Books are reminders that you are not alone
Elizabeth Rodenz
When Elizabeth started putting words and thoughts on paper, she realized she had been writing all her life, if only in her mind. All that ruminating was leading up to this time. Now, writing is a magnet pulling her into the world of words. She didn’t decide to write. She writes because she must.
Elizabeth’s journey throughout her life culminated in a burning desire to write Not A Father’s Daughter. She has had an eclectic career as educator, editor, entrepreneur, executive coach, and author. Writing across a variety of genres, she shares her many and diverse interests, including Jungian psychology, politics, storytelling, and history that should not be forgotten.
Through her writing and speaking, she exposes the injustices to those marginalized and helps people build bridges in their lives with their own writings and the study of Jungian psychology.
Author
NOT
a Father’s
Daughter
NOT a Father’s Daughter is an intimate portrait of a woman who unknowingly declared at the age of eight that she would not be a puppet on a string, not a father’s daughter. Unaware of why her resolve to reject patriarchal dogma was so strong, Elizabeth reflects on how she observed the world around her. Interwoven into her memories and experiences, an inspiring manifesto springs forth for women and men.
Through thought-provoking analysis, she sheds light on the ways the acquired mind upholds traditional gender roles and thereby the patriarchy. With a powerful and engaging voice, Elizabeth exposes the clandestine, venomous practices that keep both women and men oppressed and struggling, relegated to the shadows.
Through provocative questions, readers will participate in a lively, thoughtful reflection of their own lives and the issues swirling around them.
Elizabeth’s call to action requires a dismantling of the acquired gender differences and the bonding together of both men and women of all ages, of all ethnicities. This call to action requires the soul and spirit and the compassion and courage of each of us to decimate the efforts of those who pummel and plunder our institutions, our cultures, our country, our world.
Josephine:
A Woman of
Indomitable
Spirit
Odd Ducks
and Birds of
a Feather
A trip to NeverWas is good for the heart, spirit, and mind.
Odd Ducks and Birds of a Feather: A Mystery of Type teaches readers about personality types and understanding of interpersonal skills. All this is within the context of the entertaining, character-driven fictional story of sixteen memorable characters who live in the small town of NeverWas (but it might have been).
The townsfolk in NeverWas find themselves saying more and more, “Well, I never,” and that’s not a good thing. What’s causing it? Odd ducks with BIG ideas are not only hovering around NeverWas, they are landing and taking up residence, making the townsfolk scramble.
Miraculous rewards await you. You will learn about the sixteen different personality types and begin to appreciate the strengths and uniqueness you and others bring to relationships.
Elizabeth’s unique, ground-breaking style of presenting personality type information within a fictional tale makes for a memorable and enjoyable learning process.
Collected
Writings
from the
Storybook
House
FIND Elizabeth's Published Works on Amazon or your favorite independent bookseller:
• NOT a Father's Daughter (May 2026)
• Josephine: A Woman of Indomitable Spirit
• Odd Ducks and Birds of a Feather
• Samson and Delilah, My Two Loves
• Samson and Delilah Plus Twenty
• Collected Writings from the Storybook House
• My Distinctive Father (July 2026)
Explore a collection of essays and literary reflections emerging from the Storybook House, where historical narratives and the resonance of family legacy are captured through beautifully observed poetry and prose. This collection offers an intimate look at the intersections of memory, place, and the written word, reflecting the author's journey through time and literature.
Imagine a walk through an English village before Hitler started dropping bombs; finding comfort in the heartfelt moments between grandfather and grandson; experience the heartbreak of a little boy lost; encounter a child’s despair when she finds out she is not allowed to play with others; marvel at a world of wonder in Sicily; remember the sorrow of the loss of millions; reminisce with a trip to the local sweet shop; chuckle at an HOA’s antics and a nun who manages a bed and breakfast with aplomb; ponder the evil in man, the plight of women, and love that comes to us in many ways; laugh at the message from an irate mother when her son chooses an unsuitable woman as a bride.
Josephine is a critique of greed, power, and servitude north of the Mason-Dixon line. This saga of social injustice captures the indomitable spirit and tenacity of the women who stand beside their husbands and sons, balanced against the misery of living in a western Pennsylvania coal patch beginning in the late nineteenth century. Inspired by the life of my great-grandmother, this story chronicles a time in American history that has rarely been told, and if an attempt has been made, most often it is riddled with romantic distortions and glorification.
Set from the 1880s to the 1920s, a most prosperous time for some, Josephine’s efforts to shape a meaningful life, one that sets her afire, are thwarted time and time again by forces around her. The death of her grandfather is the second time in her fifteen years that her destiny is commandeered without her consent. Although she rebuffs society’s mandates and wants to carve out her own destiny, circumstances compel her to marry Joseph, one of the many miners battling for his dignity and welfare.
Josephine and her friends, Annie and Emma, struggle to survive and help other women to do the same as heartache reaches into every home. They are pushed and pulled by tragedies, the constant threat of poverty, and by a society of blinkered ignorance and imposed limitations. After the passing of Josephine’s two husbands, her four-year old daughter, and Annie, her granddaughter Caroline comes to live with her. An undying bond is forged between them until Caroline’s mother rips the little girl away—striking a final blow into Josephine’s heart. Timeless, poignant with unforgettable, flawed characters, this novel is full of unpredictable turns up to the crushing, heart-wrenching end.
ACCOLADES
Elizabeth Rodenz doesn't just write books; she crafts experiences. Her prose is elegant yet accessible, revealing the profound depth of her characters' emotional landscapes with surgical precision.
Collected Writings from the Fifth Avenue Writers is a delightful read. Each piece draws you in to want to read more. A great book to consider as a gift. You can pick up and put down and go back and reread your favorites. I love that it's a collaboration of several writers each with their own unique style.
Josephine is captivating and although historical, relevant today. A mandatory addition to the library of any serious lover of literature.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started to read Josephine. It is not the typical type of book that I read, but this one ended up capturing my heart.
Although the characters in Josephine are mostly fictional, you get caught up in their lives, and it seems as though you are reading actual history. I was very sorry when I finished the book; I didn’t want it to end!
Josephine should be read by all young women as it is a testimony to important role women have played in history.
Reading Samson and Delilah brought smiles and laughter on each page at the pair's antics. From the short stories of the commitment and responsibilities to the love and joy shared when we have pets this book delivers. A good book for adults and children considering adopting a dog. The book remains nearby to pick up when I want to revisit a story or two. Bravo
Odd Ducks and Birds of a Feather is a very clever book. In searching for resources to help me better understand myself and those around me I stumbled on this little gem. Through the telling of a delightful, fictional story, Rodenz challenges the reader to identify personality characteristics of each of the characters in the story and thus learn about themselves. Very readable, highly informative. What a clever idea to teach basic psychology through a fictional tale. I highly recommend this book to everyone."
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