Welcome to the Weekend With.......Marsha Sramek

Back in January, I reviewed a wonderful grammar book by Marsha Sramek. (I keep her book near my desk as a handy reference, because I need all the help I can get.) I was delighted to learn that Marsha is a fellow North Carolinian and asked if she would do an interview. She agreed and I sent out my questions.  To my surprise when I received her response, it was almost in the form of a letter. I thought, what a lovely way to address an interview. I think you will find her as charming as I do.

Several years ago my husband and I fell in love with Asheville, North Carolina, and we built a second home there on the side of a mountain. We can walk downtown, but our backyard is part of a forest where we see groundhogs, wild turkeys, falcons, foxes, raccoons, and bears. We’re both originally from Illinois, but in our early-married years we moved around the country a lot--from upstate New York to Hawaii--until we settled in Houston, Texas. I started teaching English over 30 years ago, pausing while our daughter was little, and then continuing until I published my book and started a new career.


The best thing about being a teacher was feeling that sometimes I was making a difference in someone's life. I was especially pleased when former students said I’d helped them learn to write better. The worst part was when I insisted that students meet reasonable achievement standards, which some students thought were unreasonable. Everyone wants to be liked.

When I first started teaching in the 1970s I was extremely disappointed with the grammar book the district used. I complained about it so much that a fellow teacher finally said, “You’re such a damn smart Yankee, you write a book.” That was my inspiration.

The diagnostic test is essential in teaching, and it evolved over the years. In terms of common grammar errors that I particularly dislike, “Me and him are . . .” might top the list. Close behind would be the mistake of confusing its and it’s or your and you’re.

An outline? I didn’t begin my book with anything as organized as an outline. I wrote the book on and off for nearly 30 years. When I’d become overwhelmed with the scope of my project, I’d put it on the shelf. But I always went back to it. Sticking with the project was my greatest challenge. Finishing it was my greatest reward.

The book cover is wonderful. One evening my husband jokingly suggested to our friend Rich Chiburis, who’d retired and become a budding artist, that he should design the book cover. The next time we were together Rich surprised us with the prototype. Later, I sent this to the graphic artist who did the interior layout and the cover, and she added the details that Rich had suggested. It was a breeze for me.

I was terribly nervous before the book came out, and intimidated about taking the book to a national English teachers’ convention where there were so many famous authors and publishers presenting their books. But the book was enthusiastically received and a top seller. One of the first teachers who came to our booth said, “I’ve been teaching 30 years and this is the best grammar book I’ve ever seen.” I wanted to jump across the table and hug her. The book reviews have all been very good, and that’s also bolstered my confidence.

I know perfectly well that I’m not a naturally gifted writer. All I can say is, “Edit and revise, and repeat the process over and over.” My next writing project will be a revised edition of the book. I’m not thinking beyond that.

Self publishing has been perfect for the book and for me. While I was writing the book I was shocked to discover that the publisher owns a book’s ISBN number and therefore absolutely controls everything else about the book, including distribution and whether or not the book will stay in print. I couldn’t turn that much control over to anyone. I’m having enormous fun learning this new skill-- publishing--at this stage of my life. I love being able to personally ship books to my customers. No distribution house would ever be as committed as I am to getting the books where they need to be. And I love directly communicating with the teachers who are using or considering using the book. I must say here that the aspects of running a small company that I would hate, such as the legal incorporation, the how, when, and where of tax collecting and filing, and establishing a banking, accounting, and billing system are all done by my husband Wayne. Without him, I would quickly land in the pokey.

My two favorite authors are J.D. Salinger and Harper Lee. Did you notice that they each wrote only one book? I also admire Edith Wharton, who wrote most of her novels in bed, dropping her hand-written pages to the floor for her maid to pick up and type. I could see myself doing that. It was my favorite fantasy.

The novel character that I would have most wanted to teach was Huck Finn--the most inventive, spunky, and plucky kid ever created. He had such a dreadful teacher. I think I could have gotten him to enjoy school, but that would have killed a pretty good book.


Be sure to check out her website and take the grammar diagnostic test.