T.K. Cassidy, a former resident of the island of Guam, mother of 2,  
grandmother of 6 and lover of all things Irish, talks about her  
writing  and trying to get her stories published. 

"I refused to believe the big name publishers when they turned me  
down! They all said 'we love your stories but the potential readership  
is too small' to consider publishing them." Cassidy's usually smiling  
blue eyes flash when she says, "When you know something is true in  
your heart, it might be hard to convince everyone else but it will work -  
if you just keep on believing it yourself." 

Former Children's Librarian for the Territory of Guam who is returning  
to a school this fall, Cassidy is also a storyteller and lecturer. "I started 
writing and telling stories to try to instill a love for books in my 1100  
grand kids at Upi Elementary where I was the librarian. Things just  
grew and grew. Now I find I have finally discovered my true vocation. 
I always knew I was a closet "ham" but I've always been very shy.  
It is great fun to get up in front of an audience and become someone 
else,  like the lady who can call dolphins from the sea (second book 
in series) or the little  chicken who learned to call the sun, my signature  
story. I have also discovered my stories translate nicely to other  
cultures. I told stories at the Blueberry Storytelling Festival in 
Popularville Mississippi and at the University of Southern Mississippi  
in the summer of  1995. There were no language problems. The people 
there liked them just as much as  people here do!" 

Since returning to the mainland in May of 1998, Cassidy has taken-up  
residence in Swansboro North Carolina. Both she and her husband Rick  
lived in this area before 25 years ago, married to other people and they  
never met. She works for Onslow  County Schools in the newest most  
high tech school in the county - Sand Ridge Elementary opening on 5  
January 1999 to students. 

Cassidy can be reached at  tkc@storylady.com for more  information  
about her books, her storytelling workshops and her school visits http://www.storylady.com.