tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41983354409450570722024-03-14T05:14:52.213-05:00Donna's Book PubWriting advice, publication opportunities, and thoughts on books, language, and life from Donna Volkenannt, winner of the Erma Bombeck Humor Award. Donna believes great stories begin in a writer's imagination and touch a reader's heart. Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.comBlogger937125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-75277895797527583522017-10-31T23:09:00.001-05:002017-10-31T23:14:47.383-05:00Mysteries of the Ozarks, Volume V - Interviews with Lonnie Whitaker and Dr. Barri Bumgarner Here is the second installment of interviews with contributors who have stories in <i>Mysteries of the Ozarks, Volume V</i>, from Ozark Writers, Inc.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><b>Lonnie Whitaker</b> attended a two-room school in the Ozarks
and Missouri University Law School. He retired as district counsel for a
federal agency and now works as a writer and an editor. His novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Geese to a Poor Market</i>, won the Ozark
Writers’ League Best Book of the Year Award. His stories have appeared in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chicken Soup for the Soul,</i> regional
magazines, and anthologies. His children’s book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mulligan Meets the Poodlums,</i> will be published in 2017.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><b>Dr. Barri L. Bumgarner</b> is the author of a sci-fi thriller (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">8 Days</i>), a psychological thriller (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Slipping</i>) and a<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> YA
novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dregs</i>. Barri, an Assistant
Professor at Westminster College, has also published seventeen short stories
and hundreds of articles, both academic and teacher-education focused.
<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Other publications include “Why Not Me,” now being completed as a
full nonfiction manuscript. She has just completed a contemporary fiction
manuscript, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fifty Cents for a Dr Pepper. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><b>1. What sparked your
writing bug? </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><b>Lonnie: </b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Since I was a child I had
the notion that I could write, but I was "officially" bitten when I
submitted a short story to <i>Missouri Life Magazine</i> in 1999 . . . and they
bought it. A beginner's luck, perhaps, but it put me in the game.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<b>Barri:</b> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;">To quote Strickland
Gillilan, “I had a mother who read to me.” While most kids listened to Dr.
Seuss, I was hearing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Rubaiyat of Omar
Khayyam. </i>When I was 7, I created a chapbook called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Works of Bumgarner. </i>I’ve been writing ever since I can
remember<b>. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><b>2. Please summarize your story
in MOTO V</b>.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Lonnie: </span></b>A college student is called home because his mother has
been admitted to a hospital for an illness, which seems suspicious to him. He
suspected it was the recurring voices stemming from her experimental
cancer treatment. But seeing her fearful eyes made him almost afraid to ask.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b>Barri:</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;">This autobiographical
story is about my dad, who struggled with alcoholism, and how I learned about
his problem. I first drafted the story during the Missouri Writing Project in
2006 and decided it was too close to home to publish at the time. Now, it’s
time. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">3. Where is your favorite place
in the Ozarks? Please describe it. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Lonnie: </span></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">On the
Jack's Fork River, upstream from the Highway 17 bridge, there's a secluded
gravel bar across from a limestone bluff that shadows a deep swimming hole. The
spring-fed water is clear enough to see crawdads scurrying about, and there
aren't many canoes or tourists. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<b>Barri:</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;">I grew up in Lebanon,
and had many favorite places: Bennett Springs, Wehner’s Bakery (eating crème
horns with my dad), Lebanon Country Club (my summer hangout with Wilson and
friends). When I moved to Springfield to attend SMSU, I discovered Lake
Springfield. It holds a special place in my heart. </span><br />
<span style="color: #004000;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">4. What writing
accomplishment(s) are you most proud? </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><b>Lonnie:</b> Publication
of my novel, <i>Geese to a Poor Market</i>. It's a novel of the Ozarks,
with one leg that wants to boogie, and the other planted on a pew. Or,
"What do you get when you cross Norma Rae with Thelma and Louise?"
–Jim Bohannon, Westwood One Radio.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<b>Barri:</b> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;">When I published my
first novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">8 Days, </i>I was ecstatic
that my dad found out before he died. That was truly special. I’m also proud
every time my blog sparks conversation. There’s no point in having a voice if
you’re not willing to use it to spark change. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
</span><div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">5. Many of my blog visitors are
also writers. What writing advice can you share with them? </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Lonnie: </span></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Long sentences laced with modifiers are too wordy for
commercial fiction. Replace some of the adjectives and adverbs with strong
verbs. Karl Largent, a techno-thriller author, told me, “Never have your
protagonist running quickly when he could be <i>sprinting.”</i> As Mark Twain
said: “When you catch an adjective, kill it.”<b> </b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<b>Barri: </b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;">Write! Do it daily, if
you can, no matter how simple the topic. Then connect with other writers. I
stay involved with Missouri Writing Project, I’m in a writing group with
colleagues at Westminster, and write every chance I get. Not writing, for me,
risks stifling the creative juices.</span><br />
<span style="color: #004000;"></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Bonus Question: Where can
readers find more about you? (Your website, blog, Facebook, etc.) </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Lonnie: </span></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">See my website<b> </b><a href="http://www.geesetoapoormarket.com/" target="_blank">www.geesetoapoormarket.com</a><b>,
</b>or after October 2017 at <a href="http://www.lonniewhitaker.com/" target="_blank">www.lonniewhitaker.com</a> with the publication of my first
children's picture book, <i>Mulligan Meets the Poodlums</i>. And I am on
Facebook.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Barri: </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><u><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BarriLBumgarner"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.<b>facebook</b>.com/<b>BarriLBumgarner </b></span></a><b> </b></u></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://barrilbumgarner.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">https://barrilbumgarner.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Thanks for answering my questions, and congratulations on having your stories in <i>Mysteries of the Ozarks, Volume V.</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-24297992114957526122017-10-19T14:39:00.001-05:002017-10-19T14:40:18.155-05:00Mysteries of the Ozarks, Volume V - Interviews with Johnny Boggs and Larry Wood<b>Several weeks ago, Jane Hale, president of Ozark Writers, Inc., forwarded names of contributors to <i>Mysteries of the Ozarks, Volume V,</i> who agreed to be interviewed on my blog. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I asked five questions plus a bonus question. First to reply were Johnny Boggs and Larry Wood. </b><b>Here are their bios and responses:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Johnny D. Boggs</b> has been a
full-time novelist and freelance magazine writer since 1998. He has won a
record-tying seven Spur Awards from Western Writers of America, the Western
Heritage Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum,
an Arkansiana Juvenile Award from the Arkansas Library Association and the
Milton F. Perry Award from the National James-Younger Gang. He lives in Santa
Fe, New Mexico, with his wife, son and two dogs.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Larry Wood</b> is
a freelance writer specializing in the history of Missouri and the Ozarks.
He is the author of fifteen nonfiction history books, two historical
novels, and hundreds of stories and articles. He maintains a
blog at <a href="http://www.ozarks-history.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.ozarks-history.blogspot.com</a>,
and is an honorary lifetime member of the Missouri Writers' Guild.
Larry's co-author on "Charlie Cries All Night," the MOTO V story, is
his long-deceased father, Ben L. Wood. Larry resurrected the story from his
dad's unpublished files and made numerous changes, but the basic plot belongs
to Ben Wood. Ben was an essayist and poet whose work appeared
in publications ranging from <em>The Ozarks Mountaineer </em>to the <em>Kansas
City Star</em>.</span> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">1. What sparked your writing bug?</span></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Johnny Boggs</b>: Third-grade English. The
assignment was "write a tale." I have no idea what I wrote, but I
remember the feeling I got while writing it. This was my calling, I decided,
and I still get that feeling when I sit down at my computer.<span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><b>Larry Wood:</b> </span><span style="margin: 0px;">I more or less drifted into writing by default
during college when I ended up majoring in English because I made better
grades in English than my other classes, but the idea of being a writer was
probably planted much earlier, since my dad was also a writer.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">2. Please summarize your story in MOTO V.</span></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Johnny Boggs</b>:</span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;">The tongue-in-cheek "Meet the
New Dick Powell" has the Ozarks-born actor returning home because his
career is washed up in Hollywood. He's mistaken for a private eye, and, having
just been rejected for the lead role in "Double Indemnity," decides
to play a tough-guy in a real-life situation</span>. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><b>Larry Wood</b>: M</span><span style="margin: 0px;">y dad, author of the first draft of "Charlie
Cries All Night," was a correctional officer at the Medical
Center for Federal prisoners in Springfield. Thus, the idea for the story,
about an escaped, psychotic convict who terrorizes a
nurse working late at a doctor's office, although the story was not
originally set in Springfield. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">3. Where is your favorite place in the Ozarks? Please
describe it.</span></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Johnny Boggs</b>: <span style="margin: 0px;">The Buffalo River. Rented a cabin
there for a long weekend in 1990, bought a wooden chest at a shop outside of
Eureka Springs, drove back to Dallas. I put a dozen roses and an engagement
ring in the chest, and when Lisa opened it, I proposed. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: purple;"><b>Larry Wood</b>: <span style="margin: 0px;">The nature trail at the Wildcat Glades
Conservation and Audubon Center just south of Joplin on Shoal Creek. It's not
necessarily the most scenic place in the Ozarks, but it's a place I
go regularly for relaxing walks in a natural setting.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">4. What writing accomplishment(s) are you most proud? </span></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><b>Johnny Boggs</b>: </span><span style="margin: 0px;">The seven Spur Awards from Western
Writers of America blow my mind. I think I'm most proud of the first one,
which I got in 2002 for "A Piano at Dead Man's Crossing," because
that was for a short story, the hardest form of fiction to write. (Donna's note: Seven spurs--Wow! And I agree about short fiction being the hardest form of fiction to write.)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><b>Larry Wood</b>: </span><span style="margin: 0px;">As a longtime member of the Missouri Writers'
Guild, I think that being named an honorary lifetime member of the
organization in 2016 is probably the thing I'm most proud of in my writing
career. (Donna's note: That is an amazing accomplishment!)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">5. Many of my blog visitors are also writers. What writing
advice can you share with them?</span></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Johnny Boggs</b>: <b></b><span style="margin: 0px;">Write. Write. Write. Read. Read.
Read. Rewrite. Rewrite. Rewrite. Rewrite. Rewrite. And don't miss your
deadlines. (Donna's note: I agree, and I would add you were first to submit your interview responses, so you are serious about deadlines.)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><b>Larry Wood</b>: </span><span style="margin: 0px;">Have a writing routine and stick with it<strong>. </strong>It
doesn't even have to be a routine in the sense that you write at
exactly the same time every day for exactly the same length of time, but you
have to have something resembling a routine that shows you're committed to
writing. In my own case, I write every day, seven days a week, with very few
exceptions, but sometimes I write an hour, sometimes four or five hours, and
not necessarily at the same time each day. It's somewhat like my exercise
routine. I don't walk or jog at the same time every day, but I don't feel the
day is complete if I don't do one or the other some time during the day.
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Bonus Question: Where can readers find more about you?
