The wonderful #Awethor Patty Fletcher who write Non-Fiction

#Awethor Patty Fletcher is a wonderful lady who writes about her dog ‘Campbell.’  The short story entered into the Awethology is called ‘Rescued.’.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Patty L. Fletcher. I live in Kingsport, TN, where I worked for nine years at CONTACT–CONCERN of Northeast Tennessee, Inc.  I have left that work, and   now write full time.  

My autobiographical book is Campbell’s Rambles: How a Seeing Eye Dog Retrieved My Life (C 2014). There, I  tell how I  obtained my  first guide dog from The Seeing Eye® in Morristown, NJ: what motivated me,  the extensive training I  had, and the good friends I  made.

What bought you to the world of writing?

I always wanted to write a book. I always knew I could, but never had the right tools. My technology was lacking, and I felt so was my ability.

When I was a girl in  school I wrote short stories in Braille and had them transcribed in to print whenever I could, but couldn’t get it done on enough of a regular bases to really do more than a project for extra credit now and then.

My mother, seeing my gift bought me a typewriter for Christmas when I was just in the sixth grade.

As I began to grow up and make a life of my own it seemed to me that

Over   and over again something was always getting in the way.

Then, in April of 2011 I went to Morristown New Jersey to The Seeing Eye and my entire life changed. I knew when I returned home I absolutely had to write about it.

I had been introduced to the world of technology by then, and after much thought and heart-ache I left my job at Contact Concern, and my writing career was born.  

I was fortunate enough to find my Editor Leonore Dvorkin and her tech savvy husband who run a self publishing company out of their home, and after that I simply never looked back.

What story have you entered into the Awethology and Why?

The story I have entered is called Rescued, and will be Chapter two in my second book The Raw Truth: Campbell’s Rambles Book Two. That however is not however why it was originally written. It was originally written for a column I used to write called Campbell’s Calamities.

This column was once published in the Online Magazine Really Good Quotes.

See: http://www.rgqonline.com.  

There are many people who still have the mentality that a blind person can do very little. It is my goal through my writing to dispel such beliefs, and to show how the people who make up the community in which I live assist me with living a full and productive life.

I also touch on the aspect of mental illness in this story, just as I did in my first book mentioned above.

Just as with blindness or for that matter any disABILITY mental illness is viewed as something to be feared, and those who suffer from it should be avoided. It is my hope that with my openness concerning these sensitive topics that we will one day all truly be seen as equals.

What type of books do you write and do they fulfill your reader’s needs?

So far I have only written Nonfiction, and from the reviews I’ve gotten sense my book, Campbell’s Rambles: How a Seeing Eye Dog Retrieved My Life came out the readers seem to be pleased with the content of the book.

I also put out a monthly magazine called The Neighbourhood News. Up until this month it was only available via Email and could also be seen on Facebook. This month however, I was fortunate to receive a small donation and have printed some copies to hand out at local events throughout the area; I am to be involved in. 

Tell us about your short story?

In the story I tell a tale of what can happen to a blind person when they, for whatever reason become disoriented and confused. I also tell of what a wonderful community it is in which I live.

I touch on subjects such as blindness and mental illness. Also through the telling of the story I show some of the dos and don’ts that the public should know concerning Guide Dogs or any other service animal.

What was your experience with #Awethors group and the Awethology?

My experience with the group # Awethors has been an awesome one, and being allowed to be part of this most awesome project has been to me a source of pride and joy. It is however, something more as well. I find that although to my knowledge I am the only blind person in the group I am widely accepted, and also even though many of the writers in this group write either science fiction or fantasy I am still accepted as a serious writer, and have been given just as much group time as any other writer who belongs.

How do you promote your writing?

I promote my writing in many ways. As mentioned above I put out a monthly magazine. In this magazine many times I include some of my own writing. I also do a radio interview twice monthly on a morning show called AM Tricities. During each interview the host Dave Light asks me questions about my latest work, and how it is being used to assist the communities within the listening area.

I also keep business cards on hand so that when I do presentations about The Seeing Eye or my work as a writer in general I can hand them out. This seems to always generate book sales.

Another thing I do quite often is get out and walk through the neighbourhood in which I live. I talk with the people I meet up along my way, and as with presentations etc I always make sure to have a few cards on hand.

Even when I go to the grocery for milk and bread I am always hunting for an opportunity to speak to someone about my work as a writer.

Where can we buy your books?   

For more details about my book, including where to purchase the book in e-book or print format ($3.99 and $11.95), go to: www.dvorkin.com/pattyfletcher/

Who are your favourite Authors?

My favorite books and authors

I enjoy fantasy, science fiction, and books about the supernatural. I love the books by Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and many more. My favorite books include

Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, and J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series.

Even though I write only Nonfiction thus far I also have a very healthy interest in the types of books and authors you see listed here, and am working on a fantasy fiction story I hope to publish as an eBook someday.

Social Media Links

https://www.facebook.com/patty.fletcher.108

Do you have any more information you’d like to share with us?

Legal Notes

THE SEEING EYE® and SEEING EYE® are registered trademarks of The Seeing Eye, Inc.
See: www.SeeingEye.org

CONTACT–CONCERN of Northeast Tennessee, Inc.
is a phone help line I&R (Information and Referral) Center
See: www.CONTACTCONCERN.org