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A Memorial, Marie's Last Interview...
Marie Betz has been doing Graphology and Document Examining for 30 years. She's also an educator and author of 9 books.
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Marie. Get ready for some down to earth, honest advise from one who's been there,
done that.
Marie, how did you first become interested in handwriting analysis?
I was always fascinated with hw, even as a child. I wondered why people wrote so many different ways, especially
when they were related to one another, and taught in the same schools. Before I got into high school I was beginning to detect
things in hw. Someone would write saying "everything is okay" and yet I knew by the writing there was a problem.
What education did you acquire for HWA, QDE? And where?
I first studied graphology on my own, getting every book on the subject that I could find. Later on I took
the IGAS course (Chicago), in order to get certification. Later I joined the World Association of Document Examiners, in order
to be able to testify in the courts. (WADE also based in Chicago)
What was your very first job in the field and how did you feel?
My very first job was a murder case. In one of my basic steps handwriting analysis classes there was a former
NYC policeman. A murder occurred in his town and he was interested in playing detective again, so he got me all the writing
samples.
I was a bit nervous that first case, but after it was over, the attorney congratulated me and told me what
a wonderful job I did. Then he asked me how many court cases I had done. I told him, "probably thousands." Then he told
me it was his very first case, too.
Of course the opposition tried everything in their power to have me disqualified since I had never testified
before, but the Judge said to the public defender, "Looks to me like she is qualified, and I'm sure you had your first day
in court, too. I find her qualified."
Marie, for us Moms who are Graphologists, please share some tips for raising a family and working outside
the home. How did you do it?
I had an office, outside the home, for a little more than a year. I preferred to work right from home, for
safety reasons. Most of my work had to be done after the children were in bed for the night. I converted the living room into
an office. I could have clients come at 1pm and they were out by 3pm when the kids were arriving from school. With the older
ones taking over after dinner, I could have another client at 7pm or so. The whole trick to running a business and caring
for a family calls for organizational ability.
Unlike the spoiled children of today, my kids all had their chores every week. We had a large blackboard
in the kitchen. Half of it was for grocery shopping list, and the other half contained a list of their chores. We alternated
the jobs every week so no one got "stuck" doing the same thing. Even the youngest, at two years of age was able to help out.
Every child made their own beds up. They even had a "bathroom" schedule. For most of the growing up time we had only one bathroom.
In addition to our own 10 children we had my twin brothers at age 8, and my sister-in-law from the age of 11. Therefore
there were 15 people to feed, clothe and shelter. Each child had a chance to plan a dinner, and to shop for whatever was needed
for that meal. Thank God for a large kitchen. We had a 9-foot picnic table and benches, with a chair at each end, and we also
had a full-sized dining room table and chairs in the same room. We had no rec (recreation) room, or basement, so practically
every function occurred in that kitchen.
Marie, what advise would you give anyone interested in handwriting analysis as a career?
I would suggest they be persistent. Too many people I met who wanted to pursue a career in graphology were
very impatient and wanted it to happen instantly. One woman called before signing up for my course, and asked me, "Exactly
how long will it take me to become a handwriting expert?"
I told her I didn't know her. I didn't know how long it took her to do her dinner dishes, so how could I
tell how long it would take her. Needless to say, she didn't even finish the basic steps class. Of all the many (possibly
3,000 students I had) there were only 3 that went all the way to be certified, and are using it to this day.
There's only so much you can teach someone, but if they don't have a natural talent for it, they won't be
successful. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
A few had the nerve to call themslves "handwriting experts" (not even graphologists) when they missed the
first class, came in late for the second, missing the next two, and didn't finish the 8th class. Yet they considered themselves
experts. I often wonder how many people may have destroyed others because of their lack of knowledge, and pretense at being
an analyst.
My advice would be to take your time, study it for three or four years before you "put up your shingle."
Great pianists don't get to be good after studying only a month or so.
For about 14 years I volunteered on our local First Aid Squad, and was in charge of education. I always
told those students that if they messed up and caused someone to lose their life, *I* would be responsible for certifying
them. I felt the same with graphology. If someone didn't know what they were doing, I would discourage them from pursuing
a career in graphology. They were not just getting under the skin of someone, they would be getting into the brain (mind)
of people and could also destroy them if they didn't know how to handle a problem. This is really very serious business.
How do you like writing books and putting into words your education and experience over the past 30 years?
Has it been a rewarding experience?
Since I'm no longer able to actually analyze handwriting any longer, it brings me great joy to write about
my experiences. However, if someone plans on writing books in order to receive remuneration, it just won't happen. To begin
with the larger publishing houses won't even consider looking at a manuscript. They insist you get a literary agent. You can
write to 200 of them and won't get a single response. It appears that you have to commit a serious criminal act before anyone
wants to publish your book.
The self-publishing companies want several thousand dollars in advance before they will consider publishing
your book. It is very costly, and there is almost no profit in it. You also have to promote your own books, they do not do
that for you. Just come and visit us and see all the boxes of books we've got stored in our breezeway. I have given away more
books than I have sold. I've published 9 books to date, two more to be published. Xlibris is now completing one of the last
ones, which is a diary of 75 of my most exciting cases. If I'm lucky I'll receive about $2 or $3 per book. So I would say
if you write books, do it for the sheer satisfaction of writing, but not in anticipation of becoming rich by writing. Only
people like the Clintons can get millions even before they begin to write.
Books by Marie Betz. Available for purchase!
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