HOCKEY CAN WAIT!
Jason, Jim and Ellie all joined me for a Meeting last night in spite of the scheduled hockey game between the Canucks and the L.A. Kings. I had said I would put the game on TV and mute the volume, but Jason nixed that. He said since there were so few of us we could all read quickly and then disperse to go watch the last period. That way my living room wouldn’t be subjected to four-letter epithets or hurled objects if the Canucks were losing. So we read fast.
I read first, Chapter 8 in “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”. This was a short chapter about Nigel packing for a quick trip to Watch Lake to try and convince Dee to marry him so he wouldn’t be required to testify against her. On his way out of the apartment he runs into Hank, the father of Dee’s deceased child, who is accompanied now by another woman. Nigel tries to stay focused on the good things that he and Dee could experience in being married to each other. He refuses to acknowledge all the things that could go wrong.
Ellie read a re-write of her poem “March”. She wants to enter it in the CBC Literary contest, so had to add enough words to fit the required length. She changed the ending and we all advised that she go back to emphasizing that death means the end of winter as it seemed to be a more powerful observation.
Jason read Ch. 16, “Separation”. Damianos hears voices telling him not to kill Jody as the Nornir believed her to be precious. He was told to take her to the midlen place, but in order to find it, he first had to find the Book of the Nornir. After getting no answers from Jody, he decides he should search her home, and tries to send Ligeia to do that but she refuses as she doesn’t know what to look for. So he decides to go himself and leave Jody in the hands of Ligeia. He tells her to keep Jody safe and read her book of spells to learn about Gregg, the jivita.
Jim read Chapter 15 in the second book of the Coventry Ghosts. Jason, sprung from the Mexican prison and kidnapped by Solak, is led by him to the coast, where Solak rents a boat and then shoots the boat’s captain. They are out on the ocean for six days and have run out of food and water as they await a pre-arranged rendezvous with a foreign vessel. Jason passes out, sunburned and dehydrated. When he awakes, he is being nursed in a small compartment aboard a submarine. This chapter is a stark contrast to the light and humourous previous chapter with Sarah and another ghost playing in the library.
Wendy stayed home to watch the hockey game. Julie had a house guest. Monica was not well, and we wish her a swift return to full health.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, May 2nd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
THE REVIEW
HAPPY EASTER!
Four of us had a good meeting last night. Jim, Ellie and Jason joined me and so we had lots of time to read and discuss things.
Jason read first, Chapter 15 entitled “Worm”. It is from the point of view of Ligeia, the winged siren. She and Damianos take Jody to a hidden camp deep in the forest. Ligeia is jealous of the way Damianos pays attention to Jody and, indeed, any of his victims. She wants his attention all to herself, like the need for a drug. Once arriving at the camp, Damianos told Ligeia to tie Jody face down to a cot, as he tore off Jody’s shirt and bra. Lots of tension and a dire threat of evil in this chapter.
Ellie read two poems. The first one was about the death of her uncle Pete, and all the questions it raised about life and death, and the soul, and what comes after death. The second poem was an observation of nature’s evidence of early spring, each tiny nuance becoming slowly visible. Ellie shared with us that nature was her path to spirituality.
Jim read Chapter 14 in the second book of the Coventry Ghosts. In it we see Karly teaching Sarah, the kitten ghost, to read. They are in the library. When Sarah tires of reading, she tells Karly they can practice manipulating physical objects by the power of thought, a skill she is teaching Karly. For a break, they both careen around, cavorting in ghostly fashion until they tire and return to the library. It was a good chapter showing ghostly development.
Jim said he had taken our advice and inserted in the first book early mentions of the antagonist Jason, to add to the suspense of the story.
I had another “Honey” story to read, “The Best Thing” which tells of my meeting Honey and some of our amusing first encounters. I am trying to collect enough of this series for a collection that might be publishable. But Jason wants me to get back to writing “Nigel Wingate Is Dead” as he wants to know what’s going to happen in that novel. Thanks for the encouragement, Jason.
Julie emailed that she was busy taking a course last night. Margaret Florczak is busy working long days and said she hoped to join us again sometime in May. Wendy wasn’t feeling well and we wish her renewed health. And there was no word from Anne or Monica.
Happy Easter to all the Rams! Next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 18th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
Four of us had a good meeting last night. Jim, Ellie and Jason joined me and so we had lots of time to read and discuss things.
Jason read first, Chapter 15 entitled “Worm”. It is from the point of view of Ligeia, the winged siren. She and Damianos take Jody to a hidden camp deep in the forest. Ligeia is jealous of the way Damianos pays attention to Jody and, indeed, any of his victims. She wants his attention all to herself, like the need for a drug. Once arriving at the camp, Damianos told Ligeia to tie Jody face down to a cot, as he tore off Jody’s shirt and bra. Lots of tension and a dire threat of evil in this chapter.
Ellie read two poems. The first one was about the death of her uncle Pete, and all the questions it raised about life and death, and the soul, and what comes after death. The second poem was an observation of nature’s evidence of early spring, each tiny nuance becoming slowly visible. Ellie shared with us that nature was her path to spirituality.
