Bahiyyih El-Shabbaz’s pregnancy essay, “The Parts” can be heard at any time for free. Season One; Episodes 16, 17 & 18.

Binge-Worthy Podcasts

If you haven’t already, we recommend binge-listening to Bahiyyih El-Shabbaz’s three-episode pregnancy essay, “The Parts.”

Each episode represents a trimester of her pregnancy.  For instance, Season 1; Episode 16 is her first trimester.  Season 1; Episode 17 is her second trimester. Season 1; Episode 18 is her third trimester.  Here is a link:  Episodes 16, 17, and 18

El-Shabbaz’s writing is honest and earnest; plus it’s interesting to watch her determination as a writer and a young mother grow throughout the course of this essay.

Fifteen Year-Old Baby Discovered at Shumway?

Now I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say that in Episode 18, the subject of  El-Shabbaz’s essay joins us in The Shumway studio for a little interview with yours truly.  Good stuff.

In Season One; Episode 18, Nasir El-Shabbaz joins us at The Shumway for an interview.

There is plenty to listen to on the Guildy Pleasures Podcast. At this writing, we have nineteen podcasts up and running.  I hope you are enjoying listening as much as we enjoy recording them.  Wait.  What’s that I sense/hear?

“But…I’m Tired of Listening and Reading.  I Want to Write!”

If you are ready to break from listening and would like to write and submit something, we are offering three writing opportunities to all Guild members.  The deadline for all three writing contests is May 15.

Spring “Relief” Prose Contest

What does “relief” mean to you?  For this contest, submit up to three PROSE entries, each 1300 words or less that express the theme RELIEF.  Cash prizes up to $100, plus winning entries will be published in The Rockford Review.  

“Superstitious” Writing Contest 

We rolled out this “Superstitious” Writing Contest on Friday the 13th.  Ha ha ha.  Get it?  Submit up to three poems or three prose pieces that express the theme SUPERSTITIOUS.  Poems must be 50 lines or less.  Prose must be 1300 words or less. Winning poems or prose entries will be published in The Rockford Review.

“Biggest” Writing Contest

The BIGGEST tree in Illinois stands at the base of a hill at the Bald Hill Prairie Preserve in Mount Morris, IL. For perspective, note the person standing next to the tree.

The “Biggest” Writing Contest is inspired by an eastern cottonwood tree that lives at the bottom of a hill in the Bald Hill Prairie Reserve in Mount Morris, IL.  This tree is the official “biggest” tree in Illinois.  It stands over 120 feet tall and is about 200 years old.  It’s not the oldest or even the tallest, but it is the biggest.  We are looking for writing that expresses the theme “biggest”.  Winning poems or prose pieces will be published in The Rockford Review.

Thanks for reading and listening. Now…go write!  -Connie Kuntz

Back on Friday the 13th, we launched the Superstitious Writing Contest.  Any Guild member in good standing may submit up to three poems or three prose pieces to “Superstitious”.  Prose must be 1300 words or less in length.  Poems must be fifty lines or less.  The theme is “Superstitious” and the writing that best interprets the theme will be published in the next edition of The Rockford Review.  Here is a little video to whet your appetite for superstitious writing.

But if you are superstitious and… 

If you think it’s bad luck to write about superstition, you’ll be relieved to know we are  still accepting entries for the Spring “Relief” Prose Contest.  Any Guild member in good standing may submit up to three prose pieces to this contest.  Rules are simple:  prose must be 1300 words or less in length and it needs to express the theme “relief”.  Cash prizes up to $100 for this contest, along with publication in The Rockford Review.

Wait.  Hasn’t the deadline has passed?

The deadline to submit to the “members only” section of  the upcoming edition of The Rockford Review has passed, but you can still submit to “Superstitious” or “Relief” contests.  The deadline for those contests is May 15.  The winners will have their work published in the same upcoming “members only” edition of The Rockford Review.  We have already received a great deal of wonderful work.  I can’t wait to finish formatting the book!  It is already looking fantastic.

I Get it.  How did the April 15 meeting at Severson Dells Nature Center go?

