Ghost stories from America's most infamous prison have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery! Welcome to the spooky island of Alcatraz! Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms. Did you know a ghost nurse wanders the halls in search of prisoners to heal? Or that nobody has ever escaped from Alcatraz…and lived to tell the tale? Can you believe Cell 14D is haunted by a mysterious, red-eyed monster? Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Alcatraz and have you sleeping with the light on!

Enjoy humor and adventure? Hold on to your hat. Last Voyage takes you to exotic, faraway places in West Africa on a safari loaded with mystery, thrills and tons of laughs. Know-it-all millionairess Rhonda Schmidt booked a dream trip to Africa, and she wants to share it with her closest friends. Trusting Rhonda’s advice, Helen Slider sets off on an adventure of a lifetime to West Africa dragging her skeptical husband Jerry. Readers of Font’s - Wrath of Rhonda and Road to Machu Picchu - will remember Rhonda as Jerry’s longtime nemesis and bête noire. What disasters will Helen’s too-trusting heart lure them into? Upon embarkation the cruise line announces the company will fold due to financial woes. It will be the Sea Witch’s last sail from Dakar to Cape Town. Did anyone say, Ebola? Titus Attah is fleeing Monrovia for his life as he is pursued by Liberian authorities for being a carrier of the deadly virus. He’s headed directly into the path of our unsuspecting travelers onboard the aging cruise ship, Sea Witch. It’s the perfect storm as sparks fly in this final sequel to the Jerry Slider adventure trilogy.

This collection of shorter pieces may surprise or shock, depending on your view of life. The mind restructures and interprets the way we see and experience all that surrounds us...but is it reality? Delusions often seem just as real. By acting, we have made our choice—but can we ever be certain that we have chosen correctly? Short Stabs and Silent Screams treads through areas of mystery, evil and confusion. The unexpected becomes grist for the mill. In these stories, common people are caught in strange and uncommon situations that unravel depending on their choices. Enjoy the tales and remember... they are only stories.

Do you ever wonder why things happen to us? Max Anderson is a retired army ranger who's been a sober, single parent for the past eighteen years. Throughout his sobriety, he made a solemn promise that he would pay for his only son's college education. But his military pension alone doesn't come close to meeting this obligation. After many rejections for a job that could use his executive skills, Max must accept a sales job he otherwise would never have considered. The competitive world of recreational vehicle sales is foreign to Max as he becomes mired in a pit of vipers who are threatened by his presence. And then Lauren McGill walks into his life. But things get complicated when the wealthy ex-wife shows up after eighteen years wanting to reconnect with her son—and Max. This is a story about individuals whose lives are interlaced with Max's by the unforeseen.

When Bailey finds herself in big trouble, it seems there is no way out. How much is she willing to risk? Her life, her friendship with Brady, or punishment for disobedience? She learns a hard lesson when she breaks the rules and goes swimming alone. Not only alone but in a neighbor's pool without permission. The sun is sizzling hot, the water looks so refreshing, and Bailey doesn't want to listen to the voice in her head saying, "Never Swim Alone." What could possibly happen? Vivid 3-D illustrations will captivate your children and test their imagination. Questions following the conclusion will give parents a springboard for conversations with their children about the value of rules and the importance of obedience. Don't we all hear that still small voice at times?

Feb 27, 2021 presented by Fauzia Burke Creating an online platform is vitally important for long-term success. In this session you’ll learn where to focus your efforts and how to avoid distractions while connecting all the elements of online marketing (website, mailing list, blogging, social media, advertising and publicity) into a cohesive, successful and sustainable author platform. Fauzia Burke, author of Online Marketing for Busy Authors, is the founder and president of FSB Associates an online book publicity firm, co-founder of Pub Site a platform for building author websites, and a consultant and coach for authors who need help navigating the book marketing and publicity landscape. Before starting FSB, she worked for Henry Holt and John Wiley. Fauzia has promoted books by authors such as Alan Alda, Arianna Huffington, Deepak Chopra, Melissa Francis, S. C. Gwynne, Mika Brzezinski, Charles Spencer and many more. She is based in San Diego, CA. FauziaBurke.com

Jan 29, 2022 presented by Les Edgerton Kickstart your writing with a boost from someone who’ll give you the nuts and bolts for success. Les Edgerton is the author twenty-three books including Hooked: Write Fiction that Grabs Readers at Page One and Never Lets Go (Writers Digest Books). Hooked consistently appears in popular top-ten lists for books about the craft of writing. His ratings on Goodreads.com sit at a stellar 4.83 / 5 stars. His personal story is one of inspiration and redemption: from a career on the wrong side of the law to that of a widely-read author and college writing instructor. You’ll find his matter-of-fact view of life and sense of humor are refreshing.

Oct 22, 2021 facilitated by JoLynne Buehring Our second annual Prose Readaround. This is an event not to be missed! Both published and unpublished authors will read and discuss their work. Also contains the annual election of officers for two positions on the Board of Directors of the Diamond Valley Writers' Guild: President, and Treasurer.

Sep 25, 2020 presented by Lynne M. Spreen Tired of watching the months go by with no new book under your belt? Frustrated by a lack of productivity? Do you envy those writers who crank out book after book while it seems to take you years to produce one? The Diamond Valley Writers’ Guild has a solution. This year, take the NaNoWriMo challenge! Join millions of other writers worldwide who use NNWM to produce a 50,000-word manuscript during the month of November. Whether you end up with a good first draft or simply break out of a rut, whether you’re a plotter or a pantser, and whether you’re writing fiction or non-, the NaNoWriMo experience will empower you as a writer. Using NNWM, Lynne M. Spreen has produced three full-length novels. Although she is a dedicated plotter, her presentation is geared for pantsers as well. After a career in Human Resources, Lynne M. Spreen reinvented herself as an author, speaker, blogger, and teacher. She enjoys speaking about the positive side of aging, and writes uplifting novels and short stories featuring main characters in the second half of life. Lynne’s debut novel, Dakota Blues, tells the story of two woman who embark on a life-changing road trip. The novel won an award for excellence in women's fiction.

Aug 22, 2020 facilitated by Howard Feigenbaum A selection of poetry Readings by Guild Members and participants.

Jun 27, 2020 presented by Rebecca Farnbach Where to find historic information How to resolve differences in narratives How to write a historic narrative How to organize historical material for enjoyable reading Consideration of the audience in telling the stories Rebecca’s first big break into publication was an article in Seventeen magazine when she was seventeen years old. Later, she wrote a recipe pamphlet for the Federal WIC (Women Infant Child) nutrition program. Over a ten years period she wrote six books in the Images of America series. In 1998, Rebecca started a writers’ critique group that still meets. The group has published over 130 books. The San Diego Christian Writers Guild honored Rebecca with several awards, including Writer of the Year, and she has received several poetry awards from other organizations. Her most recent publication is Dancing with Prayers in My Feet, a collection of her best poetry and prose. The publication of her collaborative Flavors of the Temecula Valley Wineries and Portraits of the Temecula Valley Wineries is in the works.

Jul 24, 2020 presented by Michelle Bassett Bruce Deciding where to start your story is one of the most important and challenging decisions you must make as a writer. Many readers, including editors and agents, determine within the first few sentences if your story is worth their valuable time. As a writer, your goal is to keep them reading. Together, we will explore what makes a good (or bad) opening sentence. Michelle's love affair with speculative fiction began between the pages of a hand-me-down copy of Frank Herbert's Dune. Currently, she is seeking representation for Minstrel's daughter, an adult epic fantasy novel. Her 2020 goal: To write short fiction ... and learn to tell a compelling story in less than 100,000 words.