VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., May 22, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Business has its way of changing a family's life. When prosperity sets in or when a recession strikes, the health of business can drastically affect anyone's social life and life style. This is the theme that drives an engaging look back at the past in "Number, Please!" a new book authored by Doris J. Sumner and an official entry at this year's American Library Association book exhibit.
"Number, Please!" offers an in-depth look at Sumner's family background beginning with her parents' struggles during the Great Depression. The economic downturn wiped out her grandfather's possessions and when he died, her parents had to borrow money to bury him. As time passed, her parents struggled hard to ensure their family's survival until economic conditions began to improve at the end of the thirties. While Sumner's father found a steady job, her mother got hired by the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. Eventually, her mother got promoted and went on to run a new telephone business with the authority of dealing with customers and hiring and supervising employees. It gives a historical look into the past telephone era.
The new prosperity was felt in the family. This release reveals that there were times when Sumner and the family felt that they more than earned the money by not having to pay a water bill by accepting the responsibility of sounding the whistle that the citizens lived by. Moving into the new telephone business office made them realize the lives of the chief operator and the family belonged to the public as well as to themselves, not to mention having to adjust their daily schedules around the duties in the front office. As time passed by, the ups and downs of the enterprise impacted their lives together.
"Number Please" will be featured at the American Library Association national book exhibit, which will be held on July 11 to 14, 2009 in Chicago, IL. For ordering and inquiries, please visit Xlibris.com or call (888) 795-4274 today.
About the Author
Doris J. Sumner was born in Oklahoma and raised in western Kansas where she spent most of her teenage years as a telephone operator helping her Mother. With this background training, it helped to pave the way into working in some of the jobs she has held in both civilian and military careers. After her discharge from the U.S. Navy, she followed her husband while on active U.S. Army duty and finished her sophomore year at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Because of frequent army moves, she did get to complete one year of business college at Draughon's School of Business in San Antonio, TX. In April 1993, she retired from the U.S. Federal Government Service and has been active with women's business groups and is currently in a Naval Club for active and retired Naval women. The author likes to play golf, enjoys watching baseball games, reading, avid astrology follower, and putting jig-saw puzzles together.
"Number, Please!" * by Doris J. Sumner
Publication Date: May 21, 2009
Trade Paperback; $15.99.99; 105 pages; 978-1-4415-1674-9
Cloth Hardback; $24.99.99; 105 pages; 978-1-4415-1675-6
Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 7479. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7876.
For more information, contact Xlibris at (888) 795-4274 or on the web at www.Xlibris.com.