AUTOGRAPHED COPY
Margaret, Jim and Bob joined me for our Meeting on Wednesday. It was wonderful to see Margaret close to her vibrant, chipper self again. She presented me with a signed copy of her book, “Blow Up The Castle”. Her publisher told her to always sign with her legal signature so it could be traced for authenticity after she becomes famous. Margaret also had emails from readers in Georgia and Arizona who had purchased her book and read it, laughing all the way through. They had bought copies from Amazon.com so there you go. She’s already making her mark internationally!
The downside now is that her publisher, West Pro Publishing, will no longer operate as a standard publisher but is moving to be only a vanity press, where the author pays all costs. That is so sad for authors.
Bob re-read two of his historical articles from the last meeting as Margaret and Jim had not heard them.
Margaret made up for her absence and read us two chapters from “Coffin And Dye”. We hear Mr. Creeps, the owner of the apartment building at 13 Ivy Lane, telling Dye that he can’t keep any tenants because of ghosts in the building. Unknown to Dye, that is where Coffin has moved. Dye thinks the ghosts were workers who moved crates of opium when the building used to be a warehouse. He tells Creeps he’ll come to take a look on Monday morning. When he arrives, Creeps shows him the building, and points out the two flats in the attic. Creeps wants to know about the ghosts in the lobby. Dye takes the job to eradicate them.
Jim read us the second half of Chapter 13 of “Coventry Ghosts”, where volunteer ghosts are hunting for the person/machine devoiding ghosts of their essences. Two young ghosts are captured and can not be found by the others. Meanwhile, Leanne’s boyfriend, Robin, dies and has to fight to become a ghost instead of moving toward the light. He succeeds and joins Leanne in her realm.
I was lazy and instead of reading, I played a tape of Roy Jacques reading my poem “The Ghost of Christmas”, which he read on air at CKWX on December 24, 1985. He had supplied me with a tape of his reading and I like to bring it out and play it every couple of years as I love listening to his voice reading my words. He gave my work such distinction and hearing of his passing filled me with sadness. Bless his soul. Jim and Margaret said I should ask the station to play it every year, but I don’t know if that would work as their format now is all news, and not the country station they used to be. But it’s amazing to think I had five minutes of fame twenty-five years ago!
Our next Meeting won’t be until Wednesday, January 5th, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. at my place. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all in the meantime, and I hope to see you in the New Year!
Lisa
Friday, December 3, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
THE REVIEW
HANGING IN THERE
Three of us kept the fires of creativity burning at our Meeting on Wednesday. Bob and Jason joined me and we all had something to read. Margaret was still not well. Ellie is still otherwise occupied. Jim worked a very long day and wasn’t able to attend. And I don’t know about anybody else. I’ve had three ladies ask about joining the group, but so far none of them have arrived at the door.
For a change, I read first, the third chapter in “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”. Jason asked me all sorts of questions about what I hoped to do with this story which made me think more deeply about it. He thought I should start with a scene I want to use for the climax of the story, and then tell retrospectively how that happened. But Bob thought that would detract from the suspense of the mystery. I did say I wanted to show the disintegration of a family, step by step. So far I’ve written in first person, past tense, but I may have to switch and rewrite in third person, past tense, so I can include all I want to show. Have to think about it some more.
Bob had three pieces to read. They are in response to a request from the Vancouver Historical Society Newsletter for articles under 450 words about the history of Vancouver. Bob’s first story was “Visiting The Aorangi” about he and a female friend going aboard a docked liner in 1951 and being given a guided tour of the former WWII troop ship. The second story was “Wreck Beach” and Bob’s experience there cooking potatoes in the coals of a fire with his Scout troop in 1944. And the third story was “My Memories of David Spencer Dept. Store”, where he used to go shopping with his father. He loved the Christmas displays and having lunch in their dining room with a bank of windows overlooking the water. It became an Eatons store in 1948.
Jason read Chapter 3 of “Provoked” which now has this part of the novel focused in a totally different plane of existence with different characters. It shows us the people of the Nornir and The Source, a piece of which is in the necklace worn by Jodie, in the earthly realm, portending the conflict about to ensue. The writing was nice and tight and portrayed the menace they are all facing.
Our next Meeting will be Wednesday, December 1st at 7:00 p.m. at my place. Hope to see you then.
I did ask if people want that to be the last Meeting of the year, or if they still want one on December 15th as well ? It was suggested I pose the question in this blog. What are your thoughts? Do you want a little holiday celebration where everyone brings a snack? Or would you rather have the time free for other pursuits? And if we have a Meeting on the 15th, who would attend? I would appreciate your response on this, either way, RSVP. Thanks.
Happy Writing to you all.
Lisa
Three of us kept the fires of creativity burning at our Meeting on Wednesday. Bob and Jason joined me and we all had something to read. Margaret was still not well. Ellie is still otherwise occupied. Jim worked a very long day and wasn’t able to attend. And I don’t know about anybody else. I’ve had three ladies ask about joining the group, but so far none of them have arrived at the door.
For a change, I read first, the third chapter in “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”. Jason asked me all sorts of questions about what I hoped to do with this story which made me think more deeply about it. He thought I should start with a scene I want to use for the climax of the story, and then tell retrospectively how that happened. But Bob thought that would detract from the suspense of the mystery. I did say I wanted to show the disintegration of a family, step by step. So far I’ve written in first person, past tense, but I may have to switch and rewrite in third person, past tense, so I can include all I want to show. Have to think about it some more.
Bob had three pieces to read. They are in response to a request from the Vancouver Historical Society Newsletter for articles under 450 words about the history of Vancouver. Bob’s first story was “Visiting The Aorangi” about he and a female friend going aboard a docked liner in 1951 and being given a guided tour of the former WWII troop ship. The second story was “Wreck Beach” and Bob’s experience there cooking potatoes in the coals of a fire with his Scout troop in 1944. And the third story was “My Memories of David Spencer Dept. Store”, where he used to go shopping with his father. He loved the Christmas displays and having lunch in their dining room with a bank of windows overlooking the water. It became an Eatons store in 1948.
Jason read Chapter 3 of “Provoked” which now has this part of the novel focused in a totally different plane of existence with different characters. It shows us the people of the Nornir and The Source, a piece of which is in the necklace worn by Jodie, in the earthly realm, portending the conflict about to ensue. The writing was nice and tight and portrayed the menace they are all facing.
Our next Meeting will be Wednesday, December 1st at 7:00 p.m. at my place. Hope to see you then.
I did ask if people want that to be the last Meeting of the year, or if they still want one on December 15th as well ? It was suggested I pose the question in this blog. What are your thoughts? Do you want a little holiday celebration where everyone brings a snack? Or would you rather have the time free for other pursuits? And if we have a Meeting on the 15th, who would attend? I would appreciate your response on this, either way, RSVP. Thanks.
Happy Writing to you all.
Lisa
Saturday, November 6, 2010
THE REVIEW
UN ET DEUX ET TROIS!
One by one people dropped out of coming to Wednesday’s meeting. I didn’t know whether to cancel, or hold the meeting in case people whom I hadn’t heard from still showed up. As it turned out, Jim arrived on time, and then Jason arrived after 8:00, when he was finished having his son’s picture taken with his soccer team. Margaret was ill, Bob was still playing bridge, and Ellie is busy with renovations and an agility class.
Jim read two short stories from the collection he is writing for the Coffee Shop Author contest. The first story was “The Oddest Coffee Shop” where a female customer in search of a great latte enters a coffee shop where no-one is allowed to leave until they finish their coffee. Meanwhile, the interior of the shop and the attire of the owner keep changing. It’s spooky, but the customer is finally allowed to leave when she finishes her latte, which she says was the best she’d ever had. Jim’s second story was “The Coffee Shop Escape” where a female customer is accosted by a male customer whom she rejected. He stalks her, but she calls for police protection, and thinks she is safe when the stalker is apprehended, but then discovers the policeman is the serial killer. Using her own killer driving instincts with her BMW, she rams the policeman and makes her escape. These were two very interesting short stories I thoroughly enjoyed.
I read the second chapter of “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”, which gives a little more background information on the narrator and about Nigel and his wife. I don’t know whether this could be a novel, or just a very long short story. I did spend some time doing an outline to give myself some direction with it and will see where it takes me, I guess. I did submit my previous short story “Treachery?” to the CBC contest.
When Jason arrived he told us about the time he spent at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference. The critiquing session by agents that he had signed up for was a great disappointment, as he had intentionally arrived early and submitted his first chapter, only to have the venue swarmed by others at the last minute and his manuscript got buried in the pile and not read at all. It should have been done first come, first served, but wasn’t. And he says he probably won’t attend again until he has a completed novel to take with him. He feels there isn’t much more offered to him there that he would find beneficial.
Jason did read to us his rewritten Chapter 2, which is again tightly written with defining action and descriptions that tell us what the goals of the antagonists are and make us want to keep reading.
Ellie said she talked to an editor at the SIWC about her children’s story, and was told if she does a re-write, the editor would take a look at it. That’s encouraging.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, November 17th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place and I do hope to see you then. Keep writing in the meantime.
Lisa
One by one people dropped out of coming to Wednesday’s meeting. I didn’t know whether to cancel, or hold the meeting in case people whom I hadn’t heard from still showed up. As it turned out, Jim arrived on time, and then Jason arrived after 8:00, when he was finished having his son’s picture taken with his soccer team. Margaret was ill, Bob was still playing bridge, and Ellie is busy with renovations and an agility class.
Jim read two short stories from the collection he is writing for the Coffee Shop Author contest. The first story was “The Oddest Coffee Shop” where a female customer in search of a great latte enters a coffee shop where no-one is allowed to leave until they finish their coffee. Meanwhile, the interior of the shop and the attire of the owner keep changing. It’s spooky, but the customer is finally allowed to leave when she finishes her latte, which she says was the best she’d ever had. Jim’s second story was “The Coffee Shop Escape” where a female customer is accosted by a male customer whom she rejected. He stalks her, but she calls for police protection, and thinks she is safe when the stalker is apprehended, but then discovers the policeman is the serial killer. Using her own killer driving instincts with her BMW, she rams the policeman and makes her escape. These were two very interesting short stories I thoroughly enjoyed.
I read the second chapter of “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”, which gives a little more background information on the narrator and about Nigel and his wife. I don’t know whether this could be a novel, or just a very long short story. I did spend some time doing an outline to give myself some direction with it and will see where it takes me, I guess. I did submit my previous short story “Treachery?” to the CBC contest.
When Jason arrived he told us about the time he spent at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference. The critiquing session by agents that he had signed up for was a great disappointment, as he had intentionally arrived early and submitted his first chapter, only to have the venue swarmed by others at the last minute and his manuscript got buried in the pile and not read at all. It should have been done first come, first served, but wasn’t. And he says he probably won’t attend again until he has a completed novel to take with him. He feels there isn’t much more offered to him there that he would find beneficial.
Jason did read to us his rewritten Chapter 2, which is again tightly written with defining action and descriptions that tell us what the goals of the antagonists are and make us want to keep reading.
Ellie said she talked to an editor at the SIWC about her children’s story, and was told if she does a re-write, the editor would take a look at it. That’s encouraging.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, November 17th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place and I do hope to see you then. Keep writing in the meantime.
Lisa
Saturday, October 23, 2010
THE REVIEW
PUBLISHED BOOK AUTHOR!
Margaret came to Wednesday’s meeting with the first copy of her published book “Blow Up The Castle”. It was quite exciting to see her stories in print. She has drawn a poster about her book which I will forward to everyone in a separate email. Margaret pointed out to me that the author’s bio on the book was taken almost word for word from her bio on our website. So there you go.
In honour of Halloween, Margaret read an article of hers published in The Vancouver Sun Oct. 26th, 2004, “A Dead Mother’s Visit With Her Daughter” which details how Margaret saw an apparition of her deceased mother at about the same time her father passed away.
Ellie had two poems to read. The first one, “Fall Morning Ritual” was a humourous account of her and her dog’s morning ritual of going outside for the dog to do its business, and then the mishap of Ellie stepping in it. But the dog caught a mole, so the excursion wasn’t a total loss. The second poem was “A Change, Your Sister”. This starts out lighthearted as a young girl is happy when she’s allowed to tag along with her brother and his friends, until one day when a vicious rape occurs. It’s a powerful poem speaking volumes about life’s uncertainties.
Jason is attending the Surrey International Writers’ Conference and plans to submit the first chapter of his novel for a “flash” critique in front of all participants. So he brought it to read to us beforehand. The title of the trilogy is now “The Roots of Creation” and the first book’s title is “Provoked”. The rewrite Jason has done is remarkable. The story starts with a teenaged sexual assault where the heroine is saved by a sinister figure and sees the blood of her teenaged assailant in the swimming pool. The writing is tight and the story grabs the reader right away. Good luck, Jason!
I read a short story I wrote touching on the topic of elder abuse, partly in response to ads on T.V. lately, but also the result of someone else’s personal story. But rather than allowing a happy ending, I ended with a question about the new caregiver, because I wanted readers to really think about issues facing seniors and not think it’s always going to work out just fine if somebody else takes care of the elders in our lives. Elder care is never easy for anybody, on either side of that equation. I title the story “Treachery?” and hope to enter it in the CBC Literary Awards Contest.
Jim read Chapter 13 of “Coventry Ghosts”, where we see Leanne trying to alleviate Robin’s pain and discomfort from his leukemia and the necessary chemotherapy sessions. She cannot save him, though. While helping Robin, she is asked to attend a meeting of the Ghastly Committee because ghost essences are still disappearing, and it is thought some human is using some apparatus to capture and steal them. This is an exciting storyline and I’m sure young readers will want to keep turning the pages.
Gemma has said she was busy working for three months, but hopes to maybe attend our next meeting. Ellie and Jason are probably both at the SIWC right now. Margaret will not be at the book fair at that conference today, as the physical challenges of going there were too great. But her publisher will be there with a display of Margaret’s book. Bob is still busy playing bridge.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, Nov. 3rd at 7:00 p.m. at my place. Look forward to seeing you then.
Lisa
Margaret came to Wednesday’s meeting with the first copy of her published book “Blow Up The Castle”. It was quite exciting to see her stories in print. She has drawn a poster about her book which I will forward to everyone in a separate email. Margaret pointed out to me that the author’s bio on the book was taken almost word for word from her bio on our website. So there you go.
In honour of Halloween, Margaret read an article of hers published in The Vancouver Sun Oct. 26th, 2004, “A Dead Mother’s Visit With Her Daughter” which details how Margaret saw an apparition of her deceased mother at about the same time her father passed away.
Ellie had two poems to read. The first one, “Fall Morning Ritual” was a humourous account of her and her dog’s morning ritual of going outside for the dog to do its business, and then the mishap of Ellie stepping in it. But the dog caught a mole, so the excursion wasn’t a total loss. The second poem was “A Change, Your Sister”. This starts out lighthearted as a young girl is happy when she’s allowed to tag along with her brother and his friends, until one day when a vicious rape occurs. It’s a powerful poem speaking volumes about life’s uncertainties.
Jason is attending the Surrey International Writers’ Conference and plans to submit the first chapter of his novel for a “flash” critique in front of all participants. So he brought it to read to us beforehand. The title of the trilogy is now “The Roots of Creation” and the first book’s title is “Provoked”. The rewrite Jason has done is remarkable. The story starts with a teenaged sexual assault where the heroine is saved by a sinister figure and sees the blood of her teenaged assailant in the swimming pool. The writing is tight and the story grabs the reader right away. Good luck, Jason!
I read a short story I wrote touching on the topic of elder abuse, partly in response to ads on T.V. lately, but also the result of someone else’s personal story. But rather than allowing a happy ending, I ended with a question about the new caregiver, because I wanted readers to really think about issues facing seniors and not think it’s always going to work out just fine if somebody else takes care of the elders in our lives. Elder care is never easy for anybody, on either side of that equation. I title the story “Treachery?” and hope to enter it in the CBC Literary Awards Contest.
