We had an infectiously enthusiastic group at our last Writers Artists Collaborative Writers’ Café on 4/11/12. We are a busy group and had lots of brags this month:

Ina Chadwick announced that the new mousmuse website was looking good and the designers should be finished first week in May. On that website will be several introductory programs that will encompass not on Tell A Story in Storytelling, but Write a Story for readings with raconteurs and singer songwriters for series debuting at the famous Two Boots Pub in Bijou Square , Bridgeport's answer to hipster Soho and Williamsburg. All dates to be announced. MouseMuse's arts partners for the revitalization of artists' spaces, restaurants, galleries and art film houses include cross platform publishers, booking agents on the music scene and co-production with radio station WPKN.

Catherine Onyemelukwe read at the Westport Writers Workshop Open Mic night.

Elise Ferrara submitted five pieces for publication this month. She’s on fire!

Dee Andrian, in addition to being a golf tournament winner, is performing at Under the Covers on May 4th and 5th at the Seabury Center. For tickets and further information, email underthecovers@gmail.com. Dee also performed at a musical at the Westport Senior Center in April.

Margaret Rumford finished a short story and read a piece at the Fairfield Library.

Barbara Stokes has been writing every day. She’s got our consistency and dedication vote.

Shira Linden developed a new web site using WordPress. Bravo!

Iris Frey, an organizer of writers’ groups and Y’s Women at the Westport Senior Center, wrote a memorial piece for her sister for St. Patrick’s Day.

Steve Lance, who blogs and lectures on branding and advertising through his agency Unconventional Wisdom, wrote an article for the Harvard Business Review and is proud of his son’s bestselling Kindle book, Crazy Girls.

Robert Stevens Williams has a patron that will pay for digitally producing his book. Congratulations!

Leslie Feller has been soaking up all the writerly vibes of Spring.

Margaret Wagner has been writing a poem a day to celebrate National Poetry Month (April).

Sophie Barnes says she’s coasting this month, but she’s submitted a piece for anonymous review every month, so she’s a winner in our eyes!

We also reviewed our blind submissions for the month and had seven two-minute readings.

Finally, Writers’ café sends Gabi Coatsworth our collected hugs in they hope they will be comforting. Gabi’s mother passed away, and she was called to England to handle matters. Gabi, the process of letting go of one so loved can be challenging, and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time.

DEADLINES FOR BLIND SUBMISSIONS:

• Submit pieces: By midnight on Wednesday, 5/9/12 to ina@mousemuse.com and Margaret_wagner@hotmail.com (please submit them with the cover sheet and as a .doc)

• Anonymous pieces sent to reviewers: Friday, 5/11

• Reviewer comments due electronically: by Tuesday, 5/15, 5pm

• Discussion: Wednesday, 5/16, during our May Writers' Café

NEXT WRITERS’ CAFÉ:

Wednesday, May 16, from 12:3pm to 2pm at address is: 2 Redcoat Road, Westport, CT  06880 (it's next to Exit 41 on the Merritt, also knows as Route 15, and is the first driveway on the right).

Coffee and tea are provided, but the brown bag lunch is up to you!  Also please remember to bring:

1. A brag (and a $1.00 for our communal pot, if you have one!)... share what writing success have you had during the last month.

2. If you sent a piece for this month's blind submission/review process, please bring a hard copy of your review with you, and also email an electronic copy of it to ina@mousemuse.com and margaret_wagner@hotmail.com by 5pm on Tuesday, 5/15, so we can be prepared for the meeting.

3. A piece you wrote that you want to read aloud for two-minutes.

There’s lots more happening at MouseMuse with the storytelling programs, so stay tuned to www.mousemuse.com for great events in May, June and July and August!

Big thanks to Margaret Wagner for keeping the momentum going and keeping us focused. She is the scribes' savior.