Carolyn Gray Thornton is a retired social worker, mother of four, grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of eight and counting. She is the wife of a retired United Methodist Minister and is still active in United Methodist Women.
Carolyn has enjoyed writing for many years but has not considered herself a professional author until she was in her 70s. She has written an award winning syndicated column, MIDDLE AGE PLUS for twelve years: five years with The Vernon County Record and the rest with The Nevada Daily Mail, both located in her home town of Nevada Missouri. Carolyn also writes eight articles a month for the Senior page of the Nevada Daily Mail about people, places, things, and organizations that are over 50 years old. She received the Citizen of the Year award in her native Nevada, Missouri Rotary Club in 1994.
Thornton's newest book, just out from Skyward Publishing, WHITHER THOU GOEST? YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING! takes a look at life as a United Methodist minister's wife. She has compiled a light hearted look behind the parsonage door sure to have you laughing out loud..
Due to the success of her column, she has compiled two books of her essays, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE ROAD TO SENILITY and FOR EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON, regaling her experiences of becoming "Middle Age Plus," her term for finally accepting the fact of growing older. She does this with humor we can all relate to, whether young or old (Oops, Middle Age Plus!). As she likes to say, "I've gone from outhouses to saunas, from wood burning cook stoves to microwaves and from fountain pens to computers." Along the way, she has picked up a ton of wisdom and experience that we can all learn from and laugh along with her.
Thornton writes, "The memories brought forth from writing these books have made me realize that in spite of the Depression, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and other catastrophes, these have really been very good years to experience. We are blessed with current technology while still remembering clearly the days when we lived without electricity, running water, and paved roads. We have experienced the best of two ages. We don't need to dwell on the worst of those two ages, because our perspective of age gives us the wisdom to know that 'this too shall pass.'"
Carolyn has also co-authored a game book with her sister, Ellen Gray Massey, FAMILY FUN AND GAMES - A HUNDRED YEAR TRADITION. This book comes from their lifetime of game playing in their large family, handed down to them by their parents. It will give the reader fun games to play for everyone, young or old, big or small, and is sure to get people talking, laughing and having fun.
Carolyn is an active member of the Missouri Writer's Guild , Ozark Writers, Inc., Soroptomist International of Nevada, MO., American Association of University Women, Board of the Nevada Service Unit of the Salvation Army and two rural women's clubs, one being the Ellis Domestic Science Club that her mother started in 1915 and is still going strong. She also presents a program to Elderhostel groups based on the games book entitled "The Heritage of Games in the Family Culture." She is available for lectures and book signings.
Carolyn Gray Thornton's books are published by Skyward Publishing
and are available thru:
You can also contact her directly at cgthornton@sofnet.com.
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