"A Rip in Time" by Jo Parillo
– They simply said, “Your brother is dead.”
I felt as guilty upon remembering this story as I had at the time.
Jo Parillo, of Concord, North Carolina, consults with pharmaceutical and medical device companies. She is an Oncology-certified Registered Nurse and holds an MBA. Joanne’s principal writing experience has been for scientific journals and magazines. In 2017, she published a faith-based, nonfiction, large-format book and workbook titled, Have You Been Pruned? She is currently revising both for possible re-release this year while pursuing a doctorate in theology. During the past ten years, Joanne has begun writing more for personal enjoyment. She is a member of Charlotte Writers Club.
Author’s Talk
Jo Parillo
My love for reading books was instilled into me by my father at just 9 years old. He bought me a copy of the dictionary and told me that every time I came across a word I did not know, to look it up. We still have that dictionary and just looking at it gives me joy.
It was imperative to my father that I receive a good education. He was determined for me to go to college and drove that ambition into my head throughout my life. As a result, I was the first person on both sides of my family to graduate from a university. I love to learn, so my first degree in Biology led me to become a Registered Nurse, focusing on Oncology. An opportunity to work in Oncology Pharma led me to earn an MBA and now I’m enrolled to earn a dual PhD, one in Biblical Studies and another in Christian Counseling.
The art of storytelling came from my father and his side of the family. I loved listening to him and to my great Uncle Raymond tell stories about their experiences in life. Talking with their hands was the way they added impact to their stories; a habit I’m guilty of myself. People have told me they like listening to me as I tell them stories, so I guess I’m pretty good at it too.
When I read the theme of what the book of personal stories, Sooner or Later, was looking for, I immediately knew what I wanted to write about for my entry. A time that so dramatically changed my life and my family’s life that none of us would ever be the same.
Writing has been something I’ve done in my career in medicine through journals and magazines. In the past ten years, I’ve been writing more for pleasure. I published a book titled, “Have You Been Pruned?”, along with a workbook by the same name. I am currently revising it for re-release early next year. I have several other ideas for books as well. I am a member of the Charlotte Writers Club and will be a continual learner of how to write well.—Jo Parillo
