MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE. Critique by Sarah T. Williams. "Web Gem." Sunday, March 2, 2008:

wiredforbooks.org/swaim/. Patience will reward those who visit this treasury of literary voices, a collection of uncut, unexpurgated, unedited radio interviews with hundreds of English-speaking authors -- from Ed Abbey to Sidney Zion. The interviews were conducted by Don Swaim during his long-running CBS Radio show, "Book Beat" (1983-1993). Just as in any conversation, a level of trust must be established and preliminaries and amenities gotten out of the way before a person begins to speak from the heart or the gut. With his gentle, earnest and endearingly honest probing, Swaim gets his subjects to open up: Margaret Atwood on our cannibalistic tendencies, Judy Blume on her troubles with censorship, Tess Gallagher on alcoholism in American life, Erica Jong on what happens to women who dare to write about sex. Seekers of sound bites can go to the archives of the two-minute daily feature at donswaim.com/bookbeatpodcast.html .

CARMEN FERREIRO writes (March 11, 2008): I have good news. My editor has agreed to publish my second book, The King in the Stone, the one you have critiqued for the last few years. Thank you so much for all your hard work.

CHRIS BAUER has a new webpage to celebrate the forthcoming publication of his novel, Scars on the Face of God, to be published by Drollerie Press, 2008. Go to: http://cgbauer.net/ The site's still a work in progress, but is beautifully done.

DON SWAIM's twenty-one page interview with novelist Kazuo Ishiguro was published in Conversations with Kazuo Isgiguro, University Press of Mississippi (March 2008).

MARSHA KROLL NAMED BUCKS COUNTY POET LAUREATE. Marsha, a charter member of the BCWW, went to Vermont to complete her MFA. She writes:

Some shameless self promotion! I finished my MFA in December of 2006 and moved back to Pennsylvania from Vermont in March of this year. Then, a few weeks ago, I was named as the new Bucks County Poet Laureate. What a thrill! In addition to my poetry instructors and poety friends, I also have to thank you, Don, and everyone else in our writing group (s) for all their help and encouragement. You may remember that John Scioli once called me the Queen of the Short Short, which, ultimately, I turned into my poetry. Now, however, I'm actually also writing Prose Poems! It seems like I've come full circle. Don, could you forward this to the group in case anyone is interested in going to the (my) Poet Laureate inaugural reading at Bucks County Community College at 2pm on Sunday, November 18th. It will be held in the Orangery, which is behind and on the right side of the classroom buildings, if you're coming from the large parking lot accessed by the 2nd school entrance, on Swamp Road, just off of Rte 413. It is also to the left of the Tyler Estate gardens, and the school offices that are housed in the actual estate, I hope everyone is doing well and writing well. Much love, Marsha

PC MAGAZINE CITES DON'S WIRED FOR BOOKS

From the BCWW's Don Swaim: An old high school pal from Pittsburgh emailed that my CBS Radio Wired for Books web page, the brainchild of Ohio University, was cited by PC Magazine's "Best of the Internet" in the Nov. 20, 2007, issue. The page's address is: http://wiredforbooks.org/swaim/. The picture of me isn't a photo at all, but an "oil" painting by a college friend, the late James Tuverson, who worked from a snapshot of me taken outside the Robert Frost House in New Hampshire. The artist couldn't believe I didn't have gray hair at the time, so Jim made up for that in the painting, the rascal.

The creator and ongoing producer of Wired of Books is David Kurz, Ohio University's senior web developer. Dave's an alumnus of Case Western Reserve University, and, oddly, has degrees in botany and plant biology. Less surprising, he's also a book collector and former professional librarian, with an MSLS. Dave writes about PC Magazine's citation: "It's great news. Congratulations! Your interviews will be enjoyed for many, many years. And it was your generosity and forethought that made this recognition possible."

BCWW's CARMEN FERREIRO-ESTEBAN'S NOVEL IN THE STORES. From the publisher of Two Moon Princess, Tanglewood Press:

In this coming-of-age story set in a medieval kingdom, Andrea is a headstrong princess longing to be a knight who finds her way to modern-day California. But her accidental return to her family's kingdom and a disastrous romance brings war, along with her discovery of some dark family secrets. Readers will love this mix of traditional fantasy elements with unique twists and will identify with Andrea and her difficult choices between duty and desire.

