Echoes from the Hilltop rang loud and clear recently as residents gathered to celebrate the creation of a local book.
Appropriately enough, the book launch was held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Fergus on Nov. 26.
Authors have assigned their royalties to St. Andrew’s mission to Haiti. But don’t expect to find this book full of preaching or Christian teaching.
Rather, the pages are filled with church people, who, like everyone else, lead lives of adventure, filled with pleasure and humour, but sometimes touched with fear or pain.
Most of the tales are related as true incidents – those classified as fiction contain the truths of a Christian world overview.
In this book, readers will fly a Liberator bomber, jump from an airplane with a company of elite commandos, and visit with street people of an earlier century.
In his forward to the book, Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott wrote “At St. Andrew’s Church in Fergus, it seems everyone has a story to tell.”
He wrote the stories “will stir your hear, kindle your mind and nourish your faith.”
He said, “And even though we Scotch Presbyterians are sometimes (unjustly!) considered to be a pretty dour bunch, many of the stories are enlivened with laughter.”
Arnott said he and his family are proud members of the church family at St. Andrew’s.
“Our church is known for our good works at home and abroad, our spirited discipleship, and our musical talent which are all inspired by the love and message of Christ.”
“With the publication of Echoes from the Hilltop, the literary talent of our folk will become just as well-known.
Stories from local writers include David Ketchen, Mary Bentley-Lloyd, Ray Wiseman, Mary Lou Cornish, Don Ranney, Judy Stark, Kathleen Mosey and Bob Cooper. The cover was designed by Myron Lasko, edited by Cornish and published by Ray Wiseman’s WordWise Associates.
Book contents include:
Ketchen: Echoes from a Pastor’s Life;
Bentley-Lloyd: From Tea Shop to Pirate’s Treasure;
Wiseman: From Winter’s Cold to African Heat;
Cornish: From Fields Near and Far;
Ranney: From Milk Wagon to ER;
Stark: From a Mother’s Viewpoint;
Mosey: From Angelic Realms; and
Cooper: From Other Times and Cultures.
In an interview at St. Andrews Church just prior to the book launch, Wiseman said, “It all started when we realized we had quite a few accomplished writers right here in the church.”
He said at least one writer has previously published books, one is a former journalism professor, another is a former University of Waterloo professor and medical doctor.
As well, four have won awards of one kind or another for their writing. Three are also published, if only in the church Newsletter, Wiseman said.
“We thought, hey, let’s do something. We can publish the book, because I’ve published before.”
He added that someone else in the church was able to provide the graphic design for the front cover.
Wiseman said, “It was like a family thing. A bunch of us got an idea and we pushed into it.”
Initially, the concept of the book had a more narrow view, but as they began working together, it was thrown open to allow writing on any subject fiction or non-fiction that appealed to the writers.
He said it also opened up to allow for previously published or brand new material.
“It’s not a church book,” Wiseman said. “It’s not about Christianity or the church, but its written with a Christian world view – but it is not intended to evangelize or teach. It’s hopefully just a good book.”
He estimated the book has taken about a year to put together, since the concept was proposed. “The last few months have been really wild trying to get it done.
It happened that editor Mary Lou Cornish and Wiseman live in the same building.
“We joked that the publishing department was on the second floor and the editorial department was on the first floor. We were forever going up and down the stairs with material to be edited.”
Wiseman was working with one of the writers, providing encouragement.
There are two other fairly new writers and both claim it has been a valuable experience.
“Part of it is because we have a former professor of journalism as the editor.”
She was able to provide feedback to the writers.
Other than through the church and its membership, Wiseman anticipates making the book available through the bookstores in Fergus, and online.
