ELLEN WATERSTON IS FEATURED SPEAKER AT JANUARY 27 MEETING

Next Thursday’s meeting features award-winning author Ellen Waterston of Bend, whose topic is Finding Home in Fact and Fiction.
Ms. Waterston is the founder and director of Bend’s premier writing conference The Nature of Words. Her latest book, Where the Crooked River Rises is a collection of compelling essays in which she illuminates the people, places and landscape of Central Oregon’s vast high desert. She is also the author of Between Desert Seasons, a collection of her poetry. Her memoir Then There Was No Mountain was selected by the Portland Oregonian as one of the top ten books in 2003 and was a WILLA finalist. In June 2010, her poem Designed to Fly was read by Garrison Keillor on Writer's Almanac. She is the 2008 winner of the Oregon Quarterly Essay Competition and the 2007 recipient of the national Obsidian Prize in Poetry awarded by the High Desert Journal.

She is also the founder and director of The Writing Ranch http://www.writingranch.com/, offering workshops and retreats for emerging writers and her Language Arts for Leaders© series addresses workplace writing and communication skills. In 2007, Ms. Waterston was named an Honorary Distinguished Professor of Humane Letters by Oregon State University-Cascades Campus for her accomplishments in the literary arts. She has written two children’s books and is currently working on a novel. Ms. Waterston’s website is http://www.ellenwaterston.com/

Please note: This month’s Guild meeting location is the Redmond Public Library, 827 SW Deschutes from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. The meeting is free and everyone is invited to attend and enjoy an evening with the extraordinary author, Ellen Waterston.


Upcoming Events:

Thursday, February 24, 2011—Author and publisher Pamela Hulse Andrews will speak on the topic “Online Publishing”. Please note: This meeting will also take place at the Redmond Public Library.

READINGS AND AWARDS FEATURED AT GUILD’S HOLIDAY SOCIAL

Central Oregon Writers Guild’s annual Holiday Social took place Thursday December 16. The Members Showcase featured original works by several of our members. Master of Ceremonies Mike Rettig did an excellent job. With each of his introductions, he included pertinent quotes by several famous authors.

Featured readers were:

Susan Robinson, who shared her charming story “Ahmen” was about a little wounded mouse that will be forever remembered because of the part he played the night of the baby Jesus’ birth.

David Burns read a chapter from his novel “Day Follow Night: From Chaos to Redemption.” Everett Carson’s imaginary friends helped him survive a chaotic childhood by accompanying him on some exciting adventures.

Tessa Bailey read her poem “What If?” It is a compelling and beautifully written account of how very different the world would be if the people God chose to play a role in Christ’s birth had made different decisions.

Jo Ann Willson read “Lesson Plan”, a true story about some of her thought-provoking and memorable experiences during the years she lived on the Navajo Reservation.

ElsieMarie Rochna’s story “The Visit” was a stirring and heart-warming account of a lonely woman’s Christmas Eve visit with her estranged son and the revelations that changed her life.

PAT WILSON PRESENTED GUILD’S 2010 ELMER AWARD

President Elsie Rochna established this award in 2009 to recognize outstanding contributions by Guild members who “exhibit by their actions those qualities peculiar to Elmer’s glue—they help hold things together.” That could apply to almost every single Guild member, but Pat Wilson has stood out by her actions and dedication from the group’s beginning in 2002. Mostly recently, she has done an excellent job as our treasurer and membership chair. She diligently maintains financial and membership records and keeps in regular communication via e-mail with both members and non-members to keep them apprised of Guild activities. For these and many other reasons, Pat Wilson is the well-deserved recipient of the 2010 Elmer Award. Congratulations, Pat!

BOOK DRAWING

At each of our monthly meetings, we conduct a drawing for a writer resource-related book. The entry fee is $1.00 each, and proceeds go to support the Guild’s annual Literary Harvest. All entries are retained for a year-end drawing at the Holiday Social. Included in this year’s drawing were a writing craft book, a Journal, a giant pencil to inspire the writer to do some big-time writing, and a one-year Guild membership. The lucky winner of this year’s drawing is—Annette Fairchild. Congratulations, Annette!

SPECIAL PRIZE

We greatly appreciate David Burns, one of our readers, who donated his novel Day Follow Night: From Chaos to Redemption, for a special drawing at the Holiday Social. The chapter he read certainly sparked everyone’s interest and we look forward to reading his novel. The lucky winner of the drawing is—Mary Krakow. Congratulations, Mary!



Thanks to everyone who participated our Holiday Social, who brought such wonderful dishes to share, and especially to readers and their wonderful stories. It was a great success, and the perfect way to end another banner year for Central Oregon Writers Guild.

Upcoming Meetings:

Thursday January 27, 2011—Award-winning author and Nature of Words founder Ellen Waterston, who will speak on the topic “Finding Home in Fact and Fiction”. Please note: Our January and February meetings location is the Redmond Library, 827 SW Deschutes SW, Redmond.