"Mona Meets" - Interviews Featured In Our Newsletters

Gently Used Books has long been sending a monthly newsletter to its devoted patrons, advising them of upcoming sales and special events, and giving these preferred customers in-store coupons and special offers. As the newsletter readership has grown, Mona DeWalt, the owner of Gently Used Books, has begun writing a column she calls "Mona Meets" in which she talks to a local "person of interest" who is a friend of Gently Used Books and "introduces" them to the rest of her Gently Used Books readership. The "Mona Meets" columns will also added to this page of our website.

We Want To Hear From You! You Can Nominate Someone To Be In "Mona Meets"

Is there someone you'd like to see in a future "Mona Meets" column? Go to the "Contact Us" page of our website and send your suggestion to Mona!

Mona Meets: Scott Armstrong of North Coventry

Looking for something to do with the family this weekend? Or perhaps you're looking for a good adventure story? The answer to both questions may be the work of the same man: Scott Armstrong of North Coventry.

Scott Armstrong of North Coventry in a scene from a Revolutionary War re-enactment.

Scott is one of those very busy people who wear two hats: he is the publisher of Parents' Source, the local family activities and resource guide, and he is also an author who recently published his first book: "Russian Snows: Coming of Age in Napoleon's Army."

First, let me introduce Scott Armstrong, the Publisher - Parents' Source is a bi-monthly publication that is distributed free through schools, libraries, daycare centers, medical offices, retail stores and other family-oriented locations. There are two editions of Parents' Source that are a great resource guide to services, support and entertainment for families: the Tri-County edition covers Southern Berks, Western Montgomery, and Northern Chester counties, and their Berks/Lancaster edition covers Berks and Lancaster counties.

Parents' Source publishes a Family Events Calendar filled with local activities for families. In addition, the Parenting Connection calendar lists workshops and classes for parents.

The award-winning Parents' Source website includes an on-line version of their publications, an archive of past articles, hundreds of local and worldwide resources, plus it even includes links to all their family-friendly advertisers.

Want to list an upcoming event in the Parents' Source calendar or advertise? It's simple - visit the Parents' Source website to learn more about this valuable family and parenting resource!

Now lets meet the other Scott Armstrong, the author of Russian Snows. For Scott, writing a history novel was a natural choice. Scott was a history major in college and he is a life-long Revolutionary War re-enactor. Scott and his wife, Sandie, met while re-enacting the siege of Savannah, Georgia.

"Russian Snows: Coming of Age in Napoleon's Army" is the fictional story of 14-year-old Henri Carle as he accompanies Napoleon's army during the disastrous 1812 invasion of Russia. Henri's story is woven into actual events and incidents from that terrible campaign. This sometimes humorous, sometimes heart-wrenching, but ultimately uplifting adventure paints a picture of what life was like for the common soldier in Napoleon's Army.

Henri is forced to use his wits, skills and quick thinking to survive as the army deteriorates around him in the fierce Russian winter. He draws on the lessons learned from the people he meets and his own inner strength. Henri sees the horrors of battle, the heartbreaking agony of the wounded left behind and the death of those around him.

To find out more about Russian Snows and to order your own copy, visit the Russian Snows website. You can also follow Scott's blog about the 1812 invasion of Russia at www.Napoleon1812.wordpress.com. Scott is also available to speak to groups about Napoleon's Russian campaign (this year is the 200th anniversary) - you can contact Scott through his Russian Snows website.

Mona Meets: Michelle Hackman of Douglassville

Michelle Hackman is an active community leader and volunteer who lives right here in Douglassville. Michelle is an accountant and tax professional who has a passion to serve and generously share her gifts and skills with her community.

Michelle Hackman - Douglassville Accountant, Bookkeeper and Tax Professional

For 10 years, Michelle has been volunteering her tax preparation expertise to help senior citizens and low income families during tax season through Boyertown Area Multi-Service, an independent, non-profit social service agency. The Boyertown Area Multi-Service agency is dedicated to meeting the needs of the residents of the Boyertown Area School District as well as the townships of Amity and Oley. The agency also operates a Senior Center, offers volunteer transportation to medical appointments, serves Meals on Wheels, provides energy assistance and has a daily emergency food pantry.

