WOMEN ONLY
The Meeting here Wednesday night consisted of four women. We missed seeing Luke and Guy. Charity was dealing with a family emergency. And Kay is away helping to support firefighters in the interior. Crystal and Annette were here, and Annette brought a friend, Teena Rawding, with her. Teena also writes and has compiled a manuscript of what she called devotional pieces meant to support and encourage women who have suffered domestic abuse. She hopes to self-publish, perhaps as an ebook.
Annette read first, two more chapters. In the first chapter Maxine’s self absorbed in her fear of being trapped in a relationship with Jarod because her conscience won’t let her abandon him before he recovers from his injuries. In the next chapter she is back in the ICU as Jarod is being prepped for surgery. As he is wheeled away, she faints and because she is not an admitted patient, she ends up in the long waiting line in the ER. That’s when she realizes Jarod would never be there to look after her.
Teena read one piece entitled “Can You Imagine?”. It exemplifies how an abused wife loses all confidence in herself and is unable to communicate or make choices as everything she does is criticised in detail by the husband. She eventually accepts she is stupid and cannot escape, and submits to being told how to live in every way. Then the article goes on to tell about the hope that comes after leaving the abuser. The article addressed specifics of everyday life and would be very relevant to anyone in those circumstances.
Crystal had written a short first person story from a writing prompt that said to write about a tattered piece of clothing. Her mother wanted her to clean out her closet and get rid of a particular shirt. But the shirt was her security blanket for many years and was worn through many events in her life and consequently evoked memories she didn’t want to lose. I suggested that if Crystal could cut the words to 750 maximum she could enter the Polar Expressions writing contest, deadline July 31st.
I planned to enter something in the same contest so I read two short stories and asked which one I should enter. The first was “Parade of Sorrow” about a grieving mother watching the Veteran’s Parade on November 11th. She was a middle aged mother grieving her son lost in Afghanistan. The second story I read was “Playing Trivia” about a middle aged couple on a first date at the pub, with him wanting more than she was willing to give. The group chose “Parade Of Sorrow” because it had the greatest emotional impact. So that is the one I will enter.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, August 2nd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see everyone then. Stay away from fires in the meantime.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Friday, July 21, 2017
Friday, July 7, 2017
THE REVIEW
WRITING CORNER
Annette, Luke, Charity and Kay all joined me Wednesday for a lively Meeting and discussion. Adjusting to different circumstances around us, we seemed to be trying out different writing spaces and/or mindsets lately. One had lost a home office. One lost a work office. One gained somebody else’s office. One set a daily word count quota of 100 words and often wrote more than that. And one is looking for the next writing project.
We started with a discussion on foster homes, the sad need for them in the first place and the different experiences of children raised in them, some good, some bad.
Charity read first, about Trixie waking up in the sand, covered in blood from the fight with the mountain lion. She cleans herself and her injuries as best she can in the pond, and then uses a fallen tree limb as a cane to leave the area before sunrise. She seeks refuge in a deep, dark canyon where she collapses. Readers are left anxious for her welfare.
Luke read about Goren waking outside on the grass after the earthquake. He had hit his head escaping the collapsed house. He has to prevent himself from panicking, and then realizes he must go and find his sister. The landscape has changed totally, much covered by fallen rock. He heads to the river which is churning and muddy and full of fallen trees and debris. As he watches, a body comes floating downstream toward him. An orderly environment is now in total chaos.
Annette read of Maxine seeking to clear her head outside the hospital after signing for Jarod’s surgery. She first escapes the cloudy atmosphere around patients smoking near the door. Overcome with grief at her lost dream of love and marriage, she sinks into dirty grass and then has to rise and eventually hides inside her car where she breaks down and cries. She goes back inside the hospital and tries to clean up in a public washroom where water, soap and hand drying are only possible by motion-sensored equipment that doesn’t help with legs and feet. (Don’t know if such comedy was intended, but this was pricelessly funny.) Back in Jarod’s room, the nurse tells her to go home and rest so she can be strong for Jarod. Maxine wants to rebel, but doesn’t.
