Photo by Alan Beymer – for Volume 4 of Voices of the Grove
Manzanita Writers Press
501(c)3 Nonprofit Literary Publisher
Mother Lode and Sierra region of California
CONTACT: manzanitawp@gmail.com
PURCHASE LOCAL AND REGIONAL BOOKS
FREE writing classes and workshops for seniors 50+:
Classes meet at the Volunteer Center in San Andreas
from 1-3 pm every TUESDAY – live and Zoom meetings
325 Lewis Avenue, San Andreas – below San Andreas Elementary School
Email lintoren@gmail.com for information. Zoom and live meetings for regional seniors.
“This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org.”
The Mother Lode Book Festival in Murphys, CA
May 3, 2025, 9 am- 5 pm
8 Workshops
https://checkout.square.site/buy/VB3YZXBWPZJRC3IKY73IT2OL
Hosted by Manzanita Writers Press, with Calaveras Writers, & the Sonora Writers Group
Author Vendor fee: $25 – register here
Mother Lode authors & Author Friends of the Mother Lode (https://square.link/u/ELw4DWcw)
This first annual event at the Native Sons Hall promises to be a vibrant celebration of literature and community. Nestled in the charming historic town of Murphys, this festival will bring together authors, readers, and literary enthusiasts to celebrate the written word. With a diverse lineup of events, including author tables, book signings, workshops, and panel discussions, attendees can engage with their favorite writers and discover new voices. The festival will also feature a variety of regional and local authors, publishers, and speakers, making it a perfect day out for families and book lovers alike. Whether you’re an avid reader or just looking for a fun cultural experience, the Mother Lode Book Festival is an event not to be missed.
Workshops and speakers from 9 am to 12 noon – $35.00 fee for workshops – $45 at the door. Author signings and tables from 1-4 pm. Author readings 4 pm – 5 pm. Authors with books for sale at the table and who have registered as a vendor can set up books early at 8 am and will have access to the Main Hall workshops with an additional $35 workshop fee.
Book Festival exhibits – free to the public from 1-5 pm
Author signings and sales of regional books
Creative Journaling – free to the public
Workshops: $35 for all
Author Vendor fee: $25 – register here
(https://square.link/u/ELw4DWcw)
Sarah Lunsford – YouTube for Writers – and Podcasting for authors
Stephen Archer – Audiobooks and Marketing Strategies – Trial & Error (in place of Sarah’s workshop – family emergency and Sarah will present at a later date for participants)
Katie Stine – Historical Fiction
Manzanita Writers Press – Joyce Dedini-Runnells, layout designer and editor, Monika Rose: Preparing your manuscript for agents and publication –– plus Indie press publication tips
Linda Toren and Gary Thomas: Poetry Workshop
Conrad Levasseur: Creative Journaling
Michael Summers, Professional Speaker: Develop stage presence – for authors speaking and readings
Kristin Fulton, Monika Rose, Sarah Lunsford, Kathy Boyd Fellure, Mary Sexton & Michele Rugo: Children’s Book authors – Writing & Illustrating Your Children’s Book
The Festival continues into Sunday with free events!
Writing Down the Trees!
May 4 – 10 am – 5 pm at Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Education Room near the Visitor Center
Poets, writers, journaling fans, and artists will gather on Sunday, May 4, at Calaveras Big Trees State Park in the North Grove to write about and/or sketch/paint/take photos of at least one of the giant Sequoias of choice for inclusion in a creative anthology for a Fall/Winter 2025 release.
The free event starts at 9:30 with registration and check-in and coffee/snacks with a meet and greet. Then the program begins at 10 am in the education room with Jim and Joan Allday, docents and Big Trees board members, sharing a slide show about some of the more notable trees, along with stories and key information about the grove and its trees. Some of the information is usually reserved for notable events and insiders, but the docents will share this information with us on May 4. Writers and artists then walk down to the North Grove Trail and select the tree that will become the subject of their writing and/or art. A sharing of writing back in the education room at 3 pm will conclude the day.
Nitya Prema will offer a forest bathing workshop on the North Grove Trail after her short slide show.
Bring your lunch, snacks, water, and materials. Also bring a folding chair or something to sit on. Benches are limited and not located at every tree. Prepare for any inclement weather. This is a rain-or-shine event. It will be cold, and it may rain, so come prepared and layer. Check the weather for Big Trees on Sunday. It’s at 5,000 ft. elevation.
There is an entrance fee to the park that is assessed per car. The education room across from the Visitors Center will open at 9:30 am. and there will be hot coffee/tea, rolls, and water available.
