The Chester Writers Club of Chester, California, was established thirteen years ago by six women who met in a local community college writing class. They meet the last Thursday of each month at noon. Their ages range from 42 to 93. Each month a member is chosen to bring her latest writing sample to read aloud for criticism and suggestions. Although they promise never to be too negative, to offer only constructive criticism to keep inhibited writers from becoming discouraged, when someone becomes overly enthusiastic, "for the author's own good," a brief shouting- match often follows, after which someone goes home early.
Sheri, 42 years old and single, fell in love 20 years ago with an abusive man who beat her up during their five-year marriage. She left him after his violent temper led to the loss of their unborn child.
Glenda, 48 years old and single, is the least popular with the other club members. As a child the love of her life was her dog Brandy, who died tragically answering her call by leaping out of a second story window. She was unable to make friends throughout her childhood. She gave up trying to find Mr. Wonderful, finding happiness as a volunteer at an animal rescue.
Annie, 66 years old and married, couldn't read by 4th grade and was bullied by her classmates. Her teachers and parents feared she was simply of low intelligence and might have to be placed in a special needs class. Instead, she was sent to live with her grandmother in the country, where she would get instruction from a reading tutor. There she met Fergus, only six years older than Annie, who taught her to read. They only spent one summer together as friends, but she never forgot how he changed her life.
Molly, 49 years old and happily married, was molested by Phil, a friend of the family, when she was 12 and babysitting his three-year-old daughter. Molly didn't tell her parents. The family remained friends, so she had to fend off Phil's unwelcome groping and advances repeatedly throughout her adulthood.
Barb, 72 years old and single, fell in love at 16 with her high school journalism teacher. When he denied being the father of her unborn child and abortion was not an option, she was sent to live with her great aunt until the baby was born. While there she discovered family secrets that helped her overcome her sense of shame.
Greta, 93 years old, has vivid memories of growing up on a farm in North Dakota in the 1920's, leaving school, becoming pregnant, getting married and following her husband to live on a military base during World War Two.
"Karen Truesdell Riehl offers a short story of some aspect of each of the six book club member's lives that was instrumental in forming that woman's character. Each of their backgrounds is unique from the others, yet they are all tales familiar to women in one way or another. Through the common threads of hardship and pain, readers gain insight into the lives of the women of the book club ? and possibly even of their own." Patricia Reding for Readers' Favorite
"This deceptively short volume packs a lot within its pages -- and it's all very, very good. Six Women is most highly recommended." Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
