Please meet Gleeson and Cormac,

The main characters in the first of my two children’s books: The Adventures of Gleeson and Cormac “Why Do People Cry?” published in 2013. What makes these two curious frogs and their adventures so special? They help me tell a story in a fun way, using modern technology, that children ages 3-7 years of age can understand. It is a book, which can be used as a guide, by parents, grandparents, teachers, Pre-schools, Day Care Centers, to have meaningful discussions with children and help remove the confusion around “Why People Cry.” I am delighted to have this great opportunity to introduce my books through Authors’ Lounge.

During my many years of nursing

I observed countless tearful reactions to good news, tragic news and sad news. Crying can be very confusing, especially to children. They may think it is their fault if they see someone crying. This book contains important lessons so children can learn how to turn sad tears into happy tears by doing something special for someone.

Happy tears can mean good news so there is no need for them to worry any longer. Tears of fear can be caused by a rude person or a bully and a lesson can be learned to treat others with respect and kindness. Sad, happy or tragic events can be more easily understood and help remove the confusion about crying. Read my book and decide for yourselves!!

Who Am I??

I was born in Kansas City, MO. My grandparents were Irish immigrants who settled in St. Joseph, MO. I moved with my family to Phoenix, AZ as a teenager, where I graduated from Xavier High School and fulfilled my dream of being a nurse when I graduated from St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing. I worked for Indian Health Service in Gallup, NM for 21 years, followed by more years of nursing in different areas of health care.

I was honored with various nursing excellence awards during those years, my favorite being chosen by my staff as the “Rise and Shine Star” of the month. I collaborated with medical staff in publishing a Growth and Development manual for the Pediatric department for parents. While working in Indian Health Service, I assisted a nurse practitioner in writing a diabetes manual for Native Americans. What a wonderful experience!

I learned so much during my nursing career about people and reactions to events around them that I realized I could continue to “Give Back” after my formal years in nursing, a profession I love, ended.

I decided that sharing my experiences and observations in a format designed for children, ages 3-7, a vulnerable development period, could be of great benefit to families. My goal is to help reduce the fear, confusion and uncertainty, which occurs all around us in everyday life. Authors’ Lounge gives me the opportunity to talk about my work.

In 2018 I was pleasantly surprised when The Adventures of Gleeson and Cormac “Why Do People Cry?” was awarded a Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Review. The illustrations are colorful and exceptional! Gleeson and Cormac are depicted as two friendly, likeable frogs whose curiosity leads them on adventures. And interesting adventures they do have! Thanks to Authors’ Lounge, readers can explore these adventures.

What else do I do??

I am a volunteer and President of the Board of Directors with a non-profit social services agency. The agency provides behavioral health counseling, resources and workshops for the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program, and conducts job assessments and provides counseling for disabled individuals through our career and jobs program.

Mediation services and training and Alternatives to Violence workshops through the county juvenile justice department are also offered. I have been a member of P.E.O., a philanthropic educational organization, since 1970. There are chapters throughout the United States and in Canada providing scholarships for women who are seeking college or vocational school degrees or certificates. I also spearhead fundraisers for local community needs, and for fun, I am working on a Family Album through Ancestry.com.

You can learn more about Gleeson and Cormac and Molly O’Rourke at amazon.com/mollyorourke and LinkedIn. Watch for my next published book: The Adventures of Gleeson and Cormac Why Are People Bullied? Building on my experiences with Crying, it will soon be added to Authors’ Lounge!!