Dracula on a winter's night...

The wind howled through the late dark winter trees as wispy shadows crossed the remnants of the full moon as we sat around a roaring fire discussing Dracula.

We spent the first part of the evening having dinner at the Potawattami Inn at Pokagon State Park, a new venue for us. The dining room was quiet except for the eight of our voices often speaking at the same time...gossip, authors...other books. (We were forbidden to speak of THE BOOK until we finished coffee and were cozily sitting around the fire). Finally we could wait no longer and retreated to the foyer. With dim lights we curled up into large leather chairs which we had pulled close to the fire and opened up our dog-eared copies of The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.

The premise of the book is the hunt for Dracula and his grave. Of course believing in Vampires and things that go bump in the night would help the imagination of this tale. The story is woven between time periods and different lives....from the time of Dracula to the present time. In between the story line was a great deal of culture and history of Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria. While discussing this book in the darkness of night in front of a roaring fire, it was difficult to differentiate between fact and fiction. But then again, maybe there is no difference. The book was fascinating although there were a few places (about two-thirds through) that you just wanted it to be over, find and kill Dracula and move on!!

I'll not give away the ending in case you will be reading it yourself...but let's say, we all saw the ending in a new light and we left looking over our shoulders. Events actually happened on the drive home to several of our members. You read the book for yourself! We ended up giving the book four stars out of five (quite a disagreement over that one as well!!)

Our next read is the controversial, A Million Little Pieces, by James Frey. OK, so it didn't all happen to him, but what a great imagination. Why not read along with us?

Until next time,
This is Maggie Mae from the Page Turners


Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com

Haiku for a late winter's day...

falling, pelting rain
match the beating of my heart
dripping small droplets

cloudbursts of glitter
drifts into the tallest treees
I so want to fly

I come and I go
from deepest winter to spring
Metamorphosis


Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com

Of Beads and Thread and Things that are Nice...

This afternoon I sauntered down to the small, tucked in-out-of-the-way "hippie shop." (Or so I call it!)

I love visiting this shop...it is full of hemp dresses...patchouli soaps....lavender incense...bumper stickers...sandals...and beads...hundreds of kinds of beads. If you were to walk into Sticks and Stones, you would know the owner, Sandy, right away. She blends into the shop with her long dresses, jewelry, hair pulled back with a silk band and her knowledge.

On Sunday afternoons she gives lessons on making jewelry with her beads. Today was the day that I decided to give it a try. Alright, I chose an easy project. I wanted to replace the wrap around bracelet that I have worn for six years ago. It was given to me by a gentleman. He bought it in Brazil and left it in a velvet pouch on my doorknob. I fell in love with the bracelet right away and have never taken it off! I have to admit though that wearing something for six years on your wrist does tend to get a little ratty! So, today I made a wonderful new bracelet with lots of colorful glass beads.

There were six of us in the class all working diligently on our own projects...braclets, necklaces, earrings...coffee brewed and was served in china cups and saucers (hippie girls DO NOT use styrofoam!) We were of all ages getting to know one another and by the time my bracelet was done, I felt I had new friends! I had to cut off the old bracelet and I asked for a toast and a drumroll (I mean, I did wear it for six years!!!) and ceremoniously I cut it off and wove the new shiny one around my wrist. We all applauded my efforts.

I paid for my beads, gave a farewell to my new friends and walked home just as the sun was setting. I took off my gloves a few times just to let the light catch the color fo the beads.

New beads. New friends. How much nicer can a day get?

Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com

Closing the Curtain....

I am not a person who likes ending...when I get to the end of a book I usually slow way down...or a visit or trip or the ending of a school year....So you can only imagine how I felt when the curtain closed on Saturday night on our show of The Vagina Monologues.

Even though I am a person of words, I am not sure there are enough of them to describe the night...the hype...the thrill...the groundbreaking work that we accomplished on Saturday night.

To an almost sold out crowd, we performed as absolute confidence....the standing ovation was a roar to my ears as the clapping and cheering continued.

I was presented with a dozen roses on the stage and thanked over and over. It was a golden night, one that will not come again, and one that I will never, ever forget.

We (my 12 actresses and myself) made history on Saturday night here in Steuben County. The newspapers are still filled with praise for the show.

We raised over $4,000.00 for CAVA.

We partied til after 3 a.m. back at my house...the entire cast.

Where do we go from here? I don't know the answer to that. But I do know that I already miss the rehearsals...the deadlines...the friendships.

I guess tonight I will work on my scrapbook for the show....put away the script and spend a nice quiet evening with Philip. How glad I am that he was here for this monumental time in my life!

Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com

Lights, Camera, Action....

We are down to under twelve hours to production. Two late night dress rehearsals with lights and sounds...a bit ranting and raving (at least no one quit the show) and we are just about ready to take to the stage.

The planning and work has been more than even I expected...but oh, what a great evening is planned for everyone attending. We are even featuring a reception in the intermission time for all of the actresses. And at last count it looks like we might be close to a sell out!

The women in the cast have become sisters to each other...taking care of each other...encouraging each other...pushing each other.

I feel so honored and proud and a bit of the pioneer spirit to bring Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues to Steuben County.

So, without further adieu...let's open the curtains...let the show begin!

Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com

A Thousand Miles...

Tonight Philip is in a hotel room about 500 miles from here....he is usually a thousand miles away, but he is on his way to visit me. We haven't spent any time together since Christmas, or as I casually would say, seven weeks and three days, but whose counting???

He should be here tomorrow night just in time for the first dress rehearsal and then for the big week end. How wonderful it is that he has traveled so far to share in the Vagina Monologue week end...it is going to be a whirlwind.

So, tonight I spent baking cookies, arranging fresh flowers, and ironing his pillowcases with lavender water...maybe that's why he comes for a visit???

Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com

Tying up loose ends...

Tonight was our last Vagina Monologue meeting...we have been meeting since the first Tuesday in December at Rachael's coffeeshop...These have not been the rehearsals, but the core committee dedicated in putting this show together. Our last job tonight was to proof the program...Bert bought a round of pappermint lattes for everyone and we just sort of sat there stunned. We did it. Well, we will have done it on Saturday. The work has been large...but I will miss it so much and the wonderful women that have come into my life.

So, tonight as I reflect on what has been and what is yet to come...I say raise the coffee cups a little higher, and a toast to V-Day in Angola, Indiana!!

Lou Ann Homan is a writer, teacher, and storyteller who lives in Angola, Indiana. She is available for writing seminars, storytelling, and speaking engagements. She can be contacted at locketoftime@aol.com. You can read more at www.louannhoman.com