(Your website, blog, Facebook, etc.)</span></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: blue;">Johnny Boggs</span></b>: <span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/johnny.d.boggs" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/johnny.d.boggs</span></a><u> </u></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.johnnydboggs.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.johnnydboggs.com</span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><u></u><span style="color: purple;"><b>Larry Wood</b>:</span> </span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="margin: 0px;">My blog on regional history can be found at <a href="http://www.ozarks-history.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.ozarks-history.blogspot.com</a>,
and I have an author Facebook page at</span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLarryWood/" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLarryWood/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLarryWood/</span></a></span><span style="color: #006fc9; margin: 0px;">.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #006fc9; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Johnny and Larry, thanks for your replies. </b></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Over the next weeks I will post responses of the other contributors.</b> </span></span></span></span></div>
Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-24100577736447548692017-10-15T14:36:00.002-05:002017-10-15T14:51:30.959-05:00My Essay on How I Met My Husband is in Sasee's October Magazine<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7d2RO3ex_vOiWEpyLkvUZfS6CkLo7mzpmHHx6EOn_i9dHOBeZ4bnmT-GyNMRjaFz0amFl1VZfZxwmd6IQr_UYU-VSQseQM5pUhN8kapfsw10mHiysN9oFP996aMMJXf-bB8auT3ZiQKW/s1600/SASEE+COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7d2RO3ex_vOiWEpyLkvUZfS6CkLo7mzpmHHx6EOn_i9dHOBeZ4bnmT-GyNMRjaFz0amFl1VZfZxwmd6IQr_UYU-VSQseQM5pUhN8kapfsw10mHiysN9oFP996aMMJXf-bB8auT3ZiQKW/s200/SASEE+COVER.jpg" width="158" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Photo, Oct 17 Sasee Magazine</div>
<div>
"Melodies and Memories"</div>
<div>
Cover Artist: Mike Daneshi</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you're curious how a nineteen-year-old teenage girl from St. Louis met a twenty-year-old airman/immigrant who was born in the German Bavarian Alps, you can read about it by following the link below.<br />
<br />
My essay titled "<a href="http://sasee.com/2017/10/01/living-the-american-dream/">Living the American Dream</a>" appears in Sasee's October 2017 issue with the theme "Melodies and Memories." The beautifully vivid and evocative cover art is done by <a href="http://sasee.com/2017/10/01/cover-artist-mike-daneshi/">Mike Daneshi</a>.<br />
<br />
If you're a writer interested in submitting to Sasee, here's a copy of their <a href="http://sasee.com/submissions/">guidelines</a>.<br />
<br />
Hope you enjoy!<br />
<br />
Note: Next week I will begin posting interviews I've received from contributors to Mysteries of the Ozarks, V.<br />
<br />
<br />Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-80401894012795855932017-10-09T11:22:00.001-05:002017-10-11T12:11:49.505-05:00Interview with Jane Shewmaker Hale, President of Ozark Writers, Inc.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting interviews with contributors of <i>Mysteries of the Ozarks, Volume V,</i> the organization responsible for the <i>Mysteries of the Ozarks</i> series.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">First up are ten questions for Jane Shewmaker Hale, author, entrepreneur, and president of Ozark Writers, Inc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1. Can you briefly tell us a little bit about you--your
personal background, professional<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>background, writing accomplishments, etc.?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDYxPGW9cCnwFhcVQHQTBmPI3BovmeFnI38XTcBJ3_HwZeR0rcu7i1JwHB8LCeD0VKUtsX-BUorsfcQllgJ9sRd_Ovko9L5Bd5VZLi8Rnjmha23RuqtTOfXJj6BX0GGtqf76NUHSYzdAw/s1600/jane+hale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDYxPGW9cCnwFhcVQHQTBmPI3BovmeFnI38XTcBJ3_HwZeR0rcu7i1JwHB8LCeD0VKUtsX-BUorsfcQllgJ9sRd_Ovko9L5Bd5VZLi8Rnjmha23RuqtTOfXJj6BX0GGtqf76NUHSYzdAw/s1600/jane+hale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="244" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDYxPGW9cCnwFhcVQHQTBmPI3BovmeFnI38XTcBJ3_HwZeR0rcu7i1JwHB8LCeD0VKUtsX-BUorsfcQllgJ9sRd_Ovko9L5Bd5VZLi8Rnjmha23RuqtTOfXJj6BX0GGtqf76NUHSYzdAw/s200/jane+hale.jpg" width="97" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDYxPGW9cCnwFhcVQHQTBmPI3BovmeFnI38XTcBJ3_HwZeR0rcu7i1JwHB8LCeD0VKUtsX-BUorsfcQllgJ9sRd_Ovko9L5Bd5VZLi8Rnjmha23RuqtTOfXJj6BX0GGtqf76NUHSYzdAw/s1600/jane+hale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</a>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">My late husband Bob and I have four sons, ten
grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. </span>I reside </span>on
the Hale family farm in Buffalo, Missouri, where I’m an active partner in our family
businesses, including <a href="http://www.halefireworks.com/">Hale Fireworks</a> <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’m a columnist for "Buffalo...As I
Remember it" in the <i>County Courier. </i><span style="margin: 0px;">I’ve published a</span> YA series of mysteries: <i>Wonderland</i> in 1997,
<i>Heartland</i> in 1999, <i>Foreverland</i> in 2001, and <i>Boomland</i>, in 2003. My
other books are <i>Every Day Is Mother’s Day</i> and <i>Every Day Is Father’s
Day</i>. I’ve also published numerous short stories in anthologies.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2. What can you tell us about the history of Ozark Writers,
Inc.?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In August 2001 Ellen
Gray Massey, Vicki Cox, Shirleen Sando, Carolyn Gray Thornton, Betty Cracker
Henderson, and I formed Ozark Writers, Inc., a nonprofit organization with a
501c3 status. Our purpose was to encourage and promote writers from the Ozark region
to publish their works and to educate and expand the reading public to the
literature of the Ozarks. We held workshops in Missouri, Illinois, Connecticut,
Washington, D.C. and Settle, Washington. In 2003, the first volume of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mysteries of the Ozark </i>was published
with 19 short stories by authors from the Ozarks.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the fall of <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>2017, the fifth volume of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mysteries of the Ozark </i>will be available, featuring 19 authors from
the Ozarks. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What inspired you
to continue the legacy of OWI begun by Ellen Gray Massey?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">From the beginning, I served as President of Ozark Writers,
Inc. Ellen Gray Massey was our mentor. We learned to encourage others as she
encouraged us. Our writing is stronger because of her insistence for
perfection. As we traveled to conferences, we reread aloud from our writing.
Ellen, pen in hand, noted corrections. Today, as I write, I imagine her
watching over my shoulder, pen in hand, reminding me of her teachings. She spent a lot of effort compiling the first four volumes of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mysteries of the Ozarks</i>. Ellen and
I talked about Volume V before her passing. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I believe she would be pleased we were continuing her
legacy.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4. The <i>Mysteries of the Ozarks</i> anthology is now on volume
five. How did you solicit stories for this issue of the popular anthology?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the fall of each year, I attend Ozark Creative Writers
conference in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. There’s a lot of talent gathered at that conference. In 2016, I felt it was time to compile
stories for Volume 5. I
mentioned to some attendees that I was open for submissions.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Some authors who had been published in the anthologies before expressed
interest. Others, I piqued their interest. Before the conference was over I
felt I had the essence of the book.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">5. How did the submission, editing, and publishing processes
work?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After I returned home from the conference, submissions began
to arrive. I solicited a few other authors from the area. By the first of the
year, I had the magic number 19. I was fortunate to have Vicki Cox, a member of
the original board, and Donna Volkenannt join the board and serve as editors.
We had worked together before as members of the Missouri Writers Guild. Three
former Presidents of MWG made for a good editing team. High Hill Press was the
original publisher. Circumstances required us to move the anthology to Goldminds
Publishing. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">6. I love the cover. Who was the photographer, and where the
photo was taken?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The cover is a beautiful barn photograph taken by Melba
Prossor Shewmaker of Bentonville, Arkansas. She is an accomplished
photographer, whose hobby is photographing old barns. She has published a
collection of those photographs. (See dedication in book for more.) The black
and white photo is striking. It was made, more so, by a mock up done by Donna
Volkenannt. Her version featured blood red font to entice the reader to enter
the pages of mystery.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">7. What can you tell us about some of the contributors in
MOTO V?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Each story is unique in the telling from the computer of Robert
Vaughan, who has published over 400 books or more. Western writers like Johnny
Boggs, Dusty Richards, multiple WWA spur award winners. Terry Alexander, Mike Koch,
Lonnie Whitaker, McKenrdee (Mike) Long, Micki Fuhrman, Brenda Brinkley, and
Donna Volkenannt, who were attendees at OCW. Marilyn K Smith, a columnist for
<i>Reflex</i> Newspapers in Buffalo, MO. Larry Woods and his father Ben, who share the
honors with their story. Barri Bumgarner, Mitch Hale, Regina Williams Riney,
Vicki Cox, Carolyn Gray Massey, and myself. And, of course, the cover artist,
Melba Prossor Shewmaker. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">8. What kinds of stories are included in MOTO V?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As the title denotes,
they are mysteries. But, oh, the variety. The anthology includes: time travel,
old west, fantasy, horror, nostalgia, romance, and humor. Each story is unique and
entertaining!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">9. Where can readers purchase copies of MOTO V?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">From the authors, of course.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Goldminds Publishers has excellent distribution ranging from local, area, to international.
Watch for them on Amazon and in bookstores like Barnes and Noble,
Books-a-Million, etc.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">10. Anything you’d like to add or final thoughts about OWI,
Mysteries of the Ozarks, or anything else?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’d like to thank everyone who helped make Volume V, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mysteries of the Ozarks </i>possible. Our
two local banks, Oakstar and O’Bannon Banking Company donated funds. The authors and copy artist, plus our board and editors, and to Goldminds
Publishing Company, our ultimate vehicle to publishing, made it possible. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks, in advance, to readers, who I know will enjoy our
anthology. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And, yes, Ellen, I feel you, pen in hand, looking over my
shoulder.</span> <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-7598710294807613642017-10-02T11:20:00.000-05:002017-10-03T15:33:21.908-05:00October is Breast Cancer Awareness MonthIn past I've posted about breast cancer awareness month, but this year it is more than an annual post. My life, and the life of my family, was turned upside down after I was diagnosed with breast cancer in February. I'm happy to report I'm now cancer free! By the end of the month I will be finished with radiation treatments, which should help keep the cancer from returning.<br />
<br />
Over these months, I've been amazed by the love and support that has surrounded me. <br />
<br />
When I decided to post about this topic, I wanted to keep it upbeat, so I'm focusing on some of the positive experiences I've had.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMBpzellzZWrSesMEONdZqnGA3G_HhdxwIOd7CsFwkLSMuo-tPVTW3RHcTkuXcupRq7BbxrAk2Q9hGuk8sO9j5cFu3rJpSO7-uto1aOyVDo9OqUzUePcY63ft1wzciuEihF0KlBmDnRnu/s1600/Karens-foundation-logo1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="120" data-original-width="398" height="60" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMBpzellzZWrSesMEONdZqnGA3G_HhdxwIOd7CsFwkLSMuo-tPVTW3RHcTkuXcupRq7BbxrAk2Q9hGuk8sO9j5cFu3rJpSO7-uto1aOyVDo9OqUzUePcY63ft1wzciuEihF0KlBmDnRnu/s200/Karens-foundation-logo1.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Shortly after I started treatments at the SSM Cancer Center, I was told about the <a href="http://www.karensfoundation.org/">Karen Weidinger Foundation</a>. A member of the oncology staff escorted me to a room, where I was told to select any head coverings I would like, including caps, scarves, and a wig. Then, a week before my surgery, I received a call from the SSM Breast Center that they had a gift for me, courtesy of the Karen Weidinger Foundation. The gift was a certificate to take to a vendor to receive a special camisole to use after surgery. The generosity of this foundation, called <a href="http://www.karensfoundation.org/">Karen's Foundation</a>, is amazing.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAq0Qk2YSpZvbiP8yyyhZzGZ01De7fZh_pjgT5i1VGCgP-EOR_nLT0GffEusIeE60cQnQfIx-mCc-HM3t8yX1qwifoR_ALWHKhK4Qq5R5uud4NW5m8LxIwU0vkegLNvbDdeOepBZwY_Tb/s1600/look+good.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="305" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAq0Qk2YSpZvbiP8yyyhZzGZ01De7fZh_pjgT5i1VGCgP-EOR_nLT0GffEusIeE60cQnQfIx-mCc-HM3t8yX1qwifoR_ALWHKhK4Qq5R5uud4NW5m8LxIwU0vkegLNvbDdeOepBZwY_Tb/s200/look+good.jpg" width="200" /></a>A second positive experience was the <a href="http://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/">Look Good, Feel Better</a> program from the American Cancer Society. I attended this session several months ago, and what a treat! Phyllis, the woman who applied make up for me, is herself a breast cancer survivor. She gave me the bag shown at the left. The bag, valued at $200, was filled with cosmetics donated by major manufacturers, including Estee Lauder, Christian Dior, Bobby Brown, Clinique, Lancôme, Ulta, and other well known companies.<br />
