THE BOOK WORM Monika Rose Just Keeps on Rolling by Antoinette May Monika Rose is my hero! If she isn’t yours as well, then you just don’t know her. Monika is the heart and soul and GLUE that has held Writers Unlimited—a critique group for writers—together for the past 30 years. In 1984, she and her husband, Gary, a rancher and artist, had just moved to Calaveras County. Monika was completing her teaching requirements but wanted to write. “Surely,” she speculated, “there are others out and about who share the same itch.” Monika flushed out the first few wannabes by placing an ad in Buy and Sell. Six people responded, meeting one summer evening in San Andreas. They sat on benches in the historic courtroom museum and compared notes, networked, did writing exercises, and—most importantly—encouraged and commiserated with one another. Believe me, there is no one who can appreciate the joy of a sale or even a clever plot twist like another writer. Likewise, there’s no one who understands better the dismal jolt of rejection. We’ve all been there, experienced that. I’ve taken part in a number of fine writing groups over the years, but Writers Unlimited has been far and away the most helpful largely through Monika’s direction. The group meets at the Calaveras Arts Council in San Andreas at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of every month. Members bring snacks to share, but more important, they bring at least 10 copies of a work in progress, a manuscript to be critiqued (up to 12 pages, 12 pt. type, double-spaced). Three writers read at each session. Sometimes the fiction and non-fiction is laced with poetic contributions written by other group members. Writers Unlimited is sponsored by the Calaveras County Arts Council Literary League. Meetings are free

and open to everyone. Writers who are completing projects are given reading preference because of their publishing timelines, but newbies are warmly welcomed into the queue. As one who has attended Writers Unlimited regularly for the past four years, I’ll share that—though the reading process might seem scary at first—it is well worth the effort. This is friendly, open, and supportive group. I have always read my work aloud to myself, but was surprised to find reading to a group to be a vastly different experience. If no one said a word, I would catch flaws just from hearing my own voice speaking to an audience. But be certain that at Writers Unlimited, the audience does say words—plenty of them. The effect can be a tad mortifying at times but is nonetheless enlightening. It’s extremely helpful, for those who plan to publish their work. Of course, not all of us aspire to the New York Times list. Many may not even want to sell their writing, but everyone who attaches words to her or his thoughts and feelings and then sets them down on paper wants the work to be the best it can possibly be. A number of books have come out of Writers Unlimited. Ted Laskin’s “Chance, a Jockey’s Odyssey,” Dave Self’s “Copper Dawn,” and Janet Langton’s “River of Skulls” spring instantly to mind. My own novel which has been workshopped chapter by chapter (52 chapters!) will be headed out to an agent this month. Monika has published an acclaimed book of poetry, “River by the Glass,” and is completing a novel. Meanwhile, her day job is teaching high school English in Lodi and creative writing at Columbia. An outgrowth of Writers Unlimited is Manzanita Press which has published six books thus far. Yet another, “Wine, Cheese and Chocolate,” a collection

of poems, short fiction, essays, photography and art, will be out this fall. The latest development is that Monika is currently spearheading a dinner dance to benefit the press. “A Spring Affair” will be held June 6 from 5:30 to 11 at the Hotel Leger in Mokelumne Hill. Music will be provided by Cantamos, wine by Metzger Farms and most exciting—to me, at least— David Albert’s (the Leger’s David Albert) signature bread pudding. For certain it will be an affair to remember. For additional information call 890- 3922 or 754-0577 or email mrosemanza@jps.net/ ?The point of all this is that it’s Monika who makes it happen. It is she who founded Writers Unlimited in the first place and continues to come twice a month to the Arts Council, open up the place, drag out the chairs and tables, encourage the timid, rein- in the egotists, keep time, keep order, then finally put the chairs and tables back in place, then and lock up. Is she a heroine, or what? (sidebar) FINDING WRITERS UNLIMITED Are you old enough to remember Hernando’s Hideaway? If so, you’ll be reminded of that ditty the first time you attend a Writers Unlimited meeting. No, you will not be expected to knock three times and ask for Joe, but getting there is a wee bit circuitous. It’s best if you think of it as a treasure hunt for which you will be richly rewarded. The Calaveras Arts Council Gallery is at 22 North Main St. in San Andreas. But entrance’s ancient iron doors are locked at night. Here’s the drill: Turn off highway 49 onto Main Street. Just past the Metropolitan, turn right into the parking lot off Main St. Drive up the hill and make a right into another parking lot with columns. Voila! You will see the entrance in front of you (slightly to the right).