Arlene Uslander is the author of 14 non-fiction books. She has written articles for numerous parenting magazines and was an elementary school teacher for 25 years. She helped create and taught in a model program called "The Study of People."  Her first book, "Their Universe: The Way Children Feel," was published by Delacorte Press and then Delta. Now retired from teaching, Uslander is a freelance writer and editor.

Brenda Warneka practices business and family law in Scottsdale, Arizona. She has written extensively on legal topics, has been published in The Marciopa Lawyer, a county bar publication. She also writes on travel and human interest topics.

Arlene spoke with me recently about "The Simple Touch of Fate" and her other work.


Denise: What inspired you and Brenda Warneka to compile over 50 true stories for the anthology: The Simple Touch of Fate: Real People; Real Stories?

Arlene: I am a freelance professional editor and I became interested in the subject of "Fate" after I edited a manuscript for a young man whose life was saved as a result of his sister's premonition. I thought back to events in my own life that seemed to be the result of fate, or coincidence, or perhaps the intervention of a Higher Power, and I decided to solicit stories for an anthology about people who had been in the right place at the right time, or not in the wrong place in the wrong time. Brenda became involved because she was the first person to respond to my call for submissions with the incredible story of how Fate saved her husband's life. Her story is entitled "Fate on the Fly."

Denise: What guidelines did you set for this inspirational collection?

Arlene: We let it be known in various writer's newsletters, as well as by advertising in Writer's Digest and Poets and Writers magazines, and by spreading the word to friends and relatives that we were looking for true, compelling stories for a "Fate" anthology and how being at the right place at the right time,or not being in the wrong place at the wrong time, had a profound effect on people's lives. A prerequisite was that each story should leave the reader wondering, "Was that just a random coincidence, or was it meant to be?"

Denise: How many submissions did you receive?

Arlene: We received hundreds, from all over the world.

Denise: Share with us one of your favorite stories in the book.

Arlene: The story is called "Journey to Healing," written by Dr. Andrea Eberly. After Andrea gave up her dream of becoming a circus acrobat, she agonized for years over whether to become a medical doctor, even while attending UCLA Medical School. When famed journalist Norman Cousins spoke to one of her classes, discussing the profession of medicine, Andrea sat on the edge of her chair. Here, she thought, was a man who was addressing the heart of her concerns about medicine. She asked many questions during the lecture.

Sensing her interest, Norman Cousins sought Andrea out after class and invited her to lunch. She told him of her ambivalent feelings about going into medicine. She just wasn't sure medicine was right for her, or her for it because she was afraid modern medicine really might no longer be a healing profession. Finally, he said, "There is a need in the medical field for people with your kind of doubts and questions. What would it take for you to commit to medicine? Andrea said, for her former professor from San Jose State University to tell her it was the thing to do, only he had moved to Sweden, and she had lost track of him. Driving away after lunch, deep in thought, Andrea carelessly entered a crosswalk and slightly nudged a pedestrian with her car. As fate would have it, the pedestrian was her old professor who was on a layover between airline flights on his way back to Sweden. When told about her dilemma, the professor said, "Yes, Andrea, you should become a doctor!" And so she did!

Denise: How has fate changed so many people's lives?

Arlene: By extending its fingers to set the stage so that people avoid disaster, find lost possessions or lost relatives; they find a good job or win the lottery, or even meet their mates.

Denise: Can we order the book directly from iUniverse? Is it in book stores?

Arlene: The easiest way to get the book is to order by phone using iUniverse's toll free number (877-288-4737); International number, 001-402-323-7800) or order it from Amazon.com on the Internet. It is available in some book stores, such as Bay Books in Coronado, California, but not in all book stores, and if it has to be special ordered, it can take 6 to 8 weeks to get it. For people who prefer to order from a book store, the ISBN number is 0-595-30283-1.

Denise: How have you and Brenda promoted The Simple Touch of Fate?

Arlene: We have sent press releases to the media, held book discussions and given book reviews to various organizations and book clubs, sent out e-mail letters to friends and relatives about the book and asked them to spread the news to their friends and relatives, and participated in book festivals and fairs.

Denise: What are the topics of your 14 non-fiction books? Were they your personal choices or the publishers were interested in the specific subject matter at the time?

Arlene: They are quite varied, but all non-fiction. Some are on child development topics; others are health related, as part of the "A Doctor Discusses" series; one is a book of humorous essays; another is a collection of children's quotes, and one is a book for grandparents and grandchildren. Except for the books in the "A Doctor Discusses" series, which I was asked to write by the publisher, the others were my personal choices.

Denise: Tell us about "That's What Grandchildren Are For," which Peel Productions published in 2001.

Arlene: It is an illustrated book of verse, celebrating the very special bond between grandparents and grandchildren. The rhyming verses share the joy and pride of grandparenting, starting from the moment of birth, to visiting the zoo, to building a kite together, planting that first garden and much more.

Denise: And what about your book, "Children's Gems for the Heart: I Wonder When God Will Get Tired of People and Put Dinosaurs Back on Earth? (Publish America 2003)

Arlene: "Gems" is a collection of children's reflections -- wise and witty -- collected during my 25 years of teaching Family Living. The book is illustrated by children and I am especially proud of the cover which was reproduced from a drawing done by my 12-year-old grandson, depicting the sub-title.

Denise: What topics did your articles and essays explore in the national newspapers and magazines you've contributed to?

Arlene: Again, a wide range of topics, including humorous essays, articles on parenting and grandparenting topics, how-to articles on writing, and human interest essays.

Denise: You also are a book editor. Are you looking for new clients? How can writers contact you?

Arlene: Yes, I have been a professional editor for 20 years. I did freelance editing for several publishing companies, and then decided I would rather work for individual writers who wanted to have their manuscripts published. I am always looking for new clients, and people can contact me through e-mail (auslander@theramp.net), but they should first visit my editing website: www.uslander.net.

Denise: Any special tips for beginning writers?

Arlene: Read everything you can on the art of writing (subscribe to writer's magazines and Internet writers' newsletters-- they are almost always free), attend writers' workshops, join writers' groups, and just dig in there and write, write, write. Perhaps the most important tip I can give is to be prepared for rejections, and don't let them get you down. My very first book was rejected 49 times. I was literally about to throw the manuscript into the garbage, but fortunately I did not because the very next day, I received offers from two different publishers. Never give up!