Englewood Authors: 2015

Friday, August 21, 2015

Thanks to Linda

ABC 2016 Anthology of Florida Authors & Poets    ~ Writers Wanted ~    Can you tell an exciting story in 1,000 words or less? Can you sculpt a poem limited to one page?

Guidelines    Open to all Florida writers and poets.       Genre: Short Story (SS)       Cover page to contain: Author's name, address, phone, email address and title of the work.      Submission pages contain only the title and the work. No author name or information.

Any subject / Double spaced / Max: 1000 words.      Multiple submissions are acceptable but each must include its own cover page and  submission, and one check covering the total of submissions.      Poetry (Po)

Cover page to contain: Author's name, address, phone, email address and title of the work.      Submission page contains only the title and the work. No author name or information.      Any subject, any format, single spaced and one poem per page.

Multiple submissions are acceptable but each must include its own cover page and submission, and one check covering the total of submissions.      Entry fees: Short Stories         ABC Members        $10 - 1st submission / $5 each additional entry.         Non-Members           $15 - 1st submission / $5 each additional entry.        Poems         ABC Members        $6 - 1st submission / $4 each additional entry.        Non-Members          $8 - 1st submission / $5 each additional entry. Judging   Participating judges may not enter the competition. Entries will be evaluated by a team of 5         Timeline judges and their decisions are final.      Entries to be submitted by regular mail to: ABC 2016 Anthology, #209 1532 US Highway 41 BP S,       Venice FL 34293-1032      Deadline for entries - midnight Sept 15, 2015

Notification of finalists by email: Oct 15, 2015      Winners will be announced: Dec 16, 2015 - ABC Awards Meeting, 1pm - Selby Library, 1331 First       Street, Sarasota FL

Awards In Each Genre:    1st Place:     $100    2nd Place:     $50    3rd Place:    $25    2 Honorable Mention   Certificate    All entries reaching the final round will be included in the ABC 2016 Anthology of Florida Authors & Poets.

Submission must be your own work and not previously published. Send copies - not your only original. Submissions will not be returned. By entering this competition you are giving ABC permission to reprint your work as received (first time North American rights) and used in any promotion of the anthology. No editing once we receive the submission. Winners' names will be included in the book. We anticipate the anthology to be out in the winter of 2016. Contributors to the anthology may purchase copies at a discounted rate TBD in 2016.

Thanks to Linda

Preview of coming attractions

Venice arts and craft fair – August 1st $40 for two 8' tables. Our square is full

Fishermans Village – September 12, 10am – 4pm, 8x8 Table is $100 plus tax, deadline is August 24th. I have applications, request if needed.

Cracker Storytelling Festival – Oct 9th & 11th, Homeland Heritage Park, Polk County, $25 per space. 863-534-3766, DanielGornodki@polk-county.net

Coral Gables Fall Festival - Oct. 24, 25 Miami Fl. $395 for 10 x 10 space. Outside will need tent, table and chairs. Contact 786-558-5234, mrp2001@bellsouth.net

Port Charlotte Bazaar – Nov. 11, 12, 13, Charlotte cultural Center, inside, $99 for all three days contact 941-625-4175

Perida Arts and Craft fair - Nov. 14, Bradenton, $35 for inside or outside spaces. This may be already sold out. Contact, 941-799-7608

Kings Gate craft Fair – Nov. 17, Tuesday Port Charlotte, $25 for 6’x8’, 941-467-0518, mgerstmann@melrosemanagement.com

Venice Arts and Craft fair - Dec. 5, Venice community Center, We will book a square, first come first served. Fees TBD

Englewood Arts and Craft Fair - Englewood sports complex, Dec. 12, Jan. 23, March 19, $20 per table, you can share. 1300 River Rd. Englewood, 941-861-1980 This fills up fast. We try to be placed together so let me know you are planning on going
Looking forward to 2016

Cracker Fair - Feb. 13th, Dearborn St. Englewood , no details yet ,contact - cetgarrett@aol.com    We try to be placed together so let me know you are planning on going, Tents, tables and chairs required. We can share spaces

Dearborn St. reading Festival - Feb. 20th, Dearborn St. Englewood contact Diharris@comcast.net   We try to be placed together so let me know you are planning on
going. Tents, tables and chairs required. We can share spaces

Venice Book festival – March 19th, Downtown Venice in the park, Tents provided, details coming later.

