Mary-Lou Rosengren has wanted to be an author since she was eight years old.
At one time, she thought she would publish a novel.
But ultimately, she decided to write about something she has experienced on many occasions: the bond that exists between a grandmother and her grandchildren.
Rosengren, a former contributor to Lifestyles, self-published her first book, The Grand Embrace, earlier this year. She promoted and signed copies of the book at the grand opening of Art Concepts Custom Framing on Saturday.
The book is also available on Amazon.
Rosengren said she had a very close relationship with her grandmother, Anne W. Bailey, who was an author, writer and teacher.
“She actually had written an article … called The Year we Moved, that actually was in the Saskatchewan Archives. It’s from the Dirty ‘30s,” Rosengren told Lifestyles.
Once she became a grandmother, Rosengren said she realized how important grandmothers are in the lives of their grandchildren, by being present and interacting with them.
“There’s a special bond, I think, between grandparents and grandchildren,” said Rosengren, who has one granddaughter and three grandsons.
A couple of grandfathers have read the book as well, and told her that even though it was written from a grandmother’s perspective, that all grandparents can benefit from reading it.
When The Grand Embrace was published, Rosengren had limited expectations for sales, so she ordered 20 books in the first printing. They sold out in about 20 minutes. She ordered 30 more, and has since added more books.
People are buying them as gifts for new grandmothers.
“I had one lady who is my age, and she got back to me and said ‘I’ve always been afraid to try things. Your book gave me the courage to try the things I’ve been wanting to try.’”
The only question she receives is from people who want to know why she isn’t on the front cover with her grandchildren. Rosengren admits it likely would have been more effective than the generic photo on the front, but she ran out of time for the photo.
The Grand Embrace is part memoir, because of the memories of her grandmother, but it’s a self-help book as well, because it explores how grandmothers can be more present and aware of their abilities.
“We’re the last generation to bridge technology and the old ways,” said Rosengren.
Baby boomers can teach children common sense things like morals, values, kindness and manners that can sometimes be lost in the modern world.
She also hopes that young people who read the book will see that aging isn’t something to be feared, but rather embraced. All four of her grandchildren have a copy of the book, and when they do read it, she knows they will see how much she cares for them.
Rosengren held an author reading and book signing at the Midale Public Library earlier this year. It was an enjoyable experience, she said.
She hopes to have a memoir-writing workshop in Estevan this fall, and so she is trying to find people who would be willing to participate.
“I think we need to share our stories more than we do,” said Rosengren. “Everything gets lost. And once we’re gone, our stories are gone as well. So I just want people to explore the possibility of sharing their stories, and if they have elderly people in their lives who want to share their story, I will certainly help them with that.”
Rosengren, at age 58, feels a large weight off her shoulders now that the book has been published. She dedicated about nine months to the project.
“Now I’m anxious to write another one,” she said.
A portion of the sales of The Grand Embrace will be directed to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Rosengren noted her mother is in a nursing home with dementia, and Rosengren’s maternal grandfather also passed away from dementia. It’s something she recognizes could one day happen to her.
