October 16th, 2024

What a month! How many of you have been through a hurricane? You have now if you were in Sarasota, Manatee, or Charlotte counties this month. In fact, you’ve been through two major hurricanes. Our hearts go out to those who were adversely affected by the storms. One of our own, Dennis Cathcart, suffered severe damage to his business. Most of the structures at the nursery were ruined and unusable. We send our best wishes and prayers to the Cathcart family and all who have sustained damages. Dennis is a real trooper and did attend this meeting.

With the storm bearing down on us, we faced the dilemma of whether to ride out the storm in our homes, evacuate to a shelter, or evacuate the area altogether. For those who chose to leave the area, most reported positive results as they took up temporary residence in different areas of the state. Local shelters opened early and provided semi-comfortable lodging. Amid the terrors of riding out the storm, the sounds were reported to be terrifying. Wind howling around our homes, bumps and thumps from unknown objects crashing against the roof or walls, sometimes even windows. The wind-driven rain raked the shuttered windows, and the wail of wind screeching around the corners elicited thoughts of Hollywood-created storms with always disastrous climaxes. Then came the eerie part.

The wind and rain stopped suddenly. It was calm and quiet; darkness hid the chaos around us, and we dared to peek outside. Leaves, twigs, branches, and substantial limbs ripped from trunks of mighty trees littered the landscape. But it was still, oh so still, not even a breeze drifted across the debris. How long would it last? The eye of the storm was upon us. What we had endured before still awaited us, with the back half of the screaming monster still to come. Listen, a low roar, a rumble of its approach began to build. We were about to face part two of Milton. We looked back to the previous week when a storm named Helene tried to drown us in waves of rain and a surge of salt water rushing across our shores. In ancient times, people would take these storms as omens, as attempts by the Gods to punish or warn us of things to come. Hummm…

 

Not only was Dennis Cathcart present at the meeting, but he also brought an essay entitled Life’s Lottery to read. The piece’s theme can be summed up in an excerpt from the essay. “We dream of riches we could have. Meanwhile, most of us overlook the riches we already possess. We ponder what we could do with the mass of dollars the Lottery could provide if we were that one in a hundred million lucky enough to win but fail to see the beauty of what we have in the love of our families, a safe and sound place to live, even the simplest of things we take for granted every day. As an old TV personality used to say, “WAKE UP, AMERICA!”

 

As Don Westerfield took the floor, handing out sheets of paper inscribed with typewritten words in stanzas, I knew we were about to hear some poignant poetry. As our senior statesman, Don’s work has inspired us many times. Having retired from the US Air Force, his service extended from the days of gasoline and propeller-driven aircraft to supersonic jet planes flown by dare-devil pilots. Don enjoys airplanes, which is shown in his work, Up There. Looking upward today, I see contrails of mighty aircraft etched upon the bluest skies. Indeed, these are the speeding arrows of the poem. The second offering, entitled The Runner, takes on an eerie meeting with a runner on a lonely road late on October eve. The runner tells of a time long past or yet to come when payback for all in life is due.

 

Continuing the saga of I Am a Soldier First and Always, our own James H. Kelly tells of the younger sons of Tremain MacKenzie as they watch the actions of the German military in the year before 1918. Jim’s story, Advance the Line, tells of the German Navy’s attack on Atlantic shipping and putting German soldiers in Mexico to advise and train the Mexican military. However, the American army began to train a modern tank corps under the command of General ‘Black Jack’ Pershing and his subordinate, Major George Patton. The MacKenzie boys watch and wait as they attend their Military academy in New England.

 

Research is paramount to writing essays. Bruce Haedrich sets an example by delving into the past to find data linked to his theory. Is it possible that eighth-grade graduates of 1889 were better educated than today’s high school graduates? With today’s technology, we would think not. Does knowing how to operate a computer make an individual smarter? Maybe it allows today’s students to get the correct answer quicker even though they possess less knowledge.

 

Writers sometimes take an alternate course when it comes to telling a story. The same thing happens when we listen to a reading. Our brains can play tricks on us, as it did with me as I listened to Anne Moore read tonight. I caught a phone call from my Granddaughter and missed the readings except for these phrases. 1. “The Cows are alright”; and 2. “How did you stay so Calm?”  Both are enticing me to learn more, but that’s just another reminder to Turn Off That Damned Phone during the meeting. Anne, I’M SORRY, please give me a copy of these pieces at the next meeting.

