Hometown native puts her name ?on the map? with books

After working as a newspaper reporter for about 17 years, Helen (Szymanski) Polaski was ready to put her own stories to paper. Writing had always been a dream, and her appreciation for the written word was primed and ready to flourish into a new career. Her hard work, dedication and fresh outlook on life have paid off, and Helen is pleased to announce her latest compilation of stories, Classic Christmas: True Stories of Holiday Cheer and Goodwill.

HELEN?S MOTIVATION to write came after her mother, Stella Szymanski, passed away in 1997. Helen had a tough time dealing with her mother?s death, and her husband, Tom Polaski, suggested she give herself an opportunity to heal. ?When my mother was promoted to heaven, my husband told me to take some time off, because I was having a hard time,? said Helen. ?I had always wanted to write my own stories, and after my mom died, I knew I needed to get those stories out. Life is too short, and you have to follow your dreams.? As a writer for the Ann Arbor News, Helen reported on a variety of stories, but it was the story of a little girl that became her catalyst for change.

?The last story I wrote was about a little girl whose horse was killed, and because of my story, (a business) came forward and bought her a new horse,? said Helen. ?So much good came out of that story, and I thought ?I?m going out on that one.?? Helen began writing her own work and submitting it to publishers. She had an idea for a book of inspirational stories, and as luck would have it, the publisher had the same idea. ?My idea was floating around about a book?and they were looking for an editor,? said Helen. ?I happened to fit the description?it was as if I fell into a warm apple pie.?

SINCE HELEN has been working as an editor of compiled stories by other authors, she has successfully published six books, including the Rocking Chair Readers series. Classic Christmas was released in October, and in December Helen will celebrate the release of Cup of Comfort for Weddings, the next book in the Cup of Comfort series. As an editor of books, Helen takes on the monumental task of compiling stories chosen from hundreds of submissions. ?(As an editor) you have to find stories with heart, and then strengthen the heart of the story,? said Helen. ?Most of my writers in Classic Christmas are elderly, and unlike many other editors, I actually contact the authors and urge them on if the story is something I?m looking for.? Because Helen receives so many submissions for each book she compiles, the process of choosing the ?right? stories can be difficult. In Helen?s eyes, each submission is someone?s hard work and creativity, worthy of recognition.

?When people send me submissions, I feel obligated to respond,? said Helen. ?I know what it?s like to be on the other side ? to submit your ?baby? and never hear back.? Unlike many editors, if Helen made any changes to the writing, she sent the changes to the authors to let them know. She follows guidelines set by her publisher when carefully reading submissions.

?SOMETIMES THE writer will have a good story, but only give a glimpse of its heart,? said Helen. ?Authors sometimes need to be urged to tell the ?real? story ? the personal side of the story.? Helen offers up this bit of advice for writers looking for publication: ?Don?t be afraid to put your real self into a story. Let go of yourself, and allow the reader to get a look inside.? The love Helen has for the written word began back when she was a little girl and would frequent the library in Rogers City. As a sixth grade student, Helen said she spent every lunch hour at the library, soaking up all the reading she could. ?I was there so often, one day the librarian said ?You know, you can check these books out,?? said Helen. ?I always wanted to write, and I would write little songs when I was young. I would be so pleased with myself because I put those words together ? like I was stringing a necklace.? Helen uses her maiden nam

e on her books because as an adult, Helen made a promise to her father, Harry Szymanski, to ?put the Szymanski name on the map.? Although the Szymanski family was made up of 16 children, the Szymanski name will likely not pass on due to the large number of female family members. ?I told my dad that I would put our name on the map (with my writing) since no one was going to carry the name on,? said Helen. ?I eventually showed him my first book, and he said it wouldn?t sell.? Helen said her dad jokingly believed because there wasn?t any foul language or lewd behavior in the book, people would not run out and read it.

BESIDES EDITING books, Helen enjoys writing her own work, and has published approximately 100 stories, including those written for fundraising projects, such as her 9/11 story, America Cried. She is now working on a book called I Hate Menopause, which is her humorous take on the effects of menopause suffered by women everywhere. ?All of the baby boomers are dealing with menopause right now,? said Helen. ?It is a funny book ? full of wit. I haven?t found a publisher, but I?m working on it.? Any of Helen?s books would make great stocking stuffers for the holiday season, and are available in most book stores, as well as on the Amazon website. Books can also be ordered from Helen by emailing therockingchairreader@yahoo.com. Please put ?book order? as the subject.

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