Sunday, December 8, 2013

Christmas Wish by Dorman Curry

We would all like to thank Dorman for this wonderful Christmas Wish. Being at the party we all had a good time listening to Dorman. Thank you for being a member of Englewood Authors.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except for that dang mouse. Scratch, scratch, scritch, scritch , with a rhythm you could not miss, made you wonder what was amiss. Stockings all hung, Christmas tree trimmed, bright lights shine among ornaments and tinsel and shinning bright star, everything ready for Santa and gifts.

Quiet reflections on what this is all about, celebrating a life which no one can doubt. All of a sudden you hear this sound coming from behind the tree, increasing in volume and speed, you couldn’t repeat. Scratch, scratch, scratch, - scritch, scritch, scritch which at it’s crescendo made goose bumps on your skin like when listening to the screeching sound made when raking your fingernails across a slate chalkboard.

All of a sudden there came a loud, heavy knock on the door, took a moment to get off the floor. Opening the door wide, you would never guess who was there. Big Ed Ellis and the entire group of Englewood Authors singing Christmas carols and spreading cheer and joy to all and even reading a story or two. What an inspiration to receive well wishes and encouragement from a group such as this when it comes from the heart with sincerity. No better Christmas gift could have been given and received.

Basking in the afterglow of such a nice event, things got quiet, wondering if Santa still had us on his list. While settling down waiting for Santa, again this sound from behind the tree lingered, only changed a bit to scratch, scritch, scratch, scritch, then suddenly stopped.

All of a sudden there was a loud crash, like a truck landing on the roof, accompanied by the sound like that of a hundred drum sticks beating on a drum. It was really Santa, his sleigh and reindeers led by Rudolph the red nosed reindeer. The roof being tin, they could not get their feet set down making this drumming sound. However it did announce their arrival and restored the faith that Santa would get here.

It quieted down somewhat and suddenly Santa with his bag full of gifts came crashing down the chimney. After the soot and dust settled down, a second look made me ask this big man dressed like Santa, “Is that you ED?”. No I’m Santa, he snorted, with your gifts. At that he dumped his bag under the tree and began passing out the gifts. Much to everyone’s joy all received gifts that had been ask for. Observing this grand occasion was heart warming and pleasurable. Santa said “OOPS’, there is something behind the tree yet. Pulling it out from under the tree he said “WOW”., this looks like a big nest made from pencil shavings, yes pencil shaving.

Spreading it out revealed a bright white paper wrapped box with gold ribbons and a silver star. Picking the box up he examined it, handed the box to me and said “MERRY CHRISTMAS’. Writing on top of box said, Scratch, Scritch. With that the paper and ribbons were ripped off, opened the box and therein was a beautiful blue covered book with gold letters which read:

MEMORIES OF A MOUSE



SCRATCH - SCRITCH

With this I wish Ed Ellis and the entire group of Englewood Authors and guests’

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAVE A HAPPY DAY

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Reception at Seacoast National Bank-Tue. Dec 10-5:30

Date: 12/6/2013 4:35:49 PM
Subject: Reception at Seacoast National Bank-Tue. Dec 10-5:30

 Please reply to this email, or call Jan Schmitz at 863.491.4100 if you will be attending the Holiday Gathering at Seacoast National Bank on Tuesday evening, 5:30-7:30 p.m., December 10. Artists and authors may bring work to display and sell. We will have racks for hanging artwork. There will be a drawing for a gift card for art supplies, concert tickets, and more. Light refreshments will be served. Meet and greet your fellow arts lovers.
 
 Karen Smoke, Secretary
DeSoto Arts and Humanities Council
P O Box 2451
Arcadia, FL 34265
FINAL-DAHClogo - 15% original
Telephone contact: Jane Hilton, President (863) 494-0630

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Charoltte Writers Annual Picnic

Paul has asked me for a count of people planning to attend the picnic. Please let him know by contacting his e-mail in the text.
 
 
Hi fellow authors.
 
  Judy Malbuisson Exec Director of the Charlotte Arts & Humanities Council has accepted our invitation to the Writers Picnic. This is good news, it is a chance for us to show the importance of the local writers contribution to the arts and humanities in our county.
 
I know you're busy with Thanksgiving preparations, but I would appreciate it if you could take the time to RSVP to pgholmes@comcast.net and tell me how many will be in your party at the picnic.
 
We really want the picnic to be as successful or more so than the last one, and to help with that success we need to know how many people we are catering for. So once again please, let me know if you're going to be there.
 
