VIEWS NATIONAL WRITERS ASSOCIATION S LOS ANGELES S MAY 2011 Devil’s Punch Bowl, California, Photo by LaVonne Taylor
Humor and irreverence in writing, from Chaucer to Twain to Asimov Humor and irreverence are the two savory spices that can move flavorless writing from a mundane entree to a tasty feast that readers will devour with relish and then recommend to their friends. Our May speaker, Alan Cook, will be citing historical and (nowadays) nonpolitically correct material written by the greats. He says, “We’re all consenting adults, right? Of course, I won’t be able to go to any depth on a particular author, but if I keep things moving nobody should fall asleep.” He plans to include both prose and poetry. Examples of prose material are Henry Fielding (Tom Jones), Shakespeare and Mark Twain; poetry: Chaucer, Lewis Carroll, Isaac Asimov (who, by the way, wrote lecherous limericks). “My writing career peaked in eighth grade when I wrote the words to my high school’s alma mater and I’ve been going down hill ever since,” he says, laughing. “When I got out of college, I found I actually had to work for a living so I became a pioneer in the computer industry.” A quarter century of effort didn’t turn him into Bill Gates, however, and he finally realized writing was a lot more fun — if not as lucrative. In addition to poetry (he is required by law to write four poems a year for his wife), articles and short stories, he has written a book about walking adventures, and eight mysteries, all of which are available as e-books and most in hard copy. Cook is well into his second career as a writer. His recent mystery, FORGET TO REMEMBER is an amnesia mystery. Carol Golden doesn’t remember her real name or anything that happened before she was found in a dumpster, naked and unconscious, on the beautiful
HOTLINE TO MURDER takes place at the Central Hotline in sunny Bonita Beach, California. After a listen‑
Palos Verdes Peninsula in Southern California. The government declares her a nonperson and whoever threw her in the dumpster and left her for dead may be coming back to finish the job.
EARLIER WORKS
RUN INTO TROUBLE features a footrace along the California coast for a prize of a million dollars — in 1969 when a million was worth something. This is during the Cold War — but is the Cold War about to heat up? HONEYMOON FOR THREE, which has received the Silver Quill award from the American Author’s Association and been named the best Mountain West book by Readers Choice, is Cook’s second Gary Blanchard mystery. It takes place in 1964 in some of the beauty spots of the western United States. The first Gary Blanchard mystery, THE HAYLOFT, takes place ten years earlier in a high school setting, and features bobby sox, slow dancing, bomb shelters, the communist conspiracy, and murder.
er is murdered, it becomes apparent that the voice on the line may be that of a killer.
His Lillian Morgan mysteries, CATCH A FALLING KNIFE and THIRTEEN DIAMONDS, explore the secrets of retirement communities. They feature Lillian, a retired math professor from North Carolina, who is smart, opinionated, and skeptical of authority. She loves to solve puzzles, even when they involve murder. Alan’s short story, “Hot Days, Cold Nights,” appears in the Mystery Writers of America anthology, A HOT AND SULTRY NIGHT FOR CRIME, edited by Jeffery Deaver.
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Prez Letter
Spring fever no match determined editor
Here we are in May already, on the cusp of summer, yet the weather has been alternating between beautiful and balmy, then cold and blustery with clouds covering the sun one moment and not the next. Spring fever plagues me, but I must persevere and produce the newsletter once again.
From left: Patty Everett, Barbara Passoult, Jeannette Meyer, Nwala Prez LaVonne Taylor, and Marta Weiskopf.
THANK YOU! Grace. I want to thank the four fantastically talented women who comprise Grace for their participation in the April meeting. In spite of being bumped from our meeting space to a patio venue where they competed with street noises, being the troupers that they are, Marta Weiskopf, Jeannette Meyer, Patty Everett and Barbara Passoult epitomized the marriage of poetry and music as an homage to National Poetry Month. Their a capella presentation of various favorites turned out to be an unusual but enthusiastically received meeting.
Alan Cook continued Alan is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters In Crime, and the Authors Guild. He is past president and newsletter editor of his local writer’s group, Southwest Manuscripters. Alan splits his time between writing and walking, another passion. His inspirational book, WALKING THE WORLD: MEMORIES AND ADVENTURES, has information and adventure in equal parts. It has been named one of the “Top 10 Walking Memoirs and Tales of Long Walks” by the walking website, walking.about. com. He is also the author of WALKING TO DENVER, a light-hearted fictional account of a walk he did. FREEDOM’S LIGHT: QUOTATIONS FROM HISTORY’S CHAMPIONS OF FREEDOM, contains quotations from some of our favorite figures about personal freedom. And THE SAGA OF BILL THE HERMIT is a narrative poem about a hermit who decides that the single life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Alan lives with his wife, Bonny, on a hill in Southern California.
HEADS UP! Presidency Position Opens. I’m sad to announce that because of the many other demands on my time, I will not be able to serve as president of Nwala for the next program year, which begins in September. Please start thinking about the person you would like to nominate for the position when we vote for officers again that same month. I think I can still handle the position of treasurer and perhaps even produce a newsletter, but I must relinquish the responsibility of leadership. Change of Program for June. The original program plan for June was to have a member’s showcase, but in order to catch him before he runs off to the hinterlands of the earth, we have scheduled Thaine Allison as speaker for our last meeting prior to our summer break. Thaine will introduce us to freebie writers’ software that he finds worthwhile and hopes that by sharing his knowledge with us he will help us accomplish our individual missions as writers. Be sure to bring a pencil and notebook! Wanda’s recovery continues. We hope to see her at the next meeting! The job of rescuing humans. Many of you know my animal rights position and I have Internet friends from distant places sending me material. Below is an item sent by horsewoman and fellow animal lover Patty Kennedy from Tennesee. I hope you enjoy it.
I RESCUED A HUMAN TODAY
Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, but not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them. As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s life. She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well. Soon my kennel door opened, and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I promise to keep her safe. I promise to always be by her side. I promise to do everything I can to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven’t walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. But at least I was able to save one. I rescued a human today.