DOG DAYS OF SUMMER?
With temperatures in the 30s last night, there were only four of us here to celebrate the Muse, or lack thereof, whichever applied. Jason, Margaret F. and Ellie joined me in a relaxed evening where we all had something to read. Wendy and Jim were both unable to attend, and I never heard from anyone else.
Margaret F. read first, an entry from Wednesday, August 15th, 2012 in her Journal. It was a long explanation about why she isn’t finding time to write her “Babes In The Woods” book. Her life is very busy with family, friends, part-time work and all the incidents that make her life a very enjoyable one, indeed. So of course there’s no time to write. She’d have to give up something else. She’s convinced herself the best sacrifice would be that of sleep, and that she should rise at 2:00 a.m. to write for several hours before her day begins with another few hours of housework, and morning breakfast with hubby. However, we think maybe the block has been what she perceives is the overwhelming scope of what she wants to write, that it’s hard to imagine ever having enough time for it. The best antidote to that is to quit thinking about the “whole” project and just break it down into small steps that are easy to accomplish, one at a time, in small increments.
Jason read next, Chapter 19 “Pressed”. Gregg and his Great Grandma return to her home and she shows him the Book of the Nornir. Gregg tries to open it but can’t, and the dragon’s head on it moves and tries to bite him. Then Great Grandma tells Gregg that Jody’s father felt responsible for the death of Gregg’s aunt, Sam, and afterward became abusive of those around him. He was the one who injured Jody and caused all the scars on her back when she was a baby. Great Grandma says she has something else to give him, but before she can there is a phone call to say Jody’s Mom has been murdered and at the same time her car comes up the drive, but it’s the man in black who gets out of it. There was lots of explanation of relationship and background in this chapter that starts to make sense of the story and the tension of things still unknown was definitely building.
Ellie read an erotic poem about finding and sleeping with a white bedspread and then its experience during a cycle in the washing machine. Jason couldn’t fathom feeling that way about a cozy cover, but Ellie, Margaret and I all concurred that erotic sensations at our age have different connotations than one might expect.
I read next. First reading was of “The End” a short story I submitted to the Polar Expressions contest. It’s about an exchange of souls in one body, and how the purpose of that has been met and the entity has reached the end of that incarnation.
My second reading was of Chapter 10 in “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”. Nigel arrives at the Lone Butte Hotel looking for Dee. He sits where she can serve him and when she appears at his table he blurts that the cops are still investigating Susie’s death. He says he needs to talk to her. She agrees to meet him in an hour, on her break, and in the meantime he drinks 3 pints of beer. Outside, she asks him why he’s there and he blurts out that she has to marry him so he won’t have to testify against her. Not wanting to go to jail, she agrees. He says he’ll take a room there and they can talk more when she gets off work.
Margaret Moffatt has two articles in the August issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine. She is enjoying her new residence in Quesnel and is in touch with a writing group that wants her to come to their next meeting.
Michael Hiebert has asked if he could give a detailed presentation on story structure to a meeting of the Rams as practice for doing it for other groups eventually. This is a topic he has extensive knowledge about. Jason, Ellie and Margaret F. thought that a separately scheduled meeting for that in September would be best as they don’t want to lose any of their reading time from regular meetings. After looking at the calendar, I’ve suggested to Michael either September 12th or 26th as possible dates. So keep those dates in mind until further notice to verify what’s happening.
The next regularly scheduled Meeting will be Wednesday, Sept 5th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
P.S.
Further to Margaret’s dilemma about finding writing time in her busy life, here is a poem I wrote during a busy time in my life.
MISSING IN ACTION
Round and round
I’ve lost myself
With people here and people there
I love them all
But who am I?
And where am I
And when am I
And how am I
And what am I?
I’ve gathered so much life around
I swamped myself
And can’t be found.
By Lisa A. Hatton
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Saturday, August 4, 2012
THE REVIEW
REUNION
After a two month break from Meetings while I recovered from surgery, it was absolutely wonderful to host another Meeting of The Rams on Wednesday. Ellie, Wendy, Jason, and Margaret F. all joined me that night. Jim was busy with family obligations. Gemma had a family emergency. And Julie’s husband was on vacation and they were going to go away for a few days. Bob Jacoby had phoned me earlier to say he thought I was very brave to start having Meetings again. He thought it was very soon after my surgery. However, I am progressing in recovery though still somewhat less mobile than I was prior to the knife. But pain is minimal during the day and I definitely need something to alleviate the boredom.
I read first. Finally felt like writing again and did another chapter in “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”. This chapter is from Edna’s point of view (Dee Dee’s mother). She is alone in her cabin at night stewing about her daughter who is at work, when Nigel arrives. He tells her there is an on-going investigation into little Susie’s death and that he needs to talk to Dee. Edna is terrified of a criminal investigation and doesn’t want to know what really happened and tell’s Nigel that. He says he needs to talk to Dee and tell her what his lawyer says could happen, and what his lawyer advised them to do.
