YEAR’S END
Jason, Annette, Kristie, and Margaret F. all joined me Wednesday night for the last meeting of 2015. I did manage to do some holiday decorating before the meeting so the place felt a little cozier. Unfortunately, Charity and Christine were unable to attend.
We started by letting Jason vent. He was extremely upset that his Mac desktop computer had frozen while he was on a roll. He had written very productively for several hours when this happened, and sad to say, he hadn’t stopped regularly to save his work. The computer froze, he had to unplug it, and lost everything he had written. This was especially frustrating since any prolonged writing time is very hard to find in the busy life of parents with young children. Please accept our condolences, Jason, for the loss of your treasured canon.
Kristi read first, a story called “Not The North Pole”. This was a hilarious true account of her family’s doomed expedition to ride The Polar Express out of Squamish one Christmas season when her children were very young, and not in the best of health. Their excursion was raucously punctuated by one or the other of the children vomiting in various places there and back. And the train ride itself left much to be desired by those who rode, and those prohibited. Too funny!
Margaret read Chapter Five from “Babes In The Wood”. This chapter centers around her need to see if she can determine exactly when the children were murdered. She spends a great deal of time doing research at the Vancouver public library, reading archived newspaper articles written just after the bodies were found. She wanted to know why the curator at the museum had noted their date of death as being more than one year before the date in the coroner’s findings. She ends up with more questions than answers.
I read “The Perfect Size” from my collection of ‘Honey’ stories. It’s about my wanting a dress form for sewing and Honey finding a partial used one at the Salvation Army. It needs him to make a stand for it, but this is advisable over him wrapping me in duct tape to achieve a mold that he would have to cut me out of. Everybody laughed at the telling. This story has already been published in one anthology, but I still maintain copyright for it.
Jason read the next chapter about Damianos and Kwen. She wants to leave the jungle and return to her people on the plain. As they travel, he asks her about her people, and she talks non-stop about her tribe and their need to reclaim their sacred stolen city. Damianos calls her on her faith and beliefs, telling her she’s delusional to think that’s what her people need. He is speaking from lengthy and extensive experience.
Annette read Chapter 3 from “Within The Tangles”. In this chapter young Janna is abducted by Gage, after getting Abby to leave her bedroom window open at night for him to enter. Abby thought she was going to have an assignation with Gage, but she slept through the night and awoke to Janna’s brother, Foster, looking for Janna. Then Janna’s father thinks Gage, being a family friend, just wants to spend some time with her and will bring her back unharmed. But he hasn’t seen the duplicity Gage expended to abduct her that the reader has seen. We are all worried about what’s happened to Janna.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, January 6th, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year! I look forward to seeing you all in January!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Friday, December 4, 2015
Saturday, November 21, 2015
THE REVIEW
LIGHT AND DARK
We had a great Meeting Wednesday night. Margaret, Jason, Annette and Charity all joined me with The Muse in tow.
Margaret read first, a fictional short story based on the popular suspicion that the mother was the one who killed the two children in the ‘Babes In The Wood’ unsolved murder. The story depicts the stark reality of life on float houses on False Creek, under the Burrard Street Bridge in 1947. It showed a desperate woman with two children trying to survive, living with a man on his float house. He tells her to take her kids and leave and she turns her fury and despair on her children. The story is mesmerizing in its desolation. We hope Margaret can find somewhere for it to be published as we all thought it was a story that needs to be shared.
To lighten the mood and avoid comparison in quality of writing, I read my story “Clueless” from my ‘Honey’ stories. This is the second story in my collection and is a viewing of Honey’s character quirks that can be both maddening and hilarious. It talks about laundry and cell phones and lost keys and dirty tracks on the clean floor and, of course, his need for a beer. Charity said the stories feel ‘homey’ to her. Comfortable. I hope that’s good.
Jason read the next chapter in his novel. This is a scene with Damianos trying to get Kwen to tell him what planet they are on and who populates it. There is a lot of sexual tension between the two and she very reluctantly tells him, but he still doesn’t know why he’s there. Charity observed there was a lot of information dumped on the reader in this scene, and thinks it could be done differently so as not to detract from the sexual nuances between the two characters. Something to think about.
Annette read the first two chapters of her new novel “Within The Tangles”, a novel of abused children who all end up in the same counselling session. It starts out showing us eight year old Janna and sixteen year old Abby, two cousins. Janna is motherless, and her father is hospitalized. Abby learns her mother is turning tricks in their own home when she walks in early one day with Janna in tow. In defiance, Abby falls in with a much older boyfriend. Readers fear for the safety of both these girls.
Charity read another scene from her book showcasing Hornby Island. It is the day after the storm, summer tourists are gone but the weather is still summery. We learn seventeen year old Percy had been sent to the island to live with her grandfather by her own father in Vancouver. She meets a boy by the store and would like to get to know him, but he collects his art materials and runs off. She hates being cold so stays away from the water, and goes mountain boarding instead. After a tumble, she runs into the boy again and tells him she has some of his art supplies in her car and invites him to follow her. This scene showed more of the island and how laid back it is compared to Vancouver. I told Charity I was having trouble seeing an aim to the story, that it just seemed to meander. Unless, of course, its purpose is to be a relationship between Percy and the boy! Their meeting was definitely the point where I thought something was going to happen.
Had a phone call last week from Bob Jacoby to say his beloved poodle, Sydney, had passed away. A number of Rams had met Sydney when Bob hosted a Meeting at his home once, a number of years ago. We are sorry to hear she is gone.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, December 2nd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. That will be our last Meeting before Christmas. Hope to see you then.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
We had a great Meeting Wednesday night. Margaret, Jason, Annette and Charity all joined me with The Muse in tow.
Margaret read first, a fictional short story based on the popular suspicion that the mother was the one who killed the two children in the ‘Babes In The Wood’ unsolved murder. The story depicts the stark reality of life on float houses on False Creek, under the Burrard Street Bridge in 1947. It showed a desperate woman with two children trying to survive, living with a man on his float house. He tells her to take her kids and leave and she turns her fury and despair on her children. The story is mesmerizing in its desolation. We hope Margaret can find somewhere for it to be published as we all thought it was a story that needs to be shared.
To lighten the mood and avoid comparison in quality of writing, I read my story “Clueless” from my ‘Honey’ stories. This is the second story in my collection and is a viewing of Honey’s character quirks that can be both maddening and hilarious. It talks about laundry and cell phones and lost keys and dirty tracks on the clean floor and, of course, his need for a beer. Charity said the stories feel ‘homey’ to her. Comfortable. I hope that’s good.
Jason read the next chapter in his novel. This is a scene with Damianos trying to get Kwen to tell him what planet they are on and who populates it. There is a lot of sexual tension between the two and she very reluctantly tells him, but he still doesn’t know why he’s there. Charity observed there was a lot of information dumped on the reader in this scene, and thinks it could be done differently so as not to detract from the sexual nuances between the two characters. Something to think about.
Annette read the first two chapters of her new novel “Within The Tangles”, a novel of abused children who all end up in the same counselling session. It starts out showing us eight year old Janna and sixteen year old Abby, two cousins. Janna is motherless, and her father is hospitalized. Abby learns her mother is turning tricks in their own home when she walks in early one day with Janna in tow. In defiance, Abby falls in with a much older boyfriend. Readers fear for the safety of both these girls.
Charity read another scene from her book showcasing Hornby Island. It is the day after the storm, summer tourists are gone but the weather is still summery. We learn seventeen year old Percy had been sent to the island to live with her grandfather by her own father in Vancouver. She meets a boy by the store and would like to get to know him, but he collects his art materials and runs off. She hates being cold so stays away from the water, and goes mountain boarding instead. After a tumble, she runs into the boy again and tells him she has some of his art supplies in her car and invites him to follow her. This scene showed more of the island and how laid back it is compared to Vancouver. I told Charity I was having trouble seeing an aim to the story, that it just seemed to meander. Unless, of course, its purpose is to be a relationship between Percy and the boy! Their meeting was definitely the point where I thought something was going to happen.
Had a phone call last week from Bob Jacoby to say his beloved poodle, Sydney, had passed away. A number of Rams had met Sydney when Bob hosted a Meeting at his home once, a number of years ago. We are sorry to hear she is gone.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, December 2nd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. That will be our last Meeting before Christmas. Hope to see you then.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Saturday, November 7, 2015
THE REVIEW
WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS
At our Meeting on Wednesday, Margaret F. and I were joined by our two new members, Chris Potter and Charity Gosling. With just the four of us present, we were able to spend some time getting to know each other and exchange information on our writing pasts as well as our goals. Chris has an extensive background in writing and making a living at it, at newspapers, magazines and as a freelance writer. Charity has written a number of novels, YA urban fantasy and one western, and also writes a regular online column, for pay. We are impressed by both these ladies.
Charity read first from a YA modern horror book she has started called “Saltwater Mermaids”. It is set on Hornby Island and starts as a first person narrative by a female teenager. She describes the gathering of unusual people in her grandfather’s home, and tells of the mythical witch in the harbour. And she gives a haunting description of the local setting. We hope to hear more of what happens in this story. Charity said it will be the first time she has tried writing instinctively, without following a previously constructed outline.
Chris read next, a story titled “Sam Rickl”, which she wants to include in the memoir she is writing about fascinating people she has met around the world. This story tells of Sam being an elder in the Amish community of Lancashire County, Pennsylvania. Chris gave us lots of detail about their customs and way of life, but after her reading of it, she thought she needed to tell more about the people rather than just facts about the way they live. Having written for many years to specific word counts and as a journalist giving facts, it is a new way of writing for Chris.
Margaret read Chapter 3 from her “Babes In The Wood”. This chapter shows her going home after visiting the exhibit on the unsolved murder and having seen children’s bones strapped to the wall as if they were just artifacts. She discusses the case and all her questions with her husband, Chris, as he makes soup the reader can almost taste. He eventually tells her emphatically she is the one who should be asking questions and getting people wanting answers so authorities would again actively work on the case. Margaret has definitely found her voice for writing this book and it is fascinating to hear each chapter.
After Margaret mentioned the importance of setting writing goals at the previous Meeting, I decided I would get busy and work on my collection of stories in “Honey Signed The Waiver” and have set a goal of re-writing and editing at least one story each week. So at this most recent Meeting, I read the first story, “The Best Thing”, about meeting Bryon and deciding he was the best thing that ever happened to me. We all laughed and I had to wipe away tears to keep reading, so I hope that means it meets the test for humour.
