About
Kim's passion for books and reading led her back to college, where she graduated with a degree in Journalism at the age of 50, earning Summa Cum Laude honors from Rutgers University. During her time there, her exceptional writing won awards, and she humorously recalls students approaching her after class saying, "Ma'am – you're ruining the curve for the rest of us."
Following graduation, Kim wrote for local newspapers and businesses while beginning a historical fiction novel. Her love for reading also inspired her to start a book club in February 2004, where she and other members could discuss the wonderful books they read. Years later, during a meeting, the group noticed a lack of representation of older women in fiction. In a world where older women often feel invisible, they decided to take action instead of just stewing over it. Five members came together and wrote Novel Women, a fictional story about acceptance, friendship, and love.
As "women of a certain age", Kim's book club members understood the unique challenges and opportunities that come with this stage of life. And they meet it with an abundance of wisdom, resilience, strength, love, and –yes— passion.
Join our vibrant community of like-minded women as we celebrate the best years of our lives.
After all, book club is so much more than just reading!
The other book club members that collaborated and wrote Novel Women:
I'm a Jersey girl, without the much talked about big hair. I have lived in seven of the 21 counties in my beautiful state. It is to my utter amazement that I have to admit to saying, "I do" to three different men. Sometimes life takes turns that are surprising and unexpected. With my third husband, I added 4 "bonus children" to the two I gave birth to. In the ensuing years the family has grown with marriages and babies. By end of summer this year we will have two granddaughters and two grandsons. Truly blessed.
I have worked in, left and returned three times to be a part of my law firm. Starting in my late teens as an assistant to the bookkeeper and over time I became the head of the accounting department and eventually added office administrator to the mix. I'm also a licensed realtor and enjoy helping people find their perfect home.
Having lost my parents at a young age I have a real appreciation and love for spending time with all my family. I love to cook and bake, which everyone enjoys. Reading, gardening, sewing, counted cross stitch and crafts have also been an integral part of my entire life.
I am an embracer of creativity and curiosity and a strong believer in the power of storytelling.
Speaking of storytelling... when I was in high school, we were given a "job assessment" to see what we were best suited for in the future. My top job came out as "circus performer". I am NOT making this up. I didn't even know that was an option. We all got a good laugh out of it.
Then, I spent the next 35 years in corporate communications where I successfully juggled myriad projects and details without dropping a ball; jumped through burning hoops to satisfy demanding clients and gracefully swung from deadline to deadline usually without a net.
Use for those skills, along with my motto of "keep that sense of humor, it's critical," have led me to success in personal and professional life, including as a writer and photographer.
Born and bred in NYC, I am the oldest of five children in a traditional Puerto Rican family. Always striving for personal improvement, I have never stopped trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. Upon discovering that nursing school wasn't for me, I tried my hand at selling insurance and real estate and held positions in the banking and investment industries. Eventually, a technical sales career in telecommunications suited me perfectly for many years, during which time I married and moved across the river to New Jersey to raise family.
Now a mother of two and a divorced empty nester, my latest career is in consumer health marketing. Still moonlighting, but this time with dear friends from book club in a collaboration of fictional love stories, as an author. Finally, my life's journey makes sense.
I grew up in Midwestern bliss with a cornfield down the road, and two "Cheaper by the Dozen" families bookending my block. The announcement of our move to NJ was met with tears and TV-induced fears—of riots, of congestion, and of "tough" people. Relocating at age 9, I quickly met my future husband (married 28 years), and I fell in love with the state's greenery, beaches, and people. I am proud to be able to negotiate traffic circles and jug-handles, and to pump my own gas, even though I don't have to!
I have had a love-hate relationship with writing. It is a passion but also can be a torture. Case in point is my college senior thesis of 150+ pages, on which I labored in hermitic seclusion in a friend's vacated dorm room for several weeks in order to make deadline and get my "A". I existed on caffeine and dining hall meals delivered by kind friends–one even sent me a sympathy card via campus mail.
With three young adult children and an approaching empty nest, I am looking forward to returning to writing. A la Tom Clancy, I'll do corporate insurance by day, writing by night. Totally ready for this next chapter in my life.
