"Dining with the past"
event held saturday september 7th, 2013
olive hill, kentucky
press release of my second book on
my grandfather
may 2013
my grandfather
may 2013
I was in Kentucky for a book signing
for the Carter County Homemakers Group
In May 2012
The Libertyville Patch
Local Author Gives Back
Granddaughter of the inventor of retractable landing gear enjoys
helping others after writing book.
By Sara Eriksen | January 10, 2011
Barbara Sellers visits a patient in the nursing home and shares her book with her.
As a child, Barbara Sellers would look up at the sky in fascination of flight and astronomy. As she grew older, she learned more about her grandfather, the inventor of retractable landing gear, who took the first powered flight in the commonwealth of Kentucky."Every time I was at an airport I would look at the planes noses, and it looked like they were smiling," Sellers said. "I wish that Matthew was alive to see what has come of aviation."
Matthew B. Sellers was her grandfather and the subject of her book, A Moment in Time. Matthew was born in Baltimore and spent most of his life in Kentucky pursuing his studies and inventions in aviation. Sellers said not only did she learn more about her grandfather's work through writing the book but she also learned more about him as a person.
"He was very quiet. In his diaries, when he was going to meet a girl, he would draw a big empty circle because he didn't want people to know about that kind of stuff," Sellers said. "He suffered from migraines. There are days where his diaries will say, 'Headache today.'"
Through her travels for book signings and other events, Sellers has used the book's profits to help others in need.
"It's been a really big opportunity to give back," Sellers said. "I gave to The Grahn Community Center, near my grandfather's home. Kids on average were only having one meal a day. They were just ravaged last year by all of the floods, and it's really bad down there."
Over Christmas Sellers visited Kentucky again and donated to the Olive Hill Historical Society. Her donation will cover the insurance costs of her grandfather's artifacts.
In addition to monetary and book donations, Sellers says she enjoys spending time with children from the area and teaching them the history behind aviation.
"In May, I may be traveling to Holland for a kite workshop where I'll give a speech about some of the work Matthew did," Sellers said. "My book is selling in Germany, England and the Netherlands."
She has been named a Kentucky Colonel by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and an Admiral by the Department of Energy. In her spare time, she also visits veterans in the nursing home and brings them copies of her book.
Sellers, a 14-year Libertyville resident, says she hopes to write more books about other members of her family."My grandfather on my mother's side, Clark Robinson, was in both World War I and World War II," Sellers said. "He was a prisoner of war in Germany and escaped. My great uncle, Albert A. Robinson, wrote a series of journals chronicling the experiences of the war along with collecting letters written to their wives at home."
Sellers also plans to compile a portfolio of her mother's watercolor paintings. Her mother, Gail Sellers, painted in southern California where she was a well known local artist until she died of colon cancer in 2004. Seller says she will donate a portion of the proceeds from the watercolor compilation to colon cancer research.
Sellers manages a website about her book and Matthew B. Seller's work at www.matthewbsellers.com. In addition to writing, she is a licensed and practicing real estate agent who also spent time as a licensed paramedic for four years.
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My book was reviewed by Philip Jarrett, Aviation Author and
Historian from London, England.
He is one of the Editors of Aeroplane Magazine.
April 2010
Daughters of the American Revolution Event
Barrington Library - Feb 2010
Aviation Museum of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky Event
Lake County, Illinois Pioneer Press Papers Christmas 2009
Barrington, Illinois Local Paper January 2010
Press Release Thanksgiving 2009