Jim read Chapter 13 of “Coventry Ghosts”, where we see Leanne trying to alleviate Robin’s pain and discomfort from his leukemia and the necessary chemotherapy sessions. She cannot save him, though. While helping Robin, she is asked to attend a meeting of the Ghastly Committee because ghost essences are still disappearing, and it is thought some human is using some apparatus to capture and steal them. This is an exciting storyline and I’m sure young readers will want to keep turning the pages.
Gemma has said she was busy working for three months, but hopes to maybe attend our next meeting. Ellie and Jason are probably both at the SIWC right now. Margaret will not be at the book fair at that conference today, as the physical challenges of going there were too great. But her publisher will be there with a display of Margaret’s book. Bob is still busy playing bridge.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, Nov. 3rd at 7:00 p.m. at my place. Look forward to seeing you then.
Lisa
Sunday, October 10, 2010
THE REVIEW
FAITHFUL FOUR
Jim, Margaret, Ron and I were the four who were faithful to The Muse last Wednesday. Bob is off learning to play bridge with his wife for a few weeks. Anne B. is re-writing her thesis. And Jason was busy parenting while his wife was away on business.
Margaret read of Coffin deciding to move since he was worried about Sam Chou’s ghost that also resided where he lived. He rented an apartment over Ling’s laundry, but couldn’t access the communal toilet since another tenant was in there reading on the throne. So then he moved to 13 Ivy Lane. Unknown to him, Dye received a request to eradicate a ghost at that address.
Sometime this week, Margaret’s book, “Blow Up The Castle” should be out. And she will be doing a signing at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference on the 23rd, from 5:30 till 7:00 p.m.
Ron was recovering from his daughter’s wedding, so didn’t have any new work to read. But he did share with us his friend’s experience at being accepted by a New York agent, who told him he was accepted because he could write. So what did that mean? Steps in the process of getting there were: meeting the agent, submitting first page and a half, then submitting the next 50 pages, then the rest of the manuscript, and then doing the suggested re-write of 2/3 of the book. Ron also recently posted another article about his father’s dementia on his website at www.rdyoungwrites.com if you want to check it out.
I read another story for my “Honey” collection called “Mr. Sticky”, about our experience buying a newly demonstrated consumer product and then bringing it home and trying it out. I also read an article from the Vancouver Sun which was a copy of a letter from Hunter S. Thompson applying for a job as a journalist at the Sun in 1958. The application was wildly aggressive and totally hilarious.
Jim read the last half of Ch. 12 in his “Coventry Ghosts”, where we see the ghostly essence of Ilancueitl being sucked into the laptop of the evil Jason. Ilancueitl and Sherlock had been investigating the disappearance of the Green Lady’s essence, when Sherlock felt Ilancueitl disappear. He gathered her ghostly shell and went to inform the Committee. Jim has finished the first draft of his second novel in this series but is not willing to share it with us yet. Also, he has again entered the Coffee Shop Authors’ Contest. This time he is doing a collection of short stories to enter.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 20th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. The Muse cordially invites any Halloween stories you might offer to sacrifice for communal consumption. Hope to see you on the 20th.
Lisa
Jim, Margaret, Ron and I were the four who were faithful to The Muse last Wednesday. Bob is off learning to play bridge with his wife for a few weeks. Anne B. is re-writing her thesis. And Jason was busy parenting while his wife was away on business.
Margaret read of Coffin deciding to move since he was worried about Sam Chou’s ghost that also resided where he lived. He rented an apartment over Ling’s laundry, but couldn’t access the communal toilet since another tenant was in there reading on the throne. So then he moved to 13 Ivy Lane. Unknown to him, Dye received a request to eradicate a ghost at that address.
Sometime this week, Margaret’s book, “Blow Up The Castle” should be out. And she will be doing a signing at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference on the 23rd, from 5:30 till 7:00 p.m.
Ron was recovering from his daughter’s wedding, so didn’t have any new work to read. But he did share with us his friend’s experience at being accepted by a New York agent, who told him he was accepted because he could write. So what did that mean? Steps in the process of getting there were: meeting the agent, submitting first page and a half, then submitting the next 50 pages, then the rest of the manuscript, and then doing the suggested re-write of 2/3 of the book. Ron also recently posted another article about his father’s dementia on his website at www.rdyoungwrites.com if you want to check it out.
I read another story for my “Honey” collection called “Mr. Sticky”, about our experience buying a newly demonstrated consumer product and then bringing it home and trying it out. I also read an article from the Vancouver Sun which was a copy of a letter from Hunter S. Thompson applying for a job as a journalist at the Sun in 1958. The application was wildly aggressive and totally hilarious.
Jim read the last half of Ch. 12 in his “Coventry Ghosts”, where we see the ghostly essence of Ilancueitl being sucked into the laptop of the evil Jason. Ilancueitl and Sherlock had been investigating the disappearance of the Green Lady’s essence, when Sherlock felt Ilancueitl disappear. He gathered her ghostly shell and went to inform the Committee. Jim has finished the first draft of his second novel in this series but is not willing to share it with us yet. Also, he has again entered the Coffee Shop Authors’ Contest. This time he is doing a collection of short stories to enter.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 20th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. The Muse cordially invites any Halloween stories you might offer to sacrifice for communal consumption. Hope to see you on the 20th.
Lisa
Sunday, September 19, 2010
THE REVIEW
BOOK REPORT
Jason, Ellie, Bob, Jim and I were all at Wednesday’s meeting. Margaret hurt her back and was unable to attend. Gemma couldn’t make it, either. And we don’t know where Anne Berrie is these days. If Bob signs up with his wife to take a course in playing Bridge, he will miss the next three meetings.
I started by recommending that everyone read “Sunray: The Death And Life of Captain Nichola Goddard”, in honour of our upcoming Remembrance Day. And I strongly believe it should be required reading for all Canadian high school students. My reasons are several. As I writer, I found the book easy to read and very informative about the military setting here and in Afghanistan. As a Canadian, I think Nichola Goddard has more than earned status as a true Canadian hero we should all be familiar with and be proud of. And because Major Sonny Hatton and his wife Chantal Hatton, both pictured and mentioned in the book, are my son and daughter-in-law. I know they were close friends with Nichola and her husband, Jay, and Nichola’s death was devastating to them.
The book is a new release and is authored by Valerie Fortney, a journalist with the Calgary Herald, and is published by Key Porter Books. I borrowed the book from the Murrayville branch of the FVRL. My brother has purchased a copy from Hemmingway’s Book Store in Abbotsford. Unfortunately, Chapter’s Langley did not have a single copy in their store as of today’s date.
Jason is working on his novel’s rewrite with his wife, and says they are on a roll with it. He thinks reading bits and pieces to the group is too disrupting for his writing process. There aren’t enough meetings to keep up with all the chapters.
Ellie read a personal story about kayaking off Crescent Beach early one morning and encountering two grey whales. She had heard they pass that way migrating north and was astounded at how lucky she was to see them, one only 4 feet away from her kayak. She found the experience surreal and felt blessed by the encounter.
Bob re-read a piece he had written in 2003. It was from his history of jewellery manufacturing in B.C. The first manufacturer appeared in 1893, and Jacoby Bros. was established in 1909. We learn about the early processes of making jewellery and that some equipment came from New York, by ship, down around the Cape of Good Hope.
I read a short story titled “Busted!” about a teenaged girl with a crush on her school’s star basketball player. He embarrasses her at school at the beginning of grade 10. She applies herself to her studies but still thinks about him. In April he invites her to a party at another friend’s house. She attends, but is horrified at the wanton behavior of her peers and leaves just before the police show up. Years later she remembers that night as she flicks through her Yearbook and realizes that’s why she never became a party girl with the in crowd. The men who listened to me read this thought the descriptive detail I used could have been eliminated, but Ellie thought it worked with the story. Men and women want different things when they read, apparently.
Jim read Chapter 12 of “Coventry Ghosts” where Leanne and Sara, the cat, are at the coffee shop with other ghosts, cleaning up the mess after the explosion. Leanne sees that John, who works there, has a gambling problem, and Sara agrees to follow him and try to keep him out of trouble. Jim told us he’s received several rejections on this novel from multiple submissions to agents that he had sent out. But they all wished him good luck in placing his work.
Margaret’s book “Blow Up The Castle”, being published by West Pro Publishing, is almost ready for release. Her publisher has asked Margaret to do a book signing at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference on Saturday, October 23rd, 5:30 – 7:00p.m. Isn’t that exciting? So if you’re there, be sure to drop by and support Margaret that day.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 6th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Look forward to seeing you then.
Lisa
Jason, Ellie, Bob, Jim and I were all at Wednesday’s meeting. Margaret hurt her back and was unable to attend. Gemma couldn’t make it, either. And we don’t know where Anne Berrie is these days. If Bob signs up with his wife to take a course in playing Bridge, he will miss the next three meetings.
I started by recommending that everyone read “Sunray: The Death And Life of Captain Nichola Goddard”, in honour of our upcoming Remembrance Day. And I strongly believe it should be required reading for all Canadian high school students. My reasons are several. As I writer, I found the book easy to read and very informative about the military setting here and in Afghanistan. As a Canadian, I think Nichola Goddard has more than earned status as a true Canadian hero we should all be familiar with and be proud of. And because Major Sonny Hatton and his wife Chantal Hatton, both pictured and mentioned in the book, are my son and daughter-in-law. I know they were close friends with Nichola and her husband, Jay, and Nichola’s death was devastating to them.
The book is a new release and is authored by Valerie Fortney, a journalist with the Calgary Herald, and is published by Key Porter Books. I borrowed the book from the Murrayville branch of the FVRL. My brother has purchased a copy from Hemmingway’s Book Store in Abbotsford. Unfortunately, Chapter’s Langley did not have a single copy in their store as of today’s date.
Jason is working on his novel’s rewrite with his wife, and says they are on a roll with it. He thinks reading bits and pieces to the group is too disrupting for his writing process. There aren’t enough meetings to keep up with all the chapters.
Ellie read a personal story about kayaking off Crescent Beach early one morning and encountering two grey whales. She had heard they pass that way migrating north and was astounded at how lucky she was to see them, one only 4 feet away from her kayak. She found the experience surreal and felt blessed by the encounter.
Bob re-read a piece he had written in 2003. It was from his history of jewellery manufacturing in B.C. The first manufacturer appeared in 1893, and Jacoby Bros. was established in 1909. We learn about the early processes of making jewellery and that some equipment came from New York, by ship, down around the Cape of Good Hope.
I read a short story titled “Busted!” about a teenaged girl with a crush on her school’s star basketball player. He embarrasses her at school at the beginning of grade 10. She applies herself to her studies but still thinks about him. In April he invites her to a party at another friend’s house. She attends, but is horrified at the wanton behavior of her peers and leaves just before the police show up. Years later she remembers that night as she flicks through her Yearbook and realizes that’s why she never became a party girl with the in crowd. The men who listened to me read this thought the descriptive detail I used could have been eliminated, but Ellie thought it worked with the story. Men and women want different things when they read, apparently.
Jim read Chapter 12 of “Coventry Ghosts” where Leanne and Sara, the cat, are at the coffee shop with other ghosts, cleaning up the mess after the explosion. Leanne sees that John, who works there, has a gambling problem, and Sara agrees to follow him and try to keep him out of trouble. Jim told us he’s received several rejections on this novel from multiple submissions to agents that he had sent out. But they all wished him good luck in placing his work.
Margaret’s book “Blow Up The Castle”, being published by West Pro Publishing, is almost ready for release. Her publisher has asked Margaret to do a book signing at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference on Saturday, October 23rd, 5:30 – 7:00p.m. Isn’t that exciting? So if you’re there, be sure to drop by and support Margaret that day.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 6th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Look forward to seeing you then.
Lisa
Sunday, September 5, 2010
THE REVIEW
BACK TO CLASS?
August gave us a nice break, so out meeting on September 1st felt like the beginning of school again. Ellie Halcrow joined us for the first time and she said she enjoyed herself and we certainly enjoyed having her here.
Bob read first, a personal piece called “Summer Time”, about the summers he spent as a child during the late ’30s and early ‘40s. There was a lot of rich detail about Boundary Bay and Crescent Beach during those years.
Ellie had two unique pieces to read. Her “Lips Of The Spider” was a piece in first person telling of a sensual first date that has the mood shattered when she ends up with a dead fly on her lips from the wine she was drinking. There was fantastic setting of mood here, and we all chuckled at the ending. Ellie’s second reading was a powerful poem called “Good Loua Be With You Child”. It’s a vivid description of the devastation from the earthquake in Haiti as seen by a young child.
Margaret read the next chapter in “Coffin And Dye”. We see Coffin at the grand piano in Handel House playing “Jesus Loves Me” with one finger, when he hears a muffled voice saying “I am Sam and want to come down.” Coffin runs away, but the voice was from Sam the handyman who was stuck in the attic. Coffin writes his report and says the ghost turning the pages of music was Handel, and there were other apparitions of noted individuals there as well. The result of this is that the Handel Society is pleased to have such renowned ghosts and they decide not to have them exterminated and consequently do not hire Coffin & Dye.
At my request, Jim read “Poached Trout”, a very funny short story he wrote about a man seeking to impress a woman he wants to bed. He offers to cook something she’d like, and she requests poached fish. Thinking poaching means stealing, the young man goes out at night in a small boat on Deer Lake and throws dynamite in the water and then collects all the dead fish. He spends the rest of the night cleaning them, grabs a quick nap and then barbecues the fish for the young lady. He does win her over when she learns of all the trouble he has taken to please her.
I read a piece called “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”, which is the beginning of a murder mystery. I don’t know at this point if the story will be a long short story, or will become a novel. And I’m not certain if I will continue writing it in first person or switch to third person, which would give me more leeway in telling the story. But everybody at the meeting liked it as it was, in first person, so will take that into consideration.
Gemma emailed that she was unable to attend on Wednesday. And Jason said he was planning on a romantic evening with his wife before a vasectomy scheduled for Thursday morning. We wish him speedy recovery. Although, as Susan can attest from conceiving her fifth child after her husband’s vasectomy, there are no guarantees!
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, September 15th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. May you all be plagued with a proliferation of written words like fallen leaves on your lawn. May you gather them and contain them and let them explode on your page. And then bring them to the next meeting for the rest of us to wonder at. See you then.
Lisa
August gave us a nice break, so out meeting on September 1st felt like the beginning of school again. Ellie Halcrow joined us for the first time and she said she enjoyed herself and we certainly enjoyed having her here.
Bob read first, a personal piece called “Summer Time”, about the summers he spent as a child during the late ’30s and early ‘40s. There was a lot of rich detail about Boundary Bay and Crescent Beach during those years.
Ellie had two unique pieces to read. Her “Lips Of The Spider” was a piece in first person telling of a sensual first date that has the mood shattered when she ends up with a dead fly on her lips from the wine she was drinking. There was fantastic setting of mood here, and we all chuckled at the ending. Ellie’s second reading was a powerful poem called “Good Loua Be With You Child”. It’s a vivid description of the devastation from the earthquake in Haiti as seen by a young child.
Margaret read the next chapter in “Coffin And Dye”. We see Coffin at the grand piano in Handel House playing “Jesus Loves Me” with one finger, when he hears a muffled voice saying “I am Sam and want to come down.” Coffin runs away, but the voice was from Sam the handyman who was stuck in the attic. Coffin writes his report and says the ghost turning the pages of music was Handel, and there were other apparitions of noted individuals there as well. The result of this is that the Handel Society is pleased to have such renowned ghosts and they decide not to have them exterminated and consequently do not hire Coffin & Dye.
At my request, Jim read “Poached Trout”, a very funny short story he wrote about a man seeking to impress a woman he wants to bed. He offers to cook something she’d like, and she requests poached fish. Thinking poaching means stealing, the young man goes out at night in a small boat on Deer Lake and throws dynamite in the water and then collects all the dead fish. He spends the rest of the night cleaning them, grabs a quick nap and then barbecues the fish for the young lady. He does win her over when she learns of all the trouble he has taken to please her.
I read a piece called “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”, which is the beginning of a murder mystery. I don’t know at this point if the story will be a long short story, or will become a novel. And I’m not certain if I will continue writing it in first person or switch to third person, which would give me more leeway in telling the story. But everybody at the meeting liked it as it was, in first person, so will take that into consideration.
