October 16, 2019

We began our meeting with thirteen members present. Peter and Barbara Frickel sent their regrets as Peter was recovering from the flu. We hope they are both well and that they will be with us at our next meeting on Tuesday, November 6th. Ed Ellis arrived early and said Don Westerfield was in Tampa and not able to come, but Don surprised us by stopping in for the meeting on his way home. Rod DiGruttolo phoned in his regrets that he had pressing family duties. Ernie Ovitz filled in for Rod as the group’s co-leader. We got right into the reading. 

Ed Ellis brought Barb Marvin as a guest. Barb is a regular with the Englewood Authors Group. Barb is a mystery writer with four published books. Her books are set in our area. She read the first chapter of her new mystery, Defenseless. It began with a dark night on Fruitville Road. The dark night matched the driver’s mood and thoughts. By the time the driver reached the destination, and the trunk popped open, we were hooked. We told Barb she needs to come back and let us know what happens next. She said she would, and we hope she will. 

Ed Ellis read a philosophical piece telling of a time that he became lost in thought, looking at a great wall of mirrors at Logan Airport and missed his flight. He reassured us that he was able to catch the next flight and he was richer from his experience. 

Jeffery Kutcher read from his biographical novel about the life of his friend Amaury, a refugee from Communist Cuba. Jeffery’s chapter looked back on the life of Amaury’s father, Nury, an early recruit and future general in Castro’s cause. Jeffery’s portrayal of life under the brutal and corrupt dictatorship of the Batista regime makes clear why Amaury’s father would be drawn to Castro. At the end of the chapter Nury finds Castro in the rugged Sierra Maestra mountains and is accepted into his band. 

Bruce Haedrich read from his personal memoir. We Danced the Skys. His chapter discusses the Wright Brother’s deadly mistake in airplane design, placing the up and down control surfaces forward instead at the rear of the plane. Bruce’s passion for flight and teaching the technical details stimulated a lively discussion. What is the most effective balance between detail and overview? We look forward to hearing more as Bruce pursues his story. 

Scott Anderson, our passionate poet, had us laughing with his dry poetic humor. The “Non-Binary Driver” got the laughter started when a cop pulls over a driver to find that neither he nor she was driving the car. “They” the sole occupant protested that neither he nor she was behind the wheel. His recollection of a Georgia Battlefield Park, Cheatham Hill, reflected on two young people enjoying each other's company on that hallowed site. The humorous tickle remained, and Scott continued with “The Mall,” “Billboard,” and “On Being Happily Married.” His marriage advice was simple as he confessed that “It’s all my fault.” 

Mary Shaffer chose to read from a piece by author/writer Bret Anthony Johnson, “Even in the Gathering Darkness.” The piece reflected upon environmental concerns. A lively discussion followed as some members confessed that they did not share the piece’s gloomy environmental perspective. We acknowledged that differences of opinion were present, and talked about our group’s commitment to helping writers with their writing regardless of their political opinions. The good news is that we agreed that it was important to the group to keep our meetings friendly and welcoming to our motto, “Writers Helping Writers.” 

Don Westerfield shared some memories of his hometown, Terra Haute, Indiana. He read two poems by Max Ehrmann, Terra Haute’s own, the second being his famous “Desiderata.” 

Jim Kelly read from his historical novel, Turning Point, chronicling the life of Winfield Scott Hancock, Union General in the Civil War, and Democratic candidate for President of the United States. In his chapter, Jim reads the moving story of Hancock’s relinquishment of command. The general had suffered serious wounds during the battle of Gettysburg and their lingering effects causing him to reach the tough decision to let go at the very moment the end of the war was in sight. Jim says that he is close to having his multi-part work ready for publication and hopes to have proofs to show in the near future. 

Ernie Ovitz wrapped the readings up with a continuation of his dystopian short story, “The Rock.” As the story continues the fourth member of the riding party meeting at the rock, Marvin, shares his inside knowledge of the government’s plan to banish cash from the system, by turning the Social Security Credit Index, SSCI, card, and their bank account card into one controlling national card. Those that fail to meet government conduct standards, with low social credit scores, will be punished and even denied use of a card. Undesirables, such as Christians will be banned. No card, no job, no money, you can starve as far as the government is concerned. The program and the persecution will be rolled out in Chicago. However, corruption is at work, the Chicago north and south side gangs are joining forces to buy blank government cards to sell. Marvin and his motorcycle club, The Pale Riders, are the go-betweens. Next time the story’s conclusion. 

Best wishes, and keep on writing.

Oh, by the way;
Check out Maris Soule's blog on Hometown Authors

With so many books being published nowadays, how do you promote y9ou books (or yourself)? That is the question Hometown Authors asked me.
For my answer, check out today's blog on their site: 
https://hometownauthors.com/book-marketing-tips/get-noticed/

Feel free to leave a comment or idea, but no laughing at what my husband did. OK?

