PETER RICH
EMAIL: rpeter@pacbell.net
(Text last updated: 1-4 2021)
ANDREA POLK
EMAIL: andipolk4@gmail.com
Andrea, or “Andi” as she prefers, still lives where she grew up on the family property. Her parents and paternal grandparents built two homes in 1951, on a treeless, three-acre wheat field in the San Fernando Valley. This land was soon filled with fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and lots of animals. She and her two brothers grew up there and later she and her husband raised their two children in her grandparents’ home. Currently, she is writing about her life during the San Fernando Valley’s transition years, 1951-1960. In addition, she writes short stories and is writing a depression-era novella.
Upon graduation from what is now California State University, Northridge, (CSUN) in 1969, with a degree in history, Andi worked as a proofreader specializing in bibliographies and footnotes for publications by the Office of the Chancellor of The California State Colleges (later Universities). Additionally, she was assigned various research projects, which ultimately led her into the Human Resources field.
After working within the full range of personnel functions, she moved to CSUN and expanded her administrative work in supervisory and management training and staff development.
Andi retired in 2000 and taught Advanced Placement history and civics at The Pilgrim School, a college prep private school in Los Angeles. At present she devotes her time reading history, writing her family history, making presentations on Valley agricultural history, and improving the old Valley homestead.
MICHAEL RAINS
Michael Rains was often commended by teachers for creative writing, even to having an award category created for him at a school graduation.
“When drawing, I can never make a straight line,” he says. “I guess I write the same way.”
After living on a hill at the end of Sylmar for nine years, he has learned to write books in the same way that a cactus finds water. If he found three wishes, one would be to see his favorite white cat that ran off.
(Text last updated: November 5, 2016 — 10:08 am)
ISABELL ROBERTSON
Isabell C. Robertson – Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, I was interested in writing the day I learned to read. My early writings include poetry and short stories. I graduated from the University of Phoenix with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Public Accounting Degree as well. Even though my career is “counting beans”, my passions include writing short stories, reading crime novels, an occasional romance novel, cardio workouts, and wood burning. I met my husband twenty years ago at a friend’s wedding and moved to California six months later to be with him and to raise his two daughters. With the kids grown and moved away, I have a little more time to dip into my passions. I’m currently working on two short stories, one is about my best friend and the good times we once shared, and the other is a story about a man I once dated that had mental challenges. I’m hoping to retire in the next couple of years and look forward to writing a screen play.
(Text last updated: 9-3 2021)
LILLIAN RODICH
When I was ten years old my two passions in life were writing and dancing. I dreamed of becoming a ballerina and a famous author. Even though these dreams never materialized as the years went by, the seeds were planted. And now, as a retiree, I dance and I write. Folk dancing and creative writing are my hobbies and my joys.
I am also blessed with a wonderful family, including three children and five grandchildren, and a wide circle of creative and generous friends who have supported me through the trauma of retirement and the loss of my wonderful husband and soul mate.
I am practically a native Californian having lived in this state since I was two. I attended Berkeley and UCLA and did graduate work at CSUN. After my three children were born I decided to go back to work and chose teaching over social work.
I taught for Los Angeles Unified School District for twenty-six years. It was a profession I grew to love. During those years I did some professional writing and thousands of lesson plans and curriculum development papers but very little creative writing.
When I retired I joined a Life Story writing class and got hooked. Since then I’ve written a few personal and family history books, memoirs of my teaching years and literally hundreds of poems.
Teaching is still in my blood and I facilitate a creative writing group, teach Scottish set dancing and folk dancing and crafts to seniors. Membership in CWC has been a valuable experience for me in terms of excellent critiquing and the bonus of new and wonderful friendships.
(Text last updated: June 7, 2014 — 6:54 am)
LORRAINE SAITO
MICHAEL SAVAGE
EMAIL: uksavage@hotmail.com
CHRISTER SCHMIDT
MARK SEBAR
EMAIL: sebar@sebar.com
ILAN SENDOWSKI
ETHEL ANN SHAFFER
Ethel Ann was born in a small town in Ohio where she lived three doors from the public library. She credits Edna Ferber with introducing her to a love of literature.
After moving to California with her two daughters, Ethel Ann worked as a paralegal for over 20 years. She returned to college after her daughters were raised, graduating magna cum laude with a B.A. in English Literature from Cal State Northridge. Soon thereafter, her essays and short stories were published in the now defunct Los Angeles Herald Examiner (where she won the Saturday Story Contest), Woman’s World, Dog Fancy, Cat Fancy, Valley Magazine, and Lady’s Circle. In addition, she had over fifty humorous essays published in the Ventura County Star. Her quirky essays have also won numerous writing contests. Secret Torment, her first novel, was published in 2004.
Ethel Ann is serving her second stint as President of the SFV Branch of CWC. Her first stint was in 1998-2000 when she was also program chair and a columnist. In 1999 she received the Jack London Award for meritorious service. She is also a member of Romance Writers of America.
For the past ten years, Ethel Ann’s moody Himalayan cat, Moxie, has allowed her to live with him as his caregiver/slave.
(Text last updated: June 7, 2014 — 6:54 am)
ESTER SHIFREN
EMAIL: estershifren@gmail.com
STEPHANY SPENCER
WEBSITE: StephanySpencer.com
EMAIL: StephSpencer10@gmail.com
Stephany Spencer is a retired teacher on her endless summer, a “creative” and poet.
