APRIL 17, 2013

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Donna Douglass, Sharon Buckman, George Miga, Beverly Stanislawski, Neil Bedeker, Sharon Palmeri, Jane Burns, Laurie Chase, Kelly Chase, Michelle Vargas, Sharon Dorelli, Jackie Huppenthal

GUESTS PRESENT:

Suzy Stueben

OLD BUSINESS:

A vote of approval was asked for concerning the April 3^rd minutes.  BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI gave the first approval which was seconded by GEORGE MIGA.

NEW BUSINESS:

Our new guest, SUZY STUEBEN, introduced herself and stated she was from Demotte, Indiana.  She is retired from Purdue University where she was employed as an industrial designer.  She also stated she is beginning to enjoy writing children’s stories.

GAIL GALVAN sent a reminder to the members that the month of April is National Poetry Month.  Poetry month was first introduced in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets as a way to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the United States.

LITERARY NEWS:

NEIL BEDEKER stated that he did a book signing at the Public Library in Beecher, Ill, where he sold twenty five of his books. 

DONNA DOUGLASS stated that she, MICHELLE VARGAS and JULIE PERKINS all attended the Midwest Writer’s Mini Conference at Brownsburg, IN.  She also stated it was worth the trip, she learned quite a lot.

JACKIE HUPPENTHAL brought in a copy of the April edition of the Family Flyer which published her poem "Treasure in Our Tree" along with the photograph she had taken in her front yard. The picture was of a nest of baby robins, hungrily waiting to be fed. The Family Flyer is also online and you may see her photo on page 26.

SHARON BUCKMAN stated she would like to recommend the book, Unbroken.  She read the Kindle version and said the book is a true story about Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner, and his wartime experiences as a POW in Japan during World War II.

MICHELLE VARGAS  recommended the book A Land More Kind than Home by  writer, Wiley Cash.

 SHARON PALMERI discussed an article she read about  how various traditional publishers are trying to compete with POD publishers by thinking of ways to compete with them.  Sharon also stated that she believes that the one thing that traditional publishers offer to the advantage of writers is marketing. She added that self-publishers, POD,   and e-book publishing companies really  leave most of the marketing to the authors, and that authors should devise aggressive marketing strategies. 

READINGS:

DONNA DOUGLASS read her six stanza poem entitled, “My Life: In 204 Syllables.”  The poem relates to Donna’s inspired program for writing her book of memoirs by sectioning each phase of her life into different colors.  The poem begins with 0-15 years as red, 16-30 years as orange, etc.

SHARON BUCKMAN read her five stanza poem entitled, “Fifty Years.”  The poem had originally been written several years prior for a close friend’s anniversary telling of the ups and downs of marriage and ending with “repeating would be fine.”

GEORGE MIGA continued with his novel, “Medal of Dishonor.”  As the story continues the present Medal of Honor recipient tells his story of how he received the medal. He admits to his deception and lies.  He admits that he didn’t deserve it and explained why it should go to the real hero who stayed there and fought back, Cordell.

SHARON DORELLI continued with her story, “The Faces of Sociopathy.”  This part of her story, called “The Preacher,” began with six-year old, Ajay Rao, and telling of his life during  1952 in Guyana, South America as a restless child with an alcoholic father and a mother who could not tame him.

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read her four stanza iambic poem entitled, “Framed.”  The poem began with a man found standing over another man’s body with a smokin’ gun, unable to explain that he came into the bar to find his darlin’ comin’ downstairs with another man, then to find out her other lover shot the man on the stairs, blaming it on him.

NEIL BEDEKER read two pages of his novel: Dark Hearts, White City a novel which began at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.  Chapter 19 “A Vigorous Workout,” began with Frederick Pentalton talking to his friend, Jacques.  Jacques inquired as to the impressive looking man, Sandow, who was busy signing autographs.  Freddy explained that he brought a great deal of money to the gymnasium and to leave him alone.

