Author, Valerie Evans
Goddard has honed her writing skills over a span of more than twenty
years. Her lifelong passion became lucrative when her author’s
voice found its natural tenor in her two most loved subjects, travel
and history. Goddard founded Verita Publishing in 2002 to produce her
"Get Off the Interstate" series and released the first,
“Get Off the Interstate: A Guide to the Historical Markers of
Coastal Georgia" in 2002 to rave reviews. The unique and
entertaining stories behind the historical markers make this one of a
kind series incredibly interesting to tourists and local residents,
historians and researchers, travelers using the GPS coordinates
provided as well as those who just love to read. “Get Off the
Interstate: The True Stories Behind Florida’s East Coast
Historical Markers” followed as the second in the series in
2005; “Get Off the Interstate: The
Stories of Eastern South Carolinas Historical Markers” is
currently in research due to be released in 2009. Eventually the
series will extend from Florida’s beautiful Key West
culminating with the final installation at Houlton, Maine; the entire
length of Interstate 95 and the United States eastern seaboard one
state at a time.
Other works of this author include: "St. Marys Spirits and Southern Superstitions," commissioned by the St. Mary’s Georgia Tourism Council; "Food For the Spirit" St. Mary’s Presbyterian 200 Years Celebration Cookbook; countless articles, reviews and press releases. Goddard’s work has been featured in Carnival Cruise Lines' "Currents" magazine, publicity materials for the Gaylord Hotel Chain including Gaylord’s Opryland Resort and Convention Center, the State of Georgia's official highway map, the Interstate 95 Exit Guide and the Coastal Georgia Restaurant Guide.
Goddard is an amazing storyteller and lecturer; her presentations are much sought after by reservation to varied civic organizations, tourism groups, conventions, meetings, festivals and special events with an incredible range of topics from history and travel to research and tips on the writing trade. The author leads unique private historical tours revealing sites seldom discovered “Off the Interstate.” These one-of-a-kind adventures are not to be missed by the discriminating tourist or fun-seeking groups that can not be matched by conventional historical tours.
Our motto at Verita Publishing "Making History Human," is the goal we strive to meet utilizing extensive research and rapt attention to every detail. Each and every historic figure, location and event has a story; it is those unique facets seldom brought to light that we wish to tell. The stories that make history interesting, rather than bland information limited to lifeless names and dates. Our goal is that each reader should realize the triumphs and tragedies in all aspects of history much like those that each of us faces every day.