SNOOZE-FEST?
Can’t say whether it was the warm temperature or that our writing was boring, but a few eyelids had trouble staying up on Wednesday night when Leah, Jim, Lorelei and Jason joined me here for a meeting. Hope it was just that I didn’t have the air conditioning on high! Kristi was busy with her son’s fifth birthday, and Annette had been marooned in Princeton with a vehicle breakdown on her way home from Grand Forks. We missed them both.
We discussed how best to indicate to the reader there is a change in point of view within a chapter, and agreed additional space between paragraphs is warranted. However, on looking up the subject, the advice I found was: Change of scene can be indicated with an extra space. Change of POV or timeframe will need either the # or ***, in the middle of the space between paragraphs. Jim uses the # key in his writing. I always start a new chapter when I change POV. Each to their own, I guess. Just don’t leave the reader confused as to whose head they are roaming around in.
Lorelie handed around a print-out of what we all surmised to be an attempted scam via email. This one was very well written but we were skeptical that anybody would still be falling for something like that.
Jim read the edited version of the prologue and first few chapters of “Coventry Ghosts – Book I”. The prologue shows the death of Leanne and the first few chapters show how she is learning to haunt the coffee shop. Also, Judge Jeffreys is introduced near the beginning and he tells Leanne the rules of haunting and that breaking them means being exiled to Drakko. Wanting to communicate her thanks to the ladies who had tried to save her, she appears after midnight to each successive cleaning person at the coffee shop, but ends up scaring them all away.
The writing reads much smoother and Jim likes what the editor has suggested, but is still having problems getting the process to move ahead more quickly. At the rate it’s been going, he could see it taking two years for an edit he would like to see completed in maybe a few months. He did say he needs to speak with the editor. Luckily, he didn’t pay up front for the service.
Since Jason has several times asked me what was happening with “Nigel Wingate Is Dead”, I had pulled out the beginnings of that novel that I hadn’t looked at in a couple of years and at the meeting I read the prologue and first chapter. I thought they still read fairly well and Leah said she wanted to keep going and hear what was happening. Jason suggested I include a little more information on where the Cariboo and Watch Lake are located and Leah had the perfect wording to do that, so I will add that information right at the beginning. Jason also told me not to forget that just because this story is based on a true incident, I don’t have to only write what really happened; that I can make the story more compelling by adding fictional elements. He’s right, as I always intended this to be fiction anyhow. And that is when Lorelei perked right up and took notes. You don’t have to be fettered by only the truth when you write.
I also told Jim that I had managed to group all my ‘Honey’ stories in one manuscript file on my computer, and have also done some formatting so the whole thing is visually readable. Next will come the editing. Someone asked if I had decided what order to put the stories in and I said I had chosen an order for the time being. But I may ask someone, or several someones, to read the order and give me their thoughts on the subject.
The Meetings in June will be the usual dates, the first and third Wednesdays. However, as the first Wednesday in July is actually July 1st, a holiday, we decided to move that meeting to July 8th. And since I will be away the end of July and the beginning of August, there will be other changes, as well. So after discussion, here is the intended schedule for June, July and August.
June 3rd
June 17th
July 8th
July 15th
August 19th
All Meetings will be at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Be sure to mark your calendars. Really hope that you will be able to attend. Happy writing everyone!
Friday, May 22, 2015
Friday, May 8, 2015
THE REVIEW
PROOF POSITIVE
Seven of us were here on Wednesday to prove we’re still writers, although not necessarily still writing. If all this gorgeous weather keeps us away from our computer screens, maybe we should regress to pen and paper? We might be further ahead. But seems to me Kristi already does that.
Jim read first, two chapters. The first was Ch. 66 which is the last chapter in “Coventry Ghosts, Book I”. In it a powerful figure in the country of Honywuan plans to break Jason out of a Mexican jail and bring him to Honywuan to collect soul essences by computer for that country to control the world. And the Umbra ghosts are angry with the ghosts of Leanne and Sara, and also plan to work with Jason for more control over ghostdom. The next piece Jim read is the prologue to Book II and shows the death of the kitten Sara and how she meets up with Leanne and joins her in the haunt of the coffee shop.
When I told Jim I didn’t remember this prologue he said it’s because he just wrote it, after he finished writing the book. And Lorelei perked up knowing somebody else was writing a book out of chronological order. Perfectly acceptable. I suppose I’ve done that with my “Honey” stories, but now I’m having difficulty putting them in some kind of order for a whole manuscript. And since I didn’t plan a book to begin with, I see there is a lot of repetition of background that I’m dealing with. Win some, lose some. Jim says he loves writing the first draft and all the rest is just grunt work. I agree.
