Yesterday, I met with about 25 other members of the Cherokee Roundtable writing group at the estimable Don Ray’s home to celebrate the release of our groups anthology, “Christmas Greetings” – a collection of short stories, poems, and plays with a Christmas theme. I have two pieces in it: my short story “The Last Christmas,” and a poem titled “My Muse is Out of the Office, Please Call Back Later.” They are my second and third published works, check out my first published story, “Old Pearls.”

“Christmas Greetings” was edited by Jerry Deaton, an excellent writer and published author who was kind enough to spearhead the effort and foot the bill of publication. With 35 authors contributing, this delightful collection of stories will warm your heart, make you laugh, and possibly make you cry (depends on how sentimental you are). As the youngest member of the group by many years, I am so incredibly honored and proud to be a contributing member of this anthology. I want to thank Jerry Deaton for putting it together, Reggie Van Stockum for introducing me into the group, and all the other wonderful members for welcoming me with open arms!

Here’s an except from the introduction to give you a bit of history about CRT:

“Few writers’ groups have roots that reach as far and deep as Louisville’s Cherokee Roundtable. Although informal meetings were held previously, CRT was founded as Writers and Readers in January 1990 by Selma Jacob, who was an arts promoter and mentor, a writer and notable hostess of literary soirees. Using a format similar to the Louisville Writers, Selma’s base group was, itself, and outcropping of The Arts Club of Louisville, and their organization was advertised as ‘Affiliated with the National Arts Club, New York City.’…CRT brings creative people together for socializing, encouragement and enjoyment of one another’s work. This includes patronage as a group to art galleries, theatrical productions, literary workshops and other artistic endeavors…CRT has approximately 60-65 members and friends, and the average monthly attendance to meetings is 20 to 25.”

The first CRT meeting I attended was in October 2012 (almost exactly two years ago!), sponsored by my good friend Reggie Van Stockum (you can read a review I wrote of his recently published book, “Markman’s Home” here). Over those two years, I’ve been encouraged and delighted by the warm friendship, creative endeavors, and enthusiastic applause of my fellow CRT members. Being the youngest member by about thirty years is a trip all by itself, and I have learned so much from my much more experienced, and talented fellow members. Thank you all so much!

If you are a writer and are not a member of a writing group, GO FIND ONE AND JOIN IT NOW! Really, seriously, they are incredibly helpful, supportive, and open so many doors, not to mention helping to develop you as a writer and expand your horizons. Read more about how to advance your writing career through networking here

We are working on getting the book listed on Amazon for purchase. Until then, let me know if you’d like a copy, and I’ll get you hooked up with one, signed if you like.

In other exciting news, I am soooo close to halfway through my manuscript for my first novel. I recently took a whole day to devote to writing, writing about 12,500 words in 15 hours. It was awesome.

I’ve also been very encouraged and humbled recently to discover that most people I mention my book to are very supportive and want to know when I will publish! My dental hygienist, when she heard I was writing a book (we discussed it while my teeth were being cleaned), bemoaned the fact that I didn’t have a copy then and there for her to buy. It’s so encouraging that the people around me are genuinely interested in my work, and it inspires me to keep it up. Thank you, one and all, your kind words mean more to me than you will ever know.

That’s all for this week (and what a week it has been!). Enjoy the pictures below of our CRT book reveal event. I tried to include Gizmo in my “me with my book” picture at the end, but she was quite uncooperative.

Jerry Deaton says a word before the reveal of the cover art

Drumroll….

The beautiful cover art, put together by Jerry

Cover art created from an old 1930s Christmas Card belonging to Jerry’s Grandmother

Our CRT group. Reggie is in the blue shirt in the back.

Our CRT group. Notice my husband is busy on his phone 😉

Gizmo being very wiggly while I’m trying to take a picture

Yes, our cat sleeps on the bed. I complain about her gift of cat hair on the sheets, but both Gizmo, the donor, and my husband ignore me on this matter…