Letters from Matt

About the Book

In the San Joaquin Valley the summers are hot and dry, with long, sunny days. Coastal Mountains border the west and the Sierra Nevada foothills the east. This is a true story of divorced mother, Joni Parker, and her struggles to save her only son from drug addiction and incarceration in prison. Living in the Valley most of her life and raising three daughters and son hadn’t been easy for Ms. Parker. Just when things get better, she becomes disheartened time after time with bad news. Does Ms. Parker call the police? As a young child Matthew Berg was an astute church goer. Growing up without a Father, he struggles to overcome his loneliness and gets drawn into a world of drugs, deception, and addiction. When he becomes incarcerated into some of California’s toughest prisons, he turns to writing poetry. What happens to young Matthew Berg? Where is he now?

About the Author

Joni Parker was born in Marysville, California on July 7, 1956 to Ted and Betty Parker. Her father was a sheriff for Yuba County. She has one older sister Diane, which they are very close. The family moved to Manteca in the San Joaquin Valley in 1959; where she grew up, married, divorced, and raised four children on her own. Being a young mother, oldest daughter, Julie, was born on her 18th birthday. When younger her father’s insurance work took the family to New Jersey and Riverside, California to live. She is currently attending Delta College majoring in Psych and working towards a degree in Liberal Arts and Science. Loves reading, playing tennis, and the ocean. She collects shells, seahorses, and prints of J.W. Waterhouse Paintings. Has ten grandchildren and now lives in Modesto, California with her four legged best friend, cat Narka, and son, Matthew.