About Phyllis

I am an Adult Services Librarian at the Amelia Branch. I have been a librarian for 14 years starting as a Youth Services Librarian and now in adult services. I enjoy scrapbooking and writing. I enjoy reading historical fiction, mystery, time travel and nonfiction.

Amelia Library Writer’s Group – July 10 meeting

The Amelia Library Writer’s Group will not meet on Tuesday, July 10th so that members may have the option to attend the Fundamentals of Fiction program being presented at the Union Township branch library.  The program is 6-7:30 p.m. and is being presented by Brooks Rexroat.  Mr. Rexroat is a local published author, teacher and musician and will be talking about the important elements of fiction.

On Tuesday, July 17th Mr. Rexroat will present  Preparing for Publication  6:00-7:30 p.m.

Registration is required for both programs either online  calling 513 528-1744.

The Amelia Library Writer’s group will meet again on August 14 at 6:00 p.m.

What will you Read this Summer?

explosive 18Beach Reads

Summer is upon us and it is time to kick back, bring the grill out and curl up with a good book.  Whether you want to read something light or something you can dig your teeth into here are a few suggestions of books to take with you to the beach or on vacation:

Books with Likeable Detectives

Goldy Bear culinary mysteries by Diane Mott Davidson

Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich

Alex Cross series by James Patterson

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall-Smith

 

If you like modern romance

 Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews

Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot

Domestic Violets by Matthew Norman

Second Chance by Jane Green

I’ve got your Number by Sophie Kinsella

 Reclaiming Your Youth

 Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford

 

If You Want to Dig Deeper ……. Smart Beach Reads

 The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society   by Mary Ann Shaffer

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

Senator’s Wife by Sue Miller

Sisters from Hardscrabble Bay   by Beverly Jensen

The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Clayton

Classic Romance – Stick with the Masters

These authors release one or more books a year and many of the older books can be found at the library.

 Nora Roberts

Danielle Steel

Nicholas Sparks

Barbara Delinsky

Mary Balogh

Kristin Hannah

Books to Make You Cry

 The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik

The Cove by Ron Rash

Lost Saints of Tennessee by Amy Franklin-Willis

Testimony by Anita Shreve

 

 

Amelia Writer’s Group June 12, 2012

The Amelia Writer’s group will be meeting once a month starting in June.  We will meet the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.  Hope to see you there!

Here are the writing prompts for June 12th

1.  The asteroid was hurtling straight for……..

2.  He turned the key in the lock and opened the door.  To his horror, he saw …………

3.  You walk into your house and it’s completely different – furniture, decor, all changed.  And nobody’s home.

4.  You’ve been outside digging a large hole for several hours when you realize that you can’t recall why your are digging it.  Retrace your steps to try to discover your motivation.

5.  You are invisible.  What could you see while invisible that you would never witness otherwise?

Five Words:  masterpiece, bird, pool, brick, girl

Amelia Writer’s Group

One of the participants of the Amelia Writer’s Group shared information about an upcoming writers workshop in Clarksville TN.  Check out the website for more information on presenters and how to register

Eighth Annual Clarksville Writers Conference
June 7 – 8, 2012
Historic Clarksville, Tennessee – Tennessee’s Fifth Largest City

  • Two days of excellent writing workshops and presentations, including lunches
  • A banquet with keynote speaker, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alex S. Jones, with an authors’ reception and signing
  • Free consultations with two literary agents for presentation attendees

The conference is presented on the third floor of Austin Peay State University’s Morgan University Center and at the Clarksville Country Club.  Other authors include Poet Amanda Auchter, Young Adult author Tracy Barrett, Kevin McQueen, author of true crime and mystery and many others.  Check out their website for more information – Clarksville Writers Conference

Mango Language Database

  
Make the most of your travels abroad this summer by learning a few conversational phrases before you go by using CCPL’s database – Mango Languages.

Mango is an online language learning system that teaches real conversation skills for practical communication.  Available on the library’s website,  Mango offers  49 language experiences including Spanish, Italian, and German and  15 English as a Second Language ( ESL) lessons with  different levels of fluency.  The basic level offers lessons for common  and practical phrases that can be learned over a few short hours.  The more advanced level offers more in-depth lessons in language and grammar skills.

Mango uses the Google translation engine to translate phrases or conversations from one language to another.

You can access  Mango Languages on Clermont County Public Library’s website by going to  www.clermontlibrary.org and click on Research and Homework then click on Databases,   All you need is a computer and a library card.

Type Mango Languages in the search box  or scroll down the list  to Mango Languages.

Click on Access Database.  In Mango you have the option to create an account in order to track your progress or you can click on the Start Learning  button.    Choose the language you wish to learn and click on basic or in-depth lessons and you are on your way.

