Opinion Shaper Alice Muschany

Coffee and Critique writer Alice Muschany is always on the go, what with her new farm, eight grandchildren, taking care of family members, and other responsibilities, yet she still takes time for writing.

And she always does a wonderful job!

Here is a link to another one of her humorous Opinion Shaper columns: A Care Partner for the One I Care About.

The description of Nurse Brenda and "Hospital Secret Service" quip are
great!

Ghostly Tales at Coffee and Critique

Yesterday's Halloween story session was entertaining and lots of fun!

Everyone had a unique take on the topic, and everyone who attended read. One person who couldn't make it e-mailed a story, which I believe will be read next week.
Once again, the guys outnumbered the gals. This time it was 5:3.

Here's a glimpse of what was read;with titles like these, how could we not have a good time?

"Social Guy," a cat fight and a cat with special powers.

"The Crime of my Life," a humorous glimpse about working at a crime lab in Springfield, Illinois.

"Voodoo Barmaid," a guy walks into a bar and strange things happen.

"And the Dead After All are Not Hungry," a touching Halloween story about love and loss.

"Halloween," a mysterious woman, a graveyard, a love potion, and a tombstone.

"Elixir of Life," a magic potion with life-altering properties. Where can I buy some?

"The Ghost of Chateau de Chasse," a family moves in to a Belgian castle, where they're not the only residents.

"Yankee Doodle Dead," the ghost of a Yankee soldier haunts a Missouri family.
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Scary Times at Coffee and Critique

In the spirit of the Halloween season, the Coffee and Critique writers' group will have a special meeting for members to read (without critiques) stories (true or fiction) or (here's the scary part--poems) with a Halloween-like theme.

Bring your true or made up stories (up to five, double-spaced pages) or poems (up to two, single-spaced pages) about Halloween adventures, ghosts, goblins, zombies, vampires, witches -- things that go bump in the night or raise the hair on the back of your neck.

The scarier the better, but, please, no excessive blood or gore.

This special event will be Tuesday, October 28, from 10-noon at our usual venue -- the Rendezvous Cafe in O'Fallon, MO.

Costumes optional.

Autumn: A Busy Writing Season for Coffee and Critique Writers

Members of Coffee and Critique have had a busy autumn season. They've won contests, gotten published, signed contracts, signed copies of their books, toured Europe, attended conferences, and been speakers at writer events. 

Here are recent updates:

Jane Hamilton's essay, "The Fearless Old Man on the Flying Trapeze," won first place in Saturday Writer's fear-themed writing contest and Doyle Suit's story "Roadblocks" won Honorable Mention.

Berta Rosenberg's short story, "A Blessing" was a finalist in the Uncertain Promise anthology contest and is included in the Uncertain Promise anthology, released in October and available from AKA Publishing/Compass Flower Press.

Donna Volkenannt's true story"A Patchwork of Hope" is included in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Touched by an Angel, released in October. Donna also signed a contract for her short story, "Sins of the Daughter," to appear in That Mysterious Woman from Mozark Press later this year.

Alice Muschany's true story will appear in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Find Your Inner Strength, released in October.

Marcia Gaye has a short story in Not Your Mother's Book: Working for a Living, released in October.

Doyle Suit continues to sell copies of his novel Baker's Mountain.

Bill Mueller is working on a nonfiction book project with an Oklahoma connection.

Jack Zerr is busy writing while on his European vacation.

Lou Turner and Donna Volkenannt were faculty members for the second year at the Missouri State Teachers' Association annual retreat at Bunker Hill the first weekend in October.

Lou Turner will speak on a panel for the Ozarks Creative Writers Conference the second weekend October. Lou Turner, Marcia Gaye, and Donna Volkenannt served as judges for several OCW contests. Sarah Angleton, Doyle Suit, and Marcia Gaye will also be attending the OCW conference in Eureka Springs, AK.