LITERARY

As you may be aware the Literary Garden has undergone many changes in the last year. Longtime member Carol was Head since its conception, followed by Foxy. However, in the last few months we have seen such a high turnover of staff with comings and goings and the new direction WOSIB itself took in August, with the departure of Pam and Becca. In August we said goodbye to Janice aka Broken Angel and Orca from our garden, and sadly, Foxy left us in September. I had been holding the fort for some time during her absence, and officially took over as Literary’s Garden Head last month.

Due to the loss of all staff members bar myself, Foxy and I closed the Garden for the month of September while I organized new staff and my new Assistant Head. And I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you all to our new members of the Literary Staff:

Linda (Assistant Head)

Kesia aka Nasty Angel

MaidenFair

Joanne

Sarah

Silveressence

Each of these lovely ladies will share a little bit about themselves further on.

As we were closed for September, I used this time to give the Literary pages a little "makeover", and endeavoured to get all links working again. Some of you will be familiar with the theme though I have tried to make it a little more user-friendly and easier to navigate. You will see a couple of additions to the pages.

Members Nook:
This is where you will read all about our lovely Literary Ladies! Step into this library and you will find a book on the shelf of each member. By opening their books, you will be taken either to their websites, or a bio page in which they tell a little about themselves!

Fun Challenge Nook:

In the absence of our normal routine whilst the garden was officially closed and new staff settled in, I posted some fun challenges through the list to keep our creative juices flowing. Here you will read those interesting takes on the challenges posted – the first being a picture challenge, and the second a journal entry. Come take a look and have a chuckle with us.

Now the ladies will tell you a little bit about themselves and their roles as Staff in the Literary Garden. And I hope you get to know a little more about each of us. *s*

Christina aka Stina
Garden Head

Greetings my fair ladies!
Christina is my name
Though I'm mostly known as Stina
but I answer just the same.

I'm now the fearless leader
as Head of Literary
and I hope to bring you all the things
which you enjoy to read.

The Fiction and Poetry Nooks
is where you'll likely find
where I may be hiding
as I ponder tale and rhyme,

Or keeping the creative muse
flowing far and wide
with many a fun challenge
and a pen our only guide.

But of all the things I love to do
writing is my soul,
it's in my heart and in my mind
it's what truly makes me whole.

For expression in the merest form
be it verse or poetry,
a letter or a journal
writing is therapy.

So with new staff to join me
Linda and Kesia,
MaidenFair and Silveressence,
Joanne and Sarah -

Together we invite you
to stop by Literary,
and linger in our garden
for there's so much there to see!
© Christina aka Stina

THE CHALLENGE NOOK of The Literary Garden of WOSIB

I’m Linda from Australia,
and words bring joy my way.
I spend time writing
on almost every day.

I’ve been a member here
for quite a length of time,
poetry is part of my life ~
I love the tempo and rhyme.

A new challenge now for me ~
another chapter in my book,
I bring enthusiasm to The Challenge Nook.

Each month I’ll post a "challenge"
and encourage members to be a part
To share their special muse with us,
the writing from their heart.

Linda J. Vaughan

Seeded Spirit is really my muse
She gets top billing of course
Often times she amazes me
Sometimes I even amaze her

My muse and I started years ago
Long before I could even spell
We were published in my 20's
Writing, drawing and just creating

The Literary Garden is our playground
So much to explore and share
Whimsical, Poetry and Challenges galore
So much to love including my sisters

I have two great boys 24 and 21
My heart belongs to them
We've found I have Alzheimer's now
My muse and I aren't near done yet

Love, Hugs and Blessings . . .
Seeded Spirit
~Sarah~

My name is Maiden Fair (aka KayDee Ward). I am in charge of the Continuing Story Nook in the Literary Garden. I’m married with two grown children and 5 grandchildren. I love reading, writing, hiking, photography, computers and just hanging out with my friends and family.

I have always loved stories and story telling and had a great imagination. But I didn’t believe anyone would be interested in what I had to say, so I filled journals with my writings instead. My husband encouraged me to take a job as a stringer for a local newspaper and I realized that there were people who were interested in what I had to say!! What a revelation that was!

The Literary Garden has helped me to spread my wings and try new things. I’ve explored different venues of expression. In the process I’ve learned a lot more about myself and what I am able to do.

