DRENCHED IN WORDS?
Wednesday’s Meeting of the Rams was fun and interesting for the six of us who were here, in spite of the constant rain in the forecast. That would be good writing weather, right?
Wendy read first, a poem she had recently rewritten, entitled “Whale Song”. It was a poetic song to recognize the voice of the whales as they lament the loss of sea life and the sanctity of their environment to the depravity of mankind. This was a very powerful piece that validated the song of the whales.
Lorelie read us a letter she had written to a CBC reporter chronicling the true story of having their home built by an unscrupulous contractor and the ensuing legal and insurance and renovation nightmare that resulted. We all encouraged her to write this in story form, complete with characters, shady and heroic, and pivotal scenes with dialogue. And we also want to know the human impact on her and her husband and their marriage from this horror story.
Margaret F. read a poem entitled “Inquest Regarding the Death Of Ross Allen”. It was a long poem, over 1400 words that detailed events and showed how incapable healthcare, police and social services professionals were of preventing the suicide in hospital of a young man who had complained of being depressed. And it shows the horror the mother witnessed of all those people doing so very little to assist her son. It is sad to say that probably very little in the system has changed.
In further discussion with Margaret about her work on “Babes In The Wood”, she informed us she had hired two individuals to sort through all the research she had done through the years and put it all in chronological order for her. Then the rest of us suggested she make the story her own personal one and write it from first person so she could give us the emotion that compelled her to do the research and would allow her to include her own thoughts on what happened.
Jason read Chapter 24, “Destroyer”. We see Ligeia in her tent next to where Jody is captive, and she is perusing a book written by her ancestors in another language, trying to find out what Jody was. We learn Ligeia had murdered her own mother, as was the custom with the syrenes. She eventually learns that by her ancestors, a jivita was called a Destroyer. This was another good chapter of character development and gives us another piece of the puzzle.
I read last, a personal piece entitled “A Thousand Words” telling the background for a man’s picture, in a thousand words, that could not be discerned from the picture. It told of meeting and having an affair with a trucker who was later charged and convicted of sexual assault on his step-daughter, and my honestly not knowing the truth of the matter.
Jim didn’t get to read, because it was 9:00 all too soon. But he will read first at the next meeting.
I have uploaded an ebook manuscript entitled “Love Found” to Kobo and it should be available for purchase in the next week sometime. It is just a small collection of three short stories for $1.99. I did this as a trial run for other ebooks I want to publish with Kobo, just to figure out how to design and format one, and how their process works. I think Kobo is one of the best ebook publishing sites that has happened to Canadian authors who want to self-publish. They are a Canadian company, situated in Ontario. Royalties are 70% and you can stipulate payment in Canadian funds that are deposited directly into your own bank account. If there are any legal issues down the road, everything defaults to Ontario and Canadian law. Their uploading process is very simple and easy to follow. However, I do recommend the Smashwords Style Guide for instructions on inserting a table of contents and internal hyperlinks in your manuscript.
Julie told me she still had a bad cold she couldn’t shake. Amanda had to work late and said she should be at the next Meeting. Ellie said she had bursitis in one shoulder and had injured her upper back. And I haven’t heard from anyone else.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, November 7th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Happy Halloween and don’t eat too much candy!
Lisa
Friday, October 19, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
THE REVIEW
THANKS TO THE MUSE!
Thanks to Jason, Margaret F., Wendy and Jim who joined me for a Meeting last night. We enjoyed some good discussions.
Jason brought up our first topic which was professional editing. He said he thought he was ready for an editor to look at his manuscript and give a professional opinion on content, and not proofreading it. He said he felt too close to it to be objective about it after so many years and so many rewrites. Several names of local editors were suggested and pricing was discussed. It was thought he would be better off hiring someone locally rather than over the internet, especially if a local editor would give him a personal appointment to discuss his novel in person. We hope he finds what he’s looking for.
