Letters in Time by Reiss Susan (i love reading books .txt) 📕

real Maryland Room of the Talbot County Free Library is staffed by Becky Riti. She presides over a treasure trove of information, everything from maps and books to original journals and photographs from long ago. She knows how to find things and is eager to help every visitor to her domain.

The fact that cursive writing is no longer taught in many schools is a shame, in my opinion. So, here’s a tip of the hat to teachers and parents who take the time to teach the next generations. It’s faster than printing and can be more legible. If nothing else, it gives a person the means to develop a distinctive signature.

Many thanks to the St. Michaels Fire Department, Station 40, especially Kevin Smith, Firefighter Engineer and Kristen Jones EMT/Firefighter for help in getting the “fire in the field” scenes right!

I think all dog lovers dream of having a well-trained companion. I’m fortunate to live with Leo, a yellow lab, who has qualified as a therapy dog. Before the lockdowns of the pandemic, he was the reading dog for kids at the St. Michaels branch library. His training became a little lax during our at-home time. Whenever someone came to visit, he was out of his mind with delight. One day during a particularly exuberant greeting, I said, “Manners.” Much to everyone shock, he sat and extended a paw. Since Ghost is so well-trained in the story, I thought I’d add this little detail to his behavior in honor of Leo.

We don’t really write letters anymore. We write emails. Writing good letters to clearly convey information and how we truly feel is fast becoming a lost art along with cursive writing. I often thought of good letter-writing as belonging to times centuries past. Then I found the little book in the public domain and online called How to Write Letters: A Manual of Correspondence Showing the Correct Structure, Composition, Punctuation, Formalities, and Uses of the Various Kinds of Letters, Notes and Cards by J. Willis Westlake, A.M., Professor of English Literature, State Normal School, Millersville, PA 1883. Quite a mouthful, I know. It was printed 138 years ago, as of this writing. Of course, some of the advice no longer applies, I was surprised how much of the information would be useful today. For example, the author suggests that a letter written in anger or extreme emotion should be set aside for at least a night, if not several days. I’m sure we all have hit Send before we should have.

Many thanks to my writing buddies, Jen and Donna, who are always willing to read and comment. You are great companions on this writer’s journey.

And as always, thanks to my family for your support always. Barry, Erin, Zoe, Matt, Maggie and our newest addition, Joey, I love you all to the moon and back!

Susan Reiss

St. Michaels, Maryland

2021

Susan Reiss

Susan Reiss trained as a concert pianist, then worked as a television writer/producer for many years.  Her work has received a Silver Medal, New York International Film Festival, the Cine Golden Eagle, three Tellys and numerous Emmy nominations.  Named as a Scribe of the Shore, she participated in the Sheldon Goldgeier Lecture Series.

Her blog explores topics about writing, sterling silver, sailing and Eastern Shore life at www.SusanReiss.com from her home in St. Michaels, Maryland.

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Contents

Title Page

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Untitled

Letters Across the Miles (Chapter One)

Acknowledgements & Notes

Susan Reiss

Silver Series

Historical Series