Two local writers honored at conference

By Steve Moyer

Herald-Tribune

Nevada, Mo. -- Two Vernon County residents were winners in the Called to Write annual conference, sponsored by the Christian Writers Fellowship in Girard, Kan., Jeff Feuquay, Nevada, and Nevada Daily Mail columnist Neoma Foreman.

Foreman received second place in the non-fiction category for Growing Crops and Kids, a piece that hasn't yet been published in the newspaper.

"It hasn't been in yet," Foreman said. "It's one I will use for Country Connections."

Although Foreman has been a member for several years this is the first time she entered the contest.

"I've been a member for about 15 years," Foreman said. "I just hadn't done it before, I don't know why. I guess I didn't think it was worth the cost of entering."

The group of approximately 50 writers meets once a month with an average attendance of 20 to 30 people. Foreman said there are members who never attend meetings in person but do so online.

"We have some online members," Foreman said. It's an option that's particularly attractive to the group's members who have disabilities.

Feuquay won first place for his novel, "When Angels Sin," and says he's honored to receive the award, given the level of talent of the others who are in the group and submitted works.

"I've seen some of their work, and it's really good," he commented.

Feuquay's novel is a mystery-adventure tale that spans three time periods.

"The first is the sixth generation after Adam and Eve, then 1347 B.C. and the last is present day Kansas City," Feuquay said. "It's about the sons of God seeing the daughters of men and taking them for wives. They produced giants and heroes of renown, the Nephilim. One interesting characteristic of the Nephilim was extra digits, fingers and toes."

Feuquay said he asked himself questions he thought everyone who reads references to such in the Bible asks themselves.

"It's a fun way to say 'What if,'" Feuquay said.

Feuquay said that after receiving comments from the group, a process that he said helps to make his writing stronger, he will make some changes to his manuscript.

"The group really gets in and looks at every word," Feuquay said. "Afterwards the work is much stronger."

Feuquay said he also felt his characters had taken on a sort of reality.

"Characters start to make their own decisions," Feuquay said. "If they have any depth and reality, they start to have a life of their own."

Although the book doesn't have a publisher yet Feuquay said he had gotten some feedback from an editor at Time Life.

"I had my friend look at a couple of chapters and he showed them to an editor at Time Life," Feuquay said. "He said he liked it and wanted to see more. I've been told I was very lucky to have that happen."

Even with the editorial preview Feuquay said he still needs to find an agent to handle the book when he finishes.

"I'm looking for an agent," Feuquay said. "No book, that isn't a children's book, gets to a publisher without an agent. They just won't look at them."

In addition to being a member of the Christian Writers Fellowship Feuquay also belongs to the Joplin Writer's Guild, where he is the vice-president of the group.