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RedPen

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the term "New Year"?Fresh start?Clean slate? New beginnings?

Reflect on the past year.  What'd you learn? What were your best moments?What didn't you accomplish?For every answer, you've got a goal for 1999. Apply them to your writing habits and endeavors this year.  And of course, share your successes with the Village. *grinz*

Speaking of neoteric, some exciting Editors have brought some wonderful concepts to T-zero. You may already know them and this month is their debut. Welcome 'board, ladies!

MARGARET CARR (Newbie Notes)
You can probably blame my mother for my interest in storytelling.One of my earliest memories is of objecting to the end of a story she was reading to me. She asked me how I would have it end.  Later, I remember wishing a story wouldn't end and we would take turns making up sequels to the story.

Eventually, I started drafting my cousin and my brother to play out stories that I made up as we went along. My cousin got her revenge when we were in our teens and she became interested in acting. However, she wasn't completely successful since I made it clear that I was more interested in writing the plays than I was in acting in them. Strangely enough, in college I was the one who majored in drama.

Fiction '98 was fun and helped me a lot. I did a lot of exploring, in addition to the assignments, and hope that I can pass on both what I learned in the class and outside it.  Now I'm a Newbie at WVU proper and it looks like about four times as much fun!

JESSICA LEDBETTER (Literary Visions)
Jessica Ledbetter is a bibliophile from Virginia. She'll be finished with her BS in Computer Science in 2001 and then either a Masters in English or a BA in English not too distant after that (since she's nearly finished with that English degree anyway.Her interests range from science fiction to whimsical, reflected in her reading and writing.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Her bio is short and sweet, and Jessica's a very warm and bubbly person.She's great to talk with and very talented.  So, she fits in well at the Village, eh?

LAURIE LUPOLD (Healthy Horizons)
 I was born Laurie O’Toole, yes very Irish. My mother’s ancestry is very German, VanSickles. A very hot combination for sure. I grew up in a little town in Pennsylvania called Bradford. I’m talking small--you sneeze, you’ve passed it. My parents divorced when I was 3.I believe and my father remarried. My Mother so graciously gave him us kids as a little going away present. No resentment there!

My Father and Stepmother were both alcoholics and there was a lot of abuse in our home.Each of us kids only lasted until around the age of 12 and then we either left or were sent away. Guess you could say I was raised in the school of hard knocks and I was the primary teacher.I won’t get into the whole depressing dilemma but I will say I’ve always been very active at punishing myself for all my misfortunes.  Quite luckily, I was diagnosed with bipolar and dysthymic disorder before my self-destruction was successful.

It took many years of hard work on my part and a lot of commitment to learn to care enough to save myself. I still have my weak moments but quite stubbornly, will not be defeated. I have become someone who, at times, even I admire.

My writing has seen every phase of my life. It has expressed every emotion and bewildered every challenge. It has been my lifeline and still is. As every writer, I want the honors and finance that will one day come with it but more than that I want it to touch the hearts of people. I want to share important lessons and allow readers to find their place in my writing. I want to give them hope, strength and courage in my words. Most importantly, I want them to know they are not alone, as I was.

I'm presently engaged with 3 children and 3 stepchildren. I’m an animal nut. I’m always growing and learning in my creative as well as my family life. I am strong in mind and work hard to share my compassion with others. I don’t let my bipolar/dysthymic disorders keep me down.

I’m a survivor. I have a strong faith in a higher power, try with all my heart to live by the Serenity Prayer, and always attempting to make positive changes when and where I can in my life as well as others. I’m pretty much the same as my reader, no better, no worse. My motto is, "I’m not perfect, I’m just forgiven!" I can’t ask for much more than that.