Sunday, February 22, 2009

Sunday Salon


Today the term "Sunday Salon" seems fitting because we're playing host to my husband's writing group in our living room.

A year or so ago, my husband joined a science-fiction writing class at Pandemonium, a local bookstore that specializes in scifi and fantasy. The group consisted of about a dozen writers who were working on various stories and novels, and two professional, published authors who guided and mentored them. They met for 10 weeks or so and my husband started working on a great novel of his own. He's kept working on his book, and since then the group has continued to meet on and off. This week, the group needed a place to meet since the usual hostess is out of town, and they're here. So I made them brownies and now I'm going to leave them alone!

While they're talking, I'm upstairs cleaning up my sewing room and getting ready to continue work on a couple of quilts I have going. I'm also reading Tightrope, which retells European Jewish history through the story of one family, from the Black Plague to the twentieth century. It's absolutely fascinating history and I love family stories, so I'm excited to be reading it. I've already heard lots of great things about it- Lorri of Jew Wishes has a great write-up, for example- and I can't wait to tell you all more.

What have you heard great things about this week?

14 comments:

Meghan said...

I love sagas like that too, focusing a discussion of history on a family through the ages. I may have to check that book out!

Pandemonium is a fabulous bookstore. I'm not at all surprised that they sponsor such a group. I hope your husband's novel continues to go well.

- Meghan @ Medieval Bookworm

Lenore Appelhans said...

You gave me a craving for brownies.

Ana S. said...

Your husband's writing group sounds great. Best of luck with his novel!

And you're making me very curious about Tightrope.

LorMil said...

I'm glad you are enjoying Tightrope. I found it difficult to put down.

LorMil said...

Ooops, I clicked too fast. Thank you for the mention!
~~Lorri

Meytal Radzinski said...

Out of curiosity, I wonder if "Tightrope" mentions the reasons fewer Jews died from the Black Plague (yay for cleanliness?). This sounds most interesting. I've encountered few/no books that mention the severe anti-Jewish behavior during the time of the Black Plague.

Marie Cloutier said...

Anonymous, Tightrope doesn't really mention that fewer Jews died in the Plague versus non-Jews, though there is some mention of anti-Semitism during the Plague. the author also makes the point that Muslims and other groups were also blamed for the Plague.

Becca said...

I hope your guests have a good time. Brownies! My favorite. Good choice. :) I am envious of your husband's ability to keep working on that novel, as I am of all authors. I write and write and then I get sidetracked for so long or blocked and I can't get back into the groove. I used to host a writing group but the members all were more advanced than me and I felt a little lost. Good luck with cleaning out your sewing room!

fibrowitch said...

I can attest the brownies were delicious. I wish I could have eaten more, or contributed more to the group. However I have a great excuse. I've been sick

So glad you were really not writing down everything we said, as we have a tendency to be very open with each other. Writing group is a place where we can check our mental filters at the door.

The Bookworm said...

now I want brownies...lol.
happy reading :)


http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

wisteria said...

I don't know how you find the time to do quilting too! I used to do so much knitting, but haven't done any for a long while.
Tightrope sounds like a good book...of course I love history anyway. Have a great week.

Karen Harrington said...

Sunday with brownies and a writing group and reading! Sounds like a winner. Good luck to your hubby on his novel.

Marie Cloutier said...

Jan, I hope you guys didn't think I was really doing that! :-) That was just me being silly. :-P

Anna said...

I love family sagas, so I must check out that book!

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric