Texas - Authorial Magazine

VOL. 1 ISSUE 1
Fresh Meet
Brave
New
Voices of
Self
Publishing
EMERGING VOICES OF
SELF PUBLISHING
By The Book
Austin In a Shoestring
Just 5 Minutes
with the Author
COVER STORY
LUISA
PLANCHER
PUBLISH AND DISTRIBUTED BY AUTHORS PRESS

DITOR’S
OTE
Read Up!
The other day, I asked one of our authors to tell me her favorite things to read. Her answer: “I particularly
enjoy reading the number of books I’ve sold at the end of the month. Personal emails start my day and I
take more time in them when they come from my loves. Memes and GIFs they get me all the time. I read
newspapers because I absolutely have to. Books that I’ve kept and re-read over the years, they’re the books
that leave me in this constant state of wonderment. Books that I can never seem to figure out, they’re that
good. And Atwood, when I need a touchstone for writing.”
Does your list reflect the same desire for tradition and discovery, amusement and enrichment? I know mine
does. For Authorial Magazine, our maiden issue, we aimed that high. Starting with the name—author. It
broadcasts our commitment to our core inspiration in doing what we do and emphasize whom we put first.
Next, our sections. Cover Story, Fresh Meet, Featured Works, and By the Book, are a tidy collection of
uplifting true stories, family-friendly humor, and surprising, and useful information. We pride ourselves as
creators. In most days, we are avid finders, filtering the endless amount of material available to all of us, all
the time. We hope they reflect this and engage you by appearing entertaining, timeless, and collectible.
The power of humanity and the extraordinary accomplishments of ordinary people—there’s more of that
inside. We spoke to Luisa Plancher, author of The Strength of a Nation, for our cover story section. Allow
her to take you into her headspace and reveal her true inspiration in everything that she does.
Our featured works section starts off with poet Forrest Ingram, author of Love’s Liturgy, where he tells
us all about his enduring love for his muse and shares a few excerpts from his book. Next is Harding
Hedgpeth, also known as Brent, a pilot and a renegade when it comes to interpreting salvation. We close
it off with Sylvia Stern, author of Walking Through Poetry, who touchingly shares the ups and downs of her
publishing journey and the persistence of a dream.
We’re also excited for you to get to know authors in our Fresh Meet section which features James Sinclair,
highly regarded pathologist who shares his struggles with sexuality in a time of intolerance. We know
Jeanne Enstad, author of A Journey of Hope to Heaven and Back, will steal your heart as she shares her
experience in taking a trip to heaven, not once but twice. Marlene Burling, will walk you through her daily
conversations in her sunroom with the son that matters the most.
By the Book section includes quick viewing of brave works that tackle both controversial and emotionally
charged topics from authors George Worthington, Kramer Elkman, and Lydia Greico. And lastly, we’ve
included snippets of our short conversation with prolific author Sally Russell. We call it 5 Minutes with
Author, but we never actually make it in five. We’re all grateful for Sally (not sow), with the biggest heart,
for letting us extend the interview and nearly taking over her bedtime.
Before we forget, this maiden issue will be up for grabs at the Texas Book Festival. Come and join us at
our tent (115-116) and get a chance to meet our authors in person. We’ll throw in a couple of signed book
copies while we’re at it.
Can’t wait to meet you there and can’t wait for you to get to know and love our authors as much as we
have grown to.

WHAT’S INSIDE
6 Cover Story: Is the US Falling?
10 Featured Works: Forrest Ingram
A Man of Her Words:
Muse and Musings of a Poet
14 Selected Poems by Forrest Ingram
20 Featured Work: Harding Hedgpeth
24 Featured Work: Sylvia Stern
My Self-Publishing Journey
as a First-Time Author
26 Selected Poems by Sylvia Stern
36 Fresh Meet: James Sinclair
38 Fresh Meet: Jeanne Enstad
40 Fresh Meet: Marlene Burling
44 By the Book: George Worthington
45 By the Book: Kramer Elkman
46 By the Book: Lydia Greico
50 Lifestyle: Austin in a Shoestring
54 Just 5 Minutes with the Author: Sally Russell
5
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Authorial Magazine
Address: 1321 Buchanan Rd.
Pittsburg, CA 94565 USA
Phone Number: 1 925 384 0300
Publisher
Belle Birao
Managing Director
Gladys Rodriguez
Chief Editor
Janette Richards
Layout Artist
Kem Enon
Writer
Rio Siao
All rights reserved for Authorial Magazine 2018
27

