"The Beast of Venice Pier"

"The Beast of Venice Pier" is a piece written by WriteOn Joliet charter member Duanne Walton for WriteOn Joliet's first radio theater-style performance at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park and Theatre in Joliet in 2023.

The piece is an alternate piece based off "The Foghorn" by Ray Bradbury, which Duanne explains on his YouTube channel.

Duanne and I read "The Beast of Venice Pier" at WriteOn Joliet's open mic night last week at Critical Grind Board GAme Cafe in Shorewood.

We read this quite spontaneously and had not read it since our last performance in 2023.

What made it so much fun is that we quite naturally slipped into our roles as if we'd just performed it an hour ago. Each syllable, each inflection, was exactly the same.

Duanne, .Holly Coop, and Diana Estell, also read my piece from that same performance ("A Little Wine For Your Stomach"), which is an excerpt from the BryonySeries novel "The Phoenix," which they also executed flawlessly

Diana had previously said she'd love to perform that piece again. So they did, quite spontaneously, at the open mic - which led Duanne to want to read "The Beast of Venice Pier."

The point of all this (other than the fact I'm super proud of all of us) is the value of doing your homework (so to speak) before showing up.

I'm not just talking theatrics here. I'm talking about any project you tackle. All the hours and unseen work in the background will pay off during that short time in the foreground.

So be encouraged today that your hard work is not in vain.

You can watch the original performances starting at the 1:50 mark here: An Evening With WriteOn Joliet: Readings to Entertain and Inspire You. Act 2 and also at 38:10.

Happy Thursday! :)

WriteOn Joliet Radio-Player: Diana Estell

On April 25 and April 26, ten members of WriteOn Joliet presented “We Can Be Heroes," an original radio theater production at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

One of the author/performers was Diana Estell, who had to drop out of the actual performances due to a family emergency, which was especially disappointing since she had participated the last two years.

But Diana's piece (a Dating Game parody featuring Greek heroes) was still part of the show. And like the superhero Diana is, she still attended two of the three performances to cheer us on.

The joy and pains of Diana's personal story, as well as her educational background, have shaped her writing style.

Diana has a Bachelor of Arts from Northern Illinois University and it was there, while writing for her classes in anthropology, that her love of writing re-awoke.

Growing up, Diana had a book in her hand constantly, books like Little House on the Prairie, Little Women, and countless others.  

The love of words is a deep passion of hers. She enjoyed reading the dictionary, taking words and changing them into new words.  

Words were her imaginary playground, a veritable lush garden, springing out blossoms of creativity.

When Star Wars blasted into orbit, so too did Diana’s love for all things fantasy. Dungeon and Dragons and Star Trek played a significant role in her private imaginary world. 

Now the worded playground, with its abundant flora, sprung forth thorns of sharpened steel. Planets and creatures emerged with ease. This passion for fantasy has never left but has grown stronger.

Diana has traveled extensively, most recently to Paris, France. Her love for history, martial arts and weapons is woven into her writings. She has a black belt in a martial arts blend of Taekwondo and Jujitsu. 

She had anticipated she would be going on archeological digs after graduating, but childhood dreams never die.  No matter how many layers of her past accumulated, nothing could stop a story from emerging in her mind.

Diana's first novel, Abyss of the Fallen, was released by Brimstone Fiction in 2020.

For more information, visit dianaestell.com.

The other authors and performers on April 25 and April 26 were Denise M. Baran-Unland, Mauverneen Blevins, Ed Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Jenny Russ, Cean Magosky, Colleen H. Robbins, and Duanne Walton.

Our director this year was Anne Magosky.

Our production assistant was Rebekah Baran.

The first fifteen attendees at each performance received a FREE 2024 WriteOn Joliet anthology, courtesy of Saporta Law Offices in Joliet.

And the first fifteen visitors at the BryonySeries booth received a BryonySeries superhero bag.

If you missed this year's show, the WriteOn Joliet Radio-Players will return next year (tentative dates are Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18) with a completely new show.

Maybe we'll see you there!

WriteOn Joliet Radio-Player: Diana Estell

Good morning!

Nine members of WriteOn Joliet will present “Fragments of Time," an original radio theater production, at 7 p.m. April 19 and April 20 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

Admission is $5.

One of the author/performers is Diana Estell.

The joy and pains of Diana's personal story, as well as her educational background, have shaped her writing style.

Diana has a Bachelor of Arts from Northern Illinois University and it was there, while writing for her classes in anthropology, that her love of writing re-awoke.

Growing up, Diana had a book in her hand constantly, books like Little House on the Prairie, Little Women, and countless others.  

The love of words is a deep passion of hers. She enjoyed reading the dictionary, taking words and changing them into new words.  

Words were her imaginary playground, a veritable lush garden, springing out blossoms of creativity.

When Star Wars blasted into orbit, so too did Diana’s love for all things fantasy. Dungeon and Dragons and Star Trek played a significant role in her private imaginary world. 

Now the worded playground, with its abundant flora, sprung forth thorns of sharpened steel. Planets and creatures emerged with ease. This passion for fantasy has never left but has grown stronger.

Diana has traveled extensively, most recently to Paris, France. Her love for history, martial arts and weapons is woven into her writings. She has a black belt in a martial arts blend of Taekwondo and Jujitsu. 