Charity had asked how the Ram’s came up with their name (The Ram’s Head Writers’ Group) and had thought it might have some mystical or mythical meaning behind it. She was disappointed when I pointed out the brass talking stick with the blue ram’s head on top and explained what it was. So, if anyone wants a writing prompt, maybe you could come up with a more inspiring story on how we assumed our auspicious moniker?
Annette was away, caring for her mother. Kristie had to attend parent/teacher night at her children’s school. Jason had no babysitter. And Lorelie had a cold and wasn’t well. We missed all of them.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, November 18th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. I do hope to see you then.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
At our Meeting on Wednesday, Margaret F. and I were joined by our two new members, Chris Potter and Charity Gosling. With just the four of us present, we were able to spend some time getting to know each other and exchange information on our writing pasts as well as our goals. Chris has an extensive background in writing and making a living at it, at newspapers, magazines and as a freelance writer. Charity has written a number of novels, YA urban fantasy and one western, and also writes a regular online column, for pay. We are impressed by both these ladies.
Charity read first from a YA modern horror book she has started called “Saltwater Mermaids”. It is set on Hornby Island and starts as a first person narrative by a female teenager. She describes the gathering of unusual people in her grandfather’s home, and tells of the mythical witch in the harbour. And she gives a haunting description of the local setting. We hope to hear more of what happens in this story. Charity said it will be the first time she has tried writing instinctively, without following a previously constructed outline.
Chris read next, a story titled “Sam Rickl”, which she wants to include in the memoir she is writing about fascinating people she has met around the world. This story tells of Sam being an elder in the Amish community of Lancashire County, Pennsylvania. Chris gave us lots of detail about their customs and way of life, but after her reading of it, she thought she needed to tell more about the people rather than just facts about the way they live. Having written for many years to specific word counts and as a journalist giving facts, it is a new way of writing for Chris.
Margaret read Chapter 3 from her “Babes In The Wood”. This chapter shows her going home after visiting the exhibit on the unsolved murder and having seen children’s bones strapped to the wall as if they were just artifacts. She discusses the case and all her questions with her husband, Chris, as he makes soup the reader can almost taste. He eventually tells her emphatically she is the one who should be asking questions and getting people wanting answers so authorities would again actively work on the case. Margaret has definitely found her voice for writing this book and it is fascinating to hear each chapter.
After Margaret mentioned the importance of setting writing goals at the previous Meeting, I decided I would get busy and work on my collection of stories in “Honey Signed The Waiver” and have set a goal of re-writing and editing at least one story each week. So at this most recent Meeting, I read the first story, “The Best Thing”, about meeting Bryon and deciding he was the best thing that ever happened to me. We all laughed and I had to wipe away tears to keep reading, so I hope that means it meets the test for humour.
Charity had asked how the Ram’s came up with their name (The Ram’s Head Writers’ Group) and had thought it might have some mystical or mythical meaning behind it. She was disappointed when I pointed out the brass talking stick with the blue ram’s head on top and explained what it was. So, if anyone wants a writing prompt, maybe you could come up with a more inspiring story on how we assumed our auspicious moniker?
Annette was away, caring for her mother. Kristie had to attend parent/teacher night at her children’s school. Jason had no babysitter. And Lorelie had a cold and wasn’t well. We missed all of them.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, November 18th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. I do hope to see you then.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Friday, October 23, 2015
THE REVIEW
BACK ON TRACK
This past Wednesday saw five of us Rams here at a Meeting after the previous one had been cancelled due to members unable to attend. Margaret F., Kristi, Annette and Jason all joined me to re-connect as writers in need of other writers.
Kristi read two poems. One was about a wind chime made of sea glass that twirled together the wind and the colours. The second poem was called “Portrait” and was about a confident woman unafraid of living in an explosion of colour.
Kristi also said she thinks she needs a plot outline in order to continue writing “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”, that she may be the type of author who needs that structure to start with. I asked if she had any idea of what the end of the book would be, and she said no. Knowing the end of my novel was something that helped me write towards a specific goal. I might not have been able to keep going otherwise. But Jason and Margaret both contend the act of writing will lead you to where the novel wants to go. Different things work for different writers.
Margaret read Chapter Two of “Babes In The Wood” and this chapter shows how she dared travel to Vancouver’s downtown Eastside to see an exhibit of police evidence collected on the Babes in the Wood case. She tells explicitly what she saw both on the street and inside the museum. The depravity of the murders are expanded by the decay and insanity in the neighbourhood where the display is housed. And in the telling of this, Margaret includes the symptoms of her own Asperger’s Syndrome that compel her to keep asking questions and dig deeper, desperately needing answers.
Jason read his next Chapter, which shows Damianos and the Amazon woman, Kwen, after he has saved her and removed the arrow from her shoulder. He has fed on those he killed and regained his strength. The two of them spar verbally and seem to be flirting, though she is so much larger than he is. Damianos wants to know what world they are in, but Kwen doesn’t tell him. He tells her she should enlighten him before he grows hungry again.
Annette said she didn’t bring anything to read, but has been devising a plot for a novel as she spent the past two days working, driving a tractor. The novel would be about the kidnapping of a young girl and its aftermath until she graduates from high school. She said she would incorporate some things she experienced herself while growing up.
Annette also told us she has been unable to keep writing her novel “A Touch Of Wormwood” since we all said we wanted her main character to be more dynamic. One party did not like the character at all and voiced that opinion. So this brings up the question of critiquing and how it’s done. We need to remember we should only comment on writing technicalities, never content or personal likes or dislikes. Some members want in-depth critiquing and others find that too off-putting to keep them inspired. I’ve had members quit for both reasons, because we critiqued too much and because we didn’t. Perhaps we need to ask those who read what it is they specifically want from those of us who are listening. That way any advice we have would be directed where it’s really wanted.
I had been recovering from some emergency surgery I had the end of September, and after another anaesthetic wasn’t feeling too mentally active. However, I did write a short ‘Honey’ story of 500 words entitled “Locked Out”. It’s about trying to find space to write in this house I share with Honey when he is at home and locks me out of the den while he works on his own project.
Chris Potter has been away but hopes to join us again at the next Meeting. Another writer has also queried about the Rams and said she will join us then, too. I have gone online and placed our Meetings on the Event Calendar for the Langley Times as well as the Abbotsford, Aldergrove, Surrey and White Rock papers.
Since the Langley Legion closed, I will have to make an effort to find a copy of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine each month so I can report on the articles Margaret Moffatt keeps writing for them.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, November 4th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place and I hope to see you then. Stay safe for Halloween!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
This past Wednesday saw five of us Rams here at a Meeting after the previous one had been cancelled due to members unable to attend. Margaret F., Kristi, Annette and Jason all joined me to re-connect as writers in need of other writers.
Kristi read two poems. One was about a wind chime made of sea glass that twirled together the wind and the colours. The second poem was called “Portrait” and was about a confident woman unafraid of living in an explosion of colour.
Kristi also said she thinks she needs a plot outline in order to continue writing “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”, that she may be the type of author who needs that structure to start with. I asked if she had any idea of what the end of the book would be, and she said no. Knowing the end of my novel was something that helped me write towards a specific goal. I might not have been able to keep going otherwise. But Jason and Margaret both contend the act of writing will lead you to where the novel wants to go. Different things work for different writers.
Margaret read Chapter Two of “Babes In The Wood” and this chapter shows how she dared travel to Vancouver’s downtown Eastside to see an exhibit of police evidence collected on the Babes in the Wood case. She tells explicitly what she saw both on the street and inside the museum. The depravity of the murders are expanded by the decay and insanity in the neighbourhood where the display is housed. And in the telling of this, Margaret includes the symptoms of her own Asperger’s Syndrome that compel her to keep asking questions and dig deeper, desperately needing answers.
Jason read his next Chapter, which shows Damianos and the Amazon woman, Kwen, after he has saved her and removed the arrow from her shoulder. He has fed on those he killed and regained his strength. The two of them spar verbally and seem to be flirting, though she is so much larger than he is. Damianos wants to know what world they are in, but Kwen doesn’t tell him. He tells her she should enlighten him before he grows hungry again.
Annette said she didn’t bring anything to read, but has been devising a plot for a novel as she spent the past two days working, driving a tractor. The novel would be about the kidnapping of a young girl and its aftermath until she graduates from high school. She said she would incorporate some things she experienced herself while growing up.
Annette also told us she has been unable to keep writing her novel “A Touch Of Wormwood” since we all said we wanted her main character to be more dynamic. One party did not like the character at all and voiced that opinion. So this brings up the question of critiquing and how it’s done. We need to remember we should only comment on writing technicalities, never content or personal likes or dislikes. Some members want in-depth critiquing and others find that too off-putting to keep them inspired. I’ve had members quit for both reasons, because we critiqued too much and because we didn’t. Perhaps we need to ask those who read what it is they specifically want from those of us who are listening. That way any advice we have would be directed where it’s really wanted.
I had been recovering from some emergency surgery I had the end of September, and after another anaesthetic wasn’t feeling too mentally active. However, I did write a short ‘Honey’ story of 500 words entitled “Locked Out”. It’s about trying to find space to write in this house I share with Honey when he is at home and locks me out of the den while he works on his own project.
Chris Potter has been away but hopes to join us again at the next Meeting. Another writer has also queried about the Rams and said she will join us then, too. I have gone online and placed our Meetings on the Event Calendar for the Langley Times as well as the Abbotsford, Aldergrove, Surrey and White Rock papers.
Since the Langley Legion closed, I will have to make an effort to find a copy of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine each month so I can report on the articles Margaret Moffatt keeps writing for them.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, November 4th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place and I hope to see you then. Stay safe for Halloween!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Thursday, September 17, 2015
THE REVIEW
CHANGES
Jason, Kristi, Margaret F., and new member Christine (Chris) Potter, joined me last night in honour of The Muse. Welcome, Chris, to this motley crew of aspiring scribes.
I read first, and since Margaret was the only one last night who had already heard my latest ‘Honey’ story, that is what I read again. It’s not that I like to hear my own voice, just that I had nothing new to read. However, I had done some editing and changed a few things.
Jason read a chapter from his second book, about Damianos and the giant female, Kwen, in the jungle. He helps her defeat attackers, and then starts to devour them to assuage his hunger. Kwen is shot by an archer, and as she falls pleads with Damianos not to eat her, too! Lots of blood and gore in this chapter!
Kristi, back after a long absence, said she really hadn’t had much time to write. But she did read to us a poem, “Bones Of Dead Stars” and then a short story, “Sea Glass Lover” where a woman is torturing a man to obtain his password. He gives it to her and she then kills him. But leaving the room, she also leaves the simulation and they then discuss what the real password was. Dark. Surprising. I would love to read this story myself in print to fully appreciate its nuances.
