SPRING POSIES
Annette, Leah, Wendy, Jason and Ellie all joined me Wednesday to honour The Muse. Kristi was unable to join us as she couldn’t find a babysitter. We missed her tales of horror. And there’s been no word from Jim for weeks now. We all hope he’s doing fine. If anyone hears from him, let the rest of us know. Margaret F. had said she wanted to attend, but then emailed she would be away on a cruise. There was no word from Marcela or Mary.
Annette shared with us a cover she had drawn up for a novel of hers called “Chocolate Curls and Dragons. She intends to self-publish in hard copy, and says she has many online writers asking for copies of it. And Leah handed out printed invitations to an Exhibit of her photography and poetry.
First to read, Annette gave us Chapter 9 of “A Taste Of Wormwood”. Ali is fearful and plans to leave but John calms her down and she confides in him about the previous rape and her visits to the health clinic where she spotted George’s men who were looking for her. John takes her to a different doctor for the vaccine she needs. She turns to him like an older brother but John might feel differently about her. This reads like a burgeoning romance, but Annette assures us it will turn into something very different.
Leah shared with us a map and world fact book entry about a country she is fabricating on another planet to become the platform for an historical fantasy novel she plans to write. This pre-fab setting is extremely detailed and we were all amazed at the work she has put into this.
Jason read his next chapter about Dave and his friends camping beside the whispering woods. Grammy uncorks her bottle of wine and asks for a glass. But there are only plastic cups, which she disdains and then proceeds to drink straight from the bottle. She then reminisces about her father and his penchant for drinking wine. Leah gets Dave to go for a walk with her, and after they leave, Grammy says she’s trouble. This was a good depiction of both the young people and a very experienced elder.
I had found two ‘Honey’ stories I had misplaced in my computer files for several years, so I read one entitled “Rodeo Of Fabrics”. It’s about Honey wanting me to make a cowboy shirt for him and the prolonged search for the right combination of fabrics and colours for it.
Ellie read a poem called “Bee In My Bonnet” about a honey bee telling her off for trying to swat it away. Very amusing.
Wendy didn’t read as she has been so busy selling her mother’s house and moving her Mom into a retirement home and helping her to settle in. It’s a lot of work to tend to an aging parent’s needs. We hope at some point she’ll be able to write about the experience.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, June 4th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. In the meantime I hope your writing blossoms forth in tune with Spring.
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Friday, May 23, 2014
Friday, May 9, 2014
THE REVIEW
FAME AND FORTUNE
Jason, Annette, Kristi, Marcela, Mary, and Ellie all joined me here Wednesday for another great meeting of the famous Rams! We congratulated Ellie on her win in the Shuswap ‘Word On The Lake Festival’ writing contest. She won first prize in non-fiction with her story “Beware” about the cougar encounter. The prize included $150.00 cash, admission to the 2014 Shuswap writers’ conference, and publication in an anthology. Congratulations, Ellie!
Jason read first, from book two of his “Roots Of Creation” series. Dave and his friends are still at their campsite by the whispering woods when his Grammy arrives. She chides the teens for camping so often on her property. She and Dave’s girlfriend, Leah, size each other up. Then Grammy finds a corkscrew in someone’s backpack and is delighted she can finally open her bottle of wine. She sits down to join the party. There was humour in this chapter and the characters were very realistic.
Kristi read her next chapter in “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. It’s nighttime, and Jane is dreaming of the cat purring while being held by a ghost whose skin is peeling away. Then Jane awakes and looks out her window and sees a red glow on Miller’s Hill. She goes to investigate and finds glowing red flowers under a glowing apple tree. She picks one of the flowers, which turns black, then hears the others crying she killed their sister. This chapter was written with a lot of gory detail. True horror.
I read my latest Honey story, “Honey’s Next Degree”. It’s about Honey putting up with all my medical appointments over the past two years because of four surgeries I’ve had. He’s finally getting the hang of being a caregiver, in spite of his reluctance.
Annette read chapters 7 and 8 from “A Taste Of Wormwood”. We see Alyssa going to a medical clinic for follow-up treatment after a previous rape that she never reported from fear of being found by George West. But we hear the nurse report to someone the Alyssa was at the clinic and saying she would come back for the test results. When she does return, she spots one of George West’s men watching the clinic and she manages to leave without being seen. But she tells John she can no longer stay and look after Carrie.
From a writing prompt that required 50 words about the worst thing you did, Annette read her four sentences about drowning a worm. Very funny.
Marcela read to us Joseph Campbell’s steps in the hero’s journey, which is basically a plot outline for most storytelling. She said her sixteen year old daughter analysed these steps in “Crime And Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It’s very brave of a teenager to take that on.
Mary read to us what she hopes to be an introduction to her own personal story. The words were eloquent and flowed well but only hinted at what the story could entail. We hope she finds the courage to write it all down for herself, whether she shares it with the rest of us or not.
Ellie didn’t read, but was supportive of everyone else. We really missed Jim. I later learned he has been unwell and I’m sure we all wish him a speedy recovery. Wendy was visiting her mother in Chilliwack. And Leah had another commitment on Wednesday.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, May 21st, at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Look forward to seeing you then.
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Jason, Annette, Kristi, Marcela, Mary, and Ellie all joined me here Wednesday for another great meeting of the famous Rams! We congratulated Ellie on her win in the Shuswap ‘Word On The Lake Festival’ writing contest. She won first prize in non-fiction with her story “Beware” about the cougar encounter. The prize included $150.00 cash, admission to the 2014 Shuswap writers’ conference, and publication in an anthology. Congratulations, Ellie!
