Cowboy Poet Ernie Sites brought his energy, humor, and talent to Boise over the weekend,
and Mill Park Publishing sponsored his workshop titled “Writing the Songs of the West.” Participants were entertained and enlightened as he discussed the various ways to write and recite
poetry. He added some lively guitar playing to demonstrate how he turns his stories into songs.

For one exercise, he showed the group various western paintings: agitated horses in a corral, a medicine woman, a Conestoga wagon crossing a river.  Then he allowed 15 minutes for the attendees to write a poem. We all were amazed as each one stood to recite her or his poetry. Clearly, the assignment sparked some creative writing within the group.

Ernie instructed us to use free verse or rhyme, and I chose to write a poem about the
river crossing. I wrote in iambic tetrameter, a style I have used since my high
schools days (which happened about the same time as the wagon trains coming
west on the Oregon Trail.) Here’s my poem:

Crossing Over

The raging river shoved the wagon.

Pa yelled at us to hang on tight

but Samuel fell into the water.

He screamed and then slipped out of sight.

My mama held the baby close

and glared at Pa to save their child

but he was struggling with the horses

to get across the river wild.

We reached the bank, he jumped back in

but all he found was Samuel’s shirt.

My mama didn’t smile for years

‘cause life was hard, and she was hurt.

Mill Park Publishing of Eagle recently donated $3,000 to organizations that promote
writing, music, and job placement for disadvantaged women. The donations resulted from proceeds earned from the sales of three books published in 2011.

Mill Park Publishing, owned by author Elaine Ambrose, focuses on books written by
and for women. The Backyard Chicken Fight by Gretchen Anderson is in the second printing, and Mother Knows Best compiled by Patti Murphy is fifty percent sold. Little White Dress edited by Liza Long features 25 women authors and was written and produced in six weeks. That book is almost sold out.

“Mill Park Publishing provides opportunities for women to write their stories,” said
Ambrose. “Our books offer authentic, captivating, often humorous writing in a quality product. We’re excited to give back to the community through the proceeds.”

Dress for Success Treasure Valley received $1,000. The organization provides job placement services, career counseling, and professional attire for women looking for work.  The Idaho Writers Guild received $1,000 as seed money to create a writers conference in Boise in May.  Ambrose is a member of the group’s advisory board and is assisting with logistics for the conference. The third recipient is the University of Idaho School of Music. Ambrose is on the advisory board for the University’s College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences. As a student, she sang with the Vandaleer Concert Choir and the Jazz Choir.

Mill Park Publishing intends to publish more books in 2012 and donate the proceeds
to organizations that promote the arts and support disadvantaged women and children. Find more details on the web site, www.MillParkPublishing.com