TECH TALK
There were seven of us here Wednesday night in heavy discussion about making changes to our website at www.ramsheadwriters.ca Leah Murray has brought her expertise in web design to our group and had us answering questions about what we want for the site. We discussed such things as the purpose of the site, the members’ pages, archives for included published work, twitter feed for news such as calls for submissions, a page for writing resource links, compiling a mailing list from site visitors, contact info, what we want on the front page. It’s amazing what should be considered, and we’re not even an email retail site!
Leah didn’t read but did pass around her now available DVD, “Winter In The Rain Forest”, which is a photographic display with her poetry voiced over music that was composed with her nephew. Very impressive.
Margaret Florczak was able to join us, sneaking away from caretaking duties for an invalid husband. Her interest in the ‘Babes In The Woods’ mystery inspired her to write a reply to the article that was featured in the Sunday Province. We first had Jason read the article, and then Margaret read her response, which is a letter to the editor she sent in. After all her years of research into these unsolved murders, she is still furious at the lack of professional skill brought to bear in even identifying these children, never mind who killed them. I also read an account from Margaret Moffatt of having sighted a strange woman in a fur coat with two young boys on her own residential street in the mid 1940s, that may or may not be relevant to this case.
Annette read Chapter 17 in “A Touch Of Wormwood”. Mike is still having coffee with Alyssa’s father, who has asked if he’s the one hired to kill her. Mike tells him he was hired by her boss to ‘deal’with her, but because he was an undercover cop, he arranged for her to survive the supposed murder attempt and escape into hiding. Later, Alyssa’s mother tells him if he cares deeply for her daughter, he shouldn’t give up on trying to win her. But Mike is afraid Alyssa has fallen for his brother, John. We like how this is setting up future conflict between the two brothers over Alyssa’s affections.
Kristi read a rewrite of the chapter that introduces Jane, in “The Midnight Daisies”. She is now an older version of Jane, a teacher, and we see her dismiss her students early as a rainstorm approaches. On her own way home with her treasured poetry books wrapped in her shawl, she is accosted by Sean, a townie. But she is able to fight him off and run toward home in the hills clutching her soaking and muddy books. Kristi says every time she re-reads something she has written, she sees a need for revision. We told her to go ahead and write the story and then worry later about the re-writing to polish her treasured accounting of horror.
Jason read the next chapter in his book. Jody is helping Greg to leave the hospital after he healed the girl who had been burned. She’s afraid of people finding out they are only half human. A big man intervenes and steers them swiftly into a washroom where Greg vomits into the toilet. The stranger chastises them for the healing they had done, telling them it is too exhausting and can bring dangerous unwanted attention. He also tells them the girl’s suffering has now become their own. This was a riveting chapter, very exciting.
Monica Buchanan joined us Wednesday for the first time in a couple of years. She says she wants to get back into writing and hoped to absorb some inspiration. Jim was unable to join us as he was meeting with the editor that Jason had introduced him to.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, November 5th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then and don’t get lost with the ghouls and ghosts and goblins in the meantime!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Friday, October 17, 2014
Saturday, October 4, 2014
THE REVIEW
AUTUMN SCRIBES
Wednesday’s Meeting was lively and fun and full of laughter as six of us were here to worship the Muse. I had found and re-activated our ‘talking stick’, complete with a blue rubber ram’s head on top of a brass vase. The ram’s head is actually a phallic prosthesis glued to the top of the vase. (This was thanks to Nathaniel Poole for his donation of said item in the earlier days of this writers’ group.) Kristi thought it was a hookah pipe when she first saw it. We did use it as a ‘talking stick’ and it was passed around the room to give each speaker authority to command attention. So now you know the origins of the name “Ram’s Head Writers’ Group”. Too funny!
Kristi was eager to read a new short story she wrote, “Of The Moon”. It told of a wandering soul that was in an acorn and then a wolf, a fish, a man, a tree, a sparrow, a hawk, and then the sky, and a moonbeam, where it returns to the moon. This story was very haunting and evocative of animal and spirit. We hope she can find somewhere to have it published and showcased.
Annette read her next two chapters in “A Touch of Wormwood”. We see Mike approaching Alyssa’s parents and trying to move them and their other two daughters to safety. He spends the night collecting Mr. and Mrs. Jorgen at their home, their daughter Eva at church, and their daughter Benny at a motel with a co-ed crowd, and then driving them all some distance to a motel he checks them into. Mike and Mr. Jorgen go out to collect some breakfast for all of them, but also to discuss the situation. After explaining that Alyssa and her whole family were in danger, that an assassin had been hired previously to kill Alyssa, Mr. Jorgen wants to know if Mike was that hired assassin. His question was the end of the chapter, and that was a great hook to keep readers turning the pages.
