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'''Sarah Rachel Hudson-Pierce''' (born February 22, 1948) is an author of inspirational books, a [[publisher]], a [[journalist]], and a former cable [[televisiobn]] host in [[Shreveport]] in Caddo Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]].

'''Sarah Rachel Hudson-Pierce''' (born February 22, 1948) is an author of inspirational books, a [[publisher]], a [[journalist]], and a former cable [[television]] host in [[Shreveport]] in Caddo Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]].

==Early years==

==Early years==

She was born to Roy Earnest Hudson (1895–1958) and the former Marcella May Morris (1906–1986) near Sulphur Springs in Benton County in northwestern [[Arkansas]]. Her girlhood home, still in existence, was a house constructed in the 1840s.

She was born to Roy Earnest Hudson (1895–1958) and the former Marcella May Morris (1906–1986) near Sulphur Springs in Benton County in northwestern [[Arkansas]]. Her girlhood home, still in existence, was a house constructed in the 1840s.

Sarah's mother, Marcella, was born in an underground [[American Indian]] sod dwelling near tiny Fairvalley in Woods County in north central [[Oklahoma]]. Marcella's grandparents, William Henry Morris (1833-1901) and the former Mary J. Barter (born 1838), had been among the pioneers who staked out 160 acres in the Oklahoma Land Rush. W. H. Morris was born Monmouth County, [[New Jersey]]. Prior to the [[American Civil War]], he came to Linn County, [[Iowa]], where in 1855, he married the 16-year-old Mary Barter. He then attended medical school in Keokuk, Iowa, having completed his instruction in 1864. The couple later moved to Oklahoma; three years after his death, Mary B. Morris was still living in Alva in Woods County, Oklahoma.

Sarah's mother, Marcella, was born in an underground [[American Indian]] sod dwelling near tiny Fairvalley in Woods County in north central [[Oklahoma]]. Marcella's grandparents, William Henry Morris (1833-1901) and the former Mary J. Barter (born 1838), had been among the pioneers who staked out 160 acres in the Oklahoma Land Rush. W. H. Morris was born Monmouth County, [[New Jersey]]. Prior to the [[American Civil War]], he came to Linn County, [[Iowa]], where in 1855, he married the 16-year-old Mary Barter. He then attended medical school in Keokuk, Iowa, having completed his instruction in 1864. The couple later moved to Oklahoma; three years after his death, Mary B. Morris was still living in Alva in Woods County, Oklahoma.

Hudson-Pierce traces her ancestry in the future United States to Lewis Morris (1671-1746), the [[Great Britain|British]] governor of New Jersey from 1738 until his death. Previously Lewis Morris had been royal governor of the New York colony, which included New Jersey prior to the separation in 1738. This Lewis Morris' grandson, also [[Lewis Morris]] (1726-1798), was a landowner and developer who in 1776 signed the [[Declaration of Independence]] as a representative at the [[Second Continental Congress]] from [[New York]]. Lewis Morris was a half-brother of [[Gouverneur Morris]] (1752-1816), the [[New York City]] native who was editor-in-chief of the [[United States Constitution]] and the author of its preamble.

Hudson-Pierce traces her ancestry to Lewis Morris (1671-1746), the [[Great Britain|British]] governor of New Jersey from 1738 until his death. Previously Lewis Morris had been royal governor of the New York colony, which included New Jersey prior to the separation in 1738. This Lewis Morris' grandson, also [[Lewis Morris]] (1726-1798), was a landowner and developer who in 1776 signed the [[Declaration of Independence]] as a representative at the [[Second Continental Congress]] for [[New York]]. Lewis Morris was a half-brother of [[Gouverneur Morris]] (1752-1816), the [[New York City]] native who was editor-in-chief of the [[United States Constitution]] and the author of its preamble.

