https://www.facebook.com/153866398090012/

Rainy Day Writers

Home
United States
Cambridge, OH
Rainy Day Writers

Call Directions Contact the establishment

Rainy Day Writers includes published authors, journalists, and those who write both life experiences and fictional stories for personal fulfillment.

They publish a book each year and contribute regularly to Crossroads magazine and YourRadioPlace.

11/02/2026

Rainy Day Writers had a book signing for their latest book, "A Treasure Chest of Stories." Pictured are authors: Rick Booth, John Anderson, Martha Jamail, Mark Cooper, Beverly Kerr, Claire Cameron, Sam Besket, and Betsy Taylor.

10/24/2026

Always enjoy writing a little story I've heard along the way. Could this really have happened? Read more Rainy Day stories on Your Radio Place and in Guernsey News.

Surprise at the Window by Beverly Kerr

Happiness surrounded Anne as she sat with her newborn daughter, rocking her to sleep. This was a favorite time of the year as Anne loved looking out the window as the trees changed to their fall colors. She was so happy to live in the peaceful country at the edge of the woods. Add to that her beautiful little girl and the world was a wonderful place.

All of a sudden, something appeared in the window. Now this wasn’t an ordinary being and one Anne had definitely never seen before. What she noticed most of all were the glowing red eyes. They seemed to be watching her and the baby.

Anne held her daughter tightly as wasn’t sure what the creature intended. As its eyes glowed and came closer to the house, Anne screamed and the baby cried.

The sounds scared the creature, and it took off running across the field. Anne rushed to the window to see where it was going while shaking like a leaf in a windstorm.

What she saw amazed her. The creature ran so fast, then spread wings! Yes, there were large wings on this creature, and it flew into the woods.

She hugged her little daughter but just couldn’t stop shivering. Never had she seen anything like that before. Minutes later her husband drove up the driveway. He was concerned about the state that Anne was in and asked her what was wrong.

Between sobs, Anne told her story about the creature looking in the window and then spreading its wings and flying to the woods. “It looked like the stories I hear about Mothman.”

“Now, Anne,” her husband said in a comforting voice, “you know that Mothman is just a myth. Maybe you were just really tired from being a good mom.”

“No! I know what I saw and it was very real,” Anne murmured to herself.

Could it have been Mothman or was it just her imagination? You decide.

10/22/2026

Martha Jamail recalls a balloon launch by her class. Find out where the farthest balloon went. This story appears in October's Crossroads magazine.

10/20/2026

John Anderson retells an old tale that could happen to you so be careful at the supermarket. Read more Rainy Day Writer stories on Your Radio Place and in Guernsey News.

Since I Lost Mom by John Anderson

The grocery cart had three good wheels. The fourth had a mind of its own. When Donna pushed the cart one way the fourth wheel squeaked and turned in the opposite direction. She considered getting a different cart, but she was only getting a loaf of bread, bananas, and milk. She could put up with cranky cart as she walked along one or two more aisles.

A young man came over and stood next to her as she inspected the bananas. Donna concentrated on looking for a few that were not too green, but not too ripe. The price had definitely risen since she had last shopped for them.

When she looked up, she saw that the young man was looking at her. He was wearing a tan polo shirt, Dockers, and Converse Chuck Taylor tennis shoes. Donna had thought of buying Chuck Taylors for her son, Stevie when he had been a teen. He had tried to convince her that the genuine kicks would last longer than the Kmart knockoffs she planned to buy. “Besides,” he said, “all the kids are wearing them.”

Donna chucked at the memory and murmured, “Isn’t that what they all say.”

Chuck Taylors aside, Donna switched her thoughts to the bananas. She had forgotten about the young man until he spoke. “Hello, I didn’t mean to stare,” he said. “But you reminded me of my mom.”

Donna said, “Oh, is your mom here shopping, too?”
The young man became downcast and said, “No, it’s been almost a year since I lost Mom.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. You miss her, don’t you?”