 

Ernie Ovitz is writing the Blurbs for his Trilogy, Imperium. He read each blurb and asked for input on how he might change them to be more appealing. He received numerous suggestions. After all, this is a group designed to help.

 

A memoir is a personal story, and Nancy Old tells a tale of interesting characters and family, each of whom has had some influence on her life or outlook. Take, for instance, Buster Brown. Always in some sort of trouble, he blamed his woes on demons. His demons lived, for the most part, in bottles and came out once the seal was broken and the liquid demon inside was swallowed by Buster himself. Mr. McLary also visited those demons. Mike Fix hailed from West Virginia. Mike was a worker. He raised Black Angus Cows and built a bridge across the stream nearby. But hard times drove Mike away. It was of little matter, as their problems already taught Nancy a lesson, even though it was at some expense.

 

If you write and want to be among fellow writers, you can join us at the Nokomis Fire House at our next meeting on Nov. 6th, 2024. We call to order at 6:30 PM. The holidays loom on the horizon, and as usual, we wish to donate to the Nokomis Fire Department. It is a volunteer department, and can use our help year-round. Our group does not charge a fee to attend, but during the holidays, and on the 4th of July, we take up a collection to give to the firehouse. Please plan to provide generous donations as they allow us to use the meeting hall free of charge. Thanks in advance. 

 

Until then, please READ, READ, and READ SOME MORE, then Write and KEEP ON WRITING.

 

September 18, 2024

 

Ten of our writers attended the meeting tonight. We began the night with a discussion on Mentoring. Anne More is working on a project where she interviewed seventy women who were seventy years of age. These women wish to share their experiences with younger women. They feel they can mentor the next generations by sharing knowledge gained throughout their lifetimes. Our discussion centered around those who have mentored us in the past. Anne is finding a disparity in mentorship between women and men. It seems a large percentage did not consider others acting as mentors. At the same time, men enjoyed a much higher rate of mentors in their youth. Is this a perception issue, or do women fail to mentor younger women? What is a mentor? Hmmm, think about it.

 

Don Westerfield is a senior statesman in our group. His stories and poetry hold the tone of seniority. As a Nonagenarian, 90 to 99 years of age, Don has served his country, raised his family, and developed an outlook on life that suits his experience. His poetry reflects that outlook. This evening’s readings give us an insight into his world. To Give the Devil His Due shows us a man accepting the passage of time who is not yet ready to give up on life but has accepted a reckoning is coming. As we hear The Nature Of Things, we understand how we do not control the world around us. A predetermined set of rules sets us apart from other creatures and maps out the path for all. After all, males are male, females are female, water is water, and fire is fire, and a Robin must sing as only a Robin can sing.

 

Moonrise is the title of a new work by Danny Spurlock. Danny attacks a sensitive subject with understanding and aplomb. After a diagnosis of prostate cancer, Danny’s character undergoes RALPS, Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery, to eliminate the cancer from his body. Among the side effects of the procedure is an inability to facilitate a penial erection. Using the recommended techniques, Danny’s protagonist keeps his hopes alive of returning to a routine and loving sex life with his wife. This evening, as the couple sits on an outdoor deck overlooking the bay, they watch the moonrise, and he watches his wife’s smile. He realizes he still loves her, noticing that her full smile of youth has turned into a half-smile of age and wisdom.

 

James H. Kelly continues his saga of the Mackinzie family as soldiers across the history of the United States of America. From the Civil War to the eve of WWI, the Mackinzie family has served, sacrificed, and died in service to the country. Now, the fourth generation of Mackinzie men are preparing to serve as two of them attend a respected Military Academy in New England. They travel to Missouri for Christmas and meet up with their Grandfather, Father, and other family members. As a family of Calverymen, the subject of how much longer a Calvery will be needed arises. The oldest of the grandsons is a senior cadet, and this is his last term at the Academy. He announces his curiosity about a newly formed school being put together by Jack Persing and George Patton. It looks like tanks can replace the Calvery in modern warfare.

 

Bruce Haedrich never fails to impress us with his subject matter. He is presently attempting to tell the history of Empires in a novel form. Therein, a story with epic status may be in the making. Sometimes, fiction is a better vehicle for such far-reaching subjects than an essay. We know Bruce can do it, and we stand ready to help.

