Back Cover Copy: “Hoping to write an important story–a family story from World War II–but not knowing what form it would take, Joy Neal Kidney, in her forties, began to study writing.
“She attended the Summer Writing Festival at the University of Iowa several summers, exploring fiction and nonfiction, and also the Cedar Falls Christian Writers Conference. Her first goal was to write something well enough that someone would pay her for it.
“Joy became a freelancer, with dozens of stories published in several newspapers and magazines, and podcasted more recently on Our American Stories with Lee Habeeb.”
Next comes the title of the collection of these tales! Do any of these sound like fun?
‘Possum for Supper and Other Rabbit Trails
Roller Skating in the House and Other Stories
A Spider in the Choir Loft and Other Stories
The Immigrant and the Outlaw and Other Ponderings
Let me know if you have other suggestions.
Here’s what the contents are so far:
Chapter 1 Midlife Freelancer
Chapter 2 Celestial (4 stories)
Chapter 3 Childhood on a Farm (3 stories, including Roller Skating in the House)
Chapter 4 Flora and Fauna (8 stories, including the spider one, one poem)
Chapter 5 Discovering Ancestors (7 stories, including The Immigrant and the Outlaw (Jesse James)
Chapter 6 Grandma Leora (5 stories, including Possum and also Needle in her Hand)
Chapter 7 Raising a Son (4 stories, including The Tooth Fairy)
Chapter 8 Travels (only 1 story)
Chapter 9 Veterans (1 poem, 3 stories)
Chapter 10 Memorial Day (4 stories, including Iowa’s Freedom Rocks)
Chapter 11 Wilson Brothers (1 poem, 1 story)
Chapter 12 Bosnian Refugees (4 stories)
Chapter 13 Holidays (3 stories)
Chapter 14 Other Stories (6 stories)
Afterword
Son Dan was a good sport when I did stories about him back in the 1990s, so I’ll dedicate this one to him.
The roller skating title sounds like great fun to me!
Thank you, Kelly. One from my childhood!
The first two are my favorites.
Thanks, Pete! I also love the stories that go with those.
“The Outlaw and the Immigrant”
I think I like it that way.
Thank you, Craig. It’s a family story/rumor that I set out to see if it could possibly true. The research was fun, then trying to imagine it. Dethlef Ohrt was German and much older then. The outlaw was Jesse James!
Oooh! “The Immigrant and the Outlaw”…that one really caught my eye! 🥰❤️🥰
Thanks, Vicki! It was a family story/rumor that older German Dethlef Ohrt had sold a horse to Jesse James! I set out to see if it was even possible that they’d met.
Oh my goodness! Can’t wait to read about it! ❤️🥰❤️
“The Immigrant and the Outlaw” is my favourite as well. I can’t wait to read this collection, Joy. Well done.
Bless you, Darlene!
It sounds fascinating to me, Joy. I feel that your title decision will be wise.
Thank you, Tim. I’m hoping it’ll be fun for readers!
I think it’ll be fascinating, Joy.
Bless you, Tim.
😍
I’ve been meaning to ask you if you have another book cooking–and you do!! I like “Roller Skating in the House and Other Stories” for a title.
Liz, you are dear! Crohn’s mussed up most of 2025, so a couple I’d hoped to really work on are started, notes all over, thought about, but I just couldn’t concentrate. There’s enough fun stuff from mostly the 1990s that I thought I’d eventually get around to, but it’s easier to compile than to think! I hope they’ll be fun to read.
I’m sure they will be fun to read!! Do you have any idea of publication date?
I haven’t even mentioned to Robin Grunder that I’ve gotten this far. Maybe I should. She’s also recovering from extensive back surgery. It’ll depend on her schedule/energy and also that of Nelly Murariu who will likely do the cover. This is the first time I haven’t had an idea for the cover!
I hope Robin’s going to be all right. Please keep us posted on your progress toward publication!
Bless you, Liz.
😊
You have a good selection of titles. Here’s another for you to consider: “Possum for Supper and Other Ancestral Tales.”
Possum is pulling ahead. Thanks, Nancy!
I’m with Craig and Victoria. Short and simple, “The Immigrant and the Outlaw”. Let your readers ponder what’s inside.
Thanks, Bob. It just pulled ahead of “Possum.”
Can’t wait to read this one!
Bless you, Dennis!