The latest meeting of the Writers' Haven took place at the Beebe residence. On hand were June Saunders, Kerry Pobanz, Jerry Chesnut, Richard Panzer, Valerie Shimoyama, and Bob and Karen Beebe. We got right into the agenda with a discussion about Bob's story (not sure yet whether it's novel, novella or short story) set in the hinterlands of Siberia along the transcontinental railroad in the village of Slyudyanka (anybody been there?) where a Bob-type American character gets stranded after failing to get back on the train after a short stop. He's left without money, passport or any kind of identification. Eventually he meets up with a Russian priest and so begins a meeting of cultures. I appreciate the encouraging feedback everyone gave and hope by the next meeting to have the American kidnapped by terrorists and taken into one of the Central Asian Islamic republics. Stay tuned.
From there we turned our attention to Valerie's piece, entitled "Spelling," about her real-life experience in which she was removed from a spelling bee as a result of the action of a nun from her school. Her heart-wrenching story was a look into an unforgettable childhood experience and its tie-in to an adolescent child's family and social situation. Truly our childhood experiences shape the kind of people we become, for better or worse. Sometimes we spend a lifetime trying to get out from under their influence.
Our next meeting is planned for this Sunday, June 21, 3:00-5:00 pm, at the Saunders home (6 Emerson St., Clifton). Although it is Father's Day, no one seemed to object to having the meeting, so we plan to go ahead with it. Presenting will be Kerry (you should have all received his latest piece) and June (still coming). We look forward to a stimulating meeting together.
God bless you and see you soon!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Spiritual Things
I hope all is well with you. The school year is coming to a close, so we are very busy at New Hope School, but not too busy to have our next meeting this Sunday.
But first, something about our last meeting. It took place at Jerry Chesnut's house. Present were Jerry, June Saunders, Valerie Shimoyama, Russell Giordano, Kerry Pobanz and Bob and Karen Beebe. Bob began by sharing a few words about the importance of setting to a story. Sometimes setting is almost like another character playing an important role in the progress of a story. When we think about Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn, we immediately think of the Mississippi River, or of Victorian England in Charles Dickens' novels, and, of course, czarist Russia in Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky. Writers write about what they know. They have specific places in mind when they describe a setting, even though they may give it a different name. Good setting gives life and realism to a story.
From this we went to the spirit world by the grace of Kerry Pobanz. The piece, "The Springtime of Life After Death," although but two pages, gave rise to an extended discussion on the relation between love, freedom and appearance in the afterlife. The more we grow in love, the freer we become, and the more we can appear as we want to appear in our life after life. We are truly destined to be "forever young." A happy and comforting thought--as long as we grow in oiur love and concern for others.
Our long discussion unfortunately crowded Valerie out of the meeting's agenda. Hence she will be presenting at our next meeting along with myself. This is scheduled to take place at the Beebes, 26 Amity St., Little Falls, from 3:00-5:00 pm. I plan to get a few pages of my Russian story out to you in the next couple of days (cross your fingers). Valerie, what about you?
FYI, I received another contribution for our next anthology--this one from a retired English professor living in Puerto Rico! Our range is growing, brothers and sisters! Please take a look at the attachment and let me know what you think.
God bless and see you on Sunday.
But first, something about our last meeting. It took place at Jerry Chesnut's house. Present were Jerry, June Saunders, Valerie Shimoyama, Russell Giordano, Kerry Pobanz and Bob and Karen Beebe. Bob began by sharing a few words about the importance of setting to a story. Sometimes setting is almost like another character playing an important role in the progress of a story. When we think about Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn, we immediately think of the Mississippi River, or of Victorian England in Charles Dickens' novels, and, of course, czarist Russia in Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky. Writers write about what they know. They have specific places in mind when they describe a setting, even though they may give it a different name. Good setting gives life and realism to a story.
From this we went to the spirit world by the grace of Kerry Pobanz. The piece, "The Springtime of Life After Death," although but two pages, gave rise to an extended discussion on the relation between love, freedom and appearance in the afterlife. The more we grow in love, the freer we become, and the more we can appear as we want to appear in our life after life. We are truly destined to be "forever young." A happy and comforting thought--as long as we grow in oiur love and concern for others.
Our long discussion unfortunately crowded Valerie out of the meeting's agenda. Hence she will be presenting at our next meeting along with myself. This is scheduled to take place at the Beebes, 26 Amity St., Little Falls, from 3:00-5:00 pm. I plan to get a few pages of my Russian story out to you in the next couple of days (cross your fingers). Valerie, what about you?
FYI, I received another contribution for our next anthology--this one from a retired English professor living in Puerto Rico! Our range is growing, brothers and sisters! Please take a look at the attachment and let me know what you think.
God bless and see you on Sunday.
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