Jim read Chapter 14 in the second book of the Coventry Ghosts. In it we see Karly teaching Sarah, the kitten ghost, to read. They are in the library. When Sarah tires of reading, she tells Karly they can practice manipulating physical objects by the power of thought, a skill she is teaching Karly. For a break, they both careen around, cavorting in ghostly fashion until they tire and return to the library. It was a good chapter showing ghostly development.
Jim said he had taken our advice and inserted in the first book early mentions of the antagonist Jason, to add to the suspense of the story.
I had another “Honey” story to read, “The Best Thing” which tells of my meeting Honey and some of our amusing first encounters. I am trying to collect enough of this series for a collection that might be publishable. But Jason wants me to get back to writing “Nigel Wingate Is Dead” as he wants to know what’s going to happen in that novel. Thanks for the encouragement, Jason.
Julie emailed that she was busy taking a course last night. Margaret Florczak is busy working long days and said she hoped to join us again sometime in May. Wendy wasn’t feeling well and we wish her renewed health. And there was no word from Anne or Monica.
Happy Easter to all the Rams! Next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 18th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
Friday, March 23, 2012
THE REVIEW
SPRING’S PROMISE
It was a fun Meeting on Wednesday with the beginning of Spring, and the change to daylight saving time.
Ellie read her poem “March” which gave a detailed sensory account of seeing sharp shins beheading pigeons in March, before the end of winter, when food supplies are short. Her line, “Nature’s life cycle, a deathly ending of winter” we thought was very powerful and we thought it should be the last line of the poem as it emphasized the dark event that had just happened.
Wendy read us a personal piece about her grandmother. She starts by telling of the end of Granny’s life when Wendy was just seventeen, and then goes on to tell how Granny had lived with them and made Wendy and her sister her whole life as she cared for them while their parents were at work. The piece was a loving tribute to her grandmother, intended to be shared with family.
Julie was with us, but didn’t have any new writing to share this time. However, we are always grateful to those who come to listen to the rest of us read our scratchings. It’s always important to support each other that way.
Jim read his latest rejection letter which he received for his submission of the first hundred pages of book one of the “Coventry Ghosts”. The agent was Brown and Miller, and they had done several in-house readings before they said they found the concept intriguing but they still declined to handle it.
Next Jim read to us Chapter 13 of the second book. Jason, the antagonist, has been broken out of jail and is being abducted by the henchman of a criminal mastermind who wants Jason’s skill at usurping ghost essences through his computer to use for nefarious purposes. The abductor and Jason hop a train, and even though Jason has injured his knee, he is still forced to comply with orders to march when they get off the train.
Monica read to us from her second chapter in her self-help book. This reading told of the verbal and emotional abuse she suffered from her father, and how dysfunctional her family was. Instead of crying, she internalized her pain and believed things were her own fault. She tried unsuccessfully to gain her father’s love and acceptance, but also fought with him because she couldn’t accept the hypocrisy of his lifestyle. He had many lovers and boasted openly about it, while her own mother stayed silent. The whole family worked like slaves on the farm. We were spellbound by the telling of the background in this chapter and we all want to hear more.
I read another “Honey” story called “It Was Time” about learning that I needed to take a cane with me when I went on a boat trip with my Honey when we were up at the cabin. I did some research on word lengths for short story collections and hard copy publication seems to be in the 40,000 to 50,000 range unless it’s an anthology, which is quite a bit longer. However, I did learn that short stories are finding a market in self ePublishing and a single story is often listed for $.99. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to see a revival of an interest in short stories? They have been almost invisible since magazines quit printing them because of cost factors.
Jason read Chapter 14 of “Provoked”. This is about Gregg’s brother David. We see him at school, more interested in partying with his friends than in academics even though he’s starting to feel a need to find some purpose to his life. He’s somewhat worried about his brother’s absence from school, but much more interested in an upcoming party. He secures a date with a girl for the party, and then lets two of his friends ply him away from school and the three of them are drinking while cruising in a car. This is a great piece of characterization and an unusual chapter of daily living in the physical world after previous chapters revealing esoteric dangers. The switch back and forth ups the suspense.
If anyone is interested, this is a reminder about the upcoming presentation on e-Publishing being held at the Murrayville Library on April 19th at 7:00 p.m. The speaker will be Russ Crossley, who has books published both in hard copy and ePublished.
Also, on March 31st at 2:00 p.m. at Millner Chapel Hall is the book launch of “Water In The Wilderness” by local author Doris Riedweg.
The next Meeting of The Rams will be Wednesday, April 4th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
It was a fun Meeting on Wednesday with the beginning of Spring, and the change to daylight saving time.
Ellie read her poem “March” which gave a detailed sensory account of seeing sharp shins beheading pigeons in March, before the end of winter, when food supplies are short. Her line, “Nature’s life cycle, a deathly ending of winter” we thought was very powerful and we thought it should be the last line of the poem as it emphasized the dark event that had just happened.