Good OL' Days Festival – April 16th, 2016, $25 per space or raffle gift of same value, Homeland Heritage Park, Polk County. Tents, tables and chairs required. 863-534-3766, DanileGornoski@polk-county.net
I have flyers and applications for most of the events listed. brendaspalding@abcbooks4children.com
stores and book signings to check out.

Book signings at Parkers Books, Main St. Sarasota, the first and third Saturday of every month all year long. Please remember do not block entrance to store. Keep tables on one side. Contact Carole Stevens Bibisi    caroleart@hotmail.com or Brendaspalding@abcbooks4children.com

Sandman book store – Punta Gorda, will do book signings and take books on consignment. Please check this one out as they are really promoting local authors

NYE discount books – will take books on consignment and arrange for book signings. 607A Spur St., Venice. 941-416-2411, nyediscountbooks@gmail.com

coffee shop in port charlotte that will host book signings. Mercer's Micro Roastery and Coffee House, 4678 Tamiami Trail contact Valerie 661.6983 and mercersfrc@yahoo.com

Copperfish Books – 1205 Elizabeth St., Punta Gorda, FL 33950, 941-205-2560

village Voices – 1010 10th Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205 · (941) 748-6865 can arrange book signings on the first friday of the month during Art Walk evenings.

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Writers Read

The next meeting of Writers Read will be Tuesday August 4th from 11:00 -1:00. In the Punta Gorda Library on West Henry Street.

This is an opportunity for writers to obtain help with ideas, and constructive criticism from their fellow writers. We are not experts, but I promise that together we will help you improve your work, or at the very least assure you that it's perfect!

The meeting is free and open to everyone, you don't have to join, or be a member of anything, just turn up.

Should you need any further information, e-mail me at pgholmes@comcast.net.

Paul Holmes.

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Featured Story - The Man by Kari Burgess

The first I noticed about the man across the seating area at the train station was that he could not sit still. His constant motion drew my attention. First he would cross his legs then put both feet on the floor and sit erect.

I was supposed to be reading a book; however, I could not take my eyes off of him. Peaking from behind the pages of my book I took a better look. He was immaculately dressed in dark pressed trousers and a crisp white dress shirt open at the throat, his dark leather jacket carelessly tossed across the back of the adjoining chair.

His face was dark, with a day’s growth of beard, his salt and pepper hair was tousled where he constantly ran his fingers through it. His eyes were a startling aqua blue, made more apparent as they were constantly darting across the room. His face should have been strikingly handsome, but the worry lines, pinched lips and scowling brow nullified any trace of welcome or contemplation of handsome. He was not approachable.

Suddenly he grabbed a briefcase and his jacket and began to pace through the aisles and around the milling people. Each time a train arrival or departure was announced, the man would pause to listen then resume his pacing. He was a tall, over 6’2” or better, broad at the shoulders, narrow hips, slim but not skinny. He moved with a military erectness. Pacing with a lithe, smooth movement as the expressions on his face would tense and then smooth out with a shake of his head much like a caged lion.

He constantly looked at the watch on his arm, then pulled out his phone-glance at it and then put it back. Something was up---but what?

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Marketing Opportunity

Barnes & Noble Sarasota wrote:

As a lover of the arts we thought you might find this upcoming celebration of a literary icon of interest.

As you may all be aware, Harper Lee, the bestselling author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, has a new novel being released on July 14th called Go Set a Watchman.

