#WritersQuick 5 - Where Are They Now? Weeks 1-19

I’ve had the opportunity to feature so many incredible people in this #WritersQuick5 series, and they just keep doing amazing things!

I’ve wanted to do this re-cap for a while and have been debating the best way to do it. Feature everyone? Just a few people? Try and be comprehensive? Just highlight the things I know about?

I decided there’s no way I could comprehensively update you on all of the amazing things going on in their lives and careers, and some people were just featured a week or two ago so there’s not much to update on. SO, I have settled on quick hit updates for everyone in the first half of the #WritersQuick5 series to date, up through week 19.

​Without further ado here’s a snapshot of some of the latest and greatest from 19 of our #WritersQuick5 crew!

Week 1 - MaryLou Driedger

• MaryLou continues to write on her blog all about her life and writing experiences
• She was recently featured on the website Mennotoba
• In addition to her great blog posts about her experiences and travels, she has great entries about her writing. She’s very involved in her local writing community. Check out her posts about writing to learn more.

Week 2 - Amanda Hollis-Brusky

• Amanda has had continued success with her book IDEAS WITH CONSEQUENCES. In April, she was quoted and referenced in a great piece in the New Yorker, “The Conservative Pipeline to the Supreme Court.”
• More recently, in October, she was quoted and referenced in a feature on Vox, “How the NRA resurrected the Second Amendment.”
• She has also been referenced or featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post

Week 3 - Martha Carr

• Martha released the entirety of her Wallis Jones series which is all available on Amazon.
• Martha then jumped into a whole new genre and is continuing her prolific writing with the fantasy series Oriceran which she collaborates on with several other authors. These are also available on Amazon, but you can check out the Oriceran website too.

Week 4 - C.C. Ekeke

• You can now get all four of the Star Brigade Series plus a Star Brigade Anthology or via CC’s website.

Week 5 - J.C. Reifenberg

• J.C. Reifenberg opened The Scum and Villainy Cantina, a pop-up bar and restaurant in Los Angeles that was such a smashing success, it is now a permanent destination in Los Angeles. Who wants to buy me a plane ticket to Hollywood?

Week 6 - Margaret Hahn

• Margaret Hahn was featured in the New York Times for work she did at Chicago Public Schools with Google, “How Google Took Over the Classroom.” My favorite line in the piece, when talking about what Google expected in Chicago: “Google had not anticipated Margaret Hahn.” Rock. Star.

Week 7 - Alex Thomas

• Alex Thomas’s company, Booster Shot Comics, was won 2016 Gold & Best of Show in the 2016 National Health Information Awards (healthawards.com). He also appeared at comicon again this year!  

Week 8 - Bill McStowe

• Bill recently won the award for the Best Ongoing Series for the third year in a row on Channillo.com in the 2017 Channillo Awards. He also won for Best Journal Entries Series and Best Humor/Comedy Series.
• Follow him on Twitter. He’s a great supporter of all the authors he knows and he’s often posting 100 word stories and short videos.

Week 9 - Keely Flynn

• I have trouble keeping up with everything Keely is doing! You can still find her on her blog, Lollygag blog, on 101.9fm The Mix, Chicago Parent and in the Chicago Tribune.  
• She’s also part of the Netflix Stream Team and is always giving out great advice on what’s the latest and greatest
• Follow her on facebook and twitter for great promotions and - of course - all that she shares with her readers

Week 10 - Christopher Waltz

• Christopher has continued with the Dead Oaks Podcast and is currently raising money via gofundme for a new podcast called All My Ghosts - an upcoming interview-style podcast focusing on true paranormal stories told by people from all across the globe.

Week 11 -  Briana Bryon

• Briana was recently awarded The Best Essays Series in the 2017 Channillo Awards!
• She’s also a great person to follow on Twitter for all sorts of writing and blog recommendations!

Week 12 - Kerriann Curtis

• Kerri was recently awarded the Best Poetry Series in the 2017 Channillo Awards!
• She’s also been writing on Wordkrapht and promoting great music. Check out this recent feature on Karla Kane.

Week 13 - Marcie Hill

• Marcie continues to be the busiest person in Chicago, promoting, organizing and attending events for the Chicago Writers Association, hosting webinars on topics like “9 Keys to Successful Blogging” and creating resources for freelance writers. Check out her website for all the latest and greatest.

Week 14 - Paul R. Lloyd

• Paul continues to blog, train, teach, and hold his writing groups. Check out his writing tips series on his blog.

Week 15 - Bibi Belford

• Bibi’s book Crossing the Line came out in August! Now available on Amazon in hardcover and on Kindle. Congrats Bibi!

Week 16 - Renee James

• Renee’s novel Seven Suspects was released in October, now available on Amazon. Congratulations Renee!

Week 17 - Jennifer Johnson

• Jennifer Johnson’s Kickstarter went above and beyond and was fully funded at 195% of her goal. Her books were produced and shipped and I happily received mine. It is now also available on Amazon. Congrats Jennifer!
• She also started her next project - Greeting Cards and Pen Pals - Project of Earth that you can follow along

Week 18 - Erin Slucter

• Erin is rocking a brand new job and leading a team and it’s all very exciting. She’s taking Chicago by storm. Go Erin!

Week 19 - Mike Mentz

• Mike Mentz recently released an amazing new song called Someday. The video is rad. Check it out!
• Mike has performances coming up, including a show at UnCommon Ground in Chicago on December 16. If you’re in town you should go!!!

To all of these amazing people - congratulations!!! And if there is anything major that I left out that you’d ever want to plug, please let me know and I will give you a big shout out the next time around! I am so honored to know each of you. Rock on!