Margaret F. read to us her latest re-write from “Babes”. This is her first chapter, and explains why she was so compelled to ask questions about this murder of two young children that was never solved. It is first person memoir, creative non-fiction which gives the reader an intimate point of view from which to watch. We all thought it was very well done, and that this is the voice Margaret should be using.
Chris read us a poem, “Wrinklies On The Road”, about a group of elderly people who have gone out on a day trip. It is full of crystal clear images of both old and young and their disconnection in today’s world. I suggested Chris send it to Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
Marilyn Sergi will have a new article about her uncle in the Abbotsford Genealogical Society Newsletter. It is about becoming a British Bobby.
Annette won’t be joining us now until about December, as she is in Grand Forks attending her mother during cancer treatment. Jim and Leah were both unable to attend last night, no reason given. Wendy hopes to join us again perhaps around the end of October, after dealing with things since her mother passed away. Gemma, over in Victoria, says hi to everyone and wants members to know they are most welcome to visit if they come to the Island.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 7th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Happy writing in the meantime.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Jason, Kristi, Margaret F., and new member Christine (Chris) Potter, joined me last night in honour of The Muse. Welcome, Chris, to this motley crew of aspiring scribes.
I read first, and since Margaret was the only one last night who had already heard my latest ‘Honey’ story, that is what I read again. It’s not that I like to hear my own voice, just that I had nothing new to read. However, I had done some editing and changed a few things.
Jason read a chapter from his second book, about Damianos and the giant female, Kwen, in the jungle. He helps her defeat attackers, and then starts to devour them to assuage his hunger. Kwen is shot by an archer, and as she falls pleads with Damianos not to eat her, too! Lots of blood and gore in this chapter!
Kristi, back after a long absence, said she really hadn’t had much time to write. But she did read to us a poem, “Bones Of Dead Stars” and then a short story, “Sea Glass Lover” where a woman is torturing a man to obtain his password. He gives it to her and she then kills him. But leaving the room, she also leaves the simulation and they then discuss what the real password was. Dark. Surprising. I would love to read this story myself in print to fully appreciate its nuances.
Margaret F. read to us her latest re-write from “Babes”. This is her first chapter, and explains why she was so compelled to ask questions about this murder of two young children that was never solved. It is first person memoir, creative non-fiction which gives the reader an intimate point of view from which to watch. We all thought it was very well done, and that this is the voice Margaret should be using.
Chris read us a poem, “Wrinklies On The Road”, about a group of elderly people who have gone out on a day trip. It is full of crystal clear images of both old and young and their disconnection in today’s world. I suggested Chris send it to Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
Marilyn Sergi will have a new article about her uncle in the Abbotsford Genealogical Society Newsletter. It is about becoming a British Bobby.
Annette won’t be joining us now until about December, as she is in Grand Forks attending her mother during cancer treatment. Jim and Leah were both unable to attend last night, no reason given. Wendy hopes to join us again perhaps around the end of October, after dealing with things since her mother passed away. Gemma, over in Victoria, says hi to everyone and wants members to know they are most welcome to visit if they come to the Island.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 7th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Happy writing in the meantime.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Friday, September 4, 2015
THE REVIEW
POWERFUL WORDS
Unfortunately, the power of the written word is not one that can also power our electrical lines. After the smashing windstorm last Saturday, some of us had restored power, and some of us didn’t. Alas, Annette had probably suffered the longest and her power wasn’t restored till Wednesday, and by then she wasn’t feeling at all well enough to attend a Meeting of The Rams. Jason said he was unable to attend, and as far as I know, Kristi may have still been away on holidays.
But Leah, Jim and Margaret F. all joined me here Wednesday and we had a good Meeting with just the four of us.
Margaret read first, from her book “Babes In The Wood”. This was a chapter that gave personal background information on the lead detective, Don MacKay. We all liked how it was written in first person from Margaret’s point of view, leading us to ask the same questions she hopes to pose in this book.
Jim read Chapter 15 from “Coventry Ghosts – Book I”. This shows the ghosts Sara and Leanne trying to make contact with the living who come to the Wired Monk coffee shop, all their antics very amusing.
I read my latest ‘Honey’ story, “Lost And Found”. It was about several incidents of either being lost, or losing things, on our recent road trip to Thunder Bay. We were crying from laughing so hard when I read it. I hope that’s a good thing.
Leah read from her book “Bonguetopia”. I am not allowed to tell the storyline.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Kamloops in the September issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
For the information of all members, I have decided to give up the domain name and the web hosting for our website, www.ramsheadwriters.ca The website is sadly out of date and I am unable to update it and Sonny, who originally set it up, has no time these days to work with it. Inquiries I receive about the writing group usually come to me through people finding the list of writing groups for Langley that is on the website for the Federation of B.C. Writers, and not our own website. I will continue to do the blog that contains The Review, as it is a separate entity and does not require any funding. I will continue to email all members each time an issue of The Review is posted at www.ramsheadwriters.blogspot.ca. These days, a number of our members write their own blogs or have their own websites, so I don’t see the loss of this one as being any great problem.
Since stores are now full of school supplies, it’s a great time to stock up on any office supplies you need. I went looking for a pack of red pens, for editing, to put in our goody box for the best piece of writing each month. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any. Hmmmm. Has there been a run on red ink? Maybe teachers hoard them? Or maybe accountants, since we are in a recession?
The next Meeting of The Ram’s Head Writers’ Group will be Wednesday, September 16th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Look forward to seeing you then.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Unfortunately, the power of the written word is not one that can also power our electrical lines. After the smashing windstorm last Saturday, some of us had restored power, and some of us didn’t. Alas, Annette had probably suffered the longest and her power wasn’t restored till Wednesday, and by then she wasn’t feeling at all well enough to attend a Meeting of The Rams. Jason said he was unable to attend, and as far as I know, Kristi may have still been away on holidays.
But Leah, Jim and Margaret F. all joined me here Wednesday and we had a good Meeting with just the four of us.
Margaret read first, from her book “Babes In The Wood”. This was a chapter that gave personal background information on the lead detective, Don MacKay. We all liked how it was written in first person from Margaret’s point of view, leading us to ask the same questions she hopes to pose in this book.
Jim read Chapter 15 from “Coventry Ghosts – Book I”. This shows the ghosts Sara and Leanne trying to make contact with the living who come to the Wired Monk coffee shop, all their antics very amusing.
I read my latest ‘Honey’ story, “Lost And Found”. It was about several incidents of either being lost, or losing things, on our recent road trip to Thunder Bay. We were crying from laughing so hard when I read it. I hope that’s a good thing.
Leah read from her book “Bonguetopia”. I am not allowed to tell the storyline.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Kamloops in the September issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
For the information of all members, I have decided to give up the domain name and the web hosting for our website, www.ramsheadwriters.ca The website is sadly out of date and I am unable to update it and Sonny, who originally set it up, has no time these days to work with it. Inquiries I receive about the writing group usually come to me through people finding the list of writing groups for Langley that is on the website for the Federation of B.C. Writers, and not our own website. I will continue to do the blog that contains The Review, as it is a separate entity and does not require any funding. I will continue to email all members each time an issue of The Review is posted at www.ramsheadwriters.blogspot.ca. These days, a number of our members write their own blogs or have their own websites, so I don’t see the loss of this one as being any great problem.
Since stores are now full of school supplies, it’s a great time to stock up on any office supplies you need. I went looking for a pack of red pens, for editing, to put in our goody box for the best piece of writing each month. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any. Hmmmm. Has there been a run on red ink? Maybe teachers hoard them? Or maybe accountants, since we are in a recession?
The next Meeting of The Ram’s Head Writers’ Group will be Wednesday, September 16th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Look forward to seeing you then.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Thursday, August 20, 2015
THE REVIEW
AUGUST JOTTINGS
Leah, Jim, Annette and Jason all joined me last night for our most recent Meeting of the Rams. Kristi is away on holidays. Margaret F. said she had to rewrite her blog she lost to cyberspace before it was posted. She also wants to travel here by bus from where she lives in Surrey and I told her the service in this area leaves much to be desired, and it is a long walk from the stops on 200th St. And if she has to transfer at the loop on Logan, it’s not the safest, especially in the dark at night. I live where Translink doesn’t. But we do have street parking.
Jim read Chapters 13 and 14 from “Coventry Ghosts – Book I”. This shows the death of the kitten, Sara, and how she decides to become a ghost who remains to haunt the coffee shop with Leanne. These chapters switched easily from a scene of sadness, to one of light and laughter, and then on to one showing Jason killing people to collect their souls for his master computer, hoping to find his dead parents somehow.
After Annette told us her escapade trying to catch a rat in her house, I decided to read one of my first ‘Honey’ stories, “Hostilities on the Home Front”. It tells of our house being invaded one spring by rats and the subsequent battle fought for supremacy of this dominion. Leah laughed and said she enjoyed the military references.
While I was visiting back east in Thunder Bay, I did have occasion to read several of my ‘Honey” stories to a varied group of my family and my daughter’s friends one evening at camp. They were very well received and one fellow came back the next day to ask what time the next reading would be! And several said they would be very happy to buy my book when it’s published. Now I just have to find a publisher.
Jason and Annette didn’t read anything. They have both been overwhelmed with family responsibilities this summer. Never thought I’d say this, but I think we need some rain to keep us inside and calm things down a bit. I am definitely done with this long, dry summer.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, September 2nd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then and that everyone can do some writing in spite of the heat and smoke from fires and kids and relatives and health and work and vehicle issues. It’s all just grist for the mill and only makes us better writers!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Leah, Jim, Annette and Jason all joined me last night for our most recent Meeting of the Rams. Kristi is away on holidays. Margaret F. said she had to rewrite her blog she lost to cyberspace before it was posted. She also wants to travel here by bus from where she lives in Surrey and I told her the service in this area leaves much to be desired, and it is a long walk from the stops on 200th St. And if she has to transfer at the loop on Logan, it’s not the safest, especially in the dark at night. I live where Translink doesn’t. But we do have street parking.
Jim read Chapters 13 and 14 from “Coventry Ghosts – Book I”. This shows the death of the kitten, Sara, and how she decides to become a ghost who remains to haunt the coffee shop with Leanne. These chapters switched easily from a scene of sadness, to one of light and laughter, and then on to one showing Jason killing people to collect their souls for his master computer, hoping to find his dead parents somehow.
