THE REVIEW

BACKUP! BACKUP! BACKUP!


It was a fun Meeting here last night. Jim, Anne, Jason and Bob all joined me in anticipation of Margaret’s latest installment of “Coffin And Dye”.

I read Margaret’s chapter, “Ghosts Of The Hamlet” first. The dog, Arthur, had made off into the fields with the skeletal head of the knight. Mr. and Mrs. Lark wanted Coffin to rectify the situation of the missing artifact. Coffin explained the dog was just returning the knight’s head to its original gravesite, and the ghosts would follow it. Consequently the hamlet would no longer be haunted. The Larks were happy, but Coffin and Tootsie had to find Arthur. They reported him missing to an officer at the constabulary, who seemed taken with Tootsie and vowed to do everything possible to find the missing dog, in spite of Coffin saying he had thought the dog was going to be a damn nuisance.

Next I read a story of my own for my “Honey” collection. It recounted my predicament when I left a kettle burning on the stove overnight and found a mess welded to the stovetop in the morning. I told of my laborious efforts to clean up the mess and of having to buy a new kettle before Honey came home from working out of town.

Bob had several additions to his personal history that he read to us. He told of how he used to go shopping with his stepmother and would bring groceries home in his wagon. The only public library in town at that time was the Carnegie Library at Main and Hastings. And he told of the house next door at the back of the lot, and the neighbours planting a vegetable garden taking up the whole front yard. He wasn’t allowed to socialize with these people and wasn’t allowed to play with a young girl who came to visit.

Jim had previously emailed us all his story “Wilders” that he is entering in a writing contest about White Rock in 2061. His story shows a young family living mostly in isolation as humanity is dying out after global warming. They have to travel miles on foot to buy supplies at a fortified post, and on their return are attacked by a ‘Wilder’, who was of a wild human-like species. The story concept is intriguing and the build-up of tension was well done. I really enjoyed reading it.

Jason read his next chapter “Provoked”, where Damianos is still in the church and hears a disembodied voice telling him salvation lies in translating a spell and then performing the ritual, but he must first find the young girl who possesses the Book of the Nornir. After accomplishment, he is told he can do as he pleases with the girl. Damianos asks the voice if he is God, and the voice replies “Better”. This is a very haunting tale foreboding much evil. It is well written and tight, without any unnecessary wordage.

Anne didn’t read but says she has started several poems that she is having trouble finishing. We wish her luck with them.

At this point I have to say that I can’t stress enough the importance of making backups of your writing. Anne had the misfortune of losing a very promising story she had started when she changed computers. She thought she had a backup and erased the hard drive and disposed of the old computer at the Salvation Army. Then she couldn’t find her story. She will have to re-write it. And Jim told us the sad tale of his niece, a writer, moving here from Calgary and having to leave her car at the side of the highway with a flat tire and bent rim while she went for help. When she returned, her car had been broken into and her laptop stolen with all her writing on it.

So, everybody do a backup. And if you don’t want to be bothered with a 3 ½ inch floppy, or a USB flash drive, or a memory card, or burning a CD, then I have a solution for you. Get yourself a gmail address (it’s free) and email all your writing to yourself. You can access your gmail from any computer and you shouldn’t ever lose it. There you have it. Five ways to do a backup. No excuses now.

I sent out a notice of a writing event at the Museum of Flight at the Langley Airport on Saturday, April 9th and thought I would tell you I will be attending. It is about memoir writing and Ed Griffin is the instructor. It is from 1 – 4:00 p.m. and admission at the door is $5.00. If anyone else is going, let me know.

Next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 20th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Looking forward to seeing you then.

Lisa

THE REVIEW

IRISH STEW


Seven of us were here on Wednesday telling tales for St. Patrick’s Day. Some of us were in green, and I did serve everyone green Jello.

Jason read first, a continuation of the story he read that ended with “God has left the building.” This section was called “Desire” and was a heated exchange between Damianos and the siren, Ligeia, about the killing of the pedophile priest. He wants revenge against the angels who had masqueraded as spiritual superiors but had been traitors. Stay tuned for the next installment.

I had a book of novelists’ answers to questions about writing. One question pertained to making time to write. I read the response of one frustrated author/housewife/mother to point out to Jason that his life as author and stay-at-home-Dad was in keeping with other good company.

Ellie read an epic rhyming poem for preschoolers called “Flying On The Grass”. It is born of a child’s imagination when he wants to fly and he envisions all the adventures he would have but ends up deciding maybe watching the clouds while lying (or is that laying, Jim?) on the grass is a happier pursuit. We hope Ellie can find her way to having this published in a picture book for children.