Then Jason read Chapter 23, “Plunder” from his novel. After the fire, Damianos still hears the voice telling him to get the crate with the singed book out of the fireplace. He starts a fight with Gregg and then grabs Gregg’s great grandmother and uses her to knock Gregg over to prevent him morphing into his inhuman self. Then he throws the great-grandmother and pushes the bookcase over on her, grabs the crate and runs off with it. This was a short, tight chapter full of action, and well written, though we did give Jason a rough time over one sentence.
Margaret read a paper she wrote several years ago about the skeletons of two young children found in Stanly Park. It was an academic paper and used a lot of repetition and some quotes of experts to validate opinions. Wendy asked who her intended audience would be for the book she is writing on this topic. If the audience is academic, then inclusion of this piece as is would be fine. But if she wants her audience to be the general public, then some simplification of the writing would give more clarity to it.
Jim read Ch. 18 from the second book of “Coventry Ghosts”. Here we see Jason, the antagonist who captures essences of the dead in his computer, trying to communicate with his dead parents. He has been broken out of jail in Mexico and is now transported by sub to an Asian nation that wants his expertise. He is given a lab and staff and a room full of young, live, men and women chosen to sacrifice their brains for his experiments. They are lawbreakers sentenced to death, but only the brightest ones. I did ask Jim what would happen if the essence of someone with dementia was captured by mistake. He laughed.
After Margaret had told me of the three day delay required after obtaining a marriage licence before a wedding could be performed, I inserted another chapter in front of the actual wedding. This one is in Nigel’s point of view when he and Dee go into 100 Mile House to get the marriage licence and learn of the required 3 day wait. To prevent Dee from going back to work at the Lone Butte Hotel, he agrees to buy her a new dress to marry in and goes shopping with her, noticing they are being watched by the RCMP. It was suggested I add to this chapter and develop Dee’s personality further, showing her darker side.
I also read my re-write of the following chapter, which is the one I had read last time. It shows Edna realizing she will always be wondering if she is being watched by the police for the rest of her life.
Gemma is still dealing with health issues, her own and those of her husband and brother. Margaret Moffatt has been ill, and so has Julie. We wish all three a speedy recovery and good health. Amber said she had to work late yesterday, and Lorelie said she was unable to attend. Hope everyone else is fine and still talking to their Muse. For those who don’t attend because they haven’t written anything lately, please know that isn’t a requirement for your presence at a Meeting. I’m sorry if I made people think that because I’ve said to bring something to read, either your own writing or something about writing. It is also important for the group to function if we have interested parties willing to listen and give feedback to those who do read. We need that interaction to become better readers and writers consciously aware of the intricacies of the written word.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 17th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place and please know you are welcome and wanted whether you have written anything or not. Hope to see you on the 17th, and have a very Happy Thanksgiving in the meantime!
Lisa
Thanks to Jason, Margaret F., Wendy and Jim who joined me for a Meeting last night. We enjoyed some good discussions.
Jason brought up our first topic which was professional editing. He said he thought he was ready for an editor to look at his manuscript and give a professional opinion on content, and not proofreading it. He said he felt too close to it to be objective about it after so many years and so many rewrites. Several names of local editors were suggested and pricing was discussed. It was thought he would be better off hiring someone locally rather than over the internet, especially if a local editor would give him a personal appointment to discuss his novel in person. We hope he finds what he’s looking for.
Then Jason read Chapter 23, “Plunder” from his novel. After the fire, Damianos still hears the voice telling him to get the crate with the singed book out of the fireplace. He starts a fight with Gregg and then grabs Gregg’s great grandmother and uses her to knock Gregg over to prevent him morphing into his inhuman self. Then he throws the great-grandmother and pushes the bookcase over on her, grabs the crate and runs off with it. This was a short, tight chapter full of action, and well written, though we did give Jason a rough time over one sentence.
