THE REVIEW

SUMMER TALES


Wednesday’s meeting saw seven of us gather to shoot the breeze, spin the yarn, and frolic in the fiction. An awesome good time!

Jason Vance was a new face. He’s writing a fantasy series based on the theme that because heaven is boring, individuals are allowed to experience the drama they crave by incarnating in physical existence where they are challenged by the illusion of so-called reality. The story includes characters and a dragon, entities lost on the astral plane, a murder, and an out-of-body experience. The first book is called “A Rude Awakening”, and is complete. Jason is looking to start submissions.

I read my Synopsis for “Fire”, and also my query letter to an agent (who rejected my ms.), as Jason said he would like to hear how I had written these two items.

Jim rewrote his first chapter 5 times after the last meeting, and read his revised beginning, with the focus now mostly on Joseph, through his own point of view, and also through that of his housekeeper. It more clearly stresses his mental illness, which is what catches the reader. Jim said he had also written a short story, and we hope to hear it sometime.

Margaret read her second to last chapter from “Blow Up The Castle!”, where nobody knows for sure if the Bishop is coming to visit, or where he is staying. Mr. Lamb, the sheep farmer who now has no still, brews up a new concoction he calls the 'Bishop', and puts up a sign inviting everyone to meet the 'Bishop' at his place. Marie thinks the real Bishop is going to stay with Mr. Lamb. Of course, Reverend Peabody is relieved that the Bishop is staying elsewhere, as he does not want to give in to Marie's demands the manse be updated and prettied up.

Bob is still watching baseball. He came all dressed up and looking spiffy, on his way back from a memorial service in Chilliwack.

Gemma has finished doing her re-writing of “Heidi Knows”, and says that’s it. No more. She’s tired of working on that story and will now turn her attention to other writing.

Lynette attended on Wednesday, and we were so pleased to see her after such a long time. She said she’s finally doing some writing again. She recently saw a play about Salome, and was struck that all the works about this Biblical character have been written by men. She really wants to write something that will give a needed comment from the female perspective.

We had some discussion about what constitutes the criteria for a Young Adult novel. I remember Susan researching this when she was here, and the main rule is that the protagonist must be in the age group of 13-18, and navigating the transition from childhood to adulthood. It is usually first or third person point of view. Average length is 40,000 to 75,000 words. It does not contain erotica, and any profanity must be used sparingly. And it is wise not to beat the readers over the head with moralizing. Teenagers are pretty savvy and they can slam a book shut as well as they can slam the door.

Next meeting will be here at my place on Wednesday, August 5th at 7:00 p.m. and I hope to see you then. And in the meantime, don’t melt in the heat wave.

Lisa