Barinder had emailed us her piece “Fantasy” which is a really great story line in the fantasy genre about a love triangle between a healer, a magician, and a black witch. This is mostly a story outline that needs some work to develop it, but it has great potential.

Bob read more of his personal history during the years 1941 to 1943/44. Unfortunately we were running out of time and I stopped Bob after 6 ½ pages, single spaced. It’s not that easy to condense a whole life on just a few pages. We marked where Bob stopped reading and that’s where he can start next time.

Anne Berrie joined us for the first time in about a year. She said she handed in her thesis. We’ve missed her unique perspective during that time.

Jim didn’t read this time. He didn’t even bring his laptop. He said he felt naked without it. However, he did have some news. Six months after his latest granddaughter was born, his daughter and son-in-law are expecting again. That’s just about the best story for any author.

Margaret is settling in Quesnel and has lots of visits from her sons and their families. She and Marshall both think they made the right decision to move closer to family. But she is talking about a possible trip down here to the coast and said she would drop by for a visit. We’ll have to see if she can make it for a Meeting of The Rams.

Next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 6th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hopefully spring will be well established by then. Am enjoying the extra daylight at night but having trouble arising if the sun isn’t up yet. I’ll feel better when the cherry trees and the daffodils bloom. Hope to see you all April 6th.

Lisa

THE REVIEW

AFTER THE WINDSTORM


After the windstorm on Wednesday, five of us gathered here to honour The Muse.

Jim read his short story titled “Men’s Room Memorial” about the antics of the coffee shop employee trying to close and finding a dead man on the toilet. The owners arrive and the comedy continues. And then the family wants a memorial for the deceased, to be set up in the men’s room. Very funny. We spent some time critiquing the story and suggesting Jim change where it starts and that he write it from Anna’s point of view, the employee. He thought that might work better, too.

Ellie read a poem that had been inspired by the death of her uncle. It raises all the questions that accompany death as to where the soul goes and what happens next. The death of a loved one does that to us, makes us stop to question the verities of life.

Bob had a revised version of his personal history that he is writing for his family. He read over 6000 words, but the version ha gave me to follow along with only had 5653 words. Hilarious. Bob would be reading along and I’d be frantically looking for the right paragraph to follow along with, but couldn’t find it because it wasn’t there. We still had a good history lesson as Bob started with what he remembered beginning in 1936, around the time his Mother died when he was just 3 years old.

Jason and I didn’t read. But maybe we will start first next time. Barinder wasn’t able to attend and I later learned she wasn’t well. Anne Berrie had promised to attend and pick up some books Margaret left for her, but since her thesis still wasn’t finished she didn’t make it either. Hope to see them both next time.

I guess Margaret is busy getting settled in Quesnel. No news from her yet. I will let you know if I hear from her.

Next Meeting will be Wednesday, March 16th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Since that is the day before St. Patrick’s Day, feel free to dress in green and kiss the Blarney Stone before you tell your tales. See you then.

Lisa

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THE REVIEW

FOND FAREWELL


Wednesday was our last chance to say farewell to Margaret. She has been an inspiration to us all, and her unfailing enthusiasm and cheerfulness have been a real blessing to us. We shall miss her dearly, but hope when she gets settled in Quesnel that we can still keep in touch over the internet. We wish her all the best in her new adventure and we are glad she will be closer to more family members.

Jim asked for some serious critiquing of his story “Kelsey” and had forwarded it to all of us ahead of time. So we brought our print-outs and spent some time re-working every page with him. Jason had done quite extensive editing and cutting and his work on Jim’s story made it much tighter and stronger. It was a good collective project and a lot was accomplished with the story.

A new member, Barinder Singh, joined us for the first time. She’s from North Delta and it’s amazing she would drive that far to be part of our group. She has written a lot of poetry, but is now drawn toward writing fantasy and wants to write a novel. She shared with us what she thinks could be the beginning of one about a young boy and girl in this world who get acquainted in the dream world and then find each other in the real world. The boy has a ‘golden heart’, which Barinder says will become the center of her story. She had titled the piece “The Bedtime Story” but it was suggested she call it “The Shutter”, as the boy often shuts himself off from others so they couldn’t see his golden heart. We look forward to hearing more about this story.

Margaret read her next chapter in “Coffin And Dye” where we see Coffin and his new female friend, Tootsie, at the Lark’s farm. They find the skull which was probably from a knight at the time of William I in 1066. The Larks say they have never seen any ghosts so Coffin then tells everyone he can see ghosts in the neighbours’ fields. Tootsie realizes he has lied to her about investigating a murder. Just then her dog picks up the skull and takes off with it.

We really hope Margaret will email us subsequent chapters for us to enjoy.

Ellie read a story she has started that she hopes to develop into a children’s book. It starts out in poetic form with fairies painting a forest scene. The next chapter is prose and starts portraying problems of environmental issues. It will be interesting to see where this story goes.

