"This mark is like a mirror held up in front of the viewer. It reflects where inspiration, thoughts, ideas, and stories originate—in the mind."
Designer, Gordon Smith.
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May 2021 Volume 28 Issue 8
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Our mission: to support local writers and promote their development through education, recognition, and community.
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A Message from the President:
Happy May,
Please consider volunteering your time and talent for our virtual office opening in June via Zoom for CMS students who need help and/or encouragement with writing projects. Because we are working with students all volunteers must be vetted and cleared by Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools before we start. If this interests you, contact Axel for instructions.
This is the first part of a Student Engagement Plan we are finalizing with CMS for the 99th program and beyond to take our mission to the next generation of writers. The second part is a writing series which includes a fall forum for young writers to ask their writerly questions questions, winter workshops and spring fiction contest geared to students in grades 5-8 and 9-12 and a party to celebrate the winners. So stay tuned for other opportunities to participate in this outreach.
And speaking of celebrations our 100th birthday is just around the corner. If you have any ideas you'd like to see the Centennial Committee explore or want to get in on the planning fun, please contact Caroline. The Committee is considering two big events in 2022, one in May and the other in October.
Stay Healthy & Keep Writing!
Caroline
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Join Us on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 6:30-8:30 pm via Zoom for our next general meeting.
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Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Artist, Illustrator, Writer |
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Gordon C. James, Fine Artist and Illustrator |
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Panel: Children's Writers & Book Illustrators |
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Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a successful children’s book writer or illustrator? Join us as we wrap up our 2020-2021 program year with a panel of children's writers, artists/illustrators.
Derrick Barnes, Vanessa Brantley Newton and Gordon C. James will bring their own perspective to a discussion of how to get started and what’s needed for children’s book writing success. For more on the program and the presenters visit the CWC Calendar of Events page. Members, you will receive the link in an email announcement. If you want Zoom with us as a guest, please contact Axel Dahlberg, VP of Membership, He will add you to the guest list and send you a link.
CWC Contest Results: To Be Announced in May
The Elizabeth Simpson Smith Short Story Contest winners will be unveiled. Co-Contest Adrian Calabrese will do the honors and the top three will read from their short stories. Abigail DeWitt was the judge for our most prestigious fiction contest,
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Club Stuff, Opportunities to Write & Submit |
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Congratulations Winners of Our 2021 Poetry Contest!
First Place: Joyce Compton Brown
for "Night Song"
Second Place: Michael Cox
for "Bank Fishing on the Tippecanoe"
Third Place: David E Poston
for "That Which Is Wanting Cannot Be Numbered”
The top finishers Zoomed in and read their poems at our April meeting. See the April 20th Meeting Recap page for honorable mentions and the comments our judge Ashley Lumpkin offered to the winning poets.
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It's Time to Vote for the Next Slate of Executive Officers
At our May General Meeting, we will vote on the 2021-2022 Executive Board.
Immediate Past President Debra S. Wallin will preside over the process and install the following officers:
President : Caroline Kane Kenna
President Elect: David Collins
VP of Membership: Axel Dahlberg
Secretary: Tiffany Grantham
Treasurer: John McGillicuddy
Special thanks to Anshu Gupta who has served the club as Vice President of Nominations for the past two years. She is stepping down from her executive board duties but will stay on as Co-Workshop Chair and member of the advisory board.
2021-2022 Advisory Board
Programs:
Angela Haigler & David Collins
Contests:
Darrell Horwitz & Adrian Calabrese
Critique Groups Coordinator:
Barbara Kidd Lawing
Membership Co-Chair: Blair Peery
Newsletter Editor: Teresa Taylor
Workshop Coordinator:
Anshu Gupta &TBD
Webmaster: Debra S. Wallin
Assistant Webmaster: Blair Peery
CWC North: Sandra Phillips
Open Mic Coordinators:
Hope Smyth & Debra S. Wallin
Social Media & Publicity: TBD
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Openings on the Advisory Board
Marketing and Publicity Team
The leadership team needs you on the Advisory Board to create, implement and maintain a branding/marketing plan to raise our club profile and to promote our 100th birthday.
If you have big picture experience like public relations/advertising and/or have been involved with promoting a big event or a series of big events we need you; and if you know social media, have an Instagram account or post on Facebook, please consider sharing that expertise.
Ideally we'd like to have two or more persons to spread the work. By the way, these are new positions so you'll get to help write job descriptions too. Contact Caroline Kenna
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Co-Coordinator for Workshops
Partner with Anshu Gupta. She has brought many quality presenters to us this year. If you see yourself in this role, have ideas and/or presenters you would like to bring via Zoom or to Charlotte (at some point in the future) please contact Anshu for more about this important post.
