MEMBERS
PRESENT:
Tammy Breitweiser, Al Koch, Amy Clites, Caren Von
See, Sharon Palmeri, Sharon Buckman, Katherine Flotz, Amy Brailey, Ruthann
Graczyk, Tim Phillipart, Corri Stephenson, and Paula Stephenson, Diane
Stratton, Jessica Rewald and Danielle Johnson
OLD
BUSINESS:
A vote of approval for the January 3, 2019 minutes
was first given by CAREN VON SEE and
seconded by RUTHANN GRACZYK
NEW
BUSINESS:
AMY
CLITES shared about the Writer’s Retreat she had
recommended last meeting. (Future ones
will be held on the Second Saturdays of February, and March. (Posted on Facebook) The retreat was organized by Linda
Harris. The event costs $40, which
includes lunch. Amy thoroughly enjoyed
the time which provided space for writers to spend time enjoying nature and the
inspiration it offers.
TIM
PHILLIPART gave a handout sharing critiques of famous writers
and information on “classics” who self-published. He highlighted a quote about Mark Twain and
how he self-published and utilized the technology of his day to get his work in
the hands of those who would read it.
CAREN
VON SEE gave a handout of “Things we say today that we owe
to Shakespeare.”
AL
KOCH informed the group that the Sonny Bono Copyright Term
Extension Act has released a number of works to public domain which frees
writers in use of quotes, lyrics, etc. In other words, works created before
1924 would be considered in public domain. See these links for more details:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/first-time-20-years-copyrighted-works-enter-public-domain-180971016/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/first-time-20-years-copyrighted-works-enter-public-domain-180971016/
and
LITERARY
NEWS:
TAMMY
BREITWEISER has an essay entitled “My Almost Secret Writing Life” published in I Wrote It Anyway: An Anthology
of Essays. She also has a work of
Flash Fiction entitled “Ironic
Honeymoon” which will be published on https://elephantsnever.com/
READINGS:
TAMMY
BREITWEISER read two free verse poems. The first, entitled “The Demons Steal My Soul” describes the narrator’s struggles with
his/her own thoughts. The second, “Downtown” which vividly describes
conflicting elements of life in a downtown.
TIM
PHILLIPART read a poem entitled “The Mercy Seat” in which he describes a student who is given the “Special seat” by the classroom door. This place of responsibility encourages his
good behavior and motivates him for more responsibility.
AMY
CLITES read the first chapter of her novel entitled Inside
Chance. In the chapter, Joni
Chance is walking along listening to music.
She has a creepy feeling, like a buzzing in her brain, but is distracted
from it by the arrival of Izzy, a girl who bullies her. The scene ends as Joni walks away, thinking
of her mom and using music to drown out Izzy’s taunts.
CAREN
VON SEE read Chapter 10 of her novel entitled My
Treasure Chest. In this chapter, Antonio has invited his
uncle Lorenzo over to discuss his gambling problem. Sara and Antonio flirt while getting ready
for the confrontation. Uncle Lorenzo
arrives, followed by Angelo who makes a pass at Sara and is confronted by
Antonio.
AMY
BRAILEY read “Downtown
Diversion” from her collection Don’t Leave Me Hangin’. Two men
break into an office building and are on the verge of getting caught.
AL
KOCH read “Empty
Promises,” a commentary on the loss
of integrity in today’s society where people in all arena’s speak words they
know they do not mean. These words have
a devastating effect on a younger generation.
He challenges us to let our words and our character mean something.
CORRI
STEPHENSON continued Chapter 1o of her NaNoWriMo novel entitled
The
Watcher. In this section, the Guardian and the boy are
discussing the boy’s unique abilities, which we have yet to discover. A second ghost appears, smelling burnt, and
the boy recoils from him. The Guardian
takes him to see something.
PAULA
STEPHENSON shared an untitled piece in which Hugo, the lion,
lost his roar and is being teased by the other animals.
DIANE
STRATTON read an
untitled fiction story. In this section,
New Age guru Pax Peyton is giving a seminar in which each person feels they are the answer to their community’s
needs. He has divided the room into
groups with a sampling of people from each age group to list their community’s
concerns.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
AMY
BRAILEY