After Annette told us her escapade trying to catch a rat in her house, I decided to read one of my first ‘Honey’ stories, “Hostilities on the Home Front”. It tells of our house being invaded one spring by rats and the subsequent battle fought for supremacy of this dominion. Leah laughed and said she enjoyed the military references.
While I was visiting back east in Thunder Bay, I did have occasion to read several of my ‘Honey” stories to a varied group of my family and my daughter’s friends one evening at camp. They were very well received and one fellow came back the next day to ask what time the next reading would be! And several said they would be very happy to buy my book when it’s published. Now I just have to find a publisher.
Jason and Annette didn’t read anything. They have both been overwhelmed with family responsibilities this summer. Never thought I’d say this, but I think we need some rain to keep us inside and calm things down a bit. I am definitely done with this long, dry summer.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, September 2nd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then and that everyone can do some writing in spite of the heat and smoke from fires and kids and relatives and health and work and vehicle issues. It’s all just grist for the mill and only makes us better writers!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Friday, June 19, 2015
THE REVIEW
AND THE PRIZE GOES TO?
Leah, Kristi, Jim and Margaret F. all joined me on Wednesday for another inspiring Meeting of the Rams. Jason was busy elsewhere. Lorelei was having a bad day. And Annette was attending someone’s birthday party.
Leah gave us a printout of “10 Ways to Promote Your Self-Published Book”. It covers all the basics to self-promote.
Margaret read first, two posts from her blog on caregiving. The first was “Caregiver’s New Year” where she tells us that watching another’s journey in dying is really a privilege and not something to evoke sympathy. The second post was “The Diagnosis” which tells of the shock for both the patient and the caregiver when the diagnosis is terminal, that nothing can be done. Both pieces tell of courage and heartbreak with end of life issues. You can find Margaret’s blog at www.caregiverme.com
Kristi read next, a short story called “TLC”. It is first person and tells of her going to work upset, and all the things going wrong, and then seeing that her first dental patient would be someone she detests. But when both are faced with each other’s tears, they learn they each lost a beloved dog the night before and end up uniting in their grief and consoling each other. And Kristi herself was in tears remembering the death of her dog. It’s remarkable how the printed word can elicit raw emotions from the writer, the reader, the listener. Powerfully written, for sure.
Jim read Ch. 5 of “Coventry Ghosts – Book I”. In this chapter, Leanne appears for the first time after midnight to both her mother, Patty, and her sister, Olivia. Patty faints. We teased Jim because he had her body ‘prostate’ instead of ‘prostrate’. This was a really fun chapter and should thrill young readers.
I read again from “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”; the prologue, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. This explains the death of the child, that DeeDee drowned her, that she wants Nigel to understand, and that her mother is burdened by the event and is worried about what friends from church will think. I haven’t written more yet, but am editing what I have so far, trying to get back into the flow of the story.
In a conversation with Gemma, I did learn she is now involved with a writing group in Victoria and participated in a local event and sat a table where the writers were selling their own work. She said she was able to sell another copy of her book about her dog, Heidi. Good for Gemma!
At the end of the Meeting, we decided that Kristi deserved an award from our prize box for the story that was the best tear-jerker. She chose a small journal.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, July 8th at 7:00 p.m., here at my place. Hope to see you then, and that fathers have a wonderful Fathers’ Day, and that everyone enjoys Canada Day! Write on, Rams!!!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Leah, Kristi, Jim and Margaret F. all joined me on Wednesday for another inspiring Meeting of the Rams. Jason was busy elsewhere. Lorelei was having a bad day. And Annette was attending someone’s birthday party.
Leah gave us a printout of “10 Ways to Promote Your Self-Published Book”. It covers all the basics to self-promote.
Margaret read first, two posts from her blog on caregiving. The first was “Caregiver’s New Year” where she tells us that watching another’s journey in dying is really a privilege and not something to evoke sympathy. The second post was “The Diagnosis” which tells of the shock for both the patient and the caregiver when the diagnosis is terminal, that nothing can be done. Both pieces tell of courage and heartbreak with end of life issues. You can find Margaret’s blog at www.caregiverme.com
Kristi read next, a short story called “TLC”. It is first person and tells of her going to work upset, and all the things going wrong, and then seeing that her first dental patient would be someone she detests. But when both are faced with each other’s tears, they learn they each lost a beloved dog the night before and end up uniting in their grief and consoling each other. And Kristi herself was in tears remembering the death of her dog. It’s remarkable how the printed word can elicit raw emotions from the writer, the reader, the listener. Powerfully written, for sure.
Jim read Ch. 5 of “Coventry Ghosts – Book I”. In this chapter, Leanne appears for the first time after midnight to both her mother, Patty, and her sister, Olivia. Patty faints. We teased Jim because he had her body ‘prostate’ instead of ‘prostrate’. This was a really fun chapter and should thrill young readers.
I read again from “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”; the prologue, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. This explains the death of the child, that DeeDee drowned her, that she wants Nigel to understand, and that her mother is burdened by the event and is worried about what friends from church will think. I haven’t written more yet, but am editing what I have so far, trying to get back into the flow of the story.
In a conversation with Gemma, I did learn she is now involved with a writing group in Victoria and participated in a local event and sat a table where the writers were selling their own work. She said she was able to sell another copy of her book about her dog, Heidi. Good for Gemma!
At the end of the Meeting, we decided that Kristi deserved an award from our prize box for the story that was the best tear-jerker. She chose a small journal.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, July 8th at 7:00 p.m., here at my place. Hope to see you then, and that fathers have a wonderful Fathers’ Day, and that everyone enjoys Canada Day! Write on, Rams!!!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Thursday, June 4, 2015
THE REVIEW
PAPER CLIP BONANZA
Jason, Leah, Annette and Jim joined me last night for the latest meeting of the Rams. And I am now one box of jumbo paper clips richer. Jim said he can only buy his favourite jumbo clips by the case and he ended up with a thirty year supply. It was his birthday, and he said since he probably wouldn’t outlive his supply of paper clips, he was spreading them around. Something every writer needs, right?
Jason read what might become Chapter 16 of his novel. This chapter was from the point of view of Damianos and shows him starving in an alternate reality/world where he views a beautiful amazon woman at least three feet taller than he is. He saves her from the arrow of a killer and she softens towards him. But he still views her as dinner. We all loved this chapter because Damianos is such a vivid, colourful character, capable of both good and evil at the same time.
Annette read Chapter 25 in “A Touch Of Wormwood”. We see George West moaning on the floor after Alyssa’s father shot him with a stun gun. Mike shows up at the door, badly beaten, but having subdued one of West’s men on the porch, and beat another two of them besides. Alyssa can’t decide whether to wait at the cabin for John, or leave in the ambulance with Mike. Her father tells her to go with Mike. We are still waiting for Alyssa to make up her own mind about who she wants.
Jim read us Ch. 3a, 3b, 3c and revised 3, from “Coventry Ghosts – Book I”. Judge Jeffreys visits the ghost of Jane Seymour and asks her to befriend Leanne of Coventry and try to keep an eye on her to avert trouble, as the young girl exudes more power than she knows how to control. Meanwhile, Leanne uses her powers of telepathy with her sister, Olivia, to have her come to the coffee shop with their mother, Patty, who now cleans the shop three nights a week. Patty tries to remain ‘rational’ but can’t explain all the weird things that happen at the coffee shop. Olivia knows the telepathic link with her sister remains, and she still misses her terribly. We urged Jim to supply some reason why Patty was willing to work at the coffee shop located right where Leanne died outside. Even rational mothers need some good reason to work where they are reminded of a child’s death.
Jason, Jim and I all admitted we hadn’t written anything new to read but had been working at editing previous drafts of work we’ve done.
However, Jim did write an article about prologues, that is in the newsletter at Linkedin. He included my prologue to “Nigel Wingate Is Dead” as an example of a very short prologue, 89 words. Shorter is better he says.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Vancouver’s North Shore in the June Issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
Marilyne Sergi has an article about Canada’s Pier 21 in Halifax in the Abbotsford Genealogical Society Newsletter, June 2015 issue. Also in that issue is her “A Narrative Poem” relating to the history of Edmonton.
Kristi was unable to join us last night as she had no one to look after her children for her. And Lorelie was not feeling well after babysitting a sick grandchild earlier in the week. Hope to see them both next time.
When Jim handed out the paper clips last night, I suggested we start a box of donated writing gifts that we can use as prizes. Further discussion led us to decide we should all contribute something a writer could use, maximum cost of any item under $5.00, and then once a month award a prize for something like the best piece of dialogue, the best action scene, the best character description, the best sex scene (Jason’s suggestion), etc. Prizes we donate to the box could be a box of paper clips, pens, scratch pad, ream of paper, ruler, dictionary, thesaurus, book on writing, USB memory stick, etc. And the winner each month can draw whatever he or she would prefer. Each month we will all submit on a piece of paper our choice of which piece of writing meant the most to us and why, and then we will have someone draw from the collection to determine the winner. Maybe we will go alphabetically to determine the sequence of who draws the winning entry. Okay, Game On! Now you have to write your best!
Leah tells me the Langley Arts Council is meeting next Tuesday, June 9th at 7:00 p.m. at the Langley Community Music School, 4899 – 207th St., near the Al Anderson Pool. She said they are looking to connect with any Langley writing groups and have more literary artists showcased in the community. I think I will go with Leah and represent the Rams. Watch out, there could be public readings coming soon to your future profiles as writers!
Next Meeting of The Rams will be Wednesday, June 17th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Keep writing. Don’t get frazzled by the warm sunshine. And bring your donations to the prize box. See you on the 17th.
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Jason, Leah, Annette and Jim joined me last night for the latest meeting of the Rams. And I am now one box of jumbo paper clips richer. Jim said he can only buy his favourite jumbo clips by the case and he ended up with a thirty year supply. It was his birthday, and he said since he probably wouldn’t outlive his supply of paper clips, he was spreading them around. Something every writer needs, right?
Jason read what might become Chapter 16 of his novel. This chapter was from the point of view of Damianos and shows him starving in an alternate reality/world where he views a beautiful amazon woman at least three feet taller than he is. He saves her from the arrow of a killer and she softens towards him. But he still views her as dinner. We all loved this chapter because Damianos is such a vivid, colourful character, capable of both good and evil at the same time.
