Above: Elisa Southard uses balloons to demonstrate the importance of keeping ideas afloat and helping one another support the creative process. What an idea to begin the new year!

Our January guests, Teresa LeYung Ryan and Elisa Southard, brought the room to life with their enthusiasm and literally squeezed the creative juices out of members and guests while giving them solid pointers on how to stand above the crowd and be noticed.

Marketing Mentor Elisa Southard, author of Amazon business best-seller Break Through the Noise: 9 Tools to Propel Your Marketing Message, helps clients power up to outreach, build their image and recharge their messages, and plug into a marketing frame of mind. Visit: www.BreakThroughTheNoise.com

Manuscript Consultant and Career Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan, author of Love Made of Heart, helps clients identify themes and polish their manuscripts, market themselves to agents and publishers, and map out their careers. Visit: www.LoveMadeOfHeart.com

Lucky door-prize winners celebrate their good fortune before the meeting.

These two talented writers and teachers helped kick off our new year with positive energy.