Scribblers meet with author Shawna Van Ness

Mt. Pleasant Scribblers met at the home of Karen Osborne, of New London, on Oct. 4, at 6:30 p.m. with Valerie Kreutner co-hosting. Kreutner introduced her guest and program presenter Shawna Van Ness. Nine Scribblers were in attendance to kick off the group?s literary year.

The evening began with Van Ness holding her audience captive as she told of her ?backdoor? entrance into writing during her college years when her primary interest had been music. Though she did not change her major and her music interests have persisted, she gradually developed her writing talent, and now recognizes her calling to write.

The busy wife and mother of two denies that writer?s block is a problem for her. When getting bogged down on one story, she just switches genres of stories she is working on. She writes both fantasy and contemporary young adult fiction as well as book reviews. Van Ness also critiques manuscripts for other writers.

An online edition of USA Today publishes her column of book reviews. As part of her work for that publication, she has enjoyed interviewing celebrities. In writing as Serena Chase, Van Ness has independently published four books: The Ryn, The Remedy, Seahorse Legacy and The Sunken Realm. Van Ness listens to her characters demands of telling their story in certain ways. For instance, her supporting pirate character insisted he be the protagonist in the following book. In November 2017, a young adult love story, Intermission, will be released and can be preordered through Amazon.

Although this author also works at critiquing other authors, she utilizes services of substantive, copy, developmental and line editors and proof readers. She noted that although there are many eyes reviewing works that books unfailingly still manage to have at least one error. Techniques for selecting and developing her covers were also shared.

Following the engaging program, Osborne called the business portion of the meeting to order. Scribbler Yearbooks were distributed for meetings through June 2018.

?Words are My Matter: Writings about Life and Books,? by Ursula K. Le Guin, was chosen as a book in memory of Beryl Shahan, which will be present to the library.