MouseMuse Productions

Storymasters’ Summer Jams start at 7:30, with a $10 cover charge.

Two Boots of Bridgeport: Great food. Fabulous venue for intimacy, an emcee, hilarity, and how about a tune or two?

The Jam features four top-notch storytellers from our master troupe, with a narrative song  performed by a singer-songwriter as the opening. Jams will be held on Tuesdays at 7:30, on June 12th, July 10th, and August 7th.

This year, MouseMuse’s annual on the road production will be held at the carriage house of Pulitzer Prize winner Matt Davies. The theme is “love is in the air”: The black tie, the prom dress, the ticketed honeymoon…what can possibly go wrong?

Join us for a whole show dedicated to adventures in parenting: family vacations and travels with kids.

Showing Off Without Shame

Stand up and brag!

It’s as good as a byline in our group

March 14 Writers’ Café was well attended as always. We actually stuck to our agenda, and while the timing wasn’t’ perfect on each agenda point, we finished up at exactly the right time.

Our bragging rights took 30 seconds to a minute per person. Though some writers wanted to switch out their brag time to more time for the two minute readings, extending it, we decided as a group a long time ago that hearing the openings of works in progress gave us a good idea of what we’d like to know down the line from that writer. Our anonymous blind submissions with critiques are fabulous.

The critique form is constructive and the exact places that the critic needed to have the writer flesh things out, or was confused, was helpful. Listening to critiques makes all writers think about their own work.

Our Creative Brags of 3/14–shameless pride that doesn’t goeth before a fall, that’s us!

Valerie Austyn and Ina Chadwick appeared in a stage reading of a new play presented by Slant of Light Theatre on Wednesday March 14. Gabi said she was among the audience that night, and she thought they read very well, possibly better than the play deserved.

Ina is working on a submission for Masan’s Road— to the Mason’s Road journal (theme: character) and encouraged others to do the same. For many years she refused to submit work to contests because, well just because she has so many bylines that it created another stress. But this contest interested her.  She is also finishing a Trending Now. And Then piece for Hamlet Hub, called Bleak House, about a house she and her husband lived in where they also married. It is now in Bankruptcy, and it’s an historical old beauty in Weston. She has also been asked to guest blog on a divorce and custody blog site with thousands of readers. She’ll get to that next month.

All of you should mark your calendar for March 29. When Westport authors Dalma Heyn and Richard Marek will be launching their new e-book A Godsend: A Love Story for Grown-Ups at Barnes and Noble in Westportand discussing the pros and cons of traditional versus e-publishing. There’s more information here. Both husband and wife keep a low profile, but very high output in significant circles.

Dee Andrian will be appearing in a performance starring James Naughton at the Westport Senior Center on April 22. The theme: Try to Remember

Margaret Wagner won a Solas award from Travelers Tales in their Best Travel Writing contest, for her description of a trip to Greece with her grandmother. In honor of National Poetry Month, which takes place in April, she’s challenged herself to write a poem a day – fantastic! You can do it too… And on April 20th, she is hosting a poetry event:  Imaginative Storm Poetry Concert with spoken word poet James Navé.  Friday, 4/20/12 in Norwalk. Contact Margaret Wagner, 203-209-0047, margaret@MargaretWagner.com to RSVP and for more details.

Sophie Barnes has had a poem accepted for the next edition of the healing, spiritual journal Caduceus. And she’s writing in new forms, to stretch herself. She’s been accepted into a professional writer’s school for children’s books. She’s decided not to pursue it at this time, but just being accepted is a great thing.

A new attendee, Fran Dorf, a published and lauded novelist , told us that she writes an advice column, Just Ask Me, for the Daily Muse. Check it out here, or send her your problem… She’s had work accepted recently at McSweeney’s a very prestigious publisher. And Fran’s personal blog can be found on her website.

Barbara Stokes told us that, even though she’d been on vacation, she’d managed to keep writing.

An extract from the first chapter of Jane Sherman’s memoir, Invasion of Privacy.  was published in all of the Weston Magazine Group’s publications last week. Ina and Jane have been toiling to get this important memoir ready for publication. This was a first and very big step. You can pick up your own copy. It’s stunning.

Shira Linden, with the help of Ina’s editing, says she has found her voice, and it seems to be the humorous essay. She is starting a blog about ignominy. Check back on our site to find out what she’s calling it.

