Two Books Ready!

“Combining lives of adventure and fun with a dedication for some of the best public-spirited nature science investigation in the history of America, Frances and Frederick Hamerstrom pledged their all to accomplish great things.  Stories of the appropriately wild lives of the Hamerstroms, which included work that saved the Greater Prairie Chicken in Wisconsin from going the way of the dinosaur, fill every corner of this marvelous book...  The hand-crafted tales in these pages bring these brilliant, charming people back to life again, in all their natural elegance, gentle kindness, knife-sharp precision and ultimate glory.  As someone who knew them both and loved every moment of knowing them, I couldn’t be more joyful that the memory of Fran and Hammy has been kept green by their family and friends.  Now you can “know” them, too.

--- Mark Scarborough

author of “There’s No Place Like Rome,” and Wisconsin journalist.

Last December I wrote in my blog that I was immersed in two book projects, both involving my parents.  What I didn’t realize at the time is that it would evolve into three book projects. Two of them are done!  The third, a book for young readers by Susan Tupper to be published by the Wisconsin Historical Society, isn’t really my project.  I helped with editing for content and gathering of visuals; now that project is in the waiting mode.  

My two books projects also involve my parents.  If you don’t know much about my parents be sure and read my December post:

http://elvafieldnotes.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-projects.html  

Briefly --both my parents were ornithologists who spent their career working on prairie chickens for the State of Wisconsin.  They also made a significant contribution to raptor research.  My father was one of few who earned his Phd under the famed ecologist, Aldo Leopold, and my mother was the only woman to get a degree under Leopold, a masters.  

After my parents died, Deann De La Ronde, a dear friend of my parents, helped me collect an anthology of stories about my parents.  I self published it as, “Hamerstrom Stories” in 2002.  Now, just over ten years later I’ve granted permission for a new edition which includes ten new authors.  The 336 page book is being released by Golden Sands RC&D Council Inc, a non-profit organization that works to preserve Grasslands in Central Wisconsin -- where Wisconsin’s prairie chickens still live.  Books ordered directly from R. Schneider, Publishers will have most of their cover price go to 

Golden Sands.  Books ordered through Amazon.com with have a much smaller portion of the profits go to Golden Sands.  I have directed any monies that I might receive go to Golden Sands.  

The gentle stories ... in this book combine to produce a book of rare appeal and quality.  Alan and Elva are lucky to be the children of exceptional parents.  Instead of going to bed early when the moon is full the boy and girl explore the magic night on treks with mom and dad.  During all four seasons, the family becomes a part of the natural world and its wonders.  They make friends with deer they espy by leaving apples for the animals to find; they discover that some flowers stay wide open at night while others close in sleep; ....  

-- taken from the Publishers Weekly  review that followed my mother’s original publication of “Walk When the Moon is Full.” I’ve deleted the references to the original art.  

“Walk When the Moon is Full” by my mother, Frances Hamerstrom, was first published by Crossing Press in 1975.  The little book stayed in print for about 25 years!  There was still some demand for the book so I limped along for a few years making copy-machine copies.  When the Lora Hagen was formatting the new edition of Hamerstrom Stories, I suddenly found out Lora ( part of R. Schneider, Publishers ) and I could put out a new, beautiful edition of “Walk When the Moon is Full.”  I had the joy of creating the illustrations for this edition.  

Either book can be ordered through Amazon.com or through R. Schneider, Publishers.  Remember a much larger portion of the purchase price of “Hamerstrom Stories” goes to supporting grasslands if you order directly from the publisher.  To do that:

Walk When the Moon is Full --  $8.95@Hamerstrom Stories -- $29.95.  If you live in Wisconsin, add 5.5% sales taxShipping and handling is $5.00 for the first book, $1 additional for each additional copy of ‘H Stories’ and 50 cents additional for each additional copy of ‘Moon’.  Combined orders welcome.  
Mail orders WITH YOUR ADDRESS and check or credit card info to:  
R. Schneider, Publishers
312 Linwood Avenue
Stevens Point  WI  54481

I’m not the one sending the books out, so I won’t be able to autograph them for you.  

A nest full of great horned owls -- one of my illustrations in 

"Walk When the Moon is Full"