I first introduced my manuscript five years ago at the Maine Literary Festival Ready-To-Publish
Workshop in Camden where Ms. Maryanne Shanahan saw potential in Swamp Robin. After superb editing by Maryanne and Kathleen
Brandes, Swamp Robin was published on
March 31st, 2014.
Maryanne, owner of the Hawthorn
Inn and hostess of the book launch, introduced Stan Calderwood, my Scottish
nephew, and me. Readers of Swamp Robin’s epilogue will discover how
my nephew and I met serendipitously in Nova Scotia in 2008.
The room was filled with emotion when I read the
prologue, and again when my nephew related the circumstances of his familial
discovery.
I felt honored by the number of
guests who attended the launch, some of whom had already read Swamp Robin. They were all enthusiastic
about the future of the book and supportive of me personally as a new writer in
the community.
It was a wonderful day for me as
a writer and one that I’ll always remember. I am grateful to Maryanne for her support,
generosity, and friendship, and to all my friends who praised me for the courage
that I truly needed to write this book.
