Speaker Topics

Lisa Saunders is available to present:

“Writer’s Open Mike” (No charge)* The first 20 writers to sign-in prior to the start time can read their work for up to five minutes. All genres are welcome including memoirs, fiction, essays, poetry, screenplays, etc. Writers will have a chance to network and authors will be permitted to sell their books. The event is coordinated by Lisa Saunders, writer for the State University of New York at Rockland and author of several articles and books, including the free e-book, How to Get Published. See her work at: www.authorlisasaunders.com

“Stop Infections That Attack Unborn Babies” (No charge)* The H1N1 flu virus isn't the only infection that pregnant women need to guard against. Learn how to protect unborn children from a variety of diseases including the #1 viral cause of birth defects--congenital CMV (cytomegalovirus), which causes more disabilities than Down syndrome. Few women have heard of it and half of OB/GYN's surveyed admitted they don't warn their patients about it. Presenter Lisa Saunders, Congenital CMV Foundation parent representative and author of Anything But a Dog! The perfect pet for a girl with congenital CMV, didn’t know about CMV prevention until her daughter, Elizabeth, was born disabled by the virus in 1989. Saunders will also discuss the other infections listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as hazards for pregnant women. See her work to stop CMV, as well as the work of doctors and other parents, at: http://congenitalcmv.blogspot.com Her USA 9 News interview: http://video.aol.com/video-detail/coping-with-cmv/3443071507 (CDC’s list of infections and precautions: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/pregnancy_gateway/infection.htm)

“How to Get Published” ($150)* Author Lisa Saunders will cover the publishing process for articles, memoirs, children’s fiction and adult non-fiction. She will discuss finding an agent, publisher, or self-publishing, and writing query letters, book proposals, and building an audience through Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Her free e-book, How to Get Published, is available on: http://howtogetthinandfamous.blogspot.com/ See excerpts of her talk at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OjTb4sSaf8

“Ever True: A Union Private and His Wife” (Talk: $150; Play $250)* Charles McDowell married Nancy when she was 15 years old. Enlisting as a private in the New York 9^th Heavy Artillery, he asked Nancy, then 17, to save his letters. Despite his grueling battles and marches, he was able to save hers as well. Together their letters include tales of desertions, hangings, prostitutes, venereal disease, bullets, typhoid fever, lying injured on the battlefield for days, and “clever women.” Lisa Saunders will either tell the “back story” to compiling the letters for her book, EVER TRUE: A Union Private and His Wife, or she can present the three-cast play. Visit: www.authorlisasaunders.com

Children’s Workshop: “Ride a Horse, Not an Elevator” ($150)* Author Lisa Saunders will present Cornell University’s 4-H program, “Horse Book in a Bucket,” which includes information on horses and her novel, Ride a Horse, Not an Elevator. Lisa will cover the process of writing and her experiences as a New York City girl living on the 16^th floor and visiting her grandparents’ farm in upstate New York. Visit: http://rideahorsenotanelevator.blogspot.com

*Posted rates are for events within 20 miles of Suffern, N.Y. Will negotiate for longer distances.

Contact Lisa at saundersbooks@aol.com

Word document of her presentations: Talkswithphotoandcontact.doc

The following may be contacted for speaking engagement references:

Lisa spoke at Cornell University. Contact: Jeannie Griffiths, Animal Science Department, Cornell University, jtg4@cornell.edu, 607-255-2857

"Your impressive, in-depth research, coupled with your enthusiasm and love for the subject created one of the most informative and engaging programs we’ve held this year." Stephanie Vitale, Adult Program Coordinator Sloatsburg Library
845-753-2043, svitale@rcls.org

"Thank you for doing a wonderful presentation at the Suffern Free Library on "Ever True: A Union Private and His Wife." The letters were interesting and gave a very real perspective of family life during the Civil War." Miguelina Molina, Events Coordinator Suffern Library, 845-357-1237, mmolina@rcls.org

"Dear Lisa, you were just spendid with your talk about the "Trials of a Writer" at the Suffern Woman's Club of Suffern. We all enjoyed it and wish you well with your book. Sincerely, Faith Leigh, Program Chair, Suffern’s Women’s Club"

"Lisa Saunders presented as a guest speaker to my graduate class at Johns Hopkins University during the Fall semester, 1995. She was eloquent and insightful about her experiences and feelings while raising her young handicapped daughter. She captured the attention of the students -- special education teachers, therapists, social workers -- inspring them to approach their professional lives with greater empathy and commitment.Mary Goodin, M. Ed., OTR, Ssagoodin@cs.com

The following doctors heard me speak at the 2008 Congenital CMV Conference held at Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA. They may be contacted for their reference:

Gail J Demmler MD, Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, Director of Congenital CMV Disease Registry, Clinic and Research Program at gjdemmle@texaschildrenshospital.org or visit: www.bcm.edu/pedi/infect/cmv. The Registry supports CMV research, disseminates information and provides a parent support group. Registry: (832) 824-4387.

