tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11567573824366685712024-03-13T10:05:16.801-07:00Talking In ClassSHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.comBlogger217125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-71956715675153277072024-03-11T10:09:00.000-07:002024-03-11T10:09:05.399-07:00<p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b>BACK TO THE BAYOU: THE TASSIN VALLEY SAGA CONTINUES</b></span></i><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">IS IN THE </span><span style="color: red;">TOP 100 (#52)</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"> ON AMAZON KINDLE TODAY</span></b> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><b>IN BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY!</b></span></p><p><br /></p><ul class="a-unordered-list a-nostyle a-vertical a-spacing-none detail-bullet-list" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1px 18px; padding: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 5.5px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span class="a-list-item" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Best Sellers Rank: </span><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">#157,494 in Kindle Store (</span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/ref=pd_zg_ts_digital-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;">See Top 100 in Kindle Store</a><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">) </span><ul class="a-unordered-list a-nostyle a-vertical zg_hrsr" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 5.5px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span class="a-list-item" style="box-sizing: border-box;">#52 in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/156608011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_digital-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration: none;">Black & African American History (Kindle Store)</a></span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 5.5px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span class="a-list-item" style="box-sizing: border-box;">#116 in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/6190463011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_digital-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration: none;">Black & African American Historical Fiction (Kindle Store)</a></span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 5.5px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span class="a-list-item" style="box-sizing: border-box;">#236 in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/9059877011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_books" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185; text-decoration: none;">Black & African American Historical Fiction (Books)</a></span></li></ul><div style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPIpR2JrvtFFDLoaT2ZxY6IUKz2PO4pudgoEV0V5p2Lis8zFOkkwmpwNUEnxlAc_2xD8az3oUYXBXgCbUi6Wjdye11W0mr_s9XRdfHwotCYMP945jn7S1HqMOjEt4nXrOV43jXuWq9TGtcE5xVJ1Ay5pTtuIlD5EofPGFkRItC47attChmhJyH1IRojUq/s2880/Back%20to%20the%20Bayou_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPIpR2JrvtFFDLoaT2ZxY6IUKz2PO4pudgoEV0V5p2Lis8zFOkkwmpwNUEnxlAc_2xD8az3oUYXBXgCbUi6Wjdye11W0mr_s9XRdfHwotCYMP945jn7S1HqMOjEt4nXrOV43jXuWq9TGtcE5xVJ1Ay5pTtuIlD5EofPGFkRItC47attChmhJyH1IRojUq/w250-h400/Back%20to%20the%20Bayou_Cover.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://WWW.SHERYLJBIZE-BOUTTE.COM">WWW.SHERYLJBIZE-BOUTTE.COM</a></span></div></span></li></ul>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-84478896564566814032024-03-08T17:36:00.000-08:002024-03-08T17:36:59.367-08:00JOIN US FOR THE WRITERS' LUNCH MARCH 15, 2024<p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red;">JOIN US </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">ON ZOOM</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">FOR</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>THE WRITERS' LUNCH</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> AT </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><b>THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE LIBRARY</b></span></p><div class="date" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Futura, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: large;">Friday, March 15, 2024 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm</span></strong></div><h4 class="title" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Futura, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><a href="https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-crossing-languages-writing-mar-15-2024" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Writers' Lunch: Crossing Languages in Writing</span></a></h4><h5 class="subtitle" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Futura, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 0.2em 0px 10px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="font-size: large;">moderated by Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte</span></h5><div class="body" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Futura, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.4em;"><span style="font-size: large;">Join Mechanics' Institute for a discussion on the topic "Crossing Languages in Writing" with Cristina García, Grace Loh Prasad, and Saskia Vogel.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.4em;"><span style="font-size: large;">REGISTER HERE:</span></p></div><div class="admission" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Futura, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div class="field field-name-field-admission field-type-text field-label-above" style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: white;"><div class="field-label" style="font-weight: bold;">Admission: </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Members - Free</div><div class="field-item odd">Public - Free</div></div></div><a href="https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-crossing-languages-writing-mar-15-2024#tickets" style="color: #feb825; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="label label-warning" style="background-color: #e38224; border-radius: 3px; color: white; display: inline-block; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14px; padding: 2px 4px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25) 0px -1px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;">Register now ›</span></a></div><div class="admission" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Futura, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div><div class="admission" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Futura, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Hope to see you there!</div><div class="admission" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Futura, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div><div class="admission" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: red; font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: large;"><b>Sheryl</b></span></div><div class="admission" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Futura, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-28582663702327597812024-02-07T16:43:00.000-08:002024-02-07T16:43:20.330-08:00They're Baaaaaaack! Back to the Bayou!<p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b>THEY'RE BAAAAAAACK! </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>WHAT HAPPENED WITH 2020'S <i><span style="color: #274e13;">BETRAYAL ON THE BAYOU'</span></i><span style="color: #134f5c;">S</span> UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTERS IN THE "IN BETWEEN'S" AND THE "AFTERS?" </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b>WHAT COULD HAPPEN NEXT? </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><b>FIND OUT IN MY NEW BOOK</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><i>BACK TO THE BAYOU:</i></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"></span><span style="color: #0b5394;">THE TASSIN VALLEY SAGA CONTINUES</span></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvUbLrvQ_4oTUYhfPsuq2a5Aen_1VR_kZ5GyQBIpbHnmIpax0SyjlIKnRZIR4wzsvE16axrTcIG87nQJzfuTaWEV4U-lSQjMcQdZI2hMHKl7unXt0RGxiZRz9Grjs_iprMQRtJY7FeZI3ipNeZ4xyAcrXJxnKx_A8uzHmTP9tdje1tj4kSm8S0-4D4v7X/s2880/Back%20to%20the%20Bayou_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvUbLrvQ_4oTUYhfPsuq2a5Aen_1VR_kZ5GyQBIpbHnmIpax0SyjlIKnRZIR4wzsvE16axrTcIG87nQJzfuTaWEV4U-lSQjMcQdZI2hMHKl7unXt0RGxiZRz9Grjs_iprMQRtJY7FeZI3ipNeZ4xyAcrXJxnKx_A8uzHmTP9tdje1tj4kSm8S0-4D4v7X/w250-h400/Back%20to%20the%20Bayou_Cover.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b>AVAILABLE HERE:</b></span></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Back-Bayou-Tassin-Valley-Continues/dp/B0CTYQHQX7?dib_tag=AUTHOR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VgfdksA5J3MHpsqPGLJufAFH3W4jd3uXjA3AmKvQQknpNAZHvcnWxDdCMvVIJuicnLM9kGgYdtV1QTDJmHiucXT-c49V4XsbTG-yQoYWKwqE0X8aNRmftYm9THKy5Vy0soHLbcsobeFYnmCJmUTeiA.VmChgCZvcEUiQq1waXqHAUNn491s2PgV6nFwHG9vJc8">https://www.amazon.com/Back-Bayou-Tassin-Valley-Continues/dp/B0CTYQHQX7?dib_tag=AUTHOR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VgfdksA5J3MHpsqPGLJufAFH3W4jd3uXjA3AmKvQQknpNAZHvcnWxDdCMvVIJuicnLM9kGgYdtV1QTDJmHiucXT-c49V4XsbTG-yQoYWKwqE0X8aNRmftYm9THKy5Vy0soHLbcsobeFYnmCJmUTeiA.VmChgCZvcEUiQq1waXqHAUNn491s2PgV6nFwHG9vJc8</a></p><p><span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">IF YOU HAVEN'T READ </span><span style="color: #274e13; font-style: italic;"><b>BETRAYAL ON THE BAYOU</b></span><span style="color: #38761d; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: red;"><b>YET...</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBTQe8jVvYwN7qYmNhL5S5c14fzErfLLxaHtPQIauwJlPhsMaZQO9hwLD9EY6C46gAzKhJUVE05xxF3dKTsYpGTYGaRZySHlbuvTWNw4f894U22mg94IXSLFpAfQ9tSsRd2M-cjeaopyrMZfCHvvrM4y8P5HiLO5Ib8EJ0zVzqcra_LxEDgW9U0BlrOPO/s2048/Betrayal%20on%20the%20Bayou_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBTQe8jVvYwN7qYmNhL5S5c14fzErfLLxaHtPQIauwJlPhsMaZQO9hwLD9EY6C46gAzKhJUVE05xxF3dKTsYpGTYGaRZySHlbuvTWNw4f894U22mg94IXSLFpAfQ9tSsRd2M-cjeaopyrMZfCHvvrM4y8P5HiLO5Ib8EJ0zVzqcra_LxEDgW9U0BlrOPO/w250-h400/Betrayal%20on%20the%20Bayou_Cover.jpg" width="250" /></a></i></span></div><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;"> GET YOUR COPY OF </span><span style="color: #134f5c;"><i><b>BETRAYAL ON THE BAYOU</b></i></span><span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;"> HERE:</span><p></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=betrayal+on+the+bayou&crid=1Y6MIM4LXCVFQ&sprefix=BETRAYAL+ON+THE+BAYOU%2Caps%2C232&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_21">https://www.amazon.com/s?k=betrayal+on+the+bayou&crid=1Y6MIM4LXCVFQ&sprefix=BETRAYAL+ON+THE+BAYOU%2Caps%2C232&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_21</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">HAPPY READING! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">SJBB</span></p><p><span style="color: red;"><b><br /></b></span></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-47392408169176180312024-01-17T16:33:00.000-08:002024-01-17T16:39:31.539-08:00COMING SOON! BACK TO THE BAYOU:THE TASSIN VALLEY SAGA CONTINUES<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: large;"><b> COMING SOON</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b><i>BACK TO THE BAYOU: THE TASSIN VALLEY SAGA CONTINUES</i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlCZeA0lWH1OlUB6bLlbgrlay-2BNse_b0EgkzlS8K4f54zEoRG0E_ZePsbQX8OM8az0dkuOrVyaz3zBoREsHDe5gXMATXqEPBVNtHiP4yyPxLoy2P_TiyxiKRVX4MWTtLancWpU0LyHe35fd5t49g5zLin4m-Hpg4fDnNpGlqD08RvG9E5ebKkb_KpdT/s2250/E7B1E10F-10FB-499D-BD15-FE5992F64B76.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlCZeA0lWH1OlUB6bLlbgrlay-2BNse_b0EgkzlS8K4f54zEoRG0E_ZePsbQX8OM8az0dkuOrVyaz3zBoREsHDe5gXMATXqEPBVNtHiP4yyPxLoy2P_TiyxiKRVX4MWTtLancWpU0LyHe35fd5t49g5zLin4m-Hpg4fDnNpGlqD08RvG9E5ebKkb_KpdT/w402-h640/E7B1E10F-10FB-499D-BD15-FE5992F64B76.jpeg" width="402" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: medium;"><b>BETA READERS ARE ALREADY PRAISING</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <i><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">BACK TO THE BAYOU: THE TASSIN VALLEY SAGA CONTINUES</span></i></p><p><i><b>"I found reading about (the characters) intriguing, entertaining and couldn't wait for what would happen next."</b></i></p><p><i><b>"It kept me turning the page."</b></i></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red;"><b>IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE FIRST INSTALLMENT</b></span>:</span> <span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: medium;"><b><i>BETRAYAL ON THE BAYOU</i> </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>ORDER YOUR COPY HERE:</b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sheryl-J.-Bize-Boutte/author/B00MS628XQ?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true">https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sheryl-J.-Bize-Boutte/author/B00MS628XQ?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uB8PcYBogTNNkmeBasJkZF4ZhIySFzNI9TrJq6Ue1ACJSco6k3jueAm97jexvd7ozNE1ji-beHdkemAdSX6zwrp6tciD23AZkCpJ6kxTw6lEvcJvjfTdkMp8f-RGKdtNnp929oTJaQ0veuF3HQapIUhNu01ofn5d-b2rATEIyZ9oXy8l7ZoJ1EQ1_UiW/s2048/Betrayal%20on%20the%20Bayou_Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uB8PcYBogTNNkmeBasJkZF4ZhIySFzNI9TrJq6Ue1ACJSco6k3jueAm97jexvd7ozNE1ji-beHdkemAdSX6zwrp6tciD23AZkCpJ6kxTw6lEvcJvjfTdkMp8f-RGKdtNnp929oTJaQ0veuF3HQapIUhNu01ofn5d-b2rATEIyZ9oXy8l7ZoJ1EQ1_UiW/w250-h400/Betrayal%20on%20the%20Bayou_Cover.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><b>AND WATCH THIS SPACE </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><b>FOR UPDATES </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><b>ON </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>BACK TO THE BAYOU:THE TASSIN VALLEY SAGA CONTINUES</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p><br /></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-20895460928525890442024-01-09T17:33:00.000-08:002024-01-09T17:33:41.400-08:00HOW TO CRAFT A BIO:JANUARY 19-MECHANICS INSTITUTE WRITERS LUNCH<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>JOIN US </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>VIA ZOOM</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>JANUARY 19, 2024</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>12:00 PM-1:00 PM</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;"><b>FOR THE </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b>MECHANICS INSTITUTE LIBRARY OF SAN FRANCISCO</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;"><b>WRITERS LUNCH</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>ON</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;"><b>HOW TO CRAFT A BIO</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Futura, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <b>With </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Futura, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Joey Garcia, Gini Grossenbacher, and Gillian Hamel</b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Futura, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: medium;"><i><b>This event will be moderated by Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte</b></i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: red;">REGISTER HERE FOR THIS FREE EVENT</span>:</b></p><p><a href="https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-how-craft-bio-jan-19-2024#tickets"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-how-craft-bio-jan-19-2024#tickets</b></span></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-17525114909645660982024-01-05T14:51:00.000-08:002024-01-05T14:51:35.258-08:00MOMMY AND ME<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>MOMMY (LOOK IN THE CAR WINDOW)</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b> AND ME</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: x-large;">LOVE LIVES FOREVER</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKMwNTmfw1SqNgvBJD7YM63z7hRCF4XKBh0tDBSZf-cLRTQA8d8-aYJFR2O4_A7Du5bRX6fQWvLbQbG4tZ5pb2FLMJ0qf-FX4v0UfBUTcYJiHovWASNDostpMugreKDvpZiui90kfw1NnxpaZC8djrCdcm78GZ0cjzn9JXTk6dJ81LfuY28nHZGYoGEyH/s1681/SojoPc.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1681" data-original-width="1299" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKMwNTmfw1SqNgvBJD7YM63z7hRCF4XKBh0tDBSZf-cLRTQA8d8-aYJFR2O4_A7Du5bRX6fQWvLbQbG4tZ5pb2FLMJ0qf-FX4v0UfBUTcYJiHovWASNDostpMugreKDvpZiui90kfw1NnxpaZC8djrCdcm78GZ0cjzn9JXTk6dJ81LfuY28nHZGYoGEyH/w494-h640/SojoPc.jpeg" width="494" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: x-large;"><b>HER GRAPEVINE, PLANTED IN MY BACKYARD BY MY DAD IN 1981,STILL PRODUCES CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY GRAPES EVERY YEAR</b></span></div><br /> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvObqoQXxrORU0x6R_bHOqLwxIjySD7JUJRvYLRC00-eWRfFdCPYupWQtQb5MC2d0we8DN8GUy2Oro8Np3g72Dw06EjIN9DuLZJw2IgmfsLSQXejhTVORk2g4Mjl6NjTJXMeyQlI0H6klVbctsX94VNsf6xTn8Dqyz3CiwCClIGIySiXixSJBO4okQz2ME/s4128/20200718_163801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="2322" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvObqoQXxrORU0x6R_bHOqLwxIjySD7JUJRvYLRC00-eWRfFdCPYupWQtQb5MC2d0we8DN8GUy2Oro8Np3g72Dw06EjIN9DuLZJw2IgmfsLSQXejhTVORk2g4Mjl6NjTJXMeyQlI0H6klVbctsX94VNsf6xTn8Dqyz3CiwCClIGIySiXixSJBO4okQz2ME/w360-h640/20200718_163801.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>THIS GRAPEVINE IS</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: trebuchet;">A REMINDER OF THE BOUNTY AND LEGACY OF MOM'S ALL TO SHORT TIME HERE WITH US, AND A LIVING MESSAGE OF THE EVERLASTING LOVE WE WILL ALWAYS SHARE</span></b></i></div><br />SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-18955970510300529372023-12-09T17:07:00.000-08:002023-12-09T17:07:29.646-08:00MOVE YOUR WRITING FORWARD WITH A RETREAT<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"><b> <span style="font-size: medium;">JOIN US </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>VIA ZOOM </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: medium;"><b>ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 15, 2023 AT 12:00 PM </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>FOR THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE LIBRARY OF SAN FRANCISCO</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>WRITERS LUNCH</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> ON</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>THE VALUE OF WRITING RETREATS</b></span></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><b><i>THIS IS A FREE EVENT</i></b></span> </p><p><span style="color: red;"><b>REGISTER HERE:</b></span></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-value-writing-retreats-dec-15-2023#tickets"><span style="font-size: medium;">https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-value-writing-retreats-dec-15-2023#tickets</span></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-13684708022433286002023-11-10T16:13:00.000-08:002023-11-10T16:13:43.741-08:00IT'S ALL ABOUT FOOD AT THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE ON 11/17/2023<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: red;"><b>JOIN US ON NOVEMBER 17, 2023</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #800180;"><b>AT</b></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE LIBRARY OF SAN FRANCISCO</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b>AT 12:00 PM</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><i>VIA ZOOM</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>FOR A TASTY SAMPLING </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>OF</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">FOOD WRITING AND FOOD STORIES</span></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>REGISTER HERE:</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-food-writing-and-telling-heritage-stories-through-food-nov-17-2023">https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-food-writing-and-telling-heritage-stories-through-food-nov-17-2023</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ34GZ0fctgEYZfHijFkhAn_qZNAdXP9qBh3dBy2RkA7spl8c9lQ3dqD-vJr5Y6Wd-sjUCJ5CBTpdgmToAs_jgVP3puRAZxMU2cd5b91T6DnL43jKz7bOhUsplCF6kqS57I6W3rHLfOqFil5fIX21gSpivb5S9MpjtNFb7Cc21UTsnQwJr2Wj78dBdEJn/s432/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="432" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ34GZ0fctgEYZfHijFkhAn_qZNAdXP9qBh3dBy2RkA7spl8c9lQ3dqD-vJr5Y6Wd-sjUCJ5CBTpdgmToAs_jgVP3puRAZxMU2cd5b91T6DnL43jKz7bOhUsplCF6kqS57I6W3rHLfOqFil5fIX21gSpivb5S9MpjtNFb7Cc21UTsnQwJr2Wj78dBdEJn/w400-h263/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-88540019341413900462023-11-08T15:26:00.000-08:002023-11-08T15:26:16.077-08:00BETRAYAL ON THE BAYOU AT THE LYNDA CAMPFIELD BOOK CLUB<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: red;"><b>IT WAS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>TO GIVE AN AUTHOR TALK</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b> ON</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><b><i>BETRAYAL ON THE BAYOU</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b>AT THE MILLS COLLEGE </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><i><b>LYNDA CAMPFIELD BOOK CLUB</b> </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">ON OCTOBER 29, 2023</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;"><b>HERE I AM YAPPING AWAY:</b></span></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cFCh-MF6hQq6QFXfdQyHoMlSb4HldvG6/view">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cFCh-MF6hQq6QFXfdQyHoMlSb4HldvG6/view</a></span></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><i><b>MANY THANKS TO MY MILLS COLLEGE SISTERS FOR THIS TREASURED INVITATION</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuujUPB7XXvYvroZXxS9xeOuHISRMbbQekAIGxnSDr63aSK9CFt28KZkxsnPbzu5bSFzrSTD09JfBNq1V8HfxZRCaewDp2nJ_ygh00M3yCphNhrFpbQ6Ew_smmpQV9vfUxJW9E_wHAPag7RfZRXgU3AO-yg4r1ZNvU1vHRqkWD63qv67kqITxVTAHWqrfu/s4128/20200822_093020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuujUPB7XXvYvroZXxS9xeOuHISRMbbQekAIGxnSDr63aSK9CFt28KZkxsnPbzu5bSFzrSTD09JfBNq1V8HfxZRCaewDp2nJ_ygh00M3yCphNhrFpbQ6Ew_smmpQV9vfUxJW9E_wHAPag7RfZRXgU3AO-yg4r1ZNvU1vHRqkWD63qv67kqITxVTAHWqrfu/w300-h400/20200822_093020.jpg" width="300" /></a></i></span></div><span style="color: #800180;"><i><br /><b><a href="http://www.sheryljbize-boutte.com">www.sheryljbize-boutte.com</a></b></i></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/author/sheryljbizeboutte">www.amazon.com/author/sheryljbizeboutte</a></b></i></span></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-21773205831295500002023-11-08T14:54:00.000-08:002023-11-08T14:54:23.855-08:00LATEST REVIEW OF BETRAYAL ON THE BAYOU<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b><span style="color: red;">PRAISE</span> </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>FOR</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">BETRAYAL ON THE BAYOU </span></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b>CONTINUES</b></span></p><p><br /></p><p>JULIE SAYS....</p><p><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">"This is one of those works of historical literature from which I learned more about the time and place depicted than a textbook ever attempted to teach me. From a prose standpoint, some of me longs for a decadent romp through lavishly described settings, and another part of me craves a straightforward narrative that emphasizes character development and motive. That second part was catered to in this novel to a satisfying result of feeling well acquainted with the characters and more knowledgeable for having shared their experiences."</span></b></i></p><p>11/1/2023</p><p><span style="color: red;">Order your copy here:</span></p><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54165307-betrayal-on-the-bayou">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54165307-betrayal-on-the-bayou</a></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sheryl-J.-Bize-Boutte/author/B00MS628XQ?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true">https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sheryl-J.-Bize-Boutte/author/B00MS628XQ?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUFwPbYys6lDThdThp8IOw4nR49aFz1lEioFm5dgsbgdvF8_yRBxrBIL2tQQi5Xjn-uRqu8FDF1u0p0X850tdRAgIU8eqfYmEuGVbcmMViaD-z2p6xL11KlaiR0a1UE2gQ8kGA6aHGfqZ0TJ4QYyLs2nRLMkt6UazQltHprh49qwFFcJsgfd2pWwE7VUj/s4128/20200610_192228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="2322" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUFwPbYys6lDThdThp8IOw4nR49aFz1lEioFm5dgsbgdvF8_yRBxrBIL2tQQi5Xjn-uRqu8FDF1u0p0X850tdRAgIU8eqfYmEuGVbcmMViaD-z2p6xL11KlaiR0a1UE2gQ8kGA6aHGfqZ0TJ4QYyLs2nRLMkt6UazQltHprh49qwFFcJsgfd2pWwE7VUj/w360-h640/20200610_192228.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-4838508104425853972023-10-14T15:58:00.000-07:002023-10-14T15:58:07.831-07:00HOW TO CRAFT THE "COMING OF AGE" STORY AT MECHANICS INSTITUTE<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE </b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><i><b>WRITERS LUNCH</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b> AT THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE LIBRARY</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b>VIA ZOOM</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>ON</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><b>OCTOBER 20, 2023</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><b>12:00 PM</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>FOR A DISCUSSION ON</b> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>HOW TO CRAFT THE "COMING OF AGE" STORY</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>WITH MARVELOUS WRITERS</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>DERA WILLIAMS</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>DANIEL BABKA<br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>ISIDRA MENCOS</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>AND MODERATED BY YOURS TRULY</b></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><br /></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKIgvXvLPVDgaKoQ-nfGQdZCq0EARuUGJB8YYqtZftL3Gk4t8jJ2KIupyXn2t8lk0YzbQwF0mabGSS4fQEv8DoJk859-hpCDp7l0zsrt6QX9iZ1lsnrGB_M-y_SEJInWaV11Gk1fDZLxAU23EoQXTHiu1E2UF52lGIq2FL6cJ3ZrO3KZijLaNRkDhCAlx/s4128/20200721_193931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="2322" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKIgvXvLPVDgaKoQ-nfGQdZCq0EARuUGJB8YYqtZftL3Gk4t8jJ2KIupyXn2t8lk0YzbQwF0mabGSS4fQEv8DoJk859-hpCDp7l0zsrt6QX9iZ1lsnrGB_M-y_SEJInWaV11Gk1fDZLxAU23EoQXTHiu1E2UF52lGIq2FL6cJ3ZrO3KZijLaNRkDhCAlx/w225-h400/20200721_193931.jpg" width="225" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i><b>SEE MORE AND REGISTER HERE:</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-how-craft-coming-age-story-oct-20-2023">https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-how-craft-coming-age-story-oct-20-2023</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>FREE</b></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-4865209154140827132023-08-28T10:43:00.000-07:002023-08-28T10:43:06.486-07:00MY ARTICLE AND THE LATEST FLASH CONTEST INFORMATION FROM WRITER ADVICE<p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>MY ARTICLE</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> AND </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #a64d79;">THE LATEST </span><span style="color: #ff00fe;">FLASH </span><span style="color: #a64d79;">CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> FROM</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> <i><span style="color: #674ea7;">WRITER ADVICE</span></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></i></b></span></p><p> <em style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">“You never know who is reading your work and other paths that may open</span>.” </span></em><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">~~ Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte</span></p><p><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 36pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">WHY ENTER WRITING CONTESTS</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>WRITTEN FOR</b></span>: <em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>WRITER ADVICE</b></span></em></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">JUNE 21, 2023</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;"><i><span style="color: red;">SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTE</span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-3131 alignleft" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" height="183" src="https://writeradvice.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/images-2.jpeg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: inherit; float: left; height: auto; margin: 0px 24px 24px 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="275" />Here is the question: Are writing contests worth entering?</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Well, let me begin my answer by saying that all writing contests are not created equal. There are many reasons for this. Some contests are only open to one genre or even a genre within a genre. Some are regional and some only want to hear from a siloed segment of voices.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Even so, if you happen to be among the select few who reach the finals or the even smaller percentage who go on to win, there is nothing like being able to write “finalist” or “award winning writer” in your bio.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">But win, place or no, entering writing contests where your voice and material are what is being requested can be a rewarding experience that pays dividends in several ways.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">You never know who is reading your work and other paths that may open</em></span><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">.</em> It may not be obvious, but you give greater opportunity to your words through contests. The more eyes on your work, the better.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Every writing contest you enter feeds your integrity and range as a writer</em>.</span> The activity of determining what, when, where and how to enter a contest enables you to understand where your work resonates and where it doesn’t. Just taking the time to read the criteria for a given writing contest may spark your muse to create something new.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">You learn to place rejection where it should be</em></span>, as a part of this competitive writing world we live in and as a normal and everyday occurrence for the writer. This can help you to sharpen your voice and skillset or as I mentioned above, it can even help you to find a new writing path.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">You have arrived at belief and confidence in your craft and in yourself as a writer</em>.</span> The very fact that you are entering a writing contest already means that you have reached the most important goal in being in this place. You have become fearless and that is the writer’s greatest attribute.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">You are already a winner.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">LATEST <b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-style: italic;">WRITER ADVICE </span><span style="color: #ff00fe;">FLASH</span></b> CONTEST:</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://writeradvice.com/latest-contest-information/"><span style="font-size: large;">https://writeradvice.com/latest-contest-information/</span></a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"> </p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-90301171330527013292023-08-24T16:48:00.003-07:002023-08-24T16:50:31.849-07:00ICYMI AND WHAT'S COMING UP!<p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">ICYMI on August 18</span> </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><b>Here is the video of the Mechanics Institute Writers Lunch:</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><i><b>Balancing Writing and Publishing</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: large;"><i><b>with Gini Grossenbacher and O'Cyrus</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=ucT9RfhnrEI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=ucT9RfhnrEI</a></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: red;">the </span><span style="color: #800180;">next </span><span style="color: red;">Writers Lunch at Mechanics Institute is on September 15!