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July 16, 2019  My book launch was in March of 2019 and it was a packed house at the Tallmadge, Ohio, Library.  Family, friends, colleagues, former students and their parents, and strangers came to hear the story behind the book.  It was so very exciting to share.  This time I made a Power Point which I used to keep me on track.  The audience reacted well.  I also added in a "hands-on" activity of making paper roses for my conclusion.  That went over very well.  Now I have to get serious about putting some dates on the calendar for more book talks. 

 

I haven't begun a serious attempt at starting a new book.  I have two "freewrites" going on two different books.  I just have to decide where I am going and start writing.  I think a daily dose of writing at a designated time would get me started in the right direction.  Since April my husband and I have taken on care for his sister.  It has turned out to be all-consuming of time and energy.  I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and hope that by Christmas all of this is finalized.  Now I have more free time so writing needs to move back to the front seat!

 

February 5, 2019    So much has happened since last writing.  For the past 27 months, I have been working with HIGH SCHOOLS THAT WORK and MAKIING MIDDLE GRADES WORK.  I enjoy the job and the connections I make.  I feel like I am making a difference. 

Meanwhile, I have published my third book.   It is about the dysfunctional relationship I had with my mother, and how I uncovered her many secrets.  Because of this, I have found not only two brothers who were given up for adoption, but I uncovered yet another secret that the man my mother named as my bio-father was NOT my father at all.  Fortunately I was able to discover who my real bio-father was, and as a result, I have met another half-sibling...a sister.  My life has become quite rich with all these new discoveries.  As an author I found my writing to become quite complex as I had to keep rewriting because I kept uncovering new information which gave me valuable insights to my mother's upbringing, and her many secrets.  The new book, MATERNAL FAILURE, is in print, and I will be officially launching it March 4th 2019.  Why have I waited so long for the launch?  I had to learn how to talk about some of the more painful memories I have of my childhood before I could go in public to share them with an audience.  

 

November 5, 2016.  Well, I retired from The University of Akron, however, I will have two part-time "gigs" doing the kind of work I enjoy:  Professional Development and coaching teachers.  I made a vow to myself that I would dedicate time each day to writing.  I've been pretty good at my vow as now, day four of retirement, I have completed the draft of part 2 and 3 of my new novel.  Part four will take me considerable time, however my goal is that by end of 2016 I will have a solid draft.  In writing, the draft takes a lot of time, but the editing process can be as time consuming as the story will get tweaked, typing errors corrected, and cross-checking of facts and details is cumbersome.  However, the good news is that this novel may be ready for print by the summer of 2017.  I already have plans for novel 4 (going back to the Fighting Clarks with a story based on my great grandfather who fought in the Civil War,) then a break from the historical novels and a focus on a "point of perspective" switch on a literary classic.  At least that is what is in my mind at the moment.  I like having goals and plans laid out before it so it keeps me motivated and inspired to push forward.  Meanwhile, I am continuing my book talks.  I did one for a church group in Florida while I was visiting my sisters a couple weeks ago, I did one yesterday, I will do one next week, and another the week after.  I need to get into lining up some other events as that keeps the interest in my books.  I don't market nationally, but I figure by doing a lot of local book talks it will get my name out there, and maybe even have a stgart of a following.  I don't know that I will ever attract a major book publisher, but at least I am building my author's resume.

 

April 1, 2016   On February 19th, 2016 my second novel was released on Amazon.  I owe a huge thanks to Dale Pease who finalized my cover and layout for the book; Dani Reedy, who did the painting for the cover; John Gurnish who checked historical facts; and Sarah Hamlin who did my final edit.    It ws a great feeling to finish a second novel.  Of course, I can't just stop there.  My friend, Janis Saver, always said I must have been a little ADD because I was also doing too many things.  That may be true.  I am already well into the drafting of my third novel which will be a break from the Revolutionary War Era, and instead focus on my own life, well, actually my mother's life.   The novel will be a thinly veiled story based on my mother's life and her giving up three children (including me) for adoption.  Although she eventually took me out of adoptive services, she kept the secret of my two older brothers.  It was just recently that they have been reunitied with the siblings they never knew they had.  The working title I am considering is "Why Couldn't My Mother Love Me."  So far my writing has been an excellent theraputic experience in thoroughly examing both my mother and my relationship.  I have a lot of writing and researching to do, but I am pretty passionate about this project.  Once done, I will move along to a fourth novel based on my great-grandfather who fought in the Civil War.  (Well, Janis, I think you might be right!!!)

