grandpa Bob and the printer

Grandpa Bob and the printer

Writers in the Grove hosting children

awaiting a coloring book story of a hero

having their own name

excited, thrilled that the book was to be

of themselves

but the printer balked and only spat out

pages one by one when it would

we had the children color extra pages

but the wait weighed longer and longer

poor Bob ‘Grandpa’ Kratz had worked

many hard weeks to set up the event

how he hated to disappoint those kids

WiGs’ 13th annual

 ah, the sweetness of success

in getting together at Ridgewalker

under Jeff Farrar’s gracious hosting

listening to fun and thoughtful

original readings by members

of Writers in the Grove and friends

authors supporting each other

encouraging, gently responding

laughing aloud with the humor

expressions reflecting the pain

warmth of fellow audience members’

reactions adding layers to the depths

of what is presented, enriching us all

Writers in the Grove

Writers in the Grove started about a decade and a half ago from my teaching classes of Older Women’s Legacy. Several women insisted that their husbands would like to join us. Since the group that had licensed me to teach did not allow that, we decided to start our sessions to welcome men and women.

We met in the local Methodist church and eventually found a home at the Forest Grove Senior and Community Center in Forest Grove, Oregon, on Monday mornings.

All are welcome, from “I’m not a poet” to “I’ve only ever written for business” to “How do I turn on my computer?” We write from prompts and share if we wish. Individuals can also bring in work they would like feedback on. And what a joyful, supportive group it has become.

Members have ventured into genres they never thought they would ever attempt with honest response and encouragement. What a difference thoughtful feedback can make as each of us grows as a writer.

Many members have now been published, from letters to the editor to poems or stories accepted for anthologies or online issues to complete books.

Diana Kay Lubarsky has brought out a laugh-out-loud novel, Dante’s Angels.

A small group of older women meets weekly for lunch and supportive camaraderie. Each character has strong opinions and foibles that cause interactions so amusingly true and human that I found the book difficult to put down. I wanted to keep reading all the way through. I found myself wiping my eyes for poignant moments and whispering heartfelt warnings from the trouble I could see that they were getting themselves into.

Find it on lulu.com.