Tag Archives: mindful writers retreat

After Action Report: Mindful Writers Retreat

October 14, 2022 philgiunta@ptd.net

As I write this, the sun is rising on the final morning of the 2022 Autumn Mindful Writers Retreat. As always, it was a magical week at the Ligonier Camp and Conference Center nestled in the Laurel Highlands in western Pennsylvania.

Mother Nature blessed us with five days of clement weather and vivid fall colors. I managed to finish three more chapters of my novella-in-progress and when I wasn’t writing, I hiked through the woods and joined my fellow scribes in afternoon meditation.

On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, I stole away from the retreat to participate in two Zoom sessions with fellow members of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group. The first was a discussion panel on Writing Genre Fiction with Dianna Sinovic, Michael Daigle, and Rachel Thompson. The second was an Author Dialogue with Dianna wherein we enjoyed an informal discussion about various aspects of writing. Both Zoom meetings will be included in the programming for the upcoming Easton Book Festival.

On our final evening of the retreat, the group gathered around the fire for a few hours of relaxation and socializing. Now, it’s nearly time for our final brunch together and then I’m on the road home with fond memories, some lessons learned about book marketing, and solid progress in my current project.

Deep gratitude to retreat organizers Kathie Shoop and Larry Schardt and to the staff at the Ligonier Camp and Conference Center. I look forward to future retreats!

Blog, Book Launch, New Releases

Magic, Folklore, and Otherworldly Encounters at the Beach!

September 25, 2022 philgiunta@ptd.net

Looking for the perfect read for the end of beach season or a trip to your own back yard? Check out SHELL HOUSE, the latest anthology by Year of the Book Press with stories by members of the Mindful Writers Retreat. Print and ebook versions are available everywhere and the ebook is on sale for $0.99!

Proceeds benefit the Marine Education, Research, and Rehabilitation Institute in Lewes, DE.

Several SHELL HOUSE authors will be signing copies at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, DE on October 1, 2022 at 4PM. If you’re in town, stop by, say hi, and grab a copy!

Browseabout Books
133 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach, DE

SHELL HOUSE is also available from:

Mystery Lovers Bookshop

Amazon – Kindle

Amazon – Paperback

Barnes & Noble – Nook

Barnes & Noble – Paperback

Kobo – eBook

Each piece in the anthology takes place at SHELL HOUSE. The famous historical home on Rehoboth Beach provides the backdrop for stories of every genre, spanning from the roaring 20’s to present day. Beach life is magical in so many ways whether you live there or stop by for a short trip. The following stories beautifully bring magic, fantasy, and science fiction to the page.

The inspiration for Stephanie Keyes’ “Wren and the Sea Captain” came from an old, black and white movie, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. It’s one of her favorites—spooky, very romantic, with sweeping vistas and sporadic comedic moments. There was a lost, forgotten quality to that film that came back to her as she reviewed the pictures of Shell House and the sea beyond. Read her story to see just how life meets the afterlife.

When Hilary Hauck began researching the Shell House for “The Heart of the Home,” it didn’t take long for a rather cheeky little character to be born. You know the kind, those often found in folklore, the ones who steal odd socks and knit dust bunnies to spread beneath furniture. With all the mischief these folkloric characters create she began to wonder what if they’re really sending a message to pay attention? What if their real quest is to encourage people to value what they have?

Michele Zirkle’s story, “Seashells and Cockle Tales of High Magic” was inspired by her experiences. Mysterious symbols appeared in the hands of her shamanic mentor and serendipitously connected her with a group from around the world who were seeing them in their palms too. This led to an energy healing modality called Belvaspata which Michele practices and makes an interesting Shell House tale for the curious-minded reader who wants to see beyond the 3D veil.

What exactly inspired the “magic” in Madhu B. Wangu’s story “Life in the Mirror?” As she studied the Shell House, the one hundred-year-old sprawling mansion with balconies, corridors, Victorian furniture, manicured gardens, beach in the front and wilderness at the back she began to hear the haunting sounds of a sorrowful voice as if searching for itself. And she hadn’t even written the story yet! Written in a day Madhu felt as though the character, Jada, was feeding her the tale, drawing her to the mirror… There’s nothing like a beautiful mirror to draw a person in.

