Betty LaVelle is the author of Butterflies, Scarabs and Secrets: The Life and Artwork of Clayton Blair Dougherty
_________________________________________

"It is sometimes expedient to forget who we are."                                — Publilus Syrus


In my case—as an author and artist—it has been expedient to "forget" my career of 24 years in the legal profession. My published writings at that time consisted of legal and technical articles.

In the early 1960's, I studied oil painting at the University of Nebraska. Some of my paintings sold and a few took residence on the walls of the speech department at the University of Kalamazoo in Michigan.

I began my Grandma Moses career at the age of 63 in 2004, studying color theory and drawing at the University of Colorado. I also took an avid interest in photography.

It wasn't until 2012, after my son Clayton Dougherty died, that I became passionate about writing a book. It was in my heart to showcase the creative voyages of his imagination—the art and story that he left behind.  Butterflies, Scarabs and Secrets was published in 2014.

Nowadays I am concentrating on research for Don't Tell Mary, a prequel to Clay's story, a biography of his great-grandfather Frank Sery. I just finished writing a book containing a collection of my poetry, art, and photography, The Demise of Rooster Rockstar.









"Betty was an artist before she started writing. She's a poet and a painter. But what she discovered by writing is that it will tell you what is in your soul." (quote in Longmont Times-Call)       —Bill Ellis, author and political commentator

---