Carmen's 324-page novel is geared to young adult readers. It can be ordered from Amazon.com. For more information go to Tanglewood Press.

CHRIS BAUER RECEIVES PUBLISHING OFFER. From Chris:

Drollerie Press, a small (and new) publisher based in Ohio, wants to publish my novel Scars on the Face of God: The Devil's Bible. The publisher sent across the contract yesterday which I'm now studying. It's true I have no agent, and when someone asked me where had I learned of Drollerie Press, I couldn't tell them for sure. It may have been on Preditors & Editors. Then again, maybe not. Regardless, they are a small operation whose first print novels will be coming out this Fall and Winter; other offerings (novels, novellas, short stories) are available electronically on their website.

The novel will be published in both electronic and print (trade paperback, I believe) format, the electronic version earlier than the print version; the print version will take about eight months after we get the process started. You can see their website at drolleriepress.com. The site, their values, their genres and intended audience, their willingness to work with first-time novelists, it all looks good to me so far. Now, I expect, is when the real work begins.

Here's a tidbit regarding timing: The Devils' Bible (or Codex Gigas, meaning Giant Book), a very real manuscript with legendary origins written in the 13th century, was returned by the Royal Library of Sweden in September to Prague after 359 years. It will be on display in Prague into January. For the past four years while I toiled over this novel I ran across no new information on the old manuscript, and I had googled it quite a number of times during the process. Last week, when I received a thumb's up from the publisher, it suddenly became news again. Eerie.

DON SWAIM INTERVIEWS IN NEW MARTIN CRUZ SMITH SERIES. Ballantine is republishing, in trade paperback, classic Martin Cruz Smith's brilliant mysteries starring Russian homicide cop Arkady Renko: Gorky Park and Polar Star so far. There's a five-page interview by Don with Martin Cruz Smith in Gorky Park, and a different seven-page interview by Don in Polar Star. The audio can be heard at: Wired for Books.

BCWW STYLEBOOK AVAILABLE ON INTERNET FOR FIRST TIME. This handy how-to primer for writers seeking publication or workshop submission went through three printed editions before the revised, expanded version was posted on the BCWW website. It covers such issues as length, formatting, clarity, pace, wordiness, etc. Not everyone will agree with its conclusions, but it's hoped some will find it useful.

MARIE LAMBA 2007 NOVEL IS OUT. From Marie:

I wanted to thank you all for your wonderful support over this past hectic month! I also wanted you to know that my YA novel WHAT I MEANT... is now published, and, thankfully, is garnering great reviews (PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY just called it an "outstanding debut"). More reviews and updates are on my www.marielamba.com.

The book's status so far still holds the same: sequel and paperback cancelled, initial printing low (all because, I'm sure you remember, presales to chains were low), but the book is gathering steam, thanks to all the support I've been getting from you guys and others. So I thank you all! Let's hope it continues and WHAT I MEANT... reprints. My dream is to save my already written sequel (finger's crossed).

I'm continuing to personally visit every bookstore I can to introduce my book (been to NYC and Philly and the immediate local area...and my feet hurt!), and I'm now trying to contact every library in the state too. It's exhausting, but seems to work. Now if I could just clone myself...

Also, I've got some booksignings coming up:
Friday, August 3, Doylestown Bookshop (part of First Friday celebration) 7:30 p.m. on
Saturday, August 25, Borders Express in the Oxford Valley Mall, 1-4 p.m.
Saturday, September 8, Writer's Corner at Oakland and Main in Doylestown (part of the Arts Festival) 11-11:45 a.m.
Sunday, September 9, Doylestown Bookshop (Arts Festival again), time tba

Some other dates/locations are also on my website. For those of you who live farther away and want a signed bookplate for a copy of my book, please email me and I'll be happy to send you one.

So that's the news! Let's hope it keeps looking up. And I hope all your writer's dreams come true.

