The Haves and the Have Nots make for good reading

Years ago, I met Gene Vickers when he attended a writing class I taught. I remember him well because, just as the class was ending, Gene stood and addressed those who sat in the chairs. I had told them that my husband had very recently been diagnosed with cancer. 

Gene got the attention of the group and said, " I hope you all will pray for this lady. She is going to have a rough time ahead. She needs our prayers."

I didn't know the man, but was impressed that he thought of me and what I was going to face in the coming months. I did have a rough time for the next year while my husband, Barry, went through chemo and ended up in the hospital in Atlanta. He died soon after. 

A few years later, Gene contacted me and signed up for one of my classes at Writers Circle around the Table. It was his first writing class, and it was not his cup of tea. He was the only man present.

After the class ended, Gene asked if I would give him private lessons. I knew he had an active imagination and could write a short story with a moment's notice. There was no doubt he was a writer at heart. Like all successful writers, he just needed to learn the craft of writing. 

We went to work, and he tried to come to my studio once a week, but he has his own business and was sometimes working and unable to attend class. Gene was working on a book meant for his family, especially his grandchildren.  Eventually he took his manuscript to an editor who helped him with finishing touches to prepare for publishing. The book was printed, and I was proud of him and his determination to complete the work even when it was not easy for him as a first time author.

Now Gene Vickers has written and published his second novel, Amen and Amen. 

With this title, you might assume this is a book for the Christian Book Store, but this novel is about the human spirit, the difference in economic classes in our country and the pain caused by this. It is also about two teens from different backgrounds who fall in love and bridge the chasm. It is about high school boys who loved football, were fine athletes, but never tried out for the high school team. They knew how the system had always worked. They knew they would not be chosen because of where they lived and their economic standing in the town. It is about wealthy men who made sure their sons made the team, but were surprised when the coach did not let wealth and position dictate who played on his team. The characterization is good and the reader will be rooting for the underdog all the way.

There is no violence and vulgar language in this book. It is about people and their relationships. It is also about football, and followers of the sport will enjoy descriptions of the game and meeting the high school boys who play.

This is a feel good book, which I think is perfect for today. 

My brother, Max, read this book, and he said he didn't want to put it down. He really liked it.

Find the book on Amazon.com. 

 

Teaching and Writing Brings Joy to My Life

I have enjoyed teaching a memoir class for the Institute of Continuing Learning the last three weeks. As usual, my students seem to bond and enjoy each other. This class is taught on Zoom which has become the way I see most people in these strange and abnormal times.

Monday will be the last class in this course, and I hope my students have learned much and are motivated to continue writing. It is always a joy for me when my students tell me that the class was important to them in any way. You can see what some have said if you visit this page on this blog.

Some of the things we covered are the importance of using dialogue and how to best use dialogue. Dialogue is the part that readers never skip, so we want it to move the story forward, describe characters, and help the reader know the person speaking. My dear friend, Carol Crawford, editor, poet and writer, will teach a class on writing dialogue on Zoom in September. If you want to take that class you don't have to leave your own home. I will post more about it and how you can register in a later post.

I am always thrilled to see one of my students write and publish a book. 
Author Gene Vickers has a new novel, his second, titled Amen and Amen. It is set in north Georgia, and characters range from high school students to teachers, coaches, parents, business men and women from various economic levels. We have young lovers, Friday night football in the south, and a melding of cultures. The book started from a short story by the author, and someone suggested he turn that story into a novel. I want to do an interview with Gene when he and I both have time. His book is now available on Amazon.com. It is a good read, a book that offers hope and boosts your mood in a time when we all need some of that.

I hope my readers, my friends, will have a wonderful week ahead and find good in every day. No matter how dark things seem, there is always a silver lining if we look hard enough. 


Want a short history lesson? Click here to read what another student, a veteran, has to say about Korean Conflict.