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UPCOMING EVENTS

March 26 CAL Authors at The Tattered Cover in Westminster: Matt Bille and Bob Seay


April 15 The Expert Edge with M.J. Evans


April 23 CAL Authors at The Tattered Cover in Westminster: L.R. Braden and Joseph Hutchison


May 28 CAL Authors at The Tattered Cover in Westminster: Jeanette Minniti, Jodi Bowersox, and Kendra Merritt



June 11, 2023 CAL Awards at the Washington Park Boathouse



Retail Opportunities Calendar

Colorado Conference Calendar 2023


March 30-April 2 Readers Take Denver



March 31-April 1 Write In The Springs Christian Writers Conference


April 28-30 Pikes Peak Writers


May 25-27 Northern Colorado Writers


Sept 8-10 Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers




In the spotlight: Jodi Bowersox

Jodi Bowersox 2021 head shot

I had trouble finding someone for the spotlight this month, so I guess you get me. HA!


My writing career began on a very serious note around the age of 5: "Life is a cookie with some ketchup and cake, and we all stick around for it to bake." Profound, no?


I then set about working my way into a journalism career--I was the news reporter for three different 4-H clubs. They kept re-electing me because I actually enjoyed doing it.


Alas, my profundity at age 5 would fade as I delved back into poetry in Jr. High. ALL of these poems have been burned. I wrote slightly less terrible poetry in college, then hit on something I would do off and on for the next 20+ years--writing for the stage.


I started off with a play I wrote for my senior theatre project--Chosen--a fresh take on the Nativity story that focused on Mary and her possible thoughts and fears. Soon after my two boys made an appearance in the world, I began attending a church that was all too happy to let me write for them, and I wrote numerous children's productions and skits for women's events. I eventually compiled these all into one book: Chosen and other productions, programs, and skits.

 

You can't have children (and cats), though, without coming up with a couple of stories. After getting back into watercolor painting, I tried my hand at illustrating a fictional story about two real cats and called it, of course, A Tale of Two Kitties. My second children's book, The Stubborn Princess, came from who knows where, as I do not have any princesses in my life, stubborn or otherwise. My younger son Tracy did the drawings for that one, and I did the watercolor.


It was my mother who encouraged me to try writing novels. A big romance reader, she read every romance in her tiny small town library and then reported to me that she was just sure I could write better books. I didn't give it a whirl until she was gone, but I think she'd be proud. I'm about to publish my eighteenth novel, and a number of them are award-winners.


I have done what any reasonable person would tell you not to--write novels in multiple genres. Under the big umbrella of Clean Romance, I've written Contemporary Faith Fiction, Suspense, Time Travel, and Humorous Sci Fi. What can I say? I like variety!


I returned to Children's Books last summer and got stories, songs, and poems I've had laying around for years illustrated. Three of these are my Sing-a-Story books for birth to 3-years-old, created from songs I made up for my boys when they were toddlers. Another is Going Home, an Early Reader book about a young boy who has to go back to the city after a summer in the country. The last is my pride and joy--a book simply called Cats--filled with twenty watercolor cat portraits painted by moi, illustrating a fun poem about the nature and activities of our feline friends. I couldn't get this one done with Print On Demand (long story) so I have TONS of them! If you're a cat lover, please (I'm begging you!) please buy one and rescue me from a sea of boxes!



You can find out all about my books, art, and other creations at JodiBowersox.com


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Did you miss our CAL Co-op Booths?


You can still get great books by CAL authors!

Check out our Genre Pages for ideas and contact an author for a direct purchase of an autographed copy. What could be a more unique gift?

2022 co-op booth, Robert, Tyler

CAL Racks in Colorado Springs and Lakewood

Support these businesses that support CAL



5670 N. Academy Blvd

Colorado Springs

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Located in the

Colorado Mills Mall

14500 W. Colfax Avenue

Lakewood, CO




A New Rack Location


Coming Soon!

