SUMMER’S OVER
Fall has arrived and so did the rain. Time to cocoon and do some writing. Anne, Jason, Jim and Bob were all here with me Wednesday night to honour the Muse.
Anne read first, continuing her story about the sisters of Ruth and Ida. The two women go out for dinner, to the Spaghetti Factory and Ida takes her own grape juice. She is obviously a regular as the staff all know her and smile ‘supportively’ at Ruth. Ida asks why Ruth has bothered to come and see her and Ruth tells her she discovered Ida is being sued by a Strata Council. This is well done with the dialogue between the two sisters really showcasing the spit and scratch of sibling relationships. And background information given with Ruth flashing back to a previous time enhances the difficulties of being related to someone who is bi-polar.
Jason read his next chapter called “Discovered”. We see the evil Damianos and the siren, Ligeia, stalking Jo, who arrives home from her date with Sean. Sean attacks her and tears her top, but then stops when seeing something on her back. Gregg arrives and his presence stops Damianos from grabbing Jo. Jo tells Gregg she doesn’t need him to protect her, that she can take care of herself. Looking into the bush, Gregg locks eyes with Damianos, and the latter knows Jo is the benighted child because of Gregg’s desire to protect her. This was a very well-done chapter with lots of tension in it.
Jim read Chapter 7, still at Olivia’s thirteenth birthday at the coffee shop. Leanne and the other ghosts, with the help of Piovra, performed a type of light show for Olivia and the other guests. One of those present was Shen, a student from Olivia’s school, who wanted to meet the pretty girl. Olivia’s father pointed him out to her and then regretted that when he saw Olivia smiling at the boy. But Sara, the kitten, intervened by giving Shen a ghostly ‘scratch’, which spurred him to talk to Olivia. He ended up being invited to Sunday dinner at Olivia’s home.
I read Margaret’s next chapter in “Coffin And Dye”, which was “Dye Telephones Coffin”. Dye phones Coffin to tell him he’s going away for a week with Lizzie Farmer and Coffin is scandalized. Dye is offended that Coffin thinks so little of Lizzie, and he defends her. Tootsie goes shopping for something to wear when she marries Coffin. Trish tries to talk her into a spring wedding but Tootsie doesn’t want to wait that long. She ends up buying a black suit with a red shawl, a red purse, and a red hat with three tall black feathers. Coffin still doesn’t know he’s getting married.
I re-wrote “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”, putting the third chapter first, and modifying the other two chapters to follow. These I read and everyone said it read well in that order. I had found it easier to add to it as well. So now we have Nigel driving to Watch Lake and Dee telling him she murdered her child in the first chapter. The next chapter is Edna’s point of view, relating the afternoon’s events and giving background info. The third chapter now is Nigel’s point of view, telling how he met Dee and what had been going on with her and Hank. It then shows Nigel at the cabin, alone in the hide-a-bed, when Dee slips in with him during the night.
Jim said he was feeling better, more clear-headed, but is still waiting for surgery. We hope this happens soon for him. Ellie was busy writing for an online course she’s taking and waiting for her husband to come home for supper. Margaret Fluorczak was going to check out a group in Maple Ridge. And Gemma said she was helping her brother with a move.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, Oct. 5th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Look forward to seeing you then. Happy Writing!!!
Lisa
Friday, September 23, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
THE REVIEW
EIGHT ARE GREAT!
It was wonderful to have eight members at our Meeting on Wednesday. Ellie had arrived a week early, but came back on the 7th as well. She didn’t explain to her husband why he was eating supper alone two weeks in a row. And Margaret Florczak arrived with Gemma, for the first time in a couple of years. She’s graduated from SFU now, and may attend Meetings more regularly. It was so good to see everyone, and many thanks for your generous donations to the Ram’s Head domain name fund. We are good for two years now.
Jim is still waiting for surgery, but attended our meeting and was first to read. In Chapter 6 of the second book in Coventry Ghosts, we see the ghosts Leanne, Robin, Laurie and Sara all haunting the coffee shop, excited to celebrate Olivia’s 13th birthday. Olivia makes a wish when she blows out the candle on her cupcake, and we hear her wish will soon come true.
Ellie read a memoir of hers inspired by finding an old address book from her childhood. She remembers the summer spent with her friends when she was six years old and living in Penticton in 1953. She vividly portrays their antics and the sense of freedom and empowerment they learned from their interactions and adventures.
Jason read the chapter “Connections” from his novel, and we see Gregg meeting up with Jody after his great grandmother’s funeral. She wants him to tutor her in French, but then tells him she’s going out with someone else that night. And we see Gregg and his brother Dave interacting and learn that even though Dave is older, Gregg is the more responsible one. Jason exemplified very well and true to life how the teens interact with each other.
