4 A
❘
WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ APRIL 6, 2016
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
RYAN CRONK , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
E XTRAORDINARY P EOPLE
Ellen Gunderson Traylor
C ATHERINE J. R OURKE
For the Siuslaw News
_____________
wanted to add rich detail and imagi-
nation to what those scenes might
have actually felt like.”
But this was no easy task as Ellen
faced years of monumental research.
Amazingly, she juggled this
Herculean literary endeavor with her
roles as a single mother and teacher,
similar to another epic author, J.K.
Rowling of the “Harry Potter” fanta-
sy series. And, just like Rowling,
Ellen’s historical fiction delights all
ages and is often compared to the
works of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.
“I don’t just assemble characters
in historical costumes and settings,”
Ellen said. “There’s a huge differ-
ence between legitimate historical
fiction and historical fantasy. It’s
painstaking labor that involves 75-
percent research. My top sellers
offer a fantasy element, and that’s
what appeals to many readers.”
Ellen’s archaeology, journalism
and English studies at the University
of Oregon and Eastern Washington
University proved handy, as well as
her knowledge of Scripture.
“My books took years to complete
mostly because of the in-depth
research involved,” she said. “That’s
why historical fiction is the most
challenging kind to write. You have
to create characters that feel authen-
tic to the time period. The writing is
the easy part.”
M
ost aspiring authors dream
of publishing a book, hop-
ing it will become a best
seller. For one young college student
named Ellen Gunderson Traylor,
publication was the last thing on her
mind when she dove into writing her
first book with gusto in 1967.
“You write because it’s in your
blood, not because you want to get
published,” she said. “For me, writ-
ing is a joy and never a chore.”
The Florence author turned that
passion into 20 published works and
two best-sellers, all featuring notori-
ous biblical personalities in sweep-
ing fictional accounts.
To date, this prolific storyteller
has sold more than 2 million copies
of her best-selling books, earning the
title of “America’s Foremost Biblical
Novelist.” Open any of Ellen’s
tomes to meet colorful portrayals of
Moses and Mary Magdalene,
Samson and Abraham, Jonah and
Joseph and Joshua, with all their
human flaws and follies.
“I wanted to breathe real life into
these characters by showing their
human emotions,” Ellen said. “The
drama of fic-
tion makes the
“Writing is like breathing. ... You write
Bible come
alive for mod-
because you can’t live without it.”
ern-day read-
—ELLEN TRAYLOR
ers. When they
bond with the
Despite digital technology spawn-
characters, readers can participate in
ing Nooks and Kindles with Twitter-
the story.”
length stories, Ellen’s classic novels
What inspired Ellen to pen such
still captivate eager audiences.
vast epics — mostly by hand, in an
Letters pour in from readers detail-
era before computers — when the
ing how her books have changed and
Bible already recounts them?
even saved their lives. According to
“I felt a burning desire to tell
Ellen, one reader talked about being
these stories in a way that’s never
close to suicide but chose to go on
been done before, with authenticity
living after reading a crucifixion
and accuracy, but without deviating
scene.
from Scripture,” she said. “I just
“Readers tell me they can relate to
my characters,” she said. “They
offer people hope, which is what the
Bible is all about.”
In many ways, Ellen’s stories are
cinematic.
“I visualize the scene as if I’m
watching a movie,” she said. “I put
on paper what I’d like to see on a
screen. While movies passively fill
the imagination, a book opens a
dimension for readers to bring in
their own. When you read a book,
you have to participate; it makes you
think.”
Still, how does Ellen find the time
to write, research and “imagineer”
tales spanning hundreds of pages?
“Writing is like breathing,” she
said. “You don’t quit breathing
because you’re raising kids, and you
don’t quit raising kids because
you’re breathing. You write because
you can’t live without it.”
According to Ellen, it never
dawned on her that she could make a
living as a writer. Yet she survived
as a novelist while raising her chil-
dren after her first marriage ended.
“The greatest challenge of my life
has also been my greatest joy,” she
noted, “and that was raising two
boys as a single mom on a writer’s
income. I was on my knees a lot, but
I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Perhaps that also explains why
some books took years to complete.
She just released her latest book,
“The Cornerstone,” in March after
15 years in the making. As the third
book in the “David Rothmeyer”
series, the adventure story portrays
current events in the Middle East in
light of fascinating biblical prophe-
cies. Ellen describes it as “the
Hatfields and McCoys on steroids.”
Another contemporary work, “A
Bridge Back — The Early Days of
Florence, Oregon,” reflects her life-
long passion for history.
