Friday, July 04, 2008
July member announcements:
Bio posted for Marti Soler.
Doyle Suit's true story "A Doubtful Christmas" is a finalists in the
Thin Threads contest sponsored by Kiwi Publishing.
* Please send your 2008 accomplishments and bios to our website
editor at
donna@saturdaywriters.org
June member announcements:
* Read the bios for Sara Hock, Camille
Subramaniam and Kelly Oliva.
* Doyle Suit's review of THE DEVIL MAY CARE is posted on the REVIEWS page.
* Donna Volkenannt's short story "Ida's Rocking Chair" won first place
in the Anne and W.H. Holland Award at the 64th annual Arkansas Writers'
Conference. Donna also made it through the first round in the WOW Spring
Flash Fiction Contest, which will be judged by literary agent Wendy Sherman.
* Gold Dust Magazine in London is buying a reprint of
one of Dianna Graveman's fiction stories for their next issue.
*
Welcome new members: Sean Dare (Wentzville), James Lattimore (Defiance), and
Kelly Oliva (O'Fallon).
*
Who says lightening doesn't strike twice? For the second year in a row,
Dianna Graveman won another Catholic Press Association Award. Scroll down to
Member Accomplishments for details.
*
Scroll down to Member Accomplishments to find out where Doyle Suit's essay,
"Meeting Montgomery," was published.
Stan Wilson and Dianna Graveman's reviews of THE HOST by Stephanie Meyer
are posted on the REVIEWS
page.
****
May member announcements
Read Member Accomplishments to find out about Dianna Graveman's newly inked
book contract with Arcadia Publishing.
Scroll down to Member Accomplishments to read about the awards received by Doyle
Suit and Louella Turner at the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. (OWFI)
conference awards banquet and Lou's recent short story publication in
Voices Anthology (Volume I).
Member Accomplishments posted for Margo Dill Balinski and Jeanette Hollman.
***
April Announcements:
Member Accomplishments posted for Tricia Grissom, Donna
Volkenannt, and David Lee Kirkland
*****
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
To encourage all members of Saturday Writers
to submit their bios for posting on our web site, I'm sponsoring a
drawing for members
of Saturday Writers who submit their bios each month.
The basic rules are simple:
* All members (except honorary members) of Saturday
Writers are eligible for the monthly drawing. If you've already
submitted your bio you will continue to be eligible each month. The
earlier you enter, the more chances you have to win.
* E-mail your bio to donna@saturdaywriters.org
by July 25 (pasted into the text of your e-mail--no attachments)
* Bios should be true
* Written in third person
* Up to 250 words
* No obscene or crude language
Be sentimental, be silly, be playful, or be
profound--but don't be shy. If you are sponsoring a contest, have an editing service, a publishing
business, a web site, or a blog, be sure to mention it.
Also, besides being a writer, if you're a
psychiatrist, a psychic, a private eye, or a pirate--we want to know.
If you've already submitted your bio and want
to revise it, you may also send your revision to me by May 25.
Thanks! Donna Volkenannt, Web site Editor
donna@saturdaywriters.org
*****
WINNERS OF OUR MOST INTERESTING BIO CONTEST ARE
Mary Ann
Kohenskey and Brett McCoy
Winners of April Bio
Drawing were Lou Turner and Mary Horner
*****
We welcome the following members who've
joined us in 2008:
Donald Dubois (Cottleville), Sarah Hock
(St. Louis), Bernice Siros (St. Charles), Marti Soler (Grover), Sheree Nielsen (Wentzville), Steve Ortwerth (St.
Charles), Fran Bowen (St. Peters), Nancy Hausner (Defiance), Sarah
Hock (St. Louis), Stan Wilson (St. Charles), Sean Dare (Wentzville), James
Lattimore (Defiance), and Kelly Oliva (O'Fallon).
Here are our 2008 Honorary Members:
Laura Bradford (St.
Charles), Dan Dillon (Olivette), Julie Earhart (St. Louis), Michael Castro
****
Check out our MEMBER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
for 2008
Margo Dill Balinski has had numerous articles
published in The News-Gazette in January, February and March.
On WOW! Women on Writing, Balinski was a guest blogger and had
several articles published, as well as interviews with Pam Hawley, Bobbi
Smith and Jennifer Cody Epstein. In March, her How-To articles were
published on
www.ehow.com , her interview with Longstockings blog authors were
published in Prairie Wind, and her interview with Kristin Grant
appeared in Premium Green e-book.
Dianna Graveman was published in
Daily Devotions for Writers,
by Members of the Writing Academy (Minneapolis) and other Christian
Writers. She has also had a story and photo accepted for
Good
Old Days Magazine. Dianna earned recognition in two categories of
the Missouri Writers' Guild President's Awards at the annual
banquet. This Spring, she was a judge for the Letters About Literature
youth writing competition, sponsored by the Missouri Center for the
Book; she spoke to the Greater St. Louis Library Club, hosted by St.
Charles Community College, in April. She also has been invited to
participate (for the third year) as a 2008 judge for the Big Write youth
writing contest:
http://www.bigread.net/big_write.htm.
Her story "Mr. Fix-it Man" is
a finalist for My Dad is My Hero anthology, to be published in
2009 by Literary Cottage.
In April she signed a contract with
Arcadia Publishing to co-author a pictorial history about St. Charles
for their "Images of America"
series. The book will be released in Spring 2009 in time for the St.
Charles bicentennial.
For the second year in a row, Dianna won another Catholic Press
Association Award. The second place for best short story award was
announced at the CPA's annual conference in Toronto in late May. last
week.
Tricia Grissom's essay "City Food Girl Meets Country Food Boy"
appears in the May 2008 edition of Sauce Magazine.