 

October 14, 2015  Both of my editors have finished proofing my new novel, A PATRIOT'S PRICE, and I have begun my final edits.  It is my goal to have the text wrapped up by the end of October, and send in in for layout design and get my cover art done.  I think my cover art is going to need to be hand drawn.  I need to check that out.  My goal:  ready for Christmas orders!  Wish me luck!   

 

July 28, 2015   I came across a very nice article that was written about my visit to Westfield High School in Westfield New Jersey.  http://www.nj.com/suburbannews/index.ssf/2015/02/revolutionary_war_author_visit.html   

I would really like to explore the idea of doing book talks to schools .  Hopefully with the second novel I will have the ability to offer that as an option.  Maybe this will become my third career...public speaker.

 

May 8, 2015  I have begun the process of seeking an agent for my new novel, A PATRIOT'S PRICE.  I have done some research on different agencies and agents and have sent out my first query letters.  I am really hoping to attract a great agent who can see the potential of this next novel.  I presently have two readers and one historian reviewing the novel in hopes that I can fine tune the finished work before it gets sent out to an agent, although such altering will continue right up until publication.  I've learned a lot since my publishing of A FOUNDER FOR ALL.  I imagine there will be even more to learn as I continue down this path.  I've enjoyed the writing process, and have begun a third novel, although its focus will be a departure from the Clark stories.  Once that novel is complete, I will return again to the Clark adventures in our American history.  

 

Meanwhile, I think I will start looking for opportunities to present in schools.  I think history classes would enjoy hearing the Clark stories in A FOUNDER FOR ALL and A PATRIOT'S PRICE.  That will be my goal for the fall.  If anyone out there would like me to present for their local group or organization, send me a requst on the Contact page.

 

 

APRIL 15, 2015:  I have so much to share.  In Oct. '14, I made my first trip to New Jersey.  I took my niece with me and presented at the Elizabeth Library, and toured many of the areas , including gravesite, of Abraham Clark.  I returned to New Jersey in December.  Carol Hohl organized my trip and I spoke to three libraries and five high schools.  It was a great trip.  

 

I continued writing my second novel, and on New Years Day I finished the draft.  Thank you to my husband who picked the title, "A Patriot's Price."  Edits began.

 

Meanwhile, I received word that Carol Hohl, my New Jersey contact, had suddenly passed away.  It was very, very sad news.  She was a wonderful lady, and instrumental in getting me to come to New Jersey to share my first novel.  

 

While I await the editing, proofing, and historical check of my new novel, I have begun the painstaking task of finding a publisher.  Any suggestions?

 

Last month I received an invitation to come to New Jersey to be a keynote speaker for the historical societies.  It is not in my budget at this time.  Maybe next year.  This month I was contacted by a gentleman who is researching founding fathers.  He interviewed me for about 20 minutes.  His passion is educating people about the founders.  Yesterday I received a surprising email.  Bill Martin, anchor of Cleveland's Channel 8 news, contacted me.  He bought my book, and shared that he is a desendant of Abraham Clark!  I am hopeful that he can provide some light as to a possible link to my own genealogical link to Clark!  I will keep you posted!

 

 

 

JULY 28 2014:  Did you ever hit a brick wall?  That's what I did.  i planned on moving forward on the second novel once my work schedule changed to 4 days a week. Then, when that was supposed to start, I got switched back to five days a week.  So, I need to put my brain back in gear and get myself reinvested in this writing.  I have also put off any kind of marketing, so today i spent time trying to get some book talks scheduled.  I still have a lot to do.  I have enjoyed the writing process, but taking months off is not very productive for me! I've also updated this website and have put together a way to get feedback from viewers so that I can attempt to improve the site.  A couple of great suggestions were made and I have already acted upon them.  I also managed to add in some research to the chapters of Novel 2 which I have already drafted.  I need to keep moving forward so I can draft out the final third of the book.  Always the English teacher, I find myself going back and re-editing what I have already done instead of moving forward.  I warned my students not to do this, yet here I am doing the very think I warned them against.  I need to take my own advice!

