Arts & Literature
The 24th Annual Wesleyan Artist Market – Up Close and Personal!
A Spotlight on Three Artists
Springtime in Peachtree Corners and surrounding neighborhoods is synonymous with a visit to the Wesleyan Artist Market (WAM). What better way to find treasures for our spaces than in person, discovering pieces that speak to us while connecting with the artists who share the vision behind their work?
After COVID canceled 2020 and then went virtual in 2021, WAM is thrilled to be back on campus this year. The market runs Friday, April 29, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission and parking are free for this family-friendly event.
Browse an array of acrylics, oils, mixed media, watercolors, sculptures, jewelry, pottery, glass and more while enjoying gourmet coffee and treats, all available for purchase.
Participating artists undergo a rigorous selection process, so WAM brings you the best. This year, 80 professionals were selected out of over 100 applicants. Also featured will be the works of 14 talented students.
Prices range from a few dollars to thousands of dollars. There is truly something for everyone. A percentage of every sale goes to support the Wesleyan School fine arts program.
To preview participating artists and for more information, visit artistmarket.wesleyanschool.org.
- Elizabeth Ables
- Kristie Onorato
- Jennifer Barnard
Elizabeth Ables
Stand by your mania to make
Nashville native Elizabeth Ables had classmates with star parents like Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Rony Millsap and Ray Stevens. As a teenager she caught Amy Grant performances at local bookstores before moving to Atlanta. Peachtree Corners has been her home for 28 years.
With a Communications and Sociology degree from Vanderbilt and an Education degree from Brenau, Ables has taught at Wesleyan for 15 years. She considers herself more of a creator than an artist, having dabbled in many different media over the years, from fiber arts, fashion design (particularly children’s heirloom clothing) and quilting to painting with watercolors and acrylics.
Ables developed an affinity for ceramics while guiding students through the toil and joy of turning globs of clarified dirt into something serviceable. “I’ve always been drawn to beautiful, functional art. I used to entertain a lot and wanted unique pieces, so I started creating my own. It feeds your soul when you create something that didn’t exist before,” Ables said.
Art imitates life
A sense of peace and tranquility emanate from her work. Ables finds inspiration in nature, gravitating towards layering glazes in blends of blues and greens — colors that evoke the ocean. She never tires of experimenting to get just the right blue, having long admired the striking hue of Martha Stewart’s Araucana chicken eggs, as well as robin egg blue.
Even her textures are inspired by the natural world. When creating surfaces on her vessels, Ables replicates tree bark and other things found in the environment.
A full-time teacher and busy mother, Ables creates her pottery at Spruill Center for the Arts where she also takes weekly classes, squeezing in workshops whenever she can. At Spruill, a community of artists support and uplift one another.
“I do what inspires me at the moment,” Ables explained. “On a cold winter night, I made a cable knit cardigan sweater-type surface on a vase. It looked like a slouchy sweater because that’s how I was feeling when I made it — I wanted something warm and cozy.”
Led by what inspires her, she leans into her feelings and allows art to become an escape. “I create things that I want to see, that make me happy,” Ables said.
colored clay bodies.
The science behind the art
Making pottery requires equal parts patience and skill. An understanding of the chemical processes taking place in the kiln is fundamental. Still, one never knows exactly what color patterns will emerge. A multitude of factors can impact the final look of a piece.
Glaze mixing recipes abound in the world of ceramics. The same glaze blend can produce a turquoise, red or golden hue depending on the weather, the speed at which the piece is transferred from the kiln to a container filled with combustible material and heat variations within.
“When it’s hot outside, it doesn’t cool off as quickly whereas in the winter, it cools off very quickly, giving it a shock,” Ables said. Dealing with glazes is very scientific. “You’re mixing chemical compounds and minerals — magnesium, iron oxide. [One must think:] What’s going to happen when they’re heated to 2000°F?”
A glaze can be pink in its liquid form as it’s being painted onto a bowl and come out of the kiln royal blue — that’s what happens when it gets fired. One can imagine the look of disbelief on students’ faces when Ables explains this dramatic change in color will occur because the glazes undergo a chemical process. “You have to trust me,” she tells them.
