Nance Crawford named president of writers’ club local branch




THE OLD WEST—Nance Crawford, in younger days, visits “ The Rifleman” set with brothers Johnny, far left, and Bobby Crawford.

THE OLD WEST—Nance Crawford, in younger days, visits “ The Rifleman” set with brothers Johnny, far left, and Bobby Crawford.

West Hills resident Nance Crawford, 72, was recently elected president of the San Fernando Valley branch of the California Writers Club for a two-year term which begins July 1.

The local branch of a statewide club was founded in 1909 by Jack London and friends. The club meets monthly at the Motion Picture and TV Fund Country House in Calabasas.

Crawford’s goals as president are to introduce a chat room; schedule year-round monthly meetings, instead of having a summer hiatus; becoming more involved with college writing programs; encourage the support of members’ websites; and to be “open to new ways of improving our programs and services.”

Crawford credits the club as the influence in the self-publication of her first two books. Her country song, “You Can’t Go Home Again,” is included on Georgia Holt’s (the mother of pop star Cher) new album, “Honky Tonk Woman.”

Her father, Robert, 92, is a retired film editor. He was nominated for an Emmy for “The Bob Cummings Show.” Her mother, Betty, who died in 1952, went by the screen name of Anne Lovett as a contract player for Warner Brothers before her marriage.

Crawford’s brothers were actors. Bobby Crawford was on the TV show “Laramie” and Johnny Crawford appeared on “ The Rifleman.”

Nance Crawford has been a movie and TV actress, director, country-western songwriter, reporter, playwright, screen writer, singer, guitarist and a prizewinning quilt maker.

She was an actress at age 6 and a twice-produced playwright by age 16. She became a columnist for the national magazine Teen Life when she was 21.

She stopped writing at age 26 because her husband passed away. With five children to support, she returned to the labor force.

Crawford is working on her third book, having recently published the holiday fable, “Dragon Solstice,” a novelization of “The Christmas Dragon,” her full length musical written with the late composer Malcolm Atterbury Jr. She also wrote “Dreams and Portents,” a dream dictionary.

A reading of her play, “King’s Games: A Memoir of Richard III,” will take place at Prince of Peace Episcopal Church in Woodland Hills on June 15.

CWC branches meet throughout the state to foster professionalism in writing, promote networking of writers, mentor new writers and provide literary support for writers.

For details about the local club, visit www.cwc-sfv.org. For more about the statewide organization, go to www.calwriters.org. For more about Crawford, visit www.nancecrawford.com.


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