THE REVIEW

SEVEN SCRIBES

The end of the cold snap saw the end of our long hiatus from meeting as writers. Jason, Kay, Luke, Monica, Charity and Margaret all joined me Wednesday for a very inspiring Meeting. We talked a bit about our writing goals for 2017. Kay wants to finish her novel and then turn it into a screenplay. She is going to a screenplay workshop later this month. Jason wants something to happen with his submission, but feels at this point in his life, he needs to get back out into the world in some way he finds satisfying. He will probably always be a writer, but wants a greater connection with the real world than he’s had as a stay at home parent. Monica will keep working on her dissertation, but also wants to work on more creative writings to reconnect with her soul. Charity wants to finish “Trixie Trouble” and find an agent for it. Luke wants to finish his novel and take it to the Surrey International Writers’ Conference. Margaret is still working on “Babes In The Wood”. And I’m going to finish re-writing “Honey Signed The Waiver” and submit it somewhere this year. We’ll have to check our progress at the end of the year.

Luke read a scene from his novel about the young soldier, Dalin. The scene shows him being blamed after the army was trapped when they followed his suggestions to counter a supposed ambush. He tells the General to look for a spy amongst them, but the General is very angry at the loss of 500 soldiers. Dalin is taken to lock up.

Charity read the next chapter from “Trixie Trouble” where Donovan stops her from being caught stealing a horse and covers for her when Brett comes looking for her. Donovan talks her out of running away and into coming to church the next day.

Monica read a short piece saying goodbye to 2016 and the losses she endured, and welcoming the hope and opportunity of the New Year. Then she read a poem, “Goodbye My Friend, You Live Within”. It was a heartfelt tribute to a friend who died, but also a look at her own remorse for not being able to visit her at the end or attend her funeral. It was a poem full of raw emotion.

Margaret read Chapter 11, “The File” from “Babes In The Wood”. After reading the file at the Vancouver Police Station, she goes home and tells her husband about dates and events and reports not making sense. She tells Chris she thinks somebody has re-written the report. And we all assumed it was to hide something.

Jason said he had updated “Provoked” for submission to the agent, but that he hadn’t also updated the version still available on Amazon. He is thinking of asking for reviews from readers at Good Reads.

I brought up the Whistler Independent Book Awards competition where the entry fee is $100.00 and the prize is help self-publishing, 100 hard copies of the published book, and a book launch at Whistler. I said I had emailed them to ask if my ‘Honey’ story collection would qualify, but hadn’t heard back. However, since that Meeting, I’ve received their response and my collection would qualify as non-fiction. I’m still thinking about submitting.

I asked Margaret and Kay, since they both belong to the Federation of B.C. Writers, if they could get the on-line listing for The Ram’s Head Writers’ Group updated. The listing still has us meeting on Thursdays and still has Susan Flanagan as a local contact. Though Susan still receives all emails, she did move back to Newfoundland about ten years ago. Most inquiries I receive about the group now originate from that one internet listing and people are sometime dismayed that we meet Wednesdays instead. I’ve asked them to update the listing before, but it’s never happened. I wasn’t too concerned when we still had the Rams website, but that is no longer there to provide information. Although lots of viewers in Russia and the U.S. seem to be finding The Review on the blog, I don’t think that gets us inquiries about joining the group.

The next Meeting will be Wednesday, February 1st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Good luck working toward your goals and I so look forward to seeing you on the 1st!

Lisa A. Hatton
Author