Amy Harke-Moore's short article, "You Can Write
Poetry," appeared in the February 2008 issue of The Writer magazine.
Now that she has her foot in the door at The Writer, she hopes to
follow up with other articles.
Jeanette Hollman's article "Finding a Niche" appeared
in the February issue of ByLine magazine. Good Old Days Special
published "The Scarlet 'P' " in March. "My Dream Breakfast" was selected as
a notable entry in ByLine's Dead of Winter Nonfiction contest.
David Lee Kirkland's first book, The Yesteryear
Tales, is scheduled for publication in July, 2008. Further information
is at his writer website,
www.davidleekirkland.com
Doyle Suit's short story "Hale's Law," won Honorable
Mention in ByLine magazine's fiction contest, February, 2008. His
short memoir, "Grandpa's 'Possum," was selected as a finalist for inclusion
in the My Dad is My Hero anthology to be published in 2009 by
Literary Cottage. In May, Doyle won Honorable Mention in OWFI's
Juvenile Short Fiction category for "A Pig for Sarah." Doyle's
essay,
"Meeting Montgomery," was published May 21 in the Smith Magazine
Brushes with Fame section.
Louella Turner won Honorable Mention in the OWFI
Non-Fiction Book category for Song of the Meadowlark, Honorable
Mention in the Nostalgic Prose category for "Dancing in Good for the Soul,"
and Third Place in the Young Adult Short Fiction category for "A Day Under
the Mountain." Her short story, "Perfect Circle," is included in the
Voices Anthology (Volume I) short story collection published by High
Hill Press. Other Voices Anthology contributors include New York
Times best-selling author, Jodi Thomas, and Spur Award winning writer, Dusty
Richards. To order a copy of the Voices Anthology, e-mail Lou at
louturn@aol.com
Donna Volkenannt has had numerous book reviews
published in 2008 on Bookreporter.com, Kidsreads.com and Teenreads.com. Her
Limerick "Manassas Belle" won first place in The Storyteller
magazine's Limerick contest in March 2008. At the Missouri Writers'
Guild annual conference in April, she won recognition in two President's
award categories (for short story and article)
and one Chapter award (for flash fiction). Her story "Faded
Roses" was among the top five entries (out of more than 100) in the flash
fiction contest sponsored by the Pike's Peak Branch of the
National League of American Pen Women.
Her true story "Welcome Home" will be included in the
Cup of Comfort for Military Families anthology to be published by Adams
Media in October. Her short story "Ida's Rocking Chair" won first place in
the Anne and W.H. Holland Award at the 64th Annual Arkansas Writers'
Conference, which is produced by the Arkansas Pioneer Branch of the National
League of American Pen Women.
D. M. Wilmes's book
Seven
Days of Hospice has been
nominated as a
Finalist in the Foreword Magazines Book of the
Year Award
and semi-finalist in
the Reader
Views Literary Award. Visit
Doug's website to learn more www.dmwilmes.com
Joy Wooderson's creative nonfiction piece "Bougainvillea
and Barbed Wire: A Former Citizen Looks at the New South Africa" is
included in the
The Truth About The Fact literary journal, published by Loyola Marymount
University. To celebrate
Joy's work and that of the journal's other contributors, the editors threw a West Coast Publication Party and Reading April 10 at
Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. Their East Coast Publication Party and Reading will be
in New York City May 15 at the Levine Greenberg Literary Agency The
New York City party is especially designed to introduce the work of the
contributors to New York editors. Joy has announced the launching of
her website. You can visit her at
http://www.joywooderson.com/
Patsy Zettler's opinion shaper column,
"Stuck with a big house and can't downsize!" appeared in the March 2, 2008
issue of the St. Charles Journal. Her humorous essay,
"Garbage
Anyone?" was awarded HONORABLE MENTION in the 2008 Erma Bombeck
writing competition. Patsy won second place for Best Flash Fiction for "Big
Britches on a Rusty Bike" and second place for Best Riverside Story for
"River Rats" at the Missouri Writers' Guild Annual Conference. Her essay
"Real Moms Don't Need Flowers" appeared in the May 11 issue of the St.
Charles Journal.
*******
MORE ABOUT
OUR MEMBERS (*Board Member)
Contact information for board members is on
the Home page.
Sally Adams (St.
Charles)
Cindy Allen
(Defiance)
Enthusiastic
Writer. Nature Lover. Professional Pilot. Favorite Quote: "The
greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way
its animals are treated."---Gandhi. cindyallen.inc@mac.com
Margo Balinski *
(Mahomet, IL) Margo Balinski
(writing as Margo L. Dill) is a freelance writer, children's author, and
elementary school teacher, living in Mahomet, Illinois. Her work has
appeared in publications such as On the Line, Grit, Pockets,
Missouri Life, ByLine Magazine, and The News-Gazette.
Her first book, a middle-grade historical novel, will be published by White
Mane Kids in 2009. She is a regular columnist for the online magazine,
WOW! Women On Writing. When she's not writing, she loves spending time
with her husband, stepson, and two dogs—Charlie, a boxer, and Hush Puppy, a
basset hound. Please check out her Web site at
www.margodill.com or email her at
margodll@aol.com
Alice Betz (Maryland
Heights)
Fran Bowen (St.
Peters)
Beverly Brannon
(House Springs)
Amy Burle *
(North Carolina)
Richard (Dick)
Butler (St. Peters)
Lilah Contine
(St. Charles)
Nancy Cook (St.
Charles)
Denise Cunningham
(Manchester)
Sean Dare (Wentzville)
Larry Doyle (St.
Charles)
Donald Dubois (Cottleville)
Cathy Durand
(O'Fallon)
Jacqueline K.