Kay didn’t read, but said she is still working on her script. Apparently, with scriptwriting, she was told not to discuss or publicise her intended plot at all. Filmmaking is very secretive, apparently.
I read two short pieces from my archived collection of past endeavors. The first was “Raccoon” about a man who scavenges the city streets at night looking for excitement like a raccoon seeks food. The second piece was a bit of memoir about running into a teenage cousin who had been given up for adoption when she was just six years old. It was a very sad family story.
Crystal emailed me to say she was at home Wednesday with the flu, so we hope she is recovering and can join us next time.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, July 19th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then and that everyone can keep writing wherever and whenever circumstance allows.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Annette, Luke, Charity and Kay all joined me Wednesday for a lively Meeting and discussion. Adjusting to different circumstances around us, we seemed to be trying out different writing spaces and/or mindsets lately. One had lost a home office. One lost a work office. One gained somebody else’s office. One set a daily word count quota of 100 words and often wrote more than that. And one is looking for the next writing project.
We started with a discussion on foster homes, the sad need for them in the first place and the different experiences of children raised in them, some good, some bad.
Charity read first, about Trixie waking up in the sand, covered in blood from the fight with the mountain lion. She cleans herself and her injuries as best she can in the pond, and then uses a fallen tree limb as a cane to leave the area before sunrise. She seeks refuge in a deep, dark canyon where she collapses. Readers are left anxious for her welfare.
Luke read about Goren waking outside on the grass after the earthquake. He had hit his head escaping the collapsed house. He has to prevent himself from panicking, and then realizes he must go and find his sister. The landscape has changed totally, much covered by fallen rock. He heads to the river which is churning and muddy and full of fallen trees and debris. As he watches, a body comes floating downstream toward him. An orderly environment is now in total chaos.
Annette read of Maxine seeking to clear her head outside the hospital after signing for Jarod’s surgery. She first escapes the cloudy atmosphere around patients smoking near the door. Overcome with grief at her lost dream of love and marriage, she sinks into dirty grass and then has to rise and eventually hides inside her car where she breaks down and cries. She goes back inside the hospital and tries to clean up in a public washroom where water, soap and hand drying are only possible by motion-sensored equipment that doesn’t help with legs and feet. (Don’t know if such comedy was intended, but this was pricelessly funny.) Back in Jarod’s room, the nurse tells her to go home and rest so she can be strong for Jarod. Maxine wants to rebel, but doesn’t.
Kay didn’t read, but said she is still working on her script. Apparently, with scriptwriting, she was told not to discuss or publicise her intended plot at all. Filmmaking is very secretive, apparently.
I read two short pieces from my archived collection of past endeavors. The first was “Raccoon” about a man who scavenges the city streets at night looking for excitement like a raccoon seeks food. The second piece was a bit of memoir about running into a teenage cousin who had been given up for adoption when she was just six years old. It was a very sad family story.
Crystal emailed me to say she was at home Wednesday with the flu, so we hope she is recovering and can join us next time.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, July 19th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then and that everyone can keep writing wherever and whenever circumstance allows.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Friday, June 23, 2017
THE REVIEW
DEDICATED SUMMER SCRIBES
Crystal, Charity and Luke joined me for a Meeting on Wednesday, which was both the longest day of the year and the first day of summer. We did decide that the Rams will continue to meet during the summer months this year. I don’t know if that was so much because we are all such dedicated, enthusiastic writers as because none of us were planning to go away on vacation this summer! So if persistence pays off for writers, we should be on the right track.
Charity read first, the next chapter showing Trixie waiting on a ledge for an hour after the posse leaves. She felt dirty and in need of a bath. She heads for a hideout her Pa used to go to and on the way finds a secluded pool. She strips and bathes but then is attacked by a mountain lion. She fights back with a knife and kills it, and she is left badly injured. This chapter was fraught with tension and the reader will keep turning pages to find out what happens next to Trixie.