Margaret read a paper she wrote several years ago about the skeletons of two young children found in Stanly Park. It was an academic paper and used a lot of repetition and some quotes of experts to validate opinions. Wendy asked who her intended audience would be for the book she is writing on this topic. If the audience is academic, then inclusion of this piece as is would be fine. But if she wants her audience to be the general public, then some simplification of the writing would give more clarity to it.
Jim read Ch. 18 from the second book of “Coventry Ghosts”. Here we see Jason, the antagonist who captures essences of the dead in his computer, trying to communicate with his dead parents. He has been broken out of jail in Mexico and is now transported by sub to an Asian nation that wants his expertise. He is given a lab and staff and a room full of young, live, men and women chosen to sacrifice their brains for his experiments. They are lawbreakers sentenced to death, but only the brightest ones. I did ask Jim what would happen if the essence of someone with dementia was captured by mistake. He laughed.
After Margaret had told me of the three day delay required after obtaining a marriage licence before a wedding could be performed, I inserted another chapter in front of the actual wedding. This one is in Nigel’s point of view when he and Dee go into 100 Mile House to get the marriage licence and learn of the required 3 day wait. To prevent Dee from going back to work at the Lone Butte Hotel, he agrees to buy her a new dress to marry in and goes shopping with her, noticing they are being watched by the RCMP. It was suggested I add to this chapter and develop Dee’s personality further, showing her darker side.
I also read my re-write of the following chapter, which is the one I had read last time. It shows Edna realizing she will always be wondering if she is being watched by the police for the rest of her life.
Gemma is still dealing with health issues, her own and those of her husband and brother. Margaret Moffatt has been ill, and so has Julie. We wish all three a speedy recovery and good health. Amber said she had to work late yesterday, and Lorelie said she was unable to attend. Hope everyone else is fine and still talking to their Muse. For those who don’t attend because they haven’t written anything lately, please know that isn’t a requirement for your presence at a Meeting. I’m sorry if I made people think that because I’ve said to bring something to read, either your own writing or something about writing. It is also important for the group to function if we have interested parties willing to listen and give feedback to those who do read. We need that interaction to become better readers and writers consciously aware of the intricacies of the written word.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 17th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place and please know you are welcome and wanted whether you have written anything or not. Hope to see you on the 17th, and have a very Happy Thanksgiving in the meantime!
Lisa
Saturday, September 22, 2012
THE REVIEW
FIRST DAY OF FALL
Our Meeting on Wednesday was the last one of the summer and today is the first day of fall. Wasn’t all that sunshine absolutely glorious for so many days?
Amber Lyndon joined Jason, Margaret F., Wendy, Jim and me here on Wednesday for her first time with the Rams. Welcome to Amber.
I had received notification from Polar Expressions that my short fiction piece “The End” was accepted for inclusion in their anthology “Setting The Scene”. Final winners of that contest have yet to be determined.
I read first and started with my next chapter in “Nigel Wingate Is Dead” in which I have Deirdre’s mother as witness as Deirdre and Nigel get married by a Justice Of The Peace in 100 Mile. But when I finished reading Margaret F. told me, based on her own experience in the 1960s, that the couple would have had to wait three days after obtaining the marriage licence before getting married. So now I guess I have to re-write that chapter. Details like that are important because you don’t want to turn readers off by getting facts wrong even though you are writing fiction.
Next I read a short piece called “The Memory Of White Wine” remembering an evening getting drunk on white wine when asking my former husband for a divorce. Because I wrote this piece by hand, the words were sparse and I think gave a greater impact to this short story.
Margaret F. also had two readings. The first was her next chapter in “Babes In The Wood” where she documents a newspaper article that was very misleading and also that the coroner said the corpses were one male child and one female child when all the clothing found with them were those only worn by boys at that time. So of course a search for a missing boy and girl would not have turned up information about two missing boys, would it?
Then Margaret read a poem “Sisters” that she had written to her own sister telling her not to give up on her dreams because they are so fragile and can be lost forever if not made manifest by the dreamer. Good warning to all of us.
