Sheri Kirkendall's Devils Dump

For as long as I can remember I have enjoyed writing. Well actually it started out I loved reading and that inspired me to want to be a writer.

Some of my favorite subjects in school were Literature, English and Journalism all involving writing. I also loved photography and once entered a contest to win a camera by selling subscriptions to one of the area newspapers. I think I was in 5th grade at the time.  For me taking pictures and writing went hand in hand to tell a story nobody else might ever see.

So there is little wonder that when I graduated I tried getting a job at the local newspaper immediately. Unfortunately that didn't happen. I took a job making rubber bands and hated it but at the same time I took private photography lessons and learned how to do shadow pictures and multiple exposures before they became main stream.

Lucky for me the man who taught me photography, Leland Whitaker was also friends with the editor of the local newspaper so suddenly I had my foot in the door and was able to leave my job making rubber bands and run copy at the paper instead. Happily for me my grandfather, Royle Baum Sr. retired from his job with the city water department and they let me go cover the dinner, take the photos and write the story ... I love being able to say the first thing I ever had published was about my grandpa.

I didn't stay at the newspaper too long ... maybe 3 years in the early 70s because it was too restrictive. I loved the work I just didn't like being on call 24/7 or having to drive 30 miles in the snow in the dark to cover a school board meeting ... I wanted to write and take pictures that's all. My last year at the paper I was the default publicity director for the Carnation City Festival. (Alliance, home of the red carnation worn by President McKinley)  I got to go to Washington D.C. with all the other committee members to meet then President Richard Nixon ... we didn't meet him. We met his personal assistant Rosemary Woods (from Sebring, OH) instead. I also got to ride in the parade and THAT was my final act as an employee of the Alliance Review.

Just for the fun of it I decided to drive a taxi cab for the summer. A good friend of mine owned the company and was good with knowing I'd never drive once the first snow fell. So from there I went to a china company and though I really loved the freedom of driving a taxi I hated the confinement of the china company so I didn't stay there long.

Where did I go from there? Check back later to discover what happened next .. or read on my authors page @ Amazon.com/author/sherikirkendall