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Books in Print

ASIN‏ : ‎ B006LD745Y

Meet Kristen Lawrence. The tall, titan-haired career woman has denied herself a personal life in favor of econometric formulas and models. Now, an unexpected cross-country drive home from a conference pens her in a minivan with her colleagues and, in particular, with the angry widower, Frank Randolph. As the miles roll away, the bud of a relationship begins to blossom for these two lonely souls.

Tales Along the Way Home is, at once, a study in personalities and a lesson in Americana. It is colorful. It is highly emotional. Most of all, it is heartwarming as the colleagues, who began the trip as virtual strangers, become a family as they discover themselves, one another, and the country that they all call home.

Photo Credit: The Wordsmith, 2005

This book was an excellent read. I have learned so much about American history covering the area the group traveled. I found the facts relating to 9/11 very moving and learnt things about that terrible day that we did not really know about in Britain. The rapport between the travellers was amusing yet in parts very moving. They had worked together for some time, yet did not really know each other or even themselves.

The author certainly knows how to hold a reader's interest. As I read, I could visualise places I have never seen. I could feel the heat and dust. I thoroughly recommend this to anyone who has an interest in American history, yet at the same time enjoys a good story about people and how certain events can change their lives. I am sure the author must have travelled this route as only someone who has been there could so descriptive. Brilliant. I will be reading again.

-- Jean G.

Tales Along the Way Home is a journey you won't want to miss. You will share the camaraderie of the travelers and experience the anxieties they feel as they head toward home to meet the problems that have invaded their comfortable lives. Virginia has captured the travelogue settings, the joys, fears, and anxieties of the characters and gives you a book you are bound to enjoy reading.

-- Jeanette C.

These anthologies of poems, haiku, and short fiction celebrate life, from childhood to the empty nest. They recall the frustrations of trying to balance career and family and rejoice over scenes from nature.

Meet Adele, who, at the age of seventy, was sentenced to work off a habitual speeding habit by teaching driver’s education to teenagers at a detention center.

Laugh as Amy tells how her New Years dinner cruise turned into a crime scene and she fell in love with the lead investigator.

Take a train trip through the mountains and hear the legends of those not so sleepy hollows.

A Part of Me is available from Amazon or your favorite bookseller.

ISBN-10‏ : ‎ 1608621863

ISBN-13‏ : ‎ 978-1608621866

More a Part of Me is available as an e-book from Amazon.

ASIN‏ : ‎ B006M4X1G8

Photo Credit: (top) EBooktime, (bottom) The Wordsmith, 2009

This is a very good read, I loved the poems and short stories. The author gives such deep and moving insight to things that mean something to her personally. There was nothing to dislike and I would recommend it to all ages. I gave this rating because the author deserves it. She is a talented writer and her 'Tales along the way home' is another worthwhile read.

-- Jean G.

I met Virginia Tolles on Facebook and enjoyed her postings there. She told me she was an author of several books. I bought all of them on Amazon but only began reading them now. Virginia is an amazing author, quick witted and delightful. I love a person who is a fast thinker in all situations. I am enjoying every short story and poem she wrote. A Part of Me is a collection of poetry and short fiction. Wish I had read this book sooner. Reading her collection is a delightful way to spend part of my day. If you have not yet sampled her books, I highly recommend that you do! An enjoyable read from start to finish!

-- Linda K.

Available as an e-book on Amazon.

ASIN‏ : ‎ B00L4LLMRE

Annual Springtime Railway Pilgrimage

Saturday, April 4th

Travel aboard The Springfieldian, the Springfield-Albemarle County Railway Society's pride and joy, as we make our 21st annual spring excursion to the Harrington Vineyards and Thistlewaite Bluffs. The cherries, dogwoods, and redbuds are in full bloom and anxiously awaiting our arrival. Society co-founder and lifelong railfan, E. A. Andersen, will describe the history and folklore of the region.

You will ride aboard the last coaches purchased by the Springfield and Eastern Railway Company before its demise in 1959. The two Electro-Motive Division E-8 diesel-electric locomotives will lead the Budd Company baggage car, coaches, and bullet-shaped lounge car.

Photo Credit: The Wordsmith's husband, Palestine, Texas, 2012.

I liked this story, because it has some relevance to a family situation at the moment. It takes a lot of courage for someone to make the first move. In this case the grandmother. Is this story telling me something. Also with Missy, most teenagers go through this stage. Particularly fathers and daughters. It's true being overprotective can alienate a child as much as ignoring them. Life is far too short to bear grudges, it was a shame that Ed and Louise missed the best years of their grandchildren's growing up. I was disappointed when the story ended, I wanted more. Virginia style of writing makes easy reading and is full of interesting details. My friend us going to read it as she is passionate about trains.

-- Jean G.