BAND OF HEROES
Seven of us were heroic and attended the Meeting last night. Bob, from memory, recited the dates that certain goods appeared in our world during the last century or so, correcting things mentioned in a joke I had emailed him. The rest of us just read words we (or someone else) had written.
Margaret read to us of Coffin enjoying himself at the Thistle Inn, dining on haggis. The Scotsman who had picked him up from the rock on the moor, returned him to same after they had celebrated Robbie Burns Day. Coffin fell and knocked himself out. Since he had been missing for so long, Dye called the Police, who found him and sent him to hospital. They asked Dye what the two had been doing on the moor, dressed in kilts. Dye explained they were ghost eradicators. When he reached the hospital, a nurse told him Coffin said he saw the ghost of the Duke of Cumberland in battle on the moor. Dye agreed to have Coffin speak publicly about his sightings.
Danny, after visiting the Langley Writers’ Guild and listening to Ed Griffin talk about the steps of the Hero’s Journey, decided he needed to re-write the beginning of his autobiography, which he then read to us. He told us racers don’t race on Easter Sunday or on Mother’s Day, because if they died in an accident on either of those two days, it would be just way too traumatic for any mother to bear. The first chapter, called “Page Zero”, is set on Mother’s Day in 1967, when Danny is 7 ½ and his brother Mike is 5 years old. Danny is looking forward to racing his go-cart after church, an activity he shares with his Dad while the other children stay with his Mom. But Mike wants to go with them and follows them to the car, where their father tells him to return to the church. Mike goes to cross the street and is hit by a Ford Galaxie 500. He is seriously injured, but does survive and recover. After seeing such an emergency and that his brother was rewarded with lots of toys, Danny’s boundaries expanded and he was no longer afraid of any consequences to racing.
In response to a reading of his autobiography, Danny received a letter from Tomas Newman, a producer/director now working on “Bong Of The Dead”, who wants to help Danny get his book published and wants the film rights to it. Exciting news for Danny.
Gemma read a personal, untitled, article about being unable to breathe and landing in hospital with bronchitis. After tests she is told to quit smoking, given a puffer and sent home, but is still unable to quit smoking and she admits she will have to die of something anyhow. Jim suggested she ask her Doctor about using Zyban to help quit, as that’s what worked for him.
“For The Love Of Heidi” is another piece Gemma read telling how, a week after her bronchitis episode, she went to do a movie shoot. The hairdresser had a dog that had suffered from arthritis as badly as Gemma’s dog, Heidi, and she gave Gemma some herbal remedy she swore had helped her dog. Not liking the smell of it, Gemma administered it to herself as well as her dog, and after 5 days they both became very sick. She then decided to throw it away and they both recovered.
I read a collection of 4 small pieces I called “Minutiae”. The first paragraph told of my shivering in the cold while staring at a display of summer swim toys. The second paragraph describes seeing a table of twelve deaf people in a local, noisy pub, and how their method of communicating by sign language succeeded in spite of the noise, and also excluded those who could hear. The next short piece described a middle aged couple on a first date at the pub, and overhearing their conversation. The man was wooing her but she was resisting and after they left, we wondered if he was going to score that night or not. The fourth piece I read told of two men in their sixties meeting at the pub for a drink, and how their conversation started with anger directed at their wives, but after 4 beer each they had mellowed and thought the women pretty wonderful. These pieces were my attempt to capture some pictures in words.
Jason read Ch. 9, and we see Greg follow Bruce into the forest. Bruce tells him the Shadows are chasing Jodie through the force put out by the pendant, and since Greg was carrying it, they were after him. When they come to a clearing, Ludwig and his car are there, and he has a sword and threatens them. Greg hears Bruce talking to someone who is not there, very strange. The pendant in his pants heats up, he pulls it out and hears a voice saying “Don’t run. She lies in wait.” Bruce enters the clearing and he and Ludwig square off. A young woman appears in the clearing, with Dave following. The woman changes into a centaur and leaves Dave wondering where the sensual woman and her charms had disappeared to. Dave goes into the trees and Greg goes to follow but the voice says “Don’t go into the trees.” Then the pendant burns his hand and he drops it and the voice says “She’s here.” There was lots of suspense in this chapter and we all want to know what happens next.
Jim read Chapter 6 of “Coventry Ghosts”. This chapter shows the ghost, Leanne, and the kitten’s ghost, brought to court in ghostdom for unghostly behavior. The prosecutor, the ghost of King George IV, says she should fade away or exile herself. Leanne is defended by the ghost of Jane Seymour, who strives for gender equality in the right to haunt. The judge tells King George that he can do the banishing of Leanne and Sara, but he is unsuccessful and then it is Leanne’s turn to exile him and she succeeds, proving she is the stronger ghost. Absolutely charming tale with lots of humour and plays on words.
Jim also has a blog in connection with the Coffee Shop Author contest and he has written another short story there that you can read and comment on at www.coffeeshopauthor.com/blogs/jaw/conversation-god
On Saturday, April 24th at Porter’s Store at the 5 corners in Murrayville, from 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m., there will be a number of Langley’s published book authors doing readings and signings and selling their books. Yesterday’s Langley Times has a write-up about it on Page 31.
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, May 5th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Bring your Muse.
Lisa
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE REVIEW
APRIL SHOWERS
In spite of heavy rain, seven of us did meet on Wednesday to invoke The Muse. Unfortunately, Michael and Gemma weren’t able to join us due to ill health. Hope they are both feeling better.
Margaret brought a sample book published by the same company publishing her “Blow Up The Castle”. She’s still uneasy about the final form her own book will take.
From “Coffin and Dye”, Margaret read of the two men going to pick up the Rolls after it had been repaired. Dye insisted they wear kilts to blend with the ghosts from the Battle of Culloden. They rented the kilts and then went to the moor where the battle had been. It was cold and a fog rolled in. Coffin got lost, but finally managed to catch a ride to a nearby pub with a Scotsman going to celebrate Robbie Burns Day. We all love Margaret’s wry humour.