I read next, a short personal essay called “The Ring”, which I wrote Wednesday morning just to prove to myself I could still write. It tells of a family ring glittering with many diamonds that intimidated the first two women who wore it. But with the third generation it found a comfortable home. Maybe I’ll send it off to the Polar Expressions writing contest. If it gets printed, it ups my count of royalties paid to me by Access Copyright.
Annette read Ch. 23 and 24 of “A Touch Of Wormwood”. In the first, Alyssa tells her father of the sexual assault she endured and that she doesn’t feel worthy of wearing a purity ring he had given her. But he says her integrity is still intact and therefore she is worthy of the ring. In the next chapter she accuses Mike of cheating at cards. He goes outside, after which George West, the crime boss, comes into the cabin and tells her Mike is probably already dead. As he moves towards her she closes her eyes in terror, and then hears George screaming in pain. She opens her eyes and sees him down and clawing at the floor. None of us were very happy about how submissive Alyssa has become when there are men present. We’ve been very hard on Annette. She doesn’t want Alyssa’s anger to come to the surface and we are all trying to force that to happen.
Kristi read the beginning of a short story called “Three Suns Dance”. It starts with a naked young man and woman in a tent. Even though they desire each other, he must leave by dawn as he cannot have sex with a woman on the day of the dance. Interesting implication that a sexual encounter would not add to his stature as a man. Where is this fantasy world?
Lorelie and Jason did not read, but we thank them for listening to the rest of us. Support of other writers is always important.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Steveston, B.C. in the May issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
The next Meeting of The Rams will be Wednesday, May 20th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then with your collection of written words. Happy Mother’s Day to those who qualify, and if anyone goes to the Cloverdale Rodeo, don’t get stomped on!
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
Seven of us were here on Wednesday to prove we’re still writers, although not necessarily still writing. If all this gorgeous weather keeps us away from our computer screens, maybe we should regress to pen and paper? We might be further ahead. But seems to me Kristi already does that.
Jim read first, two chapters. The first was Ch. 66 which is the last chapter in “Coventry Ghosts, Book I”. In it a powerful figure in the country of Honywuan plans to break Jason out of a Mexican jail and bring him to Honywuan to collect soul essences by computer for that country to control the world. And the Umbra ghosts are angry with the ghosts of Leanne and Sara, and also plan to work with Jason for more control over ghostdom. The next piece Jim read is the prologue to Book II and shows the death of the kitten Sara and how she meets up with Leanne and joins her in the haunt of the coffee shop.
When I told Jim I didn’t remember this prologue he said it’s because he just wrote it, after he finished writing the book. And Lorelei perked up knowing somebody else was writing a book out of chronological order. Perfectly acceptable. I suppose I’ve done that with my “Honey” stories, but now I’m having difficulty putting them in some kind of order for a whole manuscript. And since I didn’t plan a book to begin with, I see there is a lot of repetition of background that I’m dealing with. Win some, lose some. Jim says he loves writing the first draft and all the rest is just grunt work. I agree.
I read next, a short personal essay called “The Ring”, which I wrote Wednesday morning just to prove to myself I could still write. It tells of a family ring glittering with many diamonds that intimidated the first two women who wore it. But with the third generation it found a comfortable home. Maybe I’ll send it off to the Polar Expressions writing contest. If it gets printed, it ups my count of royalties paid to me by Access Copyright.
Annette read Ch. 23 and 24 of “A Touch Of Wormwood”. In the first, Alyssa tells her father of the sexual assault she endured and that she doesn’t feel worthy of wearing a purity ring he had given her. But he says her integrity is still intact and therefore she is worthy of the ring. In the next chapter she accuses Mike of cheating at cards. He goes outside, after which George West, the crime boss, comes into the cabin and tells her Mike is probably already dead. As he moves towards her she closes her eyes in terror, and then hears George screaming in pain. She opens her eyes and sees him down and clawing at the floor. None of us were very happy about how submissive Alyssa has become when there are men present. We’ve been very hard on Annette. She doesn’t want Alyssa’s anger to come to the surface and we are all trying to force that to happen.
Kristi read the beginning of a short story called “Three Suns Dance”. It starts with a naked young man and woman in a tent. Even though they desire each other, he must leave by dawn as he cannot have sex with a woman on the day of the dance. Interesting implication that a sexual encounter would not add to his stature as a man. Where is this fantasy world?
