Monday, November 28, 2011

Interview with Children’s Author Mary Ruth Weaver

Mary Ruth has lived in Tennessee, Illinois, California, and finally settled down in sunny Arizona. With a degree in English, she has taught kindergarten in Christian schools. She and her husband share five children and 17 grandchildren. Mary Ruth works at Arizona Western College, coordinating and working with the winter visitor population; and her husband, who is a retired Marine, assists her with the activities. They are both active in church and the community. They love to travel and have visited all 50 states throughout the years; and, several of them many times.

Hello, Mary Ruth. I’m so glad that you’re on my blog. We met in Yuma a few years ago and I absolutely love that part of the country. It’s so beautiful in the fall, winter, and spring. Please tell us about your new book.

The Forgotten Trolley is not only a cute children’s story, but it appeals to adults as well. The lesson learned in this book is what to do when life disappoints you. You can either give up on life and be miserable, or do what Al did. He humbled himself, was reborn, and started a new phase of his life as a working cafĂ© instead of the former transporter of passengers. He learned that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

What a wonderful lesson to teach our children… a lesson to remember ourselves! Where did you get your inspiration for this book?

My inspiration for The Forgotten Trolley was inspired by my husband, Gary. He grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and rode the trolleys with his parents during the 1940s. He remembers his mother putting him on the trolley at age five, and sending him across town, by himself, to visit his grandmother! Having heard many stories throughout our 34 years of marriage, and our family visiting and riding on several trolleys housed in trolley car museums, the idea of trolleys out of commission and rusting away in scrap yards prompted me to write a children’s story.

Wow! The inspiration behind a book is so interesting to me. Are there very many cities that still have trolleys?

Some of the trolleys of the past have been refurbished and are in trolley car museums. They are either on display or are working examples that transport passengers around the museum grounds on a limited route. Recently, some cities, such as Phoenix, Arizona, and San Diego, California, have built light-rail systems that are similar to trolleys that transport passengers throughout the city on scheduled routes.

What does your family think about your writing?

My family, especially my husband, has been very supportive of my writing throughout the years. My daughter, Vikki, has been my “go-to” person for any kind of support I have needed. When I finally decided to publish this book, I called her at work and said, “Vikki, I want to be immortalized!” She asked, “So, what do you want me to do?” I said, “Help me find an illustrator for my book.” “Okay,” she answered, “I’ll get back to you.” Forty-five minutes later she called back and said, “Here, talk to Jeff.” “Who’s Jeff?” I asked. “Your new illustrator,” she replied, and the rest is history.

Your daughter sounds like she was just as excited about your new future as you were. Okay, now it’s time to tell us something about the real you that we’ll never forget.

I am a lucid dreamer. My dreams consist of flying, tasting, smelling, vivid colors, and seeing words or sentences written on walls, blackboards, or anywhere throughout my dreams. I can change the way the dream is progressing by changing the storyline myself during the dream. I can make sure the outcome is to my liking by simply willing it so. One of my favorite reoccurring dreams is that of dancing. I will have the whole dance floor or hall to myself, and I will twirl and leap and spin to my heart’s content. My flying dreams allow me to either fly within an airplane, or fly solo, without a vehicle. I have dreamt that I flew alone, just my body, and as I was landing, slowed down my feet, so as to gently land on top of a bookcase! During college, I wrote a research paper on lucid dreaming and not only received an A+, but was asked by my psychology professor and my English professor for a copy for their files. So, I not only enjoy my lucid dreams, and they not only paid off for me during college, but I have written several stories based on ideas I have received in my dreams.

I would love to be in control of all my dreams. That would be great. When I was a kid, I used to have flying dreams and I remember how much I loved those dreams. But when I grew up, I stopped having them. Hmmm! Now I know the real you! A Dreamer, a Child at Heart, and an Author all rolled into one!

25 comments:

Shawna said...

What a great story line! We need more books like this for our kids. I'd love to be entered. Thanks again for sharing good positive book reviews! Anmlvrami at yahoo dot com.

Mutti said...

