tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86389949518624897322024-03-05T22:00:49.914-08:00Coffee & Critique Writers GroupWriting tips, contests, submission opportunities, and other information to benefit writers.zeldadghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798725703113239728noreply@blogger.comBlogger745125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-16668399674981474532017-08-17T08:08:00.003-07:002017-09-08T18:54:14.231-07:00Coffee and Critique Member Accomplishments<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNY6ggP6592Dum6tO0tLCV-k2q9iO0hBWP3RcdgDFqhHIyqs6CahUzm3UvfjJn-wLLe5_2JkfoxS88hUNI8Um5yP_EFnz7aG5CMIaV4EF-gGg0HnDrLKAGO8AOfhjNc9_cXQ7_aDcdppYU/s1600/Coffee+%2526+Critique+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNY6ggP6592Dum6tO0tLCV-k2q9iO0hBWP3RcdgDFqhHIyqs6CahUzm3UvfjJn-wLLe5_2JkfoxS88hUNI8Um5yP_EFnz7aG5CMIaV4EF-gGg0HnDrLKAGO8AOfhjNc9_cXQ7_aDcdppYU/s320/Coffee+%2526+Critique+Cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
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Patio at Rendezvous Café,</div>
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Photo courtesy of Donna Volkenannt</div>
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Members of the Coffee and Critique chapter of the <a href="http://missouriwritersguild.org/">Missouri Writers' Guild</a>, who meet at the Rendezvous Café each week, have been busy.<br />
<br />
Listed below are their latest accomplishments:<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://sarah-angleton.com/about-this-blog/">Sarah Angleton</a></b>: Held
numerous signings for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Launching Sheep
& Other Stories from the Intersection of History & Nonsense.</i> Spoke
at library programs in Illinois. Had 1000+ readers sign up for an online
giveaway. Interviewed on <i><a href="http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com/">Donna’s Book Pub</a></i>. Will be selling books at Good Reads
in the Garden. Participating in St. Charles City County Library Local Authors Open
House at Spencer Road Branch Library.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dr. Toni Gallia</b>:
Wrote series of educational help aids for teachers.</div>
<a href="http://saturdaywriters.org/marcia-gaye-membership-page.html"><br /></a>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="http://saturdaywriters.org/marcia-gaye-membership-page.html"> </a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://saturdaywriters.org/marcia-gaye-membership-page.html">Marcia Gaye</a></b>: Judge
for poetry for Arts Rolla; sponsor and judge for “Fractured Fairy Tales” for Ozark
Creative Writers conference. Attending OCW Conference in Eureka Springs AR. Attending
Show Me Masterclass Writers Conference. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jane Hamilton</b>: Placed
at All Write Now! Conference contests: 3<sup>rd</sup> place in Personal Essay
and an HM in Short Story contest. Attending Ozark Creative Writers Conference
in Eureka Springs AR. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Alice Muschany</b>: Personal
Essay “The Lucky One” accepted for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chicken
Soup for the Soul - Premonitions & Dreams</i>. Participating in St. Charles
City County Library Local Authors Open House at Spencer Road Branch Library</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Doug Osgood</b>: Placed
as the 9<sup>th</sup> place in best liar in the Missouri Liar’s storytelling
competition live performance; attending Ozark Creative Writers Conference in
Eureka Springs, AR.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://saturdaywriters.org/doyle-suit-books.html">Doyle Suit</a>:</b> Will
be selling books at Good Reads in the Garden. Attending Show Me Masterclass
Writers Conference. Participating in St. Charles City County Library Local
Authors Open House at Spencer Road Branch Library.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://saturdaywriters.org/les-thompson-membership-page.html">Les Thompson</a></b>:
Accepted position as Hospitality Chair for Coffee and Critique chapter of MWG.
Attended All Write Now! Conference at SEMO; attending Ozark Creative Writers
Conference in Eureka Springs, AR.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com/">Donna Volkenannt</a></b>:
Elected as Board Member of Ozark Writers, Inc. (OWI); 1<sup>st</sup> place for short
story “Thirty-Six Days” at All Write Now! Conference; Personal essay “Miss
Tobin’s Special Gifts” will be published in <a href="http://www.wppress.org/kansas-city-voices/"><i>KC Voices</i></a><i> </i>from Whispering Prairie Press; Short story “Time
Will Tell” published in <i>Mysteries of the Ozarks, Volume V;</i> Co-editor of <i>Mysteries
of the Ozarks, Volume V; <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></i><span style="margin: 0px;">Judge for the OCW “Search for Excellence”
memoir and essay contest; Scriptwriter for “Bootlegger Granny” character, which
will be performed during All Saints cemetery tour. </span>Participating in St.
Charles City County Library Local Authors Open House at Spencer Road Branch Library.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://patwahler.com/">Pat Wahler</a></b>: Accepted
position of Vice President of Coffee and Critique chapter of MWG. Attended All
Write Now! Conference at SEMO; <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Three placements
in AWN Conference contests: 2<sup>nd<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></sup>place
in Short Story, 2<sup>nd</sup> in Flash Fiction, 3<sup>rd</sup> in Essay.
Published for the 14<sup>th</sup> time in Chicken Soup for the Soul books for
essay in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Cat Really Did That?</i> Attending
Show Me Masterclass Writers Conference. Participating in St. Charles City
County Library Local Authors Open House at Spencer Road Branch Library.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://johnzerr.weebly.com/">J J (Jack) Zerr</a></b>: will
release <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Guerilla Bride</i> in the fall of
2017. His short story collection <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">War
Stories </i>is on sale now. Participating in St. Charles City County Library Local
Authors Open House at Spencer Road Branch Library.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Hope to see you at one of the many events our members will be participating in over the next few months!</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-5523878763705211052017-06-27T21:36:00.001-07:002017-06-27T21:36:08.111-07:00No Coffee and Critique Meeting July 4thFor those members of Coffee and Critique who missed today's meeting, we decided that because next Tuesday is Independence Day, we won't have our weekly meeting. I'll send out an e-mail to all members in addition to this notice.<br />
<br />
Hope everyone enjoys the holiday. Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-48455228021271205402017-06-25T09:42:00.002-07:002017-06-25T09:42:51.692-07:00All Write Now! - It's Conference Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqp5UG6N83q7diXPEzWzM_4QGQ97ZoXp5tr_5CHUMuMf6Dx36tpoD7J5VAOPKW1EyD9NS-4X6SBSjpVQaLS_hoe3Q1eWs31PgzzRTHlBZzk8L3o41ZXzW8lxnsY3gcFwo2p1bWem_0Yadz/s1600/SEMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="158" data-original-width="157" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqp5UG6N83q7diXPEzWzM_4QGQ97ZoXp5tr_5CHUMuMf6Dx36tpoD7J5VAOPKW1EyD9NS-4X6SBSjpVQaLS_hoe3Q1eWs31PgzzRTHlBZzk8L3o41ZXzW8lxnsY3gcFwo2p1bWem_0Yadz/s200/SEMO.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
If you're looking for an affordable, writer-friendly, and informative conference this summer, I recommend <a href="http://allwritenowmo.wixsite.com/allwritenow">All Write Now</a>! <br />
<br />
I've attended this conference for the previous two years, and was impressed by the speakers, the friendliness of the conference volunteers, and how efficiently the event was organized. <br />
<br />
The annual conference is held on the campus of Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau, MO. This year it will be Saturday, July 15.<br />
Unfortunately, I am unable to attend this year due to health reasons. <br />
<br />
This <a href="http://allwritenowmo.wixsite.com/allwritenow/faculty">year's faculty</a> is top-notch. The keynote speaker is Brian A. Klems, who will give a talk about "The 20 Things You Need to Know Before You Seek An Agent or Publisher." Klems is the online editor of Writer's Digest.<br />
<br />
Superb editor Donna J. Essner, Acquisitions Editor and Partner at Amphorae Publishing Group, will take pitches and serve on the Slush Pile Panel. <br />
<br />
Other presenters include literary agents Alice Speilburg and Justin Wells, who will be taking pitches. Speilburg will also give a presentation on "How to Keep Agents and Editors Reading."<br />
<br />
Author and college instructor Karen Sargent will give a presentation on Marketing Strategies.<br />
<br />
Find out more about all the schedule and <a href="http://allwritenowmo.wixsite.com/allwritenow/faculty">faculty here</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://allwritenowmo.wixsite.com/allwritenow/register">Registratio</a>n is still open, so you still can sign up for All Write Now!Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-32105634561557078762017-06-21T21:51:00.002-07:002017-06-21T22:03:36.931-07:00Review of LAUNCHING SHEEP AND OTHER STORIES FROM THE INTERSECTION OF HISTORY AND NONSENSE <br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Full disclosure: Sarah Angleton and I belong to Coffee and
Critique, a weekly critique group which is also a chapter of the Missouri
Writers’ Guild. Sarah gave me a copy of <i>Launching Sheep & Other Stories
from the Intersection of History & Nonsense</i> in exchange for an