Danny read two chapters from his autobiography. The first was “So Where Am I?” where he tries to equate the forensic psychiatric hospital where he is held to a vacation resort. He describes the place, which had been a previous army facility and he shows the fear experienced by those inside what feels like a secretive enclosure, and the resultant suicidal thoughts. In “Waiting For N34”, Danny tells how Saturday is Bingo day for those invited, where winners take in $5.00. He is hoping for N34 to be drawn so he can win, which causes a deep realization of how low he has sunk. This is where he turns to a higher power and asks for help to redeem his life. The first chapter Danny read so exemplified the anxious, veering thoughts of someone who is bipolar and not coping. It was very realistic. And the second chapter he read finally shows a glimmer of hope.
Jim read Ch. 4 of “Coventry Ghost”. Tammy witnesses the death of a kitten she would have adopted. When the kitten passes over, she is adopted on the other side by Leanne and the two become ghostly partners. Later, Olivia invites Tammy to come to the coffee shop at night when she and her Mom are cleaning, so Tammy can meet the ghost. Tammy gets to meet both Leanne and Sara, the ghostly kitten. Finally, Leanne and her family learn from Tammy that the other woman who tried to help her was Cheri, the owner of the coffee shop. They decide to invite Cheri to attend one night after midnight. Jim’s story is progressing nicely and he has some wonderful descriptions of the ghostly appearances and antics, and the end of the chapter leaves the reader wondering ‘what next?’ I can see young girls being enthralled with this story.
Jason read Ch. 8, where we see Greg and Dave at the edge of the forest listening and cringing at the screams they hear. The trees are jumping and there is a weird moving light. Dave backs away but Greg goes into the forest and is assaulted with a foul odor and sees smoke. Bruce sneaks up on him and covers his mouth so he can’t scream. He tells Greg the Shadows can feel the power of the pendant he carries. Bruce is following the Shadows to keep them from harming Jodie, the Akomadron. There is a lot of suspense and mystery in this chapter which would definitely be a page turner for any reader.
Anne said she and her son often walk the Huston Trail in Fort Langley and had seen some abandoned trucks there. The trucks sparked an idea for writing a novel, and she has renamed Fort Langley as Fort Hendy. The book’s title is “Ankle Bone”. Anne read us the prologue where we meet Sy and Squid, two young male friends sparring verbally with each other. The story sounds very promising and with Anne’s background in criminology, I’m sure she can put together a story we’d all want to read.
We did point out that she needs to decide beforehand what point(s) of view she will use to help the reader understand more clearly whose head she is in when telling the story. And we also mentioned past tense and present tense should be considered beforehand as well. The most immediate connection of reader to character is with first person, present tense. The most often used is third person, past tense. Nowadays there are many books that use multiple persons, past tense. In this case it’s best if each character has their own chapter. Next best is if they have their own scene, or section in a chapter. With a few stories characters only have their own paragraph. But never, ever, ever put two characters’ points of view in the same paragraph or the same sentence. If you have a main character you want the reader to care about, then stay with that character’s point of view. With omniscient point of view, the narrator has an overview of his/her own as well as the narrower view of every character. In this instance, the reader is further removed from the characters and doesn’t relate to them as easily, but if writing an historical epic, this can allow for a lot of background information to be given to the reader. Lots to think about, that’s for sure. It bears doing some research of novels you liked before you start.
Neither Bob nor I did any reading. Bob said he is still trying to write his electronics saga. I’ve been toying with some ideas and making notes, but nothing finished on the printed page yet.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 21st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
In spite of heavy rain, seven of us did meet on Wednesday to invoke The Muse. Unfortunately, Michael and Gemma weren’t able to join us due to ill health. Hope they are both feeling better.
Margaret brought a sample book published by the same company publishing her “Blow Up The Castle”. She’s still uneasy about the final form her own book will take.
From “Coffin and Dye”, Margaret read of the two men going to pick up the Rolls after it had been repaired. Dye insisted they wear kilts to blend with the ghosts from the Battle of Culloden. They rented the kilts and then went to the moor where the battle had been. It was cold and a fog rolled in. Coffin got lost, but finally managed to catch a ride to a nearby pub with a Scotsman going to celebrate Robbie Burns Day. We all love Margaret’s wry humour.
Danny read two chapters from his autobiography. The first was “So Where Am I?” where he tries to equate the forensic psychiatric hospital where he is held to a vacation resort. He describes the place, which had been a previous army facility and he shows the fear experienced by those inside what feels like a secretive enclosure, and the resultant suicidal thoughts. In “Waiting For N34”, Danny tells how Saturday is Bingo day for those invited, where winners take in $5.00. He is hoping for N34 to be drawn so he can win, which causes a deep realization of how low he has sunk. This is where he turns to a higher power and asks for help to redeem his life. The first chapter Danny read so exemplified the anxious, veering thoughts of someone who is bipolar and not coping. It was very realistic. And the second chapter he read finally shows a glimmer of hope.
Jim read Ch. 4 of “Coventry Ghost”. Tammy witnesses the death of a kitten she would have adopted. When the kitten passes over, she is adopted on the other side by Leanne and the two become ghostly partners. Later, Olivia invites Tammy to come to the coffee shop at night when she and her Mom are cleaning, so Tammy can meet the ghost. Tammy gets to meet both Leanne and Sara, the ghostly kitten. Finally, Leanne and her family learn from Tammy that the other woman who tried to help her was Cheri, the owner of the coffee shop. They decide to invite Cheri to attend one night after midnight. Jim’s story is progressing nicely and he has some wonderful descriptions of the ghostly appearances and antics, and the end of the chapter leaves the reader wondering ‘what next?’ I can see young girls being enthralled with this story.
Jason read Ch. 8, where we see Greg and Dave at the edge of the forest listening and cringing at the screams they hear. The trees are jumping and there is a weird moving light. Dave backs away but Greg goes into the forest and is assaulted with a foul odor and sees smoke. Bruce sneaks up on him and covers his mouth so he can’t scream. He tells Greg the Shadows can feel the power of the pendant he carries. Bruce is following the Shadows to keep them from harming Jodie, the Akomadron. There is a lot of suspense and mystery in this chapter which would definitely be a page turner for any reader.
