MouseMuse Productions

All aboard! I’ve got a ticket to ride:

Ah, Yes, I Remember it Well

Writers take us to new places in our Deju Vu Contest finale

Is it memory, is it nostalgia, or is it Deju Vu—the feeling that you have been there before?

In a collaborative program between MouseMuse Productions, Writers Artists Collaborative  and the Center for Contemporary Printmaking, writers recalled their moments of déjà vu, inspired by the prints and paintings of Jack Boul.

On October 10, winners were announced. We thank all of the generous writers who joined in this attempt to unite the arts.

Déjà Vu Writing Competition–2011

Winning Entries

August on the Porch
Priscilla Whitley

Tonsillectomy 1966
Ivy Eisenberg

Cross Over to a Better Figure
Kate Corr

Honored Writers
Works appearing on all of the judge’s lists.
Each one will be considered for publication in various media.

Door Never Opened
Kitty Burns Florey

Blackberries and Kudzu
Ryan Odinak

The Reluctant Witness
Margaret Rumford

Cape Cod
Marcelle Soviero

Batter Up
Robert Steven Williams

Baby Girl Z
Anne Ziff

My Great Grandmother
Sujeet Rajan

The first three winners  works will be read by professional actors at an awards ceremony, on Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 4 PM. The festivities on  November 30, 2011, are free and open to the public. Wine and Cheese will be served.  The writings will published online after November 30, 2011

There’s a story at every address. Is it yours?

On October 6 we debut at an amazing facility right down the road on Beach Road in Fairfield. It’s the brand new Fairfield Museum. If you haven’t been there, you’ll be blown away when you do wander through. It’s nothing rinky dink, I swear. Our storytelling is the Awake After Dark program we’ve done so successfully elsewhere. And for this special place, it’s called Stories on the Green. Fairfield was the original town that gave life to Westport, and to all of the other towns around that are called Fairfield County. For reasons that defy my logic for living in New England (with attitude) we don’t have “Greens” like the one that was left in tact in Fairfield. They also have sidewalks.

The Green is where all of the “stories” could be heard during the days before no telephones, cars, etc. You walked on the Green and you met folks you wanted to talk to. Or folks you didn’t want to talk to…but they were there in the wide open public space.  You read the Town Crier information posted on a board on the Green, before newspapers. You heard “Hear Ye, Hear Ye,” and you could know who was in the jail for the night— drunk and disorderly. Maybe it was me?

The exhibit that is going up at FMHC on September 24th is all about the development of performance theater after the railroad came barreling up the road from Altoona or even New York and into  Fairfield County. It’s called  “BRAVO! A Century of Theatre in Fairfield County” The FMHC is actually building sets of the real Westport Country Playhouse, Lucille Lortel Barn and the famed, but now defunct, (we hope not forever) Shakespeare in Stratford CT.

The first play we decided to highlight from the incredible archives going into this museum for  in our storytelling series is, “Our Town,” by Thornton Wilder. But we are calling for themes about your little town, even if it’s a big city.

In your neighborhood, your town, there may have been rumors about the people at the end of the block, there are always the kindly old couples who walk by everyday. You may have been the high school hero, or the one who went to reform school. Who knows? As Paul Simon wrote, “In my little town/I grew up believing god shines his light on us all/ as I pledged allegiance to the wall.” Where did you say the pledge of allegiance. We want to know. Give us a buzz or shoot us an email and let’s hear about your town, foreign or next door.

Why you stayed? Why you strayed?

If you haven’t received an announcement about our big adventure in schooling, one where we are holding our event for an administrator to welcome her parents and students back to school, hang on! It’s coming soon. Meanwhile, if you are interested in becoming a storyteller, get in touch with us here.

Gabi and I were both early adapters in the digital world. And, for writers it’s been a blessing and a curse. One of the blessings is how much connection we’ve been able to have with the writers in our local community and other earlier adapters who were not raised in the digital era. It’s frustrating to learn, but rewarding to know how to submit and share your work online. Don’t give up.

One of the best connectors is a truly early adapter to the business of publishing; Westport’s Tessa Smith McGovern was the first person I knew personally to start a digital publishing company. Fortunately for Gabi and myself, we had been honing our craft on the keyboard for a very long time.  We’ve both been writing since we can remember. And, being rejected more than we care to remember. We’ve been seeing our names in print online, and on paper, just enough to keep our bylines recognizable to our families. 🙂

When Tessa shared her amazing literary company launch idea with us, we both submitted work to what it now her highly praised collections. The first big push is taking place on September 20th. The selection process is for work is quite arduous. So be proud of anything you get accepted. Tessa’s site is very competitive. Global, for sure.

http://echook.com/save-the-date-memoir-launch-networking-event-20th-sept-7pm-westport-barnes-and-noble/

Come and cheer us all on in September at the launch party. There are all sorts of networking possibilities. Also, guest authors have a chance to write about their favorite stories. Here’s my blog about a story I read many years ago.

http://echook.com/guest-blog-ina-chadwicks-favorite-short-story/

Join our free Writers Artists Cafe on Wednesdays at the Westport Arts Center starting in October. Be in with the “in” and be part of sharing what you learn, what you feel.  But don’t forget to try to see  some of your work in print.  Why?  I couldn’t find my favorite short story online and had to take it out of the library. In print.  I held onto the book for many weeks. I owe the library half a month’s mortgage. Who else but writers and lovers of words run up overdue fines? Bless the library.

Ina

Awake After Dark Storytelling At Landmark Academy

Go back to school with Awake After Dark(TM) Storytelling. Our theme “Adventures In Parenting” will have you laughing and crying with us as we share the most important moments of our lives.

Entertainment, food, beverages.

If you are interested in auditioning please email ina@mousemuse.com with your story idea and we can audition you and give you feedback.

Our fabulous storytelling event at Matt Davies’ Barn in Connecticut was a great success. Suzanne Sheridan took these photos as the sun went slowly down but the level of heat stayed up – way up!