Bob and Jason and I didn’t read, but we all enjoyed being together and listening to all the other marvelous writing that is happening. Margaret left two books here for Anne Berrie who promises to attend the next meeting. I told her she could always read her thesis to us.

In a letter to the editor in the Vancouver Sun on Thursday, Nathaniel Poole, a member now living in Victoria, had written about people in Canada sending money home to family members in other countries being fleeced by banking transfer fees. Something to think about, for sure.

In yesterday’s Langley Advance, I have a letter to the editor about rules of our Medical Services Plan being detrimental to both patients and our provincial budget. That is a system I take exception to.

It is absolutely wonderful we have the freedom to write and publicize our beefs with government and know we won’t be imprisoned or tortured, or have to demonstrate for days or weeks or years against a dictatorship just to have that right. Let us all be grateful.

Nest Meeting will be Wednesday, March 2nd, at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. You and your Muse are both invited. Hope to see you then.

Lisa

THE REVIEW

NORTH TO QUESNEL


Margaret is moving to Quesnel at the end of February to be closer to more family members. If there’s a writers’ group up there, I’m sure they will be happy to invite her to join them.

On Wednesday, Margaret read first, another chapter in “Coffin and Dye”. Coffin is getting ready to go to Sparrows Bridge on his bike when he’s offered a ride instead with a neighbour’s daughter, Tootsie, and her dog Arthur. When she asks him why he’s going to Sparrows Bridge, he lies and tells her he’s a private detective trying to solve a murder at Lark’s farm.

Bob joined us again and it was good to see him. He brought a piece of writing about ‘Jacoby Bros., Manufacuring Jewellers’ that was in the B.C. History magazine, written by Ronald Greene, current president of the B.C. Historical Federation. The article focused on the souvenir coins they used to make that were considered counterfeit by the American government and caused problems through the years. Bob wrote a letter to the editor adding information about the problems that were caused by these ‘coins’.

Jason brought a short story he had written called “Alone”. It shows a pastor who is remorseful about abusing young boys when he is confronted by a sexy female figure. He chastises her for trying to seduce him in “God’s” house. She sprouts black leathery wings and he realizes she’s an incarnation of the devil. As she strangles him, she tells him that God has left the building. The story was well written and portrays justice being meted out to one who deserves it. So tell me, was the female figure really the devil then?

I had been working on my novel, making a few changes to improve readability and flow of words. I was also trying to rename it from “Fire” to something else. I Googled all the titles I was interested in, and almost all of them had been previously used. The one I ended up with was “Latent Peril”, which I thought intimated a mystery. But everyone at the meeting was against my changing the title. Their reasoning was that “Fire” was just one word, easy to remember, and more likely to be recommended by word of mouth. So there you go. I won’t change the title. It sure saves me a lot of re-printing.

And speaking of printing, I recently inherited a used laser printer/copier/fax/scanner. I only had to buy a toner cartridge for it, which is more expensive than an ink cartridge, but is good for 2500 pages at least. So now I have an easy way to print my own manuscripts quickly. I have two printers hooked up to my computer now. The other one is ink jet and does all the same functions, just slower, and will do colour too. When did writing get to be so complicated?

Had an email from Amanda, whom we haven’t seen for several years. Her son is now 20 months old, and they are expecting another child late May, early June. She is still writing kids’ books, and also started her own business teaching baby sign language called Sticky Hands. Hope we get to see Amanda again some time.

Next Meeting will be Wednesday, February 16th at 7:00 p.m. at my place. It will be our last chance to see Margaret before she leaves. Hope to see you then.

Lisa

THE REVIEW

KEEP READING


With such miserable and wet winter weather, it’s that time of year to just curl up with a good book and forget the rest of the world. But if you’re a writer, you just might have to write the book first.

On Wednesday, Ellie read us three poems. “Patterns In The Ice” was a poem about the snow scene in her back yard. And “Winter Pond” was another picture in words from the same yard. The third poem “The Best Word ‘Needed’” was about a grandfather going to help his young cowboy grandson build his own home. It was written with a country flavour and spoke of both the older and the younger men needing each other.

Ellie will be doing a public reading today, Sunday, January 23rd, at the Small Ritual Coffee Society (a coffee shop) in White Rock. Jim said he might try to be there to hear her.

Margaret has had advance copies of her book ordered from Georgia, Holland and Scotland. Nice that we have an international author in the group! She also related a personal story of finding the wing of a fly in her marmalade. When she phoned to complain about it, the Asian voice on the other end said he would send her some coupons, but then was adamant that he couldn’t find thirty-second avenue, he could only find three two avenue. Margaret told him to send them to three two avenue and she would receive them.