Lorelie and Jason did not read, but we thank them for listening to the rest of us. Support of other writers is always important.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Steveston, B.C. in the May issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
The next Meeting of The Rams will be Wednesday, May 20th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then with your collection of written words. Happy Mother’s Day to those who qualify, and if anyone goes to the Cloverdale Rodeo, don’t get stomped on!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Sunday, April 19, 2015
THE REVIEW
UP AND WALKING
It was good to see some Rams on Wednesday after six weeks of convalescing from my last surgery. Annette, Kristi, Leah, Jim and Jason all joined me to honour The Muse. Kristi had also been recovering from surgery on her wrist, so neither one of us had done much writing, but she did read something of hers.
Jason had to leave early, so was the first to read a very long next chapter from his book. It continued with Gregg being waylaid by his adoptive mom, Laura. She started expounding on her difficult upbringing and her annoyances with her younger sister, Samantha, who was Gregg’s biological mother. Gregg wanted to hear about his biological father, who was not human, and he pressed Laura to tell him. He is afraid he is like his father, able to both harm and heal. But Laura tells him he is her savior because of how much she has come to love him as her own. We saw this as a chapter that foretells of Gregg’s father coming onto the scene.
Annette read the next chapter in “A Touch Of Wormwood”. Alyssa is still at the cabin with her family, and Karl, and Mike and John. The two brothers each vie for her attention. As the brothers go jogging in the morning, her father tells her she needs to choose which one she loves and wants. She speaks to both men, but doesn’t choose either one. We thought the conflict in this situation needed to be expressed more openly instead of so civilly, especially since the brothers are both cops. Annette assured us the conflict was coming.
Kristi read another chapter of backstory she is thinking of using instead of the prologue for “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. Jane, at six years of age, has a nightmare about a man collecting a baby in a basket. She awakes and sees the red eerie glow up on the opposite mountain. Afraid, she runs to her parents’ bedroom but they are missing. This is a much shorter introduction to the mystery.
Leah had decided to write some classical poetry and brought some examples to share. The first was a triolet, eight lines with eight beats per line. She had written two examples, “Jealous Cousin” and “Fat Child Blues”. In order to more precisely form the required beats per line and the rhyme scheme, Leah had used what looked like a grid from MS Excel in which she placed the correct syllables for each line. Never thought of writing poetry that way. Too funny. The next type of poem was a cinquin, with five lines. The example used was “Beetle”. Next came a villanelle, with 19 lines, and her example was “Do Naught”. This made us all realize writing poetry is just as much work as writing a novel. Rather complicated.
The evening had worn away, so Jim and I didn’t read anything. However, I did mention a new publisher I had found online that has opened in Vancouver. They can be found at www.nonvella.com, and publish short works of non-fiction running from five to twenty thousand words. They publish in print, but also digital copies online at Kobo. I thought this might be someplace to send my “Honey” stories, since they are memoir, and thus non-fiction.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Richmond, B.C. in the April issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
Marilyn Sergi emailed me that she had both an article and a poem accepted for publication, but unfortunately, I lost her email and can’t remember which publication she mentioned. But congratulations to her regardless.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, May 6th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Don’t let the sunshine distract you from writing!
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
It was good to see some Rams on Wednesday after six weeks of convalescing from my last surgery. Annette, Kristi, Leah, Jim and Jason all joined me to honour The Muse. Kristi had also been recovering from surgery on her wrist, so neither one of us had done much writing, but she did read something of hers.
Jason had to leave early, so was the first to read a very long next chapter from his book. It continued with Gregg being waylaid by his adoptive mom, Laura. She started expounding on her difficult upbringing and her annoyances with her younger sister, Samantha, who was Gregg’s biological mother. Gregg wanted to hear about his biological father, who was not human, and he pressed Laura to tell him. He is afraid he is like his father, able to both harm and heal. But Laura tells him he is her savior because of how much she has come to love him as her own. We saw this as a chapter that foretells of Gregg’s father coming onto the scene.
Annette read the next chapter in “A Touch Of Wormwood”. Alyssa is still at the cabin with her family, and Karl, and Mike and John. The two brothers each vie for her attention. As the brothers go jogging in the morning, her father tells her she needs to choose which one she loves and wants. She speaks to both men, but doesn’t choose either one. We thought the conflict in this situation needed to be expressed more openly instead of so civilly, especially since the brothers are both cops. Annette assured us the conflict was coming.
Kristi read another chapter of backstory she is thinking of using instead of the prologue for “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. Jane, at six years of age, has a nightmare about a man collecting a baby in a basket. She awakes and sees the red eerie glow up on the opposite mountain. Afraid, she runs to her parents’ bedroom but they are missing. This is a much shorter introduction to the mystery.