Playing with fire
Ables explores different techniques. Raku is a Japanese firing process consisting of removing pottery from the kiln when it’s red hot at 1800°F and placing it into containers with combustible materials. When the materials ignite, the containers are closed, producing an intense reduction atmosphere (the oxygen is removed) which impacts the colors and finishes in glazes and clay bodies. “That’s how you get the brown and blackness. It can also bring out color depending upon the glazes used,” Ables said.
Horsehair can be applied to the surface of pieces when they are removed from the kiln to create markings. “The carbon in the hair sizzles and makes black streaks. It’s a totally organic process. You never know exactly what you’re going to get,” Ables explained. The same can be done with feathers and sawdust.
The Obvara firing process, which originated in Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages, involves a bisqued pot being heated to 1650°F and removed from the heat. The pot is then dipped into a fermented yeast mixture before being dunked in water to rapidly cool the piece.
What’s your clay body type?
Ables generally uses standard white clay in the classroom because it’s not too messy, but there are many different options available to ceramicists. Speckled clay bodies have a natural textural component — they look like sand. Ables likes to create a water-colored interior and use a clear glaze on the outside of her vessels made with this clay, highlighting its earthy beauty.
“Spruill stocks eight different clay bodies. I’ve purchased some from Davens Ceramic Center in Chamblee. My favorites are the gray speck, the chocolate brown and raku clay which is less likely to shatter. Lizella red clay is mined in Georgia,” she said.
Creating custom colored clay is also an option, albeit very time-consuming. By kneading powders into white porcelain clay, Ables made 10 clay body colors.
Embrace the imperfections
Shocking clay bodies inevitably comes with a 10% fail rate, sure to disappoint artists who put so much time and love into their work. Still, Ables turns kiln accidents into a learning opportunity for youngsters.
“As in life, sometimes things happen,” she said. “We have to learn to fail and move on. We get the chance to make it again. The fear of failure and risk is crippling. I share with them times I’ve failed with breakage or cracks.”
“We’re not perfect and God created us just the way we are. If you want perfect, go get something that’s commercially created, where they have a form and crank out thousands of them. Make something that’s more personal, that has your fingerprints on it, your uniqueness. That’s what makes it art,” Ables smiled.
WAM
A longtime participating artist, Ables has seen the market grow into an incredible showcase for artistic endeavors. Having former students exhibit is especially rewarding.
“The opportunity to be back together this year is exciting. Being surrounded by so much creative beauty, it’s like a springtime party that gets you enthusiastic about life,” Ables exclaimed.
Watch our video podcast with Elizabeth Ables.
Instagram: @Ables.Elizabeth ■
Kristie Onorato
A heart for art
Kristie Onorato has enjoyed painting for as long as she can remember, but she kept it on the backburner for several seasons of life. Originally from Cleveland, Atlanta has been her home for 20 years. Her move to Peachtree Corners four years ago came with the added perk of a four-minute commute to work.
Onorato has been teaching art since 1992. She’s been at Wesleyan for 11 years. Despite being a busy single mom to two teenage daughters, she’s been able to devote more meaningful time to her artwork over the last six years.
An undergraduate degree in Art Education from Ohio State emphasized Art History, Criticism and Aesthetics. To refine her artistic skills, Onorato took evening classes at the Cleveland Institute of Art and local studios. Visiting museums and ateliers in Europe provided further enrichment.
Onorato holds a master’s degree in Administration with a Visual Arts focus from Parsons School of Design in New York. Her formation and experience enhance her lessons. She gifted her paintings to friends and family for many years before she ever considered selling her work.
So many styles, so little time
As many artists do, Onorato has gone through phases over the years, working in pastels, watercolor, ink and oils. She works mostly with acrylics on canvas now because they dry faster and don’t emit fumes. Experiments with mixed media combine printmaking, her own torn-up artwork collages, glass, broken pottery, sand and different inks, “just to see what can happen.”
