Meeting Highlights May 8, 2014

Members present:  Bernardo, Jackie, Judy, Luneil, Pam, Sharon, Suzy 

Members met at Sip Coffee House in Crown Point. Jackie discussed a guest speaker she would like to have at the next meeting. Lora Panero Mercado graduated high school with Jackie. She is a writer, photographer, and a wedding officiant, among other things. She has recently self-published several books and is willing to discuss her journey and offer advice to those who are interested in publishing e-books as well as the printed version.

Judy played the movie she created of the 2014 PoPP Awards Assembly that was held this past April in Crown Point. Four area elementary schools participated. Katherine Flotz and Judy organized and oversaw the annual contest again this year and produced a poetry book of the winning poems. Judy’s grandson took photos of the event.

Sharon still plans on writing a science fiction/fantasy series but needs to do a lot of research beforehand and during the writing process. She brought in Where I Come From. The book and CD contains songs and poems from children around the world.

Suzy read her poem Mommy’s Day.

Judy and Pam talked about having a writer’s retreat.

Next Meeting is scheduled for June 26th, Sip Coffee House in Crown Point, at 6:30 p.m.

JSH

Meeting Highlights April 10, 2014

Members Present: Andrew, Jackie, Suzy

Happy Spring!

Members met at Books A Million at Southlake Mall in Hobart. Jackie asked Andrew and Suzy to work on their bios and send them in for the blog. The group discussed possible guest speakers.

Jackie read a rhyming short story/picture book she is working on about a missing pet titled Where is Chewy?

Andrew read Jigsaw, a reflective poem about life, which was written for an older audience.

Suzy shared the first chapter of Zoey and the Kid. This story is inspired by true events and told from her dog’s perspective.

Next meeting is scheduled for Thursday May 8^th, 2014. We will meet at Sip Coffee House, 9 North Court Street, in Crown Point, IN.

JSH

Meeting Highlights March 13, 2014

Members present: Andrew, Bernardo, Jackie, Joan, Luneil, Pam, Suzy

Jackie brought in board books for the group to review. She encouraged Andrew and Suzy to write up their bios and email them to her. Members then discussed other possible meeting places.

Luneil read her New Year Anticipation and asked for feedback from the group. In her poem she made some reflections on the past year and talked about plans and changes she would like to make for 2014. Members suggested only minor edits. Joan encouraged Luneil to look for places to submit it.

Suzy has a new blog http://www.suzysscribbles.com/ which she started in January. She plans to blog about writing her stories. Her first story Zilla Takes a Vacation is posted. Currently she is working on her second story. Zilla the Garden Gnome is going to try out her green thumb and plant a garden. Later Suzy discussed CreateSpace and Book Baby for self e-publishing. http://www.bookbaby.com/

Bernardo read about Red and Fred’s adventure with the sacred scrolls. The plot is action packed with them fighting off giant ants. He plans to read about the upside-down forest at the next meeting.

Pam is still working on her self-help books and plans to submit the first one to several publishers. Jackie wants her to consider taking pre-orders for her book since so many people are anxious to buy them. Pam then read Farm in a Jar which an informative article about how to grow sprouts in your kitchen.

Joan reported her personal memoir A Charmed Life is about 9,000 words and is ¾ finished. She plans to send it to at least 15 publishers.

Andrew read his rhyming poem Acceptance. It tells about how Oscar the Turtle helped two schools of fish get along.

Next meeting is scheduled for April 10.

JSH

Meeting Highlights February 21, 2014

Members present: Luneil, Andrew, Judy, Joan, Jackie

 

Judy passed out annual financial report and collected dues. Dues were ½ price for the month of February. We have decided to extend the discount through March. She also purchased the latest edition of Book Markets for Children’s Writers and Magazine Markets for Children’s Writers. Any member can borrow either book for a month at a time.

 

Judy passed out the recipe summary and a draft of the cookbook. Members discussed layout and what is still needed. We need to create recipes for more breakfasts, sandwiches, and side dishes among other things. Judy will work on a cover so please give her ideas. It was decided that we should have a meeting where we focus solely on the cookbook. Jackie will email the other members so they will have the latest information.

Judy will look into a fine arts grant for professional development so we can use designated funds to attend a workshop, conference or writer’s retreat in the near future.

Jackie passed out a list of sensory words and a list of sound words. Both lists can make writing more descriptive and powerful. Jackie is keeping a file folder on the information/handouts that have been passed out in previous meetings. She suggested that Andrew visit the links Sharon has on the Write-On Hoosier blog site.

Andrew showed some illustrations his co-worker drew for his picture book. Members discussed word and page count for picture/board books for 0-2 year olds. Jackie will bring in some examples next meeting.

Luneil and Joan will research additional meeting places. 

Next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 20. The place is to be determined.

