Central Pennsylvania Writers Organization

2008 Bram Stoker Award winners

2009-06-17T18:45:00.003-04:00

Superior Achievement in a NOVEL-DUMA KEY by Stephen King (Scribner)
Superior Achievement in a FIRST NOVEL-THE GENTLING BOX by Lisa Mannetti (Dark Hart Press)
Superior Achievement in LONG FICTION-MIRANDA by John R. Little (Bad Moon Books)
Superior Achievement in SHORT FICTION-“The Lost” by Sarah Langan (Cemetery Dance chapbook)
Superior Achievement in an ANTHOLOGY-UNSPEAKABLE HORROR edited by Vince A. Liaguno and Chad Helder (Dark Scribe Press)
Superior Achievement in a COLLECTION-JUST AFTER SUNSET by Stephen King (Scribner)
Superior Achievement in NONFICTION-A HALLOWE’EN ANTHOLOGY by Lisa Morton (McFarland)
Superior Achievement in POETRY-THE NIGHTMARE COLLECTION by Bruce Boston (Dark Regions Press)

Macavity Award Nominees

2009-05-04T20:42:00.002-04:00

Mystery Readers International awards the Macavity for works published in 2008. The awards will be presented in October at Bouchercon in Indianapolis. And the nominees are:

Best Mystery Novel:
Trigger City by Sean Chercover (Wm. Morrow)
Where Memories Lie by Deborah Crombie (Wm. Morrow)
The Dying Breed (UK)/ The Price of Blood (US) by Declan Hughes (John Murray/ Wm. Morrow)
The Draining Lake by Arnaldur Indridason (Minotaur)
Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz (Simon & Schuster)
The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny (Minotaur)
The Fault Tree by Louise Ure (Minotaur)

Best First Mystery:
Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferraris (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (Knopf)
Death of a Cozy Writer by G.M. Malliet (Midnight Ink)
Calumet City by Charlie Newton (Simon & Schuster)
An Innocent Client by Scott Pratt (Onyx)
A Carrion Death by Michael Stanley (Harper; Headline)
The Blood Detective by Dan Waddell (Minotaur)

Best Nonfiction/CriticalAfrican American Mystery Writers:
A Historical & Thematic Study by Frankie Y. Bailey (McFarland)
Hard-Boiled Sentimentality: The Secret History of American Crime Stories by Leonard Cassuto (Columbia Univ.)
How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries by Kathy Lynn Emerson (Perseverance Press)
Scene of the Crime: The Importance of Place in Crime and Mystery Fiction by David Geherin (McFarland)
Edgar Allan Poe : An Illustrated Companion to His Tell-Tale Stories by Harry Lee Poe (Metro)The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective by Kate Summerscale (Walker)

Best Mystery Short Story:
"The Night Things Changed" by Dana Cameron (Wolfsbane & Mistletoe, ed. by Harris & Kelner, Penguin)
"A Sleep Not Unlike Death" by Sean Chercover (Hardcore Hardboiled, ed. by Todd Robinson, Kensington)
"Keeping Watch Over His Flock" by Toni L. P. Kelner (Wolfsbane & Mistletoe, ed. by Harris & Kelner, Penguin)
"Scratch a Woman" by Laura Lippman (Hardly Knew Her, Wm. Morrow)
"Between the Dark and the Daylight" by Tom Piccirilli (EQMM, Sep/Oct 2008)

Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery:
A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen (Berkley)
Stealing Trinity by Ward Larsen (Oceanview)
The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss (Thorndike/ Random House UK)
Veil of Lies by Jeri Westerson (Minotaur)
Company of Liars by Karen Maitland (Michael Joseph/ Delacorte)
Nox Dormienda by Kelli Stanley (Five Star)

Congratulations to all the nominees!

2008 Shirley Jackson Award Ballot

2009-04-17T19:10:00.000-04:00

The Shirley Jackson Awards will be presented on Sunday, July 12th 2009, at Readercon 20, Conference on Imaginative Literature, in Burlington, Massachusetts. Elizabeth Hand, Readercon Guest of Honor, and author of Generation Loss, which won the 2007 Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novel, will act as host.
NOVEL
Alive in Necropolis, Doug Dorst (Riverhead Hardcover)
The Man on the Ceiling, Steve Rasnic Tem and Melanie Tem (Wizards of the Coast Discoveries)
Pandemonium, Daryl Gregory (Del Rey)
The Resurrectionist, Jack O’Connell (Algonquin Books)
The Shadow Year, Jeffrey Ford (William Morrow)
Tender Morsels, Margo Lanagan (Knopf Books for Young Readers)
NOVELLA
Disquiet, Julia Leigh (Penguin/Hamish Hamilton)
"Dormitory," Yoko Ogawa (The Diving Pool, Picador)
Living With the Dead, Darrell Schweitzer (PS Publishing)
The Long Trial of Nolan Dugatti, Stephen Graham Jones (Chiasmus Press)
"N,", Stephen King (Just After Sunset, Scribner)
NOVELETTE
"Hunger Moon," Deborah Noyes (The Ghosts of Kerfol, Candlewick Press)
"The Lagerstatte," Laird Barron (The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy, Ballantine Books/Del Rey)
"Penguins of the Apocalypse," William Browning Spencer (Subterranean: Tales of Dark Fantasy, Subterranean Press)
"Pride and Prometheus," John Kessel (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, January 2008)
The Situation, Jeff Vandermeer (PS Publishing)
SHORT STORY
"68° 07’ 15"N, 31° 36’ 44"W," Conrad Williams (Fast Ships, Black Sails, Night Shade Books)
"The Dinner Party," Joshua Ferris (The New Yorker, August 11, 2008)
"Evidence of Love in a Case of Abandonment: One Daughter’s Personal Account," M. Rickert (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Oct/Nov 2008)
"The Inner City," Karen Heuler (Cemetery Dance #58, 2008)
"Intertropical Convergence Zone," Nadia Bulkin (ChiZine, Issue 37, 2008)
"The Pile," Michael Bishop (Subterranean Online, Winter 2008)
COLLECTION
A Better Angel, Chris Adrian (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux)
Dangerous Laughter, Steven Millhauser (Knopf)
The Diving Pool, Yoko Ogawa (Picador)
The Girl on the Fridge, Etgar Keret (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux)
Just After Sunset, Stephen King (Scribner)
Wild Nights!, Joyce Carol Oates (Ecco)
ANTHOLOGY
Bound for Evil, edited by Tom English (Dead Letter Press)
Exotic Gothic 2: New Tales of Taboo, edited by Danel Olson (Ash-Tree Press)
Fast Ships, Black Sails, edited by Ann and Jeff Vandermeer (Night Shade Books)
The New Uncanny, edited by Sarah Eyre and Ra Page (Comma Press)
Shades of Darkness, edited by Barbara and Christopher Roden (Ash-Tree Press)

Writer's Digest Annual Writing Contest

2009-04-17T19:00:00.001-04:00

For 78 years, the Annual Writer’s Digest Competition has rewarded writers just like you for their finest work. We continue the tradition by giving away more than $30,000 in cash and prizes!
Win a trip to New York City !
GRAND PRIZE: $3,000 cash and a trip to New York City to meet with editors or agents.Writer's Digest will fly you and a guest to The Big Apple, where you'll spend three days and two nights in the publishing capital of the world. While you're there, a Writer's Digest editor will escort you to meet and share your work with four editors or agents! Plus, you'll receive a free Diamond Publishing Package from Outskirts Press.
Entry Deadline: May 15, 2009.
For entrants paying with a credit card, we will accept manuscripts submitted online. Manuscripts in the script categories must be submitted via regular mail.

