Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Virginia Festival of the Book

This past weekend presented a first experience for me, the 12th Annual Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville, VA. Even though I checked out their website for the event, I was not prepared for the excitement of the full scheduled selections of each day and into night. Panels of authors in all genres were offered. There were too many to mention here. You can find all the information at: http://www.vabook.org/

My friend, poet Hilda Ward alerted me to this adventure months in advance, graciously inviting me to stay with her. Hilda introduced me to authors, poets, publishers, volunteers and the folks who produced this smoothly run happening. I am immensely grateful for her hospitality.

Sunday night as a closing for the Festival, David Baldacci hosted friends Barbara Kingsolver and John McCutcheon appearing on stage together for the first time. She read some of her deeply moving poetry in a bid for peace. John joined her with his music. It was a very fitting ending, calming the excitement with a plea to end this war.

I bought a tall stack of books at the Fest, but was still delighted to visit a couple of used books shops in the neighborhood.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Each Life is Worth the Telling

Last weekend I attended the International Women’s Writing Guild sponsored, “Each Life is Worth the Telling” workshop for Carolina women. The workshop was held at the Lincolnton Cultural Center in the charming town of the same name. Director Hannelore Hahn flew down from New York City to lead us in our writing, reading and telling. Excitement swirled in the air as this group of approximately twenty women met, most for the first time.

We all came from either North or South Carolina with different backgrounds and different stories but with the common bond of being women who write. By the time lunch was ready, a visitor would have thought we were old friends reuniting after a long period away. Everyone that wanted to read had the opportunity to be heard. Some brought material with them, we all wrote and read from our exercises of the day.

When it came time to call the workshop to a close, a reluctance filtered the room. Hugs, chatter, addresses exchanged, photos taken, all activities of the original group of strangers now parting as friends.

Many thanks go to Director Hannelore Hahn, Pamela Cable, Sue Hajec for their efforts of pulling together a great day and to Valerie King and Tina for their warm hospitality.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Crocus

The winter in the Macon area of NC cannot be compared to NJ winters. Heavy snow fell from the sky here on February 12, too. But none of it lay on top of the ground. A few days later I woke at 6:30 am to the landscape covered with two inches of snow. By ten o’clock in the morning there wasn’t a snowflake to be seen.

A few days later still, I took an hour to stroll around Warrenton absorbing the beautiful historic homes into my mind’s eye. I took time to sketch some of these lovely trees, naked without their leaves but showing the beauty of what lies underneath the leaves of spring, summer and autumn. Then I came upon a front yard with hundreds of lavender and white crocus in bloom. I stopped short, stunned. The flowers were wide open like tiny little mouths waiting to be fed. A breathtaking sight to be sure. And a reassuring one telling us nature is laying the groundwork for the spring soon coming to us.