Smiley

Please Join us on Saturday night, June 30, 2012 to discuss the short story: "The Elixir of Life" by Charles B. Cory. It's a , humorous story that I believe we will all enjoy. Koach is offering free chocky chip cookies to anyone who brings in a new reader to the chat, and if the new reader actually participates in the discussion, I will provide a bottle of virtual pinot grigio to the successful recruiter. Story URL: http://moonlightstor....com/1/0876.htm Meeting time: 8:30 PM Eastern Daylight Savings Time Log of chat attached here: #Readers_Corner Log 20120630.rtf Please note: I disconnected frequently due to isp problems (presumably weather related) so there are some gaps in the log, i have included the disconnect and reconnect messages to show where chat log is interrupted.

Happy Birthday Starbrite

Please Join us on Saturday night, June 23rd, 2012 to discuss the short story: "Bunches of Knuckles" by Jack London. Koach suggested this one, and he promises to bring chocky chip cookies to the chat (although he will not commit to sharing any of them). Story URL: http://www.jacklondo...n/knuckles.html Meeting time: 8:30 PM Eastern Standard Time Meeting place: #Readers_Corner WebChat Users: http://www.koach.com...=readers_corner IRC users: /server -m chat3.koach.com -j #readers_corner 6667 Hope to see you there, and please, bring a friend. Log of chat attached: readers_corner log 20120623.rtf

One of my English comp professors had one additional rule for successful writing (especially of essays or other factual or descriptive works): "Short sentences, short paragraphs, and NO bullshit!" That rule served me well for many many years of writing reports and analyses for various government agencies.

Please Join us on Saturday night, June 16, 2012 to discuss the short story: "The Enchanted Bluff" by Willa Cather. The story should provide a nice change of pace and, to the best of my knowledge, has only one ending. As always, Koach promises to provide chocky chip cookies to anyone bringing in a new member. Story URL: http://www.online-li...la-cather/1586/ Meeting time: 8:30 PM Eastern Standard Time Meeting place: #Readers_Corner WebChat Users: http://www.koach.com...=readers_corner IRC users: /server -m chat3.koach.com -j #readers_corner 6667 Log of Chat is attached here: #readers_corner.20120616 log.txt

Our eagle eye admin, Koach, has found a slightly different version of this week's story. The story originally appeared in print in the Saturday Evening Post on Oct 25th, 1952 with the following ending: readers_corner log 20120609.txt

These rules were briefly discussed during our June 9, 2012 chat about one of Vonnegut's short stories, "The No Talent Kid". They are listed on the following web site: http://beigor.blogspot.com/2007/04/no-talent-kid.html Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water. Every sentence must do one of two things -- reveal character or advance the action. Start as close to the end as possible. Be a sadist. Now matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them -- in order that the reader may see what they are made of. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

Please Join us on Saturday night, June 9, 2012 to discuss the short story: "The No Talent Kid" by Kurt Vonnegut. It's a light hearted, feel good story that I believe we will all enjoy. Koach is offering free chocky chip cookies to anyone who brings in a new reader to the chat (That's an offer you can't beat with a stick). Story URL: http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2011/10/24/archives/classic-fiction/no-talent-kid.html Meeting time: 8:30 PM Eastern Daylight Savings Time Meeting place:#Readers_Corner WebChat Users: http://www.koach.com...=readers_corner IRC users: /server -m chat3.koach.com -j #readers_corner 6667

Her sisters are teaching my youngest grand child how to drive.

Isn't that carrying multitasking to the extreme?

Please Join us on Saturday night, June 2, 2012 to discuss the short story: "At Comanche Ford" by Andy Adams. It provides a change from our recent theme of soldiers returning from the wars and introduces us to a few western "campfire" tales. I hope you'll enjoy the change of pace. (And don't forget to bring a friend. ) Story URL: http://www.online-li...ndy-adams/1452/ Meeting time: 8:30 PM Eastern Standard Time Meeting place: #Readers_Corner WebChat Users: http://www.koach.com...=readers_corner IRC users: /server -m chat3.koach.com -j #readers_corner 6667 Log of chat attached: Readers_CornerLog_20120602.rtf

Please Join us on Saturday night, May 26, 2012 to discuss the short story: ""The Jade Pendant" by Jon Lamb. Like last week's story, the tale examines a soldier's return to civilization from a war zone. Story URL: http://www.saturdaye...t-jon-land.html Meeting time: 8:30 PM Eastern Standard Time Meeting place: #Readers_Corner WebChat Users: http://www.koach.com...=readers_corner IRC users: /server -m chat3.koach.com -j #readers_corner 6667 Please bring a friend or two with you. added: Log for May 26 chat Readers_CornerLog_20120526.rtf

