Success by Association: Creating, Connecting, Promoting, & Publishing with the South Florida Writers Association

Presenters

Gail TuckerFollow
Maggie EubanksFollow

Location

Alvin Sherman Library, Room 4009

Start Date

25-1-2024 11:15 AM

End Date

25-1-2024 12:00 PM

Abstract

As South Florida Writers Association (SFWA) enters its 35th year we are pleased to present insights into how this writers organization provides encouragement and mentoring of developing writers; assistance during the writing process through poetry, fiction and non-fiction critique groups; guest speaker presentations on the process and outcomes of self-publishing and marketing, and more. The themes at Power Publishing Day from the two presenters, Gail Tucker and Maggie Eubanks, are “Connecting”, “Creating”, “Promoting and Publishing”, and the upcoming “Mango Writers Conference”, an annual workshop and outside presenter event sponsored by SFWA. The SFWA presentation will describe how it has reached out to an extraordinary number of local, national and international members and followers with social media, on Facebook and elsewhere, and through its webpage “southfloridawriters.org". Member readings, newsletter blogs, twice yearly $500 publishing and marketing awards, monthly writing contests, and much more represent what is routine for the Board and members of the South Florida Writers Association. Recent presentations about writing process and publishing have come to us live from India, Canada, Scotland and several states outside Florida, all thanks to the wonders of Zoom technology. Meetings are held in person and via Zoom on the first Saturday of each month at Pinecrest Library in South Dade, except that December’s meeting is an annual luncheon gathering in celebration of the holidays. We welcome inquiries at our website, and encourage you to follow your muse and…keep on writing!

Author Bio

• Gail Tucker: Gail Tucker earned her Ph.D. from the University of Kansas, her graduate research at Woods Hole’s MBL supported by a grant established by 19th century KU Professor Ida Hyde. Gail has published biographical papers about Dr. Hyde’s research, her election as the first woman member of the American Society of Physiologists and as the first woman admitted to doctoral studies in a German University. Her research on developing and aging retina and degenerative eye diseases were published in major peer-reviewed journals. Gail was a founding science teacher and chairperson of science at New World School of the Arts. While there, she earned a Tandy Technology Fellowship, Access Excellence Fellowships, was named a Time Magazine Teacher of Excellence, Miami-Dade County Science Teacher of the Year, and achieved National Board Certification. She now enjoys her family and lifelong avocations, writing and nature photography, self-publishing a series of children’s picture books, her photographs being the basis for the artist’s illustrations in these. Her creative non-fiction and short stories have received numerous awards from the South Florida Writers Association, which has provided her with significant direction, encouragement and support.
• Maggie Eubanks: Maggie Eubanks is a 20-year veteran of public and independent education and an award-winning teacher and school administrator. Currently pursuing her Doctorate in cognitive diversity in education, she has published in historical journals and been a contributing blogger in the educational field. She has presented on teaching best practice and educating students with learning differences, especially in the area of gifted education, at regional, national and international conferences. Maggie is the Director and co-owner of Palmetto Bay Academy, the premier non-traditional school in Miami, est. in 2000. She has taught in and led schools and programs in Texas, China, and Indonesia in addition to her work in Miami. Maggie is currently writing a book in support of Twice-Exceptional (2e) learners that chronicles her own academic journey while also providing guidance and insight for the adults supporting the lives of these amazing learners.