Denise Weaver’s “Molly’s Magic” was largely inspired by her sweet aunt and her own life in the kitchen. But Molly is so much more than a simple cook in an enormous, historic beach house. She seems to have been the Shell House cook forever… Denise’s inclination to show love through food was the impetus for Molly’s role. What if Molly somehow always made the right recipe to create just the right experience for those who are searching—searching for love, for peace, for a new beginning? The magic of a lovingly prepared meal can work wonders.

Kimberly Kurth Gray’s “A Sunday Séance at Sea” was inspired by Kim’s Aunt Evelyn Norton. Auntie Ev, with her bleached blonde hair and kitten heels, was the perfect model for the character of Linda Porter. Like Auntie, Linda is fascinated with the afterlife and spirits. Auntie could spin frightening tales, and once even moved from her home because she was convinced a loved one would make good on his promise to haunt her. When Kim began to read more on Spiritualism she found that the actress Mae West was also a believer. Who better to help the spirits move from one existence to the next? It gives a whole new meaning to, “Come up and see me sometimes,” don’t you think?

My own tale of science fiction comedy, “See You Around the Cosmos, Sweet Cheeks!” originated on a sweltering July evening while walking the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk. Dramatic lights in the night sky almost convinced me that I was witnessing experimental military crafts or even extraterrestrials. But the silent light show was nothing more than kites laden with LEDs. Nevertheless, my writer’s brain began conjuring a story idea and I ran with it all the way back to autumn of 1983 when Rehoboth was less developed and the Shell House property would have been dark and deserted on an off-season night. This tale of a cynical college student and a snarky alien takes elements from my science fiction novel in progress, which is set in Wyoming. However, when the Shell House anthology was announced, I realized that I could carve out the opening scenes and rewrite it as a beach adventure.

Blog, Book Launch, New Releases

Ghosts, Aliens, and Bootlegging at the Beach

September 23, 2022 philgiunta@ptd.net

Looking for the perfect read for the end of beach season or a trip to your own back yard? Check out SHELL HOUSE, the latest anthology by Year of the Book Press with stories by members of the Mindful Writers Retreat. Print and ebook versions are available everywhere and the ebook is on sale for $0.99!

Proceeds benefit the Marine Education, Research, and Rehabilitation Institute in Lewes, DE.

Several SHELL HOUSE authors will be signing copies at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, DE on October 1, 2022 at 4PM. If you’re in town, stop by, say hi, and grab a copy!

Browseabout Books
133 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach, DE

SHELL HOUSE is also available from:

Mystery Lovers Bookshop

Amazon – Kindle

Amazon – Paperback

Barnes & Noble – Nook

Barnes & Noble – Paperback

Kobo – eBook

Each piece in the anthology takes place at SHELL HOUSE, a historic mansion that once stood on the border of Rehoboth and Dewey Beaches between the Atlantic Ocean and Silver Lake.

The famous site provides the backdrop for stories of every genre, from the roaring 20s to present day. There’s nothing like the beach to bring out the fun in life. Read on to see what inspired some of the more lighthearted tales in the collection. In later posts, we’ll explore some of the other tales in various genres.

“A Sunday Séance at the Sea” by Kimberly Kurth Gray was inspired by her bleach blonde, storytelling, obsessed with the afterlife, kitten heel wearing Auntie Ev. Drawing from flamboyant relatives and researching Spiritualism, Kimberly found the pieces of her Shell House story falling together in the perfect, otherworldly way. She even discovered that the actress Mae West was a believer in Spiritualism. And who better to help the spirits move from one existence to the next? It gives a whole new meaning to, “Come up and see me sometimes,” don’t you think?

