Book Signing was Held in Walnut
The first book signing by Carol Parman of her new book, Mushroom Marathon: Running Toward the Prize of Serenity, was held on Thursday, September 8, 2005 at the Walnut Public Library at 7 p.m.
Lynn Moriarty Parman was better known in this area as Carol VanderMeulen when she lived at Walnut for 24 years.
Thirty people visited with Carol, listened to her presentation on her life history, and learned about her publications.
Many purchased her book and had it signed by Carol.
A collection of brief, yet powerful, reflections, Mushroom Marathon delves into the everyday objects, situations and even creatures that most inspire Carol to stop, enjoy a serene moment and remember what makes life worth living.
Above all else, she writes, finding time to contemplate one’s relationship with God is a sure way to find serenity.
Carol bases her reflections on the peacefulness she finds in country living. Her childhood days on a farm and her current marriage to a farmer provide her with the “holy place” she shares with readers in her book.
One aspect of country life she has become familiar with is the patience required in the hunt for mushrooms, which she compares to many humans’ lifelong hunt for serenity.
Carol has been a homemaker, bookkeeper, craft instructor and a truck stop manager.
She enjoys being a “non-traditional student” and recently received a diploma for computer graphic art.
She currently creates computer images for greeting cards.
She was published in 2001 – A Poetic Odyssey, among other publications, and was the 1994 Missouri winner in the Great-Midwestern Think-Off.
In September 2003 her story about a trip to Korea with Korean War Veterans for the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Armistice was published in Stars and Stripes.
“Land of Morning Calm, 50 Years Later” has recently been accepted at EzineArticles.com which picks up stories for publication in other news journals.
Carol is currently working on a book of poems that have been written by residents of the county where she resides.
A second book, written by Carol and dedicated to the memory of Father Wingert, Rainbows of Joy, will be published soon.
A member of the Walnut Genealogy Society, Carol showed a map of Iowa that listed family members and where they resided in the state.
She also displayed a family history notebook and booklets that she made for her family.
Refreshments were served by members of the genealogy group.