Christmas Meeting / Party 12-12-13

Members Present: Bernardo, Jackie, Joan, Judy, Luneil, Pam, Suzy

Guest: Andrew Von Thaden

 

 

Suzy just remembered she is published! She wrote a journal article in the 90’s on Special Education and Computers. Jackie reminded Suzy that all the work she did at Purdue was also published, she just didn’t get credit. Suzy will work on a bio for the blog.

Jackie has some photos and poems in a book that is now on Amazon. Naturally Yours is a collection of poems and short stories about Indiana State Parks and Reservoirs. Proceeds are donated to Indiana Natural Resources Foundation's "Discovering The Outdoors" fund to enable school children to visit state parks to learn about nature and wildlife. Jackie talked to Joan about selling some books at The Center of Performing Arts in Munster since Joan has her book in the gift shop.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1493669400/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_E0-Osb0WZ8PA9ZF6

Jackie finally posted Bernardo’s bio and reminded members to send her any updates. Jackie brought in an old Family Flyer and some book drafts as well as a few made on Snapfish and Shutterfly to have concrete examples to show to our newer members and guests. Judy will bring some of her illustrated books to the next meeting.

Bernardo has been working on a newsletter for his unit entitled News from the Cobra Nest. It offers drills, support, and job leads among other things. He then read Memory Lane, a Christmas poem about gifts under the aluminum tree.

Nancy from Chapel Lawn talked about her daughter who wrote The House of Pendragon.  Debra Kemp has been a member of Indiana Writers’ Consortium in the past. Her book is available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/The-Recruit-House-Pendragon-Book-ebook/dp/B001FQ8UFA and you can see interviews on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSkC53ouc20

Suzy read Mrs. Walters’ Christmas based on her memories of past holidays.

Luneil read The Day I Slugged Santa, also (unfortunately ;) a true story.

Andrew read Oscar Makes a Friend, a picture board book geared at children age 0-2. He included rough illustrations to give us a visual of his idea. He then read Rainbow Canyon. This book is for older children but still features Oscar the Turtle as the main character.

Judy read Why do I write? which was a blog entry for the Indiana Writers’ Consortium. Judy will print out the cookbook and bring it to the next meeting. She will also make MHW business cards for each member. Please email the personal information you would like her to include on the back side of your cards.

Members enjoyed a wonderful meal, desserts, and presents.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Next Meeting will be January 9^th, 2014

See more pictures of our party on Facebook!https://www.facebook.com/groups/151402864933195/

JSH

Meeting Highlights November 14, 2013

Members Present:

Bernardo, Jackie, Joan, Luneil, Pam, Suzy

    

 

Joan had a photo and poem about the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall published in the November Family Flyer. Congrats Joan! She is also working on a memoir for her kids. She stated she might want to publish it at some point.

Bernardo read the latest chapter of Red and Fred. The two fell down into a cavern and fought the ant guardians of the Secret Scrolls.

Pam has been busy with her newsletter.

Luneil asked for ideas for a poem or story for her pork chop recipe for the cookbook.

Jackie has started keeping a binder of newspaper clippings on local authors and events. She also plans to start posting poems by various authors for children on the Magic Hour Writers Facebook page.

Suzy was unsure about how to proceed with Zilla the Garden Gnome but then found some old notes that helped spark some ideas. Luneil suggested she fill out character cards. Jackie wants her to describe the setting in more depth and go into more detail about both special events and routine happenings around the garden.

Members then discussed the upcoming Christmas meeting/dinner scheduled for December 12^th.

JSH

Meeting Highlights October 17, 2013

Attendees:
Luneil Morrow
Judy Whitcomb
Joan Pusateri
Bernardo Gonzalez

News: We had a very productive meeting!

Joan submitted an amazing picture of her husband taken at the Wall in Washington D.C. and she also wrote a poem to go along with it. She is going to submit both to the Family Flyer. She also brought us pencil souvenirs from her trip. It said “I cannot live with out books.” Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 1815. She has also started writing a book about the search for her biological parents.

Bernardo read us another excerpt from Red & Fred.  He gave us hand out which was a treat. Bernardo gave us another poem and two recipes for our cookbook. He gave us a recipe and a poem for Green bananas to put in the snack section and Mantecaditos (Puerto Rican butter cookies) to put in the desert section. We also helped him write his bio to put on our blog.

Luneil told us that she submitted a story to chicken soup. It was the memo she wrote about her daughter illness. She also submitted a Lottie Nora story to Lee& Low publishers.They are looking for minority writers.

Judy has done a lot of research for us finding contest, information about writing different stories for us submit. She brought her laptop so she could write up Bernardo’s Bio at the meeting so it could be submitted. She organized us a Halloween Party for us. We had bags of treats, drinks, Joan delicious cookies and oranges. As you can tell I like to talk about food.

Hope to see everyone at the next meeting November 14, 2013.

Submitted by

LMM