When Writers Gather

Wednesday Writers' Word Feast!

(WWWF... we need a writing Panda)

For our first two meetings, we had seven writers. Some from the first meeting were at the second and we had some new folks join us too. We got together to share our words, some yummy food, inspiration, gave feedback, and we wrote! 

On April 6th, we had Captain Mega Thunder-Chunder-Blunder vs. the Marauding Letter Snatcher, a galaxy of small worlds around a single star, a boy in a grave during a fire, a spaceship named Tania who takes on the one resident of an escape pod, and a view of what happens when someone gets shot in the supernatural battle between Thropes and Drogers in an altered Chicago.

If you weren't at the meeting but would like more info, please email Jeanine at j9vaughn@gmail.com and I'll put you on our email list. 

We meet the first Wednesday of the month at the Oak Park Public Library - Main Branch, 834 Lake St. Oak Park, from 10 am - 1 pm in the Book Discussion Room on the second floor. Our next WWWF will be May 4th. 


WWWF on the Oak Park Library calendar

May the Fourth be with you!  

The Open Mic that gave Fools Wisdom

This is the night the DOUGHNUT WARS began. 

Brandon regaled us with a tale of orphans high on a mountain, eating and yelling and servicing airships. We met Jayer and Kiera (sorry if I misspelled), the outcasts of the misfits who are finding friendship with each other. 

You can pre-order this up-coming novel on your kindle for 99 cents: Orphan Fleet.

Sheila gave us a world where a dragon may bestow a gift, even to a hunter, but it might not be the blessing it seems to be at first. All that hot on the heels of a severed head and right before our narrator is swooped up by Carol, the infamous hunter.

Mike delighted us with a tale of Elliot who has the odious job of orienting new souls to the afterlife. They're never quite where they think they should be. Baby Steps Through Brimstone had an interesting dark-humored twist that we won't give away.

Jeanine shared the beginnings of a romance-gone-wrong story called Heart Space in which the narrator has visions of violence that may or may not be real.

But know this, the DOUGHNUT WARS are not over.

The Wisdom of Fools Open Mic

This month is a CELEBRATION of the Wisdom of Fools since we are meeting the day before 

APRIL FOOLS!

WHEN: Thursday, March 31st at 6:30 pm

WHERE: Oak Park Public Library Maze Branch - 845 Gunderson Ave., Oak Park, IL 60304

The No-Shush Salon is a monthly open mic for all creative types who want to share their works in progress or even their newly finished endeavors. Come share your poetry, prose, music, dance, or any other creative endeavor in under 15 minutes at our Open Mic. Treats to share are welcomed! No registration required — just drop in and share your talents!

Spectators welcome & appreciated!

Highlights from Feb. 25th - "For the Love"

Our Feb. 25th No Shush Salon's Open Mic was grand! Here are some highlights from the stories addressing the "For the Love" theme:

• Working at the store that rhymes with "small fart" #667 (actually #666), our intrepid hero-ish describes all the paranormal creatures who come through to shop but more often destroy the store. Trolls, dragons, vampires, and zombies, to name a few, stink up the joint and leave random body parts or chard remains of their victims for the "clean up in aisle... well, all the aisles" call. Plus, maggots... nobody ever mentions the maggots.

• Pria and Nick, who have been friends for a long time, have sex and are suddenly confronted by their younger, teenage selves. Phrases like, "we're like lumpy" and "as if she was trying to duck beneath the oncoming future", are but a taste of the lovely language Shelia uses.

• A couple going through a rough patch, finds the guy who's being a bit of a bore actually turning into a boar. The best way to deal with a boyfriend turned boar is to growl and stand your ground. "Fuck, this is why I left Chicago," our heroine states.

• Jack gets beans from Maxwell street market. He climbs the stalk them hides from an enormous cat who calls for him to "come out so I can eat you." Finds salvation (sort of) with a spider. Now the spider wants something Shiny...

• Wearing a brown parka and holding a scythe, Death was doing donuts on a bike in the parking lot of the hospital. The snow melted wear and dead things scattered behind Death's tires. The storyteller in the car who passed Death was put out because Death didn't have the common curtesy to acknowledge her and she could only see darkness (or rather, absence of light) in the hood of the parka.

• Henrietta was the first human to be admitted into the Intergalactic Photographers' Convention. She could understand the aliens thanks to her sponsor, Ted, an Obliequean, loaning out his pet Peeve who farts translations.

• Fred had been publishing authors for exposure, paying them nothing, but reaping all the benefits under the "For the Love" publication. He believes he is getting another great publication deal at a fancy restaurant, but soon finds out that Pitchfork Press isn't exactly what he thought he was signing up for. 

The next No Shush Salon will be Thursday, March 31st at 6:30 and the theme will be "The Wisdom of Fools".