Before her third birthday, Marcella Morris was playing on the soft dirt roof of her dwelling. She slipped, fell through the roof, sustained brain damage, and lapsed into a coma. Marcella's mother, meanwhile, was dying of [[typhoid fever]] when this accident occurred. Marcella's six-year-old brother, Jimmy, had died of the fever some six weeks earlier. Marcella's father left his two daughters in the care of a kindly neighbor, Clara Knox, who became Marcella's foster mother. In 1914, Marcella's father remarried, and Marcella, at the age of eight, left the security of life with Clara. Marcella did not marry until she was in her late thirties and then only after her father, Sarah's grandfather, had died. Having lived into her nineties, Clara thereafter told Sarah of the tragic circumstances of Marcella's life.

Before her third birthday, Marcella Morris was playing on the soft dirt roof of her dwelling. She slipped, fell through the roof, sustained brain damage, and lapsed into a coma. Marcella's mother, meanwhile, was dying of [[typhoid fever]] when this accident occurred. Marcella's six-year-old brother, Jimmy, had died of the fever some six weeks earlier. Marcella's father left his two daughters in the care of a kindly neighbor, Clara Knox, who became Marcella's foster mother. In 1914, Marcella's father remarried, and Marcella, at the age of eight, left the security of life with Clara. Marcella did not marry until she was in her late thirties and then only after her father, Sarah's grandfather, had died. Having lived into her nineties, Clara thereafter told Sarah of the tragic circumstances of Marcella's life.

Roy Hudson died, and Sarah lived with Marcella for four years. Marcella subsisted by taking odd jobs but became unable to care for Sarah. Hence, at the age of fourteen, Sarah began living in the foster home of the late Cullen and Martha Adair of Grove in Delaware County in  northeastern Oklahoma. Sarah was later placed in an orphanage, the Turley Children's Home, now known as Hope Harbor, in Claremore near [[Tulsa]]. She resided at Turley from 1962 to 1966.

Roy Hudson died, and Sarah lived with Marcella for four years. Marcella subsisted by taking odd jobs but became unable to care for Sarah. Hence, at the age of fourteen, Sarah began living in the foster home of the late Cullen and Martha Adair of Grove in Delaware County in  northeastern Oklahoma. Sarah was later placed in an orphanage, the Turley Children's Home, now known as Hope Harbor, in Claremore near [[Tulsa]]. She resided at Turley from 1962 to 1966.

Hudson-Pierce graduated in 1966 from McLain High School in Tulsa. Marcella lived for another three decades, having died in the nursing home in Grove. While she was in the eleventh grade at McLain, Sarah turned to creative writing and public speaking. From 1966 to 1967, she attended the [[conservative]] [[Church of Christ]]-affiliated Harding University (then College) in Searcy in White County, north of the capital city of [[Little Rock]].<ref>"Dedication to writing brings success", Harding College ''Alumni News'', Spring 1998.</ref>

Hudson-Pierce graduated in 1966 from McLain High School in Tulsa. Marcella lived for another three decades, having died in the nursing home in Grove, Oklahoma. While she was in the eleventh grade at McLain, Sarah turned to creative writing and public speaking. From 1966 to 1967, she attended the [[conservative]] [[Church of Christ]]-affiliated Harding University (then College) in Searcy in White County, north of the capital city of [[Little Rock]].<ref>"Dedication to writing brings success", Harding College ''Alumni News'', Spring 1998.</ref>

==Author==

==Author==

One of Hudson-Pierce's articles, "The Old Steamer Trunk", was published in ''Guideposts'' magazine in January 1998. Richard "Dick" Schneider, a senior staff editor at ''Guideposts'', said that Hudson-Pierce's selection was particularly poignant and fitting for the publication. Stories about the article were written in numerous newspapers.<ref>Dave Morris, Sr., Review of "The Old Steamer Trunk", ''Cedar Rapids Gazette'', Cedar Rapids, [[Iowa]], March 1998.</ref><ref>Tim Morris, Review of "The Old Steamer Trunk" in ''Guideposts'', Morganville, [[New Jersey]] ''News Transcript'', March 27, 1998.</ref>