Gemma emailed that she was unable to attend on Wednesday. And Jason said he was planning on a romantic evening with his wife before a vasectomy scheduled for Thursday morning. We wish him speedy recovery. Although, as Susan can attest from conceiving her fifth child after her husband’s vasectomy, there are no guarantees!
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, September 15th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. May you all be plagued with a proliferation of written words like fallen leaves on your lawn. May you gather them and contain them and let them explode on your page. And then bring them to the next meeting for the rest of us to wonder at. See you then.
Lisa
Sunday, August 8, 2010
THE REVIEW
SUMMER’S HALF GONE
Five of us still met on Wednesday in spite of the heat. Sad to think that summer is half over. I can tell, because parents have started buying school supplies at Walmart. If you need any office supplies, now is the time to stock up.
Bob read “The Stove”, an account of his further problem buying electrical goods. The first stove he got was problematic, so he returned it eventually after many long discussions with out of country and off-shore call centers. He finally received a stove from another store and has been trying out the oven. Making bread, he thought it needed another couple of minutes in the oven, so he sat to watch a baseball game while he waited, but it was two hours before he remembered he had something in the oven. We told him to get a portable timer he could carry with him.
I read a short piece called “Stop The Sunset” about Honey draining the car battery checking out his plug-in cooler, and then hoping to re-charge the battery with a solar charger as the sun was setting. I am accumulating pieces for my “Honey” collection.
Margaret read of Dye telling Coffin that the Handel House Association wanted them to identify their ghost before they decided whether or not to have it eradicated. He read Coffin the note from Miss Noteworthy. Dye told Coffin to go to the Handel House and play the piano and watch to see if a ghost was turning the music pages. Coffin was reluctant as he didn’t play very well. Dye told him not to worry, there wouldn’t be anyone there to listen except the ghost.
Jim read the rest of Chapter 10 where Olivia returns to the Wired Monk from being in the ghostly realm with her sister. Olivia’s tea is still warm. Leanne’s boyfriend arrives and so does Leanne. With her ghostly eyesight, she sees a malignancy in his bones and tells him to see a doctor.
Jason didn’t read. He feels overwhelmed with how busy it is during the summer with two young children, a boy and a girl, and getting them to all their organized activities. Unfortunately, being so organized precludes spending time with friends or just playing for fun, for either them or him. Hmm…. Something to think about. I really think Jason should be writing about the trials and tribs of being a full-time parent.
We are taking a break for the rest of August, and the next Meeting will be Wednesday, September 1st at 7:00 p.m. at my place. Take your Muse on vacation with you, but be sure to drag both of you back for the next Meeting. See you then.
Lisa
Five of us still met on Wednesday in spite of the heat. Sad to think that summer is half over. I can tell, because parents have started buying school supplies at Walmart. If you need any office supplies, now is the time to stock up.
Bob read “The Stove”, an account of his further problem buying electrical goods. The first stove he got was problematic, so he returned it eventually after many long discussions with out of country and off-shore call centers. He finally received a stove from another store and has been trying out the oven. Making bread, he thought it needed another couple of minutes in the oven, so he sat to watch a baseball game while he waited, but it was two hours before he remembered he had something in the oven. We told him to get a portable timer he could carry with him.
I read a short piece called “Stop The Sunset” about Honey draining the car battery checking out his plug-in cooler, and then hoping to re-charge the battery with a solar charger as the sun was setting. I am accumulating pieces for my “Honey” collection.
Margaret read of Dye telling Coffin that the Handel House Association wanted them to identify their ghost before they decided whether or not to have it eradicated. He read Coffin the note from Miss Noteworthy. Dye told Coffin to go to the Handel House and play the piano and watch to see if a ghost was turning the music pages. Coffin was reluctant as he didn’t play very well. Dye told him not to worry, there wouldn’t be anyone there to listen except the ghost.
Jim read the rest of Chapter 10 where Olivia returns to the Wired Monk from being in the ghostly realm with her sister. Olivia’s tea is still warm. Leanne’s boyfriend arrives and so does Leanne. With her ghostly eyesight, she sees a malignancy in his bones and tells him to see a doctor.
Jason didn’t read. He feels overwhelmed with how busy it is during the summer with two young children, a boy and a girl, and getting them to all their organized activities. Unfortunately, being so organized precludes spending time with friends or just playing for fun, for either them or him. Hmm…. Something to think about. I really think Jason should be writing about the trials and tribs of being a full-time parent.
We are taking a break for the rest of August, and the next Meeting will be Wednesday, September 1st at 7:00 p.m. at my place. Take your Muse on vacation with you, but be sure to drag both of you back for the next Meeting. See you then.
Lisa
Saturday, July 24, 2010
THE REVIEW
ME AND THE MEN AND A BLUEBERRY FLAN
Unfortunately, Margaret was not well, and Gemma couldn’t attend, and Anne Berrie was absent, so there were just me and four men here at the meeting last Wednesday. And none of them refused the blueberry flan I had made, sans sucre.
Jim read first, part of Chapter 10 in his novel “Coventry Ghosts”. This is where Leanne is able to bring her sister, Olivia, into her ghostly world, while time stands still in the real world. Leanne has become a most powerful ghost. There is going to be a General Dissembly to choose new members for the previously decimated Ghostly Committee, and Leanne wants to see women appointed this time. This is a really fun read.
Ron attended for the first time in many months. He read Chapter 5 from his “Of Stalwart Peasants”. This chapter is from the point of view of Burkholder, the Land Agent, looking to sell Hungarian peasants on emigration to Canada. Joseph is one in the crowd, and asks a lot of questions. The Agent reads a bulletin, a glowing testimonial from previous immigrants in the Hungarian colony at Esterhazy. Joseph pays the fee for the Agent to obtain visas for all his family to emigrate, but questions the ability of the Agent to obtain them for his sons, who are of the age for military conscription. A lot of interesting history here.
Jason read Chapter 13, where Greg and Dave are at home. We learn Greg knows about a party that Dave hasn’t told him about, and that Greg is having trouble discerning what was real and what was illusion earlier in the day. Dave admits to Greg that he’s desperately hoping to be picked up by one of the professional scouts that will be at his hockey game on Friday, so that he can leave town for good. Then Jason told us he might scrap this chapter because he didn’t think there was anything happening to move the story along.
The only writing I had done was a letter to the editor that was published in The Vancouver Sun on Wednesday. I commented that I was one who had complained the last time about the long form census, as I have lived in the same house since 1994, and we received the long form every single time it came around. It just seemed to be a little redundant collecting the same info from the same people in the same house every time.
Bob didn’t read anything, but he is still waiting for his new stove, so maybe we will have another story from him on that topic eventually. He has been without a stove for several weeks now.
Big thanks to Jim for the large bowl of ripe plums he brought from the tree in his yard. I’ve been nibbling on them since.
Next Meeting will be here at my place on Wednesday, August 4th at 7:00 p.m. Hope to see you then, and may your inspired thoughts bear the fruit of eloquent composition in the meantime. If not, make jam.
Lisa
Unfortunately, Margaret was not well, and Gemma couldn’t attend, and Anne Berrie was absent, so there were just me and four men here at the meeting last Wednesday. And none of them refused the blueberry flan I had made, sans sucre.
Jim read first, part of Chapter 10 in his novel “Coventry Ghosts”. This is where Leanne is able to bring her sister, Olivia, into her ghostly world, while time stands still in the real world. Leanne has become a most powerful ghost. There is going to be a General Dissembly to choose new members for the previously decimated Ghostly Committee, and Leanne wants to see women appointed this time. This is a really fun read.
Ron attended for the first time in many months. He read Chapter 5 from his “Of Stalwart Peasants”. This chapter is from the point of view of Burkholder, the Land Agent, looking to sell Hungarian peasants on emigration to Canada. Joseph is one in the crowd, and asks a lot of questions. The Agent reads a bulletin, a glowing testimonial from previous immigrants in the Hungarian colony at Esterhazy. Joseph pays the fee for the Agent to obtain visas for all his family to emigrate, but questions the ability of the Agent to obtain them for his sons, who are of the age for military conscription. A lot of interesting history here.
Jason read Chapter 13, where Greg and Dave are at home. We learn Greg knows about a party that Dave hasn’t told him about, and that Greg is having trouble discerning what was real and what was illusion earlier in the day. Dave admits to Greg that he’s desperately hoping to be picked up by one of the professional scouts that will be at his hockey game on Friday, so that he can leave town for good. Then Jason told us he might scrap this chapter because he didn’t think there was anything happening to move the story along.
The only writing I had done was a letter to the editor that was published in The Vancouver Sun on Wednesday. I commented that I was one who had complained the last time about the long form census, as I have lived in the same house since 1994, and we received the long form every single time it came around. It just seemed to be a little redundant collecting the same info from the same people in the same house every time.
Bob didn’t read anything, but he is still waiting for his new stove, so maybe we will have another story from him on that topic eventually. He has been without a stove for several weeks now.
Big thanks to Jim for the large bowl of ripe plums he brought from the tree in his yard. I’ve been nibbling on them since.
Next Meeting will be here at my place on Wednesday, August 4th at 7:00 p.m. Hope to see you then, and may your inspired thoughts bear the fruit of eloquent composition in the meantime. If not, make jam.
Lisa
Monday, July 12, 2010
THE REVIEW
DOWNSIZED
Our meeting last Wednesday was smaller in number, only four of us, but not in enthusiasm. Gemma, Bob and Margaret were here with me to enjoy a more leisurely get-together, and the strawberry shortcake I served as a treat. Jason said his wife was away on business and he was busy parenting that night. Jim had a previous engagement. Anne was unwell again with another cold. And Danny called Margaret and said not to pick him up to attend any more meetings.
Margaret read of Coffin going to speak at the British Society of Ghostly Encounters. Dye was wrong in his directions, and Coffin had a long walk from the train to the theater, where he was to change into his Duke of Cumberland costume. He changed and stood in the hall, waiting for his cue to go on stage, but ended up appearing as the Duke in a play instead of giving a talk about his ghostly encounters. He then missed the train home and ended up staying at the Stars Inn. The next day, Dye belatedly told him the Society cancelled their meeting.
Bob read more of his electronic difficulties. He lost his internet signal while watching a baseball game on his computer and his wife phoned the service provider where she was put on hold. Eventually she learned payments for the new PVR they had bought had not come out of their bank account automatically. Since Bob was behind in doing bank reconciliations, he was not aware they were behind on payments. Consequently, the service had been terminated on a Wednesday. Of course Bob made the necessary payments and service was eventually restored on the Saturday, in time for him to watch a 4:00 baseball game. Now we are waiting for Bob to write about his escapade buying a new stove.
Gemma read the final chapter of the gigolo Bob defrauding Barbara. He takes her to a picnic in Stanly Park, and then to Hastings racetrack. He tells her he has a sure bet on No. 2 in the 5th race. She gives him $10,000.00 to place a bet. No. 2 wins the race but is then disqualified and No. 3 is first. Bob had placed her money on No. 3, but tells her he is sorry she lost all her money. Gemma said the novel continues with Bob swindling money from other people. So we don’t know yet if he gets caught.
I have to write something under 750 words on the topic of ‘ears’. Margaret and Gemma and Bob were generous with suggestions so we will see what I come up with.
Next meeting will be here at my place on Wednesday, July 21st at 7:00 p.m. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
Our meeting last Wednesday was smaller in number, only four of us, but not in enthusiasm. Gemma, Bob and Margaret were here with me to enjoy a more leisurely get-together, and the strawberry shortcake I served as a treat. Jason said his wife was away on business and he was busy parenting that night. Jim had a previous engagement. Anne was unwell again with another cold. And Danny called Margaret and said not to pick him up to attend any more meetings.
Margaret read of Coffin going to speak at the British Society of Ghostly Encounters. Dye was wrong in his directions, and Coffin had a long walk from the train to the theater, where he was to change into his Duke of Cumberland costume. He changed and stood in the hall, waiting for his cue to go on stage, but ended up appearing as the Duke in a play instead of giving a talk about his ghostly encounters. He then missed the train home and ended up staying at the Stars Inn. The next day, Dye belatedly told him the Society cancelled their meeting.
Bob read more of his electronic difficulties. He lost his internet signal while watching a baseball game on his computer and his wife phoned the service provider where she was put on hold. Eventually she learned payments for the new PVR they had bought had not come out of their bank account automatically. Since Bob was behind in doing bank reconciliations, he was not aware they were behind on payments. Consequently, the service had been terminated on a Wednesday. Of course Bob made the necessary payments and service was eventually restored on the Saturday, in time for him to watch a 4:00 baseball game. Now we are waiting for Bob to write about his escapade buying a new stove.
Gemma read the final chapter of the gigolo Bob defrauding Barbara. He takes her to a picnic in Stanly Park, and then to Hastings racetrack. He tells her he has a sure bet on No. 2 in the 5th race. She gives him $10,000.00 to place a bet. No. 2 wins the race but is then disqualified and No. 3 is first. Bob had placed her money on No. 3, but tells her he is sorry she lost all her money. Gemma said the novel continues with Bob swindling money from other people. So we don’t know yet if he gets caught.
I have to write something under 750 words on the topic of ‘ears’. Margaret and Gemma and Bob were generous with suggestions so we will see what I come up with.
Next meeting will be here at my place on Wednesday, July 21st at 7:00 p.m. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
Sunday, June 20, 2010
THE REVIEW
JUNE SCRIBES
Eight dedicated Rams met here on Wednesday to prove we can still write in spite of springtime lures of other pursuits.
Margaret read of Dye telling Coffin he was expected to do some public speaking about the ghost of the Duke of Cumberland. Dye provided him with a costume similar to what the Duke had worn during the battle of Culloden, and assured Coffin he would not have to travel in it, just don it when he arrived. And we are all waiting to hear what adventures Coffin will encounter now.
Jim told us of the Harper Collins writing contest of 1000 word entries having to contain ten of some 40 words Harper Collins had chosen from their new Canadian Dictionary. Jim’s entry was “Conversations With God” in which a male deceased agnostic discovers God is a woman and heaven is not at all what he expected. Jim had underlined all the words he had used from the list, many of which are pure Candadiana.
Danny was still slaving on his screenplay, which he said would be mailed to an agent in the next week or so. Starting on page 6, we see Danny back at his girlfriend’s where he has unhooked the gas line. Police arrive and he is handcuffed and driven away. Then there is a flashback and we see Danny as a young child, first in 1961, then 1962, getting into daring escapades, foreshadowing how problematic his life will be.
I read “Next Sunday”, a humourous personal story about my Honey going to Value Village and buying a used guitar. I plan on entering this piece in the humour contest at SFU.
Jason read Ch. 12, where Greg wakes up in the school cafeteria to learn there is a student lockdown due to a police incident in the nearby woods. He has trouble telling the difference between his dream and reality. Later, after the all-clear, he sees Jodie leave with Sean. He wonders how his dream related to what really happened. Then he sees the unusual car with the driver with the black-rimmed hat. Jason is still keeping the suspense going.
Gemma read some more of Bob and Barbara. They dine while watching the races, and when Bob collects the money from the race Barbara bet on, he only gives her one third of her winnings. He takes her home but refuses to stay with her, and goes to spend the night with Mary instead. In the morning, he meets with Jim, the jockey, trying to collect the money Jim owes him, which Jim doesn’t have. Bob tells him to fix a race that night.
Anne read the continuation of Lilly’s story. Still playing Barbies at her friend’s house, her sister comes to get her. Her father has had a heart attack. Her sister Ingrid is crying, and her older sister, Evie, is also crying when she gets home. On the way home, she sees her Dad’s car with the doors open and somebody punching down hard on something on the seat. We were all waiting to hear what happened to Lilly’s father.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, July 7th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. In the meantime, Happy Canada Day, and may your writing flourish like the weeds in your garden!
Lisa
Eight dedicated Rams met here on Wednesday to prove we can still write in spite of springtime lures of other pursuits.
