Meetings and Events
Networking beforehand from 12:00 – 1:00 MT
1:00 – Program MT
2:10: Business Meeting MT
Non-members are invited to attend two business meetings per year for free.
(Speaker events are a non-refundable $10 for non-members)
All events are also posted on the chapter’s Facebook page.
Meetings are on Saturdays: 1/7, 2/3, 3/2, 4/6, 5/4, No June meeting,
7/13, 8/3, 9/5, 10/7, 11/2, No December meeting
2024 Programs
January 6: Mini Writing and Marketing Retreat 10am to 2pm @ Boise Main Library, Marion Bingham room (715 S. Capitol Blvd)
Start the year off write! Come join us for a one-day mini writing and marketing retreat and get some good words in on the current WIP. Megan will be available for individual marketing/advertising sessions for members and non-members alike.
Visitors welcome (no speaker fee). Please note that only small, packaged snacks and beverages in closed containers are allowed in the library.
2023
November 4: How to Use 12 Fiction Inspection Points to Write and Revise Your Novel with developmental editor Cristen Iris IN-PERSON ONLY at 1pm, Smoky Mountain Pizza 415 E Parkcenter Blvd
Cristen Iris is a neurodivergent, award-winning ghostwriter and developmental editor who specializes in working with mission-driven clients on high-impact and engaging books and documentary film projects. Her author clients have contracts with Big 5, academic, and respected independent publishers and have earned more than 60 book and writing awards; bestseller rankings, including New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon Charts; and media placements, including Parade Magazine, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and New York Post. And their books have been translated into more than a dozen languages.
Cristen believes that writing and editing are a way of life, the constant creation and refinement of thought and action that leads to our highest level of contribution and agrees with Robert McKee that “in a world of lies and liars, an honest work of art is an act of social responsibility.”
Non-CBC members are welcome to attend IN-PERSON ONLY @ Smoky Mountain Pizza, 415 E Parkcenter Blvd. for the non-refundable fee of $10.
October 7: Nanowrimo Tips and Strategies – How to Write 50K in 30 days with Melanie Olsen IN-PERSON ONLY at 1 PM MT @ Smoky Mountain Pizza, 415 E Parkcenter Blvd.
Melanie has participated in Nanowrimo seven times since 2009. She’ll share what has and hasn’t worked for her for each of the years she’s participated along with her strategies for writing 50k words in the month of November.
Melanie Olsen writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance. She enjoys writing imaginative characters with complicated backgrounds. She cherishes books with plot twists, humor, and happily ever after’s.
Born and raised in California, Melanie has also lived in Illinois, Texas, North Carolina, Idaho, and England. She served as a military spouse alongside her active-duty husband in the US Air Force for twenty-one years. She holds bachelor degrees in English, and Geology after discovering her love of rocks during a camping trip to a gold mine as a child.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two adult children, and one adorable golden retriever at their home in Boise, Idaho. She also enjoys gardening, gluten-free baking, and random home improvement projects.
Non-CBC members are welcome to attend IN-PERSON ONLY @ Smoky Mountain Pizza, 415 E Parkcenter Blvd. for the non-refundable fee of $10.
September 9: How to Choose Ideas that Best Resonate with Readers with Charlie N. Holmberg VIA ZOOM 1pm MT.
Are you stumped with what to work on next? Ever wondered how a favorite author came up with such an amazing premise? There’s a lot of frustration with the question, “Where do good ideas come from?” because nothing and everything is the answer. In this class, we’ll talk about where and how to mine great story ideas using a variety of strategies, and how to choose those that best resonate with readers.
Charlie N. Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of fantasy and romance fiction, and writes contemporary romance under C.N. Holmberg. She is published in over 20 languages, has been a finalist for a RITA award and multiple Whitney awards, and won the 2020 Whitney for Novel of the Year for Adult Fiction. Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. She is a BYU alumna, plays the ukulele, and owns too many pairs of glasses. She currently lives with her family in Utah. Visit her at www.charlienholmberg.com.
Non-CBC members are welcome to attend VIA ZOOM ONLY for the non-refundable fee of $10.
August 5: Lessons learned from starting a new penname from scratch with Cate Lawley/Kate Baray IN-PERSON ONLY at 1pm MT. @ Smoky Mountain Pizza, 415 E Parkcenter Blvd
Cate Lawley writes humorous, action-filled mysteries that frequently contain a paranormal twist. And when she’s writing as Kate Baray, she writes page-turning urban fantasy with relatable characters.
When she’s not tapping away at her keyboard or in deep contemplation of her next fanciful writing project, she’s sweeping up hairy dust bunnies and watching British mysteries.
Cate is from Austin, Texas (where many of her stories take place) but has recently migrated north to Boise, Idaho, where soup season (her favorite time of year) lasts more than two weeks.
