LOCAL AUTHOR INSPIRED BY MARY HIGGINS CLARK

Michele Galindez weaves tale of mystery, romance

By Marilyn McCONaHay, Indedependent Staff Writer

Many of us profess to have a book inside us, just waiting to get out into print.

Michele Galindez of Clayton is one of the ambitious scribes who actually has seen hers published and has gained entry to the world of book-signings and royalties-not to mention experiencing the sheer joy of seeing her creation in print.

Unlike many writers, Galindez said her romance/suspense novel isn’t autobiographical, except for some of the behavior of her golden retriever, Jack.

“His mannerisms turn up in Bronie, the faithful dog in the book, such as when he beats his tail against the wall when he is running through the hallway wagging his tail,” Galindez said.

The only other similarity to her own life, she said, is that the story takes place in Somerset, Ky., where she has spent time with her mother and other family who live there.

In “The Collector,” actually Galindez’ second book but the first to make it into print, there is the tantalizing wait to see if romance will bloom between antique store-owner Abigail and the mysterious visitor, Ben.

At the same time, there is the curiosity about the cryptic last words of Abigail’s Grandpa- “Find the tin box.”

The secret ultimately will affect Abigail’s future as well as everyone else’s in the family - it’s al about loss and love.

When Ben arrives, he means to evict Abigail from her home and business to make way for a condo project. However, he becomes caught up in pursuing the meaning of the secret.

As Galindez said of the book, “like an ancient scroll etched into the wrinkles of time, Abigail is the pen, Ben the ink, life the paper, and their love the story.”

Galindez said there is plenty of love in the book-”God’s love, Abigail’s love for the golden Labrador and the love that binds the extended family-despite the failings of its members.”

Oops-is that giving away too much of the plat? The only way to find out is to read the book.

Galindez, a Northmont High School graduate, lives in the Clayton area with her two sons, Kyle, a junior, and Cole, a freshman, both at NHS. She works as an underwriting auditor in the local mortgage industry.

Despite her busy life, she somehow has found the time to explore her desire to write fiction.

“I write when I can. With the boys and work, it’s usually later in the evening, when they have settled down,” Galindez said.

“I wrote poetry then, when I was trying to ‘figure out who I am.’ I sold some to magazines,” Galindez said. “Mom was an inspiration to poetry. She read to me from Emily Dickenson, Robert Frost and others of that ilk.”

But it is Mark Higgins Clark that Galindez credits her big push to get started writing fiction.

“Thanks to her, I found my way. I didn’t really have it in me to write a book until I met her more than 10 years ago at Books & Co.” she said.

“The author took my hand and smile her brilliant smile at me and with a wink, ‘Honey - write a book. Think of the royalties!’ I feel she really believed I could do it,” Galindez said.

“With the love of words as my only muse, I kept re-working it - it wasn’t ready to go. It was kind of like a practice book - I kept re-writing. I learned procedure,” she explained.

So, she wrote “The Collector.”

She has had several book-signings so far at several Barnes & Nobles book stores.

Upcoming book-signings will be July 26 from 6-7:3o p.m. at the West Carrollton Library and on Oct 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Midwest Book Fest in Sandusky.

Next up for Galindez is “Riches,” also a romance/suspense novel, set in Guam, where the author lived for a short time. She even has a third one in progress that takes place closer to home - in Dayton.

Galindez gets her ideas from her love of words.