W-RI (GH) T-E for Reading - theHumm August 2016

English is a funny language sometimes, and words can be used to enlighten, bemuse or even fool. I am not familiar enough with other languages, but this month I will introduce you to a group that is very wordy — in a marvelous way, of course!

The Westport Writers Group is a long-standing albeit fluid group of folks who come together to share a passion for writing. This season’s moderator, Audrey Olgivie, tells me that: “We meet once a month at our local library. Over time members have come and gone, depending on their continuing interest and/or the demands of their lives. I think most would agree that the core reason for belonging to a group of people who like to write is to improve one’s own skills. Specific prompts, given at meetings, each one facilitated by one of us, cause us to write about individual things, all of which are eventually critiqued by everyone. We share information about books on writing — anything that’s apt to prod our collective imagination. We agree that it’s essential to have goals. Over the past year ours has been to put together a collection of our work, in a printed book that will be marketed and sold. All proceeds will go to the Westport Library.”

Carol Lee Riley, a member of the group, related her thoughts as well: “The last year has been enormously exciting putting together a book, an eclectic collection of short stories and poems.” Titled One Chocolate at a Time, it has been published, and the launch will be held at The Cove Inn in Westport on September 11 at 3pm. The book will be available for purchase at Thakes, the library, and Radfords Optometry shop. Proceeds of all sales will go to the Westport Library.

Members of the group all love writing, whether to publish or to find a place for their thoughts to live. Below are some comments.

Cindy Dopson: I believe that every person has some amazing story in their life, but most of them never take time to tell it in any way. When I hear tidbits of these tales, I am inspired to make something out of them. The short story and especially flash fiction let the reader fill in with their own imagination how the story came to be, and I love the task of not wasting a single word in starting that process.

Audrey Ogilvie: Within my memory, I have always felt compelled to write. There is really nothing I would rather do.

Nicole Pchajek: I write poetry because I find it cathartic. It is like sculpting with words. I write and rewrite, hone down and polish until I can finally leave it be. I often put my poems onto book marks. I read them often and feel a sense of accomplishment from those little bursts of obsession.

Susan Radford: I write to find answers to the thousands of questions in my head.

Isidora Spielmann: Sometimes I write to catch a flicker of the dragon whose wing spans the world.

Carol Lee Riley: Passion for the written word coincides with my obsession for the visual arts and together they are the core of my creativity.

Antony Powell: It seems that observation and empathy are part of it; and the need to express in a medium. It’s like drawing tenderly in words and trying to catch the tender insides of the idea.

Aspiring writers looking for inspiration might want to check out the 9th annual Writers Reading at the Westport United Church on Saturday, September 24. This year’s reading features critically-acclaimed and award-winning Canadian writers Peter Behrens, Iain Reid, Andrew Westoll and Zoe Whittall. All four have new releases. Readings are scheduled for 1 to 5:30pm, with a half-time break for complimentary refreshments, book purchases and signing. (Books are provided courtesy of Novel Idea Bookstore in Kingston.) The audience is invited and encouraged to engage in an open Q&A with the writers. Tickets are $15 general admission and $12 seniors and students, available at Seasons of Westport at 17 Church Street (273–8792), The Cove Country Inn at 2 Bedford Street (273–3636), with PayPal at westportartscouncil.com , and at the door if available.

Pieter Doef —In the Service ofArt and Humanity - theHumm August 2016

Fifteen years ago, theHumm was pleased and privileged to feature artist and sculptor Pieter Doef as our profiled artist in April 2001. The headline read “Pieter Doef — A Life-long Art of Givin......

W-RI (GH) T-E for Reading - theHumm August 2016