Journalism 101, 1967

Ten to fifteen of us assembled in a forgotten classroom, in a declining building on a small college campus, 1967, for Journalism 101. The professor was aged, white beard touching his top shirt button, his hair wispy and untamed. The floorboards creaked; I found a seat in the middle of everyone else and blended. I hoped for an easy class.

After the first session, I was hooked on the way of words: using them to evoke emotions, convey nuances. Learning that word order within the sentence makes a difference. Knowing that sometimes less is more. Striking verbs, using magical adjectives, and understanding the reality of an unworthy adverb.

Within a short time, I had poetry published in the college periodical and a national anthology. It was a humbling and vulnerable awakening as I was putting words on paper with my name below. It kind of said: this is me.

Finding a job, starting a teaching career, getting married, running a household, and both overwhelmed and overjoyed with the births of four children, the creativity was put on hold. In fact, I never even thought of writing.

However, I was in to reading and often thought: I can write a better book than this. Forty years after the Journalism 101 class, I sat down at my Gateway and let my fingers fly. Ten pages, twenty pages, thirty pages, and then a roadblock.

Dear God, If I'm to write a book, I need some help. I remember the prayer offered somewhat facetiously, but nevertheless, uttered. After the prayer, I never knew what twists and turns the story-line would take; it just came to me every time I sat down to type. There was no master plan, but it fell into place.

It's been almost ten years since that first book came out and it's been a journey of learning and living, living and learning--about lots of things--not just writing, editing, publishing, marketing. But living and life.

This last book, SUMMONED, available soon, is an anthology consisting of a novelette and several other shorter narratives. Most are inspired by true stories. This is where the living comes in or we could just say life happens.

Praise be to God.