By Robert A. "Sunny" Brock

THREE LITTLE MUSKETEERS AND THE OLD LADY DOWN THE STREET
By Robert A. "Sunny" Brock

Whatever happened to the Three Little Musketeers of Eames St., who built their fort in my back yard in a giant Kleenex box the size of a stove and fought the dragons of life with swords from privet hedges growing wild along my back fence? Can't you hear them yell, "Time out!" to give my pink peonies a charge of nitrogen.

One was nine, one was six and the runt, what a kid, always losing his diaper keeping up, and he was three.

Now Eames St. is quiet. So, the real-estate ladies tell the lookers, "...a real fixer upper, and it is so quiet on this street, no children." What kind of neighbors want to live on a street with no children? ...like sitting out a death sentence in solitaire.

Now, I look out this window; there're no moon walkers, planting moon beans and crater taters, watching the man in the moon through a Campbell's soup can while he eats all the cheese.

...and their old ugly, white boxer that dug termites from holes under my shed. What was his name? Oh yes, Duke...used to scare me to death when he jumped up on my screen to smell what was cooking. They'd say, "Our mom said it'd be alright for you to give us some of your bread pudding."

I'd serve them out the window. We'd all smack and snack together, and they'd tell me what's going on in the neighborhood, in their school and in the universe. I knew first hand when they fell in and out of love, and they'd listen to my stories. No one wants to hear an old lady's tales of woe. But, they did. I'd tell them mine, and they'd tell me theirs. I knew all their family secrets. Wow, how they could spill the beans.

One by one, I received their graduation cards and put them in the box with all their clippings, homemade happy birthday, merry Christmas and well wishing holiday papers, colored especially for me.

Lately, I read about them in the newspapers. They've all gone to the Marines and Army and college, all married wonderful girls and have Little Musketeers of their own. They're making a difference in their world, just like they made in mine.

But, I still sit at my back window listening to the echoes of The Three Little Musketeers and watch the termites finish off my lawnmower shed.

**Congratulations to Dr. Robert Brock. He recently signed a contract with Tate Publishing of OK for Turkey Mountain Boys.

February 2010 Meeting

Open Range Christian Writers invites you to their monthly Christian Writer's Group meeting on Monday, February 1, 2010 at MoJo's - Downtown Henderson.

Meeting begins at 6:30 P.M.

Meeting Format: Devotional

*Note - We will We will not have our critique session this month.

Special Guest Speaker: Bill O'Neal

Bill O'Neal is the author of 37 books and more than 300 articles and book reviews. He was selected by True West Magazine as the "Best Living Non-Fiction Writer, 2007."

His account of The Johnson County War was voted Book of the Year in 2005 by the National Association for Outlaw and Lawman History.

Bill has taught history since 1970 at Panola College in Carthage, where he was awarded a Piper Professorship in 2000.

Bill has appeared on TV documentaries on TBS, The History Channel, A&E, The Discovery Channel, and the BBC. He is regularly featured on the nationally syndicated radio show Chronicles of the Old West.

For more information contact: Tracy Banks @ tlab@sbcglobal.net or (903)754-2023

By Debra Dian Turner

My Life Has Been Drawn

Upon God's Precious Earth

Filled With Such Things

As Sorrows And Mirth.

Colored By Memories

Tarnished By Tears

Shaped By The Seasons

Defined Thru The Years.

I've Walked Cross the Meadows

Of Early Green Growth

High Mountains, Low Valleys

I've Crossed Them Both.

Angels My Allies

Prayer Is My Sword

My Map Is The Bible

Jesus, My Lord.

Howdy Open Range Writer!

We had a wonderful turn-out at our meeeting on January 3rd. There were lots of new faces and we are so glad you came.

Important dates to Remember:

Monday, February 1st, 2020 - Open Range Writer's Meeting at MoJo's- Downtown Henderson. 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
Mr. Bill O'Neal will be our guest speaker. He is the author of 37 books and more than 300 articles and book reviews. I know you will enjoy this special night, so please plan on coming.

I don't think we will have time to do our reading and critiquing that night, but please plan on bringing something for our April 5th meeting.

March 2010 - We will not have a regular meeting in March, but there will be a NTCW event in March.

Saturday, March 27th, 2010 - Writing for Excellence Seminar with Thomas Umstattd Jr., at Cross Timbers Community Church, Keller Campus. This is a North Texas Christian Writer's Group Event. Check the NTCW - Website for more information and to reserve your spot. http://www.ntchristianwriters.com/

Monday, April 5th, 2010 - Open Range Writer's Group Meeting - MoJo's - Downtown Henderson. This will be our regular meeting. 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
Since we had so many new people at our last meeting we are going to limit the number of pages you can bring for our critiquing session.
(Individual sharing/critiquing followed by group sharing. Bring a max. of 3 double spaced pages of something you have written to each monthly meeting. Bring 8-10 copies * one for each group member. This can be a devotional, poem, article, outline for a book, chapter of a book, book proposal, etc*.)