Margaret read of Dye telling Coffin he was expected to do some public speaking about the ghost of the Duke of Cumberland. Dye provided him with a costume similar to what the Duke had worn during the battle of Culloden, and assured Coffin he would not have to travel in it, just don it when he arrived. And we are all waiting to hear what adventures Coffin will encounter now.
Jim told us of the Harper Collins writing contest of 1000 word entries having to contain ten of some 40 words Harper Collins had chosen from their new Canadian Dictionary. Jim’s entry was “Conversations With God” in which a male deceased agnostic discovers God is a woman and heaven is not at all what he expected. Jim had underlined all the words he had used from the list, many of which are pure Candadiana.
Danny was still slaving on his screenplay, which he said would be mailed to an agent in the next week or so. Starting on page 6, we see Danny back at his girlfriend’s where he has unhooked the gas line. Police arrive and he is handcuffed and driven away. Then there is a flashback and we see Danny as a young child, first in 1961, then 1962, getting into daring escapades, foreshadowing how problematic his life will be.
I read “Next Sunday”, a humourous personal story about my Honey going to Value Village and buying a used guitar. I plan on entering this piece in the humour contest at SFU.
Jason read Ch. 12, where Greg wakes up in the school cafeteria to learn there is a student lockdown due to a police incident in the nearby woods. He has trouble telling the difference between his dream and reality. Later, after the all-clear, he sees Jodie leave with Sean. He wonders how his dream related to what really happened. Then he sees the unusual car with the driver with the black-rimmed hat. Jason is still keeping the suspense going.
Gemma read some more of Bob and Barbara. They dine while watching the races, and when Bob collects the money from the race Barbara bet on, he only gives her one third of her winnings. He takes her home but refuses to stay with her, and goes to spend the night with Mary instead. In the morning, he meets with Jim, the jockey, trying to collect the money Jim owes him, which Jim doesn’t have. Bob tells him to fix a race that night.
Anne read the continuation of Lilly’s story. Still playing Barbies at her friend’s house, her sister comes to get her. Her father has had a heart attack. Her sister Ingrid is crying, and her older sister, Evie, is also crying when she gets home. On the way home, she sees her Dad’s car with the doors open and somebody punching down hard on something on the seat. We were all waiting to hear what happened to Lilly’s father.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, July 7th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. In the meantime, Happy Canada Day, and may your writing flourish like the weeds in your garden!
Lisa
Sunday, June 6, 2010
THE REVIEW
WHERE’S THE SUN?
My creativity is stating to atrophy from the lack of sunshine. I just feel like curling up and sleeping, much like my stunted planter of herbs. However, there were eight of us at the last meeting, in spite of the rain.
Margaret read first, telling of how Coffin found a place to park his new bicycle that Dye gave him. Unfortunately, his neighbour, Harry, wasn’t pleased, comparing Coffin unfavourably to Sammy Chou, the previous tenant. But Coffin was also upset with Harry for spending so much time on the toilet they shared. To bother Coffin more, Harry told him his flat was haunted by Sammy Chou.
Danny brought his model flying saucer that he had made while hospitalized. It was made to 1/16 scale and actually flew. Danny is also working on a screenplay for his autobiography, which is being submitted to a Hollywood agent interested in auto racing stories. Margaret, Bob, Jim, Margaret and Danny read various parts of the first scene so we could see what Danny envisions for it. The screenplay can only be 120 pages maximum, in 12 point font, each page limited to a set amount of screentime. There’s a lot to consider writing for the screen, but Danny’s excited about the project, working on it fulltime.
Ruth-Ann read a children’s short story, about Olesia Marie, a young girl bullied at school by Steven. She tells her parents and her Dad says to tell the teacher, and her mother says to ignore Steven, that he probably likes her and wants her attention. She also complained to her girlfriend. The next day she sees Steven feed a hungry dog from his lunch. Later he pinches her arm as she walks by, and she says “I love you, too!” and kisses him. He never bothers her again.
I read a short piece that I had written from doing some clustering on the topic ‘Memories’. I had started writing a poem, but it slid into prose and is still very short, less that 200 words. It’s about visiting my parents at their country home one day to notice how lonely and deteriorated things looked, about a year after my youngest brother had died. It turned out to be a rather poignant short piece, maybe prose/poetry?
Gemma read the next chapter about Bob and Barbara, the younger gigolo and the older woman. She loves him and he just wants her money. He takes her to the races and talks her into letting him take her money to place her bet for her. Now we all want to know what happens to her $10,000.00.
Jason read Ch. 11 of his novel. Greg feels cold and confused, trapped in an alternate reality. He sees people parading to their ruin and doesn’t know what to do. There’s a dragon and Greg hears voices. He sees a man trying to grab a floating sword, then there is a flash and the sword comes straight down, almost hitting Greg. It looks like the sword that Ludwig had. Lots of tension in this chapter, left with a desire to keep turning the pages.
Jim didn’t read. He’s been working on his query letter when he has time. He was very tired having to work a lot of overtime, completing built-in furniture that people want before the HST kicks in.
Bob didn’t read either, but told us about a war book he had been reading. He did say there are some missing parts in his own personal history that he had written, so he was thinking of doing more with that piece of writing.
Further news regarding the HST July 1st: We will still pay only 5% on books, but we will then pay 12% on magazines and newspapers.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, June 16th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then and may you be hounded by your Muse to write in spite of the rain.
Lisa
My creativity is stating to atrophy from the lack of sunshine. I just feel like curling up and sleeping, much like my stunted planter of herbs. However, there were eight of us at the last meeting, in spite of the rain.
Margaret read first, telling of how Coffin found a place to park his new bicycle that Dye gave him. Unfortunately, his neighbour, Harry, wasn’t pleased, comparing Coffin unfavourably to Sammy Chou, the previous tenant. But Coffin was also upset with Harry for spending so much time on the toilet they shared. To bother Coffin more, Harry told him his flat was haunted by Sammy Chou.
Danny brought his model flying saucer that he had made while hospitalized. It was made to 1/16 scale and actually flew. Danny is also working on a screenplay for his autobiography, which is being submitted to a Hollywood agent interested in auto racing stories. Margaret, Bob, Jim, Margaret and Danny read various parts of the first scene so we could see what Danny envisions for it. The screenplay can only be 120 pages maximum, in 12 point font, each page limited to a set amount of screentime. There’s a lot to consider writing for the screen, but Danny’s excited about the project, working on it fulltime.
Ruth-Ann read a children’s short story, about Olesia Marie, a young girl bullied at school by Steven. She tells her parents and her Dad says to tell the teacher, and her mother says to ignore Steven, that he probably likes her and wants her attention. She also complained to her girlfriend. The next day she sees Steven feed a hungry dog from his lunch. Later he pinches her arm as she walks by, and she says “I love you, too!” and kisses him. He never bothers her again.
I read a short piece that I had written from doing some clustering on the topic ‘Memories’. I had started writing a poem, but it slid into prose and is still very short, less that 200 words. It’s about visiting my parents at their country home one day to notice how lonely and deteriorated things looked, about a year after my youngest brother had died. It turned out to be a rather poignant short piece, maybe prose/poetry?
Gemma read the next chapter about Bob and Barbara, the younger gigolo and the older woman. She loves him and he just wants her money. He takes her to the races and talks her into letting him take her money to place her bet for her. Now we all want to know what happens to her $10,000.00.
Jason read Ch. 11 of his novel. Greg feels cold and confused, trapped in an alternate reality. He sees people parading to their ruin and doesn’t know what to do. There’s a dragon and Greg hears voices. He sees a man trying to grab a floating sword, then there is a flash and the sword comes straight down, almost hitting Greg. It looks like the sword that Ludwig had. Lots of tension in this chapter, left with a desire to keep turning the pages.
Jim didn’t read. He’s been working on his query letter when he has time. He was very tired having to work a lot of overtime, completing built-in furniture that people want before the HST kicks in.
Bob didn’t read either, but told us about a war book he had been reading. He did say there are some missing parts in his own personal history that he had written, so he was thinking of doing more with that piece of writing.
Further news regarding the HST July 1st: We will still pay only 5% on books, but we will then pay 12% on magazines and newspapers.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, June 16th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then and may you be hounded by your Muse to write in spite of the rain.
Lisa
Sunday, May 23, 2010
THE REVIEW
STORMY WEATHER
In spite of the storm on Wednesday, we did have a meeting. My power stayed on, thank goodness. Margaret’s son Marshall was well enough to bring her to the meeting even though some tree branches were down along the way from Aldergrove. Unfortunately, when they went home later, their power was off and both had to climb three sets of stairs in the dark to reach their apartment. Marshall phoned to tell me they made it home though.
Margaret read first, telling us that Dye wanted to buy Coffin a present for going to the Moor in a kilt, looking for ghosts. Dye went shopping. First he looked at furniture for the office. Then he went to a dealership and looked at Rolls Royces. That’s when he decided what he would give Coffin. Coffin thanked him effusively for the generous gift, but honestly didn’t know what he would do with another bicycle.
Jim had both a query letter and a synopsis for “Coventry Ghosts” that he wanted to send to an agent. He asked us to go over them and make suggestions to improve them. We went through both missives sentence by sentence and made all sorts of suggestions. Hopefully we were a help in the process.
Anne brought a story she had started writing and felt compelled to continue. It was about Lilly and her friend, Tricia, young girls playing Barbies. Tricia wants Lilly to leave her Barbie overnight with her, but Lilly doesn’t want to as Tricia has stolen some of Lilly’s Barbie accessories in the past and Lilly wants to prevent that from happening again. We are shown the manipulative tendencies specific to Tricia’s personality and Lilly’s attempts to avoid them, but still remain friends.
Gemma brought two versions of the same story, one in first person and the other in third person point of view, and asked us to choose which we preferred. We all chose the first person point of view as it was more immediate.
Jason read from Chapter 10 of his novel, and we see Greg still in the woods watching the siren as she bends over Dave, but stares straight at Greg. Greg becomes sexually excited at her presence. She picks up the fallen pendant with a stick and gives it to Greg. Bruce warns Greg to stay away from her. He falls, and wonders if he’s dead. There’s a lot of sexual tension in this scene, and a deepening mystery.
Unfortunately, neither Bob nor I had anything new to read. Thirty lashes each with a limp bookmark.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, June 2nd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Look forward to seeing you then, and I wish you prolific writing in the meantime.
Lisa
In spite of the storm on Wednesday, we did have a meeting. My power stayed on, thank goodness. Margaret’s son Marshall was well enough to bring her to the meeting even though some tree branches were down along the way from Aldergrove. Unfortunately, when they went home later, their power was off and both had to climb three sets of stairs in the dark to reach their apartment. Marshall phoned to tell me they made it home though.
Margaret read first, telling us that Dye wanted to buy Coffin a present for going to the Moor in a kilt, looking for ghosts. Dye went shopping. First he looked at furniture for the office. Then he went to a dealership and looked at Rolls Royces. That’s when he decided what he would give Coffin. Coffin thanked him effusively for the generous gift, but honestly didn’t know what he would do with another bicycle.
Jim had both a query letter and a synopsis for “Coventry Ghosts” that he wanted to send to an agent. He asked us to go over them and make suggestions to improve them. We went through both missives sentence by sentence and made all sorts of suggestions. Hopefully we were a help in the process.
Anne brought a story she had started writing and felt compelled to continue. It was about Lilly and her friend, Tricia, young girls playing Barbies. Tricia wants Lilly to leave her Barbie overnight with her, but Lilly doesn’t want to as Tricia has stolen some of Lilly’s Barbie accessories in the past and Lilly wants to prevent that from happening again. We are shown the manipulative tendencies specific to Tricia’s personality and Lilly’s attempts to avoid them, but still remain friends.
Gemma brought two versions of the same story, one in first person and the other in third person point of view, and asked us to choose which we preferred. We all chose the first person point of view as it was more immediate.
Jason read from Chapter 10 of his novel, and we see Greg still in the woods watching the siren as she bends over Dave, but stares straight at Greg. Greg becomes sexually excited at her presence. She picks up the fallen pendant with a stick and gives it to Greg. Bruce warns Greg to stay away from her. He falls, and wonders if he’s dead. There’s a lot of sexual tension in this scene, and a deepening mystery.
Unfortunately, neither Bob nor I had anything new to read. Thirty lashes each with a limp bookmark.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, June 2nd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Look forward to seeing you then, and I wish you prolific writing in the meantime.
Lisa
Sunday, May 9, 2010
THE REVIEW
MISSING MARGARET!
Margaret was unable to attend Wednesday’s meeting as her son, Marshall, who drives her, was very ill. We all wish them both the best of health and well-being.
Gemma was also away due to health concerns and needing to be a driver for others. And Anne and Jason were missing as they felt they had to cheer for the losing Canucks in the hockey game. The Canucks should never play when the Rams are gathering!
Bob attended, even though the Boston Red Sox were winning their game. He said he has a new granddaughter, Josephine Rose.
Bob read first, “Something New”, which was a condensation in 3 paragraphs of his saga about buying a new entertainment system and trying to get it to work. He left out the parts about their computers and focused solely on the audio/visual systems, cutting down from 7000 words. That was an amazing edit, for sure.
Ruth-Ann attended for the first time and bravely read a short story called “Cheap Psychotherapy”. It tells of an esthetician studying to become a psychiatrist who gives free advice to her beauty clients. It’s an interesting premise and we would like to know how the clients’ problems are resolved.
Danny read a chapter of his autobiography called “Flying Saucers Really Do Exist”. It tells of Danny desperately wanting to get out of the psychiatric hospital and deciding the best way to do so was to show some signs of working towards that goal. So he starts building a miniature (but working) flying saucer in the wood shop. And it passes its outdoor test flight with flying colours. Danny then takes an IQ test and he scores exceptionally high. In the meantime, he absolutely hates having all the other patients referred to as his “peers”, especially as some of them he just wants to kill at times. True dichotomy of the bi-polar?
Jim has submitted the prologue and the first several chapters of “Coventry Ghosts” to the coffee shop writing contest he was part of. He also did a public reading of the prologue and first chapter at the Coventry Wired Monk in Cloverdale, as they were his ‘sponsor’. He said his granddaughter and a number of other children were there to hear him read and it went very well. Jim read the end of Chapter 8 for us and we see Leanne being attacked by other ghosts and being forced to sink to Drakko (ghostly hell). She meets Moog, who gives her a ball of light that’s all powerful, and she returns, able to vanquish all her enemies. We are then introduced to a character devising a laptop to capture ghostly essences, which is another reason to keep turning pages.
I had a copy of the May issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine and read Margaret’s article, “The Walker” about Edward Payson Weston, who spent his lifetime walking great distances.
Jim brought the last issue of Eclectica Magazine which included pieces by Jim, Gemma and myself. We are sorry to see the demise of this magazine.
On Friday, April 30th, the Vancouver Sun printed a Letter to the Editor from Nathaniel decrying the federal government’s refusal to fund international aid for mothers and children that would include abortion in other countries, even though it is available here in Canada. It’s always brave to point out the hypocrisy of the self-righteous. Let them be slain by our pens!
I recounted my attempt to purchase a suitable ebook reader that I could use at night without having a lamp turned on, as Bryon complains about my reading in bed with the light on when he wants to sleep. Last year some models were back-lit, and I thought that would be the answer. But they no longer make backlit ebook readers, they all use e-ink so the page/screen can be read outside in broad daylight. But then I saw an ad for The Source that mentioned a back-lit ereader so I went to check it out. Since the demo was not charged properly, I had to buy one and bring it home and charge it before I was able to determine it had been falsely advertised and there was no way you could use it to read in the dark without another light turned on. So I returned it.
Also, I did check out what was available in free book downloads and there again I was disappointed. The free books are mostly classics, where the copyright has expired and no author has to be paid royalties. Which is good for authors, not for ebook readers. Otherwise you have to either pay to purchase a download, or pay to belong to a site where you can download books. And, after checking, I discovered you cannot use Chapters’ Gift Cards to purchase ebooks.
