Poems, Stories, and Stars...

These photographs are from the most lovely evening spent at my gracious teachers home, Susan Davis. Susan is head of the creative writing department at UC Irvine, and for us graduating seniors she threw a dinner party. It was so wonderful to spend a relaxing evening with the most inspirational and talented people I have met over the last few years. Everyone in attendance has talent that I truly admire, and I feel so blessed to be a part of this small elite group of writers. Many of the smiling faces I have known for sometime through either a lecture or the lucky few, a workshop. Many of these kind writers have been subjected to reading first drafts of my stories, which is not easy. The dinner was absolutely beautiful. We sat outside under a canopy of trees in dresses and collars with combed hair. I must say for the writer types, we clean up quite nicely. In between courses everyone got up and read a piece, either a few poems or an expert from a longer story. It was so inspiring to hear all the work coming from our group. Many of the pieces I had never heard, and I truly enjoyed every single one. The company was amazing and the food was exceptional. Overall it was an evening for the ages, and I will never forget how hopeful, and how proud we all were in such a moment of time. Congratulations to everyone on their amazing accomplishment of completing this program. I know everyone will do great things, and I hope to stay in touch.

Maggie welcoming us all to her home!

The girls doing a wonderful job helping Susan host the party.

I love trees. They aren't quite as green as the ones in Minnesota :)

Our beautiful tables were set outside under the stars and trees. Susan gave us real plates and crystal like real grown ups!

The lovely Katie Hart on a lovely hanging bench.

Lovely Ladies love writing....

...see...

...and another...!

Here you can see Sharif still clinging to his portfolio. Our portfolios were due at the dinner and they were a compilation of everything we have done in the program. So basically our life's work thus far... no pressure at all :)

I love new smiling faces. So wonderful to meet you all!

...and familiar smiling faces as well :)

The evening was so lovely as we hung out and sipped soda, until someone found the bottles of wine and that was my cue..



Maggie, having a great time.

Carly being a talented little waitress

The talented Angela.

Boys like snacks

And we found the wine :)

I wish I could tell you what they were looking at...

lovely

good times and great people.

Jessup and Danielle

The Scene

Cheers Girl!

The Wonderful, Susan Davis

Susan thank you again, for such a lovely evening..




I wish I would have written down a quote from every one's pieces to include with the picture, bit the idea came to me only after the fact. So instead I will include other wise writers words about writing...
The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say. ~Anaïs Nin

To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wildflower... hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour... -William Blake


If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it. ~Toni Morrison

Ashley, I love your smiling face :)

Carly, I am coming into the Bean for some serious tea!

Love the Jacket!

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. ~William Wordsworth

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. ~Anton Chekhov

Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable. ~Francis Bacon

Delicious Carrot Soup.

Tea or Coffee anyone?

I love this series of next few pictures. Enjoy...





All my best thoughts were stolen by the ancients. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson



I think it's bad to talk about one's present work, for it spoils something at the root of the creative act. It discharges the tension. ~Norman Mailer


The coroner will find ink in my veins and blood on my typewriter keys. ~C. Astrid Weber

The most beautiful things are those that madness prompts and reason writes. ~André Gide

One must be drenched in words, literally soaked in them, to have the right ones form themselves into the proper pattern at the right moment. ~Hart Crane

Writing is utter solitude, the descent into the cold abyss of oneself. ~Franz Kafk

"I write for the same reason I breathe- because if I didn't, I would die." Isaac Asimov

It is impossible to discourage the real writers - they don't give a damn what you say, they're going to write. ~Sinclair Lewis

Susan had taken the time to write the most thoughtful introductions for everyone of us.

"If you wish to be a writer, write." -Epictetus

"Poetry: the best words in the best order." Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead. ~Gene Fowler

This pile of manila envelopes represents everything we have done within the creative writing program at UC Irvine. There is more talent concentratted in this pile than I have experienced in my life. Congratulations Everyone.

Thank You so Much Susan for giving us this chance to celebrate this time in our lives and formalize the ending of such a beautiful journey. Thank you for the evening and everything you taught us along the way, you are truly and exceptional woman. Thank You.