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Thank you for stopping by, and please feel free to browse and learn all about my world of   writing and me.

                          THE LIBERATORS

                                  by Jerri Gibson McCloud

While performing an extensive research on WWII, I grew to understand that longing, uncertainty and loss was the norm for WWII. Emptiness and dread of the uncontrollable consumed each man. Fear reigned throughout the air fields. No one acknowledged it—for if spoken, it became true. I had to write their story.

Watch for excerpts.

                       Novel Writing – My Journey

                                           Jerri Gibson McCloud

My Journey from a WWII veteran’s interview to an idea, to a novel, and to a NY editor. This is my journey of learning the writing trade and leading/teaching two writing critique groups and two years learning through an international critique group. This will be downloaded in a blog series which includes in each installation a “How To” section so you can follow the same knowledge base I acquired and taught the critique groups. Some writers may come by writing naturally, others, including me, must learn the craft step by step. So won’t you join me and take the journey as I did in my endeavor to write my first novel from inspiration to NY Editor. Also included will be my experience with the New York Editor, Patrick LoBrutto.

Who’d a thought a little girl who could not read until third grade could write short stories, essays, a genealogy book and a novel? Perhaps sooner rather than later and before you think this kid was really dumb, I’ll tell you what brought her to this point. She and her sister (one year older) lost their parents in a wretched automobile crash when she was four years old. An uncle, whom she did not know, hopped a train traveling 800 miles south to live with her paternal grandmother whom she did not know. She ached for her parents and the security of a good home.

Well, that little girl is me. We lived with my grandmother for six months, went to live with an aunt and uncle for two and one-half years—that didn’t work out—back to grandma’s farm. I finished the last half of second grade while living with her. Next we went to live with another aunt and uncle 400 miles north where I started third grade and, alas, learned how to read. I had learned very young to live in a dream world and could close the door on any hurt or fear. Knowing what we lived through, I am proud of my accomplishments and proud that I never believed I was a victim. Yes, God sent me lemons and I made lemonade. Now on to writing.

Please watch for the second installment soon.

Jerri