<br />
The last item is something I found out about today. It's from the <a href="http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-awareness-month">National Breast Cancer Organization</a>, which is giving away a breast health guide in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.<br />
<br />
So, while this post is a reminder, it's also a testament to the spirit of generosity of groups and individuals dedicated to help people with breast cancer.<span style="color: magenta;"></span><span style="color: magenta;"></span>Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-34084969772385194952017-09-29T18:34:00.000-05:002017-09-29T18:46:12.359-05:00Voices from the Past Cemetery Walk at All Saints Parish in St. Peters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCC8KDDvSoFqAGTFpLM0oX8kThfVrFmuj09scCH9yRHQl6dMmWmPAkws8KR33cqgSdS5MusOzkaQbRy97cQD0xVhJzcgS9TTYmtmX2m04BENcaCOpAOI0N-4w4bZWQcn3n2V3GmDF3LD-B/s1600/voices+from+the+past.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="550" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCC8KDDvSoFqAGTFpLM0oX8kThfVrFmuj09scCH9yRHQl6dMmWmPAkws8KR33cqgSdS5MusOzkaQbRy97cQD0xVhJzcgS9TTYmtmX2m04BENcaCOpAOI0N-4w4bZWQcn3n2V3GmDF3LD-B/s320/voices+from+the+past.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
If you are interested in local history or like an evening where you can walk among the tombstones and listen to actors portraying long-ago deceased characters, you are in for a treat!<br />
<br />
Once again, <a href="http://www.allsaints-stpeters.org/">All Saints Parish in St. Peters</a> will feature an evening of "Voices from the Past Cemetery Walk at All Saints." (If you click on the link you can see the cemetery in the background.)<br />
<br />
This is the third time in six years the parish has offered the popular event. <br />
<br />
And this is the third time I have written a script about a character buried in the cemetery. <br />
<br />
The members of the parish Heritage Committee selected and researched the characters, then the Parish Administrator turned over their research to me to write the scripts. Writing a script stretched my skills, but it was a valuable learning experience.<br />
<br />
My first script was about George Gatty, Revolutionary War hero and founder of St. Peters. He was an Italian immigrant who made his way to America, distinguished himself during the Revolutionary War, and was rewarded with a land grant that brought him out to the western frontier--all the way to Missouri!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gunyc4Om-Mpqcc7pEudLZKKtw-RmJvGh9BgrY4GH_nJw7shNcGwW_S2Pt1ixx4SAPRTVVPo2G2HQPifIx8NW1XOdbqNBGeqDit4fOFMnYqCKEJZlk_5dJwmAYKCtQyVA9W9ocT3KRCsI/s1600/All+Saints+cemetery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gunyc4Om-Mpqcc7pEudLZKKtw-RmJvGh9BgrY4GH_nJw7shNcGwW_S2Pt1ixx4SAPRTVVPo2G2HQPifIx8NW1XOdbqNBGeqDit4fOFMnYqCKEJZlk_5dJwmAYKCtQyVA9W9ocT3KRCsI/s200/All+Saints+cemetery.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
Two years ago, I wrote the script for Aloys Schneider, sixth husband of <a href="https://carpediemdona.com/2014/09/17/emma-heppermann-st-charles-black-widow-1940-part-i/">Emma Heppermann</a>, the notorious Potato Soup Black Widow. <br />
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Emma had the bad habit of poisoning her husbands and anyone else who got in her way. Unfortunately, Aloys got between Emma and a life insurance policy, and Aloys lost. His family and neighbors got suspicious after his death. They had no proof Emma did him in, but after Emma's next victim, Mr. Heppermann and his daughter (who survived), the Law stepped in. Emma was eventually tried and convicted of double murder.<br />
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The photo on the left shows the actor who portrayed the late Mr. Schneider referring to his script.<br />
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From reports, the actor's portrayal of Mr.Schneider was one of the most popular, and most talked about, characters of the walk.<br />
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This year, I wrote the script for Eva Kirchner, a German immigrant and farmer's wife. Eva was a resilient and determined woman who lived a hardscrabble life. She survived during the Great Depression by taking in boarders, and during Prohibition, she survived by ignoring the law. I gave her the name, "Bootlegger Granny."<br />
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This year the cemetery walk will be Saturday Oct 7 and Sunday Oct 8.Tickets for adults are $10, and children 12 and under $5. A reception will be held in the Parish Center after the walk, where visitors can enjoy light refreshments.<br />
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Unfortunately, because of the uneven ground of the cemetery, strollers and wheelchairs aren't permitted. And, because I'm still using a walker to get around, I won't be able to attend this year.<br />
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My sister Kathleen will be going and she has promised to report back to me on how it went.<br />
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Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-62041185875205491342017-09-27T16:01:00.000-05:002017-09-28T11:45:48.906-05:00MWG Trivia Night: A Tisket, A Tasket, Coffee and Critique Donated Eight Baskets <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakVTGlpM8UkrPJzzCE53dysaqZIGOY6RDu7pXbjz9wdYneSjC-4t2XV_Y0WNxEO-ZP91Cp3e1GDb10xQNgG1rlhReody8Bp2S4-0znKEC618zkuPLz9mqGLbbKmSJ3uy2jhLxG5Bk6LVu/s1600/mwg+trivia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="742" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakVTGlpM8UkrPJzzCE53dysaqZIGOY6RDu7pXbjz9wdYneSjC-4t2XV_Y0WNxEO-ZP91Cp3e1GDb10xQNgG1rlhReody8Bp2S4-0znKEC618zkuPLz9mqGLbbKmSJ3uy2jhLxG5Bk6LVu/s200/mwg+trivia.jpg" width="153" /></a></div>
In case you haven't heard, the <a href="http://the%20missouri%20writers%20guild/">Missouri Writers Guild</a> is having a trivia night on Saturday, October 7th, at the First Congregational Church of St. Louis in Clayton, MO. <br />
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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. <br />
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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.<br />
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With our writers group name of Coffee and Critique, we voted to go with a coffee and writing-related theme.<br />
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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. <br />
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When I thanked Marcia for spearheading the MWG Trivia Night basket project, she responded with her usual humility, "It was a team effort."<br />
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She added that we had 100 percent participation. Marcia estimated the value of the eight baskets around $400!<br />
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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.<br />
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Les took photos of the baskets shown below. And I've been told Sarah did a marvelous job tying bows.<b><i><br /></i></b><br />
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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:<br />
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TWO CERTIFICATES FOR DETAILED CRITIQUES (up to ten double-spaced pages) from our entire group. <br />
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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.<br />
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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!Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-62327674524469902562017-09-20T18:14:00.001-05:002017-09-20T18:31:22.344-05:00Did You Know It's US Constitution Week?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBjGQSlcLbLEwi6bqW1ZC7kB-zYYRB4ew_cqFMkLLMx3HTRSHDyQPqPaYTZ7k2N6OV6EJUZ-cvyv5pg_7HOoWqpM26Us3uYqnrNz1JLZjgnsZJvZWX8DNqpr27-MzCkCEgaf4P2lnXNhF/s1600/preamble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBjGQSlcLbLEwi6bqW1ZC7kB-zYYRB4ew_cqFMkLLMx3HTRSHDyQPqPaYTZ7k2N6OV6EJUZ-cvyv5pg_7HOoWqpM26Us3uYqnrNz1JLZjgnsZJvZWX8DNqpr27-MzCkCEgaf4P2lnXNhF/s200/preamble.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
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Preamble </div>
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to the US Constitution</div>
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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.<br />
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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!<br />
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They told me they were relatives of veterans who fought in the Revolutionary War. <br />
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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.<br />
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The women told me they are attempting to locate gravesites of veterans of the Revolutionary War, so I told them where George is buried.<br />
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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.<br />
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I remember being required to memorize the Preamble and recite it in front of the class many years ago.<br />
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If you can't read the copy, here's what it says:<br />
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"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."<br />
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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.<br />
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Do you still remember the Preamble by heart?Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-41404957606191549522017-09-19T16:11:00.001-05:002017-09-19T16:23:12.991-05:00Green River Writers Contests - Lots of Categories (Mostly Poetry) with Small Entry Fees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7QWTyTqnpTRPPIg-TVWZvoWvL3vKnPkkyEFI0E7ON0YIi3JUouRB155GUj7eWrYM6n-mVPH5HsYxA4T2IlKzXSBHUW0MAPIVyy9eO4sGrZVlmTUg8J2GdJHB5156MMEk-dAQJWdfxPzz/s1600/writers-clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7QWTyTqnpTRPPIg-TVWZvoWvL3vKnPkkyEFI0E7ON0YIi3JUouRB155GUj7eWrYM6n-mVPH5HsYxA4T2IlKzXSBHUW0MAPIVyy9eO4sGrZVlmTUg8J2GdJHB5156MMEk-dAQJWdfxPzz/s200/writers-clock.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Time to get busy and enter a contest or two!<br />
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Earlier this month I received a brochure from <a href="http://www.greenriverwriters.org/about.html">Green River Writers</a>, Inc., located in Louisville, KY. I'm not sure how I first heard about this group, but a few years ago I submitted to one of their contests. <br />
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And I won the Jim O'Dell Memorial Poetry contest, which is for limericks, standard form (5 lines) wild and absurd. <br />
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I've never claimed to be a poet, but for some reason I'm drawn to this form of writing. Marcia G., the poetess in our group, says it's because of my Irish heritage. Maybe so. <br />
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I've decided to give it a go again. I wasn't able to attend critique group today, and our group doesn't critique poetry (with rare exceptions). So, I e-mailed three limericks (two I recently came up with and one I had already written) to our members and asked them to vote on their favorite if they had time. Did I mention how generous our members are?<br />
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The response was unanimous. Everyone selected #3, a poem I wrote a few years ago that won a small prize in a humorous poetry contest with a theme about summertime, sponsored by a Missouri poetry group.<br />
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I also dug out a short story I've polished and am revising a nonfiction piece I plan to submit--if I can finish in time.<br />
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Green Rivers Writers has a total of 15 contest categories, mostly poetry, but also short fiction, first chapters of novels, creative nonfiction, and scads of poetry categories--from country music legends, small town observations, the thing under the bed, and others.<br />
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Entry fees range from $3 to $5 for nonmembers.<br />
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If you want to find out more about Green River Writers and their contests, here's a <a href="http://nebula.wsimg.com/afc8796e6c72c827c7e9400bdaff6120?AccessKeyId=00C4F2458DAB7AE9F619&disposition=0&alloworigin=1">link to the cat</a>egories and guidelines. <br />
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Act fast; the deadline is September 30.<br />
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Good luck if you enter!<br />
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<br />Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-27482215809661656162017-09-08T12:19:00.005-05:002017-09-08T12:39:17.295-05:00Enjoy the MomentAlthough I haven't posted in a while, I have been keeping busy. <br />
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I received the wonderful news that the chemo treatments did their job. I'm cancer free!! Surgery went well. My surgeon is the best! I'll start radiation in a few weeks. I'm dealing with some nerve damage to my fingers and feet and toes as a side effect of the chemo, but I'm told it will fade eventually.<br />
