Did You Know It's US Constitution Week?

Preamble 

to the US Constitution

While visiting the Spencer Road Branch of my county's library yesterday, I was greeted by two friendly women dressed in colonial period costumes. Of course, that got my attention.

The women stood in front of a decorative display with a copy of the US Constitution available for visitors to sign. They told me they were members of the Daughters of the American Revolution and informed me that September 17-23 is US Constitution Week. I didn't know that!

They told me they were relatives of veterans who fought in the Revolutionary War.

I mentioned that several years ago I wrote a script about George Gatty, one of the veterans of the American Revolution, for the All Saints Cemetery walk.

The women told me they are attempting to locate gravesites of veterans of the Revolutionary War, so I told them where George is buried.

After I signed my name on their copy of the Constitution, they handed me a small copy of it, along with an American flag, and a bookmark with the Preamble to the US Constitution on it. There's a not-very-clear photo of the bookmark above.

I remember being required to memorize the Preamble and recite it in front of the class many years ago.

If you can't read the copy, here's what it says:

"WE THE PEOPLE of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Do you remember being required to memorize the Preamble and recite it? One thing I do remember is that I was nervous, even though I practiced it several times, and I didn't understand some of the words I recited, like domestic tranquility and posterity.

Do you still remember the Preamble by heart?

The Changing Face of Libraries

My, how libraries have changed over the years! What used to be quiet places to check out books and read in silence, are now hubs for socialization and a variety of activities.

My local St. Charles City-County Library (Spencer Road Branch) has something going on just about every day of the week. Knitting lessons, author talks, tax preparation classes, and healthy living seminars are a few events held on a regular basis. With a few clicks of a mouse, card holders can reserve the latest books, e-books, CDs, or DVDs or sign up for classes or events.

At the Spencer Road Branch Library last fall my sister and I attended a breast cancer awareness dinner co-sponsored by the library and a local hospital. The event included medical professionals and inspiring talks from survivors. Vendors, handouts, and a light meal were also available.

The following month we participated in an eight-week class for senior citizens on better balance co-sponsored by OASIS. We learned how to prevent falls, were shown how to safely preform exercises, provided healthy snacks, and were given workbooks to refer to after class completion.

At the end of 2016, my sister, one of my critique group friends, and I attended a “Book Buzz” presentation by a library marketing representative from Penguin Random House. Not only did the library provide snacks, the publisher gave each attendee a cool tote bag that read "Can't I'm Booked." Inside each bag was a free book. My free book was a copy of Always by Sarah Jio, which is on my to-be-read list.

During the slide show presentation, the publisher's representative highlighted books to be released in the fall of 2016 and winter of 2017. Along with displaying copies of dozens of book covers, he gave a description of each book. One element I was interested in hearing about was the print run of the books, which generally is an indication that a book  will be in high demand. After hearing about so many fascinating books, immediately after the presentation my sister and I hurried to the check-out counter to add our names on the reserve list for books that were especially appealing. 

Although libraries have changed from the time I received my first buff-colored library card when I was in grade school,  one thing has remained constant in my life, my love for libraries and books will never go out of style.

St. Charles City-County Library Local Author Event

Donna and Marcia

I'm a bit late posting this, but I wanted to make sure I shared these photos and gave a report on last month's local author event sponsored by the St. Charles City-County Library.

This is the first year the sixth annual event was held at the Spencer Road Branch in St. Peters.

In previous years the event was held at the Middendorf-Kredell Library in O'Fallon.

The change in location was because the number of authors has increased every year.


Pat, Marcia, and Donna

This year, with more than 100 mostly local authors (as well as many from as far away as Cape Girardeau and Rolla), the beautiful and spacious Spencer Road Branch was the perfect site for the event.


When I first read there would be more than 100 authors on hand, I wondered how the library would pull it off.



Doyle Suit

I was pleased and impressed how organized the venue was, with each writer assigned a specific table area and given help carrying their books and other materials inside.

The rooms were roomy and laid out to encourage foot traffic.

The snacks were plentiful, and the library gave away several door prizes.

The library staff and volunteers did an outstanding job with this special event.



Sioux Roslawski

It was my good fortune to sit next to two of my favorite writers, Marcia Gaye and Pat Wahler, both members to Coffee and Critique.

Doyle Suit, another C&C member, was not far from where we sat.


Sioux Roslawski and Candace Carrabus Rice were also nearby, and I was happy that I had time to chat with them and share a few memories and stories.

I'm looking forward to next year's event and meeting even more writers and readers. Hope to see you there too!

Candace Carrabus Rice

SELF-e Self-Publishing Opportunity from Library Journal




Image from the St. Louis County Library website

If you're a local author hoping to get your work into the St. Louis County Library's (and other libraries') e-book collections, here's something you might want to check out. 

According to the SLCL website, SELF-e is "a discovery platform designed to expose your ebook(s) to more readers via public libraries locally and nationwide."

This initiative is a collaboration between Library Journal and BiblioBoard. Depending on the outcome of a rigorous review process by Library Journal, the SELF-e program permits local authors to upload their e-book: into Library Journal's SELF-e Select collection or (if not selected for the Library Journal's SELF-e Select collection) into the Indie Missouri collection.

