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Valley Writers Read 2012 Schedule

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2012

5. February 1, 2012 -- Judy Ryan, "Little Fire"
   A young girl comes of age and questions the origins of her unusual name.
   


6. February 8, 2012 -- Jane Rosenthal, "El Tropical"
   A job in Mexico hosting bird watchers introduces "Bea" to some unsavory characters.
   


7. February 14, 2012 -- Benjamin Rae, "Disconnect"
   A night telephone operator invents a fictitious supervisor to circumvent troublesome calls.
   


8. February 22, 2012 -- Mary Benton, "The Grape Fields"
   Set in the Dust Bowl era, a family of grape pickers assist in the recovery of a kidnapped boy.
   


9. February 29, 2012 -- David Borofka, "A Tale Told By Rube Goldberg Begins And Ends With Dogs"
   A young lady's song lyrics propel her to unexpected wealth and success.
   


10. March 7, 2012 -- Susan Norman, "Inner Beauty"
    A scuba diver has an encounter with coral that leads to some unusual results.
    


11. March 14, 2012 -- Jim Ashford, "Mayday, Mayday"
    An arrangement of yard lights attracts a visitor… from outer space!
    


12. March 21, 2012 -- Janet Nichols Lynch, "Racing California"
    An avid bicyclist contemplates turning pro.
    


13. March 28, 2012 -- Joe Hemphill, "A Good Ending To A Story" and Bill McDougle, "Bertha In Stillwell"
    In "A Good Ending To A Story," a man with cerebral palsy resists efforts to resume physical therapy. In "Bertha In Stillwell," Bertha grows up in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl era.
    


14. April 4, 2012 -- Hope Nisly, "Morning In America"
    The author shares her experiences as an intake receptionist at an emergency shelter in Oakland.
    


15. April 11, 2012 -- Franz Weinschenk, "Brooklyn"
    " A memoir about the author and his family who fled Germany as Jewish refugees before the World War Two and settled in Brooklyn.
    


16. April 18, 2012 -- Anne Da Vigo, "Fault Lines" and Lucille Apcar, "Who Spanked J.R. Jr."
    In "Fault Lines," A family moves from near the San Andres Fault to Fresno. In "Who Spanked J.R. Jr.," a teacher disciplines the son of a powerful judge.
    


17. April 25, 2012 -- Oscar G. Williams, "I Scooter"
    The world as seen through the eyes of a canine.
    


18. May 2, 2012 -- Valerie Schultz, "Brevis"
    A daughter takes on the difficult task of caring for her belligerent father, whose health is deteriorating.
    


19. May 9, 2012 -- James Benelli, "The Wonderful World Of Accounting"
    C.P.A. Henry becomes bored with his job, wife and life-style.
    


20. May 16, 2012 -- Armen Bacon & Nancy Miller, "Griefland-An Intimate Portrait of Love, Loss and Unlikely Friendship"
    Two grieving mothers share the tragedy of their loss.
    


21. May 23, 2012 -- James Varner, "Memories Of Growing Up With Friends"
    The author shares anecdotes of growing up in the Bakersfield area.
    


22. May 30, 2012 -- Loran Hugh Parker, "Following The Harvest"
    Depression area story of a young boy harvesting corn. Janice Stevens "Monday Mornings" War veterans meet weekly to share stories.