</span></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i>THE ART OF THE ANTHOLOGY</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><i>register here:</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-art-anthology-sep-15-2023">https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-art-anthology-sep-15-2023</a></i></b></span></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-43980363109083013622023-08-17T11:18:00.001-07:002023-08-17T11:18:34.810-07:00GONE INTERNATIONAL! <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b> GONE INTERNATIONAL</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> IN DOUGLAS COLE'S </span><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">BLUE CITADEL</span></i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> FEATURE</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> FOR </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>COLUMBIA'S</b> <i><span style="color: #990000;"><b>READ CARPET</b></span> <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>MAGAZINE</b></span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: medium;"><i><b>SEE FULL ARTICLE AT LINK BELOW</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p><a href="https://readcarpet.co/the-embedded-ambassador-sheryl-j-boutte/?fbclid=IwAR1aiPOGkautpKKrN2MimdwXsgl1TRaxwRh-Dzcq3pgth1b-MD8IxqiaiFk"><span style="font-size: medium;">https://readcarpet.co/the-embedded-ambassador-sheryl-j-boutte/?fbclid=IwAR1aiPOGkautpKKrN2MimdwXsgl1TRaxwRh-Dzcq3pgth1b-MD8IxqiaiFk</span></a></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyN45SXkyiQM-BsmNPYcDGTQ7FKn8sOy6gkKUp7CIBME26fsEpBz-p-LRaZhXsArixpK5pAt82MJGcM08RBrnaCMwmSuS2k4IpZkw0iQn4Qw-qxQsDCFosgZjXoQsKJa5MmhsOJwV-sSmLLlQo12B09m_fDVSY9FulAiIgeBO06yE35RVSa4kZSbOfh07r" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyN45SXkyiQM-BsmNPYcDGTQ7FKn8sOy6gkKUp7CIBME26fsEpBz-p-LRaZhXsArixpK5pAt82MJGcM08RBrnaCMwmSuS2k4IpZkw0iQn4Qw-qxQsDCFosgZjXoQsKJa5MmhsOJwV-sSmLLlQo12B09m_fDVSY9FulAiIgeBO06yE35RVSa4kZSbOfh07r=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><br />Thank you, Mr. Cole!<p></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-87280623955004688032023-08-14T14:59:00.000-07:002023-08-14T14:59:49.995-07:00WRITERS LUNCH COMING UP ON FRIDAY AUGUST 18 AT MECHANICS INSTITUTE<p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: medium;"><b>PLEASE JOIN US AT THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE LIBRARY </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="font-size: medium;">OF </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b>SAN FRANCISCO </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;"><b>VIA ZOOM</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><b><i>ON AUGUST 18, 2023</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #a64d79;">YES, </span><span style="color: red;">THIS </span><span style="color: #a64d79;">FRIDAY</span></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">12:00 PM-1:00 PM</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>FOR A DICSUSSION ON </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><i>BALANCING AUTHORSHIP AND PUBLISHING</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>WITH TWO FABULOUS WRITERS AND INDIE PUBLISHERS</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>GINI GROSSENBACHER AND O'CYRUS</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180;">OH, DID I TELL YOU,</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>IT'S FREE! </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">REGISTER HERE FOR </span><span style="color: #ff00fe;">ZOOM </span>AND MORE INFO:</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-balancing-authorship-and-publishing-aug-18-2023"><span style="font-size: medium;">https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-balancing-authorship-and-publishing-aug-18-2023</span></a></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-38512552985938252532023-08-02T12:42:00.000-07:002023-08-02T12:42:14.201-07:00She Got Email<p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Arial Nova Light", sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">SHE GOT EMAIL!</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Arial Nova Light", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Arial Nova Light", sans-serif; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>"Dear SHERYL,</b></span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; border-style: none; color: #cc0000; font-family: Cabin; margin: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Arial Nova Light", sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: Cabin; margin: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Arial Nova Light", sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span class="markg2qnfo8jv uM2yb" data-markjs="true" style="background-color: var(--themeLighter); border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; color: var(--themeDark); font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 1px; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Congratulations</span>! Your entry, “Plateau,” was awarded Honorable Mention in the Memoirs/Personal Essay category of the 92<sup>nd </sup>Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition."</b></span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: Cabin; margin: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Arial Nova Light", sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Here it is for you again or for the first time:</b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaT93T_xs6DfRPv_OUGOY8-BTXc9F4iCHO4U4xMfDNJyjmNidnIrIrY3N-Avy_saKahuLO4XpSDun8tZpEQgWHFV73_v6jHty3g4Vrqap2xsYY0yMQDyI5c2mEX4i94q6YNr-h7slIL7iPv2RGt2SF9FXB-5qbwHg1tIt7yeNy8qGLNypkssNPcYlSy-hy/s251/point%20reyes%20for%20plateau.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaT93T_xs6DfRPv_OUGOY8-BTXc9F4iCHO4U4xMfDNJyjmNidnIrIrY3N-Avy_saKahuLO4XpSDun8tZpEQgWHFV73_v6jHty3g4Vrqap2xsYY0yMQDyI5c2mEX4i94q6YNr-h7slIL7iPv2RGt2SF9FXB-5qbwHg1tIt7yeNy8qGLNypkssNPcYlSy-hy/w319-h400/point%20reyes%20for%20plateau.jpeg" width="319" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: Cabin; margin: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Arial Nova Light", sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>PLATEAU</b></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte</i></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b><i>© 2020 by Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte</i></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Miss Pennwender was late. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>The five of us in her first period American Government class were not particularly worried at first. After all, she was a total flower girl hippie, the young white woman icon of that day in 1968, and we knew she liked to smoke a bit. Sometimes we could smell it on her clothes or in her hair. We all loved her in our own ways. We all knew she loved us and wanted the best for us. She came prepared each day to make sure we had everything we needed to excel in her class and to ace our college entrance exams. She didn’t just teach us the basic elements of American Government, she taught us the background and history and atmosphere of it all. She was unlike any teacher we had ever had and our bonds with her and hers with us, although never verbally expressed, were strong. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>So, on this day, it was just not right that she was not standing in her usual place at the door when we arrived. Things felt tilted and out of balance as we took our usual seats in the portable classroom. Maybe she was just held up in traffic or had overslept, we reasoned with each other. In the beginnings of her lateness, we didn’t entertain any other options.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>We sat there just waiting, not speaking as five minutes passed and too quickly became ten. And even at that mark of time, in our know- everything- overconfident youthfulness we remained certain in our assumptions about her not being on time. After all, we were the “smart” kids, the “gifted” students who had been specifically chosen to be in Miss P’s accelerated college prep twelfth grade class at our Oakland, California high school. This was no small accomplishment in our white flight neighborhood where being deemed as smart or gifted was a designation bestowed on students at our school less and less. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>While old yearbooks would reveal that almost half of the student body had been inducted into the National Honor Society, and two-thirds were enrolled in special college preparatory classes, this year, only the five of us out of twelve hundred students at our now mixed-race school, had “tested” smart enough to be placed in Miss P’s and other such courses. We had been hastily assembled in the principal’s office at the beginning of our senior year and without looking directly at us, he mumbled to us that we had “fallen” into the “genius” category on our intelligence testing from the year before and would be taking “special” courses designed for “high achievers” like us. It all seemed fairly messy and felt as if we had been notified at the last minute, and unwillingly.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>We were an interesting group, to say the least. There were the Japanese twins, tall and angular Steve and Mark Tanuki; red-haired and introverted white girl Adelaide Morrison; blond and overly muscular football star Jimmy Fargo; and me, the talkative sandy-haired Black girl. Sometimes there were four of us who wondered why and how Jimmy got into the class, but we didn’t dwell on it.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Soon enough, the ten minutes became fifteen, the universal cutoff for waiting for a teacher. For some reason, we didn’t budge. We didn’t even look at each other. We knew something unsaid. The tilt became more pronounced as we struggled to remain patient. We knew things did not feel exactly right this day, the discomfort prompting nervous chatter.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>“She will be here soon,” Steve said.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>“Yes, any minute,” I said.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Adelaide began pacing the floor in the back of the classroom.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>“Will you please stop that walking, Adelaide?” Jimmy said a little too loudly, making us all look over at him. “Your footsteps are driving me…”</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Before he could finish his sentence, Miss P burst through the door, all shawls and straight middle-parted long brown hair, red-faced, sweaty and looking a bit crazed. In her right hand was set of Volkswagen bus keys.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i> In her left hand was an 18-inch-long metal pipe.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>“Guys and girls, get your things!” She said breathlessly, a small bit of spittle spray escaping her thin, dry lips. “We are going on a field trip!”</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Without a second thought, we gathered our bags and books and followed her down the hall and out to her VW bus, haphazardly parked right in front of our classroom building. Somehow, she had driven past the gated and fenced teacher’s parking lot and through the school grounds to pick us up. We were so excited to be doing something out of the ordinary with our freewheeling teacher and going on what we thought was a field trip, it would only seem out of character when we looked back.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>We happily piled into the VW. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>“Don’t worry,” Miss P said. “I will have you all back by the 3:05 bell.”</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Off we went. Miss P’s VW bus allowed us a comfortable and scenic ride. The 580 freeway took us through town and then on to other cities along the way. We talked, laughed and pointed out familiar landmarks as they passed. I even showed everyone the exit my family took to get to my grandmother’s house in Richmond. By the time we passed that landmark, everything else was new territory to all of us except Miss P and Jimmy, both of whom seemed to know much more about places further north from Oakland.