From WomanWorder Ellen Zunon (9/04):
I'll also be doing a reading at the Arts Center of the Capital Region on Sunday, October 3 at 1:00 pm, as one of the participants in the "Reading Race" workshop of last summer, led by Amy Halloran and Meisha Rosenberg. I'll be reading an essay on one aspect of bringing up biracial children in the US.

From IWWG workshop leader, D.H. Melham (9/04):
Dear Friends: You'll be pleased to know that a favorable review of my Conversation with a Stonemason (IKON, 2003), by Rim and Razzan Zahra, appears in the new issue of Al Jadid, Vol. 10, Nos. 46/47. Also just learned that my poem, "Artillerymen in the Shower," will appear in the online magazine, Poetrybay, www.poetrybay.com, in the January 2005 issue. Its editor, George Wallace, was recently named Poet Laureate of Suffolk County. Peace, D. H.

Local writer Jennifer Roy let us know (9/04):
Great news! My YA novel "Growing Up in the Lodz Ghetto" was bought by
Cavendish Childrens Books. My editor, Margery Cuyler, is quite well-known
and highly regarded so I'm very happy to be working with her. I'll update
you closer to the publishing date.

In October 2004, Marilyn Day hosted a poetry event (organized by Dan Wilcox of Poetry Motel) at the New Age Cabaret in Albany, NY which featured IWWG Santa Fe poet Wendy Brown, along with a group of WomanWorders (Therese Broderick, Kristen Day, Judith Prest and Jan Marin Tramontano). For his tireless work on behalf of poets everywhere, but especially locally—including featuring many women poets at local mics and special events—WomanWords presented Dan Wilcox (in absentia, as he had to be in NYC that day) with a year’s membership in the International Women’s Writing Guild!

IWWG workshop leader Natalie Reid (New Mexico) advises that her first piece of visual art--a framed tryptich containing three panels of her short story "The River Daughter" on her river photos--was displayed in November 2004 at the Harwood Arts Center in Albuquerque, NM, as part of the Seventh Mountain Artists exhibit.

In December, Kathe Kokolias let us know:
Since you're including art, I'd like to announce that one of my acrylic paintings received 3rd prize in the Colonie Art League Holiday Show at the William K Stanford LIbrary. The show will be hanging until 12/28.
Also, one of the chapters from my book-in-progress, "Spandex and Black Boots" failed to win the Ink Pot Celebration Contest, but the editors liked the piece and have asked to publish it in Spring 2006.

Lyn Lifshin (residing in both the state of Virginia & in Niskayuna NY, 10/04) let us know about her next book:
Was up in NY over the weekend--- right now have been working to get my new book, THE LICORICE DAUGHTER: MY YEAR WITH RUFFIAN…here's a little about her--:
"On April 17, 1972, at ten minutes to ten in the late evening, three days late, the only time she would be, Ruffian was born at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky. She was born with a star on her forehead, a sign of what she would become: the fastest filly, maybe the greatest horse of all time. From her record breaking maiden race, she left behind the best fillies and mares in races she ran and won almost effortlessly as she won stakes and broke records. She was ahead at every point of call. Ruffian was strikingly beautiful, more like his Black Stallion the writer Walter Farley said than any colt he’d seen, the image of The Black Beauty. An undefeated winner of lightning fast speed, Ruffian was Champion Juvenile filly of 1974. She was never headed, flew to breathtaking, stunning victories with a stride like no other horse, almost ghostly. Invincible until just after her Triple Crown win for fillies it seemed Ruffian didn’t know how to lose. Then, in a tragic, misguided match race with the winner of the year’s Kentucky Derby, the colt Foolish Pleasure, she broke down, even then in the lead by nearly a length. Even on three legs, thrusting her broken foreleg into the ground over and over, she could not easily be pulled up. No one who saw her can forget her. Ruffian was rare, perfect, spectacular, miraculous, bright, and she is buried where no other horse has been buried, where she ran her first and last race at the infield at Belmont under the NYRA flag pole, her nose pointing, as it always did, toward the finish line."
The racing museum is interested in a publishing party-- of course, first I need a publisher and to finish things!