Wendy read us a personal piece about her grandmother. She starts by telling of the end of Granny’s life when Wendy was just seventeen, and then goes on to tell how Granny had lived with them and made Wendy and her sister her whole life as she cared for them while their parents were at work. The piece was a loving tribute to her grandmother, intended to be shared with family.
Julie was with us, but didn’t have any new writing to share this time. However, we are always grateful to those who come to listen to the rest of us read our scratchings. It’s always important to support each other that way.
Jim read his latest rejection letter which he received for his submission of the first hundred pages of book one of the “Coventry Ghosts”. The agent was Brown and Miller, and they had done several in-house readings before they said they found the concept intriguing but they still declined to handle it.
Next Jim read to us Chapter 13 of the second book. Jason, the antagonist, has been broken out of jail and is being abducted by the henchman of a criminal mastermind who wants Jason’s skill at usurping ghost essences through his computer to use for nefarious purposes. The abductor and Jason hop a train, and even though Jason has injured his knee, he is still forced to comply with orders to march when they get off the train.
Monica read to us from her second chapter in her self-help book. This reading told of the verbal and emotional abuse she suffered from her father, and how dysfunctional her family was. Instead of crying, she internalized her pain and believed things were her own fault. She tried unsuccessfully to gain her father’s love and acceptance, but also fought with him because she couldn’t accept the hypocrisy of his lifestyle. He had many lovers and boasted openly about it, while her own mother stayed silent. The whole family worked like slaves on the farm. We were spellbound by the telling of the background in this chapter and we all want to hear more.
I read another “Honey” story called “It Was Time” about learning that I needed to take a cane with me when I went on a boat trip with my Honey when we were up at the cabin. I did some research on word lengths for short story collections and hard copy publication seems to be in the 40,000 to 50,000 range unless it’s an anthology, which is quite a bit longer. However, I did learn that short stories are finding a market in self ePublishing and a single story is often listed for $.99. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to see a revival of an interest in short stories? They have been almost invisible since magazines quit printing them because of cost factors.
Jason read Chapter 14 of “Provoked”. This is about Gregg’s brother David. We see him at school, more interested in partying with his friends than in academics even though he’s starting to feel a need to find some purpose to his life. He’s somewhat worried about his brother’s absence from school, but much more interested in an upcoming party. He secures a date with a girl for the party, and then lets two of his friends ply him away from school and the three of them are drinking while cruising in a car. This is a great piece of characterization and an unusual chapter of daily living in the physical world after previous chapters revealing esoteric dangers. The switch back and forth ups the suspense.
If anyone is interested, this is a reminder about the upcoming presentation on e-Publishing being held at the Murrayville Library on April 19th at 7:00 p.m. The speaker will be Russ Crossley, who has books published both in hard copy and ePublished.
Also, on March 31st at 2:00 p.m. at Millner Chapel Hall is the book launch of “Water In The Wilderness” by local author Doris Riedweg.
The next Meeting of The Rams will be Wednesday, April 4th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
Friday, March 9, 2012
THE REVIEW
JASON AND THE HAREM?
Jim was unable to attend the Meeting Wednesday, so that left Jason as the only man with a roomful of female writers. He didn’t seem to mind, though.
Anne Berrie had dropped off a box of dicta-typing equipment no longer used at her office, free to a good home. She was exhausted so wasn’t able to stay for the Meeting. There were three of us who each took a set of equipment for recording and then playback using a foot pedal. Julie took one set, Monica took another, and so did I. I think “Honey” can use it to record himself playing guitar and singing and then play it back to hear himself. Monica said she has a number of interviews to do and would use it for that purpose. Thanks to Anne for thinking of us.
I read first, another story from the “Honey” series. This one was “The Blob At Green Lake”, telling about our escapade with a king size waterbed mattress we took to Green Lake to use on the water for young people to jump onto. Everybody wanted to know if the story was true and Jason said my stories about Honey are an amazing tribute to him. Don’t know whether I should tell Honey that or not?
Ellie read from her young adult novel she has started, “Close To The Wind”. We see fifteen year old Jordie, with his dog and his Mom, going out to the oceanside to watch a ferocious storm. In sync with the anger of the storm, he’s raging at his missing father and dour prospects for the summer to come. There was a lot of poetic description of the storm from Jordie’s viewpoint, and some of us did tell Ellie that a teenaged boy probably wouldn’t attribute that much headspace to the sensual witnessing of the storm, that he would be more apt to express his anger in some form of physical action. So then Ellie was torn between re-writing to change Jordie’s experience in the storm, or make Jordie a female who would be more inclined to notice the storm that way, or change the beginning to someone else’s point of view entirely. And as is my habit, I chipped in that Ellie should pick one tense, past or present, and not switch back and forth. But we’re all rooting for Ellie as we know the story has a terrific plot-line that adventurous teens would really enjoy.
Monica read to us a speech she has written to deliver at a Toastmasters’ meeting on Tuesday. She stood before us and read “Sick And Tired Of Being Sick And Tired”, where she told us about the debilitating effects of Lupus and how it can obliterate the desire to participate in even the mundane of daily living. It is a case of the body attacking itself, with recurring flares and remissions, and is found more in women than in men. With an emotional call to help with fundraising, Monica challenged her listeners by saying that they all know someone with Lupus, because she is someone who has it.
