ABOUT LISA
Available for public speaking
Lisa Saunders, writer and member of Speakers Bureau at the State University of New York, Rockland .
Photo by Collette Fournier, RCC.
Lisa Saunders is the author of Anything But a Dog! The perfect pet for a girl with congenital CMV, Ride a Horse, Not an Elevator and EVER TRUE: A Union Private and His Wife. A public speaker, she has appeared on radio and television and at several club functions. She is a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants, Daughters of the American Revolution and Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War. Lisa is a Cornell University graduate and resides in New York's Historic Hudson Valley with her husband Jim and hound Bailey.
Lisa's past speaking engagements have included Cornell University, Johns Hopkins, the Centers for Disesae Control and Prevention (CDC), The Maryland Writer’s Association, The William H. Seward House, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Civil War Round Tables. She has also been interviewed on television and radio on the “Derek McGinty Show,” “Street Talk” with Larry Ann Evans, “Generations Together” with Beverly Warren, “The Joy of Living” with Margo Haskins, and the "Chris St. Lawrence Show." The Writer's Room Magazine essay contest winner
Topics and Bio:
http://authorlisasaundersmemoir.blogspot.com/,
Flyer for event: Writing and Publishing Your Family History.doc
http://anythingbutadog.blogspot.com,
Flyer for event: Anything But a Dog Flyer.doc
Ride a Horse Talk and Saunders Bio.doc (Flyer for event)
http://congenitalcmv.blogspot.com,
Flyer for event: Anything But a Dog Flyer Eliz CMV Facts.doc
http://civilwarloveletters.blogspot.com/
Flyer for event: EVER TRUE and Author Bio.doc
Get Published: http://authorlisasaunders.blogspot.com/
Flyer for event: Are you my publisher.doc
 
Lisa twirling in her Civil War dress and sharing excerpts from
EVER TRUE at the annual Seward House Garden Party
As a member of the Rockland Community College Speakers Bureau, I speak on:
Topic: Writing and Publishing Your History
Contact: lsaunde2@sunyrockland.edu, 845-574-4244
Abstract: You have an interesting story to tell—it may be yours or it may be your ancestors. Writing it requires research. The Internet and your local library have made that research so much easier and free. Lisa Saunders, author of Ride a Horse, Not an Elevator and Ever True: A Union Private and His Wife, will tell you where to look for background information and how to publish your finished story.
Topic: Children’s novel, “Ride a Horse, Not an Elevator”
Contact: lsaunde2@sunyrockland.edu, 845-574-4244
Audience: Grade-school children
Abstract: Saunders will discuss how she wrote her novel, “Ride a Horse, Not an Elevator,” which is incorporated into Cornell University's 4-H "Horse Book in a Bucket" program. Back Cover: “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?” Review: "A 'warm fuzzy'...provides a springboard for discussion between children and adults," Sentinel Publications.
Topic: The Tragic Kiss: Stop the Spread of CMV
Contact: lsaunde2@sunyrockland.edu, 845-574-4244
Audience: Adults
Abstract: CMV, or cytomegalovirus (si-to-MEG-alovi-rus), is a common virus that infects people of all ages. Most infections with CMV are “silent,” meaning most people who are infected with CMV have no signs or symptoms. However, CMV can cause disease in unborn babies and is the leading viral cause of mental retardation and hearing loss—as frequent as Down syndrome. In 1989, Saunders, gave birth to Elizabeth who was severely disabled by congenital CMV disease. Saunders had not been warned how to reduce her chances of getting the virus and OB/GYN’s are still not routinely warning women about CMV infection. Saunders is a member of the advisory board of The Congenital CMV Foundation.
Topic: American Civil War: Love Letters Between a Union Private and His Teenage Wife
Contact: lsaunde2@sunyrockland.edu, 845-574-4244,
Abstract: Charles McDowell married Nancy when she was 15 years old. Enlisting as a private in the New York 9th 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."
