Mary Kathryn Clark This is Me

Education

 Web References

1. 1. The Winchester Star-‘Colors of His Abundance’

   www.winchesterstar.com/thewinc - [Cached]

   Published on: 8/6/2002   Last Visited: 8/6/2002

   At 71, Mary Kathryn Clark still takes risks.
   
   After the relative success of her first self-published book, "Colors of His Grace," Clark recently decided to publish a second Christian book, "Colors of His Abundance."
   
   For three years she tried to get her first book published but found it impossible to break into the competitive Christian market.
   
   In 2000, she finally decided to publish the book herself. She sold approximately 870 copies out of 1,000 printed.
   
   With "Colors of His Abundance," Clark didn't waste any time.
   
   "I figured at my age I didn't have two or three years that I wanted to be sending manuscripts out and getting rejected over and over again," she said.
   
   The new book, a daily devotional, includes 365 entries.
   ...
   "Some of (the new book) just comes out of my own personal experience of living 71 years," Clark said. "I'm very transparent. I'm very open. I'm very honest with sharing my feelings, and I think both books relate to common, everyday experiences that everybody has."
   
   Clark wrote more about her own struggles, losing her first husband to Alzheimer's disease and an abusive second marriage, in her first book, which was geared toward women.
   
   "Colors of His Abundance," she said, could appeal to males and females from mid-teens to adults of all ages.
   
   The new book's goal is to help people see every day as a gift and take time to slow down and appreciate a little solitude.
   
   It's about the importance of learning life's lessons. To do that, Clark said, one has to take risks.
   
   "As you get older, the risks may not be quite as great. To me, a risk is anything that you do differently. As we get older, it's so easy to be set in our ways . . . To me, that makes life pretty boring."
   
   Born in Front Royal, Clark came to Winchester in 1953 as the educational director at First Baptist Church. One of her major jobs was directing the kindergarten class there, before kindergarten was part of the public school system.
   
   She later attended the University of Virginia, obtaining a master's degree in reading, and became employed by Winchester City Public Schools, first as a reading teacher, then as a supervisor.
   
   When the paperwork involved with Clark's job with the schools became too tedious, she enrolled at James Madison University, where at 55 she began studying to become a licensed professional counselor.
   
   Clark was a private-practice counselor in Winchester and later in Harrisonburg. She continues to practice part time in Winchester.
   
   Some reflections in Clark's new book stem from her years of experience as a counselor.
   
   "I believe very strongly that God has a purpose for your life," she said. "I'm a firm believer that no matter how low you sink, you can always make it back."
   
   ***
   
   "Colors of His Abundance" sells for $15.95 and is available locally at Living Branches, Winchester Book Gallery, and Judy's Cards & Gifts.