‘The Next Great Discovery’ is Monarch Landing Resident’s newest great adventure
“I want people to know that moving to a senior living community is not the end of the road. It’s an ‘on’ ramp. It opens possibilities that may not have been available to you if you were burdened with everyday life like the roof leaking,” said Katherine (Kathie) Bennett. The resident of Monarch Landing senior living community in Naperville added, “I don’t have to deal with those things. I can write instead.”
Taking full advantage of the sense of tranquility and freedom afforded her by living at Monarch Landing, Kathie has just completed writing and self-publishing her first novel, “The Next Great Discovery: A Heartland to Hometown Mystery-Book 1.”
Last month, Kathie introduced her book and signed copies of it for her fellow residents at Monarch Landing. She donated proceeds from her sales that day to Monarch Landing’s Benevolent Care Fund.
Kathie said that she has loved writing since she was in high school when she contributed to student publications. Then, in the 1970s, she said, she published other people’s work professionally while wanting to do her own writing. “The ideas kept coming. I jotted them down and had two or three books in my head.”
Kathie actually started writing “The Next Great Discovery” 10 years ago. “But after a month or so, it would go into my lower left hand drawer. Life kept getting in the way,” she said. “When I moved to Monarch Landing, I finally had the time and space to concentrate on my book.” She finished the book late this spring.
Describing the novel, she said, “It’s a friendly murder mystery. I like mysteries. I always have.” Kathie said she likes to write about locales in which she’s lived, and main characters based on people she’s met someplace. Having lived in five different states as well as on a 46-foot yacht, taught art, launched a desktop publishing business, written travel guidebooks, and chartered travel and accompanied golfers on trips around the world, she has lots of great experience to draw from. “In short, I’ve been blessed with various life experiences that offer wonderful bits to include in a novel,” she said.
“I printed a couple of different drafts and circulated them to some residents at Monarch Landing to get feedback,” she said. “Most people patted me on the head and said it was ‘wonderful,’ but I didn’t need that. I needed constructive criticism.”
She added that people responded very well, and those who have since purchased the book have shared good feedback.
Kathie is anticipating writing Book 2 in what she plans on being a multipart series.
Kathie concluded, “Monarch Landing is a great place. I swear moving here has been the best decision I’ve made in 83 years. I’ve done a lot in my life, but I don’t have to do a lot anymore. I can pace myself.”
The Next Great Discovery is available in softcover and eBook format at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, AuthorHouse, and Books-a-Million. For more information, visit www.kbennettauthor.com.
Monarch Landing
Monarch Landing is a Life Plan Community located on a scenic campus in Naperville, Illinois-named “one of America’s best places to live and retire” by Modern Maturity, and “the best city for early retirement” by Kiplinger. Monarch Landing offers independent living, promoting a vibrant lifestyle for active seniors. The Springs at Monarch Landing offers memory supported assisted living, respite care, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing services, thus providing complete continuing care for seniors. Monarch Landing is owned by Senior Care Development and managed by Life Care Services. For additional information visit www.WelcomeToMonarchLanding.com or www.TheSpringsatMonarchLanding.com.