 

When Nancy Old took the floor to read a chapter from her memoir, we heard a tale of Aunts and Uncles as Nancy and her mom visit three of Mom’s sisters. Cooking for the farm hands in a hot kitchen for a midday meal in the soaring heat of two stoves is not a pleasure. Serving the men, many of whom are sweaty and reek of the farm animals. Manners are often left at the door when tired, hungry men attack the food with a gusto unseen at the gentile tables of many families. A second household brims with prayer and religious supplication, almost to a fault. Undo criticism and harsh punishment kept the fun out of their family life. Maybe Mom and her Sisters suffered from an obscure curse that kept them from choosing husbands well. Mom’s first husband had been an abusive drunk. Their only compatibility was that they were both from Tennessee.

 

That seems to cover the meeting for this time. We meet again on October 2 at 6:30 in our Nokomis Firehouse. Until then, KEEP ON WRITING!

August 21st, 2024

Eleven writers arrived at the firehouse this evening. As it turns out, four of us have birthdays this month. Ernie, Don, Dennis, and Rod all celebrate this month. Erinie’s wife, Linda, and Rod’s wife, Betsy, figured having a party for the group would be a good idea. We all enjoyed a generous slice of cake before we called the meeting to order. Thank you all for celebrating with us, and a special thank you to Linda for bringing the cake.

 

With eleven writers in attendance, and ten of them with work to share, we opened up with Ernie Ovitz reading a speech he’d written entitled, The Devil Made Me Do It, with credit given to the late Flip Wilson. A weakness for food lies in many of us. We try to lose weight, but that little devil wiggling around in our brain makes us give in to the desire to munch on some tasty tidbit that turns into a whole quart of ice cream, half a turkey, or a box of chocolates. Remember that 18 pounds we lost? THEY’RE BACK!

 

What is an Empire, and how long do they last? This is the question Bruce Haedrich is studying and plans to write an educational essay on. Bruce has begun his research and identified empires dating back over 2,500 years. Each of those he’s identified went through seven distinct historical periods. Is the USA an American Empire? Where are we? In what stage of establishment or decline are we? Maybe Bruce will enlighten us.

 

Regressing in time and crossing the Atlantic Ocean to “Jolly Old England,” we find ourselves in London during World War II. In War and Infidelity, Don Westerfield tells the tale of two lovers in the throes of a love affair rife with interruptions and challenges amid an international conflict. They are married, but not to each other. She is a nurse, and he is an Air Force Pilot. In this segment of the story, fate intervenes. Michael, the pilot, is badly injured while returning from dropping off the ‘Pathfinder’ troops over France on D-Day. The surgeon who repaired the damage to his leg is his lover’s husband. Does he suspect? Will Michael recover? We’ll find out next meeting.

 

A white-water enthusiast, Richard Cope, brings us a poem entitled, The Water is White. It hails respect for the powerful force of river rapids. Too deep to ford and too swift to cross, it is like an old flame, always alive in memory. His second reading, Another August, recalls the heat of the Sun as it begins its journey toward Fall yet still lingers long in the sky.

 

Nashville 1973, in Brown’s Pool Hall, no nine-ball is allowed. Danny Spurlock tells of a pool hall owner who has a thing about the number nine. Brown believes terrible things happen on the ninth. The pool hall remains locked on the ninth of the month. Even nine o’clock is shunned, don’t mention it. Everyone knows not to break the rules if they want to play pool at Brown’s. The local beat cop pops in daily for a cold drink and maybe a sandwich, except on the ninth of the month.

 

The Mackenzie family saga continues. It's 1917, and almost Christmas. Tremain’s sons attend Norwich University a Military School in New England. A terrible war rages in Europe. How long will it be before the United States enters the war. Tremain Mackenzie now serves as commanding officer with the Buffalo Soldiers. His command has been transferred to the Southwestern United States to chase Pancho Villa out of the U.S. The boys are dismissed for the holidays and travel across the country to be with their family.

 

In this reading of Strategic Deception, Grace puts out feelers in Eastern Europe to find Vitali, a programmer who may have changed her program from a boon to mankind into a tool that might bring down governments. He has been taken by someone, but why? By whom? Was the woman he lived with his betrayer? Was he betrayed?

 

Anne Moore took time off from her 70 at 70 project to bring us a couple of poems. In Activism, Ann advises us to ‘Shine On.’ While in Don, there is no relation to our Don, who seems to revel in cleaning his meth lab and/or his AR-15 in the nude. Good work, Anne!

