NOVEMBER 11, 2021

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Sharon Buckman, Katherine Flotz, Shirley Hinman, Diane Stratton, Bob Philpot, Audrey Warzyniak,

Darlene Barron, Sharon Palmeri, Corri Stephenson, Paula Stephenson, Cindy Horgash, Amy Brailey

 

 

OLD BUSINESS:

SHARON PALMERI checked with the group to see if everyone wants to continue status quo for the schedule of meetings.  That would be to meet once at the Lake County Library on the second Thursday of the month from 4:30 to 6:30pm and once at Pappas Restaurant  in Crown Point from 5:30 to 8:30 pm on the fourth Thursday of each month.  It was agreed to continue this schedule.

NEW BUSINESS:

All of the members introduced themselves and told what type of writing they do.  This was to acquaint the new member in attendance, Darlene Barron, with the rest of the group.

READINGS:

SHIRLEY HINMAN read two of her poems.  “THE GRINCH BRUNCH” (22 lines) was about Christmas and winter festivities and activities , and “EVERY SOUND” (16 lines) which was about her experiences being in a community band and the members interacting together to create music.

KATHERINE FLOTZ read her one page short story entitled, “WHAT WERE YOU LIKE WHEN YOU WERE 50?!”  This is another title in the series of questions she is given each week as writing prompts which will then be published into a collection of memories for her family at the end of the year.  She described the city and neighborhood from that time and also named where the generations of her family from her grandmother to her grandchildren were at in that stage of her life.  She also fondly recalled the activities of the social “Batschka Club” which she and her husband organized and enjoyed with friends who also originated from Yugoslavia near her hometown located there.  The club name “Batschka” referred to the county area in Yugoslavia where the group members all used to live.

SHARON PALMERI read a chapter from her memoir dating from 1971-1973, that is entitled  “A NEW BEGINNING –ARROWHEADS AND OPPORTUNITES”.  In this feature she details her family life in their home in Hobart and the daily activities and adventures when her firstborn daughter was a toddler.  The chapter includes a stretch of career time for Sharon at the hospital and concludes when she and her husband build a house in the Lakes of the Four Seasons.

AUDREY WARZYNIAK read her one page short story entitled, “MAGGIE’S REUNION”.  The story travels backward in time to the beginning and details an experience she encountered while working at a retirement home.

AMY BRAILEY continued reading from her novel, JOHN EVERETT and the HALL OF HISTORY focusing on Chapter 31.  In this part of the novel, Jon travels back toward camp with his regiment and encounters George Washington who hears Jon voicing concerns on evading the enemy and then counsels him.

BOB PHILPOT read a chapter from his novel, STRANGE FRIENDS.   The chapter entitled “CHAPTER DINNER” describes Zeb escaping death in his work investigating the kidnapping of a scientist who is working for the Navy.   Zeb is targeted in a sneak attack in a diner after henchman follow orders of “the Boss” who has learned from his crew that Zeb was just spotted there. 

CORRI STEPHENSON read Chapter 1 from her novel entitled, BELLFAST.  The story takes place in the present time with “watchers” in it as a strange text message is sent one by one to each person in the town of Bellfast  and one young woman is then mysteriously discovered dead, hanging from a tree in the central park.   Chase, a local young man who has not yet received the text, suspects a sinister connection between the text and the death and struggles to search for a clue to solve the mystery.

CINDY HORGASH read her short story entitled, “TWO REDHEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE.”  It is a humorous tale of the lively pre-school antics of two red-headed brothers.

 

Respectfully Submitted:

DIANE STRATTON

 

OCTOBER 28, 2021

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Amy Brailey, Sharon Palmeri, Katherine Flotz, Shirley Vaughan, (Friend of Shirley’s—Mary Tubis), Sharon Buckman, Beverly Stanislawski, Cindy Horgash, Corri and Paula Stephenson, and Gail Galvan

 

OLD BUSINESS:

A vote of approval for the October 14, 2021 minutes was given by and Shirley Buckman and Katherine Flotz.