Jason read Chapter 22 “Mothers” from his novel “Provoked”. In this chapter Gregg is questioning how he could only be part human. His great grandma explains to him that his now deceased Aunt Samantha was his real mother, not Laura, and that Samantha had been raped by some very strange male character named Lucy, who then disappeared. After Laura adopted him, her husband left her and she eventually ended up with Dave’s father. Gregg is trying to come to terms with who and what he may be, when Damianos returns to the room. There’s lots of good background material in this chapter and the story is unfolding nicely.
Amber read the first chapter in her historical novel “The Black Apple” which is set in the lower mainland during the 1800s. It is told from the point of view of the youngest daughter of six, who is eleven years old and blind. She relates the early morning hours one day when her mother woke her and they all left the house silently and secretly until they were far enough away that the mother could explain to her that she had to leave them to right some wrong, and that the child would be taken care of by her sisters. The child was frantic with the feeling of abandonment. We were all keen to know the secrets to be revealed in this story.
Jim read Chapter 19 in the second book of “Coventry Ghosts”. This shows us the ghosts with their first catering contract at a posh home north of Vancouver. Cheri is very nervous about how the ghosts will perform. Cars were lifted and parked by ghost valets, trays of food and drink were carried around by unseen waiters, and live people were dancing with the unseen dead who became translucent phantoms at midnight. But the party was a success. It was so much fun hearing this chapter and envisioning what was happening.
Wendy didn’t read, but had good things to say about all that was read by others. Ellie was unable to attend since she was entertaining guests from Australia. Gemma is still overwhelmed in caring for both her husband and her brother, but said to say hi to everyone and let them know she was thinking of the Rams. Anne Berrie said since her son received his driver’s N, she seldom has use of her car in the evenings. Lorelie had a prior commitment, but said she will attend the next meeting. Margaret Moffatt receives many email notes from people who have read her pieces of history being published in Today’s Senior Newsmagazine, which she assures me she wouldn’t receive if she didn’t include her email address with her byline. I had raised privacy concerns about doing that, but I guess I was wrong. The contact received has all been positive.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 3rd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Look forward to seeing you then. Happy Writing!!!
Lisa
Our Meeting on Wednesday was the last one of the summer and today is the first day of fall. Wasn’t all that sunshine absolutely glorious for so many days?
Amber Lyndon joined Jason, Margaret F., Wendy, Jim and me here on Wednesday for her first time with the Rams. Welcome to Amber.
I had received notification from Polar Expressions that my short fiction piece “The End” was accepted for inclusion in their anthology “Setting The Scene”. Final winners of that contest have yet to be determined.
I read first and started with my next chapter in “Nigel Wingate Is Dead” in which I have Deirdre’s mother as witness as Deirdre and Nigel get married by a Justice Of The Peace in 100 Mile. But when I finished reading Margaret F. told me, based on her own experience in the 1960s, that the couple would have had to wait three days after obtaining the marriage licence before getting married. So now I guess I have to re-write that chapter. Details like that are important because you don’t want to turn readers off by getting facts wrong even though you are writing fiction.
Next I read a short piece called “The Memory Of White Wine” remembering an evening getting drunk on white wine when asking my former husband for a divorce. Because I wrote this piece by hand, the words were sparse and I think gave a greater impact to this short story.
Margaret F. also had two readings. The first was her next chapter in “Babes In The Wood” where she documents a newspaper article that was very misleading and also that the coroner said the corpses were one male child and one female child when all the clothing found with them were those only worn by boys at that time. So of course a search for a missing boy and girl would not have turned up information about two missing boys, would it?
Then Margaret read a poem “Sisters” that she had written to her own sister telling her not to give up on her dreams because they are so fragile and can be lost forever if not made manifest by the dreamer. Good warning to all of us.
