About Mary Lois Sanders
My family and friends think I’m too busy to be a ‘retired person’ and they are correct. A writer never retires … only chooses when to work and when to play. I choose to keep writing and play golf (lots). I’m not too bad at golf, actually. I have a 21 handicap and two holes-in-one (okay, I’m bragging – a Diva-moment!).
And the winner is ...
I find both golf and writing fun, the latter for reasons only other writers seem to relate to (and that’s probably true of golf as well – to other golfers, that is!). I like the creative process in both but each can be inordinately frustrating, too.
In writing, I wear many hats. I am a published children’s writer, with a nice number of short stories and nonfiction articles in children’s magazines over the years. Lately, though, I’ve concentrated on novels, and now have one waiting for positive words from an agent (keep your fingers crossed). Other hats include freelance editor; managing editor/publisher of The Creative Writer’s Notebook, a monthly subscription-supported newsletter for writers; and owner of Court Jester Publications www.courtjesterpublications.com [No submissions, please. We publish anthologies of the winning short stories from CWN’s annual contest – I’m retired remember?]
I am also a musician with 40+ years experience as a professional singer and college voice professor. I spent 8 years as a music missionary in Brazil, and since my marriage have served as a minister of music in several churches.
I lived wonderfully single until my 42nd year, when I married Tom Sanders, whom I had known and dated off and on for 15 years (we never lived in the same city, so ours was a totally long-distance romance – especially since part of that time I lived in Brazil and he in Iran!). Tom is now retired from both the US Navy and ATT, and a confirmed volunteer. We have no children, but countless friends allow us to love theirs. We will celebrate 25 years of marriage on February 1, 2011. Will wonders never cease!?
I may do a rewrite later, but on this, the first day of my new blogging enterprise, I believe that these are the essentials you need to know. The rest you’ll discover if you stick with me! Just remember family, music, writing, travel – these are bound to pop up in the posts from time to time!
my other zone 
Hey, Mary Lois and Tom! Happy New Year and happy blogging. I have subscribed and find your efforts a real delight to read. I, too, am beginning a history of the Warren, Lincoln, Mitchell families for my grandchildren. It’s very amateur, but satisfying work so I can empathize with yours and others listed on your blog about the joys of spilling out words on paper. I do not anticipate the quality of your and your friends’ writing, but hopefully it will satisfy the curiosty of my family. Will look forward to your blog and hope you will also keep in touch via e-mail. Come see us when you can.
Great! Thanks! And I’d love to read it, I know will want to do so. MLS
thanks for all you`ve done for me. you, probably dont remember me. i am Nilson Rufino, a brasilian estudent of yours. I never forget you. Thanks.
Hi Mary Lois;
Congratulations on beginning a new experience with your own blog. I miss you and the CATS, and am so looking forward to spending time in TV for February and March.
I believe there is no such state, anymore, as retirement from creativity in our circle of writing friends. Active minds never retire, thank goodness, or we would cease to grow. New friends, new roads to travel, and new acolades to aim for.
I’m saying a prayer for your YA novel; it’s been a joy listening during Thursday morning classes to its progression from myriad thoughts and intense research into an interesting and informative manuscript. Job well done.
My childrens writing group on-Cape is teaching a creative writng workshops for blossuming children’s writers. We plan for a Saturday from 8:30 to 3:30 and keep the clients to a max of seven. It has been well-received with a waiting list. Good luck with your new blog and your New Year. God bless. Linda
Mary Lois:
Love your Blog! Congratulations on the big silver. Ted and I will enjoy ours on December 27 0f 2011. Kudos for going beyond and always pushing the envelope. I have so enjoyed our collaborations, either as a subscriber to your newsletter, or member of your honorable mention winners’ circle in 2009. Best of everything in 2011. You are ONE CLASS ACT! Diane Brandley, Summerfield
Congratulations on your blog. I am interested as a writer and please check out my website. I am always looking for a good connection. Patricia Crandall
Nice web site, Patricia. If you’ll link to me on your web site, I’ll link to you. Oh, heck, I’ll link to you anyway, but perhaps we can help each other! MLS
How are we zoned? Let us count the ways. Daughter, girl,woman,wife,singer,writer,pray-er,optomist,teacher,learner,listener,talker,opinion giver,jester,and zone after zone. And, you, you fine form of a female human being have “an other zone.” Congrats.
Boy, do you ever take a breath? Congratulations on your site. See you soon.
Frank
On occasion! See you Wed at CWG.
As a cousin who knew you in our “growing up” years, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your thoughts and experiences. I remember so many of these things as stories were passed through the Summers’ clan. Like you, I insist on the double name but think it funny that I can still hear your mom calling, “My MAAARY, come here.” I just wanted to add my congrats for your many successes and to say that I enjoy your stories.
Ah, memories! I remember those summers we all got out of our respective big cities and made life interesting for Grandmother and Granddaddy Summers – all in the name of escaping polio! I know we tried churning; carried water in buckets from the spring; tried milking cows. I still remember eating “cream” (homemade ice cream) and fudge. But for the life of me I can’t remember where we all slept! That house on Cottonwood Creek was just SMALL!
Thanks for the comments, Mary June
I slept in the “west”? “east”? room (they always used directions and I had no idea which room was which. I was seldom there when you Fort Worth kids were…I can still see our 5 ft. tall grandmother carrying those two buckets of water up the hill from the spring and not spilling a drop. I never made it with one full bucket.
Are you the same Mary Lois Summers who did her DMA dissertation on the solo soprano Bach Cantatas?
Yes! Hi Charlene! What are you doing these days?
Hi Mary Lois;
Congratulations on beginning a new experience with your own blog. I miss you and the CATS, and am so looking forward to spending time in TV for February and March.
I believe there is no such state, anymore, as retirement from creativity in our circle of writing friends. Active minds never retire, thank goodness, or we would cease to grow. New friends, new roads to travel, and new acolades to aim for.
I’m saying a prayer for your YA novel; it’s been a joy listening during Thursday morning classes to its progression from myriad thoughts and intense research into an interesting and informative manuscript. Job well done.
My childrens writing group on-Cape is teaching a creative writng workshops for blossuming children’s writers. We plan for a Saturday from 8:30 to 3:30 and keep the clients to a max of seven. It has been well-received with a waiting list. Good luck with your new blog and your New Year. God bless. Linda
+1