Anne said she and her son often walk the Huston Trail in Fort Langley and had seen some abandoned trucks there. The trucks sparked an idea for writing a novel, and she has renamed Fort Langley as Fort Hendy. The book’s title is “Ankle Bone”. Anne read us the prologue where we meet Sy and Squid, two young male friends sparring verbally with each other. The story sounds very promising and with Anne’s background in criminology, I’m sure she can put together a story we’d all want to read.
We did point out that she needs to decide beforehand what point(s) of view she will use to help the reader understand more clearly whose head she is in when telling the story. And we also mentioned past tense and present tense should be considered beforehand as well. The most immediate connection of reader to character is with first person, present tense. The most often used is third person, past tense. Nowadays there are many books that use multiple persons, past tense. In this case it’s best if each character has their own chapter. Next best is if they have their own scene, or section in a chapter. With a few stories characters only have their own paragraph. But never, ever, ever put two characters’ points of view in the same paragraph or the same sentence. If you have a main character you want the reader to care about, then stay with that character’s point of view. With omniscient point of view, the narrator has an overview of his/her own as well as the narrower view of every character. In this instance, the reader is further removed from the characters and doesn’t relate to them as easily, but if writing an historical epic, this can allow for a lot of background information to be given to the reader. Lots to think about, that’s for sure. It bears doing some research of novels you liked before you start.
Neither Bob nor I did any reading. Bob said he is still trying to write his electronics saga. I’ve been toying with some ideas and making notes, but nothing finished on the printed page yet.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 21st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
Sunday, March 21, 2010
THE REVIEW
THE GREEN TEAM
The meeting on the 17th saw six of us sporting some green and spinning yarns. Unfortunately, Bob wasn’t present that night. Said he didn’t have any green clothes to wear, only a green emerald.
Margaret read first, as usual. Dye and Coffin were lamenting their loss of Lord Mossity’s business of eradicating ghosts at Mossity Manor. However, the Rolls had been repaired and was ready to be picked up. Dye then informed Coffin their next job would be to expunge the four spirits haunting the back of the Rolls, whom he thought were expired Highland soldiers from the Battle of Culloden. But Coffin had only invented them to explain why the Rolls had been damaged.
I read my short story “Fine Print” which will be published in the April issue (also the final issue) of Eclectica Magazine. This story was my response to “The Stepford Wives” and has a modern woman seeking a refund on the malfunctioning male homemaking machine she had bought for her home. Strange, but the story always has a more favourable reaction from a female audience. Now why is that? Recently, I was asked for a bio/blurb to go with this story, so it’s a good idea to have something ready in case you are asked for one. This is the 4th or 5th time I have had one requested.
Danny read from his autobiography, recounting the 30 day assessment he endured in a psychiatric hospital. He learned that a severe manic episode at 40 is not unusual. Staying in the Forensic Assessment Unit was a big step up from the jail he had been in. He spent a lot of time doing tests, true or false, and then more detailed ones. He was finally diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. Danny listed all the nuanced references to his condition, but I didn’t record them. After that Unit, one could progress to the Forensic Treatment Unit, and then to the Forensic Rehabilitation Unit, each on a lower floor, closer to the exit. Danny felt he was housed with a bunch of ‘mixed nuts’ and thought the nursing staff were the only ones he could communicate with.
Jason read Ch. 7 of his novel. Greg is still at school, watching Jodie, and sensing the power she has over their classmates, especially all the boys who turn to watch her. He recalls how she suffered without her parents, and he’s afraid she will turn to Sean for comfort instead of to him. Unable to stay in the cafeteria with Jodie ignoring him, he goes outside in the rain. His brother, Dave, joins him, all gaga over a girl he has met. The two of them hear screams coming from the nearby forest.
Gemma reads further from a story of hers where the gigolo, Bob, arises in the morning and goes to the deli to bring back breakfast for Barbara. She wants him to move in with her, but he only wants her money. He kisses her and makes an excuse, then leaves for the day.
Congo, a dog belonging to Gemma’s friend Ariane, died recently and Gemma had written two letters on the topic. One was from the deceased Congo to Ariane, and the other was from Gemma to Congo. Both expressed the love and devotion between animal and human.
Jim read Ch. 3 of “Coventry Ghost”. Olivia asks of Tammy what she knows about the ghost and feels that Tammy might have been the ‘pretty girl’ who tried to help her sister. Meanwhile, Patty decides her husband needs to learn that his daughter’s ghost haunts the coffee shop and conspires with Olivia to have him come down there one night while they are cleaning. He arrives, and is greeted by his dead daughter’s specter. He faints, twice.
Marilyn has a short piece published online at Writing Raw. It is “ForePlay” by Mike Malone, her pseudonym.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 7th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then, and Happy Easter in the meantime.
Lisa
The meeting on the 17th saw six of us sporting some green and spinning yarns. Unfortunately, Bob wasn’t present that night. Said he didn’t have any green clothes to wear, only a green emerald.
Margaret read first, as usual. Dye and Coffin were lamenting their loss of Lord Mossity’s business of eradicating ghosts at Mossity Manor. However, the Rolls had been repaired and was ready to be picked up. Dye then informed Coffin their next job would be to expunge the four spirits haunting the back of the Rolls, whom he thought were expired Highland soldiers from the Battle of Culloden. But Coffin had only invented them to explain why the Rolls had been damaged.
I read my short story “Fine Print” which will be published in the April issue (also the final issue) of Eclectica Magazine. This story was my response to “The Stepford Wives” and has a modern woman seeking a refund on the malfunctioning male homemaking machine she had bought for her home. Strange, but the story always has a more favourable reaction from a female audience. Now why is that? Recently, I was asked for a bio/blurb to go with this story, so it’s a good idea to have something ready in case you are asked for one. This is the 4th or 5th time I have had one requested.
Danny read from his autobiography, recounting the 30 day assessment he endured in a psychiatric hospital. He learned that a severe manic episode at 40 is not unusual. Staying in the Forensic Assessment Unit was a big step up from the jail he had been in. He spent a lot of time doing tests, true or false, and then more detailed ones. He was finally diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. Danny listed all the nuanced references to his condition, but I didn’t record them. After that Unit, one could progress to the Forensic Treatment Unit, and then to the Forensic Rehabilitation Unit, each on a lower floor, closer to the exit. Danny felt he was housed with a bunch of ‘mixed nuts’ and thought the nursing staff were the only ones he could communicate with.
