"Author Signs Books"

“The daily headlines scream bad news, crime, hardship, and suffering. However, behind many of those headline stories are people whose lives speak gently to us of courage, strength, and compassion if we only learn to ‘Listen With the Heart’”. Those words are taken from the back cover of Barbara Ann Dush’s new book—“Listen With the Heart”. It may seem to many of us too daunting a task. After all, we have turned into a society that prides itself on efficiency, instant gratification, and “fast food”. Are there enough hours in a day to really practice “listening with the heart”?

A number of patrons read the article in the March 10, 2005 Columbus Telegram about Barbara Dush’s first book and immediately called the Library wanting to check it out. I was the fortunate staff member given the assignment of locating the author and possibly setting up an autograph session. I fumbled the first contact –I spoke to Barbara’s mother. She graciously informed me that her daughter’s married name was Micek, but I’d probably be able to reach her at the Nance County Journal where she is the editor.

Enjoying my role as amateur sleuth, I continued my quest. Not only did I find Barbara at work, but we were able to chat for a few minutes. I found that talking to Barbara was as comfortable as talking to one of my sisters. She has a bright, sunny, cheerful voice---I immediately knew why complete strangers opened their lives to her scrutiny. Barbara readily agreed to an autograph session and the possibility of doing a reading from her book at Columbus Public Library. Several book-giving occasions are fast approaching—Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and high school/college graduations.

The public is cordially invited to join the Columbus Public Library for a reading and an autograph session on Sunday, April 3, 2005 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm in the Auditorium on the second floor. The author will have copies of “Listen With the Heart” for sale.

Barbara Ann (Dush) Micek was raised on a farm near Clarks, Nebraska. She attended rural School District No. 34, noting that her country school years hold “some of the most cherished memories of my life.”

She graduated from Central Community College---Platte Campus---in 1994 with a communications major and is currently an editor at the Nance County Journal newspaper. Barbara lives in Fullerton, Nebraska. She and her husband, Albert Micek, have four daughters--- Mary, Lynda, Karen, and Barbara Jean.

“There is so much more than inspiration in the book. There’s motivation, healing, comfort, and peace and lessons that can be learned from the people inside the pages if we only learn to listen with the heart,” Dush said.
 
The Library Foundation recently received a donation from Mr. and Mrs. Dale Jaixen in honor of Ruby Harms. Mr. and Mrs. Craig Neid presented a donation to be matched by the Becton-Dickinson Foundation in recognition of the work done by Library employee, Sally Hansen. A memorial was made by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Trautwein in memory of Judy Florendo McCarthy.