Margaret F. told us she had done extensive research into the unsolved murder of two children whose remains were found in Stanley Park. In “Babes In The Woods” Margaret read to us the beginning of a true crime story she is writing on the topic. The story starts telling us about the bodies being found by a parks worker in 1953, and then continues by questioning why the murders were never solved. It’s a very well written beginning to a piece of investigative journalism. And Margaret thanked me for calling a Meeting because it gave her a deadline to write for and broke through the block she’d been experiencing in writing this beginning chapter. Deadlines are good. They keep us on track.
Jason read to us Ch. 18, Revelation, from his novel. We see Jody tied face-down to a cot in a tent when Leigia approaches and torments her. She wants to know where Jody came from as she suspects she is an angoros and not a human. But the angoros were supposed to have vanished from the earth. To test her theory, Leigia keeps repeating a chant that is supposed to assault the angoros’ hearing and cause their ears to bleed. Jody hides her reaction though is tortured by the chants. After Leigie leaves, confused by Jody’s lack of response to her torture, Jody notices the blood on her pillow and turns it over to hide it. This chapter has a lot of suspense in it and furthers the storyline for us.
Wendy read us two poems. The first was for children, called “Dudley The Mouse”. A young mouse wants to be accepted and writes to Santa asking to be made cuddly and loveable. But he is visited by an angel instead and told to like himself as he is.
The second poem was “Menu Memories”, and was a look at Wendy’s reaction to food as a child and the many things she didn’t like, especially mashed potatoes and canned peas and organ meats. Boy, could I relate to that poem!
Ellie read a piece of prose poetry about the Kwamais, which she is entering in the writing contest about that part of South Surrey. It is a very sensual article describing that area, which Ellie knows well. She has kayaked around that point and flown over it many times. Good luck in the contest, Ellie.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, August 15th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. The hot temperatures outside right now are a good excuse to stay in the shade and write!
Lisa
After a two month break from Meetings while I recovered from surgery, it was absolutely wonderful to host another Meeting of The Rams on Wednesday. Ellie, Wendy, Jason, and Margaret F. all joined me that night. Jim was busy with family obligations. Gemma had a family emergency. And Julie’s husband was on vacation and they were going to go away for a few days. Bob Jacoby had phoned me earlier to say he thought I was very brave to start having Meetings again. He thought it was very soon after my surgery. However, I am progressing in recovery though still somewhat less mobile than I was prior to the knife. But pain is minimal during the day and I definitely need something to alleviate the boredom.
I read first. Finally felt like writing again and did another chapter in “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”. This chapter is from Edna’s point of view (Dee Dee’s mother). She is alone in her cabin at night stewing about her daughter who is at work, when Nigel arrives. He tells her there is an on-going investigation into little Susie’s death and that he needs to talk to Dee. Edna is terrified of a criminal investigation and doesn’t want to know what really happened and tell’s Nigel that. He says he needs to talk to Dee and tell her what his lawyer says could happen, and what his lawyer advised them to do.
Margaret F. told us she had done extensive research into the unsolved murder of two children whose remains were found in Stanley Park. In “Babes In The Woods” Margaret read to us the beginning of a true crime story she is writing on the topic. The story starts telling us about the bodies being found by a parks worker in 1953, and then continues by questioning why the murders were never solved. It’s a very well written beginning to a piece of investigative journalism. And Margaret thanked me for calling a Meeting because it gave her a deadline to write for and broke through the block she’d been experiencing in writing this beginning chapter. Deadlines are good. They keep us on track.
Jason read to us Ch. 18, Revelation, from his novel. We see Jody tied face-down to a cot in a tent when Leigia approaches and torments her. She wants to know where Jody came from as she suspects she is an angoros and not a human. But the angoros were supposed to have vanished from the earth. To test her theory, Leigia keeps repeating a chant that is supposed to assault the angoros’ hearing and cause their ears to bleed. Jody hides her reaction though is tortured by the chants. After Leigie leaves, confused by Jody’s lack of response to her torture, Jody notices the blood on her pillow and turns it over to hide it. This chapter has a lot of suspense in it and furthers the storyline for us.
Wendy read us two poems. The first was for children, called “Dudley The Mouse”. A young mouse wants to be accepted and writes to Santa asking to be made cuddly and loveable. But he is visited by an angel instead and told to like himself as he is.
The second poem was “Menu Memories”, and was a look at Wendy’s reaction to food as a child and the many things she didn’t like, especially mashed potatoes and canned peas and organ meats. Boy, could I relate to that poem!
Ellie read a piece of prose poetry about the Kwamais, which she is entering in the writing contest about that part of South Surrey. It is a very sensual article describing that area, which Ellie knows well. She has kayaked around that point and flown over it many times. Good luck in the contest, Ellie.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, August 15th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. The hot temperatures outside right now are a good excuse to stay in the shade and write!
Lisa
Friday, May 18, 2012
THE REVIEW
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Wonderful Meeting of Rams here on Wednesday. Wendy, Ellie, Jim, Jason and Margaret Florczak all arrived with enthusiasm for the written word.
Ellie read first, her prose/poem story called “Sophie And The Raven”. Written for 8 to 12 year olds, it tells of how a young Sophie loves all the wildlife and nature outside her home and goes out to great her winged friends before breakfast. She meets with a Raven who talks to her and tells her she must get her family and friends to help save the planet from man’s destruction of it. The story is told in prose and verse, and captivates the reader.
