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.

May 24th 2008 How To Get Published Workshop

I was pleasantly surprised by the workshop entitled How To Get Published that was given by Brian Henry at the Central Library on Saturday.

Detective Webb's Presentation on May 15th

I took copious notes during Detective Webb's one and one-half hour PowerPoint presentation on forensic investigation and for those of you who missed it, it was exceptional.

RiverFest: A Brilliant Concept

There are three more chances to see works by THE RIVER PROJECT (listed at the end of this post) one of which was RiverFest which I attended this past Saturday, May 10th.

RiverFest was designed to increase awareness of issues involving the Thames, including how the natural world serves as inspiration for artists and writers, and was organized by a group of nineteen London artists and poets who have been "creatively exploring the Thames River within the boundaries of the city."

To this end they had a book launch on May 1st in which they introduced a beautiful "coffee table" style softcover as a collaborative effort. 

Tonight's Non-Fiction Group: Energizing

The clock says it's Friday morning, but it hasn't been that long since Kevin, Jennifer, Bob, John and I wrapped up our non-fiction critique group at the library on Thursday evening.

Although I was tired, the walk to the library got my blood going.

Still, I questioned whether I was up to the challenge of critiquing so I stopped for coffee to sharpen my mind, but after I arrived, I hardly touched it. The company and the task at hand energized me so that my "inner critiquer" kicked in despite physical tiredness.

We critiqued 4 pieces (although Bob got short shrift because we were running out of time) and I must say: while trying to fix a bad piece of writing can be a chore, it's a delight to have the challenge of making a good piece even better...

A One-Minute Visit With Wordsmith

I lived in Tarpon Springs, Florida for three years from 2001 through 2003. During that time I attended a critique group - Wordsmith - and learned how valuable a good critique group can be.

Thanks to Wordsmith I became a better writer. And that is why I have worked so hard as the 2007-2008 president of the London Writers' Society to get our group established by reaching out to writers of every stripe.

Wordsmith changed my idea of myself as a writer. I became more serious, more confident and more determined. One of our critique groups here in the the London Writers' Society may change your ideas about yourself as well and give you the confidence to never quit until you get published.

But you don't have to take my word for it. Here's a little video with the founding members of Wordsmith. ~ Clyo

May 15th Flier

Here's the flier for our May 15th general meeting.

About 70 Hours Into This Project So Far...

I have a surprise for LWS members. I've been working on it non-stop for the last seven days and I hope you like it...

Here's a hint: Remember that list of fiction publishers compliled by Ruth Zavitz and pasted into our old website? Well, I went through it.

I checked out all the websites, deleted the URLs that no longer exist, added a thumbnail of updated information so you can get some idea about the publisher before visiting the publisher's website, formatted each URL as a link, and added a link to each website's submission guidelines page, if one exists. It took me about 36 hours.

So far I've put about 70 hours into this whole project since last Saturday. I'm not quite finished and I'm working feverishly to get it on-line today. Just want to make sure this blog is going to work out well before I add the link to the NEW LWS WEBSITE and it goes live... ~ Clyo

The Reason For This Blog - plus - MY BIO

I'm the outgoing president of the London Writers' Society in London, Ontario. I've re-vamped the LWS website and established this blog so I can finally post photos, videos and other information of interest to LWS members (and to other writers) as events occur.

MY BIO -

I’m Married to a great strapping Scot (who looks impressive in a kilt) and we live in London, Ontario, Canada.

Hubby and I have a wee feline - a great golden armful of love - called Hobbes who would be opening cans of salmon on his own if he had opposable thumbs.

Main thing: I’m excited about life and very happy about where we live.

I can walk to the end of my street, over the King Street pedestrian bridge that spans the Thames River, and head over to the Covent Garden Market or to a coffee shop or to the library.

Or I can head, instead, to Wortley Village to the best bakery in London (my opinion) or to The Black Walnut, a little cafe with fabulous baked goods created by a former chef who came back home from Toronto.

Mine is a swell world in which I can walk almost any place I want to go - cutting down on my carbon footprint - and enjoy what feels like almost village life in a city of over 350,000.

While I’m very aware of all the tragedy in the world, I’m very happy in my life.

So I’m trying my best to be a good citizen and do what I can - and what I’m good at - to make the world a better and friendlier place, like helping to build the London Writers’ Society.

Since my tenure as president of LWS is coming to an end - on the Ides of May (a good time I think to pass on the office to the new executive) - I’ve started this blog to “keep in touch” via the LWS website.

My intent is to add some good content that will help people understand what we in the society do, what the society is for, and why they may want to join us.

Regarding what I write: short stories (some dark, some not), poems, prayers, essays, memoirs, you name it. I’m all over the place because I love to write more than I like to eat.

(And I adore good food.)

So I plan to have fun with this blog…

P.S. I’ve got some videos to upload from a couple LWS events, so those are in the works... ~ Clyo