Meet Rooney meet-and-greet host Barbara Maughan

My friend Barbara Maughan is one of my co-hosts for the meet-and-greet reception taking place tonight at Lovegrove Gallery & Gardens for Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives Francis J. Rooney.

Barbara has strong roots in Southwest Florida and Sanibel Island. Her and her husband’s family first came to Sanibel in the 1960’s. A full time island resident, Barbara is very involved with the community and is proud to call Sanibel home.

Barbara is a proud University of Idaho alumnus. After spending three years in Dublin, Ireland in a management position with an international retailer while her husband pursued an advanced degree in international law, the couple made the permanent move home to Southwest Florida in 1998.

She has spent the past 15 years of her career holding various corporate senior management positions with high-end international retailers, most recently, Donna Karan and Chico’s.

Babs is affiliated with John R. Wood Island Real Estate and in partnership with Phaidre McDermott. Her extensive sales, business management and customer service background directly contribute to her success as a real estate professional. Barbara is results oriented and dedicated to providing amazing, energetic, hands-on personal service to her customers.

 

Her professional memberships include the Sanibel Captiva Association of Realtors, Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers, and Florida Association of Realtors.

In her free time she enjoys boating and paddle boarding with her family and spending as much time as possible on the water.

Meet Rooney meet-and-greet fundraiser host Jason Maughan

One of the hosts for tonight’s meet-and-greet for U.S. House of Representatives candidate Francis Rooney is Sanibel lawyer Jason Maughan. He’s my attorney too, so let me tell you about Jason.

First and foremost, he is a devoted husband and involved father. He is a lifelong conservative, and he’s one of Southwest Florida’s best lawyers and civic activists. Specializing in real estate, corporate law, construction and commercial litigation, Jason has been voted “Best Attorney and Law Firm of Sanibel and Captiva Islands” in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Among his other accolades and awards are Super Lawyer 2015-2016;  Florida Businessman of the Year, National Republican Congressional Committee, 2006 & 2007; Honorary Chairman Business Advisory Counsel, National Republican Congressional Committee, 2006; and Congressional Medal of Distinction, 2007.

Crediting his success to the many opportunities provided by the local community, Jason expresses his appreciation by serving as director and general counsel on the boards of numerous area charitable and philanthropic organizations, including Community Housing Resource (providing below market housing), Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) and Med Vets Charitable Foundation (providing free prescription medicine to Veterans’ service dogs).

Jason also serves on the Sanibel School Fund (raising funds to hire additional public language teachers and technology), School Advisory Council (SAC) and Children’s Education Center. In spite of only having two attorneys, Jason’s firm donates more than $100,000 a year in pro bono services to people and groups who cannot afford, but need, quality legal representation.

“I follow the rule that we pay back by giving, not taking,” Jason demurs.

Jason has also earned two consecutive appointments to the City of Sanibel Planning Commission, where he has earned a reputation for protecting citizens’ rights, and is currently the Chair of the Land Development Code Review Subcommittee. He coaches three sports at the public school and supports numerous community civic functions. He is especially proud that he and his family have twice won the Fourth of July parade for most patriotic float and best salute to the military.

When you hear Jason speak, you will detect a light brogue. That’s because his family emigrated from Ireland to Lee County in 1986 (after many visits and annual vacations dating back to 1976). Jason attended Bishop Verot High School, graduating in 1989, and went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Stetson University, where he was elected Senator for Off- Campus students and Chief Justice of the University Judicial Counsel.

 

His proudest moment during this time came in 1991, when Jason became a United States citizen.

After graduation, Jason attended Gonzaga University School of Law, from which he received his Doctorate in Law (JD) in 1996 – thanks in no small measure to hard work, determination, innate intelligence and a boatload of student loans. Gonzaga is also where Jason met the love of his life, Babs.


The two met in law school and Jason fell so hard for her (when you meet her, you’ll understand why) that he asked her to marry him only two weeks later.

Before settling on Sanibel, Jason and his bride traveled to Ireland, where Jason earned a Master’s Degree (LLM) in European Union Law, as well as diplomas in Comparative Constitutional Law. Although that degree qualified him to practice law in 36 countries, he and Babs decided that Sanibel is where they belonged.

They’ve been here for 20 years now, and together they have one son, Ronan Patrick, who is everything to them.

Not only is Jason hard-working, intelligent, patriotic and decisive, he is resolutely enterprising and resilient. While working for other firms in state and federal court matters, he saved enough money to open his own firm in 2004. The timing could not have been worse as Hurricane Charley dramatically closed his office on Friday the 13th in August of that year.

But like so many of his fellow Sanibel residents, business and property owners, he made repairs and re-opened, and has gone on o build a distinguished career representing a wide range of local and international clients from this District.