Endraske (O'Fallon)
Heather E.L.
Farrar (Warrenton)
Dianna Graveman
(St. Charles), an
editor for Ligouri Publications, is a former elementary and middle
school teacher, college English instructor, and corporate training
designer. She is the recipient of several awards, including four
Missouri Writers Guild Awards, a Catholic Press Association Award,
the 2007 St. Charles Community College Distinguished Alumni Award,
and the 2007 Missouri Community College Association Distinguished
Alumni Award. Dianna graduated Summa cum laude from
University of Missouri - St. Louis
in 1997 and earned an MFA in Writing from Lindenwood University in
2005. She is currently co-authoring a book about St. Charles for
Arcadia Publishing's "Images of America"
series, to be released in 2009.
Tricia Grissom *
(Wentzville)
has published articles in
various food and lifestyle magazines including Missouri Life and
Fiery-Foods and BBQ. Her essays have been read on NPR's St. Louis on
the Air and published in the parenting ezine Babble.com. She
has also worked as a freelance writer and photographer for The Travel
Channel. You can read her book and product reviews for MotherTalk.com at
coffeeandcritique.blogspot.com. Currently she teaches English at Lindenwood
University in St. Charles, MO, serves as publicity chair for the Saturday
Writers chapter of the Missouri Writers’ Guild, and manages the
Coffee and Critique Writers
Group Blog.
Contact her for speaking engagements or see clips at
TriciaGrissom.com.
Amy Harke-Moore *
(Old Monroe)
Nancy Hausner
(Defiance) was a unique
child, the middle child. She has been busy scribbling words on paper
ever since her pudgy little hand could wield a pencil. She's not sure
why. Most of her writing is being protected from the ravages of moths
in her cedar chest for fear of being locked up, again. Everything she's
done has been done on impulse including reproducing, not once but twice.
She has spent the majority of her life wondering why. Her education is as
questionable as her sanity. She was one of the first Opinion Shapers for
the St. Charles Suburban Journals and has an invitation to come back and
write at any time. She writes humor. She's written speeches, a cookbook,
and a letter to her mother-in-law (she doesn't suggest that). She
accidentally sold poetry to Blue Mountain Arts. This year she published
her first book, “God Some Instructions Would Have Been Nice. . . the Story of
My Life. . . Slightly Fictitious Memoirs." It’s her journey through four
hundred and fifty years of child rearing! It’s a laugh-out-loud look at
parenting. If you have kids you will assimilate, if you don’t it may save
you from a major disaster. It is for sale on Amazon.com. Please help
her recoup her husband’s money she's wasted. She has submitted a lot of
work over the years . . . she's guessing they are in the same place as
all those sock mates are?
Particia Haynes
(O'Fallon)
Susan Heltage
(O'Fallon)
Lenora Hobbs
(Foley)
Sara Hock (St.
Louis)
moved to south St. Louis three
years ago after raising her family in Columbia, MO, for seventeen years. She
is an art teacher currently enjoying teaching preschool. She often feels
like there is a writer inside of her who wants to come out but she keeps
ignoring her! As she gracefully matures she would like to transition from
teaching to working part time in a library in the children/parent resource
area and contribute short children’s stories and teaching ideas to
magazines. Anyone with any information on just how to do that could contact
her at hockhouse@sbcglobal.net
Patsy Hodge
(Wildwood)
Barbara Hodges
(Hazelwood)
graduated with
a Bachelor of Science Degree from Trenton State College in New Jersey.
Her alma mater has changed names twice since then. She has three
diplomas due to this event. Lindenwood University is where she earned a
Master's in Education. Married for almost 39 years to a wonderful guy
named Jim, who recognizes her love for writing, they stay busy enjoying
eight grandchildren ranging in ages three months to 12-years old. She
was an opinion shaper for the Suburban Journals, published a
monthly newsletter for one of the greeter groups at her church, and has
written many poems for her friends and family. Making gift baskets and
passing them out to her friends is something she loves doing. Along with
each basket, she attaches a poem that is about the basket's contents.
How about that for having a captive audience! Barbara has also enjoyed
making a difference in the lives of all her third graders who have been
under her care over the years.
Jeanette Hollman
(Hazelwood) Over the years,
this Red Hatter has used her writing as a catalyst through which her
emotions flowed and her sanity was maintained. It was the thread that she
clung to when everything around her had disintegrated into nothingness.
Writing became her first love in high school English class, but dreams of
becoming a published author were forgotten after graduation. Preparing for
an empty nest, Jeanette's quest for fulfillment led to publishing several
feature stories in her local community newspaper, while working as feature
editor of her college newspaper. Three of her short stories were runners-up
and published in Joyous Publishing anthologies, 2006, and 2007. Her credits
include: The Storyteller; Good Old Days Special; and ByLine
magazines. One of her pieces, "Dad," won honorable mention in a
ByLine contest and also appeared on Sweetgum Notes on the web.
Her passion for writing is detailed in "Rediscovering a First Love," in the
Cuivre River Anthology, Volume III.
She belongs to several writing groups, where she finds encouragement and
plenty of kudos on her endeavors. Jeanette and her "second love" of 43 years
are enjoying retirement and time spent with their two granddaughters.
Mary Horner* (St.
Peters) has read many books and understands some of them.
Her poetry can be seen in green and blue spiral-bound notebooks in boxes
in her basement, although a few from high school may be in boxes in a
friend’s basement, but probably not. She went to Yale University once on
the way to her brother-in-law’s wedding in Connecticut. The couple has
since divorced.