Books by Lisa Saunders:
EVER TRUE: A Union Private and His Wife. Published by Heritage Books
The true story of one couple’s devotion to their country and each other in the midst of the war’s infidelities, scandals and ever present threat of death.
EVER TRUE is now a one-act play!
RIDING THE TRAIN WITH ELIZABETH: Enjoying Life with my handicapped daughter
The inspirational/humorous story of how Lisa Saunders found hope and laughter again after giving birth to a severely handicapped child.
Excerpted in "Rockland Review" and featured in NATHAN-CHASK
RIDE A HORSE NOT AN ELEVATOR
A humorous children's novel about a chubby city girl who visits her eccentric relatives on her grandparents' farm. Not only does she find a horse, she also finds a friend. Serialized in “The Sentinel” and used in the New York state’s “Horse Book in a Bucket” 4-H program.
Her stories have appeared in "Celebrate Life," "NATHAN News," "The Sentinel," and "The Rockland Review." Winner of a “Writer’s Room” award.
Lisa Saunders is available to speak on:
* Writing/Researching her Civil War book based on her family's letters:
EVER TRUE: A Union Private and His Wife
* American Civil War: The Love Letters Between a Union Private and His Teenage Wife
* Her children's novel based on her childhood experiences on her grandparents' farm:
RIDE A HORSE NOT AN ELEVATOR.
* Her soon to be published inspirational/ humorous book detailing her adventures raising her handicapped daughter: ELIZABETH
* How she became a writer and her struggles to become a published author
* Learning how to find information documenting the lives of your ancestors.
Summaries of Talks:
Topic: Writing/Researching her Civil War book based on her family's letters:
EVER TRUE: A Union Private and His Wife
How I came to write the book.
Who wrote the letters and how many there were.
Why I have so many pictures of the writers.
Other artifacts I've found.
The condition of the letters.
Unrecognizable words.
The kind of editing I did.
Charles was a Canadian---why he enlisted.
What regiment Charles McDowell was in.
Where I did the research.
Where I did the writing.
Why I heavily narrated the story.
Nancy McDowell's role in the war.
Charles met Lincoln and his impression of him.
Other than battles, other events can people can expect to read.
My favorite letter.
Battles that left an impression on me.
What Nancy and Charles thought of the war.
What Charles and Nancy were like after the war.
Why I put recipes in the book.
How I found a publisher.
What I'm working on now.
To learn more about my work, people can visit www.authorlisasaunders.com
Where can people get a copy of EVER TRUE.
Topic: American Civil War: The Love Letters Between a Union Private and His Teenage Wife
Speaker: Lisa Saunders
Abstract: Charles McDowell married Nancy when she was 15 years old. Enlisting as a private in the New York 9th 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
RIDE A HORSE, NOT AN ELEVATOR
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!
Lisa Saunders presents:
The stories behind Ride a Horse, Not an Elevator—
based on visits to her grandparents’ farm
Growing up in Queens, NY, Lisa lived on the 16th 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:
- Great-grandfather who invented a mechanical bed that rode on railroad-like tracks
- Great Aunt who hid her Twinkies in the dishwasher
- Grandfather who hid his false teeth in his front pocket
- Uncle who only carried pictures of cows in his wallet
- Great Uncle who wouldn’t wash his own face
- Donald Dog who was afraid of everything
- Ornery pony that threatened to buck her off
- Grandmother who taught her to see the humor of it all
About the author: Lisa Saunders is the author of Ride a Horse, Not an Elevator; Riding the Train With Elizabeth; and Ever True: A Union Private and His Wife, which is now a “Reader’s Theater.” She is a graduate of Cornell University and a writer for the State University of New York at Rockland. A public speaker, she has appeared on radio and television and at several club functions.
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
Phyllis Murphy, Reagent, Daughters of the American Revolution, Shatemuc Chapter
phyllandboy@aol.com
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
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