Jim read Chapter 59 in Book II of “Coventry Ghosts”. Sara and Joel are trying to avoid both the Umbra and the guards at the compound where they think Jason is, so Sara tries teaching Joel mental telepathy so they can communicate without being heard. However, Joel is annoyed and keeps telling her to get out of his head. He eventually catches on and suggests they walk, while Sara shields him and keeps him invisible.
Jim said he had contacted the editor that Jason had recommended to him and was waiting to hear from her after sending samples of his work.
Jason read another chapter from his book. Here we see a Hindu mother in hospital praying fervently for the life of her badly burned ten year old daughter. Through the night there is a miraculous healing and the mother witnesses energy flowing from Gregg into her daughter, as he’s holding her hand. Jason put a lot of research into this chapter about burns and their treatment, but also about Hindu prayer. There was good tension here, and it added much more depth to the story.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Surrey in the October issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
Wendy and I didn’t read anything, but I did bring up a discussion about our website and future possibilities. I did say I don’t want the site to lose any current content if it is updated, and that I also don’t want the site used specifically for sales. However, I have no objection to it containing links to members’ own websites where they want to sell their own work. Members at the meeting were all in agreement they would like to see many more links to writers’ resource websites and will start collecting ones they think would be beneficial to the writing community.
Recently Margaret Moffatt received an email from someone who read her article about her father that is included on our website. And the blog received a comment from a writer in Toronto who also had a story accepted by Polar Expressions. It’s good to know Ram’s Head members are not the only ones who read the website or the blog for The Review.
Copies of the anthology “Don’t Light A Match In The Outhouse” by Summit Studios were available and my thanks to the four who bought copies. The book includes my short story “The Blob At Green Lake”. The editor said the book should be available in stores by November.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 15th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then and may the Muse inspire you in the meantime.
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Wednesday’s Meeting was lively and fun and full of laughter as six of us were here to worship the Muse. I had found and re-activated our ‘talking stick’, complete with a blue rubber ram’s head on top of a brass vase. The ram’s head is actually a phallic prosthesis glued to the top of the vase. (This was thanks to Nathaniel Poole for his donation of said item in the earlier days of this writers’ group.) Kristi thought it was a hookah pipe when she first saw it. We did use it as a ‘talking stick’ and it was passed around the room to give each speaker authority to command attention. So now you know the origins of the name “Ram’s Head Writers’ Group”. Too funny!
Kristi was eager to read a new short story she wrote, “Of The Moon”. It told of a wandering soul that was in an acorn and then a wolf, a fish, a man, a tree, a sparrow, a hawk, and then the sky, and a moonbeam, where it returns to the moon. This story was very haunting and evocative of animal and spirit. We hope she can find somewhere to have it published and showcased.
Annette read her next two chapters in “A Touch of Wormwood”. We see Mike approaching Alyssa’s parents and trying to move them and their other two daughters to safety. He spends the night collecting Mr. and Mrs. Jorgen at their home, their daughter Eva at church, and their daughter Benny at a motel with a co-ed crowd, and then driving them all some distance to a motel he checks them into. Mike and Mr. Jorgen go out to collect some breakfast for all of them, but also to discuss the situation. After explaining that Alyssa and her whole family were in danger, that an assassin had been hired previously to kill Alyssa, Mr. Jorgen wants to know if Mike was that hired assassin. His question was the end of the chapter, and that was a great hook to keep readers turning the pages.
Jim read Chapter 59 in Book II of “Coventry Ghosts”. Sara and Joel are trying to avoid both the Umbra and the guards at the compound where they think Jason is, so Sara tries teaching Joel mental telepathy so they can communicate without being heard. However, Joel is annoyed and keeps telling her to get out of his head. He eventually catches on and suggests they walk, while Sara shields him and keeps him invisible.
Jim said he had contacted the editor that Jason had recommended to him and was waiting to hear from her after sending samples of his work.
Jason read another chapter from his book. Here we see a Hindu mother in hospital praying fervently for the life of her badly burned ten year old daughter. Through the night there is a miraculous healing and the mother witnesses energy flowing from Gregg into her daughter, as he’s holding her hand. Jason put a lot of research into this chapter about burns and their treatment, but also about Hindu prayer. There was good tension here, and it added much more depth to the story.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Surrey in the October issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
Wendy and I didn’t read anything, but I did bring up a discussion about our website and future possibilities. I did say I don’t want the site to lose any current content if it is updated, and that I also don’t want the site used specifically for sales. However, I have no objection to it containing links to members’ own websites where they want to sell their own work. Members at the meeting were all in agreement they would like to see many more links to writers’ resource websites and will start collecting ones they think would be beneficial to the writing community.