Ellen grew up in “a tight-knit
community of teachers, preachers
and writers” that set the foundation
for her work as a writing and jour-
PHOTO BY CATHERINE ROURKE
Ellen Traylor of Port Hole Books and Publishing has written 20 novels.
nalism teacher, magazine and news-
paper correspondent, public speaker
and TV-radio talk show host. Her
attempts to publish her first book
met with the usual rash of rejections.
However, she notes that every reject-
ing publishing company eventually
bought the secondary rights to her
books.
“That’s why I encourage writers
to be persistent and never give up,”
she said.
Ellen never gave up on love
either. She moved to Montana with
her second husband, Richard, who
helped her renovate a historical
church into a bookstore that she
operated for 13 years.
In 2006 the couple moved to
Florence where she opened Port
Hole Books and expanded it into a
publishing operation. Now married
for 26 years, Ellen and Richard
divide their time between Florence
and Montana. Her vision is to create
a writers colony at the Port Hole
Center in Gardiner, which includes a
bookstore and meeting space for
group events.
“I started writing as a child and
always loved it,” she said. “I’m not
stopping now.”
______________________
Catherine J. Rourke is an award-
winning writer, journalist and book
editor who teaches creative writing
at the Florence Regional Arts
Alliance. She may be contacted at
CJReditor@gmail.com.
LETTERS
Similar experience
As I read and enjoyed the article about the
1953 Chevy written by my friend, Cal
Applebee, (“Chevy Bel Air,” March 9, B3) I
was reminded of my own similar experience
with a 1954 Ford at about the same time.
The 1954 Ford was purchased in San Jose,
Calif., in 1960. It had a 239ci Y block V8 and 3-
speed column shift with overdrive. It would be
a rare car today as it was the Sunliner with the
Plexiglas Insert in the top. It looked great, but
on a warm, sunny day it was like sitting in a hot
greenhouse.
I drove this car with reckless abandon — I
really am lucky to have survived — until the
engine lost a rod through the side of the block.
So, I replaced the engine with a 312ci Y block
from a 1957 Fairlane — 130 HP to 250 HP.
Now, by the standards of the day, I had a fast
car! Of course, the transmission and drive line
could not handle the increased power. Brakes
then seemed to be an “after thought.”
I rapidly discovered it was easier to replace
the transmission with a junkyard unit than to
repair it. Soon there was a growing pile of bro-
ken transmissions, pinion gears and burnt out
clutch facings behind my dad’s garage.
Needless to say, he did not look upon that pile
favorably. I finally sold the 1954 Ford for $200,
and probably prolonged my life!
John Machi
Florence
Great expectations
I am writing today to share an experience I
had on March 29 at the new Clawson’s
Wheelhouse Family Dining. When my family
pulled up to the restaurant, the parking lot was
full. We could see into the building that the
tables were full as well. Being the second day
open, I was very happy to see the turnout.
As we walked in, we were greeted by a wait-
ress with a big smile welcoming us in and invit-
ing us to sit where ever we wish. As we made
our way to a table, the decor caught my eyes. It
has been transformed into a clean family-style
dining restaurant. New tables, the decor, the
walls have fresh paint, all very welcoming.
I could see that many patrons had not been
served yet and I knew at this moment it would
be a longer than normal wait time for our din-
ner. Many people in Florence had the same idea,
“let’s try the new place,” as my husband put it.
At this time I would like to put this into per-
spective. This was day two, and more than like-
ly they had only been open to the public for no
more than 20 hours. New team, new equipment,
new menu, new everything.
As Americans we have grown to expect
instant gratification. We want excellent cus-
tomer service at all times, even though most do
not give that level of customer service in their
own line of work. We want our food hot, we
want our movies now — no waiting for any-
thing. We have no sympathy for our fellow man,
no compassion to the young person on their first
day on the job. No empathy for anyone.
I sat there in the corner of the room and
watched very rude, very demanding customers
belittle the staff who were obviously doing their
best — on day two.
Our food did take longer than normal time
and that’s OK. In a world that is going by too
fast, sitting there with my family, we talked and
enjoyed each other. If they had been open for
several months, then yes, I would question the
skills of the staff, but not on day two.
After we were done, I thanked the staff and
headed home. I went online and became angry
at the outright obnoxious reviews. All I have to
say is shame on you. How dare you criticize a
new business that has not been given a single
chance to work out all the kinks. Can any of you
honestly say you have started a new job and had
everything run perfect? Even when Disneyland
opened its doors, it had no running water to the
drinking fountains and they ran out of food.
I want to thank the Clawson family for taking
a chance and opening up a local family dining
restaurant. In a time of wages going up, not a lot
of people will take this chance, but they did.
They will employ local people. I will be back
very soon and give my support to this family
and their staff.
Dawnell Spencer
Florence
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Salem, OR 97301
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Eugene, OR 97401
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