The Times of Laura Grey

The Times of Laura Grey
229 Pages
CreateSpace
ISBN 1500954268

Set against a backdrop of poverty, the book takes the reader to a time in American's history when the future seemed to promise little. Seen through the eyes of a child, however, small details loom large and almost anything is possible. This is a story of hope, written with clarity and empathy for a girl who is wryly aware of her own foibles. In true Dickensian spirit, it might be called an update on A Christmas Carol. (Above is a quotation from Judith Kitchen, author of The House on Eccles Road.)

This book is the first of a three book series on Laura Grey. The second book is More Times of Laura Grey and the third is Laura Grey and Friends.

Joan Schmeichel

About Joan Schmeichel (Traverse City, Michigan Author)

Joan Schmeichel

Joan (that's me) is the author of eight books, ages ranging from middle school to young adult. (Mature adults can read them too.) I began writing years ago but I set it aside to work at the University of Michigan. I started as a temporary employee on a reading research project where I wrote fiction and non-fiction for workbooks for grade levels 3-4, 5-6, 7-8. Later on I worked as a development officer in Annual Giving. Before the University, I did some freelance work writing copy for brochures, ads, etc. My degree was in sociology with an internship in psychiatric social work, neither of which I put to use.

Upon retirement I went back to writing. I confess I kept a letter from years ago because of this quotation: "Your writing style has an unstated simplicity which I find absolutely haunting." That was from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. in response to a sparsely written manuscript I sent them. (Now you couldn't do that without an agent.) Unfortunately, what Knopf liked was never finished until recently. Now it's The Times of Laura Grey. As for my writing, I am committed to continuing the style of "unstated simplicity."

My husband Neill and I are both retired and living in Kewadin, Michigan. We have sixteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. I spend a lot of time, in addition to writing, playing golf and working on Kakura puzzles.