Betty was born inPhiladelphia during the Great Depression and grew up in New Jersey.She now lives in Jupiter, Florida.

Norm: Good day Bettyand thanks for participating in our interview.

Please tell our readersa little bit about your personal and professional background.

Betty: I moved to Oaklyn,New Jersey when I was eighteen. I graduated from Rutgers Universityand married. I had three children and enjoyed them very much. Myhusband worked the night shift as a manager at Curtis PublishingCompany.

During our marriage, webought a driving school in Camden, New Jersey and I worked in theoffice while my husband worked part time as a driving instructor.

We had four men workingfor us as driving instructors. Several years later my husband passedaway and I was now in charge. My husband’s grandmother lived withus; she was a help with the children. I kept the business and workedfull time doing the office work and filling in as an instructor whennecessary.

I had six men working forme and there were many big companies close by that rented my cars andoften asked if we had limousines. I thought if I buy a used limousineI could use the men I already have as chauffeurs and open a limousineservice.

It was a success! Later Iwas fortunate enough to take over an Avis Rent a Car agency and itfit in nicely in my office. Now I had three businesses going anddoing well. I sold the limousine service and had an opportunity toacquire another rental agency in a town nearby. I later acquiredanother agency and sold the driving school business. The agencieswere less work, less employees, and better financially. 

Several years later I metand fell in love with an adventurous man. His dream was to sailaround the world in his sailboat. I get seasick and said I wouldn'tgo. He got deathly sick and in intensive care he begged me to go withhim. He recovered and held me to the promise.  We sailed forthree years, 42,000 miles around the world, through storms andhurricanes and many mishaps, but also many romantic, fun times. 

We became engaged in NewZealand and married when we returned home. That's when I wrote myfirst book, On the Winds of Destiny, about our veryadventurous trip.   

Norm: If you couldrelive a moment in your life, which moment would you choose and why?

Betty:  It waswhen my first child was born. It was such a wonderful feeling to lookdown at the miracle, my baby. I'll never forgetthat incredible feeling that flowed over me. Iwas a mother!

Norm: How did youbecome involved with the subject or theme of Enduring Times?

Betty: I heard the detailsof my mother and my siblings’ lives many times as I was growing up.Mostly hearing them talk among themselves about things that hadhappened before I was born. As I got older I asked many questions;I’m sure  they must’ve gotten tired of my requests forstories about their time living in the jungle. The stories stayedwith me and as I grew older I realized how much my mother actuallywent through and wondered how she could’ve endured it. 

Norm: What was thetime-line between the time you decided to write your book andpublication? What were the major events along the way?  

Betty: When I married andsmall hardships would happen, I would think of all my mother had putup with. I always wanted to write about it but never had time. As Igot older and settled in life, I decided to try writing about herlife. It took me about five years to complete it. I'd write for awhile, then stop to do research about the 1900's, the jungles inColombia, South America, the natives, and what life was like duringthat time. 

Norm: Did you readany special books on how to write?  

Betty:  I read manybooks on writing and editing.

Norm: You mention atthe beginning of your book that the story is fiction based on a truestory? How much of the book is realistic? 

Betty: From what I canremember and from what I was told, everything that happened was true.Before my siblings passed away, we used to talk about their pastlives and compared it to the lives their children had. The book hassome fictional parts to enhance the story, but the general arc of thestory is factual. 

Norm: What were yourgoals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel youachieved them?

Betty: My goals were towrite the story as close to the truth as possible and to accuratelyportray the feelings and emotions that my family felt. The love mymother still felt for her husband and the hope he might turn back tothe kind, loving man she had married. I wanted to tell the story ofwhat my mother endured to keep her family together.    

Norm: What was the mostdifficult part of writing this book?  

Betty: Putting myself ineach person’s place as I try to describe how they feel, what theyare doing. 

Norm: What did youenjoy most about writing this book?  

Betty: I enjoyed having myfamily members occupy so much time in my head.  Many times theirmemory made me laugh or brought tears to my eyes.

Norm: What would yousay is the best reason to recommend someone to read EnduringTimes?

Betty: It's a glance athow things were in the 1900's. It's a powerful story of a motherprotecting her family while the husband changes their lifecompletely. It shows how a woman can find the strength to endurehardships and handle tough situations when she's forced to.

Norm: Where can ourreaders find out more about you and Enduring Times?

Betty:  They canreach me on Facebook and Twitter.

Norm: What is next forBetty Godfrey?

Betty: I will write acontinuation of Enduring Times. The book is tentatively titledAs Time Goes By. 

Norm: As this interviewcomes to an end, if you could invite three writers, dead or aliveinto your living room, who would they be and why?

Betty: Balducci, JohnPatterson, and Suzi Wong. They all have great imaginations. I likethe way they write.

Norm: Thanks once againand good luck with Enduring Times!

FOLLOW HERE TO READ NORM'S REVIEW OF AS TIME GOES BY

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