Stories that Need to be Told

A WASP, an Chicago opera singer singing with Pavarotti, a civilian military hostess working at the 49th Parallel on June 25, 1951 feeling the eyes of North Korean soldiers as they enter her commissary, a young British college co-ed becoming a radar expert during WWII, a self-taught poet, a stunningly beautiful retired graduate of the Harlem School of Dance brushing off Sammy Davis Jr.'s propositions while performing as a teenager on Broadway: all are writer's whose stories "Need to be Told."

Quiet, seemingly simple personalities have stories sequestered within their memories; never to be shared, validated or published by the mass press. Why? Of course the answer is that, to "come out", a writer has to totally bare her naked soul in public.

Secret stories that are truer than fiction are shared weekly around the nation within a millennium of writer's groups. For those of us who have exposed our real identities within a secret society of writers, the rewards flow continuously. I have felt the excitement of flying a B-17 the first time as a self-taught woman, I have experienced Milan on a magical misty evening, I have laughed until my sides ached, I have fled the enemy by way of a leaky barge, I have climbed to the top of a tower listening for the drone of enemy airplanes, I have brought along a chaperon to my elegant luncheon date. Who was that who said "The only books that get published are written either by crooks or by politicians?"

Just Goggle "Writers Groups" adding the name of your state. A place is waiting for you at the table.

A Bookseller to Remember

Quartzite, Arizona is a two hour drive from our winter home in Phoenix, Arizona. Normally a pit stop along I-10 for travelers heading west to Palm Springs and LA, flea markets, rock shops, diners, and RV sales abound, each flapping colorful advertising streamers as a lure to voyagers. Exiting the freeway on to East Main Street Paul Winer, owner and operator of the Reader's Oasis welcomed my participation at his outdoor "Author's Fair" last weekend. An author, publisher, musician and all around nice guy, Paul who has been a nudist all his life generously invites self-published authors to congregate in front of the store to sell their books without charge or any profit sharing. Last Saturday hostess Debbie Hilbish, to my right as you see the photo and Ceil Stetson huddled within the tent provided by Paul until strong winds and rain chased us into the shelter of our cars. Joe Gerard, a WW II Navy veteran and I were the last to leave this amazing place which is a delight for both writers and readers.

The Reader's Oasis store is filled with impeccably preserved and displayed volumes. Each book is carefully cataloged and displayed using Paul's easily understood system. Two friendly, well-fed cats, mother and daughter, patrol the premises between naps. This bookseller is a 5 star attraction. Look for me to be back there again next year!

The Girls from Ames

Amazing Attributes of Aging; Silly and Sacred Stories of Blue Garter Friends was released on April 14, 2009. Ann Schmidt, one of our gang, a former Washington Post "copyboy" from the "60's who still devours east coast newspapers daily, emailed me with a copy of Jeffrey Zaslow's column from the Wall Street Journal that same week. Amazingly Pulitzer Prize winning Zaslow had just written a book titled The Girls from Ames. I immediately went out and bought the book. The women he featured were younger than we, their friendship group was smaller and their association shorter; the message of power, healing and joy through life-long support piggybacked on ours in a similar story. It is a great read.

The 27 life-long Blue Garter Friends of Mankato, Minnesota whose story is chronicled in Amazing Attributes of Aging are the mothers of the Ames' Girl's generation. Born a twenty years earlier, we found ourselves as teenagers focused on following convention. We studied hard to become the first in our families to be admitted to college and to graduate in 4 years. Many of us were wearing a wedding band by age 22. We married and raised our families while at the same time holding professional jobs; continuously supported by our steadfast Blue Garter friends. Proudly we establishing trust actively volunteering within the networks of our individual and international communities.

As our powerful story makes its way around the nation, we encourage other women to honor and to share their friendship stories. We continue to gather regularly in our retirement. We rejoice together, having more fun than anyone can imagine!

Filling Our Advanced Orders

A "self published" book is also "self financed". Mary and I never discussed the source of our seed money with each other, but I will reveal that my half was taken from the nest egg created by my teacher's retirement severance payment. I knew in my heart of hearts that some day when my passions were stirred, that money would lead me on a whole new path of satisfaction. Yes, quoting Mary Ellen Mark from the AAA's Dictionary section of the book, with this venture, "I felt prepared to do my strongest work yet."

Marketing our book began by reaching out to our 27 Blue Garter friends, this includes the 15 women who contributed to the "Silly and Sacred Stories" section of the book. The postal clerk and I became fast friends as I juggled dozens of padded envelopes and flat rate boxes of books mailed out to those women now living in 13 states. Their advanced orders combined with local sales to friends gave us just under $1000 in sales that first month.

Our first Book Signing held at the Mankato Library

We were in awe of the beauty of the Amazing Attributes of Aging cover. Carolyn Petersen's delicately water colored garter was eye catching. Opening the book however, there were no blank leaves for us to use for signing. Mary had specifically calculated and requested two blank pages, both in the front and in the back of the book for transitions. Oh well, we decided that we just had to make do by signing on the dedication page.

A new dilemma popped up "What shall we say?" we ask in unison. I began to put my thoughts together. Fumbling for a pen, ubiquitous Mary has read my mind.

"Here Judy I brought along several different pens for signing. Which do you want to use? Since you are the primary author, You must sign first."

The Great Book Load-up

Our personal saleslady concluded our print shop tour with the comment, "I'm sorry, but there was a glitch with binding your book and your entire order is not ready today. About 300 copies were destroyed in the process of printing. I hope to have the final order complete for you tomorrow."

At the time we were quite disappointed. You see our book required a unique type of binding with two creases before the spine which allows the reader to open the book flat, a feature rarely seen in a paper back book. Otabind is the name of this special feature.

Continuing in the glow of the moment, we loaded up the available books. My car held 14 boxes, each holding 58 books. Mary agreed to pick up the remainder the following day.

Taking the Baby Home from the Printer

One of the most amazing days in my grownup life occurred on April 14, 2009. My dear friend Mary Huntley, also my co-author and I were invited to visit the print shop where our "baby" Amazing Attributes of Aging; Silly and Sacred Stories of Blue Garter Friends was printed. The dinosaur in the photo actually coughed up 2000 copies of the book that we had conceived and given birth to after 6 1/2 years of gestation.