| The Bahamas Writer Issue #13 May 2003 WELCOME As I welcome you to another issue of The Bahamas Writer (TBW) newsletter, I'm sorry to advise that the newsletter will be discontinued after this issue. My son Gavin, who designed and maintains BahamasWriter.com, has sold his website business and is now concentrating on his music career! Gavin will still look after BahamasWriter.com for me, but unfortunately doesn't have the time to prepare and send out TBW newsletters (he has a "day job" too!). He's kindly agreed to distribute this final issue for me, but because of the great amount of time involved with preparing it in html, the newsletter is being distributed in text this time. If at some time in the future The Bahamas Writer newsletter can return, I will let everyone on our subscriptions list know. On a brighter note, the Bahamas Writer Forums are alive and well! Please join our local writers and writers from around the world in on line discussions about writing. Forum guidelines at http://www.bahamaswriter.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=64 Forum moderators needed: Moderators are needed for the Bahamas Writer Forums. No qualifications necessary - just a passion for writing, love of the written word and a desire to share in the Bahamas Writer's commitment to be a source of inspiration for writers worldwide. There's no payment for being a moderator, but you'll have the opportunity to support and encourage other writers. Interested? Email Back issues of this newsletter can be found at http://www.bahamaswriter.com/back_issues.htm Want to print out this Newsletter? Here's a super little printing utility that will allow you to print 2 or 4 pages to a single 8.5" x 11" piece of paper. It saves you paper, space, and money... click here: http://www.fineprint.com/ CONTENTS I am delighted that the three guest contributors for this issue are members of our local Bahamas Writers Group (BWG). We've just had our fifth monthly BWG meeting. I'm also including two of the news releases that I've written for our local newspapers. I write them in third person, as the newspapers are more likely to accept them from that viewpoint than they would if I used first person. My news release usually ends with contact details, along with date and place of next meeting. 1. News releases - "New writers' group moving forward" and "Lots of writing talent in local writers' group!" by Fay Knowles (BahamasWriter.com) "NEW WRITERS' GROUP MOVING FORWARD" by Fay Knowles Seasoned writers, along with those still struggling to put the right words on paper and others with work already submitted for publication, recently met at Cable Beach for the second gathering of the new Bahamas Writer Writers' Group (BWWG). The BWWG is the offspring of www.bahamaswriter.com - "an informal guide and source of inspiration for new and not so new writers worldwide". The only requirements for BWWG membership are a passion for writing, love of the written word, a desire for excellence, and a minimum age of eighteen. The sixteen men and women attending the meeting came from a variety of backgrounds. Five members presented their work, ranging from poetry to fiction, for helpful critique by the group. Some of the topics discussed were market news, Internet opportunities, "print on demand" publishing and copyright. To illustrate that ideas are not copyrighted, members were given a paragraph to take home, develop into whatever form of writing they chose and bring back to the group. "LOTS OF WRITING TALENT IN LOCAL WRITERS' GROUP!" by Fay Knowles Third meeting of BWG Photo: http://www.bahamaswriter.com/images/photo1.jpg It was evident from the writing assignment turned in by members at the third meeting of the Bahamas Writers Group (BWG) that we have lots of writing talent to tap into here. And it's this talent that the BWG wants the Bahamas and the rest of the world to know about. The BWG is the offspring of Fay Knowles' web site www.bahamaswriter.com - "an informal guide and source of inspiration for new and not so new writers worldwide". The only requirements for membership in this local writers' group are a passion for writing, love of the written word, a desire for excellence and a minimum age of eighteen. The goals of the BWG are: "To have fun writing; enjoy the camaraderie of fellow writers; improve the quality of our writing; get published more; and to be recognized locally and internationally." The web site www.bahamaswriter.com contains fourteen sections on writing along with writers' forums. And a directory of local writers is planned. Fay is currently adapting her web site into book form and already customers are signing up on her website to be notified when the book is available. Website: http://www.bahamaswriter.com Email: 2. Article - "WRITE TO WRITE AGAIN" by Dennis Dames (Bahamas Writers Group Member) Dennis Dames Photo: http://www.bahamaswriter.com/images/photo2.gif We are delighted to welcome back Bahamian writer Dennis Dames, who is a member of the Bahamas Writers Group and an active member of The Bahamas Writer Forums. Check out Dennis' bio at http://www.bahamaswriter.com/forum/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=42 "Write to write again" by Dennis Dames The desire to write with a view has prompted these words. Writing is necessary for so many good reasons, and bad ones too. We write because we want to express something; it could be intended for public or private readings. The need to write is a virtuous deed- yet most individuals throughout the world are not hip to it for various reasons. That is why our past is distorted and lacking. Writers are important to history because they represent society, and are thus reflections of cultures