Mt. Pleasant Scribblers hold meeting

The regional writers’ group, Mt. Pleasant Scribblers, met on Monday, Jan. 16, 2026, at 1:00 in the gathering space of the Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church, 902 S. Walnut Street.

Those present shared news from a few of the absent members and read from what they had been working on recently.

Martha Wiley’s book, Rebecca: Why Did She Run, tells the dark side of a Cinderella story. Her historical fiction is a break from the earlier children’s books. Published this month in a second edition at a greatly reduced price, it’s still available at Vintage Raven in Mt. Pleasant. Now readers can find it online at Amazon and IngramSpark.

Marilyn Vincent read “Words, Words, Words” about how mispronounced words can lead to confusion and problems with communication. She described calling a family friend “Angus” until her mother helped her work on the correct pronunciation of “Agnes.” There was also a problem describing going to the “dog pound,” which is not the “dog pond.” Hearing a word with a long “A” like “naked” pronounced like “nekked” is uncomfortable.

Kathy Casteel wrote a tribute to the SS Fitzgerald, saluting the record setting and dependable ship that was a champion on Lake Superior until it vanished with its entire crew one early November. The northernmost lake of the Great Lakes is known for waves greater than those that are battled on the open ocean. The SS Fitzgerald was on schedule with a reputation for being efficient and smooth riding, but Lake Superior does not care about reputations. Kathy’s haunting depiction of men and engineering power against gale force winds, driving snow, and water flooding below deck compartments inspired deep respect for the force of nature.

Rita Davis shared a part of her Christmas letter. She traveled to Africa as part of a church mission trip Oct. 30 through November 15. She was able to reunite with local friends in Kenya and also Uganda. She communicated through a Swahili interpreter as she was greeted by local church members. There was an exchange of gifts. Rita’s baggage had been filled with items like mosquito netting and hygiene kits for this purpose. The people were grateful for the connection to friends in the United States. Festivals were given in her honor with parades, fresh fruits, banquets, and stories of healing with tributes. She was called “Rita the Rock Star!” They were now enjoying clean, safe water, replacing the trek through a bog that used to be necessary for people carrying jugs of water in the past.

Claudia Streeter’s meditation titled “Reinventing” described the challenge of learning to deal with our mechanical and technological latest and greatest new tools. She felt that skills and wisdom, already part of a person’s gifts, should be recognized as valuable without pushing them to get on board with a new app or pricey, innovative gadget.

Scribblers are pleased to welcome new members who are interested in being part of a group, sharing efforts in the craft of writing. The meeting will be in the gathering space of the Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church, 902 S. Walnut at 1 p.m., Monday, March 16.

For more information, contact Karen Osborne, 319-367-5586.