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Soon we reached the San Rafael bridge. It would be the first time I; the twins or Adelaide had crossed it and we paid attention to every bump and window view. After a little more than an hour of driving, we finally reached our destination, Point Reyes National Seashore.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>We all disembarked from the VW bus, looking at each other quizzically. Was this some kind of nature lesson? And if so, what did it have to do with American Government? Her keys secured into her macrame shoulder bag, lead pipe in her right hand, Miss P turned to look back at us briefly and began swiftly walking toward an incline. We could clearly see the plateau near the top. Like sheep, we followed her. We climbed along with her and didn’t say a word until we reached the grassy top.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>The view of the ocean was magnificent. It took what little breath we had left away and then its stunning beauty gave it back to us full force. The waves were calm and dancing against the shore like ballerinas in a choreographed line. It was a special place. We knew we were here for a significant reason.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>“Come and sit with me,” Miss P. said. Her brown hair was glinting in the sun, pushed back the slight breeze with rhythmic timing. Her face was drained of color. Her eyes seemed vacant.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>“He hit him with the pipe,” she said as she held it up to the sunlight.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>“That pipe?” I asked.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>“Yes.”</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i> We all really looked at the pipe then. There was a red stain on one end we had not noticed before.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>“Where, when?” Steve and Mark asked in unison.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Below, even though we could no longer see them from where we sat, we knew the waves were silently breaking against the rocks. Surely, they would soften and cleanse everything we were about to hear.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>“At the club last night.” Miss P had her head in her hands and began to moan as she rocked back and forth. We instinctively drew closer and surrounded her. We didn’t know yet what had happened, but we did know it was hurting Miss P and that she needed us. We didn’t know what to say to her, so we just closed in on her so she could feel us there. After a while she raised her head and looked at each of us. Her eyes were filled with tears. Her voice was weak and thready when she spoke.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>“His name is Lamont. He is the love of my life. That man hit him with the pipe. He said to me white girl why are you with that spook? He said I have been watching you come in here with him. Then he hit him with the pipe and dropped it where Lamont fell. He said you won’t be with him again bitch. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>I don’t know why I picked it up. I don’t remember much except leaving the hospital this morning.”</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>She looked up at the sky. She let go of the pipe and let it settle in the deep grass.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>“Well, how is Lamont?” I asked.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Miss P just looked at me and dropped her head. Then she walked slowly to the edge of the plateau. We followed. I grabbed her hand. Jimmy took her other hand. The rest joined hands and we just stood there together looking at the waves kiss the shore. They were gray and silty now.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Now we knew why she had brought us here. Of all the people she could have chosen for this moment when she needed someone the most, she had chosen us.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>And as we stood there, afraid and worried for a man we had never even met, we felt Miss P’s palatable love for Lamont. Although in different ways, and for different reasons, on that day we all felt the ugliness, bigotry, tragedy and horrid meaning of what had been done to him. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>We heard the roar before we saw it. The waves had become all foam and fierceness. They hit the rocks below with such force the plateau seemed to move backward. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>When the spray hit us as we stood there together, we all knew Lamont was gone.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>“Well, I said I would have you back by the 3:05 bell,” Miss P said as she disengaged from our hands.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>We walked back to the VW bus. We rode back full of our own thoughts about what had happened. Everyone was sad. Miss P was silent. I was angry. So, so angry.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>We reached the school at 3:00 and stepped out of the VW bus. Miss P hugged and kissed us all. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>When the 3:05 bell rang out with a screeching finality, we watched as Miss P turned from us and walked slowly away, climbing into and starting up the VW. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>And with what would be her final wave to us, and ours to her, we watched wordlessly as Miss Pennwender drove away.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial Nova Light, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: Cabin; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: Cabin; margin: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Arial Nova Light", sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">This story was first published in <i>Synchronized Chaos Online Magazine</i> January 1, 2021</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: Cabin; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Arial Nova Light", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: Cabin; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-10147289902980179682023-07-01T12:03:00.000-07:002023-07-01T12:03:21.798-07:00"THE ROTTEN ROSE" WINS A "WRITER ADVICE" FLASH FICTION AWARD<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>THIRD PLACE WINNER</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><i>WRITER ADVICE </i></b></span><span style="color: #01ffff; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: #274e13; font-weight: bold;">FLASH FICTION AWARD 2023</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEDTvHaNHHc0IOBjIvDNMrYrlK6KwL00wG33NsJa9AZr9Dlp00jtttHKabnoMe-ejikzj8TiAA88KoMjyAuH9suMDZwoakeQtX93tBVgnevaXEdRD42rP-vann9-0pGinz_yeXYmdIG2H6G-ifxF6uCNbYxykrQtyIb-MNMx-UEFoPpQGMinaBSLghVkb/s5184/THE%20ROTTEN%20ROSE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEDTvHaNHHc0IOBjIvDNMrYrlK6KwL00wG33NsJa9AZr9Dlp00jtttHKabnoMe-ejikzj8TiAA88KoMjyAuH9suMDZwoakeQtX93tBVgnevaXEdRD42rP-vann9-0pGinz_yeXYmdIG2H6G-ifxF6uCNbYxykrQtyIb-MNMx-UEFoPpQGMinaBSLghVkb/s320/THE%20ROTTEN%20ROSE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">THE ROTTEN ROSE</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Copyright©2023 by Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">He bump-rolled into town in his greyscale Volkswagen bug on three good tires and an uncooperative spare. The flat tire that happened ten miles back on the desolate country road had made him anxious. The now familiar gut-wrenching urgency was beginning its slow creep and would soon take over, breaking him again.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Pulling into the dry dusty driveway of the Daily Night Inn, the rotten smell again filled his nostrils. It had come back to him several times as he drove from Nashville to this awful place in nowhere Texas, but no amount of searching the small car yielded any clues as to the where the now acrid odor was coming from, so he just drove on.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">His destination was more important than that smell and besides, he would be rid of all that very soon. He had now arrived at the place where it would all end.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">A lonely motel room. A lonely man. One shot that no one would hear.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">No note. No explanation.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">They would come in two days and find him only because he would not have paid for the extra night. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">She was in this town so she would know soon what she had done to him. She would have to be the one to come and take care of him. He had no one else.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">He was thinking about this and how she would feel when they told her. Would she be sad? Resigned? Relieved?</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">He was thinking about this when he banged his fist into the crumbling, fragile VW dashboard. The force of his blow caused part of the dash pad to fall away.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Right there, wedged between the broken needle gas gauge and the mileage spent odometer was the source of the smell. A dead and rotting rose, the stem still embedded in a tiny holder with just enough stagnant water to change conditions in this miniature space. She always had a rose on the dashboard in that finger sized vase. How it had gotten to this place, he did not know. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">The last time he had seen that flower she had been driving and he was in the passenger seat. They were arguing about something stupid that he could no longer recall. It had not been that long ago, but he had stopped living within the measurements of time.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">He picked the brown and rotting rose out of the maze of dust, hoses, numbers, and rusty wire connections to find a small sliver of paper attached.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">I will always love you. No matter what. Love, Jenine</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Rose in hand, the man made his way to the desk of the seedy motel and rang the bell for service.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">A short, sweaty rotund man appeared and in an almost comical drawl asked,</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">“What can I do for you today, mister?”</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">If he noticed the rose, he made no mention of it.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">“I’d like a room please,” the man said.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">“For the night?” the clerk asked.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">“For the week, please,” the man replied.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">“My, I tell you that’s a surprise. We don’t get many around here who want to stay that long!” the clerk replied excitedly.