Jack London Award
Every other year, CWC branches may nominate a member to the CWC Central Board to receive the Jack London Award for outstanding service to the branch.
2025 Redwood Branch
Jack London Recipient
Shawn Langwell
Shawn Langwell is the recipient of the 2025 Jack London Award, an honor presented by each branch of the California Writers Club in recognition of exceptional service to one’s branch.
Since joining Redwood Writers in 2017, Shawn has played a key role in many of the club’s most significant initiatives. He quickly took on leadership as Vice President and conference chair while still getting to know the organization. Just one year later, he stepped into the role of President and was hard at work planning our writers conference—until the pandemic hit, forcing a last-minute cancellation.
Shawn didn’t miss a beat. He led the club’s swift transition to Zoom meetings, oversaw the move to a new facility, and continued to serve in multiple capacities. During his tenure, he co-edited an anthology, helped update our Policies & Procedures, and took the lead in curating speakers for our monthly meetings—a role he still holds today.
He has since planned two more conferences, leads the current conference planning team, and is now heading up the creation of our new website. As our PR lead, he also champions the club to the broader community, helping to grow our visibility and membership.
Shawn’s leadership, innovation, and unwavering dedication have been instrumental in shaping the dynamic, welcoming community we’re proud to be part of. We are deeply grateful for all he has done—and continues to do—for Redwood Writers.
Past Redwood Branch Recipients of the
Jack London Award
Helene S. Barnhart Award
In 2010 this award was instituted in memory of our founder to honor a member with years of outstanding service to the Redwood Branch, to be given in alternating years of the Jack London Award. Helene served as the branch’s first president after she and 45 charter members founded the Redwood Writers.
2024 Helene S. Barnhart Award Recipients
Les Bernstein
2024
Les Bernstein’s poems have appeared in journals, presses and anthologies in the U.S.A. and internationally. Her chapbooks Borderland, Naked Little Creatures and Amid the Din have been published by Finishing Line Press as well as her full- length poetry book Loose Magic which is currently available on Amazon. Les is a winner of the 6th annual Nazim Hikmet Festival award. She was also a Pushcart Prize Nominee for 2015. Les has been the editor of Redwood Writer’s anthologies for the last five years and was also the editor of the Marin High School Anthology 2018. She is an editor and an anthologist.
As a member of Redwood Writers, Les has been an editor for the yearly poetry anthology for 5 years. She has created poetry contests, an art cover contest and has been a judge for these events. She has conducted poetry lectures and moderated poetry celebrations and events. Les has been on the RW board and created the Fran Claggett-Holland award for service. “It has been an honor to support the members and a privilege to be on the board of this wonderful club,” Les says.
Mara Lynn Johnstone
2024
Mara Lynn Johnstone grew up in a house on a hill, of which the top floor was built first. Interested in fiction, she went on to get a Master’s Degree in creative writing, and to acquire a husband, son, and three cats. She has published several books and many short stories. She writes, draws, reads, and enjoys climbing things. She can be found up trees, in bookstores, lost in thought, and on various social media.
Mara has organized multiple events, all of which were enjoyable and memorable. She was chief editor for the 2023 prose anthology, which turned into a fine book we can all be proud of. She planned the launch party to go with it, going so far as to make posters of each reader’s story for them to keep. She helped organize the 2022 costume party, then ran it solo in 2023. She helped by judging entries for the 2024 prose anthology, remaining available for more help and advice if needed. She regularly provides ideas and feedback at board meetings; she shares what knowledge and wisdom she has about writing/publishing/etc; she’s always on the lookout for new events and opportunities to benefit the club. She says that Redwood Writers has been a positive force in her life, and she’s happy to give back where she can.
Past Helene S. Barnhart Award Recipients
Fran Claggett-Holland Award
In 2023, the Fran Claggett-Holland Award was instituted to recognize outstanding Redwood Writers members who inspire and live the Club’s vision of WRITERS HELPING WRITERS.
2025 Redwood Branch
Fran Claggett-Holland Award Recipient
Robin Gabbert
2025
Robin Gabbert is the recipient of the 2025 Fran Claggett-Holland Award, a biennial award that honors a poet who exemplifies the spirit of “writers helping writers” within the Redwood Writers community.
Robin has been a tireless advocate for poetry, generously sharing her time, expertise, and creative energy. As a judge for The Smalls, our CWC poetry and prose anthology, she read and thoughtfully evaluated an impressive 377 entries—a meticulous and demanding task that she approached with care and dedication.
Robin has also been a guiding light for poets exploring ekphrastic poetry, offering both encouragement and instruction to those new to the form. Her contributions to poetry workshops are always insightful and enthusiastic, and she’s often among the first to volunteer when help is needed.
In addition, Robin has led the Redwood Writers Salon for many years, creating a welcoming space for writers to share their work and support one another.
Robin’s steady support, creative generosity, and willingness to serve make her an invaluable part of our community. We are honored to recognize her with this well-deserved award.
Past Fran Claggett-Holland Award Recipients
Ina Coolbrith Award
Periodically, the CWC Central Board bestows the Ina Coolbrith Award to honor a member for exemplary service to CWC and/or the Central Board.
(No Redwood member has yet received this award.)