Kathleen Shoop offers two lighthearted tales set nearly a century apart and connected by champagne and pineapple upside down cake! The first story, “Flora & George” was inspired by the 1920s bootlegging that sprouted up along the Delaware coast. The roaring 20s was the perfect back drop for witty banter and insta-love to bloom. The inspiration behind “Frannie & Eli” is the story of Flora and George and the illicit party that brought them together. A message in a bottle, a secret hidey hole, and a century of fabulous Shell House stories. Oh, if the walls could talk …. Sometimes they do.

Cindy Moldovan’s “Love Dawns at Shell House” was inspired by, well, love! Main character Lacey is taking an early morning stroll when she realizes that she is in love. But this fun story explores more than romance. Lacey is soon tasked with finding a way to save Shell House from demolition. Conflicts arise threatening Rehoboth’s beloved home and the guy who has captured her heart! Can love win out?

My own tale of science fiction comedy, “See You Around the Cosmos, Sweet Cheeks!” originated on a sweltering July evening while walking the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk. Dramatic lights in the night sky almost convinced me that I was witnessing experimental military crafts or extraterrestrials. But the silent light show ended up being nothing more than kites laden with LEDs. Nevertheless, my writer’s brain began conjuring a story. I took the idea and ran with it, all the way back to autumn of 1983 when Rehoboth was less developed and the Shell House property would have been dark and deserted on an off-season night. The perfect location to encounter a massive alien ship? You’ll have to read to find out!

Blog, New Releases, Retrospective

Onward to the New Year, Whatever It Might Bring

December 31, 2021 philgiunta@ptd.net

All too happy to leave 2021 behind, but if nothing else, it was a successful writing year.

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Finished the second draft of a SF novel, started the first draft of paranormal mystery novel #4, had eight short stories published across six anthologies (plus one story in a convention anthology), and three stories accepted (so far) for 2022 including a science fiction adventure, a murder/heist mystery, and a science fiction comedy.

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One of my ghost stories (“Bottom of the Hour”) made it to the quarterfinals in the Screencraft Cinematic Short Story contest and another ghost story (“Before She’s Gone Forever”) was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Not too shabby!

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I wish everyone the best in the new year. Onward to 2022, whatever it might bring.

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Blog, Writing Retreats

Mindful Writers Retreat Recap

October 19, 2021 philgiunta@ptd.net

To the disappointment of some of my fellow attendees at the Mindful Writers Retreat last week, summer weather made a final, triumphant return. Daytime temperatures hovered between 73F and 79F with abundant sunshine in bucolic Ligonier, PA. Unlike last year, when the foliage was resplendent in autumn colors, most of the trees this time were only beginning to show signs of the season.

This was my third Mindful Writers Retreat since 2018 and I hope to see it become an annual autumn tradition for me. There are also winter and spring retreats in February and March, respectively, but I have conflicting events at those times of year.

The Ligonier Camp and Conference center, nestled in the Laurel Highlands region of the Allegheny Mountains, is the perfect location for hours of quiet, uninterrupted writing sessions, rejuvenating walks in the woods to stir the creative juices, and enjoying delicious meals and evening socials with a coterie of talented fellow writers.

This year’s retreat delivered the added bonus of a brief paranormal experience. It was shortly after 3AM on Tuesday, October 12 when, during a restless sleep, I heard the door to my room creak open and what sounded like a hand sliding along the vinyl covering on one of the neighboring bunk bed mattresses. It wasn’t entirely dark in the room as I had left a low wattage light on. Unable to move at first, I opened my eyes with great difficulty, but there was no one to be seen… except for the owls.

That could have been a simple case of sleep paralysis, but Ligonier has a rich history dating back to the Revolutionary War. Fort Ligonier is only minutes away from the lodge and just down the street is the Wilpen Rail Trail where, on July 5, 1912, a horrible train wreck occurred claiming 24 lives and injuring 38 others.

All told, it was a productive week for me as I finished the outline and first two chapters for what I hope will be my fourth paranormal mystery novel. I also submitted a short story to Space Opera Digest, a prestigious science fiction anthology, and made a few tweaks to my short story intended for next year’s Mindful Writers anthology.

