THE REVIEW

RANDOM READINGS

On February 17th, Annette, Margaret F., Jason, Charity, and a new member, Luke Koster, joined me for our most recent Meeting of The Rams.

Charity brought two samples of magazines that publish her non-fiction articles. One magazine is Maximum Yield, and the other is Hydro Life. She read her article “Essential Oil Or Not” in the Hydro Life magazine, which outlined many of both the questions and beliefs in the health benefits of essential oils. Then Charity told us that magazine is slated to change its focus to pro-marijuana consumerism. My, how things change in publishing. As far as her novel is concerned, Charity said she is still working on plotting it out.

Margaret F. had been away on extended holiday so didn’t have the next chapter for “Babes In The Wood”. But she did read to us two previously written poems. “Sisters” was a longing to find purpose and a dream again, after the end of a marriage. The second poem, “Incantation For Victory In War After Defeat” was a strong rallying of force to carry on after setback.

Luke is writing an epic fantasy novel called “The Heart Of The Earth”. He read to us one scene in which Dalin, a young army recruit, is angry and upset that he’s been sent to basic training instead of officers’ training, and set the task of digging a latrine. But that’s true of how basic training works; break the man to make the soldier.

Annette read another chapter from “Within The Tangles”. This time, a group of teens is meeting for group therapy. It sounds like they’ve been having problems at school and that is the reason for their referral to therapy. Janna arrives and hides in the washroom, locking the door. Backstory is coming out about her having been abducted. We want to hear more about the angst that she is suffering.

Jason read to us about Damianos regaining consciousness inside a giant tent with giant furniture. He muses about Kwen and Ligeia, their differences and their similarities. He finds that he is naked and starts searching for his clothes to escape, but is caught by two giant warriors who act like buffoons.

I read the next “Honey” story, “Deposition for Separate Bedrooms”. It tells of Honey’s morning rituals before he retired, when he was angry about having to get up early for work when I did not. Charity said she likes that I read last so they can all leave after having a good laugh. I’m glad the humour comes through.

Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Cranbrook, B.C. in Today’s Senior Newsmagazine for February.

Christine Potter said she hopes to be able to attend Meetings again around the latter part of April. She also said she developed a writing schedule of completing 500 words a day, five days a week. That way she doesn’t feel so overwhelmed at trying to write a whole book of stories.

The next Meeting will be Wednesday, March 2nd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. May the Muse hound you into writing before then!

Lisa A. Hatton
Author