Margaret F. read a journal entry of hers from Nov. 13/04 about her insights on aging. She sees the expansion of her mind, but the loss of her physical attributes. Even so, there is still the overriding joy of life to sustain her every day. This was a very poignant piece that spoke to all of us.
Anne Berrie has started a story based on her own experience with her sister. In it we are shown Ruth going to visit her older sister, whom she hasn’t seen for seven years. Ida battles with mental illness, but still lives on her own in her own apartment. When Ruth arrives, Ida first has to tear off the masking tape around the inside of the door before she can open it, and then greets Ruth with bloodshot eyes, and a gas mask around her neck. She then says that Ruth looks terrible. This was a priceless piece of characterization of both sisters.
I read Margaret Moffatt’s “Baronet Dye Has A Visitor” from “Coffin And Dye” Dye is alone at his office one evening, reading a letter by candlelight because Coffin forgot to pay the electric bill. He sees what looks like a ghostly apparition, but is really the housekeeper from Wagnal Manor whom Coffin had slept with. She thinks Dye is Coffin, now with a beard but still owning the Rolls, and she proceeds to proposition him, wanting to show him a good time if he pays for her room at the hotel. We have yet to learn of his reaction.
Bob told us that his wife Carole includes being a Boston Red Sox fan on her Facebook profile. Bob is a true fan who watches all their games, and was looking at something on the internet regarding the team, and there, out of two million fans, is Carole’s picture. Talk about coincidence.
If you know of other writers you think would like to attend our Meeting, please feel free to invite them. Meeting other writers inspires us all.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, September 21st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Look forward to seeing you then.
Lisa
It was wonderful to have eight members at our Meeting on Wednesday. Ellie had arrived a week early, but came back on the 7th as well. She didn’t explain to her husband why he was eating supper alone two weeks in a row. And Margaret Florczak arrived with Gemma, for the first time in a couple of years. She’s graduated from SFU now, and may attend Meetings more regularly. It was so good to see everyone, and many thanks for your generous donations to the Ram’s Head domain name fund. We are good for two years now.
Jim is still waiting for surgery, but attended our meeting and was first to read. In Chapter 6 of the second book in Coventry Ghosts, we see the ghosts Leanne, Robin, Laurie and Sara all haunting the coffee shop, excited to celebrate Olivia’s 13th birthday. Olivia makes a wish when she blows out the candle on her cupcake, and we hear her wish will soon come true.
Ellie read a memoir of hers inspired by finding an old address book from her childhood. She remembers the summer spent with her friends when she was six years old and living in Penticton in 1953. She vividly portrays their antics and the sense of freedom and empowerment they learned from their interactions and adventures.
Jason read the chapter “Connections” from his novel, and we see Gregg meeting up with Jody after his great grandmother’s funeral. She wants him to tutor her in French, but then tells him she’s going out with someone else that night. And we see Gregg and his brother Dave interacting and learn that even though Dave is older, Gregg is the more responsible one. Jason exemplified very well and true to life how the teens interact with each other.
Margaret F. read a journal entry of hers from Nov. 13/04 about her insights on aging. She sees the expansion of her mind, but the loss of her physical attributes. Even so, there is still the overriding joy of life to sustain her every day. This was a very poignant piece that spoke to all of us.
Anne Berrie has started a story based on her own experience with her sister. In it we are shown Ruth going to visit her older sister, whom she hasn’t seen for seven years. Ida battles with mental illness, but still lives on her own in her own apartment. When Ruth arrives, Ida first has to tear off the masking tape around the inside of the door before she can open it, and then greets Ruth with bloodshot eyes, and a gas mask around her neck. She then says that Ruth looks terrible. This was a priceless piece of characterization of both sisters.
I read Margaret Moffatt’s “Baronet Dye Has A Visitor” from “Coffin And Dye” Dye is alone at his office one evening, reading a letter by candlelight because Coffin forgot to pay the electric bill. He sees what looks like a ghostly apparition, but is really the housekeeper from Wagnal Manor whom Coffin had slept with. She thinks Dye is Coffin, now with a beard but still owning the Rolls, and she proceeds to proposition him, wanting to show him a good time if he pays for her room at the hotel. We have yet to learn of his reaction.
Bob told us that his wife Carole includes being a Boston Red Sox fan on her Facebook profile. Bob is a true fan who watches all their games, and was looking at something on the internet regarding the team, and there, out of two million fans, is Carole’s picture. Talk about coincidence.
If you know of other writers you think would like to attend our Meeting, please feel free to invite them. Meeting other writers inspires us all.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, September 21st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Look forward to seeing you then.
Lisa
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