Onorato is keen to try new ideas and is continually developing. While some have fully formed a personal style, Onorato can’t imagine committing to any one approach. “I like to play and have fun,” she explained.
outside Charlotte
Series by Kristie Onorato will be available at The Wesleyan Artist Market.
The sky is limitless
Inspired from above by both her faith and natural wonders like a breathtaking sky after a storm, she said that sunsets, flowers and people are among her favorite subjects. “How I paint them changes. My work continues to evolve. I won’t get stuck in my ways, but will gladly revisit and tweak old pieces endlessly.”
Impassioned by interior design, ideas that catch her eye in magazines, while visiting showhouses or browsing online are integrated in her works.
A self-professed lifelong learner and educator, Onorato is grounded in her spirituality. “My faith in God informs everything I do. Everyone is created in God’s image, so we’re all creators of some sort. Whether I’m creating images on a canvas, an environment in my home or classroom, or a meal for my family, being in touch with my creativity feeds my soul. Nurturing our creative gifts is a way to show gratitude for them,” she said.
Onorato produces groups of similar paintings, or series. Squirting paint directly on the canvas and using palette knives, she creates pieces that vary in size from small, to 16×20 inches, to 3-foot by 3-foot squares. “It’s fun doing big,” she said.
Floating frames are her preference for the smaller ones. Larger paintings are on deep canvases that don’t necessarily require framing.
Liquitex, Golden and Atelier Free Flow are some of her favorite paints. “I like to try different looks — it’s more about the effect you can get than the brand,” Onorato explained. She sources canvases conveniently from Dick Blick, though she had them shipped from wherever she could find them online during pandemic shutdowns.
Time flies in the art studio
A light-filled room with easy-to-clean floors on the main level of her home is where Onorato paints for hours as the rest of the world seemingly melts away. The home studio allows her to come and go freely. “I set aside days to paint. Once I’m on a roll, I don’t like to stop,” she said. “Everything else tends to fall apart because I’m so into it.”
Completed paintings are stored in her spacious classroom so they’re readily transferable to the WAM.
WAM
Onorato works on commissions and participates in Wesleyan’s annual Artist Market. “I enjoy meeting artists from all over,” she said. “It’s exciting to learn about their artwork and the different shows they attend. I get to see friends and former students. It’s like being part of a big celebration or hosting a party.” ■
Jennifer Barnard
If you could say it in words, there’d be no reason to paint – Edward Hopper
Jennifer Barnard was born in Charleston, West Virginia, grew up in Decatur, Alabama and has lived in Georgia for 36 years. Her three sons attended Wesleyan. She has since moved from Peachtree Corners to a farm in Cherokee county.
Drawing is how Barnard has always processed the world. As a child, her profound silence worried her mother. “I was born an observer, always watching. I didn’t talk,” Barnard shared.
When she was 13, her grandfather passed away. “I didn’t have words to express my emotions, but I remember drawing his face. It made me feel close to him,” Barnard recounted.
Except for an art class in middle school, Barnard didn’t take lessons. Nor did art figure into her college prep track. Yet she gravitated towards sketching, advancing on her own. “If it’s there, it never goes away,” Barnard declared of her innate talent.
Her professional trajectory led to a master’s degree in Teaching the Hearing Impaired. After several years she also taught as a substitute at Wesleyan. When her boys were more independent, about 15 years ago, Barnard announced, “It’s my turn now,” to her spouse. She loved being a mother but was ready to nurture her talents.
As the boys got older, time increased. Now an empty nester, she can paint all day.
Today, her husband is her biggest fan. Barnard credits him with being supportive and occasionally allowing her to steal away with one of her paintings hanging in his office to sell it at an art show.
Every artist was first an amateur – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Carving out time to take classes in watercolor, pastels, colored pencils, color theory, portraiture, oils, and mixed media, as well as to paint, Barnard built her own curriculum. “I took 10 master level faux finishing classes which introduced me to materials like Venetian plaster, AquaStone and limewash,” Barnard said.