One of Hudson-Pierce's articles, "The Old Steamer Trunk", was published in ''Guideposts'' magazine in January 1998. Richard "Dick" Schneider, a senior staff editor at ''Guideposts'', said that Hudson-Pierce's selection was particularly poignant and fitting for the publication. Stories about the article were written in numerous newspapers.<ref>Dave Morris, Sr., Review of "The Old Steamer Trunk", ''Cedar Rapids Gazette'', Cedar Rapids, [[Iowa]], March 1998.</ref><ref>Tim Morris, Review of "The Old Steamer Trunk" in ''Guideposts'', Morganville, [[New Jersey]] ''News Transcript'', March 27, 1998.</ref>

From 1995-2008, Hudson-Pierce hosted her own television program in Shreveport through the former Time Warner Company. She interviewed artists, authors, political figures, or anyone else of interest. She writes an occasional column for the ''The Shreveport Times'', one of which is on the difficulties of moving.<ref>Sarah Hudson-Pierce, "Moves are a physical hassle, emotional drain," ''The Shreveport Times'', May 26, 2007</ref> Another is her autobiographical recollection of Christmas 1957.<ref>Sarah Hudson Pierce, "My greatest Christmas gift," ''The  Shreveport Times,'' December 23, 2010.</ref> She has also written for ''The Bossier Press-Tribune'' newspaper in Bossier City, Louisiana.

From 1995 to 2008, Hudson-Pierce hosted her own television program in Shreveport through the former Time Warner Company. She interviewed artists, authors, political figures, or anyone else of interest. She writes an occasional column for the ''The Shreveport Times'', one of which is on the difficulties of moving.<ref>Sarah Hudson-Pierce, "Moves are a physical hassle, emotional drain," ''The Shreveport Times'', May 26, 2007</ref> Another is her autobiographical recollection of Christmas 1957.<ref>Sarah Hudson Pierce, "My greatest Christmas gift," ''The  Shreveport Times,'' December 23, 2010.</ref> She has also written for ''The Bossier Press-Tribune'' newspaper in Bossier City, located across the [[Red River]] from Shreveport.

==Ritz Publications==

==Ritz Publications==

In 2002, Tanya Brasher Alexander, who resides near Shreveport, wrote a  biographical poem of Hudson-Pierce's life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sarahhudsonpierce.net/its-me-sarah.html|title=Sarah Hudson-Pierce|publisher=sarahhudsonpierce.net|accessdate=February 4, 2011}}</ref>

In 2002, Tanya Brasher Alexander, who resides near Shreveport, wrote a  biographical poem of Hudson-Pierce's life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sarahhudsonpierce.net/its-me-sarah.html|title=Sarah Hudson-Pierce|publisher=sarahhudsonpierce.net|accessdate=February 4, 2011}}</ref>

Successful Ritz books have included: ''Stone Justice'' (2001) by Debi King McMartin and Lyn Morgan, which details the tragic life of Toni Jo Henry of Shreveport, who on November 28, 1942, became the only woman ever to have been executed in Louisiana's [[electric chair]]. Henry's story has been compared to that of Karla Faye Tucker in [[Texas]], executed in 1998. The motion picture ''The Pardon'', filmed in Shreveport, is adapted from ''Stone Justice''.<ref>Alexandyr Kent, "'The Pardon', a locally produced feature, begins shooting May 15", ''The Shreveport Times'', April 28, 2007.</ref>  

Successful Ritz books have included: ''Stone Justice'' (2001) by Debi King McMartin and Lyn Morgan, which details the tragic life of Toni Jo Henry of Shreveport, who on November 28, 1942, became the only woman ever to have been executed in Louisiana's [[electric chair]]. Henry's story has been compared to that of Karla Faye Tucker in [[Texas]], executed in 1998. The motion picture ''The Pardon'', filmed in Shreveport, is adapted from ''Stone Justice''.<ref>Alexandyr Kent, "'The Pardon', a locally produced feature, begins shooting May 15", ''The Shreveport Times'', April 28, 2007.</ref>  

