Type of Story: Historical Fiction

Two children, who are forced to deal with the start of World War II and its struggles and loss of life consistency, seek a finer meaning of life and how to continue love. Despite both these sudden massive changes, they eventually recognize their mother's determined wish. That wish is to find and enjoy the beauty always present in living life no matter what happenstance befall you . How? by experiencing her unique way of finding a piano although once lost and taking a new type of piano lesson, thereby finally realizing that beauty does always remain no matter what struggles and pain life hands you. This is a story that easily become a beautiful screenplay someday.

Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your short story about?

Survival and finding lost joy again by doing so .

2. What genre(s) would you say this story is in?

Historical Short Fiction

3. How would you describe this story in two words?

Survival Joy

4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?

There are too many wonderful ones to pick a favorite, but "To Kill a Mockingbird" is certainly one of them. As a child I loved "The Wizard of Oz". I also always watch "A Few Good Men"and all Sidney Poitier's wonderful films.

5. Do you remember the time in your life when you realized that you wanted to write?

I think I was eight when I first started writing. My best friend and I then both started writing because her mother and two aunts, Marchette Chute and B.J. Chute, were very well known writers. Marchette Chute was a famous biographer who wrote Shakespeare of London. B. J. Chute wrote novels, including Green Willow, which was made into a Broadway show starring Tony Perkins. Given those amazing contacts, we both started writing our own stories in 2d and 4th grade.

6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?

Gone With the Wind has been one of them, but I have many. Usually my favorite novel is the one I am reading and loving at the moment.

7. What is your favorite meal?

Broiled Lobster fresh from the ocean in Downeast Maine (Jonesport)

8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

There are many I'd like to meet, but one of them is certainly Robert Frost. He came from Vermont as did I, and I was honored to be able to serve him lunch at the Woodstock Inn many years ago when I was waiting table there during college.

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

Editing and helping others become superb writers, teaching at all levels, tutoring literacy and helping students with disabilities succeed, and of course playing the piano. That is where the idea for my short story originated.

10. Any advice or tips you'd like to pass on to other writers?

There are many, but the most important probably is be true to yourself and to your characters and their themes. Also try out all kinds of genres and see where they lead you. I am a worldwide editor now and also a poet and a children's writer. I studied screenwriting at Dartmouth with Bill Phillips and Maury Rapf and the Frommers. Bill wrote the screenplay for the movie, Christine, and worked with Stephen King on it. Maury came from a famous Hollywood family and worked with Walt Disney on several famous scripts. He also founded the Dartmouth Film Society and taught screenwriting there. The Frommers ( Myrna and Harvey) wrote books on the different times in New York and taught Liberal Studies. Always try to find other writers who can teach and inspire your own genius and help you create wonderfully. Writers groups are great too, especially small and intimate ones. I started one years back. The major key to becoming a better and a good writer is to keep writing, no matter the genre. Also, keep writing notebooks with your ideas noted. I've learned if you don't write down a great idea when you first have it, it will easily disappear!