Garnette Arledge, author

What’s New in Andes? Garnette Arledge

By Buffy Calvert

Garnette Arledge moved into her home at 295 Main Street, in the Shellman house now owned by Deborah Raymond on December 1st. She has weathered the winter and made a cozy, comfortable home in the big pistachio green building. Now she plans to open Andes.Books.Com, a ‘gently used’ bookstore there on Memorial Day weekend with a outdoor sale. She will also launch bookstore events in the bookstore in April and May. (see schedule in box).



Garnette grew up in Bethesda, Maryland spending long happy summers in her grandparents home in Western North Carolina where twelve generations of Shipmans and Arledges lived in Polk County and Hendersonville, southwest of Asheville. Our far western Catskills, part of the Appalachian range, and our valleys threaded by rushing trout streams seem just like home to her. She has recently lived in Stone Ridge. Teaching The Writers Circle, a memoir group, in Hobart Book Village drew her to Delaware County and thence to Andes.



After graduating from the University of Maryland with a journalism degree, she raised her two children Elizabeth and Drew in Princeton, New Jersey later serving as the Editor of a small town Morris County newspaper, The Florham Park Eagle. When she found herself interviewing the mother of a six-year-old killed by a hit-and-run driver on a street without sidewalks as the little girl was coming home from school, Garnette had a deep change of heart. Holding the distraught mother in her arms, Garnette knew she needed a role where she could be ‘overtly compassionate’ not a cool observer as a reporter.



She signed up to be a Hospice Volunteer and was quickly moved into the Volunteer Training job, so she quit journalism but continued writing. Eventually she deepened her commitment to the suffering by attending seminary at Drew University, the Drew Theological School, where she earned a Masters of Divinity degree magna cum laude. She served as an ordained interfaith minister as Hospice Chaplain. With the sage advice of her Life Companion Christopher Stickler, she wrote a book for family members caring for their loved ones dying and death, On Angel’s Eve. “I based the book on what I learned working in hospice as well as the manual I wrote to train volunteers. I felt the family and friends should have access to the skills and education the final stage of life requires.” After his sudden death on the New York Thruway, Garnette turned to writing and teaching writing full time. “To help people tell their stories is part of the Hospice Philosophy, I combined both those trainings, listening to clients’ stories and capturing them on paper.” In the past ten years Garnette has authored ten books of memoirs for families, one of which she acted as agent, selling Wise Secrets of Aloha to a national publisher. For the last six years she had been teaching writing fiction, flash fiction, and memoir, as well as a course called Jane Austen and Her friends, the six Austen books and one hundred and forty five sequels by other writers. She also has taught her Angels book to groups at Bard College and SUNY New Paltz in the life long learning system designed by Elderhostel. She now brings her skill and enthusiasm to Andes ~

Scrabble Night, First Fridays, 6:30 to 9 pm, on-going May 7, 2010

Jane Austen and Friends Book Club, 2:30 to 4:30 pm, Thursdays, May 6 on-going

Reading Your Works in Progress, Third Fridays, 7 to 9 pm, May 14 on-going

Classics in Religion, one book for one month, every Wednesday, 10:30 to 11:30 am, beginning May 5. First Book: Markings by Dag Hammersjold.

All groups are by donation to a basket. Come when you can and jump into literature for fun.

Memoir Writing Group forming now, please call me for details.

NOTES ON TEACHING JANE AUSTEN IN NEW PALTZ

Jane Austen, and her friends, was an eight-week exploration, really a romp, of Austen's six books and brief mentions of the more than one hundred (still counting) re-imaginings of the further adventures of the various beloved characters.

So enjoyed teaching this course in New Paltz, NY to the many Austen aficionados - and one male for one session.

Now in gratitude for receipt of this letter (although tending to mimic Austen's style too closely, need to get back to my own breezy way)

Dear Garnette,

On behalf of the LLI Council and membership, I want you to know how exceedingly grateful we are to you for all you continue to do to advance our success in responding to this community's enthusiasm for learning.

Jane Austen and Her Admirer's Sequels was one of our most popular courses. The reactions of those who just completed your course reveal how very well you met their expectations. We do hope you found the experience equally gratifying. We are looking forward to your being part of the LLI faculty again in the fall. With our sincerest thanks and best wishes.

Gail K. Gallerie, President

from: Mama Sallie Stories, Growing up in the Great Smokies (in progress)

A first memory, from the core of my being, is waking up in Mama Sallie’s ample bed, snuggled into her great, soft, billowing love. However, they tell me my first word was JIM not Mama Sallie. How it gratified my grandfather. For Papa Jim would come into to her bedroom before dawn, while his shaving water was heating in the kitchen, to light the pre-laid fire in her fireplace. His quiet, always dignified movements, even with his suspenders over his undershirt, may have roused me first. But it was the striking of the match, the magic flame springing up, dispelling the dark that astonished me.

Jim! I thought it meant fire.

Available here, click my email link to order an autographed copy from me, or order on-line at Amazon. Bookstores everywhere will order for you. If you order from Amazon, please take a moment to review the book please. Thank you = Mahalo nui nui, Garnette

If you read her Williamsburg novels from 1924 to 1964, please send your memories as I am Collecting Stories
on Elswyth Thane