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About Us
Area 4 Pennwriters
Info@area4pennwriters.org

The Nationally known, statewide writers organization of Pennwriters Inc. began in Area 4. Pennwriters actually started as a group of romance writers who met for the first time after a workshop given by Nancy Martin at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.  Nancy and soon to be historical novelist, Susan Anderson, presented the idea to the fifteen attendees to join together to keep each other updated on industry news and information and to look into the possibility of becoming an RWA chapter. 

Johnstowners Fran Himes and Margie Fusco soon became an integral part of the organization and administration of the group.  Historical novelist Vicki Thompson moved from New Jersey to Altoona and became involved with the group which met regularly at the Noon Collins Inn in Ebensburg. 

September 1988 Official Pennwriter's Membership Roster
Janice Amenta *Susan Anderson Carol Andrews *Marsha Bauer Kathy Begg
*Barbara Boswell Alice Carter *Mary Cousins Joanne Emerick Fran Flint
Kim Van Rijin Furman *Margie Fusco *Sharon Garner *Liana Garwig *Patricia George
*Suzanne Gindlesperger Peggy Haight *Edie Hanes Sandra Hill *Fran Himes
Margaret Hopkins *Eleanor Hudacsek Martha Johnson Penny Jones *Sherry Jones
*Linda Kichline J.C. Kinder Janis Klebig Mary Lamp *Debbi Larson
*Ida Lawver Lorraine Loiselle Janet Lloyd *Linda Lucas *Jane Malcolm
*Nancy Martin Jacki Marwnycz *Marianne Maurer *Susan Meier Mary Alice Meli
Sherron Miller Polly Moran Mary Lou Mmoreau BJ Mountford *Gail Nale
Georgetta Osorio L Davis Palmer Judith Parker *Candy Peck Katherine Raiser
Arlene Romano Arne Sampson M.D., Angela Saylor Ann Sherwood *Karen Smith
*Sylvie Sommerfield Margaret Sparks *Vicki Thompson *Jill Tress *Deborah Varlinsky
*Karen Wehrle *Nancy Woodburn *Merlyn Woodring *Susan Wukich  
*Charter members as of Mar 1, 1988

The group soon voted to become multi-genre, gave up its RWA chapter status and incorporated as Pennwriters.

The local group involving the areas surrounding Altoona, Johnstown, and Indiana became the Pennwriters area, now known as Area 4.

This local group involving the surrounding areas of Altoona, Johnstown and Indiana became the Pennwriters area, now known as Area 4. This area now encompasses a geographic area of Blair, Bedford, Cambria, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, and parts of Centre, Clearfield, Indiana, Juniata, Mifflin, and Somerset counties.

Members from any of these areas are encouraged to attend their local group or one nearest to them. As always, with this friendly group, any Pennwriter can attend meetings in any area.

A site map can be viewed on the main Pennwriter site, www.pennwriters.org by going to the "pick-a-page search" and choosing "area map".