Video Of Me At Freedom To Read Project

Back in February (2008) I participated in Global Importune's "Freedom To Read" project at the London Public Library. I read the opening piece - "The Cell Door Closes" - written in 1937 by Arthur Koestler, a Hungarian, who was imprisoned during a stay in Spain on charges he was a spy.

The video is on the right side of the page that will open when you click on the link below. I didn't introduce myself because I didn't want to draw attention away from the piece. As a result Ed Corrigan identified me afterwards winging it, bless his heart, which is why he didn't quite have the name of the London Writers' Society on his tongue. 

View Freedom To Read Video

The Persia Cafe

Saturday Afternoon and the day is just zipping by. Just updated the LWS website. I have a million other things to do:


1) more cleaning of my house

2) post on a couple of other blogs

3) give my beloved cat (Hobbes) a bath (he's been rolling in dirt)

4) finish my on-line class that - conservatively - could take me two weeks to finish if I did nothing else

Plus I'm working on a series of websites and other projects.

BUT. . . I have to comment on the recommendation that I gave for summer reading: The Persia Cafe.

I find it to be a, somewhat poetic read, but it's gripping as well. So I'm having trouble attending to other things. I read late into the wee hours of the morning last night and I want to sit down and finish it because it really is so well-written and I have to know: is justice ever served?

LWS Members Have A New Baby Boy!

I just found out that LWS members Kimberly Grover and Kirk Shearsby had their baby on June 21st. He weighed 8 lb. 7 oz. and his name is Alexander. My only question is whether to post this news here or on the "My Successes" blog!

CONGRATULATIONS Kim and Kirk!

Cabaret At Stratford + Writing Contests

I'm busy, busy on a couple of projects, so I haven't had time to post, but I have to rave about the current production of Cabaret being staged at Stratford. The cast received a well-deserved standing ovation. Forget the movie - it's been ages since you've seen it, anyway. Go see Cabaret.

And sit in front.

The second item on the old agenda is about contests. I've long subscribed to a wonderful FREE service called Creative Writers' Opportunity List or CRWROPPS. I don't know how they do it, but they manage to list just about every contest out there. I just put the URL for that on our News & Notes page.

Bookmark the site and check it a couple of times a month or sign up for e-mail notifications. Just make sure you create an e-mail filter or two so those e-mails go into a folder other than your inbox.

I've paid for other notification services and, frankly, I think this one is the best in terms of keeping you informed about contests.

For Canadian contests, mark your calendar to get a copy of The Canadian Writers' Contest Calendar when the 2009 edition is printed.