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.