Recently Margaret Moffatt received an email from someone who read her article about her father that is included on our website. And the blog received a comment from a writer in Toronto who also had a story accepted by Polar Expressions. It’s good to know Ram’s Head members are not the only ones who read the website or the blog for The Review.
Copies of the anthology “Don’t Light A Match In The Outhouse” by Summit Studios were available and my thanks to the four who bought copies. The book includes my short story “The Blob At Green Lake”. The editor said the book should be available in stores by November.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 15th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then and may the Muse inspire you in the meantime.
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Friday, September 19, 2014
THE REVIEW
WE’LL BE FAMOUS!
On Wednesday Jim, Jason, Annette, Leah and Kristie all joined me for an awesome meeting. The big news is that Annette, Kristie and I will all have short stories published in Polar Expression’s anthology of “That Golden Summer”. And Kristie and Leah will also have poems published in their poetry anthology “The Warbler’s Song”. That is awesome news for Ram’s Head writers!
In addition, I’ve also had my article about Sonny, “The Making Of A Soldier, A Mother’s Perspective” published in the Petawawa Post on September 11th. It coincided with his taking command of the 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, Petawawa. Also, my short story “The Blob At Green Lake”, a ‘Honey’ story, will be in the anthology “Never Light A Match In The Outhouse”. This will be published by Summit Studios in Ontario and will be in bookstores late October or early November. I did notice that most of my success seems to be with pieces of mine that are non-fiction. Does that forebode will for my collection of ‘Honey’ stories, which qualify as non- fiction?
We were so pleased to see Jim again, glad that he is recovering his health. He shared with us a rejection letter for “The Coventry Ghosts” which gave specifics for the rejection. They said it had to do with his use of language and suggested he have a reader or editor look at it who could be objective. Jim says he will look for an editor.
Leah will be presenting her completed “Winter In The Rain Forest” DVD at the Lit Café in Crescent Beach on Tuesday, Sept. 30th from 7-9 p.m. The Lit Café is at Alexandra Neighbourhood House, 2916 McBride Ave., in Crescent Beach. Suggested donation for admission is $5.00, but none will be turned away for lack of funds. Congratulations, Leah!
Annette read first, Chapters 13 and 14 of “A Taste Of Wormwood”, and we see Alyssa staying alone in the house while John and Carrie are still away. The doorbell rings and she sees that George West and his cronies are at the door. She hides in the safe room and watches them on the monitors. As they gain access to the house, she calls John for help. She wants him to save her family, too. He insists she give him their address so he can do that. John also sends Carl to rescue Allyssa and take her to a secure cabin. She has to talk on the phone to her parents, who thought she was dead, in order to convince them to go with Mike, John’s brother, for safety. There was a lot of tension in these two chapters and we were all concerned for Alyssa’s safety.
Jim read Chapter 58 of “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. Jason enters his lab where his computers are, to be greeted by the main computer who has developed a personality of her own, and who now wants to be named Abigail, and she calls the other, smaller computers her daughters. Jason sweet talks to her and she agrees to keep his secret with him. So now we’re wondering if Abigail is going to turn on Jason at some point? Hmmm….
Kristie read her re-write of Chapter 1 of “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. Jane’s parents, Meg and Gordon, sneak out late at night for a lover’s tryst. They head to Miller’s Hill, where the Captain’s house stands ghostly and abandoned. As they turn to lovemaking, they are attacked by the apple tree, which entwines it’s leaves and branches inside their bodies and then turns them over to the midnight daisies to be devoured. Satiated, the daisies glow bright red momentarily, before turning to midnight blue again. There was a lot of detailed description in this chapter, that leant to its horror.
Jason read the next chapter in his book. We see Dave being driven home and unceremoniously dropped off by Leah. He was frustrated there was no sex between them on their camping trip. He finds Gregg and Jody in his bedroom and they are playing with language translations on the computer. Apparently Jody can understand anything said to her in any language. Dave doesn’t understand their closeness, and asks Jody why she likes Gregg more than him. Jody tells him he usually thinks only of himself, but says it nicely. Dave feels hurt and embarrassed anyhow. Maybe Dave is going to grow up?
Unfortunately, due to health issues, Wendy and Lorelei were unable to attend but both hope to be at the next Meeting. And Margaret Florczak said she had to forego the Meeting this time and hopes to attend again sometime in the future. Margaret Moffatt is still sending in historical pieces to Today’s Senior Newsmagazine, which publishes them each month.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 1st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
On Wednesday Jim, Jason, Annette, Leah and Kristie all joined me for an awesome meeting. The big news is that Annette, Kristie and I will all have short stories published in Polar Expression’s anthology of “That Golden Summer”. And Kristie and Leah will also have poems published in their poetry anthology “The Warbler’s Song”. That is awesome news for Ram’s Head writers!