Compete and Win in 10 Categories!
Inspirational Writing (Spiritual/Religious)
Memoirs/Personal Essay
Magazine Feature Article
Genre Short Story (Mystery, Romance, etc.)
Mainstream/Literary Short Story
Rhyming Poetry
Non-rhyming Poetry
Stage Play
Television/Movie Script
Children's/Young Adult Fiction
Entry Fee: Poems are $15 for the first entry; $10 for each additional poem submitted in the same online session. All other entries are $20 for the first manuscript; $15 for each additional manuscript submitted in the same online session.
Add $5 per manuscript to all entries postmarked after May 15, 2009. Entries postmarked after June 01, 2009, will not be accepted.
PRIZES RULES JUDGING & NOTIFICATION QUESTIONS PRIVACY PROMISE FAQs ENTRY FORM
PRIZES
Grand Prize: $3,000 cash and a trip to New York City to meet with editors and agents.
You'll spend three days and two nights in NYC and a Writer's Digest editor will escort you to meet with four editors or agents of your choice! (Includes airfare within the U.S., meals, transportation and related expenses.)
First Place: The First Place Winner in each category receives $1,000 cash, a manuscript critique and marketing advice from a Writer's Digest editor or advisory board member, and $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books.
Second Place: The Second Place Winner in each category receives $500 cash, plus $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books.
Third Place: The Third Place Winner in each category receives $250 cash, plus $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books.
Fourth Place: The Fourth Place Winner in each category receives $100 cash.
Fifth Place: The Fifth-Place Winner in each category receives $50 cash.
Sixth through Tenth Place: The Sixth- through Tenth-Place winners in each category receive $25 cash.
First through Tenth Place Winners also receive a copy of the 2010 Writer’s Market Deluxe Edition and a one-year subscription (new or renewal) to Writer’s Digest Magazine.
11th through 100th Place: All other winners receive distinctive certificates honoring their accomplishment.
For entrants paying with a credit card, we will accept manuscripts submitted online. Manuscripts in the script categories must be submitted via regular mail.
Entry Deadline: May 15, 2009
Late Entry Deadline: June 01, 2009 (Add $5 per manuscript or poem to Entry Fee(s))
78th Annual Writer's Digest WRITING COMPETITION COLLECTION Sponsored by Outskirts Press
The Grand Prize manuscript, the First Place manuscript in each category, and the names of the top 100 winners in each category will be printed in a special competition collection, published by Outskirts Press. Use the coupon on the entry form to order your copy or purchase a copy online using a credit card. (Publication date: November 2009. You are not required to purchase the collection to enter the competition.)
RULES
The Categories:
You may enter as many manuscripts as you like in each of the following categories:
Memoirs/Personal Essay, Magazine Feature Article and Children's/Young Adult Fiction: 2,000 words maximum.
Mainstream/Literary Short Story and Genre Short Story: 4,000 words maximum.
Inspirational Writing: 2,500 words maximum.
Rhyming Poem and Non-rhyming Poem: 32 lines maximum.
Stage Play Script or Television/Movie Script: Send the first 15 pages in standard script format, plus a one-page synopsis. Complete scripts are not eligible. Scripts—original or written for any series in production on or after January 1, 2009—are eligible; adaptations will not be accepted.
Preparing Your Entry:
If you are submitting your entry via regular mail, the entry must be accompanied by an Entry Form, and the required entry fee (credit card information, check or money order made payable to Writer's Digest). If you are entering more than one manuscript, you may mail all entries in the same envelope and write one check for the total entry fee; however, each manuscript must have its category indicated in the upper left-hand corner.
Your entry must be original, in English, unpublished* and unproduced, not accepted by any other publisher or producer at the time of submission.Writer's Digest retains one-time publication rights to the Grand Prize and First Place winning entries in each category to be published in a Writer's Digest publication.
* Entries in the Magazine Feature Article category may be previously published.
If you are submitting your entry via regular mail, the entry must be typed on one side of 8-1/2 x 11 or A4 white paper. Scripts and poems may be either double-or single-spaced; all other manuscripts must be double-spaced. Online entries may lose double-spacing. This WILL NOT result in disqualification. Your name, address, phone number and competition category must appear in the upper left-hand corner of the first page—otherwise your entry is disqualified.
BE SURE OF YOUR WORD COUNT! Entries exceeding the word or page limits will be disqualified. Type the exact word count(counting every single word, except the title and contact information) at the top of the manuscript.
Mailed entries must be stapled