Wendy read Chapter 2 of her story, “A New Dawning”. She tells of middle-aged Sarah working part-time at a drugstore managed by her best friend. Diagnosed with breast cancer, her marriage ended; no career, only a part-time job, living on alimony, she breaks down and tells her friend, Anna, even though she hasn’t told any of her own family. Anna wants to treat her to a vacation before she has surgery, but Sarah resists. After visiting her doctor and knowing surgery is scheduled in two weeks, she decides to go on vacation by herself, which is a big decision for someone not used to taking control in her life.
Before Jason read, he pointed out to me he has numbered his pages and included the name of the novel at the top, and at the beginning of each chapter has noted the title and number of same. Then he read Chapter 13, “Meaning”, from his novel “Provoked”. Gregg and his Great Grandma arrive home from the cemetery where she found him naked in the grave. She questions him about what happened and who was there, and he questions her about what it all means. He is desperate to find Jodie. He tells Great Grandma that the man in black was after the Book of the Nornir, and she then tells Gregg she has something to show him at her house. Even though events have been strange and dangerous, we still see the humour and endearing humanity of the characters in this scene.
Lastly, I was able to read the next two chapters in Margaret Moffatt’s “Coffin And Dye”. In “Sunday”, we see Coffin unhappily sitting on a bench at St. Willen’s church in the early hours of Sunday morning. He is supposed to dig up the crypt to see if he can find out who is buried there. The cleaning chap sits down beside him and tells him the crypt is empty as the body that was supposed to be buried there had disappeared on a scow that floated out to sea instead of arriving there at the church. Then the cleaning chap says the name of the missing corpse was Thomas Turnkey. The man then leaves, walking right through the closed door of the church.
In “Arthur Sees Dr. Noah”, Tootsie and Trish take the dog, Arthur, to the pet psychiatrist, wanting a remedy for the dog’s foul flatulence. They think it’s caused by Arthur having chewed on an ancient skull. But Dr. Noah says it’s the women’s fault in how they named the dog. He says the dog is a female and should never have been called “Arthur”. Since Arthur wouldn’t let them check his/her nether regions, they decide to take the dog to Donny Coffin, sure that he would know.
Anne Berrie said her son was asking when “Coffin And Dye” would be available in book form. He so enjoyed “Blow Up The Castle” he wants the next set of Margaret’s stories to read. Nice that Margaret has a fan base!
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, March 21st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. The time will have changed to daylight saving, and we should all be ready for Spring that day. Look forward to seeing you then!
Lisa
Jim was unable to attend the Meeting Wednesday, so that left Jason as the only man with a roomful of female writers. He didn’t seem to mind, though.
Anne Berrie had dropped off a box of dicta-typing equipment no longer used at her office, free to a good home. She was exhausted so wasn’t able to stay for the Meeting. There were three of us who each took a set of equipment for recording and then playback using a foot pedal. Julie took one set, Monica took another, and so did I. I think “Honey” can use it to record himself playing guitar and singing and then play it back to hear himself. Monica said she has a number of interviews to do and would use it for that purpose. Thanks to Anne for thinking of us.
I read first, another story from the “Honey” series. This one was “The Blob At Green Lake”, telling about our escapade with a king size waterbed mattress we took to Green Lake to use on the water for young people to jump onto. Everybody wanted to know if the story was true and Jason said my stories about Honey are an amazing tribute to him. Don’t know whether I should tell Honey that or not?
Ellie read from her young adult novel she has started, “Close To The Wind”. We see fifteen year old Jordie, with his dog and his Mom, going out to the oceanside to watch a ferocious storm. In sync with the anger of the storm, he’s raging at his missing father and dour prospects for the summer to come. There was a lot of poetic description of the storm from Jordie’s viewpoint, and some of us did tell Ellie that a teenaged boy probably wouldn’t attribute that much headspace to the sensual witnessing of the storm, that he would be more apt to express his anger in some form of physical action. So then Ellie was torn between re-writing to change Jordie’s experience in the storm, or make Jordie a female who would be more inclined to notice the storm that way, or change the beginning to someone else’s point of view entirely. And as is my habit, I chipped in that Ellie should pick one tense, past or present, and not switch back and forth. But we’re all rooting for Ellie as we know the story has a terrific plot-line that adventurous teens would really enjoy.
Monica read to us a speech she has written to deliver at a Toastmasters’ meeting on Tuesday. She stood before us and read “Sick And Tired Of Being Sick And Tired”, where she told us about the debilitating effects of Lupus and how it can obliterate the desire to participate in even the mundane of daily living. It is a case of the body attacking itself, with recurring flares and remissions, and is found more in women than in men. With an emotional call to help with fundraising, Monica challenged her listeners by saying that they all know someone with Lupus, because she is someone who has it.