I did talk to somebody at the Sony store and asked if they still had the backlit model from last year, but no, they didn’t. However, he suggested I buy a leather case for the ereader, in which you could insert a book light. The cost for case and light was $80.00, but he said the light was an excellent quality. I asked if the case could just hold an ordinary book, and he said yes. So then I said I should just buy the case and light and I wouldn’t need the ereader. He didn’t know what to say. I politely told him I would stick to buying hard copy books and then I went and spent my Chapters’ gift certificate to buy one of their expensive book lights. I clip it onto my lapdesk and the light’s neck is long enough to arc over my book when I put it on the desk so it’s not a problem turning pages. Will have to tell my son, the computer engineer, that sometimes low-tech works better.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, May 19th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Look forward to seeing you then, hockey game or not.
Lisa
Margaret was unable to attend Wednesday’s meeting as her son, Marshall, who drives her, was very ill. We all wish them both the best of health and well-being.
Gemma was also away due to health concerns and needing to be a driver for others. And Anne and Jason were missing as they felt they had to cheer for the losing Canucks in the hockey game. The Canucks should never play when the Rams are gathering!
Bob attended, even though the Boston Red Sox were winning their game. He said he has a new granddaughter, Josephine Rose.
Bob read first, “Something New”, which was a condensation in 3 paragraphs of his saga about buying a new entertainment system and trying to get it to work. He left out the parts about their computers and focused solely on the audio/visual systems, cutting down from 7000 words. That was an amazing edit, for sure.
Ruth-Ann attended for the first time and bravely read a short story called “Cheap Psychotherapy”. It tells of an esthetician studying to become a psychiatrist who gives free advice to her beauty clients. It’s an interesting premise and we would like to know how the clients’ problems are resolved.
Danny read a chapter of his autobiography called “Flying Saucers Really Do Exist”. It tells of Danny desperately wanting to get out of the psychiatric hospital and deciding the best way to do so was to show some signs of working towards that goal. So he starts building a miniature (but working) flying saucer in the wood shop. And it passes its outdoor test flight with flying colours. Danny then takes an IQ test and he scores exceptionally high. In the meantime, he absolutely hates having all the other patients referred to as his “peers”, especially as some of them he just wants to kill at times. True dichotomy of the bi-polar?
Jim has submitted the prologue and the first several chapters of “Coventry Ghosts” to the coffee shop writing contest he was part of. He also did a public reading of the prologue and first chapter at the Coventry Wired Monk in Cloverdale, as they were his ‘sponsor’. He said his granddaughter and a number of other children were there to hear him read and it went very well. Jim read the end of Chapter 8 for us and we see Leanne being attacked by other ghosts and being forced to sink to Drakko (ghostly hell). She meets Moog, who gives her a ball of light that’s all powerful, and she returns, able to vanquish all her enemies. We are then introduced to a character devising a laptop to capture ghostly essences, which is another reason to keep turning pages.
I had a copy of the May issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine and read Margaret’s article, “The Walker” about Edward Payson Weston, who spent his lifetime walking great distances.
Jim brought the last issue of Eclectica Magazine which included pieces by Jim, Gemma and myself. We are sorry to see the demise of this magazine.
On Friday, April 30th, the Vancouver Sun printed a Letter to the Editor from Nathaniel decrying the federal government’s refusal to fund international aid for mothers and children that would include abortion in other countries, even though it is available here in Canada. It’s always brave to point out the hypocrisy of the self-righteous. Let them be slain by our pens!
I recounted my attempt to purchase a suitable ebook reader that I could use at night without having a lamp turned on, as Bryon complains about my reading in bed with the light on when he wants to sleep. Last year some models were back-lit, and I thought that would be the answer. But they no longer make backlit ebook readers, they all use e-ink so the page/screen can be read outside in broad daylight. But then I saw an ad for The Source that mentioned a back-lit ereader so I went to check it out. Since the demo was not charged properly, I had to buy one and bring it home and charge it before I was able to determine it had been falsely advertised and there was no way you could use it to read in the dark without another light turned on. So I returned it.
Also, I did check out what was available in free book downloads and there again I was disappointed. The free books are mostly classics, where the copyright has expired and no author has to be paid royalties. Which is good for authors, not for ebook readers. Otherwise you have to either pay to purchase a download, or pay to belong to a site where you can download books. And, after checking, I discovered you cannot use Chapters’ Gift Cards to purchase ebooks.
I did talk to somebody at the Sony store and asked if they still had the backlit model from last year, but no, they didn’t. However, he suggested I buy a leather case for the ereader, in which you could insert a book light. The cost for case and light was $80.00, but he said the light was an excellent quality. I asked if the case could just hold an ordinary book, and he said yes. So then I said I should just buy the case and light and I wouldn’t need the ereader. He didn’t know what to say. I politely told him I would stick to buying hard copy books and then I went and spent my Chapters’ gift certificate to buy one of their expensive book lights. I clip it onto my lapdesk and the light’s neck is long enough to arc over my book when I put it on the desk so it’s not a problem turning pages. Will have to tell my son, the computer engineer, that sometimes low-tech works better.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, May 19th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Look forward to seeing you then, hockey game or not.
Lisa
Thursday, April 22, 2010
THE REVIEW
BAND OF HEROES
Seven of us were heroic and attended the Meeting last night. Bob, from memory, recited the dates that certain goods appeared in our world during the last century or so, correcting things mentioned in a joke I had emailed him. The rest of us just read words we (or someone else) had written.
Margaret read to us of Coffin enjoying himself at the Thistle Inn, dining on haggis. The Scotsman who had picked him up from the rock on the moor, returned him to same after they had celebrated Robbie Burns Day. Coffin fell and knocked himself out. Since he had been missing for so long, Dye called the Police, who found him and sent him to hospital. They asked Dye what the two had been doing on the moor, dressed in kilts. Dye explained they were ghost eradicators. When he reached the hospital, a nurse told him Coffin said he saw the ghost of the Duke of Cumberland in battle on the moor. Dye agreed to have Coffin speak publicly about his sightings.
Danny, after visiting the Langley Writers’ Guild and listening to Ed Griffin talk about the steps of the Hero’s Journey, decided he needed to re-write the beginning of his autobiography, which he then read to us. He told us racers don’t race on Easter Sunday or on Mother’s Day, because if they died in an accident on either of those two days, it would be just way too traumatic for any mother to bear. The first chapter, called “Page Zero”, is set on Mother’s Day in 1967, when Danny is 7 ½ and his brother Mike is 5 years old. Danny is looking forward to racing his go-cart after church, an activity he shares with his Dad while the other children stay with his Mom. But Mike wants to go with them and follows them to the car, where their father tells him to return to the church. Mike goes to cross the street and is hit by a Ford Galaxie 500. He is seriously injured, but does survive and recover. After seeing such an emergency and that his brother was rewarded with lots of toys, Danny’s boundaries expanded and he was no longer afraid of any consequences to racing.
In response to a reading of his autobiography, Danny received a letter from Tomas Newman, a producer/director now working on “Bong Of The Dead”, who wants to help Danny get his book published and wants the film rights to it. Exciting news for Danny.
Gemma read a personal, untitled, article about being unable to breathe and landing in hospital with bronchitis. After tests she is told to quit smoking, given a puffer and sent home, but is still unable to quit smoking and she admits she will have to die of something anyhow. Jim suggested she ask her Doctor about using Zyban to help quit, as that’s what worked for him.
“For The Love Of Heidi” is another piece Gemma read telling how, a week after her bronchitis episode, she went to do a movie shoot. The hairdresser had a dog that had suffered from arthritis as badly as Gemma’s dog, Heidi, and she gave Gemma some herbal remedy she swore had helped her dog. Not liking the smell of it, Gemma administered it to herself as well as her dog, and after 5 days they both became very sick. She then decided to throw it away and they both recovered.
I read a collection of 4 small pieces I called “Minutiae”. The first paragraph told of my shivering in the cold while staring at a display of summer swim toys. The second paragraph describes seeing a table of twelve deaf people in a local, noisy pub, and how their method of communicating by sign language succeeded in spite of the noise, and also excluded those who could hear. The next short piece described a middle aged couple on a first date at the pub, and overhearing their conversation. The man was wooing her but she was resisting and after they left, we wondered if he was going to score that night or not. The fourth piece I read told of two men in their sixties meeting at the pub for a drink, and how their conversation started with anger directed at their wives, but after 4 beer each they had mellowed and thought the women pretty wonderful. These pieces were my attempt to capture some pictures in words.
Jason read Ch. 9, and we see Greg follow Bruce into the forest. Bruce tells him the Shadows are chasing Jodie through the force put out by the pendant, and since Greg was carrying it, they were after him. When they come to a clearing, Ludwig and his car are there, and he has a sword and threatens them. Greg hears Bruce talking to someone who is not there, very strange. The pendant in his pants heats up, he pulls it out and hears a voice saying “Don’t run. She lies in wait.” Bruce enters the clearing and he and Ludwig square off. A young woman appears in the clearing, with Dave following. The woman changes into a centaur and leaves Dave wondering where the sensual woman and her charms had disappeared to. Dave goes into the trees and Greg goes to follow but the voice says “Don’t go into the trees.” Then the pendant burns his hand and he drops it and the voice says “She’s here.” There was lots of suspense in this chapter and we all want to know what happens next.
Jim read Chapter 6 of “Coventry Ghosts”. This chapter shows the ghost, Leanne, and the kitten’s ghost, brought to court in ghostdom for unghostly behavior. The prosecutor, the ghost of King George IV, says she should fade away or exile herself. Leanne is defended by the ghost of Jane Seymour, who strives for gender equality in the right to haunt. The judge tells King George that he can do the banishing of Leanne and Sara, but he is unsuccessful and then it is Leanne’s turn to exile him and she succeeds, proving she is the stronger ghost. Absolutely charming tale with lots of humour and plays on words.
Jim also has a blog in connection with the Coffee Shop Author contest and he has written another short story there that you can read and comment on at www.coffeeshopauthor.com/blogs/jaw/conversation-god
On Saturday, April 24th at Porter’s Store at the 5 corners in Murrayville, from 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m., there will be a number of Langley’s published book authors doing readings and signings and selling their books. Yesterday’s Langley Times has a write-up about it on Page 31.
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, May 5th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Bring your Muse.
Lisa
Seven of us were heroic and attended the Meeting last night. Bob, from memory, recited the dates that certain goods appeared in our world during the last century or so, correcting things mentioned in a joke I had emailed him. The rest of us just read words we (or someone else) had written.
Margaret read to us of Coffin enjoying himself at the Thistle Inn, dining on haggis. The Scotsman who had picked him up from the rock on the moor, returned him to same after they had celebrated Robbie Burns Day. Coffin fell and knocked himself out. Since he had been missing for so long, Dye called the Police, who found him and sent him to hospital. They asked Dye what the two had been doing on the moor, dressed in kilts. Dye explained they were ghost eradicators. When he reached the hospital, a nurse told him Coffin said he saw the ghost of the Duke of Cumberland in battle on the moor. Dye agreed to have Coffin speak publicly about his sightings.
Danny, after visiting the Langley Writers’ Guild and listening to Ed Griffin talk about the steps of the Hero’s Journey, decided he needed to re-write the beginning of his autobiography, which he then read to us. He told us racers don’t race on Easter Sunday or on Mother’s Day, because if they died in an accident on either of those two days, it would be just way too traumatic for any mother to bear. The first chapter, called “Page Zero”, is set on Mother’s Day in 1967, when Danny is 7 ½ and his brother Mike is 5 years old. Danny is looking forward to racing his go-cart after church, an activity he shares with his Dad while the other children stay with his Mom. But Mike wants to go with them and follows them to the car, where their father tells him to return to the church. Mike goes to cross the street and is hit by a Ford Galaxie 500. He is seriously injured, but does survive and recover. After seeing such an emergency and that his brother was rewarded with lots of toys, Danny’s boundaries expanded and he was no longer afraid of any consequences to racing.
In response to a reading of his autobiography, Danny received a letter from Tomas Newman, a producer/director now working on “Bong Of The Dead”, who wants to help Danny get his book published and wants the film rights to it. Exciting news for Danny.
Gemma read a personal, untitled, article about being unable to breathe and landing in hospital with bronchitis. After tests she is told to quit smoking, given a puffer and sent home, but is still unable to quit smoking and she admits she will have to die of something anyhow. Jim suggested she ask her Doctor about using Zyban to help quit, as that’s what worked for him.
“For The Love Of Heidi” is another piece Gemma read telling how, a week after her bronchitis episode, she went to do a movie shoot. The hairdresser had a dog that had suffered from arthritis as badly as Gemma’s dog, Heidi, and she gave Gemma some herbal remedy she swore had helped her dog. Not liking the smell of it, Gemma administered it to herself as well as her dog, and after 5 days they both became very sick. She then decided to throw it away and they both recovered.
I read a collection of 4 small pieces I called “Minutiae”. The first paragraph told of my shivering in the cold while staring at a display of summer swim toys. The second paragraph describes seeing a table of twelve deaf people in a local, noisy pub, and how their method of communicating by sign language succeeded in spite of the noise, and also excluded those who could hear. The next short piece described a middle aged couple on a first date at the pub, and overhearing their conversation. The man was wooing her but she was resisting and after they left, we wondered if he was going to score that night or not. The fourth piece I read told of two men in their sixties meeting at the pub for a drink, and how their conversation started with anger directed at their wives, but after 4 beer each they had mellowed and thought the women pretty wonderful. These pieces were my attempt to capture some pictures in words.
Jason read Ch. 9, and we see Greg follow Bruce into the forest. Bruce tells him the Shadows are chasing Jodie through the force put out by the pendant, and since Greg was carrying it, they were after him. When they come to a clearing, Ludwig and his car are there, and he has a sword and threatens them. Greg hears Bruce talking to someone who is not there, very strange. The pendant in his pants heats up, he pulls it out and hears a voice saying “Don’t run. She lies in wait.” Bruce enters the clearing and he and Ludwig square off. A young woman appears in the clearing, with Dave following. The woman changes into a centaur and leaves Dave wondering where the sensual woman and her charms had disappeared to. Dave goes into the trees and Greg goes to follow but the voice says “Don’t go into the trees.” Then the pendant burns his hand and he drops it and the voice says “She’s here.” There was lots of suspense in this chapter and we all want to know what happens next.
Jim read Chapter 6 of “Coventry Ghosts”. This chapter shows the ghost, Leanne, and the kitten’s ghost, brought to court in ghostdom for unghostly behavior. The prosecutor, the ghost of King George IV, says she should fade away or exile herself. Leanne is defended by the ghost of Jane Seymour, who strives for gender equality in the right to haunt. The judge tells King George that he can do the banishing of Leanne and Sara, but he is unsuccessful and then it is Leanne’s turn to exile him and she succeeds, proving she is the stronger ghost. Absolutely charming tale with lots of humour and plays on words.
Jim also has a blog in connection with the Coffee Shop Author contest and he has written another short story there that you can read and comment on at www.coffeeshopauthor.com/blogs/jaw/conversation-god
On Saturday, April 24th at Porter’s Store at the 5 corners in Murrayville, from 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m., there will be a number of Langley’s published book authors doing readings and signings and selling their books. Yesterday’s Langley Times has a write-up about it on Page 31.
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, May 5th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Bring your Muse.
Lisa
Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE REVIEW
APRIL SHOWERS
In spite of heavy rain, seven of us did meet on Wednesday to invoke The Muse. Unfortunately, Michael and Gemma weren’t able to join us due to ill health. Hope they are both feeling better.
Margaret brought a sample book published by the same company publishing her “Blow Up The Castle”. She’s still uneasy about the final form her own book will take.
From “Coffin and Dye”, Margaret read of the two men going to pick up the Rolls after it had been repaired. Dye insisted they wear kilts to blend with the ghosts from the Battle of Culloden. They rented the kilts and then went to the moor where the battle had been. It was cold and a fog rolled in. Coffin got lost, but finally managed to catch a ride to a nearby pub with a Scotsman going to celebrate Robbie Burns Day. We all love Margaret’s wry humour.
