Local Authors Visit Rotary

May 3, 2011: Rotary member, Jodie-Beth Galos introduced this week’s speakers: distinguished authors, Ken Burger, Jim Livingston and Mary Alice Monroe. Before each author took the podium, Jodie-Beth thanked Rachel from Barnes and Noble Book Store for their support and generous 15% proceeds donation as well as recognizing Tom Sweeny for “organizing the whole event.”

Author, Ken Burger was the first speaker introduced. Jodie-Beth’s introduction recounted Mr. Burger’s take on his 1998 – 2008 career as an executive sports writer, as he stated, sports writers are always the best writers…because their readers already know the news!

Joking that although he was given 10 minutes to talk but would save the majority for Mary Alice, Mr. Burger used one word to summarize each of his two novels: Swallow Savannah as “segregation” and Sister Santee as “integration.” He explained that his first novel, Swallow Savannah was about the “black and white” way of life in South Carolina during the 50’s and 60’s and his second novel, Sister Santee was a “natural follower” as it portrays the Lowcountry lives of “many different colors and many different people.” As Mr. Burger describes, “It was an interesting time to be in South Carolina: Civil rights was alive, Martin Luther King Jr. was dead, Jim Crow was holding court down at the barbershop and Uncle Tom just bought a house in the suburbs.”

From one great author to the next, Major General James E. Livingston was the second speaker introduced by Jodi-Beth. During her introduction, she recounted MG Livingston’s sentiment that although it’s important to win on the home front, it’s just as important to win on the battlefield. This attitude is evident is his novel, Noble Warrior, which “provides insight and analysis at the highest military level.”

As a Medal of Honor recipient, MG Livingston personal stories of World War II battlefront experiences, including his role in the evacuation of Saigon deliver an epic novel that will forever be a testimony not only to our country but to the young men and women of our armed forces.

During the most poignant moment of his presentation, MG Livingston described the “saddest moment” of his military career as when he boarded the evacuation helicopter in Saigon, with room for only his troops, he was forced to leave behind the 20,000 Vietnamese whom he had just looked in the eye.

Transitioning from battle stories and war heroes, the next author, Mary Alice Monroe, shared the battles our environment and its inhabitants face and the heroes who protect our landscape and its voiceless creatures. Jodie-Beth’s introduction reminded the audience that everyone “can make a difference preserving the world around us,” a sentiment Mary Alice carries throughout her 13 novels.

When Mary Alice took the podium, she explained what an honor it was to be on stage with two patriots, especially with her own son currently serving in Quantico. Bridging patriotism and our environment, Mary Alice described her favorite line of America the Beautiful, “purple mountains majesty.” She explained this visual account of our landscape as a reminder of how quickly it can disappear.

As an active environmentalist, Mary Alice’s novels share a common theme, and her newest book, The Butterfly’s Daughter is no exception as it uses the monarch butterflies’ “genetic memory” migration as a metaphor for the reconciliation of a mother and daughter as they follow the migratory path of the monarchs. As Mary Alice explained, the butterflies route, traveling from the far north east to Mexico, her passion for their preservation was evident. She described her own account witness experience as a “spiritual moment.” Mary Alice’s environmental passion is not a solitary love for monarch butterflies, but rather for all animals, as her first New York Times hit Novel, The Beach House, showcases the endangered Sea Turtle.

The author presentations were concluded with an interesting question and answer period where writing and research styles were discussed as well as the business side of writing and the topic of title selection.

Submitted by Teal Van Saun, Keyway Committee