Thallemer Hopes To Entertain Readers With Second Book
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David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Ann Thallemer’s goals in writing books are strictly to provide entertainment for her readers and to have her books in as many libraries as possible. She just had her second book, “The Runaway Client,” published, and like her first book it’s a “suspenseful American drama,” she said in an interview Tuesday afternoon at her Warsaw home. From 1 to 3 p.m. June 25, she will have a book signing for her 368-page novel at Café Mod, 2558 Frontage Road, Warsaw. Thallemer, 85, also has published three genealogy books, which she spent 10 years researching. “You’re never finished with genealogy. You always find things to add to your research,” she said, noting that she’s traced her family’s history back to the 16th century. Her first novel originally was published under the title “Unequal Justice.” When she had it republished, she changed its title to “An Innocent Man.” In her new book, “The Runaway Client,” Thallemer wrote a story centered around a man, Ralph Wadkins, who was in prison and was bullied while incarcerated. After being released, he returns to his hometown and the bully, Corey Daniels, shows up even though he’s not from there, she explained. Wadkins is fearful for his life and tells his brother-in-law, Justin Roberts, about it before mysteriously being killed two days later in a hit-and-run. After Wadkins’ death, the investigation doesn’t get very far until pieces of a broken headlight at the scene of the crime are matched up to Daniels’ car. “He contacts an attorney because he feels like he was set up, and he gets desperate and disappears because he feels so desperate,” Thallemer said, hence the title of the book, “The Runaway Client.” In order to find out who killed Wadkins, Thallemer said people will have to read her book. She said her books are built around true incidents and many of her characters have similarities to people she’s encountered in her 8-1/2 decades. “I’ve always considered myself to be a storyteller. I had no experience with publishing and had gone the route of self-publishing. I don’t anticipate any unusual success because the competition is so fierce. Thousands and thousands of people daily are publishing books, and unless you have name recognition, or unless the book is about a controversial or popular subject, it very rarely will reach the level of popularity. And I never expect that. I gain entertainment and enjoyment from writing, and I have been a writer actively for 10 years with newspapers, regional and diocese papers. It was mostly features. My goal really in writing is strictly for the reader’s entertainment, and my second goal is to have my books in as many libraries as possible,” she explained. Thallemer started writing “The Runaway Client” in 2011. It was published in December so she could give copies to her children and grandchildren before it went out on the market. It’s available in large print, Kindle and soft cover through Amazon.com, CreateSpace and through her email at athallemer@centurylink.net Her first book also is still available. Asked if she was going to write a third book, Thallemer said, “I have thought I would write something that would really shock everybody, but I don’t know if that’s such a smart idea. I do have a couple of books that are outlined, I just haven’t moved forward with them because I’m still looking for a better idea. The next book most likely will be non-fiction. I am just trying to decide if I have the courage to write it. But since I’m 85, I guess I can do what I want.” Thallemer was born in Kentucky. She and her husband, Don, have been married for 64 years. Don was an FBI special agent, and they lived in Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Va., eventually finding their way back to South Bend. They moved to Warsaw in the 1970s. “I wouldn’t think of any place else for my home except Warsaw,” she said. Ann and Don are both retired. She retired a number of years ago from Kosciusko Community Hospital as the personnel director. She was at KCH when it opened its doors in 1976, and she said she made many friends there. When Thallemer is not writing, she loves to read and take care of her flower garden. She enjoys playing bridge. “We have a big family and I’m very involved in family events. And I’m a politics junkie,” she admitted.
