Menu
'Grandma's Arms': Personal gift becomes published book
SIKESTON -- For Janet Butrum Winders, one of the hardest things about moving away from Sikeston in 2000 was leaving behind her grandchildren.
"It was very difficult, not to be there when they needed us," said Winders of her and her husband, Ken's, dilemma. But, the published author found a way to make the five-hour distance between her and her grandchildren a bit less difficult -- by writing a book especially for them, "Grandma's Arms."
"They loved it," said Winders, the daughter of Virginia Butrum and the late John Butrum.
The personal project then spiraled into something bigger -- the book's publication. "Everybody just really liked it and said 'I'd like to have a copy of that,'" Winders recalled.
After six hectic months of tweaking and editing the book, then marketing it, Winders is now making her way back into the Bootheel this weekend for a book signing in her hometown.
The book signing will be at Personal Expressions in Sikeston from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday. Owner Teresa McGill, who has carried "Grandma's Arms" in her store for about a month, said she is expecting a good turnout.
"It is a good book," said McGill. "Especially for grandmas to read to kids."
A central theme -- often repeated in the book is "Her arms will always hold you tight, and your worries and cares will scatter."
Winders said she repeats that phrase time and again because of her knowledge from working with children, including as a kindergarten aide. "I learned that children liked repetition," she said.
And although Winders wrote the book as a way to show her love while living five hours away in Boonville, Ind., it is written for all types of situations -- those who may live with their grandchildren, in the same town, or even be smiling down from heaven. She's even heard stories of grandparents who read it to the children over the phone.
As a stand-in for grandparents who may be away, the book is also available in a set with an embroidered blanket with a "Grandma's Arms" emblem. And right now, she and her husband are working to come up with a kit available in craft stores that will include the book and the crafted emblem that can be placed on a handmade quilt.
The quilts are also creating quite a buzz because they are "green," due to their environmental-friendly contents. "Our publisher is taking this to all the 'green' shows," said Winders.
Working on the project with the Winderses is MidAmerica Publishing Co., based in Georgetown, Texas.
Although Winders has published several other books and went to school to be a writer, this project was a bit different for her.
"I never in my wildest dreams thought I would write a children's book," she said. "This is just something that came from a need -- it was something I had to do."
There's another family member in the mix, too. Winders' daughter-in-law, Alyson Chapman of Memphis, Tenn., a graphic artist, sketched the illustrations.
The book also helps to find a cure for Rett's Syndrome, which the Winderses' 7-year-granddaughter, Sarah, has been diagnosed with, by donated a portion of proceeds to research. A neurodevelopmental disorder, it has left Sarah unable to walk or talk.
A Web site will be set up for the book at grandmasarms.com. And Winders and her husband are working to make the book more widely available.
"We're trying to get it at Barnes and Noble," said Winders. "And we're talking constantly with some of the big retailers, trying to get it in," she said.
They have been in talks with Home Shopping Network founder Bob Circosta. Later this year, she and her husband plan to shoot a television spot with him, and they said they hope the book will be in more retail stores in time for the holiday season.
If you go
Janet Butrum Winders will have a book signing for her book, "Grandma's Arms."
When: 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Personal Expressions in Sikeston
Copies of the books and blankets will be available for purchase