Old Forge, NY
Old Forge Hardware Store
August 2023
Saratoga
Farmer's
Market
with my good friend
Carole Heaney, (author)
December 2023
Bolton Landing Library on beautiful Lake George, NY. -- July 2023
November 2022
Attended Children's Writers of the Hudson Valley Conference in Poughkeepsie. Enjoyed hanging out with wonderful fellow writers and meeting and listening to talks by Frances Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief of Doubleday Books for Young Readers; Rachel Orr, Agent at Prospect Agency; and Talia Benamy, Editor of Philomel Books. Such a productive day!
THANK YOU DREW!
My bright, adorable grand nephew Drew!!
I was thrilled he shared my book with his 2nd-grade class in Illinois!! According to his mom, ".... he is really into it! He wants a tour of Maplewood.....wants to know the house grandma grew up in and go see the church!" Love instilling the stories of our youth's ancestry to connect them to their past! April 2022
September 2022
Albany Book Festival - Sponsored by the NYS Writers Institute, I participated as an exhibitor/local author. It was a wonderful event meeting other children's book authors, authors of adult books, and many book lovers at this annual festival held at the State University Albany Campus.
Spending time with Elise Shaver, author of Wally the Wellfleet Oyster and her cute little stuffed oysters!
March 2022
Fishkill, NY School Book Fair authors and organizers.
December 2021
Dec. 4 - Christmas Land LCC, Altamont, NY; Reading of One of Thirteen 12:30-1:30. Come and join in all the Christmas Land activities: Mrs. Claus Bakery, Holiday store and crafts, meet Mr. Grinch, train/wagon rides, and more. WHAT FUN!
November 2021
Nov. 27 - Holiday Book Bonanza - Small Business Saturday
Come and support your local small businesses and local children's book authors in East Greenbush (my home town. Book signings by several local children's authors will be available to meet at the Country Trunk Cottage. 11a-4pm. Great holiday gifts for children, grandchildren, students, neighbors, etc. (Complimentary gift wrapping and complimentary warm beverages and treats will be available.)
October 2021
October 2 - Inlet, NY - Kids' Day -- I'll be signing copies of One of Thirteen. If up in the the Adirondacks, come join the fun for games, fishing contests, magic shows, balloon sculptures, face painting, children's book authors, and more.
Visiting with Adk Kids(R) Series authors Justin and Gary VanRiper. Smokey and family members. 'Hand" painting in honor of my dragon boat team. Annual event.Visit next year!
August 2021 - More Fun!
August 9 - East Greenbush Community Library 10:00-11:00. -- One of Thirteen reading and children's activity. Come join us kids, and parents too, for some fun!
August 11 - Book Signing - Adirondack Reader Bookstore, Inlet, NY 11:00-1:00. If you're in the area of the beautiful Fourth Lake, please come and visit and have a drink in their cafe.
July 2021 -- EXCITING HAPPENINGS THIS MONTH
- Illustrator of One of Thirteen, Robert Wayne Bode, exhibits his portraits at East Greenbush Library July 1-28!! (Definitely check out his amazing portraits; you may recognize someone!)
East Greenbush Community Library, 10 Community Way, East Greenbush, NY 12061
- Wednesday, July 28, 4-7:00
Local Children's Picture Book Authors' Event
East Greenbush Farmers Market.
I'll be there with over 10 local children's authors.
(This event made possible through the East Greenbush Community Library.)
June 2021
- Reader for Children's Literacy in Saratoga, NY's first annual Longshot the Moose Day!
- Woodstock, NY TV interview with Thurman Greco's show, "Let's live with Thurman Greco" on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgEO2t46dU8
March 2021
March 11 & 12, 2021 - Author Book Read and Talk, 4th Grade, as part of their lessons on immigration. Donald P. Sutherland Elementary School, Nassau, NY.
Also in March, I had the exciting opportunity to join Quinn Cummings on her podcast, Parenting & Bonding w/Children's Books. The topic: "Helping Moms Use Story to Connect." We discussed the importance of sharing family stories and family heritage with children of all ages. Children need to know they belong. Take a listen.
Parenting & Bonding
w/ Children's Books
Click the link below to have a listen
December 2020/January 2021
Grandchildren of friends sharing One of Thirteen they received as a present! Love seeing their smiling faces.
READ ALOUD:
Thank you to Mrs. Treiber, 1st grade teacher at Donald P. Sutherland Elementary School in Nassau, NY, for allowing me to share One of Thirteen with her class.
Excerpt from: Times Union LIVING article, Nov. 8, 2020:
“Books with local authors, ties to put on your reading list” by Jack Rightmyer
"One of Thirteen” by Catherine Zampier (Saratoga Springs Publishing)
This beautifully illustrated children’s book follows the adventures of Olga, an independent young girl who is one of the 13 Russian immigrant children in her family. The story takes place in the 1940s in Maplewood, the small hamlet between Watervliet and Cohoes. Zampier, who lives in Saratoga Springs,(sic: Actually live in East Greenbush, NY) captures the joy and love that is usually found in big families. After the story there are questions related to family heritage and discussion questions that will help young people talk about the importance of family.
Complete article: https://www.timesunion.com/living/article/Books-to-put-on-your-list-with-local-authors-ties-15693643.php
Feedback/Comments from Readers
". . . brought tears to my eyes . . . ." -Rosanne H.
"Took your family tree page as a project/challenge. So rewarding. My grandparents , both sides, born in Germany between 1860 to 1890." -Kurt E.
WOW!!!! I just read your book to my granddaughter! We both loved it! I can relate in so many ways. - Cathy Y.
"I loved the book." -Anne M.
I love the book!! Great story and illustrations. -Terri E.
Big and Beautifully illustrated, with a heartwarming story of family love and sibling relationships in 1940s upstate New York. Suspenseful, fun and easy to read, with problems presented, consequences of choices, lessons taught, and, spoiler alert.....a very happy ending. Highly recommended children's book. --John T, NJ (Amazon review)
November 2020 -- Family Notes from illustrator, Robert (Bob) Wayne Bode
My mother was one of fourteen and my father was one of eleven.
It made for a lot of cousins!
My mother grew up on a farm in northwest Washington state with 40 acres which they cleared and used to raise cows and chickens. The boys were kept busy with the farm work, while the girls were inside cooking and canning. There were two times when the family was sure to be all in one place: in church and at the family dinner table. On Sundays, the whole family rode to town in one car. The older boys stood on the running boards and hung on for dear life! At the family dinner table, when the 14th child was born, there simply wasn’t any more room at the table. Eventually, the older ones began leaving home and got married.
Below is Bob’s mother’s family of 14 kids. His mother is in the front row, second from the right.
October 2020 -- Book Signings
Cross Eyed Owl Gift Shop, Valatie - 10/17/20
Impressions of Saratoga - 10/2/20
September 2020
In every conceivable manner, the family is a link to our past, bridge to our future. ~~ Alex Haley
A family doesn't have to be perfect; it just needs to be united.
~~Betsy Farrell
"Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city." -- George Burns
When all the dust is settled and all the crowds are gone, the things that matter are faith, family, and friends. ~~ Barbara Bush
The world, we'd discovered, doesn't love you like your family loves you. -- Louis Zamperini
August 2020
Family is not an important thing. It's everything.
~~ Michael J. Fox
John,Mike,Anna,Paula,Wassy,Sophie,Olga,Julia,Eva
Front row: Walter, Dorothy,Paul, Harry
The 13 Volk Children
