Authors and Articulture Update

The date of Articulture2019, the biggest art, literary, and music event in Westfield has been changed to Saturday, May 4th, 2019. The hours of the event are 10AM to 5PM. I have table space for 14 authors this year, up four from last year. If you have not responded to the call for authors you can email me at sebuffum415@gmail.com to inquire about a table at the event.

The event was supposed to be at the end of April but the venue had already been booked by the time Artworks reached out to the facility manager to book the event, therefore, May 4th it is. There is an artists and authors reception on Friday evening, May 3rd from 5PM-8PM. Set-up for those able to get to the Church of Atonement on the corner of Court and Pleasant Street on May 2nd, Thursday afternoon or evening is from 4PM to 7PM sharp. Otherwise, authors can set-up between 9AM and 9:45AM the day of the event. There is a ramp at the rear of the church and that door will be open.

There will be 1-2 food trucks on site. There are several local restaurants that deliver. Or you an bring your own lunch. Water and snacks will be available throughout the day courtesy of Artworks. There is ongoing discussion in regards to a bake sale being held on site that day as well.

If you have already contacted me and confirmed that you will be there on May 4th you do not need to contact me again. I have your name on my list and will email or messenger you updates as they become available. If anyone has any questions email me or messenger me through facebook.

Artworks does post author bios and pictures on their page in promotional posts to advertise the event. This is the fourth Articulture event sponsored by Artworks and the nonprofit group is hitting their stride, drawing larger attendance with the more convenient location which includes parking! We're tinkering to decrease crowding which was an issue last year. The church is making additional spaces available to us. The authors will have the lovely, cozy Guild Rom with the fireplace again this year, and a second room behind the kitchenette off the hallway and across from the rest rooms- the Chapel Room. We hope to have seven authors in each room which should allow us ample elbow room and give attendees room at each table to talk to the authors and look over their offerings.

The WhipCity Wordsmiths had a strong showing last year with nine of ten Wordsmiths able to attend. We are an amazing group of talented authors- I am so happy to see some new faces joining us this year!

Welcome to new WhipCity Wordsmith Cristine Blacke

Christine Blacke asked to join the facebook group. Kelly sent her the application and info and she was quickly approved upon the receipt of her application. She is our newest member as of February 9th. We're looking forward to meeting Christine in person at (hopefully) the next WhipCity Wordsmiths meeting! You can read her bio here on the blog. Welcome to the group!

Welcome to New Wordsmiths

There has been a flurry of new members signing up to join the WhipCity Wordsmiths. I am in the process of revising the membership list and should have print lists of names of members available at the next meeting. I will not give out email, or any other personal information in regards to members out of respect for our individual rights to privacy. If you want to be able to contact another member kindly ask them for a means of contact at a meeting. I leave decisions of that nature up to each individual member.

If you are not receiving any email from me it is because I don't have your email address (or lost it...I can be a little disorganized sometimes!), or that I am sending less emails in regards to meetings since Kelly established the private facebook WhipCity Wordsmiths group in January where meeting dates and times are posted. If you are not with us on facebook and would like to be, contact me at sebuffum415@gmail, or find me on facebook and friend me so I can invite you to join the facebook group.

Also, Russell Atwood at Blue Umbrella is usually able to tell you when the next meeting is or about events Wordsmiths may be involved in at the Bookstore.

Kelly will be conducting an instructional program, Formatting Your Manuscript for Self Publication at Blue Umbrella Books on Saturday, March 16th at 1:30PM. There is a $10 fee payable to Blue Umbrella Books to attend. The WhipCity Wordsmiths will meet following the program at 3PM that same Saturday.

WhipCity Wordsmith and horror author Tom Deady will be a guest reader at the recurring Ghost Stories Live! event on March 23rd. This is a ghost stories reading event hosted by Russell Atwood. There is a cast of authors who read new ghost stories and relate true life ghost stories. Russell usually reads a classic ghost story, but read one of his own stories last night. Cast members include Wordsmiths Kelly Buffum, Melissa Volker, and me. We're thrilled Tom is right jumping in for the March 23rd event!  Future GSL! events are in the planning stage-so stay tuned. If you have a ghost story you've written, see Russell and ask to be included in a future GSL!

Welcome Jacquie Sears!

The WhipCity Wordsmiths met on Saturday, February 2nd. Jacquie Sears joined us today and was welcomed as a new member. We're delighted to have her with us!

It's Groundhog Day!

The groundhog will not be joining us at this Saturday's WhipCity Wordsmith's meeting at 3PM at Blue Umbrella Books. He'll have long gone back into hibernation by then! I'm sure six more weeks of winter will be his dire prediction. This week it certainly has looked as if and felt like winter has struck!