April 2nd, 2025

 

Welcome to the Sarasota Writer’s Group Blog.

A discussion about Cover Design and its impact on published work opened the meeting. More than half of the members in attendance have published their work. We all agreed that an attractive cover design draws readers to the book and increases sales. Two of our group hired or purchased work from artists for their covers. Several used stock photos and designs purchased from the internet. Others used covers furnished by the publisher or created their covers with software. One used a picture they took themselves. Only one member delved into creating a cover using AI. Although they looked nice, the author chose not to use it.

We enjoyed the company of a first-time attendee tonight, Robert Miller, who joined us as a guest of Dennis Cathcart

Bruce Haedrich led off the reading portion of the meeting with a second chapter of his newest work, Nadia Costea. As it turned out, Nadia, a strikingly beautiful young woman with exceptional talents in almost every field, was not human. She was an android. It seems Dolan, Nadia’s owner/boyfriend, purchased an upgrade to Nadia’s programming, and she was learning more skills daily. She could now do almost anything a human woman could. She was connected to the cloud and knew nearly everything. What Bruce started as a short story is growing. I suspect we are watching the birth of a novel.

Danny Spurlock brought us a short story, Parking, where a biker in California decides to find his birth father. Climbing aboard his Harley, he set out on a journey across the desert toward New Mexico. Enjoying the ride and adventures along the way. He finally reaches his destination, Albuquerque. There, he begins the search for his father.

James Kelly read from chapter 9 of his fifth book in a series entitled I Am a Solider, First and Always. This book has a working title, Advance the Line. A fourth-generation soldier of the Mackensie family prepares to go off to war in WWI. He has joined a new regiment, preparing for a new type of war. George Patton is in command of a division of tanks, and young Johnathan Mackensie has joined the division.

Traveling the world in search of exotic plants gave Dennis Cathcart opportunities most of us will never know. The sights of dense tropical forests, barren salty islands, lush mountain landscapes, and many places where plants grow are remarkable. But, to come face to face with four Indigenous Amazonians in the jungle… WOW, how much more exciting can it get? Dennis’s piece entitled Savages and Cannibals took us there. The Amazonian was thoroughly confused as it was entirely possible they’d never encountered a white man before, so they simply walked away. Reporting the incident to his guide, Dennis learned the tribe had a reputation for being warlike and was quite nervous. But to Dennis, it was a ‘splendid adventure.’

Reading a short story was a change for Don Westerfield. He is a wonderful poet and a great storyteller. His story, What Are Friends For, has a message and humor in the tale. Two boys, Billy and Joel, were good friends from childhood. Though Billy often blamed Joel for things he’d done, they remained friends. They went to college, and Joel was called to the Dean’s office after a year or so. A girl, the daughter of the biggest donor to the college, reported Joel as having made her pregnant. As she entered the Dean’s office, she saw Joel and asked, “Who’s that?” Billy had stuck again. But Joel was a good friend and didn’t say a word. Billy transferred to a different school a week later, confirming Joel’s suspicions.

Some years later, both Joel and Billy were adults. Billy was doing quite well with a beautiful wife and a good business, while Joel was divorced and struggling financially. But Billy talked him into taking a fishing trip. On the way, a storm left them stranded without a cell phone or a vehicle. A lone farmhouse far from any town or village was their only chance at finding shelter. Oh yes, there was an occupant, a beautiful woman alone. But the power was out, and her phone didn’t work. She allowed them to sleep in the barn alongside an expensive red sports car. It was warm and dry, and she brought them some dry blankets to sleep on so they could dry their wet clothing. Tired from the long trek in the driving rain, Joel fell into a deep sleep, awakening the following day to a beautiful sunrise. About nine months later, Joel received a summons to a lawyer’s office. Had Billy struck again?

Robert Miller is working on a memoir he calls The Chronicles of Bob Miller. Bob is from Michigan. His reading tonight told of an experience when his uncle visited. The visit was short, and the uncle left to join his unit and go overseas to fight in WW2. He died in the invasion of Sicily shortly afterward. Bob entered kindergarten in 1946. We look forward to hearing more about Bob.

A story with no title about people with no names is what Bill Elam brought us tonight. Bill has been working on this story for a long time. Tonight’s reading is a chapter from early on in the book entitled The Listener. The narrator of the story is known only as The Whisperer.