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So, I'm finding joy in the everyday moments I've been given.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEUjFXvtmBCaEQCf3AJV-0NCu5b4g-wktruUCUV_ku2A5fEjjCFqmQWq11Th9RTrc1eiaT6yCkMhgGsm5CK2VR_MHHJxkWOzQGjI2GJ5cmQYhTifjCuOHDwON8OEeoDDNRLG5vXuxgBBU/s1600/Eclipse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="239" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEUjFXvtmBCaEQCf3AJV-0NCu5b4g-wktruUCUV_ku2A5fEjjCFqmQWq11Th9RTrc1eiaT6yCkMhgGsm5CK2VR_MHHJxkWOzQGjI2GJ5cmQYhTifjCuOHDwON8OEeoDDNRLG5vXuxgBBU/s200/Eclipse.jpg" width="172" /></a>Several family members joined us at our farm in Central Missouri to view the eclipse. <br />
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My sister Bridget (at left) brought sandwiches and other goodies. <br />
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Niece Ashley brought salad. Alexandra brought the beer for those who drink. <br />
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We provided bottled water and soft drinks. Everyone had a great time and nobody went hungry. <br />
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Just sharing this special event with family members made me appreciate how blessed I am to have a large and loving family.<br />
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Even Harley got in on the eclipse action. Here's a photo of Walt helping Harley put on his safety glasses. <br />
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I was able to get free eclipse glasses from our local library. Just another reason I love our library!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9r1_h9aokqsM9KbN0jroh5FbrZgkOP5uBg71pQHh2rNnK6mLjKsHavKOmqdTsQOEE4wZPuO23vh0wCwyDqH36Z3PNOX4Nq_nKQqeW8zGMaIuFWGVMQU9-94MQ3Z_-1xaugZ6feNnvSB0/s1600/purple+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9r1_h9aokqsM9KbN0jroh5FbrZgkOP5uBg71pQHh2rNnK6mLjKsHavKOmqdTsQOEE4wZPuO23vh0wCwyDqH36Z3PNOX4Nq_nKQqeW8zGMaIuFWGVMQU9-94MQ3Z_-1xaugZ6feNnvSB0/s200/purple+flowers.jpg" width="150" /></a>Walt and I also enjoyed spending Labor Day at the farm. <br />
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He drove me around in the side-by-side, which Harley refuses to get into, so he ran behind us all the way.<br />
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I stopped to give Harley a break from running fast on a hot day and to snap some shots of the wildflowers growing on our property. <br />
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How beautiful they are and proof of God's glory!<br />
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Harley got hot and worn out and decided to take a mud bath. Walt hosed him down later, so he was clean for the ride home. <br />
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Driving down the road as we left, Walt spotted a coyote. Lots of critters roam our property.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmS8BDW8UZndN5ykCrWPtkojx5Wytm2MAhigt3nPYXHQvaebmtG0iM389QRhkHwBnGPRFhtzs_1XzlMxNOBxlsaAaiBFCmdee69uo0RSwV5zqXkyUbMpvnI12a4A53MLLPFE9Dgcb8Rk87/s1600/harley+in+mud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmS8BDW8UZndN5ykCrWPtkojx5Wytm2MAhigt3nPYXHQvaebmtG0iM389QRhkHwBnGPRFhtzs_1XzlMxNOBxlsaAaiBFCmdee69uo0RSwV5zqXkyUbMpvnI12a4A53MLLPFE9Dgcb8Rk87/s200/harley+in+mud.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
One of the many gifts I've received after my breast cancer diagnosis is the gift of wisdom. I've learned not to take anything for granted and enjoy every moment I am given.Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-10268134286176264112017-07-17T05:51:00.000-05:002017-07-17T05:56:06.034-05:00Old School Treasures in MissouriIf you look up the definition of "old school" in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, you will find "characteristic or evocative of an earlier or original style."<br />
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In many ways that describes me, but it also describes a few treasures I've stumbled upon from Missouri's past.<br />
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A few weeks ago I found this gem tucked away on a side street in Old Towne St. Peters. Actually, my sister Kathleen showed me where it was. The plaque between the two windows tells the story.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXKG3Vi9jFo2h83lFSml0AWu2Sj42DLFQdlwNFB3n64EZ5RsUFgfTUxXyyKXRCN8uVwfxJ55V7yqXkVqGHdPziYXYBvkSZoahSdNlP8vmHtx-VaGnk4nm36C959ZKJRZHZgu6aUD44_Zg/s1600/public+school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXKG3Vi9jFo2h83lFSml0AWu2Sj42DLFQdlwNFB3n64EZ5RsUFgfTUxXyyKXRCN8uVwfxJ55V7yqXkVqGHdPziYXYBvkSZoahSdNlP8vmHtx-VaGnk4nm36C959ZKJRZHZgu6aUD44_Zg/s1600/public+school.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Peters Public School, built in 1869.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-sQNetKxxpd00_FdsOisMZquYDt76k0dDdvjcPcPk2TvxmAZwKFaXPlg0m0rwkIFLJ0qljEWjbJwQCyiuclADCZspQoKX0UkR_6hEaDeF07PI89t_DGGdqMWZDC_BdWwVBFxqWnoW0wL/s1600/Zumwalt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-sQNetKxxpd00_FdsOisMZquYDt76k0dDdvjcPcPk2TvxmAZwKFaXPlg0m0rwkIFLJ0qljEWjbJwQCyiuclADCZspQoKX0UkR_6hEaDeF07PI89t_DGGdqMWZDC_BdWwVBFxqWnoW0wL/s1600/Zumwalt.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
St. Peters District 31 Public School was built in</div>
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1869 and closed in 1951 after it became</div>
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part of Fort Zumwalt consolidation.</div>
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The old Hope School can be found in the Village of Hope. It's two miles down the road from our "farm" in Osage County. The building is no longer used as a school, but local residents host social events there. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-qDqa1ZmIljeDRPnruvA6h_AC_SwClj3eSsgUPT-YKGxt49rgGZWT9eNdnnKZjeamauvKmCAZzJA0lDYctAc9T9NCLtLX73CQo1sIvIWJPfbOuyCdGLZNex9HzW1qT71GAU5jQfkqd9j/s1600/Hope+school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-qDqa1ZmIljeDRPnruvA6h_AC_SwClj3eSsgUPT-YKGxt49rgGZWT9eNdnnKZjeamauvKmCAZzJA0lDYctAc9T9NCLtLX73CQo1sIvIWJPfbOuyCdGLZNex9HzW1qT71GAU5jQfkqd9j/s1600/Hope+school.jpg" /></a></div>
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I snapped this photo of a quaint silver and red telephone booth a few years ago while giving a creative writing workshop at the Missouri State Teachers Association retreat in Bunker Hill. Don't see many of these any more. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wF0-s2vhWt4X55GHde4Eezo5f3Yktvx8Q66UKUhoAgxZzdIRBOhDAGwPC7SlqlC4CC_dUxlsWO8a01XJk9QcuCSenzuCgZQhLcmbGC6mTC-js8xlUKAgME6dXvp3HNWSTTC8FaBO2QOz/s1600/Phone+booth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wF0-s2vhWt4X55GHde4Eezo5f3Yktvx8Q66UKUhoAgxZzdIRBOhDAGwPC7SlqlC4CC_dUxlsWO8a01XJk9QcuCSenzuCgZQhLcmbGC6mTC-js8xlUKAgME6dXvp3HNWSTTC8FaBO2QOz/s1600/Phone+booth.jpg" /></a></div>
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The final photo is of <a href="http://preservationresearch.com/abandonment/irving-school-in-hyde-park/">Irving School</a>, an architectural gem in North St. Louis, which opened in 1871 and was expanded in 1891 and 1894. I attended Irving for a few years in the 1950s. The building is no longer used as a school, but it still holds its old-world charm, and most likely its brick-oven heat in the summer. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEN4yeR4Mh4hPC4V8bJbyQyMt3JHcZ4IySl-Ja4j9OPyUsakAj34mCHFSFhrpErjDml0IOj2sP9s_7KtJxppBaLHu8mO4yvrnKJNp1TpVfnx9WottFBtLsX1BlQ3_b5C5SpjquA4eOjsM/s1600/Irving+School.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEN4yeR4Mh4hPC4V8bJbyQyMt3JHcZ4IySl-Ja4j9OPyUsakAj34mCHFSFhrpErjDml0IOj2sP9s_7KtJxppBaLHu8mO4yvrnKJNp1TpVfnx9WottFBtLsX1BlQ3_b5C5SpjquA4eOjsM/s320/Irving+School.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEN4yeR4Mh4hPC4V8bJbyQyMt3JHcZ4IySl-Ja4j9OPyUsakAj34mCHFSFhrpErjDml0IOj2sP9s_7KtJxppBaLHu8mO4yvrnKJNp1TpVfnx9WottFBtLsX1BlQ3_b5C5SpjquA4eOjsM/s1600/Irving+School.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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My third-grade teacher at Irving made a lasting impression on me. An essay I wrote about her, "Miss Tobin's Special Gifts," will appear in KC Voices (Vol XIV) from Whispering Prairie Press in October. <br />
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How about you? Did you attend a one-room school house or an architecturally impressive school? Have you stumbled across any old school treasures? <br />
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<br />Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-87318063178238476602017-06-25T11:05:00.000-05:002017-06-25T11:05:56.985-05:00Beautiful Lilies and Proof of a Russian Invasion -- Russian SageThat IsJune is one of my favorite months, and not just because I turn a year older in June, but because everywhere I look I see the beauty of nature. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYd8FRHs1CcBoqgitroH1cBb8lp8OZMAKzX8B2AZUNBcUIKIZ3iI-ZsIWMX2_veUEDCE7v8CmuKspPvoivMH0yxEAAnm9cOnKBbHfxpbNIPMX3gv_FFgKgeRQRif2GaPLO4NFe4iQwh9u/s1600/day+lilies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="227" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYd8FRHs1CcBoqgitroH1cBb8lp8OZMAKzX8B2AZUNBcUIKIZ3iI-ZsIWMX2_veUEDCE7v8CmuKspPvoivMH0yxEAAnm9cOnKBbHfxpbNIPMX3gv_FFgKgeRQRif2GaPLO4NFe4iQwh9u/s200/day+lilies.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="148" /></a>In<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYd8FRHs1CcBoqgitroH1cBb8lp8OZMAKzX8B2AZUNBcUIKIZ3iI-ZsIWMX2_veUEDCE7v8CmuKspPvoivMH0yxEAAnm9cOnKBbHfxpbNIPMX3gv_FFgKgeRQRif2GaPLO4NFe4iQwh9u/s1600/day+lilies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYd8FRHs1CcBoqgitroH1cBb8lp8OZMAKzX8B2AZUNBcUIKIZ3iI-ZsIWMX2_veUEDCE7v8CmuKspPvoivMH0yxEAAnm9cOnKBbHfxpbNIPMX3gv_FFgKgeRQRif2GaPLO4NFe4iQwh9u/s1600/day+lilies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a> my family I'm known as the sibling who didn't inherit my mother's green thumb.<br />
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But not so fast brothers and sisters, how do you explain the gorgeous day lilies and tiger lilies that have bloomed in my garden the past few years? <br />
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This June they are especially vibrant. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2I8ktY1eLtCycUpCcwLP96cUreqgB3nboCHwyA7opSJXZxWHKfrj_VGbJKjcv8JsPhwSx6bb4xtVZxC549AHciwQLrPl1txz9ni7KrCqQnHlopZEe1ojjNtnFMUjIjx2diojYxZPoP91i/s1600/russian+sage+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2I8ktY1eLtCycUpCcwLP96cUreqgB3nboCHwyA7opSJXZxWHKfrj_VGbJKjcv8JsPhwSx6bb4xtVZxC549AHciwQLrPl1txz9ni7KrCqQnHlopZEe1ojjNtnFMUjIjx2diojYxZPoP91i/s1600/russian+sage+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJSz9dxKogOvZXiH1jNSP7RKyzKER3cH8dNsNBR5Ob6B_WG9OvujgNtlUchOOvwrjE_AaT34Hrx2gOK0ePM2H61EU9CA6lMnLiLpanL9xBW6jKcZwN8ckgRzIZOFrrHE4WHofQZbJXCfH/s1600/tiger+lilies+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJSz9dxKogOvZXiH1jNSP7RKyzKER3cH8dNsNBR5Ob6B_WG9OvujgNtlUchOOvwrjE_AaT34Hrx2gOK0ePM2H61EU9CA6lMnLiLpanL9xBW6jKcZwN8ckgRzIZOFrrHE4WHofQZbJXCfH/s200/tiger+lilies+1.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
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</div>
And what about the Russian sage that is sprouting out all over?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2I8ktY1eLtCycUpCcwLP96cUreqgB3nboCHwyA7opSJXZxWHKfrj_VGbJKjcv8JsPhwSx6bb4xtVZxC549AHciwQLrPl1txz9ni7KrCqQnHlopZEe1ojjNtnFMUjIjx2diojYxZPoP91i/s1600/russian+sage+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2I8ktY1eLtCycUpCcwLP96cUreqgB3nboCHwyA7opSJXZxWHKfrj_VGbJKjcv8JsPhwSx6bb4xtVZxC549AHciwQLrPl1txz9ni7KrCqQnHlopZEe1ojjNtnFMUjIjx2diojYxZPoP91i/s200/russian+sage+1.jpg" width="150" /></a>With all the Senate committees searching for proof of Russian interference in the USA, I have proof of Russian invasion -- in my yard.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2I8ktY1eLtCycUpCcwLP96cUreqgB3nboCHwyA7opSJXZxWHKfrj_VGbJKjcv8JsPhwSx6bb4xtVZxC549AHciwQLrPl1txz9ni7KrCqQnHlopZEe1ojjNtnFMUjIjx2diojYxZPoP91i/s1600/russian+sage+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2I8ktY1eLtCycUpCcwLP96cUreqgB3nboCHwyA7opSJXZxWHKfrj_VGbJKjcv8JsPhwSx6bb4xtVZxC549AHciwQLrPl1txz9ni7KrCqQnHlopZEe1ojjNtnFMUjIjx2diojYxZPoP91i/s1600/russian+sage+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_pWXIcrbeFWQlTUYQKjDD0Q2orIPjXruHyvohNnDEAg7bkv70NJXjuurP8n6Rciu3H5JYzaXk-pvdU5yurfNCwpxg6ay-ycRbNE81MgKpSQsRGlzEmzmoU7xbMWYGkWkUx-mw713gADDs/s1600/russian+sage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="202" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_pWXIcrbeFWQlTUYQKjDD0Q2orIPjXruHyvohNnDEAg7bkv70NJXjuurP8n6Rciu3H5JYzaXk-pvdU5yurfNCwpxg6ay-ycRbNE81MgKpSQsRGlzEmzmoU7xbMWYGkWkUx-mw713gADDs/s200/russian+sage.jpg" width="169" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_pWXIcrbeFWQlTUYQKjDD0Q2orIPjXruHyvohNnDEAg7bkv70NJXjuurP8n6Rciu3H5JYzaXk-pvdU5yurfNCwpxg6ay-ycRbNE81MgKpSQsRGlzEmzmoU7xbMWYGkWkUx-mw713gADDs/s1600/russian+sage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
Here are photos of the Russian Sage that's taking over, although in some spots it's fighting for space with the blackberry bushes and spearmint plants.<br />
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How about you? <br />
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How does your garden grow?Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-30819658664765259742017-05-08T20:59:00.001-05:002017-05-08T21:04:38.547-05:00Interview with Sarah Angleton, the Practical Historian<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For the past few years, Sarah Angleton has been a valued
member of Coffee and Critique, where she has shared her stories, wit, and wisdom
with her fellow writers. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8FPCYh2guLPgRDd9ujLBaM2wSxDFbYgUXQd8VYjQSptH29VVqkZ7yTW38RaamBdWsg-FMc8Lb12D5yILszVFtHK2AnQ_TutsUwvrQ5yXWdpPsixYg08mPhwD3U4U9etfAQKtgl_P0T_F/s1600/sarah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8FPCYh2guLPgRDd9ujLBaM2wSxDFbYgUXQd8VYjQSptH29VVqkZ7yTW38RaamBdWsg-FMc8Lb12D5yILszVFtHK2AnQ_TutsUwvrQ5yXWdpPsixYg08mPhwD3U4U9etfAQKtgl_P0T_F/s200/sarah.jpg" width="146" /></a></td></tr>
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Photo courtesy of </div>
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Sarah Angleton</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sarah is a storyteller and history buff who has degrees in
both zoology and literature and still isn’t quite sure what she wants to be
when she grows up. A Midwestern girl at heart, she spent a brief time living
and writing in the beautiful Pacific Northwest before settling near St. Louis
where she currently resides with her husband, two sons, and a very loyal dog.
