When Pat Dunkin walked into the Jackson branch of the Ocean County Library 11 years ago, she was seeking a writers group. When she inquired at the circulation desk, the librarian thought it was a wonderful idea — and suggested that since they didn’t have one, she start it.
So she did. Present at that first meeting, along with Dunkin, were Larry Meegan and Alison DeLuca. From those humble beginnings of three, the group has grown and prospered over the years, boosting a membership of 35 today.
The group has also expanded to the Plumsted library, where they meet on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The day of the week difference – Jackson meets on the fourth Thursday of every month, also at 6:30 p.m. – also allows members to attend twice a month, or if one of those days of the week poses a scheduling conflict for them, they have another day to fall back upon.
A few months after JWG – what the Jackson group is informally called – started, Karen F. Riley came aboard. At the time, she was the only previously published author in the group; but today, more than half the members have published books and articles in all genres.
Riley is the author of “Whispers in the Pines: The Secrets of Colliers Mills,” “Voices in the Pines: True Stories from the New Jersey Pine Barrens” – which won a silver IPPY Award in 2010, “Images of America: The Pine Barrens of New Jersey” and “Healing in the Hurting Places,” which was a 2012 Eric Hoffer Award finalist.
Garnering the 2012 Gold Award for fiction in the Eric Hoffer Award contest was another JWG writer – Karen Kelly Boyce. She took the prize for her endearing tale of a little girl with Down Syndrome in “Down Right Good.” Boyce is also the author of “A Bend in the Road,” which chronicled her battle with breast cancer.
Danielle Sibarium has written two books aimed at the popular young adult market: “For Always” and “Heart Waves.”
The newest published author in JWG is Barbara Hosbach, whose Bible study-style book, “Fools, Liars, Cheaters and Other Bible Heroes,” was just released in the summer.
There is no membership fee to join JWG and the group welcomes new authors of all genres. Currently, the writing of the members ranges from memoir to science fiction, poetry to plays, Bible studies to fantasy. All ages are welcome, and the group has had several members in high school join their ranks. All that is required is a desire to write – for personal pleasure or publication – and the willingness to offer up gentle criticism to the other members to help them become more successful in their endeavors.
Riley will be discussing book publication at the Nov. 12 meeting in Plumsted. For more information, call 609-758-1304.