McCOMBS, WALKER, JOHNSON & BOOKS AT MONONGAH MARKETPLACE

 

Author avalanche at Monongah Marketplace

Authors familiar to Monongah residents Lisa Myers McCombs, Diana Pishner Walker and Diana Johnson will be at the Monongah Marketplace Spring Open House at 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 2 and at noon-4 p.m. Sunday, April 3.

Monongah Marketplace is next to the Dairy Kone across from my former U.S. 19 (Camden Avenue) childhood “baseball field,” although the official address is 652 Pike Street, which spills onto U.S. 19.

Lisa’s young adult books include “Abby,” “Raspberry Beret” and “Opening Pandora’s Box” and her current “The Church of Go” series of tomes.  She was a teacher for 32 years till multiple schlerosis hit her. She also wrote a book about her experience, “I Have MS.” All of which brought her Mom’s Choice Award, Gold Readers’ Favorite International Book Award, Gold Literary Classics Award and a Next Generation Indie Book Award.

 

Clarksburg native and Clarksburg Notre Dame High graduate Diana was an East Dale Elementary computer aide and visits schools, libraries and speaks to groups across America in her role with Headline Kids School Show Program.

Fairmont native and Bridgeport resident Diana also is a Headline Kids participant, speaking throughout America. Her books include her “Hopping to America” series that includes subtitles of “A Rabbit’s Tale of Immigration,” “LaBafana” and “A Rabbit’s Tale of a Wedding.”  

Linda’s 7^th book is out

Linda Tomlinson Stevenski, Class of 1955, has published her 7^th book, “A Collection of Small Animal Stories.”

Tate Publishing brought it out January 5.

The children’s author’s other books are "The Ghost of Maple Road," "They Came to the Mine," “Monongah 1949” and “The Gnome’s Dome.”

Authors at Tamarack

Lisa Myers McCombs, Class of 1976, and Diana Pisner Walker, who works for the Marion County Board of Education, will be among about four dozen authors at Author’s Weekend in Tamarack near Beckley Saturday, July 9 and Sunday, July 10.

Lisa is a retired Monongah Middle School language arts teacher married to Monongah fire chief Harless McCombs, Class of 1976.

Diana is a 1977 graduate of Clarksburg Notre Dame High School and Fairmont State.

Lisa with 1st place award

Lisa Myers McCombs wins 1st at state writers conference

Lisa Myers McCombs, Class of 1977, won first place for novel length fiction at the West Virginia Writers 2016 Summer Conference  in Ripley.  

Lisa is married to Monongah fire chief Harless McCombs, Class of 1976. Lisa is a retired Monongah Middle School language arts teacher and children’s book author.

In 2014 Lisa was named Marion County's Reading Teacher of the Year.

The children’s books triology for Lisa, Y-Teens sponsor at Monongah Middle School, is “Opening Pandora's Box,” “Abby” and “Raspberry Beret.”

 

Lisa McCombs book-signing Saturday

Lisa Myers McCombs, Class of 1977, author of several children's books and retired Monongah Middle School language arts teacher, will be signing copies of her book, “I Have M.S. What’s Your Superpower,” 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday April 2 in the Fairmont branch of Marion County Public Library.

Lisa is an expert on MS because she has it.

She is president of the Marion County Reading Council, which has been in existence for 33 years.

The children’s books triology for Lisa, Y-Teens sponsor at Monongah Middle School, is “Opening Pandora's Box,” “Abby” and “Raspberry Beret.”

 

Lisa is married to Harless McCombs, Class of 1976, Monongah Fire Department chief.

Lisa’s mother, Pat Myers, taught at Monongah Elementary and her father, John Myers, was the Golf Pro at Green Hills Golf Club for many years.

 

Lisa Myers McCombs, Daleen Berry

Author! Author! Everywhere you look

 

Lisa Myers McCombs, Class of 1977, was among 20 authors at Saturday’s West Virginia Authors Day at the Bridgeport Public Library.

 

Six are from Bridgeport: Anna Egan Smucker, Colleen Driscoll, Betty Larosa, Don Hamilton, Regina Allen Parker and Bob Anderson.

