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Riehl?s poem ?TREASURE CHEST? from ?Sightlines: A Poet?s Diary? tells fathe
2008-02-26 20:50:00
Janet Grace Riehl and Erwin A. Thompson, father-daughter writing team TREASURE CHEST by Janet Grace Riehl from “Sightlines: A Poet ’s Diary ” He labors in the grove of service. Remembers flat tires, repaired. Loans proffered for crises. Then his somber face glows with the light of a thousand-watt angel. Memories of good turns returned is a treasure he counts with care. His treasure chest of good deed ...
More About: Chest , Poem , Tells

?Veterans Voices Series?: Erwin A. Thompson?s Night Patrol story?transcript
2008-02-26 20:37:00
To read my father’s poem “Night Patrol” click here to access the Riehlife March 18th 2007 entry. To see Erwin A. Thompson tellling this story of bravery in action…matter of factly and with gentle humor…go to www.thetelegraph.com. Tip: To avoid problems in streaming this video, you may wish to press the pause button on the screen ...
More About: World War I , Story , Series , Veterans

World War II: Gripping Story of Erwin A. Thompson?s ?Down to the Wire? Nigh
2008-02-25 21:33:00
“Even with his body ravaged by shrapnel, Erwin Thompson managed to drag one of his men back to safety. He didn’t know it, but th man was about to return the favor. “Thompson, now 92 and living in Jersey County, remembers a time during World War II when he was put in charge of a night ...
More About: Story , World War , Wire

Nobel Prize-winner Soyinka Comes to Southern Illinois and St. Louis
2008-02-22 02:07:00
Wole Soyinka defies categories and boundaries: Scholar, poet, playwright, actor, human rights activist, Nobel Prize winner, former political prisoner. Born in 1934 in western Nigeria. He studied at Government College in Ibadan. In 1973, he earned a doctorate from the University of Leeds. Dramaturgist at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 1958 to 1959. He went back to Nigeria to study African drama, and taught at universities in Ibadan, Lagos and Ife. Since then, he has been a visiting professor at Cambridge, Sheffield and Yale universities. A prolific writer, poet and dramatist, Soyinka founded two theater companies, and has written more than 20 works so far. In 1986, he won the Nobel Prize for Literature at a time when, according to the Swedish Academy’s press release, he was “in his prime as an author.” His most recent publication is his 2006 autobiography, “You Must Set Forth at Dawn: A Memoir.” In addition to living in a world of letters, Soyinka ...
More About: Illinois , Louis , Winner , Southern , St Louis

“Hungry,” by Alethea Eason reviewed by 13-year old Emily Robbin
2008-02-22 01:00:00
Here are two links to learn more about the wierd and wonderful world of my friend Alethea Eason’s book “Hungry ”. HUNGRY by Alethea Eason 1) Click here to read a review of HUNGRY by Alethea Eason on Reader Views by 13-year-old Emily Robbins. This review was just picked up by Reuters. Way to go, Alethea! How does the world look from Chile where she has recently re-located? Find out on Alethea’s new blog 2) Also, read the Riehlife post on Alethea’s book in 2007.
More About: Year

Erwin A. Thompson?s new poem, ?Tears?
2008-02-20 15:53:00
My father loves womankind, and he is kindness itself to women. At 92 his current hobby is shepherding a family of adopted daughters through their tearful life moments…in extremely practical and tangible ways at times…in poetic ways at other times as in the poem we share with you today. This adopted daughter is my father’s ...
More About: Thompson , Poem , Erwin

?A Reason for Dying,? by Wilfred Bereswill, debuts Spring 2008, published b
2008-02-18 15:42:00
I met Wilfred Bereswill at a St. Louis Writers Guild talk featuring Qui XiaoLong, an author whose work I’m just coming to know and and admire. Qui spoke on Perspective and Distance, such as in his “Case of Two Cities” book (an Inspector Chen Cao book) Qui possesses that rare mix of charm, erudition, humor, ...
More About: Spring , Published , Reason , Dying , 2008

Wilfred Bereswill on ?China?s Spring Festival?Guo Nian?(Chinese New Year)?
2008-02-18 15:41:00
Wilfred Bereswill is an environmental engineer and author whose international travels take him regularly to China . His first novel, A REASON FOR DYING, a biological thriller, is due to be released by Hilliard & Harris on April 1st, 2008. Learn more about Wilfred Bereswill’s writing on his website and blog by clicking here. Wilfred wrote ...
More About: New Year , Spring , Chinese , Festival