She introduced herself
to Stevie Wonder in a hotel lobby in Chicago during a fertilizer
convention (she was managing editor for a fertilizer association
magazine), and saw Imelda Marcos going into a bank in Los Angeles. While
in Los Angeles for a medical writer’s conference, she stayed in a hotel
featured prominently in the opening credits of the hit television drama
“L.A. Law.” For the next year or so she would point at the T.V. and
shout “I stayed there” whenever they ran the opening credits for “L.A.
Law.” Even so, her color-blind husband still lives with her. He just
doesn’t know that when she is mad at him she buys him pink shirts and
tells him they are white. Pink clashes with his beard. If she could be
any animal, she would be a French-speaking guinea pig named Madge with
her own talk show. Until that "favorite animal" thing pans out, she will
continue to teach communications at St. Louis Community College and work
on her novel "True North."
Sue Howell
(Carbondale, IL)
Janet Jansen
(O'Fallon)
Kathleen Kaiser
(St. Charles) is the author of "Strategic Planning for
Downsizing and the Human Resource Factor" and published short story "The
Flour Sack Dress." She is constantly changing it up with her writing and
life. Recently she changed the locks on the door at home so none of her
adult children, ex-spouses, or ex-boyfriends could move back in. She is
working on a new book," If Motherhood is a Life Sentence Put Me Out on
Parole," inspired by the new phase in her life. As a young girl, she wanted
to travel, be a writer and teacher. She has an MBA from Lindenwood
University, which she received while working full-time and raising four
children as a single parent. Kathleen currently works as Service Specialist
for Brown Shoe Company, owns a small consulting firm, and was an Instructor
of International Business at Saint Charles Community College. She has
traveled all over the world. Egypt and France were intriguing, but she does
not forget she was a farmer from Greenville, Illinois. She now resides in
Saint Charles, Missouri near her four children but not with them.
Rose Marie Kinder (Warrensburg)
David Lee
Kirkland * (St. Charles) with ancestry out of the Ozarks and
Appalachians, holds dear the art of storytelling, and aspires someday to
use in his own writing all of the following: quiet as a dead man’s
ghost, sullen as a caught possum, having no more heart than a hollow
log, hated worse than a tick hates liniment, cried like a pinched baby,
clouds clabbered up to rain, and, peaceable as a full kitten. He
resides in a house overlooking the Missouri River valley and has been
known to dawdle in the shank of the evening under the shade of his
cherry trees. His first book, The Yesteryear Tales, is scheduled
for publication in July, 2008. Further information is at his writer
website,
www.davidleekirkland.com
Marilyn Kister
(St. Charles)
Paul Koenig
(Wentzville)
Mary Ann
Kohenskey (Maryland Heights) is a
member of Saturday Writers and The Write Group of St. Louis. She has written
three novels, numerous short stories, placed in the top six 2007 Frontiers
in Writing Contest for her novel, MyBrother's Closet, and placed in
the top ten 2007 Fort Bend Summer Contest for her novel, Desperate
Chance. As a child, MaryAnn experienced a near death incident and became
"enlightened." She is a professional psychic in the Greater St Louis area
and highly involved in the metaphysical community. Most of her stories are
sprinkled with the paranormal. When not writing, she enjoys challenging card
games with ghosts, also known as Tarot readings. To read an excerpt from
Desperate Chance, visit her at
www.writegroupstl.com. If you like it, let her know what you think at
kohenskey@sbcglobal.net. If you
don't like it, send her a telepathic message. Her motto: It's impossible to
remain in a cocoon when holding hands with a butterfly.
James Lattimore (Defiance)
Lee Lumpkins
(Foristell) lives outside the St.
Louis metro area and belongs to Saturday Writers. She was coordinator
for Wentzville Writers Forum, which has folded. She has been published
in "Echo Magazine" in Wentzville, MO,"Newstime" ,a weekly newspaper for
Lake St. Louis; "Sweetgum Notes" an on-line magazine, in the fall 2006
edition; Lee has also been quoted in the Post-Dispatch. She writes
short stories for her family and writes a regular newsletter for her
large extended family. She is in the process of writing her life story.
Joanna C.
Massmann (Wentzville)
Brett McCoy (St.
Charles) is a graduate of the
University of Missouri (Mizzou) class of 2005. He holds a BA in
English. An as yet unpublished author working on two books: editing
one, writing the other. He ponders: The ideas just don’t stop, do they?
Anyway, he writes across genres, but all of his stories have some
element of the impossible, magical, or supernatural either coming in
the side door or accompanied by a marching bad. He thinks
that makes sense. He is a firm believer in the “Stephen King
method.” That is just: start with a character, drop into a
situation, and a let him fight his own way out. Plot is for
suckers. He also thinks that the rules of writing should be adhered
to but that the rules of storytelling should be thrown to the dogs
for them to pee on. His inspirations are too numerous to name but
here are a few: J.K. Rowling, JD Salinger, J.R.R. Tolkien, somebody
else with initials, Stephen King, Kurt Vonnegut, the comic book
called Watchmen, and the TV show LOST. He is currently volunteering as a
grant writing intern and hopes to one day have a job. Any job. THE
END
Judy Moresi (St.
Charles) Moresi, A.K.A. J.
Hassler Moresi, has had fifteen articles and twenty-five photos,
including the cover of St. Louis Marketplace--A Forum,
published in that magazine and St. Louis, The Missouri State
Trooper, and Rural Missouri magazines. She has written
book reviews for the St. Louis Writers Guild's newsletter and an article
on mystery writing for Missouri Romance Writers of America. Her short
fiction has appeared in University of Missouri-St. Louis' Literary
magazine and the Ozark Writers League's anthology, Echoes of
the Ozarks, Volume III. Her completed mystery novel Widow's
Walk won second place in a Romance Writers of America contest and a
mystery award in the Fiction From the Heartland competition, Indian
Summer and Miles To Go Before I Die were finalist in a
Heartland Writers Guild competition, with Indian Summer winning
first place. A member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters In Crime,
Ozark Writers League, and Saturday Writers, Judy is currently
Corresponding Secretary and Newsletter Editor for the St. Louis Chapter
of SINC.