interview, which can be found on my blog, <a href="http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com/">Donna’s Book Pub, </a>and a candid review
of her book. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
The following is my honest review:</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_ezfRTr_qradCnM7wl2jSUcOW2RE4EfggDbOMXPesfCri0pcwTtgEiQXeWzCWhKHuTIxqFnlUGdUgZHCB3XANOiphKQj9y-qH_SHv_Z2YQiqR2ozPJp08d7i9l6509MlXYw4QNuy4oBh/s1600/launching+sheep.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="196" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_ezfRTr_qradCnM7wl2jSUcOW2RE4EfggDbOMXPesfCri0pcwTtgEiQXeWzCWhKHuTIxqFnlUGdUgZHCB3XANOiphKQj9y-qH_SHv_Z2YQiqR2ozPJp08d7i9l6509MlXYw4QNuy4oBh/s200/launching+sheep.png" width="131" /></a></td></tr>
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Photo courtesy of</div>
<div>
The Practical Historian blog</div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
Published by Bright Button Press<i>, Launching Sheep & Other Stories from the Intersection
of History & Nonsense</i> is a 288-page eclectic collection of more than 80 posts selected
from Angleton's blog, <a href="https://sarah-angleton.com/author/thepracticalhistorian/">“The Practical Historian.”</a> </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
My first impression was the eye-catching dark cover and first few words in the title, which belie what's inside. <span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><i>Launching
Sheep</i></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> <i>& Other Stories</i> is
neither a mystery novel, which someone commented they thought it was, nor is it
a collection of dark tales about animal sacrifice or bizarre rituals from
medieval times, which a quick glance at the cover might suggest. In reality,</span> Launching Sheep is a selection of family-friendly
blog posts with light-hearted glimpses of lesser-known historical facts and
events. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Angleton’s blog posts collection begins in the spring of
2012, when she and her family are living in the Pacific Northwest. She wraps it up in
the autumn of 2016, when they have moved to the Midwest. Earlier posts are
peppered with parentheticals, which comment on or explain the previous text. As
Angleton and her family relocate and she returns to her Midwestern roots, her
posts take on a conversational tone without as many parentheticals. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Angleton’s book showcases her skills as a writer, researcher,
and marketeer. Throughout her collection, she weaves family tales and
historical happenings, along with touches of wisdom and wit. With a show of
finesse and deft keystrokes on her laptop, she tells her family stories without
being self-indulgent or self-congratulatory. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
In her “Advance Token to Nearest Railroad” post which begins
on page 68, she confesses to a competitive streak when it comes to the board
game Monopoly. In “That’s How It Could Have Happened” starting on page 228, she
shares her reaction to what might have been a ruinous accident that happened immediately
before a neighborhood Christmas party. Hmm. That post also reveals historical
facts about another popular board game; this time it’s about Clue, one of my
childhood favorites. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Reading <i>Launching Sheep</i> is like sitting a
kitchen table with a neighbor and listening to cherished stories about her
family, kids, and adventures, as well as hearing quirky historical facts. What
is evident throughout Angleton’s collection is that she is a loving wife,
mother, daughter, sister, and friend. Also apparent is her talent as a writer
and fascination with unusual historical characters and events. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Angleton gets bonus points for marketing skills with a brief
preview of her upcoming historical fiction novel, <i>Smoke Rose to Heaven, </i>which appears at the end of this book<i>. </i></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<i><br /></i></div>
Readers who have a soft spot for books with stories about family
life or who have an interest in lesser-known historical happenings will enjoy
Angleton’s book. I found it to be honest, informative, and entertaining. Especially
attractive is the way the book is organized. <i>Launching Sheep & Other
Stories from the Intersection of History and Nonsense</i><b> </b>can be
devoured from cover to cover or in short spurts, depending on which title
captures a reader’s attention.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
With an intriguing title and a set-up like that, what’s not
to like?</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<i>Launching Sheep & Other Stories from the Intersection of History & Nonsense</i> is available <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XR738LX/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1">here</a>. You can also read Sarah's interview about the book <a href="http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com/">here</a>.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-82169517912005301922017-03-07T05:33:00.000-08:002017-03-07T05:33:04.237-08:00Literarcy Drive for Children's Books or Bibles for Ferguson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8K7Mpmj_nH9KlXTbCJiJFvex9KVtP6qn6cXjuDmTpFsJMvcUX28mdN8wA7bG32aC8gndAfwq3B-IEE74SK2sjmHwnR61ku8QEnImLNsKGwTCIIUH4ruz-c4KYN2xKGn_AOw0MvRFHWUSg/s1600/marcia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8K7Mpmj_nH9KlXTbCJiJFvex9KVtP6qn6cXjuDmTpFsJMvcUX28mdN8wA7bG32aC8gndAfwq3B-IEE74SK2sjmHwnR61ku8QEnImLNsKGwTCIIUH4ruz-c4KYN2xKGn_AOw0MvRFHWUSg/s200/marcia.jpg" width="86" /></a></div>
Note for Members: <br />
<br />
During our Coffee and Critique meeting today <a href="http://saturdaywriters.org/marcia-gaye-membership-page.html">Marcia Gaye</a> will be collecting new or gently used children's books and bibles for a literacy drive children in Ferguson.<br />
<br />
If anyone has any books of that type to donate, please bring them to critique group meeting today and Marcia will make sure they get where they need to go.<br />
<br />
<br />Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-60628773730633329202017-02-03T16:18:00.000-08:002017-02-05T21:50:51.631-08:00Take Ten with J. J. Zerr, Author of "War Stories"<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">A big thanks to Coffee and Critique member, author <a href="http://johnzerr.weebly.com/">J. J (Jack) Zerr</a>, for agreeing to be featured on the Coffee and Critique blog. Jack is a hard-working writer who has published several novels. His most recent publication is a collection of short stories titled <i>War Stories</i>. </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">In case you haven't guessed from the photo of him below, taken during one of our weekly critique meetings, Jack is a former pilot. </span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">His t-shirt states, "I love the smell of jet fuel in the morning."</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-41IvUbBIyvbs4eXF2aFXj14pQR5HOEYxMEoM78h1uO7I7GSfQAciALxwBCBu6i-WO6yrJqLgpJCxbZmaEhPzNsFdUaAq6J3MpbdhRApmTQaRj9Q_HtFwWsI70_KLRdB6WMXs7P6whUd/s1600/zerr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-41IvUbBIyvbs4eXF2aFXj14pQR5HOEYxMEoM78h1uO7I7GSfQAciALxwBCBu6i-WO6yrJqLgpJCxbZmaEhPzNsFdUaAq6J3MpbdhRApmTQaRj9Q_HtFwWsI70_KLRdB6WMXs7P6whUd/s1600/zerr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-41IvUbBIyvbs4eXF2aFXj14pQR5HOEYxMEoM78h1uO7I7GSfQAciALxwBCBu6i-WO6yrJqLgpJCxbZmaEhPzNsFdUaAq6J3MpbdhRApmTQaRj9Q_HtFwWsI70_KLRdB6WMXs7P6whUd/s200/zerr.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6E1HznOLuSOPLjx25ZVxk3xBpM1atFClt1dfHpoCuU2s2ZeZvY95wsRXa2GiplqTGLl5fFa-zLp1B5ylzT0Nrhl9eZpGvU2SWrJap8fcrWmAZkwg3tg2nHTR9uoYaobK4f1GLbrD0DTe/s1600/war+stories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6E1HznOLuSOPLjx25ZVxk3xBpM1atFClt1dfHpoCuU2s2ZeZvY95wsRXa2GiplqTGLl5fFa-zLp1B5ylzT0Nrhl9eZpGvU2SWrJap8fcrWmAZkwg3tg2nHTR9uoYaobK4f1GLbrD0DTe/s200/war+stories.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The ten questions below are divided in three
parts: background, writing, and publishing/wrap-up. </span></div>
<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">1. First,
a bit about your background. Before you started your writing journey, you had a
distinguished military career as a pilot and an Admiral in the U.S. Navy and a
consultant in private industry. Can you briefly share your thoughts about that
experience?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">A.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">I was shanghaied into
the US Navy by my father. I did not want to be a sailor, but Pop said the Navy
might teach me something. He took me to a recruiter, said sign here, and I
signed. Life as a junior enlisted man was not fun. I got seasick and planned to
get the crap out of that outfit as soon as I could. But, I took a test for a Navy
college scholarship program, and lo and behold, I scored well on the test and
went to Purdue for a BS in electrical engineering. Also when I went in the
Navy, I was going steady with a high school classmate. She went to nurse’s
training when I went to boot camp. I thought she’d meet a doctor, and that I’d
find out about it via a “Dear John.” But as it turned out, half way through
Purdue, as an E-5, I had the wherewithal to ask her to marry me. So it turns
out Pop was right. The Navy educated me. And I was wrong. The service didn’t
get me a Dear John, rather, the Navy enabled Karen and I to give each other “I
dos.” Vietnam happened, I went on to hold five command positions, including an
aircraft carrier, and was lucky enough to retire as a rear admiral. Overlaying
that, Karen and I had six children, and we lost a preemie in 1969. If I had
picked my own way after high school, God only knows what I’d have turned into.