40th Wedding Anniversary Hawaiian Tour for Gary & Patty Thompson (my brothe
2008-02-18 03:07:00
Forty years ago today (February 17, 1968, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois) my brother Gary Thompson and Patricia (Patty) Murrary wed to become Gary and Patty Thompson. They’ve stayed that way for 40 years. That’s no small feat in today’s fast-dissolving-of-everything world. They’ve founded a family of 3 children and 4 grandchildren (see Family Ties, below). Of ...
More About: Anniversary , Wedding , Tour

Erwin A. Thompson?s 1936 song ?Girl in the Little Blue Hat? coquettes again
2008-02-15 20:57:00
In 1936, when my father was 21, he wrote a song for Sherman Bowen’s younger sister, Lucille, that came to be titled “The Girl in the Little Blue Hat.” Lucille was sixteen when he composed the song, but had been perhaps eight-years-old when my father started dancing square dances with her at Ben Hill’s dances ...
More About: Song , Thompson , Erwin

Roses in the Refrigerator, Day After Valentine?s Day
2008-02-15 20:03:00
The day after Valentine ’s Day one bouquet of roses rises tall on my kitchen counter (the long-stems). The shorter-stems reside on a refrigerator shelf, extending their life (shelf life?) and making me glad everytime I open the refrigerator door.
More About: Roses

Acres of Roses arriving on Valentine?s Day doorstep 2008 made me weak and k
2008-02-14 23:08:00
Twice I responded to the summoning of my doorbell. Twice a grinning and harried floral delivery man handed me a huge bouquet of roses…not red, not pink, but peachy…my favorite color. A dozen times 2 = 2 dozen roses for 2008 Valentine ’s Day. I’m sure sometime in my life I’ve been sent flowers by delivery. But, it’s been ...
More About: Roses , Made , Acres

Happy Valentine?s Day, Black History Month!
2008-02-14 22:11:00
As I’ve met wonderful African American couples during the months since I’ve moved from Northern Califronia to St. Louis, I thought it would be fun to introduce you to three couples and their love stories today…to celebrate the confluence of Valentine ’s Day in the Middle of Black History Month. You’ll meet: –Linda Jones Hawkins and Charles Hawkins –Sylvia ...
More About: Happy , Black History

Linda Jones Hawkins and Charles Hawkins? cuddled prayers makes the couple?a
2008-02-14 22:03:00
I met Linda Jones Hawkins and Charles Hawkins at the 2007 Kwanzaa celebration in St. Louis . Linda showed me her beautiful poems and paintings, while Charles stood by, beaming. They shared their love story with me (Linda speaking): “And the story goes? She found a handsome King and he found a beautiful queen, while playing in ...
More About: Prayers , Couple

Carlos & Sylvia Jenkins
2008-02-14 21:35:00
Carlos & Sylvia Jenkins I met Carlos & Sylvia Jenkins at the Missouri History Museum evening featuring Ron Himes. Carlos and Sylvia run CJS Vision 500, LLC, a travel agency together (click for website), and must be away today on a Romantic Get-away. They have a great Love Story to share with you when they get ...
More About: Louis , African American , Carlos

Howard and Vickie Denson?s Shared Passions = Longlasting partnership on all
2008-02-14 21:20:00
Howard and Vickie Denson: Shared passion keeps them together, and fun. Photo by St. Louis Magazine Click here to read a great story about Howard and Vickie Denson in St Louis Magazine, February 2006, article: “Happily Ever After.” “Howard and Vickie Denson pack their life with shared passions? business, travel, church, art and jazz…. Now the kids ...
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Tweit & Riehl begin ?Blog Duet?: How do we nurture ourselves and still nurt
2008-02-14 04:32:00
Susan Tweit, began our blog duet yesterday,Tuesday, February 12, 2008, with her post on “Community of the Land,” titled “Finding your balance: outward and inward.” Susan J. Tweit telling plant stories in Colorado Janet Riehl performs “Big Butts Are Beautiful” As a journalist, memoirist, blogger, and speaker I’ve known Susan through two organizations: Women Writing the West and ...
More About: Blog

St. Louis Black Rep Company?s Fireside Chat #2: August Wilson?s ?Radio Golf
2008-02-12 23:54:00
The Black Rep Company ’s website describes August Wilson’s “Radio Golf ” like this: The final installment in Wilson’s cycle of ten plays that examines the African-American experience in 20th century America, and the tenth to be produced by The Black Rep. The epic tale centers on Harmond Wilks, an Ivy League-educated lawyer who plans to declare his ...
More About: Chat

?Iron Ladies of Liberia? airs on KETC in April?Sneak Preview of Independent
2008-02-08 20:17:00
Alex Detrick pulled together another fine evening last night at the Missouri History Museum, featuring Independent Lens film “Iron Ladies of Liberia ” which will later air on KETC/Channel 9 April 6th at 11 p.m. Click here for video clip and political background on Liberia and the film. Click here for 2005 Washington Post article written before ...
More About: Preview