JACKIE HUPPENTHALread her four stanza quatrain poem entitled, “Wonderful Worms.” Jackie also passed around pictures her son's kindergarten class drew after listening to the poem. The poem described how the worms help the earth and are food for birds. The poem is meant to be added with a recipe in the Magic Hour Writer’s Cookbook.

MICHELLE VARGAS continued with her post civil war novel,  Striving After Wind.  In this part of her novel, Adam, wanting to take his son away from his wife and back to living with him, found that his wife was going to blackmail him by threatening to never let him see his son again.

LAURIE CHASE continued with her novel, Badradin, a novel which takes place in the year 2288.  Dr. Togalaz, remembering an incident in her childhood, begs her father not to attend the funeral of her friend, Izrof, the man she had hoped to someday marry.  After the funeral she later witnesses Izrof’s mother digging something up from his grave.

KELLY CHASE read two pages of her continued story, “Stormy Night.”  In this part of the story Jamie tries to get back into her house but is stopped by the same creature that had killed her friend, Lizzie.  In trying to fend him off she reaches for a pointed stick, plunging it through him just after his fangs pierce her neck.

SHARON PALMERI read an article “WOH and the National Poetry Month” about her White House call experience in February, 1996 to obtain an address to mail a request that the newly re-elected President proclaim April as National Poetry Month which coincided with yearly poetry events WOH sponsored. Due to the changes in WH personnel and office re-locations, the call was shuffled to various staff members, ending up with the President Clinton’s secretary, who asked her what she wished to discuss with the President -- and a time frame so she could check his calendar for availability.  Sharon explained (after initial shock) that she did not want to meet with the President, that she was the director of Write-on Hoosiers in IN, and she wished to have the office number to mail a request to the Proclamation Department. Sharon admitted that the mystery surrounding what happened to the request letter she mailed to the Department of Letters in February of 1996 was never solved, but made for an exciting adventure, and though the "request letter" was lost during a computer crash,  her attempt was documented in the WOH minutes that April.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 P.M.

Respectfully submitted:

SHARON BUCKMAN

APRIL 3, 2013

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Sharon Palmeri, Sharon Buckman George Miga, Sharon Dorelli, Neil Bedeker, Donna Douglass, Tom Spencer, Jane Burns, Ron Trigg, Kathy Flotz, Beverly Stanislawski, Julie Perkins, Jackie Huppenthal, Michelle Vargas, Kelly Chase, Laurie Chase

OLD BUSINESS:

A vote of approval was asked for concerning the March 20, 2013 minutes.  SHARON DORELLI gave the first approval and RON TRIGG the second.

LITERARY NEWS:

TOM SPENCER reminded the members that this was National Poetry month.

GEORGE MIGA stated that his friend, Dean Larson, a professor at Purdue, has had a long time interest in the life of Anne Frank.  Since he realized that George is now doing research on Anne Frank in preparation for his novel, he has given George a video pertaining to her life in the Auschwitz concentration camp.  The video can possibly be obtained through book stores or library.

READINGS:

GEORGE MIGA reintroduced this section of his novel, Medal of Dishonor, which pertains to President Johnson’s investigation concerning his Secretary of the Army.  The President is concerned that the Medal of Honor has been given to the wrong person, the Secretary of the Army.

DONNA DOUGLASS continued with her memoirs, this story entitled, “A View from the Top.”  The story begins with her view from the top of the World Trade Center in September, 1981, and continues with her fascination of all the wonderful things Donna and her husband had encountered as the recipients of the Shearson Lehman Brothers Spring Rewards Get-Away program.

TOM SPENCER brought his seven stanza poem entitled, “The Writer’s Dream.”  The poem related to a writer falling asleep as he sat in his chair smoking a cigarette, turning the surrounding smells and smoke into part of his story.