Maris
Soulem@aol.com

The first Wednesday of the month came early again. We met at the firehouse as usual and welcomed Anne Moore back from the frozen (or soon will be) north. After a few brief comments, we launched into a discussion about research. As we had 13 attendees, and each offered their experiences with researching projects, the discussion became intense. In the end, it was agreed, all forms of writing are enhanced by research and research can be as simple as memory or as complicated as advanced searches through massive tomes and record files. If a writer makes a simple mistake of having something used before it was invented or has his characters interact with a person who’s been dead for years before his story takes place, that writer loses credibility with readers who know the truth. Even sci-fi and fantasy writers need to research even if its simply to be sure they’re not doing something that’s been done before. Internet, photo albums, old passports, notes, letters are fantastic sources of information. Dig in and make your stories come to life.

We opened the reading portion of the meeting with Bruce Haedrich presenting something new to him; a non-fiction work with the working title of Dancing in the Sky. It’s all about airplanes, pilots, and airmen. His first chapter is entitled Goodnight Searchlight. A young boy peers from his bedroom window watching planes landing and taking off from a nearby airport in New Jersey. It’s the 1940’s and Air Mail, Cargo, and Passenger planes come and go with lights and noise the boy soon learns to associate with the various types of airplanes and their engines. An airport beacon becomes his nighttime searchlight.

How do you open a book? I guess you lift the cover an there are pages to read… No, how do you write an opening to a book? That is the question Dennis Cathcart has for the group. The life experiences of this author have been plentiful and more than exciting in many cases. With which of these do you open your book? Pick one, they’re all great. Facing death on when stranded on a desert island inhabited by a colony of reptiles including snakes and flesh-eating lizards. I think that might hook your reader. Dennis is putting the finishing touches on an exciting memoir about his life as a herpetologist, among other things. Get it out there Dennis, I’m anxious to read it.

Quotes from Hemingway, Jose Marti, and other noted authors opened Peter Frickel’s reading some of his short poetry. I Lie Still, Victims, River, We Grow Up, and Veldt were some of his offerings. Short but poignant, these works tugged at our hearts as well as our minds. So much talent. Peter is readying his work for publication. Look for it soon on Amazon.

Susan Haley took a hiatus from writing for several years. She was gone from our company until the fall of last year when she returned to the fold. Last night she offered a brand-new poem she’s working on. Even in its unfinished state Alaska Is Sinking comes alive and tugs at your heartstrings. Her heart and passion for keeping Mother Earth healthy shows in almost all she writes. This is going to be no exception. I want to hear it in its entirety soon.

A story about a Cuban man, his family, and history brought to us by Jeff Kutcher tells the story of growing up in a society rife with issues foreign to those of us fortunate enough to be born in the USA. In this chapter, Batista’s soldiers roam the provinces stealing and abusing the citizens. On an isolated farm they come during the day while father and son labor in the fields. Mama is alone. The soldiers steal her chickens and four of them take their pleasure with the woman. Her husband and son return only to find her hurt and humiliated by the roving band. The son vows revenge.

David and Harry join Michael on the “Most Wanted” list in Ernie Ovitz’s dystopian tale of intrigue and betrayal. Veritas Vos Liberabit became the call in a country whose people have always fought for freedom. A bastion of freedom hears the call the truth will set you free. Where do we go from here? We’ll have to wait until the next meeting and hear what Ernie has to offer.

Continuing in the theme of Mother Earth, Ed Ellis brought us a poem entitled Lifeboat. Evoking deep thoughts and sending a chill down my spine, his words seem more of a portent than a simple poem.

Two poems by Don Westerfield about Alaska gave us another chance to see and feel the wonderous beauty of an unspoiled land of long ago. Wonders Alaska gives us a look at the great state before modern man came to despoil and plunder. Pure water, cold and abundant wash down from the snowy peaks past glaciers new and unyielding. Set to music some years ago, Alaska Sings gives us the visions and a cool wave of clean seems to sweep through our minds as we hear the words. This poem delivers the music it is set to in every line.

The civil war in America was a terrible and deadly conflagration in the annals of our history. Jim Kelly read a piece of poetic prose depicting the battle in the Wilderness. Following the Battle of Gettysburg by nearly a year, The Union army with superior numbers clashed for two bloody days with the reeling Army of Northern Virginia under the command of Robert E. Lee. Thousands died and the horror of a burning forest swept over the battlefield taking with it the lives of dying and wounded soldier of both armies.

The hour came upon us to end the meeting, and it was with some reluctance we closed. Until our next meeting on October 16^th, KEEP ON WRITING.