The inspiration for Clarkston author Rosemary McDunn’s first book came from her grandparents.
‘As a child, my grandmother would share stories of how they lived then,? McDunn said.
Her grandparents, George and Marie Berger, lived in North Dakota in the 1930s, as does the family in McDunn’s historical-fiction novel ‘The Green Coat: A Tale from the Dust Bowl Years.?
‘Those were some trying times. She would tell us in her thick, German accent about the drought ? she said they went seven years without a drop of rain.?
Families lost their crops, livestock, homes, and businesses, but managed to survive, she said.
‘It was a different time,? she said. ‘People worked together.?
The book, published last year by Bezalel Books, tells the story of a young girl who, along with her brother, is ‘farmed out? as a domestic worker to help her family.
‘At first, she hates it, but she preservers and finds that she has skills she can use,? she said. ‘It’s a heart-warming story.?
The character is based on her mother, Theresa Candella, who experienced similar events growing up.
A sixth-grade teacher at Our Lady of the Lakes school in Waterford, McDunn includes a teachers? guide with the book, with sections on vocabulary, question-and-answer, and Treasure Hunt for figurative language such as similes, metaphors, and personification.
Growing up, she read Little House on the Prairie, Nancy Drew, and many other book series.
‘I loved to read as a kid ,? she said. ‘I loved the sound of words and figurative language. I wrote poetry. I always liked putting words to paper.?
Her second book, ‘When Kids Dream and Trucks Fly,? published this year by Bezalel, was written before her first.
‘I finished it about five years ago,? she said. ‘I didn’t think about publishing it until the success of ‘The Green Coat.? I’m really pleased with both of them.?
‘When Kids Dream,? a picture book, was inspired by her childhood.
Growing up in Berkley, Mich., she and her brother Tom would play on an old flatbed truck behind the local corner gas station every day during the summer.
‘In our imaginations, it would become a fire truck, or a ship sailing out to sea,? she said. ‘It was a great tool for our imaginations. That was what kids did back them.?
The story, told in whimsical poetry form, encourages imagination, she said.
‘It’s important to use your imagination and be creative in play, and depend less on video games,? she said.
She gives author presentations at local schools, emphasizing children’s imaginations.
‘I make it interactive ? kids love it,? she said.
She and her husband, Pat, have lived in Clarkston for the past 22 years. They have two sons, Kevin, set to attend Argosy University in Chicago, and Michael, student at Oakland University.
With the positive response to her books, she plans to continue writing.
‘I’m definitely planning a sequel to ‘The Green Coat,?? she said. ‘I plan to get cracking on it this summer.?
Her books are available at BezalelBooks.com, Amazon.com, and BarnesandNoble.com.