Leah had decided to write some classical poetry and brought some examples to share. The first was a triolet, eight lines with eight beats per line. She had written two examples, “Jealous Cousin” and “Fat Child Blues”. In order to more precisely form the required beats per line and the rhyme scheme, Leah had used what looked like a grid from MS Excel in which she placed the correct syllables for each line. Never thought of writing poetry that way. Too funny. The next type of poem was a cinquin, with five lines. The example used was “Beetle”. Next came a villanelle, with 19 lines, and her example was “Do Naught”. This made us all realize writing poetry is just as much work as writing a novel. Rather complicated.
The evening had worn away, so Jim and I didn’t read anything. However, I did mention a new publisher I had found online that has opened in Vancouver. They can be found at www.nonvella.com, and publish short works of non-fiction running from five to twenty thousand words. They publish in print, but also digital copies online at Kobo. I thought this might be someplace to send my “Honey” stories, since they are memoir, and thus non-fiction.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Richmond, B.C. in the April issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
Marilyn Sergi emailed me that she had both an article and a poem accepted for publication, but unfortunately, I lost her email and can’t remember which publication she mentioned. But congratulations to her regardless.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, May 6th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Don’t let the sunshine distract you from writing!
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, February 20, 2015
THE REVIEW
SEVEN SCRIBES
Jason, Annette, Leah, Kristi, Wendy and Jim all joined me Wednesday for an inspiring meeting dedicated to the written word.
Jason read first, another chapter in his second book in his series. Gregg is at home in the morning, getting ready to help Jody celebrate her 17th birthday. His stepfather, Patrick, knowingly provides him with a bottle of wine but says not to tell anyone. And his mother, Laura, corners him with questions about what is going on. She won’t let him get away. Gregg doesn’t know what to say about knowing he is only part human. He asks her if she believes in the afterlife. She tells him that’s only for the very young or the very old to believe, as those in between are too busy living. A very meaningful conversation.
Annette read Chapter 20 from “A Touch Of Wormwood”. Still at the hideaway cabin, Mike wants Alyssa for himself, but sees how close she has come to his brother, John. And he sees John move to stand between him and Alyssa. Outside and alone with each other, John accuses Mike of having sent Alyssa into a life of hiding, a life also filled with danger and terror. Will wanting the same woman tear two brothers apart?
Leah read two short pieces that came from writing prompts. “One Wooden Whistle” was about an old man’s effects contained in a box. One of the items was a wooden whistle he had used to call doves to him to act as his messenger pigeons. “Snow Job” was about one woman’s very tall ‘little brother’ trying to convince her to lend him her much cherished rebuilt car she called ‘Gypsy’. Though short, both pieces revealed snapshots from life that clearly displayed precise moments of meaning.
Kristi read the next chapter in “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. We see Jane heading home after delivering the baby, trying to navigate a muddy alley. She feels like people are watching her from behind dark windows as she passes by. Close to a busier roadway, a young boy steals her bag and she chases after him. She falls and knocks a man’s basket to the ground. After rising and returning the basket to him, he calls her a bitch and then leaves humming a lullaby. A very strange dichotomy of behavior.
Wendy read the first piece of writing she has done in a very long time, inspired by what she is going through caring for her 95 year old mother. She titled the piece “The Dilemma Of Old Age”. Wendy details the trials and tribulations of her mother’s personality traits, which often mirror a child’s, and cause distress to both Wendy and her sister. And she reminds us how difficult it is to maintain our equilibrium in the face of such cantankerous eruptions. But because of love, she still wishes the very best for this woman she has known all her life. This was a heartfelt piece of writing that touched us all, and we hope will be shared with a bigger audience.
Jim read Ch. 71 and 72 of “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. Unable to revive Sara in the dark reaches of Drakko after her essence was shattered by containing the bomb, Shei, Moog and Grek call on Leanne from Coventry to help save Sara. Leanne gathers Piovra to her and pulls energy from the Aeris as well as energy from the other ghosts, and proceeds to put together all the pieces of Sara’s essence. Miraculously, Sara is revived. Wisely, she decides to forego her search for revenge and returns to the coffee shop. The last chapter in the book sees Sara and her friend Karly planning a trip to Eqypt instead. They agree to meet at The Great Sphinx at one nanosecond after midnight, Eqypt time.
Jim was saying his hired editor has been missing in action since before Christmas. We hope he can make contact with her and at least get his money’s worth from the project. However, this is also a reminder that it might be wise to have a written contract when hiring this service.
I am scheduled for my last surgery on March 3rd, and am thinking I will need 4 to 6 weeks of recovery time before I’m ready to host another meeting afterward. I will definitely contact everyone to let you know how I’m progressing.