Jason read first, from book two of his “Roots Of Creation” series. Dave and his friends are still at their campsite by the whispering woods when his Grammy arrives. She chides the teens for camping so often on her property. She and Dave’s girlfriend, Leah, size each other up. Then Grammy finds a corkscrew in someone’s backpack and is delighted she can finally open her bottle of wine. She sits down to join the party. There was humour in this chapter and the characters were very realistic.
Kristi read her next chapter in “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. It’s nighttime, and Jane is dreaming of the cat purring while being held by a ghost whose skin is peeling away. Then Jane awakes and looks out her window and sees a red glow on Miller’s Hill. She goes to investigate and finds glowing red flowers under a glowing apple tree. She picks one of the flowers, which turns black, then hears the others crying she killed their sister. This chapter was written with a lot of gory detail. True horror.
I read my latest Honey story, “Honey’s Next Degree”. It’s about Honey putting up with all my medical appointments over the past two years because of four surgeries I’ve had. He’s finally getting the hang of being a caregiver, in spite of his reluctance.
Annette read chapters 7 and 8 from “A Taste Of Wormwood”. We see Alyssa going to a medical clinic for follow-up treatment after a previous rape that she never reported from fear of being found by George West. But we hear the nurse report to someone the Alyssa was at the clinic and saying she would come back for the test results. When she does return, she spots one of George West’s men watching the clinic and she manages to leave without being seen. But she tells John she can no longer stay and look after Carrie.
From a writing prompt that required 50 words about the worst thing you did, Annette read her four sentences about drowning a worm. Very funny.
Marcela read to us Joseph Campbell’s steps in the hero’s journey, which is basically a plot outline for most storytelling. She said her sixteen year old daughter analysed these steps in “Crime And Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It’s very brave of a teenager to take that on.
Mary read to us what she hopes to be an introduction to her own personal story. The words were eloquent and flowed well but only hinted at what the story could entail. We hope she finds the courage to write it all down for herself, whether she shares it with the rest of us or not.
Ellie didn’t read, but was supportive of everyone else. We really missed Jim. I later learned he has been unwell and I’m sure we all wish him a speedy recovery. Wendy was visiting her mother in Chilliwack. And Leah had another commitment on Wednesday.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, May 21st, at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Look forward to seeing you then.
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Friday, April 18, 2014
THE REVIEW
SEEING RED
Wednesday’s Meeting was another great time, with Jim, Wendy, Leah, Annette, Jason, and Kristie joining me. And the red they were looking at was the new colour of my hair. I wasn’t used to it yet, but everyone said it looked great, even though Honey calls me “Glow In The Dark”.
I was able to tell Jason that Bryon had finished reading his book “Provoked” and quite enjoyed it. He’s now reading “The Orenda” by Joseph Boyden and says it’s full of violence and religion. He preferred Jason’s book, which he said was violence and sex. This from the engineer who never reads fiction? Don’t ever give him a Harlequin to read.
I read first, a short personal piece called “Eternal”. It was a tribute to a former lover whose love seemed to span more than one lifetime.
Jim had edited his Book II of “Coventry Ghosts” and shortened many chapters. He read us the next chapter after the one he read last week, but it is now Chapter 55. This shows Jason with his new collector for his computer, that now has more power to gather ghost essences and squeeze them into submission. He also has a shield that keeps him and his computer invisible to the ghost realm. He is starting to think he should capture Leanne of Coventry, so she can’t use her super powers to hurt him again. This is a great set-up for more evil doings.
Kristie read the next chapter in “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. Jane has slept peacefully, after the day of bullying from the townies. Her schoolbooks have dried overnight, and she’s happy to greet her grandmother in the kitchen. She goes outside in the sunshine and is writing a poem when Davy shows up and startles her. She wants to ride on her swing, which is her escape. Davy offers to push her and he can see she’s ‘flying’, overlooking the valley below. This chapter is the calm before another storm.
Leah said she had three pieces of writing to read and gave us the chance to pick two. We asked for the two poems. The first was her reworking of “Winter In The Rainforest”, which will be a limited edition chapbook. The poem had been cut down into nine Haiku verses, accompanying seven photos. The second poem was “Making Love With Your Boots On” which tells of a dream of making love, and the lover ties her cement boots. This poem was done in two versions and Leah asked us to choose which one we preferred. She also asked for more critiquing of her poetry, but we all feel poetry is too subjective for us to be much help. And I don’t think any of us felt qualified to comment on Haiku, either. So if anyone out there would like to help Leah with this, please contact her and offer your help.
Annette read Chapter 6 of “A Taste Of Wormwood”. After sleeping peacefully, Alyssa spends the day watching Carrie work out with Marc and sees that Carrie is shy, but still wants Marc’s attention, and that Marc cares for Carrie, or he wouldn’t be spending his free time with her. He takes them shopping. While shopping, someone asks Carrie if Ali is short for Eliana. At the end of the chapter George West wants to learn more about Ali, and tells his underling to find Wormwood and kill him. The on-going danger is ever present.
Jason read another chapter from the second book in his “Roots Of Creation” series. Dave and his friends are still at the campsite, and are talking about things experienced at school. Dave’s girlfriend, Leah, gets annoyed at Kirk and Grace pawing each other sexually, and pulls away from Dave. She downs some vodka, and gets mad at Dave because nothing spooky is happening. Dave doesn’t understand and she goes on to say she needs him to grow up and accept who he really is and what his future is meant to be. Now we all want to know what Leah knows.
Wendy didn’t read as she is still overwhelmed with moving her mother and selling her home. However, she does offer some good feedback when the rest of us read, and that’s something we need in the group as well.
