March Meeting Notes

The March meeting was preceded by a program led by author and co-founder Kelly Buffum. She ran a program at the bookstore on how to format ones finished manuscript for self publication to a print on demand platform such as KDP and also for uploading as an ebook (for platforms like Kindle ebooks or Nook). Five Wordsmiths and one guest attended the program.

Following the program the WhipCity Wordsmiths met with 19 persons in attendance-Susan, Kelly, new Wordsmith James L. Holman, Sue F., Iris, Glen, Geri, Andrew, Avis, Tanya, Ayden, Heidi, Mimi, Judith F., Carrie, Shawn, Claudia, Rhonda, and Russell.

The meeting began with refreshments since Susan and Kelly had been involved in ArtWalk from 11AM-1PM, had eaten lunch on the fly, attended the program from 1:30PM to 3PM, and needed to take a quick break prior to the meeting.

Susan called the meeting to order, thanking everyone for showing up on a beautiful sunny Saturday, and introducing James Holman, our guest who was made a Wordsmith before the end of the meeting. James has a dance career background, and was involved in off Broadway theater. He's written a book about healing from the loss of his partner that he had a prototype copy of in hardcover that had a striking cover he'd designed.

The second order of business was to congratulate our youngest author, Ayden, on his decision to try his hand at oil painting. Susan was so impressed with his very first 8x10 canvas that she purchased the scenic landscape of a gray mountain with evergreens and grassland in front of it and white clouds rolling across a bright blue sky. It was pointed out that many authors also have a second creative outlet and often it is art. Ayden's mother, Tanya, was commended for allowing her son to express his creativity, and for encouraging him in his crafts and supporting him wholeheartedly. Too often parents ignore who their child is and force them into participating in sports and other activities because of some misconception that children need to be involved in sports, or gymnastics, r some other physical activity. While exercise s a good thing, suppressing a child's desire to write, draw, or otherwise be creative is not good. Susan was also like Tanya in raising Kelly, not parking her in front of the TV, but rather encouraging her to be creative and herself.

Next Susan gave some revised and updated information to the authors in attendance who have signed up to participate in Artculture2019 on May 4th, with an opening night reception on Friday evening from 5-8 on May 3rd.

Because James was new to the group, a round of introductions and brief bios were made which took some time with so many in attendance, but it was also good because Claudia, who is still fairly new to the group had the opportunity to meet us all.

We, as a group, talked about self-publication. Shawn is doing very well promoting his The Kitty Who Rescued Me After I Rescued Him book which is now known internationally. The process of buying ones own ISBN numbers from Bowker was reviewed and discussed. Those who had attended the program prior to the meeting felt more confident about going forth with their book projects. Book layout was also touched upon with endorsements page (if an author has gotten remarks and reviews back from ARC readers), title page, copyright page, dedication, other titles by author, acknowledgements, table of contents (if there is one), forward, prologue, epilogue, and about the author page placement.

Glen spoke about his new mystery Seaside Secrets which Susan had read in February and reviewed, giving it a well earned 5-star rating. Glen has the sequel available as an ebook at this time. He is a prolific mystery writer well worth looking into as he has several series in print.

Many Wordsmiths have been following The Artist's Way. Mimi is beginning an Artist's Way group on March 31st in Huntington.

Susan's third book in the Black King/White Queen series, White Bishop Among the Pawns is now in print. Kelly just published Empathic Touch (the sequel to Parapsychology) and another novel, Hawkists for which Wordsmith Melissa Volker designed the cover. Claudia Turner's novel The Scions of Atlantis was recently published. This follows her novel Scars and Stripes Forever.

Edible goodies were provided by Rhonda Boulette-  mini cupcakes, frosted brownies, and chocolate chip cookies. Susan provided bottled water.

The meeting, as usual was lively and energizing with everyone having an opportunity to contribute. James entertained us with stories from his career in dance and theater.

The March edition of Ghost Stories Live! will be Saturday, March 23rd, at 6PM with special guest reader Bram Stoker Award winning horror author Tom Deady. Tom is a recent new member of WhipCity Wordsmiths and will be at Articulture2019 in May. Susan and Kelly will also have new ghost stories that evening as they are permanent cast members of GSL! hosted by Pugsley the Fiendish ghost and Wordsmith and Blue Umbrella Proprietor Russell Atwood.

The meeting concluded around 4:20PM with some members needing to leave and others staying behind to chat further together.

The next meeting is Saturday, April 20th, at 3PM, same location!

April 2019 Meeting Date

The WhipCity Wordsmiths will meet again on Saturday, April 20th, 2019 at Blue Umbrella Books, 2 Main Street, Westfield, MA at 3PM.

March Meeting

The March meeting of the WhipCity Wordsmiths will be held on Saturday, March 16th at 3PM at Blue Umbrella Books, 2 Main Street, Westfield, MA. Wordsmith Kelly Buffum will be speaking on How To Format One's Book for Self Publication and as an ebook at 1:30PM at Blue Umbrella. The program has a $10 registration fee payable to Blue Umbrella.

And if you're interested, author me is now also artist me since taking up pen & ink again and keeping myself busy drawing wildlife and birds during the fall and winter in between the proofreading and editing and publishing of White Bishop Among the Pawns, and helping Kelly proofread and edit her two recently published novels Empathic Touch and Hawkists. It's been a busy 6.5 months here at the kitchen table to say the least!

Just a few other things. My art is for sale in Blue Umbrella Books and also in my etsy shop BicycleCityArtworks.

There will be a new Ghost Stories Live! ghost story reading event at Blue Umbrella on Saturday March 23rd with Bram Stoker Award winning horror author and Wordsmith Tom Deady making his first appearance with Russell and cast.

I read Glen Ebisch's new mystery novel Seaside Secrets while down with a head cold and loved it! I posted a review on Amazon...and want to read the second book in the series NOW! But, I'll be patient.

I bought books by Wordsmiths Claudia Turner (her new novel The Scions of Atlantis) and Wordsmiths Sean Sweeney (several of his older works and a mystery novella) and Jacquie Sears (her art book and famous Holyoke residents) that I'm looking forward to reading.

Our Book Gallery keeps on growing and growing!

And finally...our youngest Wordsmith, Ayden Rogalski, has taken up the paintbrush as another creative outlet. I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase his very first painting. If you attend the meeting on Saturday I'll be finalizing the purchase and you'll be able to see his brushwork! Oh, and did I mention his new book on Homesteading will be out soon and he's working on writing a mystery?

See you Saturday!