The Central Valley Writers’ Workshop is a group of writers (published and unpublished) from the Central Valley of California (Modesto, Manteca, Merced, Chowchilla, Madera, Fresno).  Our purpose is to encourage each other along the path to publication.

We meet every Wednesday from 6 to 9PM at the Chowchilla branch of the Madera County Library (corner of Kings and Third streets in Chowchilla).

Our group is open to anyone 18 years or older.  The membership fee is $25.00 per year.

Please visit any of the links on the left to learn more about our goals and activities.

Workshop hosts writing contest

A call for entries has gone out for the Central Valley Writers’ Workshop 2007 contest. Winners will receive cash awards and an invitation to the workshop’s May 19 Symposium featuring two professionals in the publishing industry.

Entries must be postmarked by April 4. First place winners in each category will be notified prior to the symposium, and awards will be presented during the May 19 event.

Cash awards of $50 and $25 will be given in each category to first and second place winners, and $100 for the best overall. Top winners in each category will also receive an edit and critique of their works, a $300 value.

Novel categories are Childrens / Mainstream, Mystery / Suspense / Thriller, Action-Adventure, Horror / Amazon Listing Optimization /Fantasy / Science Fiction, Western/ Romance / Historical, and Nonfiction. Submit one-page synopsis and first chapter up to 30 pages. Any genre is welcome for the short story category.

Visit the workshop’s Web site, www.centralvalleywriters.com, for submission guidelines and entry form. Entry fees are $20 per novel, and $10 per short story. Multiple submissions are welcomed. In the event less than five entries are received per category, that category will be closed and entrant’s money refunded. Include a self addressed, stamped envelope so winners can be notified and judges comments can be sent to all entrants.

Manuscripts will not be returned unless accompanied by proper postage. No identifying information is to appear on the manuscript.

All proceeds help finance the workshop¹s yearly symposium and newly-launched scholarship program.

Submit entries by post to:

Central Valley Writers’ Workshop
PO Box 503
Chowchilla, CA 93610-0503

Today’s Writing

You and Your Feet

Xander awoke to a soft nuzzling at the bottom of his foot. He sighed.

“Angel, I’m trying to sleep. No nuzzling, licking, sucking, or biting until I’m fully conscious. You know that.”

Xander bent his knees, taking his feet far away from a protesting mouth.

“But sweetie,” Angel whined. “When you came home you took a shower and went to sleep. You’ve been sleeping for hours. It’s time to play.”

Xander looked through the shadows of the room to the end of the bed. He narrowed his eyes. “Angel,” Xander quirked his mouth into a sideways grin. “I promise I will let you do whatever you want in the morning, after I have gotten a full night’s rest. Until then, get back under the covers and plot or something.”

Doing his best imitation of Willow’s resolve face, Xander leaned back into his pillow. When he felt Angel’s huffy return to his place beside him, Xander happily went back to dreamland.

The next morning

Xander awoke and stretched. Angel immediately hovered, and then dived into a quick kiss.

“Now this is the way to wake up.” Xander smiled at Angel’s barely restrained eager look.

Yawning and stretching again, Xander looked at his lover. “Ready and willing Deadboy o’ mine.”

Angel leaped to the end of the bed, and began placing small kisses on the top of Xander’s feet.

Xander frowned. “You are so not biting my toe today. For a few hours the throbbing was okay, but after the entire day of step, throb, step, throb, it got really old.”

When Angel continued kissing and then massaging Xander’s heels, Xander cleared his throat.

Angel glanced up. He displayed his patent grin, and went right back to what he was doing with and the boys.

In between kisses, however, Angel whispered, “I’m… not… going to… bite… your toe.”

Then Xander felt Angel’s adept tongue slithering around his heel.

“Angel, then what…”

Xander’s words were cut off in a gasp when Angel’s teeth finally found their destination: the back of Xander’s right ankle.

Angel started purring, sending shivers up Xander’s spine.

When the slight blood flow withered and came to a stop, Angel licked the wound, while still purring to soothe any ill will. Angel knew how his purring affected his lover.

Looking very satisfied, Angel crawled forward to meet Xander’s dazed look.

“You know, you are really beginning to wreak havoc with my lower extremities. Is there something I should know?” Xander sunk into Angel’s waiting arms.

Angel smiled. “No. Nothing you should know. I have just been feeling feet-focused, and decided your feet and ankles are the perfect places for such… focusing. After all, not many beings get to see your feet and ankles. Right?”

“True. Only the guys on the swim team really got good looks.”

Xander grinned when he felt Angel stiffen at the mention of the swim team. A room full of barely covered guys was not something he wanted to envision Xander in, unless it was a room full of barely covered Xanders.

A thought occurred to Xander. It was something he had not thought of since being in junior high. He giggled. “You know Angel, this makes you an ankle-biter.”

Xander’s laugh along with Angel’s amused growl resonated through the bedroom even as Angel attacked his love with licks and kisses.

“You know,” said Angel pinning Xander beneath him. After a quick lick to Xander’s bottom lip, Angel continued, “I could become a knee-biter if you don’t watch it.”

Xander just shook his head as they went on into deeper matters.