12 is strongly urged.

RESERVATIONS/PREPAYMENT: To reserve and pay online: Scroll down to the “Sign up for Luncheon Meeting” box and fill in your information, then click the “Pay Now” button and follow the instructions.

IMPORTANT – if you sign up for a meeting via PayPal in error, do NOT dispute the charge with PayPal. Instead, please contact our Treasurer via email ASAP at ray@rayflynt.com and she will refund your payment less PayPal’s transaction fee of 2.9% plus $0.30. If you do dispute the charge, be aware that you will be liable for any penalties back-charged to the FMWA Chapter by PayPal (minimum $20.00 per disputed transaction). Thanks for your cooperation!

To reserve and pay via mail:
Step 1–Email ray@rayflynt.com with the subject line “FMWA Meeting” to reserve a spot. In the body of the email, please include your name, the name of any guest you have invited, your email address, and telephone number.
Step 2– Write your check or money order payable to “Mystery Writers of America/Florida Chapter.”
Step 3-Mail your payment to FMWA Treasurer, 2767 Carambola Cir S., #202, Coconut Creek, FL 33066.

Please make your online reservation by February 12, or mail your check at least 3 days prior to that date so that you will be included on the reservation list, and we can provide the hotel with an accurate headcount! Walk-ins are accommodated only it space allows.

Next Meeting Date: April 13, 2019. (Please Note: This is the second Saturday as the third Saturday falls on Easter Weekend.)