 

Lisa is photographed with Daleen Berry of Morgantown, author of the New York Times best seller “Guilt by Matrimony.” Most of her books deal with murders and other egregious crimes.

Other authors filling up the library were Dorothy Ours, Keith Bartlett, Mary Lucille Deberry, Eric Fritzius, Patricia Hopper, Michael S. Lambiotte, Phyllis Wilson Moore, Eliot Parker, Georgeann Swiger, Suzanne Heagy, Barbara Smith and Charlotte Snead.

 

Lisa’s latest book is “I Have MS. What’s Your Superpower?” As someone with multiple scleroris, Lisa qualifies about the subject. She is a Monongah Middle School language arts teacher.

Book it: Lisa making headway

Lisa Myers McCombs, Class of 1977, is gaining traction among those taking on Multiple Scleroris (MS), which afflicts up to three million people a year in the world.

 

Lisa, Monongah Middle School language arts teacher, was diagnosed with MS in 2001.

After reeling off children’s books like “Opening Pandora's Box,” “Abby” and “Raspberry Beret,” she had her first non-fiction work published – “I Have MS – What’s Your Superpower?”

Lisa has won the Marion County Reading Council’s Teacher of the Year Award more than once. She's been teaching for 33 years.

Lisa is married to Harless McCombs, Class of 1976, Monongah Fire Department chief.

Monongah Town Recorder Patty Steele McCombs is married to Harless’ brother, Bill McCombs, Class of 1969, who is Monongah’s water expert and on the Town Council.

Lisa’s mother, Pat Myers, taught at Monongah Elementary and her father, John Myers, was the Golf Pro at Green Hills Golf Club for many years.

 

Children’s book author Linda Tomlinson Stevenski, Class of 1955, who lives in Monongah, will be heading to heady company in May. The previous date of December was changed to avoid New York City winter.

Writes Linda:

“Dear Facebook Friends:

“One month from today (amended in November to a May journey) I will get on a plane headed for New York, invited by Tate Publishing. There will be a few other Tate authors. I will do a book signing at the Waldorf Astoria, a signing at a Barnes and Noble and also somewhere in Times Square. I will tour Fox News with the CEO of Tate and then have a meeting with a movie producer (I don't really expect anything to come from this.) They are working on my eighth book, for free, and they will do my next two for free! They said I am now a lifetime Tate Author! I'm very excited and happy! Linda”

As well she should be.

The 8th book is "Chetty  T. Chipmunk's Surprise,” the third in the Chetty series.

Linda’s previous books are “A Collection of Small Animal Stories,” two about “Chetty T. Chipmunk,” "The Ghost of Maple Road," "They Came to the Mine," “Monongah 1949” and “The Gnome’s Dome.”

Former Monongah High majorette Linda has been married for 59 years to Andy “Jiggs” Stevenski, a 1950 Grafton High grad. 

Lisa McCombs at Charleston book festival

Lisa Myers McCombs is at the West Virginia Book Festival in Charleston this weekend promoting and selling her latest book, “I Have MS What’s Your Superpower?” She sold two books before the doors officially opened.

Lisa is the author of several children's books and a Monongah Middle School language arts teacher who was named the 2013 and 2014 Marion County Reading Council’s Patti R. Pollack Reading Teacher of the Year. She is president of the Marion County Reading Council.

Among other authors in Charleston are Homer Hickam (“Rocket Boys” aka “October Sky” the movie’s title) of Coalwood, West Virginia, who wrote about becoming a rocket engineer for NASA.

The children’s books triology for Lisa, Y-Teens sponsor at Monongah Middle School, is “Opening Pandora's Box,” “Abby” and “Raspberry Beret.”

Lisa is married to Harless McCombs, Class of 1976, Monongah Fire Department chief.

Monongah Town Recorder Patty Steele McCombs is married to Harless’ brother, Bill McCombs, Class of 1969, who is Monongah Water Director and on the Town Council.

Lisa’s mother, Pat Myers, taught at Monongah Elementary and her father, John Myers, was the Golf Pro at Green Hills Golf Club for many years.

