You are here: Home / Branch Officers and Leaders

Branch Officers and Leaders

2017–2018 Elected Officers

ROGER C. LUBECK
President

[email protected]

Roger Lubeck, Ph.D., is president of Corporate Behavior Analysts, Ltd., and publisher and president of It Is What It Is Press. Roger has authored five novels and co-authored two business books. As well, he was editor and publisher of two anthologies, both written by members of the Writing Journey, and a memoir, Every Book Counts: The Stories of My Life, by Samuel C. Chandler. Currently, Roger is working on a new novel, Overland, a western, and a collection of his short stories. Roger's short stories and photos have appeared in the Sonoma Valley Sun and the Press Democrat.

Applying his advanced degree in experimental psychology to his work spanning three decades, this national speaker and expert on leadership and management has consulted, lectured and conducted workshops in business, healthcare, higher education and mental health in more than 30 cities and states. Currently focused on writing, photography, digital photo art, and publishing, you can read more of his writing at his daily blog, RogerInBlue.com.

Roger Lubeck

Vice Presidents

[email protected]

Robbi Sommers Bryant

Robbi Sommers Bryant

About Robbi

Past President
Member Professional Services Chair

Robbi Sommers Bryant's award-winning books include a novella, four novels, five short story collections, and one book of poetry. Her work is published in magazines including Readers Digest, Redbook, Penthouse, college textbooks and several anthologies.

Robbi’s work was also optioned twice for television’s Movie of the Week. She is past-president of Redwood Writers, the largest branch of the California Writers Club, and currently serves as vice president. Her focus is developmental, content, and copy editing.

 Visit Robbi's website at RobbiBryant.com.

Marilyn Lanier

Marilyn Lanier

About Marilyn

Marilyn Skinner Lanier grew up on cattle ranches in Oregon and Wyoming—the setting for her debut novel, Hardpan. A short film, “The Fence,” based on a chapter from her novel, was selected for the Director’s Award at the UCLA Film Festival in 2008.

She has a master’s in English from California State University, East Bay, and has taken creative writing courses through UCLA’s Extension Program. She lives in Sonoma County where she is an active member of Redwood Writers.

Elaine-Rock

Elaine Rock

About Elaine

Elaine Rock, a graduate of UCLA, is a former history teacher; project manager and writer in the telecommunications and banking industry; information technology executive and vice president at Wells Fargo Bank; and president of a California state-regulated water company. After retirement, she focused on her photography and writing about women’s rights. She joined Redwood Writers in 2014 and is co-chair of the Pen to Published 2018 Conference.

Elaine is writing a biography of women’s rights advocate and airline industry labor pioneer, Barbara “Dusty” Roads, a 2017 National Woman’s History Month honoree. Her short story about Dusty appears in the 2017 Redwood Writers Anthology Sonoma: Stories of a Region and its People. Visit her website and blog at ElaineRock.com.

Eljumaily Malena
Treasurer

Malena Eljumaily

[email protected]

Secretary

Adele Layton

[email protected]

Adele Layton

About Malena

Malena Eljumaily 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. Currently, she is working on a full-length comedy, and 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.

"writers helping writers"

About Adele

More information coming soon!

Board Members

 

Sandy Baker

Sandy Baker

Immediate Past President
[email protected]

About Sandy

Sandy Baker writes children’s gardening books and teen poetry, and co-authored the thriller The Tehran Triangle with Tom Reed. For 15 years, she has been a Sonoma County Master Gardener and credits the program for much of her writing inspiration.

Together, she and Thonie Hevron co-chaired the Redwood Writers “From Pen to Published” Conference in 2014. In 2012, Sandy chaired the Redwood Writers “Next Step” Conference. She’s also a member of the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association which awarded her book, Zack’s Zany Zucchiniland, the Best Children’s Picture Book for 2013.

Get to know her better at SandyBakerWriter.com and through her blog at WriterSandy.wordpress.com.

JoelleBurnette_headshot2_x500px-1

Joelle Burnette

Web Editor
[email protected]

About Joelle

Anthologies Editing/Proofing
Graphic Design

Joelle Burnette is an award-winning journalist, writer, and artist. In addition to her work as a KRON4 News web content producer, she reported for the Press Democrat and more newspapers for many years before publishing her first book, Cancer Time Bomb. She also writes and illustrates children's books, including Freedom Doesn't Just Come Along with a Tree, which promotes tolerance and diversity. She turned her pen drawings into her two coloring books for adults, Hearts: Love's Journey, and Snowflakes. Presently, her paintings show in galleries, and her art is carried by stores such as Made Local Marketplace on 4th Street in Santa Rosa.

In addition to being awarded for excellence in newspaper journalism, Joelle's magazine writing was awarded Gold by the International Parenting Media Association that represents more than 100 magazines worldwide. Prior to having received her master's in journalism from Stanford University, Joelle applied her love of writing to her work in congressional offices on Capitol Hill and in California, and media relations on presidential and regional political campaigns. Follow her writing at JoelleBurnette.net and her art at 4GenerationArtists.com.

