Meeting Highlights February 10, 2016

Members Present:  Donna, Helena, Jackie, Judy, Karen, Luneil, Pam F., Patty, Pete, Ruthann, Sharon, Suzy, Valia

Guest:  Mary Ellen

Pete had questions about submitting to the upcoming NFSPS Annual Poetry Contest. Judy will forward his questions to Bev and will also ask her if she would like to be a guest speaker this spring. Beverly Stanislawski enters contests regularly and has won numerous awards for her poetry.

Sharon reported she might be teaching writing classes again in the near future. She is looking into two possible sites – the Valparaiso and Crown Point Libraries. Sharon also announced that Gail Galvan will be talking about publishing a Write-On Hoosiers book at the next WOH meeting.

Patty read Chapter 4: The Friends in her YA novel.

Pete read two riddle poems and handed out candy bars to the first people who guessed the correct answer.

Suzy read Chapter 19: The Shaman and Her Potions from Mrs. Walters’ Adventures.

Judy read the end of Chapter 5 and the beginning of Chapter 6 in Guinevere. She asked for advice about how to format a story within the story.

Donna read Spinerella Spider. She often told this story when she was a clown and professional story teller.

Helena read three poems she wrote after shoveling snow one morning. She included pictures with her Haiku, Tanka, and Senryu poems.

Next meeting will be Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at Rosati’s at 6:30 p.m.

(Reminder: Deadline for annual dues of $10 is March 1, 2016. Please send check to Judy.)

JSH

Meeting Highlights January 13, 2016

Members Present: Bernardo, Helena, Karen, Jackie, Judy, Luneil, Pam G., Pete, Ruthann, Valia

Jackie asked for bios from Helena, Pete, Ruthann, and Valia. Judy collected dues.

Valia reported his poem "Volcanoes of Northwest Indiana" will be published in AIST's Iron& Steel Technology Magazine, January 2016 issue. His story entitled India...ana will be published in Undeniably Indiana by Indiana University Press. The book will come out in August 2016.

Jackie announced her poem "All Washed Up" was selected to represent Lake County in the Mapping the Muse: A Bicentennial Look at Indiana Poetry book. The poetry book will be available on Amazon. Contributors will receive a free copy.

Ruthann told the group about the IWPA contest and will send the link to members. She explained that since we are published we can become members. http://www.iwpa.org/ 

Jackie will post and send out information about the National Federation of State Poetry Societies annual contest. Submissions are due March 15, 2016. http://www.nfsps.com/poetry_contests.htm

Pete read his poem "The Chosen Few" dedicated to all America's Heros. He continues to read his poetry over the P.A. system at Lowell Middle School and inspires the students to write poetry as well.

Valia read When Parrots Leave a Mango Tree and a recap of an audio tape he received from his father entitled "The Shortest Day."

Karen urged members to sign up for the SCBWI Wild Wild Midwest Conference scheduled for April 29 to May 1, 2016 in Naperville, IL. Registration begins February 1st. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn from and network with agents, authors, and publishers.

Luneil read her revised Barty the Clumsy Vampire story to the group.

Next Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 10, 2016.

JSH

Meeting Highlights December 10, 2015

Members Present:  Judy, Valia, Donna

Members agreed to change meeting dates to the second Wednesday of the month starting in January.

Suzy, Ruthann, Donna, Jackie, Luneil, Judy, and Sharon attended the WOH Banquet at Lakes of the Four Seasons December 2nd.

(More notes to come)

Next meeting will be Wednesday, January 13th, 2016

Happy Holidays!

Meeting Highlights November 12, 2015

Members Present:  Jackie, Judy, Luneil, Pam, Patty, Ruthann, Suzy, Valia

Guest: Helena

Helena is a member of Highland Writers and Indiana Writers’ Consortium. She is from China and has a degree in Chemistry. She is interested in writing non-fiction. She wants to share the stories of her ancestors with her children.

Pam signs Helena's book

Jackie and Judy reported they sold Christmas books at the IWC banquet. Members discussed how many they have purchased individually. Members agreed that MHW will continue to sell softcover for $12 and hardcover for $20 at future events. There is no shipping charge for orders over $30.

Patty is participating in the Nanowrimo challenge. She is very happy with the experience thus far. She does not have to worry about editing, word choice, and punctuation so she is able to focus on writing every day. Patty said of those participants who continue to write the minimum amount of words for 30 days, 60% go on to be published. Illustrators can participate as well by attempting to illustrate a cover a day. Helena said there is a poetry writing contest in March.

Valia announced that his poem about Indiana Steel will appear in AIST'S Iron & Amp: Steel Technology magazine, January 2016 issue. 

Ruthann is very excited to be working on a new project. The screenplay is about her father.

Suzy read Chapter 15:  Spell Weaving Resources in Mrs. Walters’ Adventures.

Pam shared Now My Name is Buster. She plans to write a series and start with three books. Members discussed marketing ideas.