 

Linda Tomlinson Stevenski, Class of 1955, who lives in Monongah, will have her 8^th book published by Tate Publishing.

Linda writes:

“John, my last book by Tate (“A Collection of Small Animal Stories”) was or will be featured on the book page of the New York Times. Tate is doing my next book (No. 8) with them now for free and they said they consider me a lifetime Tate author and they are doing my next two free also! This has made me feel pretty good. I also have more good news later.”

Linda’s brother, William Hammond of Four States, passed away Aug. 12. The surviving siblings are Martha Sutcliffe of Mineral Ridge, Ohio, Patty Clark of Ohio and James Hammond of Fairmont.

Linda’s other books are “Chetty T. Chipmunk” (1 & 2), "The Ghost of Maple Road," "They Came to the Mine," “Monongah 1949” and “The Gnome’s Dome.”

Linda’s 7^th book out by mid-February

Linda Tomlinson Stevenski, Class of 1955, who lives in Monongah, began it all by writing stories for her grandchildren.

 It mushroomed into a children’s book author career.

Her SEVENTH book, “A Collection of Small Animal Stories,” will be out by mid-February via Tate Publishing.

 

Linda & John at Three Ways Inn

Wrote Linda: “I’m so excited about this!”

There are six animal stories in the book, two are about Chetty T. Chipmunk, who started Linda on her way to fame.

Her other books are "The Ghost of Maple Road," "They Came to the Mine," “Monongah 1949” and “The Gnome’s Dome.”

In response to my inquiry, Linda replied: “This will be released at the end of this month or mid-February. They are also making a DVD of my book, ‘The Gnome's Home.’ They won't be like an actual movie, but the illustrations will be in motion. “Thank you so much! “It sure is cold here. You and Paula got to Florida in time to miss all this cold! Linda S.” Well, sort of, Linda. I had to cancel my golf tee time today because it was 45 degrees with a 15 mph wind. The Arctic sweep got this far south. Not nearly as bad as in West Virginia, of course. To listen to the promo for Linda's book, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU0L1K1C4Vg&feature=share

Three Monongah author queens at Aug. 16 Reading Room's Grand Opening Grand Opening of Monongah's Reading Room in the old Fire Department will be celebrated Aug. 16 during the Monongahfest. Area authors Linda Stevenski, Class of 1955, Annette Rose (Bonasso), North Marion Class of 1980, and Lisa Myers McCombs, Class of 1947, will host the event in the PACE building. There will be a free book give-away at the Little Free Library at the Miner's Memorial across the street from the Reading Room. Premier Monongah photographer Chris Martin will have a small pictorial display in the Reading Room. Informative pamphlets will be available. Friends of the Reading Room will also sponsor a bake sale fundraiser. Annette, who missed being a Monongah High graduate by one year because MHS consolidated into North Marion, is the author of “Eat, Scream and Be Merry” about the D’Luca Italian family that lives on Main Street in Mountain Brooke. The late Connie Bonasso Rogers, Class of 1948, was Annette’s dad’s cousin. Annette’s books – including “Max the Zany Dog” -- are at annetterosebooks.com and Facebook.com/eatscreamandbemerry Her email address is annetterosebooks@gmail.com Annette grew up with six brothers and sisters above her father’s company store. She and her husband still make their home in West Virginia, where her Italian heritage has been a strong influence in her life. Annette is a graduate of Fairmont State College with a Graphic Arts degree and once enjoyed being a self-employed baker. Since, she has devoted her life to being a creative mom to her two daughters. Her passion is throwing theme parties. Lisa, language arts teacher at Monongah Elementary, is married to Harless McCombs, Class of 1976, Monongah Fire Department chief.  Her children’s book trilogy is “Opening Pandora's Box,” “Raspberry Beret” and “Abby,” which in June was chosen second in its category in the 2014 Purple Dragonfly national book contest.  Lisa is Marion County Reading Teacher of the Year for 2014. Linda’s 7th book, “A Collection of Small Animal Stories,” is being prepared for publication by Tate Publishing. Linda’s other books are “Chetty T. Chipmunk” (1 & 2), "The Ghost of Maple Road," "They Came to the Mine," “Monongah 1949” and “The Gnome’s Dome.” Lisa was involved in the June inauguration of Monongah's Little Free Library. The Marion County Reading Council is the steward for the Little Free Library #11329 in Monongah.