For the Love

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Share with us what you LOVE! 

The No-Shush Salon is a monthly open mic for all creative types who want to share their works in progress or even their newly finished endeavors. Come share your poetry, prose, music, dance, or any other creative endeavor in under 15 minutes at our Open Mic. Treats to share are welcomed! (I know I'll be bringing munchies!)

No registration required — just drop in and share your talents!

Spectators welcome & appreciated!

Oak Park Public Library Maze Branch 

845 Gunderson Ave, Oak Park, Illinois 60304

January No Shush Salon: New Beginnings!

Such an amazing first Open Mic* at the Maze Branch of the Oak Park Library! We kicked it off with a group of amazing writers and yummy treats. 

*sans mic, but with a very classic podium!

Here are some snippets of the work presented:

Moving day - mirror magic is the best!

Time only goes in one direction - Charlie

Hammi - The chimps were doing too well ...like a post apocalyptic Abraham Lincoln ... That was when the elephants got involved...

Did we get our daily share of brain plaque? ... He looks good in an olive loaf! ... I put my name in a little box behind the pimento in the olive eye...

...seventy three candles. Even with both of them blowing, it took almost five minutes to get all the candles out. ... Oh hush, Meffy. No one believes you.

If you would like to join us in the future, here's what we've got coming up:

February 25th: "For the Love"

March 31st: "The Wisdom of the Fools"

April 28th: Featuring belly-dancer Paula Ngo, check her out at - sepiatribal.com

May 26th: Featuring author Jude W. Mire, check him out at - judemire.com 

*** Every No Shush Salon will be at the Maze Branch of the Oak Park Public Library 
from 6:30 - 8:30 pm ***

New Year, New No Shush, New Location!

The No Shush Salon is moving to Oak Park! 

Oak Park Public Library - Maze Branch

845 Gunderson Ave., Oak Park, IL 60304

We're starting off the new year with a focus on NEW BEGINNINGS. On January 28th, come share your poetry, prose, music, dance, or any other creative endeavor in under 15 minutes at our Open Mic. Treats to share are welcomed! (I know I'll be bringing munchies!)

No registration required — just drop in and share your talents!

Spectators welcome & appreciated!

Halloween Open Mic

Our Halloween Open Mic will be a fun and spoooooooooky evening! Come share your spooky (or not) poetry, prose, music, dance, or any other creative endeavor in under 15 minutes. Treats to share are welcomed! 

Thursday, October 29th, 6:30-8:30pm at the Clarendon Hills Public Library

We are also excited to present:

The Cemetery Guardians webzine! 

This is a website that showcases spooky pictures and stories including, but not limited to, stories about cemetery guardians each October. October 2015 is the debut of this intrepid little Webzine.

No registration required — just drop in and share your talents!

Spectators (and spectors) welcome & appreciated!

COSTUMES are not required, but they are strongly encouraged!

July No Shush Salon featuring Jeffrey Westhoff!

On Thursday, July 30th at 6:30 pm, the Clarendon Hills Library is excited to host the No Shush Salon's first ALL AGES show with Jeffrey Westhoff reading from his recently published book, The Boy Who Knew Too Much!

This book is an action-charged YA adventure that blends the suspense of Alfred Hitchcock with the thrills of James Bond. While on a school trip to Europe, Milwaukee teenager Brian Parker hopes for just a taste of the glamour and excitement of his favorite spy novels. Yet Brian gets way more than a taste when he stumbles across a wounded spy in a Lucerne alley. Brian faces a deadly path, but reading all those spy novels has taught him a few tricks of the trade. They just might save his life.

After Jeffery's , we will have 10 minute slots for anyone who wants to present their latest creative endeavor! EVERYONE is invited! Share your poetry, prose, music, dance — anything creative — in under 10 minutes. Treats to share are welcomed! 

No registration required — just drop in and share your talents!

Spectators welcome & appreciated!

June No Shush Salon Featuring Brendan Detzner

This Month we are delighted to have Brendan Detzner as our featured reader! 

Brendan Detzner's stories are sometimes scary, sometimes funny, and usually very strange. His work has appeared in Chizine, Pseudopod, One Buck Horror, Bizarrocast, the Exigencies anthology from Dark House Press, and other venues. He also runs the Bad Grammar Theater reading series in Chicago. 

You can find out about that at: 

http://www.badgrammartheater.com/ 

and keep track of Brendan generally at:

http://www.brendandetzner.com/

After Brendan, we will have 10 minute slots for anyone who wants to present their latest creative endeavor! Everyone high school age and up is invited! Share your poetry, prose, music, dance — anything creative — in under 10 minutes. Treats to share are welcomed! No registration required — just drop in and share your talents!


Spectators welcome & appreciated!

Also, we will be handing out lovely Notebooks while supplies last!