Here is who showed up to the April 15 meeting at Severson Dells Nature Center! (Not pictured: Denny Ordway and Connie Kuntz)

It was cold and snowy, but hey, the show must go on.  Everyone shared their new writing that emphasized the importance of a good setting.  Since it’s National Poetry Month, many members young and young-at heart recited or shared famous poems.  For our monthly writing contest, all of us wrote new work that expressed the theme PERSISTENCE.  We had two new guests join us; Paul Gies and Orin Keplinger.  From the Junior Guild, we had five writers: Alan Jimenez (14), Angelo Kuntz (8), Fern Kuntz (9),  Jocelyn Kuntz (13), Sam Kuntz (11).  From the regular Guild, we had eight writers:  Brooks Agnew, Connie Kuntz, Jesse Kuntz, Tom Lee, Denny Ordway, Robert Stowe, Tom Walsh, and Joe Yates. In conclusion, the fire roared, the writers wrote, and then we all went home.  See you next month on May 20 from 1-3 at Burpee!  Until then, here are a few more pictures from our monthly meeting at Severson Dells.

Here we are sharing new work that emphasizes specific settings.

Denny Ordway shares a poem.

Brooks Agnew shares a poem.

Tom Walsh shares an essay about his father and Cleveland.

Thanks for reading.  Now…go write! -Connie Kuntz

Music in the above fifteen-second video is an excerpt of “Freddie’s Theme” from the 1980’s horror film, Friday the 13th and is used by way of the Fair Use Act.

SUPERSTITIOUS:  All Guild Members are encouraged to be superstitious!  Submit up to three poems (fifty lines or less) or three prose pieces (1300 words or less) that each express the theme “superstition” by 11:59pm on May 15, 2018. The best entries will be published in the upcoming summer-fall “members only” edition of The Rockford Review.

RELIEF:  Guild members may also enter the Spring “Relief” Prose Contest.  For this contest, submit up to three prose pieces (1300 words or less) that each express the theme “relief” by 11:59pm on May 15, 2018.  A winner or winners will receive cash prizes up to $100 and publication in The Rockford Review.

ENTITLEMENT:  Any Guild member in good standing is entitled to have at least one poem or one prose piece published in The Rockford Review.   There is no theme or jury.  This is your opportunity to have something you love published.  If you want me to pick for you, then submit up to three poems (fifty lines or less) or one prose piece (1300 words or less) by 11:59pm on April 15, 2018.  If you want something specific published, simply send it to me.  Per our constitution (and this goes for every writing and publishing opportunity we provide) no supremacist, racist, sexist, vulgar, or pornographic writing will be published.

HOW:  Email your subs to editor@rockfordwritersguild.org or snail mail them to Rockford Writers’ Guild – PO Box 858 – Rockford, IL 61105.  Good luck!

Thank you for reading.  Now…go write!  -Connie Kuntz

Every year, the daffodil forces its way through dirty, hard soil only to face a cruel, cold world.

It’s going to happen and it’s going to happen soon.  The due date for Bahiyyih El-Shabbaz’s pregnancy essay, “The Parts” is Monday.  Until then, take a good hard look at this daffodil.

Or…catch up on the podcast “Hauptsturmführer Soren” by Dan Klefstad.  This short story has strong language in it, but my kids have listened.   If you want to read along, you can find this story in the current edition of The Rockford Review.

“Hauptsturmführer Soren” is my eight-year old son’s favorite episode of “The Guardian” series because it is about how Soren Fillenius becomes a vampire in the first place.  I was with Angelo when he was listening. It was so fun to see him realize what was happening between Soren and Fiona.  It reminded me of the excitement I felt when I first learned about vampires.  I was about the same age as my son, but the year was 1978 and my exposure to vampire culture was through the film, “Love at First Bite” starring George Hamilton and Susan Saint James.

Fun fact:  Susan Saint James was raised in Rockford, Illinois.

Moving on:  “Love at First Bite” is a funny film, but I think the short story by Dan Klefstad is better.  What do you think?  And…do you remember the first time you were introduced to vampires?  Let me know.

