Two rural Alberta writers who live near the same town say many well known publishing companies aren’t interested in agricultural stories for children.
But after sending out many unsolicited manuscripts and getting nothing but rejections, Laural Chvojka didn’t give up. Instead, the Delburne-area author set up her own publishing company and now sees her book in big-name book stores.
Mary Williams, who also lives on a farm near Delburne, did the same. Both wrote about rural adventures in the 1940s and 1950s so children could experience the history.
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“I feel with this type of book we need to write it now or the way of life will be lost. People are really thirsting for this type of thing,” said Williams.
In So, This is Chain Lakes, she adds humor and humility to the heritage adventure story.
Williams has always enjoyed writing and had plenty of stories kicking around before she embarked on her only published work. She realized she should put some copy on the market after telling one of her young grandsons that she rode a horse to school every day.
“I could see in the little guy’s mind that he saw me loping beside the bus,” she said.
Chvojka, a librarian, said she was never too interested in writing but in her work she realized there wasn’t a good variety of children’s agricultural books.
“I realized there was a need for more central Alberta farm stories for children.”
She published Lolly and the Hat in 1997 and approached books stores to carry it. A major chain told her it would take years before it would be carried. But within four months she saw it on the shelves.
“I think we’re helping to put self publishing back on the map,” said Chvojka, who added it has had a bad rap in the past with a reputation for being less professional.
Her colorful creation was the first book project for her Red Deer, Alta., illustrator, Lorlie Vuori, and the first picture book project for her printer, also in Red Deer.
Williams, whose book includes sketches by herself and other family members, also used a Red Deer printer.
“We’re proud of being Canadian, just like Stompin’ Tom.”
Chvojka agreed, saying she detests picking up books on Canadian topics only to find they’ve been printed overseas.
“The point is if it’s Canadian then keep it in Canada. We don’t need to send it out to sweatshops in Hong Kong.”
Although Chvojka said her first book only took an hour to write, she doesn’t think it’s easier than writing a long adult novel. While the language has to be simple, Chvojka wanted to include farm jargon and knew she couldn’t talk down to her young audience.
“You rewrite and rewrite and rewrite and finally that’s it,” she said, adding she probably revised it 25 or 30 times.
Her illustrator, who tried to make her work as authentic as possible, spent about 30 hours on each of the 19 pictures to keep the interest of three-and four-year-olds. In children’s books the pictures are as important as the copy, said Chvojka, who is glad she found an illustrator with a rural background.
Both authors feel their books give city kids an understanding of the country.
“They think that milk comes from a jug in a store,” said Chvojka, who makes a point of describing the different stages of a cow’s life in her story.
The two authors both tour agricultural display shows and farmer’s markets to promote their books. Both like meeting their young readers.
“When I was growing up, authors were from a different planet,” said Chvojka, who has sold about 1,700 copies of her book.
Added Williams: “Now they realize authors put on their pants one leg at a time.”
The writers think more farm books will become available for children and adults.
Chvojka said she will publish another children’s book, called Peter’s Surprise, this fall.
