Bess Paterson ShipeBess Paterson Shipe (1919 - 2015) was a born writer with a collection of over 200 poems written from ages eight through twelve. One of them became the core of the novel she began 50 years later. A native of Baltimore, she graduated from the Universit of Maryland in 1940. She was a war bride, an English teacher and prolific author. She had a gift for stories portrayed in fluid, linear order with beautiful imagery and lyrical style. She and her husband lived in Potomac, Maryland, raising three daughters with grands and great grands they cherished. During her long life, Bess wrote in every genre possible. Country School Boy, 1976, Historic Medley District, Inc., tells about one room schoolhouses through the misadventures of a real-life rascally seven-year-old in 1875. The Mysterious Tail of a Charleston Cat, 1996, Sandlapper Publishing Co., Inc, reflects her flair for mystery and history. She was a dedicated researcher as displayed in one of her earlier articles, "A House with a Past", June 1980, Chesapeake Bay Magazine. In 1974 she began The Forces of Bay House and continued creating it up until her death. In 2014 at age 95 she moved to Florida to live with her daughter, Susan Calfee, also a writer. Unable to complete her novel she asked for Susan's help. So began their mother-daughter writing team, though sadly Bess passed away during the process. This intriguing novel of suspense was the result. Read More Read Less