JUDGING & NOTIFICATION
Every entry will be read by the judges. Judges' decisions are final. Judges reserve the right to re-categorize entries.
Entries must be postmarked by June 1, 2009. We cannot return submitted manuscripts so keep a copy for your records. To receive notification of the receipt of your manuscript, send a self-addressed stamped postcard along with your entry. Please note that it may take up to 30 days after the deadline for all entries to be opened and sent to the judges.
The Grand Prize Winner and a guest must agree to travel (flying from the same city) during March, April or May 2010. The editors or agents who meet with the Grand Prize Winner are under no obligation to read, buy or represent the Grand Prize Winner's work. For more information on the free Diamond Publishing package from Outskirts Press, visit http://www.outskirtspress.com/diamondpublishing.php.
The following are not permitted to enter the contest: employees of F+W Media, Inc., and their immediate family members; Writer's Digest contributing editors and correspondents as listed on our masthead; Writer's Online Workshops instructors; and Grand Prize Winners from the previous three years.
Top Award Winners will be notified by mail before October 19, 2009. The top 10 winners in each category will be listed in the December 2009 issue of Writer's Digest. All 1,001 winners will be listed in the 78th Annual Writer's Digest Competition Collection (published by Outskirts Press) and at www.writersdigest.com after the December issue is published. Prizes/awards certificates will be mailed by November 9, 2009.
QUESTIONS?Please review the competitions FAQs. For additional questions, contact Writer's Digest Competitions at (715) 445-4612 x13430 or email writing-competition@fwpubs.com.
PRIVACY PROMISE
Occasionally we make portions of our customer list available to other companies so they may contact you about products and services that may be of interest to you. If you prefer we withhold your name, simply send a note with your name, address, and the competition name to: List Manager, F+W Media, Inc., 4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236.
FAQs
Q: Is it okay to have illustration pictures on the cover?A: Please send the text only
Q: If there is a word count, how many words per page am I allowed?No preference
Q: How large of print is allowed?No preference
Q: Are pen names allowed?Pen names are fine. Write your pen name on all forms etc. so there is no mistakes on credits. Please be advised that we only need your real name if you are chosen as a winner (in order to issue prizes).
Q: What if I am not a U.S. resident?WD writing competitions are open to non-U.S. residents as well. Please refer to the entry form and guidelines. All entry fees are due in U.S. Dollars.
Q: Is there an age limit for entrants?No
Q: What if I wanted to submit only part of my novel into the competition ( to stay with in the maximum number of words)?If you submit a portion of a novel please understand that it will be judged as a complete story, not part of another work, so it needs to a complete story in and of itself.
Q: Can the same title be entered in multiple categories of the WD Annual?Yes, it can
Q: When will winners be notified?Top Award Winners will be notified by mail before October 1, 2009. The top 10 winners in each category will be listed in the December 2009 issue of Writer's Digest. All 1,001 winners will be listed in the 78th Annual Writer's Digest Competition Collection (published by Outskirts Press) and at www.writersdigest.com after the December issue is published. Prizes/awards certificates will be mailed by November 9, 2009.
Q: What are the word count requirements for each category?Memoirs/Personal Essay, Magazine Feature Article and Children's/Young Adult Fiction: 2,000 words maximum.Mainstream/Literary Short Story and Genre Short Story: 4,000 words maximum.Inspirational Writing: 2,500 words maximum.Rhyming Poem and Non-rhyming Poem: 32 lines maximum.Stage Play Script or Television/Movie Script: Send the first 15 pages in standard script format, plus a one-page synopsis. Complete scripts are not eligible. Scripts—original or written for any series in production on or after January 1, 2009—are eligible; adaptations will not be accepted.
Q: What are possible category definitions? Genre Fiction: Stories that fit into a specific classification such as mystery, romance, science fiction, horror or fantasy.
Mainstream/Literary Fiction: Serious, non-formulaic fiction that does not fit into a genre.
Personal Essay: This is an article that is distinguished by and draws its power from its personal viewpoint. In such pieces, the author examines an issue, event, experience, place or idea and offers an opinion or some other reaction to it. The goal of an essay may be to explain, justify or persuade. The last is most often the goal of newspaper op-ed essays. Examples of other types of essays may be found in such magazine columns as Redbook's "A Young Mother's Story" or Writer's Digest's "Chronicle".
Feature Article: This is an article that is "reported"—the writer has researched a topic and explains the topic to readers. Often there is a "service" angle—a clear benefit that readers can take away from the article. There are many types of feature articles: how-to articles, personality profiles, Q&A's, informational pieces, travel articles. They may include events drawn from the author's personal experience, but the focus of the article is on providing readers with information. Features make up the bulk of most magazines' editorial offerings.
Inspirational: An article, essay or story with an explicitly religious, spiritual or otherwise inspirational focus. An article that's suitable for Guideposts or St. Anthony Messenger, for example, would be inspirational. An essay on how the power of Christ, (or Buddha, or Allah or Vashti) touched your life would be inspirational. A story about the power of religion, the power of prayer, or the power of the universe would be inspirational.
Rhyming Poetry: When the last word of some or all lines rhyme with each other. Ask yourself: What is the rhyme scheme of my poem? If you don't understand what that question means, your poem is probably non-rhyming. Most formal poetry is considered rhyming poetry (such as sonnets or ballads).
Non-rhyming poetry: When there is no recognizable or purposeful rhyme scheme or structure. Free verse falls under this category.
*Judges reserve the right to re-categorize entries.
Q: How do I order books published by F+W Media?www.fwbookstore.com/category/writers-digest
Q: How do I subscribe to Writer's Digest?visit www.writersdigest.com and click on the link
Q: Are there other writing competitions?Yes! Visit www.writersdigest.com/competitions for other competitions for writers
ENTRY FORM
To submit your entry online, visit our secure online entry form.
To enter via regular mail, use the printable form, and send it with your manuscript and entry fee to:
78th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition 700 E. State Street Iola, WI 54990

Little Bitty Book Bytes

2009-04-15T17:00:00.000-04:00

Little Bitty Book Bytes is a brand new publishing company looking for authors of great short stories. We are looking to publish 3,000 - 5,000 word stories on a new website we are launching this summer. We are interested in stories of different genres, focusing on thrillers, mysteries, romance, fantasy and humor. No erotica, please. We are paying flat fee of $0.05 / word for publishing online. At the end of every year it is our plan to publish an anthology of the best short stories from our site that year and if an author's work is selected for that, further payment will be determined. If you think you have a well written short story, please send an introductory letter and your story to info@littlebittybookbytes.com

2010 Pen To Press Writer's Retreat

2009-04-12T11:06:00.000-04:00

Announcing the 2010
Pen to Press Writers' Retreat!
This is a one of a kind writers' retreat you simply can't pass up! Come excited and leave inspired, ready to improve your writing and get that manuscript published!
Pen to Press Retreats are five intense, hands-on, inspiring days that teach participants how to shape and present a saleable manuscript. You'll learn in a variety of settings, from workshops to one-on-one mentoring sessions to seminars. To that end, you will write and revise, have portions of your manuscript critiqued, and revise some more. This is a remarkable opportunity to transform your writing!
To top it off, throughout the last two days of each retreat, all of our participants are given exclusive, one-on-one time with agents and editors to whom they can pitch their work.
With this retreat under your belt, who can stop you?
ActivitiesParticipants will be assigned to a class of 20 and a team instructor. (Our instructors are all successfully published authors, many New York Times and U.S.A. Today Best-sellers, award-winners, and all are excellent teachers.). With this group, you will spend five days working on specifics to improve your manuscript. During classes and panel discussions, you'll learn details about characterization, plot, dialogue, pacing, voice, marketing, pitching, contract negotiations, etc., all of it geared around your specific work.
Agents and editors will be on hand the last two days of the retreat, and they'll be there to spend one-on-one time with you, our participants . . . writers who now have a polished pitch for a promising work!
We've even established a payment plan to help participants who are accepted into the 2010 program stretch the cost of the retreat out over time.
Join Us
The dates for the 2010 Pen to Press Writers Retreat are May 25-29, 2010, and the location will be in beautiful downtown New Orleans, Louisiana.
Interested writers must submit a two page synopsis of a completed novel or novel in progress along with the first five pages of that novel. From those submissions, a maximum of 160 participants will be selected.
To find out more about the 2010 Pen to Press Writers' Retreat, visit our website at www.pentopressretreat.com. There you'll find in-action videos and testimonials from past participants. So jump on over to the website and have a look. And we hope to see YOU at the 2010 PPW Retreat!
WWW.PENTOPRESSRETREAT.COM

Write Your Novel In Nine Months!

2009-04-09T20:13:00.000-04:00

Jonathan Maberry's WRITE YOUR NOVEL IN NINE MONTHS

DATE/TIME: Begins Thursday, May 14; 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Nine 2-hour sessions meeting once per month, plus reserved monthly peer critique group

FEE: $200.00

LOCATION: The class will meet in the coffee shop at the Borders Bookstore in Valley Square Shopping Center (on Route 611 just north of Street Road/132 in Warrington). The store is in the center of the mall.
DESCRIPTION: This writing-intensive program takes that idea that's been knocking around in your head all these years and gets it onto the page. This 9-month course covers every aspect of writing and developing the novel, including: Building your platform; Creating a flexible book outline; Creating Real Characters; Developing the story idea; Developing various versions of the storyline synopsis; Writing and Finishing the First Draft; Identifying Your Market; Insider tips on the writing business; Learning how to find an agent and/or publisher Outline the Novel; Preparing for Revisions; Preparing for Revisions; Publicity; Searching for Agents and Publishers; Setting a Practical and Possible Daily Word Count; The writing contract step-by-step; Time management for writers Working the markets; and much more.
BONUS is that both a literary agent and a film agent will be scouting the finished books for potential clients!

INSTRUCTOR: Jonathan Maberry is a multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author of PATIENT ZERO, GHOST ROAD BLUES, BAD MOON RISING and several other novels including the official movie adaptation of the Benecio Del Toro & Anthony Hopkins remake of THE WOLFMAN. Jonathan writes for Marvel Comics, Universal Pictures, ABC Disney, among others. He is also the author of numerous short stories, nonfiction books, plays and over 1200 feature articles for major magazines.

TO REGISTER FOR THIS PROGRAM: Contact Jonathan via e-mail at jonathan_maberry@yahoo.com, or via phone at 215-808-0945 to reserve your spot today. If responding by e-mail include the name of the program in the subject line, and provide us with your contact information.

CHECK/MONEY ORDER: Payable to: Jonathan Maberry — PO Box 84 — Southampton, PA 18966

PAYPAL payments can be made to cryptopedia07@yahoo.com

CASH: During class only; please don't send cash via mail.

Guide To Literary Agents

2009-04-09T18:44:00.002-04:00

This is a link that every serious writer should check out!
http://share.mkt32.net/mson/2009/04/09/meTGffpiXFKD/index.html

2009-04-05T15:49:00.002-04:00

If you happen to be down the shore in the Wildwood area in June, the Seventh Annual North Wildwood Beach Writers Conference at the Wildwoods Convention Center is scheduled. The bummer is that it's during the week (Tuesday and Wednesday, June 2nd and 3rd.). This year, speakers are Suspense Novelist Patricia MacDonald; Young Adult novelist Carol Plum-Ucci; Dan Poynter; Charis Conn, contributing editor Harper's Magazine; and actor, playwrite Gayle Stahlhuth - her topic is "Writing for the Stage", and several more presenters. You can access their new website: www.nwbwc.com and/or email the coordinator Carolyn Miller at nwbwc09@gmail.com.

Professor Keene

2009-04-04T22:19:00.002-04:00

Attention all writers

Bram Stoker award winning author Brian Keene will be teaching an eight-week course on writing and selling your novel at York College of Pennsylvania, (York Campus) beginning this September. If the class is successful then he will begin teaching it every semester. More information as it becomes available.

I became aware of this the day after I spoke to a class of writing majors at that same, York College. I think its wonderful that York College exposes their students to real-world sucess stories. A trait that sets them apart from most colleges.

Mr. Keene is not affiliated with the Central Pennsylvania Writer's Organization, however he is my good friend. He has a wealth of knowledge that he has always shared with anyone who asked. I have personally learned a great deal from him, and I know you can, too. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn from one of fiction's brightest new stars.

The Hourglass is Full

2008-11-02T19:53:00.004-05:00

Greetings, fellow jugglers of time and intention.

October's meeting was like a grande cinnamon mochaccino, with an extra shot. There were nine writers in attendance.

Since Rich Barley was busy trolling through some swamp in South Carolina, it was up to Ralph, our brand-new VP, to take the helm. And what a fine surrogate he turned out to be.

First order of business was the new order of officers. Carol Causey has taken over the treasury, trimming my own duties down to simply secretary. Todd Watson has relinquished his title in public relations in order to explore the long-abandoned office of Education Coordinator.

Alison Beard has taken on the task of alerting the public to our presence. Already, her efforts have managed to attract our newest member, Dave Patton.

Dave hails from Lebanon area, although he did a long stint with Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York. Now that he is free to focus on writing, we look forward to seeing what develops.

And speaking of discovering potential, our next meeting, on November 20th, will be entirely devoted to UnTapped Talent, a new publishing company in Hershey.

Rena Wilson Fox and Maria Montesano Boyer will take center stage to talk about their unique approach to the business. Also on hand will be Arthur L. Ford, the author of Shunned, UnTapped Talent's first published book. It promises to be a full two hours!

Another opportunity to consider in the near future is the 2009 CPWO Writing Contest. The official rules and further details will be announced to the general public in January. We decided not to have a regular meeting in December.

Ralph managed to steer us through an entire hour of business discussion before we even noticed the clock. Now, that's good!

Somehow, we still had time to hear Carol's latest adaptation of her "Because I Was Late" poem.

Ed Guion was able to read two whole stories from his fourth edition of Curmudgeon Vignettes. The first was about a guy named Harlen and his discount dentures.

The second story recounted an experience he had as a soldier during the Korean War. It's the tale of his brave attempt to fashion a leather jacket from a pattern, with minimal instruction. Diane said his words "capture the feeling of every girl who ever took Home Ec."

Todd read a creatively educational piece about cut glass production which also led to a discussion about character description.

Alison shared a letter she wrote to Keith Olbermann of MSNBC, nominating her 82-year-old grandmother for "Worst Person in the World" just because she's afraid to vote. We all agreed with her grandmother, that Alison should win "Worst Person" just for writing the letter.

After spending almost two whole hours with his newfound friends, Dave Patton decided it was safe to share the beginnings of a story he wrote for a writing class.

The emphasis was on setting a scene. He took us, quite vividly, through the mind of a glamorous woman, into a fancy hotel room and "the morning after." Whew!

Folks, the energy and ability that exists in the body of the Central Pennsylvania Writers Organization today, is bursting at the seams. I won't tell you how many hours it took me just to condense our two hour meeting into this letter. I even stayed up to watch the clocks fall back.

But writing is a lot like the hourglass. Just when you think it is empty, one turn, and you are overflowing anew.

Much more to come, Rita

GETTING THE WORDS OUT

2008-10-13T08:24:00.002-04:00

Greetings, fellow voyagers in a valley of veritable verbiage.

Just a word to remind you that our meeting is this week, on Thursday, October 16th. I understand that is also National Boss Day.

And speaking of national bosses, there is no finer time to experience the power of words than in the final months of an election year.

Eloquent speeches are written and delivered with pride. Issues of great importance are brought to the forefront and debated with the utmost civility.

Seasoned news reporters work around the clock to ensure that we the people are immersed in nothing but the truth - no matter how often it changes.

And then, there is the ad campaign.

On September 11th, this year, the candidates decided to keep the airways free of all campaign ads, as a gesture of respect. They determined that such material would be somehow offensive on such a meaningful day.

My question is, if they can consider campaign ads offensive on a day that represents our solidarity as a nation, why can't they be considered offensive EVERY day?

Well, my friend, be sure to circle November 4th on your calendar.That's the one day YOU get to say whether you approve of their message.

And, even if you can't make it to this month's meeting, you will definitely want to put a star on November 20th. That is the day we plan to welcome the innovative owners of UnTapped Talent.

Visit www.UnT2.com to find out more about their first book release and the author, who will also be joining us.

Keep looking forward, and we hope to see you soon.

Rita

BEFORE THE FALL

2008-10-03T01:11:00.002-04:00

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

IN THE END

2008-09-01T14:03:00.004-04:00

Greetings, fellow riders on the dusty trail.

August has headed off into the sunset and summer is soon to follow. Here's hoping the memories they have left behind are good ones.

Our meeting on the 21st was short but sweet. There were six in our circle around the old fire ring.

Despite the pressures of starting a new job last month, Rich Barley has been working to define his role as our president.
He began our meeting by handing out an agenda.

After a mundane single-paragraph treasurer's report, we got to the happy task of welcoming Ralph Bieber as our new vice-president.

Rich explained that Ralph was appointed, rather than elected, to fill the spot left empty after Rich got railroaded into being our new president. (Just think of all the money that was saved by not having to run a campaign.)

Rich also handed out copies of a set of operational by-laws to be used until we can establish a more permanent version. If you would like a copy, let us know. I have also posted them on our blog, under the list of officers.

Another topic for discussion was the formation of committees that will be needing volunteers. Think about whether you would like to be involved in working on our website, finding a speaker for one of our meetings, helping with the writing contest, or helping to write our permanent by-laws.

After making it through the business end of our written agenda, Carol Causey (immediate past-president) surprised us all with the pinkest and most brightly orange-colored cupcakes I have ever seen. Then, she forced everyone to sing Happy Birthday to me.

Yes, it's true, I am a whole year older. But it's even more remarkable that it has been a whole year now since the birth of our website.

It's actually funny how much I have in common with our website:
- Sometimes, I feel neglected.
- I often question the purpose of my existence.
- And, if I just sit there and don't change anything
and never contribute anything to the world
around me, I will get really old, really fast.

The CPWO officers have been making an effort to get together every month between meetings. Our last officers meeting inspired an idea which could also become a part of our website.

Consider the possibilities of a continuing saga written through the collaboration of a cohort of coauthors. Carol and I each read our contribution to the collection so far.

Amber Buck brought a story to share with us. It followed the adventures of a girl and her imagination on a quest to escape the heat of summer. Amber also shared with us a copy of her first official letter of rejection.

We all gave Amber a literary cheer and told her to eat another cupcake and get right back out there.

Mike Bender was also back among us. He read the intro to a rather intriguing novel about a young man of mysterious origins.

Rich gave us each a copy of the beginnings of a story about a dragon and a group of children. The rest of the tale will be told by the readers, in response to his question, "If you were a dragon, what would you do?"

Our meeting came to its conclusion with plenty of time left on the clock. But, instead of running off to grab that extra hour of summer, our little group seemed to linger.

The conversation flowed between us like a meandering river as we each reminisced about such things as where we were on September 11, 2001. I guess it was on our minds.

In the end, it just goes to show you that with or without an agenda, we are just good folks talking about the stuff that makes us all the same . . . in the end.

I hope, by now, you have remembered to flip your calendar. Pencil us in for the 18th this month. And if you haven't registered to vote yet, what are you waiting for?

Your voice matters. -Rita

What Really Bugs Me About August

2008-08-02T07:47:00.005-04:00

Greetings, writers,

I just wanted to put a bug in your ear and make sure you remembered to change all your calendars to August. And, while you're there, I thought I'd pest you into reserving the 21st for CPWO at 7:00 PM.

August is the noisiest of months. It seems the crickets and cicadas are competing in a deafening crescendo.

Such ruckus is only rivalled by the rantings of every TV, radio, and newspaper ad, riddling us with back-to-school rhetoric . . . reminding us that summer is coming to an end.

But, what bugs me most are the unfinished projects - the ones that sit there on your shoulder and dangle their untied shoes where you can just about see them.

And then, the voices start. They say, "When are you going to finish that manuscript you started? Why haven't you sent that poem off to be published? And what about that letter to your poor old aunt?"

I think that's why I look forward to our meetings every month. If I say I agonized over the last word in the fourth paragraph for three hours, only to give up and scrub the grouting on the bathroom floor instead, I know someone there will probably understand why it made me feel better.

So, as summer sinks more quickly into the horizon each evening and you find yourself sinking as well, I hope you'll consider a lift from your friends, at least to the second floor of the Palmyra Municipal Building.

-Rita-

Because She Was Late

2008-06-29T13:41:00.003-04:00

Greetings, my friends. I hope you can allow yourselves a few minutes for yet another report.

This month, nine weary writers, eventually, came to rest in the ol' Rec Room.

Amongst the old faces, we were happy to find someone new. Her name is Judith Soondar and she has joined our group in hopes of learning more about how to get her work published. She had a poem published in HACC's Literary Journal in February of 2002. She has also been a winner in the Lebanon Community Library Poetry Contest.

We took a little time to introduce ourselves, for Judith's sake, but it's always helpful to get to know each other better.

Meena talked a bit about the history of writers in her family. Her daughter is apparently following family tradition by being published in India by Random House of London.

