82 Comments

He’s building franchises

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Thanks Kerri for opening up another outpost for great writing. This is a fun aspect of being part of this community.

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Heck yeah! It’s gonna get wild!

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My bad. I forgot to say "THANK YOU, KERRI!!!"

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I was thinking it would be a stretch to start one in Florida, unless there are others stuck here too.

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If you build it they will come

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I thank you a million for giving me the opportunity! Beyond excited to bring this to Youngstown, Ohio. Have some very wonderful people—Kirsten, Noll, Billy, Mara, Fred and Christopher helping to get the word out and making this a fun, yet welcoming event. Can’t wait to pull the first name out of the hat on January 18th!

Billy and Mara own Cedars West End (which used to be downtown Youngstown) and have always offered an open door to artists, jazz, swing dancing, poetry readings, burlesque, and so much more— there’s a patio out back, plenty of good beverages for imbibing (non-alcoholic options, too) and Billy is planning a fun menu in case anyone needs some yummies in their tummies! I hope everyone finds it as welcoming as I have over the past 28 years as I have.

Having the chance to meet fellow readers, Substackers, and Chuck fans will be an absolute highlight, too. I know the Midwest Story Night will bring it! I really hope this helps writers take their work for a walk and they come back to read revisions, too.

I’ll be setting up an email just for the event and a FB event page. Planning on hitting the media with this, too.

Grateful for all the kindness directed towards our story night!

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Thank you a million for putting this together!!!

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If I don’t grimace when reading my older work, then there’s still more for me to learn.

Thanks Chuck et. al. for learning me right.

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“A guy who came to Fight Club for the first time, his ass was a wad of cookie dough.

After a few weeks, he was carved out of wood.”

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It’s already becoming difficult trying to not quote FIGHT CLUB constantly while setting this up. Hehehe. This is wild! The amount of excitement already buzzing in the community is insane!!

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Write Club!!!

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Hats off, Kerri!

At the rate the writing chapters are expanding, you’re gonna need some branding.

As for name, I’m throwing out “Who Has Pages, Tonight?” The final -- and apt -- line of the dedication page from ‘Survivor’.

As for logo, I’m thinking a stencil of Egg sat behind a typewriter -- because you look me in the eye and tell me that’s not an amazing brand image.

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Ha! These are so goooood! I wish you could come! I might have to use Superstar Sassy since Egg is so faraway! I’m grateful for your posts on Substack over the past year!!!

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Sassy behind a typewriter it is.

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Thank you, Kerri!!! See you soon...

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Right on, Karie Anne!!!

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Please let me know when you plan to make the trip and I will try to as well.

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January 18!

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That's where I'll be! So cool!

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Please come, John!!

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Cant wait to meet the Midwest Karie/Kerri with a K but Maegan's been helping so generously I just want to sit and watch her read. This trip will be all about Maegan for me. I will come back to read another time but I have to meet her and just listen to her live you know?

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Karie Anne!!! Awh stop!

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Maybe I'll write why this friendship is so important to me for January 18.......

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Im gonna try! It/ll be sketchy in my old beater but she's never left me stranded yet. Plus I need to visit friends in Akron and Dayton. May make a whole thing of it.

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Awwwh, yeah!!! Throw that name in the hat! Look forward to meeting you and hearing you read!!!

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Wish I could come back to Story Night more frequently! Hard to get down from Seattle often as I’d like. I hope to come back soon though!

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5.5 hours. Hmm.

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4.5 for me. Do it. Can’t wait to meet you in person!

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Ive actually already contacted a couple of coffee shops about hosting a story night in Louisville, and it appears I will have a real life workshop in March in the back of a friends record/bookstore.

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Oh that’s awesome!

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Louisville is 4 hours and 2 min from me

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I'll let you know if/when that happens.

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Kudos to you, Kerri! I can't wait to hear stories from our Midwest friends.

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Awwh! Thank you! This area is pure Rustbelt. Has been hit hard in the 80’s from steel mill closings— Paulie from The Sopranos did a stint at the jail here— lots of fun facts about this area. Heavy in the arts and writing—- I’m really excited to bring this to Youngstown, Ohio and thankful to Chuck for giving me the chance to do this.

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It sounds like a fascinating area. And from comments I've seen on here, it sounds like you have had an incredibly interesting life. I can't wait to hear your stories! And yeah--I'm so glad Chuck has facilitated this, and it's so exciting to see more story nights popping up. I consider myself extremely lucky that I live in a place where one already exists. I'll be reading my first story tonight. :-)

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First time?! Aaaah!! That’s beyond exciting! I hope you blow the doors of the tractor!!

My area— it’s all grimy in the right places—- some areas remind me of where the Paper Street house was in FIGHT CLUB. Train tracks, pot holes, elements of the mob, best creepy cemeteries, Jeffery Dahmer’s childhood home is up near Akron—- so many stories out here, it’s like shooting fish in a barrel.

Looking forward to this so much.

Please let us know how your reading went!!

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"All grimy in the right places." Love it! That area has quite the unique history. I had no idea.

The reading went really well. Thanks for asking! I was SO nervous. I hadn't done that in a very long time (since college, which was a hot minute ago 😂). But I'm so glad I made myself do it. I had a blast, and now I can't wait to do it again.

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That's only an 8 hour drive for me!

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Kerri, my only question really is for those of us coming from far, can we count on there being enough time for us to read? Thanks!

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I don't need to read I'm coming to meet you lol

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And everyone else lol

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As per Chuck— “People who come a distance will have a greater random chance to read (wink-wink).” Look forward to seeing fellow Substackers come to throw their names in the hat!

I’ll be setting up and posting a FB event page and an email just for the event and if anyone has questions. Especially for those coming in from faraway and want to let me know they’re coming.

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Kerri, please let me know if there’s anything I can do from a distance to help prep for the event!

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Just get writing and ready to read! We have the rest covered! You actually get to relax—- until it’s time to take the stage!

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Eeek!!!

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Chris Alan Jones, are you seeing this???!!!!!

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Kerri! Fuck shit up!

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This area soooo needs this! We’re gonna leave blood and pages on the floor! Wish you were here!!! Colton— you are so very talented!!!!

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Nice one Kerri! Another chapter of the write club cult! Can't wait to see what eveyone brings.

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Very very proud!!!! Me too!!

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Hurrah for Kerri 🥳 hope you guys all have a blast 😁

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It’s gonna be the “Ruckus in the Rustbelt!” Hahaha. Thank you, Emily!

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Hi, Chuck. The post office asked me for the box's serial number. They wouldn't be able to check without it. Any chance you have it? Its always a hassle here -- with anything. Sorry to bother you.

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Oh dear. I finally had to send it via the US postal service. I don't recall getting a tracking number. But I'll check my files.

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Some companies give a serial number, and some don't. It should arrive without it though. The post office refused to check with my ID, only a serial number works.. things here don't make any sense.

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The post office says I did get a tracking number, and I will dig it out of my files and get back to you.

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Thanks for the extra effort.

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Hey, sorry to keep bothering. You musta been busy, its been a week or so, but have you found it yet?

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Oh, hey. I posted the tracking number last weekend. Back at the contest winners post.

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My bad, I should have checked.

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The tracking number for your package is:

EH030228763US Sent Nov. 12 by U.S. Postal Service

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Thanks boss. You're the best!

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Just received the box. Unbelievable! My mind is blown by how everything is delicately made. My goodness! I'm all love for that little skull 💀 ❤️. And dude, are you trying to get me killed with all that glitter? Never mind, I love it all.

Thank you. It means a lot to me.

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