Well, that does it for this meeting. The readings were great, and the discussion was enlightening. Our next meeting will be on April 16^th at the Nokomis Firehouse at 6:30 PM. Attend if you can. In the meantime, READ, Read, read, and KEEP ON WRITING.

March 19th, 2025

 

Welcome back to both readers and writers. It’s hard for me to sit at a desk and write in the fantastic weather we’ve been having. I mean clear skies, temperatures in the mid-seventies, and no rain for days. Who could ask for more? I wished for rain on Saturday, but I’m not a rainmaker. All I got were a few clouds and one clap of thunder. I couldn’t force myself to go inside and sit in front of a computer. So, I took my laptop out in the backyard, and… Here’s the result.

Eleven stalwart writers made it to the meeting this Wednesday. We enjoyed seeing everyone. Bob Sutherland stopped by, and although he couldn’t stay for the whole meeting, we were glad he could make it, even for a brief visit this evening.

Ernie Ovitz led off the reading portion of the meeting with the latest chapter of his new work of fiction, a story with the working title Ghost. Lee Sardino is the CEO of a successful hedge fund in Colorado. He is also the nephew of, and heir apparent of, the aging Mafia Don, who oversees operations for nearly one-third of the U.S. When Treasury Agent Rossi visits Lee’s office, questions must be answered. And what’s up with Lee’s wife? What does she do? I mean, she works for the government. They pay her way too much to be a clerk. She must be something else???

When Bruce Haedrich takes the floor, we usually expect an essay about the environment or a mystery story not unlike his Dan Marin detective adventures. Of course, it might be poetry or sci-fi… wait a minute. We don’t know what to expect when Bruce starts reading. So, imagine a nerd who works with you suddenly showing up dressed to the nines instead of his regular sweatshirt and blue jeans and talking about his gorgeous new girlfriend, Nadia. In his latest story, Bruce has imagined just that. In Nadia Costea, a nerd invites a friend from work for a BBQ at his new uptown apartment. Upon arrival, the friend and his girlfriend meet a stunning young woman with all the correct answers and exquisite taste in wardrobe, who just happens to be a gourmet chef. Is this too good to be true? 

 

Don Westerfield is our Senior Poet in Residence. As he read the first of two poems, Watermelon Man, we had no idea how close he was to his subject. Telling of the clanging bell announcing the arrival of a pushcart filled with watermelons, you could almost hear the lilting voice of the watermelon man singing his song to attract buyers.

Watermelons, watermelons,

sweet and juicy, chew the rind

drink the juice, watermelons.

 

Little did we know the watermelon man was really Don’s father. Don’s second reading, The Man With The Wooden Eye, tells the story of a man who enjoyed life as his travels took him near and far. Though he couldn’t see it, he lit up the world around him. He was courageous and tolerant as he wore his wooden eye.

 

An airport baggage claim area often holds a surprise for those who watch people. Today, a disheveled man carrying a bouquet of roses catches the writer’s eye. Danny Spurlock brings us the story of Po’ Girl. Weave in a flat tire, a delayed flight, ten red roses, and a mother whose oft-used expression gave her daughter a nickname and the title of this tale. Why only ten roses? Danny knows. Will he share it with us?

 

You’ve heard the expression, “a face only a mother could love,” right? Well, Nancy Old knows all too well what that means. Her mother took one look at the infant, Nancy, and when she saw an excess amount of hair around the baby’s ears, she freaked out. “Oh, that poor little thing, her mother must be devasted!” she said. It was only then that she realized it was her baby. Nancy relates this story in her memoir and entitles this chapter, The Ugly Baby.

 

Soldiers, the men and women who protect our country, are called upon in case of strife and must make sacrifices to do their duty. They are thrust into danger, often suffering extreme hardships, mentally and physically, sometimes the ultimate sacrifice. Soldiers are asked to go where needed while leaving loved ones behind. James Kelly knows this all too well. Chapter 2, entitled The Girl Left Behind, explores the feelings of both the soldier going off to war and the lover who remains. Jim does an excellent job as he writes this scene from two perspectives. As Johnathon prepares to go, he ponders telling Lizzie how he feels about her by expressing his love in words. At the same time, Lizzie longs to hear the words describing his feelings for her. Does Johnathon speak? Does Lizzie ask?

 

Well, it’s time to say goodbye for another fortnight. Why don’t you join us one of these Wednesday evenings? It might be fun, and it could awaken the Muse in you. But until then, READ, Read, read, and KEEP ON WRITING.

