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Recognitions

Joan McNulty Pulver

Welcome to Recognitions, a column designed to celebrate the writing successes of Writers' Village University members!

Jennifer Turner wrote Stark Knight, a romantic action adventure set in the hot Mexican desert. Published by Echelon Press, the book will be released September 2005.

“When I got the word that it was accepted for publication, I was overjoyed! After three editors became excited by my writing style and novels, only to end up leaving the publishers, I was certain that I was cursed. When this editor said she'd let me know after reading the last of the manuscript during a road trip that weekend, I was certain she'd encounter cannibals or man-eating sharks during her adventure. But she returned Monday, safe and sound, and offered me a contract! She's currently considering the sequel and plans to pitch the books to USA Network for a series. It took six years of dedicated study and practice to finally sell my manuscript. Overjoyed is the only word that comes close to how I feel now!”

Jennifer has always been a writer, but it wasn't until she inherited an ancient dinosaur of a computer that she realized how many years she’d spent pursuing a career in art when it wasn't her first true love. “Out of the blue, I announced to the world that I was going to quit my freelance work as a contract artist and begin pursuing my writing career. This fall will be the sixth anniversary of the day that changed the rest of my life.”

Jennifer joined WVU in 2000, is an active member in the Artistic License study group and credits Connie, Faye, June, Julie and Marilyn for helping her make this sale. “Without their honesty, support, and awesome insights, I would still be banging my head on the publishing door.”

She started out taking the Romance Writing course, facilitated by Julie Jennings, and learned about the craft through the book and class. From there, she sampled many other classes, but says it is the Artistic License group that really made the difference in her writing.

“There is one truth about writing that is inescapable: Know thyself. If you don't know who you are, if you don't understand your own human nature, if you balk at sharing intimate, personal vulnerabilities, how can you create believable characters and stories that test their strengths and force them to rise above their weaknesses? There is no path to publication that leads around the truth, only through the truth.”

Linda Grisolia received an assignment from her weekly local newspaper, The Elmhurst Independent. Starting July 28, 2004, her column, "A Veteran's Story," has appeared in print every other week. She sent a query, along with a sample piece, to the newspaper in April, and then, as most writers do, she tried not to think about it. “The newspaper contacted me on July 9, telling me they loved my idea. I've been on Cloud 9 ever since.”

When Linda was about 10 or 11, she read Little Women and was fascinated by Jo who was forever munching on apples, writing plays for her family and writing stories for magazines when she got older. She decided she wanted to be just like her.

Linda loves to read books of all genres, especially mysteries, doing crossword puzzles and walking. “Reading broadens my knowledge, which in turn helps me to write. Crossword puzzles increase my word power. I often get great ideas when I walk. In fact, the idea to interview and write about veterans popped into my head while walking.”

Linda became a member of WVU in January 2003 and says that the broad curriculum has allowed her to take both fiction and non-fiction classes. “Most importantly, I can take the classes when I want and even repeat them if I like. I love the sense of camaraderie that is shared in the classroom. WVU and my classmates have given me the encouragement and confidence to pursue my dream of writing and being published.”

Patricia Lange writes haiku and recently had five of her pieces selected to be in the September 2004 issue of Simply Haiku. “I behaved rather badly after finding out my pieces would be published. I acted quite full of myself for days. It made me feel like a ‘real’ poet.”

She is a member of the Canadian Poetry Association and the Canadian Federation of Poets. Patricia will be the 'featured poet' on its website in September and is the Ottawa, Ontario contact for the Federation. She also volunteers as the event calendar coordinator.

“I've been calling myself an author since my first grade school story assignment. The characters I created pulled me into their lives and entertained me greatly. I was hooked. I am also a watercolor artist and half jokingly say that if it takes more than a thousand words, I paint it.”

Patricia joined WVU in February of 2004 after taking the free writing course a number of times. At this time she is not a member of a study group.

“WVU has made all the difference! Without the support, feedback, and skill of the mentors, I would still be wondering if I should write at all. Participating in the classrooms gives one an audience, an idea of who you are writing for.”

She is working on her own website now with the vision of a combination art gallery and reading room. “Visitors will see and be able to purchase paintings and future books of mine. Until I have the books available I plan to feature different poems every month or so.

“Without the encouragement of WVU, T-Zero: The Writer's Ezine and its supporters, I wouldn't have had the push to submit elsewhere!”

Congratulations, Jennifer, Linda and Patricia. We wish you continued success in all of your writing endeavors and thank you for sharing your information with us.

We look forward to reading about your writing accomplishments in this column. If you or someone you know received recognition for writing, please send the information to recognitions@wvu.org. Let us know!

About the Author
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Joan McNulty Pulver moved to Florida about 30 years ago and decided to stay. She has five children (two girls and three boys) and five grandchildren (four boys and one girl). An Administrative Secretary for the State of Florida, she plans to retire in about seven years and then start her real career, writing. Joan hopes to have at least one novel finished and published by that time. She does a little volunteer work here at WVU and enjoys this community of writers. "I have learned so much here and like helping others learn along with me."