In addition, I’ve also had my article about Sonny, “The Making Of A Soldier, A Mother’s Perspective” published in the Petawawa Post on September 11th. It coincided with his taking command of the 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, Petawawa. Also, my short story “The Blob At Green Lake”, a ‘Honey’ story, will be in the anthology “Never Light A Match In The Outhouse”. This will be published by Summit Studios in Ontario and will be in bookstores late October or early November. I did notice that most of my success seems to be with pieces of mine that are non-fiction. Does that forebode will for my collection of ‘Honey’ stories, which qualify as non- fiction?
We were so pleased to see Jim again, glad that he is recovering his health. He shared with us a rejection letter for “The Coventry Ghosts” which gave specifics for the rejection. They said it had to do with his use of language and suggested he have a reader or editor look at it who could be objective. Jim says he will look for an editor.
Leah will be presenting her completed “Winter In The Rain Forest” DVD at the Lit Café in Crescent Beach on Tuesday, Sept. 30th from 7-9 p.m. The Lit Café is at Alexandra Neighbourhood House, 2916 McBride Ave., in Crescent Beach. Suggested donation for admission is $5.00, but none will be turned away for lack of funds. Congratulations, Leah!
Annette read first, Chapters 13 and 14 of “A Taste Of Wormwood”, and we see Alyssa staying alone in the house while John and Carrie are still away. The doorbell rings and she sees that George West and his cronies are at the door. She hides in the safe room and watches them on the monitors. As they gain access to the house, she calls John for help. She wants him to save her family, too. He insists she give him their address so he can do that. John also sends Carl to rescue Allyssa and take her to a secure cabin. She has to talk on the phone to her parents, who thought she was dead, in order to convince them to go with Mike, John’s brother, for safety. There was a lot of tension in these two chapters and we were all concerned for Alyssa’s safety.
Jim read Chapter 58 of “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. Jason enters his lab where his computers are, to be greeted by the main computer who has developed a personality of her own, and who now wants to be named Abigail, and she calls the other, smaller computers her daughters. Jason sweet talks to her and she agrees to keep his secret with him. So now we’re wondering if Abigail is going to turn on Jason at some point? Hmmm….
Kristie read her re-write of Chapter 1 of “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. Jane’s parents, Meg and Gordon, sneak out late at night for a lover’s tryst. They head to Miller’s Hill, where the Captain’s house stands ghostly and abandoned. As they turn to lovemaking, they are attacked by the apple tree, which entwines it’s leaves and branches inside their bodies and then turns them over to the midnight daisies to be devoured. Satiated, the daisies glow bright red momentarily, before turning to midnight blue again. There was a lot of detailed description in this chapter, that leant to its horror.
Jason read the next chapter in his book. We see Dave being driven home and unceremoniously dropped off by Leah. He was frustrated there was no sex between them on their camping trip. He finds Gregg and Jody in his bedroom and they are playing with language translations on the computer. Apparently Jody can understand anything said to her in any language. Dave doesn’t understand their closeness, and asks Jody why she likes Gregg more than him. Jody tells him he usually thinks only of himself, but says it nicely. Dave feels hurt and embarrassed anyhow. Maybe Dave is going to grow up?
Unfortunately, due to health issues, Wendy and Lorelei were unable to attend but both hope to be at the next Meeting. And Margaret Florczak said she had to forego the Meeting this time and hopes to attend again sometime in the future. Margaret Moffatt is still sending in historical pieces to Today’s Senior Newsmagazine, which publishes them each month.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 1st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Sunday, August 24, 2014
THE REVIEW
FORGING AHEAD
Wendy, Jason and Leah joined me on Wednesday for our Meeting. Annette and Kristie were both busy with other commitments. Lorelei said she hopes to attend on September 17th after her mother is settled in assisted living and visiting relatives have left.
I read first, a short piece called “Predator And Prey” about a woman calling to inquire about the writers’ group, and then criticising it and hanging up. After reading, I brought out the critiquing outline obtained at a workshop given by Lois Peterson. It mentions many technical aspects of writing fiction and provides a valuable guide at how to look at any story and evaluate it. Jason said he still likes the brainstorming we do on how to add to a story.
Jason read the next chapter, where Gregg and Jody are still on their picnic, and he’s telling her everything he has learned about the Nornir. She is not that interested, and keeps drinking the wine. She and Gregg are both overwhelmed by how much has happened and wonder what the future holds. The scene seemed a little tame, and we had previously suggested Jason ramp it up, but he said he wasn’t sure where to go with it. We suggested Jody seemed very depressed, perhaps he could have her do something explosive, totally out of character, and we suggested maybe she could run away and not show up the first day of school. (We were brainstorming. Jason took notes.)
