February 2015
Hometown
Lifestyles AUTHOR! AUTHOR!
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Welcome to this edition of Hometown Lifestyles! We’re working to bring you stories about friends and neighbors, civic leaders and business people. It’s good people doing great things in Emmet County. In this issue, we feature a pair of authors—one an Estherville native, Amy (Danielson) Daws, who returned recently for a book signing. The other author, Steven Wastler, is a familiar face at Iowa Lakes Community College sporting events cheering on the Lakers. We invite our readers to share ides for future stories or just send us your thoughts about this publication to editor@esthervillenews.net.
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Daws holds signing at Estherville Chamber BY MICHAEL TIDEMANN STAFF WRITER
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fter six failed pregnancies, Amy Daws finally had a miracle baby — Lorelei Hope. Lorelei Hope. The name was perfect. And even though Lorelei Hope was a perfect baby, Daws knew those other children were out there somewhere — even if they were spirit children. And so she began to write. “I just didn’t want to forget them,” said Daws, an Estherville Lincoln Central gradu‐ ate who now lives and works in Sioux Falls, S.D. “And all those babies’ lives meant something to me.” The result of her writing was Chasing Hope, an enormously successful indie‐pub‐ lished memoir that’s turned a lot of peo‐ ple’s heads and changed their minds about the efficacy of traditional brick‐and‐ mortar publishing. For Daws, independ‐ ent publishing works — exceedingly well. Daws, formerly Danielson, explained her writing process at a book signing Saturday at the Estherville Area Chamber of
bloggers who have gotten the word out. “Everything about bookselling now is social media,” said Daws. “That’s the new age of publish‐ ing.” So what’s Daws’s approach to writing? “I call myself a fly‐ by‐the‐seat‐of‐my pants writer,” said Daws, who dashes off her first draft then returns to fill in the gaps. “I’ve always liked writing and it’s always come quite normal to me.” Daws writes in the first‐person present tense, a style that naturally draws read‐ er intimacy. Just as art imitates life, life imitates art for Daws. In April she’ll travel to a book conference in London, setting for her London Series, where she’ll do a signing. So how did she get from there to here? Amy Danielson Daws held a book reading Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Estherville Area Chamber of Commerce. Daws said she was The background poster with a photo of Allie Sievert features her to-be-released novel, London Bound. Cover — Amy Danielson Daws with her daughter, Lorelei Hope, the subject of Dawsʼs memoir, Chasing consumed by read‐ Hope, signed her books Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Estherville Area Chamber of Commerce. Daws also has ing. It was writing published two novels, Becoming Us and A Broken Us. Chasing Hope, Photos by MIchael Tidemann though, that opened Daws’s success has the door for her to Commerce, first in a tor Heather Banta to writing. That was been largely through write fiction. She said when she pondered series of author sign‐ review her work. social media — ings sponsored by the Daws was referred to writing fiction. Turn to DAWS Page 5 “It just snowballed Facebook and online Excel Estherville Arts Banta by another from there.” & Culture Committee. Sioux Falls author, Daws’ Website is available at Her romances A “I wanted it to read Sarah Pepper. amydawsauthor.com. Broken Us and While writing her like a story,” said Her Amazon page is available at: memoir, Daws found Becoming Us, the Daws, who hired amazon.com/author/amydaws she had to rein in her prequel, followed. Michigan‐based edi‐
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Patchwork Quilt “Public Service Information Articles for the Elderly” - Elderbridge Agency on Aging
Transitioning into retirement R
etirement is one of many transitions in life. Some people switch from work‐ ing to retirement easily, others have a hard time coming to terms with no longer being a part of the workforce. To escape the shock of retirement, there a several steps that can be taken to make this change easier. Take the process of retirement in stages. Instead of working full time for 40 years and then stop working one day, cut your work week from five days a week to 3 days a week. Begin planning for this transition one or two years ahead of time. Psychologist Kris Ludwigsen says in a USA Today article, to start planning what activities are most important to you and what you have always wanted to do. Do some research on retirement by reading articles about it and visit websites. Talk to people who are retired. Talk to your partner. Begin to create a
If you need assistance with your retirement planning we can help. Elderbridge Agency on Aging has four offices in 29 counties of Iowa. We can be reached at 800‐243‐0678. You can also find help at LifeLong Links. Call 866‐468‐7887, or find them on the web at www.lifelonglinks.org. new social network by volunteer‐ ing, attending workshops, going to church and fitness centers and maintaining contact with those who value the same things you do. Remain active while retired. You might get into a bad habit if you sit in front of the television every day. According the article in USA Today, prioritizing and making lists are okay. Get out that pencil and paper and write down the top ten things you have always wanted to do, ranking them from highest to lowest, then see which
DAWs, Continued from Page 4 she’s also turning Chasing Hope into an audio book. Daws is also mining her hometown roots. The covers of Daws’s books feature young Estherville women — Allie Sievert in the not‐yet‐released London Bound and Rachel Lawson on Becoming Us and A Daws signed a book for Kristi Radtke. Broken Us.