This highly anticipated new book is a historic literary event as it is the earliest known work from Harper Lee.

Go Set a Watchman features many of the characters from To Kill a Mockingbird some twenty years later.

On Monday July 13th, all Barnes & Noble stores across the country will be hosting an all day Read-a-Thon of To Kill a Mockingbird.

To read the novel from start to finish will take about 12 hours.

We are looking for local community members to be guest readers in our store.

We would love for you to take a 30 minute time slot if you are available on that day.

Are you interested? If so, let’s discuss what time of the day would work for your schedule.

I would also welcome any suggestions you may have on getting volunteers to help us with the celebration of this classic novel...

Thank you for your consideration.

Donna DeTeresa

Community Business Development Manager

4010 S. Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34231

p 941-923-9907 f 941-923-9510

Crm2737@bn.com | bn.com | nook.com

Englewood Sports Complex - Thanks Linda S.

Englewood Sports Complex

Dec 12

Jan 23

March 19

Table $20 each

All the authors at this craft event will be in one section. Off the top of my head, they may have been l0 to l5 author tables at the last event I covered.

Marketing Possibilities - Thanks Linda Schell

Thank you Linda, you have a keen eye for opportunities for our members.

46th Annual Christmas in July (Cultural Center of Charlotte County), July 10 & 11 (9a-3p), and July 12, 2015 (11a-3p). For more information, contact Amanda Segur: marketing@theculturalcenter.com.

Arts and Craft Show, Venice Community Center, 326 S. Nokomis, August 1, 2015, 10 am - 3 pm. Deadline to register: July 20, 2015. $40 for two, 8 foot tables, 2 chairs; electricity $10 extra. We can share. Brenda Spalding is coordinating. Let her know ASAP if you are interested.

Peridia Christmas Arts & Craft Festival – Nov. 14th - Sandy Miles (941)799-7608

Brenda Spalding recalls cost about $35 last year. Inside and outside spaces.

Englewood Sports Complex Craft Shows: Dec 12, 2015, Jan. 23 and March 19, 2016. Contact Kate Nixon for more info. Venue sells out fast. Tables are $20 each per date and you can share. Info, call: (941) 861-1980

Cracker Storytelling Festival- October 9 – 10, 2015. Theme and age-appropriate vendors needed since Friday is the school day. Contact Daniel Gornoski: DanielGornoski@polk-county.net, Polk County Parks and Natural Resources

Good Ol' Days Festival - April 16, 2016, celebrates Polk County history with local bands, hand-made crafts, historical groups, etc. $25 vendor fee may be waived for a gift drawing donation of the same value. Contact Daniel Gornoski: DanielGornoski@polk-county.net, Polk County Parks and Natural Resources

Book Signings and Other Possibilities

Gulf Coast Bookstore at the Butterfly Estates in downtown Fort Myers puts local authors "on the top shelf." Charge is $60 for three months’ of display time.

Check out this story on news-press.com: http://newspr.es/1FG5vbh

Copperfish Books – 1205 Elizabeth St., Punta Gorda, FL 33950, 941.205.2560

Echo International headquarters (17391 Durrance Road, North Fort Myers) – Gift shop carries books! 239.543.3246, info@echonet.org or http://echonet.org

Mercer’s Micro Roastery and Coffee House (Port Charlotte) will host book signings. Contact Valerie 941-661.6983 or mercerfrc@yahoo.com

NYE discount books – will take books on consignment and arrange for book signings. 607A Spur St.,

Venice – 941.416.2411, nyediscountbooks@gmail.com

Sarasota’s St. Paul Early Learning Center is seeking children’s book authors to read their stories to promote literary. Contact Lisa McLean at 941-779-7009.

Sandman Book Store on Burnt Store Road in Punta Gorda will schedule book signings and take books on consignment.