PUB DATE FOR CARMEN FERREIRO-ESTEBAN'S NOVEL SET FOR OCTOBER 25, 2007. Advance reading copies of Carmen's young adult novel, Two Moon Princess [originally Leaving the Castle], are already being distributed by the publisher, Tanglewood Press. The 324-page novel is geared to young readers age nine and up. It can be pre-orered from Amazon.com. For more information go to Tanglewood Press. Carmen, a long time member of the BCWW, grew up in Lugo, Galicia --- Nortwestern Spain-- and went to college in Madrid, where she earned a Ph.D in biology.

FROM MARIE LAMBA: To all my wonderful writer friends: I wanted to let you know in advance that I've just booked my first booksigning a week after my book hits the shelves. I'll be at the Doylestown Bookshop on Main Street in Doylestown from 7:30 p.m. till at least 9:30 p.m. on Friday, August 3rd, 2007. It's during the town's First Friday celebrations (for you out-of-towners, that means lots of people and free entertainment and fun around the town), so it should be a blast. Please come and visit. What I Meant... comes out July 24th, 2007 (3 days after Harry Potter), and is available for pre-order through Amazon.com now. I'm keeping my website up to date with info (and some new pix on there as of today), if you'd like to check out www.marielamba.com. Thanks to all of you for your support! Best, Marie

WIRED FOR BOOKS WINS OHIO "PROGRAM OF THE YEAR AWARD": Many of you know Don Swaim's audio interviews are posted online at Ohio University's Wired for Books website. The site's founder, David Kurz, sent this email (2/13/07): "I'm in Columbus today, where Wired for Books will receive Program of the Year Award from the Ohio Public Broadcasting Association. Thank *you* Don, for your gifts and your support. The award won't be official until 5 p.m. We were informed early so we'd be there to receive the award."

DANGEROUS CHARACTER
Click above to go to Jules' web site

BCWW Member Jules Winistorfer
click to enlarge

GALA HOLIDAY BCWW PARTY 2006

Jack manning the bar

On Dec. 9, 2006, BCWW members and their guests descended on New Hope for a festive literary soiree hosted by member Jack Stewart and Don McGee at their gorgeous home. Scorecard as follows. WINE: ambrosial; FOOD: délicieux; AMBIENCE: affascinante; COMPANY: sympathique; MUSIC (by John Scioli): harmonious. For pictures click here.

FROM MARY JANE AKLONIS: I have a guest piece in the "I Remember" column of In Your Prime, November 2006 issue.

FROM CARMEN FERREIRO: Hello writers, I have good news. My first book Leaving the Castle -- critiqued by the group ages ago -- has been accepted for publication by a small house, Tanglewood Press. (****)

FROM DON SWAIM: DaRK PaRTY ReVIEW, a Boston-based online literary magazine, queries Ambrose Bierce Site and BCWW webmaster Don Swaim about the life and disappearance of the legendary curmudgeon. Go to: DaRK PaRTY ReVIEW. Another Bierce interview with Don appears in the November issue of the nationally published Outside Magazine, on the newsstands October 2006.

FROM GRACE MARCUS on her novel in progress: Visible Signs was a semi-finalist in the annual William Faulkner-William Wisdom Writing Competition sponsored by the New Orleans Pirate's Alley Faulkner Society. Had it made the finals, I would have been invited to the black tie gala to hobnob with agents & editors. [we're proud of you, Grace -- BCWW]

JOHN SCIOLI wrote a nostalgic essay on growing up with music for the July 2006 issue of In Your Prime.

AL SIROIS won first place in the 2006 Kittie Friend West short story contest sponsored by the Writers Corner.

REBEL WRITERS OF BUCKS COUNTY

These published or hopeful writers, all past or current members of the BCWW, formed their own club.

JULES WINISTORFER has a nostalgic essay in the March 2006 issue of In Your Prime.