Be sure to check out our other language materials at the library.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amelia Writing Group May 22, 2012 Prompts


Writing Prompts

  1. Think back to a time when you saw a stranger say or do something that that caught your   attention. Write one page from the stranger’s point of view about what they are doing and why.
  2. A jewel-encrusted box is found in an ancient abandoned temple. Describe the box, what is in the box, and the temple. See where it takes you.
  3. Take some time out of your day to people watch. This works especially well in a coffee shop, restaurant, or some other public place where interaction is the norm. Jot down observations about the people around you. Describe a loner, a couple, someone how works in this public area. How do they interact? What’s their body language say about them at this point in time? How does the employee react to those around him?
  4. Three characters enter a room; an old embittered woman, angry at life and full of regret, a young idealistic boy, and a mother of a newborn baby. How does each character describe the room?
  5. Begin with the words, “have you forgotten me?” Write for 25 minutes.

 

Five Words – create, east, novel, express, share

 

Have Fun!

Friday Chat at the Amelia Library – Travel Resources May 11, 2012


Join fellow travelers at the Amelia Library on Friday, May 11th at 10:30 a.m. as we chat about travel websites and the Mango language database.   The Mango Language database is available on the library website.  It is a database  where you can learn a few foreign phrases to use during your travels or learn a language in-depth for more extensive travel.

Clermont County library also has language learning materials on CD and phrase books and dictionaries that can be checked out.

During our chat we will explore some of the websites on the internet.

Most of the major travel guide companies have websites that are easy to access such as Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet and Tripadvisor.  Many include reviews and travel tips by other travelers.

The CDC  is a website maintained by the Centers for Disease Control  that will give you updates on needed vaccinations and travel alerts.

The State Department provides information about passports and the National Park Service has information on the National Parks.  The National Park Service has recently devoted a webpage to Civil War History for the 150 years anniversary.

If you are looking for alternative transportation Airlines, Buses, and Trains all have their own  website where you get information about making reservations and travel.  Travel Apps are also available for your mobile phone.

Don’t leave home uninformed. Join us at the Amelia Library as we explore travel resources on Friday, May 11th.

Amelia Writers Group May 8th Writing Prompts

Writing Prompts:

1.   Write about something you really dislike.  Here is your chance to go for the jugular.  Let your emotions flow into your writing.

2.   Recount a somewhat serious anecdote – real or a fictional one – in the form of a joke.  Use the rhythms and the voice you use when telling a joke, such as premise, setup and punch line.

3.  You’re at lunch when your Smartphone buzzes with an e-mail from your boss: “Don’t forget, we have a meeting in 10 minutes.” Of course you did forget, so you rush out of the restaurant and attempt to make it before it starts. But a crazy chain of events stops you from getting back in time for the meeting.

4.  You’ve just moved into a new house and are fixing it up. In the process of painting you find an odd crack in the wall. As you explore further, you find out it’s a secret passageway—and you have no idea where it leads. You decide to grab a flashlight and go exploring.

5.  Invent a character that has two personality traits that are completely incompatible, that don’t fit together at all. For example: this character is incredibly messy and is also a total perfectionist. Or: this character is a pacifist and also has a really explosive temper. Or: this character believes in strict, traditional family values but is promiscuous by nature. You decide. Then think of a situation in which these two sides of your character would be in direct conflict with each other. Write the story.

Five Words:

plant, exchange, wreath, river city, stripes

Amelia Writers Group – April 24.

The Amelia Writer’s Group will meet again on Tuesday, April 24th at 6:00 p.m.  All adult writers are welcome.

Try the following prompts!

Writing Prompts

 

1.  Write about your family, making them the very first family, living in a cave, killing the occasional mastodon.  How long could your family survive?  Describe in detail your surroundings, what life is like.  Have fun with this one.

 

2.  Write a scene in which a character professes feelings of guilt but clearly does not feel that way.  Use action, gesture and voice to signal her true feelings.

 

3.  Write a scene as observed by a character on the fringe of the action.  If you want choose an event from another prompt or writing.

 

4.  Write a story based on a myth or a fairy tale, setting it in contemporary times.

 

5.  Write an excuse for not working today.

 

Five Words – Write a short story/paragraph.  The following five words must appear in your story –   Great value, idea,  cookie,  research, container

Have fun with these.

 

 

 

Amelia Library Writers Group March 27, 2012

At the March 27th meeting Jen has agreed to bring a game called The Game of Novel Ideas – Best Sellers.  Briefly, the game has cards which have two words on one side and letters on the other.  You have two minutes to write as much as you can.

I thought it would be fun to do something a little different.   The usual prompts are on the blog if you still want to do that.

The second half of the meeting will be spent sharing projects or writings.

Have fun!