WRITE ON HOOSIERS
September 10, 2026
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Amy
Brailey, Andrew Cummins, Nick Dapkus, Bernadette Fortuna, Katherine Flotz, Ruthann
Graczyk, Cindy Horgash, Al Koch, Karen Lauper, Bob Neuman, Judy Neuman, Sharon
Palmeri, Trent D. Pendley, Diane Stratton, Jon Terpstra
OLD BUSINESS:
Sharon Palmeri (Exec. Dir.) discussed photos and title options for the WOH
book. Sharon passed around AI samples from her book for ideas for the cover and
title. Trent Pendley said that he does AI for chapter covers. Amy Brailey used an
AI photo for her John Everett book but had trouble because you’re not
allowed to use real-looking children or teen photos.
Trent Pendley suggested the cover photo should be specific to our area, while Amy Brailey (Pres.) recommended the 250th Anniversary of the United States be on the cover
somewhere.
NEW BUSINESS:
Amy Brailey (Pres.)
received an email from Gregory Stark with Oneirion Press. He is releasing a
trilogy and wondered if he could advertise and possibly speak at one of our
meetings. He also asked if WOH paid a speaker fee. Amy asked members if she
should write him back and let him know that we charge a yearly membership fee,
and he would be allowed to read his material after becoming a member. Members
agreed that he should follow the same guidelines as our members.
Sharon Palmeri (Exec. Dir.) shared a photo for our next story prompt. If members
wish to participate, they can read their stories on October 22nd. Amy
Brailey’s class will also be attending and will offer them the chance to
participate.
LITERARY NEWS:
Diane Stratton (Vice Pres.) announced that the Crown Point Library will host an
Unearth Creative Aging Workshop for 6 weeks, running September 18-October
23, 2026.
READINGS:
AMY BRAILEY read
her poem, “The Roll Call Came Too Early,” about a student leaving for
Bahrain in the military.
JON TERPSTRA read Part 3 of his short story “Riverbillie’s.” He
details what happened after the Building Commissioner shuts down Riverbillie’s
and foreshadows the guys' next business venture.
TRENT D. PENDLEY read the opening pages of Chapter 5 of his historical fiction, Lewry
Lurie.” The protagonists, Nathan Franklin and his brother, are home alone
along the Indiana Dunes beach at the Brighton House. While Brad is still
sleeping, Nathan begins re-reading a friend’s (Neil Gordon) trilogy, The
Company You Keep, that is being made into a motion picture in Vancouver
that fall by Robert Redford. He mentioned that he has selected the cover of the
novel, securing permission from works in the Jewish Museum in Berlin, and a
Misch Kohn 1957 Lion, and a sculpture by the late Egon Weiner.
AL KOCH read
his short story, “No Deposit, No Return.” Remembering the days when
recycling was in its infancy. Neighborhood boys in need of funds to attend the
Saturday afternoon movie matinee searched alleys, trash cans, and empty lots
for discarded glass pop bottles for their 2-cent deposit. These young
scavenging moviegoers were rewarded for their recycling efforts with Many Happy
Returns.
KAREN LAUPER read
from her book, “Can You Push Me to Heaven?” Timmy begins his 2nd
year of public education as his mom must learn to navigate the special
education system. At ten years old, this is the strongest that Timmy has ever
been.
BOB NEUMAN shared his short story, “Memories Forever Lost,” about his stepsister’s
battle with Alzheimer’s.
SHARON PALMERI read a short story, “I Made it Through the Rain.” The story was about waiting for concert
tickets during adverse weather conditions.
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 is now living in Darien, Connecticut, where Mark is
a highly respected architectural engineer in the New York area. The story
continues with Mark Slade’s proposal to the family of his 15-year-old son’s
pregnant girlfriend.
The
meeting was adjourned at 8:08 pm.
Respectfully Submitted:
CINDY HORGASH
No comments:
Post a Comment