Barnard studied at Spruill Center of Arts in Dunwoody, Scottsdale Arts School in Arizona, Quinlan in Gainesville, The Booth Museum in Cartersville and sundry artists’ workshops.
“I seek those whose work I admire in magazines and, lately, on Instagram. Art is something you can never learn enough about. I’m continually growing and experimenting. I challenge myself to stay fresh,” Barnard said.
Artists and their materials are travel partners
According to Barnard, there’s an interplay between painter and materials. Sometimes the materials tell you what they want to be. Barnard uses archival quality products so her pieces will last. Oils are her first choice, but she switches between acrylics, mixed media, watercolors and pastels, pushing herself in different directions.
“Oils are buttery — fun to mix and layer. You can push and move them,” Barnard said. “Pastels are home — drawing was my first love. Mixed media is fun — I use unexpected elements like stucco finish, limewash, charcoals, layers of acrylic and move them around, spraying with water. A piece emerges from this flow of dance and discovery.”
The subject of her paintbrush is the deep truth that connects us
Drawn to beauty, Barnard finds companionship with God in nature. Her spirituality sprang from an inner quiet. Whether painting people, animals, flowers or landscapes, she listens to her subjects tapping into their unutterable essence. Barnard considers it her job to express this emotional connection as purely as possible.
A family history of breeding horses and her fondness for them make barns a special theme for her. She paints them with oils in a more traditional “modern impressionist” style. The subjects of her mixed media pieces, drippier and more abstract, tend to be figures — ballerinas, females, angels.
Barnard feels grateful to share her art. “What’s genuine in me connects to what is genuine in others. That deep truth is what makes community. It’s so important in this day and time to find what is genuine within ourselves,” Barnard said.
Plein-air painting renews my ‘art spirit’ – Bonnie Paruch
“I love painting en plein air. On location at Lake Lanier, in my backyard, on the coast, wherever. I’ll find places and either paint or do a study that later becomes a piece,” she said
“Paintings can be a combination of what I see in my mind and what’s in front of me. A quilt barn road goes through Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. A map shows all these barns with quilts painted on their sides. I started driving to those and photographing them on road trips,” Barnard continued. “Some, I’ll stay and paint on the spot.”
Art is born of the observation and investigation of nature – Cicero
Ever on the lookout to capture beauty, Barnard has been known to drive to a location, open the back of her car and start painting. The backwaters of her hometown brim with lily pads and attract migrating birds. She was lured there last year, stopping on a road in the middle of the water to render the scene
“Last month I went to Jekyll Island to paint with a friend for three days,” Barnard said.
During COVID, with shows canceled, Barnard took some online classes. She found color study helpful. “You take one color of paint, mix it with others, making a chart of each color,” she said. Barnard completed eight such pages with 30 color squares on each.
Now when in the field, she reaches for those charts to find the exact colors she’s studying and makes note of them. Back in the studio, she refers to her notes to paint with greater accuracy. “The colors in a photograph are never the same as what you see outside,” Barnard explained.
When you always make your meaning perfectly plain you end up boring people – Edgar Degas
The gap between what she sees and how the observer views her work is invaluable to Barnard. Rather than “explain” too much, she allows onlookers to finish it with their imaginations. “The artist’s unique insight gives art its vitality and an energy that unites people,” she remarked.
Multiple works in progress
A barn loft under construction will soon be the site of Barnard’s art studio. The space will allow gathering with other artists to paint and hold classes. Currently, she paints in a bonus room on the second floor of her home.
“I’ll have four paintings going at the same time on different easels around my studio. Oils take long to dry so I do those in the morning. Then I flip to progress some mixed media pieces because they dry faster,” she said. “I can go for four hours straight, moving from one painting to another.”
WAM
Barnard has showcased her work at the Wesleyan Artist Market since 2008. “It’s a great place to find art. When they first started, an art company would come in. Now it’s a regional show. People come from all over the Southeast,” she said. “I love being able to explain what my inspiration was and tell people where I painted each piece.”
