WRITE ON HOOSIERS
August 27, 2026
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Beverly Biehr, Amy Brailey, Sharon Buckman, Andrew Cummins, Katherine
Flotz, Gail Galvan, Ruthann Graczyk, Chris Hasara, Shirley Hinman, Cindy
Horgash, Al Koch, Sharon Palmeri, Trent D. Pendley, Diane Stratton, Shirley
Vaughn, Nick Dapkus, and Lesley Klauk (guest)
OLD BUSINESS:
SHARON PALMERI (Exec. Dir.) stated she had a good response to submissions for
the WOH book. She is waiting for a few
more personal bios and story submissions.
There will be further discussion on the book’s title.
NEW BUSINESS:
LESLEY KLAUK (guest)
introduced herself and spoke of her interest in writing. In turn, members introduced themselves and shared
their writing experiences.
LITERARY NEWS:
DIANE STRATTON (Vice Pres.) announced that the Crown Point Library will host the
first-ever author fair on September 27, from 10-2.
CHRIS HASARA
received 1st Place and 2 honorable mentions from the National
Federation of State Poetry Societies contest.
Chris has also been chosen for Symbiosis: Poets & Visual
Artists in Collaboration with the Indiana Poetry Society.
READINGS:
SHIRLEY HINMAN read her poems, “The Detour” and “Memories of
Childhood.” We are often called to go into new pathways unknown to us. Some are comfortable, and others are not, but
they will lead us to our testing nevertheless.
ANDREW B. CUMMINS: “My First Book” is a short piece describing how, in his search to get himself
and others closer to the Lord, he was able to write his first book.
SHARON BUCKMAN continued to read from her book “Canopy of Leaves.” While
washing clothes in the river, Anne encounters a strange man behind her. The man turns out to be Tom’s father, whom he
hasn’t seen since childhood. He later
tries to talk Anne into leaving with him but encounters a terrible death
instead.
BEVERLY BIEHR shared the back cover and about the author page of her newly
published book “Happy Retirement Years!
Inspiration from Bible Seniors.”
DIANE STRATTON read her short story “That Concert of My Dreams,”
describing a music concert where she has a surprise interaction with a famous
musical artist but also another turn of events.
SHARON PALMERI’s “From Old Chickens Come Fresh Eggs” is a short story about some of her happiest
childhood memories, beginning at her grandmother’s little house, where chickens
supplied breakfast, gardens filled the table, and love was measured with
ordinary things.
RUTHANN GRACZYK read the continuing saga of the Slade family, titled “Noon,”
which focuses on the life of son Keith, the third child of Christine and Mark
Slade, who met in Liverpool, England, in the mid-1960’s in Book 1 – “Dawn.”
In Book 2, the Slade family moves from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, while four of
their five children are young. They now
live in Darien, Connecticut, where Mark, a highly respected architectural
engineer in the New York area, owns a flourishing business. The following is the beginning of a chapter in
which 15-year-old son Keith reveals to his parents and siblings that his
girlfriend is pregnant.
AL KOCH read
his poem titled “Banded.” Rarely does one turn their back on people they
meet for the first time. On occasion,
however, it is necessary in order to leave one’s troubles behind.
CHRIS HASARA
shared (3) poems. The first, “Sandhill
Cranes,” is a poem about the migration of the birds. “Hot Cocoa Beach” is a poem about the
slice of heaven that is Florida’s east coast.
“Quiet Light” is a poem about a grandmother’s wisdom shared in
silent action.
TRENT D. PENDLEY read the finale of chapter four of his “Lewry Lurie”
historical fiction. The Franklin
brothers, disembarking from a two-hour meeting aboard a yacht in Michigan City,
find themselves hungry and stop for a meal, where they hear crude language from
the kitchen and a server with cigarette breath.
Arriving back at the Brighton House mansion overlooking the beach,
Nathan reads the new publication of a friend’s book, while his brother Brad
plans for their next late-night meal.
NICHOLAS DAPKUS read an excerpt from Chapter 2 of his fiction “This is a
Beginning.” Arkhaios, an orange pug teacher, is having a private music
lesson with Alrex, a little dark purple tyrannosaurus with pink stripes. Alrex always wanted to play the banjo, so
Arkhaios had one made for him. He works
with Alrex to get used to his banjo while reminiscing about his beginnings as a
teacher.
The
meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.
Respectfully Submitted:
CINDY HORGASH