Maybe He doesn’t even want to think about it. If I had really gotten that Dear
John, I don’t know. I’d have been unborn off the earth, or it would be “Better
for me to have had a millstone tied around my neck and cast into the sea over
the Marianas Trench.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 21.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Brief you said. Sorry about
that.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">2. During
your military career you traveled around the world. What are some of your most
memorable experiences or the unforgettable places you’ve been?</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">A.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Number one, San Juan,
Puerto Rico. It was the first port outside the US my ship visited. Guys from
the electronics technician shop I worked in took me to a bar, where as long as
one person in the group was of age, we got beer. The bar had girls. The girls
were friendly. The guys from my shop wanted to buy some friendship for me, but
I got up and walked back to the ship. It was, to the guys in my shop, some sort
of initiation ritual. It would make me a regular guy, I guess. But I saw it as
a cliff. After twelve years of Catholic school, if I worried more about those
guys accepting me than what I’d been taught, it would have been like throwing
away the first eighteen years of my life. Ever since then, I have been
suspicious of group think, the prevailing sense of right and wrong, PC, these
days. Perhaps San Juan is a big reason I list <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shane, Hondo, </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Oxbow
Incident </i>at the top of my all-time favorite books.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">3. Now,
onto the questions about writing: What has been the biggest influence on your
writing (e.g. a teacher, your family, your faith, your military experience,
none of the above, all of the above???)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">A.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">First, Sister Mathew,
lit teacher in high school. Through her, I encountered my favorite short story:
The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber; my favorite novella: The Old Man and
the Sea; and my two favorite lines of poetry: “The tintinnabulation of the
bells”, and “You may contribute a verse.” And I have always loved to read. My
wife says I was born with a book in my hand. If I was, when the doc held me
upside down and smacked my bottom, I bet I yowled but did not drop the book.
And Sister inspired in me the desire, to one day, write a book of my own.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">4. How
did you get started on your writing journey?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">A.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">See above. And in my
junior year at Purdue, I found an ad for a Writer’s Correspondence Course. We
really couldn’t afford the fee, but my new bride said it was okay to spend the
money. I completed the course and carried the materials around with me through
twenty-five moves. When I was in the Navy, I worked at being in the Navy. When
I worked in aerospace, I worked at being an engineer and a manager. I retired
from that line in 2007, and on January 2, 2008, I began work on my first novel.
Ted Koontz worked his day job and wrote his poetry at night. God bless Ted for
the verses he contributed. Me, I couldn’t really start writing until I could do
it full time.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">5. What
is your favorite aspect of writing? What is your least favorite aspect of
writing?</span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">A.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">I love it when an idea
for a story comes out of wherever they come from. The book I</span><br />
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">am working on currently is
called Guerilla Bride. I have a CD with a collection of Civil War songs on it.
One of the tracks is about Kate Quantrill. That song inspired the story. The
story, by the way, began life as a short story. I packaged it along with some
others and sent it off to my publisher early last year. In the first review,
the editor suggested I turn the Civil War story into a novel. Whose advice I
took and which I am close to finishing. Which is why <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">War Stories </i>was delayed a year. </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">My least favorite aspect is
finishing a story. Two reasons actually: one is after an intimate involvement
with a cast of characters, they aren’t mine anymore after publication; Two I
experience a bit of a lost feeling after having lived in a world of my
manufacture for a long time, and suddenly, the world just isn’t there anymore. It
lasts a couple of days; then other stories start yammering to be turned into
ink on pages.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">6. How
has belonging to a critique group helped your writing?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">A.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; margin: 0px;">I’ve said this a number of times before, but the best piece of
writing critique I’ve ever gotten was from Lou Turner. I brought in a story,
which was about a Navy pilot who was the new guy in his squadron and he was anxious
to not be the new guy anymore. I had a scene set in an O Club bar. After I read
my scene, Lou said, “I gotta tell you. I didn’t like it at all. It’s just
another stupid guys drinking in a bar story.” In my mind, I was telling the
story I wanted to tell, to my reader, Lou, however, I told an entirely
different story. After my fourth novel came out, a classmate of mine from
Purdue wrote to tell me he liked <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Happy Life of Preston Katt. </i>Then he went on to say, “your writing is better
when you are not writing about yourself.” I had to think about that a bit, but
I believe I see what he was telling me. I think I get into my characters, the
good guys, the bad guys, the bit players, and I think you have to do that, but
you also have to be a little bit god, and stand above all the blood, sweat, and
tears, detached enough so you can see if your readers will feel and smell and
hear what the character senses. For me, the Coffee and Critique group has been
powerful in helping me develop a sense of reader perspective. I hope I never
let myself believe I’ve learned all I need to about this subject.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">7. Now,
for publishing: You’ve published several successful novels, but War Stories is
your first collection of short stories. Why did you decide to compile these
stories and what can you tell us about the collection?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">A.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">My first two novels
were each three-year projects. When I put them out for editing or review, I worked
on other things. I wrote stories to submit to contests and for consideration of
inclusion in anthologies, and all of those were to expose my work to a wide
range of readers. I never submitted to contests unless they promised feedback.
Some of these stories wind up as scenes or chapters in the novels. The bar
scene mentioned above, for instance, wound up, modified, in my fifth novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Junior Officer Bunkroom. </i>I decided
to compile them into a book because I had accumulated a sizeable collection of
short pieces, and I thought, what the heck. I looked at them all and tried to
find a theme. The theme really came from the first story in the book, “What
Kind of Man are You?” The main character, Joe Bob, in a sense, is a bulldozer
plowing over people and obstacles to get a job done. He’s in the military in
the beginning of the story, but in the military, even bulldozers have
commanding officers. He’s booted out of the Navy. But Joe Bob’s philosophy is:
“Do not let your chin drop. Find a way. Keep going forward until your heart
stops, your eyes go dim, and you fall off your legs.” </span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">People say, “Life sucks, then
you die.” Which is pessimistic, dark even. Joe Bob does not allow the slings
and arrows of outrageous fortune, the vicissitudes of life show him even a
glimpse of the dark side. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Life is full of struggles,
wars even, and not just between nations. <br />
Gender, age, technology, acceptance, political correctness can all be
battlegrounds. The characters in my stories, for the most part, are more like
Joe Bob than the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">life sucks </i>crew.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">8. Do you
have a favorite story in the <i>War Stories</i> collection?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">A.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">That’s like saying
which one of your daughters is the most beautiful. Well, not quite. Anyway, one
of the things I tried to do with these stories was to try different narrator
voices. And I am satisfied that I did that. I guess I like “Forwards.” I think
I’ll just leave it at that.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">9. After
publishing five novels and a short story collection, what lessons have you
learned about writing, editing, and the publishing process?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">A.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’ve read books about character, plot,
tension, showing instead of telling. I attended a writing weekend in New York a
couple of years ago, and got critiques from eleven big city folks and the
instructor (a Californian.) But more importantly, I think, I’ve been writing
every day, almost, since January ’08. I think I learned a lot. I like to think
my writing has and is improving every time I get the keys to clickety clacking.