Todd Watson said he is doing some ad writing for a member of his family. He is looking for fresh ideas on how to advertise sports bars and banquet halls.

Amber Buck told us she is already working on the seventh chapter of her novel about a young woman's journey. Amber's biggest concern, now, is how to get the book started on its journey to a publisher.

Rich Barley continued to blossom in his leadership role by reading us a few inspiring quotes. Through Isaac Asimov, he encouraged us to "persist" in sending our work out, "again and again." And from Saul Bellow he read that rejection can teach us to "rely on" our "own judgement" and to say, "To hell with you."

Mysteriously, this month, none of our horror writers were present. Indeed, poetry seemed to be the genre of the day.

Meena read two short poems. One was about middle age, the other about spring. Each painted a picture with an almost haiku preciseness.

Margie Cullen was able to join us this time. She brought with her a collection of poetry pertaining to Persephone, the perennial queen of perdition. Margie has persevered in her quest to find a publisher to appreciate this great work.

Rich shared with us a poem about peace which he originally entered in a contest for INSPIRIT, the Literary Journal of Baughman Memorial United Methodist Church. Although he did not place among their winners, his poem will be appearing in their publication.

But, the most memorable moment of the evening was generated by our beloved president, Carol Causey, my new literary hero!

The truth is, no one really noticed when Carol wandered in. Perhaps it was because there was no flurry of apologies or excuses about traffic. She merely sat among us, as prophets often do.

As the discussion of publishers, web sites, and meeting places wound down to a lull, Carol said she would read to us the poem she had written, in the parking lot, before coming up to the meeting. It began quite simply, "Because I was late . . ."

My friends, I do not exaggerate when I say I think the universe itself stopped to listen as Carol read her poem. She spoke of a world re-discovered, where it's okay to stop and admire the grapes growing and not hurry the dog, because time doesn't matter when you're already late.

Here's to Carol, the siren of serenity, who knows the true meaning of "no wine before its time." Here's to you for reminding us that these are the lazy days of summer and it's best to stop fretting and let ourselves live. Perhaps, we may even find something to write about!

For the month of July, there will be no meeting at the ol' Rec Room. So, if you show up, we won't be there. The next meeting will be on August 21 at 7 PM . . . or . . . whatever time you can get there.
-Rita-

Reflections on the Gene Pool

2008-06-15T13:03:00.002-04:00

Greetings and Happy Father's Day,

It felt just a little eerie when I heard the news of Tim Russert's passing just a day after my plea for book titles about fathers. There is probably no better example of the power to inspire through writing.

In 2004, Tim's book,
Big Russ & Me Father and Son: Lessons of Life,
touched so many people, he felt the need to publish a second book a few years later.
Wisdom of Our Fathers Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons is a collection of letters and e-mails from the 60,000 readers who reacted to Big Russ & Me.

Whether your experience with your own father was good, bad, or non-existent, I believe we have all been affected by our fathers.

Below is the list of titles received for the question: If you wrote a book about your father, or about being a father, what would the title be?

The list is short but the titles speak volumes.

Between a Rock and a Hard Head
or
My Foundation - My Dad by Carol Causey

The Silent Samaritan by George Appelt

Baby Daddy by Ralph Bieber

A Mortal Hero: Portrait of a USCGC Campbell Survivor
or
The Voyage from Angry Seas to Mary's Place
by Margie Cullen

The Weary Dreamer by Rita Morrow

I hope your day is meaningful and I look forward to our gathering, once again, this Thursday.

-Rita-

FATHERS KNOWN BEST

2008-06-12T01:45:00.006-04:00

Greetings, fellow writers.

June's meeting is only one week away (the 19th) but I also wanted to remind you that Sunday is Father's Day.

What does the title of father mean to you?
If you wrote a book about your father, or about being a father, what would the title be?

On a recent episode, Ellen DeGeneres interviewed Usher, an R&B star known best for his songs about the "player's lifestyle". He talked about how becoming a father has changed his life.

His newest album, Here I Stand, reflects his newfound sense of responsibility to stand beside his wife and be a father who is there for his son. As an African-American man, he feels he can have a positive influence on a whole generation of fans.

Jim Nantz, CBS sportscaster, just published a book about his father entitled Always By My Side: A Father's Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other. His father has been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for the past thirteen years.

CBS Sunday Morning, this past week, included a tribute from Jim to his father. He said, "In purely financial terms, my father was not rich, but he had a portfolio that was overflowing with friendships. My dad was never famous but everyone he met remembers his smile, warmth, and kindness."

Such a description reminds me of one of CPWO's own "founding fathers", Charles W. Byrd. In his book, The Days of my Life, Charles gives "homage to many of the individuals who have touched my life" or, as he calls them, "soul-prints".

Many of the stories in his book speak of his role as a father. The very first story, however, is about the "life-shattering void" that he felt at a young age, when his own father died. He paints the picture of a boy spending hours sitting beside his father's grave, listening for his voice. In the end, he says, "my conversations with my beloved father enabled me to develop a stronger, more understanding relationship with the FATHER of us all."

As writers, whether it be the lyrics to a song, a tribute to a loved one, or simply the many stories that have made us who we are, we have the power, or perhaps even, the responsibility to inspire others.

So, if YOU wrote a book about your father, or about being a father, what would the title be?

Dare to share. -Rita-

P. S. Last month, we compiled a list of titles for Mother's Day. If you would like to participate in
this month's Father's Day list, send your title to prose-pros@hotmail.com by Saturday,
June 14, before midnight, and we will post it right here.

IT IS

2008-05-26T07:05:00.003-04:00

It is sparkling in the eyes of a child as she waves her flag to the beat of the marching band.

It is glowing on the face of the young man with the bugle as his cheeks puff out to a familiar tune.

It is hanging from the windows and the porch posts and streaming from antennas of pickup trucks and motorcycles.

It is nestled in the arms of the families who have only a photo or a medal to hold on to.

It is what we sing about and fight about and have the right to write about.

It is a dream not yet perfected and a hope to keep alive.

It is up to each and every one of us or none of us survive.

-Rita

FINDING OUR SPACE

2008-05-20T17:09:00.002-04:00

Greetings, fellow travelers in an ever-changing world . . .

This month, eleven writers found their way to our haven in the upper room.

The call to order came in the form of a question. "Does anyone object to Rich Barley becoming our vice president?"

There were no objections. Rich's first duty was to take over the meeting since Carol, our president, was late!

Several subjects needed to be discussed. Our usual space will not be available for the meeting in July. Meena is making arrangements for us to meet in the community room of her apartment complex near the Hershey Country Club. There will be food! Directions are to be posted, soon.

Details for our annual writers contest will also be posted soon. We would like to start accepting submissions in January of 2009. Give it some thought.