Third Space Rack
Perfect Gift book rack
Acme Bar & Grill rack

Nowhere near our book racks?

You can still find great books by CAL authors. Check out our Genre Pages.

Autographed books make a great gift year-round. Contact authors directly to get signed copies.


CAL Authors Release New Books!

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This will touch your heart as no other horse story has before.

Find it on Amazon

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What happens when a conscience goes cold?

Find it on Amazon


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Humans stand at the edge of extinction. They just don’t know it yet.

Buy yours today!




Mountain Town Mysteries Book I

Find it on Amazon.

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True stories of Western grit and courage.

Buy Yours Now

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If something isn't right for you, find a way to make it right!

Buy Your Copy Here

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Furry Purry Fun!

Find it Here!

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A demon. A lonely girl. Will love be enough?

Available on Amazon


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A crashed ship. An alien jungle. A missing colony.

Buy Your Copy Here


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Will Phoebe be the first female Sheriff?

Available on Amazon


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The immigrant experience of one Norwegian family.

Available on Amazon

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War is coming to Eldros....

Find it on Amazon

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Friends with ulterior motives, middle-aged mean girls, and a laboratory full of rats.

Find it on Amazon

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A space opera novel that will keep you hooked.

Find it Here!

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She must decide if a half-truth is still a whole lie . . .

Buy Your Copy Here

And Publish Plays, Essays, Articles, and Poems!

Amy Rivers' essay "What's In A Name?" was published by Modern Identity via Medium.



Robert V. Dodge published an article in the Journal of Indigenous Research: "Indigenous Americans Became Red: Racism as Justification for Exploitation of Native Americans."

Gregory SETH Harris' poem "After the Flood" was published by Lightwood.



Kathryn Winograd's essay, "Mist Nets: After the Uvalde Shooting," is now posted at Terrain.org. Another essay, "Floating in the Riparian," can be read at Shanti Arts!

https://www.shantiarts.co

/SPAQ/SPAQ49/files/winograd.pdf

Crisosto Apache has had two poem published in Thin Air Magazine: "Calm" and "Creating Golden Heliotropes in His Hands."


Carol Ann Wilson's essay "Live Oaks" was published by The Wrath-Bearing Tree, a literary journal founded by combat veterans and dedicated to issues of social justice and human resilience. 




Recent Articles
CAL Member News

CAL Authors In Action

Helping Students

In 2020, CAL members joined together to create a book of writing prompts for students of all ages.


Paperback and Kindle versions available on Amazon


Download Options in English and Spanish






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Helping the Community


CAL authors often contribute to Little Free Libraries!


Slideshow
Little Library 2021

Where can I find CAL books?


CAL books are on GoodReads!


Click to find them all in one place!


CAL BOOKSHELF




Registration has partially opened for the 2023 Colorado Gift Shows in November.


The Denver booth will be held Nov. 3-5 at the Convention Center.


The Colorado Springs booth will be held Nov. 10-12 at the Event Center.


Read all about it and how you can participate next year:


Christmas Booth


CAL Awards

Submissions for the 2023 Awards are now closed.

Finalists will be announced in May.

Submission period: Nov 1-Jan 31



Eligibility: You must be a CAL member to enter (See Membership tab above)



Categories: Multiple writing categories are judged from essays, articles, and poetry to full-length novels.

Categories also include illustration, cover design, and graphic novels.



2023 Awards announcements: May

Awards ceremony: June



Awards Info






Bruce Most

recipient of the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award




Watch Bruce's Interview Video

Watch past Award Ceremonies


79th Annual CAL Awards Video

hosted by Kevin and Jodi Bowersox


80th Annual CAL Awards Video

hosted by Jody Pritzl


81st Annual CAL Awards Video

hosted by Jodi Bowersox, Laurie Marr Wasmund, and Claire L. Fishback

CAL is a proud supporter of:

Colorado Sun