Local Woman's Story Picked for New Publication

Local residents know many of Warren resident Monica Giglio's exploits: her "Monica's Corner" column in the local Showcase magazines feature many, and her stories have been included in two of the popular Chicken Soup for the Soul compilations. 

Now, a new publishing house is latching onto Giglio's work, with a story picked up for the forthcoming "Not Your Mother's Book" collection of "entertaining, enlightening, and motivating contributions," as the publisher describes it.

Publishers Dahlynn and Ken McKowen say the book, which is aimed at women readers, features "'edgy' real-life stories on a variety of subjects ranging from your deepest secrets and wildest night out to menopause and fishing."

In Giglio's case, that includes an incident involving an ice-maker, a water bra and a daughter who likes to pull pranks on her mother.

But we won't spoil the story—let's just add that Giglio says her appliances are all currently "lingerie-free."

She said the story had been considered by inclusion in one of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Other stories she's written have been included in Chicken Soup's "Divorce and Recovery" and "Tough Times for Tough People" books, which were edited by the McKowen's.

That familiarity probably led them to follow-up with one of Giglio's stories for one of their first publications, "Not Your Mother's Book . . . On Being a Woman." The imprint is also publishing "Not Your Mother's Book . . . On Being a Stupid Kid" (possibly a larger volume).

Giglio said she was surprised to learn the story had been picked up, since it had been several years since she wrote it and submitted it to any publishers.

"You never know how these things are going to work out," she said.