Spanish Point gift shop carries books. Contact: Kara Pallin, Programs Director, Ext. 2600 or kara@historicspanishpoint.org

Village Voices – Bradenton Village of the Arts First Friday Art Walk Book signings and consignment. Email DGould497@aol.com or call (941) 748-6865

Saturday, June 6, 2015

From Linda Schell

From Kathy Nixon

2280 Aaron Street * Port Charlotte, FL 33952 * (941) 625-4175

Vendor Agreement

Your table rental fee of $99 for this three-day event is non-refundable. If I provide a gift of at least $20 retail value to the Cultural Center, my table fee will be reduced to $89. Said gift will be used for volunteer appreciation and/or fundraising giveaways. Please provide us with a business card to include for publicity purposes. Table spaces will not be held without payment. The duration of the show is as follows:

46^th Annual Christmas in July

July 10-11-12, 2015

Friday & Saturday 9am-3pm, Sunday 11am to 3pm

Set-Up: Thursday, July 9 from 6p-8p or Friday, July 10 from 7a-9a
Tear-Down: Sunday, July 12 from 3pm-5pm; No early breakdowns, please.

All items displayed must be in good taste. The Cultural Center reserves the right to ask for the removal of any items that are found objectionable. Secondhand items are not permitted and service purveyors will be permitted on a case by case basis. No refunds will be given if you are asked to leave for any reason.

This contract asserts that the vendor listed below is the only person to occupy the table referenced. Tables may not be contracted to one vendor and re-sold to a private third party in an effort to maintain first right of refusal on location.

By completing this agreement, I understand and agree to the above terms.

PLEASE PRINT

Vendor/Booth Name_____________________________________________________

Item(s) Sold____________________________________________________________

Address_______________________________________________________________

Phone #___________________ Email_____________________________________

Signature of Vendor_______________________________________ Date __________

Friday, May 15, 2015

May Featured Author - Mr. Don Westerfield

THE DEMISE OF THE STAR VENTURE

Star time 2104.232.2131. This is the final log entry of Jon Leary, Captain of Euro-America’s Nuclear Space Tug, Star Venture. In thirty minutes I must either turn the ship or risk destruction by entering the Asteroid Zone. My first officer, and engineer, Henri Gabbert, is dead, and I am wounded, most likely fatally. My other crew member, Doctor Lesley Brown, is… well, let me start from the beginning.

We left Moonport Three, nineteen months ago. This is my second three year voyage to Beta One, the asteroid mining station on asteroid 721. My outbound cargo included; three containers of fresh water and two containers of supplies, plus twenty miners in deep sleep stasis. I was returning with five containers of processed ore mined from the asteroid and nineteen miners, in full sleep mode. Each container, as you know, is worth in the neighborhood of five billion Euramerica dollars. My share was to be five million.

I was against the hiring of Doctor Brown. Women on deep space excursions can be a big distraction, if you know what I mean. Of course the doctor gave us the mandatory testosterone inhibitors to lessen our sex drives, but that usually wears off in six months and I refused the second one. I don’t know what kind of inhibitor the good doctor gave herself, but she needed a better one. Of course the inevitable happened when the testosterone kicked back in. Doctor Brown and I became lovers and stayed that way until we reached Beta One.

We passed the Space Tug, Star Explorer at about nine months out on her return to Moonport. The captain said some of the miners were rebellious and he left them behind. He wished me luck as they would most likely try returning with me. He did have fifteen miners in stasis, but his doctor wasn’t able to get the ten left behind to consent, and that was the only way he could have taken them; not having enough oxygen, water or food products to sustain them awake for the eighteen months trip back toward Earth. The station refused to let them proceed beyond the stasis chamber. They held his doctor hostage so he left him too, hoping he could return with me.

A week before we were to arrive at the asteroid station, Henri powered down the reactors to save on the fuel rods and we coasted in from there. As it turned out we had only consumed thirty percent so we had a surplus for the trip home, though it looks like we won’t make it now.