Her first work of historical fiction will be available soon from High Hill
Press. You can find her online at </span><a href="http://www.sarah-angleton.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">www.Sarah-Angleton.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here are my interview questions for Sarah.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1. How did degrees in zoology and literature prepare you to
create “The Practical Historian” blog?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I think it was learning how to
combine my two fields of study that led me toward an interest in history,
something I didn’t particularly enjoy studying in school. As a grad student in
literature and creative writing I started doing a lot of research into the voyage
writings of naturalists of the 18</span><sup><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> an 19</span><sup><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> centuries. Because
of my background, I was uniquely prepared to approach their works as both
literary and scientific, and so I discovered that one field nicely informed the
other. They are linked by their shared history. I love discovering links. It’s
what I do on the blog as well, though not typically between zoology and
literature. Instead I look for the connections I might make between the
historical and the modern. It’s just how my mind likes to work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2. Where do you get your ideas for topics for your blog
posts?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Topics come to me from all over the
place. Some are sparked by events related to the date I’ll be posting. Others
come from my experiences through the week leading up to the post, including
places I’ve traveled, events I’ve attended, or even documentaries or podcasts
I’ve come across. Occasionally friends and family suggest topics that turn into
interesting posts. I’m always on the lookout for potential topics, and I tend
to jot down a lot of notes and take a lot of pictures. I am always aware that
even if the stories I come across don’t fit well into a post at the moment,
they still might come in handy later.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3. How did you come up with the title for your blog?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When I started the blog, I had
recently finished writing the rough draft of my first historical novel, a
project that required a great deal of careful, thorough research. I once heard
the difference between writing history and writing historical fiction is that
with history, you have to write around the gaps, and in fiction, you can feel
free to fill them. I love history, but I love story more, and I’m a big fan of
filling in the gaps. So when I started the blog, I was very aware of the fact
that I could not claim to be an expert historian, that I couldn’t sustain the
level of research required to write with real authority week after week, and
that I couldn’t refrain from gap-filling. It was important to me to be honest
with my audience about that. I decided I wouldn’t focus the overly important,
highly analyzed historical moments. Instead, I’d stick to the tales that
painted a picture of the sillier side of the human condition, add a few splashes
of my own personal story, and just make it a fun space to share practically
true history that might not seem all that important in the big picture, but
that might add a little interest to my readers’ days. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">4. What process do you use to conduct your blog research?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That can vary a lot by topic. I’ve
stated on the blog that I rarely use a primary source, which isn’t exactly
true. I do generally start with the best hearsay the Internet has to offer, but
some of these stories are just lifted from one site to another with no
verification whatsoever. If there’s a reference to be chased down, like to a
historical work, I chase it down and read it from the source. Sometimes that
means the post falls apart because (and I know this will come as a shock) not
everything repeated again and again on the Internet is true. Now, there are many
times when it’s not possible for me to consult with a primary source, so I look
for the most reliable source I can find. Though I joke about Wikipedia, and I
do use it, I always seek verification from expert sources. And I hedge what I
don’t know. As I stated before, I never want to speak with an authority I can’t
rightfully claim and I always try to be honest with my reader about that. But I
am a storyteller, and the blog is as much humor as it is fact, so when all else
fails, I make stuff up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">5. What process did you use to select the posts included in</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Launching Sheep and Other Stories?</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">First, I looked for posts that were
not overly dependent on a single event that though probably was very much in
the minds of my readers at the time, is now most likely forgotten. I also
needed posts that don’t rely too heavily on photos. I use a lot of photos on
the blog, but didn’t want to go through the process of attaining rights for
their use in the book. And then of those, I looked for the ones I enjoyed the
most, the ones I still liked to read, even though I wrote them and probably
already read them at least a few dozen times. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">6. In one post you mention your zeal for the board game
Monopoly. Do you have a favorite token? And, how do you feel about the planned replacement
of the thimble, the boot, and the wheelbarrow with a </span><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tyrannosaurus</span></em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">rex</span></em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">,
a penguin, and a rubber ducky?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’m definitely not as angry about
the change as some journalists seem to be, or as willing to assign broad
cultural meanings to the change. The boot has always been a favorite of mine
and I suppose I’m a little sad to see it go. But what really determines the
quality of a Monopoly token is its height. My favorite tokens have always been
the ones that are easiest to grasp with a quick pinch. It looks like the </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">T. rex</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> and the penguin might fit the
bill. I’m not as sure about the ducky, but I’d be willing to take it for a spin
past </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Go!</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Hasbro left the fates of the
game tokens in the hands of the public, and who am I to question the results? I
still have a classic copy of the game and can pull out the boot any time I
want. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">7. How has watching the movie </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Princess Bride </span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">affected your writing?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The
Princess Bride </span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">taught me all of the elements of a truly great story: “Fencing,
fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love,
miracles,” and maybe just a little bit of kissing. But on a more serious note,
I fell in love with the movie as a young girl because the characters are
memorable and the dialogue is witty. I think if a writer can pull that off,
then she’s probably gone a long way toward producing something worth reading.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">8. What can you tell us about your lessons learned from the
start-to-finish process of publishing a book, from research, writing, editing,
revising, cover design, marketing, etc?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I suppose the biggest lesson I
learned is that it’s not easy. There’s still a stigma associated with
self-published books and though it’s lessening as the industry changes, I think
it will always be with us. As an author who has worked with both processes, I
can say with certainty that neither is especially easy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The options for self-publishing can
be overwhelming. There are many publishing companies that offer services from
start to finish, from editing to cover design to marketing. It’s really easy to
spend a lot of money to produce a final product and going that route definitely
means you also give up some creative control. On the other end of the spectrum,
there are services out there that simply provide the tools for authors to do
everything themselves. Most writers are probably not equipped to handle every
aspect of publishing on their own, so I think the important thing is to strike
the balance that feels most comfortable to the individual author. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I opted to hire a freelance editor
whose work was already familiar to me and a brilliant cover designer I already
knew I could work with well. I did the book formatting myself after a lot of
research into the various services available, and I admit, also a great deal of
frustration. Really, the research is the most important part. The great thing
about writers is that we tend to love to share our experiences and so I
listened and read and learned and probably avoided a lot of pitfalls because I
took the time to do that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For me the hardest part has simply
been figuring out the business end of marketing and selling books. I kept
discovering little details (and hidden expenses) I never considered before,
like the need to purchase isbns, start up a personal imprint, and prepare to
handle sales tax. It’s been a long road, but by going through this process of
self-publishing, and viewing the industry from another angle, I know that I
have come out of it better prepared for a successful career in traditional
publishing.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">9. On the topic of marketing, what can you tell us about
upcoming events, including your book launch, author talks, and book signings?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My first event will be a signing at
6 North Café in Wentzville (next to B&B Theatre) on Saturday, May 13 from
10 am to 12 pm. Friday, June 2, I’ll be at Our Town Books on the Square in
Jacksonville, Illinois, from 5 to 7 pm. You can also catch up with me at Gateway
Con in St. Louis the weekend of June 16-18, where I’ll be selling books and
meeting readers.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">10. What advice do you have for bloggers and writers?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Keep at it. I’ve found that
blogging is, more than anything else, a great way to find a worldwide
community, one that is committed to sharing and interacting with one another’s
art. That’s a pretty special thing. It encourages me to always be writing. Some
weeks are hard, but I know that if I don’t produce something new, there are
people all over the country and as far away as New Zealand who will notice and
wonder why. Keeping to a blog schedule also encourages me to work really hard
to schedule writing time. I have goals for my fiction, and because I have to
work around researching and writing a blog post, I’m much better at protecting
my time on all my projects. Building a writing career takes time and effort.
The first step is to just keep on writing.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">11. What project are you working on now?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My first historical novel, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Smoke Rose to Heaven</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">, the one that I
began all those years ago, is tentatively scheduled for traditional publication
this fall, so I am working through the final steps of that process. I’m also
polishing a novel that is a companion to that one. In addition, I’m working
through a revision of the first novel in a young adult series that I’m hoping
to start pitching to agents and editors soon. And of course, I’m blogging every
week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">12. What’s the best way for readers to contact you with
questions or if they would like to purchase a copy of </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Launching Sheep and Other Stories</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0px;">B</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">oth print and e-formats of the book
can be ordered through Amazon or anywhere books are sold. Readers can contact
me through my website, www.Sarah-Angleton.com, where they’ll have the
opportunity to sign up for e-mail updates and will find links to my profiles on
Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, as well as the latest post from the Practical
Historian. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">13. In homage to your post on page 113, “The Completely
Rational Fear of Triskaidekaphobia,” here’s your final question—number 13: Do
you have any final thoughts or anything you’d like to add?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How lucky that post wound up on
page 113! I think the only thing I might add is that as much hard work as goes
into writing and producing books I could not do any of this without the support
of so many amazing people. Writing can seem like a lonely profession, but I
know for certain I could never be successful if I treated it that way. I have
been blessed to be a part of several professional writers’ organizations,
critique groups, and workshops. I’ve been involved in online writers’ forums,
attended conferences, and had opportunities to interact with writers from all
over the world. Without the amazing energy of the larger writing community, I’d
honestly be too frozen in fear to ever let another human being read my work. I
am so very grateful to be able to do this. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Thank you so much for the thoughtful questions, Donna!</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">And thank you, Sarah, for your thoughtful answers!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sarah will have her first book signing event </span></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">at 6 North Café in Wentzville (next to B & B Theatre) on Saturday, May 13 from 10 am to 12 pm.</span></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></strike></div>
<br />Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-83366530450393277342017-04-27T15:22:00.002-05:002017-04-27T15:49:14.210-05:00Writing to Heal<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
One way I’m coping with breast cancer—and the side effect of
chemo brain, which causes forgetfulness and muddy thinking—is to write. </div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLziGFbjnNChHNNk9gBKFhaPHNTnBiW2BloE16f90-3nbr6Djqbdu0e83Zi1Eo3yCTEMC_lvpBcNqY92iJdq4vyWzTnn-yMClATacV2P_Zm_Gl_t8MfhR0pZ0KDwO2I_OhZiO4fonmt7f/s1600/celtic+journal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLziGFbjnNChHNNk9gBKFhaPHNTnBiW2BloE16f90-3nbr6Djqbdu0e83Zi1Eo3yCTEMC_lvpBcNqY92iJdq4vyWzTnn-yMClATacV2P_Zm_Gl_t8MfhR0pZ0KDwO2I_OhZiO4fonmt7f/s200/celtic+journal.jpg" width="143" /></a>I’ve been encouraged to journal and have received several
journals as gifts (like the one on the left) from friends, but I haven’t used them yet. I’m not
ready to record all the day-to-day events about my illness. It feels too raw.
Plus the journals are so pretty, I’m saving them for happier times. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
What I am doing is writing when I have energy and the mood
strikes. Mostly I write on my laptop, but I also scribble notes in raggedy notebooks. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
A short story I began in January started as a romantic
mystery to read at critique group for a Valentine’s love story challenge was
titled “Time Will Tell.” Around the same time, I was invited to submit to <i>Mysteries of the Ozarks (Vol V),</i> a project of the Ozarks
Writers Inc. I reworked and lengthened the story to highlight the mystery aspect, and the story was accepted just before my diagnosis. A few weeks later, I was asked to
help with editing and proofreading the anthology. I agreed because when I first
started chemo treatments I was having trouble sleeping and welcomed doing
something productive. In addition to that, I was asked to become a member of the
OWI board. It has been a positive experience in every way. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
In February, I rewrote and expanded my essay, “Remembering
Miss Tobin,” which was among the top ten finalist in 2014 Erma Bombeck human
interest competition, but never published. I revised and renamed the new essay, “Miss Tobin’s Special Gifts,”
and submitted it to Whispering Prairie Press for their KC Voices magazine.