Wendy read Chapter 2 of her story, “A New Dawning”. She tells of middle-aged Sarah working part-time at a drugstore managed by her best friend. Diagnosed with breast cancer, her marriage ended; no career, only a part-time job, living on alimony, she breaks down and tells her friend, Anna, even though she hasn’t told any of her own family. Anna wants to treat her to a vacation before she has surgery, but Sarah resists. After visiting her doctor and knowing surgery is scheduled in two weeks, she decides to go on vacation by herself, which is a big decision for someone not used to taking control in her life.
Before Jason read, he pointed out to me he has numbered his pages and included the name of the novel at the top, and at the beginning of each chapter has noted the title and number of same. Then he read Chapter 13, “Meaning”, from his novel “Provoked”. Gregg and his Great Grandma arrive home from the cemetery where she found him naked in the grave. She questions him about what happened and who was there, and he questions her about what it all means. He is desperate to find Jodie. He tells Great Grandma that the man in black was after the Book of the Nornir, and she then tells Gregg she has something to show him at her house. Even though events have been strange and dangerous, we still see the humour and endearing humanity of the characters in this scene.
Lastly, I was able to read the next two chapters in Margaret Moffatt’s “Coffin And Dye”. In “Sunday”, we see Coffin unhappily sitting on a bench at St. Willen’s church in the early hours of Sunday morning. He is supposed to dig up the crypt to see if he can find out who is buried there. The cleaning chap sits down beside him and tells him the crypt is empty as the body that was supposed to be buried there had disappeared on a scow that floated out to sea instead of arriving there at the church. Then the cleaning chap says the name of the missing corpse was Thomas Turnkey. The man then leaves, walking right through the closed door of the church.
In “Arthur Sees Dr. Noah”, Tootsie and Trish take the dog, Arthur, to the pet psychiatrist, wanting a remedy for the dog’s foul flatulence. They think it’s caused by Arthur having chewed on an ancient skull. But Dr. Noah says it’s the women’s fault in how they named the dog. He says the dog is a female and should never have been called “Arthur”. Since Arthur wouldn’t let them check his/her nether regions, they decide to take the dog to Donny Coffin, sure that he would know.
Anne Berrie said her son was asking when “Coffin And Dye” would be available in book form. He so enjoyed “Blow Up The Castle” he wants the next set of Margaret’s stories to read. Nice that Margaret has a fan base!
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, March 21st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. The time will have changed to daylight saving, and we should all be ready for Spring that day. Look forward to seeing you then!
Lisa
Thursday, February 16, 2012
THE REVIEW
WRITERS’ DEN
My living room was full last night with eight writers gathered to read and discuss some of our recent drafts. Many thanks to all who attended. Monica Buchanan is a new face who joined us last night for the first time. And Michael Hiebert joined us again after a very long absence. He has moved to Chilliwack and so attendance has been difficult, for sure. Along with Michael were his girlfriend Shannon, and his son, Legend. It was nice to meet Shannon and amazing to see how much Legend has grown in three years. And Jim joined us again, back in good health we are glad to see.
Julie read her short personal piece “Peanut Butter And Jam”, a sensual account of making and eating toast with peanut butter and jam. It made us all hungry.
Wendy read a short piece called “Nightmares”. A woman is searching in a darkened cave for her “boy” and encounters fire. She awakes from the nightmare but then sees her dog has singed fur, and she knows he was with her in the dream.
Michael read from a new novel he has started that is based on an award winning short story he had written previously. It is called “Boy Alone” and is a daily summer journal assigned as homework to the 14 year old’s class. It is written in first person and provides a very strong voice for this young boy who complains about his single mother and her meds, and her boyfriend on crack, and not knowing his real father. We know the story will lead somewhere difficult.
Monica hopes to write a self-help book about abused girls growing up still silent about their suffering and having trouble finding and using their own voices. She read us a piece of analysis she hopes to include somewhere in the book. It alludes to her own past emotional abuse and has insight into how this impacts herself and others. She writes with a great deal of emotion about a life filled with lemons and no sugar to make lemonade, and of survivors of the suffering who become a group of living dead, that impacts the reader very strongly. We hope to see how the book develops.
Margaret Florczak read a poem of hers called “Personal Science” inspired by her mother suffering from and dying of alzheimer’s. The poem gave all the scientific explanations of how the disease shrivels the brain and destroys a life. Margaret is also self-publishing a book with Amazon called “Unforgiving” which is an autobiography of her own young life and the abuse she suffered.
Jason read the chapter “Consternation” from his novel. We see Gregg’s great grandmother, Iris, visiting the grave where Jody’s parents are buried. She remembers how she met them in a snowstorm. Breaking into her reveries is Gregg’s voice calling for Jody, and she finds Gregg naked, climbing out of an open grave. There was a little bit of humour in this chapter, which was sharp contrast to the grimness of previous chapters.
Jim read Chapter 12 of his second novel in the “Coventry Ghosts” series, and we see Sarah, the kitten ghost, getting frustrated at having to learn the alphabet and the vowels in order to learn to read. She invites Carly, her teacher, back to the coffee shop to visit with the other ghosts there. The judge informs everyone that Jason, the thief of ghost essences, has escaped from prison in Mexico. Jim has had an agent request to see the first 100 pages of “Coventry Ghosts”. We hope something comes of it for him.