JANE BURNS continued with Chapter 9 of her novel, Atalanta.  The story continued with the initiation of Atalanta and leading her into a dangerous situation where the rest of her “sisters” believed she was dead.

RON TRIGG continued with his book of memoirs entitled The Alluring Temptress.  This story, entitled “Dancing Fool,” told of Ron’s venture into Lesotho in 1990 to attend a music festival in a national stadium.  As the only white man in his group of friends he felt pressured to uphold his race and gain their approval, dancing as he had never danced before and injuring his knee in the process.

KATHY FLOTZ, in honor of National Poetry Month, read her Fibonacci Diamond poem entitled, “The Proposal.”  Her poem, written in the shape of a diamond, told of “life’s journey, living joyously each day, storing our memories.”

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read her six stanza poem entitled, “Biloxi Belle.”  Her poem, recently entered in a Mississippi poetry contest, told of a lighthouse, which presently stands in the center of a four lane highway, encountering all types of storms, including Camille and Katrina.

JULIE PERKINS continued with her story, “One Night Stand at the Hometown Inn.”  This part of her story tells of the husband’s version of events following the night he abandoned his pregnant wife on a cold January night in front of a diner.

MICHELLE VARGAS continued with her novel   Striving After Wind.  After believing she has been forgotten by her former married lover, Adam, she is forced to again work for the gun club where she had been wounded.  This part of the story has a happy ending as Adam finds her. 

KELLY CHASE read two pages of her short story, “Stormy Night.”  The story begins with Jamie telling her mother on the phone that she is O.K., ignoring her mother’s warnings not to go outside.  Venturing out into the darkness she finds the body of her friend, Lizzie, lying on the ground by her feet.  The story ends with Jamie trying to get back into the house.

LAURIE CHASE continued with her novel, Badradin. In this part of her novel Dr. Togalaz enters a lounge and encounters her old friend, Larana.  Her friend brought her up to date on all the happenings in the medical ward and later, after returning to her room, began remembering the information she had deleted from her computer concerning her heritage.

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

Respectfully submitted:

SHARON BUCKMAN

MARCH 20, 2013

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Michelle Vargas, Sharon Palmeri, Beverly Stanislawski, Ron Trigg, Gail Galvan, Janice Beier, Kelly Chase, Laurie Chase, Luniel Morrow, Jane Burns, George Miga, Donna Douglass, Sharon Buckman

OLD BUSINESS:

A vote of approval concerning the meeting on March 6, 2013 was given by DONNA DOUGLASS and seconded by GAIL GALVAN.

NEW BUSINESS:

SHARON PALMERI announced that a surprise guest speaker has been chosen for the Dec. 4^th Christmas Party.  The speaker will focus on publishing and marketing.

LITERARY NEWS:

MICHELLE VARGAS mentioned there would be a Midwest Writer’s Mini Conference in Brownsburg, Ind. on April 13^th from 9:00 A.M. to l:00 P.M.  Another Writer’s Workshop was mentioned for Greensburg, Ind. which would feature Editor/Publisher Debbie Hurt.

SHARON PALMERI also mentioned there will be a three day Midwest Writer’s Workshop from July 25^th to the 27^th with a registration fee of $350 for three days, $250 for two days, and $125 for one day.  Anyone interested in more information, including times and subject matter please check the website, www.midwestwriters.org.  PALMERI also mentioned that she will be serving on an Individual Artist Program panel at the Indiana Arts Commission in Indianapolis on April 10^th and 11^th.  The purpose of this panel to choose recipients for award grants in literature.  They will need to show that they are working on a particular project at least, do not necessarily have to be published. The Individual Artist Program (IAP) supports individual artists and specific project related costs that will have a positive impact on the artist’s career. She explained that the program is not designed for community projects.

