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Writers Connection

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By DEREK MAUL Tribune correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 18, 2009

Val Perry loves writing, and she loves a good book.

Most of all, though, she is motivated to help other people discover their own stories and to learn how to write them.

"I recognize the talent in everyone," Perry said. "I'm happy to be the ringleader."

The group Perry facilitates, the Bloomingdale Writers Connection, coordinates community programs sponsored by the Friends of the Bloomingdale Regional Library. She serves as chairwoman of the team and enjoys the creativity that saturates every gathering.

"I sometimes just sit in the meetings and gather the ideas as they fall out of the air," she said.

Perry, a native of England, brings a diverse background to the Writers Connection. She was trained as a counselor in the United Kingdom and has worked with the Girl Scout Council. She was a reporter in Massachusetts and took her first life-story writing class with Carol Byrd at Bloomingdale Regional Library in 2006.

Byrd launched Bloomingdale's Melody O'Shay Life Story Writing Program in 2004. A former English teacher, she spent seven years traveling in RVs around the United States before moving to Brandon in 2000.

"When people die, they take an entire library of stories with them," Byrd said. "Telling your story has been proven to improve both mental and physical health."

Last year, the writing program was honored by the Florida Library Association.

"We have about 200 graduates now," Perry said. "The program has been going for about five years. In addition to the autobiography classes, about a year ago the Friends of the Library agreed to sponsor programs to help writers continue writing their stories after they leave the class."

The Bloomingdale Writers Connection was designed to keep the initiative moving.

One such class focuses on family history. Roberta Jordan facilitates the workshop.

"We don't want to lose the stories," she said. "Many people are writing for their grandchildren, and historical societies are always anxious to get their hands on such material."

"I'm writing a story on every house I've ever lived in," said Judith Johnson, a Brandon resident since 1972. "It's a lot of fun. Then I facilitate a Story Circle group."

Story Circle, based on a writing program in Austin, Texas, provides a venue for women to document their lives and explore their personal stories.

Lifelong Brandon resident Candi Martin grew up on the property that the Bloomingdale Regional Library sits on today. "When someone completes the life-story class, they will have written nine stories for a future generation," she said.

Interested writers can call the Bloomingdale Regional Library for more information or e-mail Val Perry at LifeWritersBloom@msn.com

BLOOMINGDALE WRITERS CONNECTION

WHERE: Bloomingdale Regional Library, 1906 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico, (813) 273-3652

CONTACT: Call Val Perry, (813) 273-3652, or write to LifeWriters Bloom@msn.com

GROUP LOGO: "I Have A Story To Tell"

Derek Maul can be reached at derekmaul@gmail.com.

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