Denie Whalen (Feura Bush, NY) sent the following in:
Denie Whalen has written a chapter entitled, "Meeting Your Metaphor: The Use of the Arts and the Imagination with Dying Persons" in the newly released Art Therapy with Older Adults: A Sourcebook, edited by Rebecca Perry Magniant (available on Amazon) It is the first comprehensive text on creative arts therapies with older adults. An innovative and complete resource on using art therapy techniques with the elderly, the text offers a wide range of ideas and practical information, ideal for those within the field and those who are seeking an introduction.
Denie is also a regular contributor of articles on conscious aging to the newsletter of the Center for the Study of Aging. She will be facilitating workshops in the spring of 2005 on artful aging, using expressive arts to access resources and raise awareness of our innate creativity as we move through the aging process. Check out www.glasslakestudio.com for details.

From Pat Gioia (Albany area, NYS): I had an essay printed in the Empire State College Alumni and Student News, Fall 2004 issue. The issue was on Community. My Guest Essay was titled "Giving Hope to Families Stricken by Tragedy". It's the story of what I've done and been involved in since the murder of my 22 year-old daughter, Mary Regina in 1985.

IWWGer Melissa (M.J.) King reminds us about her free newsletter (of interest to writers—and you can submit items to it as well, for publication):
Lies, Boasts and Feelings is a monthly newsletter geared towards the beginning and intermediate writer who wants to share her words, express his/her thoughts, and learn about the nuts and bolts of the business in an informal setting. The newsletter has covered such topics as writing for profit, journal writing, photography, finding your creativity, organizing your time, writing that novel, and dreaming the ultimate dream of becoming the writer who creates beauty and change. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, please send a check payable to: Melissa King, 12 Vanderbilt Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. 6 months/ $4.50 / 12 months/$8. We also accept poetry, short fiction and essays about the writing life, nuts and bolts of writing or new information about the publishing world. Send to M.J. King, Editor, mjwriter@nycap.rr.com.

Helen Volk of Albany, NY advises that her book, De-Clutter, De-Stress Your Life (2001) goes into its third printing in 2005. She’s also still got Beyond Office Clutter (2003) in print. Both are available at Borders, The Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza (Guilderland, NY) and through Helen's web site, www.beyondclutter.com/Books. Locally, you can also watch for Helen's workshops at Boscov's in Colonie Center, Niskyuna School District Continuing Education, and The Consultation Center in Albany. For a full schedule go to www.beyondclutter.com/calendar in 2005.

IWWG member Judith Strasser (Madison, WI) had lots of networking items for us:
My memoir, Black Eye: Escaping a Marriage, Writing a Life, is now available. Order it from your local bookstore or from University of Wisconsin Press, <http://www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress>. My chapbook, Sand Island Succession: Poems of the Apostles, is available for $10 from Parallel Press <http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu> or directly from me.
Judith will speak about her memoir, Black Eye: Escaping a Marriage, Writing a Life, at the IWWG Meet the Author Open House, Sunday, April 17, 2005, 10 AM - noon), Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue (near 38th Street), New York NY 10016; International Women's Writing Guild, (212) 737-7536, www.iwwg.com.
Judith will conduct a short memoir workshop, "Writing a Life," on Wednesday, April 20, 2005, 6:30 or 7:00 PM (call to check time!), Barnes & Noble, 555 12th Street, NW,Washington, DC 20004, Phone: 202-347-1782.
Judith will co-lead a week-long Poetry Camp, Sunday-Saturday, May 29 - June 4, 2005 at The Clearing, Ellison Bay WI, 1-877-854-3225, www.theclearing.org; registration opens in February.
Judith will conduct a weekend writing workshop, "The Stories We Have To Tell," Saturday & Sunday, August 6-7, 2005 at Valley Ridge Art Studio, Muscoda WI, (608) 250-5028; contact Kathy Malkasian, kathym@valleyridgeartstudio.com.
Updates to my schedule can be found on my website, www.judithstrasser.com. Click on "scheduled presentations."

IWWG workshop leader Jan Phillips (Los Angeles, CA) wrote this in a Museletter: My new book, Divining the Body-A Journey Through the Sacred Self is coming out in February 2005. If you’d like to receive a postcard about its release from the publisher and don’t think I have your address, please email it to me and I’ll keep you in the loop.

