MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 15, 2010

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Beverly Stanislawski, Sharon Buckman, Sandra Nantais, Tom Spencer, Kelley Chase, Laurie Chase, Pam Gonzalez, Michelle Vargas, Sharon Jesik, Jackie Huppenthal, Judy Whitcomb and Sharon Palmeri

NEWS:

1. Beverly Stanislawski happily announced that she had taken first place for a literary award from the Life Press Christian Writers Assn. for her short story, "The Passover Lamb." She received a monetary award as well - congratulations Beverly.

2. Sandra Nantais stated she had just recently returned from California and hasn't had much chance to do any writing.

3. Tom Spencer reported on his Labor Day party stating it had gone very well and he thought everyone had a good time. He also stated the deadline to submit poems for the Poetry Book is Saturday.

4. Kelley Chase, hiding her light under that bushel, did not want to reveal that she marched in the Labor Day parade.

5. Laurie Chase, still working on having her niece edit her book, stated she became an aunt again this past week.

6. Pamela Gonzalez stated her husband is insisting that she submit her "Frightened Fairy" poem to a publisher by Saturday - she's looking for one.

7. Michelle Vargas, who joined WOH today, stated she received an E-mail from the Lutheran Witness Magazine stating they had accepted her piece, "The Light of the World." It will be in the November issue.

8. Sharon Jesik told of an author friend of hers, Scott Phillips, who had written "Ice Harvest," a book later turned into a movie starring John Cusak, has written another book.

9. Jackie Huppenthal stated she and her family went to Tom Spencer's Labor Day party and had a wonderful time. She also has an author friend, David L. Harrison, who had written a book on volcanos. Jackie found out the book had been talked about in her son's class at school and after telling her friend he sent a letter to the class.

10. Judy Whitcomb stated the "Magic Hour," the writers club for children's books, had Kathy Flotz as their guest speaker last week and it went very well.

11. Sharon Palmeri, after going through her various writings for the WOH book, decided to do a little more writing. She also told of having to take her dog, Chrissy, for surgery involving fatty tumors.

12. Sharon Buckman stated she has been enjoying the extra writing she has been involved with pertaining to her book, "Canopy of Leaves."

READINGS:

SHARON BUCKMAN read the first two pages of the last chapter of her book. The chapter, "Escape," told how the thirteen year old girl managed to get free and is presently in the process of living in the wilderness trying to find help.

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read her prize winning story, "The Passover Lamb." The story told of a young boy, Jonathan, taking his lamb to the priest for the annual Passover sacrifice. The lamb escaped in the process of trying to get him there, causing Jonathan to come in contact with a stranger who tried to help him. The story has a surprise ending.

SANDY NANTAIS had written a true short story involving her recent trip to California, more specifically, a laundromat. The story, "Bush & Stockton Street Coin Laundry," told of seeing so many people living in the streets of San Francisco and of one particular old man who entered the laundromat just to steal her full cup of Starbucks coffee.

TOM SPENCER wrote a one page short story, in the second person, entitled "Self Evaluation." The story told of the dilemma of a man fishing in an old boat that had capsized and trying to figure out how to get back into it.

MICHELLE VARGAS read the beginning of chapter one of her non-titled book. The story told of her desire to avenge her father's gruesome death and the courage she and her friend had to achieve this.

SHARON JESIK read a few more pages of her book, "Corn Dancer." In this part of the story, Luck, a close friend of the deceased Dotty, was trying to go through her art gallery files, hoping to find a possible clue as to her murderer; instead he believes he encounters her ghost.

JACKIE HUPPENTHAL read her nine stanza poem of the average life of a frenzied housewife. The poem, addressed to her husband, tries to explain it all to him, hoping he won't add to her stress by remarking it is still a mess.

KELLY CHASE continued with her story, "Unintentional Treasure Hunting." This part of the story told of the teenage girls finding a hidden room in the basement of the deserted house and ended before they could find out what was inside.

LAURIE CHASE continued with her book, "Dual Heritage." The story continues with Dr. Togalaz, a woman who is half human and half Allizorn, trying to apply for a position at a medical facility without giving them all the details of her past physical history, being half human.

SHARON PALMERI read her short story entitled, "On Call." The story relates to the time she worked as a technician in obstetrics and tries to understand why it seems more babies are always born under a full moon.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 P.M.

Respectfully submitted:
Sharon Buckman