 

March 14, 2014 I am into Chapter 14 of my new novel.  After having given a book talk today to a terrific group of ladies in the Akron DAR, I am once again renewed in wanting to get this second novel drafted.  Make a plan, work the plan! 

 

October 25, 2013  I am hoping to line up speaking engagements here locally.  This marketing is extremely different for me, but something I know I must do.  I am hoping that once I finish my second novel, I will be able to approach a publishing house (hopefully Simon & Shuster) and have them represent me.  Doing so without an agent is extremely difficult.  I am enjoying my book talks, and audiences have been  very complimentary about my presentations.  That is a plus.  

 

September 13, 2013:  Tomorrow and Sunday I will be doing book signings and Meet and Greet at the Pooka Festival in Bedford, Ohio.  My first four years of life were in Bedford, so it is fitting that I go there to kick off a year of marketing that I absolutely MUST start doing.  While I am selling books each month, I need to dedicate more time to the marketing and more time to my second novel.  I have had no time to myself all summer, and while I have done a little research, it is in no way making a huge impact.  I have so much to do, and I have made the commitment to start getting on my marketing plan and writing plan!  Back in the saddle again!

 

August 28, 2013:  Summer has come to a halt as I work at The University of Akron and our students have returned to campus.  I am now preparing myself for my formal book launch, which will be held September 24th, a Tuesday, at 7PM at the Ellet Branch Library in Akron OH.  It is fitting that I launch here as I taught in the Ellet community for 25 years.  I will do a book talk and book signing there.  I hope to see some of my colleagues, former students, and certainly friends and family.

 

August 20 2013:  My summer has been filled with family events.  We had back-to-back Clark family reunions in June, and then a family reunion for my dad's side of the family last week.  I enjoyed seeing family, and looking at family resemblances and personality similarities.  In addition to family events, I have been blessed to be in touch with a woman who is a direct descendant of Abraham Clark through Thomas' line.  Their family is presently working to authenticate all the records required to become part of DAR.  She is convinced that we are related and has been actively engaged in using her resources to find our "missing links."  She has come up with a couple of strong leads, and I will need to take the time to follow up and see if they are authenticated, or just "speculated."  All in all, summer has been busy, but too busy for me to sit down and get my second book going.  I have six chapters done, but have a long way to go before I reach an end point.  Part of my lack of movement is I am hoping to find more on the "missing links" so that my story will be more "factual" than "fiction."  

 

June 17, 2013:  Drum roll, please.   This is huge news, at least to my family and me.  All our lives we were told that our Clark ancestor had been disowned because of the "Indian blood" our line carried.  We all heard this story.  It was repeaed by my great grandfather, grandfather's generation, my mom's generation and my generation.  I decided I would focus my second novel on Abraham Clark's son, Andrew, who we believed was the disowned member of the family line.  I've researched and try to "connect the dots of history as I have been drafting my new novel.  I then learned that Ancestry.com now does DNA testing which will identify your ancestry heritage.  I paid my fee, spit into the collection vial, sent it off and waited for the big reveal, fully anticipating the results would confirm the family stories.  Uh....imagine my surprise when the test results came back....86% British Isles, 14% Northwestern Europe (makes sense since my Grandmother and Greatgrandmother were both German.   Uh....no Native American!!!!!  So.....the family mystery continues!!!  My cousin Denny is going to be tested just so we can certain the results are not a fluke.  (British Isles....The Clarks were Scot-Irish; and my biological father was of English, Scot Irish descent.)  All these years I've told my sons I was "Heinz 57" heritage, but my DNA says, nope....British Isles and German!  Wow.  And, what's more....my second novel will need to take a different turn!  That will take some thinking.

 

June 14, 2013  Today I received an email and was asked to give advice to a new writer hoping to publish a collection of his writings.  I have to say, I am very flattered.  I think of myself as newly published and just learning "the business," so being looked at as an "expert" is a bit overwhelming.  I am hoping I am giving him some good advice.  Writing a novel was certainly an experience; as was getting a novel published.  Learning to market is an even bigger challenge and one that I feel I have not lived up to completely.  I need to dedicate more time to this if I want this novel to be as successful as I feel it could be.  Now giving advice is another area that is new to me as an author.  Well, no one said I was not a lifelong learner! Let the learning continue!

 

 

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