COVID lockdown led to Brooks’ book

By PAULETTE BROOKS
Guest Columnist

Hello Hamilton County! Let me introduce myself. My name is Paulette Brooks and I’m the newest member of the Word Warriors, which include Janet Hart Leonard, Amy Shankland, Sharon McMahon, and Amy Shinneman. They all have a regular column in the Hamilton County Reporter. So, here’s my guest column for the newspaper.

Wait, I can hear you asking … how did you get your picture on the front page in December 2025 with these other familiar columnists we love to read? Here’s my story of coming to Noblesville in 2019 and finding writer friends who helped me succeed as a first-time author.

I had just moved to Indiana and was still discovering new places to explore in the county. After retirement as a librarian in Wisconsin and a move to be closer to our grandchildren, little did I know that this was where I would start a whole new career as a published author. It all started with a trip to MacGregor Park in Westfield, where I found the story of Scottish immigrant Sheila MacGregor on a park sign. That information about a woman who donated her property to create this nature preserve sparked a flame that burst into writing my first novel.

Paulette Brooks found inspiration for her book during a visit to Westfield’s MacGregor Park. (Photo provided)

Turns out, with some research, I found some inconsistencies with the facts as they were presented as to how Sheila came to settle in Hamilton County. Couple that with an obituary which, in my opinion, unfairly summarized her life of 93 years simply as “she was a homemaker” and I had a mystery to solve and a historical novel to write.

I also had the privilege of meeting some people who knew her personally. It was satisfying to verify their stories and recollections with research based on genealogical information and newspaper accounts. Hurrah for library access to The Noblesville Ledger (1869–2008) which reported on local events much like The Hamilton County Reporter!

Not Just a Homemaker: The Extraordinary Life of Sheila MacGregor, is a dual-timeline novel with chapters alternating between decades of Sheila’s life story and a 12-month period with Meg, a fictious librarian who is new to Hamilton County in 2014. Have fun following Meg as she explores her new home by having coffee at Bica Café in Noblesville and lunch at Field Brewing in Westfield. Her research journey mimics my own, so if you read my book, look out for local restaurants and parks I discovered as a newcomer. Speaking about interesting places, don’t forget to check out the public libraries in Hamilton County, where you can borrow my paperback for free!

I never thought I’d say this, but I’m thankful that while COVID forced me to stay home, it also jump-started my life as a full-time writer. As my husband and I limited our public outings and observed social distancing, I relied on Zoom for my connection to the outside world. I’ve always been interested in writing, so I started attending the monthly Zoom meetings called “The Write Stuff” sponsored by the local Hamilton East Public Library. Shout out to librarian, Jan Bridges, who is still our moderator. This friendly group of literary-minded people led to another online organization called the Central Indiana Writers Association (CIWA), which has been going for 50 years. I cannot stress enough how developing a writing community is essential for a newbie author. These new friends offered encouragement and advice based on their experiences and years of expertise.

Now, to answer that initial question about how I became a member of the Word Warriors, here it is. You may have read about Janet Hart Leonard’s recent book launch, but did you know that Amy Shankland just published a book as well? An introduction through a mutual friend in 2024 led to meeting Amy at Ginger’s Café in Noblesville, where we compared notes and encouraged each other in our writing projects. I suggested that she attend CIWA meetings on Zoom and she invited me to join the Word Warriors! I’ve been meeting with them at Debbie’s Daughters Bakery & Café in Noblesville for a year now. It has been a blessing to get to know these accomplished women and learn from them!

Please feel free to contact me if you are a writer in need of finding a community of encouraging wordsmiths! Email me at pbrooksauthor@gmail.com.