Hello! I’m Rick Parks, a new board member for Bookcamp. My interest in writing has its roots in the stories told my grandfather, who was born in 1892 in the Cumberland Gap area of Virginia. As a boy growing up in the 1960’s, every visit to the family farm would always have at least one point where we would gather around “Grandpa” while he shared his stories. After a long life of my own now, I can honestly say he was the most engaging storyteller I’ve ever heard. I was fascinated by his ability to cast a spell on listeners and bring them into the world he created. He chose storytelling as his platform based on a gift for doing it, but also because he was illiterate, having gone to work as a little boy rather than being able to attend school. In my life I’ve straddled the world of storytelling and writing, but always as a background and supplement to community work and my career as an insurance executive. I would tell stories as a college commencement speaker or write a blog for my employees about a topic like persistence, but time never allowed me to dig in and tell my stories fully, like Grandpa told his. Now that I am retired (mostly) the time is available at last. Bookcamp has opened my eyes to the amazingly diverse writing community, who all have their own stories to tell. As I go on the journey to tell my stories, I want to support others to do the same. Bookcamp not only offers technical tips and contacts in the writing world, it introduces one to a group of kindred souls who share a love of writing and telling stories. That sense of community is what sets it apart. I’m very pleased to join the board.
Meet New Board Member Ekta Garg
Hello, everyone! My name is Ekta Garg, and I’m thrilled to join the board of directors for Bookcamp. Here’s a
