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  I just love your characters. Where did you get the ideas for them? Are they people you have known? No one could be as outrageous as George Benson! Let's just say most are a composite of people I have known throughout my life. In some places, however, I have used people I know. Alan Dabkowski, the choir director for St. Cecilia's is the name of our choir director at my church, St. John of the Cross and the absolute best I have ever heard! Several years ago, I saw you on ABC's, the Good Morning America Show and was deeply touched by your story of a miraculous healing. You stated that in 1981 you had been sent home to die after a year long bout with cancer; and that on this night, you had a dream in which God asked you to share a message with the world only to awaken the next morning miraculously healed. Have you had the opportunity to share God's message? Twenty years ago, I was a simple housewife without anyway of doing as He had asked. I had no access to communicate His message to "the world". But God in His infinite wisdom knew that in the year 2002, I would sign on as an author with the second largest publishing house in the world and that through a new medium called the "Internet" I would finally be able do as He had requested more than twenty years ago. Isn't God amazing? But just as amazing is His message which takes on an entirely new meaning in lieu of 9/11. We are our brother's keepers... If we had collectively worked to better the plight of others, especially in the Mideast, we would never have allowed such great poverty and despair to become the breeding ground for terrorists. God would have us look outside ourselves and pray for guidance on how we can actively better the world for those who suffer or are in pain. You never walk alone... Since that terrible day in September, the world has forever changed and with the possibility of new terrorists attacks which could happen at anytime. But God would not have us fear or feel that we are alone in this struggle. He walks beside us. And although we may not always be able to avoid the evil perpetrated by others, we can be confident that He will empower us to overcome it. You've had such an extraordinary spiritual journey. Any chance you might someday write a book about it? I am currently working on it and hope to have it finished before the end of the year. Do you have any special places that you go for spiritual inspiration? Although I find the countryside surrounding my home to be my primary source of inspiration with living parables scattered throughout its landscapes, when I need a more reflective environment, I visit two of my favorite retreat places here in Connecticut. The first, Wisdom House (http://www.wisdomhouse.org) affords its visitors with a wonderful oasis of peace in a normally hectic world and, fortunately, for me, is only a five minute ride from my home. The center is run by Sister Rosemarie and Sister Pat with programs that center on the arts and artists. Richard Gere is one of their more famous guests. There is also a labyrinth at the back of the property that has a twenty mile, unobstructed view of the Litchfield Hills. I come here often to walk its path as a source of spiritual reflection. When I need to physically distance myself from my daily routine, I trip over to My Father's House (http://www.myfathershouse.com) which is in the river town of Moodus. This facility was once a summer campsite and still is dotted with sweet little cottages which can be used by those on retreat. And if this is too rustic, there is also a charming farmhouse that can also be rented. But my favorite reason for visiting My Father's House is its director, Father Bill McCarthy who is always on hand to share his special brand of down home, common sense approach to the things of God; his deep love of the Lord and his openness to the varied spiritual paths through which each of must travel. Father Bill is also an old movie buff with a library filled with an assortment of circa 1930's and 40's films. Get in his good graces, and you might be invited to watch Jol Olsen and share a bowl of popcorn. What did you do before you became a writer? A lot of things. In fact, I've had nearly twenty-five jobs over the last fifty-plus years. I've been a manicurist-shampoo girl, sales clerk, receptionist, public relations copy writer, singer, waitress, program director, and American Folk artist to name a few. Did you always want to be a writer? I've always written but I remember the first time the thought of being a professional writer occurred to me. I was twelve years old and our English teacher has given a short story writing assignment. I was a fairly good and conscientious student and started right in on it that weekend. But unlike other homework assignments, something magical seemed to happen as I took pen to paper. A host of characters showed up and began to spin out a wonderful tale. The assignment, which was supposed to be only five pages longed turned in twenty-plus. I turned it in and was somewhat surprised to receive an "F". The teacher had written across the top of the first page, "This was plagiarized. No twelve year old child could have possibly written this." I wasn't the least bit offended. In fact, I took it as quite a compliment and I've been writing ever since. Who are your favorite authors? Biographies are my favorite and I keep these on my night table to read over and over again: George Mueller's Autobiography; all of Gladys Taber's Stillmeadows series; Catherine Marshall's writings, both her fiction and nonfiction pieces. I also love all of David McCullough's books. Mornings on Horseback is my all time favorite. Fiction…I love Barbara Delinsky, Mary Higgins Clark and Miss Read. What are you reading now? The Pilgrimage, by Ann Ross and the autobiography of Katherine Graham. |
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