Luke read to us of Goren waking up on the mountain to find the celiat has left him. He packs up and takes an easier route home, now that he isn’t tracking anything. When he arrives home, he finds the house empty and with his parents and his sister all away. He falls asleep with his boots on, but awakes to the ground shaking. This leaves us wanting to know what’s causing the shaking, an earthquake or invading troops?
Chrystal read a poem called “Stutter” which exemplifies how words (or sounds) can keep repeating inside the head without being able to speak them out loud and communicate deep emotions that are felt.
I read the last “Honey” story in my collection, which is called “Locked Out” and tells of Honey usurping my space in the den and my thinking I’m being blocked from doing any writing. But then I use that time to sit with my printed manuscript and do some editing with my red pen. Charity said it reminded her of a similar situation at her house lately. It’s wonderful if we have our own space to write in, but if we are dedicated writers we should be able to write anywhere, with any tools available. That’s what I keep telling myself anyhow.
With time still left in the Meeting, we segued into reading our own poetry, except for Luke, who says he doesn’t write poetry.
Charity read “This Old Tree” about an old tree that stands strong in the wind.
Crystal read “Open Up”, talking about her mother’s tongue of razor blades, her father’s chest being cut open, and through all the pain and despair and destruction, still feeling alone. Very haunting. The next poem she read was a rhyming one called “About Me”, trying to define herself.
I read “The Question Of Love” which lists all the myriad ways that love can manifest and is always different with each person loved. Then I read “Sweet Betrayal” about a man’s misplaced devotion to the lady in the bottle (alcohol) and how she slayed him.
I told those present about a used bookery/coffee shop I discovered in Aldergrove called Book’N’Bean. Nice ambience where you can browse the books, buy a coffee and sit and read. You can also trade in your used books for credit on buying other used books. They are at 27103 Fraser Highway. Keep them in mind if you are in that area or need an afternoon getaway.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, July 5th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place that now sports a bright blue door. Can’t miss it! Have a Happy Canada Day in the meantime!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Crystal, Charity and Luke joined me for a Meeting on Wednesday, which was both the longest day of the year and the first day of summer. We did decide that the Rams will continue to meet during the summer months this year. I don’t know if that was so much because we are all such dedicated, enthusiastic writers as because none of us were planning to go away on vacation this summer! So if persistence pays off for writers, we should be on the right track.
Charity read first, the next chapter showing Trixie waiting on a ledge for an hour after the posse leaves. She felt dirty and in need of a bath. She heads for a hideout her Pa used to go to and on the way finds a secluded pool. She strips and bathes but then is attacked by a mountain lion. She fights back with a knife and kills it, and she is left badly injured. This chapter was fraught with tension and the reader will keep turning pages to find out what happens next to Trixie.
Luke read to us of Goren waking up on the mountain to find the celiat has left him. He packs up and takes an easier route home, now that he isn’t tracking anything. When he arrives home, he finds the house empty and with his parents and his sister all away. He falls asleep with his boots on, but awakes to the ground shaking. This leaves us wanting to know what’s causing the shaking, an earthquake or invading troops?
Chrystal read a poem called “Stutter” which exemplifies how words (or sounds) can keep repeating inside the head without being able to speak them out loud and communicate deep emotions that are felt.
I read the last “Honey” story in my collection, which is called “Locked Out” and tells of Honey usurping my space in the den and my thinking I’m being blocked from doing any writing. But then I use that time to sit with my printed manuscript and do some editing with my red pen. Charity said it reminded her of a similar situation at her house lately. It’s wonderful if we have our own space to write in, but if we are dedicated writers we should be able to write anywhere, with any tools available. That’s what I keep telling myself anyhow.
With time still left in the Meeting, we segued into reading our own poetry, except for Luke, who says he doesn’t write poetry.
Charity read “This Old Tree” about an old tree that stands strong in the wind.
