From Sad Beginnings to Happy Endings - Softcover

Dolly is a wife, mother, homemaker, and grandmother. She was born and reared in San Francisco. She was president of her children's Mother's Guild at Epiphany Grammar School and served on the Parish Council. Her children went to the same grammar school that she had attended. Dolly and her husband moved to Windsor in 1995 after he retired. For three years she was president of The Madonna Sodality women s association of her church, Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Windsor. At her church she led a group to help people heal from abuse. She also gave lectures on healing toward forgiveness for people who had been abused. In 2009 she was awarded the honor of The Woman of the Year by the Madonna Sodality for the Santa Rosa Catholic Diocese Council of Women. After Dolly's husband of 46 years passed away, she moved to Vacaville, California, in 2009 to be near her children. For relaxation she bowls, reads, and watches movies. She loves to sing, dance, and write poetry. Dolly is a member of the International Society of Poets. She has received several Merit Awards and Editor s Choice Awards, and she was published in several Best Poems anthologies from 1995 to 2000. From Sad Beginnings to Happy Endings was her first complete collection of poems to published. The sequel New Beginnings, was published in 1999. In 2002 her illustrated book What Holds the Family Together was published. She has written words and music to a lullaby book titled Sleep, My Sweet Baby. She is presently working on a third Beginnings book and a line of educational children s books. Dolly hopes that through her poetry she can help make the world a better place. A NOTE FROM DOLLY I enjoy writing poetry, for it gives me a freedom of expression that I never had before. I tried to write something for everyone, no matter who they are maybe even those who say they re not into or don t like poetry. I m glad I discovered this talent at this time of my life. Some of my poems are just for the fun of reading and not on the serious side. The last poem in my book From Sad Beginnings to Happy Endings pretty much explains what I want to do with my poetry. I also wrote this book for my grandchildren, so they would have something to help them through life and to remember me by after I m gone. Dolly

From her heart and soul, Dolly has brought into being, inspired, transcendent poetry for everyday living. The insightful theme of From Sad Beginnings to Happy Endings, and New Beginnings provides us with an outstanding model for self-help to heal toward forgiveness from abuse and from other pains of life, and to help stop prejudice. Imagine, at one s fingertips a meaningful poem for each of the seasons, different emotional states of mind, family and special milestones such as courtship, wedding, honeymoon, and marriage.  Additionally, poetry on controversial issues, our world today, each holiday, sexuality, addiction, youth, infidelity and many more unique categories are explored in From Sad Beginnings to Happy Endings. Discover an inspirational perspective about the millennium on Page 5 of Dolly s second book of poetry, New Beginnings. While reading it, this reviewer experienced fresh realizations about innermost feelings and relationships. The work majestically stands on the threshold of changing concepts, from God to Adam and Eve to grandparents, parents, children, and onward to many more issues. Dolly is not reticent about revealing personal past mistakes, mistakes anyone can make, and providing guidance out of the night into the dawn of New Beginnings. Carefully blended and designed to stop prejudice and heal toward forgiveness, From Sad Beginnings to Happy Endings and New Beginnings harmoniously merge to create a nova burst of heightened awareness and enjoyment for any reader. --Lightword Magazine

I thoroughly enjoyed your book... --Florence Henderson, Singer and Actress

...I want to thank Dolly for putting parts of her life story in her book for people to read, for it took great courage. Parts of it brought back memories of my own life. I do hope that many young women will have the chance to read and learn. She is a very gifted writer. --Anni Bunge, teacher and grandmother