Judy read the end of Chapter 4: Chaos in the Kitchen from her YA novel.

Patty read Chapter 3: Pippi’s Distress.

Helena read “A Miracle of Audiobooks”.

Jackie read “September at the Dunes” and reported it received an Honorable Mention in the Indiana State Federation of Poetry Clubs contest.

Members discussed changing the meeting day to the second Wednesday of the month. This will be discussed again at the December meeting.

Next Meeting:  Thursday, December 10^th, at 6:30 at Rosati’s.

JSH

Meeting Highlights - October 8, 2015

Members Present: Jackie, Judy, Karen, Luneil, Patty , Valia

Guests: Pete, Donna

Members were excited to receive their complimentary hard and soft cover Magic Hour Family Christmas books. Books are available through Amazon and Flying Turtle Publishing. Members will also get a discount code for future orders.

Pete said he reads one of his poems every Tuesday over the loudspeaker at the Lowell school he teaches at. Many students have been inspired by him to write poems of their own. He then shared his poem “Frightful Night.”

Donna is a toddler teacher at a Montessori school in Hobart. She writes visual stories for children in different levels of learning. She read her board book story Molly Makes Vegetable Soup targeted for children 12 months to three years old.

Luneil read her reflection "God’s Miracle of the Seasons". Members felt it read like a poem and encouraged her to try different poetic forms.

Karen read her latest story Haunting Mom. She is actually revising it and putting it in 1^st person.

Valia read two poems “Uninterrupted-Lives-Interrupted” and “An Uninterrupted Life at the Terminal Stop”.

Patty read part of Chapter I, Life Before the Dreadful Visit from her YA novel.

Next Meeting: November 12, 2015, 6:30 p.m. at Rosati’s.

JSH

Meeting Highlights - September 17, 2015

Members Present:  Jackie, Judy, Karen, Luneil, Pam F., Patty, Ruthann, Valia

Judy and Jackie discussed the MHW Stream Line Event that took place on September 9^th at Paul Henry’s Art Gallery in Hammond, IN. Judy, Jackie, Ruthann, and Valia were presenters. Around 25 adults and children attended the interactive 2 hour event.

Karen stated her book release has been postponed so it can be reviewed first.

Judy read her Christmas story Butterfinger, The Clumsy Polar Bear. She also did the illustrations.

Valia read two poems: “A Colorless Solution” and “Volcanoes of Northwest Indiana”.

Patty read Chapter III, The Bell of Reckoning from her YA novel.

Jackie showed the poem pictures she had at the Stream Line event. She also passed out the handouts she used when discussing how the things we see can inspire our writing.

Karen discussed NaNoWriMo and encouraged members join in this November. The creative writing project challenges participants to write enough words for a novel in one month (50,000 words).  http://nanowrimo.org/

Ruthann reported she attended best-selling mystery author Kate Collin’s presentation on September 15th in Crown Point and bought two of her books. Kate discussed tips on how to write a novel and get published.

Next Meeting:

October 8, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.

Rosati’s Pizza in Schererville, IN

JSH

Meeting Highlights August 13, 2015

Members Present:  Jackie, Judy, Karen, Mari, Pam F., Patty, Ruthann, Valia

Judy holds up a handmade quilt to go with a children's story.
The quilt was made by Mari's mother.

Jackie and Valia reported they both received rejection letters.

Mari announced that Flying Turtle Publishing will be accepting fictional/factual science based stories in February.

Members discussed the online submission process. Karen stated although it is convenient, many submissions may not get to their intended audience if filters are set to flag certain words.

Christmas Book Update:  Everyone needs to send Mari a 3 or 4 sentence bio along with a head shot for the Christmas book. She also wants to know how you want your name listed on the copyright. She will be the one editing the children’s stories. Mari explained her plans for the illustrations and has decided the book will be hard cover. Mari will need photos for each poem. Members decided to include a section with Christmas tips. We will be able to sell the book at the IWC banquet on October 10^th.

Mari read Mother Jessup’s Hottest Christmas and A Christmas So Nova. Both will be included in the Christmas book.

Valia read his poem "Goodbye to Cecil and Others of Similar Fate".

Ruthann revised her story and passed out copies to each member. She would like feedback before she submits to Mari.

Pam read her Christmas story about a little girl who desperately wanted a Spirograph toy. Members tried to help her think of a catchy title.

Jackie read her poem "God's Greatest Gift" then her short story Flamingo and Moose. She included sketches and a few suggestions for the artist who will be working on the project.

Judy read her short story Fidget. She also showed off the illustrations she is working on.

The IWC/MHW Stream Line event is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9^th. Valia plans to bring in fossils to show the children.  Judy will read My Grandma is a Science Teacher. Jackie will do a presentation on Poetry in Pictures, and Ruthann will read a chapter from her book The Adventures of Boopy.

The next MHW meeting will be on the 3^rd Thursday this month. (One week later than usual). We will meet at Rosati’s on September 17^th at 6:30 p.m.

JSH