Why Write?

Everyone has a message that must be shared. You can tell a story without relying on the written word. There are many times when you will need to captivate your audience without the benefit of the written word, not even a slide deck to bolster your message.

In April 2018 a dear friend and writing colleague wrote a short story for my “Trail Tales” column. The story titled “The Gift of Time” reminded aspiring writers that, “If you don’t write your story, your interpretation will vanish forever upon your demise. Only oral fragments will remain, subject to revision by subsequent generations.”

Susan had learned just prior to submitting her story that she only had a short while longer to live. Susan had published two full length novels prior to passing. Her husband published a third manuscript after she passed.

I redoubled my efforts to advocate for writers and storytellers. From memoir to creative non-fiction, how-to instructions to lessons learned, everyone has a story to tell. Here are some examples from the recommended reading page at Hidden Treasure Novels.

Claudia Reuter offers advice to women planning to start up or scale up a business. Based on her life experience, “Yes, you can do this!” is a valuable entrepreneurship resource.

John Lowe, a former colleague at Apple Computer, Inc., leverages his experience and offers advice to business leaders in “Remarkable Presentations, How to Develop and Deliver What Your Competitors Don’t” and “A Passion for Presenting.”

Another Apple colleague, John Henry Weiss went on to establish a leading recruiting business. He shares advice in a number of published books including “Operation Job Search, The Complete Civilian Guide to Job Hunting for U.S. Military Veterans” and “Moving Forward in Mid-Career, a Guide to Rebuilding Your Career after being Fired or Laid Off.”

Dr. M.J. Simms-Maddox, an active member of our regional writers group is a retired professor and published author of the Priscilla series. She offers advice to writers in her recently published book, “A Handbook for Emerging and Seasoned Authors. I am honored to be referenced in that work.

Dr. Larry Jones and Audrey Jones published “Falling Through the Ceiling” a book that amplifies their foundation’s effort to help parents of children with ADHD.

Andrea Engber and Dr. Leah Klungness, Ph.D. provide valuable advice to single mothers in their book, “The Complete Single Mother.”

Several authors share stories with a spiritual message. A few examples.

• Nancy Panko, “Sheltering Angels” and “Guiding Missal.”

• Lisa Carter, “A Mother’s Homecoming.”

• Seralynn Lewis, “Cassie’s Secrets.”

• Jennifer Haynie, “Panama Deception.”

Others write about history that impacted their family or friends.

• Olga Gladky Verro, “In the Web of History, Old Russia and the Soviet Union.”

• Ben Callahan, “Promises Unfulfilled, A History of the First Lutheran College in North Carolina.” No coincidence that the college is located in my town and that Ben is a member of our writing group and former President of the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society. The museum is housed in the buildings of the former college.

• Dr. William Cottrell shares his story in “Greenbrier Chronicles .”

• Thomas J. Doonan entertains readers with several short stories.

As a writing advocate, I have been honored to feature their works on my site, interview a number of them in “Lessons Learned,” imprinted some of their stories through Hidden Treasure Novels, and featured others in “Trail Tales.”

I welcome the opportunity to be an advocate for your story. Please drop me a line at my email address or use the contact form on this website.