Last week, we threw a book release party for someone very special- Marilyn Swander. Nearing ninety, she spent years as an elementary school teacher and even more writing stories for her twenty-two grand- and great-grandchildren . Somewhere along the way, I realized that Grandma’s stories deserve a bigger audience. My mom did too, and I started this publishing imprint to make it happen. 

The small room Mom and Aunt Jan booked was jam-packed most of the time we were there. There were posters, treats, puzzles, and books for sale. Grandma’s friends, family, and neighbors filled nearly every seat! A few crowded around just to catch a glimpse and listen to her read a chapter. Church friends came in, cousins flipped through pages, and random people stopped by after seeing a flyer. It was a success, and Grandma couldn’t have been more thrilled. 

I couldn’t be more happy to have played a part in bringing this book to life, and I’ve already started pestering Grandma to write more. Every time, she laughs and says, “Ted, I’m almost ninety. I need a break!” Here’s the thing, though: I know Grammy Mare. I get my obsessive, can’t-sit-still tendencies straight from her. There are still plenty of stories in her notebooks and binders, just waiting to be shared. This won’t be the last we see of them. I can’t wait to find out what’s next.

The book release party was an unbridled success. As for me, I’m still working on things to publish. Ideas about Abandoned Marsh groceries and old schoolhouses keep dancing around my head, and I think there’s a courthouse book in there as well. For now, though, I’m excited to have helped will Grandma’s book into existence. I’ll ride on that pride for a while before I decide what’s coming next.