Dalton Publishes New Children’s Book
Dalton Publishes New Children’s Book
By Kevin Fox
Artists come in many forms, some work in stone or paint and others in wood. For Sherry Dalton her creative genius is in the form of words and children’s book in particular. Dalton’s first children’s book “A New Day – A New Beginning” has recently been published and is available and there will be many future book signings. When asked how her writings began, Dalton replied. “First and foremost I have to be honest and say that it is truly a gift from God. However, the inspiration for my writing came about on my birthday on September 8, 2009 when I was at a festival in Colchester, Illinois selling my handcrafts. I was there by myself, and that evening when I went to bed and I started thinking about a Siamese cat named “Siam”, and I began writing stories about the cat’s exploits. It has gone from that to eleven children’s books, and seven 50,000+-word novels. This is my first real achievement so to speak. But it has been so wonderful for me and so uplifting. My friends, church friends and family have been extremely encouraging. I found a good publisher who has helped me out immensely. My first book “A New Day – A New Beginning” I believe with all my heart is very much a family book and to be honest I lived this story. It’s about a day on the farm that occurs at 4:00 a.m. with checking on the ewes, which are about to lamb and the day just progresses from there. But in a great many days in part it’s a day from my life on the farm. The book is taken from my experiences and although they are not named as such, my parents and grandparents are always a part of my writings in one form or another.
Once this book has been out for a couple months my second book, “Do Indians Eat Soup” will be out. This book starts out about a modern five-year old like all five year olds asks a lot of questions. The mother and son go to the library and find the answers to those questions. And the story is told about an Indian tribe in the tri-state area in the 1700s. This is a learning book with a dramatic interest.”
When asked how she felt when she began writing, Dalton replied, “I have heard that some get very nervous. But it didn’t affect me at all. I just sat down with a plain yellow legal pad and wrote it out long hand. I went back and made some spelling and grammatical changes. But while I was at that festival I wrote two of the Siam books. Maybe, it shouldn’t come that easy I don’t know. This book took three days and it’s a forty-page book. The illustrations take a great deal longer. I have learned so much through the publisher and talking to people that I would have never known otherwise. Paula Ludwick has been doing some of the illustrations and she is just an unbelievable lady. My third book will be entirely illustrated by her. I do my work now on a hand – me down computer and a hand – me down printer that my son gave me. It varies but there are days that I spend eight hours at the computer. I was sort of forced into an early retirement due to downsizing, but I wasn’t ready to slow down and do nothing all day. So this writing has given me so much to look forward to!
Dalton will have a book signing at Mac’s Super Saver in Kahoka on the morning of May 20. Books will be available at that signing or on line at Publish America. E books are also available. Seven more signings have been scheduled from as far away as Burlington to Hannibal.
