Berkeley Writers Club Guestbook

Thanks for visiting our pages. Please add your comments to our guestbook!

I belong to the Mt Diablo branch of CWC. My writing group is looking for another member or 2, for someone who writes fiction. Exclusions: Sci-fi and erotica. Are you serious about publishing? Contact me by email. lbwriter@gmail.com
Laurie
Walnut Creek, CA USA - Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 14:00:21 (PDT)

I belong to the Mt Diablo branch of CWC. My writing group is looking for another member or 2, for someone who writes fiction. Exclusions: Sci-fi and erotica. Are you serious about publishing? Contact me by email.
Laurie
Walnut Creek, CA USA - Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 13:59:51 (PDT)

I wanted to introduce you to our conference, The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Writers Conference of the Southwest, July 18-20, 2008 at the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center in Grapevine, Texas. We will be awarding $12,000 in cash prizes to the top six article/essay submissions and $3,000 and a provisional book contract with UNT Press for the winning manuscript! Keynote speakers include: N. Scott Momaday, Pulitzer Prize winning author, Bob Schacochis, National Book Award winner and Candice Millard, author of River of Doubt. Complete conference details are found at our web site: www.TheMayborn.unt.edu
Nancy Eanes
Denton, TX USA - Monday, May 19, 2008 at 11:45:39 (PDT)

Lois, my appologies for calling you Louis. If you want information about Elma Dean, I contacted the Beaver Falls Historical Society and got some interesting information about Elma and her familiy. If you contact me via this website, I would be glad to share the information with you.

Regards,

Bob Korkuc
Author, "Finding a Fallen Hero: The Death of a Ball Turret Gunner"
Bob Korkuc
Amherst, NH USA - Tuesday, May 06, 2008 at 09:37:38 (PDT)

I have a book published in 1935 entitled "The Star-filled Meadow, an anthology of Berkeley Verse Writers. On the inside of the face page it has a wonderful little poem:
I never saw a star-filled meadow
nor felt the night-wind's breath
nor lived from morn to evening
a rose's life of death
until
the singing poet came. Now long
I drink this fragrant , flowing line;
from vibrant lovliness of song
he offers me of beauty's wine
my fill. H.D.D.S.

The copy is the first edition which consisted of 150 copies, with 100 copies that were for members only and the remaining 50 were not for sale. I have copy No. 47.

What a treasure! Belongs to my husband's great aunt.

marcy edelman
calimesa, ca USA - Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 12:22:15 (PDT)

For Louis, Elma's Dean's nephew. I wrote to the Beaver Falls Historical Society for information on Elma. If you could contact the webmaster to get my email, I would be glad to share with you what I learned. I feature Elma Dean's poem, "Letter to Saint Peter," in the preface of my upcoming book, "Finding a Fallen Hero" published by the University of Oklahoma Press in March of 2008.

Regards,

Bob Korkuc
Bob Korkuc
Amherst, NH USA - Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 20:33:14 (PST)

Susan: Can you tell me anything about Charles and Mary Alice Marlatt. They are my Grandparents. My parents were not very forth coming about family. I am tracing family history and I have some holes that I can't seem to fill.
Lois
Rowlett, TX USA - Saturday, January 19, 2008 at 08:49:28 (PST)

To Cindy and Susan: Elma Dean was born in Beaver Falls Pennsylvania. She was my aunt. I visited her in Oakland in 1954. My father Curtis and Bertha her sister were also born in Beaver Falls.
Lois
Rowlett, TX USA - Friday, January 18, 2008 at 12:14:29 (PST)

i love the site so much is nice and ok
mgbada mugu
cooming, USA - Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 06:33:01 (PST)

I would like to make a presentation about writing memoirs, specifically, how to use published information to flesh out your memories.
I am a member of Santa Clara Co. CWC, have given many talks, see webpage for more. If interested. please contact me.
Phyllis Mattson
Cupertino, ca USA - Monday, January 14, 2008 at 21:05:35 (PST)

Cindy, Elma Dean was my great aunt. I do not have anything of hers (unfortunately). Her maiden name was Marlatt and she was born in Ohio. She was a dear, sweet lady who loved to serve daceries and served me my first one. She lived in the hills of Berkeley when I moved to California in 1964 with her husband of many, many years, Claude. Susan
Susan
Port Angeles, WA USA - Sunday, December 09, 2007 at 12:39:37 (PST)

Am I allowed to plug a cool literary 'zine? It's national but based here in Oakland. They've published several of my pieces, and I always feel so honored. A beautiful and humorous sensibility. The editor is a 3rd grade teacher who pioneers with the Bay Area Writing Project, which encourages teachers who teach writing to write. The 'zine is called Rudolf's Diner. www.rudolfsdiner.org. Check it out.