Annette read Chapter 25 in “A Touch Of Wormwood”. We see George West moaning on the floor after Alyssa’s father shot him with a stun gun. Mike shows up at the door, badly beaten, but having subdued one of West’s men on the porch, and beat another two of them besides. Alyssa can’t decide whether to wait at the cabin for John, or leave in the ambulance with Mike. Her father tells her to go with Mike. We are still waiting for Alyssa to make up her own mind about who she wants.
Jim read us Ch. 3a, 3b, 3c and revised 3, from “Coventry Ghosts – Book I”. Judge Jeffreys visits the ghost of Jane Seymour and asks her to befriend Leanne of Coventry and try to keep an eye on her to avert trouble, as the young girl exudes more power than she knows how to control. Meanwhile, Leanne uses her powers of telepathy with her sister, Olivia, to have her come to the coffee shop with their mother, Patty, who now cleans the shop three nights a week. Patty tries to remain ‘rational’ but can’t explain all the weird things that happen at the coffee shop. Olivia knows the telepathic link with her sister remains, and she still misses her terribly. We urged Jim to supply some reason why Patty was willing to work at the coffee shop located right where Leanne died outside. Even rational mothers need some good reason to work where they are reminded of a child’s death.
Jason, Jim and I all admitted we hadn’t written anything new to read but had been working at editing previous drafts of work we’ve done.
However, Jim did write an article about prologues, that is in the newsletter at Linkedin. He included my prologue to “Nigel Wingate Is Dead” as an example of a very short prologue, 89 words. Shorter is better he says.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Vancouver’s North Shore in the June Issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
Marilyne Sergi has an article about Canada’s Pier 21 in Halifax in the Abbotsford Genealogical Society Newsletter, June 2015 issue. Also in that issue is her “A Narrative Poem” relating to the history of Edmonton.
Kristi was unable to join us last night as she had no one to look after her children for her. And Lorelie was not feeling well after babysitting a sick grandchild earlier in the week. Hope to see them both next time.
When Jim handed out the paper clips last night, I suggested we start a box of donated writing gifts that we can use as prizes. Further discussion led us to decide we should all contribute something a writer could use, maximum cost of any item under $5.00, and then once a month award a prize for something like the best piece of dialogue, the best action scene, the best character description, the best sex scene (Jason’s suggestion), etc. Prizes we donate to the box could be a box of paper clips, pens, scratch pad, ream of paper, ruler, dictionary, thesaurus, book on writing, USB memory stick, etc. And the winner each month can draw whatever he or she would prefer. Each month we will all submit on a piece of paper our choice of which piece of writing meant the most to us and why, and then we will have someone draw from the collection to determine the winner. Maybe we will go alphabetically to determine the sequence of who draws the winning entry. Okay, Game On! Now you have to write your best!
Leah tells me the Langley Arts Council is meeting next Tuesday, June 9th at 7:00 p.m. at the Langley Community Music School, 4899 – 207th St., near the Al Anderson Pool. She said they are looking to connect with any Langley writing groups and have more literary artists showcased in the community. I think I will go with Leah and represent the Rams. Watch out, there could be public readings coming soon to your future profiles as writers!
Next Meeting of The Rams will be Wednesday, June 17th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Keep writing. Don’t get frazzled by the warm sunshine. And bring your donations to the prize box. See you on the 17th.
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Friday, May 22, 2015
THE REVIEW
SNOOZE-FEST?
Can’t say whether it was the warm temperature or that our writing was boring, but a few eyelids had trouble staying up on Wednesday night when Leah, Jim, Lorelei and Jason joined me here for a meeting. Hope it was just that I didn’t have the air conditioning on high! Kristi was busy with her son’s fifth birthday, and Annette had been marooned in Princeton with a vehicle breakdown on her way home from Grand Forks. We missed them both.
We discussed how best to indicate to the reader there is a change in point of view within a chapter, and agreed additional space between paragraphs is warranted. However, on looking up the subject, the advice I found was: Change of scene can be indicated with an extra space. Change of POV or timeframe will need either the # or ***, in the middle of the space between paragraphs. Jim uses the # key in his writing. I always start a new chapter when I change POV. Each to their own, I guess. Just don’t leave the reader confused as to whose head they are roaming around in.
Lorelie handed around a print-out of what we all surmised to be an attempted scam via email. This one was very well written but we were skeptical that anybody would still be falling for something like that.
Jim read the edited version of the prologue and first few chapters of “Coventry Ghosts – Book I”. The prologue shows the death of Leanne and the first few chapters show how she is learning to haunt the coffee shop. Also, Judge Jeffreys is introduced near the beginning and he tells Leanne the rules of haunting and that breaking them means being exiled to Drakko. Wanting to communicate her thanks to the ladies who had tried to save her, she appears after midnight to each successive cleaning person at the coffee shop, but ends up scaring them all away.
The writing reads much smoother and Jim likes what the editor has suggested, but is still having problems getting the process to move ahead more quickly. At the rate it’s been going, he could see it taking two years for an edit he would like to see completed in maybe a few months. He did say he needs to speak with the editor. Luckily, he didn’t pay up front for the service.
Since Jason has several times asked me what was happening with “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”, I had pulled out the beginnings of that novel that I hadn’t looked at in a couple of years and at the meeting I read the prologue and first chapter. I thought they still read fairly well and Leah said she wanted to keep going and hear what was happening. Jason suggested I include a little more information on where the Cariboo and Watch Lake are located and Leah had the perfect wording to do that, so I will add that information right at the beginning. Jason also told me not to forget that just because this story is based on a true incident, I don’t have to only write what really happened; that I can make the story more compelling by adding fictional elements. He’s right, as I always intended this to be fiction anyhow. And that is when Lorelei perked right up and took notes. You don’t have to be fettered by only the truth when you write.
I also told Jim that I had managed to group all my ‘Honey’ stories in one manuscript file on my computer, and have also done some formatting so the whole thing is visually readable. Next will come the editing. Someone asked if I had decided what order to put the stories in and I said I had chosen an order for the time being. But I may ask someone, or several someones, to read the order and give me their thoughts on the subject.
The Meetings in June will be the usual dates, the first and third Wednesdays. However, as the first Wednesday in July is actually July 1st, a holiday, we decided to move that meeting to July 8th. And since I will be away the end of July and the beginning of August, there will be other changes, as well. So after discussion, here is the intended schedule for June, July and August.
June 3rd
June 17th
July 8th
July 15th
August 19th
All Meetings will be at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Be sure to mark your calendars. Really hope that you will be able to attend. Happy writing everyone!
Can’t say whether it was the warm temperature or that our writing was boring, but a few eyelids had trouble staying up on Wednesday night when Leah, Jim, Lorelei and Jason joined me here for a meeting. Hope it was just that I didn’t have the air conditioning on high! Kristi was busy with her son’s fifth birthday, and Annette had been marooned in Princeton with a vehicle breakdown on her way home from Grand Forks. We missed them both.
We discussed how best to indicate to the reader there is a change in point of view within a chapter, and agreed additional space between paragraphs is warranted. However, on looking up the subject, the advice I found was: Change of scene can be indicated with an extra space. Change of POV or timeframe will need either the # or ***, in the middle of the space between paragraphs. Jim uses the # key in his writing. I always start a new chapter when I change POV. Each to their own, I guess. Just don’t leave the reader confused as to whose head they are roaming around in.
Lorelie handed around a print-out of what we all surmised to be an attempted scam via email. This one was very well written but we were skeptical that anybody would still be falling for something like that.
Jim read the edited version of the prologue and first few chapters of “Coventry Ghosts – Book I”. The prologue shows the death of Leanne and the first few chapters show how she is learning to haunt the coffee shop. Also, Judge Jeffreys is introduced near the beginning and he tells Leanne the rules of haunting and that breaking them means being exiled to Drakko. Wanting to communicate her thanks to the ladies who had tried to save her, she appears after midnight to each successive cleaning person at the coffee shop, but ends up scaring them all away.
The writing reads much smoother and Jim likes what the editor has suggested, but is still having problems getting the process to move ahead more quickly. At the rate it’s been going, he could see it taking two years for an edit he would like to see completed in maybe a few months. He did say he needs to speak with the editor. Luckily, he didn’t pay up front for the service.
Since Jason has several times asked me what was happening with “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”, I had pulled out the beginnings of that novel that I hadn’t looked at in a couple of years and at the meeting I read the prologue and first chapter. I thought they still read fairly well and Leah said she wanted to keep going and hear what was happening. Jason suggested I include a little more information on where the Cariboo and Watch Lake are located and Leah had the perfect wording to do that, so I will add that information right at the beginning. Jason also told me not to forget that just because this story is based on a true incident, I don’t have to only write what really happened; that I can make the story more compelling by adding fictional elements. He’s right, as I always intended this to be fiction anyhow. And that is when Lorelei perked right up and took notes. You don’t have to be fettered by only the truth when you write.
I also told Jim that I had managed to group all my ‘Honey’ stories in one manuscript file on my computer, and have also done some formatting so the whole thing is visually readable. Next will come the editing. Someone asked if I had decided what order to put the stories in and I said I had chosen an order for the time being. But I may ask someone, or several someones, to read the order and give me their thoughts on the subject.
The Meetings in June will be the usual dates, the first and third Wednesdays. However, as the first Wednesday in July is actually July 1st, a holiday, we decided to move that meeting to July 8th. And since I will be away the end of July and the beginning of August, there will be other changes, as well. So after discussion, here is the intended schedule for June, July and August.
June 3rd
June 17th
July 8th
July 15th
August 19th
All Meetings will be at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Be sure to mark your calendars. Really hope that you will be able to attend. Happy writing everyone!
Friday, May 8, 2015
THE REVIEW
PROOF POSITIVE
Seven of us were here on Wednesday to prove we’re still writers, although not necessarily still writing. If all this gorgeous weather keeps us away from our computer screens, maybe we should regress to pen and paper? We might be further ahead. But seems to me Kristi already does that.
Jim read first, two chapters. The first was Ch. 66 which is the last chapter in “Coventry Ghosts, Book I”. In it a powerful figure in the country of Honywuan plans to break Jason out of a Mexican jail and bring him to Honywuan to collect soul essences by computer for that country to control the world. And the Umbra ghosts are angry with the ghosts of Leanne and Sara, and also plan to work with Jason for more control over ghostdom. The next piece Jim read is the prologue to Book II and shows the death of the kitten Sara and how she meets up with Leanne and joins her in the haunt of the coffee shop.