I read another story from my “Honey” collection. This one is “It’s Honey’s Fault” and tells of all the household and technical difficulties over the past six weeks that prevented me from getting any writing done. My listeners laughed so that was a good way to end the evening.
I apologize to Margaret Moffatt that there wasn’t time to read the next two chapters of her “Coffin And Dye” series. Hopefully I can read them next time.
Ellie was unable to attend as she has a terrible cold and Anne Berrie said she will come to the next Meeting. We are still waiting to hear what happened at a court case she was attending last December.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, March 7th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Happy writing in the meantime!
Lisa
My living room was full last night with eight writers gathered to read and discuss some of our recent drafts. Many thanks to all who attended. Monica Buchanan is a new face who joined us last night for the first time. And Michael Hiebert joined us again after a very long absence. He has moved to Chilliwack and so attendance has been difficult, for sure. Along with Michael were his girlfriend Shannon, and his son, Legend. It was nice to meet Shannon and amazing to see how much Legend has grown in three years. And Jim joined us again, back in good health we are glad to see.
Julie read her short personal piece “Peanut Butter And Jam”, a sensual account of making and eating toast with peanut butter and jam. It made us all hungry.
Wendy read a short piece called “Nightmares”. A woman is searching in a darkened cave for her “boy” and encounters fire. She awakes from the nightmare but then sees her dog has singed fur, and she knows he was with her in the dream.
Michael read from a new novel he has started that is based on an award winning short story he had written previously. It is called “Boy Alone” and is a daily summer journal assigned as homework to the 14 year old’s class. It is written in first person and provides a very strong voice for this young boy who complains about his single mother and her meds, and her boyfriend on crack, and not knowing his real father. We know the story will lead somewhere difficult.
Monica hopes to write a self-help book about abused girls growing up still silent about their suffering and having trouble finding and using their own voices. She read us a piece of analysis she hopes to include somewhere in the book. It alludes to her own past emotional abuse and has insight into how this impacts herself and others. She writes with a great deal of emotion about a life filled with lemons and no sugar to make lemonade, and of survivors of the suffering who become a group of living dead, that impacts the reader very strongly. We hope to see how the book develops.
Margaret Florczak read a poem of hers called “Personal Science” inspired by her mother suffering from and dying of alzheimer’s. The poem gave all the scientific explanations of how the disease shrivels the brain and destroys a life. Margaret is also self-publishing a book with Amazon called “Unforgiving” which is an autobiography of her own young life and the abuse she suffered.
Jason read the chapter “Consternation” from his novel. We see Gregg’s great grandmother, Iris, visiting the grave where Jody’s parents are buried. She remembers how she met them in a snowstorm. Breaking into her reveries is Gregg’s voice calling for Jody, and she finds Gregg naked, climbing out of an open grave. There was a little bit of humour in this chapter, which was sharp contrast to the grimness of previous chapters.
Jim read Chapter 12 of his second novel in the “Coventry Ghosts” series, and we see Sarah, the kitten ghost, getting frustrated at having to learn the alphabet and the vowels in order to learn to read. She invites Carly, her teacher, back to the coffee shop to visit with the other ghosts there. The judge informs everyone that Jason, the thief of ghost essences, has escaped from prison in Mexico. Jim has had an agent request to see the first 100 pages of “Coventry Ghosts”. We hope something comes of it for him.
I read another story from my “Honey” collection. This one is “It’s Honey’s Fault” and tells of all the household and technical difficulties over the past six weeks that prevented me from getting any writing done. My listeners laughed so that was a good way to end the evening.
I apologize to Margaret Moffatt that there wasn’t time to read the next two chapters of her “Coffin And Dye” series. Hopefully I can read them next time.
Ellie was unable to attend as she has a terrible cold and Anne Berrie said she will come to the next Meeting. We are still waiting to hear what happened at a court case she was attending last December.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, March 7th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Happy writing in the meantime!
Lisa
Monday, January 9, 2012
THE REVIEW
EIGHTY-EIGHT!!!
Today is Margaret’s 88th birthday! Congratulations from all the Rams, Margaret!
Ellie and Jason joined me last Wednesday for a Meeting here in spite of the heavy rain and wind that night. Jim was still recovering from his surgery. He said he was going back to work today. Hope all is well. Wendy wasn’t well last week, either. Julie said she couldn’t make the Meeting. And sadly, Bob has said he’s lost interest in writing anything and will no longer be attending. We will miss him.
Jason read the next chapter, “Illusions”, where Gregg thinks he has died, but is phantasizing about Jody seducing him, which he thinks is real. Then the man in black attacks Jody and as they leave, Gregg wants to follow them. But his Auntie Samantha, who had died, appears and warns him that he will be dead if he doesn’t come with her, and that being tempted by Jody was just a trick by the man in black. Lots of sexual tension in this chapter that was very well done.
