Jan 22, 2004

Almaden’s Erna Holyer has taught hundreds to “write for fun and profit”
New class begins Jan. 29

By Rosemarie Niles
Special to the Times

People who strive for accomplishments like to surround themselves with achievers. Erna Holyer’s adult education writing class, Fact and Fiction for Fun and Profit, is a prime example.

Members of Holyer’s last class published five books, 16 magazine or newspaper articles, and won five writing contests. Six book manuscripts are ‘in the works’ ranging from personal memoirs to fictional romances. Many of the senior citizens are writing stories encompassing a vast array of topics.

“My students come from all walks of life,” says Holyer. “They have many colorful tales to tell.”

A teacher in the Metropolitan Adult Education program since 1968, Holyer looks forward to each new semester. She has written and published 15 books and more than 200 nonfiction articles.

“I always find great enthusiasm in the men and women attending class. It’s infectious,” remarks the petite, blue-eyed, blonde, Holyer.

Her latest book, Dangerous Secrets, a tale of a young girl in Nazi Germany, is available from 1stbooks library.

Writing sessions are held weekly. Students read their manuscripts aloud and the instructor as well as the classmates offer critiques.

Dale Tibbils, a General Electric Corp. retiree, has been a member for four years. He stresses, “This class is important to me. Just wanting to create a story isn’t enough. I must discipline myself to write every day, and the class helps me do that. To be a published author you must never give up.”

Tibbils completed his first novel, Cyber Invasion, a thriller about computer terrorism, and saw it published in 2002. He’s now working on a sequel.

Each class session covers certain aspects of writing. Students take notes on scraps of paper, in three ring binders and even laptops. By the end of the school year, a variety of
issues related to writing are covered such as writing, marketing and selling.

Beatrice Warren has written ten books and numerous short stories and articles. Diminutive with white, silky hair, this 90-year-old dynamo retired from nursing thirty years ago and began a writing career.

“I used my nursing background for my novels and short stories and am now using family history. Hopefully this will be my crowning achievement,” she declares.

Her latest book, West by Handcart, is available now. It’s a fiction story based on tales Warren’s grandfather told of the Mormon migration.

Ronald Portal, a retired physical education instructor, is a firm believer in aerobic exercise.

“My deep convictions spurred me to write my first book,” he said. Muscular and ruddy-faced he adds with a wide smile, “I just wanted to make sure my views got into print.”

As he completed each chapter, Portal read his story in class and now his book, Aerobics—The Invisible Advantage, is published.

Ursula Meier has been a class member for eight years.

“I wouldn’t miss the critiques. I need them for the books I’m working on,” she emphasizes.

Meier was commissioned by the Friends of Foster Gardens Hawaiian Botanical Society to write a biography of Dr. Wilhelm Hillebrand. Meier adds, “He is famous for founding the Botanical Gardens in Honolulu, as well as being Chief Physician at Queen’s Hospital and also Minister of Immigration.”

After two years of research, Meier sorted through a massive amount of information and wrote an intriguing yet factual account of this extraordinary man.

The class awaited the reading of each chapter of The Life and Times of Dr.Wilhelm Hillebrand. It will be in print in 2004.

Once a story is written, how does an author get it published? Selling is a big part of writing. Eleven class members found good markets for their articles in these publications: The Times Media Newspapers, Sierra Heritage, Alive, Diversion, Guide to the Arts, Dialog Magazine, Chronicles of the Old West, Good Old Days, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Farm Times, The Prompter, and The Los Gatos Times Weekly.

Writing contests are fun and offer monetary prizes. Five class members entered various contests. Leo Black, Anne Darling, Norma Faulkner, Jeanne Lewis, and Dale Tibbils came up winners.

While awaiting jury duty, Jeanne Lewis was intrigued by the huge painting of Old Santa Clara Valley in the Superior Court’s building. The canvas glowed with bright prune blossoms. It inspired her to write about artists of the Valley. Lewis read her essay in class for feedback and entered the California Pioneers Annual Contest. Her story, Art, Artists and the Pursuit of Creativity in Santa Clara Valley, Circa 1800’s to 1900’s, won the First Prize of $500.

Leo Black, 90, decided it was time to write about his life. “I was born on a New Jersey farm and learned to milk cows, plow and cultivate. In the depression years I was a hobo and had to get along without money. When good times returned, I entered the University of Texas, graduated and taught school. Later, the aircraft industry became my field of work. But the best part of my life was after retirement,” says Black.

His nostalgic tales of the 1920’s and 1930’s delighted the class, and his story about Judge Welch’s Mountain Home garnered an honorable mention in the California Pioneers Contest.

The next session of Metropolitan Adult Education Program’s “Writing Fact and Fiction for Fun and Profit” taught by Erna Holyer will begin on January 29. It is held every Thursday from 12:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. at Del Mar High School, 1224 Del Mar Ave. in Campbell. For more information or to register for the class call (408) 947-2300 or visit www.metroed.net