Sharing our news with you, and your good news with one another

Winter 2009/10

JOIN US!: Coming to a Town Near YOU!
PUBLISHED, LAUDED, AND APPLAUDED: NaNoWriMo Winners!
HOW NOW, BROWN COW?: Poetry Ensemble Contest

 

JOIN US!

Workshops, Intensives, Retreats, and Community

1) . . . In Cross Creek (Gainesville area), Writing Marathon

On Saturday, January 23rd, join us at a lovely private home in Cross Creek--just around the bend from Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' home! We'll celebrate the new(-ish) year with a full-day Writing Marathon where, from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., all writers will be invited to work/play with fresh writing prompts and exercises as they create new pieces or develop works-in-progress. The cost for the day, $125, includes breakfast and lunch.

2) . . . in Dunedin (Tampa area) at the Dunedin Fine Art Center, The Writer's Date

On Saturday, February 13th, writers are invited to come play and create at the inspiring Dunedin Fine Art Center: Here's an opportunity for writers at all levels of experience--and folks just looking to increase their creative mojo--to jump in with both feet and write in a collaborative, creative, encouraging space. We'll meet from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuition is $50 for DFAC members and $80 for non-members.

Contact  DFAC to register.

3) . . . in Boca Raton (South Florida), Writing Marathon, with Critique Option

On Saturday, February 20th, join us at a private home in Boca Raton for a Writing Marathon where, from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., all writers will be invited to work from writing prompts and participate in an Amherst Artists & Writers-style response session to end the day perfectly! The cost for the day, $150, includes breakfast and lunch.

Critique Option: Workshop attendees have the option of submitting up to 20 pages of a work-in-progress  for in-depth written critique prior to the workshop date.

Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 407-644-5163 for more information about these events.

PUBLISHED, LAUDED, and APPLAUDED

Woodstream Writers' Latest Triumphs

Novel Entertainment

1) Mark the date! Julie Compton invites all Woodstream pals to help celebrate the release of her second novel, Rescuing Olivia, at a launch party/booksigning at UrbanThink! Bookstore on Friday, February 5th, at 6:30 p.m. Julie promises "party" will be the operative word!

In Rescuing Olivia, a Florida biker finds himself plunged into a horrible nightmare when his girlfriend, Olivia, mysteriously disappears from the hospital after a suspicious motorcycle accident. What begins as a search for answers becomes a desperate race against time that takes him all the way from his Florida home, to the quaint New England town of Olivia's youth, and to the wild, haunting African savannah of her birth, where he's forced to confront his own past if he is to have any chance of rescuing Olivia from hers.
 
We can't wait, Julie! But since we have to, we'll visit you at Julie-Compton.com.

2) New-to-Woodstream writer Lisa Rast has conquered November--and completed the first draft of her 51,536-word novel, Siren Song, in twenty-nine NaNoWriMo days. You can read about Lisa's experience on her BlogSpot blog at Reading, Writing and Musing.

3) Our own If-I-Only-Had-a-Dime-For-Every-Kitty-I-Support, SciFi/Fantasy/YA novelist Mary K Swanson is crossing the NaNoWriMo finish line even as we type this (with Bert-Cat helpfully draped across our own keyboard).

Mary K wrote, "Today is the 29th day of NaNoWriMo 2009, and I have written 46,557 words of a science fiction novel titled Ephemeral. I'd be home free if I could figure out how to write the last 3,443 words.

"Whatever the fate of my word count, I highly recommend NaNoWriMo. Thirty days of encouragement, fellowship, and the need to turn out 1,677 words EVERY SINGLE DAY has been great for both my discipline and my confidence. I'm thinking of setting up a word count graph where I can track the progress of my next novel.

"Best thing: Tomorrow night, plot willing, I'll have a complete first draft."
You can catch up with MK at her blog, The Writing Wench.

From the entire Woodstream community, a standing O to MK, Lisa, and all of the rest of you who took the 50k-word annual challenge. Everyone else, be sure to check out NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)--and start planning your outfit for next November's headlong dash.

Articles of Inclusion

1) Joan Okun, Middle Grade novelist and Wednesday Morning Woodstreamer has been spreading the love, penning a wonderful series of articles for Heritage Florida Jewish News. If you haven't had a chance, make sure you catch an edition in which Joan profiles a Jewish community member, exploring how her subject's childhood and adult experiences, both religious and otherwise, have influenced their values and inspired their work.

It's a mitzvah, Joan. Thanks for it.

2) But that wasn't all for Wednesday Morning writers: Geri Throne wrote a wonderful My Word piece, "Too Big for the Neighborhood," for the Orlando Sentinel which ran on Sunday, September 13th.

Thanks, Geri, for fighting the good fight!

3) And Joan Mansson, long-time WS pal and librarian-without-peer has been adding her bit to the world of words. Writing from her new home in Santa Fe, NM, Joannie has created a few articles that reflect her wide-ranging interests.

