Honorees

            I was raised on a Hereford cattle farm on Carbon Hill-Buchtel (Monday) Road, Hocking County, Ward Township, Ohio.  My family still lives on the farm.  We enjoy our rural heritage and our small community of good friends and neighbors.

§  What was your inspiration for your book, the Blackberry Patch?

            Inspiration for The Blackberry Patch comes from my own life experience.   As a child, I had assigned daily chores, which included foraging for seasonal fruits and nuts. Picking berries with my siblings, grandfather and parents, brings back fond memories of grand adventure.  We always knew where the best berries grew near Snow Fork, along the railroad tracks. Today we still gather fruits and nuts from the wooded areas where we live. 

§  How are you using your book to inspire the children of Appalachia? 

            The children of Appalachia are talented and dynamic.  I am honored to be in the position to encourage and inspire.  As children of Appalachia, we have so much to offer the world.   We are unique and see the world from a different perspective.

            Using my book to inspire the children of Appalachia, I place emphasis on the importance of teachers.  Teachers give us the skills and mechanics we need to become productive members of society and to fulfill our dreams.  The teachers I remember most - elementary school through college - are the teachers that emitted positive, productive thoughts of enthusiasm and encouragement. 

            When I visit a school or group of children and time is available, we review the writing process.  I share my method of acquiring and storing words and ideas.  By sharing my writing techniques, I show them that a story has many ways of coming to life.  At a recent visit to Green Elementary School (Logan-Hocking School District), we brainstormed ideas for stories.  By the end of the presentation, several children had exciting adventures on paper.  They inspired me!

§  Why was it important to you to become an  I-Can member?

            Becoming and I-Can member allows me and my family to remain committed to helping others in our region to become successful.  When we are successful, we enhance our Appalachia heritage and showcase our productivity and creativity to the world.   

§  Do you have any advice for students?

            My advice to students is to remember the influential tools and skills they receive from their teachers.  Learn the importance of the dictionary, thesaurus, the library and other writing implements.   Ideas come from many sources - siblings, relatives, life events, etc.  Keep a journal of story ideas and words; it is the quality of words in a story that count, not the quantity.  When writing and choosing a genre, be creative and use a little serendipity and a tad of whimsy.  Perservere.  Dreams do come true.