EX-BCWW MEMBER MARIE LAMBA SIGNS TWO-BOOK DEAL WITH RANDOM HOUSE. A young adult novel by Doylestown Borough resident Marie Lamba has just been accepted for publication as part of a two-book deal with Random House Publishers. What I Meant, (a novel for ages 12 through adult) is about 15-year-old Sangeet Jumnal and her coming-of-age tribulations made even worse by her Indian father, who won't let her date until she's 16; an American mom who usually sticks up for Sang, but now suddenly thinks her daughter is a liar, a thief, and a bulimic; and her aunt who has been living with the family for three months and has been stealing money and food and setting up Sang to take the blame. The novel, which is scheduled to appear in summer 2007, takes place in Doylestown, and includes scenes at many Doylestown landmarks and businesses, such as CB West High School, the County Theater, and Fonthill.

Lamba, a freelance writer for the past 15 years, has published more than 100 articles, including pieces in national publications such as Writer's Digest, Garden Design and Sports International. What I Meant is her first novel.

("Hi to all my writer friends. Wanted to pass along my good news. Thanks so much for all the encouragement and guidance you've each provided me with over the years." -- Marie)

CAROLYN MERLINI WINS TOP INTELLIGENCER AWARD. Carolyn's story, "A Christmas Time," won first place in the Intelligencer-Record's annual Christmas story contest. It was published on Christmas Day, 2005, with a nice photo and mini-bio. A $100 prize went with the honor. The BCWW critiqued the story last year.

ALAN SHILS SPOTLIGHTED ON PHOTO WEB SITE. In addition to Alan's detailed essay on his photographic background and techniques, the Churchville Photography Club posted samples of his work.

JULES WINISTORFER, author of The Attic Trunk, is profiled in a full-page article in The Trend, Nov. 30, 2005, issue, No. 11, Vol. 15.

CONNIE WRZESNIEWSKI has a story under the headline "Remembering" in the December 2005 issue of In Your Prime.

DON SWAIM INTERVIEWS TO BE PUBLISHED. The University Press of Mississippi will publish Conversations with Larry Brown, which includes an interview by Don. The same series will include an interview conducted by Don in Conversations with Kazua Ishiguro.

CHRIS BAUER WINS TOP PRIZE IN HORROR WRITING CONTEST. Veteran BCWW member Bauer's novel, Scars on the Face of God, won top honors in the novel category in a contest sponsored by the Writers Room of Bucks County. Congrats, Chris. Note: the BCWW is not affiliated with the Writers Room.

NEW WALTER TEVIS PROJECT ON DVD MARKET -- WITH DON SWAIM CONTRIBUTION. A new two-DVD package of THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH (starring David Bowie) is on the market. You might recall this 1976 film, which was based on the novel by Walter Tevis, who also wrote THE HUSTLER (starring Paul Newman) and it's sequel THE COLOR OF MONEY (also with Paul Newman). The package by Criterion includes a reissue of the book (published by Ballantine/Del Ray) plus: a re-mastered DVD of the film AND a second DVD with many extras including a composite of two radio interviews (running close to an hour) Don Swaim did with Walter Tevis at CBS shortly before his death. Don's interviews with Tevis explore his development as a writer, his dissent into alcoholism, and how he emerged creatively only to die prematurely of cancer. You can hear Don's original interviews with Tevis online at WIRED FOR BOOKS. The new Criterion Collection DVD package can be ordered online at CRITERION.

FREIGHT HOUSE SCENE OF 2005 BCWW SUMMER WRITING PROJECT DINNER Members of the BCWW wrote stories in the style of Raymond Carver. Novelist Christian Bauman judged the main contest in which cash prizes were awarded to John Wirebach, first place; Carolyn Merlini, second place; and Linda Wisniewski, third place. In a separate contest, cordinated by John Scioli, members of the workshop voted for their favorite story among the submissions. Taking the top prize was Chris Bauer. Three members tied for second place: Mary Jane Aklonis, Don Swaim, and David Jarret. Pictures of the event at the Freight House Restaurant, Doylestown, are posted at 2005 DINNER. Read the newspaper account in the BUCKS COUNTY HERALD. Christian Bauman is a novelist, songwriter, musician, and commentator on National Public Radio. He's the author of The Ice Beneath You (Simon & Schuster Touchstone) and the new Voodoo Lounge (Simon & Schuster Touchstone). His web site is: christianbauman.com.