In the meantime, I wish everyone continued inspiration from The Muse, and also a happy Spring Break, and a Happy Easter, as well. Write On!
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Jason, Annette, Leah, Kristi, Wendy and Jim all joined me Wednesday for an inspiring meeting dedicated to the written word.
Jason read first, another chapter in his second book in his series. Gregg is at home in the morning, getting ready to help Jody celebrate her 17th birthday. His stepfather, Patrick, knowingly provides him with a bottle of wine but says not to tell anyone. And his mother, Laura, corners him with questions about what is going on. She won’t let him get away. Gregg doesn’t know what to say about knowing he is only part human. He asks her if she believes in the afterlife. She tells him that’s only for the very young or the very old to believe, as those in between are too busy living. A very meaningful conversation.
Annette read Chapter 20 from “A Touch Of Wormwood”. Still at the hideaway cabin, Mike wants Alyssa for himself, but sees how close she has come to his brother, John. And he sees John move to stand between him and Alyssa. Outside and alone with each other, John accuses Mike of having sent Alyssa into a life of hiding, a life also filled with danger and terror. Will wanting the same woman tear two brothers apart?
Leah read two short pieces that came from writing prompts. “One Wooden Whistle” was about an old man’s effects contained in a box. One of the items was a wooden whistle he had used to call doves to him to act as his messenger pigeons. “Snow Job” was about one woman’s very tall ‘little brother’ trying to convince her to lend him her much cherished rebuilt car she called ‘Gypsy’. Though short, both pieces revealed snapshots from life that clearly displayed precise moments of meaning.
Kristi read the next chapter in “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. We see Jane heading home after delivering the baby, trying to navigate a muddy alley. She feels like people are watching her from behind dark windows as she passes by. Close to a busier roadway, a young boy steals her bag and she chases after him. She falls and knocks a man’s basket to the ground. After rising and returning the basket to him, he calls her a bitch and then leaves humming a lullaby. A very strange dichotomy of behavior.
Wendy read the first piece of writing she has done in a very long time, inspired by what she is going through caring for her 95 year old mother. She titled the piece “The Dilemma Of Old Age”. Wendy details the trials and tribulations of her mother’s personality traits, which often mirror a child’s, and cause distress to both Wendy and her sister. And she reminds us how difficult it is to maintain our equilibrium in the face of such cantankerous eruptions. But because of love, she still wishes the very best for this woman she has known all her life. This was a heartfelt piece of writing that touched us all, and we hope will be shared with a bigger audience.
Jim read Ch. 71 and 72 of “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. Unable to revive Sara in the dark reaches of Drakko after her essence was shattered by containing the bomb, Shei, Moog and Grek call on Leanne from Coventry to help save Sara. Leanne gathers Piovra to her and pulls energy from the Aeris as well as energy from the other ghosts, and proceeds to put together all the pieces of Sara’s essence. Miraculously, Sara is revived. Wisely, she decides to forego her search for revenge and returns to the coffee shop. The last chapter in the book sees Sara and her friend Karly planning a trip to Eqypt instead. They agree to meet at The Great Sphinx at one nanosecond after midnight, Eqypt time.
Jim was saying his hired editor has been missing in action since before Christmas. We hope he can make contact with her and at least get his money’s worth from the project. However, this is also a reminder that it might be wise to have a written contract when hiring this service.
I am scheduled for my last surgery on March 3rd, and am thinking I will need 4 to 6 weeks of recovery time before I’m ready to host another meeting afterward. I will definitely contact everyone to let you know how I’m progressing.
In the meantime, I wish everyone continued inspiration from The Muse, and also a happy Spring Break, and a Happy Easter, as well. Write On!
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, February 7, 2015
THE REVIEW
FEBRUARY FIVE
There were five of us here Wednesday night in spite of the rains. Jim, Jason, Annette, and Kristi all came to join me and we read some of our scribblings.
I read first although I probably shouldn’t have read at all. With both my recent surgery and the prospect of the next one looming, my mind has not been on the written word. However, I did write and then read about what expectations I have of my upcoming pre-admission visit at the hospital. After five surgeries, it is all very routine to me, and probably read that way as well. If the writer is bored, then so, too, will be the reader.
Annette read a short personal introspection called “The Winter Nest”. She describes daily walks to the end of the driveway and not knowing which way to go, much like the geese she watches who seem unable to leave and fly south for the winter. She thinks they laugh at her when she decides not to leave home, either. Very poignant.
