Stories on Stories

It's always a thrill when your work is chosen for publication. It's even better when the book is created for a great cause.

A few months ago a call went out for writers to submit their work for a proposed anthology to benefit the schools and libraries of Joplin, Missouri after a tornado of epic proportions leveled the town. Any piece submitted had to be related in some way to a storm.  Writers are generous people, and many reached out to support the project.  My poem, "Aftermath" appears in the volume.  Fellow writers and friends Linda O'Connell, Lynn Obermoeller, and Donna Volkennant also have pieces in the book.  And if that's not good enough to convince you, Walter Bargen (first poet laureate of Missouri) and Elaine Viets (former newspaper columnist) are in the book, too.  

If you're interested in supporting a great cause, check out Storm Country.

Meanwhile, there were a few other writerly delights to hit my inbox recently.  One of my essays will be in Echoes of the Ozarks, Volume VII, an anthology published yearly by the Ozarks Writers League. The volume is scheduled for publication in early November.

Today I received notification from the Chicken Soup folks that one of my stories made it through the preliminary selection process for the book, "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Messages From Heaven". I'm pleased but still keeping fingers crossed, as you never know until the 11th hour whether they'll keep your story or (gulp) cut it. So I'm faxing in my contract and hoping for the best.

Of course we're also hoping that all our two legged and four legged readers will have a wonderful and relaxing weekend. Stay safe, and go St. Louis Cardinals!!