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Recognitions

Joan Pulver

Welcome to Recognitions, a column dedicated to proclaim the writing successes of Writers' Village University members!

Sonya Weiss, better known as Magnolia, has been married 15 years to a wonderful man who encourages her writing endeavors. Once her kids were old enough to read, she wrote stories for them, everything from fantasy to romance. Her 12-year-old daughter gently nagged her into sending in her short story to T-Zero. Sonya said she felt a little foolish once she’d done so. Her story in T-Zero was the first writing piece she sold and she said, “For that reason, it will remain very special to me.”

Sonya had an essay accepted in a military anthology book titled Freedom isn't Free due out in June and a piece being published by Mother Earth News which may be out late this year or early next year.

Sonya entered a Writing Round Robin contest at eharlequin.com. Her entry for Chapter 5 of the Baseball Diamond won and is published at their site. Click on the "Learn to Write" tab to read her chapter or the whole book. “I was bouncing around the room like a ping-pong ball when I found out my entry had been chosen,” says Sonya.

Audrey Higgans, a friend living in Italy, told Sonya about WVU. After taking F2K (WVU’s free creative writing class), Sonya told us, “It was the best thing I have done for myself in a long time. I learned things about writing that I never knew, and also learned things about myself and made some lifelong friends.” A group of students from her F2K class formed a writing group and still keep in touch daily.

Today, she tries to write at least 1,500 words a day on a romance novel for Harlequin. While busy sending out queries and essays, Sonya still dreams of having a book published someday.

Michael S. Barrett’s story, “Song of Saigon,” will be published in the April 9th, 2003 edition of The Fiction Warehouse. When asked how he felt when he found out they accepted his piece for publication, he said, “I was elated when Fiction Warehouse’s Managing Editor, Wayne Gunn, contacted me and announced that not only had my story been accepted, it was to be the featured fiction of the week.” Although Fiction Warehouse currently does not compensate authors, Michael feels this will be a chance to showcase his work and to add another writing credit to his resume.

Michael took F2K in 2000 and then became a lifetime member of WVU. He currently participates in the Times Trading Nortonians Rule (TTNR) and The Fade Inn study groups. “I think that being a member of WVU helped me improve my writing from trite and mediocre to stories people want to read. The feedback I receive from my study groups has been outstanding and the groups are the backbone of WVU. It has to do with the rapport that is established between study group members.”

Michael recently told a relative about being published and about the novel he is working on. The relative replied, “By the time your novel is ready to publish, if it gets published, you will be 50 years old.” Michael’s answer: “I believe Tom Clancy didn’t achieve publishing success until he was in his forties, not that I’m comparing my talent to Mr. Clancy. You’re never too old to start writing or to improve your craft.”

Sharon L Connors joined Writers" Village University in February 2002 and became a member and co-founder of the study group Hemingway Hall. The F2K class, her first experience with WVU, resulted in Sharon taking her writing seriously. Sharon told me, “The whole class bonded so well, we decided to continue our writing together at WVU and formed the study group.”

Sharon’s article entitled "Crate Beginnings" will be published in Dog Fancy Magazine. “I was so excited. This was my first piece ever published! I was speechless, then screaming, then bouncing off the walls.”

She originally queried Dog Fancy Magazine about a memoir she wrote regarding her dog, Kazzy They found out he had lympho-sarcoma when he was 11 1/2 years old and lost him eventually. Sharon thought she could help other pet owners through a devastating time with Kazzy’s story. Since Dog Fancy Magazine doesn't print memorials or sad stories, she then wrote an article on crate training. Sharon said, "At first I was against
the use of crates and would never have used one in Kazzy's case." Her new dog, GypsyLee, was another story. "I found that crates are not abusive if used correctly. Gypsy is much better for my having used one."

“Mere words cannot express how I feel about WVU. If I had never stumbled upon the F2K classes and didn't join Writers" Village University, I would not be as happy and confident about my writing today. I owe wherever my writing career goes to Writers" Village University.” Sharon is currently working on a crime mystery novel called Dancing on the Edge. She also submitted several short stories to assorted publications.

Betsy Gallup signed a contract to write a non-fiction book about twins for Windstrom Creative. She said she was shocked when she received the contract. “The first idea I sent them, they turned down as being overdone. After a lengthy rejection, they closed with a comment on how they liked my writing style and recommended I query with a new idea. It sounded like a dare to me, so I did. Who knew they would take me seriously?” Betsy joined Writers’ Village University in the fall of 2001. She currently belongs to the Writer’s 911 study group. “The members of 911 provided me more support than I could ever imagine. Their skills as writers and in their critiquing ability have allowed me to grow more than any book or any class I have ever taken.” Betsy says she owes her success at procuring this contract to her five-month-old twins. “Without them, it would not have occurred to me to come up with the idea or to have enough background information to write the book. When I am not caring for the twins, my 11-year-old son, or my five animals, I am working on my website, Whimsplace. It is my ultimate goal to give talented writers another paying outlet for their work. We pride ourselves in providing feedback on every submission. Writers are tired of rejection without comment.”

Jim Hall’s poem, “A Tincture of Integrity,” will be published in the May issue of the Dana Literary Society Journal. Sabina Becker, poetry editor of E2K, bought "Geranium in the Window” which will be published in a future issue.

Jim enjoys writing lyric poetry, haiku and related forms. A lifetime WVU member, Jim's recent publishing successes appeared in the Renegade Writers, North America Review, Möbius, The Formalist, Touchstone (a now-defunct annual anthology), Footprints, The Eleventh Muse (a monthly publication of Poetry West, temporarily out of service) and Cicada.

Congratulations, Sonya, Michael, Sharon, Betsy and Jim. We wish you continued success in all your writing endeavors.

We look forward to reading about your writing accomplishments in this column. If you or someone you know received recognition for writing, please send the information to recognitions@wvu.org.  Let us know!