THE REVIEW

OCCUPY THE PAGE!


Yes! I’m all in favour of writers asserting their right to protest by using the written word to occupy the page. With a tarp of verbosity we will shelter all the homeless manuscripts addicted to their narcissism. We will insist on our democratic right to anarchy! We must be heard, but only by invitation issued to the press, and never off the recorded page! Now calling all Rams! OCCUPY THE PAGE! RESIST EVICTION! FOREVER THE PRINTED WORD!

Forgive me, but I couldn’t resist.

Had an awesome Meeting Wednesday. Anne, Julie, Bob, Jim and Jason joined me, in spite of the rain.

Anne updated us on the pending court case against a Strata Council and a Strata Manager who have been harassing a condominium owner. It goes to court Dec. 8th and we’re all waiting to hear the outcome. This is a true event on which Anne’s story is based.

I read my next chapter in “Nigel Wingate Is Dead” where Nigel meets with his friend who is a lawyer. He tells the friend about Dee and her drowning her child and then his being visited by the R.C.M.P. asking questions about it. He wants to protect Dee. But the friend informs him he could be charged with being an accessory after the fact, and that the only way he can avoid being compelled to testify against Dee if she is caught and tried is if he marries her.

Also, I was informed by Polar Expressions that my short story, about the homeless man in Langley, made Honourable Mention in their contest. That is a step up for me, as the last time I entered a story of mine, it was included in their anthology, but was not a winner.

Next I read Margaret’s “Goodbye Thomas Turnkey”. This chapter is the funeral of Mr. Turnkey where The Reverend now asserts his belief in ghosts, astounding everyone. He then tells Coffin, who he thinks is Bob, that his task is to pull a wagon with Turnkey’s coffin up the hill to reach the graveyard. Coffin asks why not drive it there in a hearse, and The Reverend tells him they can’t afford the hearse. He is left in the cold and the snow to pull the wagon.

Jason read his chapter “Revealed” where Gregg’s great grandmother decides to do some housecleaning and finds a key that leads to a secret cupboard in the cellar where she finds several containers that had belonged to Jody’s parents. She opens one and is amazed by a book that seems to be alive. She remembers Jody’s father saying that Jody must have this book, that it was the veiled story of them all.

Jim read his Ch. 11 that shows Sara teaching Karly how to maneuver as a ghost and Karly teaching Sara how to read. They seem to be developing a friendship, and Sara invites Karly to the coffee shop to meet the others.

Julie read a poem of hers titled “The Eyes”. Each sentence is an example of how the eyes mirror the soul in each of these varied life experiences. The poem includes some profound observations by the writer.

Bob had re-written some of his personal history. He is now telling the beginning years from the point of view of the young child, where he tells us his name is Bobby and his big brother is Alfie, and that he only remembers his mother once when they were having breakfast, and then the second time when he kissed her goodbye in the hospital.

Bob said he saw an article of Margaret’s in the November issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine. Regarding my novel “Fire”, I had been querying agents by email and was not at all sure my queries were being read. However, I recently received a rejection from one agent after waiting six months. So I suppose I could always receive an acceptance after waiting that long, too. Right?

Next Meeting will be Wednesday, December 7th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place, weather permitting. That will be the only meeting in December, so if you want to make it our Christmas celebration and bring a snack or something festive, by all means do so. Julie had asked me if she could bring something.

Hope to see you December 7th, and in the meantime OCCUPY THE PAGE!

THE REVIEW

INVASION OF BLONDS


Three lovely blonds livened things at our Meeting last night. Along with Ellie, two new members, Wendy Francis and Julie Joseph, joined me and Bob and Jim and Jason. It was a busy night with lots of reading.

Jason started, reading his chapter “Taken”, which was full of intensity and some violence. Gregg is trying to protect Jody from Damian and Ligeia. Damien is capturing Jody while Ligeia torments Gregg with some sexual teasing. Damien tells her to kill him, but when she doesn’t, he tells her to watch Jody while he kills Gregg. The chapter ends with Gregg unconscious, or dead. We don’t know which yet, just that he is aware of only nothingness.

Jim read Chapter 10 of the second book in “Coventry Ghosts” with the kitten, Sara, feeling less self-confident because she can’t read. She really wants to learn to read. Instead of going with the other ghosts to learn about the pyramids, she ‘pops’ over to the library, where she meets up with another female ghost, Karly. Karly tells Sara she cannot leave her library haunt, because that’s the rule. But Sara tells her that’s not so, and has Jane Seymour’s ghost come and verify the fact. Jane then tells Karly to trust Sara.

Wendy read three of her poems, all very succinct. “Love On The Edge” showed that even though a love relationship started feeling wonderful it ended up smothering the recipient. “Owner Cat” showed how an independent cat owned the owner by becoming the faithful companion. “Love Sonnet” showed the memory of a great love, done in a Shakespearean vein.

Jason read Julie’s story “The Lost Keys of 2011”. This was a humorous account of when Julie lost her house keys while walking her dog and then the trauma of searching through park garbage containers looking for them and then finally finding them the next day while zigzagging back and forth across the vast expanse of lawn in the park at her husband’s direction while he stood on the sidewalk. Very funny.

I read Margaret’s “Coffin Leaves Polly’s”, where Coffin is back in the village of Salsbury but can’t find his bicycle. Going into the church he sees the reverend with Turnkey’s casket. Addressing the reverend’s back, he doesn’t get an answer, and the reverend thinks he’s hearing a ghost. Mrs. Willows asks Coffin in for a Scotch before church. Mr. Farmer arrives with a sprained arm and he cannot help the reverend with Turnkey’s funeral. The reverend arrives, and thinking Coffin is Bob Baker, he thinks the man can take Farmer’s place and help with the funeral. Coffin agrees to help, hoping he will be able to find his bicycle.

I read my Ch. 6 of “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”, where Nigel is back home, alone, in the West End when he is visited by the RCMP asking all sorts of questions about the death of DeeDee’s child. Trying to protect Dee, he sees the police are suspecting him in the child’s death. He calls a former schoolmate who is a lawyer.

Anne Berrie is still busy helping her sister, and Gemma said she will be unable to attend until maybe in the New Year. Margaret Florczak tried to attend last night but couldn’t find the house without Gemma. She now has the address and phone number and directions and says she’ll be here next Meeting.

Our next Meeting will be Wednesday, November 16th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Look forward to seeing you then.

Lisa