 

 

 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

SHARON PALMERI announced again that the annual Christmas party for WOH would be at Pappas on December 9^th, the second Thursday. Members are encouraged to bring spouses or friends. There will be no meeting at Pappas in November.

 

LITERARY NEWS:

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI announced that she had taken a second place and two honorable mentions in a poetry contest in Ohio.  Second place was for “Wolf’s Bane” and H. M. for “Cross Words” and “Salmon—Haiku”.  

 

READINGS:

AMY BRAILEY continued with her novel, Jon Everett and the Hall of History, with chapter 30.  She confided that it is nearing the end, and she has already completed the story.  In this chapter, as Jon listens in, Colonel Dunbar and Washington speak after marching and fighting. It is learned that Washington estimates that “We lost between 800 and 900 men of our ranks.”  The idea is to follow “General Braddock’s plan to retreat at least as far as Wills Creek.”

SHARON PALMERI continued with her memoir.  This passage is titled “The Story of Love—and rough times.” It covers Sharon and John’s wedding, which was not an easy piece of wedding cake by any means.  Dad came late, and a mother-in-law created all kinds of tension and stress that day and thereafter.  “The honeymoon was great.  It was short because John didn’t have vacation time yet.” John gets offered a job in Australia but turns it down.  The loving couple rent a “nice little apartment in Glen Park, after moving out of a house John owned with his mother,” and Sharon gets pregnant as life moves along.

KATHERINE FLOTZ answered another question for her kids and the book they are compiling.  The question was, “How did you rebel as a child?” She stated that she, in fact, did not go through any rebellious stages in her lifetime.  She wrote, “I was grateful to have someone take care of me in those awful days of the concentration camp…I never needed to rebel against my guardians (my aunt and uncle), because they loved me and provided for me.”

SHIRLEY VAUGHAN shared some info about publishing books through three companies and the differences they offer. Draft2Digital and Kindle Direct Publishing will self-publish books for free and place on Amazon, but do not edit your works or advertise. Trilogy Christian Publishing is part of TBN Christian T.V. station. They will edit and advertise books but for a high cost. There was also a following discussion about trying to beware of scams.

SHARON BUCKMAN read a short story about a young mother trying to give herself a birthday present of a quiet evening alone when it is interrupted by a terrible storm and strangers breaking into her house.  It gets spooky for a bit and the home owner readies herself with a toy gun, until we find out that the intruders just need a place due to an emergency.  “I’m sorry we had to break into your house, but my wife is having a baby and it looks like your house if going to be where it will happen.”

BEVERLY STANISLAWSKI recited two poems:  “Bubblicious” (a man tries to show off blowing the largest bubble ever.  He does not succeed.)  Secondly, “Beware the Baba Yaga” (Baba Yaga means witch in polish) tells the tale of how children need to beware of this witch or they may never be seen again!

The Baba Yaga was what they saw

With witch’s hat and pointed jaw.

She comes around each Hallow’s eve

To try to make small ones believe.”

CINDY HORGASH shared a short story titled, “Underfoot.” Underfoot means constantly present and in one’s way as noted by Merriam-Webster.  It paints a literary heartfelt portrait of what it was like to be the youngest of three siblings, referred to as a “crazy kid,” and grow up in a “home ruled with an iron fist”. The problem was she was a “kid-size conscientious objector”. Cindy gives many humorous examples of how she got into trouble and how she tried to get out of it.  Especially by tucking food from supper into the legs of the table.  “Who knew those table legs were hollow and open-ended like  a funnel and sealed at the base with a steel button?”  Her story was submitted to Chicken Soup for the Soul. We’ll see if they are paying attention!

GAIL GALVAN read a silly poem in honor of Halloween titled, “Elviral” who happened to be a Russian spy, dressed up for the part in long shiny black hair and black attire.  She sported a long cigarette and asked for American secrets.  The spy also had a pet croc she named Croctober.   

 

“Elviral—Double-O-X,

somewhat known for her fame.

She likes tic-tacs,

given a nickname.

 

They call her

Tic-Tac-Toe.

Fears what she does

and all that she knows.”

 

The meeting was adjourned shortly before 8:30 P.M.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Gail Galvan