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Updated Workshop Schedule Includes Summer Sessions
All times are eastern (New Jersey) – 2 Hours in most cases
Register at the links belowIN-PERSON WORKSHOPS IN LAMBERTVILLE
NEW HOPE ADULT WRITERS GROUP
CLINTON ADULT WRITERS GROUP
LIBRARY WORKSHOPS IN MAY
SUMMER 2025 SESSIONS VIA ZOOM IN JULY
ADULT WRITERS GROUPS (ONGOING)EVERY 2ND AND 4TH TUESDAY
Adult Writers Group
6:00 – 7:00 pm
Location: New Hope Free Library
93 W. Ferry Street, New Hope, PA
RSVPLAST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH
Adult Writers Group
6:00 – 7:00 pm
65 Halstead St, Clinton, Clinton, NJ
REGISTER AT THE LIBRARY WEBSITEADDITIONAL LIBRARY WORKSHOPS IN MAY
CLINTON, NJ LIBRARY
Self-Publishing with KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)
North County Branch Library
Thursday, May 22
6:00 – 8:00 PM
REGISTER AT THE LIBRARY WEBSITE
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The Weekly Readlines March 29
From the Editor’s Desk: The architects of Project 2025 and their human autopen in the White House continue to erase us (and lots of others), with a stated goal of restoring “shared American values.” It’s clear they do not consider anyone who doesn’t hold those values (racism, bigotry, white Christian supremacy) to be American. They’re eliminating all references to LGBTQ people in every branch of the government. Books, universities, corporate support, are all being targeted with tragic success. They are reconstructing the ghettos we lived in and redrawing the margins we stood outside. If all we’ll have left are protests and blogs, count me in. Assimilation was always a tease. Mark/LGBTSr.
BIG CUP: THE WEEK’S TOP STORIES
Trump Officials Shared Classified War Plans Over Signal App, Included Journalist
Was it a drunken butt chat? Ewww!Barn Burners with Bernie and AOC Pack In Thousands
34,000 and it’s just the beginning.Florida Wants Kids Filling Migrants Jobs
Just not theirs.Project 2025 Drives Bulldozer Into the Smithsonian
The triumph of mediocrity continues.LGBTQ
Utah Becomes First US State To Ban Pride Flags In Schools, Government Buildings – ABC News
Trump Executive Order Targets Law Firm Challenging Anti-Trans Policies – Advocate.Com
Trump Admin. Cancels 68+ Grants Focused On LGBTQ Health Questions
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New Release! ‘Night Flight to Murder Town: A Marshall James Thriller (Book 4)’ Now Available
After much too long, I finally finished Night Flight to Murder Town, the 4th installment of the Marshall James Thrillers. You can get the eBook everywhere (see links below) and the paperback on Amazon.
LINKS TO BUY
BARNES & NOBLE
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/night-flight-to-murder-town-mark-mcnease/1147180222?ean=2940184602899KOBOPAYHIP (Just $3.99)
https://payhip.com/b/YVf7zAbout Night Flight to Murder Town
Marshall James returns in Night Flight to Murder Town, Book 4. Marshall is thinking of leaving New York City with his husband for a new life away from the hectic pace of the nation’s largest city. But how did he get here in the first place? After three stories detailing his harrowing Hollywood past, where lovers, losers, and a serial killer or two nearly ended his life before he could make something of it, he finally tells us how and why he left LaLa Land for Gotham.
It was 1991 and a Christmas card showed up in the mail. An old flame was inviting him to make the move. L.A. had become a ghost town for Marshall and he was ready to get as far away as he could, as fast as a plane would take him. He caught a night flight to New York, and he soon found himself on a new and deadly path to a future he never saw coming.
Money laundering, drug dealing, murder, and high stakes crimes by high-profile people all welcome him with a lethal embrace. It’s an origin story like no other: How did he end up here? Why did he stay? And is love possible after all that death and destruction? Find out in Night Flight to Murder Town. You’ll need to fasten your seat belts for this one.
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National LGBTQ+ Museum Mobilizes New, Nationwide ACT-UP Movement to Fight U.S. Government’s Life-Threatening, Unconstitutional Attacks
Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library Makes a Critical Call to Action: “The History of ACT UP is Etched on the Faces of Those Who Fought Back”
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, (March 17, 2025) By Robert Kesten, President, Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library:
In the late 1970s and 1980s young men were dying of a mysterious illness. Largely the world remained silent. As it became clear what this illness was, the government of the United States and the President of the United States remained silent, while hundreds of thousands of Americans died.
Today we face a different threat, but one that is far greater than any virus, it is the government’s outright attack on our Constitutional rights and freedoms, ignoring the rule of law, rewriting history, and violating the covenant between American citizens and our government.
To address this crisis, we need to be as bold as our adversaries who do not believe we have it in us to challenge their lawlessness. So, today, as ACT-UP did a generation ago, we call for the establishment of a new National ACT-UP Movement that goes beyond its original mandate and challenges us to take on today’s life-threatening actions by our government. All are welcome to join if you believe in a government of, by, and for the people and if you believe in the US Constitution.
ACT-UP was organized to save lives and force a recalcitrant government into action. It made it impossible for Americans to avoid or ignore the AIDS Crisis, and it energized and activated communities across the nation to march, protest, and fight for what was right.
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While You Wait: A Video Trailer for ‘Night Flight to Murder Town: A Marshall James Thriller (Book 4)’
After a long wait, ‘Night Flight to Murder Town: A Marshall James Thriller (Book 4)‘ is about to hit the runway. I’m just waiting for edits and a final polish, and then … liftoff!