Margaret
Muegenburg (Columbia)
Helen Musenbrock
(Lake Saint Louis)
Dan Neill (Troy)
has been writing creatively for thirty years. He’s had poetry, articles,
short stories, and ads published in newspapers, magazines, and other media.
From 2003-2004, Dan worked as a freelance writer for Lincoln County
Magazine. He was Ad Creator and Marketing Director for APPLE HEARING
Solutions from 2003-2007 with over four hundred ads and articles published.
Today, Dan is working on a suspense novel entitled Regul8or, and a
children’s chapter book, Norman Turns 35. To help him become a better
writer, Dan is a member of The Write Group of St. Louis and Saturday
Writers, a chapter of the Missouri Writers' Guild. Dan believes, “We cannot
reach our potential as effective writers alone. We need the eyes, ears, and
ideas of other writers who are likewise working to hone their skills.
Writing groups and writing friends are essential.”
Like many writers, Dan attempts to make a contribution to our world through
writing. Whether producing pieces for children or adults, he hopes to
trigger thought and questions within the framework of an enjoyable,
intriguing story. When not writing, Dan is likely to be reading, spending
time with family and friends, walking, hiking, or planning his next trip to
Montana. Recently, Dan modified the hours and responsibilities of his day
job to make more time for his passion. “I don’t want to reach the end of my
life never having made a genuine commitment to what I truly love, and feel
called, to do—writing.” Visit
www.DanNeill.com
Sheree Nielsen
(Wentzville) caught the 'writing bug' in 2003. Working for
WorldCom, the VP flew in one day and canned the entire department. After
that stressor, she informed her husband she "had no intentions of returning
to work in the immediate future and would rather write children's books."
Five years later, she is busy editing her book about her three-legged cat
Tripoli and soon will be writing a new first sentence (after a critique from
the March Saturday Writers meeting). She also enjoys writing travel stories
and articles about her Caribbean scubadiving adventures. On a dive trip to
Great Guana Cay, Bahamas, she encountered a pregnant 10-foot black tip reef
shark. When her husband motioned to her to take a photo, she handed the
camera to him shaking her head from side to side (No!) She wanted all her
'digits' in tact so she could write about the experience.
Sheree has been quoted in Caribbean Travel and Life's Magazine
'Postcards'on three separate occasions as well as being a finalist from
2005-2007 in their photo contest. She was especially excited when her photo
"Yellow Anemone' " graced the cover of the St. Charles Mosaics Festival
booklet along with five other artists last year. She has written employee
interviews and articles professionally for her company's newsletter. She
has been submitting travel articles and short stories to contests in hopes
of publication. Along with her love of writing, scubadiving and
photography, she loves her husband Russell and their five animal children
unconditionally.
Kelly Oliva (O'Fallon)
was born and raised in Kelowna,
British Columbia, so don't ask her which St. Louis high school she
attended! At seventeen, Kelly moved to Missouri after accepting a
scholarship to play field hockey for Lindenwood University. After three
years as a high school English teacher in the Wentzville School
District, she decided she wanted a life that didn't revolve around
grading papers. Kelly is in the process of earning her masters degree
from MU, and was recently hired as a school librarian. Kelly was
published three times during the last year: once in Wentzville's ECHO
Magazine, once in Lake St. Louis' Newstime, and on the
website
www.ehow.com.
She is currently working on an untitled young adult novel, and would
love to enter some writing contests in the coming year.
Mary Pat O'Malley
(St. Louis)
Steve Ortwerth
(St. Charles)
born in St. Louis in 1954, he
graduated Mercy High in 1972 and attended UMSL before enrolling in hotel and
restaurant courses at the community college. Ortwerth served a chef's
apprenticeship at the St. Louis Country Club then enjoyed 15 years in the
food business. In 1988 Steve married, moved with his wife Gloria to St.
Charles and began working for CitiMortgage, Inc. with a new schedule
allowing time for both work and family. Chefs unavoidably work nights,
weekends and holidays.
With CMI, Steve has written a wide range of professional correspondence.
Their son James is 14 and will attend St. Charles High School next year.
Their daughter Julie lives in San Antonio with her husband Ron and two
sons. Steve is an outdoorsman, loving to camp and canoe float. He spent
many summers back packing in the Rockies. He'd often considered literary
writing, and in 2001 began his first novel, a futuristic fiction thriller,
completed last year. He is now seeking agent representation.
His new fictional project involves the paranormal. Recreationally he reads
books like The Hunt For Red October; The Lord of the Rings, and
The Firm. Short-term goals: learn to format his work so that an agent
will offer their representation; learn to move his story through active
dialogue and avoid the roadblocks of background narrative. Through Saturday
Writers he has connected with people who have already helped him
tremendously. He recently entered his first writing contest and is working
on several short articles.
Dorry Catherine
Pease (Pevely)
Candace Rice (Silex)
Patricia Sanders
(Foristell) is a former
instructional designer and corporate trainer who has been writing since she
received her first chubby pencil and Big Chief tablet. Her first short
story "Christmas in July" was
published when she was in fourth grade. Her essays and short stories have
won numerous awards and have appeared in
ByLine,
Sasee,
The Cuivre River Anthology II and III,
Magnolia Quarterly,
Great American Outhouse Stories; The Whole
Truth and Nothing Butt and the 2007
Seven Hills Review. She is currently working on a novel-length
murder mystery. She blogs about the road to publication in her new blog
triciasanders.blogspot.com. Her website
www.triciasanders.com is under construction.
