Just Published

Westside Writers' own April Aasheim recently announced the publication of her book The Universe is a Very Big Place, available now for Kindle at Amazon.com.

As the daughter of a fortune-telling mother and a scam artist father, Spring Ryan wants nothing more than to leave her past behind, fall in love, and live a nice, normal life. But the Universe had other plans. 

For starters, the man Spring fell in love with, Trevor Donnelly, has disappeared off the face of the earth. To make matters worse her mother Lanie, an eccentric nudist, moves in ‘just until she’s done with menopause’, and her boss, Kimberly, has asked her to escort a life-sized condom around town to promote teen abstinence. 

Still trying to salvage a normal life Spring agrees to marry Sam Wayne, a banker with an appreciation for books, God, and a well-mashed potato. He may not be Prince Charming, but at least he can give her the normal life she has always dreamed about. 

But as her nuptials with Sam draw nearer, Spring’s life becomes even more complicated. She soon finds herself involved with three men, and has no idea what to do with any of them. It seems the Universe has a sense of humor...and just maybe, a better plan for Spring than the normal life she's always told herself she wanted.

Visit April's Author Page and visit her blog Pieces of April.

Westside Writers Spring 2012 Challenge

Westside Writers, a writing critique group that meets in the Reedville area of Hillsboro, issues the following challenge to other Washington County writers. Create a piece of short fiction, post it on your blog or ours, and read some other local writers' work. Don't forget to leave the author a comment letting her know you read the piece and what you thought of it. To view challenge submissions, just click here.

Here are the details:

What: Create a piece of short fiction (300 word limit) based on the following prompt (idea from How to Write a Damn Good Thriller):

Write a diary entry, first person, from your villain/antagonist's POV. They can even address the author if you want. Try to get to really know who the character is, why they are the way they are and why they chose to do the things they do. If you don't have a villain in mind, then do it from your hero/protagonist.

When: The deadline will be 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on Wednesday 23 May 2012

Who: Any resident of Washington County, Oregon or participant of a writers group that meets in Washington County, Oregon

Why: To have a bit of fun and share some of your writing with other Washington County writers and visitors to our blog (westside-writers.blogspot.com)

How: Submissions can be made either by: 1) adding your story to your blog or website, then sending a link to that post or page to WestsideWriters503@gmail.com. Please include a statement that you either live in Washington Co or attend a writers group in Washington Co, Oregon. OR 2) Email your submission to WestsideWriters503@gmail.com with a statement that it may be included on our blog (westside-writers.blogspot.com), include any identifying and copyright information you wish to have included on the blog post with your submission (name, web address or Twitter/Facebook/etc profile/name).

NOTE: Westside Writers may decide not to include your link or story if it doesn't meet any criteria listed in this post or if it violates our Taboo Topics as discussed on http://westside-writers.blogspot.com/p/about-us.html.

If you have any questions, please comment or email WestsideWriters503@gmail.com.

Conversations With Writers

Monday March 26, 2012

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Contact Fred Melden

The event takes place on the last Monday of each month, each time with a different guest presenter(s). A monthly event inviting writers to read and discuss their work with the audience. Not an open mic, not a reading, but something different. We, the audience, ask questions of the writer about their work, their style, the reasons for their choices. Influence Music Hall, 135 SE 3rd Ave, Hillsboro

Parallel Play at Hillsboro Library 25 March

Parallel Play is a writers' group opportunity for adult writers to practice and share. The group meets every other month, on the 4th Sunday of that month, from 2 to 4 p.m. 2012 schedule: Jan.22, Mar. 25, May 27, July 22, Sept. 23, and Nov. 25. Each group will begin with a writing prompt; from 2 to 3, writers will respond to the prompt; from 3 to 4, people may share their writing and receive feedback. Sharing and verbal feedback is optional.

Registration is not required and drop-ins are OK. For more information about the writers' group, contact Hillary Ostlund, Reference Librarian, at hillaryo@ci.hillsboro.or.us or 503-615-2482.

http://www.hillsboro.plinkit.org/research-rec/adult-programs/new-parallel-play-writers-group.html

How to Build a Book Workshops at Jacobsen's Books in Hillsboro

Details for the entire series, which meets in downtown Hillsboro, is available here.