Come one, come all and raise a cup of cappuccino to celebrate the publication of Debra Galant’s third novel, “Cars from a Marriage.”
The party is Thursday, May 6 from 7 to 9 pm at Cafe Eclectic, 444 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair. Watchung Booksellers is providing books for sale.
The book release party for STUART LUTZ’s oral history book, “The Last Leaf: Voices of History’s Last-Known Survivors,” will occur Friday, March 26th at 7:30 PM at Words Book Store in Maplewood. The Last Leaf contains nearly forty interviews with the final survivors or last eyewitnesses to historically important events. Chapters include the last Civil War widows, the final American World War I soldier, the last Iwo Jima flag raiser, the final living person to have flown with Amelia Earhart, the last pitcher to surrender a home run to Babe Ruth, the final Medal of Honor winner for heroic actions on Pearl Harbor Day, the last Houdini stagehand, the final employees of Thomas Edison and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and many, many more. For more information, including excerpts, book photographs and a trailer, please visit www.TheLastLeaf.com.
The MEWS Party last Saturday night at the Diva Lounge was wonderful — at least it was for me. About 100 Mewsies showed up, familiar faces as well as new people. There was drinking, talking, eating, and even dancing, plus our scholarship fund now has $500 in it! Some party pictures:
Front: Literary agent Liza Dawson, novelist Christina Baker Kline, Money Magazine editor Diane Harris; Back: Literary agent Havis Dawson; Dave Kline of Showtime; Frank Albanese, Harper Collins
John Mutter of Shelf Awareness and Cynthia Clark of the Metropolitan Museum
Book and magazine writer and editor Gail Belsky
Frank Albanese; Larry Dark of The Story Prize; Magazine writer and editor and anthologist Maureen Connolly
Leslie Brody of The Record
Novelist Benilde Little
Fiction writers Nancy Williams, Dionne Kurrti, and Pat Berry
Publishers Susan Weinberg and Frank Albanese
Pam Satran and dessert
Yes, they are dancing!
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow night at the Diva party. Since my own husband asked me to repeat these details last night, here it is one more time: Diva Lounge on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair, 6:30 till 9:30, $39 per person CASH at the door includes food, unlimited soft drinks, two other drinks of your choice, and the chance to commune the all your fellow mewsies.
We’ll also be collecting for the first MEWS Scholarship, so if you’d like to donate by check, bring your checkbooks or a check made out to Montclair High School, with MEWS Scholarship in the memo line. You can also mail donations to me at Pam Satran, 64 Myrtle Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042.
Meanwhile, I received reports this morning of a spam attack over on the mewsie ning site. Apparently someone named Lucy David was offering to show everyone her pictures, and we’re not talking head shots. “Lucy” has been banned from the site and I hope will not be attempting to lure us into sin again.
A week from Saturday night, January 30, is the ANNUAL MEWS MEGA-PARTY – except it’s the first one we’ve had in two years. Naturally, this is causing a lot of confusion, which is why we once again feel obliged to bring you the……
MEWS Party FAQs:
Oh, I forgot all about this. When and where is it again?
Saturday night, January 30, from 6:30 till 9:30 at the Diva Lounge at 373 Bloomfield Avenue, near Willow Street, in Montclair.
What exactly is the MEWS Mega-Party, and why should I be there?
The MEWS Mega-Party is the one time all of the writers and editors in MEWS get together for a big blow-out event. It’s your chance to see old friends and colleagues and meet new ones – and not just your same old cronies but people doing even more interesting things than you’re doing.
Why should you be there? Because you’re lucky enough to live in probably the only town in America that has a group like this, and it’s the right thing to do. Because it will be good for your career and your social life. And because I’ll be really pissed if you’re not.
Yeah, but, you know, like many people in Montclair, I claim to care about community, but I really just care about myself. Will I find an agent there? Get an assignment? Meet a colleague I’ve always admired? Or will I just drop $39 with no tangible payback?
Most likely, the one with the $39. But if you don’t show up, you’ll not only miss the best party of the year, but we will have to ask you to move to North Caldwell.
All right, already, I don’t want that to happen to me. So what do I get for my $39?
Unlimited soft drinks and two alcoholic drinks of your choice. Lots of hors d’oeuvres, dessert, and coffee. All in the relaxing and convivial atmosphere of the Diva Lounge.
The Diva Lounge – isn’t that kind of a scary place?
Exactly, which is why we love it! The Diva is actually gorgeous, comfortable, fun, welcoming, and makes a fantastic cocktail. And listen, we know what you’ve been doing all winter, and you need a little more danger and excitement in your life.
Are there any other costs?
If you want to get totally smashed, you’re going to have to pay extra. And we’re also going to be collecting donations for the First Annual MEWS Scholarship for a Montclair High School kid interested in a career in literature, journalism, writing, or anything related. But you can donate what you want.
What if I want to donate to the scholarship but I don’t want to go to the party?
Send a check made out to Montclair High School with MEWS Scholarship written in the memo line, to me at Pam Satran, 64 Myrtle Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042. We already have a couple hundred in donations.
Okay, okay, I’ll be there. So what do I do again?
Just show up at the Diva on Saturday night, January 30, between 6:30 and 9:30, and pay your $39 at the door. See you then!
Thanks to LAURIE LICO ALBANESE for the amazing Master Class last night on Creating A Sense of Place. My writing is better already and it was a great event with a round table of familiar MEWSie friends and new faces. Plus, we raised more than $75 for the Unitarian Church, which generously donates us their beautiful rotunda room for these classes.
The next MEWS Master Class, on Thursday evening February 11, will be on Making Rejection Work For You, by our ace career counselor PETER PRICHARD. This is a topic close to the half-broken heart of every writer (and okay, even editor) and I’m looking forward to Peter making it easier to deal with those inevitable no’s.
Then, on March 23, Peter will teach a followup Jobs Seminar for those who attended his amazing Jobs Workshop in November. This session will be at the Montclair Public Library; thanks to Eveline Speedie for arranging the room.
And finally, for now anyway, I expect to see all of you at the All-MEWS Mega-Party JANUARY 30. This is the first time in two years that the entire group has gotten together, and these events make me believe that there really is large-scale support and enthusiasm for MEWS, so please turn out. The party is from 6:30 to 9:30 at the Diva Lounge on Bloomfield Avenue; $39 admission at the door buys you drinks, food, and fun.
Plus this year we’ll be collecting for our First Annual MEWS Scholarship, to be awarded to a Montclair High School student interested in studying writing, journalism, literature, and related arts. Checks are already coming in and this is our opportunity to be a force for good in our community. More tk!
Okay, you’re all probably full up with drinks and sweets and hors d’oeuvres and revelry by now, and can’t imagine ever wanting to go to another party ever again. But I’m betting by January 30th you’ll be ready for action again — real ready, after a long cold month in front of the TV.
That’s why the MEWS Mega-Party is back to its original January date, back to the Diva Lounge. This is our one opportunity of the entire year — and most recently, in TWO years — for all of the writers and editors of all kinds in and around Montclair to get together. You better be there!
The plan:
This year we’ll also be collecting money at the party for the First MEWS Scholarship for a Montclair High School student — checks have already come in to fund our award — but contribution is voluntary.
Lots more to come on the party plans, of course, but please mark your calendars, program your iphones etc. and plan to be there on January 30th.