Marcela has been unable to attend due to her work schedule, but will come to a Meeting as soon as possible. We look forward to seeing her again.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, May 7th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then with your written treasures. In the meantime, Happy Easter to all!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Wednesday’s Meeting was another great time, with Jim, Wendy, Leah, Annette, Jason, and Kristie joining me. And the red they were looking at was the new colour of my hair. I wasn’t used to it yet, but everyone said it looked great, even though Honey calls me “Glow In The Dark”.
I was able to tell Jason that Bryon had finished reading his book “Provoked” and quite enjoyed it. He’s now reading “The Orenda” by Joseph Boyden and says it’s full of violence and religion. He preferred Jason’s book, which he said was violence and sex. This from the engineer who never reads fiction? Don’t ever give him a Harlequin to read.
I read first, a short personal piece called “Eternal”. It was a tribute to a former lover whose love seemed to span more than one lifetime.
Jim had edited his Book II of “Coventry Ghosts” and shortened many chapters. He read us the next chapter after the one he read last week, but it is now Chapter 55. This shows Jason with his new collector for his computer, that now has more power to gather ghost essences and squeeze them into submission. He also has a shield that keeps him and his computer invisible to the ghost realm. He is starting to think he should capture Leanne of Coventry, so she can’t use her super powers to hurt him again. This is a great set-up for more evil doings.
Kristie read the next chapter in “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. Jane has slept peacefully, after the day of bullying from the townies. Her schoolbooks have dried overnight, and she’s happy to greet her grandmother in the kitchen. She goes outside in the sunshine and is writing a poem when Davy shows up and startles her. She wants to ride on her swing, which is her escape. Davy offers to push her and he can see she’s ‘flying’, overlooking the valley below. This chapter is the calm before another storm.
Leah said she had three pieces of writing to read and gave us the chance to pick two. We asked for the two poems. The first was her reworking of “Winter In The Rainforest”, which will be a limited edition chapbook. The poem had been cut down into nine Haiku verses, accompanying seven photos. The second poem was “Making Love With Your Boots On” which tells of a dream of making love, and the lover ties her cement boots. This poem was done in two versions and Leah asked us to choose which one we preferred. She also asked for more critiquing of her poetry, but we all feel poetry is too subjective for us to be much help. And I don’t think any of us felt qualified to comment on Haiku, either. So if anyone out there would like to help Leah with this, please contact her and offer your help.
Annette read Chapter 6 of “A Taste Of Wormwood”. After sleeping peacefully, Alyssa spends the day watching Carrie work out with Marc and sees that Carrie is shy, but still wants Marc’s attention, and that Marc cares for Carrie, or he wouldn’t be spending his free time with her. He takes them shopping. While shopping, someone asks Carrie if Ali is short for Eliana. At the end of the chapter George West wants to learn more about Ali, and tells his underling to find Wormwood and kill him. The on-going danger is ever present.
Jason read another chapter from the second book in his “Roots Of Creation” series. Dave and his friends are still at the campsite, and are talking about things experienced at school. Dave’s girlfriend, Leah, gets annoyed at Kirk and Grace pawing each other sexually, and pulls away from Dave. She downs some vodka, and gets mad at Dave because nothing spooky is happening. Dave doesn’t understand and she goes on to say she needs him to grow up and accept who he really is and what his future is meant to be. Now we all want to know what Leah knows.
Wendy didn’t read as she is still overwhelmed with moving her mother and selling her home. However, she does offer some good feedback when the rest of us read, and that’s something we need in the group as well.
Marcela has been unable to attend due to her work schedule, but will come to a Meeting as soon as possible. We look forward to seeing her again.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, May 7th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then with your written treasures. In the meantime, Happy Easter to all!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Sunday, April 6, 2014
THE REVIEW
REUNION OF THE RAMS
The Meeting Wednesday night was the long awaited reunion of The Rams after everyone waited patiently while I recovered from surgery. Seven others joined me Wednesday to usher in a new spring for our writing. Wendy and I didn’t read, but everyone else did.
I started by sharing some news. Bob Jacoby had dropped by one afternoon and gave me a stack of tear sheets of Susan Flanagan’s weekly column. Bob and Susan are both email members of the group. Bob lives in Langley, but no longer writes. And Susan moved back to St. John’s, Newfoundland, with her husband and family. Her column is called “The Kids Are Alright” and appears in The Telegram on the front page of the second section every Tuesday. She starts her columns with some personal comment, usually to do with family, and then moves on to offer a lot of information that is related to outdoor activities, geography, history, or community interests or concerns. I read and enjoyed most of the tear sheets and at the Meeting offered them to other members. They were all gone at the end of the Meeting.
With regard to Jason’s book, “Provoked”, I explained I had trouble reading fantasy but that since Honey had only ever read three books of fiction, one of them fantasy, I had given him Jason’s book to read. He was reading it almost non-stop and commented that he really liked the short chapters and he thought the characters were interesting and well-developed. But he did say he thought there was too much sex, probably so it would sell to more women than men. Just proves male engineers are sexist, or would that be non-sexist?
I also said I had bought the 19th edition of The Canadian Writers’ Market and was pleasantly surprised to find quite a few more Canadian literary agents listed. I pointed out to Jim there were a number of both agents and publishers looking for children’s and YA books, thinking of his “Coventry Ghosts” series.
Jim read first and gave us Chapter 42 of “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. We see Joel going to a pharmacy to get antibiotics for Ji-Young, while Sara watches over both of them from the Aeris. At night, Sarah and Joel go to scout out an army base. Sara is learning to use more of her ghostly powers but wishes she and Joel could communicate with telepathy. This chapter further develops the mystery.
