Local Authors at Peabody Institute of Danvers

The Peabody Institute Library in Danvers had a Local Author Night which included sixteen authors. I think about 12 authors actually participated. I spoke to six of them. For me speaking to people who write books, plays and screen plays is like talking to Rock Stars. I look at that person and just can’t believe that this book or play came out of their head. It is pretty remarkable and the process to get it finally published can be daunting. Authors and teachers are to be revered in 'Paula’s Book of All that is Holy.'

The first author was an attractive 62 year man with dark hair, named Stuart Cohen who didn’t look sixty–two at all. He looked closer to his forties. His book was self-published.

"I started as a photographer but I do have a degree in Psychology from Yale. My book 'The Seventh System' is about harnessing the power of your emotional system. It is about seeing your emotions as  systems and not to get stuck in your feelings. It is a way to move forward."

"I was in Katmandu and I saw a beggar boy who was dirty and I looked into his eyes thinking I was different from him. Then I realized that he had the same emotions as I had. It was a shocking and revealing moment for me. Ever since then I have wanted share my insights about this way of handling emotions."

The next author was Judy Osborne who wrote "Wisdom for the Separated Parent" which was published by Preager.

"I am a marriage and family therapist and I have seen people in a lot of pain when they divorce. I have been through this myself and I want people to stop looking at this separation as a broken state but a different state. They will always be connected and I have now seen parents that are now grandparents that are trying to be civil to each other for the sake of the little grandchild. The goal is to make a benign emotional space around the children."

 The next author was very interesting. Her name was Linda Varone and she had written a small book called 'The Smarter Home Office.'

 It was a small book which Linda said was part of a larger project.

 "I am a Home and Office designer and consultant and I have a Master’s in Psychology. This book is but one chapter dealing with one room. My larger book will deal with the whole house."

 She showed the meticulously laid-out text with pictures and we got into a deep discussion about lighting and the proper way to put the desk and how to light it. I used to fit lamp shades in a former incarnation and we talked about lampshade material. 

"I want to create a space that feels good and distill everything down to the simple steps where the office space is comfortable, efficient and inspiring. Many people shove their desk in a corner and end up with a corporate cubicle which is not conducive to creativity."

"Put the desk near the window not facing out the window but sideways to it and use a real table lamp on it. And get warm, white incandescent bulbs those white, cool ones just wash everything out."

 We discussed the oddness that is my office; a doll house and Shirley Temple mugs. She seemed charmed. She gave me her book and autographed it.

 "You made me feel like a Rock Star.  Good Luck on your Book." I was so honored.

 The next author was Janet Spurr. Janet Spurr had been in sales for 25 years. Her degree was in business and she sold women’s accessories wholesale to boutiques and specialty shops. She wrote the "Beach Chair Diaries" and had earrings for sale along with her books. She was self-published and very knowledgeable about the publishing business. 

"I have gone to the Maui writer’s convention for seven years. I have met Richard Paul Evans that wrote the ‘Christmas Box’ and I have met Jack Canfield, who wrote ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul” and he has endorsed my book."

"My book is collection of short, humorous travel stories which take place in the summer. I love the summer."

Janet looked like summer. She had light blonde hair, shoulder-length  and tanned skin and blue eyes that reminded one of the cover of the book and the same color clothing. She could have melted all that snow we had last winter because she was the essence of what summer was. 

"I own my own ISBN number (the number on the back of all books with a bar code) – which means I get the profits from the book – I don’t have to share them. My book launch which is on Janetspurr.com had 80 people and was one of the best moments of my life. The Spirit of 76 Bookstore in Marblehead has sold more of my self-published book that any other they have ever sold. My next book is called Champagne Diaries."

My next author was the delightful Mary Miceli who is a poet. She told me she was over sixty by telling me ‘life began at sixty’. She had red hair and beautiful skin and gorgeous turquoise eyes. 

 "I have several books here written for children; The Boston North Shore series that includes ‘The Fish Rhyming Tale’ and ‘Teeny Tiny Tics’.  ‘The China Baby Doll’ is a serious book about China’s law about only giving birth to one child and keeping the boys and having the girls adopted.  I do readings anywhere there are children." 

 Mary made a gift of the ‘China Baby Doll’ to the Children’s Room of the library.

The next person – a younger gentleman, Tom Goehlert who wrote a fascinating book called, ‘Baseball Franchise Rankings’ where he developed this system of  comparing an contrasting baseball rankings according to how long have they been a team, and other variables. These were charts that would delight anyone that loved baseball.  The text portion of the book was about the teams that lost the play-offs and the World Series and why and how they did that. He is self-published through Amazon’s create a space platform. 

"This took me three years to write and I think it would appeal to any stats fan. I was on Bob Lobel’s show in New Hampshire."

Last but not least and I didn’t even get to everyone was Ray Whittier, the poet. Who claimed to be 79 years old.

"I have been writing for fifty years.  I write my poems in rhyme. My favorite poets were Guest and Robert Service who wrote ‘The Cremation of Sam Magee.' I love to read my poems and will read anywhere. I have read in schools and in libraries. I am self-published."

We bought a book by Mr. Whittier called Poems that had poems he had written for adults.  

It was a wonderful evening – I wished we could have spoken to everyone.