The next chapter in “Coffin And Dye” that Margaret read, was “Coffin Moves Again”. Dye wants Coffin to do another job for Mr. and Mrs. Lark at Sparrows Bridge, where human skeleton pieces had been found. Dye wants him to go and look at the bones. Coffin doesn’t want to. Dye tells him to ride his bike, it would only take an hour to get there, and to dress warm.

Jim read Chapter 15 from “Coventry Ghosts”. In this chapter, Sara the kitten ghost is told to follow John, husband of the coffee shop owner, to the casino and keep him out of trouble. So she follows him, but once there she is fascinated by the slot machines and manages to get inside one where she uses her powers to line up similar images, thinking it’s a great game, especially when the humans playing it get so excited at their winnings.

Also had Jim read a short story from the series he’s doing for the coffee shop writing contest. This story was an amusing account of what happened when a patron died on the toilet in the washroom. We told him to call it “Men’s Room Memorial”.

Ellie read my novel and had some good suggestions for minor changes in wordage that would add strength to the story. She also suggested “Ignited” as a title. But then we were all discussing topics and Jim said men like to play with fire, telling us how his Dad sets a fire in his fireplace for lighting in the morning. And right then I grabbed the phrase “Playing With Fire” to use as a title.

I read two pieces that were written on the topic of watching a parade of veterans. The first piece was fictional about a woman going to the vets’ parade every November 11th in honour of her son who had died in Afghanistan. After writing it I felt it could have been a little cliched, so I wrote another piece which I called “The Making Of A Soldier”, which was non-fiction, relating things my son told me through the years to illustrate how he changed and grew away from home through his life in the army, and yet was still a responsible person achieving his goals.

Jason wasn’t able to attend last Wednesday, either, due to family responsibilities. He said he has some writing he wants to share with us, so hopefully he’ll make the next meeting.

And our next Meeting will be Wednesday, February 2nd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. As Valentine’s Day is approaching, feel free to bring any writing you have on that topic that you’d like to share with us. Hope to see you then.

Lisa

THE REVIEW

WINTER FORTITUDE


In spite of the inclement weather of Wednesday, four of us still met to honour The Muse.

Margaret read a letter by Danny Halmo that was in the Langley Times on December 31st, thanking the people of Langley for their generosity of spirit to those less fortunate this past Christmas season. It was a good reminder of how difficult the holiday can be for some people.

In further adventures of Coffin and Dye, Margaret read of a stranger sitting down across the table from Coffin at a pub and the stranger telling him about how hard it is to keep tenants when the apartment building he owns is haunted by ghosts. Coffin tells him to just paint the premises and advertise the building as newly renovated. Dye receives a call from Mr. Creeps to tell him not to bother coming to exterminate ghosts, as he’s going to renovate the building. And Coffin is told by his landlord’s nephew that he has to vacate temporarily as his suite is being renovated.

In December I was invited by CBC to enter a flash fiction contest they were running, where the entry was between 100 and 250 words and started with “The snowman grinned malevolently…” and ended with “…buried alive.” I wrote a piece and submitted it, but didn’t win. Without saying who wrote which piece, I read my entry and the winner and two runners up. Margaret picked mine as the best, although the winning entry was also good. It’s nice to know I have a loyal audience.

Jim read Chapter 14 of “Coventry Ghosts” where we see the villain Jason return to his lab in Mexico with his laptop that has captured ghost essences. He’s hoping to resurrect his dead parents and keep them with him forever. This Chapter is setting up the character and his background so we understand what drives him.

Ellie read a piece recently written called “Walking A Winter Picture”. It is a very literary description of a recent walk in a snow-covered field and is a painting in words. You could feel yourself there, too, looking through her eyes.

I want to re-title my novel and was asking for suggestions. Ellie kindly offered to take it home with her and skim through it to see if anything suggested itself from the page. I did purchase the 2010 Canadian Writers’ Market and am planning on submitting to book publishers in Canada. After doing some research, I was quite surprised to find many of them saying they do not accept online queries or submissions, and a number of them even requested submission of full manuscripts in hard copy. Very interesting. That probably cuts down on the number of submissions they receive and have to deal with, n’est-ce pas? And of course that would definitely restrict the number of American writers submitting north of the 49th.

Jason emailed that he wasn’t able to attend the Meeting due to not feeling well.

Bob called to inform me he would not be attending meetings, for awhile anyhow, maybe permanently. He said he had lost interest in writing. I was so sorry to hear that and his presence will be sadly missed.

Next Meeting will be Wednesday, January 19th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Sweep the winter blues out of your house and away from your Muse. Think of spring and renewal and write with your longing for life. And then come and read your words on the 19th. Hope to see you then.

Lisa