A review of Bobbi Linkemer’s terrific new book “Words to Live By: Reflections on the Writing Life from a 40-Year Veteran” must begin with full disclosure: She was a successful sales representative for the St. Louis Jewish Light in the 1960s and early 1970s. 

After Linkemer left the Jewish Light in 1972, she began freelancing and built on her success by publishing a piece in a magazine called Replay. The owner of that publication would later launch a magazine called The St. Louisan, which was the forerunner to St. Louis Magazine.

“I’d love to say that I made all my own breaks and luck was not a factor,” Linkemer candidly admits. “But that’s not true. Sometimes just being in the right place when the right person shows up is like finding a four-leaf clover.”

Building upon her initial success with the new owner of the new magazine, Linkemer was indeed in the right place at the right time to become the second editor of The St. Louisan. “Who hires an inexperienced freelance writer to run a city magazine?” she writes in “Words to Live By.” “Obviously no one in his right mind.

“And who takes the job when she knows nothing about magazines except how to read them when they are already published? Same answer: no one in her right mind. There you have a combination doomed to fail.”

But Linkemer, who insists that writers can take charge of their own destiny, never accepted the “doomed to fail” script. “Actually, I wasn’t hired to run The St. Louisan; I was hired to replace the editor when he stormed off in a fit of pique, which of course he did shortly after I walked in the door.” He said he was going to lunch, Linkemer recalled, and he never came back.

Every veteran journalist and writer can share similar stories of “being in the right place at the right time” but it is also crucial that the person have “the right stuff” (or the “write stuff”) to be successful. Linkemer indeed has the right stuff, not only as a veteran of the magazine publishing industry, but in her current incarnation as a ghostwriter, writing coach and editor.

In “Words to Live By,” Linkemer describes her success in working with writers who have compelling stories to tell, such as Felicia Graber, one of her students who just published “Amazing Journey: Memoirs of a Hidden Child,” (also reviewed on this page). Everyone with a powerful story to tell can benefit from Linkemer’s vast and successful experience as a writer and editor.

Felicia Graber will sign copies of her book “Amazing Journey” and Bobbi Linkemer will sign “Words to Live By” in the Atrium of the Jewish Federation Kopolow Building, 12 Millstone Campus Drive, from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, July 1.