Carole Fults (Albany area, NYS) advises:
I will be starting some "Creativity as a LifePath" workshops in January. This will be monthly - 1st one to be Jan 8 from 10AM to 1PM.
This is about "Unjamming the Dam, Unblocking the Flow, Knowing the Self, Opening the Soul" using a multiple modality approach - movement, sound, painting (or drawing), writing. Cost is $30 per person per session. Series to run all year in 2005 Albany LifeWorks, 423A New Karner Rd, in Albany.
Interested ones can call Carole Fults at 862-1974 ext 14 to register or request more info.

Hudson Valley Writers Guild President (& IWWG member) Mary McCarthy notes that she had an essay, Calendars, on WAMC in the second week in January.

IWWG member Tracey Rotman (Randolph, Vermont) let us know about an online website that is showing her artwork in their gallery/online shoppe: "Most of my inspiration comes from nature and this is a collection of the images i have found along my way. The link is: www.ArtellaWordsAndArt.com/TraceyRotman.html. She also invites you to check out her homepage, http://hometown.aol.com/naturesalive, which focuses mainly on her writing project (a poetic fiction piece that, with illustrations, teaches to look at the everyday world through new eyes and discover that nature can teach us the meanings of life if we only take the time to see, listen and learn).

Gerry Di Gesu of Cape Cod sends the following:
Just a few notes to include in the next Networking if you have the space - would be appreciated. Gerry Di Gesu - member IWWG and sorry I can't live up by you because the meetings/activities you have in your area are amazing.
My poem "Spring Day" - appeared in the Summer 2004 issue of The Litchfield Review
My book, Keep Quiet, You're Only A Girl, continues to sell well on Cape Cod and I have a number of book signings scheduled here in New Jersey after the holidays. Feedback has been wonderful and gratifying.
My column "On The Bright Side" - appears at www.thephilosophicalmother.com in their webzine each month and January's column features "Christmas Card Wisdom" regarding my perspective on how to get a positive start for the new year.

Storyteller/writer Marni Gillard (Schenectady, NY) sent info re her workshops in early 2005 - Contact Marni at 518-381-9474 or marni@marnigillard.com:

Barbara Garro (IWWG Regional Contact in Saratoga) sent the following items in January for networking:
The Barbara Garro Monthly Poetry Focus Group that meets from 9-Noon the third Saturday of every month, except June and September 2005, when it meets the second Saturday because of workshop conflicts, is exciting beyond any expectations I could have conjured up. Nothing is more powerful than feedback from serious poets!
Barbara will be the Featured Poet in Melissa King's Newsletter "Lies, Boasts & Feelings."
Barbara Garro's "Splashes of Poetic Color" Art Exhibit at The ARTisan at 38 Caroline Street in Saratoga Springs will be up over the New Year.

IWWGer Katherine Murphy (previously of the Albany/Schenectady area in NYS, now moved to the Plattsburgh area!) reminds us that her book is still out there, on the market: Awake O Sleeper; How I Rediscovered God Through Breast Cancer, Ave Maria Press, 2003; available online at Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble or ask your local bookseller for it. Click onto her website ( www.krmurphy.com ) or call to order an autographed copy! 518-371-3349 - krmurphy1@charter.net

Carol Graser (Providence, NY) had her poem "Application" published in the November issue of Third Space. She also has a short poem on the Woodstock Journal Website. Her poem is part of the October Surprise special project and appears on pg. 22. http://www.woodstockjournal.com/pdf/october-surprise.pdf or http://www.woodstockjournal.com/ click on October Surprise.