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Of Earth and Sky Workshop, Saturdays through May, Noon – 2 PM
At our meeting in April, our guest poet and performer Boris "Bluz" Rogers shared information about Of Earth and Sky This is workshop series and an opportunity to submit your poetry for a public art instillation offered through Blumenthal Performing Arts.
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"Believe in writing
Believe in reading
Be a part of it
Never stop!"
Everywriter
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Virtual Writing Salon & Social Time
On Monday, May 10th at 7 pm, take 75 minutes to write and share. We'll start with a little face time and catch-up time, bring your imagination; Tiffany provides the prompts. No pressure, no angst, just writing fun! Be our guest by clicking on this link to sign up.
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CWC North & Main Street Books
Present:
Celiac Mom by Ann Campanella:
A Virtual Book Launch and Q&A
on Thursday May 6, 2021 at 7 pm
What does it mean to go gluten-free? Is it even possible? Why would someone do it?
Ann Campanella and her husband were wedded to wheat until their daughter was diagnosed with celiac disease at the age of five. A non-cook, Ann became determined to keep Sydney safe from gluten, a substance that was literally poisoning her young daughter. In her new memoir, Celiac Mom, Ann reveals the benefits and challenges of upending a wheat-filled life.
Ann will read short selections from her book and answer questions about her family’s transition to a gluten-free lifestyle. She will share the health benefits they have seen and how Sydney has adapted to life without wheat. Learn more about Ann and sign up for the Zoom link at the CWC North Calendar of Events page.
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Sign Up for the next Open Mic Night on: May 21, 2021.
You will receive the Zoom link in the event announcement. You must be a member and register ahead of time
You do not need to register to come to listen and support your fellow writers. Save the announcement email and use the Zoom link to join the event. Please leave the 12 registrations spots open for those who are reading.
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The Mother and the Wolf-Aesop Fable
Early one morning a hungry Wolf was prowling around a cottage at the edge of a village when he heard a child crying in the house. Then he heard the Mother’s voice say:
“Hush, child, hush! Stop your crying, or I will give you to the Wolf!”
Surprised but delighted at the prospect of so delicious a meal, the Wolf settled down under an open window, expecting every moment to have the child handed out to him. But though the little one continued to fret, the Wolf waited all day in vain. Then, toward nightfall, he heard the Mother’s voice again as she sat down near the window to sing and rock her baby to sleep.
“There, child, there! The Wolf shall not get you. No, no! Daddy is watching and Daddy will kill him if he should come near!”
Just then the Father came within sight of the home, and the Wolf was barely able to save himself from the Dogs by a clever bit of running.
Moral:
"Do not believe everything you hear"
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Meet-a-Member: Babs Goodall
BIO: I am a native Charlottean. I graduated from Oberlin College (OH) with a BA in Sociology/Anthropology and a BA in Spanish. I received an MBA - International from Thunderbird School of Global Management (AZ). I pursued a career in business consulting for US companies for twelve years and international business for another thirteen years with a focus on Europe, Asia and Latin America. Changing directions, I wrote my first novel, a spy thriller, which took two years, during which time my amazing husband discovered his passion for clay. While waiting on replies from agents and publishers, I took Ceramics I at CPCC and became enamored with artistic expression through clay. After further study, my husband and I became professional studio potters until 2019, at which time I resurrected the novel and began a massive re-write and editing process that has taken about three years over all. Hopefully I’m on the last run through the book before seeking an agent / publisher. CWC has proven immensely helpful to my writing efforts.
When and where do I write the best?
I prefer to write after breakfast. My daily goal is to write four hours a day, five or six days a week. I meet that goal frequently; however, there have been hiatuses which have always proven beneficial. I return to the book fresh and with a renewed spirit. I have an office dedicated to writing.
Favorite writing tool?
iMac desktop computer. Keeps me focused on the writing. I make notes at the end of the day in long hand with pen and paper. Additionally, I use erase boards to record pertinent information in the book that I will have to reference over time. On my wish list: a twenty-foot long wall in the office made of erase board material for tracking every chapter of the book!
A favorite writing resource
Roget’s Thesaurus. The Associated Press Stylebook. Handbook of English. Studied reading of a wide variety of books in different genres has greatly informed my writing.
Best Writing advice you’ve received and actually taken?
“Once you have your story, you must keep it moving.” and “In the end you have to write the book. Do it." Bernard Cornwell
One thing I would like help with?
How to find one or two readers who can do a final read of the entire manuscript for overall flow, clarity of ideas/plot, and the level and consistency of interest—-prior to making submissions.