I’ve so far contributed to two of the Mindful Writers charity anthologies beginning in September 2019 with Over the River and Through the Woods and in January 2021 with Love on the Edge. Their first book, Into the Woods, was published in spring of 2018, a few months before I arrived on the scene. New editions of all three anthologies were released in June 2021.

The anthologies are made possible through the efforts of retreat co-organizer Kathie Shoop and editor/publisher Demi Stevens of Year of the Book Press. Larry Schardt, a fellow member of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group, is the other half of the retreat coordination team with Kathie.

Speaking of Kathie, she took time out of the retreat to interview each author about their published books and what they enjoy most about the retreats.

As usual, the week flew by much too quickly, but I left with memories I’ll cherish forever, including an early morning walk in the fog. Already looking forward to next October!

Blog, New Releases, Upcoming Projects, Works in Progress

What I’ve Done and What’s in the Works…

July 17, 2021 philgiunta@ptd.net

It’s been too long since I wrote a blog post that wasn’t merely a catalog of interesting articles about writing and publishing.

We’re over the midway point of 2021 and while this year has been nowhere near as miserable as its predecessor, the past six and a half months have served up generous portions of stress and change. I lost two dear friends, turned 50, started a new full-time job, and finished a few home renovations and landscaping projects.

Just to recap events on the writing front, the first quarter was marvelous. In January, my story, “Where It’s Needed Most,” was published in the Mindful Writers anthology, Love on the Edge, by Year of the Book Press. For some unexplained reason, the anthology briefly went missing from Amazon in June but was quickly re-released using Ingram Spark. Proceeds from the anthology benefit Allegheny Children’s Initiative-Partners For Quality, Inc. As a sample, you can read my story for free on Wattpad.

In that same month, my South Korean ghost story, “Before She’s Gone Forever,” was accepted by Gravelight Press for the next volume of their Halloween Party anthology series to be published in September. More details on that soon.

Another of my ghost stories, “Bottom of the Hour,” reached the quaterfinals in the Screencraft Cinematic Short Story Competition and to this day remains in the top 35% of discoverable works on Coverfly. “Bottom of the Hour” was originally published in A Plague of Shadows (Smart Rhino Publications, October 2018).

March saw the publication of Meanwhile in the Middle of Eternity, the final book in the Middle of Eternity anthology series that I created and edited for Firebringer Press. It’s available in all formats except for Kindle, which has been delayed but should be out eventually. In keeping with tradition, three of my stories were included. You can read two of them for free here on my website: “Take a Cue from the Canine” and “So Hungry…” The third is a Finnish fantasy tale called “The Forest for the Trees.”

Also in March, the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group released their latest biennial anthology, Writes of Passage. First in that book is “Help Me Rise,” my tale of a female rock star and recovering alcoholic who struggles to resurrect her career following the death of her husband. It’s the first of two general, or “mainstream,” fiction stories I wrote this year.

The second was “Where Do I Begin?” in which a middle-aged man moves to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware to start a new life only to be tormented by voices from his past. This story was submitted to the annual Rehoboth Beach Reads short story contest, sponsored by Cat & Mouse Press and Browseabout Books. The theme this year is Beach Secrets and the winners will be revealed during the first week of August. Stay tuned!

Speaking of (writing of?) Rehoboth Beach, on July 1, I submitted a detective story, set in that town, to Hawkshaw Press for their 2022 anthology, Hardboiled and Loaded with Sin. They accepted the story within two days! If you’re a writer of detective noir tales and 40 years of age or older, check them out. The deadline for submissions is December 31, 2021.

Of course, no writer’s life would be complete without rejections and I received about a half dozen of them this year. There’s an old adage in this business—if you’re not getting rejections, you’re not submitting enough. I’m shopping around two SF adventure stories and a dark horror tale while working on draft three of a science fiction novel.

That about sums it up for the first half of 2021. I’m immensely grateful for the successes and hopeful about the future. Later this year, I plan to submit several short stories, and one of my novels, to various contests. I’ll post details in the months to come.

Enjoy the rest of summer and stay safe.