Photographer Connie Frisbee Houde is back from her trip to China and here are a few excerpts from one of her latest e-mails (this is longer than most networking items, but worth the read!):
… I went with Gregg Millett and his partner Ann Parallo, Gregg's brother's wife Kathleen and his grand daughter Krystal. Gregg's father was an Army Dr. in WWII who traveled the China/Burma Road and set up a hospital in Kunming (south east corner in the Yunan province -- above Laos) in 1944. He wrote letters home every day and took about 150 color slides of Kunming. In the spring of 2004 Gregg and Krystal went to Kunming. The travel agent they contacted developed in a month an exhibition in the Yunan Provincial Museum and exhibit of 130+ photos and 500,000 people visited in a week. Gregg and Krystal met people who recognized places in the photographs, children of people in the photos and people themselves from the photos. So a relationship was born and Gregg wanted to bring more of his family to Kunming. They did another exhibit including photos from another man (Paul Kurst) and his son (Bob Kurst) was also present. This time they published a book -- in Chinese. It was a wonderful thing to become a part of this exhibit and opening. I felt as if I had an adopted family. I also just learned that the exhibition just closed and they had 110,000 attend.
Needless to say I took 81 roles of film…have gone through them once and know there are good ones in there but need to weed out the ones where someone walked in front of me or out of focus or...
Around Kunming we visited a number of temples with a very special audience with Xin Min, the head monk for the area. I gave him some of my photo cards and he blessed my humanitarian photography as we were leaving. He brought tears to my eyes to be seen so completely in such a short time and few words. One of my favorite experiences in Kunming was walking in a park in late afternoon and listing to music being played under a vine covered arbor. Going to investigate there were numerous groups of elder men playing their stringed instruments and various people singing and even a group of women doing a dance with fans and singing. Many people young and old gathered around watching and at time also participating. Many women with their knitting or embroidery in hand as they watched. I recorded the sound here as well as photographed so this should be a part of a China slide presentation. I could have spent hours there meeting people and listening/photographing/recording. (We also encountered a similar place in one of the temples in Beijing). We traveled a bit in the Yunan Province seeing some of the traditional group's villages and country side in Dali and Laijong. These were some of my favorite places -- so peaceful and industrious going about their daily life of preparing for the winter. We also spent three days in Beijing visiting Tiananmén Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace. I can now say I climbed the Great Wall and have the T-shirt to prove it.
In October of 2005 there will be an exhibition of some of Dr. Millett's photos plus other objects and information about early china at the Schenectady Museum and the Chinese American Friendship Association will hold its annual convention in Schenectady. I hope to do a slide presentation that is an overview of our experience in China giving participants a visual of China and its people using what I saw and experienced. It should be quite a conference and the plans are well on the way with a delegation coming from Kunming.
Gregg's site has all the letters and some photos. <www.greggmillett.com>
About 10 photos at http://www.echinaromance.com/pic/kunmingphotola>
Also, I will be part of an exhibiton at the Spencertown Academy-- opening
February 12 with talk at 3:00 pm. It will be work by Lorna Tychostup of Iraq and My work from Afghanistan. Closes on March 27, I will probably be doing a night-time program somewhere in that time. It hasn't been set yet.

Connie Frisbee Houde
22 Elm Street
Albany, New York 12202
518-465-0582
lilyconnie@verizon.net, www.conniefrisbeehoude.com or
www.globalvillagephotographer.com

ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER/WEBSITE, from READERS:

I love your newsletter. I track your book list and often follow in your footsteps. Great choices. It is a relief to find another passionate reader or is it an addict?
I live in Kingston in the summer and Florida in the winter... out of your workshop loop.
Thank you for sharing.
Pat Richards

I thank you for your interesting and informative newsletters during this year. I've really enjoy them. And I've enjoyed the "Skidmorean" contact.
Anne Waldradt

Just wanted to thank you again for the writing time yesterday at Still Point [Editor’s Note: WomanWords & Friends Writers Write & Chat in October]. I went in order to have some concentrated time to devote to writing, to have the quiet of Still Point, walk the labyrinth, and just be around others interested in writing (and because it was affordable!) It gave me all that and more.
I hadn't really thought about the "starting a writing group" part of the format - but that just might have been the most beneficial part of it after all. Gave me some good new ideas of how to "perk up" our poetry group, give it a little more structure and be more clear about its purpose.
I've sent emails to several of the members of the group to see about their interest in taking part in the featured group section of your website - if they're not too shy! I looked at the site last night and I'm very impressed with it! You include a really nice variety of information and writings. Congratulations on a great job!
Thanks again.
Evelyn Hanna (& Jeanne & Katie too)
Galway, NY

Re the new website:

All I can say is this....AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL, INFORMATIVE, ARTISTIC - A tribute to all your accomplishments! You and Kristen make a phenomenal team.
Jan [Marin Tramontano], Guilderland, NY

