Wildwood Press

Yes, a few years ago, I wore this to my place of employment. No one knew who I was! (At least for a while anyway.) What fun!

For some very funny and sweet animal “tails” go to sheltietales.com and read about the new cat named Zen-Cat, the ghost-dog story and the adoption of little Gigi. “Tails” to make your heart swell!

The new book, A Tree Grows in Trout Creek, was only released less than two weeks ago and I have sold 579 copies to date! My writing group friends held a book celebration party for me this past Sunday afternoon and it was wonderful! Jennifer brought fancy chocolates, Karen baked red velvet cupcakes, Robbie brought fresh apple cider and Carol, just home from a trip to China, brought me a gorgeous strand of real pearls from Hangzhou! What a memorable event it was!

One doesn’t have to be a successful author to write their memoirs! Think of the times that have meant the most in your life! Make a list. Write down these times. Start with ten memories that really touch your soul!

Then, pick one! Answer these ten questions:
•    When did this happen?
•    Where did this happen?
•    How old was I?
•    Who was with me in this memory?
•    What can I see?
•    What can I hear?
•    What can I smell?
•    What can I taste?
•    How does this memory make me feel?
•    What else can I remember about this memory?

Start writing! Don’t stop! Don’t edit. Just write! Leave it alone for a few hours. Then read it aloud. Share it with someone you love!

I love hearing from new friends! I just received this really nice letter from Judy Granlund Daft who says she enjoyed reading my first book, The Wishing Years, but even more so A Tree Grows in Trout Creek! Here’s what else she wrote: “Growing up 5 miles east of Negaunee, between Marquette and Negaunee on the old U.S.41, a lot of your experiences are about the same as mine. As you can see by the picture I am sending, this book took me back to 1956. Keep your books coming! Thanks!”

Girls in the photo Left to Right: Judy Granlund (Negaunee), Mary Ann Roberg (Stambaugh), Dorothy Hill (Negaunee), Inez Adamson (Iron River), Karen Larson (Iron Mountain).

Nancy and I were always ready to go over to Lenny’s Soda Bar after band practice! Nothing tasted better than a cherry coke for me and a lime phosphate for Nancy! Those were the days! Did you have a soda fountain in your hometown?

The exciting news is that A Tree Grows in Trout Creek, my new book of memoirs—a collection of stories about growing up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan—is only one week old, but copies have already gone out to 31 out of 50 U.S. states! The author couldn’t be more excited!

Book orders have been received from and shipped to: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia.

States yet to be heard from: Alabama, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming.

Know anyone in any of these states? Tell them to go to www.wildwoodpress.org and click on ORDER BOOKS. Pay with credit cards through our PayPal system! What could be easier than that?

Worth repeating: Originally printed in parts one through six I am now reposting the entire adventure.

This adventure started with an email from our friend Bob who had received an email from his friend Nancy who worked in a veterinary office. An elderly couple, both in ill health, was looking for a home for their tiny two year-old Shetland sheepdog. My friend wanted to know if I knew of anyone who wanted a very nice very small female sheltie.

Heart pounding, I wrote back immediately, “I want her!” [Read more →]

Want to have a fun Halloween party for the little kids? If they’re too young, like my grandson who just turned two, to work with carving tools, plan a different kind of party. Decide how many children will be attending. Buy a pumpkin for each child; pumpkins are available and inexpensive in most grocery stores this time of year. Cover your table with paper towels or a vinyl cloth then get out the magic markers. (Moms like washable markers!) Black is best for making good Jack O’Lantern faces, but kids love to work with brighter colors, too. So let them be as artistic as they want in creating their Halloween pumpkin faces. Serve cider and brightly colored veggies for a healthy Halloween treat once they’ve finished creating their Jack O’Lantern artwork!

Here’s some hometown news from Joanne Coffin Ilkin, an old friend from Stambaugh High School. To both preserve a family memory and give her daughter Pinar a gift at the same time, she wrote the following play:

Real life characters:
Cecelia: Joanne’s friend.
Pinar: Joanne’s daughter.

The action takes place at a 2006 All-School Reunion in Iron River, Michigan.

CECELIA:  You must be Joanne’s daughter.

PINAR: Oh? Who?

CECELIA:  Joanne Coffin, of course.

PINAR: Oh…yes, I am.

CECELIA: Come sit with me! I have something to tell you about your grandmother Kata (Katherine Kruzich) and your mother Joanne.

PINAR: Okay.

CECELIA:  I have a little story to tell you about when your mother was a baby.

PINAR: Go on.

CECELIA:  My mother offered Kata my baby carriage because she did not have one and she accepted it graciously. Your mother, Joanne, rode and slept in my carriage until she was able to walk and no longer needed it.  Kata returned the carriage to my mother along with the most beautiful handmade dress she had made for me and told my mother that this was all she had to give except great love and gratitude. I still have the dress your grandmother made for me and it is one of my most precious possessions.

PINAR: Wow! Thank you for sharing my grandmother and mother with me!

CECELIA: The pleasure is all mine, dear.