North Fork Writers Group

The members of North Fork Writers Group live on the eastern end of New York's Long Island, but their stories are not all about idyllic lives amid the area’s famous beaches and vineyards. Their tales span from ancient times to the 21st century in a range of topics and tones. Some are wry or funny, some are serious or sensitive, but all were chosen to reflect the extent of seven distinctly individual "writers' voices." The seven voices in the group’s first volume of short stories are Teresa Taylor, Gene Rackovitch, David Porteous, Kit Storjohann, Joyce DeCordova, Jean Schweibish, and Susan Rosenstreich.

Instant Interviews

Joyce deCordova
What do you like best about writing?
The sense of control has tremendous appeal to me. The fact that I can make a character disappear, killed, enchanted, and loved is a positive and compelling motive for me to continue to write.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
When scenes would stay in my head and I would wake up in the middle of the night creating scenarios for my characters.

Teresa Taylor
1. What do you like best about writing?
Teaching, writing and coaching activities give my life such pleasure.

Storjohann
1. What do you like best about writing?
It feels as though stories have been, in a sense, “entrusted” to me. When I am able to do them justice, it is extremely satisfying.>
2. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
As soon as I learned how to read. I enjoyed reading the same stories over and over again, and trying to figure out why I loved them so much. There were tales in my head I wanted to tell, and I needed to learn how.

Schweibish
1. What do you like best about writing?
Interweaving the unknown with the known.
2. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Never consciously thought about “being” a writer – I’ve just always written.

Rosenstriech
1. What do you like best about writing?
Seening the finished product.
2. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I realized I had something to say.

J. David Porteous
1. What do you like best about writing?
My mind is always full of developing stories to entertain – but, as importantly, to impart ideas that, I hope, expand appreciation of the nuances in characters that drive their motivations. I portray ordinary people with oddities that those people hide under deliberate camouflage, as we all do in life, but my unfolding tales slowly expose that to readers – as we find in life by gradually getting to know people. When successful, my writing is a rewarding escape from holding the swirl of stories in my mind. The most rewarding focus on the huge and fertile field of dysfunctional lives, which I write in a gently wry tone. So . . .Getting it right is what I like best.
2. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I can't remember when I didn't write in blank birthday cards rather than buy others' thoughts in ink – and express my thoughts in a form that can loosely be termed poetry. In my twenties, that helped me to write song lyrics for a band in which I sang. My writing evolved through advertising (all media) to storytelling until I finally could call myself a writer. (In the 1980s, Australian Writers' Guild accorded me Full Member status for my script writing, and I'm still a member 30+ years on.) So . . .I think I've always been and always wanted to be a writer.

North Fork
Writers Group