Saginaw Series, Holiday Series, and Much More: July 2016

New Beginnings

The painting is called, Prada Girl. The artist is Clarence Lum, a Saginaw resident. When I saw his painting, my heart started to pound, my mind began to race, a story began to tumble out of my heart.

Clarence and I went to school together at St. Mary Cathedral. When he moved back to Saginaw a few years ago I had the pleasure of getting to know him again. I couldn't stop thinking about this picture after I saw it in his house. It was in a pile of pictures waiting to be taken to a gallery showing at Fandangles' in Flushing, Michigan.

I am happy to announce that I have purchased the rights to use his painting as the cover of my next book, "New Beginnings."

It is a story of a mother and her daughter, Aubrey and Annie, moving to Saginaw from Texas. They are invited to live with a cousin and her daughter, Brianna and Riley. The story will follow where they have been and where they are headed after many "New Beginnings." As a matter of fact, Annie is tired of "New Beginnings" she just wants life to stay the same for awhile.

This eBook will be published sometime in 2016. I am thankful for the inspiration that Clarence has provided. To see more of his paintings click this link.

http://clarencelum.weebly.com/

To see all of my published eBooks click the link below:

Mary Ellen's Author Page

Art and About Exhibit in Saginaw Michigan

Annie and Riley go to the exhibits of the Art and About in Saginaw. They road their bikes all over town to see lifesized statues - they were on exhibit in Saginaw the summer of 2016.

A few of them are pictured below the map.

Inspiration from East Side Soup Kitchen

Webber House

Obituary Inspiration

My eyes were pulled toward this obituary in the Saginaw News. When I read the description of Rosalie I knew immediately I wanted her in "A Light Shines Forth" - after talking with her daughter and emailing her granddaughter - I was so inspired. Thank you new friends. THIS IS FROM THE OBITUARY: From homesteading the farm to owning a local eatery, she raised her children by example of frugality and superior work ethic. She could stretch a penny into the next month and could feed an army on a squirrel. (And yes, thered be seconds.) Rose was a master gardener (often times with strangers stopping to admire) and was known to sleep on a cot along the row of dill to figure out how the deer got in. A canning magician, each year would produce a family squabble over who would get the last quart of dilly beans or tomato jam. An avid outdoors and fisherwoman, she raised and sold bait, smoked and sold fish, and was known to wrestle snapping turtles (for soup, of course) into her trunk on her way to pick blueberries. She was an excellent bowler, loved liver pate and cheap whiskey, produced miles of beautifully knitted and crocheted anything (no, really...anything) and was the dog whisperer of the family. For years she refused to use a microwave and she never used credit, boasting that the only plastic she owned was her laminated AARP card. She conducted her five foot self with grace and dignity but even at 85, she could swear like a sailor and wasn't afraid to take your money at the card table (or an IOU if you didnt have it). Affectionately known as Nonnie, she will be eternally missed by the grandchildren and great-grandchildren who claim that she first hung the moon and then scattered the stars.