BEFORE THE FALL

Greetings, fellow farers on autumn's wayward trail.

September's meeting was cozy, nestled into the last days of summer, when we still held our innocence near.

There were seven of us wrapped around the old wooden table.

Rich read through his list of business items, mostly reminders of topics previously discussed. Meena sent a note to say she got herself a brand-new knee. She hopes to be ready to show it off at our next meeting.

Alison Beard has returned to us after a long summer of Thursday night classes. She brought information about a new local company called UnTapped Talent, founded by Rena Wilson Fox of Hershey and Maria Montesano Boyer of Palmyra.

If you visit UnTapped Talent at www.UnT2.com, you will see that it is a "full-fledged publishing company, only on a smaller scale."

They were featured in the September 17, 2008 business section of the Lebanon Daily News. In the article, Rena Wilson Fox said, "Our goal is to find the incredibly talented authors lost in the mix and get their works out to the public."

Alison has contacted the company about our writers group and they have expressed interest in coming to a meeting. You won't want to miss this one, folks, so we'll keep you informed.

It was good to see Ed Guion, again. He read us a story about his exceptional ability to devour pastries as a young man and how his boss found a way to keep him fed.

The story is titled "Breakfast Appetite" and you will be able to read it in the July 2009 issue of GOOD OLD DAYS LOOKING BACK magazine.

Mike Bender read some from his novel about a man being pursued by people he didn't know, for reasons he didn't understand. Then, Ralph, who is Mike's father-in-law, told us about their recent vacation and how Mike was "pursued" across the sand by a hurricane named Hanna.

Amber read yet another playful story for children about the adventures you can have just by using your imagination.

Rich posed a question about personal writing habits. He explained that his new job involves a lot of time just driving in the car. Unfortunately, his most inspired writing usually comes with both hands on the keyboard . . . not the steering wheel.

Ralph, a master at cultivating horror in the minds of his readers, acknowledged his own struggle with uninvited "demons", when it comes to writing, lately.

The ensuing discussion took us down a variety of roads. We each have our own set of limitations, whether it be lack of time, lack of courage or just plain bad luck.

But when you put us all together in one room, the real reason we are there is usually the same. The only thing we can't do is not write.

In the weeks since our last meeting, the days have grown darker and chillier. And I'm not just talking about the weather.

But for those who can find their way to the table and sit among others who know what they feel, there is a warmth that glows, an energy that grows, and a treasure that no one can steal.

Rita