Leah read us two of her poems. “Language Lessons” was rhyming verse, about trying to master the Welsh language. The second poem was “Affair With Frankie” and is a loving, sensuous ode to her tenor saxophone.
Leah shared some news with us. Her business development plan was accepted and she will be receiving a grant to start her business. And the photo artwork she submitted to the Cascadia competition on flora and fauna of Canada was juried in, and will be on display in the Surrey Art Gallery August 23rd to November 6th. She also told us about her harrowing search from here for her missing ex-husband in Ontario, and how she found him as a stroke patient at a hospital, and the immense difficulty of helping him from so far away. Now there is a heart-gripping story waiting for Leah’s fingers on the keyboard.
Wendy didn’t have anything to read, but did share the trouble she has had looking after her mother out in Chilliwack.
Maybe we should have one Meeting where we all share stories about taking care of someone else?
Jason asked about updating our website and making it more relevant to the current times. I explained that my son was the only one who could do that, and as a Lt. Colonel is usually too busy. Then Leah piped up that she could do it as she did computer programming and knows how to build websites. She said she could even get us started with a Twitter account, and explained that it is only short conversational snippets added to the website daily, but that we need at least three persons to contribute. That negated some of the fears Wendy and I had about anything new and onerous in the digital world. Leah then laughed and said this reminded her of the military, where if you open your mouth to suggest something, you have volunteered to do it. Too funny!
As far as typing and preparing manuscripts goes, my son asked me why I still use two spaces after a period, before the start of the next sentence. He sent me an article about that being the bane of printers, typesetters and typographers. I do it because that was the way I was taught on a manual typewriter, way back when. It had to do with the way a typewriter spaced the letters. Apparently, that isn’t necessary with computer fonts, except for perhaps Courier. But that habit is so ingrained, I don’t know if I can stop doing it. What are your thoughts?
Our next Meeting will be Wednesday, September 17th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place after I return from watching the Change of Command Ceremony where my son, Lt. Col. Sonny T. Hatton, takes command of the 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, Petawawa, Ontario. (You can tell I’m the proud Mama, right?) Hope to see you September 17th!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Wendy, Jason and Leah joined me on Wednesday for our Meeting. Annette and Kristie were both busy with other commitments. Lorelei said she hopes to attend on September 17th after her mother is settled in assisted living and visiting relatives have left.
I read first, a short piece called “Predator And Prey” about a woman calling to inquire about the writers’ group, and then criticising it and hanging up. After reading, I brought out the critiquing outline obtained at a workshop given by Lois Peterson. It mentions many technical aspects of writing fiction and provides a valuable guide at how to look at any story and evaluate it. Jason said he still likes the brainstorming we do on how to add to a story.
Jason read the next chapter, where Gregg and Jody are still on their picnic, and he’s telling her everything he has learned about the Nornir. She is not that interested, and keeps drinking the wine. She and Gregg are both overwhelmed by how much has happened and wonder what the future holds. The scene seemed a little tame, and we had previously suggested Jason ramp it up, but he said he wasn’t sure where to go with it. We suggested Jody seemed very depressed, perhaps he could have her do something explosive, totally out of character, and we suggested maybe she could run away and not show up the first day of school. (We were brainstorming. Jason took notes.)
Leah read us two of her poems. “Language Lessons” was rhyming verse, about trying to master the Welsh language. The second poem was “Affair With Frankie” and is a loving, sensuous ode to her tenor saxophone.
Leah shared some news with us. Her business development plan was accepted and she will be receiving a grant to start her business. And the photo artwork she submitted to the Cascadia competition on flora and fauna of Canada was juried in, and will be on display in the Surrey Art Gallery August 23rd to November 6th. She also told us about her harrowing search from here for her missing ex-husband in Ontario, and how she found him as a stroke patient at a hospital, and the immense difficulty of helping him from so far away. Now there is a heart-gripping story waiting for Leah’s fingers on the keyboard.
Wendy didn’t have anything to read, but did share the trouble she has had looking after her mother out in Chilliwack.
Maybe we should have one Meeting where we all share stories about taking care of someone else?
Jason asked about updating our website and making it more relevant to the current times. I explained that my son was the only one who could do that, and as a Lt. Colonel is usually too busy. Then Leah piped up that she could do it as she did computer programming and knows how to build websites. She said she could even get us started with a Twitter account, and explained that it is only short conversational snippets added to the website daily, but that we need at least three persons to contribute. That negated some of the fears Wendy and I had about anything new and onerous in the digital world. Leah then laughed and said this reminded her of the military, where if you open your mouth to suggest something, you have volunteered to do it. Too funny!
