Thanks to all my sponsors, I raised $600 in my fundraiser. All of the money went to the MSA Coalition, which supports research towards a cure for this horrible disease that my father suffers from--Multiple System Atrophy. I sent the checks off last week. If you would like to research information about this organization, and what it does, visit their website at: https://www.multiplesystematrophy.org/

Help Find a Cure for MSA!

This April 2015 I will be doing a fundraiser for the Multiple Systems Atrophy (MSA) Coalition.  MSA is a debilitating neurological disorder similar to Parkinson's Disease which has no cure.  My father currently suffers from the illness.  For this fundraiser, I pledge to write every day in the month of April.  This time I pledge to write anywhere from 1 to 3 short stories.

To sponsor me, you may click on the "Donate" link below and contribute any of the following amounts:

--for $10, you can support MSA generally
--for $20, you can give me a word which I will use in a short story.
--for $30, you can give me two words which I will use in a story.
--for $50, you can create a character which I will use in a story.
--for $60, you can give me a  plot for a short story.
--for $100 or more, you can give me a title and a theme for a short story.  You may also include a plot and/or some dialogue.

After you donate, please write to me at twinkscat(at)aol.com and send me your e-mail address.  I will send you the story via e-mail once I complete it.

Help Raise Funds for a Local Charity and Support Poetry for National Poetry Month!!

This April 2014 I will be conducting a fundraising drive for a local food bank, Family Outreach Program, which provides hundreds of pounds of food to those in need in the Chicago area.  To support this aim, I will be writing every day for the month of April.  You can sponsor me for any of the following amounts:

**For $10, you can sponsor me generally.
**For $20, you can give me a word and I will write a poem with that word in it.
**For $30, you can give me a theme and I will write a poem about that theme.
**For $50, you can give me a word and a theme, and I will write a poem with both.  I will also give you a signed chapbook of one of my two books!
**For $75, you can give me a word or theme and I will write a short story.  You will also receive a chapbook.

My pledge to you is that I will write every day.  I will write either a poem, essay or short story each day.  I will send to you some of the items.  The writing is a rough draft only, and if you want a final draft of any of it, you can let me know.  My only disclaimer is that all of the rights to the writing revert back to me after the fundraiser, so that I could possibly publish some of it.

So, do you want to pledge?  Sign up below through Paypal below or e-mail me at twinkscat(at)aol.com and I will send you my address so you can send me a check.  To find out more information about Family Outreach Program, visit their website at :  http://www.familyoutreachprogram.org/

Let's help those in need and support the Arts at the same time!!

Caroline

Waterline Writers

I just did a reading at Waterline Writers.  Beautiful art gallery and setting in Batavia, Illinois.  They host a reading by 6 - 8 poets and writers every month, the third Sunday of the month, from 7 to 9 p.m.  Their address is 160 Water Street, Batavia, if you want to check out the gallery.  Wonderful event.  Thanks for all who read and all who attended!

Publishing: Online or Print?

So now you're ready to publish.  Which venue should you choose:  online or print?  It would be interesting to research and see how many print journals are still in operation vs. online.  It seems like online is becoming the new "norm."  One established poet recently said the e-books are the new norm for publishing.  Any comments?

The Clearing

From May 27 - June 3, 2012, I attended a Poetry Camp with poet Robin Chapman at The Clearing in Door County, Wisconsin. For anybody not familiar with this camp, it is located at the northernmost peninsula of Door County, adjacent to Green Bay on the West and Lake Michigan on the East. It is a beautiful, outdoor, rustic place. I found the poetry "curriculum" to be fantastic, and I would highly recommend the place to anyone who wants to get serious about their craft. They also offer many other camps, such as quilting, bird watching, photography, etc.

The Other Boleyn Girl

I'm reading "The Other Boleyn Girl" for my book club. It's 600 pages and I'm only on page 150--the book club meets tomorrow night. Yikes! It's historical fiction set in 16th century England with Henry VIII. It reads like a Harlequin romance novel. Interesting, but not 100% my cup of tea. Has anybody read this?