THE LOUDEST QUIET GIRL: MESSAGES OF HOPE IN A DARK WORLD

LOCAL AUTHOR PANEL-NORTON (MA)PUBLIC LIBRARY JULY 27, 2023 3:00PM

FYI, I will be part of a five person Local Author Panel at the Norton (MA) Public Library tomorrow, July 27, at 3:00 pm.  Each author will give up to a 5-minute presentation followed by Q&A from the attendees.  Book sales/signing will follow.May be an image of 5 people and text that says 'Local Author Talk with Suzanne Reynolo Reynolds-Alpert Debi Graham-Leard Bob Lovinger, Jyoti Joshi, and Kathy Rodriques July 27th, 2023 3:00pm Community Room'

Join us for a local author panel with fiction and memoir authors Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Debi Graham-Leard, Bob Lovinger, Jyoti Joshi, and Kathy Rodriques. Each author will give a presentation about their work followed by a Q&A. Copies of each author’s book(s) will be available for sale and signing. The panel is free and open to the public.
Kathy Rodriques is the author of The Loudest Quiet Girl: Messages of Hope in a Dark World. The Short Full Life and Inspirational Writings of Erin Kate Rodriques. This biography of Kathy’s and Abel’s daughter, Erin, also includes a compilation of inspirational writings created by Erin, a Norton native, who died in a tragic accident in 2013 at the age of 23 in Spencer.
Jyoti Joshi was born in Mumbai and came to the United States as a newlywed 54 years ago. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Sir J.J. School of Art in Mumbai, has held solo exhibitions, and has won numerous awards in juried competitions. Her previous book, Patazad, is inspired by correspondence with her mother. This book, The Journey of Seven Steps, was initially published in Marathi.
Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert writes short fiction and poetry in the science fiction, horror, and dark fantasy genres. Her short stories have appeared in the anthologies Dastardly Damsels (forthcoming), Wicked Women, The Final Summons, Killing It Softly (Vol.1), and The Deep Dark Woods. Read her poetry in the HWA Poetry Showcase Vol. VI, the anthologies Beneath Strange Stars and Wicked Witches, and in The Wayfarer: A Journal of Contemplative Literature.
Debi Graham-Leard has published a mystery series featuring a retired female music professor who lives in a library home imagined from the previously-abandoned library across from the Norton Common. The town itself has been fictionalized, moved to the coast, and renamed Harbor Falls. In the first book The Uninvited Guest, widow Gwen Andrews sleuths behind the scenes to clear herself of wrongdoing.
New York City native Bob Lovinger and wife, Nina, have called Norton home for the past 14 years. A retired journalist and hospital grants manager, he started writing fiction late in life, and has published four novels. The latest is The Lie Detector, the Artisan’s Journal, and the Infinite Spiral. It concerns one of the nation’s top private detectives now facing a crisis of confidence when she suspects she made a fatal mistake.
Norton, Massachusetts

 

APOLOGIES

Hello everyone,  so sorry that I haven’t posted in a long time. I’ve been dealing with breast cancer and other health issues. Good thing is I’m on the mend and am starting to be out in public again – in baby steps.

Before all that, I was the keynote speaker for The Catholic Women’s Club Annual Communion Breakfast from St Rose of Lima in Northborough, MA.  They were very welcoming and I felt that it was my best presentation yet. I had shortened it from my prior ones. It was a focused and intimate group. Book signing took place after.

I have an upcoming one tomorrow that will be only a five minute (!)😂 presentation with Q&A and signings after. I will be one of five local authors on a panel. It’s the first time I’ve done anything like that.  I’ll post that one separately. Will let you know how it goes.

 

Enjoy your Summer!

 

 

THE ANCHOR (FALL RIVER, MA) NEWS ARTICLE ABOUT THE LOUDEST QUIET GIRL

The loudest quiet girl

By David Jolivet                                                                          (published in The Anchor 9/17/21 page 15)

September 16, 2021

In May of this year, I received a phone call at The Anchor from a woman who entered my life for the first time and left an immediate mark on my heart and soul. A friend for life I would say.

Her name is Kathy Rodriques of Norton and she called to share about a book that she had recently written and published, but it’s the subject matter is what left an indelible mark on me.

Kathy and her husband Abel had one remarkable, loving, friendly, caring child, Erin. They still have her, only Erin is with the Heavenly Father now. In 2013, at age 23, and just five months from getting married to her fiance, Josh Moore, Erin tragically lost her life in a car accident during a snow and ice storm in Spenser, Mass.

Obviously Kathy, Abel and Josh lived the nightmare of the tragedy of the loss of a wonderful young woman.

Erin was a typical child, teen and college student. She had her fears, her anxieties, her joys, her hopes, her illnesses, and frankly, her whole life ahead of her.