As far as typing and preparing manuscripts goes, my son asked me why I still use two spaces after a period, before the start of the next sentence. He sent me an article about that being the bane of printers, typesetters and typographers. I do it because that was the way I was taught on a manual typewriter, way back when. It had to do with the way a typewriter spaced the letters. Apparently, that isn’t necessary with computer fonts, except for perhaps Courier. But that habit is so ingrained, I don’t know if I can stop doing it. What are your thoughts?
Our next Meeting will be Wednesday, September 17th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place after I return from watching the Change of Command Ceremony where my son, Lt. Col. Sonny T. Hatton, takes command of the 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, Petawawa, Ontario. (You can tell I’m the proud Mama, right?) Hope to see you September 17th!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Thursday, August 7, 2014
THE REVIEW
FEARLESS FOURSOME
Kristi, Annette and Jason joined me for a Meeting of the Rams last night. Leah was going to another meeting elsewhere. Wendy is caring for her ailing mother. And still no word from Jim.
Margaret Moffatt has another article, this one about White Rock, in Today’s Senior Newsmagazine, August issue.
Kristi read a hot and heavy sex scene from “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. It shows the Captain on board his ship, feeling ill. To help fall asleep, he remembers and dreams about having made love with Ursula. But the dream turns nightmarish as he sees her falling into the water and drowning. Kristi said she researched how to write the scene, and also researched swear words and their usage for that time period. She wanted to verify that the Captain could have used the “F” word.
Annette said she hasn’t been writing lately as she recovers her health, and also because she is so busy with family. But she said she changed the last chapter she read to us and made John seem more aggressive in his proposal to Alysa. She then read to us the chapter where Alysa is at the house alone while John and Carrie are in Belize with their parents for Christmas. Alysa doesn’t think she feels any spark with John, but will probably marry him anyhow. Feeling lonely, she re-visits a shelter where she spent the previous Christmas. There she has an encounter with a young woman who is very judgemental of homeless people and the girl’s father tries coming onto Alysa. Disgusted with both of them, she finishes her volunteer stint at food preparation and then leaves.
Jason read to us a chapter from his Book II, that shows Gregg taking Jody on a picnic. He wants to take care of her and heal her, but she reacts negatively to everything he does. We discussed this chapter and Jason now thinks he will re-write it and put more conflict into the scene.
I read my first person story called “The Memory Of White Wine”, which was my submission to the Polar Expressions writing contest. It’s about a woman getting drunk on white wine as she tells her husband she wants a divorce.
Kristie said she also entered the contest and submitted her short story of the girl walking barefoot in the dust, trying to run away from abuse.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, August 20th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Kristi, Annette and Jason joined me for a Meeting of the Rams last night. Leah was going to another meeting elsewhere. Wendy is caring for her ailing mother. And still no word from Jim.
Margaret Moffatt has another article, this one about White Rock, in Today’s Senior Newsmagazine, August issue.
Kristi read a hot and heavy sex scene from “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. It shows the Captain on board his ship, feeling ill. To help fall asleep, he remembers and dreams about having made love with Ursula. But the dream turns nightmarish as he sees her falling into the water and drowning. Kristi said she researched how to write the scene, and also researched swear words and their usage for that time period. She wanted to verify that the Captain could have used the “F” word.
Annette said she hasn’t been writing lately as she recovers her health, and also because she is so busy with family. But she said she changed the last chapter she read to us and made John seem more aggressive in his proposal to Alysa. She then read to us the chapter where Alysa is at the house alone while John and Carrie are in Belize with their parents for Christmas. Alysa doesn’t think she feels any spark with John, but will probably marry him anyhow. Feeling lonely, she re-visits a shelter where she spent the previous Christmas. There she has an encounter with a young woman who is very judgemental of homeless people and the girl’s father tries coming onto Alysa. Disgusted with both of them, she finishes her volunteer stint at food preparation and then leaves.
Jason read to us a chapter from his Book II, that shows Gregg taking Jody on a picnic. He wants to take care of her and heal her, but she reacts negatively to everything he does. We discussed this chapter and Jason now thinks he will re-write it and put more conflict into the scene.
I read my first person story called “The Memory Of White Wine”, which was my submission to the Polar Expressions writing contest. It’s about a woman getting drunk on white wine as she tells her husband she wants a divorce.
Kristie said she also entered the contest and submitted her short story of the girl walking barefoot in the dust, trying to run away from abuse.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, August 20th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Saturday, July 19, 2014
THE REVIEW
STILL LEARNING
Leah, Annette and Jason joined me on Wednesday for our Meeting of The Rams. Kristie was unable to get a babysitter so she could attend. We were very happy to see Annette recovering from her recent heart attack. There’s been no word from Jim, and we are also wondering how he’s doing. And we do know Wendy is busy with family this month.
