Professional Background
High school senior - 1974George and I tied the knot in 1976.
It was a small family wedding on my folks' patio. It poured and set a record for the most rain on that date! Good thing the patio cover was solid! We just celebrated our 34th anniversary in September 2010. I worked full-time as a secretary, fresh out of high school, July 1974. Back in the day, they offered Gregg Shorthand classes in high school. I loved shorthand and still jot down notes to this day in those squiggly, funny lines.
First job as a secretary was for Stoody Company in Whittier, CA. I had two bosses, Mr. Herrick and Mr. O'Brien. On my first day on the job, I was so nervous that when I answered a phone call, I said, "Hello, Mr. O'Herrick's office." Mr. Herrick laughed about it. "I heard you made an Irishman of me!" I took dictation, answered phones, typed letters and year-to-date reports. I have fond memories of working at Stoody Company. In 1976, I married my sweetheart, George Kelley. I left Stoody and took a couple months off work. Then I worked as the sales secretary for Gould Batteries in the City of Industry. While working as a full-time secretary, I took an adult education class in Buena Park, CA, and learned the Miller theory of writing on a stenograph machine. After that I started classes at the American College of Court Reporting in La Puente, CA, two evenings per week. When the engine in my car went out, I had to take a semester off. I attended night school off and on for a few years when I could afford it. When the school closed their La Puente campus, I decided to go to the California School of Court Reporting in Santa Ana. My folks offered to pay my tuition for a year so I could attend full-time. So while attending court reporting school full-time, I worked for Garrett and Dimino part-time as a legal secretary. In November of 1979, I took the state exam to become a Certified Shorthand Reporter for the state of California and received word in January of 1980 that I passed! Yay! I didn't start reporting right away because I was expecting our first baby in eight weeks. Our son was born in March 1980. I worked as a part-time deposition reporter. After taking a deposition, I transcribed it at home. Back then the steno notes had to be dictated for a typist. That was hard with a baby who only took a few 15 to 30 minute naps during the day. Somehow, the work got done. Then, surprise, in April of 1981, I gave birth to a daughter and continued to work part-time. Working as a court reporter was a great part-time job for raising kids. In May of 1985, our second daughter was born, and then last, but not least, our third daughter completed our family in 1989. For 25 years I worked as a deposition reporter. I tossed around the idea of writing for children for a few years, but when I turned 40, I signed up for writing and literature classes at Crafton Hills Community College in Yucaipa. My three teachers were superb and gave me a solid foundation to launch my writing: Judith Hawkins, Daniel Bahner, and Katherine Thomerson. I'll never forget them! Go to: Pubications
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A dying art?Gregg shorthand. What does it say?
Translation: "I love Gregg shorthand. Still comes in handy these days when I am in a hurry. Thanks, Mrs. Claus (My typing and shorthand teacher at Lowell High School.)" Working MomThis was taken in the early '90s. The 4 kids were in school. I was leaving to take an afternoon depo.
Thankfully, the transcribing, editing, and proofreading was done at home, so I had more time with my family. My court reporting days.Here's a picture of my stenograph machine. It's computerized but is outdated now.
My 25 years of taking testimony gave me an education I couldn't get anywhere else. Between the witnesses and attorneys, the problems that resulted in lawsuits, the raw emotions it brought out in people, the tension between the lawyers arguing, I have so much to draw upon to enrich my writing. Real life is full of characters, and everybody has their story. I take bits and pieces of different people and create my own characters, who are fictional. Honest! Machine shorthandThis says:
Q State your name for the record. A My name is Lynn Kelley. Although my court reporting days are behind me, sometimes my mind jumps back into translating coversations and songs into shorthand. That's basically how I got my speed up when I was learning it, constantly practicing in my mind. But now it can drive me nuts, and I have to focus carefully to turn it off.
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