(l-r) Dodie Milardo, author of “Penelope’s Cruise,”greets Frank and Barbara Burke and Bill and Amber Daoust at the signing of her first novel.

story & photo
by Angela Olsen

Historic Downtown Essex was abuzz with foot traffic on a picture-perfect Sunday afternoon on August 1st.  Amidst the friendly vendors welcoming visitors was Susan McCann, owner of Essex Books, hosting a signing of Dodie Milardo’s first novel, Penelope’s Cruise.  In an age of websites like Amazon.com, it’s refreshing to see that shops like Susan’s are not obsolete.  She personally greeted every passer-by with a warm smile, and urged them to stop and meet Dodie, who donates 90% of the net profits of the sale of “Penelope’s Cruise” to charities!

Dodie never imagined that she would pen a novel; she was a math major, and worked for one of the nation’s largest financial firms.  Several coincidences took place, one after another, and as Dodie told some of her co-workers about them, they encouraged her to write them down in a book.

In 2006, Dodie decided to start writing her novel, and at the same time, she and her husband found themselves in a secure enough financial position, where she was able to leave her job and focus on the writing.  She notes that they are not affluent, rather that living within their means, and differentiating between wanting and needing another dress is the key to financial peace.

“The words spilled out of me!  I couldn’t type them fast enough on my computer.”  In fact, Dodie was actually invited to a book signing before the book even went to press by the Killingworth Women’s Organization.  She used an on-demand publisher and is now living her dream giving love to those in need.

Eager to meet Dodie was 18-year-old Amber Daoust of Cromwell, a pretty, slender, soft-spoken girl who looks to Dodie as a mentor and female role model of sorts.  She traveled all the way from Cromwell with her grandfather and their rescue dog, Chuck, a pit-bull/boxer mix, whose previous owners burned the pads on his paws with cigarettes!  Chuck travels everywhere with them.

Amber learned of a contest Dodie was having, where the best romance stories would all be published in a book.  I looked at the youngster and said, “Romance?!”  It turns out that although Amber’s story is not a steamy anecdote, she has lived well beyond her 18 years, raised by her grandfather, and, well, has a tale of survival much like Chuck.  Writing is her passion, and Dodie was blown away by her remarkable story and gift for the written word.  She is now in the process of applying to college!

For people who love to give, but prefer not to read romance, Dodie Milardo will donate the $15 for Penelope’s Cruise to the charity of the buyer’s choice, and send the book to military personnel.  For more information please visit: www.togiveisdivine.com.

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