Sandra Grabman

Writing about others is easier than writing about myself, so I would like to start out by publicly thanking my beautiful teacher at Grandin Court Elementary School in Roanoke, Virginia, for encouraging that awkward little kid to follow her dream and write stories. There have been many very kind people in my life, but Mrs. Sherman deserves an award for allowing me to read that day's offerings to my classmates each afternoon. It couldn't have been easy for her. In retrospect, I realize those 1-2 page stories about everyday occurrences must have been awfully boring to her. Mrs. Sherman, I'd like for you to know that my writing style has improved since then. Richmond Professional Institute (now known as Virginia Commonwealth University) gave me wonderful training in the secretarial realm, and it has served me well over the years. When not burning the midnight oil writing a book or article, I work as a church secretary; so that training is being used day and night. Being a secretary (nowadays referred to as an Administrative Assistant) is a key that opens many doors. As a secretary, I have seen firsthand behind-the-scenes operations in the aluminum industry, the worlds of insurance and banking, the medical field, a radio station, and churches, both large and small. I'd say my best education came from the six years I spent as a Legal Assistant to a personal-injury attorney. One learns much about human nature by being the liaison between the injured party and his lawyer. Putting all that life experience to good use, I've been penning book-length biographies of the people I've most enjoyed watching on the large and small screens - Albert Salmi, Peggy Ann Garner, Pat Buttram, and Lloyd Nolan (Nolan's co-authored by radioman Joel Blumberg) - as well as a fun book, co-authored by retired actor Wright King, about the era of live television. My "day jobs" keep me too busy now to write, but my workload will lessen in 2013, at which time I just might pick up where I left off. My dream biography? A joint one about the Bridges men - Lloyd, Beau, and Jeff.