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">“Well,” the man said, “I am just having a feeling,”</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">The clerk narrowed his eyes as he turned register around for the man’s signature, “And what feeling would you be having if you don’t mind my askin?”</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Through his shining and broad smile, the man said,</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> “Optimism.”</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://WWW.SHERYLJBIZE-BOUTTE.COM">WWW.SHERYLJBIZE-BOUTTE.COM</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">SEE OTHER <span style="color: #ff00fe;"><i>WRITER ADVICE</i></span> WINNERS AT</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://writeradvice.com/the-contest-winners-are/">https://writeradvice.com/the-contest-winners-are/</a></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-39740618644166094912023-06-11T16:46:00.000-07:002023-06-11T16:46:56.575-07:00"THE ROTTEN ROSE" SELECTED AS A FINALIST<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-size: medium;">MY STORY</span> </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><i>THE ROTTEN ROSE</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>HAS BEEN SELECTED AS A <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>FINALIST </b></span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i> IN THE </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">WRITER ADVICE</span></b></i> <b><span style="color: #800180;">2023 FLASH FICTION CONTEST</span></b></span></p><p><br /></p><p><b>WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE...</b></p><p>AND IF YOU WANT TO WRITE SOME FLASH FICTION CHECK THIS OUT:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Kz6N9rDjThplP1gat3m09Z1IraM0WdK5mzfeHivVJBxko9Fek7SmmifALYmq6nqbdccAaTkANw0wxppz_ztj_cMzYKp7-3g_podT6zh2zL39uitiPUvaqQLL1CmlAn29w0CvBqgcedMPtPquNBd5Sb9muoHeJggWUH0A9cx8SErL7DDOXLwKmgvRSQ/s796/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="612" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Kz6N9rDjThplP1gat3m09Z1IraM0WdK5mzfeHivVJBxko9Fek7SmmifALYmq6nqbdccAaTkANw0wxppz_ztj_cMzYKp7-3g_podT6zh2zL39uitiPUvaqQLL1CmlAn29w0CvBqgcedMPtPquNBd5Sb9muoHeJggWUH0A9cx8SErL7DDOXLwKmgvRSQ/w493-h640/image.png" width="493" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><b>ENROLLING NOW</b></span>: <a href="mailto:GINIS.WRITERS1@GMAIL.COM">GINIS.WRITERS1@GMAIL.COM</a></p><p><br /></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-58796743156161143142023-05-30T16:07:00.000-07:002023-05-30T16:07:06.058-07:00ENROLLING NOW FOR SUMMER WRITING CLASS: SPARK, FLICKER, FLASH!<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b> ENROLLING NOW AT:</b></span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><a href="mailto:GINIS.WRITERS1@GMAIL.COM">GINIS.WRITERS1@GMAIL.COM</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9WYENKyyxBD3sFWperZER2OKzlGB2rYC45_4LrJSJOUXDJlvjKoo9-Vjc-3hHdSFIUx1ufeTWPdHfD5HZhtAHawyw40ucUmoo4r76DQcP0h5t81Y1f9D0ObgGhYjU01dk7mXlXpsjiqq2dK0GKGgfGANMqp-2A34A7ELgPGy2eJgWWNbKFnSjIL-i3A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="612" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9WYENKyyxBD3sFWperZER2OKzlGB2rYC45_4LrJSJOUXDJlvjKoo9-Vjc-3hHdSFIUx1ufeTWPdHfD5HZhtAHawyw40ucUmoo4r76DQcP0h5t81Y1f9D0ObgGhYjU01dk7mXlXpsjiqq2dK0GKGgfGANMqp-2A34A7ELgPGy2eJgWWNbKFnSjIL-i3A=w492-h640" width="492" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>JOIN GINI AND ME!</b></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">IMAGINE, CREATE, WRITE AND </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">HAVE FUN!</span></b></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-18742170349515765612023-04-17T16:17:00.000-07:002023-04-17T16:17:39.748-07:00FOR THE EARTH WEEK INSIDE THE NATIONAL POETRY MONTH<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9OOM4qMIq7kepLoIm38g0bw5FR0acc-up5UuNXBpaHjmC8idUWkPWSQ5mRyi3yNE1ITcJpcGF1TctK42yRh8nNmznHCLNzHipQr1PHCg9z20y1TGdSj_xCC-eAehN2_1iXjnJf4HOR-nyrjbT2PckMFTOeNK25hNaT1JAeBWs8gUiz_DAZNKuYoqjCg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b>THE BIG BREAK-UP</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #783f04;">Copyright©2019 by Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte</span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0wOo_8kWxiFqevFqBU7Tmh0oyP0ubZNvyAUzW4LhGXAaOrmZU8mGFX4hSg5wx3DCo5tRaG8bHzYSlfm2UwYBrapXJf7DNcbbwZUhqBtcXFwi3UPmfXl4d0Gc9UASlFD59RiJagxfs15peXRIU6tQbUdAlwOnMoZqx_8rSMpxiITMvvkRcz7otMksSQ/s960/B5E1F339-94C8-4D9B-A091-C8C35B88D476.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0wOo_8kWxiFqevFqBU7Tmh0oyP0ubZNvyAUzW4LhGXAaOrmZU8mGFX4hSg5wx3DCo5tRaG8bHzYSlfm2UwYBrapXJf7DNcbbwZUhqBtcXFwi3UPmfXl4d0Gc9UASlFD59RiJagxfs15peXRIU6tQbUdAlwOnMoZqx_8rSMpxiITMvvkRcz7otMksSQ/w200-h200/B5E1F339-94C8-4D9B-A091-C8C35B88D476.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">You named me </p><p style="text-align: center;">Mother Earth </p><p style="text-align: center;">And in my last days </p><p style="text-align: center;">I look back and wonder</p><p style="text-align: center;">If you had believed</p><p style="text-align: center;">I was a man</p><p style="text-align: center;">Would you have</p><p style="text-align: center;">Respected me more</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHBh2aQ7ZIk8R5hR99gtFZ0Xz7Ro219R9rUc8zIyNMwPyBLNNetF9MiqddjOO2GWZ0TI4WdFmvO8mn_3R-lPF3SJqPEyK85So5qszd_sVQb-djUveraPEo5fV3K4ZgmY08Xtz2hnOCY2ERkLasbsvc33lVGXGwrkquY4FLSKJU6WLV6QqrouG8Z_rzQ/s4128/20210503_144005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="2322" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHBh2aQ7ZIk8R5hR99gtFZ0Xz7Ro219R9rUc8zIyNMwPyBLNNetF9MiqddjOO2GWZ0TI4WdFmvO8mn_3R-lPF3SJqPEyK85So5qszd_sVQb-djUveraPEo5fV3K4ZgmY08Xtz2hnOCY2ERkLasbsvc33lVGXGwrkquY4FLSKJU6WLV6QqrouG8Z_rzQ/w113-h200/20210503_144005.jpg" width="113" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Would you have treated me </p><p style="text-align: center;">Like the devoted caregiver</p><p style="text-align: center;">Taken for granted </p><p style="text-align: center;">Thinking I would always be here</p><p style="text-align: center;">Because Mama always got you</p><p style="text-align: center;">Even when you </p><p style="text-align: center;">Slowly and deliberately</p><p style="text-align: center;">Break her heart</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">💔</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">I have come to know you</p><p style="text-align: center;">As the indifferent children you are</p><p style="text-align: center;">Greedy and uncaring</p><p style="text-align: center;">Where those among you</p><p style="text-align: center;">With the loudest voice</p><p style="text-align: center;">And the biggest bag of coin</p><p style="text-align: center;">Silence those who want to save me</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAgL1JvQ2aClQ5KhUCwjpAPIJBoD7-ctmkQ7BEI7U4vVC8x-K2sCjPo6ty2Xyx7yOAsUP4QfI6b_gNi5vmTamw04sMNByYs7YtO9xnNP-kO7uiwz_WNgupW21FcURzyHx7WHi2hRAlTaCLggmtvcU1WiiEWusrrcTy7-4uaH96jYc-LMxxWpoc0XY_Q/s4128/20200718_163801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="2322" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAgL1JvQ2aClQ5KhUCwjpAPIJBoD7-ctmkQ7BEI7U4vVC8x-K2sCjPo6ty2Xyx7yOAsUP4QfI6b_gNi5vmTamw04sMNByYs7YtO9xnNP-kO7uiwz_WNgupW21FcURzyHx7WHi2hRAlTaCLggmtvcU1WiiEWusrrcTy7-4uaH96jYc-LMxxWpoc0XY_Q/w113-h200/20200718_163801.jpg" width="113" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">You shake my core</p><p style="text-align: center;">Producing unnatural fire</p><p style="text-align: center;">My heat does not subside</p><p style="text-align: center;">My tears evaporate</p><p style="text-align: center;">I only imagine I can cry</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bnbCOKaDm5YBsjJSIgIA1XblMPAq9LQ1ZqCI-KvqvMmvbNowfu1iLxnBhsXAuA3BzV6JLdOaH5cAtDhVHXkVqSsRnIL0SMIZlKzXsAMZoZ2GSIc6lQ1LL3p95KeYEmYrWtp3Q5x_5V3LHAoCEOUEDqagmYdKnO_SRLI5e_lFAvMnKzxccy3IkCaysA/s251/point%20reyes%20for%20plateau.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bnbCOKaDm5YBsjJSIgIA1XblMPAq9LQ1ZqCI-KvqvMmvbNowfu1iLxnBhsXAuA3BzV6JLdOaH5cAtDhVHXkVqSsRnIL0SMIZlKzXsAMZoZ2GSIc6lQ1LL3p95KeYEmYrWtp3Q5x_5V3LHAoCEOUEDqagmYdKnO_SRLI5e_lFAvMnKzxccy3IkCaysA/w159-h200/point%20reyes%20for%20plateau.jpeg" width="159" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Gone are my seas </p><p style="text-align: center;">Of clear aqua calm</p><p style="text-align: center;">Debris clouds reflection</p><p style="text-align: center;">Of the exploding stars</p><p style="text-align: center;">Melting in my fever</p><p style="text-align: center;">Freezing in my chill</p><p style="text-align: center;">I am starving </p><p style="text-align: center;"> Seeking the sweet breath</p><p style="text-align: center;">That is no longer there</p><p style="text-align: center;">I choke on my dryness</p><p style="text-align: center;">I drown in my wetness</p><p style="text-align: center;">My greens are dust</p><p style="text-align: center;">My browns are mold</p><p style="text-align: center;">I am toxic to life</p><p style="text-align: center;">My rancid smell repels</p><p style="text-align: center;">I cannot control my bowel</p><p style="text-align: center;">💦</p><p style="text-align: center;">As I spill over </p><p style="text-align: center;">into the unknown</p><p style="text-align: center;">and places where </p><p style="text-align: center;">my wardrobe no longer fits</p><p style="text-align: center;">I am naked and alone</p><p style="text-align: center;">Stripped of my riches</p><p style="text-align: center;">As flames rage across my belly</p><p style="text-align: center;">With misplaced rain </p><p style="text-align: center;">Steaming from my head</p><p style="text-align: center;">Poison droplets swipe right</p><p style="text-align: center;">Across my chest</p><p style="text-align: center;">Landing at my center</p><p style="text-align: center;">I give birth sporadically</p><p style="text-align: center;">In strange places</p><p style="text-align: center;">Where some things do not belong</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7182xYktcHitbuDv7-J2I8XEDt6KymyzYpGyCXWRVfElNiO64mTdCN2V05Zm7y2u8_dZKQtEN1OJqveldxUkZOLRCo7BHfYlysncds5p6IPdveVHnI_sf4Z40MT-cucKyaUdYve7gQHD_7QDt00fwdJCCZk_Z7WWcv3g9_WsnuKHYjy1NuYEhKjz-pg/s720/collar%20green%20running%202.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="594" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7182xYktcHitbuDv7-J2I8XEDt6KymyzYpGyCXWRVfElNiO64mTdCN2V05Zm7y2u8_dZKQtEN1OJqveldxUkZOLRCo7BHfYlysncds5p6IPdveVHnI_sf4Z40MT-cucKyaUdYve7gQHD_7QDt00fwdJCCZk_Z7WWcv3g9_WsnuKHYjy1NuYEhKjz-pg/w165-h200/collar%20green%20running%202.jpeg" width="165" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">There was an order here</p><p style="text-align: center;">There was a freedom</p><p style="text-align: center;">There was a love</p><p style="text-align: center;">Openings for new beginnings</p><p style="text-align: center;">The portal is closing</p><p style="text-align: center;">My feet are missing</p><p style="text-align: center;">My soul is heavy</p><p style="text-align: center;">Movement is an elusive dream</p><p style="text-align: center;"> I have grown tired</p><p style="text-align: center;">I must rest my soul</p><p style="text-align: center;">By leaving you</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">If enough are left </p><p style="text-align: center;">Who really love me</p><p style="text-align: center;">You may find my hiding places</p><p style="text-align: center;">While the sun continues to reveal</p><p style="text-align: center;">And the moon lights the empty dark</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFIkjBimgypCN9NkoiPm0-XPLMSo0Muoa-cMYEaVeztgO-Y1scTd54Cc-X2RcUFUQst8yd6eQGQOSSfDLJr3cHIBjYJKy60fBZ_I5UIuone-myW5tij7oX_qyCS7clIgyte4R7wLlBhJNAEQxWIEVdFaItoJ6yResup05Ihh_Rh27UouVUzTKVZYL0Q/s1600/zDz8vS.