Nine stalwart writers braved the heat and threatening rain to join us at the firehouse this evening. A quick general discussion about various things, including the use of AI in research, preceded our moving directly into the readings for the evening.
Leading off, Ernie Ovitz read the latest chapter of his current work, The Penitent Man. Ernie uses ChatGPT freely in his research, but does not allow it to change or usurp his writing style. Using the AI program as an idea for probability and possibility, he tells his story with a personal touch that reflects his ideals and imagination. This chapter has Lee Santino in the nation of Panama searching for a banker who might possibly clear his name for being involved in a financial crime with international espionage ramifications. We look forward to high-speed chases, gun battles, and danger around every corner.
Having traveled the world over looking for rare and exotic plants, Dennis Cathcart has fantastic experiences to share with us. Tonight, The Lime Incident took center stage. High on the western slopes of the Andes Mountains in Ecuador, Dennis and his buddy Wally explored in the rain as they searched for a rare plant purported to grow in the region. While below the peak of 21,000 feet, they worked in a rarefied altitude of 5,400 feet, two degrees south of the equator. Hot and humid year-round, the cooling rain was almost drier than the heat and humidity of a clear day.
After a day of plant collecting, they sought refuge for the night in a nearby village. Spotting a sign reading HOTEL PARIS, they inquired about rooms. Yes, rooms were available, but no water, no electricity, few cots, and even fewer doors. Still, there was no other option, and the place had a bar/restaurant next door. They sat down to a stiff drink (Cuba Libre) and a meal of fried chicken. The mayor joined them, and a small crowd formed as the trio exhausted the bar’s supply of limes and rum. To help out, the Gringos broke out their emergency supply of rum and a bag of limes. Late into the night, our intrepid heroes stumbled off to bed. Awakening with a serious hangover. Dennis says he must have felt worse in his life, after all he’s been snake-bit, had malaria, broken his neck, and even got run over once, but couldn’t really remember when. They made it to a different town, another hotel, and once again it was a dinner of fried chicken and Cuba Libres. Plant Collecting ain’t for sissies.
Scott Anderson has embarked on a mission; he has committed to writing 400 Haiku poems over the next year. For our enjoyment, he shared seven of his latest with us this evening. Each of these brief beauties sets forth a scenario in our brains. How can so few words evoke such a vivid picture?
Staying with the poetry evokes a vision path. Don Westerfield set forth two poems and a short story for our enjoyment. Water gave us a chance to witness the cycle of life in a cold mountain stream. While Tracks allowed us to explore and imagine what once was as we followed a deserted and overgrown railroad. Then, we visited the Philippines in a short story, Clack, Clack, Clack. A pond for rearing Milkfish on his wife’s family property allowed him to witness a deception of epic proportions. While striking the pail three times in succession lured the body of fish to the edge of the pond to be fed, it also lured them there for capture as they became dinner for the family. When the clack, clack, clack was given, the unsuspecting fish rushed toward the sound, expecting a feast; instead, they became the feast.
The latest chapter in Bruce Hadrich’s Nadia brings us to where Chris and Nadia are on the road, supposedly returning to New York. Nadia is a new form of life dubbed terrestrials by the scientists who have created them. Their existence has been uncovered, and the Government has set forth a plan to eliminate them to appease the demands of the human population. To combat the plan, retraining schools have been developed, which will train the terrestrials to act and feel like humans so that they may hide in plain sight. Chris has fallen in love with Nadia, yet he still trusts and loves his girlfriend Nancy. He must enlist her aid in keeping Nadia from being discovered.
Danny Spurlock brings a new story to us. Nurse Ray shows us a time in the life of a dedicated nurse during the COVID pandemic. Our nurse recognizes a patient he once knew from the pre-COVID days as a regular patron of a local bar, the Apple Blossom. Gene Broadmore was a fan of The Snowdrifts, a CW band playing at the Blossom. As the COVID virus ravaged Gene, they bonded. When Gene was too sick to speak, he wrote down a list of songs he enjoyed. What happened to Gene and Ray? How did their relationship fare? Look for Danny’s story.
Advance the Line, is the title of James Kelly’s newest work in the Mackensie family saga. In this chapter, The Girl Left Behind, Johnathon thinks about what he should do about his girlfriend, Mary Elizabeth, Lizzie. Should he tell her how he loves her, maybe even marry the girl, or should he go off to war and ask he to wait for his return? The author looks at both sides as he explores Lizzie’s mind. Should she profess her love for Johnathon? Should she put pressure on him to marry? We await the publication of this newest book in the saga of an American family of heroes.
We ended the evening with a delightfully humorous piece by Dino Blanchi entitled Cons and Prose. New York City and its neighboring New Jersey area are a world unto themselves, both in thought and language. Reading the words of a story about the area cannot be complete without the inflection and boldness of the language. Fagetaboudit is a word. The lilt and inflection of other such nouns, verbs, and adjectives lose their feel when spoken by a layman, not a naturally born ‘Neworksey’ native.
I look forward to hearing Dino read his next chapter.
Well, that wraps up the fun from our latest meeting. I can hardly wait until August 20th, our next meeting at the firehouse in Nokomis. Until we see you there again, remember to READ, Read, and read some more. Then WRITE, Write, and write some more, then come and share it with us.
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