Christmas Already?

As we were having our meeting at Le Madeleine this evening an obnoxious "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" was playing so loudly that we couldn't hear. This reminded us that time of time year is just around the corner, folks. We don't write or live in a vacuum and Christmas is traditionally the time we satisfy our basic human need for the community of our dearest friends and hold a party.

With that in mind Jan has once again graciously agreed to host this year's Christmas party at her home on December 3 at 5 pm.

Attendees are asked to prepare a demonstration of a Christmas talent and I'll leave it to others to write what "The Ghost Of Favorite Talent Of STWG Christmas' Past" was and comment about it here. The talent can be serious or humorous. It can be a simple reading.

Also, each person is asked to bring a gift related to a literary title (or maybe a character). We set a $20 limit on the item. It should be noted that thievery has been a problem in the past with the aforementioned items and no final vote was taken in this matter, so I'll leave it on the conscience of the individual(s) in question and assume we'll take a vote on this on the night of the party.

Lastly, some folks are bringing food and a tentative food list is shaping up. I think we have Tracy down for desert, Katie for brisket or ham, Jan for gumbo, Andree for salad, Mark for cranberry something, and Scott and Bev for vegetables. If you'd like to bring something, please just add a comment or let Jan know.

I think that's all I have so, God bless us every one.

Jan and Andree at LA Book Fest

Because we won the Country Roads Magazine fiction contest, Jan and I will be on a panel where we'll discuss our stories and, I suppose, writing in general. I think our panel is around 1:00 in the state library. If anyone out there wants to be my date to the Friday night party, send a current picture and the name of the restaurant you'll take me to afterwards. I'll get back with you. --just kidding!

September Meeting and Celebration!

Congratulations to Katie!

At last Thursday's meeting, we celebrated Katie's success in landing a contract for the publication of her Cuban stories. I can't wait until her book comes out so that I can read them again! Each one is like a little gem!

After toasting to Katie, we critiqued Jan's story "Only You" and Andree's poems, which are part of the Art and the Word project at Southeastern.

BIG NEWS!!!!!

NEWS ALERT!!!

KATIE HAS SIGNED A BOOK CONTRACT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA PRESS FOR CUBA ON MY MIND TO BE PUBLISHED BY THEM. WE HAVE A CELEBRATION A'COMING FOR SURE!!!!

Details will follow at the meeting I'm sure.

Congratulations Megan!

Megan has a new baby boy--Dylan Hunt Eddy--born July 7, 2009!

July Meeting Canceled

Since so many people are otherwise occupied in July, the meeting will be rescheduled for August. We'll have to decide the exact date when we find out our fall schedules. Tracy and Andree need to send their stuff. Happy summer!

Gautreaux's New Story

Tim Gautreaux's new story is in this month's New Yorker. It's called "Idols" and is available online. Too bad I bought a copy at Barnes and Noble before I knew this. However, so far, the five bucks is worth it. Classic Gautreaux. Great use of language. Absorbing. Here's the link:

http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/features/2009/06/22/090622fi_fiction_gautreaux

Andree and Jan's Stories Online

http://countryroadsmagazine.com/

June Meeting and Celebration

From the top: Jan, Jan and Andree, Karen, Mark, Bev (our hostess), Tana (visiting from Gulf Coast), Tracy w/patty melt, Katie and Karen

A BOOK of Verse beneath the Bough,

A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread—and Thou

At the meeting or in the Wilderness—

Either place were Paradise enow!

See you Wednesday night!

Jan and Andree's stories can be read at http://www.countryroadsmagazine.com/index.php

Great pictures and comments by Moira Crone.

Something Delicious This Way Comes

Being a New Orleanian by birth, I like to eat. I mean really like to eat, as in sitting-in-a-restaurant-at-lunch-talking-about-what-we're-going-to-have-for-dinner eat. So, I'm excited to discover that the annual selection for One Book One New Orleans: A Campaign For Literacy And Community is Sara Roahen's Gumbo Tales: Finding My Place At The New Orleans Table. The book is as much as a salute to culinary N.O. as a celebration and farewell the city for the author. The reading period is September 1, 2009 through the end of October and various events are in the planning stages. I just know some of them are bound to be DEE-LIC-IOUS. So, put down that fork and pick up a copy.

Last year's selection was Tom Piazza's City of Refuge.

BIG BUCKS!

The second annual Tennessee Williams Fiction Contest is now available to enter. First prize is $1,500, plus publication in The New Orleans Review, hotel, air fare, and VIP pass worth $500. Second prize is $500,festival pass, and public reading; third is $200, pass, and reading. You can get the details on how to enter on the web site www.tennesseewilliams.net. Please pass this on to any aspiring authors who might want to enter. With two winners this month, who knows, maybe our group can do it again!

Johnny Too Good

I've posted a new journal entry on my web site about all the dogs we've owned beginning with Pee Wee, the brown and white mutt we owned when I was four. Of course, it's a little bit about writing, too.

I can't wait to get a Country Roads. Can we post the photos and stories here? I heard a rumor that invites to famous authors, Jan and Andree, are already pouring in.

I Wish My Writers Group Was Here

This would be a great place for a retreat for us. A long drive, yes, but the house has five bedrooms--Arts and Crafts period decor, a fancy chicken coop, waterfalls and swimming holes nearby, lots of nooks and crannies to write in, beautiful porches and decks, deep in the woods. I want a chicken coop like this one in the picture. By the way, this is just south of Chattanooga in Cloudland, GA.