Author will hold book signings at local senior centers

On Feb. 13 at 11:30 a.m. Stark County author Deborah Edmisten will hold a book signing and read excerpts from her historical fiction book at the Tuscarawas County Senior Center in Dover. “A Marine’s Story of War and Enduring Love” is based on life of the late William “Bill” McDonald, a Canton native who wrote what he called a manuscript of his life and, more importantly, the love of his life.

Unfortunately, McDonald died before he could finish his autobiography. But the story did not end there.

Last year Joe Patelicki of Zoar attended a writing workshop led by Edmisten in Navarre. He carried with him the manuscript, and he asked Edmisten if she would take a look at the manuscript and consider finishing it.

After poring over it Edmisten said yes.

“I was very interested,” said Edmisten. “In fact, I considered in of those great love stories.”

Edmisten said she was leaning toward making the manuscript a biographical fiction novel. She applied the treatment to the existing portion of the manuscript and sent it to Patelicki and his wife to get their feedback.

The Patelicki’s read through it and gave it the green light.

“The whole book is written in first person narrative,” said Edmisten. “I felt it needed more intensity of emotion, because I knew Bill felt. So I wanted to bring the book to life via novel form, which allowed me to added dialogue (because there wasn’t any) and settings, or scenes, yet it is still Bill’s story.”

The storyteller

“Almost 13 years ago I was a social worker, and I needed to change professions,” said Potelicki. “So I got a life insurance license and started working for a firm that did a lot of estate planning,” said Potelicki. One day, Bill came in for estate planning. When he was leaving I said ‘If you ever need any help in the future let me know’. “And for whatever reason Bill took to me. I also really liked him and found him interesting. He always had a story to tell.”

Over the years, Potelicki and McDonald became good friends. When McDonald’s wife died, Potelicki believes McDonald wrote the manuscript because it provided a catharsis, allowing him to reminisce about his life and the love he had for his wife, Kyoto, whom he met in Japan.

McDonald was in Japan because he was Marine, and in the 1950s, the United States was involved in the Korean Conflict. He was originally stationed in Japan, where he met his wife Kyoto and fell for her hard. The rest of the book follows their lives and their passionate and compelling love story.

The caregiver

According to Potelicki, Kyoto had a stroke 20 years before she died.

“Bill took care of her until he just couldn’t anymore. I helped him find a suitable place for her to get the care she needed. It was hard for Bill because he had the Marine Corps attitude—he fiercely protected his wife. He could be a forced to be reckoned with. But he was very dedicated and self-disciplined in caring for Kyoto.”

After the death of his wife, Potelicki said McDonald’s health started to decline. He died Nov. 22, 2024, just two weeks shy of his 92nd birthday, which would have been Dec. 8.

The events

In addition to the Tuscarawas County Senior Center, Edmisten will also appear at senior centers in Uhrichsville March 25, in Strasburg March 27, Newcomerstown April 13 and again in Dover June 18. She will also be at the Bibliophile in Dover April 18 and at the Tuscarawas County Senior Center and the Dover Public Library June 18.

For event times, follow the book page on Facebook, which is under the book’s title. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at each event and also from Amazon.