Born in Chihuahua, Mexico of American parents, she spent most of her life in the Western U.S., married young and was widowed at twenty-one. Left with a three-year old daughter, she raised her while putting herself through the University, graduating from East LA College in 1970 with an AA in Music, UCLA in 1973 with a BA in Sociology; did Post-graduate work in Liberal Arts at California State University, Northridge, obtaining a Teaching Credential in 1976.
A born teacher, Stephany Spencer taught Elementary School for thirty years, specializing in Bilingual Education and Music, then took Early Retirement in 2001 to pursue other creative interests.
Multi-talented, a multi-instrumentalist in music, the “Multies” multiplied, to where they’re now crying, “Which interest is on ‘first’?!” Because in 2006 the Muse kindly led Stephany to the California Writers Club where she was Program Chair and also helped with Hospitality for over a year while testing her “wannabe” possibilities as a published author, this having been one of her dreams since age ten.
She is presently working on three different books: A book of poetry, aphorisms, and maxims; a children’s novel — And a memoir, being a proud direct descendent of such as Dr. Francis Le Baron, MD. (See: “The Nameless Nobleman,” by Jane G. Austin,” a cousin). And is also related to poets like Samuel Johnson, Edmund Spenser, Sir Francis Bacon, Joel Johnson, and Winston Spencer Churchill, a third cousin. Thus she is also related to Princess Diana Spencer, the Bush Dynasty and more.
Though fascinated with her heritage, she knew none of them personally, and was not born to privilege, other than having inherited a bit of their giftedness for such as writing verse, for better or worse. This is her double-edged sword, a gift and a curse. But Life goes on, comes and is gone …
“Sail On,” says the emblem of our California Writers Club. Now if you look closely you may see her sailing on, “writing” on a song “write” now! “Dwell in possibilities,” said Emily Dickinson. And these possibilities are all that keep Stephany from falling off!
(Text last updated: January 14, 2016 — 8:31 am)
SCOTT STRUMAN
EMAIL: bltsand@att.net
MONTE SWANN
EMAIL: cygnetvideo@gmail.com
MARY WATERS
GARY WOSK
As a boy, I realized that someday I wanted to become a writer. Blame it all on watching countless episodes of “The Twilight Zone” and the “The Outer Limits” as well as an assembly line of low budget sci-fi movies such as “Godzilla” and “The Giant Behemoth.” I still watch them.
What really sealed the deal was delivering the Herald-Examiner. The subscribers complained that their newspapers were not delivered on time. If I was become a journalist, I reasoned, I had to read the newspaper first before I could deliver it.
I wasn’t the greatest English student in high school, but as a teenager found it easy to write Rod Sterling-inspired short stories. I read the stories to my friends and family, and if they enjoyed them that meant I had a possible future in the field.
After tearing ligaments in my left knee during a game of basketball, I decided to become more serious about life. I returned to California State University, Northridge, when I was a little older than most students and earned a BA in journalism.
I was on my way to a new life as newspaper reporter for the San Luis Obispo County Telegram, Brawley News and the Newhall Signal and then special sections editor for the Los Angeles Daily News.
After leaving the newspaper industry, I became a spokesperson and senior communications officer for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). At the MTA, I also produced an award-winning quarterly magazine geared for constituents as well as monthly passenger newsletters.
Following the MTA, I became the manager of media relations for The ALS Association, a national non-profit organization that helps people living with (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
I have more than 25 years experience in the field of communications and have written hundreds of articles and news releases as well as managed many media events.
I am presently a volunteer with two organizations: in a communications capacity for New Horizons, a North Hills, Calif., social services agency that helps developmentally disabled adults learn independent living skills, including job skills; and as a literary partner for KOREH L.A., which helps Los Angeles Unified School District elementary school children learn to enjoy reading.
I live in North Hills with my wife Mina. Our son’s name is David.
(Text last updated: June 7, 2014 — 6:55 am)
JOAN ZERRIEN
EMAIL: jayzee221@gmail.com
Born in the Midwest, I was transplanted to the Central Valley of California at the tender age of 11. Stepping off the train from Chicago I was initially confused to see pine trees co-mingling with palms; welcome to the wacky contrasts of living in California.
Raised in the Central Valley I went to the coast (UC Berkeley), hopped south to Venice, then lived in the Santa Monica Mountains before moving to the San Jacinto Mountains for seven years. There I was very busy raising two school kids and running five vacation rental cabins. Non-urban life was good, simpler and very beautiful.
In 2010 I moved back to a valley, San Fernando this time, where I plan to stay. I’ve traveled plenty, hitchhiking in Europe while Americans landed on the moon, seeing a full eclipse on one of my Mexico trips, touring artisan studios in Japan. On two of my six trips to China I came home with a baby girl. I’m less inclined to travel now, although I am considering a walking tour of the gardens of Kyoto.
I’ve worked in offices, a cannery, theatres and scene shops; and for twenty years as a nationally distributed ceramic artist before becoming a counselor, innkeeper and now a happy retiree.
My girls are young adults and I am free to indulge in my lifelong love affair with words.
During my time in the mountains I wrote a series of short stories that seem to belong to each other, according to my online writer cohorts. Turning these fragments into a novel is my current endeavor and it’s like turning a very large ship around, this juncture of retiring from parenting and reorienting to a new purpose.
I look to CWC-SFV for comradeship, skill development and motivation. I trust I will not be disappointed.
(Text last updated: August 21, 2018 — 12:47 pm)