She finds the kind people at Wesleyan and the yummy snacks are part of what make the show fun. ■
Perimeter Ballet celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Founded in September 1995, the faith-based ballet school in Johns Creek has long been an integral part of the local arts scene and the community.
What began as a bare-bones program held in the sanctuary of Perimeter Church — on carpeted concrete floors, using the backs of chairs for barres — has grown into a respected school of more than 200 students. Ranging in age from five to 18, the young dancers at Perimeter Ballet are not only committed to the study of dance but also to using their gifts to share their faith.
According to the program’s website, their purpose is to “emphasize character along with technique … to counter the natural tendency towards self-absorption in the ballet studio.”
They are “very committed to teaching children to dance — to develop discipline, technique and musicality. [But] the Christian instructors [also] train the students in a context that understands that there’s a reason to dance.”
30 years of dance and faith
Current director, Becky Brown, has led the school for several years, growing the program while faithfully following Perimeter Ballet’s original mission. She oversees weekly classes, summer dance camps and annual productions, including an acclaimed Spring Recital and a presentation of The Nutcracker each December.
For the 30th anniversary, Brown is excited to continue the creative work of the ballet school and share their artistry and message with a larger audience.
“This year will certainly be a special time for us as we celebrate and look back on 30 wonderful years of Perimeter Ballet and 20 years for our performing company, For His Glory,” she said. “We will be performing the Nutcracker December 11–13 and will have some beautiful new costumes to commemorate the occasion. We look forward to seeing many of our alumni and their families at the performance.”
Classes and instructors
Open to the community at large, weekly classes at Perimeter Ballet range from Creative Movement, PreBallet and grade-level classes for preschoolers through third grade to more advanced classes (two or more times per week) for older students.
Summer camp sessions as well as intermediate level and advanced level intensives are also offered. For the upper-level intensives, students work on their ballet technique but also branch out into jazz and other forms of dance.
The school’s nine teachers are skilled not just as instructors but as performers themselves, having years of experience dancing with companies such as Ballet Southeast, Atlanta Ballet, North Atlanta Dance Academy and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. They bring that experience and their Christian faith to all of their classes and interactions with the young students.
For His Glory
In addition to the work they do as a ballet school, Perimeter Ballet also has an audition-selected performance company — For His Glory.
With three levels, made up of dedicated students striving to advance their skills and reach their “God-given potential while giving glory to [their] Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” the program presents several high-quality productions throughout the year.
As Perimeter Ballet shares on their website: “Dancers are trained in the ballet classics as well as contemporary forms of dance, which are used in performances, worship settings and outreach. Classical ballets … in the group’s repertoire include Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia, excerpts from Four Seasons and La Fille Mal Gardee. In addition to Christmas and other outreach programs, For His Glory has danced internationally in London, India and Belarus.”
The group most recently performed Beauty & the Beast for two successful shows on stage at the Perimeter Church Sanctuary in early February of this year.
Impact and inspiration
All of this — the focus on faith and commitment to dance, the classes, intensives and stunning productions — have been a decades-long inspiration to the community and especially the student dancers who take part.
Many of the students stay with Perimeter Ballet for much of their childhood, learning and growing in dance as well as in their faith from elementary age through high school. That kind of involvement can clearly impact every aspect of their lives, from discipline learned to how they choose to interact with and be in the world.
One student, Anne Bradley Maxwell has been taking ballet with the Perimeter program since she was three years old. Now a high school junior in Peachtree Corners, she’s reflected on her time at the school and in the performance company as well as Perimeter Ballet’s milestone anniversary.
“For fifteen years … I matured within this unique, local community arts program,” she shared. “This year marks the 30th anniversary of its founding … and I’m honored to say I’ve been a student for half of that era. The talented instructors in [the] program not only helped advance me into an accomplished ballerina but also into a more faithful servant of Jesus Christ using dance as a form of worship.”
A lifelong journey
“This lifelong journey included annual seasonal training, auditions, numerous external summer intensives and wonderful performances on stages across the nation and abroad, for audiences ranging from a few dozen to several thousand,” Maxwell continued.