To start a conversation with Babs send her a message through the Member Directory
If you'd like to participate in Meet-a-Member please contact the newsletter editor,
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Celebrate all of those wonderful writing projects you're laboring over.
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Welcome New Members
Jenni Dickens, Saari Craig, Sarah Thompson, Tom Turner,
Steven Williams Jr., Bruce Bailey, Elisabeth Billod-Girard, Kathy Snow
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May in the Queen City
4-Building an Author Platform-UNCC-9201 University Blvd, 6:7:30 pm.
22-Queen City Book Fair-at the Carole Hoefner Center-615 E. 6th St noon to 4pm
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Randell Jones
Seeks Your
Personal Stories for a
Fall Collection
The next Personal Story Publishing Project theme is “Trouble"
Submit your 750-800 word on "Trouble—causing, avoiding, getting in, and getting out—Trouble with you in the middle.” No fiction. You may share a story of someone close to you or an ancestor whose story you know well.
Deadline to submit is June 30, 2021.
His Spring collection of personal stories Luck and Opportunity includes stories from five CWC members. Learn more about that anthology at Randell Jones.com.
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If you're you looking to get more involved or have an idea share it
Volunteer to be a featured Meet a Member
It's easy, it's fun, and it's all about YOU!
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I'm a Writer, Why Should I Volunteer?
That is exactly why you should volunteer; you have a gift that should and needs to be shared. Just as writing is an important part of your life, volunteering should also be. Volunteering is necessary and offers benefits both personally and socially.
Dedicating your time as a reading and writing volunteer will help a student writer reach a necessary goal, as well as, groom and foster the next generation of great writers and possible authors. Contact Axel to sign up for one of the most rewarding jobs you'll only be paid for by the fruit you see it bear.
"If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever." – Kofi Annan
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Hindsight Wants Your 2020 Stories for
an Anthology
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Hindsight is a collection of stories about 2020, written by people just like you. We’re seeking nonfiction stories from people around the world that capture what it was like to wake up every day to a new normal — whether that means navigating emergencies as a first responder or tying the knot over Zoom.
Hindsight is an independent, one-time publication. The very best submissions will be compiled into a print anthology, which will be published in 2021.
Submission fee: None
Length: Up to 2,000 words
Deadline: Rolling
Compensation: Writers whose work is selected for the print anthology will receive a complimentary hard copy of the book, as well as a digital file.
To learn more, please visit the website: HINDSIGHT
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"So many things are possible just as long as you don't know they're impossible."
From The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
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Poets, Playwrights, Prose Publishing Opportunities: |
Attention Poets & Artists:
The submission period for Kakalak 2021 is open from Now to May 23, 2021.
Guidelines and more are posted at: Kakalak2021. Anne Kaylor, MoonShine Review Press, is now the publisher. Learn more about the anthology born in 2005 and how Kaylor's role has evolved at moonshinereviewpress.
Austin Film Festival
Screenwriters are you interested in submitting to this feature competition? It’s a great opportunity to catapult your screenwriting career to the next level.
Late Deadline: May 21st ($70)
The Enderby Award is open to all genres with a unique concept and distinctive voice that can be produced under $10 million. The winner will get to meet with Enderby Entertainment executives to discuss their script.
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The Writers' Workshop in Asheville is seeking submissions :
HUMOR ME: Stories of fiction or non-fiction, 5,000 words or less. Use of witty, dry humor is encouraged.
Deadline:
Wednesday, June 30, 2021
HARD TIMES: 5,000 words or less about a difficult experience in your life, how you overcame this obstacle, and how you were changed by it. Winning stories will be chosen for originality and creative writing style.
Deadline:
August 30, 2021
LITERARY FICTION: 5,000 words or less, enter can be short stories or a chapter of a novel.
Deadline:
September 30, 2021
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Park Roads Book Store
Open for in-person browsing
10-7 M-F
Saturday-10-6
Sunday-12-6
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CWC Members Teaching Spring Classes @ Charlotte Lit
Landis Wade, Building an Author Platform on Tuesday, May 4th, 6-7:30 pm. A single Zoom session See more here
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Guerilla Poets
Poetry Workshop April 3- May 1-Inspired Sessions (Spoken word + Live Painting) April 6 - May 4.
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Resources, grants and places to submit your work at NCArts.org.
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North Carolina Poetry Society emuse at NCPS.
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Click the RPL logo to learn more about the
2nd Saturday Bookshop
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Fri May 7. Adult Virtual Book Bites Book Club.