Contact Monika Rose, Calaveras County Poet Laureate, at manzanitawp@gmail.com
Volume 4 – Voices of the Grove anthology has been released in November 2024. Watch for postings! The public was invited to our November 23 Gala Literature Celebration at Ironstone Vineyards, Heritage Room, a wonderful gathering and celebration of literary arts. Thank you, Ironstone Vineyards and the Kautz Family, for hosting us. This project is funded by a grant from California Humanities and a grant from Calaveras Community Foundation. The Gold Country Oral History project, interviews with the elders, 2022-2024, is made possible by California Humanities – calhum.org
MANZANITA NIGHT WRITERS & WRITERS UNLIMITED Free Writer manuscript review and support sessions every 1st and 3rd Monday evening via ZOOM starting up again in January. From 6:30-9:00 p.m. Email Monika for an invitation at manzanitawp@gmail.com – serving the Mother Lode/Sierra region and beyond: manzanitawp@gmail.com. ALL GENRES WELCOME. We also have an online NING group to post and comment on work. It’s Private, with vetted members.
Memoir sessions starting up January 2025 again, every 2nd Monday at 6:30 pm. Contact Monika at manzanitawp@gmail.com to sign up. We use the Manzanita Writers Press Ning (a private online writing space). The Zoom sessions are by invitation only, so contact Monika.
Manzanita Poets will meet LIVE every 1st and 3rd Thursday, 6 pm-8 pm in Angels Camp in December (Dec 6 and 19), January, and February. Round Table Pizza has a wonderful meeting room available to us. Contact us at manzanitawp@gmail.com for more information and updates on meeting place. Facilitator: Monika Rose, Calaveras County Poet Laureate. Learn poetry craft and study poets and their work, then share your own poems in progress or finished poems with the group. Members rotate presentation topics and leaders.
Poetry sessions every 3rd Wednesday at 10 am on Zoom with Linda Toren. Contact manzanitawp@gmail.com or lintoren@gmail.com to sign up.
Gold Country Oral History Project:
We want your family, generational, community, and business/work stories about the good old days in Calaveras County from 1990s back to the 1850s. We are holding group conversations that are videotaped for the history books. Contact us for a time slot, and we’ll record your elders and family members talking about the past. Have artifacts, relics, and cherished heirlooms/photos ready to show and share, telling their story, too. We want to hear your story!
This project has been made possible by the Calaveras Community Foundation for 2024-2025.
Contact Monika at manzanitawp@gmail.com
OR Lydia at liddypink@outlook.com
“This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org.”
A Calaveras Community Foundation grant has made possible the publication of two books — Voices of Wisdom anthology and a West Point Community Miwuk Language and Culture book in November 2024.
Support for the ongoing 2024-2025 oral history film project is made possible by a grant from the Calaveras Community Foundation. Thank you so much for your support!
Literary Events and Happenings: Join us for author signings and talks, workshops, readings, and more.
MANZANITA BOOKS Released IN 2023 and forthcoming in 2024:
- Doug Albert’s book of poems and prose – Love Simply released in July 2023
- Michele Rugo’s new children’s book: Farmers Markets: Share the Joy – released July 2023
- Judy Creighton’s Cheese & Wine pairing book, Cheese Loves Wine – released July 2023
- Stephen Archer’s novel, Fortunes, Book 6 of the Irish Clans novel series.
- Stephen Archer’s novel, Book 7, Irish Clans historical novel series, release projected Dec 15, 2024
- Monika Rose’s children’s book, Moths on a Limb, early middle grades 3-6: released November 2024
- Brenda Cumberlege, Steal Away, a book of poems and prose – November 2024
- Gary Thomas, O Yes We Breathe – November 2024 – book of poems
- Voices of the Grove: a Mother Lode Anthology of Voices stories, art, and poems – November 2024 -made possible with a grant from California Humanities -visit calhumanities.org – and Calaveras Community Foundation
- Miwok Language and Culture – editor Linda Toren – November 2024 – made possible with a grant from California Humanities -visit calhumanities.org – and Calaveras Community Foundation
- Ginger Bennett Griffin’s book – Affirming Your Life – 2025
- Don Urbanus – Elly and the Impossible Promise – a Young Adult fantasy comedy novel about a father and daughter who inherited a nursery and a murder mystery – March 2025 – or sooner!
- Suzanne Murphy’s Book of poems: Blink – Spring 2025
- Conrad Levasseur – a book of poems – We hope, Summer 2025
- Monika Rose – book of poems and a book of essays 2025
- BJ Smalling, a book of metaphysics – Spring 2025
- Robin Williams children’s books – Summer 2025
- Dan Nicholas poetry collection – Spring/Summer 2025
Manzanita Writers Press released these new books – perfect gifts, all of them!
Michele Rugo – Farmers Markets – Share the Joy! A children’s book that encourages young ones to grow their own vegetables and participate in the farmers market.