The young man said softly, “Yes.” He continued, “She used to wear a sweater that was that same color.”

Donna was moved. Not sure how to respond, she replied, “Well, as you can, see this seems well worn, but it’s warm and comfortable.”

Donna thought about her son, Stevie, who was now a grown man. He was married and living in California. Donna only saw Stevie a couple times a year. She did miss him.

The young man spoke again. “Could I ask you a favor? Would you mind if I called you Mom? Just once?”

Donna agreed that that would be all right and the young man responded, “Thanks, Mom.

As Donna approached the checkout, the young man was already there, just finishing his transaction. The bag boy handed him two full bags of groceries. With a wave, he called, “Bye, Mom.”

Donna waved back as he headed to the exit.

The checkout clerk scanned Donna’s items and announced, “that will be $47.00 dollars.”

Donna snorted. “What? For a loaf of bread, some bananas, and a half gallon of milk? I know prices are going up, but that’s ridiculous!”

The clerk scowled. “Your son’s groceries are included. He said you were paying for them.”

When Donna looked toward the parking lot, the young man was gone.

This old story is part urban legend and part cautionary tale. So, beware. The price of bananas might not be the only rip-off at the grocery store.

10/18/2026

A remarkable group of ladies have marched this flag down the street for 50 years on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Read how it all got started in October's Crossroads magazine.

10/12/2026

Claire Cameron gives information on that fascinating Cirque de Soleil. Perhaps you'll want to see a performance. Read more Rainy Day Writers articles on Your Radio Place and in Guernsey News.

Cirque Du Soleil by Claire Cameron

Welcome to the new era of circus magic in Cirque du Soleil. Open your world to more wonder and feel the inspiration like never before!

Originally composed of 20 street performers in 1984, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group completely reinvented circus arts and went on to become a world leader in live entertainment.

In addition to producing world renowned shows, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group extends its creative approach to a large variety of entertainment forms such as multimedia productions, immersion experiences, theme parks, and special events.

From the streets of small-town Quebec to the world stage, the team of street performers became an international phenomenon.

This crew had an eclectic show highlighting jugglers, dancers, fire breathers, and musicians. Little did their fans or the performers know that their early beginnings would lead to something magical, exciting and revolutionary on a global scale.

After years of honing their craft, they took the show on tour. This traveling show offered a unique take on circus arts: animal-free, striking, dramatic, beautiful and reflective.

Street performances featured outrageous costumes, magical lighting, and original music. As Cirque du Soleil’s sun rose for the first time, a new dawn broke in the world of circus arts.

In 1987 Cirque du Soleil made waves upon their first tour of the US.

Now after so many years of success performing in tents, stadiums, on ships and as a permanent fixture at Disney World, Cirque du Soleil is a circus that defies all laws of physics. Spectators as great performers combine pyrotechnics acrobats, dance, music and stagecraft.

These performances will have your heart racing. Outstanding performers in bold makeup and bizarre costumes tell their story in a high energy compilation packed with adrenaline and nonstop intensity keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.

From trapeze to fire acts, performances from TOTEM, ECHO, Algeria, and KURIOS come together in a display-controlled chaos, precision, and pure thrill.

In “O” breathtaking aerial artistry unfolds above an iconic aquatic stage. Their trapeze queen performs on her swing above a pool of water while a merry go round of riders on horses rotate in the water below.

If you are looking for an incredible holiday family-friendly show, you don’t have to travel any further than Cincinnati, Ohio. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, is a heartwarming classic story about a girl who rediscovers the magic of the holidays. Packed with charming characters and a festive holiday soundtrack, it is sure to amaze.

For more information on purchasing tickets, showtimes, and a glimpse into ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas go to www.cirquedusoleil or Google Cirque du Soleil shows in Cincinnati.

10/12/2026

Rick Booth tells some interesting stories about the FDA career of George Larrick, a man who attended Pleasant City High School. This article appears in October's Crossroads magazine.