Catherine Onyemelukwe told us about her blog: Grandma’s Charity Challenge, which seeks to encourage giving from families and children to the not-for profits of their choice.

Last but not least, Gabi recorded two stories and submitted them to the Missouri Review’s Audio writing contest. These audio submissions are one of the reasons we are getting ourselves into the podcasting aren. AlsoConnecticut Office of Tourism’s 250 word contest  (theme: My Connecticut Story).Stay tuned for more blogs from Mouse in the House…And the next dates for the Writers Cafe will be posted. as soon as Margaret gets a minute free from her copywriting job.

Adventures in parenting returns on May 17th, with a theme to be announced. Watch the events calendar for updates regarding time and ticket prices.

Our first Writers’ Cafe of the year kicked off on 1/11/12 — 12 people attended.

Here are some of the highlights:

TWO-MINUTE READINGS

Select people continued reading something we’ve written for two minutes (especially if they haven’t read before).  If you have something to bring to the next Writers’ Cafe on Wednesday, 2/15/12, please let us know ahead of time.  Suggestion: Start reading from the beginning of the piece, not the end.

OTHER NEWS

• ¥ www.MasonsRoad.com will have a $1,000 writing contest — we’ll keep you posted.
• ¥ Contact Dee Andrian if you have a “real” Vagina Monologue piece to submit.
• ¥ Sally Allen is looking for health reporting for www.HamletHub.com
• ¥ We’ve mentioned this service at a previous Writers’ Cafe, but in case you missed it, you may find this author’s submission service helpful — www.WritersRelief.com
• ¥ Come to Mouse Muse’s next storytelling program, LOVE HURTS: Thursday, 2/6/12, 7pm to 9pm, at Fairfield Museum and Historical Center, 370 Beach Road in Fairfield.  This is an opportunity to add our voice to our community and build connections between us.

BLIND FEEDBACK… Starts this month!

We’ll start to provide a monthly way to get blind feedback on pieces we’re writing.  If you already sent us a piece, please don’t resend it.  But, we are offering another deadline for January.  Here’s the process:

• ¥ Written piece length: 1,500 words maximum as a Word document (please use .doc only).
• ¥ Use the attached REVISED cover sheet to identify your piece.  No identification beyond the piece title and page numbers (or piece name as the jpg title) should be on the body of the piece(s).
• ¥ Email the piece and cover sheet as separate documents to ina@mousemuse.com no later than Tuesday, 1/24/12, by 11am.
• ¥ We’ll see what everyone can do to have comments back to you by our next meeting on 2/15/12.
• ¥ If you submit a piece, we’ll assume you will also volunteer to be a reviewer.
• ¥  If you’d like to be a reviewer, but don’t have a piece to submit, please email Ina no later than Tuesday, 1/24/12, 11am.

BRAGGING RIGHTS

• ¥ Lisa Calderone, founding editor of literary journal www.MasonsRoad.com, announced the next submission theme is characterization, which will be open from 2/15 to 5/15/12.  Check the Website for more details.
• ¥ Jane Sherman is simultaneously excited and agitated about having the first chapter of her memoir excerpted by the Weston Magazine Group.
• ¥ Catherine Onyemelukwe is a speaker at the Association of Fundraising Professionals and is starting a new blog, Grandma’s Charity Challenge.  She is also working on a memoir about her time as an ex-Peace Corps volunteer.
• ¥ Sophie Barnes is getting her Website up and running for her intuitive health counseling business, which uses Bach Flower Essences.
• ¥ Ina Chadwick has a contributor space named, Trending Now and Then for www.HamletHub.com (edited by our own Sally Allen).  Ina’s pieces will researched essays.
• ¥ Margaret Wagner continues to organize 5Rhythms dance workshops with creative writing — movement opens up the creative pathways.  Next one is on 2/12 and the theme is Moving Love Letters.
• ¥ Dee Andrian, AKA Miss Johnstown, PA of 1954 who had her own TV show, has supported The Vagina Monologue project for the last three years.  The first year, they raised $50,000 and $40,000 the second year for for the Domestic Violence Crisis Center, a local organization that offers counseling, legal and housing advocacy services, as well as a 24-hour hotline. For the third year, called “Under the Covers,” women are invited to write and recite their own experiences — director Jill Jaysen is looking for submissions.
• ¥ Elise Ferrara — we wish you well with your upcoming dental implants!
• ¥ Mark Albertson, author of three books, has written articles for an army aviation magazine (yes, you heard that right!) and will be speaking at the Stratford Library o 2/12.  Go to markwrites.com for more info.
• ¥ Shira Linden had a client give her a bonus for her promotional writing business.
• ¥ Sally Allen is looking for submissions to www.HamletHub.com, especially in the health area.
• ¥ Barbara Stokes submitted a piece for our blind submission process, and will be in Myrtle Beach for our next meeting (hope it’s warmer than here!).