ones are possible and make them happen. Volunteering opens many new doors. You learn new skills, make new friends and giving back to your community is good for the soul. Launch a new structure to your day. Look at your to‐do list for the day, and then go to it. This will not only keep you active, it also gives you a sense of accom‐ plishment. Make fitness a goal. Take time for walks. Retirement can be a perfect time to work on your own well‐being. Keep your mind active. Read, do puzzles and consider learning a new skill. Think of your retirement as a
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period of trial and error. You now have time to do the activities you have always wanted to do. You could even take up a college course or two. Become involved in new activities you have always wanted to try, and create new social circles. Retirement can appear very final and traumatic for people, and that all your deci‐ sions are permanent. It doesn’t have to be that way. You can put your passion to work, even when you are no longer working. You can read more about this article at: www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/01/1 8/easing‐transition‐retirement/21815141/
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Local author publishes novel BY MICHAEL TIDEMANN STAFF WRITER
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Steven Wastler, going by the author name Steven Michael, has published a novel, Dear Mother: The Beginning, Book One. Photo by Michael Tidemann
teven Wastler is a familiar figure in Estherville. Known as “Rock On” Steven from his enthusiastic cheering at Iowa Lakes Community College and ELC games, Wastler hopes the name Steven Michael will gain even more attention — hopefully nationally. Steven Michael is the pen name Waster has chosen for his first novel, Dear Mother: The Beginning, Book One, a 281‐page thriller in the genre of another Steven — Stephen King. Michael is already hard at work on the sequel, The Challenge Dear Mother: The Beginning, of Life, Book Two. Book One is available in print and Dear Mother: The Beginning starts in as an ebook from the Tate Publishing bookstore at: <https://www.tatepubSeattle with the lishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9 narrator writing his 78-1-68118-612-2> or by emailing mother who grew steven45michael@gmail.com. up in Lewtown, a small town in the East. “This whole story takes place in small town America,” said Michael. Two girls, age 10, and boy, 14, are living in Lewtown. The year is 1948. Their lives are idyllic, even placid. Little do they know that The One from the West is headed on a train toward them, an evil one whose only design is to create fear and chaos in the world. While not knowing anything consciously, Michael’s care‐ fully crafted 31 characters somehow realize something is changing their thoughts. But they deal with the changes orchestrated by the other being. “I’m not letting this happen,” is how the characters deal with evil, said Michael. Meanwhile, The One from the West is traveling on a train — a train with no people or engineer, a train pow‐ ered with a waterless boiler. Remotely, The One from the West slowly begins to control their innocence. “And then things start to change,” said Michael. An Iroquois named Jonathan Treehill comes to the small town in the East and senses The One from the West. Another character, Agnes, senses him as well. She, too, decides to make a stand. Explaining Treehill, Michael said he’s the same heritage as himself — the Iroquois nation comprised of six nations. It’s Jonathan who has the power to do good. “Every single person in this book has integrity and digni‐ ty and is confident in who they are,” said Michael. While The One from the West tries to control their minds, all the characters seek a solution and evolve from it, he said.
