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Free Summer Reading July 5th - 9th

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 The Charter Class and The Rose Ring are both Free on Kindle today through July 9th!   The Charter Class Mother John Berchmans had a dream . . . Mother John Berchmans Somers of the Sisters of St. Joseph dreamed of establishing a college to serve the Catholic young women of western Massachusetts. With the support of Bishop Thomas O’Leary, that dream became the College of Our Lady of the Elms. In September 1928, thirty-six brave students embarked on the grand adventure of being the charter class for the new institution. In their quest to obtain a college education at a time when that was an unexpected route for young women, these students will face challenges at home, at school, and in their personal lives. Katie O’Sullivan’s recently deceased mother wanted her daughter to have more opportunities in life than to become a farmer’s wife, but Katie leaves for college with a heavy heart. She misses her father and the farm she left behind. Will she fulfill her mother’...
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What Happens to the Characters in The Charter Class?

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  Thank you to those of you who have read The Charter Class ! My original plan was to write three more books, one for each year of college. I wrote about half of the next installment, but book sales have been rather dismal and I just didn't have it in me to spend three years writing books that almost no one would read, especially when I have other book projects in my head eager to make their way to the world.  At the same time, I felt I owed Mother John Berchmans, Nora, Katie, and Beth (and my readers) some closure. What happened to them? I decided to write an Epilogue focused on Commencement Day in 1932. I'm going to add it to the print and Kindle versions so that new readers who find the book will have the ending, but for those who have read it and want to find out how their lives play out, I'm including it here. ******* Spoiler Alert*********   Epilogue Wednesday, June 15, 1932   Katie took in the beauty of Veritas Auditorium as she waited for the commence...
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Audio Books Now Available!

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 Amazon has been beta-testing a new service where books can be turned into audio files using automated technology. I'm suffering from no illusions that this is as good as having a human narrator, but seeing as hiring someone to do audio books was not in the budget, I decided to take advantage of this service.  I know many people prefer audio books for a variety of reasons. I also appreciate that it makes my books available to those who have difficulty reading print material for any reason. So, four of my books are now available in audio format. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to use the service for The Lacemaker: A Novel of St. Zelie Martin (at least not yet). If that changes, I will let you know.  In the meantime, if you'd like to check out any of my books / audio books, please click the links below. These are affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission on any purchases made after clicking a link. Thank you for your support!     The Charter Class ...
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The Creative Act: A Way of Being

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  I recently read The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. This is a spiritual but not religious book with the author, who is a music producer, believing in a generic high power. That being said, it did offer much to reflect on regarding living a creative life and producing art of any type. "Creativity is something you are, not only something you do. It's a way of moving through the world, every minute, every day." He emphasizes that art is not meant to be competitive or even a profitable venture (most people will need to do something else to have income). Rather, it is meant to be representative of who we are. It is also a collaboration. "You are in a constant dialogue with what is and what was." He also talks about dealing with the response to our art. "In the end, you are the only one who has to love it. The work is for you." He defines success as moving forward. We should complete our projects, share them, and begin another. We have very li...
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Why Bother Writing? Here's Some Encouragement

 Why bother writing? I admit that this is a thought that has crossed my mind more than a few times lately (and by lately, I mean many of the last twenty years that I have been writing). It is hard to keep going when book sales and page views are minimal and the income produced is far below minimum wage. It is hard to see so many books out in the world with tons of reviews and sales and know that by comparison my work has failed (and by extension, I have failed), that very few people care about anything I write. To be fair, there are many writers in the same boat as me. Of course, I'm not actually able to stop writing, at least not without feeling even worse. God gave me this gift. I have all these ideas that need to get out or else they just sort of bubble inside of me if I don't work on them, taking up mental space that is better used for other tasks.   On my better days, I do realize that writing for one person matters, that perhaps a few someone's lives are a bit better...
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"The Charter Class" Prologue

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  Prologue August 14, 1921, Springfield, Massachusetts   Mother John Berchmans Somers shifted the papers in her hands as she waited in the chancellery office. Going to see the bishop was a bit like being called to the principal’s office. Bishop Beaven had always been so kind to her and to the whole Sisters of Saint Joseph community, but the Good Lord saw fit to call him to his eternal reward. She offered a quick prayer for his soul as she thought of him. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. Yes, he had been a good man and a good superior. She could only hope to have as cordial a relationship with the recently installed Bishop Thomas O’Leary. She understood that it couldn’t be easy to lead an entire diocese. The Diocese of Springfield covered much territory and included many people of varying ethnicities who lived in both urban centers and the most rural of hilltowns. Yes, she knew what it was like to bear the weight of respons...
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