Wendy said she was working on another writer’s romance novel, editing and advising, and therefore hasn’t had time for her own writing. She likes writing poetry, and finds the novel she started feels more like work. The rest of us nodded and told her it can feel like that, but still hope she is able to continue with it.
Jim said he had a recent request for 100 pages of the first book in the Coventry Ghosts series from another agent. Really hope something good happens. He read another chapter from the second book, and we hear a telepathic conversation between Leanne and Olivia, and are told how Olivia feels demoted again to the younger (and less important) sister in the family now that they can all communicate even though Leanne is a ghost. Leanne wants Olivia to help get their parents to invest in the coffee shop so Cherie doesn’t lose it. As Cherie draws up a business plan she insists that Leanne take safety seriously and realize she and the other ghosts will have to be responsible for things like breakage and damage when they start ghostly catering to parties.
Margaret F. brought a copy of her self-published memoir “Unforgiving” which is available in hardcopy from Amazon.com for $13.19. It will also be available as an ebook soon with Kindle for $5.99. It is written under her maiden name, and unfortunately, I didn’t jot that down. She read us Chapter 11, where she is an eleven year old accosted and French kissed in the hallway of her own home by a man who is both a tenant and friend of her parents. She tries to tell her Mom and her female piano teacher, but neither of them believe her and chastise her for making up stories. When Margaret is thirteen, she gladly becomes involved with a delinquent boy because he is the only one who does believe her about the abuse. The story is a very powerful look into the devastation of childhood sexual abuse. It’s very courageous of Margaret to be sharing this with the world.
Jason read to us Chapter 17, titled “Murder”. Damianos is on his way to search Jody’s home for the Book of the Nornir, but on the way takes a detour and murders and devours a female driver who picks him up as a hitchhiker. When he gets to Jody’s home, he seduces her adoptive mother who becomes sexually eager to participate. When she’s most vulnerable, he tortures her to find out where the Book is. But she doesn’t know and suggests he look for Jody’s Godmother, who is also Gregg’s great-grandmother. The plot thickens and adds to the suspense.
Margaret Moffatt has put aside her writing of “Coffin and Dye” for awhile as her son, Ralph, had asked her to illustrate cards he and his wife sell during the summer as examples of local artistic works.
I didn’t read anything, but did talk about my forthcoming surgery on May 28th. I will be out of the circle for awhile. Unfortunately, I don’t know for how long. As soon as I am able to host a Meeting again, I will definitely be emailing all Rams. In the meantime, enjoy the spring and maybe some of the summer, but don’t forget to write so I have lots to hear about when we get back together again. I thank everyone for their good wishes and kind thoughts. Until next time,
Lisa
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Wonderful Meeting of Rams here on Wednesday. Wendy, Ellie, Jim, Jason and Margaret Florczak all arrived with enthusiasm for the written word.
Ellie read first, her prose/poem story called “Sophie And The Raven”. Written for 8 to 12 year olds, it tells of how a young Sophie loves all the wildlife and nature outside her home and goes out to great her winged friends before breakfast. She meets with a Raven who talks to her and tells her she must get her family and friends to help save the planet from man’s destruction of it. The story is told in prose and verse, and captivates the reader.
Wendy said she was working on another writer’s romance novel, editing and advising, and therefore hasn’t had time for her own writing. She likes writing poetry, and finds the novel she started feels more like work. The rest of us nodded and told her it can feel like that, but still hope she is able to continue with it.
Jim said he had a recent request for 100 pages of the first book in the Coventry Ghosts series from another agent. Really hope something good happens. He read another chapter from the second book, and we hear a telepathic conversation between Leanne and Olivia, and are told how Olivia feels demoted again to the younger (and less important) sister in the family now that they can all communicate even though Leanne is a ghost. Leanne wants Olivia to help get their parents to invest in the coffee shop so Cherie doesn’t lose it. As Cherie draws up a business plan she insists that Leanne take safety seriously and realize she and the other ghosts will have to be responsible for things like breakage and damage when they start ghostly catering to parties.
Margaret F. brought a copy of her self-published memoir “Unforgiving” which is available in hardcopy from Amazon.com for $13.19. It will also be available as an ebook soon with Kindle for $5.99. It is written under her maiden name, and unfortunately, I didn’t jot that down. She read us Chapter 11, where she is an eleven year old accosted and French kissed in the hallway of her own home by a man who is both a tenant and friend of her parents. She tries to tell her Mom and her female piano teacher, but neither of them believe her and chastise her for making up stories. When Margaret is thirteen, she gladly becomes involved with a delinquent boy because he is the only one who does believe her about the abuse. The story is a very powerful look into the devastation of childhood sexual abuse. It’s very courageous of Margaret to be sharing this with the world.
Jason read to us Chapter 17, titled “Murder”. Damianos is on his way to search Jody’s home for the Book of the Nornir, but on the way takes a detour and murders and devours a female driver who picks him up as a hitchhiker. When he gets to Jody’s home, he seduces her adoptive mother who becomes sexually eager to participate. When she’s most vulnerable, he tortures her to find out where the Book is. But she doesn’t know and suggests he look for Jody’s Godmother, who is also Gregg’s great-grandmother. The plot thickens and adds to the suspense.