Hello, I’m Joanne and have been a member of the WOSIB Literary Garden for three years. I am 57 years old and live in France (originally from Chicago) with my French husband and four children, now all young adults. I have been writing since childhood, and although it wasn't until I went to college and worked with professional writer professors that I developed my own particular style, for me the written _expression has opened up new worlds and ways of thinking. I look forwards to each month’s competitions and challenges, for they not only allow me to express myself but also introduce new learning tools for improvement in my writing as well.

I am in charge of the Comfort and Celebrations Nook (called the C & C for short). Here members of the Literary Garden can contribute poems, very short stories or short messages of support and comfort, poetic words of sympathy, as well as celebration poems for birthdays, anniversaries, births, weddings, congratulations, thinking of you and get well messages. Support poems for the loss of a beloved pet are also included in this Nook.

What’s New in the Non-Fiction Nook!

I would like to start, by introducing myself to each of you. My name is Kesia and my Muse is Nasty Angel. You may have seen us fluttering around a Garden or two sharing of the Sisterly Love, sending smiles and, answering to the name Ms. Nasty. I bet you are wondering how I came up with the Muse name of Nasty Angel and just how I came to be called Ms. Nasty instead. Don’t think for a moment, you are the first one to wonder!

I have been writing my thoughts to paper for as long as I can remember and have been Penning under the name of Nasty Angel since March 16, 2000. It really is quite simple, how the name Nasty Angel was born, so stay with me as I explain. I thought long and hard on what I should name my Muse and it finally hit me. I am a sinner, just as all of His Children are. Sadly, for many years I didn’t know or believe in His Love. I thought even if there were a God, He would never love a sinner such as me; I came to find many lost souls felt this same way. I also came to the conclusion, it is not my job to keep an already saved Child of God in His Grace; however, it is my job to bring others to know His Love. Thus the Penname Nasty Angel was born. You would not believe how many people claim I have helped them to find their way back to Him; I am amazed it has worked as well. As for being called Ms. Nasty, I have a dear on-line friend who shortened it many years ago and here we are today, sharing our love for Him, with each of you. Of course, being a Nasty Angel, I also share of the aches and pains found along my walk of life.

I do hope you will join Ms. Nasty and me in the Literary Garden, as we host the Non-Fiction Nook. I am beyond honored to be working with such an excellent staff and sharing of the Sisterly Love in our Garden. If you have yet to join us in the Literary Garden, please stop by and take a look. Our doors are always open and, we would love to hear from you. Who knows, you may have a secret Muse sleeping inside you, whom is screaming to be set free. For those Ladies who are already with us in the Literary Garden, I am looking so forward to getting to know each of you, as you share your Non-Fiction writes with me. Pick up your Pens and strike the Muse Ladies; our Garden is open and the water is fine!

I want to include this special note of thanks to Christina (Stina) for inviting me to join her on staff. I hope to do you proud My Friend and I am humbled by your faith in me. Have a great one Ladies and hey, don’t forget to keep a smile on!

In His Word-With His Love,
Kesia aka Nasty Angel

Hello dear Literary Garden girls!! I am SilverEssence and I am the one currently in charge of Review and Expression submissions. I have been with the literary garden for more than a year and was in breifly before that. I absolutley love all types of literature and I always have. I started writing poetry when I was about 12 years old. I was first published a year later in The Anthology Of Poetry by Young Americans. I have been writing and reading ever since.

I joined the Literary garden due to my love of literature *duh* - and I love reading others writings as well as sharing my own. I knew right away it was my "home" within Wosib. I am 27 years old and live in Portage, Indiana. I am the youngest of 3 children and the only girl, so I was extremley "loved" by my dear mother. :) I have never been married, and I have no children. I do hope to marry and start a family eventually. I'm a bit of a silly girl at times and love to share in laughter and friendship. I am a creative person, and love all types of art and culture. I love this garden of ours because although we all are different in our personalities and lives, we all share a common bond, the written word.

Not only do I write, but I also design websites and create graphics as well. I wish I could draw, but I can't so PSP is a wonderful invention for me. I try to be creative in just about any way I can; however poetry remains my true love. Writing provides me with an escape from a not always easy life. It allows me to dream, imagine, love, rage, vent, and ponder. It is the center of my being. I am very honored to be here within the Literary garden among such wonderful, beautiful and talented ladies.

Thanks Ladies!

Christina
Garden Head