Pam Heck

Pam Heck

Speaker Team
[email protected]

About Pam

Pamela Heck has been a club member for the past three years, and is a recent addition to the board. She is a special education teacher, artist, and writer of picture books, memoir, short stories, and poetry. Non-fiction is a new addition to her writing arsenal. Pamela’s work has appeared in the last three Club anthologies as well as the poetry anthology, Stolen Light. She plans on ending her procrastination very soon in order to finish illustrating her children’s book, Amazing Animals. You can view her art at the Cloverdale Arts Alliance Gallery or visit her website: PamelaHeck.com

Check out her blog at www.artbyheck.wordpress.com

Linda Loveland Reid

Linda Loveland Reid

Speaker Chair
[email protected]

About Linda

Past President
Play Festival Chairwoman
Anthologies Leader
Contests Leader

Linda Loveland Reid is author of two published novels, Touch of Magenta and Something in Stone. Her writing has won short story contests and is published in many anthologies.

Linda is an instructor for Sonoma State University's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute where she teaches art history courses for which she has designed the curriculum. As well, she serve's on the institute's curriculum committee.

Linda graduated cum laude in history and art history from Sonoma State University. She is founder of a family insurance business in Santa Rosa, as well as a theater director and figurative oil painter.

Jeane Slone

Jeane Slone

Author Launch
[email protected]

About Jeane

2015 Jack London Award recipient

Jeane Slone served as a vice president of the California Redwood Writers Club and continues serving as a board member. She is a member of the Healdsburg Literary Guild, Military Writers Society of America, and the Pacific Coast Air Museum. Conducting research is common practice among writers. One may say, Jeane literally leaped into her research when she went skydiving to experience the same as her book's protagonist in She Was an American Spy During World War II. More of her books featuring powerful women of the 1940s include a winner of the national 2012 Indie Book Award, She Flew Bombers During World War II.

Jeane is host of the television show "Writer/Speak" and a tutor for the Library Literary Program. As well, she created a business as a Sonoma County book distributor, representing more than 85 local authors whose books are sold in 17 shops. Visit her website at JeaneSlone.com.

Judy Baker

Judy Baker

Membership Chair
[email protected]

About Judy

Judy Baker attributes her love of color to her mother and her love of books to her father. She has been passionate about communication since she was a child. She acted in little theater and studied drama and telecommunication at San Diego State University. Fascinated by the ways in which people behave, Judy studied Organization Behavior at UCSF and went on to become the first director of human resources for Sutter Home Winery. Following the “Great Downsizing of 1992,” she was featured in a story in the Press Democrat as one of the first women in Sonoma County to have a home office.

Judy started off providing graphic design services to small businesses and expanded her services into marketing. Now, this past president of BAIPA specializes in working with authors.

Skye Blaine

Skye Blaine

Member-at-Large
[email protected]

About Skye

Member-at-Large

Skye Blaine writes fiction, memoir, poetry, and blogs, developing themes of aging, coming of age, disability, awakening, and the profound bonds we have with our dogs. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University. Bound to Love: a memoir of grit and gratitude, was published in 2015 and has won three awards. Her first novel, Unleashed, was released in late 2017, and she's now in the middle of the sequel. Skye is published in seven anthologies, and in national magazines: “Yes” and “Catalyst.” She teaches writing to older adults through Santa Rosa Junior College as adjunct faculty.

Committee Leadership:
Contests

Natasha Yim

Contest Coordinator
[email protected]
Natasha Yim

About Natasha

Natasha Yim is a children’s author and freelance writer. She has published four picture books, and her non-fiction articles have appeared in both adult and children’s magazines. She is a regular contributor to Mendocino Arts Magazine. Natasha’s upcoming picture book, The Rock Maiden, will be released by Wisdom Tales Press in 2017.

Committee Leadership:
Club Promotion

Margarite Olmos headshot 1 4-19sm

Margarite Fernández Olmos

PR Manager, Internal
[email protected]

About Margarite

Margarite Fernández Olmos taught Latin American and Caribbean Studies at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York for 37 years and is the author and/or co-editor of more than 12 books in English, Spanish, and in translation; among them, The Latino Reader: An American Literary Tradition from 1542 to the Present and Creole Religions of the Caribbean: An Introduction from Vodou and Santería to Obeah and Espiritismo. Margarite currently resides in Sebastopol with her husband and their Boston Terrier and is delighted to participate in and have the opportunity to contribute to the Redwood Writers Club.

DEBORAH-WALTON

Deborah Walton

PR – External , Newsletter Editor
[email protected] / [email protected]

About Deborah

For over 20 years, Deborah owned and operated the largest marketing and advertising company in the North Bay, assisting clients with business and marketing plans, advertising programs, and public relations. She then “retired” to become a full-time farmer and rancher in rural Sonoma County, raising sheep, cashmere goats, chickens, and 16 acres of vegetables and heirloom grains. Still trying to get the retirement thing right, she and her husband sold the ranch and bought a 1900 stone farmhouse in southern Tuscany and a home in Santa Rosa. She is now a writer-in-training through Redwood Writers. You can read her blog at sonomavore.wordpress.com

RWP-small-logo-

Redwood Writers Press
2017 - 2018 Anthology Editors

 

Robert Digitale

Robert Digitale

SONOMA: A Region and its People
[email protected]

About Robert

Robert Digitale is a staff writer at The Press Democrat, and for more than three decades, he has written a wide range of news and feature stories. He also is the author of the fantasy series The Root of Glory, which includes the novels Horse Stalker and Blaze & Skyfire.