Monongah area authors to gather for Aug. 16 grand opening of town’s Reading Room

Children’s book author Lisa Myers McCombs, Class of 1947, is trying to round up as many Monongah area authors as possible for the grand opening of Monongah’s Reading Room in the old Fire Department.

Lisa Myers McCombs

Lisa’s Facebook post:

Lisa McCombs

Calling all Monongah/area authors to join us on August 16 in the old fire department for the Grand Opening of Monongah's Reading Room during Monongahfest. Please message me if you are interested. Or just show up!

Lisa, language arts teacher at Monongah Elementary, is married to Harless McCombs, Class of 1976, Monongah Fire Department chief. 

Her children’s book trilogy is “Opening Pandora's Box,” “Raspberry Beret” and “Abby,” which in June was chosen second in its category in the 2014 Purple Dragonfly national book contest. 

Lisa is Marion County Reading Teacher of the Year for 2014.

Linda Tomlinson Stevenski, Class of 1955,  another famous Monongah children’s book author, probably will be there. 

Linda’s 7^th book, “A Collection of Small Animal Stories,” is being prepared for publication by Tate Publishing.

Linda’s other books are “Chetty T. Chipmunk” (1 & 2), "The Ghost of Maple Road," "They Came to the Mine," “Monongah 1949” and “The Gnome’s Dome.”

Lisa was involved in the June inauguration of Monongah's Little Free Library. The Marion County Reading Council is the steward for the Little Free Library #11329 in Monongah.

Lisa Myers McCombs

Lisa Myers  McCombs’ ‘Abby’ 2^nd in Purple Dragonfly book contest

Lisa Myers McCombs, Class of 1977, won second place in the Young Adult Fiction category in the 2014 Purple Dragonfly book contest with "Abby."

“Abby” is part of the children’s books triology by Lisa, Y-Teens sponsor at Monongah Middle School. The others are “Opening Pandora's Box” and “Raspberry Beret.”

Purple Dragonfly awards are by Five Star Publications, which Linda Radke began in 1985. Five Star also handles marketing, publicity, networking, special event coordination, design/development/production of curriculum guides and materials, book trailers, companion marketing products and audiobooks.

Lisa posted this July 7^th:

Just received my certificate this week. It is official.

"In recognition of excellence in children's literature. 2014 Young Adult Fiction 2nd Place. Lisa A. McCombs. Abby, Purple Dragonfly Book Award."

Lisa is married to Harless McCombs, Class of 1976, Monongah Fire Department chief.

Lisa’s mother, Pat Myers, taught at Monongah Elementary and her father, John Myers, was the golf pro at Green Hills Golf Club for many years.

Book No. 7 for Linda Tomlinson Stevenski

Tate Publishing has accepted the manuscript for the seventh children’s book by Linda Tomlinson Stevenski, Class of 1955, who lives in Monongah -- “A Collection of Small Animal Stories.”

There are six animal stories in the book. Linda is big on animals. Two are about “Chetty T. Chipmunk.”

Her other books are "The Ghost of Maple Road," "They Came to the Mine," “Monongah 1949” and “The Gnome’s Dome.”

Linda writes that "it usually takes several months to do a book" after the manuscript has been accepted. I'll let you know when it's available for purchase.

Former Monongah High majorette Linda has been married for 58 years to Andy Stevenski, a 1950 Grafton High grad. Linda, a former Monongah High majorette. Their meeting at the 12^th Street Skating Rink led to  six children and several grandchildren. 

Linda's siblings are Martha Sutcliffe of Mineral Ridge, Ohio, Patty Clark of Ohio, William Hammond of Four States and James Hammond of Fairmont.

Linda Tomlinson Stevenski, Class of 1955