The 2008 Congenital CMV Conference was co-sponsored by the CDC and the Congenital CMV Foundation. The CDC co-organizer, Michael J. Cannon, Ph.D., Research Epidemiologist, CDC, can be reached at mcannon@cdc.govThe other 2008 Congenital CMV Conference co-sponsor, CMV Foundation founder, Lenore Pereira, Ph.D., Professor, Microbiology and Virology, Cell and Tissue Biolog y Department, University of California San Francisco, can be reached at lenore.pereira@ucsf.edu, or visit www.congenitalcmv.org/ which includes Members of the Scientific Advisory Committee with their contact information. Dr. Pereira has studied immune responses to CMV infection and molecular biology of viral glycoproteins for over 25 years.

References for my Civil War talks:

Paul Martin, President of Rockland County Civil War Round Table
(914) 245-8903, prm3@hotmail.com

Peter Wisbey, Executive Director, William H. Seward House, (315)252-1283, pwisbey@sewardhouse.org

Gardner Watts, Suffern Village Museum,845-357-3667

Summaries of Talks:

Topic: American Civil War: The Love Letters Between a Union Private and His Teenage Wife

Abstract: Charles McDowell married Nancy when she was 15 years old. Enlisting as a private in the New York 9^th Heavy Artillery, he asked Nancy, then 17, to save his letters. Despite his grueling battles and marches, he was able to save hers as well. Nancy’s letters give us the worries and gossip of a teenage wife during the war. Her fears for Charles were many and included: prostitutes, venereal disease, bullets, typhoid fever, being taken prisoner, and “clever women.” Charles’s happiest time during the war was the year Nancy spent with him while he was stationed at Fort Foote in Washington. Nancy ran an apple pie business, selling 70 a day to the soldiers, and learned how to shoot a revolver. Before returning to her parents to recover from typhoid fever, she met Lincoln and shook his hand. Nancy was unable to return to Washington because Charles’s regiment was sent out to "chase old Lee." Reviews of "EVER TRUE: A Union Private and His Wife"; “Unusual," American Civil War Magazine; “The story of how the marriage between Charles and Nancy survives separation, disease, the threat of death, and malicious gossip is compelling.”Ithaca Times; “A fascinating read.”The Sun & Record

Lisa leaves home--and the elevators and bullies of a big apartment complex--to spend a summer in the country at her grandparents' farm. Culture shock! Accompanied by her loyal beagle, Donald Dog, Lisa faces a summer in a very different environment with its own challenges and dangers. Using an outhouse is the least of her problems! Lisa is terrified of her new pony. Lisa's grandfather is injured by a charging cow and needs her to ride the pony to get help. How will she ever overcome her fear to save her grandfather?”

Serialized in the Sentinel and incorporated in the statewide 4-H program, “Horse Book in a Bucket.”

"A 'warm fuzzy'...provides a springboard for discussion between children and adults," Sentinel Publications.

“A special treat for children and adults!” Mary K. Henderberg, Editor, Wayne County Star

A great read aloud for the classroom or family,” Denise Griney, Elementary School Teacher, author of I LOVE TO READ! I LOVE TO WRITE!

Growing up in Queens, NY, Lisa lived on the 16^th floor and rode the elevators to reach her family’s apartment. Her grandmother, a farmer in upstate, NY, did not approve—she thought Lisa should be riding a horse instead. And when Lisa visited her grandparents’ farm, she did just that—even though her father warned her to be afraid of horses. Lisa discusses how children can record their family stories, why and how she wrote Ride a Horse, Not an Elevator, and how she included her eccentric relatives and pets within her story, like her:

Lisa Saunders: Full-time writer at the State University of New York at Rockland and a member of its Speakers Bureau. A Cornell University graduate, she is the author of the light-hearted memoir, Anything But a Dog!, the children’s novel, Ride a Horse, Not an Elevator, the history book, Ever True: A Union Private and His Wife, plus several short stories and articles. She speaks at universities, international conferences and local clubs about how to get published, finding ways to cope in adversity, the Civil War, and a preventable but little publicized cause of birth defects—congenital CMV. She lives with my husband, Jim, and their pesky Beagle/Basset Hound, Bailey, in Suffern, New York. All of her books are available on Amazon or by writing to her directly at saundersbooks@aol.com. You can see her work at www.authorlisasaunders.com