Jason read Ch. 7 of his novel. Greg is still at school, watching Jodie, and sensing the power she has over their classmates, especially all the boys who turn to watch her. He recalls how she suffered without her parents, and he’s afraid she will turn to Sean for comfort instead of to him. Unable to stay in the cafeteria with Jodie ignoring him, he goes outside in the rain. His brother, Dave, joins him, all gaga over a girl he has met. The two of them hear screams coming from the nearby forest.
Gemma reads further from a story of hers where the gigolo, Bob, arises in the morning and goes to the deli to bring back breakfast for Barbara. She wants him to move in with her, but he only wants her money. He kisses her and makes an excuse, then leaves for the day.
Congo, a dog belonging to Gemma’s friend Ariane, died recently and Gemma had written two letters on the topic. One was from the deceased Congo to Ariane, and the other was from Gemma to Congo. Both expressed the love and devotion between animal and human.
Jim read Ch. 3 of “Coventry Ghost”. Olivia asks of Tammy what she knows about the ghost and feels that Tammy might have been the ‘pretty girl’ who tried to help her sister. Meanwhile, Patty decides her husband needs to learn that his daughter’s ghost haunts the coffee shop and conspires with Olivia to have him come down there one night while they are cleaning. He arrives, and is greeted by his dead daughter’s specter. He faints, twice.
Marilyn has a short piece published online at Writing Raw. It is “ForePlay” by Mike Malone, her pseudonym.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 7th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then, and Happy Easter in the meantime.
Lisa
Friday, March 5, 2010
THE REVIEW
WINNERS ALL!
At the end of the Olympics, we all feel like winners. Seven writing athletes attended the meet here on Wednesday with everyone competing in friendly fashion.
Bob read first, an update on his electronic woes. All systems failed, but rescue by a neighbour restored television viewing at least. Full restoration is waiting for greater “Visions”.
Margaret read her next chapter in “Coffin & Dye”. Dye is explaining to Lord Mossity about the plague in 1664 when many people died, and he thinks the ten ghosts seen in the Manor were plague victims buried in a mass grave on the property. He tells Lord Mossity the grave should be dug up but the Lord is extremely reticent to have that done. Dye then goes on to explain about the great London fire that destroyed parts of the city but eventually ended the plague. Unfortunately for Dye, Mossity decides he and his wife will move to France and the Manor will become a museum, ghosts included, no eradication necessary.
Jason read us Chapter 6. Greg is at school avoiding a bully, waiting for Jodie to come to her locker. Classes start, but Jodie is late and he is still waiting. He is agonizing about wanting to tell her how much she means to him, how to tell her, how to give her the necklace. Jodie finally arrives, with Sean, who than kisses her goodbye and pushes Greg into his locker as he passes him. Jodie is upset that Sean didn’t stick up for himself and tells him he is too immature, and then walks away. Greg hears his grandmother’s voice telling him to give her the necklace and he calls Jodie, but is unable to say anything more. She pauses, but then keeps on walking away. There is a lot of teen angst in this chapter, which most thought added to the tension.
Danny read from his autobiography. The first short chapter he read was “The Rudest Awakening”, describing the jolt of reality in having his mug shot taken and finding himself in cuffs. The next chapter was “Fifty-One Up” about his stay in jail before being transferred to a psychiatric unit. He described the fights with other inmates, the shackles and cuffs, the bad food, the Sally Ann band at Christmas, and his desire for redemption. He told how the only thing that kept him going was the attention from family and friends who came to visit. On Jan. 10th, he was finally transferred to the psychiatric unit, in shackles and cuffs and wearing an orange jump suit, driven by two officers. On the 401, they started speeding, hiding the speed behind a piece of paper on the dash. But because Danny knew about racing, he could tell when the speed increased and he estimated they were doing 140 MPH. in their Chevy Caprice. Scary stuff, but some really great detail here.
Jim read Chapter 2 of his ghost story. The young Olivia wants to help her sister thank the people who had tried to save her, but doesn’t know who they were and couldn’t get the information from her sister’s ghost. She decides to investigate herself, and starts doing volunteer work at the coffee shop anytime she goes there, to get an ‘in’ with everyone. She has a chat with a girl named “Tammy”, who works there and is the only one who admits the place is haunted.
I read a short story about the new coffee table project I initiated with Honey for the beginning price of ten dollars, and which eventually cost us several hundred. Everybody laughed and I keep telling honey the table was “Only Ten Dollars”.
Gemma didn’t read, but did give me the latest issue of Writers’ Digest. My subscription had expired, and lucky Gemma received two copies of the same issue. Also, I hear rumours of some children’s stories Gemma has that Margaret suggests she bring to read.
Margaret brought us several copies of the March issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine and I see that Marilyn has an article in there, “The Last Tsar”. Congratulations!
The next meeting will be Wednesday, March 17th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. That is St. Patrick’s Day, green attire suggested (a welcome switch from red). I’ll see if I can remember to colour the water and the ice cubes. See you on the 17th.
Lisa
At the end of the Olympics, we all feel like winners. Seven writing athletes attended the meet here on Wednesday with everyone competing in friendly fashion.
Bob read first, an update on his electronic woes. All systems failed, but rescue by a neighbour restored television viewing at least. Full restoration is waiting for greater “Visions”.
Margaret read her next chapter in “Coffin & Dye”. Dye is explaining to Lord Mossity about the plague in 1664 when many people died, and he thinks the ten ghosts seen in the Manor were plague victims buried in a mass grave on the property. He tells Lord Mossity the grave should be dug up but the Lord is extremely reticent to have that done. Dye then goes on to explain about the great London fire that destroyed parts of the city but eventually ended the plague. Unfortunately for Dye, Mossity decides he and his wife will move to France and the Manor will become a museum, ghosts included, no eradication necessary.
