MY SITE
  • BLOG
  • ABOUT DONNA
  • CONTACT

​​FUN

WITH
​
HEIRLOOMS





BOOKING IT FOR 105 YEARS - AND A SPECIAL GUEST

4/4/2017

2 Comments

 
Picture
Photo by Marilee Gabriel -- Some members of the Book Lovers' Club gathered for a photo to remember our afternoon together on the south side of Indy today.
Just as the membership has done for 105 years straight, the ladies assembled Tuesday for the monthly meeting of the Book Lovers’ Club, located on the south side of Indianapolis. This month they met at the West Newton Friends Meeting.

I had recently been invited to speak by a newer member of this literary club, Valley Mills Friends Meeting Pastor Marilee Gabriel. (If you are thinking that is a tranquil-sounding name, I agree.) 

Here’s how it went. Marilee is from California by way of Minnesota. She isn’t up on Hoosier women writers, this year’s club theme. So she called Earlham College and talked to someone who is, and that someone recommended me. How cool is that?

I don’t know either of them, but was more than delighted to rearrange my schedule  and point the HHR toward Indy. Come to find out, West Newton Friends is the church where author Brent Bill is pastor. Bill is a former Henry County resident and close friend of my former boss, Bill Brooks. He used to appear almost daily in the newsroom to see Bill.
Why yes, it's a small world.
Picture
Once I met Marilee and got my book things set up in the fellowship hall, we were instructed to enjoy the day’s refreshments. You’ve got to love a place where they offer dessert first.
Picture
Aren't those table colors pretty? They pop! We're so ready for spring flowers. And chocolate. We're always ready for chocolate. The man in the middle? That's Tom Gaunt. Wait until you here about him in a minute. Behind him in the deep aqua is Marilee.
Next up were introductions and the reading of the club Collect from the program book.
Picture
They had me give my program before they saw to philanthropic and other club matters. Marilee thought the group would enjoy hearing about how and why I became a writer for a newspaper as well as of a couple of novels.

So I gave the group the 20-minute version (Brian says no one wants to hear anyone talk more than 20 minutes and I tend to agree). I told them about community journalism and how at 50, about the time the empty nest loomed large, and other midlife questions and issues emerged having to do with colonoscopies, retirement planning and nursing home insurance, I took it all out on my computer by inventing Samantha Jarrett and giving her a lot of issues to deal with, then sending her off to her hometown where I gave her even more.

I spoke of deeper themes in both of my books than what's happening on the surface, themes such as how God doesn't want us to get stuck at any particular age or stage or even at some "sweet spot" where we're all settled in. However, He promises to go with us through everything if we only invite Him to do so.

I told them about the second book's theme of blooming where we are planted, and having to decide where that planting will take place. In the second book, all the characters have to figure out where it is they belong and what they'll let God do with their lives.

We talked about aging and how the two sons in the first book represented the different viewpoints about how to approach age. One was all about change and challenge and taking chances. The other thought his mom should live in a safe senior condo and not have to fool with risk and upkeep of an old house and just enjoy life -- but it wasn't the life she wanted.

That all let to a discussion of bed and breakfasts and then, what was really fun, was that we had another guest! One of the ladies had invited Tom Gaunt. He and his wife own and operate Mansion on the Mile B & B in Lockerbie Square.

Well into their 60s, they are just getting started, and opened the B & B last summer. They have guests from all over the world stay with them and offer elegant Victorian breakfasts. A guest from China proclaimed their breakfasts "the best in the world."

I'm a bit awestruck with this couple's accomplishments, not the least of which is either adopting or fostering over 100 kids. Now with the nest empty, they plan to devote their time to the beautiful inn (they also have day jobs, mind you)!

According to a brochure from Tom, the inn is also known as the Historic Tate Mansion due to a couple of notorious residents! Warren Tate, in fact, is known for the murder inside the Marion County Courthouse over a dispute over the property where the inn sits today.

The lady who became his wife, Helen Daily, was arrested for running a house of "ill repute."
Neither were, however, convicted. The property was featured on the HGTV show, "If Walls Could Talk."

Tom bought both my books and plans to place them at the inn for guests to enjoy. And now, both of us are a part of the official minutes of this lovely little literary club, 105 years young and going strong.

Thank you Marilee and ladies for a delightful stop on this writing journey! And thank you, Tom, for the information about your beautiful B & B and your inspiring life stories.

For more about Mansion on The Mile B & B, visit www.mansiononthemile.com. The home is at 228 N. East St. Indy. Phone:  317-434-0000. The couple has also converted an old Sinclair Filling Station into a guest house, available for rental as well, next door.









2 Comments
Debbie M. link
4/10/2017 08:49:59 am

How fun to discover new connections between life and your books!

Reply
Donna Cronk
4/11/2017 05:08:58 am

It is always a treat to be asked to attend a book club. The conversation will flow, the attendees are interested and interesting, and I'm the one who always learns a lot.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    DONNA CRONK

    FUN WITH HEIRLOOMS
    is my most popular program for 2023, inspired by my memoir There's a Clydesdale in the Attic: Reflections on Keeping and Letting Go. Contact me to hear about my programs for your event.

    CONTACT: Let's talk about it. Call me at 317-224-7028. Email:
    newsgirl.1958@gmail.
    com.  



    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    Categories

    All
    Age Thing
    Aging
    Author Journey
    Christmas
    Clydesdale In The Attic
    Cooking
    Cooties
    Crafts
    Creepy!
    Decor
    Faith
    Family
    Farm
    Fashion
    Friendships
    Gardening
    God Bless America
    Gratitude
    Guest Posts
    Hair!
    Halloween
    Holidays
    Home
    Indiana
    Indiana Bicentennial
    Keeping The Peace
    Life Connections
    Mail Call
    Newspapers
    Next Chapter
    Pen Women
    Photography
    Poison Ivy!
    Quilting Club
    Reggie
    Retirement
    Sadness
    Seasons
    Seller's Cabinet
    Shopping
    Sleep
    Snow Day
    Tourism
    Travel
    Union County
    Weird Food
    What We Keep
    Writer Chicks Society
    Writing

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from Lise1011, Simone Ramella, StarsApart, Biblioteca General Antonio Machado, kennethkonica, roseannadana: Thank you for 3 million views, GotCredit, chuck4x5, besnette, nielskliim, James E. Petts, jeffdjevdet, rumolay, kkmarais, tgrauros, susivinh, Larry1732
  • BLOG
  • ABOUT DONNA
  • CONTACT