Authors, Book Fines and New Year's Resolutions

I recently had a conversation with some of my friends from the library and we all agreed that we are fans, not of the most popular reality show (someone really needs to explain "Jersey Shore" to me), movie star, or rock group, but of men and women who create characters, towns and counties from their imaginations-authors. First, I don't need Oprah to tell me what to read, I've been selecting my own books since I was three. Secondly, many of the movies and television programs we enjoy wouldn't be there without these wonderfully creative people.

One of my favorite author stories is when I met Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse Vampire series author) at the ALA summer convention that was held in Chicago many years ago. This is before she wrote the series that would become "True Blood". I was wandering the vendor aisles and looked up and saw a woman coming towards me. What caught my eye was her necklace-a cloisonne skull. I said "What an interesting necklace!" I then saw her name tag and immediately followed it with "And I love your books." She wrote a series about a librarian, Aurora Teagarden, who frequently stumbled on bodies. I know the Sookie books are extremely popular but I do miss the character.

I have enjoyed the talks I have attended by Dr. Barbara Mertz (Barbara Michaels and Elizabeth Peters), who doesn't love the Amelia Peabody books that draw up on her doctorate in Egyptology. She is very entertaining as a speaker and her sense of humor frequently comes through her writing.

I just finished "A Christmas Mourning" by Margaret Maron. She is a multiple winner of many awards and her character, Judge Deborah Knott, and the various members of her family are part of my literary family. Each year I look forward to a new book in the series, it isn't just the mystery that is always engaging, but reading about what is happening in the life of Deborah, her husband Dwight and others in the fictional Colleton County. Margaret was recently in a car accident and I know that many of her readers were concerned for her recovery. Check out her website at http://www.margaretmaron.com. She frequently writes a blog entry and you can become a friend on Facebook.

When I was helping to chaperon a group of students last spring, I met a Michigan author, Peg Herring, in Pennsylvania. I learned that she was on her way to the mystery writers' convention Malice Domestic. I was jealous and would have liked to climbed in her car instead of the van. Peg writes historical novels located in 16th and 17th century England. Her novel "Her Highness's First Murder" featured a young Elizabeth I, before she ascended the throne. It was a well written book that received good reviews. She encouraged me to continue writing, as she wasn't published until after she retired from teaching. Peg's website is http://www.pegherring.com.

Finally, my New Year's Resolution is to return my library books on time so I don't pay horrendous fines and to write more, maybe.

Friends beside me

This has been one of the busiest years I can remember. I directed two plays,one of which I wrote, taught a new class, had to write two additional reports for the state and keep on top of all of the usual things. However as much as possible I tried to meet with my friends for a little R and R . Last week before Christmas, I had a few friends come for lunch, just Tomato Basil Soup and paninis. We opened gifts and talked for almost four hours, a rare luxury for us all. This is part of the group of friends from when I worked at the local public library. I feel so blessed that they are still in my life and even though we don't see each other as often as we once did.

A few days later I met my colleagues, current and retired, from the position I have now at a local restaurant . We talked and laughed for the next few hours. Some of the subjects were the same: elderly parents, children, grandchildren, upcoming weddings and health of spouses and other family members. As I reflected on the gifts I receive during this time of year, I place the gift of friendship I receive from these two groups of women at the top.

I am paraphrasing a quote on a plaque I saw when shopping with my sisters yesterday and thought of all of them, including my sisters:

"When it hurts to look back and you are afraid to look ahead; look to the side for the friends who are there to support you."

Thank you all for being at my side and here is to a healthy and better New Year.