But it doesn’t make it easier. It still is harder than work to get things as
right as I can make them. A worthy editor is worth her weight in pearls. (Most
of them are female, although I have found one male at my publisher who is very
good on structure. Editors are vital, in my mind, not only for structure and
grammar and spelling and word choice, but checking historical facts as well,
and catching the use of modern terminology in a time setting before the terminology
was invented. I love editors. I self-publish. I like the control I have over
the process. I like the editors the publisher uses, and they have publishing
packages, ranging from simple publishing to publishing plus levels of
publicity. I’m comfortable with them. They are comfortable with the money I pay
them.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">10. Any
final thoughts you’d like to share?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">A.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Just thanks for the blog.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">You can learn more about Jack and his books <a href="http://johnzerr.weebly.com/">here</a>.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-80358383386358501152017-01-01T17:32:00.003-08:002017-01-01T17:32:34.919-08:00January 2017 ScheduleI haven't posted in awhile, but I thought with the new year I'd be more consistent about posting coming events beginning with what's coming each month.<br />
<br />
For January, here's a reminder to our Coffee and Critique members.<br />
<br />
We will meet at the usual time on January 3.<br />
<br />
On January 10 we will discuss Sarah's manuscript. <br />
<br />
Hope everyone has a wonderful 2017.Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-6711690436079615162016-06-01T11:05:00.001-07:002016-06-01T12:33:29.109-07:00Coffee and Critique Has a New Policy to Save TreesSummer time and the readings are easy at Coffee and Critique. Many of our members take some time off for vacation, so we might only have six or seven attend rather than our usually 10-12. Although, it's also the time when teachers on vacation drop in to read their works-in-progress. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCs_OPHbI8OfHOSvp3o7jYDBrjeX0zbBpdb6IXJ6S5_G2nE3MRuf89YN7MoDEPNh0l11gBjbBylxf-NrCwMBhrObcnrErCsWHNNhIm7UvOm1ZsyVzEMI4X-FfQ7mjlyUsntvoUPjrHlPt_/s1600/tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCs_OPHbI8OfHOSvp3o7jYDBrjeX0zbBpdb6IXJ6S5_G2nE3MRuf89YN7MoDEPNh0l11gBjbBylxf-NrCwMBhrObcnrErCsWHNNhIm7UvOm1ZsyVzEMI4X-FfQ7mjlyUsntvoUPjrHlPt_/s200/tree.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCs_OPHbI8OfHOSvp3o7jYDBrjeX0zbBpdb6IXJ6S5_G2nE3MRuf89YN7MoDEPNh0l11gBjbBylxf-NrCwMBhrObcnrErCsWHNNhIm7UvOm1ZsyVzEMI4X-FfQ7mjlyUsntvoUPjrHlPt_/s1600/tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<br />
This week we started a new practice to conserve paper and ink and ultimately save a tree. The one on the left split open after being struck by lightning at our country place last year. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The day before our critique group, I'm going to send out an e-mail with a roll call so readers will know how many copies to bring rather than printing the standard ten copies we usually bring.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCs_OPHbI8OfHOSvp3o7jYDBrjeX0zbBpdb6IXJ6S5_G2nE3MRuf89YN7MoDEPNh0l11gBjbBylxf-NrCwMBhrObcnrErCsWHNNhIm7UvOm1ZsyVzEMI4X-FfQ7mjlyUsntvoUPjrHlPt_/s1600/tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
"Great idea!" "Brilliant!" Are some of the comments uttered after our new policy was announced.<br />
<br />
Hope you're staying busy writing, and when you get the chance, try<br />
to save a tree.Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-26733283963909343542016-05-07T14:49:00.001-07:002016-05-07T14:49:23.368-07:00Don't Miss this One: The All Write Now! Conference at SEMO July 16<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SIzZzlNrQf3qfUvkDsOxk9-5wD7hManz6Fe9WIaQ1MvSr-0XzcQ9ZuqwE0VQjQt5kDMmXhyphenhyphentdbWuJrAqkfenETsl90bADqt1InA9iCRilK1p4vyZZXrFSTLZ_kUF23-5fUEQ4whcMA82/s1600/SEMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SIzZzlNrQf3qfUvkDsOxk9-5wD7hManz6Fe9WIaQ1MvSr-0XzcQ9ZuqwE0VQjQt5kDMmXhyphenhyphentdbWuJrAqkfenETsl90bADqt1InA9iCRilK1p4vyZZXrFSTLZ_kUF23-5fUEQ4whcMA82/s1600/SEMO.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SEMO <br />
All Write Now! Location</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you haven't signed up for the <a href="http://allwritenowmo.wix.com/allwritenow">All Write Now! Conference</a> already, you still have time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This year's Conference at SEMO in Cape Girardeau, MO, will be July 16. Conference organizers have scheduled a variety of speakers including agents, editors, publishers, and award-winning writers. Other highlights include several contests, one-on-one critiques, a slush-pile workshop, on-site book sales, and door prizes!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The contest deadline is quickly approaching. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Writers of poetry, short stories, essays, middle grade, or flash fiction works have until <strong>May 15th</strong> to submit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The good news is:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Y<strong>ou don't have to attend the conference to submit and win!!!</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The entry fee is modest (only $10 per entry).</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">And . . . previously published works are eligible to win!</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Read complete guidelines <a href="http://media.wix.com/ugd/8f43c0_a86168274a6745daa6af6bc138a529b2.pdf"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here are the AWN! deadlines to watch: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<h4 class="font_8" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">May 1st - June 27th - Standard registration is $85</span></h4>
<h4 class="font_8" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">May 15th - Last day to submit writing contest entries</span></h4>
<h4 class="font_8" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">June 15th - Last day to receive the group discount rate at the Pear Tree Inn. </span></h4>
<h4 class="font_8" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">June 20th - Last day to submit sponsor ads (need setup time for the brochure)</span></h4>
<h4 class="font_8" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">June 25th - Last day to submit critique pieces, which cost an additional fee. </span></h4>
<h4 class="font_8" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">June 27th - Last day to register for the conference and sign up for free pitches. </span></h4>
<h4 class="font_8" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">July 1st - Last day to request the bookstore order your books.</span></h4>
<h4 class="font_8" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">July 16th - Last day to have pieces copied and ready for the Slush Pile Workshop.</span></h4>
<h4 class="font_8" style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For complete information, including names of faculty and schedule, visit the <a href="http://allwritenowmo.wix.com/allwritenow">AWN website</a>.</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"></span>Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-58073173650849817052016-04-29T07:00:00.000-07:002016-04-29T07:06:39.662-07:00Coincidence or Divine Intervention?I don't believe in coincidences. So many things have happened in my life that can only be explained as being divine intervention at work, or as some might prefer to call it serendipity. A story one of our Coffee and Critique writers read last Tuesday has convinced me even more. <br />
<br />
Usually our critique group limits individual readings to five pages, sometimes a few more pages if there is a small group. Last Tuesday four of us showed up and only two brought something to share, so we were able to spend more time on each piece that was read. And I'm so glad we did because the story Diana D. read was twice as long as what we usually have time for, but her story has stuck with me all week. <br />
<br />
At times she had to stop reading as her voice broke and her eyes filled with tears. And she wasn't the only one with tears in her eyes.<br />
<br />
Diana read a moving essay about a night she was working alone in an office at a local university/research hospital. She had already clocked out for the day but stayed late to finish a project when a young man stepped off the elevator and asked her for directions to the university hospital's emergency room. <br />
<br />
After she gave him directions, he told her he didn't think he could make it that far because he had taken an overdose of pills then decided he didn't want to die. After calling for an ambulance and asking if she could call his parents, Diana sat and talked with the man; minutes later a security guard showed up to ask if anything was wrong. The conversation between Diana and the young man and then the security guard was uplifting and faith-focused.<br />
<br />
I believe it was no coincidence that Diana and the security guard, both strong in their faith, were in that office the night the young man showed up asking for directions, and later spiritual guidance. To this day, because of HIPAA rules, Diana doesn't know if the young man lived or died, but she wrote the story in the hopes that it will be published and maybe the young man's family might read it and find peace. <br />
<br />