Thank you for reading and listening.  Bahiyyih El-Shabbaz’s first trimester of “The Parts” will be here soon.  Until then, go write.  -Connie Kuntz

Hi Everyone,

Meet us on the porch! 8786 Montague Road, Rockford, IL 61102. 1-3PM on Sunday, April 15, 2018.

This is a quick reminder that we are meeting on the porch at Severson Dells Nature Center for our April meeting.  This is the fourth year we are celebrating National Poetry Month at the Dells.

Writers are to dress for the weather, bring their new writing that features an excellent setting, and share it with the group.  1300 words or less if it’s prose.  Fifty lines or less if it’s poetry.  It can be an excerpt.

After that, writers may either write on the porch or wander into the woods to write new poetry.  Writers will meet back on the porch and share their new writing with the group.  There will be cash prizes for the best poems, adult and youth categories!

If you have never been to a Guild meeting before, this is a great way to break the ice, quite literally if all this snow and cold continues.  These meetings are free and open to all who write.  All ages and abilities welcome.

We hope you come celebrate National Poetry Month with us at Severson Dells! Until then, here is a link to “I Have a Dream” by Sharon Nesbit-Davis. Her writing is especially poignant as we remember Dr. King’s words on the fifty-year anniversary of his death.

-Connie Kuntz

We recorded the “second trimester” of Bahiyyih El-Shabbaz’s essay, “The Parts” on Monday evening at The Shumway.  You will be able to hear her “first trimester” on Monday, April 9, 2018.

Until then, here is a promo that Dan Klefstad, Jesse Kuntz, and I collaborated on for Bahiyyih.

https://vimeo.com/263199166

If you are eager to listen to a podcast, you may listen to any of them for free at any time.  The most recent story and interview is Dan Libman’s “bonus” episode and it is available here.  “Charon’s Kayak” is a beautiful story about death and disappointment, but it’s funny, too.  After his story, he participates in a lovely interview with yours truly.  This is also the episode wherein we meet his wife, Molly McNett.  McNett will be our June author!

Things are going well for the Guildy Pleasures Podcast.  I hope they are going well for you, too.  Thanks for reading and listening.  Now, go write.  -Connie Kuntz

This section of the Rock River is located in Oregon, IL behind the Conover Square Mall. It is the inspiration for Libman’s “Rock River Rafters” which is part of “Charon’s Kayak”.

It’s up!  Dan Libman’s fifth story, “Charon’s Kayak” is yours for the listening.

This humorous story takes us on a tour to paternal death and disappointment with a couple stops along the way; one at an AA meeting, another at the river.  We also visit Houston for a minute.  Beautiful writing.

Later, in our interview, he introduces listeners to his wife, Molly McNett.  She will be our June author.  I have ordered her book, One Dog Happy and am eager to get to know her through her writing.

It has been a joy to work with Dan and we look forward to working with Molly in June.  Until then, you can listen to Dan’s “bonus” episode here.

Thanks for reading and listening.  Now, go write.  -Connie Kuntz

Yesterday, as part of our Spring Break Literary Tour,  Jesse and I checked out O’Leary’s, which is the inspiration behind Dan Klefstad’s “Blarney Pub”.

The Blarney Pub is where the character Daniel interviews a young candidate for the position of vampire caretaker.

The fictional Blarney Pub exists in an unnamed sleepy college town, and “The Interview” takes place at Midnight on a Thursday.  But the reality is that Jesse and I visited O’Leary’s in DeKalb at Noon on Good Friday.

But then something strange happened!

The minute we walked into O’Leary’s, it became Midnight.  The sunlight flashed into deep darkness.  An intense man with only one arm approached us.  Jesse and I scare easily, so we hustled away as quickly as we could.  We ran upstairs, where it became bright and sunny again, and ran into this cute couple.  

In The GuardianDan Klefstad writes about the Blarney Pub in his second chapter, “The Interview”.  If you haven’t listened to it yet, click here and listen for free.  It’s a sexy, funny, intriguing story that will likely rekindle a couple strange interview experiences of your own.

