The Journal

Media Credit: Anya Orzel Jan Greenburg, a Webster University MAT graduate of 1973, displays her books and her passion for the arts at the Meet The Authors even on Sept. 9 in Emerson Library.

The Webster University Alumni Association held its second Meet the Authors Book Signing and Reception at the Emerson Library conference room on Sept. 9, 2009.

"One of the purposes of the Alumni Association is to provide recognition to alumni accomplishments and we have lots of alums and faculty who have written books, many different types," said Mary Krchma, development officer in the WU alumni office. "We thought it would be a nice way to recognize them and help them promote their work and for us to brag a little bit about their accomplishments."

Among the many authors, students, fans and other hopefuls, WU created a place for people to share experiences and network with others who were passionate about passing on information and their love of literature. The reception allowed readers from all walks of life and all generations to meet the authors, purchase any number of books and get them autographed. The readers were able to talk to the authors and get advice, explanations and just have a good time.

"This came out of the Alumni Office, Jennifer Jezek-Taussig is the Director of Alumni Programs, she thought about it and we created the program," Krchma said. "It has really worked well. I think they really like the opportunity to sell their books, but most importantly the networking they do with each other and just connecting."

Alumni from all generations came to Meet the Authors in support of friends they graduated with who have been published.

"My daughter went to school with Mary Louis Sennewald," said Gerry Brischetto, a 1960 WU alumna. "We came to see her. My oldest daughter graduated from here, too, in 1964. Webster University means a lot to me."

Jan Greenburg, a former student, teacher and board member for WU, had a collection of her books on a table, ranging from realistic fiction to art history. She won the Robert Sibert Honor award for her book "Vincent Van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist." Greenburg graduated from WU 1973, and later taught art here.

"I felt a desire to better inform students of how to appreciate art," said Greenburg.

Sue Lauber-Fleming, a 1984 WU alumna, co-wrote "Broken Trust" with her husband Patrick - both are therapists. The book is about victims of sexual, physical, and mental abuse, mostly through the clergy of the Catholic Church. The book emphasizes that the perpetrators are also victims of past abuse. "Broken Trust" tells real stories from real people, both victims and perpetrators. The names are withheld for protection, as they are either anonymous or under pseudonyms, except for Sue's story that is also in the book.

"I just really wanted to work with people," Lauber-Fleming said. "I love people. I had people actually coming up to me for counseling and I wasn't licensed at the time."

Jackiewiez specializes in children's literature. His book "Hickory and the Clock" is the story of the mouse in the well-known nursery rhyme Hickory Dickory Dock.

Alaspa writes both nonfiction and fiction and has a wide variety of books including: "Rig (A Novel of Terror)" is his most popular book amazon.com.

"My advice is to stick with it if you're a writer," said Alaspa. "You can do it. I think there is more opportunities for young writers because of the electronic publishing."

Chan's books are nonfiction on financial security, entrepreneurship, publishing and investments.

"A lot of people want to get into publishing," Chan said. "They think that you have to go to literary agents and beg, but you don't. One of the easiest ways is to start your own publishing little business and you can reach out to the world."

Cannon-Chambers writes about her experiences as being the first in her family to go to college and get a degree, her success and struggles and the encouragement she got from her mother. Her book is "A Time to Remember: Memoirs of an Educator."

""I felt like a trailblazer," Cannon-Chambers said. "I was the first graduate in my family, the first one to ever receive a college degree. I just wanted to share some of those experiences I had in St. Louis public schools."

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