Author Biography

In The House that Billie Built, Wisconsin native Tom Stenklyft adds volunteerism to his credentials as writer and nationally known speaker. This is the inspirational story of Billie Pollard who, at age 60, began a 35 year career bringing the gift of literacy to the foreign born.  It was 1974.  The first Southeast Asian refugees were coming to the Fox River Valley of Wisconsin, an area unprepared to teach them the language and customs of America.  Billie took on the challenge by founding Literacy Education Services Inc., the mother of all local literacy programs assisting the foreign born.  Now 98, Billie has relinquished her official duties, but remains an inspiration to volunteers carrying on her work at, The House that Billie Built!

Tom spends his retirement following in Billie’s footsteps.  He is a volunteer tutor, and frequent speaker commemorating her life as an example of how dedicated volunteers build great communities. He and his wife Carol grew up in Hilbert and live in Appleton.

Author's Events: 

Ouch--you are standing on my horizon!

Date and time: 

Sunday, April 15, 2012 - 1:30pm - 2:30pm

Genre: 

writing, nonfiction

Venue: 

Menasha Public Library

If you look to a far horizon for story ideas, you may very well see the horizon people looking right back at you.  After all, you are standing on their horizon.  To find experiences and people worth writing about, don’t overlook the treasures in your own back yard. While the horizon has its appeal, when it comes to hunting ideas, binoculars simply cannot compete with a good set of bifocals.

  |  Tags: nonfiction, writing