Featured Interview With Lois W. Stern
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised on Long Island, NY. The week after I graduated from Barnard College, I married, and my husband and I moved to New Haven, Conn, where he attended law school and I became an overnight educator, teaching grade school in Cheshire, Conn. But LI beckoned both of us and we returned here as a young married couple, raised our family and are fortunate to have at least one of our sons and three grandchildren living nearby. We have no in-house pets but we do have two grandogs, who love overnights in our home and yes, sleep in our bed. If we are lucky, they leave enough room for us!
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t a reader. Maybe I was born with a book in my hand – I’m really not sure. But I do remember when I started to write. When I was 4 ½ years old, I remember printing alphabet letters all over my newly papered bedroom wall and being punished for my efforts. Fortunately this inauspicious beginning didn’t dull my enthusiasm for writing! Years later, while creating the column “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives” for an Internet webzine, I discovered my special niche of investigative journalism and put these same talents to work in writing my first full length book, SEX, LIES AND COSMETIC.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love books of fantasy that can move me to a different time and place for a short while. I also enjoy delving into non-fiction on most any topic that grabs my interest and broadens my knowledge base. But most of all, I love stories of real people, learning about their trials, triumphs and the fascinating things they have done with their lives.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
Tales2Inspire ~ The Ruby Collection, (subtitled “Gifts of Compassion) is the fourth book in my Tales2Inspire collection. It is filled with stories of compassion flowing not just from humans, but from some of our furred and feathered friends as well. For among all living creatures, we see evidence of an emotional connection, and often a response, to others in time of need. Each story in this book is a winner from the annual Tales2Inspire international competition, anonymously selected by a jury of accomplished authors. Each of these non-fiction stories shows clear evidence of the gift of compassion – sometimes flowing from humans, but also from some of our furred and feathered friends. For among all living creatures we see evidence of an emotional connection, and often a response, to others in time of need. You will read sixteen amazing stories, including stories about:
. an injured eagle and a wildlife volunteer who form such a close bond that they begin to communicate in ways most mortals would consider impossible
. an incredible labrador named Obi, who wins over students at risk of dropping out of school, or worse yet, dropping out of life
. a nurse with a nurturing spirit gains the trust of an actively psychotic woman through music and humor, helping to transform her outlook and her life.
. a young girl determined to help the cause that stole her father’s life, now listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the youngest person to run a marathon in each of seven continents
. Thirty plus years after being released from the Nebraska State Penitentiary, this once hardened criminal travels over 1500 miles to shake hands with the warden who helped him turn his life around
This is just a sampling of the sixteen inspiring stories you will find in this book.
Although these stories contains feelings of warmth, tenderness, sensitivity or concern for the plight of another, compassion needs to extend beyond simply feelings, to acting on those feelings in some positive way. And herein lies the powerful gift of each inspiring story in this book – stories of compassion fulfilled, actions taken and results achieved to satisfy the best that lies within us.
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