She’s worked as an attorney, a dog trainer, and in various other positions, but writer is the hands-down winner. She’s thankful readers keep reading, so she can keep writing!
Non-CBC members are welcome to attend IN-PERSON ONLY for the non-refundable fee of $10.
July 8: Mini Writing Retreat IN-PERSON @ Main Boise Library, 715 S. Capitol Blvd, in the Marion Bingham room 10am – 2pm
Come get some writing done with the group!
ZOOM will be available if anyone is interested in joining remotely.
Only beverages in closed containers and small, packaged snacks are allowed in the library so plan on taking a break for lunch.
June 8-11: Members Only Summer Retreat
May 6: Powerhouse Tactics and Strategies for a Successful Author Newsletter with Andrea Pearson VIA ZOOM 1pm MT.
From learning how to write killer subject lines to selling books in a way that feels natural, Andrea Pearson takes authors on a journey of self-improvement with methods that are guaranteed—based on studies—to get results.
In this presentation, Andrea will discuss the top reasons why subscribers report emails as spam, why being humorous in your subject line might put off recipients, and how to structure your emails so readers feel confident in the writer they’re supporting. You’ll learn multiple selling methods that harmonize perfectly with being an author, plus, Andrea will teach dozens of ideas for evergreen emails when you aren’t currently focused on a book launch or promotion.
Andrea Pearson, host of the popular Self-Publish Strong podcast, has published over two million words under three pen names, including 35+ novels, several non-fiction books, multiple novellas and short stories, and over a hundred articles for professional blogs and websites. She is an instructor for WMG’s Business Master Class for Authors, and she has been interviewed on the Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing Podcast, the Rocking Self-Publishing podcast, and the Author Hangout.
Non-CBC members are welcome to attend VIA ZOOM ONLY for the non-refundable fee of $10.
April 1: Resurrecting sales with Amazon Attribution links + Facebook ads with Megan Bryce – IN PERSON ONLY 1pm Smoky Mountain Pizza, 415 E Parkcenter Blvd.
Learn how Megan used Amazon Attribution links plus Facebook ads to go from the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year to her best month ever in over a decade of self-publishing. Includes insights into Facebook ads for 2023 and a simplified plan to improve sales for those who don’t geek out on data.
A drawing for a marketing consultation with Megan will be held during the presentation. Tickets may be purchased for $1 (CASH ONLY) and all proceeds go to CBC-RWA.
Megan Bryce is a member of CBC-RWA and has published 11 romance novels, 6 German translations, and 8 audiobooks since 2012. She was a full-time indie author right up until last year (see above for her thoughts regarding last year) and loves spreadsheets, complaining about writing, and kdramas…not necessarily in that order.
Local non-CBC members are welcome to attend in person only for the non-refundable fee of $10.
RESCHEDULED: How to Choose Ideas that Best Resonate with Readers with Charlie N. Holmberg VIA ZOOM 1pm MT.
Are you stumped with what to work on next? Ever wondered how a favorite author came up with such an amazing premise? There’s a lot of frustration with the question, “Where do good ideas come from?” because nothing and everything is the answer. In this class, we’ll talk about where and how to mine great story ideas using a variety of strategies, and how to choose those that best resonate with readers.
Charlie N. Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of fantasy and romance fiction, and writes contemporary romance under C.N. Holmberg. She is published in over 20 languages, has been a finalist for a RITA award and multiple Whitney awards, and won the 2020 Whitney for Novel of the Year for Adult Fiction. Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. She is a BYU alumna, plays the ukulele, and owns too many pairs of glasses. She currently lives with her family in Utah. Visit her at www.charlienholmberg.com.
February 4: Conflict For Everyone In Your Book with Laurie Schnebly Campbell VIA ZOOM 1pm MT.
Tools for determining naturally lovable (and intriguingly flawed) personality types include Adlerian birth order, Jungian thought/feeling scales, the Dewey priorities, and other theories of temperament. Learn which ones will offer the best opportunities for conflict between your realistic characters…whose “inborn” personalities will both oppose and attract.
Laurie Schnebly Campbell loves giving workshops that draw on her background as an advertising copywriter, a counseling therapist, and a romance novelist who beat out Nora Roberts for “Best Special Edition of the Year.” Her favorite book are those created in the classes she teaches for WriterUniv.com, with 51 first sales so far.
Someone at this presentation will win free registration to an online class by Laurie.
January 7: Goal Setting for Authors with Tracie Lee. In-person only at Smoky Mountain Pizzeria and Grill
415 E Parkcenter Blvd, Boise, ID 83706. Chapter president Tracie Lee will lead a short program where we’ll use the Goal, Motivation, and Conflict (GMC) framework to set 2023 author goal(s). **No Zoom Available**