Ellie read us her poem about the Coati-Mundi, that she had submitted to the Canadian Poetry Institute and which has won 2nd place in their competition. The Coati-Mundi is a mischievous animal much like a raccoon that lives in Central America. Ellie wrote the poem to instruct young children about the animal, but also related the animal’s funny antics to give some homour to the rhyming verse.
Since I didn’t have any new writing of my own to read, I read two chapters of Margaret’s from “Cofin And Dye”. In the second half of “Goodbye Mr. Turnkey”, Coffin accidentally lets go of the wooden cart carrying Mr. Turnkey’s coffin, and the cart takes off down the hill. The coffin leaves the cart, turns over, and the remains of Mr. Turnkey fall into Slipper’s Creek. Coffin and the mourners following him, retrieve the coffin, put it on the cart, and proceed to the cemetery where Rev. Solace conducts the service and unknowingly buries an empty coffin.
In the next chapter, “Coffin Arrives Home”, Dye instructs Coffin to meet him and they go on to St. Willen’s Church on the Busby estate where a ghost in the crupt in the floor of the entrance appears every night and scares the cleaner. They are unable to keep a night cleaner and want the ghost eradicated. Dye tells Coffin he will have to dig up the tomb on Friday night and look for the metal plate that would identify who is buried there.
I apologize for this Review being so late, but I had a chance to have new kitchen countertops installed and that has been a lengthy process that kept me busy for several days.
Hope everyone is well, and busy writing a storm of words for 2012! Next Meeting will be Wednesday, January 18th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Really, really hope to see you then!
Lisa
Today is Margaret’s 88th birthday! Congratulations from all the Rams, Margaret!
Ellie and Jason joined me last Wednesday for a Meeting here in spite of the heavy rain and wind that night. Jim was still recovering from his surgery. He said he was going back to work today. Hope all is well. Wendy wasn’t well last week, either. Julie said she couldn’t make the Meeting. And sadly, Bob has said he’s lost interest in writing anything and will no longer be attending. We will miss him.
Jason read the next chapter, “Illusions”, where Gregg thinks he has died, but is phantasizing about Jody seducing him, which he thinks is real. Then the man in black attacks Jody and as they leave, Gregg wants to follow them. But his Auntie Samantha, who had died, appears and warns him that he will be dead if he doesn’t come with her, and that being tempted by Jody was just a trick by the man in black. Lots of sexual tension in this chapter that was very well done.
Ellie read us her poem about the Coati-Mundi, that she had submitted to the Canadian Poetry Institute and which has won 2nd place in their competition. The Coati-Mundi is a mischievous animal much like a raccoon that lives in Central America. Ellie wrote the poem to instruct young children about the animal, but also related the animal’s funny antics to give some homour to the rhyming verse.
Since I didn’t have any new writing of my own to read, I read two chapters of Margaret’s from “Cofin And Dye”. In the second half of “Goodbye Mr. Turnkey”, Coffin accidentally lets go of the wooden cart carrying Mr. Turnkey’s coffin, and the cart takes off down the hill. The coffin leaves the cart, turns over, and the remains of Mr. Turnkey fall into Slipper’s Creek. Coffin and the mourners following him, retrieve the coffin, put it on the cart, and proceed to the cemetery where Rev. Solace conducts the service and unknowingly buries an empty coffin.
In the next chapter, “Coffin Arrives Home”, Dye instructs Coffin to meet him and they go on to St. Willen’s Church on the Busby estate where a ghost in the crupt in the floor of the entrance appears every night and scares the cleaner. They are unable to keep a night cleaner and want the ghost eradicated. Dye tells Coffin he will have to dig up the tomb on Friday night and look for the metal plate that would identify who is buried there.
I apologize for this Review being so late, but I had a chance to have new kitchen countertops installed and that has been a lengthy process that kept me busy for several days.
Hope everyone is well, and busy writing a storm of words for 2012! Next Meeting will be Wednesday, January 18th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Really, really hope to see you then!
Lisa
Friday, December 9, 2011
THE REVIEW
‘TIS THE SEASON
Seven Rams came together Wednesday to celebrate the Season in authorial fashion, with food and phraseology. Wendy, Julie, Jim, Bob, Ellie, and Jason all joined me, bringing snacks and some reading to savour.
Ellie brought a young adult novel she has started, urged on by the online writing course she has been taking. In the opening we see Jordy, who has lost his Dad, go outside with his mother and their Irish setter in a storm. They stand and watch the storm blow in from the ocean, each grieving their loss. When they return to the house, there is a power outage. We all liked this beginning and the promise of a good read it gave us.
Wendy now has five chapters in her story “A New Dawning”, about a middle aged woman being diagnosed with breast cancer. She is divorced and does not have a close relationship with her children. She goes into denial, refusing to tell anyone and not willing to think about anything to do with treatment. This is the beginning of her journey through self-discovery and toward changed relationships with her nearest and dearest.
I gave everyone a printed copy of my poem “The Ghost of Christmas”. It was first published in several newspapers in the mid 1980s and read on the radio by Roy Jacques at CKWX. In the past I had played the tape of him reading it each year, but no longer have a tape player, so I printed the poem and handed it out instead.