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Good Samaritan Society Estherville
SENIORS CHALLENGED TO STAY INDEPENDENT LONGER!
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can provide HC aides to assist with a bath, a professional nurse to set up meds, a homemaker to help you run errands and prepare a meal, as well as therapy services and so much more! o Senior Housing – By making a move to senior housing you can still live independently but avoid all the household tasks that take your time and may even put you at risk, such as scooping an icy sidewalk, mowing a yard in extremely hot weather or needing to climb a lad‐ der to clean out the gutters! Instead you spend your time doing what you love to do! The good news is that the Good Samaritan Society Estherville is On Thursday, Feb. 19, Dave Rowley gave an awesome performance for the Good here to help! We have a wonderful Samaritan Society Estherville. This is Daveʼs second visit to the center and he is always a big hit! He was invited by resident Jim Johnson, the leader of the group “James Men therapy department that offers and More”. Pictured above from left – Dave Rowley with his friend Jim Johnson. physical, speech, and occupational Photo submitted therapies – in‐patient or out‐ o Consider therapies – Whether n Flowing and stretching exercis‐ patient, provided by Prairie you have had a hip or knee replace‐ es, such as T’ai Chi and yoga, are Rehabilitation Services. known to help restore balance and ment, you find your balance is not We offer a variety of lifeline servic‐ as good as it used to be or you are joint flexibility. es, Home Care services as well as recovering from a stroke, illness or n Mild strength training—with Senior Housing with Services! We another type of accident, it is very and without weights—can help understand that you want to live in strengthen your muscles, joints and likely you would benefit greatly your home and be independent for bones, making it less likely that you from a rehab therapy program. as long as you can and we want to o Home Care services – Home will fall or become injured from a be a part of making that happen! Health Care can provide many serv‐ fall. To learn more about our services ices depending on your needs. They n Walking is one of the easiest please give us a call at 712‐362‐3522. exercises you can do, and it comes Stay Active to with many benefits, including $ Avoid Accidents 43/person improved balance, strength and Did you know that daily exercise endurance. could help reduce the risk of falls? Twin Cities Premier Outlet Mall Eagan, MN By following these practices you In fact, being inactive is one of the increase your chances of staying major risk factors of falls in older independent, active and healthy • Deluxe Motorcoach Transportation adults, according to the Centers for longer, but you still may need to do • Full day of shopping at the brand Disease Control and Prevention. more: new Outlet Mall in Eagan, MN Don’t let fear of injury keep you EPARTS: Sign up by April 15, 2015 o Have a lifeline installed – after a D Jackson–7:30 a.m. from engaging in daily exercise. Fairmont–8:00 a.m. fall or medical emergency the With your physician’s approval, longer that one is down the greater Mankato–9:00 a.m. take part in these activities to help risk of medical problems that may make your fall prevention power have been prevented by getting greater: help quickly. he American Health Care Association has deemed February National Senior Independence Month! This month encourages seniors to take this opportunity to evaluate their cur‐ rent living situation and determine whether or not adjustments could be made to create a better lifestyle. Unfortunately many people do not take the time to do this until they are confronted with a serious accident/fall or traumatic health issue. The Good Samaritan Society Estherville encourages seniors to be pro‐active instead of reactive by following a few safety tips you could increase your chances of staying independent, longer. 1. Ensure your home is well‐lit and add night lights especially in cor‐ ners and near staircases to prevent falls. 2. Clear clutter including wires, excess furniture, and unnecessary items to help those with vision or balance problems. 3. Install grab bars and non‐slip mats in rooms such as the bath‐ room and kitchen, or on any slick surface. 4. Keep all frequently used items in easy‐to‐reach locations.
Let’s go shopping! Sat., April 25, 2015
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AveraHolyFamily.org
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