IF NOT, I'll just sign the guestbook and say HI WRITERS!
Kristen Caven
Oakland, CA USA - Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at 16:37:21 (PDT)

I have a hand penned copy of Letter to Saint Peter....like quill pen, it is dated November 1942, also stated by Elma Dean...found it in an old poetry book, that does not contain it...also book had a pressed,small flower in it...can anyone help, have any ideas how I can find out if it may be an original. Any help please and Thank-you.....
Cindy
USA - Sunday, June 17, 2007 at 17:19:17 (PDT)

I wanted to thank you for sponsoring the 5th grade writing contest. My son & his two classmates each won 4th place and we could not be more excited for them. We felt it was quite an honor just to be selected to enter the contest. It is wonderful for them to have their writing recognized this way. It has been a challengin year at school with lots of hard work and yes, some painful moments. My son has really taken off on his reading this year and it shows in his writing. Here's to a literate society! Education rocks!
Sincerely,
Catherine Hodnett
Catherine Hodnett
Fremont, CA USA - Friday, June 01, 2007 at 21:27:35 (PDT)

Spammers Be-Gone worked like DDT on head lice. Ho? Santa! Do me no expiration deo, Santa!

Which reminds me. A poem from one of the books of Bokonon:

Tiger got to hunt,
Bird got to fly;
Man got to sit and wonder, "Why, why, why?"

Tiger got to sleep,
Bird got to land;
Man got to tell himself he understand.

--ripped screaming from Cats Cradle

PS. I do remove personal info, such as phone numbers and bald, naked email addresses that appear. It's for your own good, really it is. But messages get passed on, yes they do.

Y'all come back now!

Stan
Webmaster Stan
Berkeley, CA USA - Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 21:59:30 (PDT)

I am a CRC member. I am in a writer's class with Elizabeth
Fishel who published "Wednesday Women's Writers" and is
publishing another anthology. Please call her xxxxxxxxxx
or e-mail her at xxxxxx.com She'd like to be speaker at one of our next meetings at Barnes & Noble.
irene sardanis
oakland, ca USA - Tuesday, May 08, 2007 at 17:15:36 (PDT)

Hi Stan, I finally reviewed the Club webpage. Looks good.
I hope to visit more often.
Evelyn Washington
Oakland, CA USA - Sunday, April 22, 2007 at 11:49:23 (PDT)

I am an author of a soon to be published book (2008) by the University of Oklahoma Press entitled: "Finding a Fallen Hero: The Death of a Ball Turret Gunner". In the book's preface, I include a poem by Elma Dean entitled, "Letter to Saint Peter".

I am trying to learn biographical information about Elma Dean or how I might reach her relative, children etc.

In the 1920's, Elma Dean was a member of the California Writer's Club; National League of Amer. Pen Women; Berkeley (Calif) Verse Writers.

From my web searches, I know the following:

BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF CONTEMPORARY POETS: THE WHO'S WHO OF AMERICAN POETS, Avon House, 1938.

Dean, Elma (Marlatt), former educato; b. Beaver Falls, Pa;...Educ...Univ. of California; Contributor to: (anthologies) Merry-Go-Round, 1934; Land of Gold, 1934; Starfilled Meadow, 1935; Calliope's gifts, 1936; American Women Poets, 1937; (magazines) Sunset; West; Love Story; Better Verse; Kaleidograph; Westward; Wings; Weird Tales; others; several newspapers. Also writes short stories, book reviews. Member of: California Writer's Club; National League of Amer. Pen Women; Berkeley (Calif) Verse Writers.

She published often in the American Mercury Magazine. By searching for "Elma Dean" using Google's Advanced Search Engine for Books, I learned that she had written at least 9 poems that were published:

1. Letter to Saint Peter
2. The Stallion
3. Old Men's Ward
4. Light of Candle
5. Sestina for Wings
6. The Symbol
7. So Die the Innocents
8. For a Certain Coast
9. There is a Might

Also, I noted that in 1921 she lived in Oakland California at address, 5925 Sherwood Drive. She also taught Verse Writing in Oakland.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

Here is the beautiful poem, Letter to Saint Peter by Elma Dean. It was first published in the American Mercury in November of 1942.

Let them in Peter, they are very tired;
Give them the couches where the angels sleep.
Let them wake whole again to new dawns fired
With sun not war. And may their peace be deep
Remember where the broken bodies lie --
And give them the things they like. Let them make noise,
God knows how young they were to have to die!
Give swing bands not harps, to these our boys,
Let them love Peter, -- they have had no time --
Girls sweet as meadow wind, with flowing hair --
They should have trees and bird song, hills to climb
The taste of Summer in a ripened pear,
Tell them how they are missed. Say not to fear;
It's going to be alright with us down here.

Kindest Regards,

Bob Korkuc

Bob Korkuc
Amherst, NH USA - Friday, April 06, 2007 at 19:05:15 (PDT)

How I love ya, my dear old Spammy!
Webmaster Stan
USA - Sunday, April 01, 2007 at 20:58:00 (PDT)

Naughty, naughty . . . sssssssnippppping sounds, uninvited text shatters, jagged pixels return to the electronic source . . .

Please, no advertisements, porn sites and the like, mates. Spam-proofing is never ending. We should get a big fat tax credit for insulating our pages from windy spam.

Webmaster Stan
USA - Thursday, March 01, 2007 at 08:28:12 (PST)

Welcome to the our G u e s t b o o k. We'd like to hear from you, so click on ADD above and provide your comments about the Club and Website. Only your choosen name, URL and comments will be visible in the G u e s t b o o k.

Cheers!
Webmaster Stan
Berkeley, CA USA -

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