Read me a story

A delightful way to escape is to lose yourself in a book. Even more magical is to lean back and have someone read to you. Remember being a kid and being transported when Mom or Dad or Grandpa or Grandma would read you a story?
You can recapture that feeling on Saturday, June 21, 2014, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m at the Estelle Stair Gallery at 406 South Austin Street in Rockport. The Rockport Writers Group is hosting its 3rd Annual Rockport Writers Roundup. Members of the RWG will read selections of their work as well as be on hand to sign their books and answer questions. Experience hearing a book excerpt, short story or poem in the voice of the person who wrote it.

Rockport Writer Group President John Howell will open the program with a brief introduction to the RWG which has been in existence since 1988. Members are writers who practice writing as a craft and want to improve their skill and technique with the goal of being published. They meet twice a month to share what they’ve learned about writing and to encourage each other in the development of writing skills. An important function of the RWG is the “read-and-critique.” Writers can bring their work to share and get constructive criticism.

The selections for the Roundup represent just about every genre: history and mystery, children’s and young adult books, memoir and fantasy. This year the program will include a “duet” performance; two Rockport writers will provide the voices of the two characters in the work.

The program includes:

BOOK EXCERPTS

Rebecca Ballard, WILD GAME,Thriller

Pat Chapman, TEA ON THE GREAT WALL, Memoir

Devorah Fox, NAKED CAME THE SHARKS, Murder Mystery

John Howell, MY GRL, Thriller

Hazel Fipps-Mann, SPIT ‘N WHITTLE CLUB, Memoir

Heather Miller, MY PEOPLE OR MYSELF, Young Adult

Mike Peters, BOOK OF LIES, Literary/Thriller

SHORT FICTION

David Bayless, THE FISHERMAN AND THE ARTIST, Love Story

Kay Butzin, BANK JOB, Flash Fiction

Woody Davis, A LITTLE LONG IN THE TOOTH, Disturbing Fiction

Lynda Schuessler, THE FLAMINGO CAPER, Short Story

CREATIVE NONFICTION

Kathleen Monju, MIRROR, MIRROR, Domestic Abuse

Mary Wallace, MAMA AT THE ZOO, Childhood Memory

POETRY

Becah Hall, SELECTED POEMS

David Bayless, I’M SORRY, BABY, Prose Poem dramatic reading with Rebecca Ballard

The Wine of Mine Winery, located at 264 S. Commercial Street in Aransas Pass, has donated a selection of wines for guests to sample in between readings. Along with the wine will be light refreshments. A drawing for a door prize will be held at the conclusion of the readings.

For more information about the Rockport Writers Group, send an email to kaybutzin@sbcglobal.net or visit the group’s page on Facebook, www.facebook.com/rockportwritersgroup. To learn more about the Wine of Mine call (361) 944-9463. For more information about the Estelle Stair Gallery, call 361 (463-1059). I’ll see you there.