Cover Story
Luisa Plancher
Is the US Falling?
The Reclamation of America’s
Strength Through the Angel of God
The state of American politics is an
accumulated work of leaders and citizens
in every generation. Its faith in freedom
and democracy is more than the creed
of its country—it is the inborn hope of
its humanity.
When we talk about politics, it’s almost
expected to lead the discussion to power.
And how do we assess power? Is it
through firepower stockpiles, spending
budget, or number of troops? Whether
we like it or not, reality is that the one
with the bigger gun calls the shots. In
numbers, the US spends “more than
$700 billion a year on its military, which
is not only more than any other nation,
but more than the next 14 biggest
spenders combined.” There’s no denying
that we live in an era where nations
have an estimated stockpiles of more
than 20,000 warheads. Looking at the
hard news and the current shifts in
geopolitics, it’s hard to say how much
more heat can nations take before they
reach the tail end of their fuse.
This train of thought, this heavy
concentration on hardware, is what
author Luisa Plancher wants to break
away from. There is a soft side to
strength that is equally powerful and
influential. Lately, America’s charm and
might have slowly been declining. It’s
influence is not as potent as it used to
be in other nation in terms promoting
policies. Gone are the days when the
US can mediate two conflicting nations,
bring them in one table, and discuss
an out through peace treaties. As for
its domestic status, while many of its
citizens continue to prosper, others
doubt the promise—even the justice—
of its own country. The ambitions of
some are derailed by gender bias, failing
medical and academic systems, and
tolerated prejudice. And sometimes
differences between its people run so
deep, it would seem as though they are
sharing a continent, not a country.
Some would go on and dare to say that
it can afford to be petty in politics,
because the stakes of conflicts are not
as high compared to other nations.
America is nowhere near in danger of
going out of business. Its economic
prowess, despite the declining popularity
rate from international communities,
remain intact. America is rich and will
continue to be in many more fruitful
years to come. But many believe that the
stakes for America are never ever small.
If the US does not lead the cause for
economic independence and freedom
from foreign rule, it will not be led by
any other nation.
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The re-claiming of America, its old
might and valor, is what motivated
author Luisa Plancher to write her book,
The Strength of a Nation. She believes
that for America to be great again, it has
nothing to do with who is the current
president only. It takes more than that.
It is a combined effort from all its
leaders and citizens, to come together
in order to shift the nation’s focus away
from military defenses and political
maneuvering.
“I prayed for years and years, asking
the Lord our God, our creator, to show
me what his will is, and to guide me in
finding answers to our problems. And
I discovered that the answers to our
national and international conflicts can
be found in the religious arena. Yes, the
same awesome force that created the
world; the same awesome force that
prompted the pilgrims to come to this
blessed shore and create this new nation,
the USA. This same awesome force is
about to unite us all together, and make
our nation great and strong, again. And
once again we can become a beacon
of hope for humanity, and inspire all
other nations in the world to trust our
creator, and come together and form the
kingdom of the Lord. This new kingdom
will have a new king: Jesus Christ, and
its capital will be in Jerusalem, in Israel,
the final frontier,” shared Plancher.
In her book, she discusses the need for a
new commitment from both leaders and
citizens to live out their nation’s promise
through courage, civility, and most of
all, faith. As the US continues to engage
the world, shaping a balance of power
that favors tolerance and freedom, the
anchor, however, needs to be unearthed
and re-rooted upon a shared belief
structure. A principled approach guided
by the spiritual. Its tact needs to come
from a place of compassion and not
from ego. Plancher shares in detail her
well thought out plans of restoring
the US real strength. She thinks the
strategies that were carried out following
9/11, from diplomacy to Middle-
Eastern intervention, are not permanent
fixes. They will not hold international
relations much longer. She believes that
only religious ideologies can restore
peace throughout the world.
Speaking of freedom, Plancher wishes
to emphasize that having freedom does
not equate having the right to hurt.
Freedom and power bring responsibility.
And that responsibility, which rests
upon an assembly, needs to be checked
and balanced constantly. Coming from
an Italian heritage, Plancher knows all
too well the pain that comes along with
fighting for freedom as her father was in
the army during the world wars. She has
personally seen the horrors of fighting.
She is prepared to do whatever it takes
to prevent the recurrence of war.
Plancher’s proposed ideas range from
simple changes to possibly radical
modifications. Her thoughts on the
construction of the great wall– is in
aligned with the incumbent president
Donald Trump’s rationale that building
a taller and stronger wall will decrease
incidents of illegal immigration
imbalance, drug smuggling, violence
and crime. In her book, she also talks
about the Jewish and Arab communities,
where the real conflict came from and
how they need to go back to their roots
of peaceful co-existence. She writes
about her ideas in a way which is easy
to read and understand which is great
for readers who are not knee-deep
about politics.
The Strength of a Nation is a thorough
discussion on politics, with sufficient and
relevant cultural context to the way the
world has changed, grounded on higher,
spiritual thinking. Plancher She believes
that a nation cannot be strong if it
doesn’t have faith and belief in God. For
her, inspired by visits from the angel of
God, she believes that “In the Kingdom
of God, the rich become richer and the
poor and sick become rich and healthy.”
In connection to angels, after the
Declaration of Independence was
signed, Virginia statesman John Page
wrote the famous letter to Thomas
Jefferson that said: ‘We know the race
is not to the swift nor the battle to the
strong. Do you not think an angel rides
in the whirlwind and directs this storm?”
The story goes on.
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Featured Work
A Man of Her Words:
Muse and Musings
of a Poet
A Sonnet
About love, the masters rarely err:
They sing of raging storms disturbing the deep
Reservoirs of lovers’ love who brave steep
Precipices to kiss. Such fiery feelings stir
A colony of scissor tongues and propagate a whir
Of evil Iagos. In agony, true lovers weep
For imperfection, for pain at parting. Sleep
Wakes fears their passions are mere gossamer.
But Love, when I see you, dark anxious night
Breaks into promising day. In our private bower
The cynics’ tongues are dumb to terrorize
Our knowing flesh. Armed with amour, we fight
To find alone that God-blessed perfect hour
Where worry dies and fun new fills our lives.
–Forrest Ingram
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Back in the day, in school, poems
are mostly taught as riddles. Do
you remember how we often read
passages that build up meaning by
hiding meaning? Like it’s keeping
something away from the reader. The
way we’ve been taught, we get the
notion that—compared to essays, short
stories, novels—poems are inherently
more complex. They require deep
thinking. Some poets have the habit of
deliberately obscuring the meaning to
create a deeper mystery.
But there are those who don’t complicate
the simple just to make it harder for
the reader to understand. Those who
don’t rely on hiding meaning, which is
in a way, a shortcut to being mysterious.
Poets who create to let us experience,
understand, and interpret. Come to
think of it, they say there is an art to
reading poetry. It doesn’t begin by
making us feel lacking, or prompt the
necessity to think about ideologies or
unearth some distant form of knowledge
within us. It begins with simply reading
the words on the page, surrendering to a
thought, and letting it lead us to a portal
of infinite possibilities.
And if there is such a man or a woman
out there, made of honest poetry, what
would be the proof? Is it his or her
achievements? Is it his or her words? Or
is it the presence of another human?
For Forrest Ingram, author of a poetry
book Love’s Liturgy, he tells us that he
stopped writing poems when his life
force passed away. His muse. His wife,
Ann. The book is a collection of their
every day. A totem of their delicate but
everlasting love for each other which
span for over 30 years. Together, they
were peas and pods. Or jam and peanut
butter. Two beings, human as can be,
that always balance each other out.
Before Ann came along, Forrest was
living a god-centric life. He grew up
in Chicago and spent his formative
years with the Jesuit order. He studied
English and received an offer to go to
Alabama and earned his masters degree
in Philosophy. Ordained by a Jesuit
priest, he received a grant to study
Comparative Literature in Los Angeles.
He came back later on to live in Loyola,
New Orleans and landed a job there
as the Editor-in-Chief of the New
Orleans Review.
Soon after that, he met his first wife,
which he took as a cue to leave the
Jesuit order. He was offered a couple
more teaching and editing posts until he
got the chairman position at Roosevelt
University’s English Department. His
wife had been a lawyer which, in a way,
