SHORT STORY CONTEST WINNERS

The winners of the 2008 Short Story Contest were announced at the dinner following the Northeast Texas Writers’ Organization 22^nd

Spring Conference. The report is by David Allen.

The title page to each manuscript giving the author’s name, address, etc. was removed by the contest chair; each manuscript was then assigned a number from 1 to 50.

The primary judge received a total of 50 manuscripts identified only by a number. The judges did not know the author’s identity.

Nita Allen and her story (#40 on the

master list) “Midwifing Life in the Valley of the Shadow of Death” was the unanimous choice of the judges for First Place.

Photo by Bryan Freeman

Second, Third, Fourth place winners, and our two Honorable Mention winners each received two out of three possible votes by the judges for their respective places.

Jean Lauzier and her story (#49) “Eye of the Beholder” was the winner of Second Place.

Barbara Washburn and her story (#11) “Where’s Eddie?” was the winner of Third Place.

David Allen and his story (#19) “Grandma, How Did My Daddy Get Under the House?” was the winner of Fourth Place.

Jacqueline Brown and her story (#46) “The Master Plan” and Judith Gallardo and her story (#44) “Smoking Is Hazardous to Your Health” were our two Honorable Mention winners.

Each winner received an award certificate (suitable for framing) signed by NETWO’s President Ted L. Rankin, and First through Fourth place winners also received a cash prize.

Five of the six winners were present at the 2008 Conference to receive their awards. Judith Gallardo, an Honorable Mention winner from Bass Lake, CA was unable to attend.

Special thanks to everyone who submitted stories! &

NETWO Writers’ Conference 2008

By Michele Chitsey

Northeast Texas Writers’ Organization sponsored their 22^nd writers’ conference April 25^th and 26^th. The enrollment reached around 100 participants at Camp Shiloh by Lake Bob Sandlin near Pittsburg, Texas.

On Friday afternoon, author Nancy Robinson Masters held a three-hour workshop The Ace Factor: 5 Top-Gun Tactics for Writing What Sells, and Selling What You Write. She primed the participants for the rest of the conference with motivating information and enthusiasm.

At six o’clock, members, guests, and the speakers for the conference enjoyed refresh-ments and networking with each other. Then at 8:30, a Mystery Theater was enacted by members of NETWO performing the different crime scene roles. The audience was invited to interview each suspect to find the murderer.

Saturday morning began with a delicious breakfast with more networking time. President Ted Rankin opened the conference by welcoming all those present. Speakers Saturday were as follows: Barbara Poelle, representing the Irene Goodman Literary Agency in New York City; Chuck Sambuchino, editor of Guide to Literary Agents, and the assistant editor of Writer’s Market; Alethea Spiridon of The Spiridon Literary Agency; Terry Burns, agent for Hartline Literary Agency; Britta Coleman, an award winning author; Jennifer DiCamillo, an award winning author, and Ben Rehder, an author nominated for the Edgar Award for Best First Novel.

The conference participants were enter-

tained and engaged in learning several tricks of the publishing industry by all the speakers. One of the highlights for writers who attended the conference was the opportunity to have personal interviews with the top end of the publishing business.

The Book Sales tables were crammed with books from the speakers and members of NETWO.

During the Awards Banquet:

Jean Pamplin received the

Spirit Award, recognizing her ongoing contributions to NETWO since its organization;

Photo by Bryan Freeman

Bryan Freeman was acknowledged for

handling of the anthology, A Treasure Box.

Bryan also can be depended upon to take care of photography duties;

Jackie Brown was awarded the With Pen in Hand for the profiles she writes for the newsletter;

Photo by Bryan Freeman

and, Jim and

Earlene Callan received a night on the town in Dallas for all the hard work they con-

tribute to help Photo by Bryan Freeman

make NETWO a success.

The 2008 Northeast Texas Writers’ Organization Conference was a success—a little rest and then it will be time to start the Round-Up for 2009. <

Minutes of April 2008 Meeting

The Northeast Texas Writers’ Organization met April 27, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. at the Western Sizzlin in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. Twenty-six members were present.