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Central Piedmont Community College
Thank you to everyone who participated in our live Sensoria 2021 events! All live events have passed, but we have several on-demand events for you to enjoy anytime. We encourage all Central Piedmont students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as the community, to check out the on-demand events to continue to experience some of the best programming in the Charlotte region, celebrate the talent and accomplishments of Central Piedmont students, and to discover Central Piedmont’s outstanding creative programs. Recordings are also or will be available soon for several of the passed live events.
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Curl Up With a Good Novel
- People We Meet on Vacation-Emily Henry
- Hail Mary-Andy Weir
- Six Weeks to Live-Catherine McKenzie
- Rent Collector-Camron Wright
Young Adult
- Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry, debut author,
Joya Goffney
The Book Thief-Markus Zusak
Children
- Maybe, Maybe Marisol Erin Entrada Kelly
- One Crazy Summer-Rita Williams-Garcia
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It Happens in May
The month May was named for Maia, the Greek goddess of fertility. In any given year, no month ever begins or ends on the same day of the week as May does. May was once considered a bad luck month to get married. There is a poem that says “Marry in May and you'll rue the day.
Birthstone-Emerald
Authors and Illustrators Birthdays
*SN: All happen to be children and or YA authors
4-Don Wood
5-Richard Scarry
6-Leo Lionni
7-Micheal Rosen
10-Christopher Paul Curtis
12-Blue Balliett
15-Norma Fox Mazer
16-Bruce Coville
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National Get Caught Reading Month
12-National Limerick Day
2nd week of May (annually) Reading is Fun Week
31-National Speak in Sentences Day
Literary Facts
4-Star Wars Day
5-Empire State Building Opened, 1931
Historical Literary Facts
5-1865 - Decoration Day was first observed in the U.S., with the tradition of decorating soldiers' graves from the Civil War with flowers. The observance date was later moved to May 30 and included American graves from World War I and World War II, and became better known as Memorial Day.
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Looking for a few good adult novels about Mothers? Well, look no further.
What She Left Behind-Tracy Bilen
Mom&Me&Mom-Maya Angelou
God Help the Child-Toni Morrison
The Unexpected Joy of the Ordinary-Catherine Gray
Mother's Day-Dennis McDougal
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“Some of your best ideas come when you're on vacation.”
#HappyDays
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- Who wrote the book Life of Pi?
- Which author said, "We rise by lifting others?"
- Who is the eldest March sister in "Little Women?"
- Who wrote the book Snowy Day?
- This poet told the Nobel Banquet, "Our Irish theatre could (never) have come into existence but for Henrik Ibsen."
Look for answers in lower right column in the newsletter.
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May Monday Spotlight
Monday May 10, 2021
7:00PM - 8:00PM
Learn from Local Experts
Forrest Brazeal, The Read-Aloud Cloud: An Innocent's Guide to the Tech Inside
Lori Epting, From Chaos to Connection: A Marriage Counselor's Candid Guide for the Modern Couple
Laura Happe,
If You Give an Ox an Oxy
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Encouragement Quote
"Don't bend; don't water it down; don't try to make it logical; don't edit your own soul according to fashion. Rather, follow mercilessly."
Franz Kafka
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Literary Devices to Enhance Writing
Allusion-an indirect reference to something. Example-"The Cunninghams are country folks, farmers and the crash hit them the hardest." -Harper Lee, "To Kill a Mockingbird"
Allegory-a story or poem that can be interpreted to have a secondary meaning. Example-"Slow and Steady wins the race." -Tortoise and the Hare from Aesop's Fables.
Euphemism-a mild pleasant word or phrase that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive.
Example-passed away instead of dead.
Epigraph-a short quotation at the beginning of a book or chapter that gives the reader a clue into what the book or chapter's mood or subject will be.
Example-from The Godfather by Mario Ruso. The character Balzac says, "Behind every great fortune is a crime."
Hyperbole-an obvious exaggeration not meant to be taken literally. Hyperboles emphasize strong emotions or reactions a character may be feeling
Example-"I'm so hungry I could eat a horse."
"I could hear a pin drop a mile a way."
"Never overuse literary devices, people get bored quickly."
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CWC Congratulations BIPOC winner Coolidge Harris II of the African American Playwrights Group (AAPG) for his winning script, "Greenwood".
He is the recipient of a fully paid production of the play to be performed in September 2021 at the Fulwood Theatre in Matthews, NC sponsored in cooperation with Matthews Playhouse.
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Ready for Vacation?
Let's Take a Trip
In partnership with St. Simons Island Public Library, Casa Genotta, the Eugene O'Neill House was dedicated February 27, 2004. It is the house of playwright Eugene O'Neill located at Sea Island, Georgia. O'Neill and and wife resided there from 1931-1936. Here he completed two plays Ah Wilderness! (1933) and Days without End (1934).