Membership dues are $15.00 and payable by the end of the year. What membership means is still evolving. It is up to all of us to define it. Further development of the web site will be a big part of the discussion. Please e-mail your suggestions and ideas.

Carol, who is happy to have such a capable vice president, read her monthly letter from the president to be posted on the web page. She had lots of thoughts on how we are adjusting to a rapidly changing world.

Meena announced that she has been given her own column in the Dauphin County Edition of 50plus Senior News! She will also be able to include her web site, www.tumbledowntales.com. If you haven't been to her site yet, go there. It's a nice place to visit.

A discussion began about making your presence known on the internet. Last month, Ralph Bieber and George Appelt attended a meeting of the Horror Writers Association, where much of the emphasis was on the importance of establishing your own space on the Web. Facebook is one option, but if you ever plan on having your own web site, now might be a good time to secure your domain name.

George, who was planning to attend a writers conference and make his pitch to an agent, told us of his adventures in creating a last minute web site. You can see the fantastic results of his efforts at www.georgerappeltjr.com.

Energy in the room was high as Mike Bender began reading a second installment to the short story he started last month. This set off a lively discussion on how to handle a deviation from reality, the importance of researching your subject, "how long should a short story be, anyway" and how to cut down on the number of words.

George also attempted to read an updated version of a short story from last month. The conversation continued. We decided to make an effort in future meetings to bring copies of what we plan to read, so comments can be written down and none of this good stuff gets wasted.

Ralph let us in on a top secret project, but if I tell you about it, one of his characters will have to kill ya.

As usual, Ed Guion came to our rescue. This time, with an enlightening poem. The subject was the Model A Shay which is a replica of the original Model A. Apparently, there's a whole club full of people who own them and Ed's poem will appear in the July/August edition of the club's publication.

Mostly, this month, we learned the value of having "a safe place to come and try things", as Rich defined our gathering.

Just as we come with different levels of writing ability, we are also finding ourselves in a world that requires us to overcome our varying degrees of intimidation when we face that great entity, the internet.

Be brave. You are not alone.
-Rita Morrow
Secretary CPWO

The Mother of All Titles

2008-05-11T11:28:00.005-04:00

Greetings, Writers.

The question was:

If you wrote a book about your mother, what would the title be?

For some the answer came quickly,
for others it was agony.
Some said there was just no time,
others, just no interest.
'Tis the nature of the business.

The answer is:

A Quiet Strength by Rich Barley

When Crickets Sing by Margie Cullen

How to Raise a Motherless Child by Rita J. Morrow

O Mother, Where Art Thou? by Alice Rowan (Rita's sister)

She Named the Liesas Kudas Rozinante by Irena Rusenas

Superwoman by Todd Watson

Mother's Day is Like a Baseball Glove by Charlie Yordy

A Mother's Steadfast Love by Roselle Zubey

Please, God, Don't Let Me Be a Copy of Her by Carol Causey
Oh, My God! I am My Mother! (also by Carol... but as a mother)

1. Go Play in Traffic
2. All She Could, Everything She Knew: All for Us
3. Chasing Plates
4. Trusting My Grandfather's Daughter by Alison Beard, in four volumes

Hopefully we all thought a little bit about what a title means for a book. Ralph Bieber had a suggestion for a title . . . but it had to be censored. Probably would have sold a lot of books, though.

I hope you all have a good day. Thanks to all your mothers for getting you here! Hope to see you, soon.

~ Rita, Secretary, CPWO

@>--;--

COPY THIS...

2008-05-10T05:22:00.003-04:00

As a community of writers, many of us, however wishful, do not depend soley on our creative abilities as a way to make a living. But, recently, it has been brought to my attention that there is a bit of legislation in the works which merits some consideration from us all.

The Orphan Works Act was originally introduced to Congress in 2006. An "orphan work" is a work that is protected by copyright but whose owner cannot be located. The Orphan Works Act is an attempt to regulate the outcome of potential situations which arise from the use of such works by others.

The 2006 version of the Orphan Works Act was not passed, largely due to the organized outcry of the creative community.

This year, there are two revised versions of the bill.

It seems to me, anyone who hopes to benefit from copyright laws, should be concerned with any attempts to change their future.

If you would like to further educate yourself, there are plenty of sites devoted to this issue.

John Keeley, an attorney who served as counsel to the Intellectual Property Subcommittee of the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, has a site set up to follow the progress of this legislation. http://www.orphanworks.net/

If you go to http://orphanworks.blogspot.com/, you will find an active blog set up by the Stock Artists Alliance with links to several other groups who are devoted to keeping discussion alive.

If you are interested in reading the actual bills, you can download them from http://www.georgesheldon.com/docs/The_Orphan_Works_Act_of_2008.pdf
and
http://www.georgesheldon.com/docs/The_Shawn_Bentley_Orphan_Works_Act_of_2008.pdf

Think about it. Talk about it. Pass it on... Rita, Secretary CPWO

Murder, Mystery, and the Return of a Ghost

2008-04-20T17:52:00.004-04:00

Greetings, fellow wielders of pen and keyboard!

Twelve writers converged at our meeting place this month.

Carol brought us to order with the reading of her newest Letter from the President.

We also did a bit of "spring cleaning" this month. We dicussed several issues which needed some attention, such as our annual writing contest, collection of membership dues, and where we are going to hold our meeting in July. Our usual meeting place will be otherwise occupied. Check back for more updates as we finalize the details.

With the tedious technicalities out of the way, the true business of our meeting was free to unfurl.

Charlie Yordy grabbed us unexpectedly and dragged us back to 1888. He took us to London's East End and spared nothing in his description of the murders attributed to a man named Jack.
Chilling.

George Appelt brought us back to the present with a few pages from a short story about two brothers who own a landscaping business. He took us inside the head of a man who is cultivating a bumper crop of bitterness and regret.

All this exploration of the darker side of humankind was indeed a fitting backdrop for an appearance by our long-lost celebrated author, Ralph Bieber. Better known as H. R. Howland, a ghost writing duo, he made us proud with the success of his first novel, Ashes. It was after the release of his second novel, The Epicure, that our friend seemed to drop out of sight.

Ralph informed us that he has since written the obituary of H. R. Howland and moved on. I say, rest in peace, dear H. R. And long live Ralph Bieber!

Mike Bender, Ralph's son-in-law, joined us. He read the beginning of his first novel. We were all moved by his depiction of a man rendered helpless at his dying wife's side.

Ed Guion broke the heaviness of the evening. He read to us from a greeting card he sent to his son to celebrate the completion of his PhD. (I didn't know PhD actually stands for "Piled higher and Deeper.") He also took us on a madcapped car trip in a story called Alaska Bound.