Jason read us Chapter 6. Greg is at school avoiding a bully, waiting for Jodie to come to her locker. Classes start, but Jodie is late and he is still waiting. He is agonizing about wanting to tell her how much she means to him, how to tell her, how to give her the necklace. Jodie finally arrives, with Sean, who than kisses her goodbye and pushes Greg into his locker as he passes him. Jodie is upset that Sean didn’t stick up for himself and tells him he is too immature, and then walks away. Greg hears his grandmother’s voice telling him to give her the necklace and he calls Jodie, but is unable to say anything more. She pauses, but then keeps on walking away. There is a lot of teen angst in this chapter, which most thought added to the tension.
Danny read from his autobiography. The first short chapter he read was “The Rudest Awakening”, describing the jolt of reality in having his mug shot taken and finding himself in cuffs. The next chapter was “Fifty-One Up” about his stay in jail before being transferred to a psychiatric unit. He described the fights with other inmates, the shackles and cuffs, the bad food, the Sally Ann band at Christmas, and his desire for redemption. He told how the only thing that kept him going was the attention from family and friends who came to visit. On Jan. 10th, he was finally transferred to the psychiatric unit, in shackles and cuffs and wearing an orange jump suit, driven by two officers. On the 401, they started speeding, hiding the speed behind a piece of paper on the dash. But because Danny knew about racing, he could tell when the speed increased and he estimated they were doing 140 MPH. in their Chevy Caprice. Scary stuff, but some really great detail here.
Jim read Chapter 2 of his ghost story. The young Olivia wants to help her sister thank the people who had tried to save her, but doesn’t know who they were and couldn’t get the information from her sister’s ghost. She decides to investigate herself, and starts doing volunteer work at the coffee shop anytime she goes there, to get an ‘in’ with everyone. She has a chat with a girl named “Tammy”, who works there and is the only one who admits the place is haunted.
I read a short story about the new coffee table project I initiated with Honey for the beginning price of ten dollars, and which eventually cost us several hundred. Everybody laughed and I keep telling honey the table was “Only Ten Dollars”.
Gemma didn’t read, but did give me the latest issue of Writers’ Digest. My subscription had expired, and lucky Gemma received two copies of the same issue. Also, I hear rumours of some children’s stories Gemma has that Margaret suggests she bring to read.
Margaret brought us several copies of the March issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine and I see that Marilyn has an article in there, “The Last Tsar”. Congratulations!
The next meeting will be Wednesday, March 17th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. That is St. Patrick’s Day, green attire suggested (a welcome switch from red). I’ll see if I can remember to colour the water and the ice cubes. See you on the 17th.
Lisa
Saturday, February 20, 2010
THE REVIEW
ATHLETES WE’RE NOT!
In spite of the Olympics, six of us showed up for the meeting on Wednesday.
Margaret read her next chapter in “Coffin & Dye”. At home the next morning with a hangover, Coffin realizes he left the Rolls at Mossity Manor. He took a taxi to retrieve it, but couldn’t find the Rolls. He found his way to the kitchen and explained his predicament to the cook who had seen the ghosts he’d only imagined. She told him he parked at the side entrance, not the front. He retrieved the Rolls but then got stuck in the mud. A shepherd pulled him out with a tractor but that tore off the bumper, which would take 2 weeks to fix. He tells Dye that four ghosts in the back seat had frightened him and he’d gone into the ditch. Dye accepted the explanation.
Jason read us Chapter 5. Greg looks out his window every morning and sees Jodie leaving for her morning run. He longs to be with her. Dave tells him he’s a stalker, why doesn’t he just go with her instead? Then Dave tells him Jodie’s been seeing Sean at school. Greg misses his former closeness with Jodie. How could he possibly give her the pendant when she seems to just ignore him. He feels a strange presence and hears a voice whispering, “Save us. Go to her.” His mother comes into the room and he hides the pendant and decoys his mother with Dave’s Playboy magazines. This chapter started with a good set-up of scene, giving it a mysterious setting. And the scene swayed back and forth from ephemeral to reality. It was well done.
Jim read Chapter 1 of “Coventry Ghost”. Patty is the new cleaning lady at the Wired Monk, and it was her daughter, Leanne, who was killed in front of the coffee shop the year before. She brings her younger daughter, Olivia, with her after midnight to help with the cleaning. The two daughters share a telepathic bond, even though Leanne had died. The dead daughter’s ghost appears to both Patty and Olivia at the Wired Monk. Jim gave us an excellent, vivid description of the ghost’s appearance.
Marilyn has been sending out some writing. One piece went to Today’s Senior Newsmagazine so keep your eyes open for it. And another piece, “Deaf P.O.V.”, she sent to Eclectica, and it has been accepted. Way to go, Marilyn!
Jim says Exlectica has asked if they can include his short story, “Janina”, in an anthology they are putting together. Congrats!
Bob didn’t read anything at the meeting as he was so tired he was falling asleep and consequently left early. Well, he said he was tired and it wasn’t our writing that induced the slumber. Hope he’s recovered. Anne Berrie finally joined us again after her convalescence from back surgery. She proudly showed us the scar down her spine, a gold medal for overcoming pain. Gemma wasn’t able attend due to serious back pain. Hope she’s recovering, too. And I was still trying to recover from an awful cold. So there you go. The sun comes out, Spring is almost sprung, and some of us just want to keep hibernating. You do know the time changes to Daylight Savings on March 14th? That’s just three weeks from tomorrow.
Next meeting will be Wednesday, March 3rd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Good health and happy writing to everyone in the meantime.
Lisa
In spite of the Olympics, six of us showed up for the meeting on Wednesday.
Margaret read her next chapter in “Coffin & Dye”. At home the next morning with a hangover, Coffin realizes he left the Rolls at Mossity Manor. He took a taxi to retrieve it, but couldn’t find the Rolls. He found his way to the kitchen and explained his predicament to the cook who had seen the ghosts he’d only imagined. She told him he parked at the side entrance, not the front. He retrieved the Rolls but then got stuck in the mud. A shepherd pulled him out with a tractor but that tore off the bumper, which would take 2 weeks to fix. He tells Dye that four ghosts in the back seat had frightened him and he’d gone into the ditch. Dye accepted the explanation.
