Before her mother, Viola Nelson, passed away, Beverly Mitchell of rural Jasper promised her that someday she would put all the articles she had submitted to the Pipestone County Star during the 1976 Bicentennial year into a book form. Mitchell has now fulfilled that promise with the self-published, “Looking Back.”
Another motivation to complete the book was that a family reunion on her mother’s side was going to take place and Mitchell wanted to see that her relatives received a copy of the articles. This meant a mid-July deadline.
The book features Nelson’s articles about her life growing up on the prairie near Freda, N.D. and goes into accounts of her childhood, from living in a homestead shack in 1913, to life on the old homestead, to the everyday work involved just to survive.
Mitchell, who is a former superintendent’s secretary for Pipestone Area Schools, said “Looking Back” started with her writing the family history of her mother’s grandparents emigrating from Germany to America in the late 1800’s. Then her mother’s articles, along with pictures, were added to the book.
Having never written a book before, Mitchell said she found out one must obtain copyright permission, in writing, on certain pictures, poems and even her mother’s articles.
Mitchell said it took her three months to write the book, “working day and night.”
She explained that the work consisted of not only keying the text for the book but spending time listening to stories of the past and obtaining old pictures from various relatives and friends.
“The Internet came in handy to research the ships that my relatives arrived on during the immigration process, history of Ellis Island and family genealogy,” Mitchell said. “Writing letters to obtain permission to use various documents that were under copyright and waiting for their written responses, took the longest time in the process of writing the book.”
“Looking Back,” a spiral-bound, 125-page, 8 ½ x 11 inch, large print book, also contains 226 pictures to go along with each person’s story.
Help in printing the book came from her niece, Robin Thompson, who owns INSTY-PRINTS in Alexandria. After picking out the size, color of paper and the binding, the order was placed. The books were printed and delivered just in time for the family gathering.
Mitchell mentioned that since the reunion, other relatives, hearing about the book, have called from Texas, Missouri, Nebraska and other states requesting a copy of the book.
She has heard many good comments from family members, including a first cousin, Lily, from Slayton who just finished reading the book a third time and who said, “Every time I read it, I pick up some new thoughts that coincide with my life growing up on the prairie in North Dakota.”
A brother of the author from Texas told another brother, “I cried and I laughed and then cried some more when I read the book.”
Mitchell said that comments like this are the “pay” she has received for writing the book.
Mitchell started a second book in August entitled, “The Positive Attributes of Depression and Other Stories of Encouragement.” So far, she has written three chapters and has designed a front and back cover. Mitchell is hoping to publish the book in 2010.
“Ears perk up,” Mitchell says, when she shares the title of her new book.
Besides working on her writing, Mitchell has also been busy speaking to local groups and organizations on the topic of “Framing Pictures Inexpensively.”
Mitchell said she shows people how to frame a picture or piece of art for as little as 50 cents.
“You can take an ugly painting and in just minutes and for less than a dollar, make the painting look nice,” she said.
For a copy of the book, e-mail Mitchell at beverlyj@svwireless.com.