Writers in the Sky February Newsletter presents Riehl?s poem ?Window Frame?
2008-02-08 19:15:00
Yvonne Perry of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services asked me to send her a poem for her February newsletter. Click here to read the entire newsletter. I sent an excerpt from WINDOW FRAME originally published in “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary” and dedicated to my mother Ruth Evelyn Johnston Thompson (January 4, 1916-May 1, 2006). ...
More About: Presents , Newsletter , Poem , Window

Happy Losar! (Tibetan New Year)
2008-02-07 23:43:00
Happy Losar ! Happy Tibetan New Year ! To read the story of Losar from Namgyal Monastery (Personal Monastery of H.H. the Dalai Lama) click here.
More About: Happy

Alla?s Historical Dallas Bed & Breakfast?a heavenly blend of old and new
2008-02-06 18:36:00
If you live in the Dallas area…if you’re travelling to the Dallas area…If you live anywhere in Texas…come on down to Alla ’s Historical Dallas Bed and Breakfast where old ways and new ways meet to offer a thoroughly modern version of old world hospitality…and, enjoy the rooster! Alla is what makes Alla’s B & B a ...
More About: Blend

Riehlife Back of the Envelope Book Marketing Plan for ?Pen to Print? Panel
2008-02-03 15:50:00
In 2006 I published my book “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary”with iUniverse. While my first-line audience was friends and family, I quickly found there were second-third-and-fourth-line audiences rippling out there who were interest in my book, my topic, and by extension, in me and what I thought and had to say. I marketed “Sightlines” by every ...
More About: Marketing , Book , Print , Back , Panel

SCN Conference: Circles of Conversations
2008-02-02 23:43:00
Barbara Jo Brothers, of San Antonio (nee New Orleans ), and discuss levels of losses in New Orleans after Katrina…how there are subtle losses, far more reaching and harder to reconstruct than the buildings. How are these subtle losses to be healed? Loss of relationship? The loss of how places were before Katrina…and all the way ...
More About: New Mexico , Austin , Beverly Hills , Conference

SCN?s National Memoir Conference Henfest 130 strong?like relaxing and writi
2008-02-02 23:07:00
“Who’s the designer for your blouse?” asks Martha Fleming from San Antonio, Texas. “Gosh, I don’t know. Go ahead and check the label,” I say, holding up the the inside collar for her inspection. It’s “Connie ’s Moon Light.” I bought it at the St. Louis Art Museum boutique right before I left because I thought its ...
More About: National , Relaxing , Memoir , Strong

SCN Caberet: Musical Memories & Anecdotes with Sue Bilch & Paullette McDoug
2008-02-02 22:53:00
My father has a phrase for it in his beautiful poem: “Music brings memories.” Yes, indeed it does. Working from that premise, Sue Bilch and Paullette McDougal presented a thrilling cabaret performance for the Story Circle Network Saturday luncheon. It occurred to me during the performance, as I listened, enjoyed, and looked around the room, that ...
More About: Musical , Write , Memories , Anecdotes

Riehlife Writing Idea: Sensory Scan as Memory Prompt
2008-02-02 22:33:00
When Jake Lorfing and I were talking yesterday about some long ago work I felt would be worthy writing material, he said, “But I don’t remember anything; it’s too long ago.” I suggested he do a Sensory Scan . You can do this, too. 1) Take each sense in turn: sight, sound, taste, touch, smell. 2) Scan each sense. ...
More About: Writing , Memory , Write , Idea

Frances Nail, Austin author, blazing trails
2008-02-02 22:27:00
Jake Lorfing told me a bit about Austin author Frances Nail who “began to write after her 70th birthday. She is 81 now, and her stories enjoy a wide following.” I found this link that tells about a one-woman show “I’m Not the Woman I Was” which is described as “the telling of a story ...
More About: Author , Trails

Kenoter Nancy Slonim Aronie knocks our socks off at SCN National Memoir Con
2008-02-02 16:55:00
By chance, I encountered Nancy in the hallway before her talk. My gaze caught by the runching and siver-shine of her skirt. She was also sock-footed, sans shoes. “Oh, I had these shoes especially made,” she mentioned off-handly. “Forgive my gaze, it was the lines and fabric of your skirt that caught my eye. I’m ...
More About: National , Memoir , Socks

SCN Conference Silent Auction Sampling
2008-02-02 16:36:00
Silent auctions can be good fund-raisers for organizations. Here at the Story Circle Network National Memoir Conference in Austin, we’re having one, too. Cleverly, after the rousing keynote address by Nancy Slonim Aronie (who turned out to be my sister in socks), the closing event of the evening was a lovely dessert buffet in the ...
More About: Auction , Silent