Crystal read “Open Up”, talking about her mother’s tongue of razor blades, her father’s chest being cut open, and through all the pain and despair and destruction, still feeling alone. Very haunting. The next poem she read was a rhyming one called “About Me”, trying to define herself.
I read “The Question Of Love” which lists all the myriad ways that love can manifest and is always different with each person loved. Then I read “Sweet Betrayal” about a man’s misplaced devotion to the lady in the bottle (alcohol) and how she slayed him.
I told those present about a used bookery/coffee shop I discovered in Aldergrove called Book’N’Bean. Nice ambience where you can browse the books, buy a coffee and sit and read. You can also trade in your used books for credit on buying other used books. They are at 27103 Fraser Highway. Keep them in mind if you are in that area or need an afternoon getaway.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, July 5th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place that now sports a bright blue door. Can’t miss it! Have a Happy Canada Day in the meantime!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Saturday, June 10, 2017
THE REVIEW
TWO IN ONE
Had a great Meeting here on Wednesday after the cancelled Meeting in May due to the car accident in which I suffered some injuries. Have mostly recovered now and can type again so no more excuses for not writing a Review. Will try to incorporate information from both of the last two Meetings to make up for the missing Review.
At the Meeting in May, Margaret F. read a fictionalized chapter from “Babes In The Wood” in which she tells about a young Clifford Olsen who was always in trouble and had a penchant for torturing birds. While his father was horrified, his mother seemed to make excuses for him. It should be interesting to see how Margaret ties this in with the rest of the investigation of the murdered children found in Stanley Park.
At two different Meetings, Luke read about Goren still at the cave where he killed the snake. He skins and cooks it and shares the meat with the celiat and then cleans up and prepares the skin and head to transport home as trophies. He decides to wait for sunrise before travelling and remembers the past when he decided to stay out of the combat troops of the military, in spite of what others thought. He became a lone hunter, like the celiat, which slept beside his tent that night.
Charity read twice about Trixie. After the girl had killed Brett, she takes his boots and knife and runs, afraid of being caught. She runs a zig-zag pattern to make it hard for Marley and his posse to track her. Hidden among the rocks in the sweltering heat, she sees the minister on horseback, sitting and watching the valley below. She forces herself not to move, trying to outlast his vigilance. Lots of tension in this scene.
Annette also read at both Meetings from the story she had started. Maxine was wanting to end a relationship with a man named Jarod. But he had been injured in a motorcycle accident and she needed to take time off work even though her boss wanted her to leave the man. She is at the hospital and meets a Ray Matthews, dressed in a coat and stethoscope, who tells her about Jarod’s injuries and asks for her signature for Jarod to have surgery. She questions the legality of her signing for that, but is told since there is no other family and that she had previously been designated temporary substitute decision maker, that her signature was valid. She realizes that Jarod will probably live and recover and that he needs her to help with that, but consequently she would have no freedom. Desperation is sometimes born of sacrifice to the needs of others.
I had read two Honey stories. In May I read “Reluctant Mr. Fixit” about Honey telling me he was done after doing three chores for me at home. Then I read “Lost And Found” about our road trip to Thunder Bay and the trials and tribulations of so much togetherness, ameliorated upon finding home again.
Guy didn’t read in May, but did at the last Meeting. He said he is just jotting down events in rough draft and read this time about George as a teen living with his grandmother, and being more interested in partying and drinking with his friends than school. He had a dream of being a pilot, though, and applied for ROTC with the Air Force. His application was accepted but when he went for the physical exam it was discovered that he was colour blind and his dream was denied.
Crystal Colligan was a new member who joined us for the first time on Wednesday. She writes mostly poetry and shared with us that a lot of her writing was about being recovered from anorexia. She read to us a poem entitled “Broken Things”, and it was raw, pulsating pain trying to survive past hurts and re-invent herself, and not at all sure of who she should be. This poem was naked emotion on the page and we hope will find publication somewhere. And Crystal did say she writes a blog, so we will have to ask where to find it.
Somebody asked me if the Rams were going to take some time out during the summer, and I replied I didn’t know. So give that some thought. In the past we have sometimes taken the month of August off, so if people want to do that, we can. I don’t have any travel plans this summer, so to keep having Meetings during July and August is fine with me if others want to attend. We will decide at the next Meeting, which will be Wednesday, June 21st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. I look forward to seeing you then, which will be the longest day of the year!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Had a great Meeting here on Wednesday after the cancelled Meeting in May due to the car accident in which I suffered some injuries. Have mostly recovered now and can type again so no more excuses for not writing a Review. Will try to incorporate information from both of the last two Meetings to make up for the missing Review.
At the Meeting in May, Margaret F. read a fictionalized chapter from “Babes In The Wood” in which she tells about a young Clifford Olsen who was always in trouble and had a penchant for torturing birds. While his father was horrified, his mother seemed to make excuses for him. It should be interesting to see how Margaret ties this in with the rest of the investigation of the murdered children found in Stanley Park.
At two different Meetings, Luke read about Goren still at the cave where he killed the snake. He skins and cooks it and shares the meat with the celiat and then cleans up and prepares the skin and head to transport home as trophies. He decides to wait for sunrise before travelling and remembers the past when he decided to stay out of the combat troops of the military, in spite of what others thought. He became a lone hunter, like the celiat, which slept beside his tent that night.
Charity read twice about Trixie. After the girl had killed Brett, she takes his boots and knife and runs, afraid of being caught. She runs a zig-zag pattern to make it hard for Marley and his posse to track her. Hidden among the rocks in the sweltering heat, she sees the minister on horseback, sitting and watching the valley below. She forces herself not to move, trying to outlast his vigilance. Lots of tension in this scene.
Annette also read at both Meetings from the story she had started. Maxine was wanting to end a relationship with a man named Jarod. But he had been injured in a motorcycle accident and she needed to take time off work even though her boss wanted her to leave the man. She is at the hospital and meets a Ray Matthews, dressed in a coat and stethoscope, who tells her about Jarod’s injuries and asks for her signature for Jarod to have surgery. She questions the legality of her signing for that, but is told since there is no other family and that she had previously been designated temporary substitute decision maker, that her signature was valid. She realizes that Jarod will probably live and recover and that he needs her to help with that, but consequently she would have no freedom. Desperation is sometimes born of sacrifice to the needs of others.
I had read two Honey stories. In May I read “Reluctant Mr. Fixit” about Honey telling me he was done after doing three chores for me at home. Then I read “Lost And Found” about our road trip to Thunder Bay and the trials and tribulations of so much togetherness, ameliorated upon finding home again.
Guy didn’t read in May, but did at the last Meeting. He said he is just jotting down events in rough draft and read this time about George as a teen living with his grandmother, and being more interested in partying and drinking with his friends than school. He had a dream of being a pilot, though, and applied for ROTC with the Air Force. His application was accepted but when he went for the physical exam it was discovered that he was colour blind and his dream was denied.
Crystal Colligan was a new member who joined us for the first time on Wednesday. She writes mostly poetry and shared with us that a lot of her writing was about being recovered from anorexia. She read to us a poem entitled “Broken Things”, and it was raw, pulsating pain trying to survive past hurts and re-invent herself, and not at all sure of who she should be. This poem was naked emotion on the page and we hope will find publication somewhere. And Crystal did say she writes a blog, so we will have to ask where to find it.
Somebody asked me if the Rams were going to take some time out during the summer, and I replied I didn’t know. So give that some thought. In the past we have sometimes taken the month of August off, so if people want to do that, we can. I don’t have any travel plans this summer, so to keep having Meetings during July and August is fine with me if others want to attend. We will decide at the next Meeting, which will be Wednesday, June 21st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. I look forward to seeing you then, which will be the longest day of the year!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Friday, April 21, 2017
THE REVIEW
DEDICATED DUET
Luke and I were the only Rams here on Wednesday night. Charity had come down with a cold and Kay said she had to work late. I don’t know what happened with anyone else. But Luke and I had lots of time to discuss various issues, which was enjoyable.