In his free time, you will find Jason joined by Babs and Ronan paddle-boarding, camping and boating , and he hunts with his son every available season. “I also have a great passion for the history of Sanibel, especially its role during World War II.”

He also looked up to his father, Kevin Patrick (who has passed), and his mother, Judith, who he also considers as heroes (along with John Wayne). “I have tried to be a worthy son. I find it gives me a positive direction in life and gets me away from the current ‘find yourself’ and ‘it’s all about me’ attitude, which is becoming painfully pervasive. To me, doing it for myself never meant as much as doing it for my family.” And it was to protect Babs, Ronan and everyone on Sanibel and throughout Southwest Florida from the ill effects of bad water caused by recurring freshwater releases from Lake Okeechobee that Jason put both his personal and professional lives on hold to run for Florida State Senate, District 27.

Jason's a great guy, and you'll have the chance to meet and talk with him this evening at the meet-and-greet fundraiser I'm throwing at Lovegrove Gallery & Gardens between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. I hope you'll come. See you in a few hours.

After the sixth time of having my signs stolen or run over, I've put a monster TRUMP sign on the gallery's roof!

Both the federal and Florida constitutions protect political speech, which includes the right of a property owner to put up signs on their land or building that support a political candidate. But apparently some people in or driving through Matlacha Island don’t feel bound by the Constitution.

Six times now they’ve removed, stolen or run over the signs I’ve put up to express my support for Donald Trump. In one case someone even climbed up on the roof of the gallery to take the signs I had placed on the mannequins that sit on the drip edge. Well that’s just not acceptable to me!

So I went to work, painted 3 by 4 foot letters on heavy canvas which together spell TRUMP and installed them on Lovegrove Gallery & Garden’s roof along with security cameras that will record anyone who tries to tamper with protected right of free speech. The Lee County Sheriff’s Department is also providing increased surveillance so that nothing happens to the signage over the next 26 days.

Funny thing. I’ve already had inquiries from people who want to buy the letters once the election is over. I don’t feel right about making money on the election, so I’m going to donate the proceeds of sale to provide  scholarships for up to 5 people to go to the Southwest Florida Public Service Academy to become a law enforcement officers, firefighters or EMTs.

Tuition costs range from slightly over $1,000 for EMT certification to more than $3,300 for law enforcement. This election has become so bitter. People are shouting and throwing things as they drive by the gallery. But I always make lemonade when life deals me lemons, and it will be gratifying if the time it has taken me to paint and install the new sign supports some new LE, firefighter or EMT cadets.

And how's this for a good omen? As we installed the letters on gallery roof today,  Bonnie spied an bald eagle flying overhead. Then we spotted a second, then a third and finally a fourth. I know. I know. Bald eagle nesting season just started on October 1 and they were no doubt looking for a place to establish and eyrie. But not one, but four bald eagles, at the very moment we were installing our new sign?

As you can see, I’m passionate about Donald Trump. I do believe he will make America great again. He’s not part of the Washington inner circle, the establishment that gets nothing done and no longer listens to the voice of the people. I believe that he will do what he says he will do. I feel safe with Donald Trump. I feel protected. And whether you agree or disagree with me, it’s my right to express my support!

Meet and greet reception for Francis J. Rooney on Friday

On Friday, I am hosting a meet-and-greet reception for Francis J. Rooney at Lovegrove Gallery & Gardens from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Francis is running for the United States Congress in District 19.

Francis Rooney is a proud husband, father of three and grandfather of two. He is a life-long conservative who is dedicated to the most vulnerable among us, the unborn. He is committed to being their advocate in Washington, and that has not only won him my support, but the endorsement of the Concerned Women Political Action Committee, part of the nation's largest public policy women's organization.

Francis' record in business uniquely qualifies him to combat the out-of-control spending and executive overreach of the current administration. For more than three decades, Francis has been the chairman of Rooney Holdings, Inc., which engages in building and construction management in the oil and gas, aviation, retail, manufacturing, transportation, and environmental industries. After his dad died, Francis and members of his family took over operations at Manhattan Construction Group. It was a struggle, but they grew the company and today, with Francis serving as CEO, Manhattan Construction Group engages in road and bridge construction, civil works and building construction and management in the U.S., Mexico and the Central America/Caribbean region.

“I’m running for Congress to bring an outside voice to Washington,” says Francis. “My background as a real-life business leader will help create jobs and grow economic opportunity for families across Southwest Florida.”

A graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and Georgetown University, Rooney has worked throughout his career to elect conservatives to office across the country, including right here in Florida. Now it’s our turn to elect him.

