Workshop and TS34 Book Release Party
Hello Everyone, we had a great day. Jack Pines Resort is so beautiful with trees starting to turn.
We had 24 attendees for the workshop. As usual, Candace Simar put on an excellent workshop with good suggestions. She also had some of the winners in TS34 come up to the front of the room to serve as a panel. Candace asked questions about how they started writing, how often they write, their writing process, where the story idea came from, etc. The audience joined in and asked questions also.
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After lunch, more writers arrived for the book release party. We began the afternoon by asking Sandra Eberhart and Linda Henry and Cindie Ekren to come up to the front. These are three of the writers who helped to get Jackpine Writers’ Bloc started around 1993. Sandy was community education director of Park Rapids schools and she asked Linda to teach a class on writing and publishing. One thing led to another and the group of writers decided to stay together and keep on writing and critiquing each other’s work. It was hard to get published when you had never been published before.
After a time, they decided to publish their own book and they did the first two with the help of the Park Rapids Enterprise. After that, they branched out and published the books on their own with various printing companies, sometimes doing two per year. There was a lot of work involved with the books and with getting the group’s nonprofit status established. Cindie also joined the group in the very early years and helped with the books and stayed with the group through Talking Stick 11. Then, just as she was realizing she needed to leave the group, then Sharon Harris and Tarah Wolff (Sharon’s niece) happened to come along. They have been the main editors for Talking Stick 12 up to the present time. Of course, they can’t do it alone. We have a group that meets monthly and the others also serve on the Editorial Board to choose the submissions to go in the book as well as help with editing and proof reading, putting on workshops, etc.
Following this, then we began the book release party by announcing the poetry winners and honorable mention and asking them to come up to read. Then creative nonfiction, then fiction, and then the creative twist. Then anyone else in the book was invited up to read.
At the end, we had members of the Editorial Board come up and say a few words about what they look for when they read the submissions and choose what should go into the book. (Mike, Marlys, Sharon.) Then we have a meeting and vote for the ones to be selected. It is good that we all have different likes and dislikes and it helps us to end up with a well-rounded book, something that many readers will enjoy.
Then we packed up our books and a few of us went to the Cookhouse at Jack Pines Resort for a meal and more good conversation. All in all, it was a good, productive day. Thanks to all who attended and participated!