I read first, a short piece called “Haunted” which was a second place winner in the Wired Monk writing contest back in 2005. It was about the guilt I felt after refusing to give money to a pregnant woman who stopped me at a fast food restaurant and said she hadn’t eaten in three days.
Luke read the next scene in his novel, which has Goren in the den of the spine snake, which is littered with the bones of previous victims. He is engaged in a battle with the snake but is able to pin it to the ground and then he slices its head off to take as a trophy. He lets the other animal live and they both dine on snake meat. Later in the chapter some backstory explains about Goren’s preference for tracking and exploring over military combat. After betrayal at school, he prefers solitude and freedom. The conflict for Goren will be in learning to accept help from others. I asked Luke if he could put more tension into the battle with the snake to better engage the reader. That’s when Luke said he is much more a world builder than an adventurer and that he prefers reading all the detail of foreign environments himself. It’s true there are all kinds of readers and that tastes differ enormously. Being a girl who doesn’t like snakes, I needed something to entice me to keep reading.
I then read another “Honey” story, this one called “Face To Face”. It’s about when I wanted a new cell phone mostly for taking pictures but ended up with an Android that has internet access on it with Wi-Fi, and how I became so absorbed with using it that Honey had to email me to get my attention. He had tried calling me with it but I didn’t know how to get out of the game I was playing and answer the phone. Luke said he liked the story and thought it was funny.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, May 3rd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Keep writing even though it’s spring and you want to be outside playing!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Luke and I were the only Rams here on Wednesday night. Charity had come down with a cold and Kay said she had to work late. I don’t know what happened with anyone else. But Luke and I had lots of time to discuss various issues, which was enjoyable.
I read first, a short piece called “Haunted” which was a second place winner in the Wired Monk writing contest back in 2005. It was about the guilt I felt after refusing to give money to a pregnant woman who stopped me at a fast food restaurant and said she hadn’t eaten in three days.
Luke read the next scene in his novel, which has Goren in the den of the spine snake, which is littered with the bones of previous victims. He is engaged in a battle with the snake but is able to pin it to the ground and then he slices its head off to take as a trophy. He lets the other animal live and they both dine on snake meat. Later in the chapter some backstory explains about Goren’s preference for tracking and exploring over military combat. After betrayal at school, he prefers solitude and freedom. The conflict for Goren will be in learning to accept help from others. I asked Luke if he could put more tension into the battle with the snake to better engage the reader. That’s when Luke said he is much more a world builder than an adventurer and that he prefers reading all the detail of foreign environments himself. It’s true there are all kinds of readers and that tastes differ enormously. Being a girl who doesn’t like snakes, I needed something to entice me to keep reading.
I then read another “Honey” story, this one called “Face To Face”. It’s about when I wanted a new cell phone mostly for taking pictures but ended up with an Android that has internet access on it with Wi-Fi, and how I became so absorbed with using it that Honey had to email me to get my attention. He had tried calling me with it but I didn’t know how to get out of the game I was playing and answer the phone. Luke said he liked the story and thought it was funny.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, May 3rd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Keep writing even though it’s spring and you want to be outside playing!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Thursday, April 6, 2017
THE REVIEW
HIGH FIVE
Five of us met last night in spite of the rain. Shannon, Luke, Charity and Guy all joined me for an awesome evening of readings and conversation.
Charity read first, from “Trixie Trouble”, her next chapter. Trixie goes back to where her Pa had been hung, missing him, and she finishes off the flask of brandy. She nods off and dreams of her Pa, but is awakened by Brett Marley who assaults and tries to rape her. In a desperate struggle, she shoots him with his own shotgun. This chapter was a total surprise as it was in stark contrast to previous humorous chapters. Charity says she likes to surprise the reader.
