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For years I felt as many writers do. I had something to say, but hadn’t a clue how to express it. So I penned drivel that no one except my loving family would dare ever read. That is until a pivotal event changed how I would feel about my writing forever.
About fourteen years ago my grandmother, Helen Clay Sprague recorded a tape of her childhood memories at my request. I knew some day when Grandma left us her delightful stories would go with her. I never spent a day in her presence without hearing a few of her past adventures.
My cookie baking, vegetable growing Grandma wasn’t the Annie Oakley of rural Indiana by any means... but she did live an exciting life nonetheless. And what I gleaned from listening to her speak was how the early settlers of the Midwest including my family forged their place in history. It was a rich life full of all the emotions of human life; desire, ambition, hope, agony, and most importantly faith. They couldn’t plant a seed, birth a child, or bury a loved one without faith to carry them through to the next day.
I also realized that the hopes and dreams they had weren’t so very different from ours today…desire for land, a roof over their heads, adequate security to provide for their children, and the happiness that comes from it all. I wanted Grandma to preserve those stories as a legacy for our family.
When Grandma died, I reached for her tape out of grief, and began to listen. As her voice washed over me, I heard a treasure trove pouring from the heart of a woman who had known a full life and had lived it to the hilt… in her own way. She was a rich woman indeed. And from her stories, I discovered the key to my writing. I now pen what I know, and what I love.
I hope you will share a portion of my inheritance…stories from Grandma’s heart, as well as from my own.
Blessings and love,
Michelle Close Mills
Birth Place: Ft Wayne, IN USA
Accomplishments: I'm a wearer of many hats...a mother, singer, and worker bee.
But some of my most satisfying moments come from my writing.
I studied various writing courses while working toward my bachelor's degree, and am a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature in West Redding, CT.
I was a long-time contributor for an Ohio newspaper,"The Edgerton Earth". I've also written for the Ft Wayne News-Sentinel, and the Muncie Star newspapers of Indiana, as well as the Largo Leader and Seminole Beacon newspapers of Central Florida.
My poetry and short stories have appeared multiple times in "Skyline Magazine", as well as "SpinningS", "Winter Sky", "Hudson Review" and "Poet Express".
The wonderful folks of "Autumn Leaves" have published my poetry a staggering thirty one times. I can never thank Sondra Ball of Autumn Leaves enough for her continued support.
"Stuck on You", "The Gardening Buddy", and "Dusting The Beans" were accepted for publication by the print magazine "GreenPrints, The Weeder's Digest".
"In the Still" appeared in the 2nd issue of "Sage of Consciousness" ezine. "The Long Journey Home" appears in their 3rd issue entitled "Musings, Resonating Places". "The Visit" appears in their fifth issue entitled "Death and the Super Natural: The Afterlife". "The Road Trip" appears in issue six, which is fashioned after the theme "Traveling: Multicultural Minglings". I am also the "Featured Poet" in their 7th issue entitled "Spirituality: Reflections, Knowledge & Growth" which featured my essay "The Rescue", as well as poems "The World We Know", and "A Place Where Grandmas Go". Sage of Consciousness can be found at www.sageofcon.com.
"Wilbur's Vanishing Act" was published in the latest volume of the short story anthology "The Rocking Chair Reader-Family Gatherings" by Adams Media...available from all major booksellers including Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.
Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul, Daily Inspirations published an inspirational short work entitled "Shoes".
Additionally my short story "The Big M" retitled "Blessed Indeed" is in "Chicken Soup for the Soul in Menopause", now available in all major book outlets.
"Life With Karen" appeared in the December 2005 issue of the print magazine "Fate".
The Arts Council of Central Louisiana included "The River", in their poetry anthology entitled "Beyond Katrina" available on Amazon.com. All proceeds will go to aid victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. I've read it cover to cover and it is a stirring book...
Authors Den's own C.E. Laine and Sun Rising Poetry Press has published an anthology of poetry to benefit Katrina's victims entitled "Washing the Color of Water Golden". "In The Blink Of An Eye" is included in this work.
"A Tiny Casualty" was included in the anthology "Wounds of War: Poets For Peace" edited by Diana May and Mitchell Waldman. There are many contributions by AD writers in the book. Copies may be purchased through Amazon.com. All proceeds will go to Veterans Against The War.
Two poems appear in Taborri Press Issue 4:"Azure Eyes", and "One Little Dream", and three additional poems "A Place Where Grandmas Go", "A Road to Nowhere", and "Your House" appear in issue 5. In issue 6 for Autumn 2006, they have published my poem "Tranquility" as well as my essay "The Long Journey Home". Taborri Press is a beautiful on-line magazine, with great writing, and gorgeous photography. Taborri Press can be found at: taborripress.com
"The Road Trip" was published in the first edition of Suitcase Generation in March 2006. Suitcase Generation can be found at: suitcasegeneration.com.
"For" was published in "Pocket Prayers" by Chronicle Books now available at all major book outlets.
My poem/prayer "Thank You" has been included in the anthology "To Have and to Hold: Prayers, Poems, and Blessings for Newlyweds". The collection is published by Center Street, an imprint of the Time Warner Book Group and available at all major book outlets.
Additionally, during the course of my day job duties in 2007 - 2008, I have been dabbling in ad design as well as having preparing press releases for trade magazines "Industrial Launderer" and "American Laundry News". Both publications aren't exactly mainstream reading for most folks, but trade mags are an opportunity to work "outside the box".
AND last but not least my poem "The Trestle" appears in the new poetry anthology "Expressions" compiled by Deborah Simpson.
Thank you so much for your interest, and for coming this far. I hope you enjoy what you read, hear, and experience!
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