October 22, 2025

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 9^th 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 4^th.

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 9^th 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 2^nd. 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