Enjoy some local Christmas-themed readings with the Lacombe Writers Group on Dec. 15 at the Mary C. Moore Public Library.
The event begins at 2 p.m. in the Read and Relax Corner.
“Everyone is welcome to drop in and listen to some original Christmas-themed stories and poems,” said member Maureen Pocock.
“It will be a pretty informal affair. We’ve been meeting at the library since this past summer, and we meet in the corner area so it’s kind of public anyways,” she explained. “Sometimes, people stop by and listen, and of course, we are quite happy to share what we have written.”
The group had originally planned to stop earlier this month for the Christmas break, but Pocock suggested they meet once more and invite folks to hear some of their holiday-themed material.
Meanwhile, anyone looking to gather with like-minded folks interested in bolstering their writing skills is encouraged to drop by a meeting of the Lacombe Writers Group.
“We’re a very laid-back bunch of people who just love to write and love to share it, too.”
They meet every other Thursday, starting up again on Jan. 12.
“Rubbing shoulders with other writers does provide some inspiration,” she said. “Sometimes, we will have a meeting and everyone will read a little piece and every piece might have the same theme!” Interesting conversations follow about the creative process in general.
“It can help to give you more motivation and enthusiasm as well,” she said, adding that there have been a few published works amongst the group over the years.
Over the pandemic, there were some Zoom meetings but of course it’s not the same as being together in person, she said, adding that in the warmer months the group met outdoors occasionally as well.
“It was another opportunity for us. But honestly, reading to each other and writing has become part of it because the core group that has been meeting for a long time - we just like to get together and visit anyways,” she explained, adding that the Group started in about 2008.
“The first story that I wrote was about my grandfather on my dad’s side of the family – he had come to Canada before the First World War. He went back during the war to fight with the Canadians. While he was over there, he was injured a couple of times and he eventually ended up fighting with British because the Canadians didn’t think he was well enough to come back.
“In the meantime, he had met my grandmother and they were married in February right after the First World War in 1919. They then came to Canada to live, and he already had a farm around Lacombe,” she said, adding that her grandmother was one of the thousands of ‘war brides’ who left Europe and settled in Canada in those years.
As for those who might be interested in dropping by a meeting of the Lacombe Writers Group but who are feeling a bit shy, Pocock said they should get in touch with her personally. “I’d be very happy to take them under my wing, invite them to a meeting and help to get them familiar with it.”
Either way, the Lacombe Writers Group offers plenty of support and inspiration and they are happy to have more members, too.
“They all add to our whole social environment, and it’s become more of a friendship circle than anything else.”
For more about the Lacombe Writers Group, call Maureen Pocock at 403-885-4251 or email rockingramma@live.ca.