Jason read a chapter from his second book that shows David with his young friends just after graduation from high school. They are at an evening campfire close to the woods, and are flirting and teasing among themselves. Some are heterosexual and some are homosexual, so the teasing indicates they are all comfortable with each other’s sexual preferences. It was very well written to convey their youth and fascination with sex and also their open-mindedness.
Annette read her Chapter 5 of “A Taste Of Wormwood”. Alyssa explains to John what had happened to her, and that she had worked for a man with criminal connections who wanted more from her. She had refused and he then hired a hit man to kill her because she knew too much. The hit man wooed her and she fell in love with him. Luckily the feeling was mutual so he devised a plan to fake her death and she had been hiding ever since. John confides his parents are in Belize because his Mom is sick and can’t take care of Carrie. Meanwhile, George West is still looking for Alyssa and Wormwood. This chapter develops the plot and adds to the suspense.
Kristie wrote a short story called “Red Light Realization” which shows a male driver having a panic attack while stopped at a red light. The attack continues as the light turns green, other drivers honk and try to get him out of his car. He gets out and falls and hits his head and then wakes up back in this world, realizing he can’t go home yet since he told his wife he was working late. The story is written in a dark tone and we are always expecting some dire outcome. Kristie is very good at writing horror.
Ellie read her story “Beware” about driving her convertible one day and flirting with another driver who was younger and asks if she is a cougar. Shortly after that, she is walking her dog on a woodsy trail and they both encounter a cougar. Ellie keeps her bicycle between the cougar and her and her dog, and slowly manages to put the leash on her dog. Staying calm and talking softly to her dog, while the cat watches, the standoff finally ends when the cougar takes off through the woods. This was an interesting exploration of the meaning of “cougar”.
Leah showed us a previous chapbook she had published called “Shield Memories”. It included poetry and photos of the Algonquin Park, near where she had lived. Now she is putting together another chapbook called “Winter In The Rainforest” with a poem showing her move to the west coast, and which includes photos taken in Campbell Valley Park. The photos are beautiful in both chapbooks and the poetry rich in description of nature.
Next Meeting of The Ram’s Head Writers’ Group will be Wednesday, April 16th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope your garden of writing grows in the meantime and I look forward to seeing you on the 16th!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
The Meeting Wednesday night was the long awaited reunion of The Rams after everyone waited patiently while I recovered from surgery. Seven others joined me Wednesday to usher in a new spring for our writing. Wendy and I didn’t read, but everyone else did.
I started by sharing some news. Bob Jacoby had dropped by one afternoon and gave me a stack of tear sheets of Susan Flanagan’s weekly column. Bob and Susan are both email members of the group. Bob lives in Langley, but no longer writes. And Susan moved back to St. John’s, Newfoundland, with her husband and family. Her column is called “The Kids Are Alright” and appears in The Telegram on the front page of the second section every Tuesday. She starts her columns with some personal comment, usually to do with family, and then moves on to offer a lot of information that is related to outdoor activities, geography, history, or community interests or concerns. I read and enjoyed most of the tear sheets and at the Meeting offered them to other members. They were all gone at the end of the Meeting.
With regard to Jason’s book, “Provoked”, I explained I had trouble reading fantasy but that since Honey had only ever read three books of fiction, one of them fantasy, I had given him Jason’s book to read. He was reading it almost non-stop and commented that he really liked the short chapters and he thought the characters were interesting and well-developed. But he did say he thought there was too much sex, probably so it would sell to more women than men. Just proves male engineers are sexist, or would that be non-sexist?
I also said I had bought the 19th edition of The Canadian Writers’ Market and was pleasantly surprised to find quite a few more Canadian literary agents listed. I pointed out to Jim there were a number of both agents and publishers looking for children’s and YA books, thinking of his “Coventry Ghosts” series.
Jim read first and gave us Chapter 42 of “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. We see Joel going to a pharmacy to get antibiotics for Ji-Young, while Sara watches over both of them from the Aeris. At night, Sarah and Joel go to scout out an army base. Sara is learning to use more of her ghostly powers but wishes she and Joel could communicate with telepathy. This chapter further develops the mystery.
Jason read a chapter from his second book that shows David with his young friends just after graduation from high school. They are at an evening campfire close to the woods, and are flirting and teasing among themselves. Some are heterosexual and some are homosexual, so the teasing indicates they are all comfortable with each other’s sexual preferences. It was very well written to convey their youth and fascination with sex and also their open-mindedness.
Annette read her Chapter 5 of “A Taste Of Wormwood”. Alyssa explains to John what had happened to her, and that she had worked for a man with criminal connections who wanted more from her. She had refused and he then hired a hit man to kill her because she knew too much. The hit man wooed her and she fell in love with him. Luckily the feeling was mutual so he devised a plan to fake her death and she had been hiding ever since. John confides his parents are in Belize because his Mom is sick and can’t take care of Carrie. Meanwhile, George West is still looking for Alyssa and Wormwood. This chapter develops the plot and adds to the suspense.
Kristie wrote a short story called “Red Light Realization” which shows a male driver having a panic attack while stopped at a red light. The attack continues as the light turns green, other drivers honk and try to get him out of his car. He gets out and falls and hits his head and then wakes up back in this world, realizing he can’t go home yet since he told his wife he was working late. The story is written in a dark tone and we are always expecting some dire outcome. Kristie is very good at writing horror.