Christian Bauman at BCWW dinner

NEW WORK BY LINDA. Linda Wisniewski has an article in the July/August 2005 issue of Massage magazine called "Massage for the Soul," about the practice of harp therapy in health care settings. Another article written by Linda, "Forget fight or flight -- it's all about friendship," appeared in the February/March 2005 issue of PhillyFit magazine, a local bimonthly found in exercise clubs and fitness centers. .

CHRIS BAUER WINS MARYLAND WRITERS ASSOCIATION AWARD. Chris' novel, Scars on the Face of God, won the 2005 top prize in the Action/Adventure/Horror category. In addition to cash prizes, the winners in each category receive two professional critiques. For info about the Annapolis-based group go to Maryland Writers Association.

SECOND BOOK BY BCWW's JULES WINISTORFER Jules' latest book is a collection of nineteen short stories, all originally submitted to the workshop for vetting. "A potpourri of short fiction running the gamut of human experience: horror, deception, greed, love, kindness, and irony. The book includes satire, sci-fi, adventure, supernatural, and war stories." For complete details about the book as well as how to obtain it, go to THE ATTIC TRUNK.

LINDA WISNIEWSKI PUBLISHES IN CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR. To read Linda's essay, "Reaching Out, I Found the Heart of Compassion," in the February 17, 2005, edition, go to The Christian Science Monitor.

ORIGINAL DESIGNER OF BCWW WEB SITE IS DEAD. Web designer and long-time broadcaster Jim "Doc" Tuverson died on February 8, 2005, in Los Angeles. From Don: Jim and I were college classmates and kept in touch over the years. Late in life, when he left broadcasting to go into web design, he came up with the idea of a BCWW web site, rather than the simple email newsletter I'd been sending to members. Jim did the design at no cost. While I eventually moved the site to my own server, its design is faithful to the one Jim created. There are photographs and recollections of Jim on my RADIO DAYS page, and Jim's family has maintained a web site in his honor at tuverson.com

POETIC MARSHA KROLL PUBLISHES FIRST BOOK Marsha, one of the original members of the BCWW, has written a book of poems, Modeling with Miss America, published by Finishing Line Press, PO Box 1626, Georgetown, KY 40324. $12 check or money order. Or order ON LINE.

RECENT PUBLICATION. From Connie Wrzesniewski: "Just a note to let you know Dave Jarret's book, Tales of a Township, is in the Doylestown Federal Savings and Loan on Route 61l, Doylestown. Nice going, Dave. [Dave is a BCWW member]Also, I have an article, 'Remembering,' in the January issue of In Your Prime, an over fifty-five publication."

BCWW MAKES TRANSITION TO LENAPE MIDDLE SCHOOL. In January 2005 the BCWW moved to Lenape Middle School, Doylestown. The workshop will, however, meet at the Bucks County Free Library over the summer when the school is closed. The BCWW is grateful to both the library and the Central Bucks School District for allowing us meeting space. As the Central Bucks School District requires liability insurance, the BCWW asks members for a modest annual fee to cover the cost.

PREVIOUS NEWS

AND THE WINNER IS ... Thirty-four members and guests crowded into a private dining room at B. Maxwell's Victorian Pub in Doylestown, PA, for drinks and dinner to celebrate the conclusion of the BCWW's 2004 Summer Writing Project. Each member wrote his or her variation of the romantic O. Henry story "The Marry Month of May." Foster Winans of the Writers Room of Bucks County, not affiliated with the BCWW, told the members about some of the programs his group holds for writers in the area. Damian McNicholl, author of the new novel A Son Called Gabriel, discussed the writing process and took questions from the group.

Damian McNicholl

Damian's novel can be ordered directly from AMAZON.COM. Damian was also the juror in the writing contest, in which cash prizes were awarded to the top three entries, all submitted only by number. Here are Damian's picks:

Honorable mention: Alan Shils #19
Second runner up: Jackie Callin #9
First runner up: Carmen Ferreiro #11
Grand prize: Chris Bauer #5

In addition, Bill O'Toole presented Starbucks gift certificates to the members who came closest to picking which writers wrote which stories. The winners: Carmen Ferreiro, Don Swaim, Jules Winistorfer. Alan Shils took many pictures of the party -- and they're posted on line and suitable for framing. Go to: Maxwell's Party. A special thanks to MARY JANE AKLONIS, who coordinated the event! Oh, and appreciation from Don for the Farley's gift certificate. To read many of the entries go to Errata.