Everything went according to schedule when we arrived at Beta One. I parked my cargo in the mooring yards and picked up my new load immediately. As per timeline, Beta One sent their shuttle out to retrieve our passenger pod and attached the home-bound one. Before I allowed them to attach the Pod to the gravity ring, I had Doctor Brown check the telemetry to see if all were indeed in deep sleep mode, remembering the Explorer Captain’s warning. She confirmed that nineteen men were in stasis, but a Doctor Wellman was awake and wanted to board to relate some important information. I believed this to be the Explorer’s Doctor that they left behind, so I granted the go ahead to dock.

As per directive, when taking on personnel not in stasis, I put the ship on auto guidance and locked down the controls which are command code protected. Until I considered everything to be okay, I would not bring them back on line. It was good that I did this as it turned out, but in a few hours I knew I would need to make a course correction to avoid the asteroid field. I didn’t think this posed any kind of problem.

When I checked the data of the passenger pod, I found all nineteen men in deep sleep. Doctor Wellman was not there, but was with Doctor Brown in the transfer tube. He was armed when they ascended to the bridge. He immediately demanded control of the ship, but I refused. It was at this time Leslie embraced Wellman. This confused me until she blatantly declared him to be her husband. I’ve patched the bridge voice recorders into the log so you can hear what was said.

“Are you surprised, Jon? Harry is my husband. I guess you might say we are pirating your vessel. We’ve been planning this for five years now. Harry was one of our passengers, but I brought him out of stasis just before the pod was taken away. After we sell this load to the Asian Consortium we will be rich enough to go where we please. They told us that after retrieving the ore, they will give you back your ship, but for now we need you to set a course for the Mar’s Asian Depot. Harry will give you the codes to set into the Astro-Elite Computer.”

“Leslie; does Wellman know you have been sleeping with me for the last year?”

“I didn’t, Captain, but it doesn’t surprise me, nor does it make any difference. I told her to do anything to make this work.”

“Henri! Stay back. Oh no! Good God, Wellman, why did you fire on him? He’s my engineer, I need him you idiot.”

As you heard, Wellman shot and killed my friend Henri when he tried to jump him. I needed his expertise to bring the engines back on line. I can only guide us right now with thrusters, and I can’t do that until I unlock the controls.

Wellman pointed his weapon at me, demanding I do so. He said he had nuclear training and could get the engines running, but he needed me to set up the guidance system. I am already heartsick about Leslie, but of course I had to play along if I didn’t want to end up like poor Henri, but it looks as if I will now anyway.

The nineteen men in stasis are innocent, hell-raising miners, but they are doomed with the rest of us unless I unlock the controls, which I refused to do until Wellman gave up his weapon. We were at an impasse, but they didn’t know about our heading into the asteroid field. I will release all the data pods, before we hit.

You might be wondering how I was wounded. Listen, I’ll feed in more of the bridge voice recording.

“Leslie! Why the lies? I thought we had a good thing going. I was about to propose; did you know that.”

“Shut up, you fool. You were only a convenience. Girls have needs too. I almost brought Harry out of stasis a couple of times, you weren’t very satisfying you know.”

That’s when I started slapping her and Wellman began hitting me. We wrestled with each other as I was trying to get his weapon away from him. In the scuffle it went off and I felt the searing pain in my gut. I managed to shove both through the bridge door and lock it. They are screaming at me, but they won’t be able to get in, the door is blast proof.

I’m bleeding badly, but I’m using my remaining strength to release the passenger pod. Maybe the miners can be saved by the station when their emergency beacon goes off. I’ve also cut away the cargo containers; they will drift until someone can salvage them. I’m unlocking the controls and reversing all thrusters, but I doubt if there is enough time to stop our momentum. Leslie and Wellman are screaming, they can finally see what is about to happen. I don’t think I need worry about how it ends for me. I do know when that first rock hits our reactor there will be an all-consuming fireball, but out here in space there will be no sound, not even of their screams, and they are screaming louder now. Pray for us... Leary, out.

