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[Memphis Commercial Appeal; Aug 16, 2007]
by Pamela Perkins
A few Memphians are warming up for a national 50K race, no running shoes required.
But inspiration will be provided for the local participants of
National Novel Writing Month, a race to write a 50,000-word novel
between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30.
Memphis Area Word Catchers, a year-old writers' group, will have its first Fall
Author Series at its next three regular meetings at Calvary Church at
1851 N. Houston Levee in Cordova. The group meets from 4 to 6 p.m. on
the third Saturday of each month.
"Part of it is just for inspiration and motivation," said Dan Gamber
of Lakeland, who coordinates the local group with his wife, writer
Jackie Gamber. "The inspiration of meeting professionals helps you
understand what you can do and where you can go."
This month's meeting will be Saturday with Memphian Allan Gilbreath, an award-winning author and principal in Kerlak Publishing.
The Sept. 15 meeting will feature Bryan Davis, Memphis resident and
author of the "Dragons in our Midst" fantasy book series for youths.
And on Oct. 20, Alethea Kontis of Murfreesboro, Tenn., author of the
"Alpha Oops" children's book, will speak.
Word Catchers has about 15 members of various professions as well as
middle and high school students. The series is also meant to attract
new members to share ideas and commiserate over the anguish of having
writer's block on a deadline.
The contest is a fun way to get novel ideas down, said Bill
Snodgrass, president and executive director of the nonprofit
Cordova-based Double Edge Publishing Inc.
But for those with the discipline, he said, the local group "is a
great tool for writers in order to learn and develop their craft. They
have meetings on a regular basis for people involved in the writing
process."
Anyone who plans to attend the local authors series is asked to RSVP on the group's Web site at wordcatchers.org .
For more information about the national contest, visit its Web site at nanowrimo.org .
Copyright, The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN. Used with permission.
http://www.commercialappeal.com
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