Margaret Moffatt has put aside her writing of “Coffin and Dye” for awhile as her son, Ralph, had asked her to illustrate cards he and his wife sell during the summer as examples of local artistic works.
I didn’t read anything, but did talk about my forthcoming surgery on May 28th. I will be out of the circle for awhile. Unfortunately, I don’t know for how long. As soon as I am able to host a Meeting again, I will definitely be emailing all Rams. In the meantime, enjoy the spring and maybe some of the summer, but don’t forget to write so I have lots to hear about when we get back together again. I thank everyone for their good wishes and kind thoughts. Until next time,
Lisa
Thursday, April 19, 2012
THE REVIEW
HOCKEY CAN WAIT!
Jason, Jim and Ellie all joined me for a Meeting last night in spite of the scheduled hockey game between the Canucks and the L.A. Kings. I had said I would put the game on TV and mute the volume, but Jason nixed that. He said since there were so few of us we could all read quickly and then disperse to go watch the last period. That way my living room wouldn’t be subjected to four-letter epithets or hurled objects if the Canucks were losing. So we read fast.
I read first, Chapter 8 in “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”. This was a short chapter about Nigel packing for a quick trip to Watch Lake to try and convince Dee to marry him so he wouldn’t be required to testify against her. On his way out of the apartment he runs into Hank, the father of Dee’s deceased child, who is accompanied now by another woman. Nigel tries to stay focused on the good things that he and Dee could experience in being married to each other. He refuses to acknowledge all the things that could go wrong.
Ellie read a re-write of her poem “March”. She wants to enter it in the CBC Literary contest, so had to add enough words to fit the required length. She changed the ending and we all advised that she go back to emphasizing that death means the end of winter as it seemed to be a more powerful observation.
Jason read Ch. 16, “Separation”. Damianos hears voices telling him not to kill Jody as the Nornir believed her to be precious. He was told to take her to the midlen place, but in order to find it, he first had to find the Book of the Nornir. After getting no answers from Jody, he decides he should search her home, and tries to send Ligeia to do that but she refuses as she doesn’t know what to look for. So he decides to go himself and leave Jody in the hands of Ligeia. He tells her to keep Jody safe and read her book of spells to learn about Gregg, the jivita.
Jim read Chapter 15 in the second book of the Coventry Ghosts. Jason, sprung from the Mexican prison and kidnapped by Solak, is led by him to the coast, where Solak rents a boat and then shoots the boat’s captain. They are out on the ocean for six days and have run out of food and water as they await a pre-arranged rendezvous with a foreign vessel. Jason passes out, sunburned and dehydrated. When he awakes, he is being nursed in a small compartment aboard a submarine. This chapter is a stark contrast to the light and humourous previous chapter with Sarah and another ghost playing in the library.
Wendy stayed home to watch the hockey game. Julie had a house guest. Monica was not well, and we wish her a swift return to full health.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, May 2nd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
Jason, Jim and Ellie all joined me for a Meeting last night in spite of the scheduled hockey game between the Canucks and the L.A. Kings. I had said I would put the game on TV and mute the volume, but Jason nixed that. He said since there were so few of us we could all read quickly and then disperse to go watch the last period. That way my living room wouldn’t be subjected to four-letter epithets or hurled objects if the Canucks were losing. So we read fast.
I read first, Chapter 8 in “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”. This was a short chapter about Nigel packing for a quick trip to Watch Lake to try and convince Dee to marry him so he wouldn’t be required to testify against her. On his way out of the apartment he runs into Hank, the father of Dee’s deceased child, who is accompanied now by another woman. Nigel tries to stay focused on the good things that he and Dee could experience in being married to each other. He refuses to acknowledge all the things that could go wrong.
Ellie read a re-write of her poem “March”. She wants to enter it in the CBC Literary contest, so had to add enough words to fit the required length. She changed the ending and we all advised that she go back to emphasizing that death means the end of winter as it seemed to be a more powerful observation.
Jason read Ch. 16, “Separation”. Damianos hears voices telling him not to kill Jody as the Nornir believed her to be precious. He was told to take her to the midlen place, but in order to find it, he first had to find the Book of the Nornir. After getting no answers from Jody, he decides he should search her home, and tries to send Ligeia to do that but she refuses as she doesn’t know what to look for. So he decides to go himself and leave Jody in the hands of Ligeia. He tells her to keep Jody safe and read her book of spells to learn about Gregg, the jivita.
Jim read Chapter 15 in the second book of the Coventry Ghosts. Jason, sprung from the Mexican prison and kidnapped by Solak, is led by him to the coast, where Solak rents a boat and then shoots the boat’s captain. They are out on the ocean for six days and have run out of food and water as they await a pre-arranged rendezvous with a foreign vessel. Jason passes out, sunburned and dehydrated. When he awakes, he is being nursed in a small compartment aboard a submarine. This chapter is a stark contrast to the light and humourous previous chapter with Sarah and another ghost playing in the library.