Jason read us Chapter 5. Greg looks out his window every morning and sees Jodie leaving for her morning run. He longs to be with her. Dave tells him he’s a stalker, why doesn’t he just go with her instead? Then Dave tells him Jodie’s been seeing Sean at school. Greg misses his former closeness with Jodie. How could he possibly give her the pendant when she seems to just ignore him. He feels a strange presence and hears a voice whispering, “Save us. Go to her.” His mother comes into the room and he hides the pendant and decoys his mother with Dave’s Playboy magazines. This chapter started with a good set-up of scene, giving it a mysterious setting. And the scene swayed back and forth from ephemeral to reality. It was well done.
Jim read Chapter 1 of “Coventry Ghost”. Patty is the new cleaning lady at the Wired Monk, and it was her daughter, Leanne, who was killed in front of the coffee shop the year before. She brings her younger daughter, Olivia, with her after midnight to help with the cleaning. The two daughters share a telepathic bond, even though Leanne had died. The dead daughter’s ghost appears to both Patty and Olivia at the Wired Monk. Jim gave us an excellent, vivid description of the ghost’s appearance.
Marilyn has been sending out some writing. One piece went to Today’s Senior Newsmagazine so keep your eyes open for it. And another piece, “Deaf P.O.V.”, she sent to Eclectica, and it has been accepted. Way to go, Marilyn!
Jim says Exlectica has asked if they can include his short story, “Janina”, in an anthology they are putting together. Congrats!
Bob didn’t read anything at the meeting as he was so tired he was falling asleep and consequently left early. Well, he said he was tired and it wasn’t our writing that induced the slumber. Hope he’s recovered. Anne Berrie finally joined us again after her convalescence from back surgery. She proudly showed us the scar down her spine, a gold medal for overcoming pain. Gemma wasn’t able attend due to serious back pain. Hope she’s recovering, too. And I was still trying to recover from an awful cold. So there you go. The sun comes out, Spring is almost sprung, and some of us just want to keep hibernating. You do know the time changes to Daylight Savings on March 14th? That’s just three weeks from tomorrow.
Next meeting will be Wednesday, March 3rd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Good health and happy writing to everyone in the meantime.
Lisa
Thursday, February 11, 2010
THE REVIEW
GO RAMS GO!
The Ram’s Head Team is off and running, all of us wanting our own gold medal for surviving the 2010 Winter Olympics here on home turf. Bob asked if we were going to take a break from meeting while the games are on, but no one was so inclined. After all, we’re artists, and certainly not to be outdone by the mere physical exploits of others. Meeting as usual next week, Wednesday, February 17th, at my place at 7:00 p.m.
At last week’s meeting, Margaret brought several copies of the February issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine. It included an article by Margaret about one teacher’s note to her at Valentine’s one year. Also in this issue is a sort of apology to Gemma for printing a poem that only differed from one of hers they had printed by one or two words. Gemma had complained to them, but their apology did not include her name.
I handed out copies of B.C. Book World that Bryon had collected from the ferry when he went to the Island. This issue included a lengthy article about electronic publishing rights of authors being violated outrageously these days. It’s an article anybody signing with a book publisher, especially an American one, should be aware of.
Bob hadn’t written anything, but mentioned a book he had read, a biography of Roald Dahl who wrote “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. He said it was an excellent story, and we told him he has to write a book report.
Margaret read her next chapter, where Coffin drives the Rolls to the writers’ meeting at Mossity Manor. Lord Mossity introduced him as Lord Coffin, just back from Safari in Africa. Coffin tells Lord Mossity he saw ten ghosts heading to the kitchen, and then the cook says she saw them too, which upsets Coffin because he had only fabricated seeing them. Still upset, he left by the back door, in a hurry to catch a bus, completely forgetting the Rolls.
As Margaret’s first book is in the process of being published, she told us her publisher asked if she would be willing to do book signings at Chapters. Margaret isn’t at all sure she would care to do that. But if called upon, I’m sure some of the rest of us would go out to support her.
Jason read Chapter 4 of his urban fantasy. Greg and the others are still in the dark living room, listening as Gran talks about the afterlife, and the existence of hardship on the next plane. She also talks about the 2000 year old journal, and about her coming death. She tells Greg to give Jodie the pendant and to start their pre-ordained odyssey. There was a really great build up of tension and mystery here.
Jim has started another novel connected with the www.coffeeshopauthor.com writing contest. He is sponsored by The Wired Monk where he goes to write in Cloverdale. Taking the challenge a step further, employees and patrons at the shop have signed on to allow Jim to use them as characters in the story. Consequently, they want to read his latest chapter every time they see him. Talk about incentive! His novel is called “The Coventry Ghost” and he read the prologue. We see a teenage girl outside the coffee shop hit by a car and die. She keeps trying to reclaim her damaged body, but isn’t successful. Not wanting to leave, she becomes a stranded ghost. The prologue was well done and grabbed our attention right from the start. Will love to hear how all this develops.
Had an email from John Ireland, who is now working again as a journalist in Raratonga, Cook Islands, while his wife is still in New Zealand. I think this is for the next 7 months or so. John did say he hopes to be back in the Lower Mainland come October, but didn’t say if that would be for a visit or permanently. He did hope to make it to a meeting and it would be great to see his face again after the past few years.
About two weeks ago, Bob and I both caught sight of a letter to the editor in the Vancouver Sun that was signed by Nathaniel, so I emailed him. He is still in Victoria, and belongs to a writers’ society there for critiquing, but said he misses us over here. He is still doing rewrites of his latest novel (I think that’s the one of settlers coming from Scotland to the Red River in the early 1800s). And he said to say hi to everyone.
And last but not least, I finally tracked down Michael. My emails and phone calls weren’t reaching him, and his blog and been abandoned, so I did some sleuthing and finally obtained a phone number for him and called. We had a lovely chat, catching up on the past year or so. Michael has signed with an agent in New York who is interested in a number of his novels, and made comments about working with someone on a movie. This is all fascinating news. If he can arrange a ride next week, he hopes to come to our next meeting and it would be awesome to see him again.
