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"Flowers sent by brain alone are wilted in the coming." So writes Donna Rubens on the topic of passionate love in the 3rd
edition of "Metuchen Musings," published by the writing group, the Writers of Metuchen. The 80-page book, a collection of
prose, poetry, original art and photographs by local writers and artists, was edited and designed by Julie Walton Shaver.
The book features the poems of Marcia Holtzman, director of the Edgar School Writers' Room, and several of her current or
former writing coaches, including local business owner, Jan Margolis, inspirational writer, Maddie Hunter, and poignant storyteller,
Jennifer Jolly.
Also featured is a sound poem by actress and storyteller, Donna Wilshire, with full color illustrations by her 103-year-old
mother-in-law. The illustrated poem was a collaboration completed in the 1960's, but is published now for the first time.
Courtney Downing, a senior at Metuchen High, is the featured young writer in this year's book. Courtney's writing was recognized
nationally when an excerpt from her novel, "The Yoke and the Youth," was chosen as a finalist in the Novel Writing category
of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts 2006 competition.
The featured young writer of last year's book, Jamie Zwiebel, inspired by the Writers of Metuchen, organized a writing group
called the Literary Hooligans at Grinnell College in Iowa, where she is a sophomore. This year, the Metuchen writers' group
published several of her new works in the anthology.
The Writers of Metuchen reached outside its group this year and included works by Joni Scanlon, Dan Capriotti and Dale Leffler,
all members of a writing group that meets at the Metuchen Library.
The book also features the considerable talent of Mickey Waring, artistic director of the Westerhoff School of Music and Art
in Metuchen. In addition to several of her paintings appearing on the inside, she also shared her writing talents, and painted
the book's colorful cover.
Books are $10 each and are available at The Raconteur Bookstore, 431 Main Street, Metuchen, and at New Pearl Cleaners at New and Pearl Streets, or by writing to: jwshaver@optonline.net
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