Poem of the Week
Remembering
by Marlene Klotz
Boca Raton Branch, FL
I was in a coffee shop
having lunch all alone,
when I noticed the two women
sitting at the next table.
They were past middle-age
and from their comfortable
looking body language,
they appeared to be long-time friends.
The dark-haired lady unwrapped
a large pre-cut sandwich.
She moved her glass of ice tea aside
and gingerly handed one half
of the sandwich to her companion,
while being careful to avoid any spills.
I smiled inwardly when she said,
“There you go, ‘even-steven,’
half for you and half for me!”
I continued to watch them
while they sipped their tea,
ate their lunch, and chattered away.
Oh, how I envied them –
their warmth, their conversation,
and above all, their friendship.
My own best friend
died not long ago.
Each time I see two women
who are happy to be
in each other’s company,
I cry with longing for my friend.
I have been told about memories:
to treasure them and to remember
the good times –
And that is exactly why I
long for my friendship
with Henrietta again.
Book News
Anne Hoiberg, La Jolla Branch, CA, will be the recipient of a Freedoms Foundation National Award for her excellent article, Women’s Struggle for the Right to Vote which appeared in the Union Tribune. She was also inducted into the The San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame in January. Click here to read the article.
Virginia Nygard’s short story, Fish Tale, originally published in the March 2010 issue of A Golden Place, won second prize for published short story in the 2011 Royal Palm Literary Awards competition, sponsored by The Florida Writers Association. The heartwarming tale can be read in its entirety at www.agoldenplace.com, select the March 2010 issue. Virginia Nygard is Vice-President of the Vero Beach, FL branch.
Carolyn Vieth Boyles is the co-author of a new book, Searcy, a photographic history of Searcy, Arkansas. The book profiles the history of the city in Northeast Arkansas from its early days through its current status as a city. Her first book, A Complete Plain-English Guide to Living with a Spinal Cord Injury: Valuable Information From A Survivor, was published in 2007.
Humorist, Jan Marshall’s newest satirical survival book, DANCIN, SHMANCIN with the SCARS will be issued in the next two months. In an acknowledgment chapter she has designated an area for Pen Women to brag about their books, art or music description in a couple of lines for the special fee of $200. Longer ads, written in a supportive manner, can be negotiated. The cover of the book can be seen on the “Jan Marshall” face book page. Visit her website for more information and to contact her about being included in the new book.
Sarah Darer Littman, Greenwich Branch, CT, young adult book author, has received national attention for her latest book, published by Scholastic Press: Want to Go Private? This is a must read for teens and their parents. She reports she has been getting some intense email from kids who’ve gone through experiences with internet predators, and also, from kids who have been talking to people online and after reading the book, have blocked them. Check out her other Young Adult books, on sarahdarerlittman.com.
Mary (monti) Montague Sikes, Richmond Branch, VA, announces her latest books, available on Amazon.
A Rainbow for Christmas, Dec. 2011
Jungle Jeopardy, adventure, Aug. 2011
The Jefferson Hotel – A Snapshot in Time, Oct. 2011
The Homestead – A Snapshot in Time, Oct. 2011
Hilltop House – A Snapshot in Time, Oct. 2011
http://marymontaguesikes.blogspot.com
Patricia Daly-Lipe, Washington, D.C. Branch, past president of the La Jolla Branch, CA and Washington, D.C. Branch, has published five books that make fascinating reading. See her website www.literarylady.com for more information and to order.
La Jolla: A Celebration of Its Past is a rich and varied collection of vignettes and essays about historic La Jolla. Since this author believes that “history is someone else’s point of view”, the emphasis is on the extraordinary people who helped build and shape this special place. The book began as a series of newspaper articles and covers every aspect of life in La Jolla, CA.
Myth, Magic and Metaphor: A Journey into the Heart of Creativity attempts to awaken the creative muse who lurks within us all. My task as author is to enhance the creative spirit through myth and metaphor, to restore the sense of wonder adults experienced as children. My method is multisensory, interdisciplinary, and holistic. There are no limitations to what thoughts, ideas, observations, or research could and might be used to stimulate the creative process. The ultimate tool is the human heart; the medium is words. Philosophy, art, music, and linguistics are some of the disciplines used as stimulation.
All Alone, Washington to Rome, A ’60s Memoir Reading the words written so long ago in my diary, I was astounded at what I saw and heard and thought about as a teenager and later a young twenty something living in Europe. From Rome to Paris to the University in Belgium with visits to London and then back to Washington, this was the world of the ’60s as experienced by a young lady left alone after her (my) mother died when she was 18.
A Cruel Calm: Paris Between the Wars visits an era of idealism and innovation on all levels when Paris was the cultural capital of the Western World. Politics, religion, social mores and a special time in history (1927-1939) determine the fate of a young Catholic socialite from Washington, DC as she tries to find out if it is only after great sorrow that love can come again. Well Researched, A CRUEL CALM includes Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic and the huge crowds that awaited him at Le Bourget Aeroport; Gertrude Stein, James Joyce, Joseph Campbell and Hemingway in their own words; the Surrealist movement; lady pilots Bessie Coleman and Amelia Earhart; a train ride to Reno, Black Thursday; the ravages from the Great War and omens of a new war brewing, and much more.
Messages from Nature is a collection of short stories about animals, trials at sea, and the evolutionary journey of man and nature. It is a book for all ages. Based on my personal experiences, most of the stories were previously published in journals, newspapers and magazines over the years. Also included is one poignant tale about a greyhound written by my late father, Daly Highleyman, and published in the 1930s.
Also recommended for your winter reading list, books by members:
Chased by Demons: How I Survived Hitler’s Madness In My Native France, by Jacqueline Grossman “…a beautifully written, compelling and haunting memoir. A must-read for everyone!…” is what Carine Nadel of the Orange County Register said of this true WWII story. See amazon.com for more reviews.
Bette Lee Crosby, Boca Raton Branch, FL, announces the launch of her newest book, Spare Change. Click here for her publisher blog, where you can read an excerpt and check out her other books. Click here for the Amazon link to read an excerpt or download a sample to your Kindle.
Memoirs of a Middle-aged Hummingbird by Suellen Zima, Laguna Branch, CA, available for e-readers at the E-Book Store or at Amazon.com Kindle Store . Follow the senior hummingbird on Suellen’s blog as she wanders, wonders and writes.
Humorist, Jan Marshall’s newest satirical survival book, DANCIN, SHMANCIN with the SCARS will be issued in the next two months. In an acknowledgment chapter she has designated an area for Pen Women to brag about their books, art or music description in a couple of lines for the special fee of $200. Longer ads, written in a supportive manner, can be negotiated. The cover of the book can be seen on the “Jan Marshall” face book page. Visit her website for more information and to contact her about being included in the new book.