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Maycomb is the setting from Harper Lee's classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, it may be fictional, but a visit to Monroeville, Alabama, is the next best thing a Lee fan can get. Take a tour of the restored courthouse that Lee reportedly visited as a child. Imagine Atticus Finch pacing the floor while making his powerful speech about racial equality. Lee grew up just a few blocks away from the old courthouse, and the museum has exhibits about her and her childhood friend (and fellow literary giant), Truman Capote.
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Sign Up for on-going events in cyberspace like these:
The 1st Tuesday of the month at 12pm is WBL Book Club! Visit the website for details and to sign up.
Write Like You Mean It, Thursdays 10:00 – 11:30 am Join from the comfort of your space to write and share our work. Contact Pam Turner.
Prolific Pens Writing Group 11:00 am– 1:00 pm
The first and third Saturdays of the month with the exception of holidays to learn more contact Sally Deason.
North County Regional Wordsmiths, Thursdays, 5:30pm-7:30pm
Writers of poetry and prose, all experience and skill levels are invited to meet every Thursday Group contact Darcey Mesaris.
Chapter Three Book Club
meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 1pm.
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Check In for the NC Quarantine Literary Tour a mountains-to-sea virtual journey to fictional places created by some of the state’s most accomplished authors.
The Quarantine Tour features nine places created by NCLHOF inductees in and for fictional works: Here is Video from the February launch.
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Literary Dishes Inspired by a Good Novel
The Secret Ingredient of Wishes by Susan Bishop Crispell.
26-year-old Rachel can make wishes come true. When she accidentally grants a wish for the first time in years, she runs away to Nowhere, North Carolina where she meets Catch, who can bind secrets by baking them into pies.
Peach Pie Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 4-1/2 cups sliced peeled peaches
- Dough for double-crust pie (can be store bought)
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon butter
Directions
- In a large bowl, combine sugars; add peaches and toss gently. Cover and let stand for 1 hour.
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*(skip if using store bought crusts) On a lightly floured surface, roll one half of dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate or iron skillet. Trim even with rim. Refrigerate while preparing filling. Preheat oven to 400°. Drain peaches, reserving juice. In a small saucepan, combine cornstarch, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt; gradually stir in reserved juice. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in lemon juice and butter. Gently fold in peaches. Pour into crust. Roll remaining dough to a 1/ 8-in.-thick circle; cut into 1-1/2 in.-wide strips. Arrange over filling in a lattice pattern. Trim and seal strips to edge of bottom crust; flute edge. Cover edge loosely with foil. Bake 40 minutes; remove foil. Bake until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly, 10-20 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack. Serve with ice cream.
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Trivia Answers:
- Yann Martel
- Robert Ingersoll
- Meg
- Ezra Jack Keats
- William Butler Yeats
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1932 –Ripley’s Believe It or Not began publishing fascinating facts and trivia.
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"To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the inner music that words make."
Truman Capote
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Support CWC Members & Community Partners
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Charlotte Readers Podcast |
200 episodes and counting. Click on the image to learn more about the podcast CWC member Landis Wade created and hosts. Check out What's Coming in May
Landis also hosts a community blog. Visit CRP's Community Voices to "find readerly and writerly content." and maybe contribute your own. |
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FEATURED LIT EVENT: PEN TO PAPER. |
Join on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30 a.m. for a mini-lesson, writing prompt, writing time, and sharing. Free
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Sally Buckner
Emerging Writers’ Fellowship
Deadline: June 30
The 2022 Buckner Fellowship will support an emerging writer of prose, either fiction or creative nonfiction.
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Applicants must be in the early stages of their careers and will not have had yet the support needed to achieve major recognition for their work. No specific academic background is required or preferred.
The Buckner Fellowship, given in honor of the last poet and educator, is a $500 award and other benefits to help allay the costs associated with the business of writing.
Click NCWN image for guidelines and more.
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MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Charlotte Writers Club entitles you to participate in workshops, critique groups, contests, and guest speaker programs. The cost is a modest $35 per year for individuals and $20 for students.
We welcome all writers in all genres and forms to join our Charlotte-area literary community. Your membership in the Charlotte Writers' Club helps support writers, readers, and literacy at a critical time in our nation's and our city's history.
To Join or Renew click this Membership Link and follow the instructions.
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Charlotte Writers Club PO Box 220954, Charlotte NC 28222
Please "LIKE" our Facebook page to encourage discussion among fellow
writers and keep up with the club offerings.
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