I hope to see you on Friday, October 14.

Meet Indie Author Day visitor and writer, Jill Cueni Cohen

On Saturday, Lovegrove Gallery & Gardens hosted Indie Author Day. We were the only venue in all of Southwest Florida to participate in this national event. Pittsburgh freelance magazine writer and author Jill Cueni Cohen was visiting her sister in Ocala three hours away. She read about us on the Indie Author Day website and drove down to spend the afternoon with us. Now that’s initiative and commitment!

 

Let me tell you more about Jill. We share a passion. We were both deeply affected by the events of 9/11 and want to make sure that people never forget what America went through and endured on that tragic day. As you know, I have staged Paint Out Loud and related events so that people could process and share their feelings about what happened to us all on that day. Jill wrote a book titled Like It Was Yesterday. A compilation of articles and stories that span the past 14 years, it chronicles the numerous changes that have taken place in our society as a result of that one horrible day. The book begins with a personal diary and gives the reader more insight into the way most Americans reacted through their experiences of sending sons and daughters into war, even while Americans tried to stay safe at home.

A former New York City resident, Jill had family members live through 9/11, and she has always been deeply affected by the resulting stories she has covered for Pittsburgh newspapers and magazines since then. However, her first trip to the 9/11 Memorial Museum was the impetus to put together a factual history book that would tell America's story like no other.

Her book appeals not just to those who experienced 9/11. Educators are already showing interest in Like It Was Yesterday as a valuable addition to the American history curriculum worldwide. The book was the 2015 The Authors’ Zone Award winner. As one reader commented on Amazon, the book uniquely enables parents to share their 9/11 experience with children born after September 11, 2001, especially since the event is not taught or discussed in school. (She's gotten 22 five-star and 2 four-star reviews on Amazon!)

Jill began her career as a news reporter in the 1980's. Recognizing that technology allows to work anywhere in the world, she now travels the country as a broadcast journalist for the Total Education Network while, at the same time, working as a freelance journalist. In this capacity, she writes for a number of newspapers and magazines, including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the North Hills Monthly Magazine, and the nationally-known Human Resource Executive Magazine.

 

Jill is a graduate of Ohio University's Scripps School of Journalism. As a freelance writer, Jill covers a variety of topics and industries; including human resources, food, travel, education, medical, municipal, automotive, mining, architecture and advertising.

Jill is planning to participate with us in next year’s Indie Author Day event. We hope she does. And by then she's likely to have another book in print or e-book format. I will keep you apprised.

Yesterday's Indie Author Day was a resounding success

Lovegrove Gallery & Gardens’ inaugural Indie Author Day was a resounding success. Patrons who came for the event or simply dropped into the gallery sipped Chardonnay, sampled “brain food” and got to mingle with half a dozen local independent authors about their books, their inspiration and the publishing process.

The authors and books represented in the gallery yesterday spanned a wide array of topics and genres. St. James City author Fran Thomas writes romantic comedy with a local twist and sold several copies of her novella The Lady is a Mayor. We can hardly wait for her to finish the sequel, which will be a full-length book that she expects to self-publish using the same tools and platform that she did for her novella. 

 

Fort Myers divorce and criminal defense lawyer John Mills is our local John Grisham. He’s written not one, not two, but six legal thrillers  Reasonable and Necessary (2000), The Manatee Murders (2002), The Objector (2004), Sworn Jury (2007), The Trophy Wife Divorce (2011) and The Hooker, The Dancer and The Nun (2015). The Trophy Wife Divorce is the name of John's boat, and he sells lots of books to people who see him on the water and in fishing tournaments.

Cape Coral author Carol Ervin writes historical-grounded period fiction set in a 1900 West Virginia logging town. She’s as prolific as John, with a series of three books, Girl on a Mountain (2012), Cold Comfort (2013) and Midwinter Sun (2014) - plus two others, Dell Zero and Ridgetop. To give her book the authentic historical underpinnings her readers love, Carol found an very old manuel and has become something of a self-taught expert on turn-of-the-20th-century logging in West Virginia.

My husband, Mike Silberg, is a religious author. His book is titled Falling in Love with the Prince of Life. And he writes and lectures on religious topics on a regular basis. Mike was brought up in a church community in the western suburbs of Chicago where he was raised on the Bible. He developed a love for the Lord and His word and pursued these interests at Anderson University in Indiana, where he received a degree in Bible and Religion in 1977.

Estero writer Tom Hall has partnered with North Fort Myers author Robin Tuthill to produce an historical about the women who helped settle Fort Myers in the years following the end of the Civil War and who turned the town into the modern-day economic, cultural and tourism center it is today. Their book is titled Female Pioneers of Fort Myers: Women Who Made a Difference in the City's Development and it's not only available on Amazon.com but in the Edison Ford Winter Estates gift shops, including the one at Bell Tower.