Old Business:

The final preparations for the Spring Conference were the main topics of business—job assignments, sleeping arrangements, refreshments for Friday night’s reception, and selecting actors for the mystery play for Friday night’s entertainment.
Thursday, April 24^th, setup for the conference will begin at 2:00.
Friday, April 25^th, registration will begin at 1:00 for the workshop by Nancy Robinson Masters, which will begin at 2:30 p.m.
Reception will begin Friday night at 6:00 for speakers and participants of the NETWO Spring Conference.
The Mystery Night theater will begin Friday night at 8:30.
Saturday, April 27^th, registration will begin at 8:00 a.m.
Workshops will begin Saturday, April 27^th, at 8:30.

Other Business:

Copies of NETWO’s anthology were delivered and distributed to members. The members were excited as they reviewed the finished product, A Treasure Box.
Kay Howell, who designed the front cover, was in attendance during the meeting.
Skip Hughes suggested bookmarks could help promote sales for the anthology from family and friends.
Each author wrote a small introduction of why he/she wrote the short story or poem in the anthology. It was agreed that this information would inspire other writers so Jory Sherman volunteered to write a press release for newspapers and will send it to Jim Callan.
It was also suggested to appoint a committee to work out a marketing plan for the anthology.
Book donations will be delivered to Cooper, Texas during April.
Jory Sherman will begin a new writing course entitled Creative Writing 101 on Tuesday, May 6^th , to run through May 27^th, in Pittsburg, Texas at the Hanson/Sewell Center. Tuition $40 and Fees $25. For more information contact Northeast Texas Community College – (903) 434-8134 or (903) 855-1441.
Galand made a motion and it was seconded to donate a book to the library of the First Methodist Church in Mount Vernon in memory of Jean Pamplin’s mother.

The business portion of the meeting was concluded.

The readers for the critique session of the meeting were as follows:

Ted Rankin read Running for What.

The genre was historical fiction about a New Salem gathering of locals meeting a candidate for November.

Mike Clifton read his fictional piece entitled The Treasure Hunt Club in which a discovery of a hidden book leads to adventures.

Matt Edwards read his science fiction story of Irish Veteran where four Aussie military brass travel to Ireland to honor a fallen comrade of their boss and, as usual, things become deadly as a Persian terrorist intervenes.

Sherry Ray read the beginnings of a chic lit piece which is un-named at the present.

Bill Carl shared a portion of his newly published mystery book entitled Until Tomorrow.

Meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, Michele Chitsey

EVENTS

NETWO member, Jory Sherman, prize-winning novelist and short story writer, will be instructing Creative Writing 101 at the Northeast Texas Community College Tuesdays, May 6-May 27, 2008 - 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The location is Hanson/Sewell Center, 237 College Street, Pittsburg, Texas.

Cost: Tuition $40 and Fees $25.

Registration information may be obtained at Northeast Texas Community College, Business Technology Building 111, or call

(903) 434-8134 or 903-855-1441, Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM to 12 Noon.

Pre-registration is required, so register early!

If you ever thought you had a story to tell, here is your chance. Creative Writing 101 teaches you to craft scenes that will be your building block for your short story or novel.

? ? ?

May is Get Caught Reading Month, and May 12-18 is Children’s Book Week.

NEW MEMBERS

Myrtle Collier, Marshall

Sarah Del Collo, Tyler

Kimberly Fish, Longview

Sarah Hayes, Longview

Jean Lauzier, Tenaha

Kay Martin, Longview

Jack Stone, Tyler

Kennith Swinford, Mt. Vernon

Sylvia Thomas, New Boston

Norvelle Walker, Carthage

Deborah Chelette-Wilson, Winnsboro

BITS AND PIECES

Sincere condolences are extended to Jean Pamplin on the recent loss of her mother.

Also congratulations to Jean Pamplin on the recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Mount Vernon Rotary Club. Jean is a founding member of NETWO, and also the Mount Vernon Arts Alliance. She currently serves on the Franklin County Library Board, and is active in the United Methodist Women’s Organization. She has served on the Franklin County Historical Association board. Well deserved, Jean!

NETWO members Bob and Sherry Allen had an interesting day at a book signing recently. The librarian from Pewitt Elementary School in Omaha, Texas, contacted them to see if Bob would read The Ant That Wouldn’t Work to all the classes from Pre-K through 5^th grade. A note was sent out two days before the reading to notify the parents and get book orders in advance.