10/02/2026

Martha Jamail recalls an early experience when teaching involving her foreign accent. Read more Rainy Day Writers stories on Your Radio Place and in Guernsey News.

I Cain't Go by Martha Jamail

Growing up in the deep South, everyone spoke in a slow drawl, omitting word endings, pronouncing words in unique ways, and creating new words like “y’all” meaning you all. Everyone was hospitable and generous with words like “honey”, “sweetie”, and “darling” even when addressing strangers. I taught a year in elementary school, and of course, since we all sounded alike, I never realized I spoke with an accent.

At the time of my marriage, my husband was in the Air Force, stationed at a California Air Base. I was fortunate to be able to get a job teaching in a local elementary school. It was a First and Second grade classroom, and we were team teachers which meant we traded classes from time to time or joined students together for certain projects.

One Friday, the First-Grade teacher asked me to trade classes with her, and give the spelling test to her students, while she taught a special lesson to my Second graders. One of the spelling words was “can’t”. I stood in front of the class calling out words to be written by the students when I got to the word “can’t”, and of course I pronounced it “cain’t”. One student timidly raised his hand and politely asked me to use the word in a sentence. So, I said, “You know, like I cain’t go.” He nodded and lowered his head and wrote the word.

At Parent-Teacher Conferences, both his parents showed up, and after introducing themselves, told me how much their son liked his new teacher, but he with a foreign accent. We all had a good laugh over it, and that’s when I began to work hard at proper pronunciation, and eliminating my foreign accent.

09/23/2026

Betsy Taylor recalls a little history of the USS Shenandoah crash over 100 years ago. Read more Rainy Day Writers stories on Your Radio Place and in Guernsey News.

The USS Shenandoah - A Local Tragedy by Betsy Taylor

When I was teaching, I rarely went to the teachers’ lounge during my work period. My classroom, silent for forty-five whole minutes, was the best place to plan lessons, grade papers, calculate grades, and update student records. But on September 3, 1995, Kennedy’s Bakery doughnuts had been delivered for the school staff and there was no way I could pass up a cream-filled pastry.

After all these years I remember the time because my friend, another science teacher, was there enjoying a doughnut and a cup of coffee as he contemplated the date.

“I chatted with my dad last night,” he said, “and he reminded me that today is the anniversary of the downing of the USS Shenandoah.”

“I’ve heard of that,” I said as I munched. “But I don’t know much about it.”

He told me the story as his dad remembered it. His dad wasn’t there when the airship went down but, like residents from miles around in Noble County, he came to the site to get a look at the debris field left by the crash.

Ava, a village south of Cambridge and north of Caldwell along what is now I-77, was the closest community to the crash. We didn’t talk about the ship’s physical construction, the fuel that powered it, the gas that kept it elevated, or the storm winds that brought it down. Instead, my friend lamented the deaths of the crew and the behavior of souvenir seekers who scavenged the ship’s remains.
“Dad said they swarmed over the wreckage and gathered up pieces they could carry away. They even ripped off the fabric skin and made it into raincoats. Can you imagine?” Bewildered by the thefts, he shook his head.

Truth was – I really couldn’t imagine. At the time I hadn’t seen photos of the crash site, the crowds surrounding the devastation, or the government property they hauled away as keepsakes. After all, the event had taken place seventy years ago, only thirteen years after the sinking of the Titanic. Ancient history.
Since that day a plethora of articles have been written to commemorate the crash that took place almost in our own backyard. I’ve read many of them and found that the more I learn, the easier it is for me to imagine the course of events that made up the tragedy.

The USS Shenandoah, the first lighter-than-air rigid airship to be made in the U.S., promised to secure a place in the future of naval aircraft. Known as The Daughter of the Stars, she had just completed a 9,000-mile cross-country journey to test docking stations and showcase her magnificence. Capt. Zachary Lansdowne, an Ohio native and skilled pilot, was a well-known aviator. He understood the vagaries of midwestern weather patterns including the frequent late-summer storms in Ohio. When Lansdowne was ordered to make a six-day public relations flight through the Midwest, he advised his superiors to wait until early autumn. They refused and the die was cast.