opened up a new passion in him to take
up law at night.
As Forrest went about building his
reputation in the academe, Ann was in
the middle of saving hers. The first time
Forrest and Ann met was not the most
pleasant experience. He wanted to see
her personally about her grades. She
was told that she needed to meet him
if she wanted to finish her degree. She
was both nervous and furious. When she
entered the room, his toes were on his
desk. But the mood changed when she
walked up to him. He was attractive for
her. As she was to him.
The instant attraction they shared was
kept at bay. Both were married at that
time. Ann, born and raised by a Jewish
family, was going through a rough patch
in her marriage. Not long after, Ann
left. Her marriage ended. She tried to
search for meaning elsewhere and went
to New York.
While they remained in touch, checking
in on each other from time to time, Ann
met her second husband in New York.
She and her new husband tried to build
the life they’ve envisioned together.
But after being married for months,
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her husband contracted a serious illness
which led to his early demise. While
grieving for her loss, she decided it’s best
to go back to Chicago to be with her
parents and leave New York behind.
As for Forrest, after Ann got married
in New York and moved up there, his
marriage came to a breaking point. He
and his wife initiated a divorce. He
went on with his life, completed his law
studies, and started practicing law.
As fate would have it, it just so
happened that Ann’s aunt had gone to
school with the uncle of Forrest’s exwife.
The uncle called and told her aunt
about the divorce. Ann’s aunt called her
and said “I have something to tell you
about Forrest Ingram.” She started to
cry, thinking something happened to
him and said, “You’d better not have
anything bad to tell me about him.” The
aunt said, “He’s getting divorced.”
Forrest recalls how Ann told him that her
“tears rolled back up her cheeks into her
eyes” when she heard her aunt say those
words. She also found out from her aunt
that Forrest was employed in a law firm
downtown. She called and left him a
message. But the receptionist forwarded
the message not to Forrest but to another
attorney. The same attorney called her
which she did not pick up. Ann called again
and told the receptionist the exact same
words: “The Forrest Ingram I know would
have called me.” The receptionist gave the
message, this time to Forrest. He called
her finally. They got together for dinner,
the first of the many dates that followed.
They became inseparable. For 25 years, they
devoted their lives to one another. Forrest
collection of poetry, Love’s Liturgy, celebrates
the love they have for each other before
Ann’s passing. Each of the events is sacred,
awe-inspiring, uplifting, profound. He hopes
true lovers will read these poems and be
inspired by them to enjoy and revere their
own love lives.
These poems focus on momentous events
remembered yearly: the mystical birth of
Ann, the magic of the lovers’ seemingly
ordinary first date, the heart-and-soul
rocking experience of the first time they
made love, and their eternal and formal
commitment to one another in marriage. The
volume also includes numerous love poems
highlighting everyday rituals, like sharing a
kiss when Forrest comes home from work.
The poems are gathered into groups,
celebrating the cycle of the lovers’ feast days,
plus a special section for “ordinary time”
expressions of love. Just as the Christian
liturgical cycle begins with the birth of the
central figure of Christianity, so does this
volume begin with the birth of the poet’s
muse and the central figure of all these
love poems.
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Featured Work
THE STUDY OF INSPIRING POETRY
Shall I compare thee to a Shakespeare sonnet?
Thou art more musical than his chorus lines
Of tapdancing iambs with their twirling bonnets
Or pirouetting dactyls. Thy vaudeville shines
Brighter than his cleverest conceits.
No love scene has he penned that’s hotter than
Thy sizzle in the stir-fry ‘neath our sheets
Where, burning, thy beauty makes me most a man.
His perfect phrases are printed in men’s minds
Less deeply than thy body on my soul.
Though every morn we part, my spirit finds
Thee always in me, and we two, one, are whole.
His readers rightly call his metaphors “fresh”.
But I much prefer the poetry of thy flesh.
THE EDGE OF THINGS
We hold one another trembling
on this ball swirling through space.
Your right hand hats my head
to protect my naked pate
against attacks of time and hate.
I press your dancer’s body
against my chest, my nose nuzzling
your aromatic neck. I need you
safe against nightmares and pain.
We stand on the edge of things,
thankful, afraid. It is day
but night lingers on the horizon.
It is night, but day will dawn.
by Forrest Ingram
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BREEZE ON YOUR BREASTS
I am the whisper of a wild wind
Whistling your attention to me.
You hear, harken, look round,
But no, no one, it appears, is near.
But that’s my airy hand
Fluffing your bountiful sexy tresses.
You sit in the shade of a cedar
And feel something, my breath, on your cheeks.
You suck in air, and, over your lips,
My unsubstantial tongue touches yours.
I see you stretched in the sun--
Who is that you feel caressing
Your bikini-clad body, your fulsome breasts
Half covered by a skimpy bra?
Imagine me and know it’s true.
PRIVATE GARDEN
Propped on our love seat couch,
Surrounded by green things growing,
We joy in one another’s hearts,
Sip Bombay Sapphire martinis and, in love,
Nibble pretzels, almonds, fingertips,
The healthy spiciness of multi-graced living.
Too long have the hours held our bodies,
Like magnets straining toward perfect union,
Apart. Now, lost in each other’s gaze,
We hear, as distant reverberations, our voices,
The clean piping of a native Indian soul-song.
Blessed by ivies and jades, we are attended
By angelic dieffenbachias, ficuses, and ferns,
The Song of India, the Chinese evergreen,
Norfolk pine, two-trunked rubber tree,
The three-in-one croton on oriental base
And occasional bursts of red and white roses.
Yet we carry our Eden with us where we go.
It knows storms, terrors, invasions, wars,
But God gave us gates no intruder may enter
Where we, embowered in our green-growing love,
Know nothing but the paradoxical peace and deep
Excitement of loving, the blessing of God.
It knows storms, terrors, invasions, wars,
But God gave us gates no intruder may enter
Where we, embowered in our green-growing love,
Know nothing but the paradoxical peace and deep
Excitement of loving, the blessing of God.
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Featured Work
ABOVE THE GROUND
I know how your feet
dance above the ground when you walk
how you throb in my mind
when you stand in the kitchen making dinner
how your fingers excite my fancy
when you cut a red pepper
how your eyes make my heart explode
when you look up from Bon Appétit
I feel how your little finger
adjusts my temperament, my day
how your leg over mine at night
is stronger surety than castle walls
how lying beside you on the beach
shoos away anxiety, relaxes me utterly
how dancing with you transports me
into an Eden of you and me
Poems by Forrest Ingram
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Featured Work
A Pilot’s Takeoff:
Deconstructing the
Assurance of Salvation
They say that literature is for everybody,
but writing isn’t. We don’t all have a
book in us. Working for the literary
industry all these years have taught
me that although we all have stories
to tell, very few of us have a book
worth writing.
John Milton said that “a good book
is the precious life-blood of a masterspirit,
embalmed and treasured up on
purpose to a life beyond life.” For most
of us, literature is about standing on the
shoulders of giants. It allows us to see
beyond, and understand more than our
own little slice of time and space.
The purpose of literature is not to
represent but to re-present. To hold up
that mirror in a light that enables us to
see reality, both reflected and refracted.
In the same vein, if literature is part of
the reality that we all live in, is there
more to literature than the cover page,
the interior content, the spine, and the
overall message it’s trying to convey?
Can literature actually reveal the truth?
Can it save us from lies?
When I met Harding Hedgpeth,
pilot and author of the book The
Hope of Salvation, he was on his way
to Greenland with his wife for their
vacation. He shared how they went
through a rough patch and nearly
separated for good. But in the end,
they pushed through and worked out
their problems. Harding, nicknamed
Brent, jokingly said that they couldn’t
be happier that the “divorce didn’t
work out.”
Marriage, like everything else, comes
with certain promises. Assurances
that need to be met. When it comes
to salvation, religion interprets it in
different ways. Most, if not all of us are
taught, that if you do what you are told
to do, you will enter the kingdom of
heaven.The soul will be eternally saved.
Brent had the same belief system
for many years. He was raised by a
Christian family. He was taught that, as
a Christian, ”no matter what happens,
you’re saved.” A privilege for the few.
This is a common notion among
believers of the faith.
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Brent, like most men and women
pursuing careers of their own and
chasing their dreams, did not have much
time for the bible, up until the time he
turned 40. A sudden change happened
in him. He started going through
the pages of the bible and studied it
thoroughly. A passage by John made an
impression on him which says:
John 17:3
Now this is eternal life: that they
know you, the only true God, and
Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
