NOVEMBER 6, 2013

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Sharon Buckman, Arthur Wilkerson, Mike Musak, Kathy Flotz, George Miga, Sharon Dorelli, Donna Douglass, Suzy Steuben, Beverly Stanislawski, Julie Perkins, Sharon Palmeri, Michelle Vargas, Janice Beier, Laurie Chase, Kelly Chase

GUESTS PRESENT:

Diana Wiacek

OLD BUSINESS:

A vote of approval for the October 16^th minutes was first given by BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI and was seconded by KATHY FLOTZ

NEW BUSINESS:

SHARON PALMERI mentioned that the Hoosier Horizon magazine was complete and had been sent to the printers.  She also requested that members let her know if they were planning on bringing their published books to the Christmas Party (along with the price of each book).  She needed to know ahead of time for the display.

 LITERARY NEWS:

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI announced that she had taken six awards in the Indiana State Poetry Contest.  Bev won first place for “King of the Round,” second place for “Seascape,” “Tickled,” “The Final Battle,” and “Carnival Dreams.”  She also took third place for “Keeping Kermit Happy” as well as an Honorable Mention in the Poets and Patrons  contest for “Ballerina.”  Congrats to Bev!!!

KATHY FLOTZ mentioned the 1^st Annual Local Author Book Fair at the Merrillville Branch Library on Nov. 16^th from 1-4 P.M.  Authors need to pay a $20 registration fee and be on hand to sell, sign and read from their books.

DONNA DOUGLASS mentioned that there would be a free 8.1 upgrade for everyone having problems with Windows 8.  

READINGS:

 SHARON BUCKMAN read four pages of her book  Beyond the Canopy.  In this part of her sequel Anne is having a hard time adjusting to the information given to her by the police.   She was told that the man who had held her in captivity for several months, and whom she thought had drowned, might still be alive.

ARTHUR WILKERSON read “The View from the Pulpit.”  In this short story Arthur told of his experiences with his congregation over the years, trying to touch on various teachings and the time it took for each.  In the last line he stated, as he leaned across the pulpit looking at his congregation, “can we talk.”

GEORGE MIGA read the first half of his short story entitled, “The Other Man.”  The story began with a Japanese airman coming into a clearing in the New Guinea jungle where he had been living for the past twenty five years.  While looking for berries and other food he came across a hidden Japanese plane and begins to “bridge the gap” to his past.

DONNA DOUGLASS read her short story entitled, “A Background Check.”  On a visit to the ancient Castle Douglas in Scotland, Donna is confronted by Lady Moray from the 13^th century.  Her revelation of “the truth” about her life is horrifying, with implications for present-day culinary fare in Scotland.

SUZY STUEBEN read notes from her novel Battle Mage. Suzy explained  the purpose  of these notes was to introduce and explain to the members the cast of characters for the upcoming novel.  The characters are given names pertaining to their position, such as Taymon the Warlock.

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read four stanzas of her ekphrastic poem.  The poem, entitled “Ballerina,” one of the poems in which she had won Honorable Mention in the Poets and Patrons contest, told of a dainty dancing diva who had been sketched by Degas.

JULIE PERKINS read four pages of her short story entitled, “Dead Ashley.”  The story began with a wedding that was about to take place between a very ill 19 yr. old Kyle and Marguerite, a more experienced woman who had been married twice before.  Shortly after the vows the groom ends up in the hospital with the bride crawling into bed with him, much to the dismay of her mother-in-law.

MICHELLE VARGAS read “The Power of Words,” a flash fiction about a preacher’s wife confrontation with her husband’s infidelity.

KELLY CHASE read two pages of her short story entitled, “Stolen.”  The story concerns a rather young, inexperienced girl who is being taken on a jet by an older man. This man, whom she has never met before,  is taking her to Louisiana to meet up with the director of an organization responsible for a stolen object.  

MIKE MUSAK brought the end version of his screenplay, “The Plant Picnic.”  After assigning some of the acting parts to the various WOH members, the play continued with the explanation of what had become of some of the plant employees, some ending up quite well and others in prison.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 P.M.

