Mythic Journeys is an inventive fusion of documentary, story, artwork and animation. Despite the fact that myth has always existed, surprisingly few people today are aware of even the classic myths or the potential myths have to impact their lives. Myths are the reservoir of human wisdom – the story and the meaning of life. Every human being has asked the questions who am I, what is my purpose, why am I here? The answers are in the myths that have been passed on from generation to generation. Mythology is a tool that can bridge cultures, communities and generations. Through this film we hope to inspire people to activism and show that by helping others we ultimately help ourselves.

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Featuring the Artwork of our recent speaker, Janny Wurts.

Author, illustrator, creative genius. How many of us wish we could say that about ourselves? Me too. Fortunately, we all will have the pleasure of the opportunity to meet just such a person at this month’s general meeting to be held at the Selby Library downstairs conference room on November 4th at 6:30 p.m.

Janny Wurts is an internationally renowned author and illustrator whose fantasy books have been sold both in the U.S. and overseas. She will be speaking on the nuts and bolts of generating and sustaining creativity, with time for questions and answers afterward, as well as time to purchase some of her exciting books.

Please do not miss out on this unique opportunity to hear and learn from a truly gifted and talented person.

Check out her website here.

Stuart M. Kaminsky

The following was posted by Stuart Kaminsky’s daughter, Natasha Kaminsky,  on Facebook over the weekend:

I’m posting with great sadness. My father passed away peacefully October 9, 2009. My mother, Enid Perll, and I, encourage you to donate to a charity of your choice in his name. He also strongly supported the United Negro College Fund, Hospice Care, Congregation Shaare Zedek (St. Louis, Mo) and Congregation Temple Beth Shalom (Sarasota, Fl). I will be checking his facebook consistently for months to come and answering questions to the best of my ability. Thank you for your well wishes and prayers.

This is truly sad news.  Former SFW President and current Vice President, Pat Gray, has eloquently summed up the feeling of so many of our members with the following:

“Stuart has a lot of great friends in this town.

He was our speaker more than once, and a friend to many of us.

He did a tremendous amount of work to promote and support local writers at all levels.

He was the closest thing Sarasota had to a John D. McDonald in quite a few years.

He was a fine man, period, but in the literary world of Southwest Florida, he was a towering figure, a truly great man.”

The following statement was released by the Mystery Writers of America:

“MWA is deeply saddened by the loss of Stuart Kaminsky, Edgar award winner, past MWA president, and 2006 MWA Grand Master. Stuart made numerous contributions to the mystery genre and offered unselfish support to fellow writers. He will be missed by those of us whose lives he has touched.”

Other Links on Stuart Kaminsky:

Sarasota Herald Tribune Obituary

Article published Apr 30, 2006- Sarasota Herald Tribune

Kaminsky on Wikipedia

Stuart’s literary work is immense. We have lost not only a great friend, but the kind of writer that comes along only once in a generation.

SFW offers its deepest sympathy to the Kaminsky family.

 Jeanne Corcoran

General Meeting

6:30 pm Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Selby Library Auditorium

Downstairs

Our October speaker is Jeanne Corcoran, director of the Sarasota County Film & Entertainment Office. She will speak about “crossovers” between the print and novel universe into television, feature films and other electronic “scripted” media such as webcasting.

Prior to moving to Sarasota, Jeanne was head of the Nevada Film Commission and has worked extensively with the film industry for many years. She is very well respected (and well connected) in the industry. If you have not previously heard Jeanne speak, (or even if you have) do not pass up this splendid opportunity. It is sure to be a fun and informative evening.

We recently announced that our esteemed Pat Gray had been selected for Publication by Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine.  Here is a link to the story followed by some brief comments from Pat. Enjoy!

Click Trainman to read the winning story.

Comments from Pat Gray

It was selected as the winner and published in their Oct 2009 issue. The contest is a simple one. They print a photograph of someone or something. The image is in Black and White, usually faded and somewhat indistinct (I had to touch it up to get it as clear as you see here.) The lack of clarity is probably deliberate since it leaves more to the imagination. You submit a story that must relate directly to the picture. The story must contain a crime and be no longer than 250 words. The winner receives $25.00, which I got promptly, and two copies of that issue (which I have yet to receive).

I encourage everyone to try this contest. On the one hand, of course, it’s only a contest, and a short-short at that, with a very small prize. On the other hand, it is publication credit in one of the most respected genre-based short story magazines. They run the contest most of the time. In this area, the best place to buy the magazine is at Books-A-Million.

Thanks for a great effort and congratulations again on this wonderful achievement!

Workshop Event

6:30 pm Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Selby Library Auditorium

Upstairs conference room

Instructor: Bill Carrigan

Our esteemed grammarian will be our guest teacher.

Workshop: Fashioning Frictionless Fiction

The workshop will cover finding flaws in your fiction and how to fix them.

Bill Carrigan, long-time member of SFW, author of seven novels, many published short stories, and his familiar ’style sheets.’ Bill’s background as a professional science writer and editor will be crunched into a single entertaining, informative hour. Don’t miss this workshop if you take your writing seriously and want to brush up on the basics.

   Somewhere they’re playing Taps….

This belongs in the Sad Announcement Category - Sarasota News and Books will close at the end of August. This is a real tragedy for writers and readers and people who simply liked to sip coffee and read the news. Any writer who may have books on consignment should contact the owners and make arrangements for their return.

For more information on Sarasota News and Books closing, including a message from the owners, click here to read a post that appeared on the Herald Tribune website.

Other news:

SCOPE invites you to write a six-word novel: an entire story in exactly six words.

FLASH FICTION!  Can you say it in just six words?

The classic example is by Ernest Hemingway: For sale: baby shoes, never worn.

Clikc here for more information – and good luck to all those who enter.

August 5, 2009

Selby Library – Upstairs

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Janet Albright will present a workshop designed to improve writing through developing a deeper understanding of the character.

“Yearning is always part of the fictional character. One way to understand plot is that it represents the dynamics of desire.” Robert Olan Butler

Desire is the heart of the narrative and is what drives and decides the plot. The August workshop will center on becoming proficient at being able to leave yourself and enter into the other (your character).

We’ll practice how to merge with the character and experience his or her internal landscape and to know the character’s world. Once you intuit what it is that your character yearns for on a deep level, you are ready for the real work of writing his or her story. Bring the idea of a new character, an old character, or one you’re working on right now. It will also be helpful to have something to write on and with.

Hemingway wrote: ”A writer who omits things because he does not know them only makes hollow spaces in his writing.” We can all use a reminder of how important it is to enter the heart, spirit, mind of a character. Sometimes it can even be fun to explore the deepest, most secret places of another.

This is sure to be a very informative event. Don’t miss it!

 Alfred Hitchcock Presents…

Pat Gray

Yes, that’s right! Sarasota Fiction Writer President Emeritus Pat Gray will be published in the upcoming October edition of Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine.

It is not an easy feat to be accepted for publication by this venerable and prestigious publication, so CONGRATULATIONS, PAT!!!

Does anybody else notice the resemblance?

Alfred Hitchcock

Pat Gray

Congrats Pat!

   Special Workshop Event

6:30 pm Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Selby Library – Downtown Sarasota

Workshop led by Dona Lee

Discussion and exercises on Erotica

Sex in fiction today

While not pornographic, the discussion could offend those who do not wish to read or write of sex. Please attend if you feel comfortable with the subject matter.

 Should be both fun and informative!!  Don’t miss it.