FUNERAL SERVICES HELD JULY 6, 2004, FOR LINDA BANKS. Former BCWW member Linda Banks died July 1 after a two-year struggle with lymphoma. She was 61. Linda was a superb writer who published her short stories in several major publications. At least one of her prose pieces is posted on our web site: banks.fear.html, as well as a poem on the occasion of 9/11: WTC.html. And still more by Linda: poetrypage02.html. poetrypage03.html. Linda was a gentle, ethereal person. She and Al and Sylvia Honig joined to host a Sunday brunch on the occasion of the BCWW's third anniversary. Pictures from the gathering are posted at the following address, and Linda's image is in many of them: writers/brunch

Linda listens as Don pontificates, 2001

It's devastating Linda had to go through her painful and deadly cancerous ordeal, but we celebrate her literary accomplishments as well as her basic decentness. Life isn't fair, and Linda's death is proof of that. Here's one of Linda's poems, "The Woman in Love with Sleep":

There once was a woman in love with sleep, And this was her song: I pay to see my darling With a tablet amazingly small. Smaller than the Widow's Mite, Smaller than a hole punched from paper, Smaller, even, than A drop of my blood. And then, and then, it's down, down deep In the sweet, dark arms of sleep, Where the soft, ferny weeds Sway their slow, silent dance, And the light loses its way, And forgets. In dreams I breathe the dark water And do not drown. Lovely to be One of the swaying weeds, A willowy stem, In the deep Sargasso Sea, Dim light slanting down, dimmer and dimmer, Slight movement, like a sleeper's breath, Down, down, Where no one can find me, Not even myself.

From Don: I've posted on line several photos, the work of Alan Shils, of the musical bandwagon at John Scioli's on Mar 23, 2004. Wish more of you had been there to hear John's beautiful original music and his often touching lyrics to Alan's hard-boiled (at times silly) story -- not to mention Bob Finkel's Yiddish-accented narration (with Mary Jane Aklonis and Elaine Shils picking up credits as cast members). For writers like us, opportunities such as the one at John's come rarely. Go to the main page and scroll down to Photo Gallery.

Alan Shils took pictures at our working-social meeting of January 6, 2004, and I've posted them on line. Go back to the main page, scroll down to "Picture Gallery" on the index side, and click.

Kurt Krumpholz. who is studying for his MFA in Creative Writing at Goddard College, published a short story in the summer 2003 issue of The Bucks County Writer. Some of you may remember the tale, "The Devil in Me," which made its first appearance to acclaim in our very own workshop. The Bucks County Writer is readily available in book stores throughout Central Bucks or at the Writers Room, 4. W. Oakland Ave., Doylestown

From Mary Jane Aklonis: I did get a poem accepted by Artsbridge, an organization that supports any artist, mostly of the visual kind, though. They publish a literary magazine once a year for Bucks County, Hunterdon County, called The Writers Gallery. The new edition is due to come out in September, and there will be a party/reading. They have a party for every event, even non-events. The poem is called Henry Kissinger on Late Night TV. It has to do with remembering his role in the so called peace negotiations in Paris that went on for years, as I recall.

Pick up the spring 2003 issue of THE BUCKS COUNTY WRITER, Vol. 4, No. 3. It contains two of Don Swaim's stories, one a piece of fiction he wrote for the BCWW (some of you may recall it, although it's been expanded and refined) and part two of a two-part article he wrote about John Steinbeck in Bucks County (this makes the third separate magazine publication for the Steinbeck article).

From Don: I've updated the FORMAT RULES and the TOM SWIFTIES page, both of which can be accessed from the index side of this page. And we all need refeshers from time to time.

A search function for ths site only is in the index column which will allow you to find BCWW stories and articles without having to dig through the archives. If you're looking for a full name it's best to put it into quotes; i.e., "Chris Bauer."