When I told Jim I didn’t remember this prologue he said it’s because he just wrote it, after he finished writing the book. And Lorelei perked up knowing somebody else was writing a book out of chronological order. Perfectly acceptable. I suppose I’ve done that with my “Honey” stories, but now I’m having difficulty putting them in some kind of order for a whole manuscript. And since I didn’t plan a book to begin with, I see there is a lot of repetition of background that I’m dealing with. Win some, lose some. Jim says he loves writing the first draft and all the rest is just grunt work. I agree.
I read next, a short personal essay called “The Ring”, which I wrote Wednesday morning just to prove to myself I could still write. It tells of a family ring glittering with many diamonds that intimidated the first two women who wore it. But with the third generation it found a comfortable home. Maybe I’ll send it off to the Polar Expressions writing contest. If it gets printed, it ups my count of royalties paid to me by Access Copyright.
Annette read Ch. 23 and 24 of “A Touch Of Wormwood”. In the first, Alyssa tells her father of the sexual assault she endured and that she doesn’t feel worthy of wearing a purity ring he had given her. But he says her integrity is still intact and therefore she is worthy of the ring. In the next chapter she accuses Mike of cheating at cards. He goes outside, after which George West, the crime boss, comes into the cabin and tells her Mike is probably already dead. As he moves towards her she closes her eyes in terror, and then hears George screaming in pain. She opens her eyes and sees him down and clawing at the floor. None of us were very happy about how submissive Alyssa has become when there are men present. We’ve been very hard on Annette. She doesn’t want Alyssa’s anger to come to the surface and we are all trying to force that to happen.
Kristi read the beginning of a short story called “Three Suns Dance”. It starts with a naked young man and woman in a tent. Even though they desire each other, he must leave by dawn as he cannot have sex with a woman on the day of the dance. Interesting implication that a sexual encounter would not add to his stature as a man. Where is this fantasy world?
Lorelie and Jason did not read, but we thank them for listening to the rest of us. Support of other writers is always important.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Steveston, B.C. in the May issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
The next Meeting of The Rams will be Wednesday, May 20th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then with your collection of written words. Happy Mother’s Day to those who qualify, and if anyone goes to the Cloverdale Rodeo, don’t get stomped on!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Seven of us were here on Wednesday to prove we’re still writers, although not necessarily still writing. If all this gorgeous weather keeps us away from our computer screens, maybe we should regress to pen and paper? We might be further ahead. But seems to me Kristi already does that.
Jim read first, two chapters. The first was Ch. 66 which is the last chapter in “Coventry Ghosts, Book I”. In it a powerful figure in the country of Honywuan plans to break Jason out of a Mexican jail and bring him to Honywuan to collect soul essences by computer for that country to control the world. And the Umbra ghosts are angry with the ghosts of Leanne and Sara, and also plan to work with Jason for more control over ghostdom. The next piece Jim read is the prologue to Book II and shows the death of the kitten Sara and how she meets up with Leanne and joins her in the haunt of the coffee shop.
When I told Jim I didn’t remember this prologue he said it’s because he just wrote it, after he finished writing the book. And Lorelei perked up knowing somebody else was writing a book out of chronological order. Perfectly acceptable. I suppose I’ve done that with my “Honey” stories, but now I’m having difficulty putting them in some kind of order for a whole manuscript. And since I didn’t plan a book to begin with, I see there is a lot of repetition of background that I’m dealing with. Win some, lose some. Jim says he loves writing the first draft and all the rest is just grunt work. I agree.
I read next, a short personal essay called “The Ring”, which I wrote Wednesday morning just to prove to myself I could still write. It tells of a family ring glittering with many diamonds that intimidated the first two women who wore it. But with the third generation it found a comfortable home. Maybe I’ll send it off to the Polar Expressions writing contest. If it gets printed, it ups my count of royalties paid to me by Access Copyright.
Annette read Ch. 23 and 24 of “A Touch Of Wormwood”. In the first, Alyssa tells her father of the sexual assault she endured and that she doesn’t feel worthy of wearing a purity ring he had given her. But he says her integrity is still intact and therefore she is worthy of the ring. In the next chapter she accuses Mike of cheating at cards. He goes outside, after which George West, the crime boss, comes into the cabin and tells her Mike is probably already dead. As he moves towards her she closes her eyes in terror, and then hears George screaming in pain. She opens her eyes and sees him down and clawing at the floor. None of us were very happy about how submissive Alyssa has become when there are men present. We’ve been very hard on Annette. She doesn’t want Alyssa’s anger to come to the surface and we are all trying to force that to happen.
Kristi read the beginning of a short story called “Three Suns Dance”. It starts with a naked young man and woman in a tent. Even though they desire each other, he must leave by dawn as he cannot have sex with a woman on the day of the dance. Interesting implication that a sexual encounter would not add to his stature as a man. Where is this fantasy world?
Lorelie and Jason did not read, but we thank them for listening to the rest of us. Support of other writers is always important.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Steveston, B.C. in the May issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
The next Meeting of The Rams will be Wednesday, May 20th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then with your collection of written words. Happy Mother’s Day to those who qualify, and if anyone goes to the Cloverdale Rodeo, don’t get stomped on!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Sunday, April 19, 2015
THE REVIEW
UP AND WALKING
It was good to see some Rams on Wednesday after six weeks of convalescing from my last surgery. Annette, Kristi, Leah, Jim and Jason all joined me to honour The Muse. Kristi had also been recovering from surgery on her wrist, so neither one of us had done much writing, but she did read something of hers.
Jason had to leave early, so was the first to read a very long next chapter from his book. It continued with Gregg being waylaid by his adoptive mom, Laura. She started expounding on her difficult upbringing and her annoyances with her younger sister, Samantha, who was Gregg’s biological mother. Gregg wanted to hear about his biological father, who was not human, and he pressed Laura to tell him. He is afraid he is like his father, able to both harm and heal. But Laura tells him he is her savior because of how much she has come to love him as her own. We saw this as a chapter that foretells of Gregg’s father coming onto the scene.
Annette read the next chapter in “A Touch Of Wormwood”. Alyssa is still at the cabin with her family, and Karl, and Mike and John. The two brothers each vie for her attention. As the brothers go jogging in the morning, her father tells her she needs to choose which one she loves and wants. She speaks to both men, but doesn’t choose either one. We thought the conflict in this situation needed to be expressed more openly instead of so civilly, especially since the brothers are both cops. Annette assured us the conflict was coming.
Kristi read another chapter of backstory she is thinking of using instead of the prologue for “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. Jane, at six years of age, has a nightmare about a man collecting a baby in a basket. She awakes and sees the red eerie glow up on the opposite mountain. Afraid, she runs to her parents’ bedroom but they are missing. This is a much shorter introduction to the mystery.
Leah had decided to write some classical poetry and brought some examples to share. The first was a triolet, eight lines with eight beats per line. She had written two examples, “Jealous Cousin” and “Fat Child Blues”. In order to more precisely form the required beats per line and the rhyme scheme, Leah had used what looked like a grid from MS Excel in which she placed the correct syllables for each line. Never thought of writing poetry that way. Too funny. The next type of poem was a cinquin, with five lines. The example used was “Beetle”. Next came a villanelle, with 19 lines, and her example was “Do Naught”. This made us all realize writing poetry is just as much work as writing a novel. Rather complicated.
The evening had worn away, so Jim and I didn’t read anything. However, I did mention a new publisher I had found online that has opened in Vancouver. They can be found at www.nonvella.com, and publish short works of non-fiction running from five to twenty thousand words. They publish in print, but also digital copies online at Kobo. I thought this might be someplace to send my “Honey” stories, since they are memoir, and thus non-fiction.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Richmond, B.C. in the April issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
Marilyn Sergi emailed me that she had both an article and a poem accepted for publication, but unfortunately, I lost her email and can’t remember which publication she mentioned. But congratulations to her regardless.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, May 6th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Don’t let the sunshine distract you from writing!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
It was good to see some Rams on Wednesday after six weeks of convalescing from my last surgery. Annette, Kristi, Leah, Jim and Jason all joined me to honour The Muse. Kristi had also been recovering from surgery on her wrist, so neither one of us had done much writing, but she did read something of hers.
Jason had to leave early, so was the first to read a very long next chapter from his book. It continued with Gregg being waylaid by his adoptive mom, Laura. She started expounding on her difficult upbringing and her annoyances with her younger sister, Samantha, who was Gregg’s biological mother. Gregg wanted to hear about his biological father, who was not human, and he pressed Laura to tell him. He is afraid he is like his father, able to both harm and heal. But Laura tells him he is her savior because of how much she has come to love him as her own. We saw this as a chapter that foretells of Gregg’s father coming onto the scene.
Annette read the next chapter in “A Touch Of Wormwood”. Alyssa is still at the cabin with her family, and Karl, and Mike and John. The two brothers each vie for her attention. As the brothers go jogging in the morning, her father tells her she needs to choose which one she loves and wants. She speaks to both men, but doesn’t choose either one. We thought the conflict in this situation needed to be expressed more openly instead of so civilly, especially since the brothers are both cops. Annette assured us the conflict was coming.
Kristi read another chapter of backstory she is thinking of using instead of the prologue for “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. Jane, at six years of age, has a nightmare about a man collecting a baby in a basket. She awakes and sees the red eerie glow up on the opposite mountain. Afraid, she runs to her parents’ bedroom but they are missing. This is a much shorter introduction to the mystery.
Leah had decided to write some classical poetry and brought some examples to share. The first was a triolet, eight lines with eight beats per line. She had written two examples, “Jealous Cousin” and “Fat Child Blues”. In order to more precisely form the required beats per line and the rhyme scheme, Leah had used what looked like a grid from MS Excel in which she placed the correct syllables for each line. Never thought of writing poetry that way. Too funny. The next type of poem was a cinquin, with five lines. The example used was “Beetle”. Next came a villanelle, with 19 lines, and her example was “Do Naught”. This made us all realize writing poetry is just as much work as writing a novel. Rather complicated.
The evening had worn away, so Jim and I didn’t read anything. However, I did mention a new publisher I had found online that has opened in Vancouver. They can be found at www.nonvella.com, and publish short works of non-fiction running from five to twenty thousand words. They publish in print, but also digital copies online at Kobo. I thought this might be someplace to send my “Honey” stories, since they are memoir, and thus non-fiction.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Richmond, B.C. in the April issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
Marilyn Sergi emailed me that she had both an article and a poem accepted for publication, but unfortunately, I lost her email and can’t remember which publication she mentioned. But congratulations to her regardless.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, May 6th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Don’t let the sunshine distract you from writing!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Friday, February 20, 2015
THE REVIEW
SEVEN SCRIBES
Jason, Annette, Leah, Kristi, Wendy and Jim all joined me Wednesday for an inspiring meeting dedicated to the written word.
