81-Year-Old Woman Publishes Book on Internet; Illustrations by Teenager

SAN FRANCISCO, June 16  -- An eighty-one year old woman with the voice and personality of a thirty-something, has just had her first book, ``The Gutsy Generation,'' (http://www.thegutsygeneration.com) published on the Internet. Viola Rogers, of Highland, Mich., whose book is a compilation of observations and poetry about the challenges faced by senior citizens, maintains an active and vital life including using her computer to write and surf the Internet.

Adding a cross-generational touch are the illustrations created by a 17 year old artist from Wixom, Mich. Jarod Sabatino supplied crayon drawings for each of Viola Rogers' observations of life.

``When I think that I rode to school on the back of a horse-drawn ice wagon with hot hard boiled eggs in my coat pockets to keep my hands warm,'' Viola says, ``I am amazed and delighted that I am able to use a computer, the same technology used by young people today.''

Ms. Rogers' book puts a humorous cast to the problems of hearing aids, doctors visits, false teeth, exercise and senior sex. She writes, also, about such issues as grocery store lines, senior citizen driving, the senior ``van,'' the dangers of drinking coffee, sitting on one's front porch observing the world and the inevitability of death.

``I've lived in senior citizen housing for quite a few years,'' she says. ``I always thought I'd like to write about these people ... what they say, how they think. Most senior citizens are a pain. You'd think they would learn not to act like children.''

``The Gutsy Generation'' was originally written in 1995 and self-published, but Rogers' children decided recently that if they put the book on a web site more people will be exposed to her tongue-in-cheek humor.

``Oh yes!'' Viola says. ``I always dreamed of being a published author!''

``My mother is now part of the personal publishing explosion on the internet,'' says her son, David Welsh of San Francisco. ``She is on the cutting edge of the revolution which allows readers to buy directly from the author. And all this from a woman who was born on the first anniversary of Armistice for World War I!''

Thousands of formerly unpublished writers in United States are turning to the Web, CD-ROMS and other new devices as potential outlets for their work, according to Andrea Sachs in a March 17 article written for Time Magazine. Quoting author Stephen King, Ms. Sachs writes, ``There's this space on the Internet, this infinite space, for people to publish ... for people who have been disenfranchised by the shrinking lists of publishers, to actually do their stuff.''

The New York Post, in an April 1 article written by Dan Kadison, confirms Ms. Sachs information. Sales of e-published consumer books should break the $2 billion mark, almost ten percent of today's market, by 2005, predicted by a study by the Association of American Publishers/Andersen Consulting.

As for the illustrations in ``The Gutsy Generation,'' Viola says, ``Jarod and I worked together when he was 12 years old. I told him about each of my poems and we figured out what the right illustration should be. Then he just did them, and they are charming.''

``My mother has a great attitude,'' says Welsh. ``She is durable and strong. She participates actively in everything and maintains a busy life in her community -- from playing cards and Bingo to walking a mile and one-quarter every morning -- using her walker!''

Born with a handicap, Viola Rogers' left side is severely damaged. She has no fingers on her left hand, the toes of her left foot are fused and her left leg is shorter than her right. Four surgeries have given her a single pointed finger on her left hand.

However, this did not stop her from marrying and raising three children (Wally, 58, David, 51, Nikki, 47). The Depression prevented her from finishing high school -- but she earned a GED in 1993 and, not satisfied with that, went back to earn a full four-year degree in 1995 at age 75.

``I worked for 25 years in accounting for a man that did warehousing before I got my degree,'' Viola adds. ``I'm great with numbers. When that business closed I worked in accounting for Sears for another four and one-half years.''

Viola adds that she's ``sort of a loner. I would rather be by myself. I can jump into my car and be gone for the day all alone and have a great time. But I do like to get together with other people after dinner and play cards. I do that every night.''

Although she needs help with housework, Viola still cooks for herself. ``I'm a good cook,'' she laughs, ``and I make great apple pie!''

``The Gutsy Generation'' can be found at http://www.thegutsygeneration.com