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The LIT Chicks !
Lori Boatfield, Alice Duckett, Shirley W. Mitchell, Gay Martin, Barbara Eubanks
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The Lit Chicks...
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We call ourselves THE LIT CHICKS....
No-o-o, it’s not what you think. We are all sober, dignified (well, for the most part) ladies. LIT refers to our common bond - a Literary Interest. More specifically, we are all Authors, Wordsmiths. Last fall (2005), several of us met and agreed we needed a literary support group – a critique group. That idea became a reality when five of us local Authors began meeting once a month. Gay Martin, a well-known, well-established Food and Travel Author; Shirley Mitchell, an author who not only writes about making the most of life at any age, but one who lives out her words; Alice Duckett, formerly from Albertville, now living in Anniston, has written for several newspapers, including the Gadsden Times; Lori Boatfield, a talented Essayist and a great novelist-in-the-making; and yours truly, Barbara Eubanks, an Author who blends devotions with humor and a Christian humorist who tells audiences that God wants them to be happy, bring a plethora of ideas and interesting pieces of writing to each meeting. We have found great strength and encouragement for our individual literary endeavors and development for our talents by listening to and sharing with each other.
No group of Southern ladies can have a meeting without involving food. The Lit Chicks are no different. As we rotate the site of our meeting among the homes of the members, we not only look forward to being sounding-boards for each others work-in-progress, but we delight in and look forward to the great refreshments (which now have evolved into full gourmet meals) the hostess provides.How nice it is to have this comfortable haven to freely share successes without appearing braggadocios, to unburden stresses and personal crises without being labeled whiners, to criticize without being mean-spirited, and to accept criticisms with great appreciation, for these are the stones on which we sharpen our writing skills!
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Shirley W. Mitchell...
My mission is to encourage women 50 years and older to "Age Outside the Box™ with Power, Style and Vitality" through the Power of Jesus Christ. Soar to New Heights of Excellence and Capture the Essence of Your Life... I am a National Author/Writer/Syndicated Columnist/Speaker and Celebrity Radio Talk Show Host, having published 5 books - The Christian Writer's Diary, The Beauty of Being God's Woman, Spiritual Sparks for Busy Women, and my two current ones we are promoting, "Fabulous after 50™-Finding Fulfillment for Tomorrow" and "Sensational after 60™-Loving Life All Over Again"; and a Co-Author of 3 books, "Love Notes for Mom", "Love Notes for Dad" and "101 Great Ways To Improve Your Life". I have had a weekly Newspaper Column in the Sand Mountain Reporter for the past 15 years called, "Fabulous after Fifty™"; a Syndicated On-Line Column, "Spiritual Sparks for Baby Boomers™"; a Regular Contributing Columnist for "Senior Lifestyle Magazine" and "Senior Evangelism Partnership", and a Featured Columnist/Writer in "Passionate for Life Magazine". I have a On-Line Newsletter at "Passionate Sparks". Published soon will be a Children's Book, A Women's Planner to match the F & S Series, a Novel, and a Living First Ladies Gift Book. There will also be two more books in the Fabulous and Sensational Inspirational & Motivational Series.
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Barbara Eubanks - Christian Humor Author...
After teaching English/Journalism for 35 years, I didn't retire; I simply refired. My first after-teaching goal was to get my first book published. With the Lord's help, that was accomplished Dec. 2004 when "Humorous Happenings in Holy Places" (Tate Publishing) hit the market. Not only did that serve to respark my desire to write, it also opened up a speaking career for me. I've averaged one event a week since then. My second book, "And the Angels Laughed",also published by Tate, is presently in production and should be on the market in another month or two. Not only will the print copies be available, but both will come out soon as audio books. I travel to Mustang, Oklahoma, to the Tate Out-Loud studio the week of August 14th to voice both books. What an exciting time! What supercedes the joy of seeing my own words published is the joy this has brought to my family, especially to my eight grandchildren, who have supplied some of the funny happenings for both books. I've tried my hand, since finishing the two devotional book, writing fiction. I've completed my first novel, A Web Too Tight. At each meeting of The Lit Chicks, I share with them a chapter or two. If the rest of the world meets it with their enthusiasm, it will be a best seller. Visit Barbara at Barbara Eubanks ...