Earlier this month I received an e-mail that the editor “loved” my essay asked
for permission to use it. Of course, I accepted. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Earlier this month, I pulled out an old essay about the day my
husband became a US citizen. The expanded version corrected mistakes in the
original and included the night we met at a USO dance. I wasn’t able to
attend my critique group to read the story, so my good friend Alice printed it
off and read it for me then called and relayed everyone’s comments. Using many
of their suggestions, I cut the original version from around 1,000 words to
750, changed the title, and the end result resulted in a tighter and I think better
story. It’s a long shot, but I submitted it to Chicken Soup for the Soul: My
Kind Of America. I won’t know until June if "A Good Day for A New Citizen" is accepted. If I don’t hear by then
I’ll know it isn’t a good fit, but I’ll remain hopeful.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Last week, my mind wandered to my childhood neighborhood in
North St. Louis and a memory of an unusual boy who lived down the alley. He
was a few years older than the rest of the boys on our block, who never invited him to play,
so he usually stood and watched the rest of us have fun. I felt sorry for him,
but he also made me feel uneasy, the way he stared and watched the
rest of us. That memory resulted in a short story about a lonely
writer/blogger/teacher who spies on his coworkers and students and uses what he learns about them to get ahead. It’s an odd
piece and I’m not sure what will become of it, but it might eventually find a home.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
More than a month ago, I started on an essay about losing my
hair, but I’m not quite ready to finish that one yet. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
I’ve put my novel aside for the time being, but who knows
maybe if I get a burst of inspiration I’ll pick it up again. Now that I
finished the “red devil” chemo sessions, have started on “chemo light” treatments, and will start physical rehab next week to get my strength back, I might get inspired.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
How about you? Have you ever written to heal—from an
illness, grief, personal tragedy, or for any other reason? If so, has writing helped?</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-69538750788023447042017-03-29T10:18:00.001-05:002017-03-30T04:29:26.253-05:00With A Lot of Help From my Friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoXeEZ8dE0aGk5KdJKog02dUxSwDdOzF5mx0Hc4ZRkt3cWt13NC_EQ2wAFe2h9PiMPELLlSvHQl-fFHy8Ym3uEb5OR2BDucNhDmW-Xh31PBiXvGdtzaFzCJ1FXF7qc-B955IImsQYSpn_/s1600/rendevouz+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoXeEZ8dE0aGk5KdJKog02dUxSwDdOzF5mx0Hc4ZRkt3cWt13NC_EQ2wAFe2h9PiMPELLlSvHQl-fFHy8Ym3uEb5OR2BDucNhDmW-Xh31PBiXvGdtzaFzCJ1FXF7qc-B955IImsQYSpn_/s200/rendevouz+cake.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
A week ago last Tuesday, my friends showered me with love, words of encouragement, prayers, and surprise gifts. Their generosity and thoughtfulness brought tears to my eyes and reminded me of the Beatle's melody, "I'll get by with a little help my friends," but for me it has been a lot of help from my friends!<br />
<br />
When my sister Kathleen and I pulled into the parking lot of the Rendezvous Café I commented that Jack's truck wasn't there and said I hoped he wasn't sick. Jack is always at critique group, so I guess I should've known something was amiss.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1We-euEVBdd-BU1V70HfxYRK0g0l_lUT18Bpb9HoIwP3odO_Yp2A0rP_kXtRS35-S_hNKWTmTg0ZurjojPEm8MtBILKUygJIomRd1OfjGgL3HQReoIvX00isPzbnmI9NhCj6QmVdgmCj-/s1600/rendevouz+gifrs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1We-euEVBdd-BU1V70HfxYRK0g0l_lUT18Bpb9HoIwP3odO_Yp2A0rP_kXtRS35-S_hNKWTmTg0ZurjojPEm8MtBILKUygJIomRd1OfjGgL3HQReoIvX00isPzbnmI9NhCj6QmVdgmCj-/s1600/rendevouz+gifrs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<br />
Inside the restaurant, I got welcoming hugs from our always-smiling server, Kim, and fantastic cook, Sharon, who came out of the kitchen to greet me. Stephanie, the owner of Rendezvous, also gave me a welcoming hug. I was brought to tears at their moving gestures. But it couldn't compare with what awaited me when I entered our meeting room.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Kathleen, Linda, Pat, Lynn, Alice,</div>
<div>
Donna, Tricia, Sarah, Jane, and Marcia</div>
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The back room of the Rendezvous Café was decorated with pink balloons and gifts, and many were dressed in pink. (I wore blue). The cake with the light pink breast cancer logo was lovely -- and delicious.<br />
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<div>
A little birdie later on told me Alice was the ringleader, with help from my sister Kathleen, who drove me to Rendezvous Café. And several others helped Alice plan the party.</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5340pcqBIcUuPK7BS72XyZ0KBTVqczSDsBQ5kVsstigSafEbTdSfDKblW1Ww5aomWbd427Qd5h77BRaoOcJUoEE9VgWXg_wphqUpUC1kI3MXhlgI6j1BBX3JO3JnyXNnHVoW4humVAwPK/s1600/rendevouz+with+kim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5340pcqBIcUuPK7BS72XyZ0KBTVqczSDsBQ5kVsstigSafEbTdSfDKblW1Ww5aomWbd427Qd5h77BRaoOcJUoEE9VgWXg_wphqUpUC1kI3MXhlgI6j1BBX3JO3JnyXNnHVoW4humVAwPK/s200/rendevouz+with+kim.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Kathleen, Pat, Kim, Alice,</div>
<div>
Donna, Jane, Tricia, and Marcia</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I shed tears of joy when I saw the women gathered there. Besides our usual critique group ladies (Alice, Pat, Jane, Sarah, and Marcia), Linda, Tricia, and Lynn were there! I was told the guys were banished for the day. ;)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Others who couldn't come but sent gifts and/or cards were Berta, Sioux, Barbara, and Mary. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning opening the many thoughtful cards and presents. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Words can't express the gratitude in my heart for the kind gestures, generous gifts, and works of encouragement and support my friends have shown me throughout my breast cancer journey.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Without a doubt, I know that I'll get by with (more than) a little help from my friends! </div>
Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-53118130417798188512017-03-20T07:21:00.001-05:002017-03-20T07:25:57.676-05:00RIP - Rock In Peace, Chuck Berry<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was saddened, but not totally surprised, to hear the news
that St. Louis legendary music icon Chuck Berry passed away on Saturday. </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/I%20was%20saddened,%20but%20not%20totally%20surprised,%20to%20hear%20the%20news%20that%20St.%20Louis%20legendary%20music%20icon%20Chuck%20Berry%20passed%20away%20on%20Saturday.%20Chuck%20Berry%20was%2090%20when%20he%20died%20in%20St.%20Charles%20County,%20Missouri,%20the%20same%20county%20where%20I%20live—about%20fifteen%20miles%20from%20my%20home.%20It’s%20strange%20how%20the%20death%20of%20one%20person%20can%20trigger%20memories%20that%20have%20been%20packed%20away%20for%20decades.%20Although%20I%20never%20met%20Chuck%20Berry%20in%20person,%20his%20music%20and%20presence%20touched%20my%20soul%20and%20influenced%20my%20childhood.%20Just%20about%20anyone%20in%20my%20North%20St.%20Louis%20neighborhood%20of%20the%201950s%20and%201960s%20knew%20about%20Chuck%20Berry%20and%20his%20music,%20including%20my%20mom.%20Mom%20loved%20music,%20and%20she%20loved%20to%20dance.%20Her%20tastes%20ranged%20from%20the%20Country%20music%20of%20Johnny%20Cash,%20the%20soulful%20melodies%20of%20Johnny%20Mathis%20and%20Andy%20Williams,%20and%20the%20rock%20and%20roll%20of%20Elvis,%20Chubby%20Checker—and,%20of%20course,%20St.%20Louis%20songwriter%20and%20musical%20icon%20Chuck%20Berry.%20My%20dad%20was%20a%20germaphobe,%20so%20it%20wasn’t%20surprising%20that%20Mom%20was%20an%20immaculate%20house%20keeper.%20Music%20was%20Mom’s%20constant%20companion%20every%20day%20when%20she%20cleaned%20our%20house—make%20that%20rented%20flat—because%20my%20folks%20never%20owned%20a%20house%20back%20then.%20%20%20Once%20a%20week,%20to%20the%20sounds%20of%20whatever%20was%20playing%20the%20radio,%20Mom%20would%20wash%20and%20wax%20the%20floors.%20After%20the%20wax%20dried,%20she%20got%20out%20Dad’s%20old%20Army%20blanket%20and%20my%20siblings%20and%20I%20took%20turns%20riding%20the%20blanket%20like%20a%20sled%20as%20Mom%20pulled%20us%20around%20in%20her%20butts-on-the-blanket%20buffer.%20%20In%20our%20cozy%201950s%20kitchen,%20Mom%20kicked%20up%20her%20heels%20and%20taught%20my%20sisters%20and%20me%20how%20to%20dance%20her%20version%20of%20the%20Charleston%20and%20Jitterbug%20to%20Chick%20Berry’s%20songs%20such%20as:%20“Maybellene,”%20“Johnny%20B.%20Goode,”%20and%20of%20course,%20“Rock%20and%20Roll%20Music.”%20%20So,%20rock%20in%20peace,%20Chuck%20Berry.%20%20Thank%20you%20for%20bringing%20your%20gift%20of%20music%20to%20the%20world%20and%20a%20little%20bit%20of%20soul%20to%20my%20family.%20Lastly,%20thank%20you%20for%20sparking%20this%20memory%20of%20dancing%20in%20the%20kitchen%20with%20my%20mom."><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Chuck Berry</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
was 90 when he died in St. Charles County, Missouri, the same county where I
live—about fifteen miles from my home.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s strange how the death of one person can trigger memories
that have been packed away for decades. Although I never met Chuck Berry in
person, his music and presence touched my soul and influenced my childhood. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just
about everyone in my North St. Louis neighborhood of the 1950s and 1960s knew
about Chuck Berry and his music, including my mom.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mom loved music, and she loved to dance. Her tastes ranged
from the Country music of Johnny Cash, the soulful melodies of Johnny Mathis
and Andy Williams, and the rock and roll of Elvis, Chubby Checker—and, of course,
St. Louis songwriter and musical icon Chuck Berry.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My dad was a germaphobe, so it wasn’t surprising that Mom
was an immaculate housekeeper. Music was Mom’s constant companion every day when
she cleaned our house—make that rented flat—because my folks never owned a
house back then. </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once a week, to the sounds of whatever was playing the
radio, Mom would wash and wax the floors. After the wax dried, she got out Dad’s
old Army blanket and my siblings and I took turns riding the blanket like a
sled as Mom pulled us around in her butts-on-the-blanket buffer. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In our cozy 1950s kitchen, Mom kicked up her heels and taught
my sisters and me how to dance her version of the Charleston and Jitterbug to Chuck
Berry’s songs such as: “Maybellene,” “Johnny B. Goode,” and of course, “Rock
and Roll Music.” </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, rock in peace, Chuck Berry. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you for bringing your gift of music to the world and a
little bit of soul to my family. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lastly, thank you for sparking this memory of
dancing in the kitchen with my mom. </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-34935739440255696412017-03-13T11:09:00.002-05:002017-03-13T11:09:50.580-05:00Dave Barry on Writing, Editing, Publishing, and Judging the Erma Bombeck ContestThis past weekend I caught an in-depth interview with <a href="https://www.c-span.org/series/?bookTv">C-SPAN's Book TV</a>, featuring Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Dave Barry, one of our nation's premiere humor writers. <br />
<br />
As usual, Dave was funny and entertaining, but he also offered some helpful advice about writing, editing, publishing, and judging. <br />
<br />
Listed below are some notes I jotted down to share.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
On Writing:</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
* Little decisions make writing better, not the big stuff.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
* Don’t quit, even if you’re not gifted.</div>
<br />
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* It’s a process that takes work and practice.</div>
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<br /></div>
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* He likes writing books more than columns.</div>
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<br /></div>
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* He writes every day, although maybe a couple days he won’t.</div>
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<br /></div>
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On Research: </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
* Wikipedia is a valuable, but highly inaccurate. Cheap and easy and fast and general.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
* To nail down a fact, confirm with some other site.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
On Editing: </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
* Dave knows what’s funny</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
* Depends on his respect for editor’s advice, generally doesn't do major rewrites.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
* As long as you’re laughing, He's OK. Does it work? Does it
make people laugh?</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
On Publishing:</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
There are two ways to get published and reviewed. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Self-publish - he doesn't think is
the way to go. Easy to do, pay money to do it, but almost impossible to get
distributed and reviewed. Basically no quality control over content. Some
may be successful, but not from his experience. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Traditionally Way - Get an agent, might want rewrites, they
get it to the publisher. If publisher decides they have a sales staff and
promotional people and get a review. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
