Two new authors make Geneva their home
While Batavia may be known for its windmills and St. Charles for its history, Geneva appears to be making a name for itself as the new home for authors.
First there was Tom Lichtenheld, a Geneva children's book author and illustrator who co-authored The New York Times best seller "Duck! Rabbit!"
Now Geneva can add two more names to its list, Mary K. Doyle and Nancy T. Wall who have both recently had their own books published.
Nancy Wall
For Wall, 58, her book "Pulled By the Heart: A Woman's Real-Life Story of Living and Escaping the Middle East" marks her literary debut. The book recounts Wall's years spent in Beirut, Lebanon and the Persian Gulf after she moved there to marry her then-husband in 1972.
Wall writes about her experiences as an American woman, newly converted to Islam and the struggles she faced in the Middle East after her husband began physically abusing her. The book also recounts her escape back to the United States with her two young children.
While the story does recount dark times for Wall, her overall goal in writing it was to dispel common misconceptions outsiders might have about the Middle Eastern culture. Despite her marital issues, Wall still has very good memories from her years spent in the Middle East.
"It's not just a story about an escape. It's also a story about an American living in a underdeveloped country, loving it and living it all," Wall said. "My book explains what it's like to live (in the Middle East) and it's a different view, a positive view."
After Wall returned to the U.S. she eventually remarried and now lives in Geneva.
"Pulled By the Heart" is available for sale at DeForestPress.com. Wall also will be holding a book signing at the Geneva Public Library on Sept. 16.
Mary Doyle
Mary K. Doyle, also of Geneva, has just released a book recounting struggles of a different sort. "Grieving With Mary" is Doyle's fourth book and seeks to provide readers with alternative ways of confronting grief with the help of Mary, mother of God.
"People are hurting today a lot with job loss and identity loss and there can be a lot of comfort found from Mary for people who are looking for productive ways to use their grief," Doyle, 55, said.
Doyle says "Grieving With Mary" is the culmination of over 10 years worth of research. Doyle, a former reporter for the Chicago Tribune, consulted with psychologists, read many theology books and also visited several pilgrimage sites all over the world in an effort to see all aspects of how people grieve and cope with loss.
"Not many other books combine Mary and grief, which is interesting; because of her loss and suffering she knows what it is to be human and suffer and be sorrowful and have faith," Doyle said.
Doyle is currently working on another book which will explore spirituality and age.
"Grieving With Mary" can be purchased at Catholic gift shops and is also available at Amazon.com. For information, visit marykdoyle.com.