Ellie read her story “Beware” about driving her convertible one day and flirting with another driver who was younger and asks if she is a cougar. Shortly after that, she is walking her dog on a woodsy trail and they both encounter a cougar. Ellie keeps her bicycle between the cougar and her and her dog, and slowly manages to put the leash on her dog. Staying calm and talking softly to her dog, while the cat watches, the standoff finally ends when the cougar takes off through the woods. This was an interesting exploration of the meaning of “cougar”.
Leah showed us a previous chapbook she had published called “Shield Memories”. It included poetry and photos of the Algonquin Park, near where she had lived. Now she is putting together another chapbook called “Winter In The Rainforest” with a poem showing her move to the west coast, and which includes photos taken in Campbell Valley Park. The photos are beautiful in both chapbooks and the poetry rich in description of nature.
Next Meeting of The Ram’s Head Writers’ Group will be Wednesday, April 16th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope your garden of writing grows in the meantime and I look forward to seeing you on the 16th!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Thursday, February 6, 2014
THE REVIEW
PITCH PERFECT
Wendy, Jim, Kristi, Jason, Ellie and Annette all joined me last night in spite of the arctic chill outside. Marcela said she had to work last night and Leah was going to attend another writing group.
Margaret Moffatt had an article on the history of Kaslo published in the February issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine. Bryon had enjoyed reading it as he had worked there for B.C. Hydro when he first finished school.
There was a notice I read in the Langley Times about an open mic starting on Tuesday, Feb. 18th at Frosting Cupcakery at 20411 Fraser Hwy. from 6:00 till 8:00 p.m. It will happen every second Tuesday afterwards and musicians, artists and writers are invited to perform. Great opportunity for writers to practise public readings.
Jasaon read first as he really wanted help with a pitch he’s trying to write for his novel “Provoked”. He gave us all a copy and of it and we went through it line by line, giving our suggestions to clarify and condense it, as there is a strict word limit. I did ask Jason for a copy of the final version he decides to use, as this was already the fourth one I had seen.
Annette read next, her Chapter 4 in the story she’s writing about Alyssa. In this chapter she returns to John and Carrie’s home, having decided she would accept their offer to live with them and care for Carrie. On arrival, she meets Carrie’s trainer, whom she distrusts. Upon seeing Carrie alone in the pool, Alyssa has her own panic attack over being in water and almost faints. She is rescued by John, whom she informs that Carrie has a serious crush on her trainer. She also tells him if she is going to stay, she has some conditions and she needs to tell him everything. Good build-up of the story here with lots of potential for further drama.
I read my latest ‘Honey’ story, “Don’t Rock The Boat”, about an adventure at Kelowna on a houseboat when the barbecue caught fire and the police boat approached and those smoking marijuana had to dispose of same rather quickly. Thus ended the party to watch Canada Day fireworks from the houseboat.
Kristi read the next chapter in “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. After being bullied by Sean, she is returning home in the pouring rain and getting soaked. Mr. Jackson and his son, Davy, stop as they pass her and Davy wraps his large coat around her and hugs her. He has also been bullied by the townspeople as he seldom speaks. When Jane arrives home she doesn’t tell her Grandmother what happened. Nice introduction of new characters.
Ellie read two poems. The first was “The Pheasant” and describes how the bird sneaks and hides to avoid the pointer. It is a game between hunter and prey. The second poem was “The Black Lab Pup”, a rhyming story about picking a pup from a litter and knowing it will be the pick of the litter eventually.
Jim read Chapter 41 of “Coventy Ghosts – Book II”. Sara tries to stop the bleeding in the shoulder of the woman she and Joel had rescued. She minimizes herself and travels inside the woman’s body to stop the bleeding by repairing the torn artery. Then the woman needs water so Sara appears to a shopkeeper as a deity, and he willingly supplies her with all the water she needs. Then the woman they saved need antibiotics, and Joel goes to get them, but Sara feels the need to both watch the woman and protect Joel, so she enters the Aeris. I love learning about all the fascinating abilities that the kitten ghost Sara has.
As I’m having surgery soon, the next Meeting probably won’t be until the beginning of April, depending on my rate of recovery. I will definitely email everyone when I can host a Meeting again. Until then, be sure to do lots of writing as I will be so eager to hear everyone’s efforts. In the meantime, Happy Family Day, Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and Happy Daylight Savings Time!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Wendy, Jim, Kristi, Jason, Ellie and Annette all joined me last night in spite of the arctic chill outside. Marcela said she had to work last night and Leah was going to attend another writing group.
Margaret Moffatt had an article on the history of Kaslo published in the February issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine. Bryon had enjoyed reading it as he had worked there for B.C. Hydro when he first finished school.
There was a notice I read in the Langley Times about an open mic starting on Tuesday, Feb. 18th at Frosting Cupcakery at 20411 Fraser Hwy. from 6:00 till 8:00 p.m. It will happen every second Tuesday afterwards and musicians, artists and writers are invited to perform. Great opportunity for writers to practise public readings.
Jasaon read first as he really wanted help with a pitch he’s trying to write for his novel “Provoked”. He gave us all a copy and of it and we went through it line by line, giving our suggestions to clarify and condense it, as there is a strict word limit. I did ask Jason for a copy of the final version he decides to use, as this was already the fourth one I had seen.
Annette read next, her Chapter 4 in the story she’s writing about Alyssa. In this chapter she returns to John and Carrie’s home, having decided she would accept their offer to live with them and care for Carrie. On arrival, she meets Carrie’s trainer, whom she distrusts. Upon seeing Carrie alone in the pool, Alyssa has her own panic attack over being in water and almost faints. She is rescued by John, whom she informs that Carrie has a serious crush on her trainer. She also tells him if she is going to stay, she has some conditions and she needs to tell him everything. Good build-up of the story here with lots of potential for further drama.