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Gay Martin - Traveler or Sightseer?...
"As a student teacher at Albertville High School, I was lucky to have Barbara Eubanks as my supervising teacher," said Gay Martin. "She inspired me (and our students) in the classroom, and she continues to inspire me with her writing. In fact, largely because of her encouraging words, I am now embarking on a fiction project--quite a departure from my usual travel writing." Gay and her husband, Carlton, are looking forward to a trip to Chile and a cruise around the southern tip of South America in a few weeks. Her guidebooks, "Alabama Off the Beaten Path" and "Louisiana Off the Beaten Path" (The Globe Pequot Press) are due out in their 8th editions in late 2006. Visit Gay at Gay Martin Travels...
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Alice Duckett - The Teacher...
I have 31 years of teaching experience mostly in Marshall County and Albertville City School Systems of Alabama, and Pensacola,Florida. I have published over 300 articles, features and columns in newspapers and magazines including The Gadsden Times, The Sand Mountain Reporter, The Tribune News, The Islander, The Island Chronicle, Transitions Abroad Travel Magazine, Alabama Wildlife Magazine, Alabama Conservation Magazine, and The Christian Advocate. Having attended numerous writing conferences, I have had the privilege of winning 10 writing awards in competitions around the Southeast. I have been an editor for writing organizations such as the Council of Writers/Journalists and several professional teacher organization newsletters. Currently I am working on a workbook for kids, "From Attics to Basements" - a how-to booklet on compiling Family History. This is going to accompany my programs, "Genealogy from a Christian Perspective" and "Fun with Genealogy for Kids" which I present in churches, at civic organizations, and Calhoun County Genealogy Society meetings. I am also working on a series of nostalgic vignettes about growing up in rural North Georgia. I enjoy presenting stories, readings and special programs in school settings. Alice Duckett resides in Anniston, Alabama, and enjoys traveling and spending time with her four grandchildren. Visit Alice at Shadowpurr-r-rPress...
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Lori Boatfield - The Essayist...
I have always been drawn to the written word and spent much of my childhood with my nose in a book. As a teenager I wrote poetry and short stories. Over the past 10 years, in addition to bits and pieces of stories I’ve begun, I’ve been working on a novel. It’s the story of two people who, over the course of a lifetime are in love with each other, but can’t seem to get the timing right. Most recently, I’ve written two short pieces that have been published as guest commentaries in the Gadsden Times. Lori Boatfield is an aspiring writer, a television show host, a wife and soon to be mother. Educated at West End High School in Etowah County, and at Snead State Community College, she earned a BA at Auburn University. She lives in Boaz, Alabama, with her husband Jason, a physical therapist. As a child, Lori loved reading and writing and credits her mother with instilling this passion.
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(What Happened to Lori ?)
(I guess she didn't make the corner in time before the camera went off !)
And The Lit Chicks Write On...!
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The Lit Chick Journal...
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July 20, 2007...
Strawberry Bar, Anyone?
Pie or ice cream? Why both, of course! Homemade lemon-pineapple sherbet and lemon ice box pie followed a delectable meal of pecan encrusted sea bass, grilled vegetables and slaw with a light dressing with slivered almonds. Barbara is quite the culinary genius, I think we would all agree. The meal was a treat, though the eating was hampered by our laughter at Barbara’s “series of unfortunate events” in Atlanta, one of which began with a miscommunication of Steve asking for a strawberry (breakfast) bar and ended with her pounding on the door of someone else’s hotel room , a virgin strawberry daiquiri in hand!
The literary portion of our meeting began with good news. Gay has been selected for the finals for a piece she entered for Chicken Soup for the Wine Lover’s Soul! The piece tells of the opening of a rare night-blooming flower that offers the opportunity for an late evening party where pajamas or ball gowns are equally welcome. I had good news, as well. An article I wrote for a magazine called Valley Babies resulted in a job writing assigned articles.
We then enjoyed hearing a chapter of Gay’s novel, filled with conflict. I read my article written for the magazine. Alice shared a beautiful account about childhood memories of her grandparent’s home in Georgia. It was so well written, we could almost feel the tattered paper of the “faded valentines” discovered in her grandmother’s junk room. Shirley’s article about Lady Bird Johnson’s passion for life gave me insight into two innovative women, the article’s subject and its author. We were also treated to Lady Bird’s favorite recipe of chocolate drop cookies. Barbara concluded the meeting with two of chapters of her novel, the first of which lulled us into thinking things were finally working out for these heartache-prone characters. Then the second chapter smashed back into suspense and discord!
Barbara’s house in the country is filled with lovely pieces of family history and I’m always so comfortable there. Our hostess makes you feel as though you could drop by at noon or midnight and be welcomed with open arms, a delicious meal, and maybe, just maybe, a virgin strawberry daiquiri!
Barbara’s Pecan Crusted Sea Bass
(Serves 4)
6 fish filets (mild fish)
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 cup self rising flour
toasted pecan pieces (Put in food processor and chop until you have small pieces.)
salt and pepper to taste
pinch of smokey paprika
2 sticks butter (the real thing)
1/2 cup olive oil
Wash and dry your filets. Make an assembly line of the following four: 1 stick melted butter, filets, mixture of the eggs and milk, flour with salt, pepper, and paprika mixed in, pecans. Hint: Use just one hand so you can keep one clean to answer the phone. Heat 1 stick of butter and olive oil on medium heat in a black skillet. After you dip filet in each of the assembly line mixtures, brown in the black shillet. Don't crowd pieces. After all are browned, place them on a greased baking sheet and continue cooking them in a 450 oven for a few minutes - just until the pieces flake easily. Salt again if needed - a cardiologist nightmare.
Pineapple-Lemonade Homemade Sherbet
2 quarts whole milk
1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 20-oz can crushed pineapple with juice
1 1/2 cups sugar (actually, I use Splenda to save a few calories)1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tub Crystal Light
Mix all ingredients and follow electric ice cream maker's directions. The lemon juice may appear to curdle the milk but this isn't a problem. I make this a few hours ahead and put it in the deep freeze to make firmer.
Aug 14, 2007...
Guatemalan cheesecake, indeed!
I always seem to begin by talking about dessert. I guess it’s my favorite, though the rest of the meal was scrumptious.
We began with a cream of asparagus soup garnished with bits of asparagus and bacon. We then moved on to a hearty green salad and chicken salad sandwiches on different varieties of whole grain breads. And then, there was cheesecake. Sherry began making it 5 days before the meeting. I’d never tasted anything like it. It had a pineapple flavor and was adorned with pineapples, cherries, and coconut. Very refreshing for a summer gathering!
Sherry lives in a historic house in Anniston that is filled with lovely antiques, including a high chair that belonged to her husband’s grandfather, which had been used by all the children in the family. She so graciously allowed Master Rafe to use it for his luncheon of rice cereal and crackers. (Rafe joined our meeting, as his Nana was otherwise occupied.) We were pleased to meet a new friend, Laura, who was Sherry’s guest. We missed Gay and Shirley, who sadly had commitments that couldn’t be changed.
The literary portion began with me reading the prologue of the book I’m working on about postpartum depression, as well as a piece about sleep deprivation. Barbara gave us a glimpse into the desperate mindset of Jack Pate, the fallen and now physically damaged minister of her novel, A Web Too Tight. We keep getting more entangled in this gripping story! Suzanne, Sherry’s friend and editor delighted us with a poem about a hummingbird. Suzanne has a melodic and soothing voice well suited to reading aloud. (That led us into a discussion about books on CD, and I realized that Barbara’s two books, Humorous Happenings in Holy Places and And the Angels Laughed are already available on CD.) Alice tickled us with her story about crashing a family reunion while at the Alabama Writer’s Conclave meetings. She was so popular folks were arguing over who would buy what they thought was the only copy of her book, Digging From Attics to Basements, a children‘s workbook for uncovering family history! She imparted more humor by reading a short tale of her youth which involved taking pride in cleaning the “la-las” at Girl Scout Camp. The other girls at camp didn’t share Alice’s enthusiasm for outhouse duty! Sherry wowed us once again with her proficiency and speed. She has finished her second book, Faith Flight for Empty Nesters, and read portion of the final chapter. The message was lovely: no matter what the circumstances, faith is the key to happiness. I don’t say it as eloquently as Sherry, so you’ll just have to buy her book.
We were very pleasantly surprised to get a going - home treat of Mississippi Mud Brownies, frozen for the drive home. I believe they were made by Sherry’s husband, Barry, who I hear is quite the chef. We all felt comfortable at Sherry’s house. None so much as Rafe, who spent much of the meeting rolling around on the rug and kissing the dolls our hostess had provided for his entertainment! As Gay always says, “A good meeting was had by all!” Our thanks to Sherry!
CHEERS!
Congratulations to Alice for her award at the Alabama Writer’s Conclave for a piece remembering her mother!
Congratulations to Gay for her piece about the Night Blooming Flower being chosen for Chicken Soup for the Wine Lover’s Soul!
Asparagus Soup: 1 can cream of asparagus soup 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 cup milk 1 can chicken broth Stir and warm gently. Add real bacon, crumbled, and add the tender parts of fresh, boiled, chopped asparagus.
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The Lit Chick Schedule...
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Sept. 19, 2006... 1:30PM-CST ... Sand Mountain Lit Chicks Meeting Shirley Mitchell Guntersville, AL Author Reading
Oct. 2, 2006... 1:30PM-CST ... Sand Mountain Lit Chicks meeting Barbara Eubanks Home 4840 McVille Rd. Albertville, AL Contact Person: Barbara Eubanks 256 878 5934 Reading
Nov. 6, 2006... 1PM-CST... Sand Mountain Lit Chick Meeting Lori Boatfield Home Main St. Boaz, AL Contact Person: Barbara Eubanks 256-878-5934 Reading
Dec. 1, 2006... 6-8PM-CST ... Sand Mountain Lit Chicks Gala Book Reception, Boaz Public Library, 407 Thomas Av, Boaz, AL Participants:Barbara Eubanks, Shirley Mitchell, Gay Martin, Alice Duckett, Lori Boatfield, Contact Person: Barbara Eubanks 256-878-5934 Author Signing
Mar. 27, 2007... 11am-PST & 1PM-CST... "The Lit Chicks" Hosts Dr. Peter Brill and David Debin of Third Age International - Third Age Radio Show Interview Barbara Eubanks, Alice Duckett and Lori Boatfield, 3 members of "The Lit Chick" Group out of Northern Alabama. Third Age International provides the tools and support you need for improving the quality of your life and health in the Third Age. We bring people of the Baby Boom Generation together to help each other find ever-increasing levels of passion, purpose and joy in the aging process. http://www.thirdagefoundation.com Samantha Friedman, Associate Producer