Wendy stayed home to watch the hockey game. Julie had a house guest. Monica was not well, and we wish her a swift return to full health.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, May 2nd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
Thursday, April 5, 2012
THE REVIEW
HAPPY EASTER!
Four of us had a good meeting last night. Jim, Ellie and Jason joined me and so we had lots of time to read and discuss things.
Jason read first, Chapter 15 entitled “Worm”. It is from the point of view of Ligeia, the winged siren. She and Damianos take Jody to a hidden camp deep in the forest. Ligeia is jealous of the way Damianos pays attention to Jody and, indeed, any of his victims. She wants his attention all to herself, like the need for a drug. Once arriving at the camp, Damianos told Ligeia to tie Jody face down to a cot, as he tore off Jody’s shirt and bra. Lots of tension and a dire threat of evil in this chapter.
Ellie read two poems. The first one was about the death of her uncle Pete, and all the questions it raised about life and death, and the soul, and what comes after death. The second poem was an observation of nature’s evidence of early spring, each tiny nuance becoming slowly visible. Ellie shared with us that nature was her path to spirituality.
Jim read Chapter 14 in the second book of the Coventry Ghosts. In it we see Karly teaching Sarah, the kitten ghost, to read. They are in the library. When Sarah tires of reading, she tells Karly they can practice manipulating physical objects by the power of thought, a skill she is teaching Karly. For a break, they both careen around, cavorting in ghostly fashion until they tire and return to the library. It was a good chapter showing ghostly development.
Jim said he had taken our advice and inserted in the first book early mentions of the antagonist Jason, to add to the suspense of the story.
I had another “Honey” story to read, “The Best Thing” which tells of my meeting Honey and some of our amusing first encounters. I am trying to collect enough of this series for a collection that might be publishable. But Jason wants me to get back to writing “Nigel Wingate Is Dead” as he wants to know what’s going to happen in that novel. Thanks for the encouragement, Jason.
Julie emailed that she was busy taking a course last night. Margaret Florczak is busy working long days and said she hoped to join us again sometime in May. Wendy wasn’t feeling well and we wish her renewed health. And there was no word from Anne or Monica.
Happy Easter to all the Rams! Next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 18th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
Four of us had a good meeting last night. Jim, Ellie and Jason joined me and so we had lots of time to read and discuss things.
Jason read first, Chapter 15 entitled “Worm”. It is from the point of view of Ligeia, the winged siren. She and Damianos take Jody to a hidden camp deep in the forest. Ligeia is jealous of the way Damianos pays attention to Jody and, indeed, any of his victims. She wants his attention all to herself, like the need for a drug. Once arriving at the camp, Damianos told Ligeia to tie Jody face down to a cot, as he tore off Jody’s shirt and bra. Lots of tension and a dire threat of evil in this chapter.
Ellie read two poems. The first one was about the death of her uncle Pete, and all the questions it raised about life and death, and the soul, and what comes after death. The second poem was an observation of nature’s evidence of early spring, each tiny nuance becoming slowly visible. Ellie shared with us that nature was her path to spirituality.
Jim read Chapter 14 in the second book of the Coventry Ghosts. In it we see Karly teaching Sarah, the kitten ghost, to read. They are in the library. When Sarah tires of reading, she tells Karly they can practice manipulating physical objects by the power of thought, a skill she is teaching Karly. For a break, they both careen around, cavorting in ghostly fashion until they tire and return to the library. It was a good chapter showing ghostly development.
Jim said he had taken our advice and inserted in the first book early mentions of the antagonist Jason, to add to the suspense of the story.
I had another “Honey” story to read, “The Best Thing” which tells of my meeting Honey and some of our amusing first encounters. I am trying to collect enough of this series for a collection that might be publishable. But Jason wants me to get back to writing “Nigel Wingate Is Dead” as he wants to know what’s going to happen in that novel. Thanks for the encouragement, Jason.
Julie emailed that she was busy taking a course last night. Margaret Florczak is busy working long days and said she hoped to join us again sometime in May. Wendy wasn’t feeling well and we wish her renewed health. And there was no word from Anne or Monica.
Happy Easter to all the Rams! Next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 18th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
Friday, March 23, 2012
THE REVIEW
SPRING’S PROMISE
It was a fun Meeting on Wednesday with the beginning of Spring, and the change to daylight saving time.
Ellie read her poem “March” which gave a detailed sensory account of seeing sharp shins beheading pigeons in March, before the end of winter, when food supplies are short. Her line, “Nature’s life cycle, a deathly ending of winter” we thought was very powerful and we thought it should be the last line of the poem as it emphasized the dark event that had just happened.
Wendy read us a personal piece about her grandmother. She starts by telling of the end of Granny’s life when Wendy was just seventeen, and then goes on to tell how Granny had lived with them and made Wendy and her sister her whole life as she cared for them while their parents were at work. The piece was a loving tribute to her grandmother, intended to be shared with family.
Julie was with us, but didn’t have any new writing to share this time. However, we are always grateful to those who come to listen to the rest of us read our scratchings. It’s always important to support each other that way.
