Fredericks publishes "Observations and Recollections"
By Karen Mann JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT

Patricia Fredericks is hoping to raise money for repairs to the Steven Memorial Building (above), which houses the Fredericks Piano and Study Center.

Inspired by a Christmas gift from her father years ago, Patricia Fredericks is now selling copies of her new book of poetry in time for the holiday season.

"My father as a Christmas present to my mother and me, had our poems printed in a little booklet. He gave me and my mom 50 copies of the booklet so we could give them out," said Fredericks.

And in the true spirit of the holiday giving season, Fredericks is donating proceeds from her book, "Observations and Recollections: Highly Accessible Versus for Reasonably Intelligent People," to the Historical Piano and Study Center, of which she is the owner.

One month after its release, Fredericks has already sold 85 copies, with 45 more on order.

"I have been able to put $600 in the bank from sales, and I have orders for another $600 worth," said Fredericks. "All proceeds go straight to the renovation of the building."

This is also an idea Fredericks borrowed from previous history.

When she moved to Ashburnham, and became a member of Ashburnham Community Church, she used her love of poetry and her father's idea of putting the poems into a book to be distributed.

The church was having a fundraiser, in which every member was given five dollars, and told to invest it, to make it grow.

"Since I don't bake or knit or sew, I put together a book of my poetry," Fredericks said.

She collected works from other people in town to use in the book as well.

The church did the project again two years later, this time handing out $20. Fredericks decided this time around, she had enough of her own poetry to make a new book.

"Verbal Snapshots: Thoughts in Rhyme," was printed in April 2005 and contained 64 poems.

"I sold out of 150 copies in three weeks, had 100 more printed and sold out of those, and had 100 more printed," Fredericks said.

After she was able to donate $775 to the church, the minister told her to keep the rest of the proceeds she would make from that point forward.

And again, Fredericks reached the point where she had enough writing to put together the second book, "Observations and Recollections."

The poems range from ones she wrote in high school to ones she wrote this year. Fredericks said most of her poems come from personal experiences, so they are easy for the reader to relate to.

"Most things I write about seem to be familiar situations to people. People say, 'I can picture that,'" Fredericks said.

And because most of the poems are short, four to eight lines, Fredericks said people can pick up the book, read a short poem, get a smile or laugh, and pick it up again later.

"Observations and Recollections: Highly Accessible Versus for Reasonably Intelligent People," can be ordered for $15 by calling Fredericks at (978)-827-6232 or by e-mail piano.fred@juno.com.