Minutes of the meeting at La Rosa Hotel on Thursday 4 April 2019.
Present: Adele, Jonathan, Mike, Louise, Ian (chair).
Apologies: Jenny, Graham, Pip.
Topic: Members’ work-in-progress.
Matters Arising
Ian reported having updated the group’s listing with the Whitby Gazette, and thanked Adele for publicising the group in local libraries.
Members’ Readings
Mike — [Aladdin]. Madame Vera conducts her séance onstage, and at an opportune moment ghostly singing is heard and the spirit of Marie Lloyd comes through on-cue. Afterwards the theatre owner squares off Mme Vera under conditions of great secrecy. Princess Jasmine considers that with the end of the show her days (and nights) working with Steve (Abanazer) will also come to an end.
Ian [Anitra’s Petition] — Anitra spurns Peter’s offer of sanctuary on Oberon, opting to carry on down to Mars with Dolpou. Nilsson finds Anitra moping afterwards in her favourite cafe next to the Shrine of Saturn, and they talk about Peter, the groubians, how Arne died, and the dangers awaiting Anitra at her destination. (See: The Story So Far.)
Louise — read a hilarious piece inspired by a recent train journey back home from Kings Cross Station. Gripping half-stories heard via mobile phone conversations, autistic music lovers who can’t bear to be touched, blocked toilets, cancelled buffet-trolleys, plus all the other usual delights of travelling to the North on an overcrowded train.
Adele — read two poems: a love poem working a jewellery metaphor, and a short but pithy piece about the slag of steel production.
Jonathan — read the draft of a possible novella about a journey by long-distance bus on the Greek mainland. The hero has graduated in classical Greek but is quite unable to converse with any of his fellow passengers.
The meeting closed at 12:35 PM.
Whitby Writers Group 