Story Behind the Book
Melynna April 18th, 2007
How did I, an Oklahoma farm wife, end up writing and publishing a children’s book on behalf of a little Amish girl from Indiana whom I had never met? I call it a “God” thing and an incredible journey of faith.
I love the fall of the year when cool brisk evenings call for sweatshirts and the countryside is transformed into a tapestry of radiant colors. My husband, James, and I think it’s the perfect time of year for a vacation.
Indiana, our destination the fall of 2004, had been plucked from the pages of an Amish Calendar. The towns were circled on our map, places like Goshen, Millersburg, Shipshewana, and Nappanee, where farming was still accomplished with authentic “horse” power, homes were lit by kerosene lanterns, life was lived at a much slower pace and the quietness of a rainy afternoon was broken only by the soothing clip clop of horses hooves as Amish buggies pass by.
We knew our vacation would be short but we looked forward to it with anticipation. A friend and local farm implement dealer had made arrangements for us to meet one of his customers, an Amish family, see their home, meet their children and tour their one-room school house.
We never imagined our arranged meeting would ever be more than a mere moment in time, a dream come true. However, during the months following that first meeting, James and our Amish friend, Chris, had several long conversations debating the benefits of farming in Oklahoma versus the benefits of farming in Indiana; while Lydia and I got better acquainted by written word and discussed the differences in living “English” and living “Amish.” We eventually returned to Indiana for a second visit in the fall of 2005 and they later made a trip to Oklahoma cementing our friendship even further.
June 6, 2006
Lydia called to tell me her seven-year-old niece, Mary Ann, had cancer. Biopsy results confirmed the sore on her cheek now had a name, rhabdomyosarcoma, a particularly aggressive form of cancer and the situation demanded immediate intervention. Mary Ann’s oncologists had suggested a line of defense that included 32 weekly chemotherapy treatments, six weeks of radiation and possibly surgery.
I am a mother, and a grandmother so the natural thing for me was to offer some form of comfort despite the fact we were separated by 800 miles and we were complete strangers.
Eight months earlier, I had visited a toy store in Indianapolis and the store manager was extremely helpful. The two of us had quite a time creating a special gift for another little Amish girl and I had high hopes he would be able to help me once again. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, I picked up the telephone.
When he answered, I reintroduced myself and asked if he remembered me from the previous October. “Yes, I’d recognize that “Okie” accent anywhere,” he replied. I explained Mary Ann’s situation and asked if he could possibly make arrangements for a special delivery, something soft and cuddly, ‘cause Mary Ann was in for a long fight.
Once again, he had THE perfect gift,” Bunny Big Ears,” soft as cashmere and dressed to perfection. We named her “Faith.” and with God’s perfect timing she arrived right after Mary Ann came out of surgery to insert a port AND before she began her first chemotherapy treatment.
I thought my mission was complete until I felt God’s gentle nudge. “Write a story. Tell Mary Ann how and why “Faith” was created.” Although I had never written anything in my life, the words poured forth, the story virtually complete in just two short hours. Simple words meant just for Mary Ann or so I thought. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine seeing them in book form.
Within days of writing the story, ideas were shared and God began to pave the way for us to publish Mary Ann’s book in the hope we could ease a small portion of her families financial burden.
He provided the perfect illustrator, Kelly. Kelly and I attended the same church although our paths rarely crossed and I had very limited knowledge of her artistic ability. She later told me, “If you had sent Mary Ann a bear, I couldn’t have done the illustrations.” Then ask, “Didn’t you know I’ve been drawing bunnies for years?” Well, I did not know that but rest assured God certainly did.
My husband supported me and together we stepped into uncharted territory, the world of publishing and marketing “A Story of Faith” on Mary Ann’s behalf. Neither of us had ever turned on a computer much less owned one and there were times we were a bit overwhelmed with publishing terminology and software programs. There were also times my printer could have wrung my cotton pickin’ neck but together we got the job done.
“A Story of Faith” was written on June 6, 2006 and less than three months later on August 25th, Mary Ann’s Book rolled off the press, all 3000 copies.
God took this simple little children’s story and blessed it far beyond our greatest expectations. From the confines of our ordinary country home located on the Oklahoma plains we began to ship books throughout the United States from Washington to Florida, from Maine to California, Alaska, and various other locations such as Ontario, Newfoundland, Afghanistan and eventually Korea. In a little more than seven months we had sold over 2600 copies and raised over $34,000.00 through book sales and donations. I lived each and every day of the journey and all I can say is, “Wow, He did it! We serve an awesome God — great things He has done.”
Television coverage has prompted us to consider a second printing and include the story you have just read, “The Story Behind the Book,” our personal journey of faith.