Just in case you've deleted the invitation e-mail, the picnic is on Sunday December 8th from two o'clock until five at the Bayshore live Oaks Park on the north bank of the Peace River.
 
Looking forward to receiving your RSVP; we are all looking forward to meeting you.
 
Paul Holmes.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Charlotte Writers Annual Picnic

Mark your calendars this was a great event last year. Englewood Authors Members are Welcome

It's fun and it's free.
Date Sunday December 8th. Time 2:00 - 5:00 PM.

Location: Bayshore Live Oaks Park, Port Charlotte.

North Bank of the Peace River, West of route 41.

Who is invited? All those on the Charlotte Harbor Writers list, and their guests.


Cost: FREE! But we will accept small donations to offset the rental cost of the pavilion.

As we are providing Soft drinks, and other stuff we need an approximate head count.

So please RSVP to pgholmes@comcast.net and tell me how many will be in your party.

The response to the question of including an open mic at the Charlotte Harbor Writer’s picnic has been overwhelmingly on the side of socializing, sharing ideas, and just getting to know our fellow writers.

Most of those who responded suggested that there are sufficient ‘Open Mics’ in the area, and our time together would be better spent listening to each other and not just all sitting there listening to one person.

I am pleased to tell you that Michael Hymans has kindly offered to bring his sound system, so we can allow people to make announcements regarding future events, group activities and other information that is useful and interesting to all of us. 

We have booked the same pavilion in Live Oaks Park, Port Charlotte, as you told us how much you enjoyed it and its central location.

Soft drinks, ice, plastic glasses and plates will be provided, you just need to bring some finger food to snack on while we chat and enjoy ourselves. Please remember no alcoholic beverages are allowed in the park.

Don't forget to bring your books; I am sure we will have a photograph of all the authors with their books, like last time.

So see you all then, don't forget to RSVP To pgholmes@comcast.net

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Diana Harris - Write-on-Englewood Contest

  “WRITE-ON-ENGLEWOOD” CONTEST 

          Short Story &Poetry Competition

  * Official  Instructions*

The 2014 Dearborn Street Book Festival committee is proud to announce our 5th annual writers competition.

Here’s what you need to know to enter.


*Short stories must be at least 500 words, no more than  800 words in length. We ask for unpublished work.
*Poetry must be at least 50 words, no more than 250 words in length of unpublished work.

*Handwritten copies will  not be accepted.

*You may  submit as many entries as you like.

*We request three printed copies of each entry, each with a cover  page with your name, address, phone and e-mail.

*Entry fee is $5. per entry, to be included with mailed entry, checks only, payable to:

         “FRIENDS OF THE ELSIE QUIRK LIBRARY”

*Prizes are: 1st Place-$75., 2-Place-$50., 3-Place $25.

*Judges are professional writers.

*Send entries after December 1, 2013 to: CONTEST, 11 Pebble Beach Rd.,  Rotonda West, Fla., 33947  postmarked by January 15, 2014.

*Winners will be announced at the Book Festival, Saturday February 15, 2014, in Pioneer Park on W. Dearborn St. in Englewood. You do not have to be present to win.

FOR MORE INFORMATION E-MAIL DIANA HARRIS   <diharris@comcast .net>

Friday, October 25, 2013

An Evening with Todd James

Enjoy an evening with award-winning author Todd James Pierce, where he'll be sharing fascinating stories based on interviews with Disney animators who worked in the 1940s and '50s. Find out how their experiences shaped the world of animation and amusement parks through illustration, design, and storytelling.
 
Todd James Pierce is the author of The Australia Stories (MacAdam/Cage, 2003) and Newsworld (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2006), which won the Drue Heinz Literature Prize and was a finalist for the John Gardner Book Award and the Paterson Prize. He has recently finished a linked collection of short stories, all set at animation studios during the 1950s, as the Golden Age of Animation came to an end. He is also revising a nonfiction manuscript that presents the story of the men and women who created the first wave of American cinematic theme parks. In the past decade, he has completed over 100 interviews with individuals who worked at animation studios, largely Disney, between the 1930s and 1960s.

 

Academic Auditorium
Wednesday, Oct 30

7pm

Open to the public
free pizza served at 6:30 pm
 
Ringling College of Art + Design
2700 N. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34234-5895
 
 

Kathy Nixon

I am so proud to announce that my novel, The Heirloom Pearls, is now available as a book discussion kit at the Charlotte County Library.

My novel was also accepted for the Matlacha Authors' Day. Wish me luck!!!
 
Kathy, we all wish you luck because we know the hard work you put into The Heirloom Pearls.