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Writers in the Grove News: Local Pen Pals

At the beginning of this school year 2016-2017, a local parent and volunteer with the nearby Gaston, Oregon, elementary school contacted Writers in the Grove about a local pen pal program. Many members volunteered to correspond with the children at the school, and it has changed lives on both ends of the mailbox.

Words bring old and young writers together in special partnership” features the unique program of connecting local writers with local elementary students for a pen pal program, and includes interviews with several of our members.

Gretchen Keefer had a question for the sixth-graders at Gaston Elementary School: What are you thankful for?

She wrote to them as part of the pen-pal relationship between Gaston Elementary and her Forest Grove writing group, hoping the question would give the students something to write back about.

Turns out the students had never thought much about thankfulness, said their teacher, Thea Hiersche.

But after taking the time to list all the things they love in life, they were “amazed,” said Hiersche. From there, the class “started the conversation about how we, as a thankful community, could help others who don’t have as much.”

Keefer’s writing prompt ended up inspiring a donation drive for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland.

That’s how words can turn into ideas that turn into actions. It’s also how old-fashioned letters can provide inspiration and writing help to young students — and joy to their grown-up writing partners.

“Just seeing these older people gathered around the table — none of them can wait to open the letters as soon as we get our stacks,” said Mary Jane Nordgren, a member of the writing group. “It really warms the hearts of everyone.”

This wonderful project could not have happened without the dedication of Sheila Harter. She has worked overtime to volunteer her services as “pony express courier” to collect letters from both groups and exchange them every week.

You may read the full article on the Forest Grove Times News site, and check out our pictures of the articles below.

Monday’s Meeting Cancelled

Due to extreme weather conditions and your personal safety, the Monday Writers in the Grove meeting for January 9, 2017, is cancelled at the Forest Grove Community and Senior Center in Forest Grove, Oregon.

We will return to our normally scheduled meeting next Monday.

Be safe and warm. And stay off the roads unless you absolutely have to be out.

Kendra Elliot to Speak to Writers in the Grove February 13, 2017

Kendra Elliot, author.

On February 13, 2017, author Kendra Elliot will speak at our Monday Writers in the Grove meeting at 9AM at the Forest Grove Community and Senior Center in Forest Grove, Oregon.

Elliot is a prolific author of suspense, thriller, and murder mysteries. After reading a newspaper article about NaNoWriMo, the National Novel Writing Month, she decided she could sit down and write 50,000 words in 30 days, and did. She says on her website:

I sat down and wrote a contemporary romance but kept tripping over dead bodies in each chapter. I got the hint and my stories evolved into romantic suspense.

This Pacific Northwest native continues to live in the area and says she is obsessed with forensics, even studying with the FBI, and is involved in many writers associations and groups dedicated to her genre, weaving everything she learns into her fascinating stories.

Elliot has published numerous books including the popular series The Bone Secrets, Callahan and McLane, The Mercy Kilpatrick, and The Rogue River Novella series.

She will be talking about how she writes her books so fast and furious, publishing several a year, and about the publishing industry, dealing with agents and publishers.

Please join us for this fascinating presentation. There is no charge. We thank Kendra Elliot for her generosity in sharing her experiences with us.

2016 Holiday Writers in the Grove Monday Meetings

This year, we have two Mondays, the days of our regular meetings, falling on holiday dates when the Forest Grove Community and Senior Center is closed. We’re offering two alternatives for the two Mondays.

Monday, December 26, 2016, will be at the home of Paula and Parks Adams in Forest Grove at the regular time of 9AM.

Monday, January 2, 2017, will be at the home of Diana and Elliot Lubarsky in Hillsboro, Oregon, at the regular time.

Bring pen and paper and be ready for some fun prompts!

Local Pen Pals Needed for Forest Grove Elementary Schools

The Forest Grove Elementary School District in Forest Grove, Oregon, is looking for volunteers to be local pen pals with their students. They are eager to help children learn how to write and read cursive as well as communicate via handwritten letters with others. For more information, contact your local school or use our contact form.

Labor Day 2016 Meeting: Diana Lubarsky

We will be meeting at the home of Diana Lubarsky in Hillsboro, Oregon, Monday morning. Please use our contact form for the address. See you there!

Eighth Annual Northwest Book Festival

The Eighth Annual Northwest Book Festival is at Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square on July 30, 2016. Hours are 10:00AM to 5:00PM. The festival is free to the Public. Willamette Writers and other writers and arts groups will be represented.

Fourth of July Monday Meeting

The Forest Grove Senior and Community Center is closed this Monday for the Fourth of July Independence Day holiday. We will be meeting at the home of Anne and Ralph Cuellar in Forest Grove, Oregon, at the normal 9AM. Please bring folding chairs and a potluck meal for lunch, if you are able to stay.

If you do not have the address, please contact MJ Nordgren or use our contact form.

Thanks to them for their generosity to open their home to us.

Glimmer Train Accepting Submissions for Fall

Glimmer Train Press is accepting original short stories through the rest of the year by August 31, 2016:

Very Short Fiction Contest (300-3,000 words)
Fiction Open Contest (3,000 – 6,000+ words)
Family Matters (stories about families from 1,000 – 5,000+ words)
Standard Category (open to all – Maximum word count 12,000)

The two sisters, Susan and Linda, have been producing Glimmer Train Press since 1991 are open to just about anything fiction. They pay out our $50,000 a year to writers through their various contests and publishing fees. The copyright is retained by the author, and they will accept previously published work, as long as fewer than 75 copies have been sold.

This year, they’ve announced that they’ve expanded the number of months submissions are open to only emerging writers, allowing more new writers to get an opportunity. They’ve also increased the first place prizes in every category.

Literary short fiction works are to be original, and comply with their content guidelines with accompanying reading and submission fees. Prizes range from $300 – $3,000.

Check their submission calendar for more information and deadlines.

Lend an Ear, Come and Hear 2016

Writers in the Grove invites you to attend our 7th Annual Juried Reading Event, Lend an Ear, Come and Hear 2016, at Plum Hill Winery in Gaston, Oregon, on Saturday, July 9, 2016, from 10:30am until the last reader (typically ends about 1pm).

The event is free and open to all ages. A pizza wagon will be on hand for those wishing to stay for lunch, and the winery will be open with wine, soft drinks, and snacks.

If you would like to submit an entry for reading at the event, the deadline is June 13, 2016. You may download and print out the form and send them by mail to:

2016 Lend an Ear, Come and Hear
47777 S.W. Ihrig Road
Forest Grove, OR 97116-7327

Submissions must be family-friendly and are limited to 4 minutes out-loud reading time. Applicants are limited to one or more pieces of prose or poetry, must be original and written by the applicant, and not infringe upon any copyrights.

Submissions will be reviewed for acceptance by a Selection Committee and authors of accepted pieces will be notified no later than June 30 for the July 9th event.

Again, we invite everyone to come join us in the beautiful Plum Hill Winery for this special event featuring local writers sharing their brilliant work for free.

Plum Hill Winery is located at 6505 SW Old Hwy. 47, Gaston, Oregon, just off Old Highway 47 south of Forest Grove.

Download and print Lend an Ear Application 2016 (PDF) to submit your entry by June 13, 2016.