Feb 19th, 2025

 

Hello again. Due to illness (notably mental overload), I failed to present a blog for the meeting on Feb 5^th. I subsequently destroyed my notes in an overzealous purge of desk fodder. Please excuse me; it’s not my first error, nor will it be my last.

 FEB. 19, 2025

As usual, I polled what our writers have been doing since the last meeting. Most are continuing on ongoing projects, a couple are taking a break to recharge, and one is having eye surgery and will have to wait a while to read or write. Good Luck. I suggest you try audiobooks until they’re comfortable again; that’s what I did.

Ursula Wong suggested, “If you’re considering entering a contest or contacting a publisher which contacted you, check them out. Writer Beware’s blog covers many scams and links to web pages that do the same. This is not a recommendation, only one of many possibilities to protect writers from scams and illegal promotions.

 

Our meeting moved on to our reading and helping portion, with Ernie Ovitz sharing his newest project, The Ghost, for our interest. The story follows a modern Mob Family headed by an aging Capo, who has turned the daily operations over to a young heir. Under the guise of a Denver-based hedge fund, the heir is heavily involved with a Chinese underworld gang. Extremely powerful and ruthless, they have lashed out at a perceived wrong by sabotaging the airplane carrying the brother of an ex-US President. The oxygen system in the aircraft failed, killing all aboard. When it flew, unpiloted, into Cuban air space, the Cuban Air Force shot it down. An international commission is now investigating the incident and the Hedge Fund operations.

 

The Future of History is what Bruce Haedrich entitles his latest work. Spinning off his successful GAIA publication, Bruce looks back over time, comparing the actions of previous civilizations to our present dilemmas. Pointing out the lack of change in Human Nature, Bruce contends we may be committed to making the same mistakes our ancestors made again and again. Although this theme has been touted time after time, Bruce uses snippets of history in stories to illustrate his points. If only a single person changes, it’s a win for mankind.

 

Bill Elam is a storyteller akin to those who sat around the campfires of yore and spun their tales as the youngsters listened, learned, and understood what must be done to keep their families safe. His sonorous tone and rhythm take us back in our minds to those evenings listening to the stories, oft-repeated, seldom ignored, and always needed to remind us of our history and duties.

 

That Was Yesterday is a poem by Don Westerfield, our senior statesman among poets. With the appropriate words, Don laments the passing of a partner who spent many days with him. One who “touched his heart in every way, but… that was yesterday.” Songs often hold a place in our lives for as long as we live. Remembrance Song is a poem about one such ballad that always brings forth a singular memory of a single night in one’s past, “I’ll Rember You.”

 

Gary Conkol is an experienced technical writer who sees writing as a technical skill that can follow a pattern for each story. He views AI (Artificial Intelligence) as a tool rather than a substitute for producing a viable story. Used wisely, AI can enhance a story; if used verbatim, it is seriously flawed. However, using the intent of an AI suggestion may produce a well-thought-out work. Using the format of The Federalist Papers, a collection of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the collective pseudonym “Publius,” to promote the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Gary suggests that four new essays may be hiding somewhere, The Last American, You Are Not Alone, In Defense of Charity, and We Need More American Citizens. Maybe we could look for Publius 2025?

 

Patriotism is not exclusive to the United States, as Ursula Wong shows us in her newest novel, Strategic Deception. Grace Urban is an exceptionally talented programmer and writer who develops an app that can potentially destroy the world. To save a close friend and family in Lithuania, she must give her app to a vicious leader of the Russian Mafia, who in turn gives it to an officer in the Russian GRU. Ursula is now working on a second book, The Last Soviet, with a working title. Will Grace, now a CIA operative, be able to stop Russia’s use of her app?

 

James Kelly’s stories of the Mackenzie family show men and women dedicated to life in and supporting the U.S. Military. Yes, despite a few flaws, they are good and honest. The United States prepared to engage in the conflict as WWI raged in Europe. Johnathon, freshly graduated from the Norwalk Military School, prepares for his role in the fight. He knows he must leave a girl, Lizzy, behind. This dilemma is still faced by lovers and spouses in the military today. How does Johnathon MacKenzie resolve it?

 

Well, there you have it. We’ve been left with quite a few cliffhangers. We must wait patiently for the next meeting, Wednesday, March 5^th, at the Nokomis Firehouse training room. We hope to see y’all there. We start up around 6:30 PM. Until then, read, read, and read some more–and most of all, KEEP ON WRITING.