To substantiate his bible readings,
he did the research and came across
different interpretation of salvation. In
his book, he gives detailed takeaways
as to how we may have misunderstood
salvation. His arguments start with the
knowledge that bible is written from two
perspectives: God’s and man’s. Having
said that, it explains seemingly contrary
passages that suggest on one hand, that
one cannot lose one’s salvation, and on
the other hand, some have fallen away.
From God’s perspective, his chosen ones
cannot be lost. From man’s perspective,
some have fallen away from “the faith.”
He starts out with a brief look on the
difference between Calvinism and
Armenianism. Calvinists believe that
salvation for “believers” is gained during
his or her lifetime. That it cannot be
lost, no matter what happens in the
“believer’s” lifetime. Armenianism,
however, teaches its followers that
salvation can be gained and it can also
be lost in a “believer’s lifetime.” They
believe that people can be saved, but as a
consequence of their poor choices, they
can lose their salvation. Both viewpoints
are supported by the bible. Calvinists
refer to John 6:37 to illustrate that a
believer cannot lose his or her salvation
which says:
John 6:37
All that Father gives Me shall
come to Me, and the one who comes
to Me I will certainly not cast out.
On the Armenians side, they refer to the
following biblical passage:
Hebrews 6:4-6
For in the case of those who have
once been enlightened and have
tasted of the heavenly gift and
have been made partakers of the
Holy Spirit, and have tasted the
good word of God and the powers
of the age to come, and then have
fallen away, it is impossible to
renew them again to repentance,
since they again crucify to
themselves the Son of God and put
Him to open shame.
This is where Brent’s logic shines when
he points out that although both beliefs
are definitely backed by the bible,
however, man and God’s perspective
differ in as far as knowing who will be
saved and who will not be.
Brent further explains the pathway to
salvation, which is exclusively through
Jesus Christ. He reveals who Jesus is
from the scripture, because one must
accurately characterize Jesus in order
for belief to have any meaning. Further
demonstrating the importance of the
bible in one’s salvation journey. He
answers important questions in getting
to know Jesus, which is to start his
“I am” passages where in he provided
direct clues about his true nature. “The
bread of life,” where he hints on how
spiritually consumes his words will live
an eternal life.
On his third act, the author discusses
the paths that lead away from salvation
which consists of many. While there
is only one way to salvation, there are
many paths away from it. He points
out the “falling from grace” those who
appear to be God’s chosen ones, and
speak to the dangers of “assurance
teaching” and the deceptions that
come with it. Then follows a thorough
discussion on God’s elect, specifically
focusing on their characteristics.
He’s referring to God’s servants on
earth, the ministers, priests, and those
ordained by God.
“Religious leaders don’t have an inside
track to salvation,” says Brent. Those that
appear to be saved, ministers, preachers,
pastors, and other leaders of churches,
have been called out by Jesus himself at
one point in the bible as “people who
honor him with their lips, but their
heart is far away from me.” Brent points
out that there is assurance of hope
among them in their teachings but it
should not be confused as an assurance
of salvation. As his final argument, he
shares the common “assurance passages”
that preachers “hang their hat on.”
He discusses in detail from scripture
that these passages should not be
misconstrued as assurance of salvation.
Brent has devoted nearly 5 years of his
life understanding what needs to be
done, while we’re still here, in order to
be saved.
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Sylvia Stern
My Self-Publishing
Journey as a
First-Time Author
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When I think about my poetry writing,
words, thoughts, and ideas run through
my veins while I’m walking. Then I
would continue to say the words and
lines until I get to the house and open
up the computer where I would put
them all together. I love writing on the
computer. When I’m done, I would
read them to my husband. Then send
them to a friend through email and she
would give her suggestions. Then I go
back to the work, do the edits, and send
them again.
Because I enjoy writing poetry so much
and it lifts my spirits in difficult times, I
wondered if it would help others, or at
least bring out a smile or laughter.
That’s how the brave and foolish idea
of publishing a book of my poetry
began to form. The idea of following my
dream. I found out that Inspiring Voices
publishes poetry for a reasonable price. I
decided to publish a children’s book and
an adult book. They designed the covers
and arranged the poetry into chapters I
had decided. The books looked nice and
it wasn’t too expensive. But the publisher
didn’t help promote the book. I’m not
good at promoting my own books so I
was left with boxes of books.
Later on, a book signing was set up
for me at a local coffee shop. I paid for
advertising in a larger city newspaper
and I sold a few more but I still had
piles of books. I took my children’s
books to a few bookstores, but they said
that, because I was unknown, they would
not sell them.
I received a couple of not so good
feedback about the book. I was told
that the cover was not attractive to both
girls and boys. The fun of publishing
my own books was fading with each
comment from people admitting that
they didn’t care much about poetry.
They didn’t understand or enjoy poetry
and preferred to read a story instead. If
you go to a library or bookstore, you’ll
see how little space is given to poetry.
Poetry is hard to sell. Poets have always
been famous for being poor even in the
old days. Only a few make it, establish a
name for themselves, and make a living
out of their work.
I never thought that my poetry would
make me famous or rich. When I look
through my first editions, I agree that
more editing could have been done.
While I was stuck with boxes of books, I
felt really down. I thought I would have
to accept the idea that I made a mistake.
But I did meet a few people who loved
reading my poetry to their grandchildren
and memorized them. Parents who read
them to their kids. I also have friends
who told me they enjoyed reading my
poetry in the morning before they start
their day. There were also a few cancer
survivors who told me that my adult
book was a great comfort to them while
recovering.
My hopes started to build up again
when a consultant from another
publishing firm. This man, who’s name I
will not reveal in this article for security
purposes, told me he was sad because
my books weren’t selling. He had a good
idea on what to do and how he would
promote my books. I refused and refused
a couple of times. Until I gave in again
for the sake of my dream, and agreed to
let him do what he said he would for a
fixed price.
The company designed new covers,
edited my work, made a website for me.
But I received a lot of feedback from
people telling me that the new cover for
the children’s book was too babyish and
it would make the book look like it was
suited for pre-kindergarten children.
But the contents are for older children.
Choosing the right cover is so important
to me because that is what people see
first. I realized the cover was not a good
too late, I already gave my approval on
the design.
Everything was very costly. When one
promotion didn’t bring in any results,
I was asked to advertise in newspapers
that were too liberal for my taste and
not a good fit for my poetry. They were
very expensive and brought no results
in sales. They also arranged interviews
for me that were aired at times when
my potential conservative readers were
mostly likely not listening. I felt like
a fool with a shriveling bank account.
I decided to let it all go and consider
it all a learning experience in the hard
knocks of life.
For new authors, it’s important that you
do substantial research online and go
through reliable journals or magazines,
forums, for writers. Also, you have to
learn to accept rejections and know that
self-publishing costs money, no matter
who you work with. Some publishing
companies do not have the heart that is
needed to get you through the process
and promote your book in the right
places for your style of writing.
I don’t regret my time spent writing
poetry because it was a wonderful period
in my life. I would like my books to be
found by the readers who enjoy them
and be encouraged by their positive
content. I would like children to discover
my books and enjoy their nonsense, fun
and even be encouraged to write their
own poetry.
As I stated before, my writing usually
starts with a walk. It has been a long
time since I last wrote a poem. I’m
guessing it’s probably because of my
publishing frustration. It may come back
to me someday. I still write children’s
plays for a school’s forensic program.
I have temporary writer’s block every
now and then, but I learned to let the
frustration go. The moment I do, I can
write again.
About the author: Sylvia Stern never
gets tired of seeing beautiful things. Just
the other day, she and her husband were
taking pictures of a road with maples
in fall colors forming a canopy over the
road. Nature is her favorite subject but
she also writes about feelings, memories,
and things that make her laugh. She
enjoys watching the sky. Her other
interests include collecting and reading
books from old poets before 1900. She
also likes history which gives her an
idea about what people thought about,
enjoyed, and celebrated in the past.
authorial magazine | 25