“… Taking ballet has instilled in me a deep understanding of perseverance and resilience. Pursuing excellence in ballet required me to overcome physical and emotional challenges … I learned to seek out solutions — whether physical therapy for healing my body or prayer and reflection to rejuvenate my spirit. These experiences have strengthened my ability to face setbacks, adapt and emerge stronger.
Ballet has cultivated in me a unique combination of athleticism, discipline and creative imagination. The most elegant performances emerge from the interplay of technical mastery and creative expression. The collaborative nature of ballet, where individuals work in harmony to create something greater than themselves, informs my approach to teamwork and innovation, both in the classroom and community.”
“… Ballet has [also] given me the gift of joy — both in experiencing it personally as a testament to Christ’s goodness and in sharing it with audiences. This joy, while intangible, is a powerful force that I hope to bring into my next chapters following high school. Whether through teaching movement, choreographing performances or exploring ways to expand ballet offerings, I aspire to enrich the community with the beauty and joy of dance.
… My time at Perimeter Ballet has equipped me with perseverance, discipline, creativity and a passion for sharing joy — qualities that I am excited to further cultivate as a young adult. These will not only enhance my personal journey but also contribute meaningfully to the rich tapestry of life. As I enter my senior year later this fall, I am full of gratitude for the solid foundation of technique and creative expression honoring God as the giver of my talent.”
Upcoming events
Perimeter Ballet’s Annual Spring Recital will be held in the Perimeter Church Sanctuary on Thursday, May 1 and Friday, May 2 from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
Summer camp sessions are scheduled for June and July. Registration will open on April 15.
2025-2026 classes will start in August with registration opening on April 15.
With help from Anne Bradley, the school is also planning a fundraiser event later in the year to mark the 30th anniversary.
For more information, visit perimeterballet.com.
The Norcross High School drama department has a reputation for presenting quality productions each year, and 2024-2025 is no exception. They staged a one-act show of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” in October followed by “Miss Nelson is Missing” in January. Next up for NHS Theatre is Matilda the Musical, set to open in April.
Leading the department this year is NHS’ new theatre director, Terry Gabbard, who came to Norcross with degrees in educational theatre and educational leadership, as well as over 20 years of public school theatre teaching and directing experience.
An award-winning director and playwright, he received the prestigious John W. Parker Award for excellence in directing in 2015, has had numerous productions named “distinguished play” from the North Carolina Theatre Conference and has three Best Musical wins from the Blumey Awards (Charlotte, NC’s version of the Tony awards).
Gabbard has also published two plays, one of which, “Our Place,” was named one of the top ten most produced short plays in American high schools.
Additionally, in 2020, his production of “Puffs” (a clever and comedic play set in the world of Harry Potter) was selected as one of only a handful of productions in America to perform at the International Thespian Society festival.
Though busy with preparations for Matilda, Gabbard recently took the time to answer a few questions about his career, his love of theatre and what’s next for the NHS drama department.
Which productions have you worked on since joining NHS?
We started off performing The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in October, and we did a performance of Miss Nelson is Missing in January.
Where did you teach and direct before coming to Norcross?
I always explain that my wife supports my teaching habit, so we tend to move as her opportunities change.
I’ve taught mostly in high schools in Florida, North Carolina and now Georgia. I have taught in Gwinnett Public Schools before at Paul Duke STEM and in Cobb County at Campbell High School.
How did the move to NHS come about?
After leaving GCPS for a short few years, I was anxious to get back to this system and this community, and when this opportunity presented itself, I jumped at the chance.
Have you always had a love for theatre?
I started participating in theatre when I was in 9th grade and have never stopped. For me, the thing that drew me to the art form was the sense of community that theatre creates.
What led you to pursue a career teaching and directing? Was there a specific moment that you realized it was what you wanted to do?
When I was a senior in high school, my theatre director let me direct a play in his theatre [for] one class. This is when I realized how much I loved directing and coaching other actors.
What was it like to win the John W. Parker award in 2015? And to be recognized with so many other honors?