Jason read Chapter 22 “Mothers” from his novel “Provoked”. In this chapter Gregg is questioning how he could only be part human. His great grandma explains to him that his now deceased Aunt Samantha was his real mother, not Laura, and that Samantha had been raped by some very strange male character named Lucy, who then disappeared. After Laura adopted him, her husband left her and she eventually ended up with Dave’s father. Gregg is trying to come to terms with who and what he may be, when Damianos returns to the room. There’s lots of good background material in this chapter and the story is unfolding nicely.
Amber read the first chapter in her historical novel “The Black Apple” which is set in the lower mainland during the 1800s. It is told from the point of view of the youngest daughter of six, who is eleven years old and blind. She relates the early morning hours one day when her mother woke her and they all left the house silently and secretly until they were far enough away that the mother could explain to her that she had to leave them to right some wrong, and that the child would be taken care of by her sisters. The child was frantic with the feeling of abandonment. We were all keen to know the secrets to be revealed in this story.
Jim read Chapter 19 in the second book of “Coventry Ghosts”. This shows us the ghosts with their first catering contract at a posh home north of Vancouver. Cheri is very nervous about how the ghosts will perform. Cars were lifted and parked by ghost valets, trays of food and drink were carried around by unseen waiters, and live people were dancing with the unseen dead who became translucent phantoms at midnight. But the party was a success. It was so much fun hearing this chapter and envisioning what was happening.
Wendy didn’t read, but had good things to say about all that was read by others. Ellie was unable to attend since she was entertaining guests from Australia. Gemma is still overwhelmed in caring for both her husband and her brother, but said to say hi to everyone and let them know she was thinking of the Rams. Anne Berrie said since her son received his driver’s N, she seldom has use of her car in the evenings. Lorelie had a prior commitment, but said she will attend the next meeting. Margaret Moffatt receives many email notes from people who have read her pieces of history being published in Today’s Senior Newsmagazine, which she assures me she wouldn’t receive if she didn’t include her email address with her byline. I had raised privacy concerns about doing that, but I guess I was wrong. The contact received has all been positive.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 3rd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Look forward to seeing you then. Happy Writing!!!
Lisa
Friday, September 7, 2012
THE REVIEW
SEPTEMBER SUNSHINE
In spite of the lure of lingering summer sunshine, five of us did have a Meeting on Wednesday. Jason, Wendy and Margaret F. joined me in welcoming Lorelie Quiding to the Ram’s Head. She joined in discussions but wasn’t prepared to read anything to us yet.
Margaret F. read her Prologue and Chapter 1 from “Babes In The Wood”. There is a lot of detail here about the beginnings of the case and how disorganized police were in gathering evidence and keeping track of it. This opens many, many questions as to what really might have happened, and when, and by whom, and to whom. Since the slain children still have not been identified, we all want to know as much as possible so look forward to further chapters of Margaret’s.
Wendy read a very dynamic poem entitled “White Wine” that she recently wrote about someone seriously considering suicide through a long night and then deciding to go on living as the sun rises. Her wordage was exquisite and magnified everyday detail in a traumatic instance.
I read Chapter 11 in “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”. It shows Constable Reznick watching in the parking lot of the Lone Butte Hotel when Nigel and Deirdre come out, collect his belongings from his Firebird, and are then accosted by the departing bartender who assumed he had a late night date with Deirdre. When things could turn ugly, Reznick gets out of his cruiser and intervenes. As he learns Nigel and Deirdre are getting married, he wants to know why so soon after the funeral of Deirdre’s daughter. He strongly suspects their marriage will prevent police from learning anything more about the unusual death of the child, but will still contact Vancouver RCMP to see what they know about Nigel.
Jason read two chapters from his novel. In Chapter 20, “Composure”, Damianos is outside the house of Gregg’s great grandmother, looking in the window and seeing the book of secret spells he has been looking for. He is also listening to a commanding voice in his head.