The Shenandoah’s destination was the Ohio State Fair in Columbus. The journey was a rough one with high winds buffeting the airship like a tailless kite. The eighth-of-a-mile long craft carried a gondola suspended beneath it by cables. In it 14 men were tossed like toys.
The gondola broke away when the Shenandoah split into two pieces. It crashed killing all fourteen crewmen on board. The heavy back portion of the inflatable dropped quickly and came to rest in a field. But the lighter front portion drifted in the opposite direction. A farmer heard the crewmen aboard calling as they descended. He grabbed a dangling rope and tied it to a tree anchoring the bow in place. All crewmen were saved except for those riding in the gondola.

Because the airship was held aloft with helium gas, the possibility of explosion was slight. Hydrogen gas that has greater lifting power but is highly flammable was no longer used following the Hindenburg disaster.

The Navy has abandoned its lighter-than-airship program. The last flight of a naval airship occurred on August 31, 1962. But the USS Shenandoah had already provided evidence that the endeavor lacked practicality

09/17/2026

Claire Cameron reminds us that we need to do something to make ourselves and others happy. Everyone could use a little more happiness in their lives. Read more Rainy Day Writers stories on Your Radio Place and in Guernsey News.

DO Something by Claire Cameron

Once when I was in a slump, I remember a sign that said, “Do something that makes you happy.” Of course, when you are always intent on making someone else happy, you let yourself slide until the thought leaves your mind until you feel there’s something lacking in your life. Yeah…like my life is becoming dull!

I pondered where I had heard that saying before. Not as a one-sentence quote but as a list challenging me to put some color back into my life, play catch up and to connect with my fellow humans.

It began like this:

Do something for yourself. How many things do most of us do for others without ever thinking of doing something for ourselves? Wouldn’t it be nice to take a book and spend a couple hours reading and watching the waves splash the shore? Or treat yourself to that banana split and a new movie you’ve been waiting to see?

Do something for someone else without them knowing. Helping someone else out or giving them a little gift or treat of some sort not only makes it a surprise, but leaves a feeling that they are special or mean a lot to someone.

Do something you have been putting off. Remember that flower bed you’ve been wanting to plant, but you keep putting it off? You think to yourself, Oh, I’ll do it later today or I’ll do it tomorrow. And before you know it, it’s too cold and you chastise yourself for waiting. You may even feel like you were too lazy to get out the gloves and shovel. Remember the saying, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today?”

Or that good friend that’s been very ill. The one that you’ve promised to visit or meant to send a card to, but you waited too long and then you see their obituary in today’s newspaper? But perhaps it isn’t too late to lift someone’s spirits. It may surprise you to find out it will not only do them a lot of good, but it will give you a lot of satisfaction knowing you did a lot of good also.

Do something you don’t want to do. We all have those things we hate to do. Then the longer we let it go, the bigger the impact it can have on us. From cleaning out the castaways in the basement that continue to pile up or the mounds of filing you’ve allowed to accumulate until you’ve flipped the calendar to a new year and you still haven’t been able to find that cash reimbursement check you threw in the pile six months ago!

We have calendars on our cell phones and alarms that can remind us to take care of important matters. These are easy to use and can save us time and money. And, if it is no more than a tool, we can use to keep a list of enjoyable things we can do for ourselves or others, or to meet a deadline or avoid costly mistakes due to being late, it is well worth the effort to use these types of shortcuts and techniques to bring harmony and happiness into our everyday lives.

So how about it? DO Something! Try out this list and see if it doesn’t put more meaning into your life. If nothing else, you may make someone else happy.

Address

Cambridge, OH
43725

Telephone

740-432-7514

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Rainy Day Writers posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.