MWG Trivia Night: A Tisket, A Tasket, Coffee and Critique Donated Eight Baskets

In case you haven't heard, the Missouri Writers Guild is having a trivia night on Saturday, October 7th, at the First Congregational Church of St. Louis in Clayton, MO.

The details are on the flyer on the left. The writers in Coffee and Critique, the critique group I belong to, were informed of this by Marcia Gaye, our chapter's MWG rep.

Marcia mentioned the MWG was hoping to get each chapter to contribute a basket for the event's silent auction. Our small group of ten regularly attending writers was asked to donate items or cash to fill a basket.

With our writers group name of Coffee and Critique, we voted to go with a coffee and writing-related theme.

The response was outstanding. Our members donated enough items to fill not one or two or even three, but EIGHT baskets--almost one basket for each person in our group.

When I thanked Marcia for spearheading the MWG Trivia Night basket project, she responded with her usual humility, "It was a team effort."

She added that we had 100 percent participation. Marcia estimated the value of the eight baskets around $400!

Our generous contributors included: Sarah Angleton, Marcia Gaye, Jane Hamilton, Alice Muschany, Doug Osgood, Doyle Suit, Les Thompson, Donna Volkenannt, Pat Wahler, and Jack Zerr. A handful of our more talented members stayed after our meeting to assemble and decorate the baskets.

Les took photos of the baskets shown below. And I've been told Sarah did a marvelous job tying bows.

Donated items include a variety of coffees and teas, coffee mugs, two hand-made mug rugs, coffee-related items, tea cups and saucers, wine glasses, a bottle of imported German red wine, dark and milk chocolate (who doesn't love chocolate), scented candles, candle holders, several books written by our members, a copy of the Coffee and Critique anthology autographed by several contributors, journals, pens, office and writing-related items, baskets, ribbons, the Coffee and Critique brochure, and, DRUM ROLL, PLEASE:

TWO CERTIFICATES FOR DETAILED CRITIQUES (up to ten double-spaced pages) from our entire group.

Although I can't attend trivia night, I'll be there in spirit--and our critique group will be there in more than spirit--we will be represented by eight beautiful baskets.

If you attend MWG Trivia Night, please let me know how it went, and I hope you're high bidder on one of our baskets!

News from the World of Publishing . . . THE HAPPY LIFE OF PRESTON KATT by J. J. Zerr

Congratulations to Jack Zerr, one of my critique group writing pals!

If you look closely at the photo on the left, you'll notice three things:

The smile on Jack Zerr's face
The logo on his tee-shirt that says, "I love the smell of jet fuel in the morning."
And
The copy of his latest novel, "The Happy Life of Preston Katt."

Recently Jack generously handed out copies of his novel to members of the Coffee and Critique writing group, and I read my copy right away.

Zerr's military fiction novel, which opens on the Island of Oahu on December 7, 1941, is the story of Seaman First Class Preston Katt's heroic adventures during World War II.

As the story unfolds, we learn about the daily grind of Navy life, as well as Katt's struggle with guilt and insecurities and his strong and sustaining faith.

As a Navy combat aviator and Vietnam veteran, Zerr writes with authority and compassion. His vivid writing, strong characterization, and attention to detail make The Happy Life of Preston Katt a compelling read.

If you would like to read my complete review of Jack's latest novel, visit the Coffee and Critique blog.

Launch of Well Versed 2013 at the Unity Center in Columbia on July 14

 

The Columbia Chapter of the Missouri Writers' Guild has announced the launch date for release of the 2013 version of Well Versed. 

 

The launch will be Sunday, July 14 from 2-4 p.m. in the Founder's Wing of the Unity Center, 1600 W. Broadway, Columbia, MO. 

 

The Unity Center is tucked off of the main road in a residential neighborhood. Surrounded by trees, the Center is a peaceful place where wind chimes tinkle, squirrels scamper, and birds flit. Every time I visit the Center for a CCMWG event, I'm inspired to write. The Center is also easy to find.

 

 

The launch of Well Versed 2013 features:  

* author readings

* refreshments

* awards

* meet and greet of contributors

 

I'm honored that my essay, "Amo, Amas, Amat," was awarded second place in the Judge's Pick Essay category. I'm also excited to be in the same anthology with my writing friends from Coffee and Critique -- Marcia Gaye, Karen Guccione-Englert, and Jack Zerr -- as well as local writers Lynn Obermoeller and Sheree Nielsen.

 

Linda Fisher of Mozark Press does a fantastic job compiling and editing Well Versed. For a complete list of names of judges, contributors, and winners, visit the CCMWG blog.

 

If you're in the Columbia area and have some free time Sunday, afternoon, July 14, please stop by the Unity Center for the launch party.



Well Versed 2013 Cover Released

Hot off the press: Linda Fisher, managing editor of Well Versed, sent an e-mail yesterday announcing release of the cover (at left) for the 2013 issue. In her e-mail, she asked contributors to share the cover on their blogs.

Well Versed is an annual anthology compiled and published by the Columbia Chapter of the Missouri Writers' Guild. Each fall, CCMWG holds a contest inviting all writers (members and non-members) to submit short stories, essays, articles, and poems.

Judges for fiction, poetry, and nonfiction pick their top three selections, along with honorable mentions. In addition to the judges' picks and honorable mentions, other works of merit are selected for inclusion in the anthology.

For the 2013 issue, Velda Brotherton judged fiction submissions, Mark Pearce judged poems, and Deborah Marshall judged nonfiction entries. 

I'm honored that my essay "Amo, Amas, Amat" was awarded second place in the nonfiction category, and I'm excited to share ink with several writing buddies.

Three Coffee and Critique group members, who also belong to Saturday Writers -- Karen Guccione-Englert, Jack Zerr and Marcia Gaye -- have works in the anthology, as do Saturday Writers members Lynn Obermoeller and Sheree Nielsen.

The launch date for Well Versed 2013 is in June.