FUTURE 2012 MEETINGS
Save these WEDNESDAYS for future Writers’ Cafes in 2012:

• ¥ February 15
• ¥ March 14
• ¥ April 11
• ¥ May 16

Location: Writers’ Cafes are held at Ina Chadwick’s home, 2 Redcoat Road  in Westport, CT (near Exit 41 southbound entrance of the Merritt/Route 15).  For directions, please email Ina at: Ina@mousemuse.com.  (NOTE: We are no longer meeting at the Westport Arts Center.)

Parking: Please park as neatly as possible in the driveway, and use the door on the side of the house by the walkway (the first doors are the entrance to the dentist’s office).

Time: 12:30pm to 2pm

Options to bring:

• ¥ A piece or portion of a piece to read – we’ll cut you off at the two-minute mark.
• ¥ $1.00 for bragging dollars, if you have any news to share!

P.S.  If you don’t want to be on this list, send me an email with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. We don’t want to be a nuisance!

Catch up on what you missed, or just hear it all over again.

It’s all filed on the media page, under “audio”. Enjoy!

Love Hurts.

Anthony and Cleopatra fell into a burning ring of fire. Their agonizing and calamitous love affair changed history. As Valentine’s day approaches, along with the FMHC’s exhibit “Bravo! A Century of Theatre in Fairfield County“, that story is felt again by remembering Katharine Hepburn’s performance of Shakespeare’s Cleopatra–and all the fiery feelings that went along.

Love Hurts. Come hear Tom Lawlor, Max Westhelle, Jeep Halo, Arch Currie, Pete Paatorelli share male-tales. The men outnumber the women in matters of the heart, but they can’t  out pace, Shannon Walsh and Maureen Hallock who both had experiences with aphrodisiac love. If you have we stories to tell or a longing to be regaled, join us at the FMHC on February 9th, 2012.

From the HamletHub Westport site.

Plenty of Westporters filled the seats at the Fairfield Museum and History Center (FMHC) for last night’s MouseMuse Productions “I’ve Got a Ticket to Ride”  storytelling program. If you weren’t one of them—not to be the bearer of bad news—you missed an electric show.

Six storytellers stood before the rapt audience and shared 10 minutes stories that ranged from a heartbreaking meditation on loss to a thrilling spy story to  uproariously funny adventures all of which, in keeping with the theme, included travel. In MouseMuse tradition, after a brief intermission, three volunteers were  pulled at random to tell their stories. Last night’s performers enthralled the audience, who collectively oohed and gasped and guffawed their way through the  program. Part of the thrill is not knowing where the next story will take you emotionally but knowing that MouseMuse’s polished performers will take you there in  style.

FMHC’s exhibits enhanced the event’s theme. Currently running are the Holiday Express Train Show, featuring the handiwork of the Housatonic Model Railroad  Club and the Connecticut G-Scalers Club, and the Station to Station exhibit, which includes memorabilia, a model of the Fairfield train station circa 1903 created  by Metro North Railroad employ and Housatonic Model Railway Club member John Valakas, and two lenticular photographs of the Southport train station created by Miggs Burroughs. Deep red curtains trimmed with gold fringe, part of FMHC’s Bravo! exhibit celebrating a century of theater in Fairfield County, draped behind the performers, creating an intimate mood but also an awareness of theatrical tradition, history, and our place in them.

The minutiae of our daily lives have changed dramatically over time, but one thing has remained constant: sharing our stories with those whose lives intersect with our own in ways both profound and peripheral. MouseMuse’s foundation and success lie in this intrinsically human need.

“Get involved,” founder Ina Chadwick urged the crowd at the program’s close. “Because you’ll never know your neighbors unless you know their stories.”

So you missed last night’s show, but what’s the good news, you ask? MouseMuse Productions will be back at FMHC in Feb. for another go around. The theme will be “Love Hurts.”