SLO NightWriters will host author and actress Mara Purl at its September 13, 2011 General Meeting.

Purl’s career is so varied. She was a working journalist learning the trade the hard way – in the trenches. She has written scripts optioned by Fox, developed her novel series, the Milford-Haven Novels, and acted. She writes a blog and maintains a website.

Judy Salamacha, SLO NightWriters Program Director, asked Ms. Purl to specifically address two items of high interest to SLO NightWriters – World Building and Blog Tours.

First she will discuss World Building or constructing an imaginary world. Although this is often associated more with science fiction and fantasy, Purl has constructed an entire “world” in her California Central Coast Milford-Haven Series.

Purl states, "This will be a series of 12 books. The first three novels are doing well. Milford-Haven has become a very popular and well-known world of its own which beckons me often to return to its compelling shores."

Mara Purl also created other worlds writing scripts for television and living in them as she acted in Days of Our Lives, "It was just a matter of time, though, before I had to get back to my theatrical roots," she said, "and writing scripts was a perfect compliment to my return to acting. My script The Meridian Factor was optioned by Fox and later I turned my attention to creating my own Soap Opera."

August has been a whirlwind blog tour for Purl. She has been interviewed each day by a different blogger. SLO NightWriters heard about these virtual tours when Anne R. Allen and Catherine Ryan Hyde joined us at our July meeting. There were lots of questions. As Mara is just coming off the tour, how it works and any pitfalls will be fresh on her mind so she can share exactly how a blog tour works.

According to the Globe Newswire, "Mara Purl completed the first week of her Virtual Book Tour finding new friends and adventures along the way. Purl launches her book, What the Heart Knows, in September 2011 with a Hardcover Edition published by BelleKeep Books in association with Midpoint Trade Books."

Purl has visited many of the top Internet venues covering topics as varied as the women who read them.

Join the fun, follow the tour. The updated schedule is available HERE (Each time you click on a Link within the Tour Page, be sure to click ALLOW next!). There are many specials for readers including an almost free download (99 cents) on Amazon.com of her Milford-Haven Single entitled When Hummers Dream.

Purl’s advice for fellow writers, "If you're a writer, let me tell you this from the heart: write, and keep writing. Never stop. That's what my mentor and dear friend Louis L'Amour told me to do. I'm still listening to his advice."

As well, please be aware that many of our members who have published books will have those books available at the meeting for your reading -- and purchasing -- pleasure!

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO THE PG&E CENTER:

1. Heading South on 101: Take San Luis Bay Drive exit (#196); turn right at stop sign, then the first left onto Ontario. It’s a quick left, because Ontario is a frontage road, so keep an eye out. As usual in California, signage isn’t as good as it could be. The PG&E Center is on the right about 1/4 mile from the turn.

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2. Heading North on 101: Take San Luis Bay Drive exit (#196); turn left at the stop sign and go across the bridge over the highway. Just after bridge ends, after the southbound entrance to the 101, turn left onto Ontario, the frontage road. You’ll find PG&E on the right just a little way down the road. Huge parking lot with lots of lighting.