Paul Schmit
(O'Fallon)
Claudia Shelton
(O'Fallon)
Bernice Siros
(St. Charles)
Amanda Joann Smith
(Maryland Heights)
graduated from
Jefferson
College,
where she studied English and creative writing and earned the
status of Summa Cum Laude, the highest honor. Over the years,
her writing has earned first prize both in poetry and in
personal essay competitions, and in 2006 she founded The Write
Group of
St. Louis.
As its first president, she encouraged members to hone their
skills and "just keep writing!" Currently their Webmaster and
Researcher, she still plays an active role in the organization.
Ms. Smith is also a proud member of Saturday Writers. She is a
devoted mother of two, a passionate storyteller, and she
believes diet soda balances out dessert. Forever a Jill of all
trades, Amanda Joann Smith writes fiction, non-fiction—and
everything in between. Learn more about her by visiting
her web site at
www.amandajoannsmith.com
Sharon Smith
(O'Fallon)
Marti Soler
(Grover) “Give the best that you have to give--move in the
direction of your own dreaming and inner visions. When in doubt, do not
crouch down like a wounded animal, do not stand in a corner with your back
to the wall. Move out into the center clothed in the full regalia of your
own creative self.”
Marti Soler is a writer of poetry and prose. She recently
completed a children’s book on grief and is putting the finishing touches on
her newest creation . . . a spiritual self-help book that she hopes to
self-publish. She has been somewhat reticent of calling herself a writer
until now, realizing that she has been writing since she was a child . . .
keeping a daily journal before it was called "journaling." She has written
numerous articles, poetry and newsletters on various topics. She has
co-written and co-produced a CD gift set titled A Sacred Passage and
The GriefInterlude series, using guided imagery as the focal point
toward healing. Marti Soler, grief specialist, writer, personal
organizer/assistant, and certified guided imagery facilitator, works with
individuals and groups. Her workshops focus on enhancing awareness,
understanding, self-expression, stress reduction, and finding purpose and
direction after a loss. Her own unique combination of experiences and
insights creates a safe and supportive environment.
Marti has worked in hospice and healthcare for over 20 years. She has also
been a facilitator and workshop trainer at The Wellness Community, Center
for Attitudinal Healing, Mid-America Transplant Services, Women’s Connection
Network, and other women’s groups. Some of the topics include journal
writing, self-esteem, guided imagery, grief, creativity, and personal
organization for home or office. She is available on an as-needed basis to
lead workshops, to facilitate groups, and work with individuals. She was
recently interviewed for St. Louis Woman Magazine and Indiana Woman
Magazine. She is currently working as a grief facilitator for St. John’s
Mercy Friends, a grief support group.
“Grief is an exquisite and intricate journey inward to the deepest part of
one’s self.” ___Marti Soler
I want to breathe in the wind
That whispers to me
I want to shelter myself
From the long, dark night
I want the rain, not tears,
On my face
I want to walk barefoot
Leaving footprints in the snow
I want to put my yearnings
In a bottle
And watch them wash out to sea.
Virginia
(Carolyn) Stone (Foristell) has published posthumously,
“Derek’s Observations,” a collection of 45 original poems written by her
son, Derek Morris, who lived from 1964 to 1991. But as for her own
stories, she has never published any yet as most were written as a
stress release from her stressful job as a manager in a man's world in
Productions Operations in manufacturing. Carolyn no longer has that
stress, for after 33+ years, she retired. She is now working to finish
her two books, which she had begun years ago. Carolyn received a
Bachelor of Science Degree in Management after twelve years of being a
part-time student at three different colleges. She got her degree while
she raised her three children, while working 84 hours a week on several
company road trips, and as she fought to better her career. (Sorry to
say her company never let a woman heel spike high enough to break
through that glass ceiling.) Her husband is retired from the airlines.
She married him thirty years ago when he proposed at her front door
wearing a shirt he had made that read, “Marry Me and Fly Free.” When
she is not traveling, she resides at their lake front home outside of
Foristell, Missouri, and this is where you will find her
sitting on the boat dock writing her stories, and watching the eagles
fly across the lake. Carolyn knows that God has truly blessed her.
Camille
Subramaniam (St. Charles)
lives
with her husband in St. Charles, Missouri. She writes and teaches writing
at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She enjoys spending time with
her family, who lives very close, and her husband's family, who lives in
faraway Malaysia. Luckily, she loves to travel.
Doyle Suit * (St.
Charles, MO)
writes short fiction and
nonfiction prose. His completed novel, "The Ouachita Rambler," is currently
looking for a publisher. He has received more than a dozen contest awards,
and his work has appeared in The St. Louis Suburban Journals, Storyteller
Magazine, Good Old Days Magazine, Spring Hill Review, Sweetgum Notes, The
Cuivre River Anthology, and other publications. When not writing, he
plays and sings bluegrass music, and he tries to keep up with his lovely
wife of a half-century and his grandkids.
dsuit@sbcglobal.net
Brenda Swift
(Hazelwood)
Jerrel (Jerry) Swingle
(O'Fallon) Retired art teacher - 1 ea. - High
mileage, slightly worn. Happily married forty-five plus years. Began
writing to take up the creative slack. Enjoys writing short stories,
flash fiction, fantasy, humor, parody, satire, poetry when feeling great
- essays and opinion pieces when grumpy. Work has appeared in Good
Old Days, Woman's Corner, The Storyteller, America's Funniest Humor,
eClips, Sweetgum Notes, Echoes of the Ozarks, Well-Versed, Missouri
Teachers Write, Applecart, Cuivre River Anthology. Enjoys entering
contests, placing in several. Little remuneration, but great
satisfaction. Continues to work at learning the craft while enjoying life
in general. (Or is that phrase oxymoronic?)