READINGS:

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI read her short story “The Passover Lamb.”  The story, which had won a prize in the Tennessee magazine, Grandmothers Earth, told of a young boy taking his family’s lamb to the priest for the annual Passover sacrifice.  On his way there the lamb escaped and was unable to be found by either the boy or a helping stranger.  Later the stranger explained to the boy, after encountering Jesus being dragged to the cross, not to worry, “his sacrifice will make atonement for our sins.”

RON TRIGG read four pages of his memoir, The Alluring Temptress.  This part of his memoir, entitled “Chicken on a String,” told of his trip in West Africa to the Upper Volta in 1980 to the village of Sabou.  The purpose of the visit was to view some African wildlife.  After negotiating a deal to view some crocodiles they discovered that the crocodiles were being lured out of the water with dead chickens tied on a stick.

GAIL GALVAN first read her free verse poem entitled, “Fifties Farewell, “which told of her fond memories of that time as she now approaches the age of sixty.  Her second poem, entitled “Sunshine Kisses,” pertained to everyone having a “Happy Easter,” and ending with “new beginnings, sunshine kisses and springtime’s playful call.”

JANICE BEIER read her cover letter for a children’s story she has written entitled, Beautiful.  The letter is told from the perspective of a seed which has been planted in a backyard garden and “offers vivid descriptions of nature,” with the recurring refrain, “When, Oh When, Will I Be Beautiful.”

KELLY CHASE read two pages of her short story, “Stormy Night.”  This chilling part of her story tells of Lizzie, the house guest of Jamie, viewing the scratches on Jamie’s face and apologizing for bringing the terrible “man with wings” to Jamie’s house.  Lizzie thanks her and leaves to save her new friend.

LUNEIL MORROW read three pages of her “Development of Main Character.”  The purpose of this was to develop the characteristics of the main character in Luneil’s children stories, Lottie Nora (Mundy).  This began with giving the physical description and then telling her personality traits, background, inner conflicts, external conflicts and education.

MICHELLE VARGAS read four pages of her novel, Striving After Wind.  This forceful part of her novel dealt with Patrick stating that he wasn’t going to sell the land to the gun club.  The ensuing riot that soon followed ended with Adam trying to save the life of Tabitha and having to kill the man who was trying to kill her.

JANE BURNS read four additional pages of her novel, Atalanta.  This part of her novel began with Atalanta’s initiation.  After being led out into the fields beyond Urtygia,  Atalanta was told to “stay alert, stay focused, stay awake,” as they left her for the night, awaiting for the Goddess to come for her.

GEORGE MIGA read four more pages of his novel, Medal of Dishonor.  The novel continued with President Johnson still pursuing the rightful recipient of the Medal of Honor.  After awarding the Medal to his Secretary of the Army he is about to learn that it has probably gone to the wrong man.

DONNA DOUGLASS read four pages of her short memoir, “An Autumn in New York.”  This part of her memoir took her back to l995 at the Algonquin Hotel where she encountered an old boyfriend with his aunt and daughter.  After having a short visit by themselves in Central Park they parted with a short hug.  She learned of his death a year later from a heart attack.

SHARON BUCKMAN read four pages of the sequel to her novel, Canopy of Leaves.  This part of the sequel entitled, Beyond the Canopy, told of Anne’s constant feelings of being watched as she encounters another unexplained episode when she is outside by the river.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 P.M.

Respectfully submitted:

SHARON BUCKMAN

MARCH 6, 2013

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Sharon Buckman, George Miga, Donna Douglass, Sharon Dorelli, Sharon Palmeri, Neil Bedeker, Gail Galvan, Ron Trigg, Jane Burns, Tom Spencer, Julie Perkins, Michelle Vargas, Kelly Chase, Laurie Chase

OLD BUSINESS:

A vote of approval for the February 20, 2013 minutes was first given by DONNA DOUGLASS and seconded by JULIE PERKINS.

NEW BUSINESS:

A discussion was held by the members for a possible award to be given for the most acceptance and or rejection letters, non-contest, received by one member starting January 1^st of this year.