I have been blessed to have been recognized several times by my peers and the organizations I’ve partnered with. It’s always nice to have these recognitions, but I have come to believe that any high school theatre production is a miracle in and of itself.
Producing theatre in high schools is always a challenge and getting to opening night is always a huge accomplishment.
Will you continue playwriting in addition to your work as NHS theatre director?
I haven’t written any plays in some time, but I’m definitely starting to get the itch. All of my plays have premiered at the schools where I was teaching. I imagine a world premier will happen at Norcross pretty soon.
What can you share about the school’s upcoming Matilda the Musical production? Is it one that you’ve directed in the past?
I have never directed Matilda, and I am extremely excited for the challenge. The music is incredible, and the characters are big and over the top.
What plans do you have for the NHS theatre program for the remainder of this year and next year?
After Matilda, things wrap up for us. I haven’t yet decided what shows to tackle next year. I know that I want to find plays that have a different tone than the pieces we did this year. The shows have been comedic this year. Something more dramatic is definitely in our future.
The NHS production of Matilda the Musical opens in April.
Dates and show times are:
- Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m.
- Friday, April 25 at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, April 26 at 7 p.m.
- Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m.
For more information, visit nhs-drama.com.
Dan Leonard has called Peachtree Corners home for the past 42 years, working in the IT field, building a strong community of personal and professional connections and leading the local Bikes and Friends Cycling Club.
Most recently, he wrote and released his first book — a memoir titled “The Extraordinary Lives of Ordinary People” — adding ‘published author’ to his list of accomplishments.
Drawing on the physical challenges Dan faced (and overcame) while growing up, as well as inspiration from others, the book dives into themes of resilience and personal growth while painting a vivid picture of his family life in New England during the 60s and 70s.
Through personal narrative, he takes readers on a thought-provoking journey through his childhood and adolescence, sharing “formative experiences that were shaped by his Italian-American and Irish-German heritage.”
Dan spoke with us recently about his memoir, sharing his thoughts on the writing process, lessons learned and his future plans.
What inspired you to write a memoir? What challenges, if any, did you face?
On the surface, like many people my age closing in on 70, I wanted to leave a legacy, telling my story of resilience and transformation to hopefully inspire others.
I once read that people should consider their mental health before writing a memoir. At the time I didn’t quite appreciate that statement. Like many outgoing people, I usually enjoyed talking about myself, especially while trying to relate to others.
Writing my memoir turned out to be a very positive experience since I tried to explore my story with honesty and compassion while highlighting the people and experiences that had the most influence on me. However, in the final throes of completing a rough draft, I spent nearly two weeks without sleep and experienced daytime dream-like episodes.
For example, I have a former classmate who is a successful screenwriter, and I was intent on getting him my manuscript because I thought it might make a compelling movie!
The book took me over a year [to write] and was a worthwhile and enjoyable experience and, I would say, cathartic as well.
Can you share a little about your background? Had you written or published anything prior to this?
I spent 42 years in the Information Technology field mostly working closely with major corporations helping them streamline and digitize their operations. I began in sales and marketing and moved to management later in my career.
I have always enjoyed writing for pleasure, but much of my writing was business oriented and expected to be short and concise. I have been interviewed many times in my career leading to industry centric publications but nothing with sole direct personal benefit such as my recent memoir or upcoming novel.
The book is about resilience and recognizing that ordinary moments can have an extraordinary impact on one’s life. Have you always seen the world this way? Or was it something that came to you over time?
I have always been deeply introspective but with a strong desire to relate well with others and make friends.
Given my humble beginnings experiencing many physical challenges from night time seizures, pronated ankles, severe allergies, a slight lisp and ADD among other things, I never felt like I was working from a position of strength. I typically felt like the underdog, especially anxious to prove to both myself and others that I could be just as good.
Each triumph seemed to require an extraordinary effort sometimes just to meet the norm.
What was the most difficult or unexpected thing you encountered writing and publishing the book?
To be completely honest, the most difficult thing was to convince myself that my story was worth telling and that other people besides my family and closest friends would be truly interested.
