First I would like to thank you all for the kinds words about the few stories I have posted here! Some of you have really given me a chuckle with your responces.

As some of you know I have been writing a book about growing up poor in the country with all of my siblings and the funny things that happened in those days.

I originally started writing this book for my little brother. He has begged me for years to write about our life but I told him for years that I don't know anything about writing a book. I have had so many people through the years tell me that I need to write a book. I always said maybe someday. After all I tried to reason the only people who would be interested would be my family. Through the years I have had to tell the same stories over and over again because people just thought they were to funny to be true. But, every story in my book (and what is posted here) is true. Although here they are shortened and hurried due to always getting bumped off aol. grrrrrrrr.I hate it when I get almost done and then zap it is gone.

Last year my family was visiting and the conversation turned to me writing a book again and how they wished I would. So, I decided why not, it would be something to keep the family entertained. I sat day after day, week after week and month after month. I had decided that someday I would try to take it further and get it published and then Sept 11 happened. I decided that at that point no one would be interested in my book so I put the thought away for awhile. This leads me to those of you who found my stories amusing.

I thought that I would share my stories with you since so many of them are in a way related to so many things I read in this forum.It was your comments that got me interested in my book again and I began to speak about getting back to work on it ( It is written but, it needs polishing).

I was in the local store yesterday telling them yet another story about growing up which always gets everyone laughing (I have met a lot of very nice people while telling my stories at this store). After I was done with the story the clerk ask me about my book. I told her about posting my stories here and all of the nice comments. She mentioned that they would sell my book there if I get it published. She said that a man who wrote a good selling book had a hugh stack that he sold there (500 in one week). She told me the name of the book and the authors name and said but I never see him anymore. I haven't seen him in so long. Then she pointed and said well I can't believe it he just walked in. I said to her well I have to get back to work and paid for what I was there to pick up. As I was paying and joking with the people in the store a lady walked up to me and asked if she had heard right that I wrote a book about growing up poor with my 15 brothers and sisters. I smiled and said yes. I ask her if she wrote too and she said no but Mr so and so is here and he wrote a really good book she turned to point him out and he was right behind her. She told him who I was and what I was doing and introduced me to him. The author ask me more about my book and the stories in it and then ask me to get it ready that he would like to pass it around to some people in the publishing industry who are looking for just that type of book right now. He also said that this group of publishing people are coming directly to my town to see if they could find someone who could write a book like what I had written already. He then told me about his start and who introduced him to the right connections and that he would like to be my connection to the right people. So with any luck someday maybe it will be published.

I just wanted to let you all know that had it not been for posting my stories here I would not have been standing at the store talking for so long about my book and no one would have over heard the conversation. I will keep you posted on how things are going.

Thanks for the nice comments here and in your e-mails. They were the spark that lit my fire again.

Thanks, George

-- george nh (rcoopwalpole@aol.com), January 18, 2002

Answers

George, you can write all you want off line, in note pad or simular program, get with your local puter guru to look over your system and make recomedations. Aol shut offs are to free up space on their network, it can be adjusted in settings for different amounts of time.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), January 18, 2002.

George, That's wonderful. Thanks for entertaining us and wish you the best of luck with your book publishing. Isn't life funny. You may have grown up poor but because of it, you might die rich. - Sheryl

-- Sheryl in NJ (all295@aol.com), January 18, 2002.

HOORAY FOR GEORGE!!!!!!!

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), January 18, 2002.

Let us know how it goes, we really enjoy the stories and might want the book in case we've missed any! Do you autograph?

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), January 18, 2002.

Hi Christine.

I have only posted a few stories here and I kept these stories brief. I have so many more stories in the book that I have a hard time deciding which to post here.

My book starts with my very first memory at three-years-old(The day I found out that the one thing that scares me more than anything is heights) and ends with me getting on a bus headed for Miami with $135.00 in my pocket and no place to stay, no job and knew no one there (my family was really against me doing this). My brother says that my life in Miami should be my next book because it was so exciting but I think i'll pass ;-)

To your question about autographs. If the book gets published I would autograph any copy that I was asked to. George

-- george (rcoopwalpole@aol.com), January 18, 2002.

Hey, George-did you think of submitting any of these stories to Countryside? Maybe as an "afterchores" feature? Or, other paying mags. Might bring in a little money while your polishing your book and get you used to writing for publication. Best of luck to you!!!!

-- Kelly (homearts2002@yahoo.com), January 18, 2002.

That's beautiful, George! Your encounter in the store yesterday was quite obviously divinely planned....isn't it wonderful how life works that way? I wish you the best of luck with your book; I will definitely buy one as soon as it's available.

Blessings,

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), January 18, 2002.

George, do you think you could get a book review in CS magazine?! I thinks it's great that you are going ahead with your book. I absolutely love the stories you tell. It's nice for me because they all take place here in Maine! You will definately sell a copy or two or ten here. Oh, by the way, as a winter job I work in a bookstore...

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), January 18, 2002.

George, that's fabulous!!! I've got 9 other brothers and sisters and I would love to read your book. I want an autographed copy too. :) Please keep us updated.

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), January 18, 2002.

Wow, George, just shows this book is meant to be! Best of luck and keep us posted!

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), January 19, 2002.

I've been away a couple of days and just posted to your most recent about getting yourself published-if I'd just waited and read a little bit before writing...I'm glad you're going to put these stories in print. Just let us know when it will be ready to buy.

(I guess I've just learned that I need to start at the bottom of the forum and work my way up instead of the other way around-live and learn!)

-- Terri (mrs_swift_26547@yahoo.com), January 19, 2002.

far more important than publishing it is writing it i have been trying to sporaticly write down my memory of my fathers stories and my mothers stories they are both gone but if i can preserve how they thought and lived for my children and grandchildren to know them i will have acomplished much keeping it in a diary form as i remember the tales i heard as a youth while i worked with my father

-- george darby (windwillow@fuse.net), January 20, 2002.

Good news George. Please don't forget us small people once you have made your millions! I really think you will sell alot of books. I know that I want one, and I would like an autographed copy please! Please let me know when I can buy 1. Good luck in your new endeavor!

-- Michael W. Smith in North-West Pennsylvania (kirklbb@penn.com), January 20, 2002.