Tribute to local writer Doug Fortier
Writers of the Mendocino Coast will honor Doug Fortier for his contributions to the local writing community at their Sunday, January 21st Zoom meeting at 3 p.m. Doug has dedicated himself to the club since its inception in 2009, serving as president, state board representative, webmaster, newsletter editor, email responder, Zoom host, and more. He also offered IT help to members to help them set up writing websites. In 2015, the California Writers Club presented him with a Jack London Service Award for extraordinary contributions to our local branch.
“Doug has been a mainstay of the organization,” says president Susan Lundgren. “He knows every one of our eighty-five members, and continues to serve on our board, act as club historian, oversee the website, and mentor other writers. It would have been difficult to function without him these past thirteen years.”
Because Doug’s favorite book is 642 Things to Write About, three of its contributors are joining WMC’S tribute by sharing their stories as they were prompted, goaded, and cheered on by series originator Po Bronson to finish writing 642 writing prompts in 24 hours. Bronson, Xandra Maria Castleton, and JD Beltran will share their individual processes in thinking up the prompts and discuss how these exercises can jumpstart the creative writing process. Also discussed will be other tales surrounding the book’s enduring legacy, including the current controversy after being banned in one Ohio high school for overly suggestive content.
Po Bronson has built a career both as a successful novelist and as a prominent writer of narrative nonfiction. He has published six books and has written for television, magazines, and newspapers, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and for National Public Radio’s Morning Edition. Po Bronson’s book of social documentary, What Should I Do With My Life?, was a #1 New York Times bestseller. His first novel, Bombardiers, was a #1 bestseller in the United Kingdom.
Xandra Maria Castleton, MFA, is a screenwriter and independent film and television producer. Her scripts have served as the basis for the award-winning documentary, television, and narrative film projects, and her films have premiered at festivals such as Sundance, Tribeca, AFI, and Rotterdam. Full Grown Men, her feature dramatic comedy, won the 2007 Sundance Channel Audience Award; it will be released online through Sundance Artist Services later this year.