Who was I, really? I was never a CEO, famous athlete, politician or war hero. I was just a regular guy who lived a mostly ordinary life but, in many cases, encountered extraordinary challenges.
Maybe partly because I have a tendency to be bold and take on challenges that I am not always prepared for, I would sometimes get in my head and say, “well everybody has a story, some lots more interesting than yours, so why would anyone be interested in yours?”
Early and mid-stream through my writing, there were days and even weeks when I let these thoughts stall my writing, but fortunately they were only temporary.
What lessons did you learn from the process?
You’ll have to read my book!
When I began writing the book, I was at a point where I had retired from my 42-year career and was no longer actively consulting. My life involved spending as much time as possible cycling with my club, Bikes and Friends, completing home projects and spending time with family.
I would typically rise at 7 or 8 a.m., unless I had an early bike ride, and move through the day at a very comfortable pace. Finally completing the book and committing to a marketing campaign and future publications over the next several months has given me a renewed purpose. I now start my day at 6 a.m., go to the gym and work harder, write as much as possible and seek out more purposeful endeavors.
I met [recently] with the City of Peachtree Corners to begin planning a charity ride later this year. And I am evaluating a board position at a local non-profit.
What’s the main thing you’d like readers to take away from Extraordinary Lives?
That their life is every bit as valuable as others, and if they have any interest in sharing their story or anything that they desire then to do it to their fullest!
You’re traveling for events to promote the book. Will you be doing any promotional events closer to home?
Yes, I will be speaking at the local Fowler YMCA on March 14, and as my book marketing reaches a proposed 300 platforms over the next few weeks, I expect to have at least a few nearby book signings and presence in local bookstores.
Do you have plans to write another book?
Absolutely! I am currently working on a futuristic sci-fi novel based on a group of cyclists called “Defending His Life,” which will hopefully be available by June.
The Extraordinary Lives of Ordinary People is available on Amazon. Are there other places readers can purchase the book?
It will also be available on BN.com and in select Barnes and Noble stores. My publisher hub partner plans to push 200+ copies out to select bookstores, so hopefully many other places [as well].
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Many people my age relate to the way things used to be, where only famous people wrote books and they were limited to highly selective publishing houses that controlled their intellectual property.
It’s a new world, anyone that has something to say can say it, and there are so many different mediums available today. Be bold and get out there and say it. Your reward will go way beyond practical measures and may certainly open up new opportunities.
If nothing else, writing my memoir has given me an opportunity to reengage with people that I haven’t talked with or thought about in years and even decades.
About The Extraordinary Lives of Ordinary People
From enduring challenges and overcoming adversity to honoring the strength of family bonds, Dan’s debut book offers a look at how ordinary moments can have an extraordinary impact.
The memoir is currently available on Amazon as an e-book, hardback and paperback. It should soon be available on bn.com, at our local Barnes and Noble and in other bookstores as well.
For more information about Dan Leonard, visit booksbydanleonard.com.
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Why Patient Experience Matters: A Conversation with Dr. Aristo Shyn
Burn The Ships: Alex Wright on Committing to Success & Helping Businesses Thrive
Fun for a Good Cause at Curiosity Lab’s Inaugural 5K Run/Walk
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Inside the Solicitor General’s Office: Lisamarie Bristol on Justice in Gwinnett County
Public Notice: Scheduled Maintenance on Town Center Parking Deck
Mike Schleifer to Leave Alliance for Lincoln Center Theater
Expanding Horizons: How KGM Technologies Balances Defense, Medical, and Precision Manufacturing
Mike Schleifer to Leave Alliance for Lincoln Center Theater
Public Notice: Scheduled Maintenance on Town Center Parking Deck
Inside the Solicitor General’s Office: Lisamarie Bristol on Justice in Gwinnett County
Why Patient Experience Matters: A Conversation with Dr. Aristo Shyn
Burn The Ships: Alex Wright on Committing to Success & Helping Businesses Thrive
Fun for a Good Cause at Curiosity Lab’s Inaugural 5K Run/Walk
Upcoming Spring Events You Won’t Want to Miss in April
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