Writer groups

I just wanted to touch base with you if you're an aspiring writer. A little advice to you if you're interested. Do join a writer's group or start one with some of your like-minded friends. It is a great way to bounce your writings off of others, get feedback, and form friendships. It is also valuable from the perspective of giving feedback to other writers. It makes you a better writer and communicator.

The next section of "Murder on the North Shore"

Cassie bounced out of the driver’s seat and snatched her pre-loaded pack from the trunk: a couple bottles of water, two energy bars, and a banana taken from the motel. She strapped it on as she ascended the trail. 

A cooling breeze slapped her in the face as she came to an overlook of the forest and Lake Superior a mile away. She never tired of this. Walking on the Superior Hiking Trail was one of the diversions that took her mind off her incomplete life; a life without relatives: parents, sisters, brothers, cousins. She had no known bloodline. It saddened and frightened her. 

Was her whole family dead? Or was Tom Hecimovich right? He said there had to be someone, and he knew how to find out. Cassie knew nothing! Tom had done it. He found his biological parents and they were wonderful. They changed his life forever. She wanted the same thing, a life altering event. She needed a change in her life. Cassie had friends, but as she had discovered, friends were transitory, here today and gone tomorrow. 

Family is there forever. 

She knew she had to have family somewhere, and Tom had promised to help her find them. She couldn’t grasp how important he had become to her. If only… if only Tom hadn’t vanished. 

Why? 

A switch went off in her head, and for the moment, she swept all thoughts of Tom and family away. 

Just be…live in the moment. Look at the world around me. She watched a nut hatch work its way down the trunk of a tree, beak first. A gray squirrel scurried across the path in front of her, almost running over her toes in the process. Cassie laughed. Be in the moment, enjoy what I have right now.

After an hour of hiking, she came to the next trailhead and decided to walk farther. She was the only person on this section of the trail, she thought.

At the next viewing point, she looked toward Lake Superior. Fog enveloped the lake, threatening to kiss the shore and penetrate the forest where she hiked. Cassie had no desire to hike in the soupy mixture drifting toward her. She tossed a look at it, then turned and started back. The fog moved quickly, enveloping the forest around her. She was thankful for the clearly defined trail, but even so, the pace of her hike quickened.

“Hellooo,” came a call.

She heard the voice in front of her. She said nothing, but the voice sliced the fog again.

Maybe someone was in trouble, lost or frightened. 

“Hello,” she called back with a reluctance and fear that made her feel ashamed.

They called back and forth, eventually meeting near a feeder trail.

“I’m sorry I might have scared you in this soup, but I was concerned when I noticed the fog drifting in from the lake,” said Karonen.

Cassie flashed a puzzled look. 

“How did you know I was up here?”

“Sorry, I should have explained that. I had just gotten off the trail where you parked and was sitting in my car when I saw you climb up the path like you really meant business. You seemed so intent on moving fast that you probably never saw me.” 

Cassie shook her head a little.

“I didn’t see anybody, and you’re right I was intent on getting up the trail. So you followed me up here?”

“Not quite, I drove to where I knew this spur was and hiked up here, hoping to find you.” He paused, sensing that he was frightening her. “Look, I knew the forecast called for fog, and I was just concerned that you might get lost, fall down, or get hurt. I didn’t know if you were a novice or experienced hiker and just…I have a daughter and…well, I wouldn’t want my daughter out, alone, in this stuff.” He looked at her sheepishly, hoping his explanation would convince her and loosen her skepticism.

Cassie wanted to believe him. The old man looked harmless enough and he sounded sincere.

“Well, thanks for your concern, but I’ve hiked this trail before.” She looked around them.  “Although, never in fog like this.”

“No pressure here, but my car is at the end of this spur. You could hike down with me and Ill give you a ride back to your car, and you could be on your way again. I wouldn’t wish walking the next three miles on anyone, much less a young woman like yourself.” 

She bit her lip, hesitating.

“I would feel much better if you came with me,” he said, playing his position for all it was worth.

Cassie didn’t feel comfortable saying what she said next, but she didn’t want to hurt the old man by acting afraid of him. She looked around again. The fog had grown denser, shrouding everything in the forest and making the old man’s face difficult to read.

“It’s a kind offer and I’ll take you up on it.” 

Karonen smiled, and said, “Good, I think we should get going before we can’t even see each other.” They both laughed. 

She was impressed by the old man’s nimbleness as he led the way down the narrow spur until it opened onto the gravel road. Karonen gestured toward the truck, which was barely discernible. “Your carriage awaits.”

A tight laugh leeched from her mouth and she walked toward the pickup. Karonen readied himself. When Cassie was twenty feet from the truck, she slowed, and a chill blanketed her body. Something inside of her: instinct, fear, distrust, cried out, run, run! Her breathing quickened as she started to run, too late. Karonen enveloped her in a bearhug, pinning her arms at her side. She screamed, but no one could hear. 

Austin Magazine article

If you are out and about in Austin, check out the lounge areas in banks, dental offices and doctors' waiting areas for the Austin Magazine.
One of the articles is a story about the writers' group I am in.  The story outlines how our group works and does a little bio on the members.