The Scribes of Uxbridge publish "In Lucy Maud's Style"

The Scribes of Uxbridge, a memoir writing group, has published a small chapbook titled In Lucy Maud's Style. The collected stories were written in the style of author L.M. Montgomery, who lived in the nearby hamlet of Leaskdale from 1911 to 1926, to commemorate Uxbridge's "100 Years of Anne." It was 100 years ago that Montgomery published Anne of Green Gables. Montgomery, who was born in P.E.I., wrote 11 of her 22 books while living in Leaskdale Manse. She moved in 1926 to Norval, where she lived for nine years before moving finally to Toronto. She died there in 1942.

In Lucy Maud's Style contains fourteen original stories, one of them by 90-year-old Scribes member Marion Owen. The Scribes (formerly called the Senior Scribes) was formed in 1989 by students who had taken a creative writing course at Trent University and felt inspired to continue meeting. With occasional changes in membership, they have been getting together to write twice a month ever since.

Heather Beveridge, a member of the Scribes, participated in more than one of my online workshops and invited me to speak to her group about memoir writing.

Ruth Zaryski Jackson's memoir appears in anthology "The Wisdom of Old Souls"

Ruth Zaryski Jackson is pleased to announce that her short memoir "Room in My Heart," about the woman Sadie who was like a grandmother to her, will appear in the anthology The Wisdom of Old Souls , published by Hidden Brook Press. Ruth is thrilled that the photo of herself with Sadie has been chosen to grace the book's cover (see above).

"Room in My Heart" is based on the first assignment Ruth wrote for one of my online workshops. She had to edit it to meet the word count required for the anthology. To her fellow workshoppers, Ruth says, "Thanks to each and every one of you for all your encouragement and support. It means everything."

If you would like to purchase a copy of this anthology through Ruth, the discounted price is $15 (including shipping). To order, contact her at RZaryskiJackson@gmail.com

Soul-Making Literary Competition 2008

Visit Soul-Making Literary Competition for further details on this contest sponsored by an extended community arts outreach program of the National League of American Pen Women, Nob Hill, San Francisco Bay Area Branch.

Deadline is November 30, 2008. Note that international writers are welcome to submit. There's a US$5 entry fee, which must be sent via traveler's cheque drawn on a U.S. bank.

Here's what they are looking for in the memoir category:

LINDA JOY MYERS MEMOIR PRIZE
Sponsored/Judged by Linda Joy Myers

One memoir per entry, up to 3,000 words. Judge's Comments: A memoir is a story that draws upon memory. Its plot, dialogue, scenes, and narration immerse me into the places, times, and characters of the story. It is not analysis or a list of things that simply happened. Meaning and an epiphany are part of a well-written memoir story, the "Soul-making " moment when everything changed. I want to be drawn into the new world of the story, eager to find out why I am reading it. Write the stories from your heart, write your memories and bring them alive. I look forward to reading your work.

Joan Sinclair publishes "Lieber Walter, Deine Margret" (Dear Walter, Love Margret)

Joan Sinclair, who attended one of my workshops at Varley Art Gallery, sends news that in late June she will launch her self-published epistolary memoir based on letters between her German mother, Margret Cohen-Tuteur, and Margret’s young beau from 1935 to 1940, Walter Roos. The Second World War separated Margret and Walter, and eventually each of them married another and had a family. Many years and thousands of miles later, they were reunited in Canada, widow and widower, during the final years of Margret's life. Walter, who had kept her letters, painstakingly translated each of them from German into English for this touching tribute, which is written by Joan and includes other writing by Margret. Lieber Walter, Deine Margret (Dear Walter, Love Margret) has been published for family and friends and, according to Joan, "for anyone who needs to be reminded that true love never dies and for those who enjoy a love story with a very happy ending." Joan Sinclair is a family mediator and counsellor.

Gail Rudyk to Host Summer Memoir Writers Club

Gail Rudyk, a regular participant in my online workshops over the past few years who has self-published (some of!) her memoirs, is looking for interested individuals to join a weekly summer memoir writers club, starting June 25th, near Balm Beach on Georgian Bay. Details appeared recently in the Midland Free Press:

Memoir Writers Club

Gail Rudyk, a self-published memoir writer, is offering a free, weekly, informal get-together for aspiring memoir writers. They will meet at her cottage, near Tiny Beaches Road and Concession 13, every Wednesday morning from 10AM till noon, starting June 25th.

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Do you want to share your stories with your children and grandchildren? Some people feel that if they haven’t survived a tsunami or some such tragedy, they shouldn’t be writing a memoir, but the truth is, everyone has a story to tell. You don’t want to leave your loved ones with unanswered questions. I wish I had asked my father about his childhood but it’s too late now. As I read somewhere this week, “When you’re gone, the library is closed.”

This is an opportunity to discover how to get started writing or to share some of your stories.

For more information e-mail me at Gail.rudyk@sympatico.ca or call on weekends 705-533-3852, and weekdays 905-881-0771.