Theresa Parker Pierce (Word Weavers Online Groups Page 10), who falls within the 65-70-years-young category, recognized her talent for writing at the age of 50. “When I became Teacher of the Year, I was required to write a monthly column for our school system,” she says. “When I traveled around speaking, people would tell me how much they enjoyed my articles.”

When she retired at 62, Theresa decided to pursue writing as a hobby. “I went to the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference and was encouraged by the presenters.”

While there, she won her first award . . . and she found out about Word Weavers.

“Someone there said, ‘Join a Word Weavers critique group.’ I was 62, but that was my biggest game changer. Word Weavers took my creativity and taught me how to edit. Now I don’t want to submit anything unless my group has critiqued it.”

Theresa’s writing journey also brings something very precious to mind. “I am reminded of how my mother used to remake hand-me-down dresses for me. First, she would admire the fabric, style, and cut. (That's what people do when they comment on my entertaining articles.) Secondly, my mother used her seam ripper and tore out the seams. Yikes! (That is what it sometimes feels like when I ask first my husband and then Word Weaver's critique group to help me 'fix" my writing.) Lastly, my mother used to trim and sew the dress back together to make it fit me. (I compare that to how I decide what to accept and what to throw out of the suggestions of others. I make it suit me. Most of the time they are 100% right.)”

Currently, Theresa has a trilogy of Civil War stories about a young girl's journey and struggles. “Writing it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” she says.

Somewhat autobiographical, the story follows a young girl who grows up amidst the angst of a turning point in history. She questions everything. “Before I retired, when I read it aloud to my students, they asked me to keep going.”

Theresa has written faithfully for over two years for the Senior Savvy magazine. “The editor likes my stories. She says she can trust me to do a quality job. I am quick to give credit to my critique group.”

Theresa has also contributed to compilations such as Room at the Table by Starr Ayers and Stepanie Pavalontos, Christmas Spirit by Terry Kalfas; and Mishaps and Misadventures by Susan Cheves King.

When asked to reveal something FUN about herself, she said, “I teach history camp where I dress up in costumes, dip candles, and cook over a campfire with children. I started with one costume twenty years ago and now I have a closet full of items from Colonial Life to World War II.”

Award-winning author Marilyn Turk is enjoying life somewhere between her between her 71st and her 75th year. Even though she’d hit her 55th year before she decided to “do something” about her talent, her first encouragement came at the lovely age of 17. 

"When I was in high school in Honors English, my teacher praised my work and made me think I had talent. However, I never gave a thought to writing professionally. I just thought I could write if I wanted to, but the concept of doing so beyond my classes would have been totally boring to me at that time. I ended up going to college in advertising (which happened to be in the college of journalism)."

But what did the rest of her journey look like? 

“First, I took a correspondence course in children's writing. I submitted one of the stories from that class to Jesse Florea at Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference.”

Submissions can be rejected of course. But did Jesse reject it or accept it?

“He published it,” Marilyn reports.

But one editor and one publication didn’t stop Marilyn from moving forward in what God intended her to do! “I also met Susan King at Blue Ridge. After taking her class, I submitted to The Upper Room and that piece was accepted as well.”

Ah, but two publications didn’t mean Marilyn was done. “In 2010, I submitted to the Guideposts Writers Contest and won. I began writing for Guideposts. At the same time, I decided to write a novel based on prompting and classes at Blue Ridge. That book was published in 2015. Now have over 20 novels and novellas published through Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, Iron Stream Media, Winged Publications, and Barbour Publishing, Praise God!”

Praise God, indeed!

Now Marilyn is a multiple-published, award-winning author. She is a faithful member of Word Weavers Destin, who is blessed to have her talents.

Marilyn’s latest work is being part of a novella collection, Secrets Between the Shelves, published by Barbour, and a novel The Gilding of Minnie Tucker, which was independently published.

When asked to tell us something fun about herself, Marilyn reported, “For the past ten years, I've tried to do something new and different for my birthday. This past year, my husband and I traveled through the United Kingdom, celebrating my birthday in Glasgow, Scotland.”

Wonder where she’ll go next! 

Sue Smart (Word Weavers St. Croix) recognized she had a talent for writing at about age 14. “I was a freshman in high school. But I didn’t decide to do anything about. When I was 25, I enrolled in college at the University of New Mexico.  My first semester included Freshman Comp and my English professor, Dr. Lynn Beene, strongly encouraged me to write essays with the goal of being published.  I'm glad I took her advice!”

Sue is now in the “65-70” age range and, just last year joined a local Word Weavers chapter in Wisconsin.

“Right now, I’m working on my memoir and have completed six chapters. I hope to have another six to eight chapters done by the end of this year. The complete manuscript will consist of about 25-30 chapters.”

I wondered if she’d had anything published to date.

“I have," she said. "A few magazine articles were published in the late 90s.”

Finally, I asked Sue if there was something fun about herself that she could share, something our readers (and maybe even some of her local WW buddies) wouldn’t already know.

“I served in the U.S. Army in the mid-70s and was part of the first WAC training battalions to qualify on the M-16.”

Well, I’m impressed!