The reading took place on March 27 in the school library. Classes were brought in two classes at a time. Bob read every 30 minutes beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 3:00 p.m. –no breaks except for lunch. They sold 60 books, and Sherry says it was a very enjoyable experience, and she thinks they had more fun than the kids!

The following is a portion (as space permits) of an Xlibris press release pertaining to Bill Carl’s just published book.

Do We Only Have Until Tomorrow?

Texarkana, TX – Reverend Greg Post arrives in Arcadia, a small town in southern Ohio, unaware of the moral dilemma happening in that place. The Living Grace Church is falling apart and it is up to him to restore its faith and foundation. Sinister

forces, however, lurk in the shadows,

watching his every move and scheming to make sure he fails in his divine mission. Follow Greg’s exciting journey as he struggles to fight Satan’s minions in Until Tomorrow, a novel written by William Carl.

The moment Reverend Greg Post arrives in his new home in Arcadia, he knew there was a lot of work to be done. He battles spiritual and secular evil forces in his church that are determined to see him and the church fall. He encounters unforeseen troubles: anger, resentment, greed and bedfellows who are evil to the core—conditions that can rot any community from within. Psalms 12:8 says “The wicked walk on every side when the vilest men are exalted.” Greg will see it happen in Arcadia. Danger, faith, and romance entwine as he challenges evil with a little heavenly help.

Will Greg succeed in rebuilding the church’s foundation? Does he only have Until Tomorrow to open up the people’s eyes to the truth? Unravel the answers in this one of a kind action and suspense Christian novel!

The book can be purchased at Xlibris bookstore, or contact Xlibris at (888) 795-4274 x 7836 – or why not contact NETWO’s own Bill Carl? &

We want to hear about your triumphs—or even the tribulations, especially from our new members, so send them to me:

floysmith@windstream.net or by USPS: Floy Smith

322 W. Fulton St.

DeKalb, TX 75559

FLOYD (SKIP) HUGHES

A PROFILE

By Jackie Brown

Skip was born on Easter Sunday, March 24, 1940, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He spent his first 22 years in Iowa, and spent 25 years in Colorado (Denver). He’s been a Texan for four times, however, almost for ten years this last time.

Skip is a prize-winning poet as well as photographer. In addition to his poetry, he writes and has directed several plays. He’s an inactive member of the Screen Actors’ Guild, and also has experience as an editor and a teacher. At present he teaches physics at NTCC.

His wife is Lynne Hughes, a retired counselor. She writes poetry and sings in her church choir. Besides writing and music, Lynne enjoys ceramics, making jewelry, and is a prize-winning photographer. Some of her pictures have been published, and she also has experience as a tap dancer.

Both Lynn and Skip were American Field Service Exchange students while in high school.

Skip’s favorite genres of literature are science fiction, historical fiction, and he also thinks some current non-fiction is quite good.

While writing, he listens to classical music (Chopin, Liszt, etc.) when he listens to anything at all. He has two favorite historical periods in literature, classical Greece and Elizabethan/Jacobean England.

He has many favorite books, so many that only the Bible and the complete works of Shakespeare stand out! However, his idols in the writing world include Emily

Dickinson, Robert Frost, Walt Whitman, and Alfred Lord Tennyson. Other favorite fiction authors are Robert A. Heinlein, Arthur Conan Doyle, C. S. Forester, and Peter O’Donnell. Lately, he’s read “God’s Secretaries” and “Seize the Fire” – both by Adam Nielson, and both non-fiction.

His favorite magazine is Guideposts, and his favorite movie is Dr. Zhivago. Back in school, his favorite subject was Geography.

Skip conducted several classes or seminars in poetry this past year, enjoyed by many, and was responsible for seeing that good poetry was included in our recently-published anthology.

Skip’s favorite sport is table tennis.

Skip is currently Vice President of NETWO, and has been a big help to President Ted Rankin and conference coordinators Jim and Earlene Callan. These conferences just won’t organize themselves!

Being thoroughly familiar with Arthur Conan Doyle, Skip recently gave us a fascinating talk on Doyle’s best-known character, Sherlock Holmes, and outlined some of the experiences Doyle had when Holmes became so well known that many thought that was the real name of the author rather than Doyle.