Thanks for reading and listening.  I hope you find your way to O’Leary’s in DeKalb where you’ll be met with great people, scrumptious food, and good beer.  Until then, go write! -Connie Kuntz

In Episode 15 of Dan Libman’s newest story, “Charon’s Kayak”, we get a glimpse into the city of Oregon, Illinois; population 3545.

Things are looking up in Oregon, Illinois.

My family and I have been to Oregon many times because Lowden State Park is there.

It’s a lovely park with tall pines, scenic views, decent trails, and the famous Lorado Taft “Blackhawk” statue which, even under construction, is still impressive and mystifying.

The White Pelican is the inspiration for the Rock River Rafters.

Yesterday, however, we went to Oregon for literary reasons. We wanted to experience for ourselves some of Libman’s writerly inspiration.

In “Charon’s Kayak”, Libman’s narrator (like Libman himself) moonlights at a mom-and-pop river business where people of all abilities can rent a canoe, stand-up paddleboard, kayak, tube, or bike, and experience the serenity and drama of the Rock River and its environs.  The name of the business in  “Charon’s Kayak” is Rock River Rafters, but it is based on the real life small business, White Pelican.  Both are located behind the historic Conover Piano Factory, which is also mentioned in the story.

White Pelican, open May-October, is behind the Conover Square Mall, formely known as Conover Piano Factory. The vans are used to shuttling people and equipment.

This week’s “bonus” podcast isn’t just about small business.  It’s a humorous and woeful story of an adult son coming to terms with the loss of both his father and his drinking buddies. It’s beautifully written and wonderful to listen to.  Besides that, we get introduced to Molly McNett, who will be our June author on the Guildy Pleasures Podcast.

The Rock River seems to have yielded the results they sought.

Too cold for canoeing, but just right for fishing.

We’ll launch Episode 15, “Charon’s Kayak” on Sunday, March 31.  Until then, thank you for reading. Now, go write.  Connie Kuntz

Where do you find your inspiration?  I find mine in people and the news, but if I don’t get outside on a regular basis, the last thing I want to do is write.  The more I am outside, the more I want to write and vice versa. Ironically, I do not enjoy writing outside.  I’ll do it, but my best work happens when I am inside, surrounded by dust and clutter. Anyway, I think the Muse is different than inspiration, but sometimes I question Her existence.  Is She real?

In Episode 3, “Solstice”, our January author, Dan Klefstad clearly states, “The Muse exists!” and he even tells us where: Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy in Williams Bay, Wisconsin.  

It’s Spring Break, so my family and I are following in the literary footsteps of the Guildy Pleasures authors.  It’s simple:  if they talk about it on the Guildy Pleasures Podcast, we visit it.  If they believe in something, we try to believe it, too.

Yesterday, we traveled to Williams Bay, Wisconsin.  Upon crossing the city limits, the Kishwauketoe is on your left, but you can see the treeline from the highway and it’s very inviting.  We parked in the lot across the street and strolled on in.

The narrow, serpentine creek is inviting to kids and creatures.

The trails we usually run in northern Illinois are either super hard-packed or ridiculously muddy this time of year.  It’s different at the Kishwauketoe.  The earth beneath our feet was soft and supple.  Three of my kids took their shoes off and kept them off.

Is the Muse lurking just beyond the curve?

There are also wonderful boardwalks, a dramatic overlook, and tiny bridges placed here and there. Birdwatchers will appreciate this place, too.  We weren’t even working that hard to see them, but we saw one cedar waxwing, one bluebird, and two great blue herons!

There was a recent prescribed prairie burn at the Kishwauketoe.  While burns are necessary to keep the weed trees from taking over, there is always a stink that lingers for a week or so after the blaze.  The conservationists are also laying down some new pipework, so some of the trails are off-limits.  That said, don’t let either of those factors deter you from visiting.  This is a thoroughly lovely nature conservancy.  It’s everything Dan describes and more.

We hope you listen to his podcast here, then go check out The Kishwauketoe for yourself.  After that, go write!  -Connie Kuntz