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Ada Elaine, Farm Girl
July 9th 2007
Reneer Books has recently published Ada Elaine, Farm Girl by Elaine Hicken Garlick with Marne’ Reneer.
In February 2000, my mother, Elaine Hicken Garlick, brought me a large envelope containing stories about her childhood. On the envelope she had written four requests:
1. Please read
2. Mark corrections
3. Add comments
4. Critique seriously
As she requested, I read her stories. I marked some grammatical corrections. I added comments. I spent some time seriously consulting with her.
My mom loved to write. She wrote about everything and on anything. She wrote notes, poems, and essays scattered on daily calendars, backs of envelopes, and in composition notebooks. She wrote about Elm tree seeds and missionary service. She often wrote about family memories and put together many histories for relatives and friends.
During the winter of 1999-2000 my mom didn’t feel well. She didn’t complain. She just continued to do what she usually did. She woke up early and typed ideas and stories into her old Macintosh. Then, as a family we were caught off guard by the diagnosis in May 2000 that my mom had cancer. By the first of July, after two chemotherapy treatments, she was gone.
My mom left a great legacy, priceless memories, and these unfinished stories. After my mom died, finishing her book became a joint effort between my mom and me. She recorded these memories, I took them, arranged them into a chronological order, and tried to make them more readable for children.
It has taken me nearly seven years to complete this book. The language and content of this book is appropriate for young readers (ages 8-12). It is also a good family read-aloud book. Ada Elaine is the first in a series of three. (Book 2 is projected to come out July 2008).
Working on these stories has helped me feel close to my mom. I have tried to feel her approval as I have worked with her memories. My intent has always been to be true to her voice and purpose. She wanted all her readers to enjoy the magic of a good story. She was a story teller who loved a good audience. I hope these books bring joy and magic to all who read them.