Wednesday night we signed on at the usual time of 6:30 PM. Within a few minutes, seven of this hardcore group were engaged in a discussion about our writing habits and sharing little tips and information about what we are doing. We discussed how we could use a feature of ZOOM to share our computer screen with others in the meeting.
Scott Anderson was the first volunteer to share his cache of poetry and chose an interesting piece to read while we followed along. In my excitement, I forgot to jot down the name of this poem. In any case it was, as are all of Scott’s offerings, thought-provoking, and moving. Comparing the moon’s dark light sides to the happenstance of our everyday lives, he asks unanswered questions and illuminates feelings we often hide in darkness. Look for Scott’s work in various contests and literary publications in the future.
Taking up the gauntlet next, Mary Schaffer displayed a travelogue with photographs and a running narrative about her trip to China in 2010. Accompanying her son and daughter, both familiar with and enamored with Chinese culture, they traveled along highways and back roads through rural China not regularly seen by tourists. On a narrow mountainous stretch of roadway they had a flat tire. Their rookie driver had no idea of how to change the tire nor did the passengers. There, amid an uninhabited wilderness, two things happened. First, a truck towing a large trailer filled with hogs drove past, stopped, and backed up the narrow road with a mountain face on one side and a deep ravine on the other. The driver took the time to change the tire and get them back underway. The second thing occurred while the trucker was changing the tire. From out of the underbrush filled ravine, a man walked across the road, took notice of the activity, and continued to casually trek up the hill. Familiar with China and its people, Mary’s son remarked. “That’s so China.” Thank you, Mary.
Unfortunately one of the failings of ZOOM reared its head here as I suffered a momentary power outage in my neighborhood and I missed some of Ernie Ovitz reading a scene from his historical fiction series highlighting the life of Emperor Constantine of Rome. Preparing for her wedding, a young woman spars with an elder sister about the preparations for the wedding. As both are Christians but are required by law to participate in ceremonies of a pagan nature, they console each other on some points. A well-written scene giving the reader an insight into the relationship of the women with each other. If I messed this up, I apologize I'll take the blame because I didn't have my router hooked to the power back-up.
A novel about General Winfield Scott Hancock, A Soldier First and Always, is published in two volumes by our own James H. Kelly. Now, he follows it with a new novel in the works as the General’s legacy continues in the West. In the Dakotas and Montana, our military is tasked with containing the Native Americans who are resisting the westward expansion of the nation. The first chapter is a harbinger of action, suspense, and a story that tugs at our hearts. Great stuff, Jim.
Reading the first half of Chapter 6, Rod Digruttolo asked for the listener’s opinion on his character, Donna, a twelve-year-old girl kidnapped and held for ransom. The writer’s intention is to portray Donna as a self-sufficient youngster whose wealthy and well-connected father raises her alone due to the death of her mother a few months prior. It appears some work is needed and will be accomplished. Thanks
Bruce Haedrich and Anne Perry Moore were in attendance but chose not to offer anything to read.
The evening was a success in my view. ZOOM was generous with the time constraints and we did not have to break away midmeeting and reconnect. Thank you, ZOOM.
If you have comments for the blog and can’t seem to get them to post, please send your comment to me at my email address in the upper right-hand corner. I’m looking forward to seeing you all either by ZOOM or in person, soon. In the meantime, stay safe, stay healthy, and KEEP ON WRITING.
