Truly, I remember the books I looked forward reading after  checking out from our small school library every other week to take home and read--Heidi, Tom Sawyer, Hans Brinkle & the Silver Skates, Treasure Island, Tom Sawyer and poems of Edgar Allen Poe. Oh how these wonderful stories opened up a whole new world for a young girl in rural America; taking me off my grandfather's farm to places I never expected to see or visit.  Words have molded my life for over five decades and have become the largest consumption of my various appetites. 

For years I never missed an opportunity to edit, draft, write and/or volunteer my skills throughout my community on every nonprofit board organization which would have me.  My prize possession for years was an old Webster's Dictionary given to me from an old employer which weighed about 15 pounds with pages as thin as onion skin (back in the day). 

Today in my wake of evolving dreams to come, as the writer for "What's Going On", I have written over 300 scripts since the show's inception in 2003; a television program awarded the Sunshine Award for its quality programming competing with programs on Comcast Cable Community TV, Channel 12 over a seven-state region.   Over the years I have written numerous freelance articles, press releases, poetry, etc.  Until I retired, I was editor of the newsletter for the agency I was employed by; creative editor for Tracy Whitaker, author of "The Truth Behind the Walls," and her soon to be released, "Tara's Trials of Isolation."   Also the creative editor for Vanderbilt Brabson III, author of "The Gatekeeper." 

As a freelance writer, authored a six-page feature article in Contempora Magazine, regional Tennessee publication, titled, "Disparaging Health Issues Facing African Americans in Large Metro Communities in the State of Tennessee" in major Tennessee cities across the state (Rosetta Miller Perry, Founder/Publisher of Tennessee Tribune).  Also authored (http://www.helium.com/users/528909) and edited various articles over the years for EA Associates (Atlanta, GA); contributing editor for Ordinary People Magazine (2011) published in Memphis and distributed in TN, GA, TX and FL; Karate Five Association (Knoxville, TN) and another project dear to my heart--writing the pilot show script for "Teen-A-Scene"  in 2004 about youth in East TN doing something positive in their communities.  

I am presently concentrating on publishing my manuscript and awaiting the fate of my future writing career and promoting my art on http://www.marlenabbealartistwriter.com and http://www.flickr.com/photos/marlenabbeal