We never know what will be read during our Tuesday critique group, and we never know when we might be called on to help someone through a difficult situation like Diana did the night the young man showed up asking for directions. <br />
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Sometimes in our critique group it's about more than just the writing, it's about sharing stories that touch our lives and lift up our spirits.Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-10759105962094173972016-03-16T10:11:00.004-07:002016-03-16T10:18:01.289-07:00A Novel Idea at Coffee and CritiqueThe latest change at Coffee and Critique is a result of a brilliant suggestion from long-time member Jack Zerr.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrnpxaWtnmLGaB-hwmWHklv-XckZUPnng5N3OfeKxXUnHSBBKM3U1Fy-iZXpOSfk4KWDbh3t3csCROZ1GZFiZlJVx1u4EUvlOBTK8BGdKv76whGkJ5n-r3rXLnhfJZUzzjFSdqJe_bsQT/s1600/bookstack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrnpxaWtnmLGaB-hwmWHklv-XckZUPnng5N3OfeKxXUnHSBBKM3U1Fy-iZXpOSfk4KWDbh3t3csCROZ1GZFiZlJVx1u4EUvlOBTK8BGdKv76whGkJ5n-r3rXLnhfJZUzzjFSdqJe_bsQT/s200/bookstack.jpg" width="200" /></a>In addition to critiquing essays, articles, short stories, and chapters from novels, our group will begin reviewing entire manuscripts in bulk.<br />
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Jack developed some draft guidelines, which were distributed in advance of our Tuesday meeting. During our meeting we discussed and made suggestions to the draft guidelines. Comments received from members unable to attend the meeting were also included in the discussion.<br />
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Based on our feedback and consensus, Jack is making revisions. Notably, we will allow four weeks to read each manuscript before providing comments, and comments will focus on an overview summary rather than detailed copyediting/proofreading. <br />
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Sarah Angleton, secretary of Coffee and Critique, graciously volunteered to send out future completed manuscripts to all participants. Les Thompson was volunteered (by Jack, I believe) to serve as sergeant-at-arms in case the discussion gets out of hand. (JK! Ha! Ha!)<br />
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The first manuscript we will provide our summary review on belongs to Doyle Suit. <br />
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Participating members will deliver typed comments to Doyle at our meeting on April 12, during which time we will also discuss our impressions of and suggestions for his manuscript.<br />
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How's that for a novel idea?Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-52081247320851188502016-01-06T15:30:00.001-08:002016-01-06T17:23:56.235-08:00Kicking Off 2016: Strange Things Brewing at Coffee and Critique<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8pfW8fpcmkorXqeWdILrWJyV8I8OEmyo8nQEL7eH8669FUpRkIJZwU2mpOtFWgmpzMz90Vhz0TWNpYyzJrS1tTi2_pfoRM1MA9HBUec48kiMkOJodrVJnNl98RUTWiux9NNM5hnInyX2/s1600/group+pix.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8pfW8fpcmkorXqeWdILrWJyV8I8OEmyo8nQEL7eH8669FUpRkIJZwU2mpOtFWgmpzMz90Vhz0TWNpYyzJrS1tTi2_pfoRM1MA9HBUec48kiMkOJodrVJnNl98RUTWiux9NNM5hnInyX2/s200/group+pix.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick's last visit to C&C</td></tr>
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The new year kicked off on a strange note yesterday at Coffee and Critique. As those present took turns going around the table at the beginning of our first session for 2016 --during which we shared our writing, publishing and other news--first up was Pat, who showed us a photo of her new puppy and mentioned she got an e-mail informing her she made it through the first hurdle for Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Joy of Less.<br />
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That prompted a comment from Jack, who was sitting at the far other end of the table, to say, "Did you say 'the joy of lust?'"<br />
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After we all stopped laughing out loud, we discussed how CS wouldn't publish an anthology focused on the joy of lust, although it would be an interesting read. Jack's comment was one for the books!<br />
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The readings by Doyle and Jack, "the boys," went well, as did critiques from the rest of us. With only six writers present, we wrapped up our critiques and discussions early and three of "the girls" stayed for lunch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUSGyqe-hvs1BdfE6Jy5ddqitzupEpI1XvbqSdooZ2QPt7CWq0SBlG0GU1qhrQyhWBXArSQGb6trOQX8PstXfHFkJtD-S9E4phXQGZ27iMMTZMwe29Hd-m8Wpo4VqlbmHfNAFhQt47FUE/s1600/writersandplay+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUSGyqe-hvs1BdfE6Jy5ddqitzupEpI1XvbqSdooZ2QPt7CWq0SBlG0GU1qhrQyhWBXArSQGb6trOQX8PstXfHFkJtD-S9E4phXQGZ27iMMTZMwe29Hd-m8Wpo4VqlbmHfNAFhQt47FUE/s200/writersandplay+010.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bea in one of her many chapeaus</td></tr>
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While Marcia, Jane, and I were eating, I began to discuss how much I missed Bea Siros and Nick Nixon, two of our members who had passed away a few years ago within one year (almost to the day) of each other.<br />
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Just then about a dozen glasses and cups fell off the drink counter near the cash register. No one was anywhere near the counter. One server was waiting on a table on the other side of the restaurant, and the other server was in the kitchen. The closest customer was at a table over six feet away.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZLepFK0fyCDGvC0k5lDjBzoHCC8zMPOPFUJIsLo-oRm9zEp0CuQkHdFvuT9nisvXZ8BVRAUGeu_6maE4YkCzQR8M8G7fF5tBjbKeiWSrKpd5OD_OdZ2sc_vLw4GjfAU6yFCDwYrixBBS/s1600/writersandplay+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZLepFK0fyCDGvC0k5lDjBzoHCC8zMPOPFUJIsLo-oRm9zEp0CuQkHdFvuT9nisvXZ8BVRAUGeu_6maE4YkCzQR8M8G7fF5tBjbKeiWSrKpd5OD_OdZ2sc_vLw4GjfAU6yFCDwYrixBBS/s200/writersandplay+008.JPG" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bea at her birthday party</td></tr>
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Our awesome servers, Chrissie and Kim, quickly swept up the shattered glass, and the owners came in from their office to make sure everyone was okay. C&K explained they didn't know how the glasses fell because no one was anywhere near the counter at the time. It was indeed a strange happening.<br />
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When Chrissie stopped by our table to top off our drinks, she said. "I swear there's a ghost in here."<br />
Her comment gave me chills because right before the glasses shattered, we were talking about the deceased members of our group. Could their spirits be lingering at the restaurant?<br />
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It could've been a coincidence, but if you ask my opinion, it looks like our critique group will be in for a strange and an interesting year.<br />
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Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-14500847428450370492015-12-19T10:59:00.001-08:002015-12-21T09:16:00.300-08:00Coffee and Critique Writers Are Busy Elves on the Book Shelves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14F0i1CWYWyUYghbkCmihSbC3UYj1Jaz4B-EN596wTGMpsLDux_Nb3X7hISYzkE0bCYp0GeQW2Z1qsZ1TlntLdIBGVkgJSboLQuRScllyFZWOkfegJ1iCwvsA7uU_VjoeMVJhpzXh92-B/s1600/junior+officer+zerr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14F0i1CWYWyUYghbkCmihSbC3UYj1Jaz4B-EN596wTGMpsLDux_Nb3X7hISYzkE0bCYp0GeQW2Z1qsZ1TlntLdIBGVkgJSboLQuRScllyFZWOkfegJ1iCwvsA7uU_VjoeMVJhpzXh92-B/s200/junior+officer+zerr.jpg" width="139" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg226Bm0fNFCcj4t8R72117W3IFtUrrIB1DSzRNFGjs-f12QKSeZ-75CvkHFx33_0_5WLvbbtn7lXqIvEus75i72cRzS2Q_CjXsZtYFL-vxP9EzkbD9qbqTzTY5cDT-RyPFGAGYBgjbYEQg/s1600/donna%252C+marcia%252C+pat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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Santa's elves aren't the only ones who've been busy this Christmas season. <br />
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The writers in Coffee and Critique also have spread their holiday cheer with author events, book signings, radio interviews, contest wins, novel reviews, and publications.</div>
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<a href="http://johnzerr.weebly.com/">Jack Zerr's</a> latest novel, <em><u>The Junior Officer Bunkroom</u></em>, received a brilliant review in <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/j-j-zerr/the-junior-officer-bunkroom/">Kirkus</a>. In <em><u>The Junior Office Bunkroom</u></em>, Zerr, a naval combat pilot himself, chronicles the day-to-day activities of naval pilots coping with life on an aircraft carrier in 1970 in the Tonkin Gulf during the Vietnam Conflict. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8vy034OmC9IY9zafAe_ri6woV48mHGd5nZ-rGnwhTl7k0l8KUQsC4oXLANZFQCnpVvYdvE_UXJbMgVl0YaxLOdKBlFlpUVDpFO8O-YEewRGsLkSjXW86KZZ8cXG99UULQtuhMqpWXzZ-/s1600/angleton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8vy034OmC9IY9zafAe_ri6woV48mHGd5nZ-rGnwhTl7k0l8KUQsC4oXLANZFQCnpVvYdvE_UXJbMgVl0YaxLOdKBlFlpUVDpFO8O-YEewRGsLkSjXW86KZZ8cXG99UULQtuhMqpWXzZ-/s200/angleton.jpg" width="146" /></a><a href="http://sarah-angleton.com/">Sarah Angleton's</a> moving flash fiction piece "The Greatest of Ease" won big in the <a href="http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/67-FE1-Summer15Contest.html">WOW! Women on Writing Spring 2015 contest,</a> judged by Literary Agent Eve Porinchak. <br />
