Wednesday Writer’s Cafe

was preempted this week by The Bard & Starlet hour. I have to say it went really well. And no, none of my work was included so I am not biased. LOL

Six local authors, members of FreeValley Publishing, gently modified scenes from their own novels or short stories into screen plays which were then acted out, radio play style, by local actors. The whole shebang was directed by local director Michael Renney, who also managed sound effects and acted as host of the “radio hour.”

The crowd at Boxleys was really warm and why wouldn’t they be. They were getting fabulous entertainment with their dinner. From my vantage point (behind the camera) I could see half the room ordered the Tequila Shrimp, so they must be good, in case you ever find yourself at Boxleys.

The evening started with a short story by David S. Moore. A sweet innocent family is looking for their new home. And their real estate agent would love to sell them this genetically engineered house, even though he doesn’t quite understand how it works. See, it’s adaptive to it’s environmental influences. And that’s where David leaves us. Wondering just what this house might do in the future as it “adapts” on it’s own. I had to pounce on him as soon as the evening’s show ended just to find out what does happen. And no, I’m not telling you. Ask David if you want to know.

From there we flow to the amusing adventures of The Witty Miss Livingstone by Kennedy J Quinn. I had the pleasure of being at many a write-in while Kennedy was penning this entertainment last November for Nanowrimo. I have heard so many clips I am chomping at the bit to get a crack at beta but no words yet. sigh. Miss Livingstone is a young woman who is moved from her proper Eastern sphere to 1910 Snoqualmie Valley. While initially bored with her new locale, she finds worlds of wonder in time travel. I don’t want to give away too much. Kennedy is editing for beta and hopes to publish Miss Livingstone later this year. You can tell her to hurry up, here.

Onto the nicest woman I have ever met. I should tell you each author sat at a little table on the side of the stage and “typed” out their thoughts as each scene unfolded. While Victoria Bastedo sat there, she didn’t type but she had the best facial expressions. I almost believed she was thinking up what her characters were saying as she sat there. Green Eyed Pursuit is a young adult mystery set in Victorian times is my guess. A simple quest to find one’s father evolves into so much more for the main character. Last night was the official release for Green Eyed Pursuit and the 457th book for Victoria. I exaggerate but not by much.

I am always predisposed to like a book for charity. Just the fact that someone went to a lot of effort that will benefit themselves to the tune of nothing, makes me want to like the art. If they can actually create art so much the better. Jeffrey Cook is no stranger to creating quality, his attention to detail pleases the researcher in me immensely.  Sound & Fury, Shakespeare Goes Punk, is an anthology of short stories written for the benefit of Paws Animal Shelter in Kirkwood. Local authors doing good locally. In “Young Secret Nobles in Love,” two young steam punk pirates negotiate the murky world parental permission for engagement, then negotiate their own rules of marriage.

Swim, Swan, Swim was also written during Nanowrimo last year. I heard lots of snippets, but finally got a real flavor during last night’s scene where Tennyson Swan attempts to placate both his niece’s demands for white alphabet food and his nephew’s demands for information about the murky family history. A mystery with a lot of emotional trappings is my guess when all is said and done. No word from T. Tommia Wright on when we might get to see the finished product. Nudge her along here if you like.

We capped off the evening under Stars in the Texas Sky by local author Stephen J. Matlock. I have not read this book but each time I hear a portion of it at an event, I become intrigued. The first scene I heard made it feel like a social commentary. Last night’s scene focused on the interplay and blossoming friendship of two young men 1952 small town Texas. I must admit I like the friendship better than the social commentary. I believed these were 14 year olds just on that cusp of becoming aware of themselves, finding who they are, finding how important it is to have a friend who understands you when you need to go spelunking in your own mind. Stephen is working on his second book set in Windmill, Texas.

If you missed it, I’m sorry for you.