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Recognitions

Joan McNulty Pulver

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

Nancy Conner won first place for the Mainstream Novel category and Best of Show (winning first place over the other winners in every category) in the Frontiers in Writing 2003 contest sponsored by the Panhandle Professional Writers for her novel-in-progress, The Ashton Place. “When I got the e-mail saying I'd won both Best Mainstream Novel and Best of Show, I was thrilled. My family wondered why all that screaming was coming from my office! Writing is such a solitary pursuit that it's easy to lose perspective or to feel like no one is ever going to want to read a word you write. Getting some outside acknowledgment has been wonderfully encouraging. It's re-energized my writing.”

Nancy took F2K (free writing class sponsored by Writers’ Village University) in 2001 and liked it so much she decided to join WVU. “WVU put me in touch with a wonderful group of writers who support and challenge me.” She is currently a member of the Persist and Publish study group.

On a more personal note, Nancy works as a freelance editor, but she’s hoping before too long to be the author some other editor works with. 

Susan Porter wrote a letter to her mother for CeLEBRATIONS-notes to my mother, an anthology put together by Paul Andrew Dawkins, to be published by the Adassa Prendegast Publishers to benefit the Dawkins Project, an organization to help children and those who help children. More of Susan's letters will follow in the CeLEBRATIONS series. Her publishing credits include Aviation Maintenance, Discipleship Journal (DJ+), and Women Alive! She writes under the topic Women of God at Suite101.com. View her latest article at http://www.christianwomanspage.org/miscauth/susanporter/index.htm.  “What a joy to share with others what you've learned, experienced, and observed."

Susan's byline first appeared in her high school magazine. After teaching school and getting married, she returned to writing through her journals. While taking a correspondence course, Susan wrote and published an article based on journal entries, finding her niche in the Christian and women's markets.

After taking the F2K class last year, Susan now participates in poetry and nonfiction classes at WVU. "I love to learn and encourage others in their writing."

Mary Matsumoto’s recently published story, The Parade, appeared in the online magazine, Centotaph Pocket Edition, on August 19, 2003. Mary's numerous publishing credits include both print and online media. “In order to have one story accepted for publication, I have had to endure many rejections, so I am always very elated to get an acceptance. It keeps me going. Makes me want to write another piece. In other words, it makes my day!”

Mary joined WVU in May of 2000 and belongs to the Persist and Publish study group. “Taking the F2K class was what motivated me to join WVU. I've learned a lot. There are so many courses I'd love to take but don't have the time for. I always feel as if I've just touched the surface. I'm very active in the university, but considering how much is here, I don't think a person could take advantage of it all if he could spend 24 hours a day tapping into everything. I always recommend WVU to other writers.”

With over 200 people-oriented feature articles published in eight different newspapers in the past, Mary attempts to write about the endearing traits she discovered through hundreds of personal interviews with people living in both rural and urban America. Some of her stories include: Fuzzynet (Play Ball), Palace of Reason (Tango Lessons), Retrozine (The Jazz Musician and The Toy in the Cereal Box), Cenotaph, Pocket Edition (The Phone Call and The Parade), New England Writers' Network (One More Time), The Storyteller (Things Aren't Always What They Seem), Mocha Memoirs (The Gentleman), Hackwriters (Daddy's Little Girl), Coffee Press Journal (The Letter at the Bottom of the Drawer and The Battle of the Bowls), and Laughter Loaf (Mike's Binoculars and The Dental Appointment).

“In the realm of fiction, I enjoy attending conferences and taking college and online courses on all facets of writing, as well as participating in various writer's groups, locally and online. Besides over 100 stories, I've also managed to write two novels (one of which is only in its first draft). Much of my work has been done by doing assignments here at WVU.”

Elizabeth Willett, aka Bett, told Marcia Preston, editor of ByLine Magazine, “I have a houseful of company, and now I am down with strep throat. This was going to be a really bad day until I opened my mail and found a $25.00 check and a notice that I had taken second prize in ByLine Magazine's Humorous Poem category with my poem, A Lovely Day in June. What great medicine!” The next day Elizabeth received her copy of the September edition of the magazine in the mail and saw the honorable mention for her other poem, Windows. “My husband, family and the Word Weavers group at WVU had to suffer through another round of gleeful crowing.” Published monthly, ByLine Magazine is a print magazine by and for freelance writers and poets.

September 13, 2003 was a big day for Elizabeth when she found out she had been named Poet of the Week on the Poetry Super Highway. She submitted seven poems and all were selected to be on-line for the week of September 14 – September 21, 2003. After that it will be in the Past Featured Poets archive section. "All seven poems were either written in Writers' Village courses, or revised with the help of Word Weavers' poets."

A former school teacher/administrator, Elizabeth has a BA in Education and an MA in Educational Administration with a Reading Specialist Endorsement. "I inconvenienced students from grade two through grad school at one time or another." She lives in Florida or New Jersey, depending on the season, with her indulgent husband and two eccentric cats. She dabbles at designing web sites, four of which are currently online.

Elizabeth joined Word Weavers study group at WVU. “The peer support is very valuable. I receive critiques of my work and how to improve, tips on great web sites, books to read, favorite poets and so much more. In the Word Weavers group, not only do the members share with each other, but we participate in group tasks such as the Poetry Marathon and the current Imagery workshop. I am taking as many poetry courses as possible; just now I am in P103 Poetry Workshop with Jim Hall and enjoying it very much.”

Congratulations Nancy, Susan, Mary and Elizabeth. 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!