Revised in March 2005
We also try to have an annual conference (known as a Phantom Friends Reunion). One year's reunion was held in Denver and focused on the Beany Malone series. The previous year it was held here in Rockland, ME with Dave and me hosting it. The reunions that Dave and I have gone to were in Mankato, Minn (where the Betsy-Tacy books were set), in Coudersport, PA (the real life setting of the Judy Bolton series), in Plymouth, MA (for no real reason, just interesting), in New Orleans, ours here in Rockland, ME , the Denver reunion, Seattle, Fredericksburg VA and the 2nd reunion that Dave and I hosted -- this time along with our partner, Janet DeVries -- in Mount Dora, FL last March. All of them were ultra wonderful!!!
I also love the magazine, and really enjoy writing articles for it. April 1999 was the first issue that Dave and I edited ourselves. We just mailed out the April 2005 issue, and we'll be editing a few more this year.. Anyone can contribute articles about girls' series books, but remember that we try to refrain from destructive criticism! If you want to start getting The Whispered Watchword (TWW) you can write to the founder and president of the group, Kate Emburg, 3531 Willard Way, Rocklin, CA 95677. It costs $30.00 a year . (Checks must be made out to Kate Emburg).
Other things that have resulted from my getting into this group have been very special friendships, lots of Email correspondence, book trades and purchases, etc. To tell you the truth, my life has sort of centered around this group for quite a few years! It sure beats working for a living! Just joking, I still have to eat and pay the rent. But it's been very absorbing and enjoyable, like nothing else in my life before. And though it's mainly for girls' books, Dave has had a lot of fun with us, and likes the people in the group a lot. The group includes quite a variety of people, but most are pretty well educated, (in other words, we don't read kiddy books because we aren't reading at grade level yet!) and talented in many other areas. Alice Billheimer