Don Westerfield

Friday, May 8, 2015

This Tuesday- Liz Coursen on Editing

Hi George!Hi Ed!

My name is Liz Coursen. I am the 
author of five books about punctuation and grammar. I blog about editing issues 
at EditNATION.com.

I will be presenting a fun and 
fast-paced editing workshop, Write Right, Right Now!, on Tuesday night, 6:15, at 
the Sarasota Authors Connection at the Fruitville Library, which is located just 
east of I-75 off of Fruitville Road in Sarasota.

I say it'll be "fun," and it 
will be, but my main purpose is to educate authors and aspiring authors in the 
niceties of our craft. Most authors—maybe I should say too many authors—don't 
know a comma splice from a hole in the ground and have only the vaguest notion 
of the collective noun rule. For workshop attendees, that's about to 
change.

The workshop uses "real world" 
material: real sentences from real authors, from real authors' websites, and 
from websites like LinkedIn and Grammarly.com. Bring your questions, bring your 
friends, and come prepared to sharpen your skills.

Best wishes, Liz 
Coursen


 

Elizabeth 
Huntoon Coursen, Sarasota

award-winning author, editor, and 
publisher.  Author of
The 
Complete Biography Workbook
Self-Editing for the Successful Student
Self-Editing for Content Writers

Brunswick and 
Bowdoin College 

Self-Editing for the Modern 
Author

The Book Tourist: Seven Steps to a Wildly Successful Book 
Tour 
Shade in the Sunshine State: Reflections on 
Segregation in Florida

www.LizCoursen.com
www.EditNATION.com
www.FirstPersonPublications.com

www.HavingFunWishYouWereHere.com 
www.ShadeintheSunshineState.com
www.ThePublishedSpeaker.com
"The Explosive Power of the Published 
Toastmaster"

(941) 706-2463

 

We shall not flag nor fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall 
fight in France and on the seas and oceans; we shall fight with growing 
confidence and growing strength in the air. We shall defend our island whatever 
the cost may be; we shall fight on beaches, landing grounds, in fields, in 
streets and on the hills. We shall never surrender and even if, which I do not 
for the moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and 
starving, then our empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British 
Fleet, will carry on the struggle until in God's good time the New World with 
all its power and might, sets forth to the liberation and rescue of the Old. 
—Winston Churchill

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Writing Contest with some Punch!!!!!!!

Writing Contest

Free entry

www.tales2inspire.com

Click on the "CONTEST" button.

Deadline 5/1/15

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Englewood - Elsie Quirk - Meeting Schedule

Dear Members,

I have posted the meeting calendar for 2015-2016 through May 2016.

Please note the one week the Library (Elsie Quirk) has a program scheduled for our meeting date. The date was moved back one week.

Ed

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Southwest Florida Writer's Groups

List of Southwest Florida Writer’s Groups
Name of Group	Contact
Englewood Authors Englewood and Venice	Ed Ellis www.englewoodauthors.blogspot.com
Florida Writers – Nokomis	George Mindling Myakka@embarqmail.com
Florida Writers – Manatee	Dona Lee DGould497@aol.com
Sarasota Authors Connection Fruitville Library	www.authors.wordpress.com
Sarasota Fiction Writers	Pat Gray Patrickgray1@msn.com Sarasotafw.wordpress.com
Peace River Writers Punta Gorda	Dawn 941-637-3514
Venice Writers Group	Roger Sakowski roger@acuitygroup.org
Charlotte Harbor Writers	Paul Holmes pgholmes@comcast.net
North Port Poetry Workshop North Port	Scott Zirkelback
CWHW Port Charlotte	Carl Megill carlmegill@msn.com
Suncoast Writers Guild Englewood	Ann Favreau favral@comcast.net

Saturday, April 11, 2015

April 2015 Featured Story

The Race
by Richard Davies

I’ve been told that the only way to learn a new language is to be immersed in it. I am sure there is some truth in that, but here I’ve been in Taiwan for one month and can speak virtually no Chinese, but I will keep trying. I have however learned a lot about the Chinese people, their country, and their culture, and am fascinated by it.