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With Sarah's graceful writing and impressive win, she has reason to smile.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdjmm9KKhRZfixCX8EFXgaWYPFI2qeZzFBlIoSgcacoqpxKIdAoGOEQcJAAzpyqT685qSy2nry2s3LxF9g3P6cftdbfJP83xq9xrsqXOEtCc3vX2083bzpmKQNu6qKHmBwqeXhRT6BlPO/s1600/donna%252C+marcia%252C+pat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdjmm9KKhRZfixCX8EFXgaWYPFI2qeZzFBlIoSgcacoqpxKIdAoGOEQcJAAzpyqT685qSy2nry2s3LxF9g3P6cftdbfJP83xq9xrsqXOEtCc3vX2083bzpmKQNu6qKHmBwqeXhRT6BlPO/s200/donna%252C+marcia%252C+pat.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://critteralley.blogspot.com/">Pat Wahler</a>, Marcia Gaye, and <a href="http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com/">Donna Volkenannt</a>, (shown at left) and <a href="http://doylesuitstoryteller.com/">Doyle Suit</a> (below) participated in the local author event at the Spencer Road Branch of the St. Charles City-County Library. <br />
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More than 100 authors chatted with readers and sold books during the successful event. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtfGGvRKomHOGt79pr99L1jjE9JJbHyO-X8fqhfPRmQ8O0qArHDkXvyLRHIzWqFE5M-noyvLouZ33D3uFq2WpYFTjlrCUHmN0SDQGFCVGYS8epXuQvHSI3un9xKINpqY2toqrFSwH_mDM/s1600/doyle+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtfGGvRKomHOGt79pr99L1jjE9JJbHyO-X8fqhfPRmQ8O0qArHDkXvyLRHIzWqFE5M-noyvLouZ33D3uFq2WpYFTjlrCUHmN0SDQGFCVGYS8epXuQvHSI3un9xKINpqY2toqrFSwH_mDM/s200/doyle+2015.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
Last week Pat Wahler was one of the featured authors on HuffPost Live's <a href="http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/deep-dive-four-legged-miracles-animals-dogs-reunite-with-owner-save-humans/563396386f753a3110000421">Deep Dive: Four-Legged Miracles</a>. <br />
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During Pat's interview, she talked about a story of hers that was in included in <em>Chicken Soup for the Soul: Hope and Miracles.</em> Pat's remarkable story tells about how a stray dog helped her avoid a car accident. Click on the link above to watch Pat's interview.<br />
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The December issue of <a href="http://sasee.com/">SASEE magazine</a> (cover below) includes Donna Volkenannt's essay <a href="http://sasee.com/2015/12/01/sweet-memories/comment-page-1/#comment-155871">"Sweet Memories</a>," about how the power of the sense of smell to restore joy to life.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv72TZOg79XBcGjp02KPQeF9wtM8dFzQ_ANw_6_DVsCBuOyRvEjRoP_d3pBSUmjzPTy6V1acElUA7oCYe4FfBsB3z3pld8Nz6hOOl9QKneyVkxpAkZSWG-Y87NvHbnN2RLBz9OBnMolzr1/s1600/sase+deccover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv72TZOg79XBcGjp02KPQeF9wtM8dFzQ_ANw_6_DVsCBuOyRvEjRoP_d3pBSUmjzPTy6V1acElUA7oCYe4FfBsB3z3pld8Nz6hOOl9QKneyVkxpAkZSWG-Y87NvHbnN2RLBz9OBnMolzr1/s200/sase+deccover.jpg" width="178" /></a>Finally, during our last meeting for the year (attended by Les Thompson, Alice Muschany, Sarah Steffen, Jack Zerr, Pat Wahler, Jane Hamilton, Sarah Angleton, and Donna Volkenannt), writers showed their creativity by sharing their wonderful Christmas-themed stories. <br />
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Whew! How's that for staying busy during the holiday season? <br />
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Look out 2016 because the writers of Coffee and Critique are on the move!<br />
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Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-54147802519944875082015-11-05T10:11:00.002-08:002015-11-05T10:34:04.662-08:00Coffee and Critique Member Marcia Gaye's Work on Display in St. Peters<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtvLXTi0XwpD-V_9PanbfXM67xoDlRAByCf25Y1GaoKyt03_j5aFrzYkdqGtR8cvaS0rq906pFIqTjXluBvhDKAlGxxK2IGK22tGU42Q-Bl7riGsBrihD3B-HANPacX3emxinle24JYW9/s1600/Marcia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtvLXTi0XwpD-V_9PanbfXM67xoDlRAByCf25Y1GaoKyt03_j5aFrzYkdqGtR8cvaS0rq906pFIqTjXluBvhDKAlGxxK2IGK22tGU42Q-Bl7riGsBrihD3B-HANPacX3emxinle24JYW9/s200/Marcia.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marcia Gaye's Display at<br />
St. Peters Cultural Arts Center</td></tr>
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Award-winning writer Marcia Gaye, shown at left, is a prolific member of Coffee and Critique.<br />
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Her poetry, short stories, articles, and essays have appeared in a wide variety of literary and commercial publications.<br />
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Marcia recently had the opportunity to display more than a dozen books containing her work at the City of St. Peters Community and Cultural Arts Center. <br />
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You can check out Marcia's eye-catching display at the City of St. Peters <a href="http://www.stpetersmo.net/arts-center.aspx">Community and Cultural Arts Center</a>. 1 St. Peters Centre Blvd.(at City Hall), St. Peters, MO 63376. Phone: 636-397-6903.Her work will be on display until the end of 2015.<br />
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The hours of operation are: <strong> </strong><br />
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Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.<br />
Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.<br />
Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.<br />
Sunday, Closed<br />
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Congratulations, Marcia. Way to represent!Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-62561183280046519662015-09-09T19:48:00.000-07:002015-09-09T19:49:04.671-07:00Gotcha Covered: The Inside Scoop from High Hill Press on Creating Book Covers <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrMLn8e9BeJRlINVqouO8eUcGF9CqPuE68pogdt6fOBNHwRHRlpOGcMMN1tECMxNxaYcHV30glvhLrS19HbUWJARnjUrOJDbfQWsYW4sS0DEPSVtkKMA6v5e-LSd8kNInXO4Q3j9a1Ek9/s1600/Baker+Mountain-8-27-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrMLn8e9BeJRlINVqouO8eUcGF9CqPuE68pogdt6fOBNHwRHRlpOGcMMN1tECMxNxaYcHV30glvhLrS19HbUWJARnjUrOJDbfQWsYW4sS0DEPSVtkKMA6v5e-LSd8kNInXO4Q3j9a1Ek9/s200/Baker+Mountain-8-27-13.jpg" width="128" /></a></td></tr>
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Over on the <a href="http://highhillpresspublishing.blogspot.com/2015/08/peeking-under-covers-of-high-hill-press.html?showComment=1441851677312#c6714378826648477394">High Hill Press blog</a>, there's a post, "Peeking Under the Covers of High Hill Press." <br />
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In the informative August 31 post, publisher Louella Turner explains the importance of creating eye-catching book covers to entice readers and enhance book sales. <br />
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Lou discusses how High Hill Press creates these covers, taking into account factors such as: the genre of the book, setting, time period, title, and other details.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96hgdIhiccjVG2pBy-46WVwoaFKBLor4m5gJMxsrc6ZD1Jzfpf9hyphenhyphenNWYWmNWxb4IQyYV5KfrzhF66A9zdUInncn8Htr99Hvhv9QRss579f3ceyhbG4hMvMwEWRtjx0X2azm2Dwlc99Jvn/s1600/cactus+III.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96hgdIhiccjVG2pBy-46WVwoaFKBLor4m5gJMxsrc6ZD1Jzfpf9hyphenhyphenNWYWmNWxb4IQyYV5KfrzhF66A9zdUInncn8Htr99Hvhv9QRss579f3ceyhbG4hMvMwEWRtjx0X2azm2Dwlc99Jvn/s200/cactus+III.jpg" width="125" /></a>The blog post features several book covers, three of which have a connection to members of Coffee and Critique. <br />
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One of the highlighted covers <em>is Baker Mountain, </em>a YA novel written by Doyle Suit. Lou literally moved a mountain to create the image for Doyle's novel. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53sd_-8cAs-pzXFfem0DbtGUKDPE5rBGctrlNmKrxBlNwLvZbHLjj93htK_StAIn24i9yaISRywir4ku3BWDQ_6bdeMl-0nmX9LwM6QZtzhFBbTFPBh8fA3PuJvOniOAKsX5aZu4c29NC/s1600/echoes+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53sd_-8cAs-pzXFfem0DbtGUKDPE5rBGctrlNmKrxBlNwLvZbHLjj93htK_StAIn24i9yaISRywir4ku3BWDQ_6bdeMl-0nmX9LwM6QZtzhFBbTFPBh8fA3PuJvOniOAKsX5aZu4c29NC/s1600/echoes+9.jpg" /></a>Two other books, <em>Cactus Country III</em> and<em> Echoes of the Ozarks IX</em>, have stories from several Coffee and Critique writers, including Marcia Gaye, Pat Wahler, Donna Volkenannt, Bill Mueller, Lou Turner, and others. <br />
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For an in-depth look at how these and other covers were created, visit the <a href="http://highhillpresspublishing.blogspot.com/2015/08/peeking-under-covers-of-high-hill-press.html?showComment=1441851677312#c6714378826648477394">High Hill Press blog</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrMLn8e9BeJRlINVqouO8eUcGF9CqPuE68pogdt6fOBNHwRHRlpOGcMMN1tECMxNxaYcHV30glvhLrS19HbUWJARnjUrOJDbfQWsYW4sS0DEPSVtkKMA6v5e-LSd8kNInXO4Q3j9a1Ek9/s1600/Baker+Mountain-8-27-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrMLn8e9BeJRlINVqouO8eUcGF9CqPuE68pogdt6fOBNHwRHRlpOGcMMN1tECMxNxaYcHV30glvhLrS19HbUWJARnjUrOJDbfQWsYW4sS0DEPSVtkKMA6v5e-LSd8kNInXO4Q3j9a1Ek9/s1600/Baker+Mountain-8-27-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrMLn8e9BeJRlINVqouO8eUcGF9CqPuE68pogdt6fOBNHwRHRlpOGcMMN1tECMxNxaYcHV30glvhLrS19HbUWJARnjUrOJDbfQWsYW4sS0DEPSVtkKMA6v5e-LSd8kNInXO4Q3j9a1Ek9/s1600/Baker+Mountain-8-27-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrMLn8e9BeJRlINVqouO8eUcGF9CqPuE68pogdt6fOBNHwRHRlpOGcMMN1tECMxNxaYcHV30glvhLrS19HbUWJARnjUrOJDbfQWsYW4sS0DEPSVtkKMA6v5e-LSd8kNInXO4Q3j9a1Ek9/s1600/Baker+Mountain-8-27-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