LITERARY NEWS:

GAIL GALVAN  has decided to temporarily take a traditional publishing route for her new book New Jack Rabbit City. She said she has sent queries to Chicago agents and publishers, but has yet to hear back from any of them.  She received an email rejection letter from Stephen Barr, Lit agent at Writers House in New York. The agent stated, “Despite its poise and polish, I wasn’t wholeheartedly connecting with your writing.” 

NEIL BEDEKER mentioned he had attended a Writer’s Conference while in St. Petersburg, Fla.,  and found that Allium Press in Chicago was interested in historical facts concerning Chicago.  This info was interesting to Neil as well as JULIE PERKINS, both writing novels concerning the Chicago World’s Fair.

JANE BURNS announced that a short article she had written on Jackie Tyler had been accepted in the Not-Radio Times Doctor Who anniversary special.

TOM SPENCER stated that this Saturday, March 9^th, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., would be the last poetry meeting hosted by the Lowell Library.

READINGS:

GEORGE MIGA continued with four pages from his novel, Medal of Dishonor.  This section of the novel began with McCall, Eleanor, Tony and Cordell Jackson meeting with President Johnson to discuss who should actually be the recipient of the Medal of Honor.  Since the medal had already been given to Oliver Crawford, who had recently been named Secretary of the Army, by President Johnson, it was, to say the least, quite a problem for the President.

DONNA DOUGLASS read four pages of her short memoir, “Detour Down Christmas Tree Lane.”  In the beginning of her memoir, Donna told of her experience working as a part time teacher for a Jewish school in 1997 in Atlanta.  The story began with a T.V. truck pulling up in front of the school to tell of the destruction caused when red swastikas had been sprayed on the drive, buildings and lawn.  Donna told of having a difficult time trying to explain why anyone could hate people they never knew.

SHARON DORELLI read her delightful one page memoir entitled “Waiting For Peter Pan.”  The memoir told of her fascination with Peter Pan as a child and waiting nights by her bedroom window waiting for him to come.

GAIL GALVAN read her narrative poem entitled, “Katfish Karma.”  The poem told of her dismay at the time wasted by people looking for love on the internet.  Adding to the problem of deception was the waste of time involved instead of actually looking for the real love of your life.

RON TRIGG read a four page memoir about his childhood in North Hammond.  The memoir entitled, “An Unlikely Naturalist,” told of his fascination with all things involving the natural world, including jars of insects, centipedes, etc., and ending with his most prized possession, a dead baby alligator.

JANE BURNS continued with her novel, Atalanta.  In the beginning of this part of her novel the women of Urtygia surrounded a pyre of wood, holding a funeral ritual for one of their elders, Ella.  Several men came to help lift the body into a hollow log, placing it on top of the pyre, thereby beginning the ritual with the women calling their goodbyes by yelling “go back, go back home.”

TOM SPENCER brought his seven stanza poem entitled, “Lost Love.”  His narrative reverse poem told of the wonderful memories, thoughts and visions he endured while standing alone upon the shore of a barren beach.

JULIE PERKINS read her 18 line heroic couplets poem entitled, “Refuge.” The poem related to a child’s version of a battlefield during World War 11 as he compared his bedroom floor, with all the soldiers, race cars and rubber toys to a battlefield.

MICHELLE VARGAS read her two page synopsis of her novel Striving After Wind.  Her historical novel told of the Tolleston Gun Club of northwest Indiana during l876 and the coveted piece of property being sold only after Tabitha is wounded in a gun battle.  The synopsis ends with Tabitha raising a young boy that turns out to be her nephew.

KELLY CHASE continued with her short story, “Stormy Night.”  Jamie, after spending an afternoon raking leaves with Lizzie, has another nightmare involving Lizzie and the large bat-like creature that leaves three large scratches on her face when she awakes.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 P.M. 

Respectfully submitted:

SHARON BUCKMAN