Author - Columnist - Blogger
I'm not someone who set out to be an author, though you’ll find plenty of authors who say, “My life-long ambition has been to be a writer.” Me? I just wanted to be a life-long reader. The oldest of three girls, I was the shy bookworm in a boisterous New York City family of Greeks and Italians. I took a book everywhere I went−to family dinners, to the doctor’s office, on family drives, and to bed.
When my Brooklyn-born Greek father took a job in Atlanta, my Southern mother was delighted−and I was devastated. Imagine me at age 12 moving from New York City to Georgia, happy with finally having gotten permission to wear stockings, only to discover that saddle oxfords and bobby sox were the height of fashion in my new high school.
In no time, I’d switched to Villager and Bobbie Brooks skirts and cardigans, lost my New York accent, and successfully fit in. I grew less shy, marched on the drill team, went to proms and was the typical Southern teen. Still, I had no interest in writing, just reading, so much so that I surreptitiously read novels during class.
Because English was my favorite subject, I earned an English degree and, not surprisingly, my first job out of college was teaching high school. Four years in, I decided teaching wasn’t for me and set out to find a different career. Did I have any idea what that new career might be? Of course not.
Though my credentials didn’t place me in high demand, my ability to spell, punctuate and speak the King’s English did, and I eventually found myself in an Administrative Assistant job at a bank. Early on, one of my managers realized I could write, and the rest, as they say, is history. In every new role, I became the communications Queen and loved it. I worked my way up and eventually retired as an SVP.
Toss a loving husband and long-term friends into the mix−along with plenty of good books−and you’ve got the recipe for a fulfilling life. I’ve enjoyed too many to count dinners, plays, and trips with friends, including annual cycling vacations with girlfriends. When my husband entered the picture, the two of us combined our mutual love of cycling with sightseeing. We've toured Normandy and the D-Day sights that way, have taken several bike and barge trips in Europe, and have even sailed and cycled the Greek Islands.
And you ask, “All of that led to being an author how?” Again, I didn’t have a plan; instead, I had an inspiration. While reading the newspaper, I had an idea for what I thought would be a few articles. The editor of The Crier saw my idea as a weekly column, and thus began my side job. I enjoyed writing so much that I also started a blog. And here I am, happily retired, writing every day. In 2016, pretty much on a whim, I published a collection of my favorite columns. Next, I was inspired to help my dog publish a book.
Do I now have a plan? Why yes. Picture me sitting serenely at my desk and writing to my heart’s content, surrounded by my two four-legged office assistants−the cat purring in the file drawer and the dog stretched out at my feet. I’m following the Live | Love | Write plan. Who knows what the future holds?
When my Brooklyn-born Greek father took a job in Atlanta, my Southern mother was delighted−and I was devastated. Imagine me at age 12 moving from New York City to Georgia, happy with finally having gotten permission to wear stockings, only to discover that saddle oxfords and bobby sox were the height of fashion in my new high school.
In no time, I’d switched to Villager and Bobbie Brooks skirts and cardigans, lost my New York accent, and successfully fit in. I grew less shy, marched on the drill team, went to proms and was the typical Southern teen. Still, I had no interest in writing, just reading, so much so that I surreptitiously read novels during class.
Because English was my favorite subject, I earned an English degree and, not surprisingly, my first job out of college was teaching high school. Four years in, I decided teaching wasn’t for me and set out to find a different career. Did I have any idea what that new career might be? Of course not.
Though my credentials didn’t place me in high demand, my ability to spell, punctuate and speak the King’s English did, and I eventually found myself in an Administrative Assistant job at a bank. Early on, one of my managers realized I could write, and the rest, as they say, is history. In every new role, I became the communications Queen and loved it. I worked my way up and eventually retired as an SVP.
Toss a loving husband and long-term friends into the mix−along with plenty of good books−and you’ve got the recipe for a fulfilling life. I’ve enjoyed too many to count dinners, plays, and trips with friends, including annual cycling vacations with girlfriends. When my husband entered the picture, the two of us combined our mutual love of cycling with sightseeing. We've toured Normandy and the D-Day sights that way, have taken several bike and barge trips in Europe, and have even sailed and cycled the Greek Islands.
And you ask, “All of that led to being an author how?” Again, I didn’t have a plan; instead, I had an inspiration. While reading the newspaper, I had an idea for what I thought would be a few articles. The editor of The Crier saw my idea as a weekly column, and thus began my side job. I enjoyed writing so much that I also started a blog. And here I am, happily retired, writing every day. In 2016, pretty much on a whim, I published a collection of my favorite columns. Next, I was inspired to help my dog publish a book.
Do I now have a plan? Why yes. Picture me sitting serenely at my desk and writing to my heart’s content, surrounded by my two four-legged office assistants−the cat purring in the file drawer and the dog stretched out at my feet. I’m following the Live | Love | Write plan. Who knows what the future holds?
Banjo
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Puddin'
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