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Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-40637543580330099002015-05-28T14:36:00.002-07:002015-05-31T21:57:55.376-07:00Just Released: J.J.Zerr's Historical Novel: THE HAPPY LIFE OF PRESTON KATT<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65K7t7h-q-j4q999i4tg32Pp89B7kbApN8bwhi3VDHx-t7eJss5oMt8ZRFPQBOd9R_YEosXCKCUd5QeTGVfnekMv3_huYZC8CyL8beZQa6RbBh_LSzfEduOZioO8G-wyR-Sh1HjLwl19Z/s1600/preston+katt.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65K7t7h-q-j4q999i4tg32Pp89B7kbApN8bwhi3VDHx-t7eJss5oMt8ZRFPQBOd9R_YEosXCKCUd5QeTGVfnekMv3_huYZC8CyL8beZQa6RbBh_LSzfEduOZioO8G-wyR-Sh1HjLwl19Z/s200/preston+katt.png" width="121" /></a>Coffee and Critique long-time member Jack Zerr has released his latest novel: <a href="http://www.jjzerr.com/"><em>The Happy Life of Preston Katt</em></a><em>. </em><br />
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Not only is Zerr a talented writer, he also is very generous. He recently presented members of Coffee and Critique autographed copies of his novel. Once I began reading my copy, I had a hard time putting it aside.<br />
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Zerr's historical tale opens on the Island of Oahu on December 7, 1941, "a day that will live in infamy." <br />
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After a night of reckless abandon, Seaman First Class Preston Katt sneaks back aboard the <em>USS Callahan</em> scant hours before the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor.<br />
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Preston Katt's naval service began right after high school graduation. He joined the Navy to escape his alcoholic and neglectful mother and to leave behind painful memories of growing up in the fictional town of Saint Ambrose, Missouri, where the only kindness he was shown was by his beloved teacher, Sister Ralph, and the charitable and warm-hearted shopkeeper, Frau Grossman. <br />
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In the Navy, Katt has found a new home as a sailor serving on lookout duty during the heat and chaos of the war in the Pacific. Katt has a unique talent. Using his favorite pair of Navy-issued binoculars, Katt's eagle-eye vision is responsible for spotting enemy warships and planes far away, saving several US vessels from being destroyed. <br />
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As the story unfolds, we learn about the daily grind of Navy life, as well as Katt's struggle with guilt and insecurities and his strong and sustaining faith.<br />
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As a Navy combat aviator, Zerr writes with authority and compassion. His vivid writing, strong characterization, and attention to detail make <em>The Happy Life of Preston Katt</em> a compelling read.<br />
<br />Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-48011235640854625362015-05-06T06:17:00.000-07:002015-05-06T06:17:06.898-07:00An Announcement and a Call for Submissions for Veterans and their FamiliesIt's official, Coffee and Critique writers' group is the newest chapter of the Missouri Writers' Guild. Watch for details in a future post.<br />
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Here's a call for submissions with a short deadline. <br />
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With so many veterans and family members of veterans in Coffee and Critique, I thought this call for submissions would be of interest to them and any other veterans or families of veterans.<br />
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But act fast, the deadline is June 1.<br />
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For all military personnel, Veterans, and their families:<br />
Call for Submissions for <em>Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors</em> volume 4<br />
Deadline: June 1, 2015<br />
No fee<br />
Prize: $250<br />
Categories: Short fiction, Poetry, Interview with a Warrior, Essay, Photography<br />
<b>Writing must be by veterans, military-service personnel or their families. </b><b>Include the connection in your short bio.</b><br />
<b>Theme:</b> Created by the Missouri Humanities Council, the Warrior Arts Alliance, and Southeast Missouri State University Press, this series of anthologies preserves and shares the military service perspectives of our soldiers and veterans of all conflicts and of their families. It is not only an outlet for artistic expression but also a document of the unique aspects of wartime in our nation’s history.<br />
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For more details, click on <a href="http://www.walruspublishing.com/for-writers/call-submissions-proud-vol-4/">this link</a>.Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-58713605655908949362015-03-01T11:49:00.002-08:002015-03-01T11:50:33.458-08:00Blog Post on how to "Enliven your Writing with an Understanding of Clinical and Spiritual Psychology."I recently attended a fascinating writing workshop presented by Dr. Richard P. Johnson on how writers can enliven their writing to create vivid, believable characters through an understanding of clinical and spiritual psychology.<br />
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In his workshop, Dr. Johnson presented his paradigm of personality based on human spiritual strengths.<br />
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I posted my notes on Dr. Johnson's workshop on <a href="http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com/2015/03/dr-richard-p-johnsons-workshop-for.html">Donna's Book Pub.</a><br />
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<br />Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-73398920657504646132015-01-30T12:30:00.001-08:002015-01-30T12:30:13.021-08:00Coffee and Critique's Art Interpretation Competition and the Dr. Oz Effect on Book Sales<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/CWRogers">Charles Rogers</a>, author of <i>Sermon at Dead Man's Bend</i> and <i>Conversations with a Barn Cat</i>, did a great job planning, organizing, conducting, and tallying votes in Coffee and Critique's First Art Interpretation Writing Competition.<br />
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Entrants were to look at a piece of artwork selected by Charles then write a story no longer than 100 words. Entries were read aloud by someone other than the writer. No author identification appeared on the entries, which were peer-judged.<br />
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Congratulations to the top-two winners and everyone who took up the challenge!<br />
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The top-two scoring stories were:<br />
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"Alone" by <a href="http://sarah-angleton.com/author/thepracticalhistorian/">Sarah Angleton</a> (aka The Practical Historian)<br />
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"Joplin and the Giant" by Jane Hamilton<br />
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In case you missed it: on Wednesday, Jan 28, <a href="http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/proof-angels-can-they-help-us-heal">Dr. Oz </a>mentioned the book, <i>Chicken Soup for the Soul: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Soup-Soul-Miraculous-Intervention-ebook/dp/B00IWTWGNA">Touched by an Angel</a>, </i>as part of the segment on "Can Angels Help us Heal?"<i> </i><br />
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The Touched by An Angel anthology includes the story "A Patchwork of Hope" by Coffee and Critique member <a href="http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com/2015/01/as-seen-on-dr-oz-doctor-oz-effect-on.html">Donna Volkenannt,</a> who did a before-and-after analysis of book sales to find out the effect on sales after the book was featured on the Dr. Oz show.<br />
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You can find a link to Donna's post about the Dr. Oz dramatic effect on book sales on <a href="http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com/2015/01/as-seen-on-dr-oz-doctor-oz-effect-on.html">Donna's Book Pub.</a><br />
<br />Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-61796542532756753232014-11-11T07:33:00.000-08:002015-07-02T13:43:35.204-07:00Thanks to our Coffee and Critique Writers' Group VeteransThanks to all our Coffee and Critique writers' group veterans, past and present.Thank you for the sacrifices you have made so the rest of us can enjoy our freedoms.<br />
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The following is the roll call of US Veterans who belong to Coffee and Critique writers' group who have honored us with their words, their wit, and their wisdom:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqvbK27WR-vshsVZ8sfw6f_SR-3THeW2wNdyHWryOxruj6FK360KWvRpW2QXVM0GMoVMP1WrbfOAVA_npYj3IqBFcqgY_dL3hnVyzpOFTc2U2AGEF8mMTFb-XqbBV9mkQ8JIY3IxsBnbQ/s1600/veterans.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqvbK27WR-vshsVZ8sfw6f_SR-3THeW2wNdyHWryOxruj6FK360KWvRpW2QXVM0GMoVMP1WrbfOAVA_npYj3IqBFcqgY_dL3hnVyzpOFTc2U2AGEF8mMTFb-XqbBV9mkQ8JIY3IxsBnbQ/s200/veterans.png" width="200" /></a><br />
Nick Nixon (USMC, deceased)<br />
Doyle Suit (US Army)<br />
Bill Mueller (US Army)<br />
Jack Zerr (US Navy)<br />
Charles Rogers (USAF)<br />
Les Thompson (US Navy)<br />
Lonnie Whitaker (US Army)<br />
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Without your service we wouldn't be able to enjoy the liberties at our critique group, including:<br />
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* The right to assemble (every Tuesday for two hours and sometimes for lunch afterwards).<br />
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* The right of self-expression during our critiques (as long as they don't exceed two minutes).<br />