Jim read his latest rejection letter which he received for his submission of the first hundred pages of book one of the “Coventry Ghosts”. The agent was Brown and Miller, and they had done several in-house readings before they said they found the concept intriguing but they still declined to handle it.
Next Jim read to us Chapter 13 of the second book. Jason, the antagonist, has been broken out of jail and is being abducted by the henchman of a criminal mastermind who wants Jason’s skill at usurping ghost essences through his computer to use for nefarious purposes. The abductor and Jason hop a train, and even though Jason has injured his knee, he is still forced to comply with orders to march when they get off the train.
Monica read to us from her second chapter in her self-help book. This reading told of the verbal and emotional abuse she suffered from her father, and how dysfunctional her family was. Instead of crying, she internalized her pain and believed things were her own fault. She tried unsuccessfully to gain her father’s love and acceptance, but also fought with him because she couldn’t accept the hypocrisy of his lifestyle. He had many lovers and boasted openly about it, while her own mother stayed silent. The whole family worked like slaves on the farm. We were spellbound by the telling of the background in this chapter and we all want to hear more.
I read another “Honey” story called “It Was Time” about learning that I needed to take a cane with me when I went on a boat trip with my Honey when we were up at the cabin. I did some research on word lengths for short story collections and hard copy publication seems to be in the 40,000 to 50,000 range unless it’s an anthology, which is quite a bit longer. However, I did learn that short stories are finding a market in self ePublishing and a single story is often listed for $.99. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to see a revival of an interest in short stories? They have been almost invisible since magazines quit printing them because of cost factors.
Jason read Chapter 14 of “Provoked”. This is about Gregg’s brother David. We see him at school, more interested in partying with his friends than in academics even though he’s starting to feel a need to find some purpose to his life. He’s somewhat worried about his brother’s absence from school, but much more interested in an upcoming party. He secures a date with a girl for the party, and then lets two of his friends ply him away from school and the three of them are drinking while cruising in a car. This is a great piece of characterization and an unusual chapter of daily living in the physical world after previous chapters revealing esoteric dangers. The switch back and forth ups the suspense.
If anyone is interested, this is a reminder about the upcoming presentation on e-Publishing being held at the Murrayville Library on April 19th at 7:00 p.m. The speaker will be Russ Crossley, who has books published both in hard copy and ePublished.
Also, on March 31st at 2:00 p.m. at Millner Chapel Hall is the book launch of “Water In The Wilderness” by local author Doris Riedweg.
The next Meeting of The Rams will be Wednesday, April 4th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
It was a fun Meeting on Wednesday with the beginning of Spring, and the change to daylight saving time.
Ellie read her poem “March” which gave a detailed sensory account of seeing sharp shins beheading pigeons in March, before the end of winter, when food supplies are short. Her line, “Nature’s life cycle, a deathly ending of winter” we thought was very powerful and we thought it should be the last line of the poem as it emphasized the dark event that had just happened.
Wendy read us a personal piece about her grandmother. She starts by telling of the end of Granny’s life when Wendy was just seventeen, and then goes on to tell how Granny had lived with them and made Wendy and her sister her whole life as she cared for them while their parents were at work. The piece was a loving tribute to her grandmother, intended to be shared with family.
Julie was with us, but didn’t have any new writing to share this time. However, we are always grateful to those who come to listen to the rest of us read our scratchings. It’s always important to support each other that way.
Jim read his latest rejection letter which he received for his submission of the first hundred pages of book one of the “Coventry Ghosts”. The agent was Brown and Miller, and they had done several in-house readings before they said they found the concept intriguing but they still declined to handle it.
Next Jim read to us Chapter 13 of the second book. Jason, the antagonist, has been broken out of jail and is being abducted by the henchman of a criminal mastermind who wants Jason’s skill at usurping ghost essences through his computer to use for nefarious purposes. The abductor and Jason hop a train, and even though Jason has injured his knee, he is still forced to comply with orders to march when they get off the train.
Monica read to us from her second chapter in her self-help book. This reading told of the verbal and emotional abuse she suffered from her father, and how dysfunctional her family was. Instead of crying, she internalized her pain and believed things were her own fault. She tried unsuccessfully to gain her father’s love and acceptance, but also fought with him because she couldn’t accept the hypocrisy of his lifestyle. He had many lovers and boasted openly about it, while her own mother stayed silent. The whole family worked like slaves on the farm. We were spellbound by the telling of the background in this chapter and we all want to hear more.
I read another “Honey” story called “It Was Time” about learning that I needed to take a cane with me when I went on a boat trip with my Honey when we were up at the cabin. I did some research on word lengths for short story collections and hard copy publication seems to be in the 40,000 to 50,000 range unless it’s an anthology, which is quite a bit longer. However, I did learn that short stories are finding a market in self ePublishing and a single story is often listed for $.99. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to see a revival of an interest in short stories? They have been almost invisible since magazines quit printing them because of cost factors.
Jason read Chapter 14 of “Provoked”. This is about Gregg’s brother David. We see him at school, more interested in partying with his friends than in academics even though he’s starting to feel a need to find some purpose to his life. He’s somewhat worried about his brother’s absence from school, but much more interested in an upcoming party. He secures a date with a girl for the party, and then lets two of his friends ply him away from school and the three of them are drinking while cruising in a car. This is a great piece of characterization and an unusual chapter of daily living in the physical world after previous chapters revealing esoteric dangers. The switch back and forth ups the suspense.
