Award-Winning Author, Editor Citizens Journal, to Speak at November 2 Meeting of California Writers Club

Award-winning American author, journalist, and speaker Debra Tash will present “Historical Fiction — An Invitation to Your Readers” at the November 2 meeting of The San Fernando Valley Chapter of The California Writers Club. Registration starts at 12:45 p.m. with the meeting beginning at 1 p.m. at the Motion Picture and TV Fund, 23388 Mulholland Drive, Woodland Hills, in the Saban Community Room. A $10 tax-deductible donation per guest is requested.

A writer of more than 30 years, Tash has written two books, Last Call – America: Last Call Before Darkness Falls, a dystopian novel that focuses on the not so distant future and takes the current American political climate to a chilling collusion, and Challenge the Wind, for which she won a national award and is set during the American Revolutionary War.

The Los Angeles-born author says she began writing novels because of her “love of the craft” and enjoys using her research skills. She hopes the meeting’s attendees will learn about the resources needed, like primary sources, such as diaries, for creating a compelling story for the historical fiction genre.

“On the elements of fiction, history is your setting, but that history will affect building your characters to fit the times they live in, their world view, and their interactions,” Tash says. “You have to realize that historical events are much more than dates. Those events will affect plot and conflict. Using them effectively is staying true to what really occurred.”

According to Tash, she gets her inspiration to write from current and past events, focusing on positive morals and uplifting themes. Authors whom she admires include Taylor Caldwell, who wrote Captains and the Kings, about the Kennedy family, and James Michener. “Caldwell researched her historical settings, characters, and events so well,” says Tash.

Tash has served as a panelist at the Historical Novel Society’s North American Conference and has given lectures for such organizations as the DAR, The American Association of University Women, and the Southern California Federated Women’s Club. Tash currently works as Editor-in-Chief at Citizens Journal, a Ventura County based online news site that covers current and breaking news in the Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.

Additional information about Tash and her novels is available at: https://debratash.com.

The California Writers Club welcomes writers in all genres, and at all stages of their careers. Monthly meetings are held on the first Saturday of the month. To attend workshops, programs and other events, or to learn more about events and activities for writers, visit http://cwc-sfv.org/.