Another Ritz release is ''Tinkerbelle'', the story of Robert Manry, a copy editor for ''The Plain Dealer'' in [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]], [[Ohio]], who in 1965 solo-navigated the smallest sailboat ever across the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]]. Ritz offers a rare book, ''Our Baby's History'' (1898), by the American artist Frances Brundage, particularly known for her depictions of wide-eyed [[Victorian era|Victorian]] children.

Another Ritz release is ''Tinkerbelle'', the story of Robert Manry, a copy editor for ''The Plain Dealer'' in [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]], [[Ohio]], who in 1965 solo-navigated the smallest sailboat ever across the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]]. Ritz offers a rare book, ''Our Baby's History'' (1898), by the American artist Frances Brundage, particularly known for her depictions of wide-eyed [[Victorian era|Victorian]] children.

In 2009, Ritz published ''Jerry Wray: Pioneer Artist Of The South'' by Shreveport artist Jerry Wray. That same year, Ritz published ''Mama's Boys'', a novel by Matt Whitehead, a journalist and a former child protective services worker. Another 2009 publication is ''Investing Without A Net'' a collection of short vignettes by Shreveport author Larry LaBorde, the owner of a silver trading company and a local family-owned oil business.  

In 2009, Ritz published ''Jerry Wray: Pioneer Artist Of The South'' by Shreveport artist Jerry Wray. That same year, Ritz published ''Mama's Boys'', a novel by Matt Whitehead, a journalist and a former child protective services worker. Another 2009 publication is ''Investing Without A Net'' a collection of short vignettes by Shreveport author Larry LaBorde, the owner of a silver trading company and a family-owned oil business.  

In 2010, Ritz published an autobiography of Virginia Shehee, the businesswoman from Shreveport who served in the Louisiana State from 1976 to 1980. The book has a coffee-table format with an introduction by former Mayor James Gardner, one of Shehee's classmates at Alexander Elementary School and C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport. The book is titled ''Virginia Kilpatrick Shehee: First Lady of Shreveport.''<ref>Virginia Shehee, ''Virginia Kilpatrick Shehee: First Lady of Shreveport'' (Shreveport: Ritz Publications, 2010), 250pp, ISBN: 1886032106.</ref>

In 2010, Ritz published an autobiography of Virginia Shehee, the businesswoman from Shreveport who served in the Louisiana State from 1976 to 1980. The book has a coffee-table format with an introduction by former Mayor James Gardner, one of Shehee's classmates at Alexander Elementary School and C. E. Byrd High School in Shreveport. The book is titled ''Virginia Kilpatrick Shehee: First Lady of Shreveport.''<ref>Virginia Shehee, ''Virginia Kilpatrick Shehee: First Lady of Shreveport'' (Shreveport: Ritz Publications, 2010), 250pp, ISBN: 1886032106.</ref>

In 2012, Ritz published the autobiography of George Dement, the late mayor Bossier City, entitled ''George Dement: I will, If you will, Saith the Lord.'' The introduction is written by former Governor [[Edwin Edwards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ktbs.com/news/Former-Bossier-City-Mayor-holds-book-signing/-/144844/15439588/-/gu8y2x/-/index.html|title=Former Bossier City Mayor holds book signing, July 7, 2011|publisher=KTBS-TV ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] in Shreveport)|accessdate=February 3, 2013}}</ref>