You can purchase directly from the author here, or shop at Manzanita’s online bookstore.
You can also purchase this book on Amazon.
Judy Creighton, our regional cheese lady and expert on all things cheese, has just received more copies of her new book, Cheese Loves Wine, with elegant and easy appetizers pairing wine and cheese. This book is highly popular and sold internationally.
The Third Annual Calaveras Poetry and Journaling Day was wonderful! – A Cavalcade of Regional Poet Laureates – JUNE 29 – from 9 am to 6 pm, included workshops and readings by laureates and participants.
Location:
Native Sons Hall in beautiful, historic downtown Murphys. Enjoyed workshops with authors and poets, writing time, wine-tasting and dining in a quaint Gold Rush town, with a writing block of time to record your thoughts and share them at the end at the open mic for the public. Contact Linda Toren for information: lintoren@gmail.com
A Cavalcade of Poet Laureates!
Featured Poet Laureates, past and present, from over 5 counties!
In 2022, we held this fine event at Big Trees State Park in Calaveras County for a day of poetry and journaling on Saturday, July 15, from 9:00 am – 6 pm, with poets Dana Gioia, Lee Herrick, and Susan Kelly-Dewitt, Calaveras Poet Laureate Linda Toren, poet Conrad Levasseur, and poet Monika Rose, Director of Manzanita Writers Press, and regional poets.
“This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org.”
Manzanita Arts Emporium
Online Art Gallery
Online Book Store – Manzanita Authors
OUR ONLINE BOOKSTORE IS VIBRANT and thriving, so GO TO THE online BOOKSTORE where you will also find art to purchase! We are expanding the store.
Support your rural and California authors, please!
New authors and books are out this year!
Voices of the Grove – Calaveras anthology
Calaveras Poets – a collection of poetry edited by Linda Toren
Monika Rose – Moths on a Limb – a children’s book
Gary Thomas – O Yes We Breathe – a poetry collection
Brenda Cumberlege – Steal Away – a prose and poetry memoir
Judy Creighton’s cheese pairing book – Cheese Loves Wine
Michele Rugo’s children’s book, Farmers Market: Share the Joy
Doug Alberts’ book of stories and poems, Love Simply
Stephen Finlay Archer’s Fortunes, Book 6 in the Series of the Irish Clans saga
Coming in the next three months:
Don Urbanus novel – Elly and the Impossible Promise
Stephen Archer – Book 7 of the Irish Clans historical novel series
Stephen Archer – Book 8 of the Irish Clans historical novel series
manzanitawp@gmail.com and catch us on Facebook: @Manzanita Writers Press. Or Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
Manzanita Writers Press has been granted a generous California Humanities grant for a fantastic Gold Country oral history project through November 2024. This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org.
Also supporting this historical project is the Calaveras Community Foundation, with a generous grant for filming and editing equipment and publishing assistance.
- Oral interviews of the elders in our community filmed by partner CCTV with assistance from museum, senior center, and community members – teen filmmakers wanted for training
- FREE filming, editing, transcribing, and interview classes at CCTV – paid positions available after the training is complete
- FREE Voices of Wisdom free writing classes for seniors 55+
- FREE Technology and smartphone classes for seniors
- Publishing a community book of Voices of Wisdom and another book based on the stories of our community.
- Many community and business partners are participating in this worthy project. The community is invited to contact us if you’d like to be a part of this! manzanitawp@gmail.com
More information has been posted in social media, newspapers, and senior centers. See the Calaveras Enterprise article in February 2023. Find out more at calhum.org
Assistance with funding for our videotaping and editing equipment has come from a Calaveras Community Foundation grant. Thank you so much!
Notice about our location:
Our MWP office of record is located at the Volunteer Center of Calaveras County, 325 Lewis Avenue, San Andreas, CA 95249. Contact us via email or phone.
Publisher meetings with authors are by appointment. Contact us at manzanitawp@gmail.com or phone: 209-728-6117 (message)
Mailing: PO Box 215, San Andreas, CA 95249
Contact the Director, Monika Rose: manzanitawp@gmail.com
Office: 209-728-6117 messages only
Find us on Facebook and Instagram!
Free Technology and smartphone classes were held for Seniors 50+ on Tech Tuesdays throughout the month of April and May occurred from 10-11:30 am at the Calaveras Senior Center in San Andreas (956 Mountain Ranch Road, San Andreas in Calaveras County). Classes and topics were Smartphone training, social media, settings on tech devices, apps, Google tools, YouTube and Spotify, safe surfing on the web, and more. An emphasis for May is social media, apps, and tech tools, as well as photos and videos, texting and uploading, and more. We hope to sponsor more. “This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org.”
Young filmmakers were offered free film and video classes at the CCTV studio. “This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org.”