Respectfully submitted:

SHARON BUCKMAN

OCTOBER 16, 2013

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Kathy Flotz, Sharon Buckman, Sharon Palmeri, Beverly Stanislawski, Suzy Stueben, Donna Douglass, Mike Musak, Audrey Warzyniak, Michelle Vargas, George Miga

GUESTS PRESENT:

Marjorie Peterson, Joyce Dix

OLD BUSINESS:

A vote of approval for the October 2, 2013 minutes was first given by BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI and seconded by DONNA DOUGLASS.

NEW BUSINESS:

SHARON PALMERI stated that the Hoosier Horizon magazine was nearly 85% completed and will be ready for the 25^th anniversary banquet on Weds. Dec 4. She also mentioned that she was still waiting for the last few releases to come in, as well as the pre-payment of the magazine.

LITERARY NEWS:

KATHY FLOTZ stated that if any members were interested, a book discussion of a member’s published books would be held during the months of March, April and May 2014 at the Crown Point Community Library.  If you are interested please contact Barb Houk at 219-663-0270 or email: bhouk@crownpointlibrary.org.  This can be done during the day or evening – Kathy stated she would be doing her book in February.  

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI stated she had won three poetry awards, second place, lst and 2^nd place in honorable mention.  In a Tennessee contest she took four awards – three third places and lst place in the honorable mention category.  Congratulations Beverly!

MIKE MUSAK mentioned that he has been working online trying to find an agent for his book.

GEORGE MIGA talked of his experience finding an agent that was very helpful but had died before his book had been published.

DONNA DOUGLASS mentioned seeing the movie “Gravity.”  Though Donna did not think the movie had much of a plot another member stated she really enjoyed it.

MICHELLE VARGAS stated that the MacGregor LiteraryAgency was holding a marketing seminar on November 9, 2013.  If any member is interested she thought that the blog address was: macgregorliterary.com (see link above)

READINGS:

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read one of her award winning free verse poems entitled, “Marionette.” One of the restrictions in the poetry contest was that it somehow needed to pertain to strings.  In Beverly’s poem she related to the comparison of how a marionette was manipulated with strings and how our "Operator” “never let us go so far that He cannot pick us up again.”

DONNA DOUGLASS read four pages of her memoir, “Two Frenchmen in Geneva.”  The memoir told of  20 yr. old Donna staying in a hotel in Geneva and being invited to a dinner hosted by the World Peace Organization.  The dinner was in honor of her date for the evening; he was being honored for his work with the organization. 

MIKE MUSAK brought the third part of his screenplay, “The Picnic.” After casting some of the members in various parts of the play, the story continued with some of the principle members of the company  being dropped off at the picnic in a limousine.  After the greetings the employees began telling of the outcome of all the illegal activities in the company.

SUZY STUEBEN read three pages of her continued story entitled, “Mrs. Walter’s New Pet.”  In this part of the story Mrs. Walter decided to make a trip to Indianapolis to purchase a new dining table.  She ended up bringing home a stone gargoyle.  After placing the gargoyle next to her garage door she began to discover that the gargoyle was shielding her and her house.

AUDREY WARZYNIAK read four pages of her continuing story entitled, “Returning Memories.”  In this part of the story her main character, Maggie, dies after having planned a reunion for all her friends.  The friends arrive shortly after her death and are told that it was too late to inform all of them; it ends with the friends trying to decide what they should do.

MARJORIE PETERSON, our new guest and author of two published books under the pen name of Kieja Shapodee, Written in Red Ink  and Broken Beyond Repair, read three pages of a new novel she has recently started At Sunset We Wake .  The story begins with a woman, Amanda, walking down a street when a man jumps out behind a dumpster blocking her way.  He continues to follow her and after telling her she will be his tenth victim she turns on him, telling him he will be her first.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 P.M.

Respectfully submitted:

SHARON BUCKMAN