March 12, 2026

WRITE ON HOOSIERS

March 12, 2026

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm

MEMBERS’ PRESENT:

Amy Brailey, Katherine Flotz, Gail Galvan, Ruthann Graczyk, Chris Hasara, Shirley Hinman, Cindy Horgash, Al Koch, Karen Lauper, Bob Neuman, Judy Neuman, Trent Pendley, Diane Stratton, Shirley Vaughan, Andrew Cummings (Guest)

OLD BUSINESS:

Karen Lauper approved the WOH minutes for February 26, 2026, and Trent Pendley seconded.

Amy Brailey (Pres.) thanked members who attended author Maurice Broaddus's presentation at the Lake Station-New Chicago Library this afternoon.  For more information, members can check out his website at MauriceBroaddus.com.

NEW BUSINESS:

Andrew Cummings (guest) introduced himself to the members, and everyone shared their writing genres and experiences.

LITERARY NEWS:

Cindy Horgash announced that she will be holding a book signing for the latest Chicken Soup for the Soul’s “Being Grandma” book at Barnes & Noble on April 26, 2026, from 1:00-3:00 pm at the Schererville location.  

READINGS:

“Murphy O’Shay is Out of Luck” is a retold children’s story written by CINDY HORGASH about an Irishman who travels to the edge of the world to see if the wise woman will give him some luck.

TRENT D. PENDLEY continued reading from chapter three of his second novel, “Lewry Lurie” as Nathan and Brad Franklin give a tour through their Blair Park urban renewal project in Michigan City, a gentrification project during the 2011 economic crash that is a fundraising effort for the Shirley Heinze Land Trust, giving employment to their Lewry cousins who own a construction firm.  The tour details some of the original residents of the late 19^th century.

AL KOCH shared a piece titled “Parting Words.” Forever true: Parting is such sweet sorrow from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Act 2, Scene 2: Words of endearment, appreciation, and gratitude are conveyed with heartfelt meaning.

GAIL GALVAN read her poem “American Dream Keepers,” honoring our nation’s upcoming 250th birthday.

KAREN LAUPER read the chapter Becoming a Toddler from her book “Can You Push Me to Heaven?” As Timmy becomes a toddler, he begins going through developmental milestones like a superstar. He has been making slow but solid gains with his weight, now 15 pounds at 3 ½ years old. His younger brother has been a positive model in helping him make progress.

CHRIS HASARA read his short story about his main character, Charlie, who gets stuck while loading a truck and gets a surprising visitor.

JUDY NEUMAN read her testimony titled, “No ‘Testimony’ without a 'Test!’” Based on her year-long journey through cancer with God’s help.

RUTHANN GRACZYK read book 5 of her series titled “New Day.” This is the continuing saga of the Slade family, which surrounds the life of son, Keith, the third child of Christine and Mark Slade, who met in Liverpool, England, in the mid-1960’s. This is the continuation of Keith's reunion with his estranged daughter-in-law and former employee and bandmate, Kristi, who was married to his son, Scott, until he lost his battle with Leukemia four years earlier and missed the birth of his child, Scott Jr.

The meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm.

Respectfully Submitted:

CINDY HORGASH 

    

February 26, 2026

 

WRITE ON HOOSIERS

February 26, 2026

The meeting was called to order at 6:10 pm

MEMBERS’ PRESENT:

Amy Brailey, Gail Galvan, Ruthann Graczyk, Chris Hasara, Shirley Hinman, Cindy Horgash, Lisa Keenem, Al Koch, Karen Lauper, Bob Neuman, Judy Neuman, Sharon Palmeri, Trent Pendley, Diane Stratton, Jon Terpstra

OLD BUSINESS:

Al Koch approved the WOH minutes for February 12, 2026, and Trent Pendley seconded.

Amy Brailey (Pres.) shared information about the author Maurice Broaddus's presentation at the Lake Station-New Chicago Library on March 12, 2026, at 1:00 pm. She asked members to consider going as representatives of WOH.

NEW BUSINESS:

Amy Brailey (Pres.) completed the registration for Write On Hoosiers to attend the Lake County Public Library’s Creative Arts Summit on May 30^th from 1:00-4:00 pm. The library will notify her if we have been accepted.     

Sharon Palmeri (Exec. Director) wants to begin a selection process for a new WOH member collaboration book. More information and guidelines will be shared soon at a future meeting. 

 

LITERARY NEWS:

None

READINGS:

“Gambling Goodies” is a non-fiction, humorous reflection by DIANE STRATTON that compares trying to get bargains while grocery shopping to gambling at a casino.

CHRIS HASARA read his short story about his main character, Charlie, who changes plans after encountering an uncommon mouse.

SHIRLEY HINMAN read her poem “What is Love?”

TRENT D. PENDLEY continued reading from Chapter Three of “Lewry Lurie” as Nathan and Brad Franklin give a personal tour of their restoration of Blair Park, aka the West Side of Michigan City. They are telling their guests the history of the commercial buildings along Willard Avenue and possible plans to rent to law students the tiny housing, keeping control of who lives there and circumventing Fair Housing Laws.

JON TERPSTRA read part one of his short story, “The Grove,” which is the history of a local gathering place for Riverton’s high school kids.

LISA KEENE read an excerpt from the Final Reflection Chapter 23 of her book, “Yerd: A Yearbook Nerd’s Epic Quest for Spiritual and Grammatical Enlightenment.”

SHARON PALMERI read a feature story she wrote years ago for her college newspaper entitled “Making the Grade.”The article stressed that while transcripts and grades are important, but there is more to life and success than being book smart. Confidence and pride in oneself are just as important in being successful.

AL KOCH shared a piece titled “Forgiveness.” Is Forgiveness a sign of weakness or a sign of strength? When presented as a gift, forgiveness becomes the ultimate act of love ever rendered: ”Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

GAIL GALVAN read three poems titled Creative Comparisons, Songbird, and A Million Songs from her book “Affinity for Rainbows.”

KAREN LAUPER read the chapter More Challenges from her book “Can You Push Me to Heaven?” At 3 ½ years old, Timmy now weighs 15 pounds after being home from the hospital for 1 ½ years. He is making slow but steady progress, even though there are more challenges ahead.

“Questions” is a short piece of BOB NEUMAN’s series of random Bobfoolery questions he recently pondered.

The meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm.

Respectfully Submitted:

CINDY HORGASH 

 

Speaker on March 12, 2026

PLEASE NOTE: WOH is hosting a Presentation/Q & A with the famous author, MAURICE BROADDUS this THURSDAY, MARCH 12th from 1:00PM TO 2:00PM at the Lake Station Branch of the Lake County Library .

He is a published author of many works that cover a number of genres, including science fiction, horror, urban fantasy, and young adult.  

You may know him from Marvel’s "Black Panther" works.

He is also an editor and librarian.

This presentation is hosted by WOH at the county library (Lake Station branch),

This event is made possible by Indiana Humanities.

The address is:

Lake Country Library - Lake Station Branch

2007 Central Ave.

Lake Station, IN

You can reserve your spot by calling 219-962-2409 or by reserving it on the library website.