I was just told that I am a dog, and by such a lovely young lady. Seeing my dumbstruck face she tried to explain in her English, which wasn’t much better than my Chinese, that she meant I was born in the year of the dog. She was getting flustered trying to explain it to me so I decided not to pursue the subject further. This was a job for Paul Wang. Paul was our Far East marketing manager, a Chinese Air Force pilot, retired, who speaks near perfect

English, and is the best source I knew for explaining anything “Chinese”.

Paul advised that the story began long, long ago when the Jade Emperor ordered a race for the animals in his kingdom. The race was across plains, thru the forest, and across a river to the final destination. The purpose of this race was to assign names to the twelve years in the Chinese Zodiac. The years would be named after the animals in the order in which they finished the race. The Jade Emperor knew that certain animals such as the Cat and the Rat were poor swimmers but should compensate with their intellect. This seemed to be true from the very start of the race when the Cat and the Rat jumped onto the back of the powerful Ox. The Ox, being naïve and good-natured, did not object to his passengers.

As the race progressed the Ox took a commanding lead as they entered the river. Before they reached the shore of the river the Rat sneaked up behind the Cat and pushed it into the river. After crossing the river the Rat leaped from the Ox’s shoulder and hopped over the finish line and was proclaimed the winner of the race and named the first year of the Zodiac. The Ox plodded along right behind the Rat to take the second place.

The Tiger followed, panting, and explained to the Jade emperor how the strong currents and cold water hindered him, but with his great strength and cunning he made it in to take third place and his place in the Zodiac. From the distance came a thump-thump sound as the Rabbit approached. He explained how he had crossed the river by cleverly hopping from rock to rock but almost lost the race when he slipped off a rock into the water. He was Lucky enough to grab on to a floating log until he reached the shore taking fourth place in the race and the Zodiac. Coming in fifth place was the flying Dragon.

The Jade Emperor was curious as to why this powerful flying creature was unable to attain first place. The mighty Dragon explained that he had to stop along the way to make rain to help all the people and creatures of the earth which slowed him down. Then as he approached the finish line he saw a little Rabbit clinging to a floating log and stopped to do a good deed and with a puff of his Dragon breath blew the little creature to the shore.

The Jade Emperor was very pleased with the good actions of the Dragon and he was added as the fifth year of the zodiac cycle. Suddenly, from a distance there came a galloping sound as the Horse appeared. Wrapped around the Horses front leg was the

Snake who’s sudden appearance startled the Horse causing it to rear up as the Snake slithered across the finish line in sixth place. The Horse followed in seventh place.

Not long after that, a little ways back, the Goat, Monkey and Rooster came to the shore. The three creatures had helped each other to get where they were. The Rooster spotted a raft, and took the other animals aboard. Together the Goat and the Monkey cleared the weeds, and tugged and pulled until they got the raft to the shore. The emperor was pleased with their spirit of cooperation and promptly named the Goat to the eighth, the Monkey to the ninth, and the Rooster to the tenth year.The eleventh animal to arrive was the Dog.

Although he was known to be one of the best swimmer the Emperor asked why he was so late to finish. In truth he could not resist the temptation to play a little longer in the river.

His explanation to the Emperor however was that he needed a good bath after such long spell and almost didn’t make it to the finish line in 11^th place. Just as the Jade Emperor was about to call it a day, an oink, oink and a squeal was heard from a little Pig approaching the finish line. The Pig had gotten hungry during the race and stopped for a bite to eat, and then promptly fell asleep. After that the pig continued the race and just made it in time to finish in the twelfth place and take his place as the final year in the Zodiac cycle.