 

To close out the reading portion of the evening, Dennis Cathcart took the floor reading about his Grandson’s 13^th birthday. The young man is now in his mid-twenties, and how things have changed. We look back at our youth and see changes galore. We were taught using different methods. We often were off at the crack of dawn, completing our chores as quickly as possible to get to the important stuff, like fishing, collecting reptiles, or just having fun.

 

Well, that’s all I have to say for this session, except READ, READ, READ, and KEEP ON WRITING. I hope to see you on September 4^th at the firehouse.

August 7th, 2024

 

Welcome back, Writers. It was a beautiful evening despite having endured a Tropical Storm that brought a lot of wind and rain our way. Water woes seemed to take the headlines as the windstorm portion had minimal impact. A few trees were uprooted, and some power lines fell, but the water wreaked havoc on our streets and low-lying properties. At this time, our group of writers has reported minor damage. Stay prepared and stay safe. Another one is brewing in the Atlantic.

Nine of our stalwarts were on hand, plus two newbies, Kristen Kennedy and Joe Custodi, joined us for the first time. Both came prepared to share some of their work with us. Very nice work it was.

Rod read an excerpt from The Write Stuff penned by Doug Sahlin. Doug is a member of our group and writes the Yale Larsson Mystery Novels, available on Amazon. This article, Promoting Your Book on Social Media, contains many helpful suggestions and ideas for getting your work noticed by using Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Thank you, Doug.

 

We opened the reading portion of this evening. Rod deviated from the usual format of ‘first to arrive is first to read.’ Kristen was an early arrival and had not experienced the reading portion of the meeting. Rod allowed experienced readers to show the way before introducing the newcomers. For that reason, Bruce Haedrich opened with an announcement. After a few weeks of writing, Bruce stopped working on his newest Dan Marin mystery. His latest project is taking the form of an essay, similar to his previous work, Gaia. Bruce will attempt to explore the reasons for and history of fallen empires and compare the circumstances to what is happening today.

 

War and Infidelity takes place in the war-torn England of the 1940s. Don Westerfield spins a yarn in which a couple falls in love amid the chaos of war and searches for time to be together. A nurse and pilot from the midwestern United States meet again in London. Although they knew each other in the States, they were not lovers. Due to the stresses and demands of their duties, they find little time to be alone. Then, the nurse’s husband, a renowned surgeon, is sent to London. Oh, what is about to happen?

 

Danny Spurlock tells a tale he is constructing for younger readers about mythical beings that adults tend not to see. Gnomes may well inhabit our gardens. Stealthy creatures who can seem to appear and disappear at will. A young gardener, Liam, is perplexed by a pair of Gnomes who play tricks on him. Young Liam sets out to determine how to rid his garden of these pesky creatures. With the sage advice of a slightly older girl, Rose, he finds a solution. Pink Flamingos frighten Gnomes. Putting an inflated pool toy resembling a Pink Flamingo in the center of his garden does the trick. The Gnomes beg him to remove it. But he will not, and they flee into the woods. Problem solved–or is it?

 

Returning to Paris, Richard Cope continues with his story of Sarah Covington. At a party in Paris, Sarah meets Sir Winston, a gentleman who knows too much about her. Sarah’s past and past addictions catch up with her as she finds herself with as much cocaine as she can have. This may not be the best time to reintroduce her nemesis, as she has a concert within a day.

 

Chapter Seven of Strategic Deception follows Grace’s attempt to find Vitally. Ursula Wong sends us on a journey into the dark world of high-tech espionage in Eastern Asia as an American software designer attempts to track down a programmer who has changed her software into a tool capable of bringing down society. A nefarious distributor has purchased the rights to her design but plans to implement the changes and sell it to the world.

 

In her first reading, Kristen Kennedy brings us to Sicily when a major earthquake shakes the island. Seventeen-year-old Eva and her boyfriend, Vico, plan to run away together. The quake changes their plans. A Mafia recruiter from Messina and a Ship’s Captain play a role in separating the pregnant Eva from Vico. She is alone aboard the ship with the Captain and his crew. Will we find out what happens next meeting?

 

In his first reading, Joe Custodi tells us of a husband and wife who each buy a lottery ticket and use the same numbers. They win! Each has an equal share of the jackpot. What happens in this household as the wife shouts, We Won, Oh Lord, We Won.

 

Well, folks, we’ve been blessed with cliffhangers, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. So, join us at the firehouse at 6:00 PM on August 21^st and see for yourself. But until then, READ, READ, and READ SOME MORE. Then, KEEP ON WRITING.