On Judging:</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Someone called into the show and mentioned he was going to judge the Erma Bombeck Contest, which got my attention because I know what a thrill it was <a href="https://www.wclibrary.info/Erma/winners_detail.asp?id=881&year=2012&winner=W">for my essay to win that contest in 2012. </a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Dave knew Erma. She was one of those funny writers and funny persons. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Dave said he hates judging because he wants to be nice even if he doesn’t like it. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
In the end, it comes down to what he finds amusing. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
~~</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
You can watch Dave's<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?423701-1/depth-dave-barry"> complete interview</a> by clicking here. </div>
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Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-59122967651024500162017-03-06T06:38:00.001-06:002017-03-06T17:27:27.611-06:00When PC Language Creeps into Historical FictionWhen I heard the historical fiction novel <i>Lincoln in the Bardo </i>by George Saunders was about to be published, my sister and I hurried to the library and put our names on the reserve list.<br />
<br />
<i>Lincoln in the Bardo</i> is set during the American Civil War in 1862 at the time President Lincoln lost his beloved son Willie. According to historical accounts, after Willie's death, Lincoln visited his son's gravesite on several occasions and held his son's body in his arms. <br />
<br />
Any parent who has lost a child (no matter what the child's age) understands the deep and dark sorrow President Lincoln must've experienced, so I was curious how that was handled. I was also interested in the historical aspect of the story.<br />
<br />
After the library called that the book was in, my sister and I picked up our copies. That was two days before my first chemo treatment, so I've been reading a few pages at a time when I'm feeling up to it.<br />
<br />
The structure of the novel is creative and unconventional. The story is told mostly in dialogue through the eyes of the ghosts and without quotation marks. The speaker attributions appear on the lines beneath the dialogue passages.<br />
<br />
Because of the novel's unusual structure, my sister told me she couldn't get into the story. I suggested she try reading just the dialogue and narrative and ignore the attributions centered below. She tried, but last I heard she quit reading.<br />
<br />
Yesterday I came across a tweet that George Saunders has written an article "<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/mar/04/what-writers-really-do-when-they-write">What Writers Really Do When They Write</a>" in The Guardian, so I checked it out. <br />
<br />
In the article, Saunders discusses the mysterious process of writing. He writes about revising one's work, moving from the general to the specific--"revising up to the reader" and respecting the reader. As a writer, that's advice I can use. As a reader, that's what I expect from an author.<br />
<br />
Last night I picked up <i>Lincoln In the Bardo</i> again, determined to charge ahead so I can return the book by its due date (today). Since there is a waiting list at the library I can't renew the book. I guess I could keep it longer and pay a fine, but that wouldn't be fair to the other readers on the reserve list, so I'm determined to return the book today.<br />
<br />
Back to the novel: I was willing to suspend my disbelief that ghosts in a graveyard hold conversations. I even overlooked the unusual structure and lack of quotation marks.<br />
<br />
I made it as far as page 73, when I could no longer suspend my disbelief. Not because of the ghosts talking, but because of what one of them said. <br />
<br />
On page 73 my mind whipped from the story to the words on the page. <br />
<br />
I wondered if, in 1862, a man (a ghost actually) would use politically correct language that is commonplace today.<br />
<br />
The ghost in question uses the term "his or her choice." Somehow, "his or her" doesn't sound right to me for a novel set in 1862. Wouldn't a man in that era simply use the term "his choice" even if women were involved? <br />
<br />
So, here I am this morning, wanting to finish the novel because of the reasons stated above, but knowing that rather than getting lost in the story as a reader, I will be looking for more PC creep.<br />
<br />
Perhaps, after I return the novel, I'll try finishing it at a later date.<br />
<br />
Or maybe I'll just give up the ghost.Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-80787237431352228712017-03-01T18:49:00.003-06:002017-03-01T18:49:57.806-06:00Beating the Beast<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaU0W85T4kqS163RiucXU3lRD2CJswzdinn1q5RGl-UzNNNujnimgvhY38F2Da1Et8g4gmBQaPJy0VK8LDrpEIeJnr_jQ-6QzpzYYD1ivtN2R6pbgf2qy0qgX_F6kCgRLbxLfXXQkRLc3/s1600/fight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaU0W85T4kqS163RiucXU3lRD2CJswzdinn1q5RGl-UzNNNujnimgvhY38F2Da1Et8g4gmBQaPJy0VK8LDrpEIeJnr_jQ-6QzpzYYD1ivtN2R6pbgf2qy0qgX_F6kCgRLbxLfXXQkRLc3/s200/fight.jpg" width="150" /></a>Some of my friends already know what's been going on with me lately, but for those who don't, I thought I'd post about why I'll be taking a break from blogging.<br />
<br />
Last month I went in for a mammogram, and a few days later I got "the call." It was definitely not one I expected. No one in my family has ever had breast cancer, so I thought I was immune. Shows how wrong I was. Several additional tests confirmed the diagnosis. <br />
<br />
Last week I had my first chemo treatment, and it threw me for a loop. I'm not going to go into all the details of my treatment plan, but I've quickly learned that Cancer and Chemo aren't for Sissies!<br />
<br />
I've found peace and comfort from family and friends and church members who are providing physical and moral sustenance and praying for me every day. I'm also encouraged by the kindness of strangers who are including me in their prayers. Every kindness and prayer I've received has been a grace-filled blessing.<br />
<br />
Today was a rough day, but this evening I'm feeling strong enough to blog. I'm not posting this for pity so please don't feel like you have to leave a comment, but if you're inclined to prayer, that would be a welcome gift! <br />
<br />
I hope to get back to writing and blogging from time to time when I'm feeling better and beat this beast! <br />
<br />Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-79233954934306924532017-02-13T10:04:00.002-06:002017-02-13T10:04:22.257-06:00The Changing Face of Libraries
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My, how libraries have changed over the years! </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What used to be quiet places to check out books and read in silence, are now hubs for socialization and a variety of activities. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My local <a href="http://www.youranswerplace.org/">St. Charles City-County Library</a> (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.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">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. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">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. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtCyqyYiuPmyM3yGC6p9NksVizqQ-8VhKgpDc7aucx86G7y106GBSr3xQlzUXbFu38jRbxQD2kuHV1kHew7hsE9eNN63hlB1NFBmW7UjhiZjU9eKl43bxPYrHWo5Atmm-RMBlyycMGPLS/s1600/booked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtCyqyYiuPmyM3yGC6p9NksVizqQ-8VhKgpDc7aucx86G7y106GBSr3xQlzUXbFu38jRbxQD2kuHV1kHew7hsE9eNN63hlB1NFBmW7UjhiZjU9eKl43bxPYrHWo5Atmm-RMBlyycMGPLS/s200/booked.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">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
</span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Always </span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">by Sarah Jio, which is on my to-be-read list.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">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. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">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 </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">constant in my life, my love for libraries
and books will never go out of style.</span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</span><div style="margin: 0px;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-42384004671831500212017-02-06T07:00:00.000-06:002017-09-28T17:11:19.037-05:00Dixon Hearne on "Setting as Character"<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I'm pleased today to have acclaimed author <a href="http://www.dixonhearne.com/">Dixon Hearne</a> as my guest blogger to speak about "Setting as Character." His works have been published widely, with his most recent, <i>Delta Flats,</i> published by <a href="http://www.amphoraepublishing.com/product-category/literary-fiction/">Amphorae Publishing Group</a>.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimXl5gcRn_ophmBNHpCtVXwtp3ipQYwZY8pYKWjAVjwy3PAj7I5vXLH3t1sSEsnbEq5WxPJ0-1u7n_Ai8bCrJ6OLCQhpPTh2mHzlZT7lfzQ3iZKsD2i8jf1ySJf6tNGKNlDgtnN4bLn9_/s1600/Dixon+H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimXl5gcRn_ophmBNHpCtVXwtp3ipQYwZY8pYKWjAVjwy3PAj7I5vXLH3t1sSEsnbEq5WxPJ0-1u7n_Ai8bCrJ6OLCQhpPTh2mHzlZT7lfzQ3iZKsD2i8jf1ySJf6tNGKNlDgtnN4bLn9_/s200/Dixon+H.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Photo courtesy of author</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Dixon Hearne </b>(photo on left) is the author of three recent books: <em>Delta Flats: Stories in the Key of Blues and Hope </em>(nominee, 2017 PEN/Faulkner Award) and <em>From Tickfaw to Shongaloo </em>(Second-Place, 2014 William Faulkner Novella competition),<em> </em>both set in Louisiana<i>, </i>and <i>Plainspeak: New and Collected Poems. </i>His website is <a href="http://dixonhearne.com/" target="_blank">dixonhearne.com</a> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Setting as Character</span></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I
discovered that my own little <span style="margin: 0px;">postage
stamp</span> of native soil was worth writing about and that I would never live
long enough to exhaust it.</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> ~William Faulkner</span></div>
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<span style="color: #48240b; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Beginning writers are often told: “Write about what you know.”
Consequently, many of their first writings center on where they live and the
people in their orbit. Once they have the basic elements of fiction (plot,
character, setting, theme, and style), they typically feel more comfortable
trying their hand at various genres. Fiction offers particularly rich ground
for cultivating possibilities. Setting alone presents unlimited opportunity for
experimentation. </span></div>
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<u><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">More than Backdrop (</span></u><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">physical, social milieu)</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Setting must be as well fleshed out as any other character,
by the use of specific and telling details. It can't be selected on a whim,
with no purpose in mind; but it must feed into the story<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>~Elizabeth George </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Literature
is replete with examples of places imbued with human qualities—beyond mere
personification, symbolism, or metaphor. Consider, for example, the
characterization of the moors in Emily Bronte’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wuthering Heights</i>—a dark, brooding entity, ominous and
ever-present, more than simply a literary device to set the tone of the story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Consider
also Scarlett’s Tara, more than mere symbol of strength and security. It
beckons, nourishes, influences. She views Tara as a living entity—revels and
wallows in its splendor, its spell. It is friend, healer, guardian angel.
Similarly, Anne Shirley imbues Green Gables with life and joy-giving. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Examples
of “setting as character” can be found in any number of novels and in noir
films set in New York City, New Orleans, London, and other places alive with
their own personas—where setting speaks to the reader/viewer, sets the tone/mood
of the story, and exerts influence and control over characters and plot. Place
is carefully developed into an unforgettable part of the story. Nowhere are
examples more clear and abundant than gothic tales and horror movies set in
haunted places, settings portrayed as living entities that act and react with
other characters. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Southern
writers seem particularly adept at featuring setting as character in fiction—from
Dorothy Allison (Carolina) to Tennessee Williams (New Orleans) to James Lee
Burke (swamps) to Faulkner (</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #545454; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Yoknapatawpha </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">County). Contemporary
“raw South” fiction typifies the impulse of many southern writers to interweave
place with other characters in their stories. Authors like David Armand
(southeast Louisiana, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Gorge</i>),
Daren Dean (rural Missouri, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Far Beyond
the Pale</i>), and Skip Horack (Gulf South, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Southern Cross</i>) create settings well beyond the dimensions of mere time and
place. They bring place to life. </span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Examples
from my own writing</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">:
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Many
of my stories spring from a single image, a place in my head. I almost
immediately step back and consider how place might affect my characters. They
are often powerful images, like a cabin porch in fallow fields, as in my short
story “This Side of Canaan.” A sweat-drenched couple and their ragged children
peeking through the doorway complete the picture, tell the story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Setting
is central to my comic <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>novella <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">From Tickfaw to Shongaloo</i></b>.