Jason read the next chapter in his novel. Gregg is at home drained and exhausted from his healing of Jaina. Jody is with him. His parents are also there, trying to find out what the two teenagers had been up to. The parents think the kids had been having sex. Gregg and Jody don’t enlighten them, but Gregg does then become sexually excited and Jody notices. This scene ramps up the sexual tension between the two of them and we see a softer, more human side of Jody.
Kristi read her most recent re-write of chapter 1 in “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. This shows a more mature version of Jane acting as a midwife in the very poor section of town close to the docks. She is very concerned that the mother seems to not want her newborn but finally convinces her to nurse the baby. This is setting up the explanation of where the food supply for the daisies will come from in later chapters. Oh, what horror!
Jim read Chapter 69 and 70 in “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. As the submarine is leaving, Sara the kitten says good-bye to Mei-Xiu, and invites her to come visit them at Coventry. The sub is heading toward the aircraft carrier which has a physician who can treat the lieutenant. Two platoons of marines later parachute into Honywuan to destroy Jason’s new computer. Sara also goes but is terrified for them when she discerns the lone computer in the lab is a bomb. She wraps herself around it to contain the blast, but is herself blown into the depths of Drakko. She’s got herself into another fix, as only a kitten can do.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Fort Langley in the February issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
Lorelie is still dealing with health issues and we wish her well. Leah is super busy with her business endeavors these days. And we haven’t heard from anyone else.
I am definitely scheduled for my last surgery on March 3rd, after which I will require about 4 to 6 weeks for recovery before I can again host Meetings. Therefore, the next Meeting will be Wednesday, February 18th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place, and will be the last until sometime in April probably. So mark your calendar and we hope to see you February 18th.
PS: Did you know that February 14th is both Valentine’s Day and International Condom Day? Now why is that?
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
There were five of us here Wednesday night in spite of the rains. Jim, Jason, Annette, and Kristi all came to join me and we read some of our scribblings.
I read first although I probably shouldn’t have read at all. With both my recent surgery and the prospect of the next one looming, my mind has not been on the written word. However, I did write and then read about what expectations I have of my upcoming pre-admission visit at the hospital. After five surgeries, it is all very routine to me, and probably read that way as well. If the writer is bored, then so, too, will be the reader.
Annette read a short personal introspection called “The Winter Nest”. She describes daily walks to the end of the driveway and not knowing which way to go, much like the geese she watches who seem unable to leave and fly south for the winter. She thinks they laugh at her when she decides not to leave home, either. Very poignant.
Jason read the next chapter in his novel. Gregg is at home drained and exhausted from his healing of Jaina. Jody is with him. His parents are also there, trying to find out what the two teenagers had been up to. The parents think the kids had been having sex. Gregg and Jody don’t enlighten them, but Gregg does then become sexually excited and Jody notices. This scene ramps up the sexual tension between the two of them and we see a softer, more human side of Jody.
Kristi read her most recent re-write of chapter 1 in “Jane And The Midnight Daisies”. This shows a more mature version of Jane acting as a midwife in the very poor section of town close to the docks. She is very concerned that the mother seems to not want her newborn but finally convinces her to nurse the baby. This is setting up the explanation of where the food supply for the daisies will come from in later chapters. Oh, what horror!
Jim read Chapter 69 and 70 in “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. As the submarine is leaving, Sara the kitten says good-bye to Mei-Xiu, and invites her to come visit them at Coventry. The sub is heading toward the aircraft carrier which has a physician who can treat the lieutenant. Two platoons of marines later parachute into Honywuan to destroy Jason’s new computer. Sara also goes but is terrified for them when she discerns the lone computer in the lab is a bomb. She wraps herself around it to contain the blast, but is herself blown into the depths of Drakko. She’s got herself into another fix, as only a kitten can do.
Margaret Moffatt has an article on the history of Fort Langley in the February issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine.
Lorelie is still dealing with health issues and we wish her well. Leah is super busy with her business endeavors these days. And we haven’t heard from anyone else.
I am definitely scheduled for my last surgery on March 3rd, after which I will require about 4 to 6 weeks for recovery before I can again host Meetings. Therefore, the next Meeting will be Wednesday, February 18th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place, and will be the last until sometime in April probably. So mark your calendar and we hope to see you February 18th.
PS: Did you know that February 14th is both Valentine’s Day and International Condom Day? Now why is that?
LISA A. HATTON
Author
Published eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
Thursday, January 22, 2015
THE REVIEW
THE RAM’S HEAD TRIO
Jim and Kristy joined me last night for our Meeting. Annette and Chelsey emailed to say they weren’t well and wouldn’t be attending. And Heather, a prospective new member, was also not well and couldn’t attend. Didn’t hear from anyone else and was wondering if the last Review coming out so late might have caused some confusion? I didn’t get around to sending out another reminder about the Meeting. Sorry to all if that was the problem.
