Yesterday was cold and dampish, the sort of day that made you want to come in by the fireside and sit down for coffee and cookies with friends. So, that’s what we did.
In this, the first meeting of the critique group since before Christmas, all were present and accounted for. We had a lot of catching up to do. Jane reminded us of the importance of words and the wisdom of leaving lots of written words behind us when we leave this old world. She read a poem she had written called When I am Gone. She also brought some old newspaper clippings to share with us, any one of which would enrich a fiction story. One of the most interesting was about James Sharptensteen, who was known as Sharpie the Biker Poet. How one man crammed into one life all the things he did and experienced, I’ll never know. He certainly didn’t believe in an idle moment.
Then, there was Oklahoma history in the clipping about a couple who had celebrated their sixty-ninth wedding anniversary several years back. Lots of facts and a peek into a way of life that was hard and to us seems unusual, but the couple stayed together and forged many wonderful memories.
Jane also brought a current article about different children’s books and the importance of reading aloud to young children. Parents and grandparents, take a peek at these books by Philip C. Stead, Marsha Diane Arnold, and Claudia Rueda. They are charming and make me want to gather a bunch of kindergarteners onto the reading rug once again, or, try my hand at writing a few books for children.
Carolyn is an accomplished artist as well as an author and illustrator of children’s books. She brought an oil painting she has finished for her daughter. This painting shows a close-up of a calf’s face, sticking his nose between two strands of barbed wire fence. Other painting projects involve greeting cards. Carolyn has discovered the wonderful books by Beverly Lewis. All these uplifting stories are set in Amish communities. Carolyn has made a cookbook which is interspersed with her artwork as well as poetry. Two of her cookbook poems were “Food” and “Garage Sale.”
Peg has been doing a lot of reading. I enjoy her critiques of the books she has read because she tells what is good or not so good about the books. A reader in a critique group is a valuable addition. She has discovered a series she enjoys a great deal called The Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade. by J. J. Cook. Two books within this series are Playing with Fire and That Old Flame of Mine. Another of her favorite books is Assault and Beret by Jenn McKinlay.
Nancy leads an exciting and busy life. She is currently teaching a women’s Bible study at her church, using her book, The Grace Impact as her text. This spring, one of her inspirational articles on stress will appear in the magazine, Just Between Us. She has also agreed to taking on some new piano students, just to fill her spare moments (I’m kidding on the “spare moments”). She and Rick recently returned from a trip to Florida. It was a wonderful trip, only not all that warm.
And I? Well, I read the next-to-last exciting chapter of By the Fright of the Silvery Moon. I noticed there was some nail-biting and horrified expressions and edge-of-the-chair sitting! All four of the Darcy and Flora mysteries are available as audible books now. I was particularly pleased to read this 5-star review:
Cozy mysteries aren’t my first pick of genres, but I love these stories. Darcy and her mother, Flora are such warm, wonderful characters. I think we all wish we could get along with our mothers the way Darcy gets along with hers. Along with the warmth of their relationship, Ms. Manos throws in suspense, complicated relationships, mysterious people, innocent people who are suspected of crimes and Darcy’s trying to deal with widowhood and being attracted to another man (or men).
The story is fast paced and easy to listen to. The narration by Michelle Babb is clear and fun to listen to. If you like cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this series.
So ended a jolly get-together. As the Cozy Critters trooped off in a cold, misting rain, I was already looking forward to our next critique.
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