Magdalin Szabo (Chesterfield)
Louella Turner *
(St. Charles) grew up in a small rural town
on the banks of the Illinois River and trapped her first alligator before
she turned ten. Wait a minute, that was one of her characters. Let's try
again. Once, while playing cards with Wild Bill Hickok, Louella witnessed
the shooting of a card cheat. No, again, that was in one of her books. Was
she abducted by aliens? She says she can't remember anymore. Like many
writers, Louella writes because she has to give the characters who live in
her head a life of their own. And in that endeavor, she often finds herself
not only in the company of her characters, but in the company of genius in
the guise of other writers, some of them well-known, some just beginning
their amazing journey. Louella Turner writes and lives in St. Charles,
Missouri, and has recently begun another adventure with her husband, Bryan.
They have started their own publishing business and are traveling to
conferences in search of writers with a story to tell.
Donna Volkenannt
* (St. Peters) got her first bylines
as a teenage reporter for the St. Alphonsus (Rock) High School newspaper, The
Rocket, and Prom, a St. Louis-based magazine for teens. She was graduated Summa cum
laude from the University of Maryland (European Division) with a Bachelor of
Science in
Business and Management, with secondary areas of emphasis in English and
Psychology. She's a retired DOD management analyst. Her life has been filled
with many blessings; she has also experienced unimaginable sorrow. She's
been blessed with two children, Julie and Walter (Erik), who were taken from
her too young, and whose love and laughter she misses each day. Since February 2005, Donna and Walt--her husband of almost forty
years--have been raising their grandchildren, Cari and Michael, who fill her
heart with joy. Donna's work has appeared in many publications. Her
most treasured are true-life stories about
Julie, in A Cup of Comfort for Women ("Julie’s
Gift"), and Erik, in A Cup of Comfort for Christmas ("Santa Wore Cowboy Boots").
"Welcome Home" is a finalist in A Cup of Comfort for
Military Families,
Oct 08.
donna@saturdaywriters.org
Pat Whaler (St.
Peters)
Jeane Whittenburg
(St. Peters)
D. M. Wilmes (Dardenne
Prairie) Technical
Support geek by day, writer by night, Wilmes is the author of Gone
But Not Forgotten: A Christmas Story, and the award winning
Seven Days of Hospice: A Memoir. Seven Days of Hospice
was released in December 2007 and has already won Finalist in Foreword
Magazines Book of the Year Award, Best Memoir/Autobiography in Reader
Views Literary Award, and Finalist in Midwest Publishers Book Award. A
departure from fiction that Doug loves to write, Seven Days was
a tribute to his mother who passed away from cancer.
When he's not writing, he's
helping electric and telecommunication customers throughout the United
States figure out what's wrong with their #%&**!!* computer systems (In
their words). Yes, technology can be a wonderful thing - when it
works! While teaching an IT class several years ago, one "elderly"
student had obviously never used a PC before. When asked to click on an
icon, she held up her mouse and started to shake it to make the arrow
move. Doug proceeded to show his confused pupil how to slide the mouse
on the mouse pad to guide the arrow. "Isn't that better?" he asked.
After testing both methods again, she replied, "No, I like mine
better." So, if you see someone holding their mouse up high and shaking
it like a maraca, it's not Doug's fault! You can visit Doug's website,
or see his latest blog, at
www.dmwilmes.com. He proudly supports Susan G Komen for the Cure.
Stan Wilson (St. Charles)
A bio
with nothing but the truth. That should be an easy assignment;
sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. Stan has spent his career
as an engineer and small business consultant. His writing to date has
been engineering and grant proposals for products and devices that did
not exist but if you provided him with the money then he would invent it
for you. A good engineering proposal reads like a work in fiction. He
has often written for his radio club’s newsletters and found he enjoyed
it. He would like to be able to write good fiction stories based on out
of this world science, i.e. a time machine. That’s the goal. Grew up
in southern Indiana, graduate of University of Evansville with a BSEE,
lived in St Charles for the last 30 years, married, loves the out of
doors. Drives an old MGB in the summer. Has a dozen different hobbies
of which amateur radio is the main one since he was ten years old. His
sign is Gemini and he is ready to find a new career -- perhaps as a
writer.
Troy Windom
(Ripley, TN) grew up in Central
Alabama and attended school at Graysville Jr. High. After school he
moved to Richmond, Va. Troy earned his GED, while in Virginia. He
attended J. Sergeant Reynolds Community Collage in Richmond, where he
took several courses in writing, maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Some of his poems
have been published in the Herald Progress, a small newspaper,
in Ashland, Virginia. Others have been published in the monthly
newsletter where he worked as well as in the newsletter of the
Fraternal Order of Foresters. His poems have also been read on late night TV. In a radio interview at WRFK
(an NPR radio station in Richmond),
Troy read two of his poems. The interview was aired several times. Troy
has had a love for writing since his youth and wrote his first poems
while still in grade school. He also writes songs and sings them in the
church he attends. He is in the process of having some of his songs set
to music. He is currently working on a short story that keeps growing
and may become a novel before it's finished. Troy is retired and spends
his time at home in West Tennessee with his lovely wife Barbara. He
likes Country and Southern Gospel music and old time radio and has a vast
collection of all three.
