May 8, 2025

 MEMBERS PRESENT:

Amy Brailey, Katherine Flotz, Ruthann Graczyk, Cindy Horgash, Al Koch, Karen Lauper, Bob Neuman, Judy Neuman, Sharon Palmeri,Trent Pendley, Bev Stanislawski, Diane Stratton, Becky Hegarty, Chris Hasara

OLD BUSINESS:

Amy Brailey reminded members that W.O.H. will host a table at the Creative Arts Summit at the Lake County Reference Library on May 31, 2025, from 12:00-4:00 pm. Members volunteering to work at the table are Beverly Biehr, Katherine Flotz, Cindy Horgash, Ruthann Graczyk, Bob and Judy Neuman, Sharon Palmeri, and Diane Stratton. Set-up begins at 11:00 am, and all members are welcome to have books sold at the table.

NEW BUSINESS:

The Neumans introduced their guest, Becky Hegarty.

LITERARY NEWS:

Diane Stratton discussed the Indiana Extension Homemakers’ Association’s request for Katherine Flotz’s book “A Pebble in My Shoe.” Her book will be submitted for review at their next meeting in Schererville, IN.

READINGS:

Beverly Stanislawski read her short story “Birds of a Feather.” The birds learn a lesson in being kind to those different from them.

TRENT D. PENDLEY read the opening pages from his historical fiction, “It Happened in the Indiana Dunes.” This excerpt chronicles the COVID pandemic and the immediate aftermath of the 2020 national election. The Franklin brothers self-quarantine at Brighton House during the holidays in their hometown on the Indiana Landmark Foundation’s list.

CINDY HORGASH read her children’s story, “Little Bits of Heaven,” for critique before entering the Writers’ Digest contest. It is a fictional story of a grandma’s gift to share with her granddaughter the bits of heaven that surround us every day.  

BOB NEUMAN read his non-fictional account of Bob and Judy’s first date titled “Matchmaker.”

“My Dysfunctional Family” was written by NATALIE NEUMAN, the older daughter of Bob and Judy Neuman. Judy read the article required by Natalie’s literature class in the 1980’s. This is a tongue-in-cheek story about the horrible truth that her parents were still married while her friends flitted across the country to visit one parent or the other.

AL KOCH read his short story “Choices” about the choices that determine what we eat, how we shop, work, and overall—how we live. It begs the question: Are you an expert or an amateur?

KAREN LAUPER read the chapter “Long Hospitalization: Long Road Home” from her non-fiction book about her son Timmy’s long-term hospitalization, including his hospital baptism and appearance on a TV program hosted by Walter Cronkite.

CHRIS HASARA read his poem “Party Game,” comparing party introductions to throwing stones. He also read the poem “Refined,” expressing how difficulty and struggle can lead to surprising paths.  

SHARON PALMERI read from her memoir “W.O.H. on the Horizon 1993-94.” Sharon arranged for W.O.H. Members to go to a local school to talk to the children about poetry and promote the contest during this period. Contest winners attended an awards night, received prizes, and were published in the first Hoosier Horizon book for children. She promoted this while juggling careers in teaching, nursing, and journalism.

The meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm.

Respectfully Submitted:

CINDY HORGASH 

 

April 24, 2025

   MEMBERS PRESENT:

Beverly Biehr, Amy Brailey, Sharon Buckman, Katherine Flotz, Ruthann Graczyk, Cindy Horgash, Al Koch, Bob Neuman, Judy Neuman, Sharon Palmeri, Trent Pendley, Diane Stratton, Tina Fugger, Chris Hasara

OLD BUSINESS:

Amy Brailey reminded members that W.O.H. will host a table at the Creative Arts Summit at the Lake County Reference Library on May 31, 2025, from 12:00-4:00 pm. Set-up begins at 11:00 am. Beverly Biehr, Cindy Horgash, and Sharon Palmeri volunteered to man the table during the event. Members are welcome to have books sold at the table.

NEW BUSINESS:

Amy Brailey’s students will attend the May 22, 2025, W.O.H. meeting to promote their recent book of story collections.

LITERARY NEWS:

Chris Hasara will read his poem at the Words in Motion event at 5:00 p.m. on April 27, 2025, at Clinton Prairie High School. During the reading, interpretive dance will be performed simultaneously. 

READINGS:

AL KOCH read his nonfiction short story “A Cup of Tea.” He tells of enjoying a cup of tea with his mother that soothes and calms the mind, body, and spirit—his favorite kind. Al also read a piece from the writing prompt, “Cell Phone Incident,” about a woman borrowing a stranger’s phone, only to sneeze on it and return it with slime and an apology before running off.  

SHARON BUCKMAN read an informative piece titled “RECESSION?” with a lesson on economizing when necessary.   

SHARON PALMERI read her fictional story based on the writing prompt titled "Don’t Hang Up” about a deadly plot by a woman’s husband to rig her phone with a bomb explosion when she hung up on him—something he knew she would do.

DIANE STRATTON read her informative fiction, “The Call,” centered on the writing prompt about a young woman who borrows her phone and slips away. The news the next day reveals the mystery after a baby was given up in the town’s Safe Haven Baby Box.

RUTHANN GRACZYK read her fictional short story on the WOH writing prompt—A Stranger Asks to Borrow Your Cell Phone, about an encounter with a strange girl at the train station on a snowy morning. After the explosion, Angie would never be late for work again.

Using the writing prompt, CINDY HORGASH read her short story, “So Sorry.” A woman’s encounter with a stranger who borrows her phone in a ruse to plant a tracking device in her purse and mistakenly kills her best friend instead.

BOB NEUMAN read his fictional account of the suggested prompt titled “Noor.” A look of horror flashed across Noor’s face after borrowing his phone and learning that her country of Yemen had just been bombed.  

JUDY NEUMAN shared her poems, “Welcome to Spring!” and “The Green of Spring!” observe the gifts that spring has to offer.        

BEVERLY BIER read a story titled “Reflection.”

TRENT D. PENDLEY read excerpts from “It Happened in the Indiana Dunes”, the trilogy to “Toys in the Closet” and sequel to “Lewry Lurie.” This story captures Nathan entertaining himself of holidays past, reminiscent of how women in Nazi concentration camps retold stories of fabulous dinners of the past with their survival and futures uncertain.

“Bound,” read by CHRIS HASARA, is a fictional short story from the WOH prompt. The character Dave tries to recover his niece after playing a dangerous game with strangers.

TINA FUGGER read the prologue from her nonfiction book about what the Lord wanted her to accomplish with her life. Then a soft voice said, “I want you to write a book.”

AMY BRAILEY read her short fictional story “The Phone Call” from the WOH writing prompt. A man loans his cell phone to a lady, who apologizes after making a call. The man discovers there is a crime ring running a dangerous game.

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:17 pm.

Respectfully Submitted:

CINDY HORGASH