In Chapter 21, “Showdown”, Damianos battles with Gregg over the book, and Gregg throws the crate holding it, into the fireplace. Following the commanding voice, Damianos tries to retrieve the crate but his sleeves catch on fire, and then the home catches fire. He soaks himself in the shower while Gregg and his great grandmother use fire extinguishers to put out the flames. Damianos is still haunted by the voice commanding him to get the book. During this scene, Damianos has called Gregg a jivita, and Gregg wants to know what that is.
Margaret Moffatt has two articles in the September issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine. One is “The Hollow Cedar Tree”, about the one in Stanley Park. And the other is about Prince George.
Also in that issue is an article, “Profile Of A Dancer – Charlie Thompson” about a former member of The Ram’s Head, who attended back in 2006 when he was writing his memoirs. He was born in 1919, so it’s good to hear Charlie is still going strong.
Jim wasn’t able to attend as he was busy picking plums at his home. It is harvest time again. We hope to see Jim sometime soon.
Ellie said she was unable to make the meeting, and I haven’t heard from anyone else about attending, or not, lately.
Michael says he needs more time to prepare his presentation on story structure, so nothing will be happening on that front in September. Stay tuned.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, September 19th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
In spite of the lure of lingering summer sunshine, five of us did have a Meeting on Wednesday. Jason, Wendy and Margaret F. joined me in welcoming Lorelie Quiding to the Ram’s Head. She joined in discussions but wasn’t prepared to read anything to us yet.
Margaret F. read her Prologue and Chapter 1 from “Babes In The Wood”. There is a lot of detail here about the beginnings of the case and how disorganized police were in gathering evidence and keeping track of it. This opens many, many questions as to what really might have happened, and when, and by whom, and to whom. Since the slain children still have not been identified, we all want to know as much as possible so look forward to further chapters of Margaret’s.
Wendy read a very dynamic poem entitled “White Wine” that she recently wrote about someone seriously considering suicide through a long night and then deciding to go on living as the sun rises. Her wordage was exquisite and magnified everyday detail in a traumatic instance.
I read Chapter 11 in “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”. It shows Constable Reznick watching in the parking lot of the Lone Butte Hotel when Nigel and Deirdre come out, collect his belongings from his Firebird, and are then accosted by the departing bartender who assumed he had a late night date with Deirdre. When things could turn ugly, Reznick gets out of his cruiser and intervenes. As he learns Nigel and Deirdre are getting married, he wants to know why so soon after the funeral of Deirdre’s daughter. He strongly suspects their marriage will prevent police from learning anything more about the unusual death of the child, but will still contact Vancouver RCMP to see what they know about Nigel.
Jason read two chapters from his novel. In Chapter 20, “Composure”, Damianos is outside the house of Gregg’s great grandmother, looking in the window and seeing the book of secret spells he has been looking for. He is also listening to a commanding voice in his head.
In Chapter 21, “Showdown”, Damianos battles with Gregg over the book, and Gregg throws the crate holding it, into the fireplace. Following the commanding voice, Damianos tries to retrieve the crate but his sleeves catch on fire, and then the home catches fire. He soaks himself in the shower while Gregg and his great grandmother use fire extinguishers to put out the flames. Damianos is still haunted by the voice commanding him to get the book. During this scene, Damianos has called Gregg a jivita, and Gregg wants to know what that is.
Margaret Moffatt has two articles in the September issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine. One is “The Hollow Cedar Tree”, about the one in Stanley Park. And the other is about Prince George.
Also in that issue is an article, “Profile Of A Dancer – Charlie Thompson” about a former member of The Ram’s Head, who attended back in 2006 when he was writing his memoirs. He was born in 1919, so it’s good to hear Charlie is still going strong.
Jim wasn’t able to attend as he was busy picking plums at his home. It is harvest time again. We hope to see Jim sometime soon.
Ellie said she was unable to make the meeting, and I haven’t heard from anyone else about attending, or not, lately.
Michael says he needs more time to prepare his presentation on story structure, so nothing will be happening on that front in September. Stay tuned.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, September 19th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
Lisa
Thursday, August 16, 2012
THE REVIEW
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
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
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
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