Welcome to the Official Website and Blog of Sally Valentine
I am a native Rochesterian and an unapologetic booster of Rochester and all of New York state. A former math teacher, I am now off on a tangent of writing.
Introducing Martha the Hairpreneur
Co-written by Jane Plitt, Martha the Hairpreneur is the fictionalized story of Martha Matilda Harper, a real Canadian servant girl who came to Rochester in 1882 with $60, a jug of herbal hair tonic, and a formula for the tonic. It is Cinderella/Rapunzel story with a twist. The princess rescues herself. She uses the formula, her own beautiful floor length hair, and an abundance of determination to build a beauty empire. She invents the retail franchise system to expand her business while giving other poor women like herself a path out of poverty. Martha’s story is a lesson in succeeding with others, instead of at the expense of others.
The Rochester Series
The Ghost of the Charlotte Lighthouse
Is the lighthouse haunted? Find out as you read about the misadventures of 5 special students in Mrs. Levine’s 4th grade class at School #27 who call themselves the STARfish.
Theft at George Eastman House
Who stole the valuable candlestick from George Eastman House? Join the STARfish as they explore George Eastman’s mansion, learn about photography, and solve a mystery.
What Stinks? An Adventure in Highland Park
Mrs. Levine and her class, including the STARfish are off on another field trip. A well-planned field trip turns into disaster when an unexpected visitor arrives.
Lost at Seabreeze
Kids shouldn’t have to see their teachers on summer vacation, but that’s what happens when Mrs. Levine and the STARfish all show up at Seabreeze Amusement Park.
STORMED
“Nothing ever happens in Rochester,” complains Derrick, who will soon change his mind when an unexpected storm blows into town creating a whirlwind of trouble and activity.
Fire in Genesee Country
While Mrs. Levine’s class is learning about the past by exploring Genesee Country Village and Museum, Francois leads Steven on a journey into a fire in Rochester’s past and a test of his strength and courage.
Like poetry?
Check out my award-winning poetry book for kids, There Are No Buffalo in Buffalo. This book is a collection of 78 poems, each about a different place in New York State. With colorful collage illustrations by Suzanne Valentine, you’ll enjoy this alphabetical trip through New York State where geography, history, and whimsy meet to create a one of a kind journey.
Peer Luck
What would you do if you found a memoir that had been hidden for 100 years? What if it told the story of an entrepreneur, a man who lived at the turn of the 20th century, but whose vision went far beyond his time and place. Such a man was Frank S. Peer (1851-1922), and this is his story, edited and enhanced by Palmyra historian Beth Hoad and myself. Email me to get a copy of this adult book.
Latest from the Blog
In Flanders Fields
In honor of Memorial Day I wrote a new poem paying tribute to John McCrae and his well-known poem, In Flanders Fields, which was originally published in the May, 1915 issue of Punch magazine. War Stories Generals speak in battles won […]
March 13, 2023 You Know You’re Not In Rochester When…
As much as I love Rochester, it’s also fun to get away and see something new, especially in winter. To state the obvious, you see things in Florida that you don’t see in Rochester. From my travels this year I’ve discovered that you know you’re not in Rochester when you find a coconut shell on […]
October 11, 2022 Lighthouse Bicentennial
The Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse is a Rochester treasure. Today it takes its place in history as the oldest lighthouse on Lake Ontario that is still in use. The lighthouse has been guarding the port of Rochester where the Genesee River meets Lake Ontario for 200 years, but I didn’t discover the lighthouse and its history until […]
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