Please Join us on Saturday night, May 19, 2012 to discuss the short story: "Miss Temptation" by Kurt Vonnegut. The story originally appeared in The Saturday Evening Post. The story was originally scheduled for May 12th, but because of some technical problems has been postponed to May 19th. Story URL: http://www.saturdaye...temptation.html Meeting time: 8:30 PM Eastern Standard Time Meeting place: #Readers_Corner Log of chat attached: readers_corner log 20120519.rtf

I invited Mr. de Niverville to join us in #readers_corner and he has replied that he has read our story for this coming Saturday and hopes to join us for the chat.

The following is a copy of an email I received from Peter de Niverville, author of "The Petting Zoo". The email is very complimentary of our discussion of his story. Hi Smiley, Thank-you for discussing my story "The Petting Zoo" on your Readers' Forum of April 14, 2012. It was a very interesting, respectful and wide-ranging discussion. As a writer it is always valuable to hear what readers actually think. Friends tend to be either overly enthusiastic or non-committal, so it is refreshing to hear the opinions of total strangers. In way of a little background, the inspiration for the story actually came from visiting a petting zoo. It was an old farm that had animals both outside in pens and inside in barns. In one of the barns, while my daughters were petting the animals, I happened to look up. Above me was a mass of cobwebs that would have done justice to any horror movie set. It was such a marvelous image, I knew I had to do something with it. Although, "The Petting Zoo" works as a standalone story, I also kept in mind, that it could be an opening chapter in a longer work. In that story, there would be a happy ending. And a surprise one, too!-- I hope. Anyway, thank-you again for discussing my story and keep up the good work. Best regards, Peter de Niverville

Please Join us on Saturday night, May 5, 2012 to discuss the short story: "Married to a Murderer" by Alan Russell. This story was discovered by Nan, one of our Australian Readers' Corner regulars. It should make for an interesting chat. Story URL: http://www.mysteryne...omance/married/ Meeting time: 8:30 PM Eastern Standard Time Meeting place: #Readers_Corner Log of chat attached: readers log 05052012.rtf

You look better in the x-ray, Koach

Please Join us on Saturday night, April 28, 2012 to discuss the short story: "On Sacrifice, Dartboards, and the Night J.D. Salinger Died" Dante Z #readers_corner20120428.txt

That's one of the biggest cat houses I have ever seen.

As theories go, this is right up there with global warming's effect on polar bears.

Please Join us on Saturday night, April 21, 2012 to discuss the short story: "The Doll" by Charles Chesnutt. The story is a thought provoking examination of human emotions, social norms, and race relations. While it was written over 100 years ago, it seems still current. Story URL: http://faculty.berea...ories/doll.html Log of chat attached: Readers_CornerLog_10120421.rtf

Please Join us on Saturday night, April 14, 2012 to discuss the short story: "The Petting Zoo" by Peter de Niverville. The story is an offbeat horror story with just a hint of good humor. Story URL: http://www.eastofthe...ettZoo903.shtml Meeting time: 8:30 PM Eastern Standard Time Meeting place: #Readers_Corner WebChat Users: http://www.koach.com...3readers_corner IRC users: /server -m chat3.koach.com -j #readers_corner 6667 Please bring a friend or two with you. Log or chat attached: Readers_CornerLog_20120414.rtf

Because of the Holy Days, Easter and Passover, we will not have a Readers_Corner Chat on April 8th. We will return to our usual Saturday Chat schedule on April 15th. Have a nice holiday.

Please Join us on Saturday night, March 31, 2012 to discuss the short story: "The Magic Shop" by H. G. Wells . The story is an interesting, and perhaps just a bit frightening, fantasy by the author of the novels "War of the Worlds" and "The Time Machine." The chat was originally scheduled for 24 March, but has been postponed due to schedule conflicts. Story URL: http://www.online-li...com/wellshg/10/ Meeting time: 8:30 PM Eastern Standard Time Meeting place: #Readers_Corner WebChat Users: http://www.koach.com...3readers_corner IRC users: /server -m chat3.koach.com -j #readers_corner 6667 Please come and bring a friend. SEE ATTACHED LOG OF CHAT: Readers-cornerlog 20120331.rtf

That's funny