Danny read two chapters from his autobiography. The first was “So Where Am I?” where he tries to equate the forensic psychiatric hospital where he is held to a vacation resort. He describes the place, which had been a previous army facility and he shows the fear experienced by those inside what feels like a secretive enclosure, and the resultant suicidal thoughts. In “Waiting For N34”, Danny tells how Saturday is Bingo day for those invited, where winners take in $5.00. He is hoping for N34 to be drawn so he can win, which causes a deep realization of how low he has sunk. This is where he turns to a higher power and asks for help to redeem his life. The first chapter Danny read so exemplified the anxious, veering thoughts of someone who is bipolar and not coping. It was very realistic. And the second chapter he read finally shows a glimmer of hope.
Jim read Ch. 4 of “Coventry Ghost”. Tammy witnesses the death of a kitten she would have adopted. When the kitten passes over, she is adopted on the other side by Leanne and the two become ghostly partners. Later, Olivia invites Tammy to come to the coffee shop at night when she and her Mom are cleaning, so Tammy can meet the ghost. Tammy gets to meet both Leanne and Sara, the ghostly kitten. Finally, Leanne and her family learn from Tammy that the other woman who tried to help her was Cheri, the owner of the coffee shop. They decide to invite Cheri to attend one night after midnight. Jim’s story is progressing nicely and he has some wonderful descriptions of the ghostly appearances and antics, and the end of the chapter leaves the reader wondering ‘what next?’ I can see young girls being enthralled with this story.
Jason read Ch. 8, where we see Greg and Dave at the edge of the forest listening and cringing at the screams they hear. The trees are jumping and there is a weird moving light. Dave backs away but Greg goes into the forest and is assaulted with a foul odor and sees smoke. Bruce sneaks up on him and covers his mouth so he can’t scream. He tells Greg the Shadows can feel the power of the pendant he carries. Bruce is following the Shadows to keep them from harming Jodie, the Akomadron. There is a lot of suspense and mystery in this chapter which would definitely be a page turner for any reader.
Anne said she and her son often walk the Huston Trail in Fort Langley and had seen some abandoned trucks there. The trucks sparked an idea for writing a novel, and she has renamed Fort Langley as Fort Hendy. The book’s title is “Ankle Bone”. Anne read us the prologue where we meet Sy and Squid, two young male friends sparring verbally with each other. The story sounds very promising and with Anne’s background in criminology, I’m sure she can put together a story we’d all want to read.
We did point out that she needs to decide beforehand what point(s) of view she will use to help the reader understand more clearly whose head she is in when telling the story. And we also mentioned past tense and present tense should be considered beforehand as well. The most immediate connection of reader to character is with first person, present tense. The most often used is third person, past tense. Nowadays there are many books that use multiple persons, past tense. In this case it’s best if each character has their own chapter. Next best is if they have their own scene, or section in a chapter. With a few stories characters only have their own paragraph. But never, ever, ever put two characters’ points of view in the same paragraph or the same sentence. If you have a main character you want the reader to care about, then stay with that character’s point of view. With omniscient point of view, the narrator has an overview of his/her own as well as the narrower view of every character. In this instance, the reader is further removed from the characters and doesn’t relate to them as easily, but if writing an historical epic, this can allow for a lot of background information to be given to the reader. Lots to think about, that’s for sure. It bears doing some research of novels you liked before you start.
Neither Bob nor I did any reading. Bob said he is still trying to write his electronics saga. I’ve been toying with some ideas and making notes, but nothing finished on the printed page yet.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 21st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
In spite of heavy rain, seven of us did meet on Wednesday to invoke The Muse. Unfortunately, Michael and Gemma weren’t able to join us due to ill health. Hope they are both feeling better.
Margaret brought a sample book published by the same company publishing her “Blow Up The Castle”. She’s still uneasy about the final form her own book will take.
From “Coffin and Dye”, Margaret read of the two men going to pick up the Rolls after it had been repaired. Dye insisted they wear kilts to blend with the ghosts from the Battle of Culloden. They rented the kilts and then went to the moor where the battle had been. It was cold and a fog rolled in. Coffin got lost, but finally managed to catch a ride to a nearby pub with a Scotsman going to celebrate Robbie Burns Day. We all love Margaret’s wry humour.
Danny read two chapters from his autobiography. The first was “So Where Am I?” where he tries to equate the forensic psychiatric hospital where he is held to a vacation resort. He describes the place, which had been a previous army facility and he shows the fear experienced by those inside what feels like a secretive enclosure, and the resultant suicidal thoughts. In “Waiting For N34”, Danny tells how Saturday is Bingo day for those invited, where winners take in $5.00. He is hoping for N34 to be drawn so he can win, which causes a deep realization of how low he has sunk. This is where he turns to a higher power and asks for help to redeem his life. The first chapter Danny read so exemplified the anxious, veering thoughts of someone who is bipolar and not coping. It was very realistic. And the second chapter he read finally shows a glimmer of hope.
Jim read Ch. 4 of “Coventry Ghost”. Tammy witnesses the death of a kitten she would have adopted. When the kitten passes over, she is adopted on the other side by Leanne and the two become ghostly partners. Later, Olivia invites Tammy to come to the coffee shop at night when she and her Mom are cleaning, so Tammy can meet the ghost. Tammy gets to meet both Leanne and Sara, the ghostly kitten. Finally, Leanne and her family learn from Tammy that the other woman who tried to help her was Cheri, the owner of the coffee shop. They decide to invite Cheri to attend one night after midnight. Jim’s story is progressing nicely and he has some wonderful descriptions of the ghostly appearances and antics, and the end of the chapter leaves the reader wondering ‘what next?’ I can see young girls being enthralled with this story.
Jason read Ch. 8, where we see Greg and Dave at the edge of the forest listening and cringing at the screams they hear. The trees are jumping and there is a weird moving light. Dave backs away but Greg goes into the forest and is assaulted with a foul odor and sees smoke. Bruce sneaks up on him and covers his mouth so he can’t scream. He tells Greg the Shadows can feel the power of the pendant he carries. Bruce is following the Shadows to keep them from harming Jodie, the Akomadron. There is a lot of suspense and mystery in this chapter which would definitely be a page turner for any reader.
Anne said she and her son often walk the Huston Trail in Fort Langley and had seen some abandoned trucks there. The trucks sparked an idea for writing a novel, and she has renamed Fort Langley as Fort Hendy. The book’s title is “Ankle Bone”. Anne read us the prologue where we meet Sy and Squid, two young male friends sparring verbally with each other. The story sounds very promising and with Anne’s background in criminology, I’m sure she can put together a story we’d all want to read.
We did point out that she needs to decide beforehand what point(s) of view she will use to help the reader understand more clearly whose head she is in when telling the story. And we also mentioned past tense and present tense should be considered beforehand as well. The most immediate connection of reader to character is with first person, present tense. The most often used is third person, past tense. Nowadays there are many books that use multiple persons, past tense. In this case it’s best if each character has their own chapter. Next best is if they have their own scene, or section in a chapter. With a few stories characters only have their own paragraph. But never, ever, ever put two characters’ points of view in the same paragraph or the same sentence. If you have a main character you want the reader to care about, then stay with that character’s point of view. With omniscient point of view, the narrator has an overview of his/her own as well as the narrower view of every character. In this instance, the reader is further removed from the characters and doesn’t relate to them as easily, but if writing an historical epic, this can allow for a lot of background information to be given to the reader. Lots to think about, that’s for sure. It bears doing some research of novels you liked before you start.
Neither Bob nor I did any reading. Bob said he is still trying to write his electronics saga. I’ve been toying with some ideas and making notes, but nothing finished on the printed page yet.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 21st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
Sunday, March 21, 2010
THE REVIEW
THE GREEN TEAM
The meeting on the 17th saw six of us sporting some green and spinning yarns. Unfortunately, Bob wasn’t present that night. Said he didn’t have any green clothes to wear, only a green emerald.
Margaret read first, as usual. Dye and Coffin were lamenting their loss of Lord Mossity’s business of eradicating ghosts at Mossity Manor. However, the Rolls had been repaired and was ready to be picked up. Dye then informed Coffin their next job would be to expunge the four spirits haunting the back of the Rolls, whom he thought were expired Highland soldiers from the Battle of Culloden. But Coffin had only invented them to explain why the Rolls had been damaged.
I read my short story “Fine Print” which will be published in the April issue (also the final issue) of Eclectica Magazine. This story was my response to “The Stepford Wives” and has a modern woman seeking a refund on the malfunctioning male homemaking machine she had bought for her home. Strange, but the story always has a more favourable reaction from a female audience. Now why is that? Recently, I was asked for a bio/blurb to go with this story, so it’s a good idea to have something ready in case you are asked for one. This is the 4th or 5th time I have had one requested.
Danny read from his autobiography, recounting the 30 day assessment he endured in a psychiatric hospital. He learned that a severe manic episode at 40 is not unusual. Staying in the Forensic Assessment Unit was a big step up from the jail he had been in. He spent a lot of time doing tests, true or false, and then more detailed ones. He was finally diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. Danny listed all the nuanced references to his condition, but I didn’t record them. After that Unit, one could progress to the Forensic Treatment Unit, and then to the Forensic Rehabilitation Unit, each on a lower floor, closer to the exit. Danny felt he was housed with a bunch of ‘mixed nuts’ and thought the nursing staff were the only ones he could communicate with.
Jason read Ch. 7 of his novel. Greg is still at school, watching Jodie, and sensing the power she has over their classmates, especially all the boys who turn to watch her. He recalls how she suffered without her parents, and he’s afraid she will turn to Sean for comfort instead of to him. Unable to stay in the cafeteria with Jodie ignoring him, he goes outside in the rain. His brother, Dave, joins him, all gaga over a girl he has met. The two of them hear screams coming from the nearby forest.
Gemma reads further from a story of hers where the gigolo, Bob, arises in the morning and goes to the deli to bring back breakfast for Barbara. She wants him to move in with her, but he only wants her money. He kisses her and makes an excuse, then leaves for the day.
Congo, a dog belonging to Gemma’s friend Ariane, died recently and Gemma had written two letters on the topic. One was from the deceased Congo to Ariane, and the other was from Gemma to Congo. Both expressed the love and devotion between animal and human.
Jim read Ch. 3 of “Coventry Ghost”. Olivia asks of Tammy what she knows about the ghost and feels that Tammy might have been the ‘pretty girl’ who tried to help her sister. Meanwhile, Patty decides her husband needs to learn that his daughter’s ghost haunts the coffee shop and conspires with Olivia to have him come down there one night while they are cleaning. He arrives, and is greeted by his dead daughter’s specter. He faints, twice.
Marilyn has a short piece published online at Writing Raw. It is “ForePlay” by Mike Malone, her pseudonym.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 7th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then, and Happy Easter in the meantime.
Lisa
The meeting on the 17th saw six of us sporting some green and spinning yarns. Unfortunately, Bob wasn’t present that night. Said he didn’t have any green clothes to wear, only a green emerald.
Margaret read first, as usual. Dye and Coffin were lamenting their loss of Lord Mossity’s business of eradicating ghosts at Mossity Manor. However, the Rolls had been repaired and was ready to be picked up. Dye then informed Coffin their next job would be to expunge the four spirits haunting the back of the Rolls, whom he thought were expired Highland soldiers from the Battle of Culloden. But Coffin had only invented them to explain why the Rolls had been damaged.
I read my short story “Fine Print” which will be published in the April issue (also the final issue) of Eclectica Magazine. This story was my response to “The Stepford Wives” and has a modern woman seeking a refund on the malfunctioning male homemaking machine she had bought for her home. Strange, but the story always has a more favourable reaction from a female audience. Now why is that? Recently, I was asked for a bio/blurb to go with this story, so it’s a good idea to have something ready in case you are asked for one. This is the 4th or 5th time I have had one requested.
Danny read from his autobiography, recounting the 30 day assessment he endured in a psychiatric hospital. He learned that a severe manic episode at 40 is not unusual. Staying in the Forensic Assessment Unit was a big step up from the jail he had been in. He spent a lot of time doing tests, true or false, and then more detailed ones. He was finally diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. Danny listed all the nuanced references to his condition, but I didn’t record them. After that Unit, one could progress to the Forensic Treatment Unit, and then to the Forensic Rehabilitation Unit, each on a lower floor, closer to the exit. Danny felt he was housed with a bunch of ‘mixed nuts’ and thought the nursing staff were the only ones he could communicate with.
Jason read Ch. 7 of his novel. Greg is still at school, watching Jodie, and sensing the power she has over their classmates, especially all the boys who turn to watch her. He recalls how she suffered without her parents, and he’s afraid she will turn to Sean for comfort instead of to him. Unable to stay in the cafeteria with Jodie ignoring him, he goes outside in the rain. His brother, Dave, joins him, all gaga over a girl he has met. The two of them hear screams coming from the nearby forest.
Gemma reads further from a story of hers where the gigolo, Bob, arises in the morning and goes to the deli to bring back breakfast for Barbara. She wants him to move in with her, but he only wants her money. He kisses her and makes an excuse, then leaves for the day.
Congo, a dog belonging to Gemma’s friend Ariane, died recently and Gemma had written two letters on the topic. One was from the deceased Congo to Ariane, and the other was from Gemma to Congo. Both expressed the love and devotion between animal and human.
Jim read Ch. 3 of “Coventry Ghost”. Olivia asks of Tammy what she knows about the ghost and feels that Tammy might have been the ‘pretty girl’ who tried to help her sister. Meanwhile, Patty decides her husband needs to learn that his daughter’s ghost haunts the coffee shop and conspires with Olivia to have him come down there one night while they are cleaning. He arrives, and is greeted by his dead daughter’s specter. He faints, twice.
Marilyn has a short piece published online at Writing Raw. It is “ForePlay” by Mike Malone, her pseudonym.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 7th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then, and Happy Easter in the meantime.
Lisa
Friday, March 5, 2010
THE REVIEW
WINNERS ALL!
At the end of the Olympics, we all feel like winners. Seven writing athletes attended the meet here on Wednesday with everyone competing in friendly fashion.
Bob read first, an update on his electronic woes. All systems failed, but rescue by a neighbour restored television viewing at least. Full restoration is waiting for greater “Visions”.
Margaret read her next chapter in “Coffin & Dye”. Dye is explaining to Lord Mossity about the plague in 1664 when many people died, and he thinks the ten ghosts seen in the Manor were plague victims buried in a mass grave on the property. He tells Lord Mossity the grave should be dug up but the Lord is extremely reticent to have that done. Dye then goes on to explain about the great London fire that destroyed parts of the city but eventually ended the plague. Unfortunately for Dye, Mossity decides he and his wife will move to France and the Manor will become a museum, ghosts included, no eradication necessary.
Jason read us Chapter 6. Greg is at school avoiding a bully, waiting for Jodie to come to her locker. Classes start, but Jodie is late and he is still waiting. He is agonizing about wanting to tell her how much she means to him, how to tell her, how to give her the necklace. Jodie finally arrives, with Sean, who than kisses her goodbye and pushes Greg into his locker as he passes him. Jodie is upset that Sean didn’t stick up for himself and tells him he is too immature, and then walks away. Greg hears his grandmother’s voice telling him to give her the necklace and he calls Jodie, but is unable to say anything more. She pauses, but then keeps on walking away. There is a lot of teen angst in this chapter, which most thought added to the tension.
Danny read from his autobiography. The first short chapter he read was “The Rudest Awakening”, describing the jolt of reality in having his mug shot taken and finding himself in cuffs. The next chapter was “Fifty-One Up” about his stay in jail before being transferred to a psychiatric unit. He described the fights with other inmates, the shackles and cuffs, the bad food, the Sally Ann band at Christmas, and his desire for redemption. He told how the only thing that kept him going was the attention from family and friends who came to visit. On Jan. 10th, he was finally transferred to the psychiatric unit, in shackles and cuffs and wearing an orange jump suit, driven by two officers. On the 401, they started speeding, hiding the speed behind a piece of paper on the dash. But because Danny knew about racing, he could tell when the speed increased and he estimated they were doing 140 MPH. in their Chevy Caprice. Scary stuff, but some really great detail here.
Jim read Chapter 2 of his ghost story. The young Olivia wants to help her sister thank the people who had tried to save her, but doesn’t know who they were and couldn’t get the information from her sister’s ghost. She decides to investigate herself, and starts doing volunteer work at the coffee shop anytime she goes there, to get an ‘in’ with everyone. She has a chat with a girl named “Tammy”, who works there and is the only one who admits the place is haunted.
