Local Writers Rock!

Currently the group is facilitated by June Kempf, a local writer and published author.We have been active in the Smithtown Library which has graciously accomodated us for over ten years. We meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 7pm. in a quiet corner of the library.

The group serves as a sounding board for everyone to bounce ideas around, to hear constructive critique and receive support from fellow participants. Some members have published works with the assistance and encouragement of their peers here - and when that happens we like to make a joyous noise. Sometimes our enthusiasm boils over and we need to quiet down in the building.  In this blog I would like to make a loud uninhibited noise by spotlighting some of our outstanding writers and their accomplishments.

Two members, Tom Hannon (former facilitator) and Michael Brady collaborated on an anthology of short stories, 'Easy Writers', while another member Sara Ronen has published a beautiful memoir of her mother in pre-war Europe called 'The Price of a Passport'. Marguerite Zangrillo has three children's stories out: The Bunny with the Polka Dot Nose, Cali the Cat and 'The Mouse that Turned Blue'.Lucinda Kempe has distinguished herself in several select magazines and is the recipient of two consecutive scholarships from Stony Brook's Southampton Writers Conference. Her enthusiastic contributions to our group provide inspiration and enlightenment to all - published or not. We all pitch in and discuss everything from finding agents and publishers to managing ornery computer systems.

We welcome new writers  - seasoned and newbies to join and share their works in progress;as well as infuse new challenges and ideas to our assembly.We hope to continue more in depth portraits of our artists and information in future posts to the Patch