Jason read first, another chapter in his second book in his series. Gregg is at home in the morning, getting ready to help Jody celebrate her 17th birthday. His stepfather, Patrick, knowingly provides him with a bottle of wine but says not to tell anyone. And his mother, Laura, corners him with questions about what is going on. She won’t let him get away. Gregg doesn’t know what to say about knowing he is only part human. He asks her if she believes in the afterlife. She tells him that’s only for the very young or the very old to believe, as those in between are too busy living. A very meaningful conversation.
Annette read Chapter 20 from “A Touch Of Wormwood”. Still at the hideaway cabin, Mike wants Alyssa for himself, but sees how close she has come to his brother, John. And he sees John move to stand between him and Alyssa. Outside and alone with each other, John accuses Mike of having sent Alyssa into a life of hiding, a life also filled with danger and terror. Will wanting the same woman tear two brothers apart?
Leah read two short pieces that came from writing prompts. “One Wooden Whistle” was about an old man’s effects contained in a box. One of the items was a wooden whistle he had used to call doves to him to act as his messenger pigeons. “Snow Job” was about one woman’s very tall ‘little brother’ trying to convince her to lend him her much cherished rebuilt car she called ‘Gypsy’. Though short, both pieces revealed snapshots from life that clearly displayed precise moments of meaning.
Kristi read the next chapter in “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. We see Jane heading home after delivering the baby, trying to navigate a muddy alley. She feels like people are watching her from behind dark windows as she passes by. Close to a busier roadway, a young boy steals her bag and she chases after him. She falls and knocks a man’s basket to the ground. After rising and returning the basket to him, he calls her a bitch and then leaves humming a lullaby. A very strange dichotomy of behavior.
Wendy read the first piece of writing she has done in a very long time, inspired by what she is going through caring for her 95 year old mother. She titled the piece “The Dilemma Of Old Age”. Wendy details the trials and tribulations of her mother’s personality traits, which often mirror a child’s, and cause distress to both Wendy and her sister. And she reminds us how difficult it is to maintain our equilibrium in the face of such cantankerous eruptions. But because of love, she still wishes the very best for this woman she has known all her life. This was a heartfelt piece of writing that touched us all, and we hope will be shared with a bigger audience.
Jim read Ch. 71 and 72 of “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. Unable to revive Sara in the dark reaches of Drakko after her essence was shattered by containing the bomb, Shei, Moog and Grek call on Leanne from Coventry to help save Sara. Leanne gathers Piovra to her and pulls energy from the Aeris as well as energy from the other ghosts, and proceeds to put together all the pieces of Sara’s essence. Miraculously, Sara is revived. Wisely, she decides to forego her search for revenge and returns to the coffee shop. The last chapter in the book sees Sara and her friend Karly planning a trip to Eqypt instead. They agree to meet at The Great Sphinx at one nanosecond after midnight, Eqypt time.
Jim was saying his hired editor has been missing in action since before Christmas. We hope he can make contact with her and at least get his money’s worth from the project. However, this is also a reminder that it might be wise to have a written contract when hiring this service.
I am scheduled for my last surgery on March 3rd, and am thinking I will need 4 to 6 weeks of recovery time before I’m ready to host another meeting afterward. I will definitely contact everyone to let you know how I’m progressing.
In the meantime, I wish everyone continued inspiration from The Muse, and also a happy Spring Break, and a Happy Easter, as well. Write On!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Jason, Annette, Leah, Kristi, Wendy and Jim all joined me Wednesday for an inspiring meeting dedicated to the written word.
Jason read first, another chapter in his second book in his series. Gregg is at home in the morning, getting ready to help Jody celebrate her 17th birthday. His stepfather, Patrick, knowingly provides him with a bottle of wine but says not to tell anyone. And his mother, Laura, corners him with questions about what is going on. She won’t let him get away. Gregg doesn’t know what to say about knowing he is only part human. He asks her if she believes in the afterlife. She tells him that’s only for the very young or the very old to believe, as those in between are too busy living. A very meaningful conversation.
Annette read Chapter 20 from “A Touch Of Wormwood”. Still at the hideaway cabin, Mike wants Alyssa for himself, but sees how close she has come to his brother, John. And he sees John move to stand between him and Alyssa. Outside and alone with each other, John accuses Mike of having sent Alyssa into a life of hiding, a life also filled with danger and terror. Will wanting the same woman tear two brothers apart?
Leah read two short pieces that came from writing prompts. “One Wooden Whistle” was about an old man’s effects contained in a box. One of the items was a wooden whistle he had used to call doves to him to act as his messenger pigeons. “Snow Job” was about one woman’s very tall ‘little brother’ trying to convince her to lend him her much cherished rebuilt car she called ‘Gypsy’. Though short, both pieces revealed snapshots from life that clearly displayed precise moments of meaning.
Kristi read the next chapter in “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. We see Jane heading home after delivering the baby, trying to navigate a muddy alley. She feels like people are watching her from behind dark windows as she passes by. Close to a busier roadway, a young boy steals her bag and she chases after him. She falls and knocks a man’s basket to the ground. After rising and returning the basket to him, he calls her a bitch and then leaves humming a lullaby. A very strange dichotomy of behavior.
Wendy read the first piece of writing she has done in a very long time, inspired by what she is going through caring for her 95 year old mother. She titled the piece “The Dilemma Of Old Age”. Wendy details the trials and tribulations of her mother’s personality traits, which often mirror a child’s, and cause distress to both Wendy and her sister. And she reminds us how difficult it is to maintain our equilibrium in the face of such cantankerous eruptions. But because of love, she still wishes the very best for this woman she has known all her life. This was a heartfelt piece of writing that touched us all, and we hope will be shared with a bigger audience.
Jim read Ch. 71 and 72 of “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. Unable to revive Sara in the dark reaches of Drakko after her essence was shattered by containing the bomb, Shei, Moog and Grek call on Leanne from Coventry to help save Sara. Leanne gathers Piovra to her and pulls energy from the Aeris as well as energy from the other ghosts, and proceeds to put together all the pieces of Sara’s essence. Miraculously, Sara is revived. Wisely, she decides to forego her search for revenge and returns to the coffee shop. The last chapter in the book sees Sara and her friend Karly planning a trip to Eqypt instead. They agree to meet at The Great Sphinx at one nanosecond after midnight, Eqypt time.
Jim was saying his hired editor has been missing in action since before Christmas. We hope he can make contact with her and at least get his money’s worth from the project. However, this is also a reminder that it might be wise to have a written contract when hiring this service.
I am scheduled for my last surgery on March 3rd, and am thinking I will need 4 to 6 weeks of recovery time before I’m ready to host another meeting afterward. I will definitely contact everyone to let you know how I’m progressing.
In the meantime, I wish everyone continued inspiration from The Muse, and also a happy Spring Break, and a Happy Easter, as well. Write On!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Saturday, February 7, 2015
THE REVIEW
FEBRUARY FIVE
There were five of us here Wednesday night in spite of the rains. Jim, Jason, Annette, and Kristi all came to join me and we read some of our scribblings.
I read first although I probably shouldn’t have read at all. With both my recent surgery and the prospect of the next one looming, my mind has not been on the written word. However, I did write and then read about what expectations I have of my upcoming pre-admission visit at the hospital. After five surgeries, it is all very routine to me, and probably read that way as well. If the writer is bored, then so, too, will be the reader.
Annette read a short personal introspection called “The Winter Nest”. She describes daily walks to the end of the driveway and not knowing which way to go, much like the geese she watches who seem unable to leave and fly south for the winter. She thinks they laugh at her when she decides not to leave home, either. Very poignant.
Jason read the next chapter in his novel. Gregg is at home drained and exhausted from his healing of Jaina. Jody is with him. His parents are also there, trying to find out what the two teenagers had been up to. The parents think the kids had been having sex. Gregg and Jody don’t enlighten them, but Gregg does then become sexually excited and Jody notices. This scene ramps up the sexual tension between the two of them and we see a softer, more human side of Jody.
Kristi read her most recent re-write of chapter 1 in “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. This shows a more mature version of Jane acting as a midwife in the very poor section of town close to the docks. She is very concerned that the mother seems to not want her newborn but finally convinces her to nurse the baby. This is setting up the explanation of where the food supply for the daisies will come from in later chapters. Oh, what horror!
Jim read Chapter 69 and 70 in “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. As the submarine is leaving, Sara the kitten says good-bye to Mei-Xiu, and invites her to come visit them at Coventry. The sub is heading toward the aircraft carrier which has a physician who can treat the lieutenant. Two platoons of marines later parachute into Honywuan to destroy Jason’s new computer. Sara also goes but is terrified for them when she discerns the lone computer in the lab is a bomb. She wraps herself around it to contain the blast, but is herself blown into the depths of Drakko. She’s got herself into another fix, as only a kitten can do.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Fort Langley in the February issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
Lorelie is still dealing with health issues and we wish her well. Leah is super busy with her business endeavors these days. And we haven’t heard from anyone else.
I am definitely scheduled for my last surgery on March 3rd, after which I will require about 4 to 6 weeks for recovery before I can again host Meetings. Therefore, the next Meeting will be Wednesday, February 18th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place, and will be the last until sometime in April probably. So mark your calendar and we hope to see you February 18th.
PS: Did you know that February 14th is both Valentine’s Day and International Condom Day? Now why is that?
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
There were five of us here Wednesday night in spite of the rains. Jim, Jason, Annette, and Kristi all came to join me and we read some of our scribblings.
I read first although I probably shouldn’t have read at all. With both my recent surgery and the prospect of the next one looming, my mind has not been on the written word. However, I did write and then read about what expectations I have of my upcoming pre-admission visit at the hospital. After five surgeries, it is all very routine to me, and probably read that way as well. If the writer is bored, then so, too, will be the reader.
Annette read a short personal introspection called “The Winter Nest”. She describes daily walks to the end of the driveway and not knowing which way to go, much like the geese she watches who seem unable to leave and fly south for the winter. She thinks they laugh at her when she decides not to leave home, either. Very poignant.
Jason read the next chapter in his novel. Gregg is at home drained and exhausted from his healing of Jaina. Jody is with him. His parents are also there, trying to find out what the two teenagers had been up to. The parents think the kids had been having sex. Gregg and Jody don’t enlighten them, but Gregg does then become sexually excited and Jody notices. This scene ramps up the sexual tension between the two of them and we see a softer, more human side of Jody.