It’s 1992 and Marshall has siezed an opportunity to get out of Los Angeles. After ten years in Hollywood and too many close calls with killers and cops, including the love of his life, LAPD Homicide Detective Mac McElroy, he boards a night flight to New York City. He expects a new life away from the ghost town that L.A. had become after AIDS laid waste to it. He lands in NYC only to discover, in his words, that “Death beat me to town on the red-eye.”
Money landering, high-profile criminals, drugs, the Chinese mafia, and a murder or two bring it all back in this fourth book in the series. But will it be his final curtain call? Stay tuned … releasing in April, 2025.
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The Weekly Readlines February 23
From the Editor’s Desk:
“And now was acknowledged the presence of the Red Death. He had come like a thief in the night. And one by one dropped the revelers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing posture of his fall.” – Edgar Allan Poe, The Masque of the Red Death
And just like that, America has a king. Don’t take my word for it. Donald Trump coronated himself, to the delight of millions who can now admit openly that democracy is on life support and they’re yanking out the plug. The upside: we can stop pretending they’re not all fascists to the core, making the deaths of everyone who fought and died for this country meaningless.
And since you won’t read about it pretty much anywhere …an 11-year-old took her own life after classmates threatened to call ICE on her family. She deserves to be remembered long after Trump has returned to the bowels of hell.
BIG CUP: THE WEEK’S STOP STORIES
Top Social Security Official Steps Down After Disagreement With DOGE Over Sensitive Data
Trump Delivers For Putin On Ukraine
Don’t Say Gay Comes To Kennedy Center With Multiple Cancelations
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Speaking of Testimonials: A Few More ‘What They’re Saying’ From the Latest Workshop
From the most recent 2 hour autobiographical writing workshop:
“I had a blast! Mr. McNease’s workshop was a revelation. His ability to quickly break through writer’s inhibition and get you to simply write is refreshing. He quickly set my mind at ease! Highly recommend him.” – Al
“I thoroughly enjoyed your workshop for Guided Autobiography. The exercises were fun, and I enjoyed sharing with others in the group. I came away feeling less daunted about this sort of writing. It does not have to be a huge work. It can be fun and entertaining, a way to tell stories about life, that in the telling may unearth new thoughts and perspectives.” – Val
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Another Workshop, Another Success
I conducted another 2 hour autobiographical writing workshop and they loved it! I’d donated this to the Uniteraian Universalist auction held several months ago for our congregation. It was at our friend Doris’s house. Our other friend Kathi, who only comes to visit once a year, was completely surprised: she had no idea we were doing this, and I even doubly suprised her by saying I was meeting with a client and had to go out for awhile when in fact I went to Doris’s house to prepare.
I keep getting very positive feedback on the workshops and my ability as a facilitator. My third (or fourth or fifth) act is going very well.
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The First In-Person Workshop of 2025
And yet, he persisted
This is the space at Bucks on Bridge Coffee Shop in Lambertville where I can now do in-person workshops! The collective Soupcon took it over and I joined. This is going to be a busy and exciting year for me. This was today’s 2 hour guided autobiography introductory workshop. They liked me (they really liked me)! But seriously, I learn so much from doing this, and it’s a privilege to have people share their lives in this process.
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Savvy Senior: Driving with Dementia and Knowing When to Stop
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
When should someone with dementia stop driving? My 83-year-old father has some dementia issues but still drives himself around town pretty well.
Concerned Daughter
Dear Concerned,
Most doctors agree that people with moderate to severe dementia should never get behind the wheel, but in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia, driving performance should be the determining factor of when to stop driving, not the disease itself.
With that said, it’s also important to realize that as your dad’s driving skills deteriorate over time from the disease, he might not recognize he has a problem. So, it’s very important that you work closely with his doctor to monitor his driving and help him stop when it is no longer safe for him to drive. Here are some additional tips that can help you.
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Updated Workshop Schedule Through May
All times are eastern (New Jersey) – 2 Hours
Register at the links belowNEW FOR 2025!
IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS IN LAMBERTVILLE
NEW HOPE ADULT WRITERS GROUP
CLINTON ADULT WRITERS GROUPFRIDAY FEBRUARY 7
Guided Autobiography 2-Hour Complimentary Introduction (free)
9:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: Soupcon at Bucks on Bridge
25 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ
Please specify the workshop or group in your subject line!
RSVP (LIMIT 8)EVERY 2ND AND 4TH TUESDAY
Adult Writers Group
6:00 – 7:00 pm
Location: New Hope Free Library
93 W. Ferry Street, New Hope, PA
Please specify the workshop or group in your subject line!
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Mark McNease On Topic Substack Teaser
The following is just a tapas plate from my Mark McNease On Topic Substack. Every Monday musings you can subscribe to HERE. It’s free!
First, a big hello to new subscriber Steve! We encountered each other on Bluesky. Steve is a very nice addition to the Tree House. At this rate I’ll have to get a contractor in soon and expand the place. Anyone know a good elf?
From the Editor’s Desk
I wonder if this should be called ‘From the Trenches,’ considering what’s happening to the country.
When is a friend not a friend?
Something I struggle with is the sense of betrayal and mistrust I now feel toward anyone I know who voted for Trump. There are people in my life who made that choice, and yet I know them as ‘good’ people who don’t display any malice. And yet … and yet … I feel like a Jew may have felt in 1933 wondering who among my neighbors and friends would protect me, and who among them would direct the Gestapo to my door.
I won’t ask them, but I can’t shake the feeling that I already know. It’s one of the many reasons I left Facebook: my life, our life, is precious and I won’t put it on display for anyone who isn’t appalled that Black history and experience is being erased from our federal government. Spanish-speaking Americans, and their language, are now of no consequence to the regime. Women’s reproductive freedom is something we once imagined. And LGBTQ lives no longer matter in any way.