In 2012, Ritz published the autobiography of George Dement, the late mayor Bossier City, entitled ''George Dement: I will, If you will, Saith the Lord.'' The introduction is written by former Governor [[Edwin Edwards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ktbs.com/news/Former-Bossier-City-Mayor-holds-book-signing/-/144844/15439588/-/gu8y2x/-/index.html|title=Former Bossier City Mayor holds book signing, July 7, 2011|publisher=KTBS-TV ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] in Shreveport)|accessdate=February 3, 2013}}</ref>

Ritz is the publisher for ''Home to Holly Grove: Cherishing Our Rich Heritage'', by Frances Swayzer Conley,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebestoftimesnews.com/radio.php?show=DOWNLOADS&radio=573|title=Interview of Frances Conley by Gary Calligas|publisher=thebestoftimesnews.com|accessdate=January 27, 2013}}</ref> an English professor at Bossier Parish Community College. The book is a pictorial family history of the Holly Grove Colored Baptist Church in Wisner in Franklin Parish in northeastern Louisiana. The church was established after the Civil War by one of Swayzer's ancestors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://northshreveport.ksla.com/news/arts-culture/74867-book-signing-la-state-museum-july-7|title=Book signing at LA State Museum on July 7|publisher=KSLA-TV ([[CBS]] in Shreveport)|accessdate=January 26, 2013}}</ref>  

Ritz is the publisher for ''Home to Holly Grove: Cherishing Our Rich Heritage'', by Frances Swayzer Conley,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebestoftimesnews.com/radio.php?show=DOWNLOADS&radio=573|title=Interview of Frances Conley by Gary Calligas|publisher=thebestoftimesnews.com|accessdate=January 27, 2013}}</ref> an English professor at Bossier Parish Community College. The book is a pictorial family history of the Holly Grove Colored Baptist Church in Wisner in Franklin Parish in northeastern Louisiana. The church was established after the Civil War by one of Swayzer's ancestors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://northshreveport.ksla.com/news/arts-culture/74867-book-signing-la-state-museum-july-7|title=Book signing at LA State Museum on July 7|publisher=KSLA-TV ([[CBS]] in Shreveport)|accessdate=January 26, 2013}}</ref>  

Another book available throuth Ritz is ''Gardening to Attract Butterflies: The Beauty and the Beast'' by Loice Kendrick-Lacy of Haynesville in northern Claiborne Parish, Louisiana. The book begins with Kendrick-Lacy as a young girl introduced to butterflies by her grandmother.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.lpb.org/LNWMK0447_iPod.mp4|title=Loice Kendrick-Lacy|publisher=media.lpb.org|accessdate=January 26, 2013}}</ref>  

Another book available through Ritz is ''Gardening to Attract Butterflies: The Beauty and the Beast'' by Loice Kendrick-Lacy of Haynesville in northern Claiborne Parish, Louisiana. The book begins with Kendrick-Lacy as a young girl introduced to butterflies by her grandmother.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.lpb.org/LNWMK0447_iPod.mp4|title=Loice Kendrick-Lacy|publisher=media.lpb.org|accessdate=January 26, 2013}}</ref>  

Ritz is also the publicist for James Robertson's biography of his brother, Phil Robertson, from the Arts and Entertainment Network former television series, ''[[Duck Dynasty]]''. The book is entitled ''The Legend Of The Duck Commander''. In 2012, James Robertson was interviewed on LPB's "Authors in Shreveport" feature at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.lpb.org/LNWMK0447_iPod.mp4|title=James Robertson|publisher=Louisiana Public Broadcasting|accessdate=January 26, 2013}}</ref>

Ritz is also the publicist for James Robertson's biography of his brother, Phil Robertson, from the Arts and Entertainment Network former television series, ''[[Duck Dynasty]]''. The book is entitled ''The Legend Of The Duck Commander''. In 2012, James Robertson was interviewed on LPB's "Authors in Shreveport" feature at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.lpb.org/LNWMK0447_iPod.mp4|title=James Robertson|publisher=Louisiana Public Broadcasting|accessdate=January 26, 2013}}</ref>