Wolf River
A road hugs the curve of Wolf River
Like a snake coiled around rocks.
Spring thaw overflows into marshes.
Deep water gives the current a frisky pace.
Fishermen drawn like magnets bob like
corks or move with motors to their spots
in search of the mighty walleye.
Houses on either side, nervous about the
river depth and wake from the boats,
watch and wait as river people do.
Sturgeon spawning draws crowds of cars,
gawkers , TV station people too.
The huge, ugly fish are measured, weighed,
then released by the DNR.
Summer comes with lower water;
boats still bob like corks looking
for fish or a day of sun.
Without rain, the river drops,
exposing the river banks.
The seasons move like the river with
leaves floating at an easy pace.
A few boats still pursuing fish or solitude.
Cold winds blow and snow coats the trees;
fishermen repair fishing shacks and pray
for a hard freeze. The brave are out
the moment they can walk on the river.
The river moves under the ice until spring
once again releases the current to flow
freely, and boats are seen bobbing like corks.
authorial magazine | 28

authorial magazine | 29
Featured Work

authorial magazine | 30

Featured Work
What a Daisy Lacks
What the daisy lacks in sophistication
It excels in freshness and innocence,
And in toughness it will not be outdone.
Unlike the rose, it is not known for scent,
And unlike the rose, it has no thorns.
The care is simple, and it is easily content.
A white daisy is the color most people think,
But they have forgotten painted daisies
Can be yellow, green, purple, and pink,
And like the daisy, if only we could be
Without thorns, fresh and innocent,
And not worry about our lack of pedigree.
The House Abandoned
Abandoned and shabby stood the house,
Lonely and uninhabited for years.
It almost had a heart and soul
That seemed to plead and even cry tears.
With broken windows and a leaky roof,
Unable to speak or heal itself,
It continued to watch the world pass by.
Some said it was haunted with ghosts,
But no, it was only haunted with memories
Of families living life and growing up;
With heated rooms in the winter cold
And open windows in the summer.
Celebrating the seasons and holidays
With the people inside was a joy.
But no more, now it dreaded the cold,
And rain that leaked inside, and the wind
That rattled the broken windows.
It continues to wait for someone
To rescue and revive its tired bones.
Its patience is growing as thin as its walls.
authorial magazine | 31

The Moonbeam and I
The moon up above looked down kindly on me
And sent illumination in the form of a moonbeam,
Which lit up a wide circle of celestial light.
And all I could do was to step out into the dream,
With smiles and wonder in this unusual night.
Wherever I walked, so did the moonbeam.
If I jumped to the right or left, the moon was there.
The moon and I played a game, it would seem,
And then we chased each other everywhere,
And wherever I walked, it was covered in cream.
But then the moonbeam seemed to slip and fade,
Taken over by the sun, a light in the very extreme.
I have always loved the sun, but now I would trade,
And walk back into the path of the lovely moonbeam.
authorial magazine | 32

Featured Work
Firefly Fireworks
At dusk, I stood near the pond on the Fourth of July
And watched the fireworks explode in the sky.
The colors of red, yellow, purple, and green,
Bursting in fountains with white in between.
A tiny flickering light caught my eye,
It was much smaller and lower in the sky.
It seemed to be playing hide-and-seek,
And as I searched to get more than a peek.
I saw it again, and then it was gone,
Then I saw it again far across the lawn.
Fireflies were a tiny part of the celebration,
Their light measured in smaller calibration.
Fireworks were still exploding in the sky,
But I was drawn to the tiny light, and I knew why.
We often notice grandiose, showy, and noisy display,
And miss out on what the quiet and small have to say.
authorial magazine | 33