respectively- in a specified period of time. Writing positive things about any thought is healthy. It promotes more thinking and analysis as one continues to write on; hence it is positive toward the growth of humankind. Writing within the confines of democracy, carries its innate responsibilities. It's unacceptable and unlawful to violate another's right through the composition of words, for example. We write to inform, educate, entertain, communicate, pleasure and other motivations. We write because we are writers, and it is always good to encourage others to partake in the pleasure of the written words. We are cognizant of the fact that despite all the technological advances today, billions of people around the world are illiterate. This is undermining the full potential of a universe of writers, and it is an injustice to the human race. There is a planet of unexplored writing talents. This place is earth where man reigns, but he is unable to educate all of the inhabitants because of self inflicted poverty and division. If only he could get it right, our global village would be a place of maximum potentials where writers and their talents could come to full eternal bloom. It sounds idealistic and perhaps unrealistic. But man has yet to give it a try; it is here that my beef is. Let us write-to-write more, and let us write to invite, and inspire new writers. Let us write to teach, and to lessen the gap between the literate and illiterate. Let us write to be leaders, so that our neighborhoods could follow. Let us write for peace, so that the world would know where we stand. Let us write for freedom- allowing billions more to join us. When we write, we cannot be wrong. ©2003 Dennis A. Dames Nassau, Bahamas Websites: www.Dennis.web.com www.Nassau.web.com Email: dennisdames@netscape.net 3. Poem: "MI ESPANIA BUENA" by Sally Machray (Bahamas Writers Group Member, Nassau) Sally Machray Photo: http://www.bahamaswriter.com/images/photo3.jpg We are very pleased to welcome first time contributor to The Bahamas Writer newsletter and member of the Bahamas Writers Group, Sally Machray. Sally is British, currently residing in Nassau. Sally began her writing life as a journalist with the Eastern Daily Press group in Suffolk, England. She worked as a general reporter for the Woodbridge Reporter, then the East Anglian Daily Times and the Evening Star, specializing in covering the Crown Court during which time she says "we had the 'Super Grass' case." Rather than become a sub-editor, Sally resigned, sailed across the Atlantic, and wrote freelance articles for the Daily Telegraph and Yachting Magazines. In Australia she was correspondent for three monthly magazines: Work and Patrol Boat, Professional Fisherman and Nautical News. In Indonesia, she was the Indonesian correspondent for Asian Electricity Magazine. In Jamaica she was commissioned to write the Autobiography of the former Police Commissioner - Trevor McMillan, a book that she says "wasn't finished or published because it was too politically sensitive." Sally has also written the first drafts of a "biography of a colourful Jamaican; a children's time shift fantasy delving back into Jamaica's pirate history; a children's adventure story and an action thriller novel about Jamaica including drugs, sex and elitism." She adds: "Time I got back to them!" Sally says her poem "Mi Espania Buena" was inspired by a vacation in Spain. "Mi Espania Buena" By Sally Machray Deep soft and warm - my douvet And the chestnut cherry wood And walls - now ochre - Enveloping, evolving, evoking No pressure In my haven. The walls - Deep and solid Reassure me of this permanence As does the church Viewed close from the terrace - The pivot of la Pueblo Antigo. Stepping carefully down The cobbled streets A slippery decline The familiar faces and smiles "Buena.......the s's swallowed as tomatoes and tangerines are piled. Kiss Kiss - both cheeks - Frederico (I thought he'd moved on) Las abuelas en negras El senior con suave - The Square thickens One's pace adjusts to Zig zag The slow lines of ladies Gossiping - sedentary Young children skipping the stroller The butt ends rolled Smoking Hams regally hanging Above tapas and red wine In globed glasses And on the steps of the Ayuntamiento The old men sit (Benches of them) Later found in the bars - Their female folk Bartering, bustling and... By 2.p.m. - all gather For the midday meal. Quiet por la tarde. No rattling cobblestone Even the sporadic hammering Of old bricks under renovation Stops. Before the golden globe Slices itself smaller and smaller And is swallowed by the sea The hum begins again... A clatter. Voices raised in gossip. A motorbike roars, It's high pitched whine and... Gobbling gait, over the .. Rough road - Droning past Doors opening Boots stepping out And the ant-like insistence.. Begins again - Alumunecar - Alive - Active. Like penguins the waiters stand On empty lots Awaiting hoards First foreign English, German, Dutch, Scandavegian And later - the locals Granny on proffered arm The Women - smart, tight fitting Leather coated And lively and loquacious in peacock blue Spilling into the warm ambience Of bustling bars. Even in the wee-hours Large, dark and quiet The streets are pastoral. Blue arms sweep clean And gather up the days' debris. Remember the frustrations of the .. Mouth cloying - brain numbing Peanut butter? Imagine then the job of fluidity When the lichees ripen And from that moment.... Pop out full, rounded and resonant. ©2003 Sally Machray Email: smachray@hotmail.com 4.Article: "LOOKING AT DOGS IN A NEW LIGHT" by Shena Newton (Bahamas Writers Group Member, Nassau) Shena Newton Photo: http://www.bahamaswriter.com/images/photo4.jpg We are delighted to welcome