Stokely, a Southern town, reflects universal themes and motives and actions. The
dialect immediately identifies the geographical setting. We get to know the
town as more than a place—its identity is inextricably tied up with its interactions
with townspeople. Place is paramount in the story. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKbmQfqui5dh9FUdxhP3CZishvIjvVdBBSKlCHajbqZ6T2RGtMsb3vDI4XiY7ZZ-Q-4XiJ8TQUDgt3oW9OEb2Y8gKuguOKqEfvf6610cK0eGwSLfYfVbNAudXzHmDUxinwZ9HEPM9RP4F/s1600/DELTA+FLATS-COVER+IMAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKbmQfqui5dh9FUdxhP3CZishvIjvVdBBSKlCHajbqZ6T2RGtMsb3vDI4XiY7ZZ-Q-4XiJ8TQUDgt3oW9OEb2Y8gKuguOKqEfvf6610cK0eGwSLfYfVbNAudXzHmDUxinwZ9HEPM9RP4F/s200/DELTA+FLATS-COVER+IMAGE.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Photo courtesy of author</b></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;">Delta
Flats: Stories in the Key of Blues and Hope</span></i></b><span style="margin: 0px;"> is about place as well as characters. In
some cases, place is featured as a character itself, as in “Crescent City Blues,”
which conjures images of decadence and a general atmosphere of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">l</i></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="margin: 0px;">aissez
les bon temps rouler. </span></i></span><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
“Waves wash upon its muddy banks
like the incessant beating of the Crescent City’s heart. Like eternal applause
for the drama, with all its shadowy plots and subplots, unfolding in the
decadent world of the French Quarter. No one escapes its influence, New
Orleans. One might curse or spurn or dismiss it with the contempt of a
religious zealot, but deny it—no. It floats like an island unto itself, a world
shaped by half a millennium of vibrant tenancy.” <br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Native Voices, Native Lands</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> brings landscapes of
the Southwest and the central plains to life in story and poem. Indeed, many
native Americans believe that the earth and its constituent natural parts
(land, rivers, mountains, etc.) have souls. They write eloquently of waters and
tribal lands as living entities. </span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Crafting
Place as Character</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">In
crafting a story that will feature setting/place as a character, one might
consider the following: </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">How does a writer bring
life to a setting—complete with mood, motive, and emotions? </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">How can the senses be used
to add dimension and shape the character of the setting? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">How
does a writer introduce deliberate conflict and interaction between other characters
and setting to create a believable entity. Like any other character, setting
can cause problems or trouble for the protagonist(s). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Consider
what motives a place might have as a character in the story. What is to be
gained or lost? Use that to help develop a persona. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Create
a list of words that capture conflict, mood, atmosphere, and setting. Carefully
selected words add dimension and layers to place as character.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Imagine
yourself as the place in the story. What do you see, feel, hear, smell? What
might your own actions/reactions be?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Pay
careful attention to language and detail. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Most
importantly, read other stories—many stories—that feature setting/place as
character. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Thank you, Dixon for your wisdom and advice, and congratulations on your many accomplishments.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-70504153189303050042017-01-13T15:52:00.000-06:002017-01-13T15:52:04.272-06:00May Your Soul Rest in Peace, William Peter Blatty<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was sad to hear the news that author and filmmaker </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/13/books/william-peter-blatty-author-of-the-exorcist-dies-at-89.html?_r=0"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">William Peter Blatty</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> died yesterday at the age of 89. His novel, </span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Exorcist</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, was one of the most frightening books I've ever read, and the movie of the same name gave me chills. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Note: While the setting for the novel </span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Exorcist</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> was Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., according to many, the story was based on an actual exorcism performed in </span><a href="https://www.slu.edu/universitas/exorcism-expose/exorcism-faq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1949 in St. Louis, Missouri</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBOc2Mq9lRFa0N6Mgf8fotq5AfvkK-jppApaIhXtMf2BbYjwOVk9FuFN9vtgtn0trGJYVsK3OaZfmn5VEruahme0U_BkU4XihC5vDQ2UXC3X5UUI9nXEi4y_G6WyXkywSPd1tGFn-VsQc/s1600/Dimiter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBOc2Mq9lRFa0N6Mgf8fotq5AfvkK-jppApaIhXtMf2BbYjwOVk9FuFN9vtgtn0trGJYVsK3OaZfmn5VEruahme0U_BkU4XihC5vDQ2UXC3X5UUI9nXEi4y_G6WyXkywSPd1tGFn-VsQc/s200/Dimiter.jpg" width="130" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBOc2Mq9lRFa0N6Mgf8fotq5AfvkK-jppApaIhXtMf2BbYjwOVk9FuFN9vtgtn0trGJYVsK3OaZfmn5VEruahme0U_BkU4XihC5vDQ2UXC3X5UUI9nXEi4y_G6WyXkywSPd1tGFn-VsQc/s1600/Dimiter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Several years ago, when I wrote book reviews for Bookreporter.com, I was assigned to review Blatty's novel <i>Dimiter</i>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> In my </span><a href="http://preview.bookreporter.com/reviews/dimiter"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bookreporter review</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I described <i>Dimiter </i>as "enigmatic, compelling, and beguiling. Part mystery and part spiritual thriller . . . rich in detail and written with wisdom and grace."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the end of my review I mentioned a minor detail in the novel that puzzled me. I wasn't sure if I should even comment on it. After all Mr. Blatty was an award-winning writer who won an Academy Award. Who was I to point out a mistake? Yet, I felt an obligation to readers to be completely honest in my review. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few months later, I received an e-mail from someone whose address I didn't recognize. I scanned the e-mail quickly then started to delete it. But I paused and read it a few more times before realizing it was for real.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The e-mail was from Mr. Blatty himself, who thanked me not only for my review, but also for pointing out his mistake, which, he wrote, had been missed by him and several editors but would be corrected on the next print run.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Receiving his e-mail made me realize what a gracious and talented writer Mr. Blatty was. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana;">May your soul rest in peace, William Peter Blatty. You were not only a gifted writer, but also a humble and generous man whose work inspired many.</span>Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-53930508780774408322017-01-06T11:43:00.000-06:002017-01-08T15:33:30.739-06:00A Special Feast Day: Epiphany and The Three KingsToday, January 6, is <a href="http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/p/Epiphany.htm">the Feast of the Epiphany</a>, also known in many countries as Three Kings Day. <br />
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Growing up, my family celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany as the official last day of the Christmas season. January sixth was the day we took down our scrawny Christmas tree, removed the silver tinsel, swept up the pine needles, rolled up the daisy-chain garland, wrapped the dime-store ornaments and<br />
bubble lights in toilet paper, and stored everything in a few shoe boxes.<br />
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Oh, my, how times have changed!<br />
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This year I began removing ornaments a few days ago. It's been a slow process. We have so many ornaments and decorations. The most cherished are those hand painted by my children and grandchildren. Other special ornaments were given to me by my family and friends over the years -- several from the White House collection, some with an Irish theme, others with sayings about sisters and friends, many from our family's annual Thanksgiving Day ornament exchange and from my Bunco friends at our Christmas party ornament exchange. <br />
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Each ornament tells a story and brings back a memory. <br />
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There's one ornament that tells a story I wrote about in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Gift of Christmas. The story was called "Unexpected Joy." <br />
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The ornament featured in the story was given to my family on the Feast of the Epiphany a few years ago. <br />
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But the story didn't start there. <br />
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It started on the first Sunday of Advent when our doorbell rang one night and I found a wrapped package on the front porch. Inside was a gingerbread house, which my grandkids and I decorated. <br />
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The next Sunday another gift arrived, then another for each Sunday in Advent. I called family and neighbors to find out who left the gifts. No one knew and no one confessed. I expected someone to reveal themselves on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, but it wasn't until the Feast of the Epiphany that a family from our parish knocked on our door and handed us another gift.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxCun0poZ4ICGBu6xDILAJ2AtvvRYVrzmuKGeO0WPvcU4XE1YiyvFPIBH8z51sGLnzCtk_QPQm9mT2Ru0eDAO89a_VN2ClK28EhH7PU_dD0mJ2DDXL-Jy1bR4M8nWnjDVIqRVAk21pW7N/s1600/Velvet+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxCun0poZ4ICGBu6xDILAJ2AtvvRYVrzmuKGeO0WPvcU4XE1YiyvFPIBH8z51sGLnzCtk_QPQm9mT2Ru0eDAO89a_VN2ClK28EhH7PU_dD0mJ2DDXL-Jy1bR4M8nWnjDVIqRVAk21pW7N/s200/Velvet+box.jpg" width="150" /></a>It was a burgundy colored velvet box. <br />
<br />
Inside was a hand-painted "Li Bien" ornament. A small circle inside the box explained the meaning of "Li Bien" which comes from the Chinese mea<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fIOR2ieeLzjyprVWSxHQiuWfWcvYCCIzsFHTEK-9Hw6EykkHQ2r11ipkwpJ3-_QpzQnyfn0W7Z_Ngd2SBPRR1uUqA7e4nj1Uo1JOeCF7BvDDs1waEOkh_v0Q6pMVlTgfXfn7Ko2e4zVg/s1600/Nativity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fIOR2ieeLzjyprVWSxHQiuWfWcvYCCIzsFHTEK-9Hw6EykkHQ2r11ipkwpJ3-_QpzQnyfn0W7Z_Ngd2SBPRR1uUqA7e4nj1Uo1JOeCF7BvDDs1waEOkh_v0Q6pMVlTgfXfn7Ko2e4zVg/s200/Nativity.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a>ning "inside." <br />
<br />
The Li Bien ornament showcases the age old skill of inside painting, which originated in the Qing Dynasty. The ornament was hand-painted through a tiny opening in the mouth-blown glass. Each image is painted in reverse. <br />
<br />
The ornament inside was of the Nativity scene, complete with the Holy Family and the Three Kings.<br />
<br />
So, on this Feast of the Epiphany, or the Feast of the Three Kings, I fondly remember the year a family treated us to these special gifts, and the act of kindness and generosity they shared with us.<br />
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<br />Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-56842806919318230252017-01-01T10:55:00.000-06:002017-01-01T10:55:56.406-06:00Commit to Submit: Paid Submission Opportunity from Whispering Prairie Press<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNZIn3buW0m5qn8PKA9ONPrIAt3AiDnwhE-1RS0H1MSpGDDGsRLIv-D6oNaKPPa56NuQn78mCbkyBab1AlaEqFgDDyUDmxeVfbxid11jXwbLycCvhWdaQAxrJtimPruZjPootTRMDY4-8/s1600/Kansas+City+Voices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNZIn3buW0m5qn8PKA9ONPrIAt3AiDnwhE-1RS0H1MSpGDDGsRLIv-D6oNaKPPa56NuQn78mCbkyBab1AlaEqFgDDyUDmxeVfbxid11jXwbLycCvhWdaQAxrJtimPruZjPootTRMDY4-8/s320/Kansas+City+Voices.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Whispering Prairie Press website</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of my writing goals for 2017 is to submit to a variety of publications. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm not sure if someone in the writing universe picked up on that vibe, but in the past few days I've received e-mails announcing some submission opportunities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The latest one is from <a href="http://www.wppress.org/">Whispering Prairie Press</a><b>,</b> which is seeking submissions for their magazine, "<a href="http://www.wppress.org/kansas-city-voices/submissions/">Kansas City Voices</a>."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you're like me, you have questions: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do I have to live in Kansas, Kansas City, or Missouri to submit? No, you don't. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What are the editors looking for? Prose, poetry, and art of all media.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Does it cost to submit? Nope. Submissions are free, but there is a limit on how many works you can submit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Does this publication pay? Yes. According to their submission guidelines: "If your work is accepted for publication you will receive a small payment and one copy of the magazine. All payments are made in U.S. Dollars."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">When is the deadline? Submissions are accepted until <b>March 15</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">What's the word limit? Details, including word count and formatting, can be found on this <a href="http://www.wppress.org/kansas-city-voices/submissions/">submissions</a> link.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Those are the bare bones of the call out. Be sure to check out the website to find out the specific requirements, and good luck if you send something.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Now, I have some questions: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Have any of my visitors ever been published in "Kansas City Voices?" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">If so, how was your experience?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Also, do you know of any markets open to submissions?</span><br />
<br />Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4198335440945057072.post-44120694251823029232016-12-30T11:36:00.000-06:002017-01-01T10:58:04.013-06:002017 New Year Writing Goals: Get Organized and Seek Publishing Opportunities<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pb2_grkO7nq8rbKDPgCs1ccvBaKSDK3q6dqFFT7JXEjgNtBijZWqhRhN6MlqlIigRh_3lso3FsOe2KoL0IeFXmTeMdCnC8pCbhmGzHt7ZvfTMSxKTHoBXQCjPZtOwPC9JUPHdZvJkmcS/s1600/inkpen3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pb2_grkO7nq8rbKDPgCs1ccvBaKSDK3q6dqFFT7JXEjgNtBijZWqhRhN6MlqlIigRh_3lso3FsOe2KoL0IeFXmTeMdCnC8pCbhmGzHt7ZvfTMSxKTHoBXQCjPZtOwPC9JUPHdZvJkmcS/s200/inkpen3.jpg" width="143" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If your New Year's writing goals include getting organized and seeking out publishing opportunities, here are two items that might be helpful: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first comes from the </span><a href="http://www.literautas.com/en/blog/post-1341/free-printable-writers-calendar-for-2017/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+literautas%2Fen+%28Literautas+-+if+you+like+writing%29"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Literautas </span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">blog, which offers a free download of a printable 2017 writer's calendar and/or writers' planner. The calendar and planner are easy to download, print, and use, especially if you like to hold a physical hard-copy planner to chart your writing progress. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The second is a reminder of the Rock Springs Review anthology contest, which includes an opportunity to win prize money and be included in the anthology. The contest seeks works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Due to the New Year's holiday, RSR editor Judy Stock has extended the deadline by one day. For complete submission guidelines, e-mail Judy Stock at </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">RockSpringsReview@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wishing you and yours a joyous and prosperous New Year!</span>Donna Volkenannthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.com16