The website is AMAZING! I wandered all over last night. Please tell Kristen she is a multitalented woman! Marilyn, I hope you know how proud you should be of all that you have done. It is a huge gift of connection to all of us who love and need to write.
PS The pictures take me back to Skidmore. It's wonderful to have names for familiar faces!
Linda Leedy Schneider, Michigan

It's gorgeous !!! Congratulations....Kristen did a great job...really looks wonderful and easy to navigate....well worth waiting for !!! Can't wait to see it grow even more...you are now in my "favorites" list...but then again, you always were !!!
Linda Kaplan, Guilderland, NY

I received your email announcing THE website. It is wonderful! Congratulations to you and all the women who helped make it possible.
You are an inspiration to us all. All, being women writing at kitchen tables, desks, coffee shops, bleachers (I can't be the only one ever to "jot down" an idea during a child's sporting event).
Continued success and growth.
Sally Lentz, Kent, OH

The website is wonderful. It captures the mission, the content, and the spirit! (And thanks for mentioning me!) The design is fabulous. Kudos to Kristen!
Joan Murray, Chatham, NY

KUDOS TO KRISTEN!!!!
Wow! impressive!! I like it a lot.
Patricia Gilmore, Windsor, Ontario, Canada (at the time… now moved to California!)

Loved the web site. Great job!
Loved your column about stepping up to teach the writing workshop. You're inspiring!
Susan Barlow, Manchester, CT

The website looks fantastic! I know it's been a long time coming, but it was worth the wait...Way to Go!!!
Kathe Kokolias, Albany (Colonie), NY

Please sign me up for your e-newsletter. Your webpage is wonderful! Thank you,
Cathy Fahey-Hunt (Ohio?)

Hi Marilyn! Hi Kristen!
I did some browsing on the new web site, and I know Marilyn was looking for feedback.. It looks lovely! I like the purple on white text. The webs under the links are truly nifty.
It's very easily navigable, a very user-friendly layout.
Renee Messier, Colonie, NY

Congratulations on your new web site!!
Lyn Lifshin, Virginia (& Niskayuna, NY)

Wow! It's awesome! I just went through all the pages and read everything. Beautiful colors, design, layout - and wonderful writing. Kristen and Marilyn - many many congratulations!
Lesley Tabor, East Schodack, NY

Fantastic!!! Thanks for keeping me in the loop. So sorry that I couldn't attend Sept .26 [Hudson Valley Writers Guild event] - out-of-town---.
Janet Altschuller, Niskayuna, NY

Congratulations! The site looks great!!
Leslie Pietrzyk, Virginia

Your website looks great! Congratulations to all of you and Kristen.
I'll send an email out soon to solicit writing from our cluster members. [Sue’s Saratoga writing cluster will be the next featured writing group on this website.]
Susan Jefts, Saratoga Springs, NY

How absolutely awesome! What a wonderful job. I enjoyed perusing it and have already put it into "my favorites". I know I'll be back again and again.
Thanks for including a photo of me. I'm honored!
P.S. I forwarded the website info to my sister Caitlin too.
Dawn Tucksmith, Chatham, NY

Your daughter did a great job. I really like the purple background and the explanation of how "WomanWords" came to be.
Ann McLoughlin, Capital Region Wellness Center, Albany, NY

Marilyn, bravo on the site! It makes me want to move to the Albany area, just to be part of this wonderful network.
Susan Hackel, New Milford, CT

Can I put a link to your beautiful web site on our web site?
Sr. Helen Fay, Still Point Interfaith Retreat Center, Stillwater, NY

Kristen, Congratulations on a fine job. You can't imagine how much I am in awe of your work.
Don Amorosi, Glens Falls, NY

You go Woman. You are a delight to read!!!
Sally Rhoades, Albany, NY

The site it wonderful. Hats off to you and Kristen! You are such a dynamic duo.
Leslie Neustadt, Niskayuna, NY

Great website, very well organized and rich with content; Noticed you have read Lolita in Tehran…I am in the midst of reading that; I was reading you insight on the book; but I had to stop cause I didn’t want to find out what happened. I have placed your website here: http://bellingerfamilychiropractic.com/site/615059/page/286791 [Editor’s Note: Nav is my chiropractor—this is her website!].
Navjot Gill, Clifton Park, NY