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I’ve always enjoyed writing and studied journalism for two years in high school. I was seriously considering a career along those lines when I took a job at the local hospital. Working as a nurses aide for two summers and after school turned me away from writing and I trained to become a registered nurse.
After marrying Richard Staadt, my high school sweet heart, I wrote occasionally, perhaps a poem for someone’s birthday or an account of one of our antique car trips. As we became more active in the old car hobby I had the opportunity to write club news letters. Later travel guides for car tours kept me working with words.
(Richard and friend, Whizzer)
What opened up writing for me was the purchase of a computer in 1982. Never would I have had the patience to hammer out book length novels on a typewriter. Mistakes are my downfall and the computer makes it all so much easier.
When our two sons, Gary and Dave were grown I experienced a mid-life career change and became a landlady. Running ninety apartment units was a more than full time job. The many wild experiences with tenants gave me a wealth of material for stories. When I sold the buildings I began to think about putting my memories of folks like Abie and Grace and old Mr. Brace down on paper. What emerged after an intense 3 months of writing was a fictionalized version of the days spent dealing with drunks, the mentally ill, and the just plain strange. The Granola Arms, so titled because my buildings were full of fruits, nuts, and flakes,waits to be revised and edited. I’ve learned so much in the ten years since it was written and perhaps the time has come to bring the story to the light of day and apply some of the knowledge I’ve acquired.
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(Ann’s boys, Gary and Dave)
I love to visit England and I’m a fan of British novels. As you might have guessed these travels in England inspired me to write Moria at Hollystone House and Hollystone Hearts Glenna. Richard and I continue to live in Fort Wayne, Indiana and enjoy travel and antique cars still.
(1914 Fiat, a family favorite)
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