And while Betty Freberg couldn’t be here yesterday, I was on hand both as hostess, artist and the illustrator of a children’s book titled Frebie Dog Tales (The New Mailman, The Dog Catcher and the Judge). The book is inspired by a true tale. When Frebie's owner of 13 years, Doug, moved to Washington D.C., he asked his widowed mom to let Frebie move in with her. Neither Frebie nor Mimi could imagine the adventures they were about to share.

And each of us made a new friend in Pittsburgh freelance magazine writer and author Jill Cueni Cohen, who drove all the way down from Ocala to spend some time with us during Indie Author Day! (Jill and I share a passion for keeping the events of 9-11 alive in our hearts and minds, and I’ll tell you more about Jill in a separate post.)

As participants discovered, each of these authors has developed a battery of unique approaches to publish, market and familiarize the local community with their books. And that was one of the goals of Indie Author Day 2016. There's a lot to be said for networking, and Indie Author Day gave the participating authors a chance to meet and trade secrets about how they go about selling their books.

It also let aspiring writers know there’s a path to publication that does not necessarily entail finding a literary agent and getting a big name publisher to purchase their book. And it gave readers a chance to find out about books and authors they wouldn’t have otherwise met or known about.

“Publishing your own work is more viable today than ever before,” notes Independent Book Publishers Association CEO Angela Bole. “Indie Author Day provides a chance to discuss publishing options, learn best practices and celebrate successes with a tribe of forward thinking writers, publishers and librarians.”

With a growing list of partners including the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Publishers Weekly’s BookLife, Library Journal’s SELF-e, Pressbooks Public, RAILS, Massachusetts Library System (MLS), Soon to Be Famous and BiblioLabs,  authors participating in Indie Author Day gain support from all walks of the book publishing industry.
 

“Over the past three years, we’ve seen this movement grow and evolve, and Indie Author Day is the first instance of bringing this whole community together on one day to raise awareness of self-published books and demonstrate its place as a vibrant part of the publishing ecosystem,” adds  David Greenough, General Manager & Group Publisher of Library Journal.

I must say that on a national level, Indie Author Day actually targets local libraries. Unfortunately, none of our area libraries participated in this year’s event. But it’s my hope that every one of our libraries will get involved next year.

While the success of our event illustrates that art galleries and visual artists can play a role in introducing area writers to local readers, there is no substitute for the type of live, in-the-flesh support a library can provide. Or as Publisher’s Weekly VP of Business Development Carl Pritzkat says, “Behind most great authors is a great local library.”
 

But in the meantime, Lovegrove Gallery & Gardens is happy to bridge this gap, and it’s just part of my commitment to you, the people who buy my art and the Lovegrove line of Bealls products, who visit the gallery here on sunny Matlacha Island, and who read this blog to reward your interest and patronage in new and novel ways. Your feedback is important. So let me know what you think, and I’d love to hear from you if you participated in Indie Author Day.

Let me introduce you to my author-husband, Mike Silberg

Another of the authors who will be helping us celebrate Indie Author Day at the gallery tomorrow afternoon is my husband, Mike Silberg. Mike’s book is Falling in Love with the Prince of Life. In this very compelling book, Mike ponders questions such as:

• What did Jesus mean when He commanded us to "be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect"?
• What does it mean where it says, "When the perfect comes, the partial will be done away"?
• What does it mean that Jesus is coming to us as a Bridegroom searching for a bride?
• We need God, but does He need us?
• Who are we?
• We know God dwells in eternity, but does He dwell in the present?
• Is it normal or abnormal to sin?
• The Bible speaks of a second death -- what is the first?
• If Jesus died for us, why do we still die?

“I really enjoyed this book! Mike does an amazing job of continually referring to and supporting his narrative with the appropriate biblical text,” writes a commentator on Amazon, who gave Mike’s book a rating of five stars. “As someone who has been following Christ for 11 years now and who has read a lot of Christian books, I'm always a little skeptical about whether there is something new to learn but it didn't take long to realize there was a lot to learn from this author and book."

 

Mike was brought up in a church community in the western suburbs of Chicago where he was raised on the Bible. He developed a love for the Lord and His word and pursued these interests at Anderson University in Indiana, where he received a degree in Bible and Religion in 1977. Today, Mike writes, speaks and fights battles with the Lord’s help in a way that was totally foreign to us both not too long ago.

Visit Mike and the rest of the authors who will be in Lovegrove Gallery & Gardens tomorrow from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. for Indie Author Day.