At the Mansion Story Reading Friday, Jean wrote a story everybody lived, and she wants it published, but she admitted to being a bit shy about it, so she covered her face while I read it to the residents and their families. I didn’t get it at first, but all of the women there did.

I am very happy to report that we have a book designer/illustrator/artist, a gifted creative and friend named Abrah Griggs who will put the Mansion stories together in e-book and paper form over the next few weeks. I am excited to be working with her, and she is excited to be working on this book, “Stories From The Mansion.”

The project will cost several hundred dollars, and I believe I have enough funds on hand for it.

The book will be available for purchase online, and she will also design it for print, we will have paper copies to sell, and I hope Battenkill Books will sell them, Connie Brooks and I will talk about it.

The stories from the Mansion were wonderful and surprising. I especially loved Jean’s, once I got it. The Mansion residents all love this story:

“I would put off going to bed and I would find something to do. When I had one job done I knew I could find something else to do. When I had one job done I knew i could find something else to do. I would work until the wee hours of the night.

I would do laundry and then make sure I ironed the clothes right then. I loved ironing at night! It was peaceful and quiet. Keeping busy int the bedroom was definitely not as much fun as keeping busy outside of it.”

Jean is a sweet and shy person, she just cracks up when she talks about the story and covers her face. I’m glad she wrote it, as a man, I am always learning about how women view us. It’s usually not good. Good for Jean.

Our stories are our lives, and while many people believe their stories are not important, I believe they are. Our stories are our identity, they are who we are.