Keeping us in adventure mode, Todd Watson read about the Stourbridge Robbery Excursion. It's a short train ride complete with masked gunmen. He informed us on how to get the best snacks and where to hide your money from the bad guys.

Meena Thottam read an informative essay on how Christianity came to India, long before most people think. If you have any doubts, just look up St. Thomas.

Amber Buck took us to an intimate setting in a cabin with her Nanna. As a girl on the beginning of the journey of her life, she left us all thinking about our souls and how to keep them intact.

Rich Barley had good news about finding an editor to work with him on his latest project.

Since Ed just happened to bring his ukulele again, we decided to end the evening with a song. Everyone joined in on the chorus, "I'm goin' home, where my Labrador retriever waits for me."

Folks, it just don't get any better than this. Rita

IMPORTANT DATES IN APRIL

2008-04-10T01:37:00.008-04:00

Tuesday, April 15, 2008 Tax Day
Follow the rules. Be on time. Be accurate.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

CPWO Meeting, 7:00 pm

FOLLOW YOUR HEART.
Be there.
Be inspired.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 Election Day
Follow your conscience. Be a good citizen. Be counted.

A Roomful of Talent

2008-03-31T07:47:00.002-04:00

March's meeting had the energy of spring, with talent bursting forth from every corner. There were thirteen in attendance.

Carol Causey, our president, was back after a long winter season. (Her husband had surgery on his Achilles tendon, so you know she was busy.) She announced that she will be posting a Letter from the President each month on our website as a way of greeting those who find us here.

Meena Thottam was also back this month. Another one of her many stories, "Love When Snow is Falling," was published in the March issue of 50plus Senior News, Dauphin County Edition. She also read to us a celebration of Easter.

George Appelt, whom we have missed for several months, announced that he has finished his third novel. He read the first chapter to us.

George Sheldon, our co-founder, returned for the second month in a row. After listening to George Appelt, he could barely contain his enthusiasm. He had to declare, then and there, "George Appelt will be published!" He emphasized, though, that it is not just talent that will get him published, but the fact that he is so disciplined.

Another blast from the past has found her way back to us. Margie Cullen was an original charter member from 1985. She reminisced a bit about how much CPWO meant to her then, and expressed her happiness to have found that we are still here. I hope we can all grow together.

Rich Barley shared with us some frustration with his fictional character, Pastor Gerste. In 2006, Rich published a collection of his stories called Home to My Village. He has more material already written, but asked the group for some advice on the best way to present it. One of the advantages of a group like ours is you will not walk away without fresh ideas.

Alison Beard, who began attending our meetings just this year, read to us her first rejection letter. It's something to treasure, indeed.

Ed Guion brought his ukulele. After reading us a story about the assylum where he spent some of his childhood (not as a patient!), he entertained us with a song. The song was about a tomcat's unfortunate experience, from the cat's point of view.

The evening would not have been complete without the appearance of our very own Gary Gates. Ironically, at the beginning of the meeting, George Appelt and Carol told us they had just come from Borders where Gary's How to Speak Dutch-ified English, Wolume 2(Twoah), Adwanced Wersion was being prominently displayed.

It's a good thing we have such a large space in which to hold our meetings. Otherwise, I fear, so much talent could not have been contained in just one room. So, to our writers, well done. And keep it coming.
Rita J. Morrow, Secretary/Treasurer

March Meeting

2008-03-13T18:14:00.003-04:00

This month's meeting will be on the first day of Spring!

What a perfect time to think about growing and blossoming.

Come, fellow writers. Come with your creative spirits and let's talk about growing. Let's talk about where we want to go and who we want to become. The energy is within us. The seeds have
been waiting for a little warmth and nourishment.
Come be a part of our garden.
See you, soon. Rita

February Meeting

2008-02-26T16:29:00.000-05:00

Greetings Writers!

February's meeting was an interesting mix of old and new. There were seven in attendance.

Diane Hain entertained us with a colorful report on her participation in the "Celebrity" Milking Contest at the Farm Show. And her team won! She brought along her trophy... her very own galvanized milk pail.

Ed Guion has had several of his stories published in various magazines. We are proud. He read the story of how he fell in love with his wife, eventually, because of his love for a motorbike.

Todd Watson read the beginnings of a story about dealing with annoying neighbors... very sneaky.

Alison Beard, our newest member, read about three old bus tokens she wears on a necklace. She told us about her grandparents and the wealth of stories that need to be written. More to come.

Roselle Zubey, who hasn't been to a meeting since 2003, came to check us out. Welcome back! She read a touching story about a New York firefighter who needed to deal with his feelings about losing his own family members in a fire. I hope we will be seeing and hearing more from Roselle.

And talk about visitors from the past; our very own George Sheldon came to see how his old writers group is doing. It was George and his good friend Charles Byrd who created CPWO nearly 24 years ago.

If you want to know more about our humble beginnings, the history section of our website will be completed soon. You can also find out more about George and Charles by going to www.georgesheldon.com. But be patient... George just finished writing his 31st book and after he gets some rest, there could be much more to come.

Stay tuned, keep writing and remember our next meeting will be on the first day of SPRING! -Rita

www.centralpawriters.org

Annual Social

2007-10-27T12:30:00.000-04:00

Central PA Writers Organization annual social will be held on Thursday, Nov. 15 at Villa Rosa is located at 9916 Allentown Blvd. , Grantville, which is the intersection of Rt 22 and Rt 743. The phone number there is (717) 469-7171. It is an Italian restaurant which also features a brick pizza oven.This social is held in lieu of our scheduled meeting on the 3rd Thursday of the month. This will be our last meeting of the year.The next meeting will be Thursday, January 17, 2008.

Speaker for Sept. 20 Meeting

2007-08-29T18:03:00.000-04:00

Alice Rowan, from RowanTree Editorial & Production Services, will be speaking on Editing as Writing, Writing as Editing at our Sept. 20th meeting.

Alice S. Morrow Rowan has twenty years of experience as a production and copy editor, primarily of nonfiction. She worked in-house for Jossey-Bass, a division of John Wiley & Sons, on and off for about ten years, and has operated her own freelance business since 1994. She has been working at home in Lititz since June 2006.

Alice is a Pennsylvania native but spent fifteen years in San Francisco and four years in Washington, DC, before returning to her home state. She earned a bachelor’s degree in human services from the University of Scranton and has seven years of experience working for nonprofit organizations, including the Washington National Cathedral, where for two years she coordinated education programs such as lectures and short-term classes. Even though she reads for a living, she still reads voraciously for pleasure; she also journals and has been known to compose poetry.

Up 'n Running

2007-08-19T17:30:00.004-04:00

This blog is now up and running. We are currently researching the long history of CPWO.

If you have information about our history to share or if you would like to find out more about who we are today, contact Rita at
prose-pros@hotmail.com

Thanks!