Kicking Off 2016: Strange Things Brewing at Coffee and Critique

 

Nick's last visit to C&C

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.

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?'"

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!


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.



Bea in one of her many chapeaus

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.


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.



Bea at her birthday party

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.

When Chrissie stopped by our table to top off our drinks, she said. "I swear there's a ghost in here."
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?

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.

Coffee and Critique's Art Interpretation Competition and the Dr. Oz Effect on Book Sales

Charles Rogers, author of Sermon at Dead Man's Bend and Conversations with a Barn Cat, did a great job planning, organizing, conducting, and tallying votes in Coffee and Critique's First Art Interpretation Writing Competition.

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.

Congratulations to the top-two winners and everyone who took up the challenge!

The top-two scoring stories were:

"Alone" by Sarah Angleton (aka The Practical Historian)

"Joplin and the Giant" by Jane Hamilton

In case you missed it: on Wednesday, Jan 28, Dr. Oz mentioned the book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Touched by an Angel, as part of the segment on "Can Angels Help us Heal?" 

The Touched by An Angel anthology includes the story "A Patchwork of Hope" by Coffee and Critique member Donna Volkenannt, 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.

You can find a link to Donna's post about the Dr. Oz dramatic effect on book sales on Donna's Book Pub.

Autumn: A Busy Writing Season for Coffee and Critique Writers

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

Here are recent updates:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jack Zerr is busy writing while on his European vacation.

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

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