The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm
MEMBERS’ PRESENT:
Beverly Biehr, Amy Brailey, Sharon Buckman, Katherine Flotz, Bernadette Fortuna, Ruthann Graczyk, Chris Hasara, Shirley Hinman, Cindy Horgash, Karen Lauper, Bob Neuman, Judy Neuman, Trent Pendley, Sharon Palmeri, Diane Stratton, Jon Terpstra, and visiting students: Jonathan Moore, Kaeya Nelson, Raymond Russi, Isis Scales, Kaelyn Springer
<Photo Prompt
OLD BUSINESS:
Trent
Pendley approved the posted minutes for the October 9th meeting and seconded
by Bernadette Fortuna.
Amy
Brailey reminded members that they will need to RSVP with Sharon Palmeri if
they are attending this year's Christmas Party at Teibel’s Restaurant on
December 4th.
NEW BUSINESS:
Diane
Stratton received a message from Mark Edward Wilows that he will be featured in
the local Panorama magazine.
LITERARY NEWS:
Trent
Pendley said his upcoming speaking engagement will be advertised on Mark Edward
Wilows’ radio program.
Katherine
Flotz shared a flyer with members about an upcoming speaking engagement about
her book, “A Pebble in My Shoe,” on November 9th at 2:00 pm at the
First Methodist Church in Valparaiso, IN.
READINGS:
CHRIS HASARA shared his poem, “Ghosts in the Graveyard,” about remembrances
of childhood games inspired by our picture prompt of a haunting graveyard. He
also read a second poem titled “To Do List,” about the mounting cost to
repair a torn flag.
“All Souls’ Day Haunting,” read by BERNADETTE FORTUNA, is her short story about a
paranormal sister and brother team who are asked to investigate activities
happening at a church in Chicago. The sixty-fifth anniversary of the All Souls’
Day haunting in 1960 is coming up on November 2nd. Parishioners are
fearing a repeat of the event.
KAELYN SPRINGER read her inspiring poem, “My Roots,” about the internal
and external scars of a tumultuous life, only to find the little girl within,
the spirit that survives.
SHIRLEY HINMAN shared her non-fiction-based story, “A Depressing Halloween,”
inspired by the graveyard photo prompt. During a romantic stroll in the Redwood
National State Park on October 30, 1977, Shirley fell and suffered many injuries
and a long recovery.
JON TERPSTRA read the third chapter of his story, “Ruby.” The narrator
visits with Ruby while tending the bar, discussing a well-known factory owner,
Cyrus Patton, and how he became a bitter recluse after his wife’s death.
AMY BRAILEY read
her short story inspired by the photo prompt titled “Saint or Sinner.” A
girl relives a childhood trip to a place that previously scared her.
RUTHANN GRACZYK read her fictional story about a mother and daughter stranded on
a deserted road based on the writing/picture prompt. No title given.
ISIS SCALES shared
her story “Til Death Do Us Part,” about a man who married her daughter
off to Alexander Crane so their family name would earn them a higher social
status.
KAREN LAUPER read the chapter Timmy Gets a Sibling from her book “Can
You Push Me to Heaven?” After Timmy had been center stage for the past two
years, she wondered about his thoughts when meeting his new baby brother. With
Timmy’s cognitive abilities delayed and limited communication, his opinions
would be concealed forever.
“Through the Seasons” is a poem written by KAEYA NELSON about the
different bonds between friends and her journey to finding real friends.
BEVERLY BIERH read the tenth chapter Finding Her Voice of her book “From
Happy Retirement Years.” This final chapter explores the life of Anna and
how she broke from her quiet ways to find her voice to praise God.
“Letter to My Past Self” is a short story written by RAYMOND RUSSI about his 6th-grade
life. He is also working and writing about other grades.
TRENT D. PENDLEY continues the last reading of chapter three from his historical
fiction, “Lewry Lurie” set in June 2011. The protagonist continues to
pull jewels from his mother’s handbags while his brother calculates the total
value. Then Nathan shows his guest the flight path they will take to the Middle
East to deposit a Russian lavaliere in the collections of the Museum of the
Diaspora in Tel Aviv.
JONATHAN MOORE read his short story “The Costume” based on the
writing/picture prompt. It tells of a 15-year-old Alex who visits the grave of
his dead mother when he is suddenly shocked by his zombie-looking little sister
biting him. Is it a Halloween prank or not?
The
meeting adjourned at 8:06 pm.
Respectfully Submitted:
CINDY HORGASH
