Blackman’s fictional book ``New York Patriots,’’ which is about 15 different battles during the Revolutionary War, is based on true stories and is aimed toward young readers, says Blackman.

Blackman, who was a substitute teacher before she retired 13 years ago, says she believes her book would best serve a school as supplementary reading to what is being taught in U.S. history classes. She says she went around to different schools to see what the kids were learning, and realized her book fit right in with what the students were being taught.

Blackman says when she first started writing the book, the students were being taught the information she has included in her book in seventh grade, and now, it is being taught in fourth grade.

The book was inspired by a local hero, Adam Helmer, says Blackman. She says she wrote a story about him and then started researching battles that occurred in the Mohawk Valley. She says the research then extended to battles in New York State.

Blackman says she has had a passion for writing for several years, and is happy to have her first book finally published. Blackman says she began creating greeting cards early on and has written a novel, sold stories to magazines, written several short stories, and has two picture books that never got published.

``I don’t really care about selling a lot of books,’’ Blackman says. ``I just want to go into a store and see my book sitting on the shelf.’’

About three years ago, Blackman signed a contract with a Utica based publishing company called North Country Books Inc. She says it has been a long process getting her book, ``New York Patriots,’’ published, but says it is expected to come out before Christmas.

Blackman says Halil’s General Store in Edmeston has asked her to do a book signing once the book comes out and she plans to take them up on their offer.

Blackman says she grew up in Boston and moved to Edmeston in 1964. Both she and her husband, who was the pastor of the Edmeston Baptist Church for 31 years, have been retired 13 years. Blackman is the current director of the library in Edmeston and has been in that position for 25 years. She says besides writing, she likes to read, bake, garden and spend time with her seven grandchildren.

``I have more time to write now that I no longer substitute,’’ says Blackman.