That Fateful Day in ’19

Nothing was unusual about that morning in 2019 … until I noticed in the newspaper an article inviting “aspiring and published authors” to attend a meeting to discuss the possible formation of a new local writer’s club in Citrus County.
The article caught my attention. I had the idea for the book in my head. I mused. Both adjectives apply to me. I’m certainly aspiring to become a novelist, and being a featured monthly columnist in a national trade magazine qualifies me as being published, does it not?
An address, date, and time were included in the article, so I attended the meeting at the home of strangers who turned out to be Jim Meyer and Linda Thomas, a couple in Citrus Springs, FL. As I recall, there were over a dozen people in attendance. It was on that day Citrus Writers was born. We’ve come a long way since then and grown to become the not-for-profit organization officially called Citrus Writers of Florida.
Our mantra is “Writers helping writers,” and our mission is “Education and literacy within our community.” One way we fulfill that goal is to publish an Anthology annually. The proceeds from the sale of these books go to fund scholarships that we award to graduating seniors from Citrus County high schools. Submissions from the scholarship winners appear in the Anthologies. In 2025, we will publish Volume V. Can you imagine the pride of knowing you’re already a published author as you enter the college or university of your choice?
There’s no way I could have foreseen in 2019 the impact my attendance at that meeting would have. It revealed a passion for writing I didn’t appreciate. The growing membership has helped me improve as an author. Things I have gleaned from other club members, such as ideas, tips, contacts, software, and techniques, have been invaluable. Much like university attendance, the curriculum is challenging and educational, but often, the greatest benefit from the experience came not from the classroom but the connections and acquaintances you made. So it is, too, with Citrus Writers. The meetings are great, but even more good may be derived from other events such as book sales or social activities. All I know is the value of being a member cannot be overstated.
Imagine being a writer and having a membership of fifty, being willing and able to assist whenever needed—anything from critique to beta readers. Have questions about publishing? We’ve got answers. Someone in the club’s ‘been there, done that.’ Then comes the big question: Marketing.
We’ve got members who attack that elephant in a host of ways. One sells strictly ebooks and has developed an email list over the years. He’s developed a successful way to strategically market upcoming books for pre-orders and established an overall campaign that creates a six-figure income for himself.
Another focuses on a specific topic, has written many books on the subject, has built a network of like-minded experts, and works hard to promote them. He’s sold over 60,000 copies.
One of our snowbirds has set about to pierce the world of podcasts and has been featured as a speaker on dozens of them. This has led to personal appearances and opportunities to sell his books at venues across the country.
All our members have different experiences and are willing to share them. One thing we’ve all learned, an author can’t wait on the publisher to market their books.
I market mine in a variety of ways. The Greatest Softball Game is a spicy love story about the adventures of Matti and Jake, two people in their early twenties who met when they worked together at a horse breeding facility. It didn’t take them long to fall madly in love with one another. Their affair lasted two and a half years before Matti’s husband figured out there may be something going on, and all hell broke loose. The book focuses on how Matti and Jake met, the break-up, and the aftermath, but how does a softball game factor into it? I guess you’ll have to read the book to find out.
Chase and the Spirits of the Trestle, both books written under the pseudonym KG Wauthier, is a true story about events that took place during the summer of 1961. Three pre-adolescent boys, wandering in the woods, farther than they had ever been, came upon an old railroad trestle. Scrounging around at its base, the boys discovered something that was never supposed to be found. It is a humorous tale about the trials, tribulations, and the trouble the boys got themselves into. This book is designed for adults and young adults. It’s safe for children as young as nine or ten; both are available wherever fine books are sold: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Walmart, Smashwords, and places you may have never heard of, including your local library.
If you’re on social media, you’ll probably see my books there, too, either in what one might say are typical posts, or, recently, short, funny videos on Facebook, TicTok, Instagram, and YouTube featuring The Greatest Softball Game. They’re starting to get attention.
Soon, we’ll shoot some featuring Chase to see what people think of him.
Both books can be found by accessing my author page: https://books2read.com/greatestgame

Gary Kenworthy

Gary Kenworthy is a decorated Vietnam combat veteran who attended Purdue University.
His writing career began when he penned an angry letter to a national trade magazine
editor. That letter became a monthly column in that publication and ran for years. Gary’s
background and writing ability made him a perfect fit for heading the committee drafting
installation standards and technical manuals for the trade association within his industry.
After retirement and being married over 57 years to the same magnificent woman, his
writing has morphed into a romance novel, “The Greatest Softball Game” (It’s not just
about softball), and “Chase and the Spirits of the Trestle,” under the pseudonym K G
Wauthier. He’s also published in various other works, including “Three Bridges to Paradise,”
“Peddlers-Post,” and the numerous Anthologies by Citurs Writers of Florida.