Ted Summerfield is a former member of the Radio Television News
Directors Association. He started writing as a teenager and over the years has
written poetry, news stories, sports stories, stories for children, puzzles,
plays for puppets, fiction and non-fiction works.
As Ted tells his story, "my parents and grandfather were
great role models and inspired me in many of my lifelong interests. My
grandfather was wonderful. He always ended our conversations with a problem to
solve or an opinion requiring some thought. My brother and I would have a week
to think about it and tell him our answers the following Saturday. My answers
were simple as a 6 year old, but I was providing more reasoned answers when I
was 15. It was grandfather who got me thinking about law, business,
relationships, and the mathematics involved in those areas.
My mother got me hooked on games when I was 4 years old, by
showing me how to play Chinese Checkers and telling me if I studied the logic
of the game well enough I could soon beat my older brother at the game.
My family was middle-class, business people who raised me with the
concept of social capitalism. They contributed much of their income anonymously
to various charities and non-profit organizations as well as no-interest loans
to a few low-income families who had an idea for a business and just needed a
start or in some cases a place to live. My father insisted we help others not
out of religious beliefs or image-improvement but because it was the right
thing to do. "That could be you" was an early instruction from my
father on the importance of helping others.
He and my grandfather were
businessmen and made a good living for their families, but looking out for the
other person was paramount because 'it could happen to you'. My grandfather and
father instilled in me the notion of
'favourable agreement', where both parties are happy with the result.
I’ve enjoyed a business life comprised of property management,
property development, real estate sales, puppetry, and broadcast journalism.
As a property manager, one of the dumbest moment I ever had
while I was leasing properties was when I offered a generous time-frame for
repayment to a tenant who was behind in payments, ensuring they wouldn't be
financially strapped, but they refused and left me no choice but to go to
court. When the smoke had cleared they'd been forced to pay far more than the
originally sought amount. That was truly dumb on their part. The lesson, I hope
they learned, was don't try to cheat people.
After writing and performing several puppet plays, and traveling
to storytelling conventions in the United States, I discovered there is not a
lot of money in the arts business. But, the most wonderful aspect of puppetry
was seeing children react to the story, get involved with the story, be really
excited and laughing. Those moments were worth millions.
My first puzzle eBook was published in 2010, and I have
published over 40 eBooks, comprised of picture eBooks for children, a variety
of puzzle eBooks, fiction and non-fiction works.
As a new Smashwords author, I was unable to find an online
community for Smashwords authors, so I created Smashwords Forum (SWF) in 2011.
SWF has become a place where new and seasoned authors can find a
variety of information about self-publishing and traditional publishing.
With over 900 members, SWF members ask/answer questions
regarding publishing, formatting, marketing, promoting their eBooks, and meet
other authors from around the world.
I also do a lot of research and provide the results to SWF members
about the ins and outs of self-publishing and help other authors and forum
members by providing guidance and details about self-publishing policies,
royalties, various eTailers, formatting, making book covers, and more.
In addition, I encourage SWF members to try new ideas.
The Smashwords Forum Writers Anthology is one of those ideas.
The forum has proven itself
popular and valuable to new and experienced authors."
Author Information
Twitter: punzhu_puzzles