How fun to get up this morning in Honolulu to this interview about a Trolley book. We are visiting here and enjoying all the trolley cars that take the tourist to around Waikiki. I would love to read this story and share it with the granddaughters who are sharing the trolley cars here with me.

apple blossom said...

love to be included in this book giveaway thanks

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dto] com

Jubilee Reviews said...

34 years of marriage, what an accomplishment. The book sounds darling!
Melanie
melanieinoh2003 at yahoo dot com

cheralyn said...

Nice interview. The Forgotten Trolley sounds like a sweet book. I would love to win it! cheryllynne(at)rocketmail(dot)com

Gail Pallotta said...

wow! It sounds as though you've had lots of interesting experiences that make good fodder for books. Congratulations on your new children's book. As one who's ridden a trolley, I was fascinated by the idea of turning one into a restaurant rather than letting it rust. Best wishes for many sales.

Debra Brown said...

I'd love to win the Trolley book! Thank you for the giveaway.

chirth7 said...

Hi Linda and Ruth, I sure enjoyed that interview. I love the sound of the book and wish I could have ridden on a trolley myself. But I wanted to comment on the flying dreams. I use to have flying dreams nightly for about a year and it was just my body flying and I use to wake up from those feeling so good. I wish I could get them back! lol
Now back to the book. I don't have children of my own unfortunately but I have lots of Children in my life and I'd love to pass this wonderful book onto Kaleb. He's my Best Friends son. He's 5 and loves books!

Thanks, Christine chirth7@yahoo.com

chirth7 said...

Hi Ruth, I just wanted to add how much fun that was hearing about your husbands ride on the trolley to Grandma's house at 5 yrs old. Those were the days. Even when I grew up things were so much better, felt safer and I had freedom. There wasn't so much to be afraid of back then. I miss the old times a lot. I'd love to back reading your book & passing it on to Kaleb. Thanks so much for listening. Christine

Unknown said...

Sounds like a real good story! Thanks for hosting!

momsbookshelfandmore@yahoo.com

Domestic Diva said...

I love that it's inspired by remembering the trust placed in her husband at 5 years old. Sounds great!

lovelydomesticdiva (at) gmail (dot) com

Vicki said...

It's nice to see a children's book in offered for a change!

My granddaughter LOVES anything to do with trains and would love this book!

irbratb(@)gmail(.)com

Unknown said...

This sounds like a wonderful story for children and adults alike. i would like to be entered in the giveaway.

marianne[dot]wanham[at]gmail[dot]com

Cindy said...

Would love to win this book. Thank you for offering a childrens book in this giveaway.
cindymacbeth at gmail dot com

Vinci said...

Enjoyed the review, Love the trolley
ins San Francisco. Wow, to go on a
trolley when he was the young was
something else. would love to read
this interesting sounding book
dayle b at telus dot net

Beth said...

I know Mary has many ideas for writing future children's books, but I think it is especially nice that she chose to honor her husband, Gary, with her first book, The Forgotten Trolley. Gary has long had a passion for trolleys, and what a tribute to him that Mary chose this topic for her first published book! If I were to win a copy, I'd send it to my niece who has 3 young children!

Laura H. said...

Happy Holidays! Thanks for the giveaway and for participating in this blog hop! What a cute little book! I have a little niece who would love this book! I already follow via GFC (MamaHendo3).

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Katie W. said...

Any book about a lesson, especially disappointment, is important to have in my classroom library. I'd love to add it! Thank you!

Katie W. said...

E-mail:

katieamanda1(at)yahoo(dot)com :)

SiNn said...

sounds like a great book and the interview was awesome ty

mortalsinn(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

Jeryl M.. said...

I would love to take my kids for a trolley ride in San Francisco some day.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Jeryl M.. said...

I would love to take my kids for a trolley ride in San Francisco some day.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Love the theme of the book. It sure is true for everyone, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

Looks like a great book

marypopmom@yahoo.com

eyeballlucy said...

Love to win.....babyruthmac16@yahoo.com

Linda Weaver Clarke said...

Congratulations, Marianne! You are the winner of this wonderful children's book. I know that whomever you read it to will enjoy it.