RESH
EET
authorial magazine | 36

James Sinclair
The shortest distance between James
Sinclair, author of My Name is James,
and a glimpse of his life story is not a
straight line. Growing up in the time
of Great Depression while keeping his
sexuality carefully under wraps, James
looks back and tells us why individual
experiences about coming to terms with
themselves is always helpful to anyone.
“The memoir is a historical reflection
from the 1930s of how I adapted to
being gay and living through an era of
discrimination, rejection and suspicion
by individuals and of acceptance, love
and support of others. It takes place in a
moment of time now forgotten. It relates
my determination to live a productive
life in the straight world and achieve in
spite of obstacles. It tells of how I found
love and friendship in spite of society’s
prejudices and fear. It is also a love story
lasting over 47 years,” says James.
James maintains that he has always
been a positive person. He clarifies
that he wrote the book not to draw
sympathy. He has experienced hardships
in different degrees and forms but has
always managed to see through them
with his unique sense of humor and
clever wit.
He admits that there are real chunks
of his life that he felt he needed to
suppress and not wanted to confront
until later. Growing up in a hardworking
Presbyterian family in Wisconsin, he
didn’t have a male influence to look up
to as his father died while he was still
young. He and his younger brother
had to stay with their grandfather, his
father’s family household, who did not
give them much attention. As a teenager,
he admits that he has had several affairs
with boys his age. This was around the
same time when homosexuality was still
considered illegal in a few states. But
the encounters he’s had helped him find
his footing in an era of intolerance—the
thought that there were others like him
made him feel less alone.
Later on, when he joined the army, he
included his honest accounts of the
times and said that “there was always
a gay subculture if one knew where
to look.” During those days, he felt
destined to be a loner and was always
“afraid of being judged for being gay.”
His life changed when he got accepted
in a doctoral program at the University
of Wisconsin. There, he met his partner,
Elmer Uselmann, to whom he would
spend the next 47 years with. In 2001,
Uselmann passed away due to lung
cancer. James wrote his memoir as a
tribute to him and the love they’ve
shared all those years.
As a retired soybean pathologist, who
was the first appointed professor of
international affairs in the University
of Illinois College of Agricultural,
Consumer and Environmental Sciences,
James spends his days mentoring
graduate students which he considers
his greatest achievement. He plays an
active role in the community as Board
of Directors for both the Krannert Art
Museum and the Spurlock Museum.
He is also a member of the Economic
Development Commission of the village
of Savoy, and the Rotary Club of Savoy.
He has visited more than more than
40 countries in his career. When asked
about his favorite, he says it is difficult
to choose just one. He explains that each
country has its own culture, but people
have the same problems no matter where
you go. He traveled to those countries in
his professional capacity, so he was able
to see and experience them in a different
way than does the average tourist.
When he looks back on how far the
LGBTQ rights movement has come,
he shared that in the 70s, ““We never
imagined same-sex marriage would
become legal.” With the times rapidly
changing, his best piece of advice to
“Live for today. You cannot change
yesterday, and tomorrow is not here yet.”
While he was working on his memoir,
he also wrote 80 poems and published it
as his second book The Poetry of James.
Now in his early 90s, James’ work and
his achievements so far has been one
long meaningful journey. A good place
to put a flag on a mountain and say
that all of this has happened, before he
begins again on his next big pursuit.
authorial magazine | 37

But life wasn’t done with her. She
came back, every time. Coming up for
air after 28 years of going in and out
of the hospital, battling with physical
and practical challenges, anything
from huge financial losses to the side
effects of medication, with a confusedfeeling
of crashing aching nothingness,
her experience with pain prompted a
thoughtful reflection—what now?
Her personal relationships also suffered.
Her husband left, leaving her with
three kids to raise. On her first surgery,
the doctor called her parents but they
couldn’t be bothered to come. Some
friends found it difficult to be with her
while she was ill. Jeanne shared that the
day-to-day had been nearly impossible
to deal with. With hospital bills going
up by the week, she seldom finds herself
not knowing how she’ll be able to afford
it all. When asked how she managed
to carry on and continue, she shared “I
couldn’t, but God did.”
It wasn’t until her second time in heaven
that she realized God had a purpose
for her, for each and every one of us.
She believes that humans, when we are
in our “human mode,” we are innately
stubborn. We don’t turn to him.
“I don’t like myself when I’m on my
human mode. I have a switch. I turn it
off and turn God on, “ she shared.
Coming from someone who grew up
in a farm, and loved every bit of hard
work and grit that went with it, Jeanne
always had a knack for doing everything
in one go and all by herself. Strongminded
and determined, like every other
workaholic out there, she believes that
Jeanne Enstad
Why is it so hard to be human?
There’s no one else who can answer this
question better than Jeanne Enstad,
author of A Journey of Hope to Heaven
and Back. Hers is more than a story of
survival, it is a tale of thriving in life.
In her mid 30s, while running a 6-mile
marathon, she felt pain under her left
arm. Doctors found out that she needed
an operation to repair a tiny valve in her
heart. During the open-heart surgery,
she had a stroke. She died and entered
heaven. Somehow, she to came back to
the living. From then onward, a series
of complications followed. She went
on to have two to three surgeries each
year for cancer, another four open heart
surgeries, mini-strokes in between,
contracted vascular diseases, gangrene
on both legs, and a $280,000 medical
bill. On top of the many other health
problems, she went to the gym one
Saturday, and got in an accident. A
head-on collision with an 18-wheeler
tractor trailer—the second time she died
and re-entered heaven.
authorial magazine | 38

our human mode is susceptible to the
devil’s inner workings. It is the devil that
pulls us away from God. In a tone that
veers from humorous to businesslike, she
explains that we as human beings give
the devil too much credit. When people
hurt us, when trust gets broken, she says
that it’s not the person’s doing. It’s the
devil’s. We allow him to take over our
choices, our actions. We give in to what
he whispers to us.
“True strength is through God,” she said.
She recalls the consequences of not
listening to God vs listening to him the
hard way. In Cleveland, she needed a
surgery after having a heart attack. In
her mind, there was a voice that kept
whispering, telling her to stop. But she
didn’t. The doctor at that time got the
wrong record and hurt her spinal cord.
In a God-proof world, she should have
been going home and opening a bottle
of champagne surrounded by friends and
family. But instead, she was paralyzed
on one side, and stayed longer than
expected in the hospital.
A lot of questions run through her head
in moments like this. Did you do this on
purpose, God? Will I ever be healed on
earth? Will I ever find a home?
After everything that happened, she
learned to stop and listen. She shared
that when she gets confused, she finds
a quiet spot and asks God to come into
her heart. To tell her what God wants
her to know. When she gets in trouble,
her only response is “I have a bigger
God than you do.” She doesn’t let her
“human” get in the way of her God.
“Experiencing heaven twice is the hope
I bring to others.” said Enstad.
While she has been fighting off the
wolves, all those around her had been
carrying on with their lives. Children
had grown up, careers had been forged.
Everything had moved forward. She
never quit working, even while she
was not in her best condition to work.
Because of that, she became someone
she never thought she would be. She
taught in preschool. Later on, worked
as a program and center director for
Ford Motor Co. She even went as far
as bagging the Chamber of Commerce
Citizen, Ohio Volunteer Award and
Cancer Survivor Award. She’s working
out again. Even traveled on a plane to
promote her book in L.A. Her body
is slowly returning to her. Despite the
realization that things will never be
the same, but perhaps with a dollop
of humor, less stubbornness, and a
following wind, she knows she can be
what God wants her to be.
Her kids have a way of reminding her
not to go all out superhuman on a daily
basis. To try and step back and lean in
to God. Every morning she is greeted
by a mug they gave her that says, “Good
Morning This is God I’ll be handling
all your problems today. I will not need
your help, so have a great day!” On not
so good days, she stops and trusts the
mug. Then starts again, tomorrow.

