THE REVIEW

LET IT SNOW!

In spite of the snow, and threat of snow, there were five of us here Wednesday night invoking The Muse. Charity, Luke, Annette and new member Darlene Schmidt joined me for an inspirational meeting.

I read first, a new short story of 750 words I had written last Monday. It is based on a true story, but greatly condensed and fictionalized. I plan to send it to the contest at Polar Expressions this year. The story is about an elderly writer who, along with her husband, is moved away by their son so he can look after them. But they are both seriously ill and life becomes complicated and devastating before they both die. The story is told by a third party (another writer) who goes back and reads related emails. The ending is very sad. Charity said she liked learning about the challenges that confront some elderly people. Darlene said the ending made her gasp. And Luke said the elderly lady reminded him of his grandmother.

Charity read from Trixie Trouble and we see Trixie being mistaken for a boy as she is fed by the tart at the hotel. Trixie is challenged by a man called Mundy and she shows she can shoot the gun she carries. As she waits for the doc to arrive, she drinks her coffee and feels faint and passes out. The poor girl is beset by one disaster after another. Will she survive?

Luke read the next scene with Goren and Galeena arriving back at his earthquake demolished home. He tries making plans about food and where they should go, but she is hovering and asking questions and he gets annoyed and tells her to take his cloak to wear. She sets about tearing it up and fashioning a useful outfit out of the cloak, and then makes herself shoes to wear. She knows how to do this, but doesn’t remember how she knows. They need to travel back to the river to get his boots.

Annette read the next 200 words at the beginning of Chapter 11. Maxine learns that after tests and a CT scan, Jarod has no serious brain problems, and can still answer questions by blinking his eyes. But he still doesn’t know his name, or where he lives, or who Maxine is. And nobody knows why. Annette asked us to suggest ways she could prevent this character from communicating who he really is. I had already suggested that as well as his jaw being wired shut, he should have a broken arm so he can’t write. And we thought maybe he could develop an adverse reaction of some kind to the medication he is getting. We could really make the poor guy suffer. 

Darlene read to us the first section of a 10,000 word short story she has written entitled “Watering Restrictions”. A husband and wife are at the dining table discussing watering restrictions and local politics, but their opinions are diametrically opposed. He sounds pragmatic and practical while she sounds reflective and romantic. They made me laugh. We look forward to hearing more of this disparate couple.

The next Meeting will be Wednesday, March 7th, at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Looking out the window at all the snow, I am hoping we will have a complete wintermelt before then. And may The Muse be sure to answer your call!

Lisa A. Hatton
Author