2024-2025 Elected Officers
Crissi Langwell
President
Crissi Langwell writes romance novels that tell stories of the heart. She has 15 published novels, including her latest, Savior Complex, the 3rd book in her Sunset Bay series. She joined Redwood Writers in 2012 and has served as the club’s 2020 and 2021 anthologies editor, along with past vice president, secretary, newsletter editor, and social media manager. Currently, she is the club’s president and web editor. When she’s not writing or serving Redwood Writers, she’s working as Communications Director For Oakmont Village Association in Santa Rosa, or enjoying family life with her husband, Shawn, at home in Petaluma.
CrissiLangwell.com
2023 Jack London Award Recipient
2022 Helene S. Barnhart Award Recipient
Vice Presidents
Mara Lynn Johnstone
About Mara
Mara Lynn Johnstone grew up in a house on a hill, the top floor of which was built first. With a lifelong interest in fiction, she has published several books and many short stories. She can be found up trees, in bookstores, lost in thought, and at MaraLynnJohnstone.com.
Shawn Langwell
About Shawn
Shawn Langwell is the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, past president of Toastmasters of Petaluma, an inspirational author, speaker, confidence coach, business consultant, and marketing expert. He is the author of four books: Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and the eponymous companion workbook, and Morning Motivation. When he’s not writing or teaching, he’s likely hanging out with his best friend and wife, Crissi, and their cuddly Maine Coon cat, Cleo. Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.
Treasurer
Malena Eljumaily
About Malena
Malena Eljumaily is an award-winning writer of short plays, fiction and memoir. She is currently working on a full-length play set in Los Angeles in the 1980’s. She won the Audience Choice Award at the Redwood Writers 10-Minute Play Festival in 2012 for her play, “Special Delivery.” It has since been produced several times in Northern California. She continues to write and submit short plays to theaters all over the globe. Malena is also on the Board of the Northern California Chapter of Sisters in Crime. She lives in Santa Rosa.
Secretary
Barbara Cottrell
About Barbara
Barbara Cottrell Barbara Cottrell gave up a career as a professor to write weird fiction. She is the author of The Shadows Of Miskatonic, a series of supernatural thrillers. Her debut novel, Darkness Below, won a silver medal from Reader’s Favorites and a gold medal from The Book Fest and Indie Reader. When she isn’t exploring the dark side, she makes wine with her husband, Lance.
Visit her at www.barbaracottrell.com.
Board Members
Judy Baker
Newsletter Editor & Immediate Past President
About Judy
Judy M. Baker is the Creator of “The Buzzworthy Book Experience.” As a result of working with Judy, authors learn to build a sustainable business and brand and attract more clients, readers, and income. The Queen Bee of BookBuzz offers guidance, and marketing strategies to connect with your audience, whether launching a fresh title or reviving a hidden gem.
She writes nonfiction, memoirs, magical realism, and poetry. Judy is a content creator, speaker, video, and podcaster.
Judy loves to sing and work out. She keeps a gratitude journal, taking note of awe-inspiring moments and people.
Judy lives in Sonoma with an industrious flock of chickens and her husband, Garry, a voracious reader, gardener, and superb cook.
Connect with Judy
LinkedIn
BookMarketingMentor.com
Crissi Langwell
Web Editor
About Crissi
2023 Jack London Award Recipient
2022 Helene S. Barnhart Award Recipient
President
Web Editor
Crissi Langwell writes romance novels that tell stories of the heart. She has 15 published novels, including her latest, Savior Complex, the 3rd book in her Sunset Bay series. She joined Redwood Writers in 2013 and has served as the club’s 2020 and 2021 anthologies editor, along with past secretary, newsletter editor, and social media manager. Currently, she is the club’s president and web editor. When she’s not writing or serving Redwood Writers, she’s working as Communications Director For Oakmont Village Association in Santa Rosa, or enjoying family life at home in Petaluma.
CrissiLangwell.com
Roger Lubeck
Membership Chair
About Roger
Roger Lubeck, Ph.D., is president of the California Writers Club, and past president of the Redwood Branch of the California Writers Club. He is the president of It Is What It Is Press. Roger has authored nine novels and co-authored two business books. As well, he was editor and publisher of three anthologies written by members of the Writing Journey, and a memoir, Every Book Counts: The Stories of My Life, by Samuel C. Chandler. Roger has two short plays that were produced: “You Have Won” and “Lean and Hungry.” Roger’s short story “Squeakers” appeared in the California Writers Club 2018 Literary Review. Other short stories have appeared in several Redwood Writers anthologies: Sunset Sunrise (2020), Endeavor (2019), Redemption (2018), No Contest (2017), Sonoma (2017), Journeys (2015), and Water (2014). His poetry has appeared in And Yet (2020), Crow, (2019), Phoenix (2018), Stolen Light (2017), and Sonoma (2017). You can read more of his writing at his daily blog, RogerInBlue.com.
Tommie Whitener
Vault Master, Policies & Procedures
About Tommie
Tommie W. Whitener writes novels and short stories. His published books include: Mother Earth: Three Couples, a novel; Wanda and the Watch, a collection of short stories; and Tom & Leone: Star-Crossed Lovers, a historical novel. He was the editor-in-chief of the Redwood Writers 2019 anthology of fiction and memoir, Endeavor: Stories of Struggle and Perseverance. He expects to publish another collection of short stories by the end of the year and hopes soon to complete Swords and Roses, a novel set in Russian in the late nineteenth century and based on an Anton Chekhov short story about a dashing young cavalry officer in love with another man’s wife. In addition to a law degree from UC Hastings College of the Law, he holds two degrees in International Relations, one from UCLA and the other from Tufts University. He is fluent in Russian and has at least once visited most of the major Russian cities. He lives in Novato with Svetlana, his wife of more than 20 years.
Shawn Langwell
Speaker Chair, Communications & Public Relations
About Shawn
Shawn Langwell is the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, past president of Toastmasters of Petaluma, an inspirational author, speaker, confidence coach, business consultant, and marketing expert. He is the author of four books: Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and the eponymous companion workbook, and Morning Motivation. When he’s not writing or teaching, he’s likely hanging out with his best friend and wife, Crissi, and their cuddly Maine Coon cat, Cleo. Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.
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