The Rodriques had been parishioners at St. Mary’s in Norton and also at St. Mary’s in Mansfield. Erin was confirmed by Bishop Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Cap., and she received her first Penance and Communion from family friend, Father Greg Mathias. And years later, when scheduled to marry Erin and Josh, instead Father Mathias celebrated her funeral Mass.

A display of the biography and writings of Erin Rodriques at Four Echoes in Seekonk will be there for the month of September.

Remarkably after Erin died, Josh shared a collections of journals Erin was keeping since her teen years. And as Kathy told me she, couldn’t believe how deep, thoughtful, insightful and inspiring her writings were from such an early age.

Reading through some of Erin’s writings, I found a very strong common theme: everything is in God’s hands and to see things as God sees them.

Erin said in her writings that she hoped that they would some day lift up someone who needed it.

Kathy and Abel, despite the devastating loss, courageously opted to share Erin’s story and her writings, with Kathy as the conduit.

I plan on writing a feature for The Anchor in the near future, so I’ll eschew giving all the details of the publication, other than, despite the sad story line, it is filled with hope and inspiration and a warm and unforgettable read.

The reason I bring up Kathy, Abel and (forever) Erin now is that Kathy’s labor of love, titled, “The Loudest Quiet Girl: Messages of Hope in a Dark World,” is available to all, even though the release in January of 2020, the cusp of the pandemic, was bad timing as far as getting the word out about the book.

Well the Rodriques are not people who can let Erin’s story go untold. Kathy recently emailed me and told me that the book of Erin’s life and writings is available during the month of September at Four Echoes in Seekonk, who gave them the opportunity to be featured for the month. Four Echoes is a non-profit vintage shop at the Grist Mill, 380 Fall River Avenue.

I’m writing to encourage folks in the area to please try to visit while the display is there.

Erin’s all-too-short life was not in vain and she will always be remembered, but so many more people can benefit from her simple wisdom and messages. To me, she is much like the Gospel writers who took what God told them and shared it with others.

At the tender age of 15, Erin wrote in her journal, “I hope that whoever may be reading this in the future, if you are going through a hard time or do in the future, please NEVER lose hope! God is always there for you and He will never leave your side.”

I encourage anyone who can make it to Seekonk, please do so. For those who cannot, please visit Kathy’s website at www.KathyRodriques.com.

Erin most likely, has a message for you there.

davejolivet@anchornews.org

 

 

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS FROM ERIN 2021

MY FB post of 12/9/21 On my KATHY RODRIQUES AUTHOR page

A little bit of that veil thinned for us this week and we’re feeling a bit of Heaven and Erin’s spirit. With the suggestion of Abel’s brother Dean and with his major help, the two of them opened some of Erin’s totes that we just received from Josh that contained Erin’s Christmas lights and decorations. Some she had used, some she had bought to use in 2013. Dean and Abel put them all over the front and back of the house. The house has not looked this festive in a very long time. As most of you know, Christmas was Erin’s favorite holiday (but weren’t they all?). It didn’t dawn on me until Monday night that it was the Feast of St Nicholas (Santa Claus) and we always let Erin open one of her Christmas gifts that day. Well, this year, she gave that gift to US! She is our light in the darkness. I feel like the house has come alive again and Erin is strongly around.

I want to impart some of that joy to you via a slideshow that I quickly put together of the lights–of course, the photos don’t do them justice. I interspersed photos of Erin in between a few of them. In the photosar Erin’s 1st picture, you can see the light above the front door. That’s there 24/7. It’s in Erin’s closet. In the window to the left of that one, you can see Erin’s little Christmas tree.  The last photo is the prism in the sky that we saw after Erin’s Assumption College Garden dedication in 2014. I tried to make the music stop on that slide but I haven’t figured out how to do that yet.

Click on this link for the video.   https://vimeo.com/655463515

The background music is “Thankful” by Josh Groban (of course). ..which I managed to buy from I-Tunes with a gift card that I found in Erin’s coupon pouch from one of the totes! She took care of everything–the lights, the music, and the joy!

Thank you all so much for your beautiful posts, messages, cards, texts, prayers, and thoughts for Erin’s 8th (!) memorial. We love you all and are so honored that you keep our/your Lovies in your hearts and minds.

Take care, all.

Blessed Advent and Merry Christmas!