Michelle also serves on the board of the Eastern Berks Business Alliance (EBBA), a group of local business owners who have joined together to form a unique organization to promote strong economic growth in this area. EBBA's principle objectives are to serve as a referral organization and support local non-profit organizations. The group prides itself on a committed work ethic, based on trust, integrity and customer service to the surrounding businesses and residential community it serves.

Michelle, who divides her time between her office in Douglassville and the offices of MFB Wealth Management in Harleysville, has also served for many years as the treasurer of her church. Michelle's education is in Accounting/Bookkeeping through American Institute of Banking and is a Certified Budget Counselor through Crown Ministries and Good Sense Ministry. Michelle also holds life, health and long term care insurance licenses.

Michelle and her husband Bryan have been married for 30 years and have two adult children. They are very active in their church and both serve on the board of Light of Life missions.

Mona Meets: Matt Kessler of Douglassville

Anyone who hears the Praise Band at Hope Church in Douglassville says, "These guys are great!" But few people would guess that the one of the guys playing the guitar so wonderfully well is in "real life" prominent local attorney Matt Kessler!

Matt Kessler - Douglassville Attorney and Guitar Player in the Hope Church Praise Band

Yes, during the week he is "Matthew R. Kessler, Esquire" of the Law Offices of Matthew R. Kessler, LLC here in Douglassville....but at Wednesday evening band rehearsals and Sunday morning worship services, he is Matt Kessler, accomplished guitar player with the awesome Hope Church Praise Band.

Matt is a very busy guy - he is a Board Member of Devlin Fund for Cancer Research, a past President of the Eastern Berks Business Alliance, a member of the Board of Trustees at Hope Church, and a past Board Member of the Amity Township Lions Club.

Matt has been a soccer coach at the Amity Township Athletic Club, and has been a sponsor of many youth activities in our community, including Daniel Boone High School Boys and Girls Basketball, Daniel Boone Youth Baseball, Exeter High School Sports and Daniel Boone High School Yearbook.

Matt is Pennsylvania born and bred - born in Bloomsburg, raised in the small town of Millville in north central PA. After high school, Matt graduated from Pennsylvania State University, earned his J.D. at Widener University School of Law, passed the Pennsylvania Bar Exam and was admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Matt and his wife Jennifer and their daughters Madison and Avery, and their new-born son Carter, live in Douglassville.

To find out more about attorney Matthew R Kessler, Esquire, visit his Law Offices of Matthew R. Kessler, LLC website. And if you want to know more about Matt Kessler the guitar player, visit the Hope Church website and listen to some recordings of the Praise Band. Or better yet, come to a 10:45am Sunday Worship Service!

Mona Meets: Walter Mouse (and creator Pam Frame)

Walter Mouse is the creation of Pam Frame, an author from Birdsboro. Walter has just published his second book, "Mousetails" as a follow-up to his first book, "Squeaks." Each book is a daily devotional with interesting observations of common occurrences as seen through Walter's "mouse-eye" view.

Walter Mouse, the "author" of Squeaks and Mousetails - he's the "brain mouse" of author Pam Frame and her unique style of "Field Mouse Evangelism"

Walter has a different way of looking at things - very fresh and thought-provoking, to say the least. Walter's devotions are only one or two paragraphs long, but he seems to say much more in that time than many people would be able to say in 30 minutes or more.

For example, in a recent devotion on Walter's website (yes, he even has a website), Walter watched someone working on a crossword puzzle, and he wrote, "Isn't life like that - full of input and connection, but often equally full of empty spots and obscure places as well? Through it all, we know that God is watching over us, and that life, like crosswords, comes together as we live it."

Pam Frame, the mind behind Walter Mouse, worked for over thirty years as a teacher of special needs youngsters in nearby Pottstown. After retiring from teaching, Pam became the Director of Pastoral Care at Cedarville United Methodist Church in North Coventry. After seven years at Cedarville, Pam stepped down from that ministry to concentrate on helping Walter get his thoughts on paper...and into books.

Walter even sends a free weekly devotional email - visit his Walter Mouse website to subscribe, read more "Field Mouse Evangelism" devotions and purchase books.