STORYTIME TAPESTRY

Nicole Stevenson??™s Weekly Column

Fireside Chat ??“ Featuring ??“ Carol Roach

May 17, 2005

What Happens When You Think?

By Nicole M. Stevenson

Carol Roach is the Brains behind Storytime Tapestry which now is home to over 206 writers including myself and a membership of 1,100 and growing. She is a beautiful and unique person who draws people to her. She has been writing for a couple of years and devoted to her craft.

When did you begin writing?

Five years ago.  I answered a comment made in an online newsletter where the moderator wrote she probably would think differently of a telemarketer if she had a chance to meet one and talk to them face to face.  I was a telemarketer at the time.  She published my story and my writing took off from there.  My second short story, My Guardian Angel was published in Ellie Braun Haley's newsletter and Ellie is a writer for me today. I met my first online friend, Norma Liles when she sent me an email commenting on that story. She is also a writer for me now in Storytime Tapestry and my surrogate mom.

What genre do you write in?

My signature writing is poverty and its affects. My first book is about my life growing up in a dysfunctional home and living in poverty.  Each story starts off sad but ends on an inspirational note. 

Recently I have been doing more pure inspirational stories as my writing evolves.

How many of your works have been published?

Gosh, I never really took stock, my stories are all over the internet in so many newsletters I can't begin to count, but to name a few: Storytime Tapestry, Starfish, Insight of The Day, Inspired Buffalo, Blueprint for living, Warmfussystories and New Mouse. I cannot remember the older ones.

I have stories published in other books (anthologies)

My own book: Picking Up The Pieces: A Woman's Journey

and I have just completed a novel: Angels Watching Over Me

Tell us how Storytime Tapestry came to be?

I was writing for several online e-zines, and beginning to get frustrated as were my peers.  So many e-zines had restrictions for writing submissions.  Some had length restrictions; some required first rights but did not publish until months later.  Some had special themes and if the writer's story did not quite fit it was not accepted.  Some ran what I call the plague of the unknowns.  Even though they had real writers submitting their work on an ongoing basis, they were filling their newsletter with stories from unknown writers that have circulated the internet many times over. It was clear to me, writers were not very appreciated.

It was because of these reasons I decided to start my own newsletter.  My idea was to create a tapestry of love throughout the world, not only benefiting the readers, but providing a place where writers could write from their heart -no limitations imposed. 

Being a writer myself, I understood the frustrations of writers and the need to showcase their work in the way their heart desired.

How many writers are apart of STT?

206 actually published and some new writers yet to be introduced.

Did you get support from others once you decided to make STT a reality?

Definitely, when I started out, I did not have a clue of how to open a newsletter.  Thelma Hartselle, of Messages of Hope, graciously agreed to open it for me and get me started.  She is a moderator for Storytime Tapestry and has had extensive experience as moderator for several online newsletters.

Bob Johnston of Starfish was also great help in showing me the ropes as well.  Both Bob and Thelma have been my friends and my major counsel all these years.

Joe Mazzella started me off with over 40 submissions just to insure I had enough stories to keep the newsletter going.

More recently, Kathy Baker became my moderator and was instrumental in the move from Yahoo groups to Zinester groups.

Clara Westerfer is also a moderator for Storytime Tapestry and is always willing to lend a helping hand.

Finally Tim Levin from Inspirationlist has been a wonderful friend and has begun constructing a website for me.

I owe a great deal to all of these people, and to all my readers and writers alike.

You may sign up by contacting me directly: winterose@videotron.ca or

Visit the site:  http://subs.zinester.com/98907

To purchase my book: Picking Up The Pieces: A Woman's Journey

Go to the publisher??™s site: www.publishamerica.com

www.amazon.ca

www.amazon.com

barnesandnobles.com

or any other online bookstore - simply do a search for Carol Roach and the book will come up.  You can also purchase it through your local bookstore.

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      If you would like to be featured in an upcoming interview, please contact me as soon as possible.  The positions are filling up fast.  You don??™t want to be left out in the cold.

winterose@videotron.ca   

            If you would like to be interviewed for Nicole Stevenson??™s newsletter First Cuts you must first become a member of the newsletter.

          Her email address is: stevenson15N@aol.com.  For optimum exposure please make sure you are a member of both newsletters.