She had anticipated she would be going on archeological digs after graduating, but childhood dreams never die.  No matter how many layers of her past accumulated, nothing could stop a story from emerging in her mind.

Diana's first novel, Abyss of the Fallen, was released by Brimstone Fiction in 2020.

For more information, visit dianaestell.com.

The other authors and performers on April 19 and April 20 are Denise M. Baran-Unland, Mauverneen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Cean Magosky, Jenny Russ, and Duanne Walton.

Director is Rachel Veres.

Lobby doors open at 6 p.m. Concessions and drinks available for purchase. WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.

The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre is at 201 West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet, 60432.

For tickets and more information, visit bicentennialpark.org or contact the office: 815-724-3761 or bipark@joliet.gov.

For more information, visit dianaestell.com and writeonjoliet.com.

                                                                                                                                                                                        

Open Mic Night 2023: Diana Estell

The Power and Magic of Voice

People bemoan the decline in reading and blame technological entertainment in its many forms for that decline..

This post isn't meant to offer an opinion on that statement, other than to marvel at all the opportunities we have for entertainment.

Think about it.

We have literature, movies, live theater, podcasts video games, music - the list can go on. We really have no reason to ever be bored.

Speaking of music (and life would suck without music) we often forget that the human voice is an instrument...of sorts.

You see, knowing how to "play" the voice can make the difference between a so-so author reading and one that leaves folks scarcely breathing in awe.

Just like many of us are not taught to play piano or trombone, many of us never learn to play our voice.

(And yet, I used to tell the kids back in our home-school days that reading aloud, when we all used to real aloud together, is good, cheap drama_.

Again, think about it.

Words are made from combinations of twenty-six letters.

Music is made from combinations of an twelve-note scale (or less, depending on the scale).

Radio theater is made with good voice modulation, such as:

Emphases.

Pauses.

High pitch

Low pitch.

Slow pace.

Fast pace.

Knowing how and when and where and why to apply any and some of these in a piece requires coaching, discerning, and practicing.

Lots of practicing.

Like the type of practicing WriteOn Joliet member Holly Coop (center) has done with my niece Rachel, who is serving as a creative consultant for An Evening With WriteOn Joliet: Readings to Entertain and Inspire You, which eight members of WriteOn will perform on April 22 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

Up until the pandemic, WriteOn Joliet hosted an open mic event a couple times of year at the Book and Bean Cafe in Joliet, located inside the Black Road branch of the Joliet Public Library.

Basically, participating members stood in front of a microphone in the cafe and read an original piece that was from three to five minutes long.

We are still reading our pieces on April 22. 

But in most cases, we are not reading our own pieces.

And in some cases, several people are reading different parts in pieces they did not write.

One of the pieces Holly is reading is a poem written by Maureen Blevins (who is standing beside Holly in the below photo).

I knew this poem was right for Holly's voice. 

But when she read it aloud for the first time at The Book Market in Crest Hill, where we've been rehearsing after hours, I almost fell out of my chair at Holly's delivery of Maureen's lines.

Holly had learned to "play voice."

Writers wield a bit of magic when they can make readers think, or when they can persuade readers toward one side of a premise, or cause them to fall in love with characters, or to travel to faraway lands, or to allow the musical lines in a poem stir their emotions.

Amazing.

All this magic is accomplished with just the careful arrangement of twenty-six letters on a page.

Those reading aloud do the same.

Except they take the page and wield the above magic through the controlled inflections of their voice.

Again, amazing...

Barbie Therapy by Diana Estell and Vanessa Cooley-Stephens

Open Mic Night 2019: Diana Estell

Open Mic Night 2018 2: Diana Estell

Open Mic Night 2018: Diana Estell

Open Mic Night 2017: Diana Estell

BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: Today at The Book Market

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Today at The Book Market

Today is an appreciation post. Monday's post will recap my impressions.

First of all, a huge THANK YOU to Sue Merrell for arrranging the event and inviting me to participate, The Book Market owner Jan Staley for hosting and promoting us; Allie Rios for handling the extras: promotional flyers, author one-sheets, frames, and a Facebook ad; Daniel Baran for transportation; and Rebekah Baran for her phenomenal "take charge" organizational and managerial skills.

I'm blessed to know and collaborate with some really outstanding people. God is truly good.

The venue:

The Book Market, an indie shop of new and used books, is located at 2366 Plainfield Road in Crest Hill. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/newandusedbooks/ and http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/04/13/crest-hill-bookstore-expands-across-the-street/atrjgyw/


My fellow WriteOn Joliet authors:

Sue Merrell writes crime fiction. The setting and incidents are based on similar ones in the Joliet area. For more information, visit suemerrellbooks.com.

Allie Rios writes inspirational fiction on the theme of healing. She also has a collection of stories about brain cancer battles (including the story of her mother) that benefits the American Brain Foundation at www.americanbrainfoundation.org. Find her on Facebook at Allison Rios, Author and at www.amijustmom.blogspot.com.

Ralph Carey, a recovering alcoholic, has an inspirational book about the recovery journey. Find him on Facebook at Life's Wisdom Overcoming Addiction.

From left: Ralph Carey, Jan Staley, Allie Rios, Denise M. Baran-Unland, Sue Merrell