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1236" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFIkjBimgypCN9NkoiPm0-XPLMSo0Muoa-cMYEaVeztgO-Y1scTd54Cc-X2RcUFUQst8yd6eQGQOSSfDLJr3cHIBjYJKy60fBZ_I5UIuone-myW5tij7oX_qyCS7clIgyte4R7wLlBhJNAEQxWIEVdFaItoJ6yResup05Ihh_Rh27UouVUzTKVZYL0Q/w154-h200/zDz8vS.jpeg" width="154" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-11871092773993717222023-04-13T15:34:00.000-07:002023-04-13T15:34:00.190-07:00ICYMI-NO POETRY NO PEACE AT MECHANICS INSTITUTE APRIL 12, 2023<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://you.be/JJQKKzWc_U"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> https://youtu.be/IJJQKKzWc_U</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwE9GrrMucYsV5j9QgKX-XnypjNeZfVDqNbQAkBvu5-fip4fBPxSL1cCiqJK1yjIA7P2Bny-7jld8XsULWELWR2PFYYVqpkrJT9nR4AsiEmYVd45RJiNv6eonQc6Jrv7wJzfmBa6_ogSNtfH_IcjzUc4EKSWAdgYgaV5E9K1jEXHJ__c-EHZHHOHmiw/s2048/NO%20POETRY%20NO%20PEACE%20COVER.JPEG%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1284" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwE9GrrMucYsV5j9QgKX-XnypjNeZfVDqNbQAkBvu5-fip4fBPxSL1cCiqJK1yjIA7P2Bny-7jld8XsULWELWR2PFYYVqpkrJT9nR4AsiEmYVd45RJiNv6eonQc6Jrv7wJzfmBa6_ogSNtfH_IcjzUc4EKSWAdgYgaV5E9K1jEXHJ__c-EHZHHOHmiw/s320/NO%20POETRY%20NO%20PEACE%20COVER.JPEG%20.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">HAPPY NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!</p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-41592141334977369772023-04-10T17:18:00.000-07:002023-04-10T17:18:20.606-07:00APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL POETRY MONTH</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: medium;"><b>WITH</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: x-large;">NO POETRY NO PEACE™</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: medium;"><b>FEATURING POETRY READINGS BY</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: medium;"><b>DR. JEANNE POWELL</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: medium;"><b>KARLA BRUNDAGE</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: medium;"><b>SANDRA WASSILLIE</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: medium;"><b>TERRY TIERNEY</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: medium;"><b>AND OF COURSE, YOURS TRULY</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">THESE POETS ARE ALL HAPPENING AT THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE LIBRARY </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"> </span><b style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">ON APRIL 12, 2023 AT 6:00 PM</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b>ZOOM ON IN!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">REGISTER HERE:</span> <a href="https://www.milibrary.org/events/no-poetry-no-peace-reading-and-celebration-human-expression-and-peace-apr-12-2023">https://www.milibrary.org/events/no-poetry-no-peace-reading-and-celebration-human-expression-and-peace-apr-12-2023</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_F7wI8aS_CD0wKdjKUEuJ0WpK0-l6OWUFTRyYjFzMYjt0pnpWx1GUJwIWNGMDuHtftH3dC_1xlT_kndGzZKnRRlHwqHE1K2bXOtFm_ZGEAAC44UPUewNPh6JtEp9GluaCDd8221_AnmEAAJPC9lnoU8oNlAlmMeTUhMIDjYxUfI63YMXer9bTsgF6w/s2048/NO%20POETRY%20NO%20PEACE%20COVER.JPEG%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1284" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_F7wI8aS_CD0wKdjKUEuJ0WpK0-l6OWUFTRyYjFzMYjt0pnpWx1GUJwIWNGMDuHtftH3dC_1xlT_kndGzZKnRRlHwqHE1K2bXOtFm_ZGEAAC44UPUewNPh6JtEp9GluaCDd8221_AnmEAAJPC9lnoU8oNlAlmMeTUhMIDjYxUfI63YMXer9bTsgF6w/s320/NO%20POETRY%20NO%20PEACE%20COVER.JPEG%20.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">OH, YES, <span style="color: #ff00fe;">NO POETRY NO PEACE </span>IS ALSO A BOOK I CO-WROTE WITH MY DAUGHTER ANGELA</p><p style="text-align: center;">HERE'S WHAT A RECENT READER HAD TO SAY:</p><p style="text-align: center;">"Sheryl Bize-Boutte writes her poetry with the edge of sardonic humor that is serious. Angela is more straight up, "this is how it is" in her writing. Both show a lot of love of family as their one collaboration, "A Tapestry of Memories" shows: "From that chance meeting on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley / You could tell that he truly loved the mademoiselle." Another family chronicle that I have read several times is "The 40 Paradox" which is a personal family journey that is also a cultural journey across our country, where shadows of old attitudes of superiority exist. The book closes with the delightful title poem, and should be read by every writer to know what poets suffer."</p><p style="text-align: center;">Get a copy here:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/No-Poetry-Peace-Mother-Daughter/dp/B08DSS84KH/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">https://www.amazon.com/No-Poetry-Peace-Mother-Daughter/dp/B08DSS84KH/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-74179714368189847842023-03-07T15:30:00.001-08:002023-03-07T15:34:31.192-08:00COMING UP AT MECHANICS INSTITUTE: WRITERS LUNCHES, POETRY AND MORE!<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;"><b>AS WE SAUNTER INTO SPRING </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4w42QqIcr6Wt985C48PKpUZt1wo5rPsdmTaymk4Xoa9TgyPnwZU9ZK_HEO8sGizEjMfVCoJLPKRc0RXconaurfXYvG-RdxPtthFPt_jWQM-5CAdxgNYMVA_lqT3clP312ElGZCwU6x6qof8kk02UZS0y8NgapGpOueHl7zRi9gnA43JwIIc4t1oQNvg/s2048/C7BC93EE-93FC-4BB9-BE87-E58DF969CC51.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4w42QqIcr6Wt985C48PKpUZt1wo5rPsdmTaymk4Xoa9TgyPnwZU9ZK_HEO8sGizEjMfVCoJLPKRc0RXconaurfXYvG-RdxPtthFPt_jWQM-5CAdxgNYMVA_lqT3clP312ElGZCwU6x6qof8kk02UZS0y8NgapGpOueHl7zRi9gnA43JwIIc4t1oQNvg/w320-h242/C7BC93EE-93FC-4BB9-BE87-E58DF969CC51.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">JOIN ME AS I MODERATE/HOST </span></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b>WRITERS LUNCH VIBRANT DISCUSSIONS<br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: medium;"><b>READINGS FROM STELLAR POETS</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: medium;"><b> AND MORE </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: medium;"><b>AT THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: medium;"><b>HOSTED BY TARYN EDWARDS</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b><i>ALL ON ZOOM</i></b></span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>COMING UP:</b></span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red;">MARCH 17</span><span style="color: #990000;">: WRITERS LUNCH</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: medium;"><b>STARTING AND MANAGING A CRITIQUE GROUP</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #990000;"><b><a href="https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-starting-and-managing-writing-critique-group-mar-17-2023">https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-starting-and-managing-writing-critique-group-mar-17-2023</a></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #990000;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">APRIL 12: NO </span><span style="color: red;">POETRY</span><span style="color: #ff00fe;"> NO </span><span style="color: red;">PEACE™</span></span></b></p><p><a href="https://www.milibrary.org/events/no-poetry-no-peace-reading-and-celebration-human-expression-and-peace-apr-12-2023"><b>https://www.milibrary.org/events/no-poetry-no-peace-reading-and-celebration-human-expression-and-peace-apr-12-2023</b></a></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><b>APRIL 21: THE BIRTH OF A POEM</b></span></p><p><a href="https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-birth-poem-apr-21-2023"><b>https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-birth-poem-apr-21-2023</b></a></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>SEE MORE ABOUT ME AND MY WORK AT</b>:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> <a href="http://www.sheryljbize-boutte.com">www.sheryljbize-boutte.com</a></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>SEE MORE ABOUT THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE LIBRARY AT</b>: </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.milibrary.org/"><b>https://www.milibrary.org/</b></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-46771911561803980802023-01-07T17:27:00.000-08:002023-01-07T17:27:37.971-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><b>MECHANICS INSTITUTE LIBRARY OF SAN FRANCISCO</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red;"><b>The Writers' Lunch</b></span>: <span style="color: #800180;"><b>Journal Writing for the New Year; How Journal Writing Can Support Your Writing </b></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: medium;"><b>Practice</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><b>moderated by Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte</b></span></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: medium;"><b>Friday, January 20, 2023 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm</b></span></p><p>This event will be conducted via Zoom. Register and you will be emailed the Zoom credentials.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><b>REGISTER HERE</b></span>: <span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-journal-writing-new-year-how-journal-writing-can-support-your-writing-practice">https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-journal-writing-new-year-how-journal-writing-can-support-your-writing-practice</a></span></p><p><br /></p><p>Join us in the new year for a discussion about how journal writing can support your writing practice and encourage a life of wellness, creativity, and purpose. Dr. Eric Maisel and Lynda Monk will present their new book The Great Book of Journaling: How Journal Writing Can Support a Life of Wellness, Creativity, Meaning and Purpose and discuss how journaling can enhance your writing endeavors. Moderated by Sheryl Bize-Boutte.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #800180;"><b>Dr. Eric Maisel</b></span> is a retired family therapist and active creativity coach, is the author of 50+ books. He is the developer of the philosophy of life known as Kirism and widely regarded as America’s foremost creativity coach. He has also written extensively on the challenges of the creative life. His books in this area include Fearless Creating, Coaching the Artist Within, Creative Recovery, The Van Gogh Blues, and Mastering Creative Anxiety. His books specifically for writers include Deep Writing, Write Mind, Living the Writer’s Life, A Writer’s Space, A Writer’s Paris, and A Writer’s San Francisco. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, trains creativity coaches, and maintains a worldwide creativity coaching practice. You can visit Dr. Maisel at www.ericmaisel.com, contact him at ericmaisel@hotmail.com, subscribe to his weekly newsletter at https://ericmaisel.com/newsletter/, and be automatically notified about his new blog posts at <a href="https://authory.com/ericmaisel">https://authory.com/ericmaisel</a></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #800180;"><b>Lynda Monk</b></span>, MSW, RSW, CPCC is a Registered Social Worker, Certified Life Coach, and the Director of the International Association for Journal Writing – IAJW.org. Lynda is co-editor of two books including Transformational Journaling for Coaches, Therapists, and Clients: A Complete Guide to the Benefits of Personal Writing and The Great Book of Journaling: How Journal Writing Can Support a Life of Wellness, Creativity, Meaning and Purpose. She is the co-author of Writing Alone Together: Journaling in a Circle of Women for Creativity, Compassion and Connection. She developed Life Source Writing: A Reflective Journaling Practice for Self-Discovery, Self-Care, Wellness and Creativity. Lynda regularly teaches, writes, and speaks on the healing and transformational power of journaling and expressive writing. She lives with her family on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada. Find out more at <a href="https://IAJW.org ">https://IAJW.org </a></p><p><br /></p><p>Award-winning author and Pushcart Prize nominee <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte</b></span> is an Oakland multidisciplinary writer whose autobiographical and fictional short story collections, along with her lyrical and stunning poetry, artfully succeed in getting across deeper meanings about the politics of race and economics without breaking out of the narrative. Her writing has been variously described as “rich in vivid imagery,” “incredible,” and “great contributions to literature.” Her first novel, Betrayal on the Bayou, was published in June 2020 and a poetry collection she has written with her daughter Dr. Angela M. Boutte, titled No Poetry No Peace™, was published in August 2020 and is the namesake of the No Poetry No Peace™ series at the Mechanics Institute of San Francisco. Her in progress novel first chapter, “The Burden Keeper,” was the 2021 fiction category winner for the San Francisco Writers Conference writing contest anthology. An inaugural Oakland Poet Laureate runner-up, she is also a popular, teacher, literary reader, presenter, storyteller, curator, and emcee/host for literary and poetry events. Find out more at <a href="http://www.sheryljbize-boutte.com">www.sheryljbize-boutte.com</a>/</p><p><br /></p><p>The Writers' Lunch is a casual brown-bag lunch activity on the 3rd Friday of each month. Look forward to craft discussion, informal presentations on all forms of writing, and excellent conversation. Please contact Taryn Edwards if you have any questions or if you would like to be a panelist - <a href="mailto:tedwards@milibrary.org">tedwards@milibrary.org</a></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b>Join us, share and learn!</b></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1156757382436668571.post-10918724386902454812022-11-19T16:46:00.007-08:002022-11-19T16:49:00.955-08:00MECHANICS INSTITUTE WRITERS LUNCH DECEMBER 16, 2022<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">JOIN ME AND THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE'S OWN</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: medium;"><i><b>TARYN EDWARDS</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 16</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;"><b>12:00 PM-1:00 PM</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">FOR</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">THE WRITERS LUNCH</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This event will be conducted via<span style="color: red;"><b> Zoom</b></span>. Register and you will be emailed the <span style="color: red;"><b>Zoom </b></span>credentials.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">REGISTER HERE FOR THIS <span style="color: red;"><b>FREE </b></span>EVENT</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-writing-about-your-nearest-and-dearest-dec-16-2022">https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-writing-about-your-nearest-and-dearest-dec-16-2022</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>This month join librarian <span style="color: #741b47;">Taryn Edwards</span><span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span>and author <span style="color: #741b47;">Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte</span> for a discussion of a very important skill: how to write about your nearest and dearest without getting into trouble. Learn tips and tricks for telling the truth, being discrete, and mitigating the fallout.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"><b>THESE WONDERFUL AUTHORS WILL BE JOINING US FOR THE DISCUSSION</b></span></i></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Isidra Mencos</b></span> was born and raised in Barcelona. She spent her twenties experimenting with the new freedoms afforded by the end of Franco’s dictatorship in Spain while immersing herself in books and dancing. She freelanced for prestigious publishing houses, traveled the world as a tour leader, and worked for the Olympic Committee. In 1992 she moved to the US to earn a Ph.D. in Spanish and Latin American contemporary literature at UC Berkeley, where she taught for twelve years. She also developed her own business as a writer and editor for Spanish-speaking media. After a 10 year stint in the corporate world, managing teams in several countries, she quit her job in 2016 to dedicate her time to creative writing. Since then, her pieces have been widely published in literary journals and general interest magazines, from Chicago Quarterly Review to WIRED, and she has been listed as a Notable Essayist in The Best American Essays anthology. In October 2022 she released her book Promenade of Desire—A Barcelona Memoir (She Writes Press), a sensual coming of age story tracing her journey from repressed Catholic virgin to seductive Mata Hari, as Spain transitioned from dictatorship to democracy. Today Isidra lives in Northern California with her husband and son. Find out more at <a href="http://www.isidramencos.com">www.isidramencos.com</a>/</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Joan Gelfand </b></span>is a writer, coach, and activist. Her reviews, stories, essays and poetry have appeared in over 150 national and international literary journals and magazines including the Los Angeles Review of Books, San Francisco Chronicle, PANK!, the Huffington Post, Rattle, Levure Litterarie, Voice and Verse, Sycamore Review, Prairie Schooner and The Meridian Anthology of Contemporary Poetry. The recipient of numerous writing awards including two Pushcart nominations, and the Women’s National Book Association’s Effie Lee Morris Prize, Joan’s poem “The Ferlinghetti School of Poetics” was made into a short film by Dana Walden. The film featured at 20 international film festivals and was awarded “Best Poetry Movie” at the World Film Festival. You Can Be a Winning Writer: The 4 C’s of Author Success, Joan’s book for writers (Mango Press) is a #1 best seller on Amazon. Extreme, Joan’s debut novel was published by Blue Light Press in July, 2020. She also has an essay in Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Wonderful Wild Family. Joan lives in San Francisco with her husband Adam Hertz and two beatnik cats – Jack Kerouac and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Find out more at <a href="http://www.joangelfand.com/">www.joangelfand.com/</a></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #073763;"><b>Francine Thomas Howard</b></span>, born in Illinois, and a child transplant to California, is a proud product of the San Francisco Public schools. A rarity among writers, her first love was not writing, but the sciences. She received her degree in occupational therapy from San Jose State, and her Masters in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco (USF). She enjoyed a rewarding career treating children with physical disabilities, and working with their families on long term goals. Children with cerebral palsy comprised the majority of case load. She often reminds others that differently abled children are not aware their physical abilities are considered negative, until they are taught. That revelation, along with the insistent voice of her long-deceased grandmother, combined with driving love of history and genealogy demanding to be heard, may well have been the driving factors that nudged her to leave occupational therapy and start combining oral histories, family research, and DNA into written form. Find out more at <a href="http://www.francinethomashoward.com/">www.francinethomashoward.com/</a></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #800180;"><b>MODERATOR</b></span>: Award-winning author and Pushcart Prize nominee Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte is an Oakland multidisciplinary writer whose autobiographical and fictional short story collections, along with her lyrical and stunning poetry, artfully succeed in getting across deeper meanings about the politics of race and economics without breaking out of the narrative. Her writing has been variously described as “rich in vivid imagery,” “incredible,” and “great contributions to literature.” Her first novel, Betrayal on the Bayou, was published in June 2020 and a poetry collection she has written with her daughter Dr. Angela M. Boutte, titled No Poetry No Peace™, was published in August 2020 and is the namesake of the No Poetry No Peace™ series at the Mechanics Institute of San Francisco. Her in progress novel first chapter, “The Burden Keeper,” was the 2021 fiction category winner for the San Francisco Writers Conference writing contest anthology. An inaugural Oakland Poet Laureate runner-up, she is also a popular, teacher, literary reader, presenter, storyteller, curator, and emcee/host for literary and poetry events. Find out more at <a href="http://www.sheryljbize-boutte.com">www.sheryljbize-boutte.com</a></p><p><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><b>REGISTER HERE:</b></span></p><p><a href="https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-writing-about-your-nearest-and-dearest-dec-16-2022">https://www.milibrary.org/events/writers-lunch-writing-about-your-nearest-and-dearest-dec-16-2022</a></p><p><b><span style="color: #ff00fe;">The Writers' Lunch</span> </b>is a casual brown-bag lunch activity on the <span style="color: red;"><b>3rd Friday of each month.</b></span> Look forward to craft discussion, informal presentations on all forms of writing, and excellent conversation. Please contact Taryn Edwards if you have any questions or if you would like to be a panelist - tedwards@milibrary.org</p><p>Join us, share and learn!</p><p>Questions?</p><p>Taryn Edwards - 415-393-0103</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01590396410030746488noreply@blogger.com0