Annette read first, Chapter 11 in “A Touch Of Wormwood”. Ally is trying to avoid John, afraid that he’s becoming too fond of her and not wanting that kind of involvement. She is tempted to search his room, but he catches her there and puts his arms around her and then proposes marriage. We did suggest that John, as a police officer, needed to be made a more aggressive character and Annette said she would think on it, but that the proposal would stay as it’s part of the ongoing plot.
Jason read his next chapter that shows Leah and David entering the barn where he has hidden the sword she wants to see. There is an instant where he sees Leah’s face older and wrinkled in the glow of candlelight. As they are about to ascend the ladder to the hay loft, there is a noise and suddenly Granny appears and scares them. We anticipate a showdown between Leah and Granny at some point.
Jason was asking me for a book review on his first novel, but I have never written a book review and told him I didn’t think my opinion mattered that much as I wasn’t a journalist who did book reviews, and I wasn’t a well-known editor or publisher, either. He assured me book reviews these days have devolved to the masses, such as at Amazon or Goodreads. I’ll keep that in mind.
Our Leah shared a summary of a business plan she hopes to submit to the Small Business Development Bank hoping for support to start a consulting company. I said I found the first page too full of generalities, but Leah assured me that’s how a business plan summary is done. Personally, I thought it would be more effective with some concrete examples thrown in to better describe the type of business envisioned. But that is obviously the writer and journalist in me. However, I was very impressed with the questionnaire that accompanied it to ascertain the type of service that prospective clients would need. Writing abilities have numerous applications, with business endeavors also included among them.
I didn’t read anything, but did pass around a book I purchased recently, “The Canadian Writers’ Guide”. It was published in 2003, but still has a great deal of relevant information, from how to find writing topics or inspiration, to self-publishing ebooks, to manuscript formatting, to Canadian Literary Agents, to Canadian writing contests, to how much to charge for magazine articles. And there were several chapters by Lois Peterson, a local writing teacher I respect greatly for her practical suggestions on many writing topics.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, August 6th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then, and please stay healthy in the meantime!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Leah, Annette and Jason joined me on Wednesday for our Meeting of The Rams. Kristie was unable to get a babysitter so she could attend. We were very happy to see Annette recovering from her recent heart attack. There’s been no word from Jim, and we are also wondering how he’s doing. And we do know Wendy is busy with family this month.
Annette read first, Chapter 11 in “A Touch Of Wormwood”. Ally is trying to avoid John, afraid that he’s becoming too fond of her and not wanting that kind of involvement. She is tempted to search his room, but he catches her there and puts his arms around her and then proposes marriage. We did suggest that John, as a police officer, needed to be made a more aggressive character and Annette said she would think on it, but that the proposal would stay as it’s part of the ongoing plot.
Jason read his next chapter that shows Leah and David entering the barn where he has hidden the sword she wants to see. There is an instant where he sees Leah’s face older and wrinkled in the glow of candlelight. As they are about to ascend the ladder to the hay loft, there is a noise and suddenly Granny appears and scares them. We anticipate a showdown between Leah and Granny at some point.
Jason was asking me for a book review on his first novel, but I have never written a book review and told him I didn’t think my opinion mattered that much as I wasn’t a journalist who did book reviews, and I wasn’t a well-known editor or publisher, either. He assured me book reviews these days have devolved to the masses, such as at Amazon or Goodreads. I’ll keep that in mind.
Our Leah shared a summary of a business plan she hopes to submit to the Small Business Development Bank hoping for support to start a consulting company. I said I found the first page too full of generalities, but Leah assured me that’s how a business plan summary is done. Personally, I thought it would be more effective with some concrete examples thrown in to better describe the type of business envisioned. But that is obviously the writer and journalist in me. However, I was very impressed with the questionnaire that accompanied it to ascertain the type of service that prospective clients would need. Writing abilities have numerous applications, with business endeavors also included among them.
I didn’t read anything, but did pass around a book I purchased recently, “The Canadian Writers’ Guide”. It was published in 2003, but still has a great deal of relevant information, from how to find writing topics or inspiration, to self-publishing ebooks, to manuscript formatting, to Canadian Literary Agents, to Canadian writing contests, to how much to charge for magazine articles. And there were several chapters by Lois Peterson, a local writing teacher I respect greatly for her practical suggestions on many writing topics.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, August 6th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then, and please stay healthy in the meantime!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Friday, July 4, 2014
THE REVIEW
A CROWD OF THREE
Jason and Kristi joined me Wednesday for a meeting of three. There was lots of time to discuss writing and talk about our goals.