The Emperor was always ready to applaud the good deeds and cooperation and fair play, but not to castigate or punish the naughty guys. He had made few rules and abided by them. My kind of guy!

The Cat drowned after the Rat pushed it off the shoulder of the Ox, and it has been said that this is the reason why cats always chase rats, to get back at them for this dastardly deed. There are several other versions of this tale from Chinese folk lore, but they all have one thing in common, the Rat did the Cat a nasty, and to this day the Cat hates the Rat, always chasing him, and most of the times catching him, bye- bye Rat.

This tale also tends to suggest where we got some of our Western expressions, such as “eating like a Pig”, “Lucky Rabbit’s foot”, and “you dirty Rat”.

I knew there was a logical explanation for all of this, and there it is!

Rich, Thank You for the Story

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

2016-Cracker Fair

The application for next year's Cracker Fair should be up on the Lemon Bay Fest Website about the first week in January, 2016. You can download it and send it in then. The vendor fee has stayed pretty constant over the last few years at $25 for a 10 x 10 space, I would not anticipate that it will change next year -- although that's a possibility.

Comming Attractions - Thanks to Linda Schell

Preview of coming attractions

Barefoot Beach Bazaar - Mar 21, April 18, 4pm to sunset.

100 Casey Key Rd. Nokomis, 941-866-5000, outside tents, tables and chairs required

Pioneer days – Arcadia – March 21, DeSotos Veterans Park, 2 miles west of Arcadia, $25 per space, MAIL APPLICATION and PAYMENT to: PO BOX 1824, Arcadia, Fl. 34265

Call/email questions to: bebebradbury@gmail.com 863-494-6607

Venice Book Festival –March 28^th, outside tents provided Fee $150 and you can have a max of 2 authors per tent. Deadline is Feb 28,

Spanish Point – March 28^th and 29^th, Osprey free event. This is outside and I will lend my tent table and chairs to anyone that would like to go on Saturday. Contact judilight@mindspring.com

Children's Reading Festival April 25^th, Bradenton only children's books please, $30 per space. Tent, table and chairs needed. Let me know if you can share.

Held at the Bradenton Farmers' Market in downtown Bradenton from 9 AM - 2 PM

To fill it out application, visit:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1S-_XVP_6Ef1buD_38T0ZF0i4PjvDeByHe8nqUXH0DPI/viewform?c=0&w=1&usp=mail_form_link

Inspire Sarasota – May 2, Selby Library, Sarasota – only children's books this year. May expand to include mainstream if this goes well. Self-published authors package is $125 and you can share with one person. I have the application and rules. Outside and tents, tables and chairs are provided. Deadline February 16^th

^{Arcadia Watermelon festival
–}^{May 16,
Main Street Arcadia, 9a – 4p, $40 per space and you can share. This is outside
and you will need a tent table and chairs. Contact -}arcadiamainstreet@yahoo.com^{send check and application to
AMSP}

^{22 North
Polk Ave, Arcadia FL 34266}

Peridia Christmas arts and craft festival – Nov. 14^th , 2015 Sandy Miles – 941-799-7608, this sells out fast.

I believe this was about $35 per space. Inside and outside spaces

Stores and book signings to check out.

Sandman book store – Punta Gorda, will do book signings and take books on consignment. Please check this one out as they are really promoting local authors

NYE discount books – will take books on consignment and arrange for book signings. 607A Spur St., Venice. 941-416-2411, nyediscountbooks@gmail.com

coffee shop in port charlotte that will host book signings.
Mercer's Micro Roastery and Coffee House,
4678 Tamiami Trail
contact Valerie 661.6983 and mercersfrc@yahoo.com

Copperfish Books – 1205 Elizabeth St., Punta Gorda, FL 33950, 941-205-2560

Village Voices – 1010 10th Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205 · (941) 748-6865 can arrange book signings on the first Friday of the month during Art Walk evenings.