International Thriller Writers Association

**"* P* <r*@richpomerantz.com>**

I love the back and forth and honesty of this list. I have learned more than a few good things by being on it. I do feel that I have to defend a couple of the things that have been said about the GWA though. I am just a regular member, a photographer as some of you know. Never been on any of it's boards or committees, except for two stints as a judge for the media awards.  I had a photo shoot two weeks ago for a feature in a national magazine that was absolutely a direct result of my involvement in GWA.  I met the editor at the symposium last year, enjoyed a drink and some socializing with mutual friends, then renewed the contact several times since then with my normal promotional mailings and a phone call. My phone call was well timed, as she introduced me right then to her new Art Director, who looked at my work, and then hired me a few weeks later for the shoot. I know from experience that so much of getting work has to do with being remembered at the right time, and that 
 was what my call & mailings were designed to catch.  Other work from other magazines has come also as a result of my developing relationships with editors at GWA meetings and symposia.

Also, I don't understand the comment about winners buying the awards. No one paid me or my fellow judges anything to select the winners we chose when I judged, and I am quite sure none of the other judges receive any compensation for making the choices they did.  That's a slur that has no basis. Can we agree to not repeat it anymore, unless of course you have proof of the bribery you are alleging?

I happen to agree with much of the criticism of the GWA, regarding it being slow to move into the 21st century, and not being as creative as we might like it to be, but these comments are just crap.  The comparison to the thriller writers was a great one, very apt, I thought. It's a shame the discussion devolved so quickly into unjustified allegations of bribery and cronyism. It's easy to bash something when you are not willing to contribute anything positive. If everyone on this list with something negative to say about GWA ran for election to its board next year maybe then some positive changes would come. Maybe. Big maybe.

Here's how it works folks - you are not entitled to work! If you want to get work from your contacts in GWA or anywhere else, you have to make it happen. You can't possibly expect the organization to make editors call you.  It's just like anything else in life, you get out of it just about what you put into it.

Rich Pomerantz
rich@richpomerantz.com
www.richpomerantz.com
(860)355-3356
_______________________________________________
gardenwriters mailing list
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters

GWL has searchable archives at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters

Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos

Post gardening questions/threads to
&quot;Gardenwriters on Gardening&quot; &lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org&gt;

For GWL website and Wiki, go to
http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters