Artella’s AlphaBetter Workshop

The frontispiece of my Book of Muses I'm creating through this workshop.

I’m in the middle (actually, at letter K) of a wonderful workshop created by Marney Makridakis, founder of Artella and inspirer of many. In this, the AlphaBetter Muse Workshop, participants receive a new lesson every four days. We’re working our way through the alphabet with thoughts, ideas for art and writing, journal prompts, and suggestions for new ways of looking at life, at creativity, and at ourselves. Each of the three days between Muses, we receive a “Muselet” with an inspiring quote and prompt. To conclude each lesson, I’ve been following her suggestion to create my own Muse for the letter of the alphabet. This is fun and inspiring!

Recently read: Brad Meltzer’s The Book of Fate

I’m a sucker for the genre of thriller that weaves arcane mysteries into modern day suspense. In this novel, the first one I’ve read by Meltzer, the Freemasons are the subject. Their secrets laid hundreds of years ago in coded messages embodied by the buildings of Washington, D.C. possibly hold the key to a mysterious death of a presidential aide. Everyone is suspect, including the Secret Service, the FBI, even the ex-President himself. The protagonist is a young man whose face was terribly disfigured during gunfire surrounding the aide. He is helped by a fat and feisty journalist who never takes her eyes off the story—well, almost never. I enjoyed this. It is a good, light read for the winter months.

Emerging writer’s network

This is a place to check regularly for updates on writing news, reviews, and reading other writers’ work. I haven’t signed up yet, but it’s on my increasingly long list of writer communities that are worth keeping in mind. See http://www.emergingwriters.typepad.com/

Today is . . .

Image from www.doverpublishing.com

Pale green edged with ivory veins, twined with deep forest green, stars scattered in winter skies along Orion’s Belt, tinged with light in the west where the cities grow. Scented with cold, tasting of church bells, enveloped in nightshades of blue and silver, whispering of sleeping creatures and childhood dreams.

See September 21, 2008 for the genesis of my “today is . . . ” postings.

Wisconsin Wrights

UW-Madison campus and Lake Mendota (photo from the UW web site)

UW-Madison Continuing Studies in Theatre, the University Theatre, Madison Repertory Theatre, and the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre are again sponsoring the Wisconsin Wrights New Play Development Project. Three finalists will receive a one week residency at Edenfred (see my December 3, 2008 posting). They will also participate in workshops and readings of their work as part of the University Theatre Summer 2009 season. One finalist will be featured as part of the 2009 Madison Repertory Theatre Madison New Play Festival and one finalist will be selected by the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre for a staged reading in 2010.

They are already accepting entries. You must be a current Wisconsin resident. The deadline for submitting your play is Monday, February 2, 2009. There is a $20 entry fee. For more details and specific submission requirements, see http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/lsa/theatre/wrights/guidelines.html

Edenfred: dedicated to the arts and culture

The veranda at Edenfred in Madison, Wisconsin

Edenfred, which means “peace” in Norwegian, is a 1916 mansion dedicated to providing creative artists a peaceful setting in which to work. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, it was established by the Terry Family Foundation, a charitable nonprofit organization. Edenfred has three programs: Resident Fellows Program (open application); Day Fellows Program (local/regional) and Cooperative Residency Program (partnerships with local and regional arts groups). For more information, see http://www.edenfred.org/

Recently read: Charles Todd’s A False Mirror

This series of historic British police procedurals is good. A favorite genre of mine, I hadn’t run across Todd until fairly recently. Set shortly after the end of World War I, the books combine the details of how police solved crime before DNA testing and photocopy machines with historical fiction. Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge heads to a tiny town on the southern coast of England, where a man he knew from their military service in the War is the main suspect in a nasty beating that ended in death. A well-done look at history, England after the War to End All Wars, and a good mystery to boot, I plan on reading more of Todd’s books.