Skip says that in his writing, he is inspired by the inexhaustible, ineffable wonder of words! His advice to people who want to become writers is: “Never give up!”

He says one word to sum him up is “Maverick.” t

You write with ease, to show your

Breeding,

But easy writing’s vile hard

Reading.

-- “Clio’s Protest”

By Richard B. Sheridan (1771)

Journey Down a Country Road

By George A. “Bob” Allen

The sweet smell of a few lingering honeysuckle blooms assaulted my senses. Their fragrance surrounded me, floating softly in the morning air. I breathed deeply, savoring the memories it brought back of my youth in a setting similar to his.

My car was parked by the old country road. Something had prompted me to stop. I don’t know….perhaps a sense of discovery….perhaps just plain curiosity. Anyway, I decided to follow the rocky, uneven path down the road.

Different colors of early fall foliage on the trees presented an admirable contrast in nature’s scenery. The blackgum displayed deep, dark red leaves, the sumac another shade of red. The hickory tree, with its majestic height and spread, was shrouded with golden yellow. I pictured in my mind a small pile of orange pumpkins blending with the last blades of summer grass.

The road wound down through the woods, and crossed a stream with an old, rickety bridge that appeared ready to fall in. In the distance stood an unkempt, unpainted farmhouse resting forlornly in a patch of overgrown weeds. Cautiously, I crossed the bridge and approached the house. A chicken snake slithered briskly from under the broken step when I stepped on it. It took a second or two to regain my composure before I continued up the steps.

Wooden planks groaned and rattled on the porch all along the long hall. A white porcelain doorknob allowed the door to open. A large fireplace in the corner was blackened with smut. A big, cast iron pot still hung over the fire bed, ready to be used. A set of quilting frames was suspended from the ceiling, rolled up on ropes. A rocking chair and several ladder-back chairs sat around the room. Unmade beds were in place, and dishes were in the kitchen. Cobwebs claimed possession of all. It was sad to see the bits and pieces of lives no longer there.

The weathered door swung shut on rusty hinges. Reluctantly, I retraced my steps back up the road, not wanting to leave just yet. I took one last, longing look back at the country road I had explored. The picture of the house, complete with furniture, yet so empty of life lingered. My thoughts took me back from the present to memories of yesteryear. I had once traveled such a road, barefoot and carefree.

The car door slammed behind me. I sank back in the seat, refreshed, rejuvenated. I knew this wouldn’t be my last visit. My journey had taken me back to a time and season I didn’t want to lose. I made up my mind to walk down these forgotten country roads more often. ?

Thank you to Jim Callan for the following:

Poll Asks, Name Your Favorite Book

Harris Interactive surveyed American adults to find out “What is your favorite book of all time?” The answers:

1. The Bible

2. Gone With the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell

3. Lord of the Rings (series), by J.R.R. Tolkien

4. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling

5. The Stand, by Stephen King

6. The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown

7. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

8. Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown

9. Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand

10. Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger

And here are some of the things I found rather interesting in this list:

a) this is a survey of adults and Harry Potter

is in 4^th place, Lord of the Rings is 3^rd;

b) only J.K. Rowling, Steven King, and Dan

Brown are the only current writers there;

c) only Dan Brown has two listings. <

MARKETS

Do you write science fiction? Asimov’s Science Fiction magazine is an established market for science fiction stories. According to their website, www.asimovs.com, they pay on acceptance, and beginners get 6.0 cents a word to 7,500 words, 5.0 cents a word for stories longer than 12,500 words, and $450 for stories between those lengths. They pay $1 a line for poetry, which should not exceed 40 lines. They buy First English Language serial rights plus certain non-exclusive rights explained in their contract. They do not publish reprints, and do not accept “simultaneous submissions,” (stories sent at the same time to a publication other than Asimov’s). Asimov’s will consider material submitted by any writer, previously published or not.

Full guidelines, including story content and manuscript format, are available on the website. However, you may write requesting a copy if you would like. Send a self-addressed, stamped, No. 10 envelope, and a note requesting the information. Write manuscript guidelines in the bottom left-hand corner of the outside envelope. The address for this and all other correspondence is:

Asimov’s Science Fiction

475 Park Ave. South

11^th Floor

New York, NY 10016