Kristi read her most recent re-write of chapter 1 in “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. This shows a more mature version of Jane acting as a midwife in the very poor section of town close to the docks. She is very concerned that the mother seems to not want her newborn but finally convinces her to nurse the baby. This is setting up the explanation of where the food supply for the daisies will come from in later chapters. Oh, what horror!
Jim read Chapter 69 and 70 in “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. As the submarine is leaving, Sara the kitten says good-bye to Mei-Xiu, and invites her to come visit them at Coventry. The sub is heading toward the aircraft carrier which has a physician who can treat the lieutenant. Two platoons of marines later parachute into Honywuan to destroy Jason’s new computer. Sara also goes but is terrified for them when she discerns the lone computer in the lab is a bomb. She wraps herself around it to contain the blast, but is herself blown into the depths of Drakko. She’s got herself into another fix, as only a kitten can do.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Fort Langley in the February issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
Lorelie is still dealing with health issues and we wish her well. Leah is super busy with her business endeavors these days. And we haven’t heard from anyone else.
I am definitely scheduled for my last surgery on March 3rd, after which I will require about 4 to 6 weeks for recovery before I can again host Meetings. Therefore, the next Meeting will be Wednesday, February 18th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place, and will be the last until sometime in April probably. So mark your calendar and we hope to see you February 18th.
PS: Did you know that February 14th is both Valentine’s Day and International Condom Day? Now why is that?
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Thursday, January 22, 2015
THE REVIEW
THE RAM’S HEAD TRIO
Jim and Kristy joined me last night for our Meeting. Annette and Chelsey emailed to say they weren’t well and wouldn’t be attending. And Heather, a prospective new member, was also not well and couldn’t attend. Didn’t hear from anyone else and was wondering if the last Review coming out so late might have caused some confusion? I didn’t get around to sending out another reminder about the Meeting. Sorry to all if that was the problem.
Kristy read the prologue to her re-written children’s story, still untitled. It is written in first person from the point of view of the puppy who is kidnapped while his young owner is inside the store buying an ice cream cone. This will definitely pull on the heartstrings of young children.
Jim read Chapters 66 and 67 of “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. Sara, the kitten ghost, is still trying to get Joel and Ji-Young to their submarine without being caught by the Honywuan military or by the Umbra ghosts, who were working together. Fighting breaks out at the beach where two Zodiaks come to take them to the sub. Sara was feeling overwhelmed fighting both the Umbra and the military, but suddenly receives help from Mei-Xiu, the ghost who haunts the ocean. But a Lieutenant from the SEAL squad is shot and Sara goes inside his body to close the tear to his aorta. He still needs medical help though, so she tells the Doc on the submarine what attention the patient needs before he even arrives in the medical space onboard. Lots of action in these two chapters which keeps readers on their toes.
Jim told us he’s getting a lot done with his Book I in the Coventry series being edited professionally. She is giving him story suggestions as well as doing the line editing, which is mostly about the use or non-use of commas, in Jim’s case.
Kristy did read to us the second half of her story “A Fairytale Ending” but plans to read it again when more members are present, so I won’t tell you anything about it here. Ha! Ha!
I just received the rest of my payment from Summit Studios for my short story “The Blob At Green Lake” that was in their anthology “Never Light A Match In The Outhouse”. Matt, the publisher/editor wrote they have updated their website with a list of potential anthologies for the future and invited me to contribute if I have anything that might fit. If the list is on their website, I’m sure anyone can contribute, so take a look and see if you’re interested at www.summitstudios.biz
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, February 4th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then, all healthy and eager to pursue the written word!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Jim and Kristy joined me last night for our Meeting. Annette and Chelsey emailed to say they weren’t well and wouldn’t be attending. And Heather, a prospective new member, was also not well and couldn’t attend. Didn’t hear from anyone else and was wondering if the last Review coming out so late might have caused some confusion? I didn’t get around to sending out another reminder about the Meeting. Sorry to all if that was the problem.
Kristy read the prologue to her re-written children’s story, still untitled. It is written in first person from the point of view of the puppy who is kidnapped while his young owner is inside the store buying an ice cream cone. This will definitely pull on the heartstrings of young children.
Jim read Chapters 66 and 67 of “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. Sara, the kitten ghost, is still trying to get Joel and Ji-Young to their submarine without being caught by the Honywuan military or by the Umbra ghosts, who were working together. Fighting breaks out at the beach where two Zodiaks come to take them to the sub. Sara was feeling overwhelmed fighting both the Umbra and the military, but suddenly receives help from Mei-Xiu, the ghost who haunts the ocean. But a Lieutenant from the SEAL squad is shot and Sara goes inside his body to close the tear to his aorta. He still needs medical help though, so she tells the Doc on the submarine what attention the patient needs before he even arrives in the medical space onboard. Lots of action in these two chapters which keeps readers on their toes.
Jim told us he’s getting a lot done with his Book I in the Coventry series being edited professionally. She is giving him story suggestions as well as doing the line editing, which is mostly about the use or non-use of commas, in Jim’s case.
Kristy did read to us the second half of her story “A Fairytale Ending” but plans to read it again when more members are present, so I won’t tell you anything about it here. Ha! Ha!
I just received the rest of my payment from Summit Studios for my short story “The Blob At Green Lake” that was in their anthology “Never Light A Match In The Outhouse”. Matt, the publisher/editor wrote they have updated their website with a list of potential anthologies for the future and invited me to contribute if I have anything that might fit. If the list is on their website, I’m sure anyone can contribute, so take a look and see if you’re interested at www.summitstudios.biz
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, February 4th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then, all healthy and eager to pursue the written word!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Saturday, January 17, 2015
THE REVIEW
NEW YEAR REUNION
It was wonderful to see everyone again after our hiatus during December due to my surgery and the demands of the holidays. Wendy, Kristi, Annette, Jim and Jason all joined me on the 7th for our first meeting of 2015. Also present that evening was a new face, Chelsey Bleker. She said she has made many notes for a story, but hasn’t started writing it yet. Her chosen genres are fantasy, young adult, and children’s lit. She did say she is looking for a group that might offer more workshops, so if anyone knows where that is happening, please let her know.
Jim read first, Chapters 64 and 65 in Coventry Ghosts, Book II. We see the kitten, Sara, in Drakko where she decides to take the ghost of King George IV back to ghostdom with her, while leaving about 30 bad Umbra ghosts in Drakko. Once back in ghostdom, she is still tasked with returning two living people, Joel and Ji-Young, to the submarine, but radio signals are blocked. She uses telepathy to contact Launi and make arrangements.
Kristi read a short story called “A Fairy Tale Ending” about a young girl living with her deeply depressed father after her mother had committed suicide. The story details the horror of this young girl watching her father lose connection with reality and the people in the world, and emphasizes her desperate loneliness.
Annette read Chapter 1 in her “Untitled Christmas Story”. It shows us Cadence, a 3rd grade teacher with a fascination for names and what they convey about character. Her mother is staying with her after surgery, and a caretaker comes in to look after the mother. One evening the caretaker’s handsome son arrives for dinner, unbeknown to Cadence, and she slams the door in his face. This felt like the perfect beginning to a romance to those who were listening.
Jason read the next chapter in his book. We are taken through a terrible, terrible dream of Gregg’s where he is running from a decaying angel and awful zombies and is trapped between them and the lava flow that takes victims to the shore of the dragon’s domain. He awakes to Jody crying over him. There was lots of suspense here as Gregg and thus the reader don’t know this is just a dream.
Margaret Moffatt was pleased to see her book “Blow Up The Castle” with a good review at http://cosybooks.blogspot.ca
Leah Murray was scheduled to give a talk at the White Rock Library Jan. 16th and 17th, on the use of technology and digital photography to showcase nature. We hope it went well.
I was just notified by the BC/Yukon Command of The Royal Canadian Legion that they are going to post on their blog my article “The Making Of A Soldier, A Mother’s Perspective” and they also offered payment for the story. When I saw the call for submissions, I wasn’t aware of any payment being offered. Very nice surprise. Just goes to show we should keep submitting our writing anyhow.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, January 21st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
LISA A. HATTON
AuthorPublished eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
It was wonderful to see everyone again after our hiatus during December due to my surgery and the demands of the holidays. Wendy, Kristi, Annette, Jim and Jason all joined me on the 7th for our first meeting of 2015. Also present that evening was a new face, Chelsey Bleker. She said she has made many notes for a story, but hasn’t started writing it yet. Her chosen genres are fantasy, young adult, and children’s lit. She did say she is looking for a group that might offer more workshops, so if anyone knows where that is happening, please let her know.
Jim read first, Chapters 64 and 65 in Coventry Ghosts, Book II. We see the kitten, Sara, in Drakko where she decides to take the ghost of King George IV back to ghostdom with her, while leaving about 30 bad Umbra ghosts in Drakko. Once back in ghostdom, she is still tasked with returning two living people, Joel and Ji-Young, to the submarine, but radio signals are blocked. She uses telepathy to contact Launi and make arrangements.
Kristi read a short story called “A Fairy Tale Ending” about a young girl living with her deeply depressed father after her mother had committed suicide. The story details the horror of this young girl watching her father lose connection with reality and the people in the world, and emphasizes her desperate loneliness.
Annette read Chapter 1 in her “Untitled Christmas Story”. It shows us Cadence, a 3rd grade teacher with a fascination for names and what they convey about character. Her mother is staying with her after surgery, and a caretaker comes in to look after the mother. One evening the caretaker’s handsome son arrives for dinner, unbeknown to Cadence, and she slams the door in his face. This felt like the perfect beginning to a romance to those who were listening.
Jason read the next chapter in his book. We are taken through a terrible, terrible dream of Gregg’s where he is running from a decaying angel and awful zombies and is trapped between them and the lava flow that takes victims to the shore of the dragon’s domain. He awakes to Jody crying over him. There was lots of suspense here as Gregg and thus the reader don’t know this is just a dream.
Margaret Moffatt was pleased to see her book “Blow Up The Castle” with a good review at http://cosybooks.blogspot.ca
Leah Murray was scheduled to give a talk at the White Rock Library Jan. 16th and 17th, on the use of technology and digital photography to showcase nature. We hope it went well.
I was just notified by the BC/Yukon Command of The Royal Canadian Legion that they are going to post on their blog my article “The Making Of A Soldier, A Mother’s Perspective” and they also offered payment for the story. When I saw the call for submissions, I wasn’t aware of any payment being offered. Very nice surprise. Just goes to show we should keep submitting our writing anyhow.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, January 21st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
LISA A. HATTON
AuthorPublished eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)