Love, Kathy, Abel, and forever Erin

 

 

THE LOUDEST QUIET GIRL FEATURED AT FOUR ECHOES

       DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER,
                                                      signed copies of
                   The Loudest Quiet Girl: Messages of Hope in a Dark World.
The Short Full Life and Inspirational Writings of Erin Kate Rodriques                    
                                                     are being featured at
          FOUR ECHOES at GRIST MILL POND
        VINTAGE SHOPPE in SEEKONK, MA
In addition to the books, I have both stone coasters and notecards with photos of flowers in Erin’s Memorial Garden at Assumption. There is also a small variety of other “giftie” stuff. Please come and support us: 30% of sales goes to the community ministries of the shoppe.
While you’re there, there are two floors of eclectic vendor items to look through.
 Christmas is coming! It’s never too early.
Directions to Four Echoes can be found on their website https://fourechoes.org or FB page Four Echoes Vintage Shoppe at Grist Mill Pond. (https://www.facebook.com/fourechoes)
You can view photos of the products for sale at my Facebook Author Page: Kathy Rodriques Author

THE LOUDEST QUIET GIRL FEATURED AT FOUR ECHOES

       DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER,
                                           signed copies of
                   The Loudest Quiet Girl: Messages of Hope in a Dark World. The Short Full Life and Inspirational Writings of Erin Kate Rodriques                    
                                         are being featured at
FOUR ECHOES at GRIST MILL POND
VINTAGE SHOPPE in SEEKONK, MA
In addition to the books, I have both stone coasters and notecards with photos of flowers in Erin’s Memorial Garden at Assumption. There is also a small variety of other “giftie” stuff. Please come and support us: 30% of sales goes to the community ministries of the shoppe.
While you’re there, there are two floors of eclectic vendor items to look through.
 Christmas is coming! It’s never too early.
Directions to Four Echoes can be found on their website https://fourechoes.org or FB page Four Echoes Vintage Shoppe at Grist Mill Pond. (https://www.facebook.com/fourechoes)
You can view photos of the products for sale at my Facebook Author Page:
Kathy Rodriques Author

SPECIAL BOOK PRICES!! ORDER NOW FOR CHRISTMAS!

Hello everyone,

I hope you are all coping ok with the pandemic and partial re-openings. We’re still pretty much hunkering down here.  As you know, all the book signings I had planned for the beginning of the year had to be canceled so I have LOTS of books all around the house!   I hated the thought of them all sitting here during a time when so many people could use some hope right now. I have sent some of them to parishes that I became acquainted with via online Mass/Rosary, notably St Anne’s in Hampstead, NH and St. Mary’s in Spring Lake, Michigan, as well as some others.

So, in light of this, I decided to do a Harvest Special if you order the books directly from me. I can sign them and also write a personal inscription if you want me to.  The details are at this link (ad from the Harvest Magazine, Diocese of Portland, ME): ErinBook-1120b    Let me know if you have any questions, please, either via this site or at kathyrodriques@gmail.com .  Please help me share Erin’s messages of hope in these uneasy times.

The books will make great gifts for Christmas, Confirmations, Graduations, especially. They are also helpful for RCIA, grief ministry, prison ministry (are in 2 prisons now: GA and CA), and 12-step programs.     

BEST OF HEALTH TO YOU ALL! STAY SAFE!

 

HARVEST BOOK SALE!!! ORDER NOW IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS!

DUE TO THE CANCELLATION OF ALL MY BOOK SIGNINGS DURING THE PANDEMIC,

I AM OFFERING MY BOOKS DIRECTLY AT A LOWER COST – PRICE  INCLUDES TAX AND SHIPPING. TO OBTAIN THE LOWER COST, YOU WILL NEED TO CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW. 

CLICK ON THIS LINK    ErinBook   TO VIEW THE AD THAT I PLACED IN THE HARVEST MAGAZINE, THE PUBLICATION FOR THE DIOCESE OF PORTLAND, MAINE. IT CONTAINS ORDERING INFORMATION. MY BOOKS WILL BE SIGNED AS WELL AS CONTAIN AN  INSCRIPTION (IF YOU WANT).

ALL OTHER ORDERING SOURCES WILL BE THEIR USUAL RETAIL PRICES.

        MAKE SURE TO STOCK UP FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS!!

MORE OF ERIN’S WISDOM and QUARANTINE SPECIAL PRICES!!

Here’s another of Erin’s journal entries to ponder during this quarantine time (for most of us). She wrote it when she was 14 years old, almost 15. (7/20/05) It can be found at the end of Chapter 3.

I’ve also attached a photo taken a month after she wrote this entry. It was taken at World Youth Day in Germany, August 2005.  Note–her bodyguard behind her –her father, Abel. 🙂

 

 

***A reminder: If you don’t already have the book, the E-BOOKS are available at AuthorHouse.com ‘s bookstore and on Amazon. There’s a full-color version and a black and white one.

I have a LOT of physical books at home. As long as the post office is still working, I’m going to offer a Quarantine special-that includes tax and shipping– $10 for the b/w paperback-most popular- (6×9); $20 for the b/w hardcover (6×9); and $30 for the full-color edition (8.5×11).
Just send me your address and what you would like inscribed and I can send them out to you or directly to your friends/family. You can e-mail me at kathyrodriques@gmail.com.


Be Safe. Be well.