One hundred years ago, a colorful cast of characters founded the California Writers Club “to mentor and educate writers of all levels in the art and craft of writing.” This October, Tri-Valley Writers will celebrate CWC’s Centennial with a birthday bash devoted to character. What’s a story – or a club – without great characters?
David Corbett, author of three successful thrillers including, Blood of Paradise, a San Francisco Chronicle Notable Book and one of The Washington Post’s Top Ten Mysteries and Thrillers of 2007, will discuss what makes characters memorable and how to craft them. A former private investigator, who teaches writing courses through UCLA Extension and at Book Passage, David brings an intriguing background and a keen eye to his own characters, variously noted as “deeply engaging,” “complex,” “riveting,” and “impossible to forget.” Don’t miss this banner event, as we pay playful homage to CWC’s century of literary history, and to the characters who made it happen – and, yes, there will be cake!
For fifteen years, David Corbett worked for the San Francisco private investigation firm of Palladino & Sutherland, on high-profile criminal and civil cases, including The DeLorean Trial and The Cotton Club Murder Case. In December 2000, Ballantine purchased David’s first novel, The Devil’s Redhead, which was nominated for both the Anthony and Barry Awards for Best First Novel of 2002. The Washington Post called David’s second book, Done for a Dime, “the best in contemporary crime fiction.” Blood of Paradise, which has been compared to the works of Graham Greene and Robert Stone, and received numerous nominations, followed in 2007. David is currently finishing his fourth novel. A non-fiction account of David’s late wife’s last weeks, their marriage, and the grieving process, is also in the works. For more about David, see his website: www.davidcorbett.com