Luke is working on his novel “The Heart Of The Earth” and has added a new first chapter, with the character Gorin. We see him hunting a beast known as a celiat, following it up a mountain. He suspects the beast is also hunting something. But when he follows it into a cave and finds it collapsed, he realizes the beast had been used to lure him, a bigger catch, into the cave of a spine snake. We don’t know yet who is at the top of the food chain here.
Guy didn’t read anything. He says he’s trying to sort out what he wants to write about the life of a seventeen year old boy. Guy did ask us about copyright. We all agreed that writers are automatically the owners of copyright to their work but if they want to register the copyright they can do so for a fee at the Copyright Office of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. However, it is still up to the owner to do the policing for any possible theft of reproductive rights of their own material.
Shannon read Chapter 1 of her novel, “Senior Citizens’ Serial Killer”. As the ambulance sits outside Howard’s trailer where he died on top of Bethany, a crowd of seniors gathers outside, fueling the gossip mill. Julie, a private investigator wanting to be a detective, is there with two friends, speculating about the possibility of a crime having been committed, when the police arrive. Shannon wasn’t happy with this chapter and plans to re-write it to add more excitement to the appearance of an ambulance in this quiet seniors’ community.
I read “Honey’s Next Degree” about Honey suffering while I underwent surgery, and then finding his feet when he had to obtain specific medical and mobility aids for my recovery. He used his engineering skills to source the right equipment. I did say I had finished editing the collection and am now formatting the manuscript. I was struggling with inserting a table of contents, but Shannon gave me a tip I will try. And I still have to decide if I will submit hard copy or email copy to the publisher I’m thinking about. Charity said she thinks hard copy probably garners more attention than an email. A large chunk of actual mail is harder to ignore.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 19th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Happy Easter to all the Rams in the meantime, and eat all those chocolate bunnies for me since I can’t have them any more.
TONGUE IN CHEEK: A bibliophile is one who loves or collects books, while a biblioklept is one who steals them.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Five of us met last night in spite of the rain. Shannon, Luke, Charity and Guy all joined me for an awesome evening of readings and conversation.
Charity read first, from “Trixie Trouble”, her next chapter. Trixie goes back to where her Pa had been hung, missing him, and she finishes off the flask of brandy. She nods off and dreams of her Pa, but is awakened by Brett Marley who assaults and tries to rape her. In a desperate struggle, she shoots him with his own shotgun. This chapter was a total surprise as it was in stark contrast to previous humorous chapters. Charity says she likes to surprise the reader.
Luke is working on his novel “The Heart Of The Earth” and has added a new first chapter, with the character Gorin. We see him hunting a beast known as a celiat, following it up a mountain. He suspects the beast is also hunting something. But when he follows it into a cave and finds it collapsed, he realizes the beast had been used to lure him, a bigger catch, into the cave of a spine snake. We don’t know yet who is at the top of the food chain here.
Guy didn’t read anything. He says he’s trying to sort out what he wants to write about the life of a seventeen year old boy. Guy did ask us about copyright. We all agreed that writers are automatically the owners of copyright to their work but if they want to register the copyright they can do so for a fee at the Copyright Office of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. However, it is still up to the owner to do the policing for any possible theft of reproductive rights of their own material.
Shannon read Chapter 1 of her novel, “Senior Citizens’ Serial Killer”. As the ambulance sits outside Howard’s trailer where he died on top of Bethany, a crowd of seniors gathers outside, fueling the gossip mill. Julie, a private investigator wanting to be a detective, is there with two friends, speculating about the possibility of a crime having been committed, when the police arrive. Shannon wasn’t happy with this chapter and plans to re-write it to add more excitement to the appearance of an ambulance in this quiet seniors’ community.
I read “Honey’s Next Degree” about Honey suffering while I underwent surgery, and then finding his feet when he had to obtain specific medical and mobility aids for my recovery. He used his engineering skills to source the right equipment. I did say I had finished editing the collection and am now formatting the manuscript. I was struggling with inserting a table of contents, but Shannon gave me a tip I will try. And I still have to decide if I will submit hard copy or email copy to the publisher I’m thinking about. Charity said she thinks hard copy probably garners more attention than an email. A large chunk of actual mail is harder to ignore.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 19th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Happy Easter to all the Rams in the meantime, and eat all those chocolate bunnies for me since I can’t have them any more.