I also read aloud a letter I received with my copies of the anthology in which my piece “Freedom”, about a homeless man, was awarded an Honourable Mention. Out of 700 entries, mine was in the top thirteen. It was a very nice letter of congratulations, and my name appears on the book cover of the book as one of the authors.
Bob read more of his biography, spanning from 1938 to 1940. He starts school, and travels with his family to the San Francisco World’s Fair and then to Los Angeles to visit relatives. He heard a war had been started. And his stepsister, Mabel, died. This affected his stepmother greatly, and life was never the same after that.
Jason read his chapter “Reminiscence” where Jody is remembering Gregg’s kindness and understanding he gave her after the loss of her parents and over her injuries. Seeing him thrown into a grave at the cemetery, she assumes he is dead, as she is kidnapped by a figure that terrifies her.
In the December issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine, Margaret Moffatt has two pieces published. And her book “Blow Up The Castle” is now available at Coles in Langley (Willowbrook) and in Portland, Oregon. We ran out of time and I was unable to read Margaret’s latest chapter in “Coffin And Dye”. Hopefully next time I’ll be able to.
Scanning a list of authors in “Inkspots”, the anthology that has my story in it, I came across Gemma’s name. So there is also a story by Gemma Tamas in the same book. Congratulations, Gemma! We haven’t seen Gemma recently as she has been nursemaid to both her husband and her brother. We send our regards and wishes for the best.
Margaret Florczak recently moved and then learned her husband had to have by-pass surgery. So we send our best wishes there as well.
In spite of the world’s problems, our meeting was joyful, and at Christmas that is always a sign of hope and renewal. I wish to thank all those who brought snacks for us to eat, and their writing for us to enjoy. It is miraculous that people are so willing to share those heartfelt personal endeavors with us. Thank you for allowing us to savour the baking and for trusting us to hear or read your words.
Next Meeting will be in the New Year, Wednesday, January 4th, at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!!
Lisa.
Seven Rams came together Wednesday to celebrate the Season in authorial fashion, with food and phraseology. Wendy, Julie, Jim, Bob, Ellie, and Jason all joined me, bringing snacks and some reading to savour.
Ellie brought a young adult novel she has started, urged on by the online writing course she has been taking. In the opening we see Jordy, who has lost his Dad, go outside with his mother and their Irish setter in a storm. They stand and watch the storm blow in from the ocean, each grieving their loss. When they return to the house, there is a power outage. We all liked this beginning and the promise of a good read it gave us.
Wendy now has five chapters in her story “A New Dawning”, about a middle aged woman being diagnosed with breast cancer. She is divorced and does not have a close relationship with her children. She goes into denial, refusing to tell anyone and not willing to think about anything to do with treatment. This is the beginning of her journey through self-discovery and toward changed relationships with her nearest and dearest.
I gave everyone a printed copy of my poem “The Ghost of Christmas”. It was first published in several newspapers in the mid 1980s and read on the radio by Roy Jacques at CKWX. In the past I had played the tape of him reading it each year, but no longer have a tape player, so I printed the poem and handed it out instead.
I also read aloud a letter I received with my copies of the anthology in which my piece “Freedom”, about a homeless man, was awarded an Honourable Mention. Out of 700 entries, mine was in the top thirteen. It was a very nice letter of congratulations, and my name appears on the book cover of the book as one of the authors.
Bob read more of his biography, spanning from 1938 to 1940. He starts school, and travels with his family to the San Francisco World’s Fair and then to Los Angeles to visit relatives. He heard a war had been started. And his stepsister, Mabel, died. This affected his stepmother greatly, and life was never the same after that.
Jason read his chapter “Reminiscence” where Jody is remembering Gregg’s kindness and understanding he gave her after the loss of her parents and over her injuries. Seeing him thrown into a grave at the cemetery, she assumes he is dead, as she is kidnapped by a figure that terrifies her.
In the December issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine, Margaret Moffatt has two pieces published. And her book “Blow Up The Castle” is now available at Coles in Langley (Willowbrook) and in Portland, Oregon. We ran out of time and I was unable to read Margaret’s latest chapter in “Coffin And Dye”. Hopefully next time I’ll be able to.
Scanning a list of authors in “Inkspots”, the anthology that has my story in it, I came across Gemma’s name. So there is also a story by Gemma Tamas in the same book. Congratulations, Gemma! We haven’t seen Gemma recently as she has been nursemaid to both her husband and her brother. We send our regards and wishes for the best.
Margaret Florczak recently moved and then learned her husband had to have by-pass surgery. So we send our best wishes there as well.
In spite of the world’s problems, our meeting was joyful, and at Christmas that is always a sign of hope and renewal. I wish to thank all those who brought snacks for us to eat, and their writing for us to enjoy. It is miraculous that people are so willing to share those heartfelt personal endeavors with us. Thank you for allowing us to savour the baking and for trusting us to hear or read your words.
Next Meeting will be in the New Year, Wednesday, January 4th, at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!!
Lisa.
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