Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion

I just wanted to introduce myself. My wife and I moved from Virginia to Lake George last fall to take care of my 90-year-old mother in her home, but I'm very familiar with the ares and love it (except, maybe, for the winters -- 40 years down South has thinned my blog. I retired from the newspaper business in 2013 after four decades as a reporter, editor and columnist and am now a freelance writer full time (which means that if it's 20 below, I don't have to leave the house). My first novel, "The Kudzu Kid," was published last October and is on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and I recently started a free writers' service called "Snowflakes in a Blizzard" (snowflakesarise.wordpress.com). All this is just by way of background, though -- I'm not trying to push anything here. Rather, I know virtually no one in this area and see this group as a chance to interact with like-minded book lovers.

Darrell Laurant

Welcome, Darrell.

Thanks, Jim. BTW, I tried to edit my post to remove a couple of typos, but then I couldn't get the revised edition to come up. Oh, well -- I just didn't want everyone to think I didn't notice the misstypes.

Welcome Darrell, it will be easy for me to remember your name as I have a brother in law named Darrell. One thing we have in common here at goodreads is that we also are book lovers and we are also interested in movies and different aspects of the weather wherever each of us live.

Glad to meet you.

Darrell wrote: "I just wanted to introduce myself. My wife and I moved from Virginia to Lake George last fall to take care of my 90-year-old mother in her home, but I'm very familiar with the ares and love it (exc..."

Hi Darrell. Welcome to the group. Thanks for introducing yourself and for telling us about your book: The Kudzu Kid by Darrell Laurant I wish you the best of luck with it.

Welcome as well to the Lake George area. You've arrived at the best time of year to enjoy all the area has to offer. My husband and I retired here in 1991 after camping on the Lake George islands every summer for almost 25 years! For us the state camping islands are the best part! :)

Have you taken any of the Lake George cruises on the cruise ships found on Beach Road? It's a great way to spend the day.

PS - Darrell, I also want to wish you good luck on your retirement and in your new status as a freelance writer. Your 40 years of experience as a reporter, editor, and columnist should serve you well! Did you write for a specific newspaper or magazine?

PPS-Darrell, thanks for telling us about your website. Here's the link for those who might be interested: https://snowflakesarise.wordpress.com...

Thanks, Joy, for all of that. Most of my newspaper career was with the News and Advance, a mid-size daily in Lynchburg, VA.

I see. We have a wonderful member from Virginia! Maybe he'll pop in one of these days.

Darrell do you ever know anyone in Lynchburg named Rash?

Darrell, welcome to the group, and best wishes for success with your writing, and writer's service!

I'm probably the member from Virginia that Joy was referring to, though I don't claim to be wonderful. :-) My wife was born and raised in Appalachian Virginia (up in Rockingham County, near Harrisonburg), and we lived in her native stamping grounds in our early married life. Since 1992, we've lived in southwestern Virginia, in Bluefield on the WV border, where I'm a librarian at Bluefield College. Though I've never been to Lynchburg, I know where it is.

Hi Werner! Thanks for checking in!

PS-You ARE wonderful, a wonderful poster and group member! :)

Thanks, Joy! (You're sweet.)

I second what Joy, said!

Thank you, Nina! (Blushes scarlet, and shuffles feet... :-) )

Hi Everyone!
This is John Starley Allen. I wrote the holladay book Christmas Gifts, christmas Voices. My new book is: A Splash of Hope: The Ripple Effect of Compassion, Courage & Character.

In my book I detail the remarkable nature of the ripple effect.

“A wonderful set of stories that will cause you to examine the ripples you have caused.”
—Richard M. Siddoway, New York Times bestselling author of The Christmas Wish and The Cottage Park Puzzle

“It’s reassuring to be reminded of how simple expressions of character can influence lives for generations.”
—Caralyn and Mark Buehner, New York Times bestselling creators of Fanny’s Dream and the Snowmen series


This book is designed to empower readers with the knowledge that they CAN make a positive difference. I've included some incredible, true stories about Philo Farnsworth, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jesse Owens, and more.

I talk about a remarkable woman who watched a news story about Romanian orphans and then and there committed to go there on a mission of mercy. She had no prior experience doing anything like this. But she forged ahead. She ran into bureaucratic red tape, but that didn’t stop her. I was very inspired by her story, and hope that readers will be, too.

I've also included a story of how a caring teacher turned my life around when I had gotten off track.

Glens Falls sounds like a wonderful place. I have only spent time in the NYC airport. But someday I'd like to see more of New York and especially some of the beautiful rural areas of New York. Someday...

Thanks for posting, John. Below are links to the titles you mentioned. Good luck!
A Splash of Kindness
Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices: A Holiday Novel of Hope and Healing
by John Starley Allen

Interesting data about the books. Good luck, John.

Thanks Joy and Nina. On my website,johnstarleyallen.com
I am adding some additional information on an on-going basis about the stories in the book...kind of like "the story behind the story."

All the best.
-John