I read my latest ‘Honey’ story, “Don’t Rock The Boat”, about an adventure at Kelowna on a houseboat when the barbecue caught fire and the police boat approached and those smoking marijuana had to dispose of same rather quickly. Thus ended the party to watch Canada Day fireworks from the houseboat.
Kristi read the next chapter in “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. After being bullied by Sean, she is returning home in the pouring rain and getting soaked. Mr. Jackson and his son, Davy, stop as they pass her and Davy wraps his large coat around her and hugs her. He has also been bullied by the townspeople as he seldom speaks. When Jane arrives home she doesn’t tell her Grandmother what happened. Nice introduction of new characters.
Ellie read two poems. The first was “The Pheasant” and describes how the bird sneaks and hides to avoid the pointer. It is a game between hunter and prey. The second poem was “The Black Lab Pup”, a rhyming story about picking a pup from a litter and knowing it will be the pick of the litter eventually.
Jim read Chapter 41 of “Coventy Ghosts – Book II”. Sara tries to stop the bleeding in the shoulder of the woman she and Joel had rescued. She minimizes herself and travels inside the woman’s body to stop the bleeding by repairing the torn artery. Then the woman needs water so Sara appears to a shopkeeper as a deity, and he willingly supplies her with all the water she needs. Then the woman they saved need antibiotics, and Joel goes to get them, but Sara feels the need to both watch the woman and protect Joel, so she enters the Aeris. I love learning about all the fascinating abilities that the kitten ghost Sara has.
As I’m having surgery soon, the next Meeting probably won’t be until the beginning of April, depending on my rate of recovery. I will definitely email everyone when I can host a Meeting again. Until then, be sure to do lots of writing as I will be so eager to hear everyone’s efforts. In the meantime, Happy Family Day, Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and Happy Daylight Savings Time!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Thursday, January 23, 2014
THE REVIEW
NEW FACES
Two new people joined The Rams last night. Marcella came and brought her friend, Mary, and they were brave enough to share some writing with us. Jim, Jason, Kristi and Leah also attended, so we were a party of seven. Ellie was getting ready for a trip to Vancouver Island, and Wendy and Annette weren’t well.
Jason returned my book “Road To Afghanistan”, saying his son, Tristan, read it and enjoyed the story and the illustrations, but didn’t connect at all with there being a real war in Afghanistan and that Canada had real soldiers who died or were injured. Leah, a former Master Corporal in our Army, said she thought the book was pure military propaganda. Anyhow, I personally don’t agree with a work of fiction being purported to be a true autobiography and then presented to children as such.
Jason read first, Chapter 7 from his “Provoked” series. This chapter shows us Iris, Gregg and David’s grandmother, on her property where her house had burned down. She was remembering the past and feeling depressed at how long re-construction was taking, and that she didn’t have anywhere acceptable to stay. She felt she needed a drink, and went looking for a case of wine she had stashed in the barn. When she found a bottle, she then realized she also had to find a corkscrew. At the edge of the field, she saw two tents that shouldn’t be there and went to roust the intruders.
Kristi read her next chapter from “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. Here Jane has grown to be 16, still living with her grandmother, dreaming of finding love and escaping. Leaving school one day, she is teased and bullied and accosted by Sean and his gang, who follow her home, pelting her with rocks and mud. This is a detailed scene of unwarranted cruelty and bullying and makes us all fearful for her safety.
Mary is hoping to write an autobiography, creative non-fiction, but is still looking for the best approach to take for writing it. She read us two paragraphs that hint at a story to be told, but didn’t yet give us any details. We hope she can find a way to open up and put herself on the page.
I read a short piece I wrote to capture a moment. Called “Hunger” it tells of people in a diner, all wanting to be fed, but also tells of me and my husband sitting across from each other at a booth, lost in our own thoughts until I smile. Right away, Bryon notices and wants to know why, still wanting to be part of it, as I want to be part of what makes him smile, too.
Leah read a short story of hers that had been previously published. It was called “Vegetative States”. It shows a middle aged couple living in a rural setting where they have very divergent interests and the underlying conflict has an ironic outcome.
Marcella read a short piece called “Hair Cut”. It is a sensual recollection of a haircut she had. It took a very long time for the hairdresser to create his masterpiece, and she loved the results, but was sorry it would only be perfect for a few short hours after all the trouble he went to.
Jim read Ch. 40 of “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. Sara, the ghost kitten, has to go into Yanjing and look for the safe house. She finds the house, but it is strangely quiet, and then she is attacked by several Umbra. After defeating them, she rejoins Joel and they both return to Yanjing to meet with someone who has information for them. Sara has to keep Joel invisible, and then has to keep the amateur agent shielded, too. Sara keeps the shield hardened so no one else can enter it, but then a soldier bounces off it unknowingly and hits his comrades and one of the rifles fires and Joel’s arm is injured. But he manages to hang onto the agent.
The next Meeting of The Rams will be Wednesday, February 5th here at my place at 7:00 p.m. Since I am scheduled for further surgery the week after that, I’m afraid Meetings will be postponed from then until perhaps the beginning of April. But that gives everyone lots of time to write some wonderful tales. Right? I look forward to seeing you February 5th.
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Two new people joined The Rams last night. Marcella came and brought her friend, Mary, and they were brave enough to share some writing with us. Jim, Jason, Kristi and Leah also attended, so we were a party of seven. Ellie was getting ready for a trip to Vancouver Island, and Wendy and Annette weren’t well.