If anyone is interested, this is a reminder about the upcoming presentation on e-Publishing being held at the Murrayville Library on April 19th at 7:00 p.m. The speaker will be Russ Crossley, who has books published both in hard copy and ePublished.
Also, on March 31st at 2:00 p.m. at Millner Chapel Hall is the book launch of “Water In The Wilderness” by local author Doris Riedweg.
The next Meeting of The Rams will be Wednesday, April 4th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
Friday, March 9, 2012
THE REVIEW
JASON AND THE HAREM?
Jim was unable to attend the Meeting Wednesday, so that left Jason as the only man with a roomful of female writers. He didn’t seem to mind, though.
Anne Berrie had dropped off a box of dicta-typing equipment no longer used at her office, free to a good home. She was exhausted so wasn’t able to stay for the Meeting. There were three of us who each took a set of equipment for recording and then playback using a foot pedal. Julie took one set, Monica took another, and so did I. I think “Honey” can use it to record himself playing guitar and singing and then play it back to hear himself. Monica said she has a number of interviews to do and would use it for that purpose. Thanks to Anne for thinking of us.
I read first, another story from the “Honey” series. This one was “The Blob At Green Lake”, telling about our escapade with a king size waterbed mattress we took to Green Lake to use on the water for young people to jump onto. Everybody wanted to know if the story was true and Jason said my stories about Honey are an amazing tribute to him. Don’t know whether I should tell Honey that or not?
Ellie read from her young adult novel she has started, “Close To The Wind”. We see fifteen year old Jordie, with his dog and his Mom, going out to the oceanside to watch a ferocious storm. In sync with the anger of the storm, he’s raging at his missing father and dour prospects for the summer to come. There was a lot of poetic description of the storm from Jordie’s viewpoint, and some of us did tell Ellie that a teenaged boy probably wouldn’t attribute that much headspace to the sensual witnessing of the storm, that he would be more apt to express his anger in some form of physical action. So then Ellie was torn between re-writing to change Jordie’s experience in the storm, or make Jordie a female who would be more inclined to notice the storm that way, or change the beginning to someone else’s point of view entirely. And as is my habit, I chipped in that Ellie should pick one tense, past or present, and not switch back and forth. But we’re all rooting for Ellie as we know the story has a terrific plot-line that adventurous teens would really enjoy.
Monica read to us a speech she has written to deliver at a Toastmasters’ meeting on Tuesday. She stood before us and read “Sick And Tired Of Being Sick And Tired”, where she told us about the debilitating effects of Lupus and how it can obliterate the desire to participate in even the mundane of daily living. It is a case of the body attacking itself, with recurring flares and remissions, and is found more in women than in men. With an emotional call to help with fundraising, Monica challenged her listeners by saying that they all know someone with Lupus, because she is someone who has it.
Wendy read Chapter 2 of her story, “A New Dawning”. She tells of middle-aged Sarah working part-time at a drugstore managed by her best friend. Diagnosed with breast cancer, her marriage ended; no career, only a part-time job, living on alimony, she breaks down and tells her friend, Anna, even though she hasn’t told any of her own family. Anna wants to treat her to a vacation before she has surgery, but Sarah resists. After visiting her doctor and knowing surgery is scheduled in two weeks, she decides to go on vacation by herself, which is a big decision for someone not used to taking control in her life.
Before Jason read, he pointed out to me he has numbered his pages and included the name of the novel at the top, and at the beginning of each chapter has noted the title and number of same. Then he read Chapter 13, “Meaning”, from his novel “Provoked”. Gregg and his Great Grandma arrive home from the cemetery where she found him naked in the grave. She questions him about what happened and who was there, and he questions her about what it all means. He is desperate to find Jodie. He tells Great Grandma that the man in black was after the Book of the Nornir, and she then tells Gregg she has something to show him at her house. Even though events have been strange and dangerous, we still see the humour and endearing humanity of the characters in this scene.
Lastly, I was able to read the next two chapters in Margaret Moffatt’s “Coffin And Dye”. In “Sunday”, we see Coffin unhappily sitting on a bench at St. Willen’s church in the early hours of Sunday morning. He is supposed to dig up the crypt to see if he can find out who is buried there. The cleaning chap sits down beside him and tells him the crypt is empty as the body that was supposed to be buried there had disappeared on a scow that floated out to sea instead of arriving there at the church. Then the cleaning chap says the name of the missing corpse was Thomas Turnkey. The man then leaves, walking right through the closed door of the church.
In “Arthur Sees Dr. Noah”, Tootsie and Trish take the dog, Arthur, to the pet psychiatrist, wanting a remedy for the dog’s foul flatulence. They think it’s caused by Arthur having chewed on an ancient skull. But Dr. Noah says it’s the women’s fault in how they named the dog. He says the dog is a female and should never have been called “Arthur”. Since Arthur wouldn’t let them check his/her nether regions, they decide to take the dog to Donny Coffin, sure that he would know.
