Dean Koontz says: “I really believe that everybody has a talent, ability or skill that he can mine to support himself and to succeed in life.”
My father, Eddie Green said: “The best recipe for success that he has is to find something you like to do, and do that the best you know how.”
Well, I’ve found something I like to do. And I have been successful. My friends, family and followers remind me of this a lot. I’ve been interviewed for magazines, on podcasts, on radio programs and I’ve been invited to speak on the books I’ve written at places such as The Los Angeles Breakfast Club, twice! And wonder of all wonders, they sent me an article from their archives that mentions the fact that my father appeared at The Los Angeles Breakfast Club in 1937. (His name is down the page just after Hattie McDaniel’s name). Blew me away! My first book was my father’s biography which was my first Breakfast Club presentation in 2017. I also received a book award that same year.
I was back at the Breakfast Club in 2022 for my second book about the TV sitcom The Jeffersons. The book contains a lovely Foreword by Marla Gibbs and an Endword by Associate Professor John H. McWhorter, an extremely impressive person in my estimation. I am so happy to share this with you. Mr. McWhorter says it is a good source book for you Jefferson fans. Marla is sure you will find the book as interesting as she did.
I am experiencing success in being an inspiration as it has been pointed out to me that before I started writing books, I was a secretary for thirty years. Then I became a Psych major at a local college and a counselor at The Salvation Army. I helped raise my grandson, and I spent a good amount of time with my mom as her illnesses required more and more care. Success can come in many forms. I was successful at being a secretary because working was so much better than being on Welfare-I learned to type 100 wpm, and I’m so glad I did, cause it really helps now. I was successful at counseling because I like people, and that also helps when I get a chance to interview folks for my books. What I am really trying to impart here is that I was a retiree from all of the above before I started my writing journey in earnest. And I didn’t really think much about “success.” I am beginning to see myself in a different light.
Today I have achieved success in finishing the first rough draft of my third book. Yay!! This one has been difficult. Some days it seems I have had to literally pull myself up by the collar from the bed to the chair. I needed the support I got from my social media followers, my daughter, my sister, my friends. I was and still am thankful for those who asked for my help with their projects. I must do one more proofread before I send my manuscript to my publisher. I’ve titled it (temporarily) MAUDE – In her own words: “A real pussycat”
OH! And by the way! Because I was inspired to write a book about my father, Eddie Green, filmmaker, composer, movie star, old time radio star, comedian, singer, dancer, producer, director, TV producer and writer of the 1917 song “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, I am being treated by a company and now good friends, to a trip to England!!! to promote myself and my father and to share the story of our success.
To succeed in life is to find something you like to do, and do that the best you know how.
Books are available on Amazon, at Larry Edmunds Bookshop, BearManor Media and elsewhere online. Peace 🙂
My family is connected with an important part of history. In the book I have written about my father I included a chapter on my mother, Norma. I don’t write about her often, except on Mother’s Day and when the date of her death comes around or the date of her birthday, which is on November 17th. This is Norma about 4 years before she married my father. But the history I want to write about started with my maternal grandmother.
My mother’s mother was born in 1896, her name was Sinclaire White. In 1912 Sinclaire got a mention in The Crisis magazine for her skills as a violinist. The second photo here is the cover of that 1912 issue. The lady on the front is not Sinclaire. I only ever saw one picture of my maternal grandmother and I do not remember her as she died when I was a year old. My siblings never knew her or even saw a picture. Nor was she ever talked about as we grew up. As a violinist she was magnificent. Later in life she taught violin. Inside this magazine in the MUSIC AND ART section is this article about my grandmother:
At the time The Crisis was a very influential magazine. Published by W. E. B. DuBois who was also a co-founder of the NAACP. William Edward Burghardt “W. E. B.” Du Bois (February 23, 1868 – August 27, 1963) was an American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author, writer and editor. Due to current racial issues he and the NAACP have been in the news more often, lately. I love his picture. It’s possible Sinclaire knew DuBois.
Sojourner Truth (1797 – November 26, 1883) was an African-American abolitionist and women’s rights activist born into slavery in Swartekill, Ulster County, New York. We didn’t talk much about Sojourner Truth when I was growing up, but they obviously recognized her in Pasadena back in the day and Sinclaire had the good sense to hold her meetings in a building named after a woman who would become a force in 2017. As of today Truth’s statue will stand on the Empire State Trail in Ulster County.
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