“I learned there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead, others come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready, you see. Now my troubles are going to have trouble with me.”
~Dr. Seuss~
Thank you for the support and encouragement you offer to women writers, and your enthusiasm for our writing community. Because of you, the leadership team decided the pandemic should not stop us from meeting, learning, listening, sharing. So, we will meet on Tuesday, April 7 at 6:30 PM—virtually—through the Zoom.us video conferencing platform. Here is your official invitation with the link to our “meeting room.” If you have trouble while trying to connect on April 7, please text Kim at 502-417-3424.
We’ve engaged a guest speaker for the April 7 meeting— Louisville novelist Katy Yocom. Katy was born and raised in Atchison, Kansas. A lifelong love of big cats, and the birth of tiger cubs at the Louisville Zoo, led to her debut novel, Three Ways to Disappear (Ashland Creek Press). Three Ways won the Siskiyou Prize for New Environmental Literature and is a Barnes & Noble Top Indie Favorite. For research, Katy traveled to India, where she saw tigers in the wild, visited rural villages, saw sunrise at the Taj Mahal, and had many experiences that ended up in the pages of her book. The book’s publication has received widespread coverage in the Indian press, including the front page of the Jaipur Times.
Three Ways to Disappear is a gripping story with several sub-plots including a forbidden romance, beautiful sex scenes (and one tiger-sex scene), complicated family relationships based on loss and secrets, and one problem after another leading to a page-turning resolution. Reading this story is a lovely way to disappear!
Yocom will read from her book and answer our questions about craft, process, and publication. She will provide two to three writing prompts for home use. To help streamline the meeting, consider sending us questions in advance, especially if you have the chance to read the book beforehand, to Zoom host, Kimberly Crum.
I highly recommend ordering the book before our meeting. Katy asks us to support our independent bookstore! Carmichael’s is home delivering in Louisville. You can order on the website or call 502-456-6950 (Bardstown), 502-896-6950 (Frankfort). Staff are in the stores 9 AM to 5 PM each day to take orders.
On April 7, there will not be time for peer commentary of individual writing. But you will leave the meeting with ideas for the future and, if you wish, a writing buddy. April is a good time to share and comment using technology!
Our Writing Retreat at the Valaterra Spiritual Retreat Center in Lagrange, KY remains scheduled for Saturday May 16—9 AM to 6PM. Cautious optimism and the option to cancel for a full refund, or reschedule, guided our decision-making.
The retreat will begin with a panel discussion featuring a panel of women writers from several genres. Participants will then enjoy quiet time to write without distraction, meet with peers to discuss work-in-progress, stretch out to read and nap, or hike the meadow and lane. We’ll share a pot-luck meal and a sharing of writing by participants, at the end of our day. Snacks and beverages provided by Women Who Write. No alcohol permitted at this event, except for persons who choose to spend the night for an additional $75.
Cost per person is $20. Register for this event via the website or by checks payable to Women Who Write and sent to 3017 Beals Branch Dr., Louisville, KY 40206.
A few resources for your writing life—Snapdragon Journal: A journal of art and healing, provides a “survival kit,” for writers. If you’re interested in upcoming local virtual workshops and writing groups, check out this chatty newsletter from Shape & Flow writing instruction. And, here is a list of help for authors and readers from The Author’s Guild.
We hope to see and hear you on April 7th at 6:30 PM in our virtual meeting room. Bring a friend!
Yours sincerely,
Kimberly Crum, Alisa Childress, Melony Dixon, Pam Lafollette, and Terri Lindsey