Anne Berrie said her son was asking when “Coffin And Dye” would be available in book form. He so enjoyed “Blow Up The Castle” he wants the next set of Margaret’s stories to read. Nice that Margaret has a fan base!
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, March 21st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. The time will have changed to daylight saving, and we should all be ready for Spring that day. Look forward to seeing you then!
Lisa
Jim was unable to attend the Meeting Wednesday, so that left Jason as the only man with a roomful of female writers. He didn’t seem to mind, though.
Anne Berrie had dropped off a box of dicta-typing equipment no longer used at her office, free to a good home. She was exhausted so wasn’t able to stay for the Meeting. There were three of us who each took a set of equipment for recording and then playback using a foot pedal. Julie took one set, Monica took another, and so did I. I think “Honey” can use it to record himself playing guitar and singing and then play it back to hear himself. Monica said she has a number of interviews to do and would use it for that purpose. Thanks to Anne for thinking of us.
I read first, another story from the “Honey” series. This one was “The Blob At Green Lake”, telling about our escapade with a king size waterbed mattress we took to Green Lake to use on the water for young people to jump onto. Everybody wanted to know if the story was true and Jason said my stories about Honey are an amazing tribute to him. Don’t know whether I should tell Honey that or not?
Ellie read from her young adult novel she has started, “Close To The Wind”. We see fifteen year old Jordie, with his dog and his Mom, going out to the oceanside to watch a ferocious storm. In sync with the anger of the storm, he’s raging at his missing father and dour prospects for the summer to come. There was a lot of poetic description of the storm from Jordie’s viewpoint, and some of us did tell Ellie that a teenaged boy probably wouldn’t attribute that much headspace to the sensual witnessing of the storm, that he would be more apt to express his anger in some form of physical action. So then Ellie was torn between re-writing to change Jordie’s experience in the storm, or make Jordie a female who would be more inclined to notice the storm that way, or change the beginning to someone else’s point of view entirely. And as is my habit, I chipped in that Ellie should pick one tense, past or present, and not switch back and forth. But we’re all rooting for Ellie as we know the story has a terrific plot-line that adventurous teens would really enjoy.
Monica read to us a speech she has written to deliver at a Toastmasters’ meeting on Tuesday. She stood before us and read “Sick And Tired Of Being Sick And Tired”, where she told us about the debilitating effects of Lupus and how it can obliterate the desire to participate in even the mundane of daily living. It is a case of the body attacking itself, with recurring flares and remissions, and is found more in women than in men. With an emotional call to help with fundraising, Monica challenged her listeners by saying that they all know someone with Lupus, because she is someone who has it.
Wendy read Chapter 2 of her story, “A New Dawning”. She tells of middle-aged Sarah working part-time at a drugstore managed by her best friend. Diagnosed with breast cancer, her marriage ended; no career, only a part-time job, living on alimony, she breaks down and tells her friend, Anna, even though she hasn’t told any of her own family. Anna wants to treat her to a vacation before she has surgery, but Sarah resists. After visiting her doctor and knowing surgery is scheduled in two weeks, she decides to go on vacation by herself, which is a big decision for someone not used to taking control in her life.
Before Jason read, he pointed out to me he has numbered his pages and included the name of the novel at the top, and at the beginning of each chapter has noted the title and number of same. Then he read Chapter 13, “Meaning”, from his novel “Provoked”. Gregg and his Great Grandma arrive home from the cemetery where she found him naked in the grave. She questions him about what happened and who was there, and he questions her about what it all means. He is desperate to find Jodie. He tells Great Grandma that the man in black was after the Book of the Nornir, and she then tells Gregg she has something to show him at her house. Even though events have been strange and dangerous, we still see the humour and endearing humanity of the characters in this scene.
Lastly, I was able to read the next two chapters in Margaret Moffatt’s “Coffin And Dye”. In “Sunday”, we see Coffin unhappily sitting on a bench at St. Willen’s church in the early hours of Sunday morning. He is supposed to dig up the crypt to see if he can find out who is buried there. The cleaning chap sits down beside him and tells him the crypt is empty as the body that was supposed to be buried there had disappeared on a scow that floated out to sea instead of arriving there at the church. Then the cleaning chap says the name of the missing corpse was Thomas Turnkey. The man then leaves, walking right through the closed door of the church.
In “Arthur Sees Dr. Noah”, Tootsie and Trish take the dog, Arthur, to the pet psychiatrist, wanting a remedy for the dog’s foul flatulence. They think it’s caused by Arthur having chewed on an ancient skull. But Dr. Noah says it’s the women’s fault in how they named the dog. He says the dog is a female and should never have been called “Arthur”. Since Arthur wouldn’t let them check his/her nether regions, they decide to take the dog to Donny Coffin, sure that he would know.
Anne Berrie said her son was asking when “Coffin And Dye” would be available in book form. He so enjoyed “Blow Up The Castle” he wants the next set of Margaret’s stories to read. Nice that Margaret has a fan base!
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, March 21st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. The time will have changed to daylight saving, and we should all be ready for Spring that day. Look forward to seeing you then!
Lisa
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