I read a short story about the new coffee table project I initiated with Honey for the beginning price of ten dollars, and which eventually cost us several hundred. Everybody laughed and I keep telling honey the table was “Only Ten Dollars”.
Gemma didn’t read, but did give me the latest issue of Writers’ Digest. My subscription had expired, and lucky Gemma received two copies of the same issue. Also, I hear rumours of some children’s stories Gemma has that Margaret suggests she bring to read.
Margaret brought us several copies of the March issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine and I see that Marilyn has an article in there, “The Last Tsar”. Congratulations!
The next meeting will be Wednesday, March 17th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. That is St. Patrick’s Day, green attire suggested (a welcome switch from red). I’ll see if I can remember to colour the water and the ice cubes. See you on the 17th.
Lisa
At the end of the Olympics, we all feel like winners. Seven writing athletes attended the meet here on Wednesday with everyone competing in friendly fashion.
Bob read first, an update on his electronic woes. All systems failed, but rescue by a neighbour restored television viewing at least. Full restoration is waiting for greater “Visions”.
Margaret read her next chapter in “Coffin & Dye”. Dye is explaining to Lord Mossity about the plague in 1664 when many people died, and he thinks the ten ghosts seen in the Manor were plague victims buried in a mass grave on the property. He tells Lord Mossity the grave should be dug up but the Lord is extremely reticent to have that done. Dye then goes on to explain about the great London fire that destroyed parts of the city but eventually ended the plague. Unfortunately for Dye, Mossity decides he and his wife will move to France and the Manor will become a museum, ghosts included, no eradication necessary.
Jason read us Chapter 6. Greg is at school avoiding a bully, waiting for Jodie to come to her locker. Classes start, but Jodie is late and he is still waiting. He is agonizing about wanting to tell her how much she means to him, how to tell her, how to give her the necklace. Jodie finally arrives, with Sean, who than kisses her goodbye and pushes Greg into his locker as he passes him. Jodie is upset that Sean didn’t stick up for himself and tells him he is too immature, and then walks away. Greg hears his grandmother’s voice telling him to give her the necklace and he calls Jodie, but is unable to say anything more. She pauses, but then keeps on walking away. There is a lot of teen angst in this chapter, which most thought added to the tension.
Danny read from his autobiography. The first short chapter he read was “The Rudest Awakening”, describing the jolt of reality in having his mug shot taken and finding himself in cuffs. The next chapter was “Fifty-One Up” about his stay in jail before being transferred to a psychiatric unit. He described the fights with other inmates, the shackles and cuffs, the bad food, the Sally Ann band at Christmas, and his desire for redemption. He told how the only thing that kept him going was the attention from family and friends who came to visit. On Jan. 10th, he was finally transferred to the psychiatric unit, in shackles and cuffs and wearing an orange jump suit, driven by two officers. On the 401, they started speeding, hiding the speed behind a piece of paper on the dash. But because Danny knew about racing, he could tell when the speed increased and he estimated they were doing 140 MPH. in their Chevy Caprice. Scary stuff, but some really great detail here.
Jim read Chapter 2 of his ghost story. The young Olivia wants to help her sister thank the people who had tried to save her, but doesn’t know who they were and couldn’t get the information from her sister’s ghost. She decides to investigate herself, and starts doing volunteer work at the coffee shop anytime she goes there, to get an ‘in’ with everyone. She has a chat with a girl named “Tammy”, who works there and is the only one who admits the place is haunted.
I read a short story about the new coffee table project I initiated with Honey for the beginning price of ten dollars, and which eventually cost us several hundred. Everybody laughed and I keep telling honey the table was “Only Ten Dollars”.
Gemma didn’t read, but did give me the latest issue of Writers’ Digest. My subscription had expired, and lucky Gemma received two copies of the same issue. Also, I hear rumours of some children’s stories Gemma has that Margaret suggests she bring to read.
Margaret brought us several copies of the March issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine and I see that Marilyn has an article in there, “The Last Tsar”. Congratulations!
The next meeting will be Wednesday, March 17th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. That is St. Patrick’s Day, green attire suggested (a welcome switch from red). I’ll see if I can remember to colour the water and the ice cubes. See you on the 17th.
Lisa
Saturday, February 20, 2010
THE REVIEW
ATHLETES WE’RE NOT!
In spite of the Olympics, six of us showed up for the meeting on Wednesday.
Margaret read her next chapter in “Coffin & Dye”. At home the next morning with a hangover, Coffin realizes he left the Rolls at Mossity Manor. He took a taxi to retrieve it, but couldn’t find the Rolls. He found his way to the kitchen and explained his predicament to the cook who had seen the ghosts he’d only imagined. She told him he parked at the side entrance, not the front. He retrieved the Rolls but then got stuck in the mud. A shepherd pulled him out with a tractor but that tore off the bumper, which would take 2 weeks to fix. He tells Dye that four ghosts in the back seat had frightened him and he’d gone into the ditch. Dye accepted the explanation.
Jason read us Chapter 5. Greg looks out his window every morning and sees Jodie leaving for her morning run. He longs to be with her. Dave tells him he’s a stalker, why doesn’t he just go with her instead? Then Dave tells him Jodie’s been seeing Sean at school. Greg misses his former closeness with Jodie. How could he possibly give her the pendant when she seems to just ignore him. He feels a strange presence and hears a voice whispering, “Save us. Go to her.” His mother comes into the room and he hides the pendant and decoys his mother with Dave’s Playboy magazines. This chapter started with a good set-up of scene, giving it a mysterious setting. And the scene swayed back and forth from ephemeral to reality. It was well done.
Jim read Chapter 1 of “Coventry Ghost”. Patty is the new cleaning lady at the Wired Monk, and it was her daughter, Leanne, who was killed in front of the coffee shop the year before. She brings her younger daughter, Olivia, with her after midnight to help with the cleaning. The two daughters share a telepathic bond, even though Leanne had died. The dead daughter’s ghost appears to both Patty and Olivia at the Wired Monk. Jim gave us an excellent, vivid description of the ghost’s appearance.
Marilyn has been sending out some writing. One piece went to Today’s Senior Newsmagazine so keep your eyes open for it. And another piece, “Deaf P.O.V.”, she sent to Eclectica, and it has been accepted. Way to go, Marilyn!
Jim says Exlectica has asked if they can include his short story, “Janina”, in an anthology they are putting together. Congrats!
Bob didn’t read anything at the meeting as he was so tired he was falling asleep and consequently left early. Well, he said he was tired and it wasn’t our writing that induced the slumber. Hope he’s recovered. Anne Berrie finally joined us again after her convalescence from back surgery. She proudly showed us the scar down her spine, a gold medal for overcoming pain. Gemma wasn’t able attend due to serious back pain. Hope she’s recovering, too. And I was still trying to recover from an awful cold. So there you go. The sun comes out, Spring is almost sprung, and some of us just want to keep hibernating. You do know the time changes to Daylight Savings on March 14th? That’s just three weeks from tomorrow.
Next meeting will be Wednesday, March 3rd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Good health and happy writing to everyone in the meantime.
Lisa
In spite of the Olympics, six of us showed up for the meeting on Wednesday.
Margaret read her next chapter in “Coffin & Dye”. At home the next morning with a hangover, Coffin realizes he left the Rolls at Mossity Manor. He took a taxi to retrieve it, but couldn’t find the Rolls. He found his way to the kitchen and explained his predicament to the cook who had seen the ghosts he’d only imagined. She told him he parked at the side entrance, not the front. He retrieved the Rolls but then got stuck in the mud. A shepherd pulled him out with a tractor but that tore off the bumper, which would take 2 weeks to fix. He tells Dye that four ghosts in the back seat had frightened him and he’d gone into the ditch. Dye accepted the explanation.
Jason read us Chapter 5. Greg looks out his window every morning and sees Jodie leaving for her morning run. He longs to be with her. Dave tells him he’s a stalker, why doesn’t he just go with her instead? Then Dave tells him Jodie’s been seeing Sean at school. Greg misses his former closeness with Jodie. How could he possibly give her the pendant when she seems to just ignore him. He feels a strange presence and hears a voice whispering, “Save us. Go to her.” His mother comes into the room and he hides the pendant and decoys his mother with Dave’s Playboy magazines. This chapter started with a good set-up of scene, giving it a mysterious setting. And the scene swayed back and forth from ephemeral to reality. It was well done.
Jim read Chapter 1 of “Coventry Ghost”. Patty is the new cleaning lady at the Wired Monk, and it was her daughter, Leanne, who was killed in front of the coffee shop the year before. She brings her younger daughter, Olivia, with her after midnight to help with the cleaning. The two daughters share a telepathic bond, even though Leanne had died. The dead daughter’s ghost appears to both Patty and Olivia at the Wired Monk. Jim gave us an excellent, vivid description of the ghost’s appearance.
Marilyn has been sending out some writing. One piece went to Today’s Senior Newsmagazine so keep your eyes open for it. And another piece, “Deaf P.O.V.”, she sent to Eclectica, and it has been accepted. Way to go, Marilyn!
Jim says Exlectica has asked if they can include his short story, “Janina”, in an anthology they are putting together. Congrats!
Bob didn’t read anything at the meeting as he was so tired he was falling asleep and consequently left early. Well, he said he was tired and it wasn’t our writing that induced the slumber. Hope he’s recovered. Anne Berrie finally joined us again after her convalescence from back surgery. She proudly showed us the scar down her spine, a gold medal for overcoming pain. Gemma wasn’t able attend due to serious back pain. Hope she’s recovering, too. And I was still trying to recover from an awful cold. So there you go. The sun comes out, Spring is almost sprung, and some of us just want to keep hibernating. You do know the time changes to Daylight Savings on March 14th? That’s just three weeks from tomorrow.
Next meeting will be Wednesday, March 3rd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Good health and happy writing to everyone in the meantime.
Lisa
Thursday, February 11, 2010
THE REVIEW
GO RAMS GO!
The Ram’s Head Team is off and running, all of us wanting our own gold medal for surviving the 2010 Winter Olympics here on home turf. Bob asked if we were going to take a break from meeting while the games are on, but no one was so inclined. After all, we’re artists, and certainly not to be outdone by the mere physical exploits of others. Meeting as usual next week, Wednesday, February 17th, at my place at 7:00 p.m.
At last week’s meeting, Margaret brought several copies of the February issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine. It included an article by Margaret about one teacher’s note to her at Valentine’s one year. Also in this issue is a sort of apology to Gemma for printing a poem that only differed from one of hers they had printed by one or two words. Gemma had complained to them, but their apology did not include her name.
I handed out copies of B.C. Book World that Bryon had collected from the ferry when he went to the Island. This issue included a lengthy article about electronic publishing rights of authors being violated outrageously these days. It’s an article anybody signing with a book publisher, especially an American one, should be aware of.
Bob hadn’t written anything, but mentioned a book he had read, a biography of Roald Dahl who wrote “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. He said it was an excellent story, and we told him he has to write a book report.
Margaret read her next chapter, where Coffin drives the Rolls to the writers’ meeting at Mossity Manor. Lord Mossity introduced him as Lord Coffin, just back from Safari in Africa. Coffin tells Lord Mossity he saw ten ghosts heading to the kitchen, and then the cook says she saw them too, which upsets Coffin because he had only fabricated seeing them. Still upset, he left by the back door, in a hurry to catch a bus, completely forgetting the Rolls.
As Margaret’s first book is in the process of being published, she told us her publisher asked if she would be willing to do book signings at Chapters. Margaret isn’t at all sure she would care to do that. But if called upon, I’m sure some of the rest of us would go out to support her.
Jason read Chapter 4 of his urban fantasy. Greg and the others are still in the dark living room, listening as Gran talks about the afterlife, and the existence of hardship on the next plane. She also talks about the 2000 year old journal, and about her coming death. She tells Greg to give Jodie the pendant and to start their pre-ordained odyssey. There was a really great build up of tension and mystery here.
Jim has started another novel connected with the www.coffeeshopauthor.com writing contest. He is sponsored by The Wired Monk where he goes to write in Cloverdale. Taking the challenge a step further, employees and patrons at the shop have signed on to allow Jim to use them as characters in the story. Consequently, they want to read his latest chapter every time they see him. Talk about incentive! His novel is called “The Coventry Ghost” and he read the prologue. We see a teenage girl outside the coffee shop hit by a car and die. She keeps trying to reclaim her damaged body, but isn’t successful. Not wanting to leave, she becomes a stranded ghost. The prologue was well done and grabbed our attention right from the start. Will love to hear how all this develops.
Had an email from John Ireland, who is now working again as a journalist in Raratonga, Cook Islands, while his wife is still in New Zealand. I think this is for the next 7 months or so. John did say he hopes to be back in the Lower Mainland come October, but didn’t say if that would be for a visit or permanently. He did hope to make it to a meeting and it would be great to see his face again after the past few years.
About two weeks ago, Bob and I both caught sight of a letter to the editor in the Vancouver Sun that was signed by Nathaniel, so I emailed him. He is still in Victoria, and belongs to a writers’ society there for critiquing, but said he misses us over here. He is still doing rewrites of his latest novel (I think that’s the one of settlers coming from Scotland to the Red River in the early 1800s). And he said to say hi to everyone.
And last but not least, I finally tracked down Michael. My emails and phone calls weren’t reaching him, and his blog and been abandoned, so I did some sleuthing and finally obtained a phone number for him and called. We had a lovely chat, catching up on the past year or so. Michael has signed with an agent in New York who is interested in a number of his novels, and made comments about working with someone on a movie. This is all fascinating news. If he can arrange a ride next week, he hopes to come to our next meeting and it would be awesome to see him again.
As for me, a lot of my time is being taken up with medical appointments now that I am on track for double knee replacements, and this Review is the only writing I’ve done. This medial journey is all the result of a car accident 31 ½ years ago. Maybe I should cave in and do the autobiographical novel, now that it might have a happier ending.
Tomorrow is the opening of the Olympics. Are you going to be writing, or watching the athletes? As I said, next meeting is next week, Wednesday, Feb. 17th, 7:00 p.m., here at my place, in spite of the games. GO RAMS GO!
Lisa
The Ram’s Head Team is off and running, all of us wanting our own gold medal for surviving the 2010 Winter Olympics here on home turf. Bob asked if we were going to take a break from meeting while the games are on, but no one was so inclined. After all, we’re artists, and certainly not to be outdone by the mere physical exploits of others. Meeting as usual next week, Wednesday, February 17th, at my place at 7:00 p.m.
At last week’s meeting, Margaret brought several copies of the February issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine. It included an article by Margaret about one teacher’s note to her at Valentine’s one year. Also in this issue is a sort of apology to Gemma for printing a poem that only differed from one of hers they had printed by one or two words. Gemma had complained to them, but their apology did not include her name.
I handed out copies of B.C. Book World that Bryon had collected from the ferry when he went to the Island. This issue included a lengthy article about electronic publishing rights of authors being violated outrageously these days. It’s an article anybody signing with a book publisher, especially an American one, should be aware of.
Bob hadn’t written anything, but mentioned a book he had read, a biography of Roald Dahl who wrote “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. He said it was an excellent story, and we told him he has to write a book report.
Margaret read her next chapter, where Coffin drives the Rolls to the writers’ meeting at Mossity Manor. Lord Mossity introduced him as Lord Coffin, just back from Safari in Africa. Coffin tells Lord Mossity he saw ten ghosts heading to the kitchen, and then the cook says she saw them too, which upsets Coffin because he had only fabricated seeing them. Still upset, he left by the back door, in a hurry to catch a bus, completely forgetting the Rolls.
As Margaret’s first book is in the process of being published, she told us her publisher asked if she would be willing to do book signings at Chapters. Margaret isn’t at all sure she would care to do that. But if called upon, I’m sure some of the rest of us would go out to support her.