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* The freedom to write without fear or intimidation, (as long as we don't exceed our five, double-spaced page limit with one inch margins all around in Times New Roman or a similar font). ;-)<br />
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* The right to read our works and receive generous feedback from everyone present.<br />
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<br />Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-4520790698268945802014-10-31T07:33:00.002-07:002014-10-31T07:33:32.046-07:00Opinion Shaper Alice Muschany <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcatrbHiAWNMX8K5KsyDgmzH3wYk4QsmPpiLpVPhlPwfkiPT-cvO5EJ6kBFViyC5NMUcgHZZ4v8GriaAPJPUWE-y67kdUdZfX3DWzzbXtEwF1_5KskkCyMMOmIGw5Wz8y6gHct8CyReV1x/s1600/alice+new+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcatrbHiAWNMX8K5KsyDgmzH3wYk4QsmPpiLpVPhlPwfkiPT-cvO5EJ6kBFViyC5NMUcgHZZ4v8GriaAPJPUWE-y67kdUdZfX3DWzzbXtEwF1_5KskkCyMMOmIGw5Wz8y6gHct8CyReV1x/s1600/alice+new+photo.jpg" /></a>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.<br />
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And she always does a wonderful job!<br />
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Here is <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/stcharles/opinion/opinion-shaper-a-care-partner-for-the-one-i-care/article_905a897f-49ee-5e8c-a003-c068e2e82955.html">a link</a> to another one of her humorous Opinion Shaper columns: A Care Partner for the One I Care About.<br />
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The description of Nurse Brenda and "Hospital Secret Service" quip are<br />
great!<br />
<b><br /></b>
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<br />Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-61261612257970473952014-10-29T07:54:00.001-07:002014-10-29T07:57:12.708-07:00Ghostly Tales at Coffee and Critique <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP41LBXoMeAFRHo0wSKDkdVGF-vpo5jXVm-cRo7VhnQ6nBzYqJhHw9QgkqYTqEZYuDQWGE1yR1PSvtDEcjLLPQh7XowxY0q-yeElmj4Rr6EMMVJXf2Aci3lnxP19IW-e2_TD0fD_l-12Lv/s1600/Halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP41LBXoMeAFRHo0wSKDkdVGF-vpo5jXVm-cRo7VhnQ6nBzYqJhHw9QgkqYTqEZYuDQWGE1yR1PSvtDEcjLLPQh7XowxY0q-yeElmj4Rr6EMMVJXf2Aci3lnxP19IW-e2_TD0fD_l-12Lv/s1600/Halloween.jpg" /></a>Yesterday's Halloween story session was entertaining and lots of fun!<br />
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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. <br />
Once again, the guys outnumbered the gals. This time it was 5:3.<br />
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Here's a glimpse of what was read;with titles like these, how could we not have a good time?<br />
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"Social Guy," a cat fight and a cat with special powers.<br />
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"The Crime of my Life," a humorous glimpse about working at a crime lab in Springfield, Illinois.<br />
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"Voodoo Barmaid," a guy walks into a bar and strange things happen.<br />
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"And the Dead After All are Not Hungry," a touching Halloween story about love and loss.<br />
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"Halloween," a mysterious woman, a graveyard, a love potion, and a tombstone.<br />
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"Elixir of Life," a magic potion with life-altering properties. Where can I buy some?<br />
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"The Ghost of Chateau de Chasse," a family moves in to a Belgian castle, where they're not the only residents.<br />
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"Yankee Doodle Dead," the ghost of a Yankee soldier haunts a Missouri family.<br />
.Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-27938714843174820762014-10-15T07:49:00.003-07:002014-10-15T07:57:08.036-07:00Scary Times at Coffee and Critique<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLm1fBJkn39Zl1A2k0rv3SQ5r9YU1-1XLOB87Brw4kEw5IkShIiNgwV4xwZQbK_CQppXyF48yMsKPPQuMPn921DRddx2WU6ncmFpiIGcKyOw9-vXJGFFkPPuRrIx310XsdE6moIiWwtfV/s1600/haunted+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLm1fBJkn39Zl1A2k0rv3SQ5r9YU1-1XLOB87Brw4kEw5IkShIiNgwV4xwZQbK_CQppXyF48yMsKPPQuMPn921DRddx2WU6ncmFpiIGcKyOw9-vXJGFFkPPuRrIx310XsdE6moIiWwtfV/s1600/haunted+house.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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.<br />
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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.<br />
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The scarier the better, but, please, no excessive blood or gore.<br />
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This special event will be Tuesday, October 28, from 10-noon at our usual venue -- the Rendezvous Cafe in O'Fallon, MO.<br />
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Costumes optional.<br />
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<br />Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-41208733540936293662014-10-09T08:01:00.002-07:002015-07-02T13:46:23.415-07:00Autumn: A Busy Writing Season for Coffee and Critique Writers<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are recent updates:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Jane Hamilton'</b>s essay, "The Fearless Old Man on the Flying Trapeze," won first place in Saturday Writer's fear-themed writing contest and <b>Doyle Suit's</b> story "Roadblocks" won Honorable Mention.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Berta Rosenberg</b>'s short story, "A Blessing" was a finalist in the <b style="font-style: italic;">Uncertain Promise </b>anthology contest and is included in the <i>Uncertain Promise</i> anthology, released in October and available from AKA Publishing/Compass Flower Press.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Donna Volkenannt's</b> true story"A Patchwork of Hope" is included in <i>Chicken Soup for the Soul: Touched by an Angel, </i>released in October<i>.</i> Donna also signed a contract for her short story, <i>"Sins of the Daughter,"</i> to appear in <i>That Mysterious Woman</i> from Mozark Press later this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Alice Muschany's</b> true story will appear in <i>Chicken Soup for the Soul: Find Your Inner Strength, </i>released in October.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Marcia Gaye </b>has a short story in <i>Not Your Mother's Book: Working for a Living, </i>released in October.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Doyle Suit </strong>continues to sell copies of his novel <strong>Baker's Mountain.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Bill Mueller</b> is working on a nonfiction book project with an Oklahoma connection.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Jack Zerr</b> is busy writing while on his European vacation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Lou Turner</b> and <b>Donna Volkenannt</b> were faculty members for the second year at the Missouri State Teachers' Association annual retreat at Bunker Hill the first weekend in October.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Lou Turner</b> will speak on a panel for the Ozarks Creative Writers Conference the second weekend October. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Lou Turner, Marcia Gaye, </b>and<b> Donna Volkenannt</b> served as judges for several OCW contests. </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sarah Angleton</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Doyle Suit</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, and </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Marcia Gaye</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> will also be attending the OCW conference in Eureka Springs, AK.</span>Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8638994951862489732.post-45096742123117813972014-09-24T12:35:00.003-07:002014-09-24T12:40:55.834-07:00Doyle Suit and Baker Mountain Featured in the Montgomery County, Arkansas, News<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kghZJl-p7lhjD4OvBL8nRjo-rcCME-7v-uW4InPLi_KnBlQXTrTAqgNRCfhpVb02adc2dZ1DVxRQz0OJH3XjystHzXmc-a8J2Wd8rsPMJHgHtHPxzhniWT7Gk0WOlyiF2qpc64qi_f_j/s1600/Baker+Mountain-8-27-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kghZJl-p7lhjD4OvBL8nRjo-rcCME-7v-uW4InPLi_KnBlQXTrTAqgNRCfhpVb02adc2dZ1DVxRQz0OJH3XjystHzXmc-a8J2Wd8rsPMJHgHtHPxzhniWT7Gk0WOlyiF2qpc64qi_f_j/s1600/Baker+Mountain-8-27-13.jpg" height="200" width="128" /></a>During last Tuesday's Coffee and Critique session, Doyle Suit shared some exciting news about his recent book signing.<br />
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Last weekend Doyle returned to his roots in Mount Ida, Arkansas, for a signing and discussion at the Montgomery County Library of his YA novel, <i>Baker Mountain.</i><br />
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Suit's YA novel<i>, Baker Mountain, </i>is a story about Gary Hill, a 17-year-old sent to live with his grandparents in Arkansas' Ouachita Mountains during the Great Depression.<br />
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Doyle's Mt. Ida connection and novel resonated with many of the locals who visited the library for his discussion and signing -- because Doyle sold out of books!<br />
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In addition to his appearance at the library, Doyle and his book were featured in the September 18 edition of the "Montgomery County News."<br />
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Congratulations, Doyle! We're all proud of you and your many accomplishments!Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com1