TONGUE IN CHEEK: A bibliophile is one who loves or collects books, while a biblioklept is one who steals them.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Friday, March 17, 2017
THE REVIEW
THE GIFT OF THE GAB
Luke, Charity and Annette all joined me Wednesday and it was so nice to see Annette again after such a long absence. With only 4 of us present, we had lots of time for catching up with each other.
Luke read his final chapter that has Dalin cleaned up and in his new uniform, going to pick out the soldiers he will take with him to the city. Torch is one he wants but she resists until he assures her he needs her to watch his back, mostly as a friend he trusts. The ending of this chapter wrapped things up nicely, but also left room for continuation in a later story. Well done.
Charity read the next chapter about Trixie Trouble, after she runs from the barn when Fat Marley says he wants to become mayor. Donovan follows her and declines the brandy she offers. The two of them argue and he leaves. She is devastated that people who killed her father for horse stealing would elect for mayor someone who stole even more from people.
I read a ‘Honey’ story, “Friday The Thirteenth”, which shows a cast of strange characters at the local Legion branch one Friday night. Luke and Charity both wanted me to make the ending less abrupt and I will see what I can do with it.
Annette didn’t have a story to read, but shared with us the plot she has devised for a mystery night she has planned for ladies at her church. After a party, there is theft of some jewels and participants are given clues and alibis and must discover who stole the jewels. Annette promised to advise us of who the culprit was after the mystery night.
Kay, Guy and Shannon were all unable to attend but we hope to see them again soon. Kay has said she will come back the middle of April. Guy said he will come back the next Meeting. And Annette has said she will come back in May. I look forward to seeing them all.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 5th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. So kiss the Blarney Stone today and write down all the words that flow!
Tomorrow, Saturday the 18th, I’m meeting Kay at the Lemon Bakery in Langley City at noon for probably a couple of hours for lunch, writing, gabbing, or whatever. If you want to join our writers’ corner there, you are welcome.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
My Motto: Hook, Line and Printer!
Luke, Charity and Annette all joined me Wednesday and it was so nice to see Annette again after such a long absence. With only 4 of us present, we had lots of time for catching up with each other.
Luke read his final chapter that has Dalin cleaned up and in his new uniform, going to pick out the soldiers he will take with him to the city. Torch is one he wants but she resists until he assures her he needs her to watch his back, mostly as a friend he trusts. The ending of this chapter wrapped things up nicely, but also left room for continuation in a later story. Well done.
Charity read the next chapter about Trixie Trouble, after she runs from the barn when Fat Marley says he wants to become mayor. Donovan follows her and declines the brandy she offers. The two of them argue and he leaves. She is devastated that people who killed her father for horse stealing would elect for mayor someone who stole even more from people.
I read a ‘Honey’ story, “Friday The Thirteenth”, which shows a cast of strange characters at the local Legion branch one Friday night. Luke and Charity both wanted me to make the ending less abrupt and I will see what I can do with it.
Annette didn’t have a story to read, but shared with us the plot she has devised for a mystery night she has planned for ladies at her church. After a party, there is theft of some jewels and participants are given clues and alibis and must discover who stole the jewels. Annette promised to advise us of who the culprit was after the mystery night.
Kay, Guy and Shannon were all unable to attend but we hope to see them again soon. Kay has said she will come back the middle of April. Guy said he will come back the next Meeting. And Annette has said she will come back in May. I look forward to seeing them all.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 5th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. So kiss the Blarney Stone today and write down all the words that flow!
Tomorrow, Saturday the 18th, I’m meeting Kay at the Lemon Bakery in Langley City at noon for probably a couple of hours for lunch, writing, gabbing, or whatever. If you want to join our writers’ corner there, you are welcome.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
My Motto: Hook, Line and Printer!
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