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Ran in The Vindicator 9/17/21

June Summers:
Mom, Grandma, Teacher, CPA ... and Author Extraordinaire

By Patty Kimerer

In 1932, American philosopher, Walter B. Pitkin published a self-help book in entitled "Life Begins at Forty". Eight years later, June Summers was born at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown and proved him dead wrong.

In fact, the Youngstown native has achieved more in her 81 years than some nations have in centuries.

Born into a family of 12 children, Summers and her five sisters and six brothers learned the value of hard work very early in life. And Summers certainly personifies the theory that hard work pays off.

Today an acclaimed author in her own right, she is a testament to the notion of life beginning whenever you darn well decide to start it.

Her newest book, "There Was an Old Woman" is her latest release -- but it's her own life story could well be its own best seller.

Though she's officially retired, no moss has ever grown on Summers, who began her career an art teacher then became a staff accountant for a CPA firm in Florida. She left the firm in 2016 but her real passion, writing, took off like gangbusters five years ago, even though it actually began when she was just a girl.

"I started writing poems in grade school, but my serious writing didn't begin until the 1990s. My oldest daughter, Wendy, and I ran a non-profit, forever home for abused and abandoned dogs and cats. We needed money to support our animal family. Wendy had the idea of writing a book to help us out."

Wendy sadly passed away of cancer several years ago, but it was she who inspired Summers to write a book --- for the cash, frankly.

"We ran a non-profit organization for abandoned cats and dogs and needed money to support it. She suggested I write a book to fund the animal rescue and I ran with the idea," said Summers.

That book, "Let Freedom Ring", was her first though it unfortunately wasn't published until 2016, long after Wendy lost her battle with cancer. But it sparked Summers' inner author and she has since published five books in total.

Says Summers: "Counting the current book, "There Was an Old Woman," I have had five books published: "Let Freedom Ring" (2016), "Before We Fade Away" (2018), "A Conflict of Time" (2018), and "Whatever It Takes" (2020). I have two completed, non-fiction manuscripts yet to get published: "In the Dog House" —about Wendy and our lives with our animal shelter; and "Please Pass the Eyeball: Hosting the Most Unique and Bizarre Halloween Party Ever."

In addition to Wendy, Summers has another daughter, Glory Ann Harnois, who lives in Florida with her husband, Jim, and her grandson, Steve, and a granddaughter, Emily Harnois, who is a staff sergeant in the Air Force. She said her family is her real success story.

She says they and her sisters Bonnie Miller, 94, of Hermitage, PA and Gail Johnson, 83 (who also still works five days a week!) of Youngstown, along with her niece Joyce. A. Joyce, are her greatest source of happiness and accomplishment.

Though she lived in Florida for many years, she relocated back to her hometown a few years ago spend time with her surviving sisters. In all that time, Summers has never slowed her pace for a moment.

"I am currently working on a manuscript I call "1010 Colleda Avenue" about an apartment building on the east side of Youngstown, its eight tenants, and its superintendent." 

What inspires her to keep writing? " I don’t want the reader to put my book down. So I try to entice him or her to keep reading to find out what exciting, horrific, or tantalizing event will take place in the next chapter."

Stay tuned to see what Summers' next life chapter reveals, as well.

NOTE: Summers will host two area book signings next month: September 11 at Belleria Restaurant in Struthers from 11AM - 1PM and September 12 from 2-4PM at Strand Theater in Sebring.