Note: From what I read in the FAQs, there is no cost to participate -- but authors do not receive royalties either.  The chief benefit is getting your work recognized.

So, if you're looking for exposure (other than from frostbite) for your e-book, you can find complete details in the FAQ section, along with a link to the terms of agreement.

Read Saint Louis Presents Missouri Author Daniel Woodrell

 

 

If you live in or around the metro St. Louis area, you might want to mark your calendars for a special event sponsored by Read Saint Louis on Thursday evening.

 



Read Saint Louis is a community-wide initiative developed by developed by the St. Louis area library systems to encourage St. Louisans to read and discuss great books.

On Thursday, October 11, Read Saint Louis will recognize Missouri native Daniel Woodrell for his distinguished literary achievement. Woodrell is the author of Winter's Bone, The Outlaw Album, Woe to Live On, and several other memorable books.

Woodrell's country noir novels feature unforgetable characters and are set largely in the Missouri Ozarks. The acclaimed author has been "compared to William Faulkner and Cormac McCarthy . . . (and) is widely considered one of the best and most distinctive fiction writers in America."

 

Woodrell is scheduled to appear Thursday, October 11, 7:00 p.m. at the St. Louis County Library Headquarters Auditorium, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd.St. Louis, MO 63131.

Thanks to critique group pal Berta Rosenberg for sending me an e-mailing about Woodrell's appearance. Baring any last-minute homework assignments or projects for the grandkiddos, I'm going to try and attend this special event.

 

 

Ask the Authors at Kisker Branch Library in St. Charles

This Saturday, October 23, from 11:00 a.m. till 12:30 p.m. I'll be one of the authors featured in an "Ask the Authors" event at the Kisker Road Branch Library, 1000 Kisker Road in St. Charles.

I'm not sure what to expect. It's been described as being similar to speed dating (I've seen that on TV), except participants will talk about books and writing. On the promotional materials I'm listed as an article writer and my last name is misspelled, but that's okay--I can talk about writing articles, essays, and short stories, as well as editing, book reviewing.

Here is a list of participating writers: Dakota Banks, Bobbi Smith, Wilfred Bereswill, Bill Mueller, Lou Turner, Alice Muscany, Sarah Whitney, Nick Nixon, Fedora Amis, Judy Moresi, and Donna Volkenannt (me),

Authors have been asked to bring books to sell. I have a few copies of Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Gift of Christmas, which has my essay "Unexpected Joy." I'll also bring along copies of A Cup of Comfort for Military Families with "Welcome Home," and maybe a few other anthologies which contain my essays and stories.

Even if no one buys any books with my essays in them, it will be an opportunity to meet readers and writers, so I'm looking forward to participating. To read more about this event and others at the St. Charles City-County Library, visit their website http://www.youranswerplace.org/

Meet the Authors at Middendorf-Kredell Library in O'Fallon

Today in St. Peters, MO: Partly cloudy, high 65 degrees. It was lovely yesterday; I'm hoping for a repeat. Michael is now officially a "deer hunter." Walt took him over the weekend to our farm in Osage County to participate in his first Missouri Youth Hunt. Michael did not shoot a deer, but he got one shot off from his rifle.

On Thursday, November 19, from 4:30 to 8 p.m the St. Charles City-County Library District is sponsoring a special event for local authors, the "Meet the Authors Event" at the Middendorf-Kredell Branch Library, 2750 Highway K, in O'Fallon.

Some members of Saturday Writers will be there, including: Joy Wooderson, Becky Povich, Dianna Graveman, David Lee "Kirk" Kirkland, Louella Turner, and Donna Volkenannt (Hey, that's me!). Vicky from Main Street Books in St. Charles will be there, too.

I will be signing copies of books in which stories of mine appear: A Cup of Comfort for Christmas, A Cup of Comfort for Women, A Cup of Comfort for Military Families, and Mysteries of the Ozarks. Refreshments will be served. Hope you can make it!

Sara Nielsen, Manager of Community Branches and Adult Programming for the St. Charles City-County Library District, e-mailed that local authors can sign up to participate until November 5 or when the spaces are filled, "whichever comes first." So, if you're in the metro St. Charles area and want to participate, e-mail Sara at snielsen@stchlibrary.org or call (636) 441-2300, extension 1519, but do it quickly because space is filling up.

Meet the Authors at Kisker Road Branch Library

Today's weather for St. Peters, MO: It's another hot one outside, but what do you expect for the Midwest in July?

If you live in St. Charles County or the metro-St. Louis area, here's an author event you might want to check out.

As part of the St. Charles City-County Library District Meet the Authors Series, on Thursday, July 9 from 7:00 p.m to 8:30 p.m., the Kisker Road Library 1000 Kisker Road, St. Charles, MO, will host three Chicken Soup for the Soul contributors.

Speakers include Saturday Writers member Becky Povich, as well as local writers Tammy Goodsell, and Theresa Sanders.

This author event is co-sponsored by Main Street Books in St. Charles and Friends of the Library. Each contributor will read one of their Chicken Soup stories and talk about their writing methods, including where they get story ideas.

This event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale, and speakers will sign copies of their books at the conclusion of the reading and discussion. Click on the St. Charles City-County Library link for details, or call the Kisker Road Branch Library at 636-447-READ.