Meeks — The Neighbor’s Wife

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The Neighbor’s Wife
by Jeanne Meeks

The neighbor's WifeFIVE STARS on Goodreads.com. “A gripping and heart-warming story of abuse, revenge, and family redemption.”

An elderly WWII veteran finds a reason to live when an abused young woman rents the house next door. Henry Peale fell in love with Maggie sixty years ago and loved her until the day she died. On a bright summer day, he sees her gardening in the yard next door—her golden hair, her long braid, her straw hat.

Excited to join his wife, he calls out to her but is disappointed when the vision turns out to be the new next door neighbor. From afar, Anna Croft brightens Henry’s days. He gardens when she gardens and is rejuvenated and content to be alive.

Long after Henry puts his garden to bed for the winter, Anna shows up at his door barefoot on a snowy night. Her nightgown is torn, her face is battered, and she holds a bloody knife in her hand. Henry decides to take the blame for the stabbing.

Though he knows he was a coward all his life, he makes it his mission to protect the young woman. With the support of Maggie and despite his children’s objections, failing health, and violent nightmares, Henry becomes the hero he was meant to be.

Purchase at Amazon

Ginger Griffin Wakem

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Ginger Griffin Wakem’s writing career up until now has been in the world of business and non-fiction filled with product and marketing materials, website content, magazine articles, company manuals and a successful book on City and Well Water printed in English and Spanish that’s in its third printing with over 6,000 copies out.

Her debut novel, TRUST NO ONE, PROMISE NOTHING (91K words) is a story with crime/thriller elements, a sense of humor, and a romantic subplot, inspired by real mafia families and well-known Florida criminals—about a man with a dark past, two careers (one legitimate and one illegitimate), three families (one being the mafia), and the woman who exposes him. The book has cinematic appeal, and it’s both plot- and character-driven, exploring the long-lasting effects of childhood experiences: how they shape us—for better or worse—and our ability to change. This novel appeals to both adult men and women readers who prefer mystery, crime, suspense, and action thrillers containing a bit of psychology, some religion, and swirls of romance.​

Ginger is a well-known landscape photographer and has created several photo books. Over a period of twenty plus years she documented the lifestyle of a sixteen-acre island located at Mile Marker 63 in the Florida Keys. The scenes from her photography book, Conch Key, can be found on her photography website at ggwakem.photos. Dedicated to family, she takes the viewer on a day’s walk about the small island, returning at cocktail hour to witness its glorious sunset.

In Griffin’s Story Ginger documented her son’s journey with Tourette’s Syndrome, spoke at the TSA national convention on Alternative Therapies and was interviewed by the BBC Discovery Health Channel, for their 2001 Medical Mysteries documentary series. The book Tics and Tourette’s, Breakthrough Discoveries in Natural Treatments by author Sheila Rogers was dedicated to Ginger and her son, Griffin for Ginger’s pioneering efforts that inspired Ms. Rogers to create the Association for Comprehensive Neuro Therapy resulting in the Latitudes website.

When Ginger and her husband were offered the part of the “Nosy Neighbors” in the 2020 movie, Marcus, they jumped at the chance. Pictures can be found on her website, www.ggwakem.com and Facebook page. Marcus has gone on to win 16 awards and was nominated for 8 more.

Claudia Volkman — Speaker November 2021

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Speaker Claudia Volkman
Topic: What Authors Can Learn from the TED Commandments
November 13, 2021, 10 AM to Noon

Claudia VolkmanLocation: Map
Word of Life Church
6111 South Pointe Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33919

Note: Google maps or your GPS may direct you to the back of the building. The entrance to the parking lot is on South Point Blvd. between Quigley Eye Specialists and Buckets Restaurant.

The TED Commandments

When a speaker is accepted to give a TED Talk, they are given a stone tablet engraved with the “TED Commandments,” written by the founder of TED, Richard Saul Wurman, to provide a guide for the speakers. The result: TED Talks are generally exceptional. These ten commandments are geared for speakers, but with a bit of adaptation, they can easily apply to authors wanting to write an exceptional book.

Claudia Volkman has more than thirty-five years of experience in acquisitions, product development, editing, and typesetting, and has worked full-time for several trade publishing houses. Now, as the owner of Creative Editorial Solutions, she assists publishers, authors, entrepreneurs, and speakers with their editorial needs. A Chicago native, Claudia and her husband reside in Southwest Florida with their two charming Corgis.

Claudia Volkman Resume

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