The Third Age Radio Show with Dr. Peter Brill, a Physician and Psychiatrist, David Debin, a Writer and Producer, along with screen and TV star Anne Francis, treat Third Agers to a fun-filled, informative hour discussing issues at the heart and mind of the Third Age of life. Each week Third Age International on Third Age Radio Show features Authors and Guest Experts on topics diverse as Dating, Spirituality, Changing Habits, Grandparenting, Plastic Surgery, Sex, Finding Purpose, Health and Fitness, Fulfilling Dreams, Having Fun, Adult Children, Elderly Parents and many more. Listen in LIVE on Santa Barbara News Press Radio KZSB-1290am Tuesdays from 11am-PST and Rebroadcast Tuesdays at 9PM-PST & Saturdays at 1PM-PST, Plus Streaming on the Worldwide Web... http://www.thirdagefoundation.com/radio_show.htm ... LISTEN in LIVE at - http://www.streamaudio.com/stations/player/pages/newplayer/images/wmp.gif
Apr. 17, 2007... IPM-CST... Sand Mountain Lit Chicks Meeting Lori Boatfield Home 601 N. Main St. Boaz, AL Contact Person: Lori Boatfield 256-593-1565 Author Reading
May 21, 2007... IPM-CST... Sand Mountain Lit Chicks Meeting Shirley Mitchell Home Contact Person: Barbara Eubanks 256-878-5934 Author Reading
Jun. 26, 2007... 1PM-CST... Sand Mountain Lit Chicks Meeting Gay Martin Home Contact Person: Gay Martin 256-878-6271 Author Reading and Special Guest Poet Suzanne Hobbs of Jacksonville, AL
Jul. 17, 2007... 12PM-CST... Sand Mountain Lit Chicks Meeting Barbara Eubanks Home McVille Rd. Albertville, AL Contact Person: Barbara Eubanks 256-878-5934 Author Reading
Aug. 13,2007... 1PM-CST... Sand Mountain Lit Chicks Meeting Sherry Kughn Home 711 Keith Avenue Anniston, AL Contact Person: Sherry Kughn 256-237-2358 Author Reading
Sept. 11, 2007... 1PM-CST... Sand Mountain Lit Chick's Meeting Lori Boatfield Home 601 N. Main Street Boaz, AL Contact Person: Lori Boatfield 256-593-1565 Author Reading
Oct. 23, 2007... 1PM-CST... Sand Mountain Lit Chicks Meeting Barbara Eubanks Home 4840 McVille Road Albertville, AL Contact Person: Barbara Eubanks 256-878-5934 Reading
Nov. 20, 2007... 1PM-CST... Sand Mountain Lit Chicks Meeting Shirley Mitchell Home Guntersville, AL Contact Person: Barbara Eubanks 256-878-5934 Reading
Dec. 18, 2007... 1PM-CST... Sand Mountain Lit Chicks Meeting Alice Duckett Home 4720 Amberwood Lane Anniston, AL Contact Person: Alice Duckett 256-237-7123 Reading
Jan. 22, 2008... 1PM-CST... Sand Mountain Lit Chicks Meeting Gay Martin Home 135 Wildwood Drive Albertville, AL Contact Person: Gay Martin 256-878-6271 Reading
Feb. 26, 2008... 1PM-CST... Sand Mountain Lit Chicks Meeting Gay Martin Home 135 Wildhaven Dr. Albertville, AL Contact Person: Gay Martin 256-878-6271 Reading
Mar. 18, 2008... 1PM-CST... Sand Mountain Lit Chicks Meeting Lori Boatfield Home 601 N. Main St. Boaz, AL Contact Person: Lori Boatfield 256-593-1565 Reading
Apr. 22, 2008... 1PM-CST... Sand Mountain Lit Chicks Meeting Cultural Arts Center Broad Street Gadsden, AL Contact Person: Alice Duckett 256-237-7123 Luncheon and Reading
May 17, 2008... 12noon-4PM-CST... Sand Mountain Lit Chicks Meeting Guntersville State Park Lodge 7966 AL Hwy. 227 Guntersville, AL 256-571-5440 guests of Barbara Eubanks at Spring Luncheon/Program of Thursday Book Club Contact Person: Barbara Eubanks 256-878-5934 Book Club Program and Reading
Jun. 17, 2008... 1PM-CST... Sand Mountain Lit Chicks Meeting Alice Duckett Home 4720 Amberwood Lane Anniston, AL Contact Person: Alice Duckett 256-237-7123 Reading
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