Marlene Burling
“Writing is a big part of healing,” says
Marlene Burling, author of A Daily Walk
with God, who understands all too well
the importance of words when in grief.
Marlene and her husband, James,
were together for as long as she could
remember. Between 1962 to 1975, when
he finally became a pastor, she knew
then, what she still knows to be true
now—she would dedicate her life to the
church. They began their ministry as
home missionaries and later served in
regular pastorates.
While they were serving the church,
James’ parents became ill. They decided
it was best to live with them and take
care of them together. Marlene became
their primary caregiver. But as time
went by, her husband’s health started
deteriorating as well. James, to whom
she had been married to for 51 years,
passed away.
She didn’t know how to cope with her
loss. She shared that she’s always been
a walker. Walking has a therapeutic
effect on her. Her morning walk is
her special time to reflect and be with
God. When James was gone, she
started writing devotions during her
morning walks. Later on, what began as
a personal exercise to help her process
her grief, took on a physical form. Her
daily walks gave birth to a collection
of 365 daily devotional thoughts. She
published the collection and called it
Morning Meditations. She republished
it years after and called it A Daily Walk
with God. Marlene captured common
and relatable daily occurrences, objects,
and Bible stories that people can easily
gravitate toward. She wants her readers
to be brave, for them to realize that no
matter what they are going through—
and no matter how difficult or trying
it may be—they are not alone. God is
always there. She wants her readers to
feel a kind of certainty, that they can rely
on God for peace, comfort, direction and
joy even in the midst of a heartache.
When asked what she would’ve been
like if she hadn’t been a pastor’s wife,
she shared that she’s always had a good
head for business during high school.
She once worked as a secretary. But
even so, she can never imagine herself
to be living another life. Even with her
sorrow, she carried on serving God. She
became a teacher, speaker, and writer.
Her marriage gave her three children,
and they gave her ten grandchildren in
return. She wrote a children’s book titled
Grandma, Tell Me the Easter Story.
Other than her books, Marlene began
to play a more active role in the
community. She started a ministry in
her church for widows and singles. The
group is called The King’s Daughters
which caters to women who are grieving
and in need of guidance. She also has
a workshop which she calls There’s Life
After Death. She presents it to churches,
ladies’ groups, or those who are in need
of God’s presence.
As she was grieving for her husband,
one verse in the bible resonated
deeply to her:
John 10:10 The thief comes only to
steal and kill and destroy; I have come
that they may have life, and have it
to the full.
It is where Jesus tells us about a thief,
a spiritual thief that robs us of our
connection with him. Interferes with the
time we spend in prayer and meditation.
Marlene, has a special place where she
connects with Jesus Christ. It is a part of
her house, a sunroom. But after what she
has gone through, she now calls it her
“son room,” where she spends time with
the son. She believes that we need more
than just words in healing. It’s Jesus’
words, the son of God, that heals the
wounds completely. Marlene’s devotion
is one of the great testaments to the
indomitability of the human spirit and
the true strength of a Christian woman.
authorial magazine | 40

Y THE
OOK
A detailed account of the long and action-packed Naval career of retired Rear
Admiral George Worthington. Revisiting the rigorous training he went through
which propelled him to a career that lasted him a lifetime. The frogs, or frogmen,
as what he calls his fellow navy seals, during his time were peppered with some
of the most controversial military events in history. Robust special operations
initiatives and several armed clashes were carried out on his watch. His account
go as far as the Desert One operation in Iran and the assassination of Kennedy.
“My whole point is Runnin’ with Frogs entailed more than kicking up road dust; it meant
runnin’ through the halls of Pentagon, the far reaches to Congress—House started, Senate
nailed it, and throughout the service at home and abroad,” shared the author.
The author divided his memoir into three phases—where he he had been, what
had happened or what had been his reaction, and what he had learned. The book
includes three important chunks of his early years in life, his active duty in the
U.S. Navy, and the rest of it as he continues to live, learn, and pay attention. He
walks the reader through on what went on behind the scenes in every armed
encounter he’s been in.
George Worthington
Runnin’ with Frogs: A
Navy Memoir
When asked about his favorite time in the navy, he shares that runnin’ with frogs
is always a good time. Runnin’, for him, simply means working with, drinking
with, hanging out with, serving with, and alongside with; looking after teammates,
and acquiring the skills necessary for service.
About the Author
Rear Admiral George R. Worthington, USN (Ret.) is from in Louisville, Kentucky.
The family bounced around during the war years from Florida to Texas while his
father served in the Navy. In 1948 they settled in Rockaway Park, Long Island,
until 1950. Worthington was sent to South Kent School while the family moved
to Tucson. He attended a year at Brown University until receiving an appointment
to the U.S. Naval Academy where he graduated with the class of 1961.
authorial magazine | 44

Hunters follow a simple rule: you eat what you kill. A good hunt equates to an
800-lb bull elk meat that can feed a family for a year. Like most sons to fathers,
author Kramer Elkman, learned how to hunt because of his father—every son’s
first hero.
But the feeling is unfortunately not mutual. Kramer had never felt loved, not
by his father. The book is a difficult read especially if you’ve gone through what
Kramer has. The book has been reviewed as an emotionally wrenching read.
Kramer Elkman
Red Dot Shot:
Phantom of Wilderness
As the story unfolds through the eyes of a little boy desperately hungry for a
father’s love, Elkman’s keen observation and descriptive style effectively bring his
readers with him on those hunting trips to the wilderness, not only in the physical
sense of the word but more on the emotional aspect. And this is what makes
this story interesting. It keeps readers at the edge of their seats in agitation. As it
follows the complex father and son relationship, we cannot help but examine our
own. The story is easily relatable.. Red Dot Shot is a compelling story, revealing
the significance of growing up surrounded by love and affection, instead of
disapproval and apathy. Also a coming of age story, this memoir is a must-read.
About the Author
Kramer Elkman has had incredible experiences. There are many strange occurrences
in a thirty-seven timeline. He cannot explain why these phenomena happened.
He feels that he was chosen for this arduous task. He is thrilled to have the
opportunity to write about the experience and make it available for many readers
to enjoy. He is a devoted, honest, and energetically hard-working individual who
loves to help people learn from his experiences.
What is a bully? Who gets bullied?, What is a scapegoat? Why do people get
bullied? How far back does bullying go back in history?
These are important questions author Lydia Greico underlines and examines in
her book Because It’s Wrong: Bullies vs Nazis. Initially written as a teaching tool,
this bookstore treasure goes into the deeply rooted causes of bullying and why
it’s still happening despite the efforts poured into its prevention. She decided it’s
time to put a stop to this and make people aware of how completely wrong it is
to continue tolerating a trauma-causing behavior. It is the author’s contention
that there seems to be no end to bullying.
Lydia Greico
Because It’s Wrong:
Bullies vs. Nazis
“There is no end to bullying in this country. In this book, I want to talk about
all of the reasons for bullying. I will go into deep depth showing incidents of
bullying. Why do humans keep trying to find a way to hurt one another? Isn’t
one of God commandments to love your neighbor as yourself?,” said Lydia
Lydia dedicates this book to all the victims of bullying as far back in history and
as it is happening today. People in the workplace getting bullied in America,
children in schools, and families. I am also including the Jews that died in the
holocaust in such a horrific manner with reckless disregard for life by the Nazis.
authorial magazine | 45

