THE REVIEW

HEAT WAVE


Wednesday’s meeting was in the middle of the heat wave, but there were four of us here enjoying my air conditioning anyhow. Gemma arrived first, bringing a gorgeous orchid plant in apology for her long absence. We were thrilled to see her. And our faithful cohorts, Bob and Margaret, also attended.

Gemma wants to enter two contests, one at Polar Express and one at the Poetry Institute of Canada. She plans on sending one poem and one short story to each. With her short story “Out Of Order”, Gemma had to cut back the word count, and read to us her revision. If anything, it sounded even more powerful recounting a child choosing death rather than an upbringing in a convent when her own mother doesn’t want her. Gemma also read to us her short story “The Chase”, a humourous account of an escaped white pet mouse taking refuge in a mother’s purse. Because her boys are so upset at losing the mouse, she goes shopping for another one, but at the pet store the original mouse appears and is finally apprehended by the Mom. Gemma and I also exchanged finished novels for each other to read.

Margaret had her article “Gibsons” published in the June edition of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine. It tells of how friends she met while vacationing there during the summer later introduced Margaret to the man she married.

Margaret read a prologue she had written for her Peabody collection. It tells of the three reverends meeting at Cambridge University and becoming fast friends. They went their separate ways after graduating, but later all came together while officiating at three different churches in Wickerton. After some discussion, the title “Blow Up The Castle!” was chosen for Margaret’s collection of stories. That was the command often repeated by Joey, the parrot.

The next chapter “New Year’s Eve” was read by Margaret. Mr. Lamb, the sheep farmer, was bottling his distilled whiskey for their dinner guests up at the house, the three reverends. Mr. Lamb was sampling as he bottled. Mrs. Lamb wanted her guests to use noisemakers at midnight, when the church bell was supposed to ring. But there was a very loud explosion instead when the still blew up.

I read a revised story of mine called “His Rant”, which had been written when we took subject matter from ‘the bucket’. This is the story I entered in the contest at Polar Express. I did receive a rejection from the first agent I queried about my novel. Have to look for others to approach. The latest issue of “Writers’ Digest” suggests sending multiple submissions to agents, rather than one at a time.

Bob said he hadn’t done any writing as he’s been so busy, and of course, it’s baseball season, too.

As Margaret’s going on vacation, and the first Wednesday in July is a holiday, our next meeting isn’t scheduled until Wednesday, July 8th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Would love to see you then.

Happy Writing!

Lisa