Reading, Donuts & Cider

Twice a year (usually in April and October) we invite the writers at the Box Factory for the Arts to submit writing for a chapbook, which is then published by the Writers' Studio. The writers may submit poetry, fiction or non-fiction, but each chapbook has a theme and the writing must be done to that theme.

The latest chapbook, published just last week, is entitled "Write a Letter" and we invited our writers to do just that. This time it was even a contest with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place money prizes. I show the cover of the book here, it was done by Ali Hansen who is in my writing quartet, but is also a wonderful artist in her own right.
She happened to take first prize in the contest, which was judged by our local librarian and the president of the library board.

Last Friday night, I invited all the writers and their families to come to an open reading at the Box Factory. We supplied the stage, mic, donut holes and cider - they got up and read their pieces. All but three people were able to make it.

As I told them that night, it's not easy to stand on a stage with the bright lights in your eyes and read your writing aloud to an audience of people, many of whom you do not know. I applaud them for being that brave.

This is the ninth chapbook we have published over the last five years, but the first time we've had an open reading. It went so well, I think we will do it again with the spring version.

It was simply a beautiful autumn night where people of like mind met and celebrated their work.

Haunted Quartet

The writing quartet met at my house last week and this was the sign on my front door that greeted them.

I love Halloween and the fall season, but this year I have barely any decorations up - we haven't even bought a pumpkin! I have a growing collection of Halloween village buildings, but I have set that up in the library at the Box Factory for the Arts, directly across from my studio - it's too tempting to my cats to put the village at home.

During quartet we ate outside on the deck for the last time for the season, then retired to the living room to share our writing and have some hot tea and pumpkin mousse desserts from the bakery down the road.

We sometimes talk about haunted things this time of year, but this time we didn't. Maybe because the weather was so beautiful that it was hard to think of dismal things. This week is perfect for that - it's gloomy, extremely windy and rainy - just the kind of weather to blow in a ghoul or two to cause trouble.

Nolan in the Fall

Is there anything cuter than little kids and pumpkins?

I think we took pictures of our young ones every year when we visted the local pumpkin patches. Here's one of Nolan, the grandson, painting his - a budding artist perhaps?

I have a notebook specifically set aside to record Halloween writing and I haul it out this time of year and try to capture the memories of our kids being small and enjoying the Halloween season. It's a time of year I have always loved, and one I feel particularly creative in.

I have to work quickly, when November comes, the memories pack themselves away for another year whether they were committed to the page or not.

Back from Quilt Camp

For the last four years I've been heading to the upper part of lower Michigan for a quilt workshop with Gwen Marston. I just returned the other day. This is a picture of Gwen standing in front of her samples of our project for this year - what she called "small studies."

I ended up making four of these small quilts myself over the period of four days of sewing and enjoyed them very much.

Nowadays I don't get too much time to sew - so it's always a treat when I'm reminded how much I enjoy it.

The workshop is held at an old-fashioned resort on a small lake. Here's a photo looking out at the lake from where I stayed.


The weather was almost supernaturally wonderful - sunny and in the 70 degree range all week. One day I even waded in the lake. And on the last beautiful Saturday afternoon of sewing, many of us took our chairs out onto the lawn and watched sailboats on the lake while we did our hand-sewing.

October in Michigan!

Pine Cone Attacks

Our house is surrounded by pine trees and some years - and this is one of them - the pine cones are so dense it's freaky! When they fall they land on the roof and it sounds like someone is throwing rocks at the house. The odd thing is that they often fall in groups, one after another, like birds taking flight. One decides to go, and the others follow.

When that happens it sounds really strange inside the house and I hesitate to go out the front door for fear I'll be hit on the head by one of these hand grenades!

This week it is supposed to be a lovely autumn week with weather in the 70's and the trees turning their colors.

I leave on Tuesday for my annual quilt retreat further up north in Michigan and I imagine the trees will be even further along in their color change. I'm looking forward to the drive, to the colors, and getting away from the last of the "dive bombers!"