Lutz, Norma Jean Pathways to the Past.

Read by Charity Spencer

Cincinnati, Ohio in the 1840s is becoming a cultural and scientific mecca-the city boasts the first art academy and the most lucrative cultural environment for artists in the Midwest. This fact fits perfectly with the dreams and aspirations of young Laura Logan who wants nothing more than to draw, sketch, paint, and to appreciate fine art. Her dreams are not appreciated, nor encouraged by her family, most especially by her hard-working, rather stoic German mother, nor by her younger brother who is a relentless tease. Laura is repeatedly told that her art is a frivolous waste of time. She finds she cannot just turn off these strong passions, nor yet is she strong enough to defend her beliefs. Laura's artistic, sensitive nature seems to work against her in daily situations, causing her to shrink back in fear. Even in circumstances which call for her to take a firm stance, and to make her voice heard. It takes a series of distressing events for Laura to learn to embrace her artistic nature, and still conquer her many fears. The full-time writer is the author of over 50 published books under her own name and also scores of ghostwritten books. Her books have been favorably reviewed in Affair de Coeur, Coffee Time Romance, Romance Reader at Heart, and The Romance Studio magazines, and her short fiction has garnered a number of first prizes in local writing contests. Norma Jean is the founder of the Professionalism in Writing School, which was held annually in Tulsa for fourteen years. This writers' conference, which closed its doors in 1996, gave many writers their start in the publishing world. A gifted teacher, Norma Jean has taught a variety of writing courses at local colleges and community schools, and is a frequent speaker at writers' seminars around the country. For ten years, she taught on staff for the Institute of Children's Literature. She has served as artist-in-residence at grade schools, and for two years taught a staff development workshop for language arts teachers in schools in Northeastern Oklahoma. In 2010, she made the decision (along with many other authors) to leave the world of traditional publishing and become an indie author. Even though the learning curve was as she puts it "straight up," it was a decision she has never regretted. As she says, "Having the last say in my cover art and story content is pure joy to this author." Her titles can be found here:

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