Jason returned my book “Road To Afghanistan”, saying his son, Tristan, read it and enjoyed the story and the illustrations, but didn’t connect at all with there being a real war in Afghanistan and that Canada had real soldiers who died or were injured. Leah, a former Master Corporal in our Army, said she thought the book was pure military propaganda. Anyhow, I personally don’t agree with a work of fiction being purported to be a true autobiography and then presented to children as such.
Jason read first, Chapter 7 from his “Provoked” series. This chapter shows us Iris, Gregg and David’s grandmother, on her property where her house had burned down. She was remembering the past and feeling depressed at how long re-construction was taking, and that she didn’t have anywhere acceptable to stay. She felt she needed a drink, and went looking for a case of wine she had stashed in the barn. When she found a bottle, she then realized she also had to find a corkscrew. At the edge of the field, she saw two tents that shouldn’t be there and went to roust the intruders.
Kristi read her next chapter from “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. Here Jane has grown to be 16, still living with her grandmother, dreaming of finding love and escaping. Leaving school one day, she is teased and bullied and accosted by Sean and his gang, who follow her home, pelting her with rocks and mud. This is a detailed scene of unwarranted cruelty and bullying and makes us all fearful for her safety.
Mary is hoping to write an autobiography, creative non-fiction, but is still looking for the best approach to take for writing it. She read us two paragraphs that hint at a story to be told, but didn’t yet give us any details. We hope she can find a way to open up and put herself on the page.
I read a short piece I wrote to capture a moment. Called “Hunger” it tells of people in a diner, all wanting to be fed, but also tells of me and my husband sitting across from each other at a booth, lost in our own thoughts until I smile. Right away, Bryon notices and wants to know why, still wanting to be part of it, as I want to be part of what makes him smile, too.
Leah read a short story of hers that had been previously published. It was called “Vegetative States”. It shows a middle aged couple living in a rural setting where they have very divergent interests and the underlying conflict has an ironic outcome.
Marcella read a short piece called “Hair Cut”. It is a sensual recollection of a haircut she had. It took a very long time for the hairdresser to create his masterpiece, and she loved the results, but was sorry it would only be perfect for a few short hours after all the trouble he went to.
Jim read Ch. 40 of “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. Sara, the ghost kitten, has to go into Yanjing and look for the safe house. She finds the house, but it is strangely quiet, and then she is attacked by several Umbra. After defeating them, she rejoins Joel and they both return to Yanjing to meet with someone who has information for them. Sara has to keep Joel invisible, and then has to keep the amateur agent shielded, too. Sara keeps the shield hardened so no one else can enter it, but then a soldier bounces off it unknowingly and hits his comrades and one of the rifles fires and Joel’s arm is injured. But he manages to hang onto the agent.
The next Meeting of The Rams will be Wednesday, February 5th here at my place at 7:00 p.m. Since I am scheduled for further surgery the week after that, I’m afraid Meetings will be postponed from then until perhaps the beginning of April. But that gives everyone lots of time to write some wonderful tales. Right? I look forward to seeing you February 5th.
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Thursday, January 9, 2014
THE REVIEW
NEW YEAR START
Six of us writers managed to get together to start the New Year last night. Jim, Annette, Kristi, Jason and Ellie joined me and it was great to see them all. Wendy emailed she wasn’t well, and Leah had phoned to say she had to work late yesterday. Hope to see them both next time.
I did not read any of my own work, but did discuss a book my son had given me for Christmas. He sent it to me because he was mentioned in the Acknowledgements and he knows the author and she had signed it. The book is for school children and is about a Canadian soldier who was wounded in Afghanistan. Although the book touches on war injuries and deaths and PTSD and the hardships faced by the people of Afghanistan as well as international soldiers, I took exception to it being written as a factual autobiography when it was really a work of fiction. The story ends with an illustration of the female narrator in uniform and missing her right arm. But the author was not a soldier, had never been to Afghanistan and still had both arms. The only place in the entire book that admits it is fiction is in the cataloguing info on the copyright page, in small print, and which very few people ever read. I asked the group what they thought of how this was done and Jim agreed it was misleading as he would have thought it was a true story as well. Jason has taken the book home with him to see what his son Tristan has to say about it. He’s our star reviewer of all things mid-grade anyhow. I look forward to hearing what he thinks.
Jim read Chapter 39 in the Coventry Ghosts, Book II. Sara the kitten travels overnight with Joel, and they then take refuge in a barn. As Joel sleeps, Sara goes back and forth between the barn and the coffee shop. On returning to the barn one time, she sees a farm girl enter the barn and stop in total surprise when she sees Joel who is still sleeping. So Sara enfolds the girl with an empty space so she doesn’t see him anymore, and then lifts Joel and carries him out of the barn, while she is trying to be in two places at the same time. I can see Sara probably getting into trouble here.
Ellie read a re-write of Kid Sister, a story about when she was thirteen and sexually molested by a 24 year old friend of her older brother. It ends with a stunning line that sums up devastatingly how the incident affected her relationships with men for the rest of her life. Ellie is entering this in the CBC Creative Non-Fiction contest. It’s a powerful story that needs to be told.
Kristi read the first chapter in The Midnight Daisies. We see the young married couple Dianna and Gordon sneak out late at night, leaving the grandmother and their young daughter, Jane, still sleeping. Dianna and Gordon playfully run up the next hill to the Captain’s house. It has been sitting empty for a long time, and is starting to fall apart. But as young lovers, they fall to the ground under the apple tree, which has no apples, and start to make love. The apple tree comes to life and attacks them. Then the midnight daisies spring teeth and eat them until there is nothing left of them. This is gothic horror at its best.
