The Ram’s Head Writer’s meeting is always engaging. Hosted by Lisa Hatton in her home, it’s a friendly get together of several writers at varying stages in their careers. Lisa is disbanding the group temporarily while she goes for surgery, and the camraderie and Lisa herself will be sadly missed. When we left, we all admonished her to get well soon and email us the minute the meetings were back on.
Most people read some of their work, and the stories were engaging, the critiquing, sound. Some of us got stuck on the word “inception” and a lot of discussion followed about the appropriate usage of the word. We heard children’s stories, and in contrast, Jason read a chapter where his murderous antagonist runs amuck. All great stuff.
For me, the hardest part about writing a book is understanding how it sounds to readers. Last night at Lisa’s, I read chapter eleven of Unforgiving aloud. I chose that chapter because it deals with the predator stalking Margaret Jean, choosing her as his target, and testing the family waters to see how the family will react. This is a tense chapter largely fueled by a child’s outrage.
While reading, I looked up occasionally to see if my audience was engaged. They were sitting up, leaning toward me, totally focused. After the meeting, they all handled the book, some jotted down the title, and asked me where they could buy the book.
I drove home, thrilled and excited. Until I realized what I had forgotten– That I had five copies of the book in my trunk!
Margaret Jean 