This arrived in the mail--a book by a past student. And she credits an assignment in my class at John C. Campbell as being the catalyst for this novel. She thinks the assignment was something along the lines of "Put your character in a pickle."
It was a very basic class, meant to get folks going on a novel. I probably had them write a scene that introduced their protagonist and a scene that showed the protagonist in a setting of some sort. Basic stuff but Anita ran with it and, over a period of some years, wrote a novel about a young female reporter in the 70s.
I've been fortunate, as a teacher and as an occasional editor, to see quite a few folks persevere and bring to publication novels that I had a bit of input on. It's a bit like being a grandmother--you feel a lot of pride in someone else's baby, someone else who did all the work.
Well, done, Anita! And many thanks for reminding me why I loved teaching.
5 comments:
What a wonderful thing, to have such an influence on someone's life and career!
Here's the book description.
The year is 1971 and Amanda Blackstone is an aspiring investigative reporter stuck with a "society columnist" job. When she overhears a threat at a debutante reception, she eagerly pursues the chance to chase down a killer.
Amanda Blackstone is good at a lot of things - but no one will give her the chance to prove it. When her first job at her town's local daily newspaper is as their "society columnist," she uses it to search for any opportunity to take on a case and prove her skills as an investigative reporter.
While covering the debutante reception for the daughter of one of the town's wealthiest men, Amanda overhears a veiled threat that leads her to suspect that corporate embezzlement is behind a suspicious suicide. She teams up with experienced fellow reporter, Patrick Maguire, who does his best to rein in her impulsive instincts. The two discover evidence of a shady offshore account, blackmail, and a reprehensible family secret from a generation ago that will end in murder. As her feelings for Pat grow, Amanda realizes her rookie mistakes may have put both their lives in danger.
Great for fans who appreciate a fiercely independent sleuth as a main character, Blood Will Tell leads the reader on a harrowing adventure set against the dynamic backdrop of journalism during the turbulent 1970s.
Congratulations to both of you, parent and grandparent, of this healthy new life of literature.
You should feel proud!
Your post was a fantastic blend of information and entertainment. Thanks!
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