Friday and Saturday, April 9th and 1oth, 2010 - East Texas Christian Writer's Conference at ETBU in Marshall, Texas. For more information and to register visit:
http://www.etbu.edu/News/CWC/

Monday , May 3rd, 2010- Mr. Frank Ball, the Director of the North Texas Christian Writers will be our guest speaker. Meeting will be at MoJo's - Downtown Henderson.
6:30P.M.- 8:30 P.M.
http://www.ntchristianwriters.com/

June 2010 - We wil not have a regular meeting, but there will be a NTCW event in June.

Saturday, June 19th, 2010 - Writing Seminar with Dennis Hensley "How to Write What You Love and Make a Living at It" at Cross Timbers Community Church - Keller Campus.
http://www.ntchristianwriters.com/

July Meeting: ??

Friday and Saturday - September 17th-18th, 2010 - North Texas Christian Writer's Conference at Cross Timbers Community Church - Keller Campus. http://www.ntchristianwriters.com/

Writing Opportunities to Check into:

Cup of Comfort: http://www.cupofcomfort.com/
Chicken Soup for The Soul: http://www.chickensoup.com/
Barbour Books: http://www.barbourbooks.com/pages/writersguide.aspx
Guidepost Magazine: http://www.guideposts.com/tell-us-your-story
The Christmas Spirit:http://www.christmasspiritbook.com/

Great Resources for Writers:

http://stuartmarket.blogspot.com/

http://www.stuartmarket.com/

Until next time,
Happy Trails Writing Pals and May the Good Lord take a Liken to you!

Working & Writing for Him...

Tracy (Bobo) Banks

Congrats to Warren and Mary Beth Powell

Warren and Mary Beth's New book is out.

I started reading it this morning and it is wonderful. This is a must have book.

Here's a link: http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61566-581-5

January 2010 Meeting

REMINDER:
Open Range Writers invites you to their monthly Christian Writer's Group meeting on Monday, January 4th, 2010 at MoJo's - Downtown Henderson.

Meeting begins at 6:30 P.M.

Meeting Format:

Devotional - by Carol Wingo

Individual sharing/critiquing followed by group sharing.

Bring a max. of 5 double spaced pages of something you have written to each monthly meeting.
Bring 6 copies * one for each group member.

This can be a devotional, poem, article, outline for a book, chapter of a book, book proposal, etc*.

For more information contact:

Tracy Banks @ tlab@sbcglobal.net

January 2010 Meeting

Open Range Writers invites you to their monthly Christian Writer's Group meeting on Monday, January 4th, 2010 at MoJo's - Downtown Henderson. Meeting begins at 6:30 P.M.

Meeting Format

Devotional - by Carol Wingo

Individual sharing/critiquing followed by group sharing.Bring a max. of 5 double spaced pages of something you have written to each monthly meeting. Bring 6 copies * one for each group member. This can be a devotional, poem, article, outline for a book, chapter of a book, book proposal, etc*.

For more information contact:
Tracy Banks @ tlab@sbcglobal.net

Open Range Writer's November Meeting

Open Range Christian Writer's Group Meeting
will be held on Monday, November 2nd, 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. at the
Bar None Cowboy Church Youth building (behind the church)
9162 Hwy 43 East
Tatum, Texas

Meeting Format

Devotional - by Warren Powell
Individual sharing/critiquing followed by group sharing.

Bring a max. of 5 double spaced pages of something you have written to each monthly meeting. Bring 6 copies * one for each group member. This can be a devotional, poem, article, outline for a book, chapter of a book, book proposal, etc*.

For more information, contact
Tracy (Bobo) Banks - tlab@sbcglobal.net

Welcome to the Open Range Writer's Group

Three writer's (you read it right, "writers" not riders) who attend The Bar None Cowboy Church in Tatum, Texas recently attended the 2009 North Texas Christian Writer's Conference.

During our trip, we discussed plans to form a New Christian Writer's group for our area.

The Open Range Writer's Group met for the first time in Henderson, Texas on Monday, October 5, 2009.

Has God placed a special calling on your life to write?
Have you always dreamed of being a writer?

Whatever the case may be, we'd love for you to come and be a part of our group.

Our goal is to round up other folks who write and who will share their God-given talents to a world that is hungry for more of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

For more information on our Monthly Meeting Schedule, please see bottom of page.

Happy Writing Trails Friend and May The Good Lord take a Liken to you!