2024 Meetings/Speakers
august 2024
Writing Workshop
july 2024
Herbie j pilato
Herbie J Pilato was our very special guest speaker. A native of Rochester, New York, he is an acclaimed writer, producer, actor, and TV personality. He’s the author of several pop-culture/media tie-in books including Retro Active Television, which the Los Angeles Book Festival named Book of the Year in 2023. Pilato’s hit TV programs include the Reelz Channel’s documentary, Elizabeth Montgomery: A Bewitched Life, and Amazon Prime's classic TV talk show, Then Again with Herbie J Pilato. His other books include Connery, Sean Connery, Mary: The Mary Tyler Moore Story, The 12 Best Secrets of Christmas, and two new publications for the fall: One Tough Dame: The Life and Career of Diana Rigg, and Christmas TV Memories: Nostalgic Holiday Favorites of the Small Screen (which features a Foreword by Marlo Thomas). Pilato began his career as an NBC Page in 1984 (when he worked on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson), after which he became an actor and appeared on TV shows like Highway to Heaven, The Golden Girls, General Hospital, and The Bold and the Beautiful, in addition to various film and live stage productions. In 2010, he founded the Classic TV Preservation Society, a formal 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the positive social influence of classic television programming. For more information, visit www.HerbieJPilato.com.
may 2024
AWARD-WINNING POET, poetri
Poetri, a renowned poet, actor, and producer, gave a free poetry workshop presentation and it was extraordinary.
Poetri is widely recognized as a "poet rock star" and has made significant contributions to the entertainment industry. As the Director of Creative and Development at Amusement Park Entertainment, he has gained recognition for his unique creative and cultural contributions. With a Tony, Emmy, and several advertising awards to his name, Poetri has established himself as a multi-talented artist who has excelled in various fields.
Poetri's achievements as a poet include his performance on Broadway's Def Poetry Jam, touring the world twice, and co-founding Da Poetry Lounge, the world's largest poetry venue. He has also written, produced, and appeared in numerous advertisements and campaigns for major brands, such as Nike, Los Angeles Lakers, Delta Airlines, JBL, Snickers, and BET. One of his most notable accomplishments was his role in persuading LeBron James to sign with Nike by performing for him on Nike's campus.
In addition to his work in the advertising industry, Poetri has also made significant contributions to television and film. He has appeared in feature films like National Treasure 2, Blades of Glory, and Yes Man, as well as television shows like Oprah Winfrey Show, Tyler Perry's House of Payne, and Bones. Poetri was also invited by former President Barack Obama to be a part of the first annual Spoken Word event held at the White House, an honor that he cherishes deeply.
Despite his many accomplishments, Poetri remains grounded and committed to his beliefs. He has used his popularity to create two of the most popular spoken word shows in Southern California, Da Poetry Lounge and Spoken Funk, and has even taken his talents to the High Desert in Spring Valley Lake Country Club in Victorville. He is a beloved figure in the spoken word community and has created a positive atmosphere for young people to express themselves emotionally. Poetri's legacy has undoubtedly left a lasting mark on the culture of Los Angeles and the world of entertainment.
Poetri is widely recognized as a "poet rock star" and has made significant contributions to the entertainment industry. As the Director of Creative and Development at Amusement Park Entertainment, he has gained recognition for his unique creative and cultural contributions. With a Tony, Emmy, and several advertising awards to his name, Poetri has established himself as a multi-talented artist who has excelled in various fields.
Poetri's achievements as a poet include his performance on Broadway's Def Poetry Jam, touring the world twice, and co-founding Da Poetry Lounge, the world's largest poetry venue. He has also written, produced, and appeared in numerous advertisements and campaigns for major brands, such as Nike, Los Angeles Lakers, Delta Airlines, JBL, Snickers, and BET. One of his most notable accomplishments was his role in persuading LeBron James to sign with Nike by performing for him on Nike's campus.
In addition to his work in the advertising industry, Poetri has also made significant contributions to television and film. He has appeared in feature films like National Treasure 2, Blades of Glory, and Yes Man, as well as television shows like Oprah Winfrey Show, Tyler Perry's House of Payne, and Bones. Poetri was also invited by former President Barack Obama to be a part of the first annual Spoken Word event held at the White House, an honor that he cherishes deeply.
Despite his many accomplishments, Poetri remains grounded and committed to his beliefs. He has used his popularity to create two of the most popular spoken word shows in Southern California, Da Poetry Lounge and Spoken Funk, and has even taken his talents to the High Desert in Spring Valley Lake Country Club in Victorville. He is a beloved figure in the spoken word community and has created a positive atmosphere for young people to express themselves emotionally. Poetri's legacy has undoubtedly left a lasting mark on the culture of Los Angeles and the world of entertainment.
april 2024
April is National Poetry Month. To celebrate, close to a dozen people, including one who is 100 and another who is 101, read aloud from their own original verse.
march 2024
diana giovinazzo
“As an Italian girl from Central New York, there was always a stack of books by my side,” states guest speaker, Diana Giovinazzo. “It wasn’t always about reading other people’s stories, I had to tell them. My first book was a compelling tale of a family making a journey along the Oregon Trail for Mrs. Dickinson’s second-grade class project. Since then, my world has revolved around books. I am a self-proclaimed history nerd with an insatiable wanderlust. However, it wasn’t until I tried to study my own family’s genealogy that I found a passion for historical fiction. Specifically, Italian and American Italian history.”
Her topic will be Writing Historical Fiction with Strong Women Characters.
Diana Giovinazzo is the critically claimed author of The Woman in Red and Antoinette’s Sister. She is the co-creator of the weekly literary podcast Wine, Women and Words, featuring interviews with authors over a glass of wine. Diana lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband and small menagerie.
Her topic will be Writing Historical Fiction with Strong Women Characters.
Diana Giovinazzo is the critically claimed author of The Woman in Red and Antoinette’s Sister. She is the co-creator of the weekly literary podcast Wine, Women and Words, featuring interviews with authors over a glass of wine. Diana lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband and small menagerie.
february 2024
NICOLA HARRISON
WRITE YOUR STORY SCENE BY SCENE
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Nicola Harrison is the author of three historical fiction novels, Montauk, The Show Girl and Hotel Laguna. Born and raised in England, she moved with her family to Southern California when she was 14. She is a graduate of UCLA and received her MFA from Stony Brook University. Prior to writing novels she worked as a fashion journalist in New York City, where she lived for 17 years. Now she resides in Manhattan Beach, California, with her husband and her two sons.