another first time contributor to The Bahamas Writer newsletter and member of the Bahamas Writers Group, Bahamian writer Shena Newton. Shena has always been an avid reader. And as a natural extension of years of reading, she developed an interest in writing. Much of her writing highlights the interesting aspects of small, every day, mundane occurrences. The short story and feature article are two of Shena's favourite genres, but her serious interest lies in travel writing. Her goal is to become an international travel writer, with the Bahamas as her specialty. She aims to take the appeal of the Bahamas to a wider audience, by publishing feature articles on the Bahamas in U.S., Canadian and European travel publications. Shena holds a Bachelor's degree in foreign languages. She works at the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, where she heads the newly formed Foreign Language Department. She is fluent in French and conversant in Spanish. Shena is married to Andrew Newton and the couple has two teenage children. "Looking At Dogs in a New Light" by Shena Newton I never realized dogs were so intelligent. To tell you the truth, I had never given a minute's thought to the species. Most of the times when I saw them, they were making a nuisance of themselves. They were either idiotically chasing after the tires of moving vehicles; tipping over garbage bins; straying in large numbers all over the place or copulating shamelessly in public. A few weeks ago, I finally succumbed to my two kids' long standing pleas for a dog. We adopted, not one, but two abandoned puppies temporarily sheltered at Animal House on Village Road, in Nassau. "One would be too lonely when the kids are off to school during the day," advised Lynn Grattan, proprietor of the canine boarding and grooming facility. So, on a Friday afternoon, we brought home two fine looking, eight weeks old, black "pot cake" (mongrel) puppies, a male and a female, both from the same litter. In the few short weeks that these puppies have been a part of our family, I have come to see dogs in an entirely new light. For one thing, they each have a distinct personality. Pluto, the male pup, for example, is plump, somewhat indifferent and lethargic. Prowler, the female, on the other hand, is lean, trim, active and alert. On a warm, humid day, they would both dig a spot in the cool grass and stretch out to relax. A slight wind rustles the leaves of a nearby banana tree. Prowler springs up, ears and nose alert, and sets off to investigate the source of the disturbance. Pluto couldn't care less. He remains stretched out, oblivious to what's going on. My daughter treats these pups with the delicacy you'd handle a new born. She's always cradling them in her arms or on her shoulder. Pluto is quite content with this finesse treatment. For Prowler, this is babyish rubbish, and she will have none of it. When my daughter approaches her, hands out for a lift up, she gives her a low belly growl and a nasty snarl. One thing these pups do have in common is their love of freedom. During the day while we are out, we confine them to the dog house, with ample provisions of food and water. To keep the pups securely inside, we place across the entrance of the dog house a sheet of plywood propped up with a two by four. The plywood is high enough to keep them from jumping out but low enough to allow them to see outside. Both pups' immediate objective is to escape this "prison". They both keep reaching for the top of the plywood with their fore paws. Sometimes they manage to heave themselves up a bit, but inevitably end up falling back to the floor. Prowler quickly perceives that all this effort is futile and decides on a different tactic. Keeping her eyes focused on the top of the plywood before her, she slowly moves backwards, all the while gauging the distance between where she stands and the plywood. She sprints towards the plywood and just at the right moment when she has gathered up enough momentum, leaps for the top of the plywood, with the agility and confidence of a world class athlete. Does she achieve her goal? No, not quite. Just before clearing the top of the plywood, she falls to the floor with a loud thud. Her face shows disappointment, but not surrender. The very next day she succeeds at creating a narrow space between the plywood and the entrance, by repeatedly ramming her body against the plywood, and escapes to freedom with her brother Pluto in tow. We have had to confine Prowler and Pluto during the day, for security reasons. But, it is clear to us that, very soon, we must make other arrangements. All creatures of higher intelligence cherish freedom, and dogs are no exception. ©2003 Shena Newton Email: shenanewton@hotmail.com 5. Successes - Art Montague (Canada) "Future Aqua Farms" - a feature article selected as the cover story for the May 2003 issue of The Growing Edge. http://www.growingedge.com. "Backspin" - the winning entry for the May short story contest at Sell Writing Online, Theme: "Out of This World". http://www.sellonline.com/winner.html. Art's web site: http://www.artmontague.com Art's email: arts-place@rogers.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I hope you've enjoyed this issue of The Bahamas Writer. If you have any questions or comments relating to this Newsletter or BahamasWriter.com please feel free to Email them to me at: Copyright © 2003 The Bahamas Writer. All rights reserved. You may distribute this Newsletter. Feel free to post it to your website or BBS if you like. However no part of this Newsletter may be reproduced in whole, or in part, without keeping the links within this newsletter active. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |