Join us for "Readings from the Creative Minds Writers Group" by local authors Pam Villagran (Ann Marie Jameson), Mary Smith (M.G. Faust), and Evelyn Sanders. Celebrate local talent, discover new voices, and enjoy the magic of literature. Refreshments are provided. Don't miss this opportunity to support local creativity!
About the Authors:
Pam Villagran/Ann Marie Jameson
Ann Marie Jameson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and now lives in Hammond, Louisiana. She has a BA from University of Louisiana in Monroe, and a Master’s from University of New Orleans. She is a retired special education teacher and is married with three sons, one step-son, and eight grandchildren. Ann Marie became an avid reader at the young age of nine and began writing poems and short stories in high school. Her first work to be published was a poem she wrote as a tribute to her father when she was a teenager. The poem was featured in her local newspaper for Father’s Day. The first book Ann Marie had published was a children’s book which was released in 2003. After taking several years off from writing to care for her elderly parents, Ann Marie returned to writing but this time as a novelist. Her first novel titled “A Bed of Roses” was released in 2016. Spurred on by fan support, Ann Marie went on to develop a series around “A Bed of Roses.” The second book in her “Willow Rose” series, “Belle Rose,” was released in 2017, the third book, “Petite Rose,” in 2019 and the fourth, “Coming Up Roses” in 2020. Ann Marie’s latest book, titled “Lilly’s Redemption,” was released in 2023. While it isn’t a “Willow Rose” book, it is a spin-off of the series, and it has many of the same characters in it that Ann Marie’s fans have grown to love in reading her other books. While Ann Marie has several ideas for more books in her “Willow Rose” series, she is not working on one at this time. This year’ she has been busy with taking on the responsibilities of her new role as president of her local writers’ group, “Creative Minds Writers’ Group” in Ponchatoula, Louisiana.
Mary Smith / M. G. Faust
M. G. Faust began writing in 2021 at the youthful age of sixty. She is the author of Hot Pepper Courage, Quiet Lessons and Blood Under the Oaks. Eager to attack life, she graduated high school, married, and started college within a week when she was seventeen. She remains in awe of that naïve, energetic, and tireless younger self. Now she feels productive if she does a load of laundry. She and her late husband lived in a rural area of Louisiana where they raised three wonderful children and a niece. Now she has the joy of cooking for grandchildren. Growing up on a small farm in south Louisiana gave her time to read on long, laid-back summer afternoons. Through books and listening to family stories, she traveled the earth. Although her list of past jobs is long and varied, notable ones include a horseback instructor, a social worker for the State of Louisiana’s child welfare system for twenty-five years, mental health counselor for children, and being a background actor in the film industry. She was a blur in many scenes. She now lives in a small town just north of New Orleans with her husband and German Shepherd, Ursa Mae, who has trained her humans quite well.
Evelyn Sanders
Evelyn Sanders was born and raised in Ponchatoula, LA. She received her B.A. in Elementary Education/Certified in Special Needs from S.L.U. and taught for almost 30 years. Married for 53 years, she has 1 son, and has been widowed for 2 yrs now. She loves traveling, Indian Pow Wows, and being outdoors, whether gardening or bow hunting. She is also a self-taught scrimshaw artist and cloth doll maker. She is a member of the Northshore Doll Club. Her writing experience has included newspaper and magazine articles, poetry, and short stories: fantasy & sci-fi. She won the Golden Poet Award in 1989 in the "World of Poetry" magazine contest.
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