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.
2023 Redwood Branch
Jack London Recipient
Crissi Langwell
Crissi Langwell has been an active member of Redwood Writers since 2013, serving in multiple roles including Vice President, Newsletter Editor, Website Editor, Social Media Manager, and Secretary. Her commitment to the club’s motto, “writers helping writers,” is evident in her tireless efforts to support and uplift her fellow members. In 2022, she was also the recipient of the Helene S. Barnhart Award, an award that honors members who have offered outstanding service to the Redwood Writers branch.
In addition to her various roles within the club, Crissi has served as the Anthology Editor-in-Chief for 2020 and 2021, volunteered at the SoCo Fair booth, and at several conferences. She has also been instrumental in editing, formatting, and designing covers for past anthologies. With her own writing, Crissi is the author of 14 novels, with genres that include romance, women’s fiction, and young adult.
Crissi’s commitment to the Redwood Writers extends beyond her official roles. She has consistently been a friendly and helpful contact for members, inspiring other writers and fostering a sense of community within the club. Her dedication to ensuring everyone feels they belong is a testament to her leadership and commitment to the club’s values.
The Jack London Award is a unanimous acknowledgment of Crissi Langwell’s contributions and service to the Redwood Writers that are unparalleled. Her years of volunteering and serving the branch align perfectly with the spirit of the award, making her an exemplary recipient for 2023.
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
Les Bernstein
2024
Mara Lynn Johnstone
2024
Crissi Langwell
2022
Joelle B. Burnette
2020
Malena Eljumaily
2018
Robin Moore
2016
Juanita Martin
2014
Ana Manwaring
2012
Kate Farrell
2010
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.
Past Fran Claggett-Holland Award Recipients
Linda Loveland Reid
2024
Fran Claggett-Holland
2023
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.)