As for me, a lot of my time is being taken up with medical appointments now that I am on track for double knee replacements, and this Review is the only writing I’ve done. This medial journey is all the result of a car accident 31 ½ years ago. Maybe I should cave in and do the autobiographical novel, now that it might have a happier ending.
Tomorrow is the opening of the Olympics. Are you going to be writing, or watching the athletes? As I said, next meeting is next week, Wednesday, Feb. 17th, 7:00 p.m., here at my place, in spite of the games. GO RAMS GO!
Lisa
The Ram’s Head Team is off and running, all of us wanting our own gold medal for surviving the 2010 Winter Olympics here on home turf. Bob asked if we were going to take a break from meeting while the games are on, but no one was so inclined. After all, we’re artists, and certainly not to be outdone by the mere physical exploits of others. Meeting as usual next week, Wednesday, February 17th, at my place at 7:00 p.m.
At last week’s meeting, Margaret brought several copies of the February issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine. It included an article by Margaret about one teacher’s note to her at Valentine’s one year. Also in this issue is a sort of apology to Gemma for printing a poem that only differed from one of hers they had printed by one or two words. Gemma had complained to them, but their apology did not include her name.
I handed out copies of B.C. Book World that Bryon had collected from the ferry when he went to the Island. This issue included a lengthy article about electronic publishing rights of authors being violated outrageously these days. It’s an article anybody signing with a book publisher, especially an American one, should be aware of.
Bob hadn’t written anything, but mentioned a book he had read, a biography of Roald Dahl who wrote “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. He said it was an excellent story, and we told him he has to write a book report.
Margaret read her next chapter, where Coffin drives the Rolls to the writers’ meeting at Mossity Manor. Lord Mossity introduced him as Lord Coffin, just back from Safari in Africa. Coffin tells Lord Mossity he saw ten ghosts heading to the kitchen, and then the cook says she saw them too, which upsets Coffin because he had only fabricated seeing them. Still upset, he left by the back door, in a hurry to catch a bus, completely forgetting the Rolls.
As Margaret’s first book is in the process of being published, she told us her publisher asked if she would be willing to do book signings at Chapters. Margaret isn’t at all sure she would care to do that. But if called upon, I’m sure some of the rest of us would go out to support her.
Jason read Chapter 4 of his urban fantasy. Greg and the others are still in the dark living room, listening as Gran talks about the afterlife, and the existence of hardship on the next plane. She also talks about the 2000 year old journal, and about her coming death. She tells Greg to give Jodie the pendant and to start their pre-ordained odyssey. There was a really great build up of tension and mystery here.
Jim has started another novel connected with the www.coffeeshopauthor.com writing contest. He is sponsored by The Wired Monk where he goes to write in Cloverdale. Taking the challenge a step further, employees and patrons at the shop have signed on to allow Jim to use them as characters in the story. Consequently, they want to read his latest chapter every time they see him. Talk about incentive! His novel is called “The Coventry Ghost” and he read the prologue. We see a teenage girl outside the coffee shop hit by a car and die. She keeps trying to reclaim her damaged body, but isn’t successful. Not wanting to leave, she becomes a stranded ghost. The prologue was well done and grabbed our attention right from the start. Will love to hear how all this develops.
Had an email from John Ireland, who is now working again as a journalist in Raratonga, Cook Islands, while his wife is still in New Zealand. I think this is for the next 7 months or so. John did say he hopes to be back in the Lower Mainland come October, but didn’t say if that would be for a visit or permanently. He did hope to make it to a meeting and it would be great to see his face again after the past few years.
About two weeks ago, Bob and I both caught sight of a letter to the editor in the Vancouver Sun that was signed by Nathaniel, so I emailed him. He is still in Victoria, and belongs to a writers’ society there for critiquing, but said he misses us over here. He is still doing rewrites of his latest novel (I think that’s the one of settlers coming from Scotland to the Red River in the early 1800s). And he said to say hi to everyone.
And last but not least, I finally tracked down Michael. My emails and phone calls weren’t reaching him, and his blog and been abandoned, so I did some sleuthing and finally obtained a phone number for him and called. We had a lovely chat, catching up on the past year or so. Michael has signed with an agent in New York who is interested in a number of his novels, and made comments about working with someone on a movie. This is all fascinating news. If he can arrange a ride next week, he hopes to come to our next meeting and it would be awesome to see him again.
As for me, a lot of my time is being taken up with medical appointments now that I am on track for double knee replacements, and this Review is the only writing I’ve done. This medial journey is all the result of a car accident 31 ½ years ago. Maybe I should cave in and do the autobiographical novel, now that it might have a happier ending.
Tomorrow is the opening of the Olympics. Are you going to be writing, or watching the athletes? As I said, next meeting is next week, Wednesday, Feb. 17th, 7:00 p.m., here at my place, in spite of the games. GO RAMS GO!
Lisa
Thursday, January 21, 2010
THE REVIEW
GOING BACKWARDS
Those of us at the meeting last night signed a birthday card that went with the flowers Gemma brought to give to Margaret for her 86th birthday, which was earlier this month. She said from now on her age is going backwards in years. Here! Here!
Jim brought the latest issue of Eclectica Magazine, which includes a short story and a recipe by him, a poem by Anne Berrie, and another short story by me. And on the back cover it says to look for something by Gemma in the next issue. Way to go, fellow Rams!
Those arriving at my place last night thought perhaps they were on the wrong street. They did notice that our house was the same, just that the monster hedge across the street was gone, and the houses on the next street over were now visible. But without the hedge protruding six feet into the middle of the road, there is now ample parking space for visitors again.
Jason said his notebook died, so he spent the necessary funds and now has a brand new Mac desktop computer that he loves.
Bob read first, sharing the reply he received from the Boston Red Sox to the fan letter he had sent them. They thanked him graciously and said they were flattered by his loyalty as a fan.
To finish his story about the electronics nightmare he and Carole went through at Christmas, Bob read the second half of his story. Between all the extra equipment needed and the scheduling problems with installers, it’s a wonder they didn’t both decide to join the Amish. However, everything now works and the dust has settled, sort of. He thinks his sons are now annoyed that he didn’t consult with them about it all.