Kristy read the prologue to her re-written children’s story, still untitled. It is written in first person from the point of view of the puppy who is kidnapped while his young owner is inside the store buying an ice cream cone. This will definitely pull on the heartstrings of young children.
Jim read Chapters 66 and 67 of “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. Sara, the kitten ghost, is still trying to get Joel and Ji-Young to their submarine without being caught by the Honywuan military or by the Umbra ghosts, who were working together. Fighting breaks out at the beach where two Zodiaks come to take them to the sub. Sara was feeling overwhelmed fighting both the Umbra and the military, but suddenly receives help from Mei-Xiu, the ghost who haunts the ocean. But a Lieutenant from the SEAL squad is shot and Sara goes inside his body to close the tear to his aorta. He still needs medical help though, so she tells the Doc on the submarine what attention the patient needs before he even arrives in the medical space onboard. Lots of action in these two chapters which keeps readers on their toes.
Jim told us he’s getting a lot done with his Book I in the Coventry series being edited professionally. She is giving him story suggestions as well as doing the line editing, which is mostly about the use or non-use of commas, in Jim’s case.
Kristy did read to us the second half of her story “A Fairytale Ending” but plans to read it again when more members are present, so I won’t tell you anything about it here. Ha! Ha!
I just received the rest of my payment from Summit Studios for my short story “The Blob At Green Lake” that was in their anthology “Never Light A Match In The Outhouse”. Matt, the publisher/editor wrote they have updated their website with a list of potential anthologies for the future and invited me to contribute if I have anything that might fit. If the list is on their website, I’m sure anyone can contribute, so take a look and see if you’re interested at www.summitstudios.biz
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, February 4th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then, all healthy and eager to pursue the written word!
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
Jim and Kristy joined me last night for our Meeting. Annette and Chelsey emailed to say they weren’t well and wouldn’t be attending. And Heather, a prospective new member, was also not well and couldn’t attend. Didn’t hear from anyone else and was wondering if the last Review coming out so late might have caused some confusion? I didn’t get around to sending out another reminder about the Meeting. Sorry to all if that was the problem.
Kristy read the prologue to her re-written children’s story, still untitled. It is written in first person from the point of view of the puppy who is kidnapped while his young owner is inside the store buying an ice cream cone. This will definitely pull on the heartstrings of young children.
Jim read Chapters 66 and 67 of “Coventry Ghosts – Book II”. Sara, the kitten ghost, is still trying to get Joel and Ji-Young to their submarine without being caught by the Honywuan military or by the Umbra ghosts, who were working together. Fighting breaks out at the beach where two Zodiaks come to take them to the sub. Sara was feeling overwhelmed fighting both the Umbra and the military, but suddenly receives help from Mei-Xiu, the ghost who haunts the ocean. But a Lieutenant from the SEAL squad is shot and Sara goes inside his body to close the tear to his aorta. He still needs medical help though, so she tells the Doc on the submarine what attention the patient needs before he even arrives in the medical space onboard. Lots of action in these two chapters which keeps readers on their toes.
Jim told us he’s getting a lot done with his Book I in the Coventry series being edited professionally. She is giving him story suggestions as well as doing the line editing, which is mostly about the use or non-use of commas, in Jim’s case.
Kristy did read to us the second half of her story “A Fairytale Ending” but plans to read it again when more members are present, so I won’t tell you anything about it here. Ha! Ha!
I just received the rest of my payment from Summit Studios for my short story “The Blob At Green Lake” that was in their anthology “Never Light A Match In The Outhouse”. Matt, the publisher/editor wrote they have updated their website with a list of potential anthologies for the future and invited me to contribute if I have anything that might fit. If the list is on their website, I’m sure anyone can contribute, so take a look and see if you’re interested at www.summitstudios.biz
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, February 4th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then, all healthy and eager to pursue the written word!
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, January 17, 2015
THE REVIEW
NEW YEAR REUNION
It was wonderful to see everyone again after our hiatus during December due to my surgery and the demands of the holidays. Wendy, Kristi, Annette, Jim and Jason all joined me on the 7th for our first meeting of 2015. Also present that evening was a new face, Chelsey Bleker. She said she has made many notes for a story, but hasn’t started writing it yet. Her chosen genres are fantasy, young adult, and children’s lit. She did say she is looking for a group that might offer more workshops, so if anyone knows where that is happening, please let her know.