Arelta Witwer
(Lake Saint Louis)
Joy Wooderson
(O'Fallon) Late-bloomer nonfiction essay writer (“Writing
that inspires, informs, and amuses . . .”) loves good food but totally inept
in the kitchen, sports car fanatic (owned five Pontiac Firebirds in varying
colors), daydreamer and adventurous world traveler (twenty-five countries to
date), avid reader of
mysteries and spy novels. No husband, no children, no pets. Part-time dog
lover—aunt to a Welsh corgi. Housekeeping ability questionable. Maybe this
explains the "no husband" bit? Born in South Africa, lived in Toronto,
Canada, Atlanta, GA, and now O’Fallon, MO. Naturalized U.S. citizen since
1977. Works part-time as a proofreader to keep the frozen dinners coming.
Check out her website
www.joywooderson.com to see if she reveals deep dark secrets!
Ed Wright
(Brentwood)
Marilyn W. Yust
(St. Charles)
Patsy Zettler
(St. Charles), a newspaper columnist, writes humorous essays
and creative non-fiction. Sometimes she tosses in a poem. Since
graduating from Webster University of St. Louis with a master’s degree
in media communications, she’s written for several non-profits. Though
it sounds noble, it really just means she never gets paid for writing.
Shamefully, Patsy admits living in the sprawling suburbs of St.Charles,
Missouri, with her hyper dog, grouchy husband, two adult children, and
five television sets. None of which are conducive to getting any writing
done. She dreams of running away, but never gets farther than a dusty
corner in the local coffee shop, hiding behind a dilapidated laptop. If
you see her, please tell her the kids want to know when she’s coming
home. They’re hungry.
Honorary
Members
Gail Galloway
Adams (Morgantown, West Virginia)
Laura Bradford
(St. Charles) Visit Laura's website
for recent announcements.
Barri Bumgarner
(Columbia)
Dan Dillon (Olivette)
Cate Dodson
(Fulton)
Julie Earhart
(St. Louis)
Susan Kirkpatrick
(Gravois Mill)
Bob McEowen
(Jefferson City)
Teddy Norris (St.
Charles)
Ridley Pearson
(Kirkwood) has two book recent or upcoming releases, Steel Trap,
a Young Adult novel, and Killer View, an adult crime novel. Visit
Ridley's website for more
information.
Debra Peppers
(St. Louis)
Dusty Richards
(Springdale, AR) is busy at work on his latest Western. Visit
Dusty's website for details.
Richard (Dick)
Weiss (St. Louis)
*****************************
Membership Information
Mission:
To network with local writers by offering support and by sharing ideas and
markets for publication. We strive to assist writers in achieving their
publication goals so they may qualify for membership in the Missouri
Writer’s Guild, our parent organization.
Background:
Saturday Writers was established in January 2002 as a chapter of the
Missouri Writer’s Guild, which is a 501(c) (3) non-profit educational
association. While the Missouri Writer’s Guild has publication requirements
for membership, Saturday Writers does not.
Membership
Requirements: Members must be over
age 18 and pay annual dues. Saturday Writers members do not have to be
published.
Dues:
New member annual dues are $20, payable in the month joined and renewable in
January
of each year. New members joining after September shall be paid through the
next year. Dues cover attendance at monthly events, a copy of the quarterly
newsletter, and the right to include a member bio on the Saturday Writers
web site: www.saturdaywriters.org .
Meetings are held the
last Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the St. Peters
Community & Arts Center, 1035 St. Peters Howell Road, St. Peters, MO 63376.
Please fill out the
attached form and send it, along
with your check for $20 payable to Saturday Writers, to Joy Wooderson
(Membership Chair), 2140 Farnsworth Drive, O’Fallon, MO 63368-7152. Keep
this page for your records.
The web site,
www.saturdaywriters.org , includes a calendar of upcoming events and
speakers. For additional information, e-mail Tricia Sanders (President) at
president@saturdaywriters.org l
* PLEASE NOTE: EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2008 there is a change in membership
dues:
New
Members - $20.00 (New members who join after September will have the
following year included)*
*Members who joined after Sep 07 are paid up until Dec 08
Current Members - Annual
Renewal $15.00 (due January 1)
Current Members - Late Renewal $20.00 (after March 1)
************
Saturday
Writers
Writers encouraging writers
New Membership Application
NAME:
___________________________________________________________
ADDRESS/CITY/STATE/ZIP
(SO WE CAN MAIL THE NEWSLETTER):
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
PHONE
NUMBER (OPTIONAL):
______________________________________
E-MAIL:
__________________________________________________________
AREA(S)
OF WRITING INTEREST:
__________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
PUBLISHING
CREDITS (IF ANY):
___________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
DATE JOINED:
____________________________________________________
WHERE
DID YOU HEAR ABOUT SATURDAY WRITERS? _____________
__________________________________________________________________
COMMENTS:
______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Cut and print a copy of this application
form, then mail form and check for $20.00, payable to
Saturday Writers, to:
Joy Wooderson (Membership Chair),
2140 Farnsworth Drive, O’Fallon, MO
63368-7152
*****************************************************************************************
Saturday
Writers
Writers
Encouraging Writers
Membership Renewal
NAME:
___________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS/CITY/STATE/ZIP
(for NEWSLETTER mailings):
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
PHONE
NUMBER (OPTIONAL):
___________________________________________
E-MAIL:
__________________________________________________________________
AREA(S)
OF WRITING INTEREST:
________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
PUBLISHING
CREDITS UPDATE:
_________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
SUGGESTIONS/COMMENTS:
_____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
I
AM INTERESTED IN:
______
SPONSORING A MEETING ($50 includes membership for the next year)
______ BRINGING
REFRESHMENTS (Sign-up sheet available at meetings.)
Cut and
print a copy of application form, then mail form and
check for $15. 00 (before Mar 1) or $20.00 (after Mar 1), payable to Saturday Writers, to:
Joy Wooderson
(Membership Chair), 2140 Farnsworth
Drive, O’Fallon, MO 63368-7152
***************
*****