Margaret read her next chapter, “Ghost At Mossity Manor”. Dye and Coffin have received a letter from Lord Mossity who has seen a female ghost and her dog in his library. Since he has a writers’ group coming to meet there the following Friday and is afraid of their reaction if they see a ghost, he wishes to hire Dye and Coffin to eradicate the ghost. Dye tells Coffin he should go to the meeting as a writer, as Dye is busy renovating their office. But Coffin refuses. So Dye offers to let Coffin use the Rolls Royce if he goes. Of course Coffin changes his mind.
Gemma read part of a 5000 word story she has, which is untitled. An older woman named Barbara is awakened by a phone call from Bob, a man she loves. He says he’s coming to visit her and she agrees to meet him at the airport. Bob dallies with the much younger flight attendant and is in no hurry to see Barbara. When he does see her, he’s appalled by her wrinkled skin, but falesly tells her she’s beautiful, and then takes her home and beds her. He just wants her money. (Jim said he’s still waiting to meet the woman who would like to keep him in the style to which he would like to become accustomed.)
Jason read Chapter 3 in his rewrite. Greg is still in his Great Gran’s living room, and she tells him of strange magic in the forest, and tells him to beware the shadows. She also tells him he and Jodie are destined to be together and that Jodie must wear a pendant she pulls from the secret compartment of an old book, and that he should give it to Jodie for her 16th birthday. Greg’s mother shows up and starts drinking wine. His brother, Dave is also there, as well as Bruce, who magically starts a fire in the fireplace and says it is ‘an Indian thing’. When Greg’s Mom gets upset and says they are leaving, Great Gran then tells them all she’s dying and Greg’s Mom starts crying.
Jim read to us his rewrite of the beginning of his romance novel, “High Fashion”. The rewrite works much better, and even though it still opens with the heroine dreaming of a sexual encounter with a stranger, it’s not a long enough dream to eclipse any later sexual encounter with the as yet, unmet, hero. The rewrite was a much smoother read.
Marilyn said she had hoped to attend last night’s meeting, but ended up going to a meeting on genealogy, her pet passion, instead. Ron was unable to attend as he is caring for an aging father. And Danny had phoned Margaret and Marshall to say he had to work.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Since Valentine’s Day is approaching, feel free to bring anything you’ve written on that theme. But then, lack of love is sometimes a good theme, too. As Jim’s benediction/curse goes: May your Muse bonk you up the side of the head, bang around inside your brain, and flow out of your fingertips.
See you February 3rd.
Lisa
Those of us at the meeting last night signed a birthday card that went with the flowers Gemma brought to give to Margaret for her 86th birthday, which was earlier this month. She said from now on her age is going backwards in years. Here! Here!
Jim brought the latest issue of Eclectica Magazine, which includes a short story and a recipe by him, a poem by Anne Berrie, and another short story by me. And on the back cover it says to look for something by Gemma in the next issue. Way to go, fellow Rams!
Those arriving at my place last night thought perhaps they were on the wrong street. They did notice that our house was the same, just that the monster hedge across the street was gone, and the houses on the next street over were now visible. But without the hedge protruding six feet into the middle of the road, there is now ample parking space for visitors again.
Jason said his notebook died, so he spent the necessary funds and now has a brand new Mac desktop computer that he loves.
Bob read first, sharing the reply he received from the Boston Red Sox to the fan letter he had sent them. They thanked him graciously and said they were flattered by his loyalty as a fan.
To finish his story about the electronics nightmare he and Carole went through at Christmas, Bob read the second half of his story. Between all the extra equipment needed and the scheduling problems with installers, it’s a wonder they didn’t both decide to join the Amish. However, everything now works and the dust has settled, sort of. He thinks his sons are now annoyed that he didn’t consult with them about it all.
Margaret read her next chapter, “Ghost At Mossity Manor”. Dye and Coffin have received a letter from Lord Mossity who has seen a female ghost and her dog in his library. Since he has a writers’ group coming to meet there the following Friday and is afraid of their reaction if they see a ghost, he wishes to hire Dye and Coffin to eradicate the ghost. Dye tells Coffin he should go to the meeting as a writer, as Dye is busy renovating their office. But Coffin refuses. So Dye offers to let Coffin use the Rolls Royce if he goes. Of course Coffin changes his mind.
Gemma read part of a 5000 word story she has, which is untitled. An older woman named Barbara is awakened by a phone call from Bob, a man she loves. He says he’s coming to visit her and she agrees to meet him at the airport. Bob dallies with the much younger flight attendant and is in no hurry to see Barbara. When he does see her, he’s appalled by her wrinkled skin, but falesly tells her she’s beautiful, and then takes her home and beds her. He just wants her money. (Jim said he’s still waiting to meet the woman who would like to keep him in the style to which he would like to become accustomed.)
Jason read Chapter 3 in his rewrite. Greg is still in his Great Gran’s living room, and she tells him of strange magic in the forest, and tells him to beware the shadows. She also tells him he and Jodie are destined to be together and that Jodie must wear a pendant she pulls from the secret compartment of an old book, and that he should give it to Jodie for her 16th birthday. Greg’s mother shows up and starts drinking wine. His brother, Dave is also there, as well as Bruce, who magically starts a fire in the fireplace and says it is ‘an Indian thing’. When Greg’s Mom gets upset and says they are leaving, Great Gran then tells them all she’s dying and Greg’s Mom starts crying.
Jim read to us his rewrite of the beginning of his romance novel, “High Fashion”. The rewrite works much better, and even though it still opens with the heroine dreaming of a sexual encounter with a stranger, it’s not a long enough dream to eclipse any later sexual encounter with the as yet, unmet, hero. The rewrite was a much smoother read.
Marilyn said she had hoped to attend last night’s meeting, but ended up going to a meeting on genealogy, her pet passion, instead. Ron was unable to attend as he is caring for an aging father. And Danny had phoned Margaret and Marshall to say he had to work.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Since Valentine’s Day is approaching, feel free to bring anything you’ve written on that theme. But then, lack of love is sometimes a good theme, too. As Jim’s benediction/curse goes: May your Muse bonk you up the side of the head, bang around inside your brain, and flow out of your fingertips.
See you February 3rd.
Lisa
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