Jim read first, Chapters 64 and 65 in Coventry Ghosts, Book II. We see the kitten, Sara, in Drakko where she decides to take the ghost of King George IV back to ghostdom with her, while leaving about 30 bad Umbra ghosts in Drakko. Once back in ghostdom, she is still tasked with returning two living people, Joel and Ji-Young, to the submarine, but radio signals are blocked. She uses telepathy to contact Launi and make arrangements.
Kristi read a short story called “A Fairy Tale Ending” about a young girl living with her deeply depressed father after her mother had committed suicide. The story details the horror of this young girl watching her father lose connection with reality and the people in the world, and emphasizes her desperate loneliness.
Annette read Chapter 1 in her “Untitled Christmas Story”. It shows us Cadence, a 3rd grade teacher with a fascination for names and what they convey about character. Her mother is staying with her after surgery, and a caretaker comes in to look after the mother. One evening the caretaker’s handsome son arrives for dinner, unbeknown to Cadence, and she slams the door in his face. This felt like the perfect beginning to a romance to those who were listening.
Jason read the next chapter in his book. We are taken through a terrible, terrible dream of Gregg’s where he is running from a decaying angel and awful zombies and is trapped between them and the lava flow that takes victims to the shore of the dragon’s domain. He awakes to Jody crying over him. There was lots of suspense here as Gregg and thus the reader don’t know this is just a dream.
Margaret Moffatt was pleased to see her book “Blow Up The Castle” with a good review at http://cosybooks.blogspot.ca
Leah Murray was scheduled to give a talk at the White Rock Library Jan. 16th and 17th, on the use of technology and digital photography to showcase nature. We hope it went well.
I was just notified by the BC/Yukon Command of The Royal Canadian Legion that they are going to post on their blog my article “The Making Of A Soldier, A Mother’s Perspective” and they also offered payment for the story. When I saw the call for submissions, I wasn’t aware of any payment being offered. Very nice surprise. Just goes to show we should keep submitting our writing anyhow.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, January 21st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
LISA A. HATTON
AuthorPublished eBooks available at Kobo Books:
FIRE: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739615
LOVE FOUND: http://kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780991739608
It was wonderful to see everyone again after our hiatus during December due to my surgery and the demands of the holidays. Wendy, Kristi, Annette, Jim and Jason all joined me on the 7th for our first meeting of 2015. Also present that evening was a new face, Chelsey Bleker. She said she has made many notes for a story, but hasn’t started writing it yet. Her chosen genres are fantasy, young adult, and children’s lit. She did say she is looking for a group that might offer more workshops, so if anyone knows where that is happening, please let her know.
Jim read first, Chapters 64 and 65 in Coventry Ghosts, Book II. We see the kitten, Sara, in Drakko where she decides to take the ghost of King George IV back to ghostdom with her, while leaving about 30 bad Umbra ghosts in Drakko. Once back in ghostdom, she is still tasked with returning two living people, Joel and Ji-Young, to the submarine, but radio signals are blocked. She uses telepathy to contact Launi and make arrangements.
Kristi read a short story called “A Fairy Tale Ending” about a young girl living with her deeply depressed father after her mother had committed suicide. The story details the horror of this young girl watching her father lose connection with reality and the people in the world, and emphasizes her desperate loneliness.
Annette read Chapter 1 in her “Untitled Christmas Story”. It shows us Cadence, a 3rd grade teacher with a fascination for names and what they convey about character. Her mother is staying with her after surgery, and a caretaker comes in to look after the mother. One evening the caretaker’s handsome son arrives for dinner, unbeknown to Cadence, and she slams the door in his face. This felt like the perfect beginning to a romance to those who were listening.
Jason read the next chapter in his book. We are taken through a terrible, terrible dream of Gregg’s where he is running from a decaying angel and awful zombies and is trapped between them and the lava flow that takes victims to the shore of the dragon’s domain. He awakes to Jody crying over him. There was lots of suspense here as Gregg and thus the reader don’t know this is just a dream.
Margaret Moffatt was pleased to see her book “Blow Up The Castle” with a good review at http://cosybooks.blogspot.ca
Leah Murray was scheduled to give a talk at the White Rock Library Jan. 16th and 17th, on the use of technology and digital photography to showcase nature. We hope it went well.
I was just notified by the BC/Yukon Command of The Royal Canadian Legion that they are going to post on their blog my article “The Making Of A Soldier, A Mother’s Perspective” and they also offered payment for the story. When I saw the call for submissions, I wasn’t aware of any payment being offered. Very nice surprise. Just goes to show we should keep submitting our writing anyhow.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, January 21st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then.
LISA A. HATTON
AuthorPublished 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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