Annette read the next two chapters about Alyssa, the young woman hiding from the former boyfriend who hired someone to kill her. She wants to befriend Carrie, but doesn’t want to live with her and her brother, John. John offers to protect her, even though he only suspects she’s running from a jealous boyfriend. Alyssa promises to think about his offer, and then leaves and rents a room in a run-down hotel on the seamy side of town. Because the sheets and mattress are so filthy, she sleeps in a chair. The next day, before returning to Carrie and John, she stops at a thrift store to buy something pretty to wear. Even though there are intimations of romance between Alyssa and John, there is still plenty of threatening suspense in these pages.
Jason read another chapter in the second book of his Provoked series. This one is about Dave, Gregg’s older half-brother. It tells us Dave’s Mom became addicted to prescription pain killers after a back injury and then surgery. He feels guilty that she’s gone because the injury was caused when she slipped in bathwater he had splashed on the floor as a young child. He only feels strong and capable when he holds an ancient sword he has hidden in the barn at his grandmother’s place. He’s obsessed with it. I’m eager to find out why his mother is gone. Did she just run away? Did she die? Is she incarcerated somewhere? Tell me what happened, please.
I entered “The Making Of A Soldier” in the CBC Creative Non-Fiction contest. That’s about as creative as I was with my writing over the holidays. Does anybody want to offer Honey a paying job outside of the home?
And today, January 9th, is Margaret Moffatt’s 90th birthday. So here’s a very hearty Happy Birthday from all the Rams, Margaret! You are still writing and still being published and a true inspiration to all the rest of us!
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, January 22nd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. I hope to see you then.
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Six of us writers managed to get together to start the New Year last night. Jim, Annette, Kristi, Jason and Ellie joined me and it was great to see them all. Wendy emailed she wasn’t well, and Leah had phoned to say she had to work late yesterday. Hope to see them both next time.
I did not read any of my own work, but did discuss a book my son had given me for Christmas. He sent it to me because he was mentioned in the Acknowledgements and he knows the author and she had signed it. The book is for school children and is about a Canadian soldier who was wounded in Afghanistan. Although the book touches on war injuries and deaths and PTSD and the hardships faced by the people of Afghanistan as well as international soldiers, I took exception to it being written as a factual autobiography when it was really a work of fiction. The story ends with an illustration of the female narrator in uniform and missing her right arm. But the author was not a soldier, had never been to Afghanistan and still had both arms. The only place in the entire book that admits it is fiction is in the cataloguing info on the copyright page, in small print, and which very few people ever read. I asked the group what they thought of how this was done and Jim agreed it was misleading as he would have thought it was a true story as well. Jason has taken the book home with him to see what his son Tristan has to say about it. He’s our star reviewer of all things mid-grade anyhow. I look forward to hearing what he thinks.
Jim read Chapter 39 in the Coventry Ghosts, Book II. Sara the kitten travels overnight with Joel, and they then take refuge in a barn. As Joel sleeps, Sara goes back and forth between the barn and the coffee shop. On returning to the barn one time, she sees a farm girl enter the barn and stop in total surprise when she sees Joel who is still sleeping. So Sara enfolds the girl with an empty space so she doesn’t see him anymore, and then lifts Joel and carries him out of the barn, while she is trying to be in two places at the same time. I can see Sara probably getting into trouble here.
Ellie read a re-write of Kid Sister, a story about when she was thirteen and sexually molested by a 24 year old friend of her older brother. It ends with a stunning line that sums up devastatingly how the incident affected her relationships with men for the rest of her life. Ellie is entering this in the CBC Creative Non-Fiction contest. It’s a powerful story that needs to be told.
Kristi read the first chapter in The Midnight Daisies. We see the young married couple Dianna and Gordon sneak out late at night, leaving the grandmother and their young daughter, Jane, still sleeping. Dianna and Gordon playfully run up the next hill to the Captain’s house. It has been sitting empty for a long time, and is starting to fall apart. But as young lovers, they fall to the ground under the apple tree, which has no apples, and start to make love. The apple tree comes to life and attacks them. Then the midnight daisies spring teeth and eat them until there is nothing left of them. This is gothic horror at its best.
Annette read the next two chapters about Alyssa, the young woman hiding from the former boyfriend who hired someone to kill her. She wants to befriend Carrie, but doesn’t want to live with her and her brother, John. John offers to protect her, even though he only suspects she’s running from a jealous boyfriend. Alyssa promises to think about his offer, and then leaves and rents a room in a run-down hotel on the seamy side of town. Because the sheets and mattress are so filthy, she sleeps in a chair. The next day, before returning to Carrie and John, she stops at a thrift store to buy something pretty to wear. Even though there are intimations of romance between Alyssa and John, there is still plenty of threatening suspense in these pages.
Jason read another chapter in the second book of his Provoked series. This one is about Dave, Gregg’s older half-brother. It tells us Dave’s Mom became addicted to prescription pain killers after a back injury and then surgery. He feels guilty that she’s gone because the injury was caused when she slipped in bathwater he had splashed on the floor as a young child. He only feels strong and capable when he holds an ancient sword he has hidden in the barn at his grandmother’s place. He’s obsessed with it. I’m eager to find out why his mother is gone. Did she just run away? Did she die? Is she incarcerated somewhere? Tell me what happened, please.
I entered “The Making Of A Soldier” in the CBC Creative Non-Fiction contest. That’s about as creative as I was with my writing over the holidays. Does anybody want to offer Honey a paying job outside of the home?
And today, January 9th, is Margaret Moffatt’s 90th birthday. So here’s a very hearty Happy Birthday from all the Rams, Margaret! You are still writing and still being published and a true inspiration to all the rest of us!
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, January 22nd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. I hope to see you then.
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
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