Austin in a
Shoestring
Welcome to the Live Music Capital of the
World! But don’t be deceived by the city’s official
slogan, there is more to it than live music. Let me
give you a bird’s eye view of what you can do in a
weekend without burning a hole in your pocket.
authorial magazine | 48

How to go around
Exploring downtown and all its nearby
offerings can be done on foot, using
scooters, bikes, pedicabs, bus or train.
Alternatively, for further distances,
you can always get a Lyft, Ride Share,
Uber or taxi. The most efficient way
to commute around Austin is through
CapMetro, this is Austin’s Public Transit.
You can easily plan your trips by visiting
their website or by using their app, all
you need to do is input your destination
and you will get the information on
which bus to take, which bus stop to
take it from and its schedule. If you are
downtown, you can easily rent a bike
using the bike stations found in Central
Austin, you can rent it for an hour or up
to a day. If you prefer to get a mountain
bike, since you might want to hit the
trail and not just downtown, there are
a lot of bike rental places. I personally
recommend Bicycle World for any of your
bicycle needs while in town.
What to do
There are a lot of things you can do
in Austin. Almost every month there
is a convention, every week there are
happenings. Your guide for the latest
and upcoming happenings in the city
can be found at Do512. They have a list
for weekly and daily events, even for
the local bar’s happy hours. The two
biggest annual events that people line
up and pay for are the SXSW Conference
& Festivals happening in March and
Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival
in October. SXSW is the gathering
and convergence of the interactive, film
and music industries, while ACL is
a-two consecutive three-day weekends
of music, with multiple stages where
bands from different genres perform.
These festivals are costly, so you better
plan ahead.
Another thing that you can spend time
with is to go brewery hopping as Austin
is also known for its craft beers. You
will be amazed at the array of beers you
will find. In most restaurants, they offer
beer on tap for you. If you don’t know
what kind of beer to get, always ask your
bartender, they will be more than happy
to help. I love going to PintHouse Pizza,
The ABGB or Easy Tiger, aside from the
great selection of beer on tap, they’re
food is spot on.
But now let me help you with what you
can do in Austin for a weekend.
You can start by going to the Greetings
from Austin Mural, it is located in
1720 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704. Then
you can walk towards South Congress
Avenue and start your leisurely stroll
from Torchy’s Taco, there will be a variety
of stores selling just about anything
and food places. Take a moment to visit
Tesoro’s, a distributor of folk arts and
craft plus other items, then you can go
down one side of the street towards
downtown. If you are a book lover you
will love South Congress Books. Further
down, if you have seen the movie Chef,
you will see where Chef Carl Casper
parked his food truck, right by Guero’s
Taco Bar, you might even catch a band
or two or quench your thirst with a
glass of beer too. Then as you pass Jo’s
Coffee, take a moment to stop by the I
Love You So Much Mural on its northfacing
wall. Cross the street here and to
your left, you will see the Texas Capitol.
On the other side of the street you will
have more food places and you have to
stop by Amy’s Ice Cream. You then go up
and just browse through the different
offerings this side of the street have, you
might even spot have performers on the
side street.
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Take a moment to rest. Always hydrate
because the Texas sun can be brutal.
Just before sunset, take a ride towards
the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue
Bridge to watch the bats come out to
hunt at night. The best way to see it,
based on personal experience albeit a
little too taxing, is to rent a kayak and
watch it from under the bridge. It is an
amazing feeling to see thousands of bats
fly over you. Alternatively, you can find
a spot on the bridge or the surrounding
areas and wait out there.
On a Friday or Saturday night, you can
go and walk through 6 th Street. You can
start at The Driskill, this is an iconic
hotel and easily an Austin favorite,
then take a turn at East 6 th where your
journey to Austin’s night life awaits.
Here you will find all types of music and
just the people milling around, drunk or
otherwise. You can grab a donut or two
at Voodoo Donut (cash only though) and
if it is still open, take a peek at Museum
of the Weird. At the very end before you
get inside Easy Tiger to enjoy a quiet
night, (kindly get a pretzel with your
beer, you won’t regret it, easily one of the
best for me!), you have to see the Historic
6 th Street Mural.
For your Sunday, Austin is big on
brunches and mimosas. But before you
do, hit the trail. You can walk, run, bike
or just sit around and enjoy the morning.
Or you can take a cool dip at the Barton
Springs Pool, visitors are charged $8 upon
entry, or you can be there before 8am
and get in for free. You can also rent a
kayak, canoe or a stand-up paddle and
go around the lake.
If you still have time, you can squeeze in
a quick walk around the Texas Capitol,
then take a bus towards the HOPE
Outdoor Gallery, this is a one of a kind
location where artists or just anyone can
display their art or as an inspirational
outlet. You can rent or buy a spray paint
or two and you can also put your mark
on it, for the moment.
I understand that this feels more like a
dash than a relaxed weekend, but mind
you, there’s more to Austin than meets
the eye. These my friends, is just the tip
of the iceberg. Come and explore Austin.
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Just 5 Minutes
with Author
What’s with the name? Is it
Marcella or Sally?
My sisters thought Marcella was too
long. So they went with Sall, close to
the second syllable of my name. An old
friend in school, misheard my sister
and thought she called me “sow,” which
prompted the addition of another
syllable. That’s why I’m Sally, with the y.
How many books have you written?
14 books so far
How would you describe your books?
Inspirational romance
How do you remember all the characters
in all of your books?
I just do, I don’t know how. I’m 88 now
and I remember them all.
Which character was difficult for you to
write in your books?
In Rewards of Faith, Todd Olsen,
Jessica’s ex-boyfriend. He did really
bad things and kept pushing himself
to Jessica.
You’ve written several books, how did
you go about choosing which one to
publish first?
It’s a funny story. I was with my
husband’s coffee group and one guy
came up to me and said “Sally, that is
the best book you’ve written.” It was the
An Escape for Joanna story. Among all
my books, it’s the only book I’ve written
that has a sexual encounter in it. It’s the
first one I published. Later on, I realized,
that’s probably not the book I should’ve
published first. It created this kind of
expectation that there’s always sex in my
books, which is not at all true.
What are the common beliefs of
your male characters that make them
stand out?
Abstinence is the way to go. Also, most
of them are in their 30s.
How did you get into writing?
I read a lot to my husband while taking
care of him. Most of the books I read,
I found them not that good. In my
mind, I thought I could write better. My
husband told me why not give it a try.
Everything just started from there. Now,
14 books later, I’m still writing.
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