Robbi Sommers Bryant-2

Robbi Sommers Bryant

REDEMPTION: Rising from the Ashes
[email protected]

About Robbi

Robbi Sommers Bryant's award-winning books include a novella, four novels, five short story collections, and one book of poetry. Her work is published in magazines including Readers Digest, Redbook, Penthouse, college textbooks and several anthologies.

Robbi’s work was also optioned twice for television’s Movie of the Week. She is past-president of Redwood Writers, the largest branch of the California Writers Club, and currently serves as vice president. Her focus is developmental, content, and copy editing.

Visit her website at robbibryant.com.

Fran Claggett

Fran Claggett

2018 Poetry Anthology
[email protected]

About Fran

Fran Claggett recently published her third book of poetry and memoir, Moments with Madge: Lux Aeterna. She has two previous collections of poems. After years of teaching, consulting, publishing, and writing, Fran is currently an instructor for memoir and poetry, both in her home and at Sonoma State University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. She has received a number of awards for her teaching, and for her books on critical thinking, literature, and writing.

Les Bernstein

Les Bernstein

2018 Poetry Anthology
[email protected]

About Les

Les Bernstein has been published in journals, presses, and anthologies in the U.S. and internationally. Her chapbooks Borderland, Naked Little Creatures, and Amid the Din have been published by Finishing Line Press. She has won the 2014 Nazim Hikmet award and is a 2015 Pushcart Prize nominee. Les lives in Mill Valley.

Committee Leadership:
Public Readings

Sher Garmard
Salon Chairwoman

Sher Gamard

[email protected]

Library Open Mic Chairwoman

Jean Wong

[email protected]

Jean Wong

About Sher

Sher Gamard has been living the writer’s life—with gratitude and gusto—for the past 28 years. She stayed home to raise her daughter. As her child grew and flourished, so did her manuscript—page by page and year by year. Sher’s memoir, Gifts From An Unseen Hand, is the engaging story of her plunge into a sacred journey.

She has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from San Francisco State University has been useful in her writing about spiritual psychology.  

Sher finds delight and fulfillment in bringing RW members together for mutual support and encouragement, to honor each other’s creativity, and has been able to do this through her role as the organizer and leader of the Redwood Writers Salon for the past five years. Since joining RW in November 2009, she has found the club to be rich in opportunities for friendships and learning.

About Jean

Jean Wong writes fiction, memoir, drama and poetry. Her work has also been produced by the Petaluma Reader’s Theater, Sixth Street Playhouse, and Off The Page Theater Group. Her book, Sleeping with the Gods, was released in 2013.

When writing, Jean sometimes prods along like a mule—at other  times a brilliant race horse speeds by. Whatever the process, she's amazed to be alive and able to tell the tale.

Redwood Writers Open Mic Leadership

[email protected]

Abby Lynn Bogomolny

Abby Bogolmony

Robin Moore

Robin Moore

Dmitri Morningstar

Dmitri Rosov

Committee Leadership:
2018 "Pen to Published" Conference

Marilyn Lanier

Marilyn Lanier

Co-Chair
Catharine Bramkamp

Catharine Bramcamp

Chair
[email protected]

About Catharine

Catharine Bramkamp publishes both prose and poetry. Her poetry has been included in a dozen anthologies, including And The Beats Go On (for which she was the editor, as well), and the chapbook Ammonia Sunrise (Finishing Line Press). She is co-producer of the Newbie Writers Podcast, and teaches at two universities. She has written seventeen novels and three books on writing. She is the chief storytelling officer for technical companies, because everyone has a story.

Elaine Rock

Elaine Rock

Co-Chair

Note: The wonderful Redwood officers, board members, and committee leaders on this page are those who serve all year long. Other Redwood members serve for key events and activities and will appear on this website with their special functions from time to time. Our thanks to all!

Elected Officers

President: Roger Lubeck
Vice President: Robbi Sommers Bryant
Vice President: Marilyn Lanier
Vice President: Elaine Rock
Secretary: Adele Layton
Treasurer: Malena Eljumaily 

Board Members:

Immediate Past President: Sandy Baker
Past President: Robbi Sommers Bryant
Web Site Editor: Joelle Burnette

Speaker Team: Pam Heck
Membership Chair: Judy Baker

Speaker Chair: Linda Reid
Author Launch: Jeane Slone
PR External: Deborah Walton

 

Volunteers: There are scores of volunteers who make it possible to provide the many services and activities of Redwood Writers. Check back here for an updated list to be posted soon.

Return to top