Take a look at these: 
http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Walk-a-Puppy
http://hubpages.com/hub/Language-of-the-Sneeze
http://hubpages.com/hub/Creating-a-Paper-Tapestry

If you can't hop a train bound for the State of Enchantment, visit Joan at JoanMansson.com

Blog Party

1) Woodstream's own editing partner/pal--and wonderful creative writer--Tom Wallace has made a name for himself. Or, rather, he's made a blog for himself with his name in it! Creating Tom Wallace details Tom's writing life and includes the writers, writings, and events that inspire him. Take a gander (or a goose). If you don't laugh, we'll eat our favorite, red wool stocking cap.

2) Also a fan of Tom's, Mary K "The Champ" Swanson invites you to visit Writing Wench: Plotting Something Since 1963 where you'll find MK yakking about writing: the process of it; the struggle to make a living with it; "and other things that are shiny." Wear sunglasses.
 
3) Earlier, we mentioned Lisa Rast's blog, Reading, Writing & Musings, where she writes about her experiences as a fledgling writer. Go catch an earful of Lisa's fresh voice!

4) And for the coolest of book reviews sites, mosey on over to Laura Toro's blog, Read, Write, Post. Not only does Laura have the totally best haircut of any Monday Night Woodstreamer ever, but she does a fine job of winnowing chaff, leaving us only having to read the wheat! Laura tells us to expect a review a week. Who really needs Oprah??

5) Need to give the fine print a rest? Picture this: You, driving your monitor on over to visual artist Maria Reyes-Jones's blog, HotArtNow, for random notes from the road and the painter's studio. Nice view, huh?

1) October's Flights of Fantasy at One Flight Up Café in Mount Dora sold out . . . again! Two Woodstreamers were finalists in the contest: Gerry Wolfson-Grande and Lisa Rast. And the winners--based on audience vote--were Melinda Janes for "Lulu," Woodstream's favorite crime publisher, JL Rehman, for "Halloween Patrol," Michael Suib for "Partying is Such Sweet Sorrow," and Janet Craig for "The Horror of Mount Dora."

Keep your eye on the following sites for information about upcoming Flights of Fantasy events: PartnersinCrimePublishers.com and WritersOneFlightUp.com. And here's one last round of our heartiest applause for all the finalists--and our thanks for a wonderful evening!

2) Speaking of Gerry Wolfson-Grande, more congratulations are due: Her “Not a Good Night at Ford’s,” already a published contest winner (see the Winter/Spring 2009 edition of Pulse Magazine) just took first place in the Florida Writers Association's Royal Palm Literary Awards Flash Fiction category! Good for you, Gerry. I'm sure Abe would have liked your version better than the one in the history books!

Pretty Poems (and the Good-looking Poets Who Make Them)

1) Long before we made our way to the Woodstream, poet Kelle Groom was making beauty out of words--and sharing it with us. Now, we're so happy to celebrate Kelle's latest book, Five Kingdoms, published as part of the Van K. Brock Florida Poetry Series (2009), which received this praise from Denise Duhamel: "Groom makes the unbearable bearable through lists, ekphrasis, wild associations, and ritual. Her poetry cross-references politics, biology, history, domesticity, and war. Her work glows with her spirit and intellect, explodes with joy and grief. Five Kingdoms sings with what it is to be human."

2) Some of the members of Poetry Ensemble of Orlando have poems appearing in the upcoming anthology Poetry to Feed The Spirit: Poets of Central Florida, to be published in late 2009 by CHB Media. The PEO poets include the following: Russ Golata ("After Words," "Bring Back Moon," "Innoventions"); Estelle Lipp ("Like Clay," "Neptune's Daughter"); Alice R. Friedman ("Faith," "Beginnings"); and Leslie Halpern ("Scent Sated," "Winter Dance"). Woodstream gives Namaste Hands to some of our very favorite poet people. Hugs, y'all!

3) Also, Russ Golata has recently had his poem "The Whole Story" published on-line in Autumn Leaves. Go! Read! Enjoy! Manga!

HOW NOW, BROWN COW?

Publishing Information, Tips, and Opportunities

1) Poetry Ensemble of Orlando: 2010 ANNUAL POETRY CONTEST

Poetry Ensemble of Orlando invites poet participation in their annual poetry contest. They welcome all forms of original, unpublished poetry, 32 lines or fewer. Entries must be received by March 5, 2010, with prizes to be awarded as follows . . .
First Prize:  A collection of poetry books, certificate, and invitation to read the winning poem with Poetry Ensemble of Orlando during an April 2010 performance for National Poetry Month.
Second Prize: A poetry book, certificate, and invitation to read the poem with the Ensemble.
Third Prize: A certificate and an invitation to read the poem with the Ensemble.

Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for rules and submission information. 

2) Two Friends Publishing's next anthology, Journey's End, is scheduled for publication in 2010, and they are actively soliciting submissions for inclusion. Guidelines are available at their website, TwoFriendsPublishing.com where you'll also find info on ordering their past publications and current news.

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Well, that's all for this issue!
Remember to let us know what's news . . . and keep up the good work!

Jamie Morris,
Woodstream Writers