Kristie regaled us with tales of an author who cyber bullies participants in a twitter writing forum, and who was bullying her. Very bizarre. Then she tells us her computer crashed, and we wonder if the two are connected? She needs to write a horror tale about this.
I read first, another ‘Honey’ story called “Face To Face”, about my recent acquisition of a new cell phone so I could take pictures with it, and how I’m too busy playing with my new toy to actually communicate face to face with anyone, namely Honey. I don’t even answer when he calls me on it.
I now have 30,000 words in ‘Honey’ stories and feel that’s a good basis for a small book of humour. I’m still working on putting them all together in one manuscript and editing them so there isn’t a lot of repetition. I don’t yet know if I want to self-publish them as an ebook, or if I want to seek a book publisher.
Kristi read the next chapter in “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. Jane reaches home just before dawn after her terrifying encounter with the daisies. She desperately wants to sleep, but is disturbed by the hateful cat in her room. She tries to oust the cat, which evades her, and then it suddenly turns mellow and loving before finally leaving the room.
Kristie says she has reworked the story and has made Jane a schoolteacher in her twenties instead of a teenaged school girl. She thinks this will give her more options in plot development. And she finds the more she writes, the more she wants to re-write to make her story better.
Jason read the next Chapter in his second book. Dave and Leah have left the campfire and she is enticing him with sexual advances, but then stops Dave from going any further. She tells him she wants to see the sword he has hidden and, from his sexual frustration, Dave finally agrees. A lot of sexual tension in this Chapter.
Jason was saying he doesn’t know if he wants to continue writing one book with two plot-lines or if he should split it into two books, each with its own plot. He’s worried about what the reader wants. We discussed this and spoke of other books that have more than one plot and also many different character viewpoints. Whichever way he chooses is acceptable.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Penticton in the July issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
We are all hoping Annette is home again and safely recovering from her stay in hospital. Wendy is out of the loop for the month of July, busy with family engagements. Ellie is on the last stages of packing and moving and we wish her well in her new home on the Island. Leah should be at the next Meeting. And we haven’t heard anything from Jim.
I had suggested maybe cancelling Meetings for some or all of the summer, but Jason and Kristi were against this. They said as parents of young children, this is their only chance to get out and congregate with other writers without interruption. With that endorsement in mind, the next Meeting will be Wednesday, July 16th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Jason and Kristi joined me Wednesday for a meeting of three. There was lots of time to discuss writing and talk about our goals.
Kristie regaled us with tales of an author who cyber bullies participants in a twitter writing forum, and who was bullying her. Very bizarre. Then she tells us her computer crashed, and we wonder if the two are connected? She needs to write a horror tale about this.
I read first, another ‘Honey’ story called “Face To Face”, about my recent acquisition of a new cell phone so I could take pictures with it, and how I’m too busy playing with my new toy to actually communicate face to face with anyone, namely Honey. I don’t even answer when he calls me on it.
I now have 30,000 words in ‘Honey’ stories and feel that’s a good basis for a small book of humour. I’m still working on putting them all together in one manuscript and editing them so there isn’t a lot of repetition. I don’t yet know if I want to self-publish them as an ebook, or if I want to seek a book publisher.
Kristi read the next chapter in “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. Jane reaches home just before dawn after her terrifying encounter with the daisies. She desperately wants to sleep, but is disturbed by the hateful cat in her room. She tries to oust the cat, which evades her, and then it suddenly turns mellow and loving before finally leaving the room.
Kristie says she has reworked the story and has made Jane a schoolteacher in her twenties instead of a teenaged school girl. She thinks this will give her more options in plot development. And she finds the more she writes, the more she wants to re-write to make her story better.
Jason read the next Chapter in his second book. Dave and Leah have left the campfire and she is enticing him with sexual advances, but then stops Dave from going any further. She tells him she wants to see the sword he has hidden and, from his sexual frustration, Dave finally agrees. A lot of sexual tension in this Chapter.
Jason was saying he doesn’t know if he wants to continue writing one book with two plot-lines or if he should split it into two books, each with its own plot. He’s worried about what the reader wants. We discussed this and spoke of other books that have more than one plot and also many different character viewpoints. Whichever way he chooses is acceptable.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Penticton in the July issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
We are all hoping Annette is home again and safely recovering from her stay in hospital. Wendy is out of the loop for the month of July, busy with family engagements. Ellie is on the last stages of packing and moving and we wish her well in her new home on the Island. Leah should be at the next Meeting. And we haven’t heard anything from Jim.
I had suggested maybe cancelling Meetings for some or all of the summer, but Jason and Kristi were against this. They said as parents of young children, this is their only chance to get out and congregate with other writers without interruption. With that endorsement in mind, the next Meeting will be Wednesday, July 16th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
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