Jason read Chapter 4 of his urban fantasy. Greg and the others are still in the dark living room, listening as Gran talks about the afterlife, and the existence of hardship on the next plane. She also talks about the 2000 year old journal, and about her coming death. She tells Greg to give Jodie the pendant and to start their pre-ordained odyssey. There was a really great build up of tension and mystery here.
Jim has started another novel connected with the www.coffeeshopauthor.com writing contest. He is sponsored by The Wired Monk where he goes to write in Cloverdale. Taking the challenge a step further, employees and patrons at the shop have signed on to allow Jim to use them as characters in the story. Consequently, they want to read his latest chapter every time they see him. Talk about incentive! His novel is called “The Coventry Ghost” and he read the prologue. We see a teenage girl outside the coffee shop hit by a car and die. She keeps trying to reclaim her damaged body, but isn’t successful. Not wanting to leave, she becomes a stranded ghost. The prologue was well done and grabbed our attention right from the start. Will love to hear how all this develops.
Had an email from John Ireland, who is now working again as a journalist in Raratonga, Cook Islands, while his wife is still in New Zealand. I think this is for the next 7 months or so. John did say he hopes to be back in the Lower Mainland come October, but didn’t say if that would be for a visit or permanently. He did hope to make it to a meeting and it would be great to see his face again after the past few years.
About two weeks ago, Bob and I both caught sight of a letter to the editor in the Vancouver Sun that was signed by Nathaniel, so I emailed him. He is still in Victoria, and belongs to a writers’ society there for critiquing, but said he misses us over here. He is still doing rewrites of his latest novel (I think that’s the one of settlers coming from Scotland to the Red River in the early 1800s). And he said to say hi to everyone.
And last but not least, I finally tracked down Michael. My emails and phone calls weren’t reaching him, and his blog and been abandoned, so I did some sleuthing and finally obtained a phone number for him and called. We had a lovely chat, catching up on the past year or so. Michael has signed with an agent in New York who is interested in a number of his novels, and made comments about working with someone on a movie. This is all fascinating news. If he can arrange a ride next week, he hopes to come to our next meeting and it would be awesome to see him again.
As for me, a lot of my time is being taken up with medical appointments now that I am on track for double knee replacements, and this Review is the only writing I’ve done. This medial journey is all the result of a car accident 31 ½ years ago. Maybe I should cave in and do the autobiographical novel, now that it might have a happier ending.
Tomorrow is the opening of the Olympics. Are you going to be writing, or watching the athletes? As I said, next meeting is next week, Wednesday, Feb. 17th, 7:00 p.m., here at my place, in spite of the games. GO RAMS GO!
Lisa
Thursday, January 21, 2010
THE REVIEW
GOING BACKWARDS
Those of us at the meeting last night signed a birthday card that went with the flowers Gemma brought to give to Margaret for her 86th birthday, which was earlier this month. She said from now on her age is going backwards in years. Here! Here!
Jim brought the latest issue of Eclectica Magazine, which includes a short story and a recipe by him, a poem by Anne Berrie, and another short story by me. And on the back cover it says to look for something by Gemma in the next issue. Way to go, fellow Rams!
Those arriving at my place last night thought perhaps they were on the wrong street. They did notice that our house was the same, just that the monster hedge across the street was gone, and the houses on the next street over were now visible. But without the hedge protruding six feet into the middle of the road, there is now ample parking space for visitors again.
Jason said his notebook died, so he spent the necessary funds and now has a brand new Mac desktop computer that he loves.
Bob read first, sharing the reply he received from the Boston Red Sox to the fan letter he had sent them. They thanked him graciously and said they were flattered by his loyalty as a fan.
To finish his story about the electronics nightmare he and Carole went through at Christmas, Bob read the second half of his story. Between all the extra equipment needed and the scheduling problems with installers, it’s a wonder they didn’t both decide to join the Amish. However, everything now works and the dust has settled, sort of. He thinks his sons are now annoyed that he didn’t consult with them about it all.
Margaret read her next chapter, “Ghost At Mossity Manor”. Dye and Coffin have received a letter from Lord Mossity who has seen a female ghost and her dog in his library. Since he has a writers’ group coming to meet there the following Friday and is afraid of their reaction if they see a ghost, he wishes to hire Dye and Coffin to eradicate the ghost. Dye tells Coffin he should go to the meeting as a writer, as Dye is busy renovating their office. But Coffin refuses. So Dye offers to let Coffin use the Rolls Royce if he goes. Of course Coffin changes his mind.
Gemma read part of a 5000 word story she has, which is untitled. An older woman named Barbara is awakened by a phone call from Bob, a man she loves. He says he’s coming to visit her and she agrees to meet him at the airport. Bob dallies with the much younger flight attendant and is in no hurry to see Barbara. When he does see her, he’s appalled by her wrinkled skin, but falesly tells her she’s beautiful, and then takes her home and beds her. He just wants her money. (Jim said he’s still waiting to meet the woman who would like to keep him in the style to which he would like to become accustomed.)
Jason read Chapter 3 in his rewrite. Greg is still in his Great Gran’s living room, and she tells him of strange magic in the forest, and tells him to beware the shadows. She also tells him he and Jodie are destined to be together and that Jodie must wear a pendant she pulls from the secret compartment of an old book, and that he should give it to Jodie for her 16th birthday. Greg’s mother shows up and starts drinking wine. His brother, Dave is also there, as well as Bruce, who magically starts a fire in the fireplace and says it is ‘an Indian thing’. When Greg’s Mom gets upset and says they are leaving, Great Gran then tells them all she’s dying and Greg’s Mom starts crying.
Jim read to us his rewrite of the beginning of his romance novel, “High Fashion”. The rewrite works much better, and even though it still opens with the heroine dreaming of a sexual encounter with a stranger, it’s not a long enough dream to eclipse any later sexual encounter with the as yet, unmet, hero. The rewrite was a much smoother read.
Marilyn said she had hoped to attend last night’s meeting, but ended up going to a meeting on genealogy, her pet passion, instead. Ron was unable to attend as he is caring for an aging father. And Danny had phoned Margaret and Marshall to say he had to work.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Since Valentine’s Day is approaching, feel free to bring anything you’ve written on that theme. But then, lack of love is sometimes a good theme, too. As Jim’s benediction/curse goes: May your Muse bonk you up the side of the head, bang around inside your brain, and flow out of your fingertips.
See you February 3rd.
Lisa
Those of us at the meeting last night signed a birthday card that went with the flowers Gemma brought to give to Margaret for her 86th birthday, which was earlier this month. She said from now on her age is going backwards in years. Here! Here!
Jim brought the latest issue of Eclectica Magazine, which includes a short story and a recipe by him, a poem by Anne Berrie, and another short story by me. And on the back cover it says to look for something by Gemma in the next issue. Way to go, fellow Rams!
Those arriving at my place last night thought perhaps they were on the wrong street. They did notice that our house was the same, just that the monster hedge across the street was gone, and the houses on the next street over were now visible. But without the hedge protruding six feet into the middle of the road, there is now ample parking space for visitors again.
Jason said his notebook died, so he spent the necessary funds and now has a brand new Mac desktop computer that he loves.
Bob read first, sharing the reply he received from the Boston Red Sox to the fan letter he had sent them. They thanked him graciously and said they were flattered by his loyalty as a fan.
To finish his story about the electronics nightmare he and Carole went through at Christmas, Bob read the second half of his story. Between all the extra equipment needed and the scheduling problems with installers, it’s a wonder they didn’t both decide to join the Amish. However, everything now works and the dust has settled, sort of. He thinks his sons are now annoyed that he didn’t consult with them about it all.
Margaret read her next chapter, “Ghost At Mossity Manor”. Dye and Coffin have received a letter from Lord Mossity who has seen a female ghost and her dog in his library. Since he has a writers’ group coming to meet there the following Friday and is afraid of their reaction if they see a ghost, he wishes to hire Dye and Coffin to eradicate the ghost. Dye tells Coffin he should go to the meeting as a writer, as Dye is busy renovating their office. But Coffin refuses. So Dye offers to let Coffin use the Rolls Royce if he goes. Of course Coffin changes his mind.
Gemma read part of a 5000 word story she has, which is untitled. An older woman named Barbara is awakened by a phone call from Bob, a man she loves. He says he’s coming to visit her and she agrees to meet him at the airport. Bob dallies with the much younger flight attendant and is in no hurry to see Barbara. When he does see her, he’s appalled by her wrinkled skin, but falesly tells her she’s beautiful, and then takes her home and beds her. He just wants her money. (Jim said he’s still waiting to meet the woman who would like to keep him in the style to which he would like to become accustomed.)
Jason read Chapter 3 in his rewrite. Greg is still in his Great Gran’s living room, and she tells him of strange magic in the forest, and tells him to beware the shadows. She also tells him he and Jodie are destined to be together and that Jodie must wear a pendant she pulls from the secret compartment of an old book, and that he should give it to Jodie for her 16th birthday. Greg’s mother shows up and starts drinking wine. His brother, Dave is also there, as well as Bruce, who magically starts a fire in the fireplace and says it is ‘an Indian thing’. When Greg’s Mom gets upset and says they are leaving, Great Gran then tells them all she’s dying and Greg’s Mom starts crying.
Jim read to us his rewrite of the beginning of his romance novel, “High Fashion”. The rewrite works much better, and even though it still opens with the heroine dreaming of a sexual encounter with a stranger, it’s not a long enough dream to eclipse any later sexual encounter with the as yet, unmet, hero. The rewrite was a much smoother read.
Marilyn said she had hoped to attend last night’s meeting, but ended up going to a meeting on genealogy, her pet passion, instead. Ron was unable to attend as he is caring for an aging father. And Danny had phoned Margaret and Marshall to say he had to work.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Since Valentine’s Day is approaching, feel free to bring anything you’ve written on that theme. But then, lack of love is sometimes a good theme, too. As Jim’s benediction/curse goes: May your Muse bonk you up the side of the head, bang around inside your brain, and flow out of your fingertips.
See you February 3rd.
Lisa
Sunday, January 10, 2010
THE REVIEW
JANUARY JOTTINGS
Our meeting on Wednesday was a little smaller in the number of participants. Bob and Danny were both under the weather, and Ron was on Vancouver Island.
Margaret read her next chapter in “Coffin and Dye” or is that “Dye and Coffin”? Anyhow, Coffin is at the Museum with his whiskey, waiting among the wax models for the appearance of a ghost he needs to identify. Falling asleep, he has a most vivid dream of Lucy who entices him into undressing her and then she seduces him. But alas, he is caught and is being beheaded when he wakes up. Later, at the pub across the street, he tells Dye the ghost in the Museum is definitely Lucy.
Discussing Margaret’s first book, “Blow Up The Castle”, she was able to tell us she now has a signed contract with West Pro Publishing that she is happy with. Her niece, who had handled paperwork for Margaret’s sister’s published novels, had read the contract and told Margaret it was about as good as it gets. For Margaret’s sake, the rest of us sighed with relief. The book may be ready in a month or so.
Gemma was concerned with possible plagiarizing of one of her poems that had been previously published in both a magazine and an anthology, and now appeared with a few words changed in a current magazine issue. Margaret advised her that she should definitely pursue the matter, and we hope to hear what the eventual outcome will be.
Jason read Chapter 2 of his novel, which is in the process of a re-write. We see Greg awakening in his Great Grandmother’s living room, after his nightmare, and he checks his hands to make sure they are normal, and not animalistic. He overhears his Great Grandmother telling a man named Ludwig that she wants the chest. Greg sees a sword under Ludwig’s coat. After Ludwig leaves, he asks who the man was, but his Great Grandmother wants to know what he had been dreaming. Greg tells her he’s terrified of losing control of himself. This Chapter continued the suspense of the first, and we applaud Jason for what he is doing with the novel.
Jim read to us the first chapter of “High Fashion”, a romance novel he has started. It began with a really steamy sex scene that the women were shaking their heads over. We all told Jim that if he starts with the climax, there’s no reason for a reader to read the rest of the novel. As women who read romance novels, we do think there is a pretty rigid formula for this type of genre fiction. But hey, if men are to write romance and read romance, maybe the placement and significance of sex in a novel will change. But ain’t that the way? Men want the sex and women want the foreplay?
Even though Ron was away, he did send me the link to his new website at http://www.rdyoungwrites.com/ if you want to check it out. He did offer to exchange links with http://www.ramsheadwriters.ca/ which I will take him up on, as soon as Sonny comes back from training troops for deployment to Afghanistan down in the California desert. Sonny is our site administrator as most of you already know.
Thanks to Jim and his burgeoning success as a published writer, he and I both met today with Jane Blackmore and Robynn Maher, editors of Eclectica Magazine. They have been working for over a year to get their magazine up and running. It is published 8 times a year, the next issue due out Jan. 21st. The magazine is a forum for all sorts of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, recipes, artwork, etc. and submissions are most welcome. However, there is no payment to writers or artists for anything published. Anne Berrie, Jim, and I will all have something appearing in the next issue. You can learn more about the magazine and find out where in the Lower Mainland to buy a copy on their website at http://www.voicefortheunheard.com/ .
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, January 20th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then with your latest written creations. Keep Writing!
Lisa
Our meeting on Wednesday was a little smaller in the number of participants. Bob and Danny were both under the weather, and Ron was on Vancouver Island.
Margaret read her next chapter in “Coffin and Dye” or is that “Dye and Coffin”? Anyhow, Coffin is at the Museum with his whiskey, waiting among the wax models for the appearance of a ghost he needs to identify. Falling asleep, he has a most vivid dream of Lucy who entices him into undressing her and then she seduces him. But alas, he is caught and is being beheaded when he wakes up. Later, at the pub across the street, he tells Dye the ghost in the Museum is definitely Lucy.
Discussing Margaret’s first book, “Blow Up The Castle”, she was able to tell us she now has a signed contract with West Pro Publishing that she is happy with. Her niece, who had handled paperwork for Margaret’s sister’s published novels, had read the contract and told Margaret it was about as good as it gets. For Margaret’s sake, the rest of us sighed with relief. The book may be ready in a month or so.
Gemma was concerned with possible plagiarizing of one of her poems that had been previously published in both a magazine and an anthology, and now appeared with a few words changed in a current magazine issue. Margaret advised her that she should definitely pursue the matter, and we hope to hear what the eventual outcome will be.
Jason read Chapter 2 of his novel, which is in the process of a re-write. We see Greg awakening in his Great Grandmother’s living room, after his nightmare, and he checks his hands to make sure they are normal, and not animalistic. He overhears his Great Grandmother telling a man named Ludwig that she wants the chest. Greg sees a sword under Ludwig’s coat. After Ludwig leaves, he asks who the man was, but his Great Grandmother wants to know what he had been dreaming. Greg tells her he’s terrified of losing control of himself. This Chapter continued the suspense of the first, and we applaud Jason for what he is doing with the novel.
Jim read to us the first chapter of “High Fashion”, a romance novel he has started. It began with a really steamy sex scene that the women were shaking their heads over. We all told Jim that if he starts with the climax, there’s no reason for a reader to read the rest of the novel. As women who read romance novels, we do think there is a pretty rigid formula for this type of genre fiction. But hey, if men are to write romance and read romance, maybe the placement and significance of sex in a novel will change. But ain’t that the way? Men want the sex and women want the foreplay?
Even though Ron was away, he did send me the link to his new website at http://www.rdyoungwrites.com/ if you want to check it out. He did offer to exchange links with http://www.ramsheadwriters.ca/ which I will take him up on, as soon as Sonny comes back from training troops for deployment to Afghanistan down in the California desert. Sonny is our site administrator as most of you already know.
Thanks to Jim and his burgeoning success as a published writer, he and I both met today with Jane Blackmore and Robynn Maher, editors of Eclectica Magazine. They have been working for over a year to get their magazine up and running. It is published 8 times a year, the next issue due out Jan. 21st. The magazine is a forum for all sorts of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, recipes, artwork, etc. and submissions are most welcome. However, there is no payment to writers or artists for anything published. Anne Berrie, Jim, and I will all have something appearing in the next issue. You can learn more about the magazine and find out where in the Lower Mainland to buy a copy on their website at http://www.voicefortheunheard.com/ .
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, January 20th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then with your latest written creations. Keep Writing!
Lisa
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